Kellen Jones: Playoff Game #1
Saw Kellen play against San Antonio Antonian (name???). St. Pius X won 40-0. Antonian was not very good. He had another monster game and played like a beast, had 6 tackles. Not much got past the first level of defenders, so a lower quantity of tackles, but great quality. Two TFL. Also had two fumble recoveries, almost took one for six. Nearly blocked two punts, missed one by inches. Bottom line: dude makes plays.
Also played on offense in short yardage situation.
The defense overall made the other team look like a JV squad.
Not sure why, but his coach left him in the game far after the outcome was no longer in doubt. Talking to his dad, the game next week will feature a more stout opponent and hopefully SPX can keep it rolling.
November 13th, 2010 at 12:43 AM ^
Will he potentially play next year with Mouton/Ezeh graduating?
November 13th, 2010 at 12:45 AM ^
Anything is possible, but do you really want more true freshman playing on defense?
November 13th, 2010 at 12:48 AM ^
If they can play better than the other guys, yes.
November 13th, 2010 at 1:02 AM ^
I think DFW's point was that we hope someday to have upperclassmen who are talented enough to not get beat out by freshmen, even very talented freshmen (like what we are now seeing at the QB position with Gardner having the luxury of learning the system for a few years as a back-up). However, your premise is accurate in that the best player will be on the field, regardless.
November 13th, 2010 at 1:24 AM ^
November 13th, 2010 at 6:32 AM ^
I thought Jake Ryan was moved to DE? Or did I completely make that up?
November 13th, 2010 at 9:38 AM ^
You are correct, Ryan is now a DE
November 13th, 2010 at 10:02 AM ^
Do you have a link or information. I must of missed this one and I don't miss much in changes. Bell is now DE but I haven't heard of of Jake. He doesn't have Roh speed or RVB frame. Paskorz is a different story because he can carry more
November 13th, 2010 at 10:15 AM ^
Wait..Ike Bell and Jake Ryan are both DE's? Who besides Demens can play MLB??
November 13th, 2010 at 10:50 AM ^
I hadn't heard about Bell.. but urg it was on the front page a while ago let me see if I can find it
EDIT: Found it, from the glorious mouth of Misgopon?
November 13th, 2010 at 10:06 AM ^
I haven't heard a peep of him moving on the premium sites and I was planning on him playing next year at LB.
We don't have any other depth at LB do we? Mike Jones will be back and who else?
November 13th, 2010 at 10:56 AM ^
Jake has not moved.
November 13th, 2010 at 11:02 AM ^
We need to go on a hunt for a legitimate source here. Things are going both way, but the most reputable source I can find is Misgopon. He's a smart guy with all he does, but I'm not sure he has the insider info that a Tim or Brian has.
November 13th, 2010 at 12:57 AM ^
With only 2 true LB positions available, it seems that Demens has one spot locked down and hopefully Marvin will be playing the Mouton position.
November 13th, 2010 at 3:22 AM ^
Assuming that he recovers fully from his broken leg Mike Jones would be the clear front runner to replace Mouton as he was pushing for PT this year and will only be a RS Soph. next year. Hopefully lots of competition for that spot from the upperclassmen Fitz and Herron, but methinks that the real push will come from younger guys like Bell, Furman and Ryan (if he has not moved to DE), and maybe even K. Jones as per the OP. Perhaps Marvin stays at Bandit where he could be beastly one day.
November 13th, 2010 at 6:30 AM ^
Well, I heard that Marvin was moved yet again, and is now currently behind Vinopal. I really wish they would kid jerking with the kid, find him a position, and let him learn it.
November 13th, 2010 at 7:22 AM ^
But I haven't given up the ghost on Josh Furman as a WLB. He'd need to put on like 20 pounds, but what else are redshirt years for?
November 13th, 2010 at 7:36 AM ^
Yeah, I think he will be either WLB or Sam. He's 6'2 208 now. I suspect he will probably be around 220 by next year. That should be fine.
November 13th, 2010 at 8:32 AM ^
Especially if the coaches have been comfortable giving MRob (203) and Mike Jones (208) time there.
November 13th, 2010 at 10:18 AM ^
Obviously the coaches know much better and I understand that the WLB is expected to be protected from blockers by the DL, but 200-220 lbs still just seems too light.
