Landry NFL Debut this Saturday

[Agent Orange]

He Should get plenty of action this Saturday as the Steelers host the Giants.



Jones Joins Stiff Competition For Big Ben’s Backup

pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2013/08/05/jones-joins-stiff-competition-for-big-bens-backup/

[Agent Orange]

Welcome to the NFL Landry Jones, first play from scrimmage at the Steelers 3 yard line, Landry and the running back collide the ball is fumbled into the endzone recovered by Landry for a Safety.

Jones was 5 of 9 passing for 48 yards in the game.

[bdogfan]

I think given the time he played he did well. I think he did better than Wilson and was just as good as Gobrowski(sp?). I think he'll be ok and get better in the next few games of the preseason.

[Agent Orange]

Landry Jones is struggling, but his OU receivers are off to better NFL start
www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/Landry_Jones_is_struggling_but_his_OU_receivers_are/12-21717

While Landry Jones is already in a hole with the Steelers, his OU teammates are faring better

Before seeing his first NFL game action Saturday night, Landry Jones shook off his rough start to Steelers training camp and said: "It's what you can do in a game that really counts."

Well...

Jones took his very first snap Saturday night in Pittsburgh, bumped into running back Baron Batch during a handoff attempt, and lost possession of the ball before covering up for a Giants safety.

I asked an Oklahoma coach recently what was feasible for Jones as a Steelers rookie. "The backup spot," he replied.

Jones is going to have to change his course, pronto, if he wants to make that happen. He's not just behind Ben Roethlisberger right now, but Bruce Gradkowski and John Parker Wilson as well.

Those last two guys are journeymen at best. Jones has the arm to challenge them. But as we all learned the past four years, other stuff occasionally gets in the way of that arm. And at the worst possible times.

Jones didn't help himself much Saturday, but at least he did an OU teammate a solid. Four of his five completions were to Justin Brown, the sixth-round pick who is competing for a spot as one of Pittsburgh's possession receivers.

The situation is more encouraging for another of Jones' favorite college targets. Here's Mike Triplett of the New Orleans Times-Picayune reporting on the Saints' preseason opener over the weekend:

"Kenny Stills had a dropped pass, a fumble and an offensive pass interference call… Yet, oddly enough, I still came away like the rookie's chances of winning the No. 3 receiver job more than I did before the game. The Saints clearly showed how highly they think of the talented fifth-round pick from Oklahoma, giving him some prime-time looks with the first-string offense."

Also encouraging, and somewhat surprising – the Raiders started Stacy McGee at defensive tackle against Dallas last Friday night. "He has shown the ability to collapse the pocket," according to the Oakland Tribune.

In Chicago Demontre Hurst and Tress Way are trying to make the Bears. Hurst has a better chance now that nickel corner Kelvin Hayden is out with a torn hamstring. Way is a longshot at best.

From Adam Hoge of CBSChicago.com: "The rookie punter from Oklahoma has a big leg, but he failed to show it off Friday night. Veteran Adam Podlesh dominated the punting competition, averaging 49.7 yards on three punts, while Way only averaged 31.7. If the regular season started today there's no doubt Podlesh would be the Bears' punter."

One more dispatch. Here's Bo Grotz of the Delaware Co (Pa) Daily Times on Eagles top pick Lane Johnson: "Johnson has gotten first-team snaps at right tackle and more recently at left tackle. And he's looking fairly polished, particularly on the left side in place of Jason Peters, the anchor of the line."

Peters is nursing a hamstring injury that he expects to return from soon. Even if he does, Johnson has put himself in position to impact immediately. His amazing success story continues.

[Agent Orange]

Hopefully that 1 bad play doesn't haunt him, Parker Wilson didn't seem that impressive, he got sacked a few times. Jones settled in after that fumble, hopefully the jitters will be gone for the next game. Monday Night Football on ESPN August 19th.

[Mr. Pitch]

One of the talk show guys on sports talk radio, which I don't follow and can't identify said he felt Landry had the talent but lacked the focus to make an NFL Roster. I hope he's wrong. I don't personally know him, so I have no insight on his focus. The fumble in the endzone was no small mistake though, as it seemed to be a mental, or focus-type, mistake.

[Agent Orange]

Landry looking good on MNF, threw his first NFL Touchdown.

[Agent Orange]

[crispysdad]

Thanks for the video Randall!

