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The Los Angeles Chargers' defense took a big step forward last season, and rookie defensive tackle Justin Jones played a large role. A third-round pick from N.C. State, Jones played around 30 percent of the team's defensive snaps and appeared in 15 games.
Jones didn't receive good grades from Pro Football Focus and didn't play lights-out by any stretch, but the coaching staff has remained high on his potential. The team opted not to re-sign defensive tackles Corey Liuget and Darius Philon, a show of confidence in Jones.
With those two no longer on the team, Justin Jones will likely be counted on to play a lot more in 2019. In recent comments, Jones made it clear he's embracing the opportunity, per Ricky Henne of the team's official site.
“I feel like I'm able to make that next step,” Jones said. “I feel I am going to make that next step. I put in a lot of work this offseason. I put in a lot of extra work with the guys after workouts and everything. Just getting my mind right, studying film. Taking the areas that I needed to improve on, just making those things better and just helping the guys out in my room just like they're helping me.”
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Last year Jones had 26 tackles and a half-sack, being utilized mostly as a rotational run-stuffer. Jones wanted to make changes to his body, and he switched up his normal routine to do so.
“I changed my diet,” he began. “I eat a lot more vegetables. I stopped eating red meat. I watch a little more film. I started going to the sauna because I heard that's pretty good for you. This offseason, I tried a bunch of different things. Instead of training in football, I went to do boxing. I went and did field work, but I did a little bit of swimming. I rode a bike — I don't ride bikes, but I rode a bike this time. Stuff like that, just keeping things different. Still getting the workout in, but having fun while you're doing it with something that you normally wouldn't do,” he explained.
The Chargers had a very strong secondary last year, but their run defense was shaky at times. If Jones can take the next step in his development, the unit could be much better in 2019.
