For the previous three games, the Las Vegas Raiders have been playing some of their finest defensive football of the season. After 15 games this season, the Raiders defense is presently ranked ninth in the National Football League by Pro Football Focus.
Cornerback Jack Jones is one underappreciated guy who has been instrumental in the Raiders’ defense during the last two games.
Jones spent two seasons with the New England Patriots before being signed in the middle of the season to give the Raiders secondary extra depth.
In just four games this season, Jones has contributed 15 total tackles, 13 solo, two passes defended, and one pick-six touchdown to the Raiders’ defense.
Patrick Graham speaks about Jack Jones
On Tuesday, Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham had a chance to address the media about Jones and discuss his thoughts following his incredible pick-six interception against the Los Angeles Chargers the previous week. He said ,
“I probably watched it four to six times. And did I think he had it in him? Yeah. I mean, good player. He studied the tape and, again, we go back to that four by one, I’ll let somebody else tell that story. But the four by one, that’s something that we’ve seen from that coordinator since his time at Dallas, and they put Zeke (Ezekiel Elliot) out at one, or it was just different things.”
He further added “We’ve seen that play and we talked about that play. And I think he did a good job of reading it and trusting his instincts, but did I think he had it in him? Yes. I mean, he’s an instinctual football player and we try to encourage that as much as possible. Now, the one-handed catch that looked like the Michael Jordan kiss the rim (dunk)? That’s what I saw. When I kept rewinding it, it made me think of how he caught it, it was like MJ on the kiss the rim dunk. I’m probably just talking, I’m old, but like that’s what it reminded me of, and I said that that would be a real cool poster just like the kiss the rim (dunk) poster was pretty cool.”
Jones will continue to be a factor in the Silver and Black defense, so keep an eye on him during the next three games.