Has Chicago Bears rookie LT Braxton Jones been improving
The Chicago Bears knew this season was about growth, and hoping to find players that could stick around. One of those players is rookie left tackle Braxton Jones. Jones has played every snap this season, which is impressive for a fifth-round rookie.
Still, the key to this large number of snaps has to be seeing a player get better as the season goes on. Has Braxton Jones done that?
Has the Chicago Bears’ left tackle improved in the second half of the season?
During the first half of the season, Jones had 246 pass-blocking reps, then had 231 in the second half of the season, so the split is pretty close to even.
Over the first half, PFF had him charged with four sacks allowed, three hits allowed, and 18 hurries. Overall, he allowed 25 pressures. On the other end, Jones allowed two sacks, one hit, and nine hurries for a total of 12 pressures.
His pass block efficiency rating has risen from 86.1 to 93.7, and his PFF grade jumped from 41.5 to 76.8. Beyond that, Braxton Jones has also improved as a run blocker. Per PFF, his grade over the first eight weeks was 73.2. Over the past eight weeks, his run-blocking grade shot up to 81.
The Chicago Bears needed to see growth from Braxton Jones, and that is exactly what he has shown. Considering he is a rookie from Southern Utah, you would have expected him to have a few issues figuring out the learning curve.
However, he has obviously settled into the role as a starter, and the Chicago Bears may have proven they have something here.
At the very least, he may have done enough that the team will not be looking at left tackle this offseason. They have so many holes on the roster already, and right tackle is certainly more pressing now than left tackle.
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Sure, the team has more assets now than last year. Still, they cannot fix every hole this offseason, there are so many question marks. It would make things easier if they went into the offseason assuming that unless something falls in their lap, they do not have a hole at left tackle. They should focus on the other holes, and see how Braxton Jones progresses in his second season.