Zins30 Posted April 24, 2014 Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 Jones focuses on being a Pro Bowl receiver April, 23, 2014 By Coley Harvey | ESPN.com CINCINNATI -- Marvin Jones' list of individual goals for the season begins and ends with two words: Pro Bowl. Months after emerging as a legitimate secondary passing option behind A.J. Green, the Cincinnati Bengals receiver is thinking all-star status can, and will, come during his third season. "I want to go to the Pro Bowl," Jones said earlier this week. "Straight up. No sugarcoating it. I want to be one of the top receivers." It's entirely possible he will be. Trevor Ruszkowksi/USA TODAYMarvin Jones aims to be more physical against defenses this season. The former Bengals fifth-round pick was the team's second-leading receiver last season, hauling in 51 passes for 712 yards. Most of those yards came in the weeks after his career-high 122-yard, and four-touchdown performance against the Jets in Week 8. Only once in the previous seven weeks did he have more than 60 receiving yards in a single game. Following his breakout effort, though, he went beyond 60 yards receiving on four additional occasions. "Obviously, I had a good year down the stretch, but I want a better year, and then I want a better year than that," Jones said. "I want to be one of the top receivers in the league. That's always been my goal, and I'm moving towards that. "Us as a receiver corps, that's all of our goals. When we have goals like that, it makes it easy to go out there and go to work and do all the necessary things to get to where we need to be." Part of what the Bengals' receivers want to be this offseason is bigger. Green, the three-time Pro Bowler, is among those Bengals wide outs who have spent the last four months bulking up. Green said earlier this week he's added between six to 10 pounds of muscle in order to play more physically at the line of scrimmage and to be tougher for cornerbacks down the field. He also joked that his advanced age could be the culprit behind the weight gain. "I'm getting older, the weight is sticking to me," the 25-year-old said, laughing. "For me, it's about being more physical off the line, getting [cornerbacks'] hands down and just helping create that physical nature on the offensive side of the ball no matter what position." That focus on physicality has come from up top. Had coach Marvin Lewis and new offensive coordinator Hue Jackson made it clear they want more of a smashmouth edge to their offense. They want to run more often and with better purpose. Their thought is that the pass should feed off the run. To that end, their backs and offensive linemen aren't the only ones who need to be physical. Their receivers do, too. Coaches are pushing the receivers to be more combative when it comes to blocking in the running game, and more aggressive when it comes to fending off defensive backs for passes thrown their way. On more than one occasion last season, quarterback Andy Dalton threw interceptions that partially resulted from punchless efforts by receivers to break up those throws or to prevent them from being picked off. Green has clearly heard the memo, noted by his visible weight gains. He looks noticeably bigger in his shoulders, arms and chest. Jones also returned to Paul Brown Stadium for offseason workouts this week with a larger upper body. "It's about making everything look the same. Making sure that if it's a run, it looks like we're running downfield for a pass, and vice versa," Jones said. "That physicality starts in all spots with our burst [off the line] and how we act in the run game and the pass game." Those intangibles -- fighting better for passes deep downfield, creating extra separation whether the ball is thrown his way or not, and holding blocks better for the running backs -- won't help get Jones to the Pro Bowl. He'll need receiving statistics and touchdowns. He'll need to catch enough timely passes that makes him compliment Green even better than he did last season. The pair were so in sync by the end of last year that they both had double-figure touchdown receptions. It was the first time in franchise history that multiple receivers had 10 or more touchdown catches. The only receivers who reached last year's Pro Bowl were players who were the No. 1 passing options on their teams. Green, as he has been his entire career, was among the field. Still, Jones is optimistic at this stage in the offseason that he still will not only build on his stellar sophomore season, but he'll completely overshadow it by claiming a Pro Bowl nod. How does he do that? "I just need to be Marvin Jones," he said. "Obviously I'm at the point where I'm going to start getting more snaps and things like that, so I need to just play and being the team guy that I am and letting the opportunities come to me. That's all I've done since I've been here. Controlling my opportunities, however many they are. If I keep doing that, then I'll get to where I need to be." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Dub Posted April 24, 2014 Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 That's the wrong end-of-season bowl game you're focusing on, there, Marv. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The PatternMaster Posted April 24, 2014 Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 That's the wrong end-of-season bowl game you're focusing on, there, Marv. I agree it sounds like Marvin is out for self, because nobody gets to the Pro Bowl by blocking or doing the little things that help your team win games. It's great that Marvin has aspirations to be one of the best WR's in the NFL, but I would much rather is focus be on helping this team win games more so than getting to the Pro Bowl. Last year the Browns had more players voted to the Pro Bowl(5) than team wins (4), that proves that getting to the Pro Bowl doesn't equate to team success. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Posted April 24, 2014 Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 That's the wrong end-of-season bowl game you're focusing on, there, Marv. I guess you missed the part where he said "individual" goal. Super Bowl is a "team" goal. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
|kennethmw| Posted April 24, 2014 Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 Do we have to take everything a guy says so friggin literally? He's equating pro bowl with being one of the best in the league. I like that kind of thinking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Dub Posted April 24, 2014 Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 Do we have to take everything a guy says so friggin literally? He's equating pro bowl with being one of the best in the league. I like that kind of thinking. But they're not at all equivalent, is the thing. Put up good fantasy stats and get a well-choreographed endzone celebration looping on ESPN for a week or two... