Green Bay Packers first-round pick Datone Jones has been decent the past two games, registering three sacks, including two against Philadelphia.
That being said, he’s still only a part-time player and was invisible earlier in the season. The Packers are using him as an inside rusher on passing downs and Jones is getting around 20 snaps a game.
Part of the reason for that seems to be that Jones hasn’t adapted to the NFL very well. Mike Vandermause did a story on Jones on Friday and here’s the telling comment from defensive line coach Mike Trgovac.
“He’s not a one-time get-it kind of guy but he’s not a defiant kid at all,” Trgovac said. “He wants to learn. He uses the vets in our room as sponges. Him and I meet every morning early in the morning and he takes it all in. He’s a very coachable kid.”
Coachable is good, but not being able to pick things up quickly says, well… not too bright? At least that’s what it says to me. Coach Mike McCarthy talked about Jones’ consistency, or lack thereof.
“I think Datone’s getting better, and we need him,” said McCarthy after Jones’ two-sack game against Philadelphia on Sunday. “He needs to get a lot better, too. He’s got ability. He does some things well, but he needs to be more consistent Monday through Saturday, and I think it will help him on Sunday. I was very proud of some of things he did (Sunday). We need more.”
The positive here is Jones isn’t pretending he knows it all. He’s also heard the criticism and is using it somewhat for motivation. That’s where you get the “coachable” term from. Hopefully, he continues to progress and generate pass rush for the Packers. They certainly can use it.