[Big Dog]

Pittsburgh's offensive line is horrible. Big Ben had just as rough a night as Landry did. 1st and 2nd string line looks horrible.

[crispysdad]

Big Ben threw a pick, Landry did not. That made me happy. Also, lots of nice stuff being said about Landry on one of the Steelers message boards this morning. That makes me happy also.

[Big Dog]

It wasn't just an interception either. It was a Pick 6. I didn't want to rub it in to Steeler fans, but since you mentioned it. LOL


I really felt bad for both of the QB's though. Their offensive line is in need of some serious work.

[Agent Orange]

When Landry first came in it was all run plays, even on 3rd and 10 it was a run, thought that was weird, maybe they were just trying to let him settle in. Next series he had a nice 45 yard bomb to wheaton, Landry had some nice throws, he had a few that could have been picked off as well. Looks like he's progressed since last game.

On a side note looks like his old school Oklahoma is going to name Freshman Trevor Knight their starting QB.

[GoDogs]

Saw this article today.  Hope they'll give him a chance.  Some OU fans are still dissing the poor guy.  They can't even cut him a break after he graduated and is no longer playing there.  Wasn't sure about copying the photo so you'll need to go to the link to see it.

Link:  newsok.com/landry-jones-can-he-win-over-the-steelers/article/3873768?custom_click=rss

Landry Jones:  Can he win over the Steelers?
Published:  August 20, 2013 by Berry Tramel

Landry Jones had a dubious NFL debut a week or so ago, stumbling into Steelers tailback Baron Batch on a handoff, forcing a fumble and falling on it for a safety in Pittsburgh’s exhibition game against the Giants. Landry went on to play decently in that game, completing five of nine passes for 48 yards.

But Monday night, Landry was much better. In the Steelers’ 24-13 loss to the Redskins, Landry was Pittsburgh’s most effective quarterback. He took the Steelers on a 76-yard drive and threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Derek Moye. Landry completed a 45-yard deep ball to Markus Wheaton, and the TD pass came on a 4th-and-1 play after the Redskins had stuffed a 3rd-and-1 run.

Landry, a fourth-round pick out of OU, finished 9-of-22 passing, with 111 yards, and perhaps showed for the first time he could be Ben Roethlisberger’s backup. Landry and Bruce Gradkowski have waged a training camp battle for that job.

But can Landry win over Steeler coach Mike Tomlin? Tomlin is sort of a hard-core personality, so it won’t be easy. And Tomlin isn’t cutting Landry any slack. Steeler reporters say that Tomlin was rough on Landry last week in camp, and Tomlin wasn’t softening up any after the game Monday night.

When asked, “Is this the best you have seen Landry Jones so far?”, Tomlin had a curt answer: “I hadn’t seen much of Landry Jones, so that would be a stretch of a statement.”

However, Roethlisberger was more encouraging. “He did a good job, got his first touchdown and completed a lot of good passes,” Big Ben said.

The Steelers’ trepidation with Landry was evident when on his first series, five straight handoffs were called, leading to a punt.

And give Landry credit for this. Through eight quarters this preseason, Pittsburgh has exactly one touchdown. And it’s been thrown by Landry Jones.

[Agent Orange]

Steelers played the Chiefs tonight and lose in Overtime, Jones did not enter the game tonight, Ben and then Bruce played the remainder of the game. I would assume the last pre-season game he will get a lot of time and that maybe all we will see from Landry this season.

[crispysdad]

Aug 24, 2013 20:17:27 GMT -7 Agent Orange said:

Steelers played the Chiefs tonight and lose in Overtime, Jones did not enter the game tonight, Ben and then Bruce played the remainder of the game. I would assume the last pre-season game he will get a lot of time and that maybe all we will see from Landry this season.

I wonder why he didn't get to play.

[Mr. Pitch]

Aug 24, 2013 22:35:43 GMT -7 crispysdad said:

Aug 24, 2013 20:17:27 GMT -7 Agent Orange said:

Steelers played the Chiefs tonight and lose in Overtime, Jones did not enter the game tonight, Ben and then Bruce played the remainder of the game. I would assume the last pre-season game he will get a lot of time and that maybe all we will see from Landry this season.

I wonder why he didn't get to play.

