NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock chatted with NFL.com users on Friday, as anticipation for the draft continues to build. One of the great things about a Mayock chat is that you usually discover a prospect that you likely have never heard of.
And Mayock failed to disappoint. When asked about a potential “little man” in this year’s draft, Mayock sang the praises of Eastern Washington RB Taiwan Jones. The junior was unable to perform at the combine because of a foot injury, and scouts are clamoring to get a glimpse of the kid. As is Mayock.
“He’s 194 pounds and I think he’s going to run 4.35 or better,” Mayock said. “He’s a home-run hitter who can impact the return game and I think that you try to get him another 10 touches per game as a change-of-pace back.”
Jones is scheduled to work out April 14 at Los Medanos Junior College in Antioch, Calif., with 26 teams scheduled to attend.
The key to running a fast time in the 40-yard dash, trainers say, is to start fast.
If that theory proves true, Eastern Washington running back Taiwan Jones may prove to be the fastest player in the 2011 draft.
Doug Farrar of Yahoo.com recorded a video of Jones practicing the 40-yard dash at the esteemed Athletes Performance. In the video, Jones' coach, Performance Manager Brent Callaway, claims that Jones' 10-yard splits are in the "1.4s." If so, the 6-0, 194 pound running back will have finished the most important quarter of the 40-yard dash faster than anyone tested at the Scouting Combine.
The video shows Callaway coaching Jones on the first 15 yards of the dash. It is Callaway's comments about Jones' starts a little later in the video, however, that will create the biggest stir in the scouting community. At one point he tells Jones he had him at "1.45." Read More
