New Dolphin Jones unfazed by potshot
 

New Dolphin Jones unfazed by potshot

BARRY JACKSON

bjackson@herald.com


As the Heat commands our attention, the Dolphins this week begin their final nine days of offseason ''practices.'' Some buzz from Davie:

• One of the offseason's most surprising developments was New Orleans coach Jim Haslett ripping safety Tebucky Jones after Miami signed him. To refresh, Haslett said: ``He doesn't have very good ball skills. He struggles in space. I don't know why he can't catch a ball. It's the oddest thing I've seen. I think [ Nick Saban] took him because they didn't really have anybody else.''

Responding publicly for the first time, Jones conceded ''it's surprising'' Haslett would rip him like that. ``But I [know Haslett's] character. From being there two years, I already knew what kind of person he was, and the defensive coordinator [ Rick Venturi], too. . . . You see his character by the way he said the whole championship Pittsburgh Steeler team was taking steroids. . . . He can say what he wants. I don't care.''

(Haslett indicated in March that the 1970s Steelers teams pioneered NFL steroid use -- a claim the team denied.)

Jones, who played for Bill Belichick in New England, said Saban's and Belichick's demeanors and approaches are very similar. ''A big difference from New Orleans,'' he said. Saban ``teaches a lot.''

Jones, a seven-year veteran, never has intercepted more than two passes in a season. But he's a solid tackler, and the Dolphins believe he can help against the run, an area where Miami ranked 31st of 32 teams last year.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald...s/11818706.htm

RE: New Dolphin Jones unfazed by potshot
 

He didn't do too bad last year at tackling but I guess this guy didn't watch TJ any the year before when he made only about half the tackles he should have.

Let's review on Tesucky Jones. When we offered to trade New England for him Belichek was GIDDY, ELATED(his own words from Patriot Reign). He said Tescuky was dumb as a bag of rocks, and they were gonna cut him until we bailed them out with what, a 3rd round pick? Well, we know who won that one.

Two interceptions? As a guy that started every game for two years? Had to go to tackling school. Can't really argue about what he says on Haslett and Venturi not being teachers though. Does it seem like anyone DEVELOPS when they get here? Or does it seem like certain players just work hard and enhance the abilities they already had? Hell, some players have regressed. I won't disagree with him there. What they will do though, is get someone else to teach you cause they can't. Brooks' leadership classes, Tesucky's tackling school, Stallworth's conditioning program to avoid injury.

If air was a player, he crushed it.

in all fairness to haslet and venturi, this is a professional league...maybe they just dont baby players-especially ones who continue to gaff on tackles. tackling being something you should have learned in high school. no one can make you learn as they say.

I respect that point of view jbutts, but these guys are still young and not fully developed when they come out of college. rarely do players come in to the NFL at the peak of their ability. Some coaches have a knack for bringing out the best in players, and enbaling them to flourish. Seems like we don't have the kind of teaching ability from our coaches, except maybe Pease. Your comments take the line that players are professionals so they should learn on their own how to get better. That is just flawed. If you graduated from college as a surgeon, should they just allow you to start operating freelance and learn as you go, or do you take residency and study under an established surgeon and gain the skills you need to excel beyond what you learned in school?

agree with ya there whodi, Its also a different game from college to pro the speed, different skills even for the type of game. You just can't come in and be competitive in the league without a learning curve.

thats the truth whodi. i only bring it up since Tebuck is something like 28, old enough to do his homework with out being told so to speak. but youre right, we could use a few more coaches who can not only coach but coach up.

I totally agree on T-Buck. I was just relating it more to rookies and young players, but some of it can be applied to teaching vets to fit your scheme, or making a scheme that fits your players. If T-Buck couldn't learn under Belichek and Crennel, well, that says enough right there. He was never gonna get it here. But outside of Pease, and hopefully the guys we added in the offseason, I don't trust the coaching up to come from Haz or Venturi. That's all I was saying.

Add Tebucky Jones to an ever-growing list of former Saints players who have questioned Haslett, Venturi, and/or Mickey Loomis.

I'm sure that Tebucky is just as crazy as Turley right? Just a disgruntled player... the fact that he said that Saban was like Bellicheck and Haslett is not must be untrue. [sigh]

I disagree that noone has improved here. Take a look at Fakhir Brown. He's definitely improved the last couple of years. LeCharles Bentley, Delhomme when he was here, Darren Howard (remember, he was good before Pease arrived), and I don't think anyone would argue that Joe Horn hasn't exceeded here what he did prior to arriving. I'm not the biggest Haz fan, but players on this level shouldn't have to be coached to wrap up on tackles, there's not much technique to looking the ball into your hands, so I'm going to have to give the staff the benefit of the doubt on this one. Now if your talking about being good gameday tacticians, now we can slam the crap out of the coaches all day.......

