San Francisco 49ers: Who is nose tackle D.J. Jones?
By Peter Panacy
Niner Noise’s annual “Who Is” series on San Francisco 49ers players in 2017 continues with a look at rookie nose tackle D.J. Jones and his potential fit on the roster this upcoming season.
The San Francisco 49ers looked to reinforce their defensive line and add some starting potential by selecting former Mississippi defensive tackle D.J. Jones in Round 6, No. 198 overall, in the 2017 NFL Draft.
Jones, a two-year starter at Ole Miss, racked up 70 tackles — 8.5 of them for a loss — and six sacks during his collegiate tenure.
At 6-foot-0 and 321 pounds, the 22-year-old Jones figures to be a primary backup for veteran nose tackle Earl Mitchell, whom the Niners inked this offseason.
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Generated 6/9/2017.
49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh prefers his nose tackles to be of the short-and-stubby type. Jones’ body fits this mold perfectly, and the Niners will look to him to be a solid depth addition this season.
Jones could even turn into a starter, especially considering Mitchell has an injury history.
So what should we expect out of the rookie pickup this season, and what are his chances to make the 53-man roster?
San Francisco 49ers
Why He’ll Improve
Jones’ frame means dislodging him would be similar to tackling a tree stump.
And that’s how Jones plays — low to the ground and with a wide base. This kind of play is essential against the run, and Jones’ 32.5-inch arm length suggests he’ll have little problem stuffing runs up the middle.
This is exactly what NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein said about him in his draft-profile breakdown:
"Extended tackle radius allows him to close out running lanes away from his gap. Keeps hounding runners down the field for the tackle. Instinctive and quickly sniffs out screen passes."
It’s also good to know Jones graded out positively last season, according to Pro Football Focus, against both the run and the pass.
As a one-gap technique player, Jones would be a natural fit, using his low leverage to get below centers and guards and into the backfield.
Why He’ll Regress
While Jones’ production, physique and fit all look about right, questions do exist about his motor and durability.
Zierlein also quoted one anonymous SEC scout, who was concerned Jones “ran out of gas” late in the year last season.
Despite six collegiate stats — decent enough for an interior lineman — Jones likely won’t offer much in the pass rush at the NFL level. At best, the Niners would have to use him in situations strictly pertaining to his skill set.
And those might be limited, considering the 49ers have more versatile defensive linemen ahead of him on the depth chart.
Don’t expect Jones to double out as anything but a nose tackle either. This lack of versatility could be a reason San Francisco doesn’t spend too much time investing in him.
What to Expect in 2017
The Niners won’t ask Jones to see a large number of snaps this season. That only happens if Mitchell winds up suffering a long-term injury and if Jones can wind up overtaking fellow defensive tackle Chris Jones on the depth chart.
And the latter Jones appears to be making huge strides during OTAs, as we broke down earlier.
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D.J. Jones does have the advantage of being a workable piece within Saleh’s defense. The rookie stands a good chance to make the 53-man roster. Even if he doesn’t, the practice squad is almost assuredly a destination if he can clear waivers.
The former seems the most likely though. Even with the numerous depth pieces San Francisco already has along its D-line, Jones does offer the kind of run-stopping prowess the Niners sorely lacked last season.
Next: 5 key 49ers defensive stats to watch in 2017
It wouldn’t be a shock to see Jones overtake Mitchell on the depth chart a couple of years down the line as the former looks to cement a solid role within the 49ers defense.