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In 2013, Kevin Colbert and the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Jarvis Jones from the University of Georgia in the first round of the NFL Draft with the 17th overall pick. Jones was considered a steal for Pittsburgh after a decorated collegiate career. A 2x All-American who had 28 sacks combined in his junior and senior seasons, merited an early first round selection.
Jarvis Jones (#95). | Joe Sargent / Getty Images
Jones started his college career at USC and suffered a neck injury in his freshman year. It was later diagnosed as spinal stenosis and the USC medical staff would not clear him to play. That’s when he transferred to the University of Georgia and became a star. That diagnosis would haunt him during the draft process and caused his stock to drop based on his production. Many experts predicted he would continue to play at an elevated level in the short term, but his career would be cut short due to his condition.
Colbert, despite the medical concerns, evaluated Jones as a top talent and did not hesitate to select him hoping he would push the aging but productive Jason Worilds. He did not win the starting job in camp and was the primary backup at right outside linebacker. He ended up starting 8 games during his rookie season and only occasionally flashed the ferocious pass rusher we had seen at the college level. Ultimately, he ended up starting 35 games for Pittsburgh from 2013 to 2017 and amassed a total of 6 sacks. He was one of Pittsburgh’s most disappointing first round draft picks under Kevin Colbert. Colbert has had 3 legitimate first round busts in his tenure. All have been on the defensive side of the ball: Evander Hood, Jones, and Artie Burns.
Steeler Nation has long lamented the miss on Dan Marino as a Pitt QB, and I believe in part that was present in Pittsburgh’s thinking that they did not want to miss on another Pitt QB. Colbert is too savvy for that to have been the main reason, but I wonder if the thought of Marino and Jarvis Jones broke the tie. Pittsburgh under Colbert rarely makes the same mistake twice, even the defensive busts were spread across the defensive line, linebacker and defensive backfield.
Travon Walker, Jordan Davis, Quay Walker, and Devonte Wyatt went in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Georgia had one of the best college football defenses in recent memory and Pittsburgh had an opportunity to select one or more of these impressive defenders. However, Jones’ college career was arguably better than this entire group and he could not produce for Pittsburgh. Kevin Colbert’s final draft as Pittsburgh’s General Manager was not about the ghost of quarterback’s past or trying to avoid another defensive bust from the Georgia Bulldogs. He is too smart a talent evaluator for that to be the case. However, Head Coach Mike Tomlin and the new general manager must deal with the repercussions, not Colbert. Kenny Pickett at quarterback will not exorcise the ghost of Dan Marino even if he has a productive NFL career and I hope he does.
Passing on a player from the best collegiate defense of all-time will not show that the Steelers have learned from drafting Jarvis Jones. Perhaps it will just install a new ghost in Steeler Nation’s psyche.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Was Pittsburgh thinking about Marino when they drafted Pickett? Please click to comment below or follow me on Twitter @thebubbasq.
Support SteelerNation by clicking here to read the story..
Jarvis Jones (#95). | Joe Sargent / Getty Images
Jones started his college career at USC and suffered a neck injury in his freshman year. It was later diagnosed as spinal stenosis and the USC medical staff would not clear him to play. That’s when he transferred to the University of Georgia and became a star. That diagnosis would haunt him during the draft process and caused his stock to drop based on his production. Many experts predicted he would continue to play at an elevated level in the short term, but his career would be cut short due to his condition.
Colbert, despite the medical concerns, evaluated Jones as a top talent and did not hesitate to select him hoping he would push the aging but productive Jason Worilds. He did not win the starting job in camp and was the primary backup at right outside linebacker. He ended up starting 8 games during his rookie season and only occasionally flashed the ferocious pass rusher we had seen at the college level. Ultimately, he ended up starting 35 games for Pittsburgh from 2013 to 2017 and amassed a total of 6 sacks. He was one of Pittsburgh’s most disappointing first round draft picks under Kevin Colbert. Colbert has had 3 legitimate first round busts in his tenure. All have been on the defensive side of the ball: Evander Hood, Jones, and Artie Burns.
Steeler Nation has long lamented the miss on Dan Marino as a Pitt QB, and I believe in part that was present in Pittsburgh’s thinking that they did not want to miss on another Pitt QB. Colbert is too savvy for that to have been the main reason, but I wonder if the thought of Marino and Jarvis Jones broke the tie. Pittsburgh under Colbert rarely makes the same mistake twice, even the defensive busts were spread across the defensive line, linebacker and defensive backfield.
Tony Dungy shares the private reason why Steelers former head coach Chuck Noll passed on Dan Marino
Travon Walker, Jordan Davis, Quay Walker, and Devonte Wyatt went in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Georgia had one of the best college football defenses in recent memory and Pittsburgh had an opportunity to select one or more of these impressive defenders. However, Jones’ college career was arguably better than this entire group and he could not produce for Pittsburgh. Kevin Colbert’s final draft as Pittsburgh’s General Manager was not about the ghost of quarterback’s past or trying to avoid another defensive bust from the Georgia Bulldogs. He is too smart a talent evaluator for that to be the case. However, Head Coach Mike Tomlin and the new general manager must deal with the repercussions, not Colbert. Kenny Pickett at quarterback will not exorcise the ghost of Dan Marino even if he has a productive NFL career and I hope he does.
Passing on a player from the best collegiate defense of all-time will not show that the Steelers have learned from drafting Jarvis Jones. Perhaps it will just install a new ghost in Steeler Nation’s psyche.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Was Pittsburgh thinking about Marino when they drafted Pickett? Please click to comment below or follow me on Twitter @thebubbasq.
Support SteelerNation by clicking here to read the story..
