Deacon Sports Xtra: Jones Turning Reps into Instincts
10/5/2021 9:49:00 AM | Football
“I’m also trusting myself more. That comes by learning the defense better, and the more reps you get, the more you trust your instincts.” - Chase Jones
With a pair of injuries that plagued him during his first two collegiate seasons, linebacker Chase Jones jumped into the 2021 campaign as healthy as he's ever been.
"I'm as healthy as I've been during my time here, so it feels good being out there flying around," Jones said about this year's fall camp. "It's been good. There's been a lot of competition and everyone is having fun while also getting better. We're playing better, faster and more physical. It's been a lot of fun."
He had surgery after the 2019 season, but the knee problems last season means Jones is just now feeling at ease in his position.
"It started to come together during our winter workouts and 'The Awakening'," he said. "But it was really leading into spring ball where I felt like I was back up to full speed, playing comfortably and feeling good body-wise."
The Demon Deacons return starting junior linebacker Ryan Smenda Jr., and have added six-year senior Luke Masterson, who has moved to linebacker from, well. . .everywhere. Masterson has played safety, rover and linebacker in the past, but is now the leader in the talented and deep linebacker room.
"We have Luke in here now, and everybody is really starting to elevate their game," Jones said. "Ryan Smenda started last year, but he's really tapped into another level. Jaylen Hudson is playing well too and everybody is really playing better.
"Luke is a great leader and a great football player. He's an incredible guy. He lifts the room up with his leadership and the way he carries himself. He's been a great addition to the room and makes us all better."
Jones played in seven games last season, grabbing 13 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. His season-best output was in the final game of the year, contributing five stops against Wisconsin in the Duke's Mayo Bowl.
"It's been great to be able to get reps for the defense while not preparing for another team," Jones said about spring camp. "It helps you get more comfortable with your run fits and more comfortable with your technique. It's been great for me and all the young guys as well."
"I've gotten a little bigger, gaining a little weight and strength. I'm also trusting myself more. That comes by learning the defense better, and the more reps you get, the more you trust your instincts."
Having the experience of a full fall camp has been beneficial to Jones.
"I'm getting there," he said. "When I first got here, it was a lot to learn the defense. I was just so focused on learning the defense and being in the right place. Now, I'm able to know I'm in the right place and I try to make plays through my gaps or my run fits. I'm getting to more of a reacting playstyle the more reps I get.
"There's a lot of different formations and motions that impact the way we line up. Spring ball was good for that, giving us looks against things we might not see all that often during the season. It has enabled us to get lined up and get our feet set for when the ball is snapped."
As the Demon Deacons attempt to move from 'good' to 'great,' it's incumbent that young players like Jones begin to contribute in a big way to provide valuable depth — as well as lay the foundation for seasons to come. Five games into the 2021 season, Jones is making those contributions. Heading into week 6's matchup against Syracuse, Jones has made 10 tackles, one tackle-for-loss and recovered a fumble.
"Good to great to me means moving from a bowl team to an ACC Championship team," Jones said. "To get more than 10 wins, that was good to great means to me.
"I've been here two years, and we've had two similar seasons. We made it to two bowl games, but then lost both of them. That's old. We want to keep on pushing forward. Me and Luke talk all the time about how much progress has been made. But at the same time, how much further we have to go as a program."
"I'm as healthy as I've been during my time here, so it feels good being out there flying around," Jones said about this year's fall camp. "It's been good. There's been a lot of competition and everyone is having fun while also getting better. We're playing better, faster and more physical. It's been a lot of fun."
He had surgery after the 2019 season, but the knee problems last season means Jones is just now feeling at ease in his position.
"It started to come together during our winter workouts and 'The Awakening'," he said. "But it was really leading into spring ball where I felt like I was back up to full speed, playing comfortably and feeling good body-wise."
The Demon Deacons return starting junior linebacker Ryan Smenda Jr., and have added six-year senior Luke Masterson, who has moved to linebacker from, well. . .everywhere. Masterson has played safety, rover and linebacker in the past, but is now the leader in the talented and deep linebacker room.
"We have Luke in here now, and everybody is really starting to elevate their game," Jones said. "Ryan Smenda started last year, but he's really tapped into another level. Jaylen Hudson is playing well too and everybody is really playing better.
"Luke is a great leader and a great football player. He's an incredible guy. He lifts the room up with his leadership and the way he carries himself. He's been a great addition to the room and makes us all better."
Jones played in seven games last season, grabbing 13 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. His season-best output was in the final game of the year, contributing five stops against Wisconsin in the Duke's Mayo Bowl.
"It's been great to be able to get reps for the defense while not preparing for another team," Jones said about spring camp. "It helps you get more comfortable with your run fits and more comfortable with your technique. It's been great for me and all the young guys as well."
"I've gotten a little bigger, gaining a little weight and strength. I'm also trusting myself more. That comes by learning the defense better, and the more reps you get, the more you trust your instincts."
Having the experience of a full fall camp has been beneficial to Jones.
"I'm getting there," he said. "When I first got here, it was a lot to learn the defense. I was just so focused on learning the defense and being in the right place. Now, I'm able to know I'm in the right place and I try to make plays through my gaps or my run fits. I'm getting to more of a reacting playstyle the more reps I get.
"There's a lot of different formations and motions that impact the way we line up. Spring ball was good for that, giving us looks against things we might not see all that often during the season. It has enabled us to get lined up and get our feet set for when the ball is snapped."
As the Demon Deacons attempt to move from 'good' to 'great,' it's incumbent that young players like Jones begin to contribute in a big way to provide valuable depth — as well as lay the foundation for seasons to come. Five games into the 2021 season, Jones is making those contributions. Heading into week 6's matchup against Syracuse, Jones has made 10 tackles, one tackle-for-loss and recovered a fumble.
"Good to great to me means moving from a bowl team to an ACC Championship team," Jones said. "To get more than 10 wins, that was good to great means to me.
"I've been here two years, and we've had two similar seasons. We made it to two bowl games, but then lost both of them. That's old. We want to keep on pushing forward. Me and Luke talk all the time about how much progress has been made. But at the same time, how much further we have to go as a program."
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