The Los Angeles Rams have benefitted from the presence of linebacker Ernest Jones, who got lost in the mix over the years behind stars like Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey, Von Miller, and Kobie Turner. Jones has been a key cog in the Rams' defense since the team selected him in the 2020 NFL Draft.
His leadership and on-field ability have been crucial for the Rams, but apparently wasn't enough for PFF to give him any respect on their recent linebacker rankings. Jones finished 30th out of 32 LBs, behind some...questionable names like Tyrel Dodson, Ivan Pace Jr., Jerome Baker, Kaden Elliss, David Long, Sione Takitaki, and Blake Cashman.
Here was PFF's rationale for the ranking:
"Jones led all linebackers in quarterback pressures (37) last season and ranked seventh at the position with an 86.2 PFF run-defense grade. His 57.5 PFF coverage grade highlights his limitations, which is why he’s not higher on this list, but he is a very good run defender."
Taking any reservations about how PFF coverage grades are formed aside, Jones isn't some two-down run stuffer like the names above him *gestures at David Long*. We can even look at PFF's numbers to sort out just how well he does his job in coverage.
Jones is tied for the lowest average depth of target among ALL linebackers (Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah) at 1.4 yards. Meaning, on average, passes he is covering are short, quick passes that are usually high completion targets. These are routes like little flare routes out of the backfield (swing passes), screens, crossing routes, and hitch routes.
This explains his relatively high completion percentage (75%) he "allowed" when in coverage. The longest completion he allowed all year went for 23 yards, second among all linebackers. He is tied for sixth place in the league in the lowest yards allowed in coverage (again tied with Owusu-Koramoah), and sits 18th in yards per reception allowed, .1% behind Bobby Okereke. He's also one of the best tacklers out in coverage, with a 7.3% missed tackle rate, good for 10th in the NFL.
Despite being mainly targeted by high completion percentage targets, Jones still made plays on the ball. His four forced incompletions tied him at 13th with players like Demario Davis, Logan Wilson, and apparently superior coverage players like Patrick Queen and Blake Cashman. His 8% forced incompletion rate was tied for 10th place with C.J. Mosley, who PFF ranked fourth.
His four pass breakups were also tied with Fred Warner, Lavonte David, and Logan Wilson for 10th in the league as well. So despite being targeted on high-completion, low-yardage throws frequently, Jones still makes plays on the ball with the best of them. In addition, he is also allowing fewer yards than virtually every linebacker in the league and compares favorably to the best linebackers in the league in yards allowed per reception.
We haven't even touched on what else Jones does.
Jones mans the "green dot" for the defense in recent years. His presence is key for the entire Rams' defensive scheme to work, and what he brings sets the tone for LA up front. Just last year, Jones set the Rams' record for single-season tackles, beating James Laurinaitis's record.
His 37 pressures led all inside linebackers last season, while his six sacks were tied for the fourth-most at his position. His 22.1% pass-rush win rate led ALL linebackers in the NFL and would have put him FOURTH of all pass-rushers last season (ahead of Nick Bosa, Aidan Hutchinson, Josh Allen, Trey Hendrickson, etc). His 29 QB hurries led all linebackers in the NFL last season.
As a run defender, he was just as good if not better. His grade of 86.2 was the seventh-best among all linebackers. His 35 total stops tied for ninth at his position with the eighth-most tackles in the league. The only negative on his profile is a semi-high missed tackle % at 8.8%, the 39th-highest in the NFL. However, that tally is below players ranked ahead of him in PFF's rankings like Germaine Pratt, Demario Davis, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, and Fred Warner.
Ernest Jones is the heartbeat of the entire Rams' defense. They should have already paid the man and they cannot afford to lose him. He is the most underrated player on the Rams and might be in the league if this ranking is anything to go by. PFF's own numbers back this up, despite his low coverage grade. He should be much higher in any linebacker conversations than where he is.
