Braxton Jones Has Regressed & Bears Drafted Kiran Amegadjie

Don't be too hard on yourself about getting emotionally involved in the games. Fan is short for fanatic right?

Your original opinion on Jones is well founded. He gets bull rushed back into the pocket. Go back to those earlier games, watch the QB analysis videos (I like All Things QB on YouTube.) but pay attention to Jones.

Then whatever it is we think of him, I have not seen a good argument to give him a big second contract.

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Hopefully we see him continue to improve these 11 games that are left.  Even the best LT's have a percentage of bad plays.  Brax has only allowed 1 sack for the season so far.  He has improved the penalty problem he had, and is doing much better there.  And I've watched a lot of the tackles this season from a lot of teams - they all are trying to have a hair-trigger when facing these crazy quick D edge rushers.  I get it, this is a different world than what NFL tackles faced years ago. 

I pulled up All Pro Trent Williams stats for this season so far for comparison with Brax.  They've had about the same number of snaps so far.  Both have allowed 1 sack so far this season.  Brax has 1 more penalty than Williams (5 versus 4).  Brax has allowed 1 less hit on the QB.  Williams has allowed 12 pressures to Jones' 17. 

We get frustrated seeing a play where the defender gets the best of our LT (understandably so).  But right now in the NFL the defenders are off-the-charts quick and powerful - no LT is going to win much better than what we are seeing with Braxton Jones.  The top T in the draft was Joe Alt.  Brax's pass pro grade is higher than his.  The next T drafted at 11th overall pick of the draft, Olumuyiwa Fashanu  has a pass pro grade over 30 points lower than Brax.  The top T drafted in Brax's draft class, Ikem Ekwonu, has more penalties than Brax and roughly the same pass pro grade and allowed one more hit on the QB than Brax.

I'm thinking I'll try really hard to wait until the end of this 3rd season before I make up my mind on the guy.  I know we are critical of PFF, but I still check out their grades on players (and take them with a grain of salt).  As of today, PFF has both Brax and Wright graded in the upper-half of NFL tackles.  They grade LT's and RT's together... so 64 starting T's.  Brax is at #24 and Wright at #26.  That seems about right to me as far as the eye test too.  Both are young tackles still learning their craft.  Neither is a stud, but neither blows chunks either.  That both would be graded in the upper-half of the NFL seems reasonable at this point.

To be 100% honest, I'm a LOT more concerned about the interior three offensive line positions than I am of either of our tackles.  And it isn't even close.  Would I pay Braxton Jones as our LT for the next 4 years?  I don't know.  But by the end of the season we'll know.  I'm going to personally try to not over-react with him either way, good or bad.  LOL, I came unglued when he struggled in that one game.  I can't imagine how it will be when he allows his 2nd sack this season... we'll be jumping off the ledges              

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And that is why I'm personally trying to wait until the season is in the books before making up my mind regarding Caleb, Brax, Odunze etc - and really the coaches and players on both sides of the ball.  LOL, but I am not very successful doing that.  I go ballistic (both up and down) on every play and every game on these guys.  I shouldn't even be allowed to post here for a few days after a Bears loss.  Mrs JABF tells me I'm unlivable to be with after a Bears loss... she's right.