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B.A.B. Posted April 24, 2014 Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 Do we have to take everything a guy says so friggin literally? He's equating pro bowl with being one of the best in the league. I like that kind of thinking. Agreed. I like what I'm. Hearing from him and AJ in this one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sois Posted April 24, 2014 Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 Do we have to take everything a guy says so friggin literally? He's equating pro bowl with being one of the best in the league. I like that kind of thinking. I like this Hue Day sig you have Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBandJoeyV Posted April 24, 2014 Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 Agreed. I like what I'm. Hearing from him and AJ in this one Lol. If dalton made the exact same quotes you'd be furious. For the record I have no problem with what he said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zins30 Posted April 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 Do we have to take everything a guy says so friggin literally? He's equating pro bowl with being one of the best in the league. I like that kind of thinking. +1 Why do we need to rip everything apart. Who cares if it's not perfectly worded. The guys is trying to get better, he's already an effective blocker and looks to be highly motivated. What exactly would he have to say to not get ripped by this board? "I'm looking forward to doing whatever it takes to win"...? Then he'd get ripped for using cliché's. I like that he's shooting for the pro bowl. So what that there's not a 1:1 correlation with team performance. He's trying to get better and has his sights set on a pretty lofty goal. Chances are if he makes the pro bowl we'll have a pretty good season (although not perfectly correlated). Sure we can show teams with pro bowlers but bad records, but most teams with numerous pro bowlers are pretty good. I'm all for it, rather than berating him for wording his goals to something not 100% team related. Let the dude work his butt off to be the best player he can be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubba Posted April 24, 2014 Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 Do we have to take everything a guy says so friggin literally? He's equating pro bowl with being one of the best in the league. I like that kind of thinking. I agree with you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bengals1181 Posted April 24, 2014 Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 I agree with you. x3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcarpenter62 Posted April 24, 2014 Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 There is no way in hell he can make the pro bowl with his current QB. It's an absolute miracle that AJ Green ever made it. :ninja: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Posted April 24, 2014 Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 There is no way in hell he can make the pro bowl with his current QB. It's an absolute miracle that AJ Green ever made it. :ninja: That's because AJ is a Martian. :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
|SF2| Posted April 24, 2014 Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 +1 Why do we need to rip everything apart. Who cares if it's not perfectly worded. The guys is trying to get better, he's already an effective blocker and looks to be highly motivated. What exactly would he have to say to not get ripped by this board? "I'm looking forward to doing whatever it takes to win"...? Then he'd get ripped for using cliché's. I like that he's shooting for the pro bowl. So what that there's not a 1:1 correlation with team performance. He's trying to get better and has his sights set on a pretty lofty goal. Chances are if he makes the pro bowl we'll have a pretty good season (although not perfectly correlated). Sure we can show teams with pro bowlers but bad records, but most teams with numerous pro bowlers are pretty good. I'm all for it, rather than berating him for wording his goals to something not 100% team related. Let the dude work his butt off to be the best player he can be. Whines Hard made his first pro bowl with only 1003 receiving yards, back when the fans couldn't vote, which placed him 25th in the league. I can guarantee you his blocking put him over the top. By the way, fuck him. I doubt Marvin hits the huge numbers necessary for the automatic pro bowl vote but his blocking will certainly help him with the players' vote. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
membengal Posted April 25, 2014 Report Share Posted April 25, 2014 I hate that motherfucker for wanting to produce enough on the field to be considered one of the best in the league at his position. That's the kind of shit that will sink a team. This team needs to get back to the good old days when its draft picks wondered what the price of cigs was locally. What this team needs is to get back to the Sean Brewer days. That was when men were men. Marvin Jones wanting to be good enough to make a pro bowl. Makes me so mad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Dub Posted April 25, 2014 Report Share Posted April 25, 2014 I hate that motherfucker for wanting to produce enough on the field to be considered one of the best in the league at his position. That's the kind of shit that will sink a team. This team needs to get back to the good old days when its draft picks wondered what the price of cigs was locally. What this team needs is to get back to the Sean Brewer days. That was when men were men. Marvin Jones wanting to be good enough to make a pro bowl. Makes me so mad. ..and I'm the one taking things out of context? Yeesh... Reactionary much? If you think the Pro Bowl is an indication of anything worthwhile I suggest you review the Browns 2013 season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zins30 Posted April 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2014 ..and I'm the one taking things out of context? Yeesh... Reactionary much? If you think the Pro Bowl is an indication of anything worthwhile I suggest you review the Browns 2013 season. I'm pretty sure that was 100% sarcasm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Dub Posted April 25, 2014 Report Share Posted April 25, 2014 I'm pretty sure that was 100% sarcasm. Yeah, I just think it's funny how saying the Pro Bowl isn't worth anything has turned into some Karate Kid-like montage defending Marvin Jones, who just wants to be the best around (&, I assume, nothing's ever going to bring him down.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
membengal Posted April 25, 2014 Report Share Posted April 25, 2014 T-Dub, you are way out to lunch on this. It's kinda embarrassing. He wants to be good. I like that he wants to be good. One of the ways being good is measured is putting up numbers that help one make the only kind of recognition you can get at your position. I can find zero fault with any player on the Bengals wanting to be good enough at their position to get Pro Bowl recognition - if they achieve that, it will most likely be helping the team. In all seriousness, why the fuck must everything a Bengals player does or says immediately be viewed as negative by some people (not saying you always, but for damn sure you in this instance). It gets so fucking old. This is such a hateful self-loathing fanbase sometimes. It's fucking wearying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Dub Posted April 25, 2014 Report Share Posted April 25, 2014 Jebus wept, all I said was the he was focused on the wrong Bowl game. It wasn't meant to be a criticism of his work ethic or anything else other than the Pro Bowl being used as a measuring stick for something other than popularity. FFS, it was a one-line comment, let's not make some existential crisis out of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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