The Chicago Bears offensive line had its best game of the season against the Green Bay Packers. Justin Fields wasn’t sacked and only got hit once all afternoon. A big part of this success came from rookie left tackle Braxton Jones. Many have said the 5th round pick has played with some inconsistencies this year. That is true. However, things have started coming together for him. The last month proves it. People may not want to watch the tape. So let’s accommodate them by strictly sticking to the numbers.
Through the first nine games of his career, Jones allowed 28 pressures including five sacks on the quarterback. Over the last four games, he has allowed four pressures and no sacks. Now many people will say the Bears probably masked him with lots of play action, bootlegs, and extra blocking help. In those four games, Jones played 40 true pass set snaps. These plays were purely one-on-one against his often more experienced opponents. He allowed four pressures.
If that weren’t impressive enough, Jones is also their second-highest graded run blocker this season. Only Teven Jenkins has been better.
Braxton Jones hasn’t been facing scrubs, either.
He’s held his own against an array of talented pass rushers. It started with #2 overall pick Aidan Hutchinson four weeks ago. Then there was Carl Lawson of the Jets, who’d had 4.5 sacks in his past seven games before facing Jones. Last but certainly not least was Preston Smith. The Packers defensive end has given the Bears fits for years. Remember, he had two sacks in the previous meeting three months ago. Not this time. He failed to record a single pressure the entire game. Much of that was because of Jones.
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People will continue finding ways to nitpick him. That is the nature of this business. Still, what the Bears have gotten from Braxton Jones this season is nothing short of miraculous. This kid went from a 1-10 Southern Utah team in the FCS to starting for an NFL franchise in a span of months. The craziest part is it didn’t come about by accident. He earned the job by outworking and outperforming everybody else. Jones looks like he belongs on that field. If he’s this effective already, one can only imagine how much better he can get with more experience and better conditioning.
Jones has looked much better the last 4 games. This is good. What is bad is that Reiff and Schofield were signed to come in and be the starters and they came in and gagged. This forced unproven players to become starters.
This could’ve been a lot worse everyone. 3-9 is bad but these games could’ve been blood baths
Love me some Braxton Jones!
I love that hes a rookie and 5th round pick. Give him an NFL offseason to bulk up and lets see what he can do. Hopefully Leatherwood can be the answer at right tackle or guard and this OL will be much more serviceable next year. Honestly, I could see the first 3 picks being devoted to DL and WR for next year. That is were this team is really deficient.
a WIN for Poles, DA bears and ALL of us FANS of the Bears!! Way to go coaches(recognized the talent), Poles(same…. and getting him in the 5th round…OUSTANDING) and most of all Braxton. I say “good for you young man!” Welcome to Chi’ town… BEAR DOWN!! “Got yourself some ‘cheeeeeze’ “. lol
The eye test does say that Jones is improving but I’ll look for a more seasoned, rational evaluation of this player elsewhere. And by the way, pointing out weaknesses is not nit picking; it’s honest evaluation. Acknowledging players’/coaches’ faults does not mean we are bad or fair-weather fans – just that we’re not drinking the Kool-Aid.