KIRKLAND – This is a lesson in getting humbled.
Jennifer Buchanan / The Herald
One glorious Monday night, you’re flexing your muscles on national television and manhandling the defending NFC champs. A few days later, you’re putting on your uniform an hour before kickoff, only to be informed that you have to switch positions.
And face the best in the business.
That’s what happened to Atlanta Falcons defensive end Patrick Kerney earlier this month, when his reward for helping beat the Philadelphia Eagles was a matchup with Seattle Seahawks left tackle Walter Jones the following week.
And Kerney most certainly got humbled.
“He makes you check your mental toughness,” Kerney said Thursday, the sting of Jones’ Sept. 18 domination still lingering nearly two weeks later. “He makes you keep working at it until you get it right. Because as soon as you don’t do it right, he’ll expose you.”
On an afternoon when Kerney had to move from left defensive end to right end because teammate Brady Smith was a late scratch, the Falcons’ Pro Bowler quickly learned what so many others already knew: that Walter Jones is among the best in the business.
“I’ve seen everybody,” the 28-year-old Kerney said, “and Walter’s the best out there.”
Jones has reminded people of that early this season, when his Sunday dominations – and that’s not too strong a word – have included matchups with two of the three defensive ends who represented the NFC at the February Pro Bowl.
Kerney (13 sacks) and Arizona’s Bertrand Berry (14) were also among the top four sackers in the NFL, yet neither had any impact going against Jones this season.
Another potential opponent with impressive credentials was also supposed to be on tap, but Jacksonville’s Reggie Hayward, who finished third in the AFC in 2004 with 10.5 sacks last season, flipped sides so he wouldn’t have to face Jones.
Hayward turned out to be the smart one. He didn’t get embarrassed like Kerney and Berry.
The Pro Bowl duo faced Jones in back-to-back games, with just five tackles and not a single sack to show for it.
“He’s the best in the NFL – hands down,” Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander said of Jones. “He makes everyone look average.”
In the first three games of the season, the defensive ends that lined up against Jones have totaled four solo tackles, three assists and – most important of all – zero sacks.
Anyone who wondered how much better Jones could possibly play with a full training camp under his belt is getting pretty conclusive answers.
“I don’t think training camp has anything to do with it,” Jones said. “I feel like I came into the season just like I did when I was missing training camp. I’ll just try to take advantage of the situation. I used training camp to try to get better than what I was during the season.”
As unlikely as it may have sounded, he actually has. The five-time Pro Bowler – Jones went to Hawaii in 1999 and has been invited back in each of the past four years – has turned his first training camp since 2001 into his most impressive start to date.
“You kind of watch in awe,” said left guard Steve Hutchinson, a two-time Pro Bowler in his own right. “He just gets it done, play in and play out. He makes it look easy.”
In his opening-week matchup with Jacksonville’s Paul Spicer, Jones held his ground and never gave the 30-year-old a clean shot at Hasselbeck. A week later, Jones opened some eyes by punishing Kerney to the point that the Pro Bowl defensive end had to take a few plays off in the second half because of exhaustion.
“It’s hard work,” Kerney said this week of facing Jones. “A lot of tackles that are considered the best in the game are just pass blockers. He’s not only one of the best pass blockers, but one of the best run blockers.”
Berry didn’t fare much better. Despite All-Pro effort, the Cardinals’ $25 million man produced Pop Warner results. Berry, who led the NFC with 14 sacks last season, got into Hasselbeck’s face on just two occasions and recorded just three tackles. His only tackle of the final three quarters came on Leonard Weaver’s fourth-quarter, 1-yard dive on third-and-1 during garbage time of the Seahawks’ 37-12 victory.
Afterward, according to Jones, the only things he had to say to the Pro Bowl offensive lineman were, “good game” and “stay healthy.”
“The guys I go against, they don’t talk that much noise,” Jones said. “I think they’re trying to conserve their energy.”
Or maybe they just don’t have anything to say.
“He’s just good. That’s the only way to say it,” said Seahawks defensive end Grant Wistrom, who faced Jones five times during his six seasons as a member of the St. Louis Rams. “He’s the best offensive lineman in the league. I know there are some other good guys around, but no one is in his class. He’s by far the best offensive lineman I’ve ever played against.”
Contrary to popular opinion, Jones hasn’t relied solely on his superior athletic ability. The 31-year-old lineman has a legendary offseason workout that includes pushing SUVs, and he also puts in plenty of time in the film room.
So don’t be fooled by the skipped training camps; Jones has devoted plenty of time to the pursuit of greatness.
“People who look at the man probably say, he’s got so many God-given physical talents that it’s easy for him,” Seahawks offensive line coach Bill Laveroni said. “But it’s not any easier for him than it is for any other left tackle in this league because of the people you have to play against every week. The best athletes on defense play that position (at right defensive end). You have to keep a sharp edge, and he does that.”
And so, while having two Pro Bowlers in the rearview mirror would seem to signal easier days ahead, Jones is working hard to maintain his edge. Former Seahawk Phillip Daniels will line up across from Jones this Sunday in Washington, Berry will get a rematch on Nov. 6, and the final six weeks of the year include battles with Michael Strahan and Dwight Freeney.
“It’s going to be tough all season,” Jones said. “Guys are going to be working hard all season. They’re trying to get something that I’m trying to prevent them from getting. It’s like that every week, and you have to go out there and stay focused.”
Because Walter Jones doesn’t want to eat any humble pie. He’d rather serve it up to some of the league’s best.
Note: Cornerback Kelly Herndon (neck stinger) missed a second consecutive day of practice Thursday and was downgraded from probable to questionable on the injury report. Herndon, the nickel back, has a 50-50 chance of playing Sunday against the Washington Redskins. If he can’t play, Jordan Babineaux would work as the third corner behind starters Marcus Trufant and Andre Dyson. … The Seahawks signed wide receiver Tony Brown to their practice squad. To make room for Brown, the Seahawks released tight end Calen Powell, a Lake Washington High School product.
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