I'm not sure, but did anyone say noone has improved here? I thought for sure I at least said some players have worked hard and gotten better. And Fakhir would prob be at best a nickel in most places. Seriously. Just cause he is the second best we have doesn't really say much. He's not gonna be in any pro bowls any time soon. And they are talking about replacing him with Craft.

I do not really care for Tebcucky Jones but I do not understand why Haslett is now taking shots at him and indirectly at the Dolphins. I don't know who pulled the trigger on the trade for Tebucky but it happened on Haslett's watch.
I think releasing him in the offseason pretty much speaks volumes about how the Saints felt about him. There is no need for Haslett to further justify the move with his comments. Tebucky's weaknesses were hidden in a great New England defense who gave him limited assignments which allowed him to roam free. As we all know, the Saints defense is in stark contrast to the Patriots. The past few years if you were a saftey for the Saints you stay very busy. The lack of a supporting cast exposed Tebucky for the below-average player that he is. Prehaps, Haslett should have noticed that Tebucky was a product of the New England system when they made the trade. You cannot be shocked when you bring in sub-par players and they preform sub-par. For a coach who has pretty much flown under the radar the past few years, Haslett sure has no problem being vocal this off-season on subjects that are in the past(Steelers Steroid Use). He needs to quit answering questions no one asked him and focus on the task at hand.

What else would TJ say? Haslet ripped him. He's not just going to say how nice the guy is after that. So he blasts him back. You just have to question his motive for saying it, which puts a questionable aspect on its genuiness.

The same goes for Turley and a few others. Why listen to the ones with the biggest motives for slamming the org?

I'm not questioning what TJ said, I'm questioning why Haslett said what he did.

Because if you're trashing the coach(s) regularly these guys fall right in line with your tactics. Nevermind the circumstances. Filter out what fits and use it. Been going on here for years! ;)

I subscribe to the "you're in the NFL and should have a clue about catching the ball, making tackles, keeping your personal life in order, and keeping your temper in check" theory, but some appear to think these things are the job(s) of the head coach.

I kinda agree with Dmac.....Tasucky might have been a pile a steamin dog%#$@....but he was obtained on haz's watch so you're realy makin yourself look bad....(see Sully).....besides I was taught not to air my dirty laundry in public..........just a thought...

It's called PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY........
No coach should be a nursemaid....

i'm just wondering what coaching poor old tebucky needs. it is amazing how the guys that leave complain. wouldn't you expect that. i mean think of the last place you were fired from or let go from that you had a good word of. i mean honestly the guy is in the nfl and he needs coaching. i could understand coaching for the scheme but christ tebucky what else do you need. sounds like tebucky still needs a daddy figure

chaching what about letting go of ricky or turley or joe johnson. what about the drafting of deuce or bentley. how about bringing in horn. what about grant. well maybe you could also include howard from 2000. 2003 picked up holland and zach hilton undrafted. what about karney or smith or watson and bockwoldt. man we have loss some and we have won some. i think there has been mistakes haslett has made. no doubt. but we have brought in some good players under his watch also. lets all just hope for this season. i know it is tough to do with what has happened. but dang maybe we can do something. i'll probabaly be eating my words 5 weeks into the season but im getting ready for this season. i am just starting to think this is the year. so im sure i am wrong. christ i know i am. i can't help it though

I agree with you...I just didn't understand haz puttin sucky on blast like that........I don't recall him rippin Ricky or Turley to the media like that...
I also am hopeful for this season...moreso than the last 2.....

..first, I wouldn't say Tebucky ripped the organization...
When he left. he left... it was Haslett who drew first blood by making the comments he made about Jones... why Haslett continues to bad-mouth players, well... Tebucky responded to Haslett's comments...

..second, if he was always out of position or couldn't catch, I would like to ask Haslett if it really took him 2 FULL YEARS OF TEBUCKY STARTING AT SAFETY to figure this out, and if he figured it out on his own or did someone pointed it out to him... and if he figured it out sooner (or someone told him sooner) why did Tebucky continued to start?

Now those are the important questions TR. Good call.

I have another question though. Do people on here seriously believe players drafted in college have the responsibility solely on themselves to get better? The head coach and position coach have no responsibility on developing them as players? Seriously? Then why are there position coaches and such if a player has the responsibility all on himself to grow? Seems like a bunch of salaries being paid for nothing. Seems to me all you would need is the HC, OC, and DC. Position coaches are really serving no purpose if that is the case cause players have to get it themselves, right? Seriously?

... funny you mention this..

..on another board I got into a similar discussion, but regarding the head coach only.
..here are few things I found out :)

It is not Haslett's responsibility to motivate players
It is not Haslett's responsibility to teach players
The offense is not Haslett's responsibility
The defense is not Haslett's responsibility
Haslett has no saying on who gets drafted
Haslett has no saying on FA signings

..exactly what does Haslett do?