The 240ish and 250ish that Mouton and Demens, respectively, play at is ideal. This assumes that the other guys can get up to that weight and still have Mouton's and Demens's speed.
I'm hoping Mike Jones and/or Josh Furman gain 20 to 30 lbs and still maintains quickness and speed (same hope for Roh).
At the same time, I would assume this is the natural physical development you would see in college athletes; the only difference is that they would be sitting on the bench while they get bigger rather than playing on the field while they are still developing physically.
November 13th, 2010 at 10:38 AM ^
.......misunderstandings about player's weights for awhile now, particularly with the LBs. The typical NFL LB is around 240 even, with some teams employing no one above that weight. It's rare to have an Urlacher type who goes 6'4", 258-260#, or a Ray Lewis who goes 6'1-2", upper 250# range. Many very good LBs playing today are merely around 6'1", 230#.
Weight has little to do with a LBs success. It is more the athleticism and instincts that prevail to make a good LB. If someone is in the 220# range but is athletic enough and has the instincts needed, they will be successful in college.
Even the range of weights for DE is misleading at times. There are many very good DEs in the NFL who don't go much higher in weight than the LBs. Think Mathis and Freeney for the Colts. Adding weight does not make the player better by itself.
November 13th, 2010 at 9:17 AM ^
My understanding is that he came in raw at the position, so I wouldn't read anything if he's low on the depth chart next year. Given that you can't teach (much) raw speed, it's reason to be hopeful.
November 13th, 2010 at 7:35 AM ^
My thought on the LBs: I'm going to assume we see 3 LBs on the field most often. I'll probably be way off, but I'd guess it will go something like this:
MLB:
DEMENS
Bell
Kellen Jones
(Desmond Morgan if he commits)
WLB:
MIKE JONES
Herron
Fitzgerald
Ryan
(Kinard if he qualifies)
SLB:
CAM GORDON
Thomas Gordon
Hawthorne
Furman
(Frost if he commits)
November 13th, 2010 at 8:26 AM ^
When Kellen came up for his visit, GERG told him that he'd like him as a WLB/Mouton kind of guy. Whether GERG will be around long enough to instate this plan or not remains to be seen, but that's the plan as of right now
November 13th, 2010 at 8:31 AM ^
I thought what they said was they'd like to play him at BOTH Mouton's position and MLB.
November 13th, 2010 at 9:29 AM ^
That's what they told him in the summer, when he came in for the MSU game, GERG said Mouton's position
November 13th, 2010 at 9:53 AM ^
My concern is..balance. I've been stressing balance in recruiting all year, because I think this staff has got this team really out of whack and we need to start fixing it . Demens is a MLB, so is Bell. Who else? We've got like 10 other LBs and I dont see any that can or will play MLB. Some have said Jake Ryan, but I have my doubts. Thats why I was thinking Kellen would be a good fit there if he had the skills to play it. We have a ton of guys who could play Moutons position. I guess we really do need to get Desmond Morgan. Speaking of Bell..he has not played this year. Injured or not good enough to see the field yet?
November 13th, 2010 at 10:46 AM ^
There's no need to throw a RS Fr in there when we clearly have a very capable player in Demens. I thought I had seen him on special teams, but I could be wrong. I think the offer to Desmond Morgan came through because the staff is searching for a true MLB prospect in this class. The only ones that I can think we're recruiting are VA LB Curtis Grant, MI LB Desmond Morgan, KY LB Lamar Dawson, VA LB Travis Hughes (although he's eliminated us), and potentially FL LB Darryl Monroe. The increased interest shown by the staff in Morgan and Monroe is probably a result of decreased interest in Dawson/Grant/Hughes
November 13th, 2010 at 8:07 AM ^
November 13th, 2010 at 8:27 AM ^
Those wouldn't be a problem unless he were to (God forbid) receive another rough head blow
November 13th, 2010 at 9:42 AM ^
Playing LB it would seem like he would.
November 13th, 2010 at 10:48 AM ^
At linebacker, he'd be giving them. If he plays smart, he wouldn't have to give them at all, so maybe it can be avoided entirely. I can't think of many situations where linebackers would have their head impacted without initiating the contact
November 13th, 2010 at 9:31 AM ^
Solid LB prospect, very good at blitzing and finding the ball carrier, potential to play early. It will be interesting to see who starts at linebacker next to Demens next year.