Denver Native (Carol)
06-04-2010, 10:19 AM
http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=334&storyID=10155
By Eric Detweiler
DenverBroncos.com
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- In six NFL seasons, Nate Jones has built up a network of former teammates throughout the league.
When it came time to go through the free agency process this offseason, the cornerback took advantage of those contacts.
The chance to join a secondary that includes All-Pros Champ Bailey and Brian Dawkins as part of Don 'Wink' Martindale's new defensive scheme piqued Jones' interest in the Broncos. But the Rutgers product had a few other questions that required an insider's perspective.
Part of that homework meant consulting with former Miami secondary teammates Andre' Goodman and Renaldo Hill -- both of whom spent the 2009 season in Denver.
"If you're about to go somewhere, you want to try to find somebody on that team and you want to grill them," Jones said Wednesday. "You want to ask them what's going on. 'What's going on in that locker room? What's the feeling like?' That's just doing your own background check, your own due diligence."
Jones liked what he heard, including their report on the city and Head Coach Josh McDaniels.
Coming off a season in which he set career highs with 54 tackles and two interceptions, Jones inked with the Broncos on the first day of free agency.
"The biggest thing is that (McDaniels is) just really smart," Jones said. "To have a head coach that can come in here and tell the defense what the offense is thinking, I've never had that before."
Now, Jones -- who has also spent time at safety in his career -- is competing for a nickel cornerback spot with a group of youngsters that includes second-year players Alphonso Smith and Tony Carter and 2010 draft picks Perrish Cox and Syd'Quan Thompson.
Jones said he's relishing the chance to learn from Bailey and Dawkins' professionalism and leaderships skills as he tries to carve out a niche in the defense. But the former Cowboy and Dolphin's familiarity with his defensive teammates might be the advantage he needs to separate himself from the younger cornerbacks.
"You're used to each other," Jones said. "You've played with each other. The chemistry is already there, so I think it's a big deal, and it was a major part of my decision."
COMPETITION FUELS DEFENSIVE IMPROVEMENT
Jarvis Green understood transitioning to a new team after eight years in New England would take time. But with a new defensive coordinator and a host of new Bronco defensive teammates adjusting right along with him, Green has seen the progress.
The defensive lineman knows they have earned it.
"To make this thing work each person has a responsibility that we've got to accomplish," Green said. "Just working with Coach Wink has been an honor just knowing the system that he comes from. Each and every day is a better day."
Several players have said that competition continues to stoke the team's improvement throughout OTAs.
With position battles beginning across the defensive formation, Akin Ayodele, another newcomer to Dove Valley, said getting into that competitive mindset hasn't been difficult.
"We come out here every day to work, to play hard, and to compete," Ayodele said. "That's every single day, every single practice, every single drill that we do, we're pushing each other and we're competing. It makes everything more fun and at the same time we're learning."
Even though training camp is still more than a month away, Jones said instilling that culture of professionalism is the key to crafting a strong unit.
With a mix of proven veterans and motivated newcomers, the seventh-year cornerback said the Broncos are well on their way to an exciting defensive chemistry.
"You just try to keep guys that approach their job like a job -- never take it for granted," Jones said. "That comes from the fact that you know if you mess up there's a guy right there on your hip that's ready to go."
By Eric Detweiler
DenverBroncos.com
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- In six NFL seasons, Nate Jones has built up a network of former teammates throughout the league.
When it came time to go through the free agency process this offseason, the cornerback took advantage of those contacts.
The chance to join a secondary that includes All-Pros Champ Bailey and Brian Dawkins as part of Don 'Wink' Martindale's new defensive scheme piqued Jones' interest in the Broncos. But the Rutgers product had a few other questions that required an insider's perspective.
Part of that homework meant consulting with former Miami secondary teammates Andre' Goodman and Renaldo Hill -- both of whom spent the 2009 season in Denver.
"If you're about to go somewhere, you want to try to find somebody on that team and you want to grill them," Jones said Wednesday. "You want to ask them what's going on. 'What's going on in that locker room? What's the feeling like?' That's just doing your own background check, your own due diligence."
Jones liked what he heard, including their report on the city and Head Coach Josh McDaniels.
Coming off a season in which he set career highs with 54 tackles and two interceptions, Jones inked with the Broncos on the first day of free agency.
"The biggest thing is that (McDaniels is) just really smart," Jones said. "To have a head coach that can come in here and tell the defense what the offense is thinking, I've never had that before."
Now, Jones -- who has also spent time at safety in his career -- is competing for a nickel cornerback spot with a group of youngsters that includes second-year players Alphonso Smith and Tony Carter and 2010 draft picks Perrish Cox and Syd'Quan Thompson.
Jones said he's relishing the chance to learn from Bailey and Dawkins' professionalism and leaderships skills as he tries to carve out a niche in the defense. But the former Cowboy and Dolphin's familiarity with his defensive teammates might be the advantage he needs to separate himself from the younger cornerbacks.
"You're used to each other," Jones said. "You've played with each other. The chemistry is already there, so I think it's a big deal, and it was a major part of my decision."
COMPETITION FUELS DEFENSIVE IMPROVEMENT
Jarvis Green understood transitioning to a new team after eight years in New England would take time. But with a new defensive coordinator and a host of new Bronco defensive teammates adjusting right along with him, Green has seen the progress.
The defensive lineman knows they have earned it.
"To make this thing work each person has a responsibility that we've got to accomplish," Green said. "Just working with Coach Wink has been an honor just knowing the system that he comes from. Each and every day is a better day."
Several players have said that competition continues to stoke the team's improvement throughout OTAs.
With position battles beginning across the defensive formation, Akin Ayodele, another newcomer to Dove Valley, said getting into that competitive mindset hasn't been difficult.
"We come out here every day to work, to play hard, and to compete," Ayodele said. "That's every single day, every single practice, every single drill that we do, we're pushing each other and we're competing. It makes everything more fun and at the same time we're learning."
Even though training camp is still more than a month away, Jones said instilling that culture of professionalism is the key to crafting a strong unit.
With a mix of proven veterans and motivated newcomers, the seventh-year cornerback said the Broncos are well on their way to an exciting defensive chemistry.
"You just try to keep guys that approach their job like a job -- never take it for granted," Jones said. "That comes from the fact that you know if you mess up there's a guy right there on your hip that's ready to go."