Should TJ Jones move to the slot in 2012?

[IrishLax]

Me and the 2 other Irish alums in the offense discussed this for awhile today without a conclusion. So I open it up to all of you now.

I think the answer is a resounding "YES". Toma is a very skilled player and adds a good dimension to the offense. BUT I really don't think he is an every down player. I think he's very, very limited in what he can do going down the field. TJ Jones, IMO, is too diminutive to be an every-down outside WR because he also lacks true "explosion" like a Steve Smith has. But he is quick and a great route runner and could be very effective in the slot. I think he could go from a "meh" player to a "wow" player there. Plus, this would allow DaVaris Daniels and Deontay Greenberry to get on the field next year.

The argument being presented against that from my co-workers is that you don't move a guy from a position he's been playing for 2 years just for the heck of it. That it makes his progression basically useless.

Thoughts?

 

[NDPhilly]

I was just thinking about this today. Kelly is going to want to have his best players on the field at the same time. Id like to see it happen but idk if Kelly will change his position after 2 years.

 

[OCIrish]

Sorry, Lax....I just haven't seen much progression out of TJ this season. I'd say a move to the bench would be better suited maybe.

 

[die4irish]

no because he drops every ball over the middle ( scared of getting hit) but he catches the out pattern pretty well.

 

[raiseherGOLSONblue]

I'd like to see Toma and TJ in the slot. I think Theo can play wherever he wants and although TJ hasn't shown much progression this season he's also been through a lot w/ the loss of his father just before the season started. Things like that can really make it tough to focus I'm sure. I truly would like to see him succeed but he needs a big spring.

 

[IrishinSyria]

I think TJ was just a non-read for Tommy after USF. First thing I noticed when Hendrix came in was that TJ suddenly became a target. Tough to say where he'd do best if the ball's never going his way, that being said, I do think moving him to the slot makes sense, makes space on the outside for some of our Floyd-replacements.

 

[arrowryan]

Yeah, TJ needs to be moved to the bench. Toma is without a doubt our best slot receiver

 

[sportallyr]

I know this is not the answer to your question, but he needs to learn how to catch the ball consistently or he's going to find himself on the bench next year! He made some excellent catches this year, but he also dropped a whole bunch of easy ones. TJ is a player that I was extremely high on when we stole him from Stanford and I have been very disappointed with every aspect of his game thus far. With that said, the staff obviously sees something special in him since he continues to start, so I still have faith that he could still be a great player for the Irish.

Now that I got that out, I'll answer your question. I think TJ needs to stay on the outside because we need his experience there. Whether or not he would be better suited for the slot, we have 2 players returning next year with slot experience in Toma and Riddick and TJ is really the only returning guy that has played extensively on the outside. I also really like Toma in the slot and expect him to have a really good senior year. If Davaris and one of the freshman come in and play like we expect them to, then I could see TJ moving into the slot for his senior year.

 

[Grahambo]

I agree with moving him to the slot. A lot depends on how much Daniels and Dee are ready to handle the outside though. TJ looks to be more of a possession receiver then a true downfield burner. His listed height and weight also profile him better in the slot then the outside. I think he can be more of a Steve Smith. Think former NY Giants and current Eagles WR then the Panthers one.

 

[Grahambo]

I think TJ was just a non-read for Tommy after USF. First thing I noticed when Hendrix came in was that TJ suddenly became a target. Tough to say where he'd do best if the ball's never going his way, that being said, I do think moving him to the slot makes sense, makes space on the outside for some of our Floyd-replacements.

Many times this year a ball should have been thrown towards him yet he went ignored.

 

[Fan of the Irish]

I think it would be a smart move to put him at slot receiver. It's not a waste of 2 years because it's not like he's moving to a totally different position. I just don't think he has the size to be our every down wr.

 

[ErieIrish13]

I'm not gonna say he should be benched, because that's ridiculous. He hasn't impressed me this year, but I put some of the blame on the QB situation. Last night, I saw him wide open on 2 or 3 plays and the ball isn't thrown to him. He has talent, and we saw that his freshman year. I think him playing the slot would be better for him and I wouldn't have a problem with it. But what happens to Toma and Riddick? Does Theo stay at RB?

 

[Grahambo]

Would love to see Luke Massa step up and take the outside a la The Shark. Dude is listed at 6'4 and 220. I have absolutely zero idea how he is taking to the position but hope for the best.

With the news that Westerkamp is likely to flip, I think TJ might be best served in the slot with Toma there to spell him.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Sorry, Lax....I just haven't seen much progression out of TJ this season. I'd say a move to the bench would be better suited maybe.

Wow really? SMH

To answer Lax question I say give him a shot in the slot during the spring.

 

[Grahambo]

I'm not gonna say he should be benched, because that's ridiculous. He hasn't impressed me this year, but I put some of the blame on the QB situation. Last night, I saw him wide open on 2 or 3 plays and the ball isn't thrown to him. He has talent, and we saw that his freshman year. I think him playing the slot would be better for him and I wouldn't have a problem with it. But what happens to Toma and Riddick? Does Theo stay at RB?

