Posted on 08/18/2013 11:37:20 PM PDT by TexGrill
Taiwan Jones' NFL career got off to a slow start when a variety of injuries and the inability to hold onto the ball kept him off the field for much of his first two seasons with the Oakland Raiders.
Now the former running back with sprinter's speed is getting a second chance at establishing himself as an NFL player following a position switch to cornerback.
While his coverage skills are still a bit raw after not playing cornerback since his freshman year at Eastern Washington, Jones still has that blazing speed that tantalized the Raiders those last two years. Combined with his stellar coverage skills on special teams, Jones is making a strong bid to make the team at a second position.
''I'm still just happy to be on the roster,'' Jones said. ''Whatever I can do to help the team and if I can help the team on defense then I'm willing to do it. I was kind of upset that I couldn't show everybody what kind of running back I could be, but I think it's a good thing as far as my career.''
Jones was drafted by the Raiders in the fourth round in 2011 after rushing for 2,955 yards and 7.7 yards per carry and scoring 36 touchdowns in two seasons as a running back at Eastern Washington.
Those gaudy statistics, a 4.33 second 40-yard dash before the draft and the fact Jones is a Bay Area native made him a fan favorite but it never translated to success on the field.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.foxsports.com ...
I sure hope the raiders can get off to an 0-16 start.
Don’t set your expectations too high or you get disapointed.
He ran fast. That’s all it took to be drafted by the Raiders.
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