So why do we need coaches TR? Hell, why do we need veterans? Rookies are cheaper and should know everything they need to know already or whatever they need to learn they should simply teach themselves. The way the coach's role in player development is being dismissed, I wonder why they have them anyway? Couldn't a player be smart enough to make plays for the offense and defense? We are wasting a lot of money here. :roll:

Haslett gets a bad rap on player development. Deuce McAllister has developed nicely. Unless you guys think players develop themselves. And I think saintswhodi will stand up for me here?

Charles Grant has developed nicely. Unless you think he developed into a great DE by himself.

Le Charles Bentley has developed into a probowl player. Did he do that by himself?

Joe Horn developed into a pro bowl recevier under Haslett. And the best receiver in Saints' history.

Should I keep going? :wink:

saintswhodi you mad ean excellewnt point. i think i understated the importance of coaching to some extent. i also think though that players get better as they are in the league because of experience. somethings can't be taught. you have to experience them. but your point was excellent and you mad me rethink what i said. i was wrong.

.


players like Grant, Bentley, Deuce, these players weren't "developed" by the Saints... no one is surprised these guys are good players.. they have been good since college...
Charles Grant is a very good DE, not a great one... he's very good at going to the QB, but he still lacks in run support... and honestly, you can't say he's being coached very well... he makes the same mistakes while playing the run every game...

.. you cannot say that LeCharles Bentley "has developed" into a good player. He was a good player when he got here...matter of fact I believe that LeCharles' college coach has more to do with LeCharles success as a player in the NFL than anyone in the Saints organization...

... and Deuce, well, Dulymus is Dulymus... what he does when healthy cannot be taught...

... Horn was already "developed" when he came here.. he just haven't been given a chance to show it..

I agree with you to an extent TR, but I think "development" needs to be broken down into two areas. Development into a sound football player and development from a college football player to an NFL football player.

Those players mentioned were already sound football players, but don't you think the Saints had some role in their development into NFL players or did we just get lucky that they picked up on everything?

A-mac will need both types of development.

Tebucky Jones probably at some point got both but just can't tighten up his basic football skills.

It's hard to say with some players where the deficit lies. Is Grant's lack of run support poor developmental coaching (both types) or maybe he just isn't good at that. We have to remember that no matter how good coaching is, many players will find themselves at the end with deficits. I feel like in a lot of our players, there attitudes (or intellect for that matter) are hindering there dev more than the coaching....Boo may be a prime example here.

All in all, I think are major problems have come from poor attitudes surrounded by a lack of leadership in the past to correct that, poor intellect, and as far as the coaches more in the lines of poor game plan specifically it's inflexibility (not molding to game situations, our players' abilities).

You guys never cease to amaze me. I will not argue for a second that Tebucky Jones didn't have good reason to blast the organization. Of course he did. But does having good reason to snap back mean that what he is saying should be totally discounted? I mean, he's mad so he must be lying through his teeth, right? He is completely making things up that are totally untrue, huh? In my experience, people are most honest when they're mad...

I just don't get why having reason to say negative things translates into lying. In the past, when players complained openly about the coaches and staff while on the team, people on this board blasted them. Kyle Turley and Joe Horn are both good examples. Of course, people are quick to categorize Kyle Turley as an enraged lunatic... nevermind the fact that he complained AS PLAYER REP on behalf of the players on the team about the conditions of the training camp facilities... and nevermind the fact that two years later the team built a new training facility and moved camps there. His complaints were just the ramblings of a crazy person, right? He also said that AB was pampered by the coaching staff. Must be lying there too. And that Joe Horn, he's completely clueless right. He also outwardly complained about coaching staff decisions and AB... but that's not relevant.


You see, you can suggest that players have a reason to bad-mouth a team after they leave, and you'd have a valid point. But isn't it also valid to suggest that players on this team have good reason not to publicly air concerns and criticisms about the staff while on the team? Maybe players voice disapproval after they leave b/c it is the first time that they are able to - it becomes professionally accepatable at that point, and no longer jeopardizes their career or threatens their job security. You can look at the fact that a dozen or so players over the last 5 years have left and all said basically the same things about certain coaches and players and either a) realize that they have reason to be disgruntled but at least take note of the commonality of all the continuous complaints, or b) simply write them all off as disgruntled players who are lying apparently to further the "agenda" of a few fans and analysts. I'll take A, but then I guess I'm the agenda-mongerer, right SF?

I have a question. Was anything Haslett said untrue? He didn't call the guy a loser or an bad person off the field. He said A)Tebucky has bad ball skills CHECK B)Tebucky doesn't play well in space CHECK C)Tebucky can't catch a football CHECK.
I also read an article about T.J. in ESPN the magazine this week. His family live in Connecticut the entire season and he only saw them on the bye week. I think part of the condition of a contract should be that a player must move his family to the city or there is no deal (assuming he has a family). A player cannot play as well only seeing their family 6 months out of the year and I don't care what anyone says to the contrary.

Interesting article on Saban in Miami.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/column...=2084193&num=0

Really liked this quote: Interesting.