Javancy Jones the best player you haven’t heard of

 

By Philip Robinson | @chocP3thunder | 03/26/2017

 

Javancy Jones comes from Jackson State University, a small school in Mississippi. Hailing from Macon Mississippi, Jones is a talent yet to be discovered by the mainstream media.

 

Jones is one of four SWAC players to be named STAT FCS pre-season All-American in 2016. In his senior season Jones produced 82 tackles four sacks 19.5 tackles for loss, earning him a spot as an AFCA National FCS second team All-American. Jones is a three-time All-SWAC First Team Defender. As a freshman Jones won the Jerry Rice Award (Freshman of the year), posting: 48 tackles, 12 TFL’s, five sacks, two pass defensed, one forced fumble, a blocked kick and returned a blocked punt for a Td. As a junior, Jones led the nation with 77 tackles for loss. Jones would be a Finalist for the Conerly Trophy in 2015 and 2016, an award given annually to the best football player in the state of Mississippi by the Mississippi hall of fame. High praise, previous winners of this award include Eli Manning (2x), Patrick Willis, Gabe Jackson, Dak Prescott (2x) and most recently Evan Engram.

 

Jones first hit my radar when watching the East West Shrine Game. Being asked to play the position of inside linebacker a switch from his normal defensive end position Jones played well. Jones flashiest play came when he flowed from his position of weakside linebacker and shot a gap on a toss sweep making a stunning tackle for loss on the complete opposite side of the field.

 

Not amongst the invited to participate in the yearly scouting combine Jones chose to focus on only what he could control, leaving the rest up to the creator. He prepared for his pro day at Jackson State.  

 

Jones pro day would be cut short as he would suffer a pulled hamstring while running his impressive 4.54 second 40-yard dash. Despite suffering the disadvantage of being unable to display his mobility and athleticism, Jones was still able to get valuable measurements on record. Standing at six-foot-one and 240 pounds, His vertical jump measured 32 inches. Jones ability to rep 225 pounds 26 times on the bench is indicative of good strength for his frame.

 

By comparison some other linebackers in the draft measure up like this:

 

Zach Cunningham six-foot-three 234 pounds, benched 16 reps, ran 4.67 40-yard dash and jumped 35-inches vertically.

 

Anthony Walker Jr. six-foot-one 238 pounds, benched 23 reps, ran 4.65 40-yard dash and 30.5 inch vertical.

 

Hassan Reddick, considered the second best linebacker in the draft six-foot-one 237 pounds, ran the fastest pure linebacker 40-yard dash at 4.52, benched 24 reps and logged a 36.5 inch vertical.

 

Jarrad Davis six-foot-one 238 pounds, 4.78 40-yard dash and Davis would decline any other recordable stat

 

Javancy Jones will not be outworked by anybody, nor will he be discouraged by adversity. Centered in life Jones is looking for an opportunity not a handout. His physical abilities alone merit a look on an NFL roster, but not only will teams be getting an accomplished player with a chip on his shoulder, “Pissed off for greatness,” they will be getting a high character guy who will never be a distraction.

 

Highlight tape- http://www.fcs.football/cfb/players.asp?id=233236

 

Most recent draft info (courtesy of nfl draft diamonds)- https://twitter.com/DraftDiamonds/status/845765488449773568

Talking with the Carrs

by Philip Robinson | @chocP3thunder | 03/25/2017

 

Chalk Talk with David and Derek Carr was entertaining theater. Above all my biggest takeaway from the kickback with the brothers Carr is love of the lord, family and loyalty.

The love of football started for the brother’s at an early age with playing catch with Papa Carr. Separated by a 12 year age gap, David saw Derek’s arm talent while watching his three year old brother throw a football and accurately predicted he was going to be a quarterback. Ever the dutiful older sibling, David took on the task of preparing his baby brother to become a tough sucker. It was a tough job but someone had to “Torture, strip off his clothes, throw him up in the attic, and embarrass him in front of his friends. It’s our job to keep him below the clouds it’s your guys’ job to pump him up.”

Instruction started from Papa Carr, but was reinforced by playing madden against a starting NFL quarterback at a young age. Starting with identifying coverages, Derek would soak up the mental aspect of the game like a sponge. His knowledge and understanding of the game took root and exploded. At 12, Derek was breaking down NFL film and able to decipher a blitzing nickel back based off alignment and tendencies.

Houston, Texas was where Derek established himself as a 5A football high school quarterback in the football factory state. Derek would describe playing football in Texas was exactly like the depiction in Friday Night Lights. Derek would receive many offers from different colleges, but Fresno State was “Where my family played. I’m big on loyalty.”

Billed as a chalk talk, it was more of a look at some of the Carr’s favorite plays. As David would tell the audience in reference to watching film with his mother. “Our football knowledge is filling this room and your knowledge is like a spec of lint.” In a comical way Carr explained to the audience we’re going to keep it a nice smooth easy to follow pace.

First play up for discussion was the play which saw Derek hit Michael Crabtree for a game tying touchdown pass in week-3 against the Baltimore Ravens.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvLb-20LFOw

Identifying the coverage in his pre-snap read, Carr had found an exploitable  tendency in the corner opposing Crabtree. Carr would thread the needle in between the corner and safety while Crabtree’s toe drag swag would tie the game.

