NFL Combine 2013: Seahawks Show Interest In DE Datone Jones

October 27, 2012; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Taylor Kelly (10) avoids the UCLA Bruins defensive end Datone Jones (56) during the first half at Sun Devil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Reports out of the combine in Indy today are that the Seattle Seahawks scouting staff, including GM John Schneider,  met with UCLA defensive end Datone Jones on Saturday. This is the 2nd time the Seahawks have interviewed Jones, as they also did during the Senior Bowl week. Jones even joked that linebacker coach Ken Norton Jr. has been trying to recruit him since he was in high school.

It isn’t standard practice for a team to meet with a player twice like this. Teams can only meet with about 85 of the 330 players at the combine, so they tend to skip meeting with players they’ve already been able to interview at the all-star games, or “local” players they’ll be able to bring in for pre-draft workouts.

Datone Jones would be a perfect replacement for Jason Jones on the Seahawk defensive line, as Datone is a very similar player.

At 280 lbs., he has the strength to set the edge and hold up against the run at DE, but lacks the speed to consistently get around the corner and to the QB when playing outside. Conversely, his quickness and explosive first step allows him to collapse the pocket when playing at DT, but lacks the size and strength to hold up at the point of attack on inside runs.

Drafting Datone could also help the Seahawks with their current problem at the Leo position. Datone could play the position on 1st and 2nd down, with Irvin playing the position on 3rd downs and other obvious passing situations. It isn’t an ideal situation, but would offer the Seahawks some flexibility why they wait for Chris Clemons to come back from his knee injury.