Duke Wilson: Ed Too Tall Jones Highlights

Source:Duke Wilson with a look at the great Dallas Cowboys DE Ed Too Tall Jones.

"One of the biggest players in NFL history. Standing at 6'9", Jones was a versatile defender who could run the passer and stuff the run. He retired early in 1979, but returned after a year of boxing where he entered his prime. He was 1x First Team All Pro, 2x Second Team All Pro, and had 106 sacks in his career." 

From Duke Wilson

I think a good way to look at the NFL career of Ed Jones is to look at what defensive ends and offensive tackles were like back then. I think offensive tackles have always been bigger in the sense that they've been heavier than defense ends and perhaps taller as well. OT's tend to rely on size and strength to block DE's and rush ends. DE's and rush ends tend to rely on speed, quickness, and agility, to get past the OT whose trying to block them and get to the QB or running back running the ball. 

But then ED Jones comes into the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys in 1974 in a decade where the average offensive tackle is maybe at best 260-265 pounds, 6'3, 6'4. And ED Jones is 6'9, 265-275 pounds, maybe 280, when he came back to the Cowboys, the size a big NBA power forward or center. So he's bigger, stronger, perhaps even quicker, than most of the offensive lineman, who are trying to block him. He was sort of like Reggie White, but 10 years earlier, where he's simply bigger, stronger, and quicker, than most of the offensive lineman who are trying to block him, as a defensive end, not a stud nose tackle. 

NFL history fans love to talk about how great Harvey Martin was who was on the other side of those great Cowboys defensive lines in the 1970s and early 80s. But the fact there were very few, if any offensive tackles in the 11 years that Harvey Martin played from 1973-84, who were physically capable of blocking Ed Jones. Which meant Harvey was always getting one-on-one matchups. While Too Tall was getting an offensive tackle in front of him and always at least 1 tight end as well to help block him. I wouldn't say Ed Jones made Harvey Martin's career. But he sure as hell made his career, along with Jim Jeffcoat's career, who was another excellent Cowboys pass rusher, a helluva lot easier in the 1980s. 

I think the reason why Ed Jones is not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame today, is because you already have a lot of great Cowboy defensive players in there. Jones played with a lot of other great players including Randy White, Jethro Pugh, Larry Cole, Harvey Martin, he was somewhat quiet, so he didn't get a lot of media attention. But you watch those old Cowboy games from the 1970s and 80s, especially from CBS Sports, the sportscasters and the fans who watch those games, Ed Jones's opponents, will tell you how great he was. 

Even though I'm a die hard Redskins fan and saying anything good about any Cowboy, could probably put my physical health in jeopardy, I think he's one of the best all around NFL defensive lineman ever. And he should've been in the Hall of Fame a longtime ago. 

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