 

“The Flip” against the New Orleans Saints in week-1 in the Superdome.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYUJ1QagCR8

 

This particular play prompted a story about playing like Batman.  David would tell a story about teaching his brother to play like Bruce Wayne and only put the cape on when the play makes you. He would then pose a question to the crowd, “how many of you would run and jump 6 feet in the air and do a front flip in the middle of your house?”

 

Another play was a touchdown to Amari cooper working against Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Chris Conte from the slot. Complementary as always Derek chose to praise his teammates before himself. “Without this offensive line I would be nothing. . . being able to run a double move 25-30 yards downfield is rare requires pass protection.”  Oakland’s front five kept Carr upright all season long and provided him with more than enough time and room in the pocket to operate. David would add “behind that offensive line I would be throwing for like 5,000 yards every year.”

 

David’s favorite throw of his brother’s career was the touchdown pass Derek lasered into Crabtree who would be immediately sandwiched by Eric Berry and then Chiefs corner Sean Smith.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhKrAaqQFdc

It was amazing quarterback play coupled with a phenomenal throw.

 

The question and answer session offered the audience a glimpse at the Carrs as people. “I know who I am in christ and I will always be the same person. I am not defined by football.” Derek receives praise for random acts of kindness, but when the conversation steered towards his aiding a stranded motorist he declined applause. Feeling moved by the spirit he stopped to help someone in need. He didn’t do it for praise or recognition, he did it because it was the right thing to do.

 

A story was told about how at training camp a man asked Carr for an autograph for his grandson with a broken leg. Carr would clear space for the young boy while he gave him an autograph. This prompted a question about the injured leg of Carr to which he got up and danced a little jig. 

 

A fan asked him to pray for her as she was going into surgery to operate on breast cancer in the coming week. He would invite her to stay after the event and step into a hallway for a private quick prayer.

 

When asked when Raider Nation could expect to hear the big news about his extension, Derek would share, “No secret about it I’m a Raider and that’s that. . . I bleed silver and black.” Explaining Tim (his agent) is working really hard with Oakland front office to get a deal done.

 

What offensive coordinator Todd Downing would bring to the table was asked and Derek would reply “Good relationship kinda like best friends off of the field. He wants me to be an extension of him on the field.” David was quick to touch on what a huge positive this was and how rare this type of situation is. From the excitement conveyed in the voices of these two when conversing about Downing I can only imagine positive things coming.

 

Responding to a question about the goal of the 2017 he referred back to head coach Jack Del Rio, “Win the division, get to the playoffs, win the super bowl.”

 

A great time out was enjoyed by all Raider fans in attendance and the hosts. Putting out good karma Javier from Tracy bought your boy some adult refreshment after hearing I was stuck in line waiting by myself. It was awesome to see his kind gesture returned immediately in the form of winning a raffle for an autographed football later in the evening. With an unpleasant reality looming on Monday it was refreshing listening to the friendly banter of two brothers who have been ragging on each other for a lifetime. Possessing a genuine likableness the brothers of Carr were incredibly funny and witty. Coming across as the kind of dudes who would be cool to just hang with and shoot the breeze. 

Marshawn the Lynch-pin

By Philip Robinson | @chocP3thunder | 03/20/2017

 

Prior to the end of Thursday’s radio show The Afternoon Delight on flagship station 95.7 The Game, Oakland Raider play-by-play man Greg Papa alluded to news about the Raiders closing in a deal for a veteran running back who had not played in the league at all last year.

 

Papa may have set the world on fire without having fully mentioned anybody directly, but it would not matter as only one matched his description. Retired Seattle Seahawk and former California Golden Bear Marshawn Lynch is not just a native or a local, Lynch is an Oakland California ambassador. Beast Mode is “all about that action boss”, Town Bizz and an embodiment of the spirit of the ‘BAY’. Born and raised in “Ice City” North Oakland, Lynch is one of the most beloved Bay Area figures of all time. The mere insinuation of his name very nearly brought twitter to a halt.

 

At around nearly 8:30am EST Friday morning NFL insider Adam Schefter in accordance with a report from ESPN’s Josina Anderson confirmed what Papa had already floated out into the universe.

https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/842712459379204096

 

Keep in mind this is an extremely fluid situation with a lot of moving parts. Technically under NFL rule talking to another team’s’ player while they are under contract without the permission of the team is called “tampering.” While in this day and age of the NFL free agency has gone the way of the NBA with players often recruiting potential team members equally as harder than general managers. Tampering with a retired player is still tampering.

 

A move like this would be for the benefit of the fans, but I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the fact it reeks of a PR stunt. With relocation to Vegas on the horizon and a potential vote on the issue coming up in eight days, it seems Raider’s upper management has found a way to potentially keep the stadium full while trying to move the team away. For this little sleight of hand to continue a couple of things need to happen. For starters Lynch has to end his retirement and get out of his Seahawk contract, this can be accomplished a multitude of ways.

