Jake Roth- USA TODAY Sports
The Houston Texans have signed former Jacksonville Jaguars fullback, Greg Jones, to a one-year deal.
Jones (6’1″, 265 pounds) spent his first nine years in Jacksonville, blocking for running backs such as Maurice Jones-Drew, and earlier in his career blocked for Fred Taylor. “He’s a guy that’s not afraid of contact,” Texans running back coach Chick Harris said on Wednesday. “He’s gonna make a collision and he’s gonna be able, with his strength, to move people. When you get in situations where that’s needed, I think he will answer the bell, and he will compete with the best of them.”
After losing fullback James Casey in free agency to the Philadelphia Eagles, Houston has been in search of another versatile fullback. Jones fits that mold and will be a great fit in Houston. Jones is a great, bruising lead blocker with ball catching abilities, who will be used primarily to blow open holes and create running lanes for running back, Arian Foster.
Jones was a second-round draft pick out of Florida State in 2004 as a tailback. He switched to fullback after missing the entire 2006 season with a torn left ACL. In his nine season he’s racked up 270 carries for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns with 68 catches for 437 yards and three touchdowns.
“We’re really happy,” Harris said. “Losing James Casey was tough on us, but our people were able to see a guy that we played against numerous times. Our defensive staff has great respect for Greg, and it’s proven to be the right for us. I think that he’s gonna give us the type of veteran leadership that’s gonna be required at that position, third down and shorts and things we require our fullback to be a standout.”
With the abusive, brutal blocking of Jones, Foster should be able to have a career season next year.
