Jones to play middle linebacker for Falcons
FLOWERY BRANCH — Falcons second round draft pick Deion Jones is slated to play middle linebacker, according head coach Dan Quinn.
Middle linebacker Paul Worrilow, who has led the team in tackles the pass three seasons, has struggled in coverage. Worrilow had a 104.6 efficiency rating in coverage by profootballfocus.com last season.
Jones ran the 40-yard dash in 4.38 second at LSU’s Pro Day.
Quinn has repeatedly talked about getting faster on defense this offseason.
He was a finalist for the Butkus Award and was the Tigers leading tackler and defensive most valuable player last season.
Jones believes he can cover running backs coming out of the back field in the NFL.
“Yes, I think I have the skill set to help (out on) running backs,” Jones said. “We did a lot of that with the running back pattern and a lot of man-to-man (at LSU).”
He played mostly weakside linebacker in college.
The Falcons also have LaRoy Reynolds on the roster at middle linebacker.
About the Author
Honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his "long and distinguished reporting in the field of pro football," D. Orlando Ledbetter, Esq. has covered the NFL 28 seasons. A graduate of Howard University, he's a winner of Georgia Sportswriter of the Year and three Associated Press Sports Editor awards.