 

Option A: Raider general manager Reggie Mckenzie can place a phone call to his buddy and former co-worker John Schneider and see if Schneider will do him a solid and step out of the way and release Lynch.

Option B: Mckenzie calls Schneider and the two parties work out a trade for Lynch and a low round draft pick

Option C: Lynch must meet with the Seahawks ask for his release and possibly payback a portion of his signing bonus.

 

In no way is this concrete or even more than fantasy, playing on devil’s advocacy Ian Rapoport had this to say about potential holdups.

 

https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/842734136351690753

 

Next Lynch must either renegotiate his contract or sign a completely new one as it is unlikely the Raiders are about to give Lynch $9 million dollars when they refused to pay free agent Latavius Murray $3.4 million in guaranteed money. However, renegotiating the deal may be the easiest part. Lynch has been extremely smart with his money and taking a paycut to have the opportunity to win a super bowl with his hometown team may be a willing trade off.

 

Lynch would be a 31 year old running back coming off a year of retirement and a hernia. His  current price tag is too rich for the Raiders blood, his production may or may not be declining, or he could flat out suck. Lynch should dominate behind the massive offensive line in Oakland, at the very least he should be able to contribute and be a short yardage specialist. The Town means everything to Lynch and Lynch signing with the Raiders would mean everything to the town.

 

https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/843837446492225536

 

Five days after the news broke that Lynch, the Raiders and the Seahawks were entering this three-way dance, reports continue to back it. Fans continue to scour twitter and instagram looking for any updates to this latest saga as Lynch posted a link to his snapchat icecity43. The significance being social media was the platform he choose to announce his retirement. In fact, in the MMQB Peter King couldn’t let the hottest story in speculation pass without adding it to his column, credit to Ryan Lopes @StillRyanFive for breaking it down.

 

https://twitter.com/StillRyanFive/status/843827662648958977  

 

It has been amazing to sit back and watch the craze this has generated. The fever swept up a few objective impartial writers and turned them into unabashedly shameless homers for a day. The number 24 jersey has been iconic in Raider History belonging to two hall of fame caliber players Willie Brown and Charles Woodson. One thing is for sure when this is completed and Lynch joins the Raiders, his jersey will not be able to stay on the racks.

 

 

Welcome Cordarrelle Patterson and Marshall Newhouse to Raider Nation

By: Philip Robinson | @chocP3thunder | 3/14/2016

 

News broke out of Raiders Headquarters in Alameda, Ca last night that wide receiver and special teams ace Cordarrelle Patterson will be signing with the team. While terms of the deal are currently unavailable the Oakland Raiders have just made a splashy entrance into the free agency market albeit in an unexpected area of need.  

 

Patterson is the best kick returner in the game today, in 2016 he made the Pro Bowl as well as earning a spot as an AP First Team All-Pro. Standing at six-foot-two, weighing 220 pounds, Patterson is a home-run threat every time he touches the football. Producing the second highest kick return average in the history of the league at 30.4 yards per return, Patterson brings elite return game capabilities to the Raiders. In 2015 Patterson returned a kickoff for a touchdown against the Raiders in our very own Black Hole.

 

In his four years in the league Patterson has been named to two Associated Press First All-Pro Teams, two Pro Bowls and one Second team All-Pro as a kick returner. With 4,075 career return yards on 134 returns and five return touchdowns Patterson fits a unique niche the Raiders have been lacking since hall of famer Tim Brown.

 

Patterson enjoyed his best season as a wide receiver in 2016 with Sam Bradford as his quarterback. Converting 52 catches of 70 targets for 453 yards and two touchdowns Patterson was a solid third option for the Vikings. His 74.3% catch rate is leaps and bounds superior to Seth Roberts (49.4%) and having a quarterback like Derek Carr will only help Patterson’s career that much more. As has become his custom the first to welcome new players to the team Carr took to twitter to send his shout out to Patterson

 

https://twitter.com/derekcarrqb/status/841489877698924546

 

Marshall Newhouse is a versatile offensive lineman capable of manning both guard and tackle positions. Initially drafted under Reggie Mckenzie’s watch in Green Bay, Newhouse was signed to a 2 year $3.5 million contract on friday to bolster depth and potentially offer Carr a little better coverage on his insurance policy.

 

https://twitter.com/derekcarrqb/status/840589708136656897  

 

Newhouse has been described as either a solid piece on the line or an absolute turnstile and he  will show both in the same game. Newhouse ranked better in pass protection according to Pro Football Focus and was graded at 75.1, recently departed Menelik Watson was graded 48.4 as a pass protector. Newhouse will be given a shot to earn the starting job even though he is behind Vadal Alexander and Denver Kirkland on the depth chart.

 

The Raiders are winning free agency. I’ll say it again, the Raiders are winning free agency. Patterson and Newhouse may not have been the names of desire, but having watched the exorbitant amount of money showered upon free agents unable to be retained, it’s incredible that Mckenzie is upgrading vacated positions at a mere fraction of the going rate. This Raiders staff continues to find players who will improve their football team while maintaining fiscal discipline and that is what will continue to keep them elevated as contenders.

Stats provided by Pro-Football-Focus and Pro-Football-Reference