Ho hum. Another coaching change for Adrian Jones to adjust to.
The former Kansas University football standout and current New York Jets offensive tackle has been down this road before.
First, it was the firing of Terry Allen and subsequent hiring of Mark Mangino during Jones’ days roaming KU’s campus.
Now, after just completing his second season in the NFL, Jones again is expecting the unexpected after Herman Edwards bolted the Big Apple to take the head-coaching position with the Kansas City Chiefs this week.
“I think it’ll probably be harder on the older players being in the system a long, long time,” Jones said of the Jets’ adjustment period. “I’m still new to the system. Adjusting to the system won’t be as big a deal for me.”
Still, Jones grew to respect Edwards in the two years he spent under him. A former NFL defensive back, Edwards brought a mixture of intensity and impassiveness to his players, who seemed to react well to the style.
Jones said the Chiefs were getting a good one.
“He’s a laid-back guy, but at the same time, he goes out there and gets the best out of his players,” Jones said. “He’s an ex-player himself : it’s good to know that you’re being coached by a guy who went through the same thing you’re going through.”
It’s no secret that Jones, who resides in Texas in the offseason, thrived under Edwards’ tutelage. Drafted in the fourth round after playing left tackle his senior year at KU, Jones appeared in 12 games primarily on special teams his rookie season for New York, then jumped atop the depth chart at right tackle to start the 2005 season.
He played just three games on the right side before a knee injury hampered left tackle Jason Fabini and caused the Jets’ coaches to put a healthier Jones on the quarterback’s blind side. He started the last 13 games of the season on the left side.
“He ended up as a left tackle, and that was probably a little strange for the poor guy,” Edwards told the Bergen (N.J.) Record, “but he went over there and did a pretty good job. He really did.”
Considering his past at left tackle, Jones said the switch wasn’t too difficult. Now halfway through his initial four-year contract, Jones has brightened up his resume and found his niche in the NFL.
Seems something as simple as a coaching change isn’t going to deter the progression one bit, either – not if Jones has anything to say about it.
“I think it’s gone pretty good,” Jones said of his first two years. “There are certain things I’ve got to work on. But the fact that I had one full year of starting under my belt was good for me.”