I think Riddick stays at RB. Behind Wood, he is the only one with real experience. Cam McDaniel, Cam Roberson (busted knee), Mahone, and Russell are the other choices.

We also can't forget that his father passed away near the start of the season. Gotta be hard especially being far away from home.

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

If only he could take out the variable of catching the ball with his hands. I think he's more likely to catch it with his teeth.

 

[BeauBenken]

Personally, I saw TJ as a slot receiver when he first got here, but that's just me.

 

[IrishLax]

Talking about Riddick... I'm 99% sure he stays at RB... he's very talented.

 

[Patulski]

I hope Kelly opens up his offense with Golsen and Atkinson playing major roles, where we go to being a true multiple threat offense, with Atkinson playing a Percy Harvin role, sometimes running out of a two set backfield, sometimes taking option pitches and reverses from a slot receiver position, sometimes catching passes out of the backfield, sometimes from the slot.
We were way too conservative this year, and I hope Kelly opens the offense up to being multi dimensional.

 

[Grahambo]

Talking about Riddick... I'm 99% sure he stays at RB... he's very talented.

Agree with that and the few carries he did get, he looked like he had an extra pep in his step. He also was hitting the hole pretty hard for a small guy.

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

Talking about Riddick... I'm 99% sure he stays at RB... he's very talented.

Agree here completely. Tiny Dancer Wood should take notes and see what it's like to run North-South without performing a Can-Can in the backfield before deciding to turn it up.

 

[tadman95]

I was at the Wake Forest game. TJ was open a lot with no looks. Couldn't hear the conversation on the sidelines but he seemed pretty fired up about not getting looks.

Of course what receiver is not always open.

Seriously, I was surprised how many times he and Riddick both were not looked at. He'll be fine with a QB willing to look past the first 1-2 reads. Love Floyd but his graduation may actually force the offense to open up a little more.

 

[returnofthemack]

I don't care where TJ moves, but Toma needs to be on the field. Unless Eifert comes back, Toma is the only proven go-getter in the receiving corps.

And regarding Cierre dancing around, I think it's a product of how good Jonas was. Because of his north-south power running, Cierre could afford to dance around looking for holes. At the beginning of the season, he was running with authority. I have no doubt he'll return to that form next season.

 

[Buster Bluth]

Sorry, Lax....I just haven't seen much progression out of TJ this season. I'd say a move to the bench would be better suited maybe.

In favor of whom?

 

[irishff1014]

I agree with you IrishLax. TJ has the speed to run the crossing route quickly. Defenes wont be able to cover him with a linebacker cause thats a battle thats lost fro the get go. He has good hands not great. If DD and Eifert can stretch the field it is going to leave alot of chances for Jones just to sit in the 8-12 yards box from the line. Sounds like a really good idea to us though. But one thing i do think will happen is they are going to man up with DD until he proves to other teams that they have to use a CB and S on him.

 

[rtrn2glory]

YES HE SHOULD

 

[STLcardz-NDirish]

Dont know why we everyone is so high on Toma, yeah hes tough an can catch a ball, but lacks speed and wont make you miss. We need our best players on field at all times. which means riddick needs to take slot back. jones and smith/daniels on outsides. effiert at TE and wood at RB. with our front 7 on D. Thats the speed and playmaking ability on O and the strength and athleticism on D that championship caliber teams have.

 

[IrishLax]

See... the thing with Toma is that he is incredibly effective at certain things. But he is simply not big/athletic enough to make other plays.

For instance, he's never going to beat someone deep from that position... so that threat is completely off the table when he's on the field. His height makes it such that he basically has to beat his man underneath or find a soft spot in a zone to make a catch.

He's never going to be a dominant player like Wes Welker because he doesn't have the size, speed, strength or athleticism. He does have quickness and agility and can be a very effective situational receiver. He's not an every down player. That's just my opinion though.

I think TJ Jones has the best chance to be an every-down kind of guy in the slot next year. What can Toma do that TJ can't? The only thing I can think of is that Toma definitely has more consistent hands than TJ... who has a bad case of the dropsies sometimes.

 

[irishbird]

See... the thing with Toma is that he is incredibly effective at certain things. But he is simply not big/athletic enough to make other plays.

For instance, he's never going to beat someone deep from that position... so that threat is completely off the table when he's on the field. His height makes it such that he basically has to beat his man underneath or find a soft spot in a zone to make a catch.

He's never going to be a dominant player like Wes Welker because he doesn't have the size, speed, strength or athleticism. He does have quickness and agility and can be a very effective situational receiver. He's not an every down player. That's just my opinion though.

I think TJ Jones has the best chance to be an every-down kind of guy in the slot next year. What can Toma do that TJ can't? The only thing I can think of is that Toma definitely has more consistent hands than TJ... who has a bad case of the dropsies sometimes.

Irishlax do you think Russell can be start at slot next year? How likely we land someone who can if he can't?

 

[TerryTate]

Russell can definitely play slot. Don't know about next year though. Hell certainly be a factor later in the year