I'm a little bit worried that he didn't get to play when sometimes if back ups don't play they are cut soon after.  If you read some of the insider material from the Steeler camp you get a feeling Tomlin isn't a Landry Jones fan.  I personally don't know how they can't be a fan of someone with that much character in a place so obviously lacking it as the NFL.  I hope this isn't the case and he's still in the plans.  I don't want him to have to start over.  Nevertheless, someone with Landry's talent will land in a good place.  Pittsburgh has a history of making questionable cuts at the QB position.  Remember, they were the ones that cut arguably the greatest QB of all time when he was a rookie.  Johnny Unitas.

[GoDogs]

I read somewhere (sorry, I can't remember where), that most teams actually game plan and play their best players in the 3rd preseason game so they can see them in actual game situations.  What I read leading up to game 3 was that only the 1st and 2nd team players would play unless, of course, it was a blowout or something.  Then in game 4, it would mainly be backups, etc.  There are just so many "things" out there, it's hard to know the true story.  One guy will say Landry is definitely going to be QB3 and others that they should cut their loses and keep Wilson since Wilson at least has some experience.  I have a feeling that with all the smiling Landry was doing on the sideline that he is expecting to be QB3 or at least knew he wouldn't be playing last night and still had one more game to make the team. 

One article I read suggested the Steelers should keep Landry because Wilson has been around awhile, is getting "old" (almost 28!) and hadn't really shown anything yet.  I looked him up on Wikipedia and it says Wilson was signed by Atlanta after going undrafted in 2009.  He didn't play any regular season games but played most of the 2010 preseason game against the Patriots, where he assisted in scoring one TD.  He was released during final cuts on 9/3/2011, and resigned to the Falcon's practice squad the next day.  It was reported that, on 12/2/2011, the Vikings tried to sign Wilson off the Falcons' practice squad, but Wilson chose to sign to the Falcons' 53-man roster instead.  He was waived by the Falcons on 8/26/2012 so the team could maintain a mandatory 75-man roster during the preseason.  Next he signed to the Jacksonville Jaguars' practice squad on 9/1/2012, was promoted to the active roster on 10/27/2012 and released 10/29/2012.  Figure that one out!  On 10/31/2012 he signed back to the practice squad and added to the active roster at the end of the 2012 season.  He was released 2/27/2013.  Finally, one day after being released by Jacksonville, the Steelers (the only NFL franchise to make a claim for him) claimed Wilson off of waivers.

I hope Landry makes the team but, like Mr. Pitch, I believe whatever happens, Landry will end up where he needs to be and that he will be a success in whatever comes his way.

[Dog Fan]

Aug 25, 2013 3:00:55 GMT -7 Mr. Pitch said:

Aug 24, 2013 22:35:43 GMT -7 crispysdad said:

I wonder why he didn't get to play.

I'm a little bit worried that he didn't get to play when sometimes if back ups don't play they are cut soon after.  If you read some of the insider material from the Steeler camp you get a feeling Tomlin isn't a Landry Jones fan.  I personally don't know how they can't be a fan of someone with that much character in a place so obviously lacking it as the NFL.  I hope this isn't the case and he's still in the plans.  I don't want him to have to start over.  Nevertheless, someone with Landry's talent will land in a good place.  Pittsburgh has a history of making questionable cuts at the QB position.  Remember, they were the ones that cut arguably the greatest QB of all time when he was a rookie.  Johnny Unitas.

I don't the Steelers really work to much about Character as much as they worry about producing wins on the field. Big Ben is not the most honorable guy. He has been accused of rape and other things that would get any kid thrown out of college. This is the NFL and that doesn't matter much if you are a star and can win Super Bowls.

I don't see the fire in Landry's eyes. I believe he has other goals in life not pertaining to football that drive him. Just my honest opinion. I haven't seen it in his eyes for 2 years. When you talk to him about the Ministry then you feel the passion in him. You know what really drives him.

[Agent Orange]

I think Godogs is on the right track, starters and 2nd string play a majority of the 3rd game, starters will see very little in the last pre season game. Bears did the same thing on their game Friday Night, starters played well into the 2nd Quarter before the 2nd team went in and played pretty much the rest of the game.

If the Steelers carry 3 Qb's on their Roster he will make the cut without a doubt in my opinion.

I think the passion is there Dog Fan, he looked pretty jacked in that touchdown throw and went running after his WR, He is really passionate about his Ministry, after all God and his religion is his #1 priority in life I believe.

I say he makes the team, if they cut him someone will claim him, just hope it ain't the Jets, talk about a team that needs Jesus and a QB lol.