Jayrone Elliott: 2015 Packers Player Report Card

Jayrone Elliott

  • Age: 24
  • Ht./Wt: 6'3", 255lbs
  • College: Toledo
  • NFL Experience: 2 years

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Expectations coming into the season:  Make the team and not be the flash in the pan rookie outside linebacker.  It seems like almost every year since the Packers switched to the 3-4 defense, there has been an undrafted rookie free agent linebacker who lights up the preseason, makes the team and then sinks into obscurity.  From Frank Zombo, Vic So'oto, Dezman Moses and Andy Mulumba, all have been promising players that ultimately see their stars fade and ecplised by the next hot player.  

Player’s highlights/low-lights: Elliott's highlight has to undoubtedly be his one handed interception of Russell Wilson in week 2 that sealed the game for the Packers.  His lowlight mostly involved getting injured mid way through the season and slowly getting phased out until the playoffs, where he didn't record a single snap on defense. 

Level of Expectations met:  Elliott is probably the first Packers undrafted rookie outside linebacker that was actually able to back up his roster spot the next year.  Elliott finished with a respectable 3 sacks, 15 tackles and his interception over 177 snaps.  While he's not likely the next coming of Clay Matthews, Elliott could easily develop into a nice rotational rush defender that the Packers currently seem to employ.   

Grade: B+

Player’s contributions to team success:  While Elliott did plenty of good things with the snaps he was given early in the year, as the season continued, injuries and possibly other issues slowly pushed Elliott further and further back on the depth chart.  Elliott was basically a non-factor for the 2nd half of the season and was relegated to special teams. 

Grade: C

Player’s contributions in the playoffs:  Elliott did not record a single snap on defense in either playoff game, but did play most of the snaps on special teams.  While that might have been pretty good for a player on the bottom of the totem pole, it's surprising that Elliott didn't get to play more considering his success in the 1st half of the season. 

Grade: D

Intangibles/misc: If not for anything else, Elliott got the monkey off the Packers back after sealing the win against the Seahawks.  While it was more of a statement win for the Packers than anything else, I think it helped build a little momentum for the Packers during the 1st quarter of the season. 

Grade: A

 

Overall Grade:  C+

 
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Comments (21)

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Phillthy's picture

January 28, 2016 at 12:43 pm

Man I want this kid to do good.

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RCPackerFan's picture

January 28, 2016 at 12:49 pm

I was really hoping Elliott would have had more playing time in the playoffs. I thought he could have been that extra rusher the Packers could have used.

Against Arizona Neal was close to sacking Palmer a few times. I just wonder if they had that 1 extra rusher (Elliott) if Neal and Peppers and Perry would have been more fresh and would have turned those near sacks into sacks. Or if Elliott would have gotten to Palmer with his speed where Neal and Perry weren't able to.

Going into next year I hope to see his playing time increase. I would like to see him at the very least be used in the Nickel and/or Dime packages regularly. When he plays he makes plays...

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hobbes's picture

January 28, 2016 at 04:36 pm

Perry and Elliot both ran the 40 in the 4.6s so in terms of raw speed there shouldn't be much of a difference. As for Neal, who knows, given he did the combine as a DE and lost a ton of weight I would guess he probably runs in the 4.7s given he's still a huge dude.

As for being fresh, Neal and Peppers ran just about 40 plays a piece out of 66 total snaps, so about 2/3 of the total snaps. Hell, Eddie Lacy, in all of his unfit glory, put in 34 snaps so Peppers and Neal should have been fine.

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RCPackerFan's picture

January 29, 2016 at 06:45 am

Perry is fast, no doubt. And the way he was coming off the edge against Washington was impressive. He just doesn't always seem to play with that speed.
To me it seems that Elliott plays faster.

I really think they could have used his speed on the field especially late in the game.

Yeah, Neal and Peppers should have been fine. I'm just speculating. It just seems logical that in the 4th quarter if they bring in a guy who hasn't played most of the game that he could possibly provide a boost or fresh legs.

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dobber's picture

January 29, 2016 at 11:51 am

I think Elliott's motor revs a little higher than Perry and that's why he seems to play faster. He's not as good at the point of attack and gets washed out some times, but he plays at a higher energy level. I think he's a little better with his hands at the line, too, but I don't have a lot to go on, there.

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Ibleedgreenmore's picture

January 28, 2016 at 01:56 pm

I like this kid, he wants to play and has a motor he just goes after the QB.

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hobbes's picture

January 28, 2016 at 04:31 pm

While this is true, I think he needs to develop other aspects in his play (run and pass defense) before he gets on the field regularly. Situations where an outside linebacker has no responsibility outside rushing the passer are few and far between.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

January 28, 2016 at 10:43 pm

He needs to gets stronger. He should be going to the weight room instead of doing Sports Management Internships in the offseason.

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Lphill's picture

January 28, 2016 at 02:53 pm

I think he is a keeper needs more snaps.

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EdsLaces's picture

January 28, 2016 at 03:38 pm

He might be our future...

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hobbes's picture

January 28, 2016 at 04:29 pm

I wouldn't go that far; the chances that a undrafted rookie free agent becomes the next James Harrison is essentially 0. He might end up being a good role player but he's not likely going to be a star.

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RCPackerFan's picture

January 29, 2016 at 06:52 am

I don't think anyone is comparing him to James Harrison or calling him the next whoever and no one is saying he is a star.

What most people see is a player who seems to make an impact when he is on the field. A player who bring speed to a position that seems to lack it a bit. A player that deserves more playing time then what he gets.

IMO, he should be in the Nickel/Dime defense packages.

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hobbes's picture

February 01, 2016 at 02:21 pm

When people are calling him the Packers' future I get that impression.

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RCPackerFan's picture

February 01, 2016 at 02:50 pm

I get that.

I'm not saying he is a future star or anything. Just saying he is a player that can be really good.

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Ima fubar's picture

January 28, 2016 at 07:23 pm

I thought he had a lights out pre season and then seemed to be relegated to the bench? Again the undrafted safe backups and play behind higher picks even though they may have earned a spot?

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

January 28, 2016 at 10:04 pm

Zombo, So¨oto and Moses all still have jobs in the NFL with good teams. Elliott has a chance. He needs to play the run and cover better to get more snaps.

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The GrEEn kNiGhT's picture

January 29, 2016 at 10:22 am

We need to get rid of Perry and Peppers and make a huge splash for Von Miller. Hayward can go too. Clay with Von on the outside. Then sign a MLB like McLain.

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hobbes's picture

February 01, 2016 at 02:22 pm

The chance of Miller being around in free agency is basically 0.00% There's absolutely no way the Broncos even let Miller get close to free agency, they'll tag him way before that.

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ben's picture

January 29, 2016 at 08:58 pm

1st of all Nick Perry ran a 4.65 at the COMBINE. Jayrone ran a 4.75 at a PRO-DAY.

A big difference when you consider combine times vs. pro-day times. For instance, Clay Matthews may have run a 4.58 at his proday, but had the same time as Perry at the combine.

Nick Perry is considerably faster. "Considerably" as in Elliott may be the slowest linebacker on the team and Perry may be the fastest. ( a big reason why I believe his most "useful" position in this defense with this personnel may be at 3-4 MLB. Perry's strengths are holding the point, getting off blocks, and a bull rush that would be best utilitized coming from the middle.)

And with a 39 vs. a 31 inch vertical & 35 vs. 18 in bench reps, Perry is not only a better athlete than Jayrone, but a better pure athlete than 90% of the NFL.

Not that Elliotte isn't a gamer or can't be the better football player.

Von Miller is Ungettable. Neal was a special 3-4 DE at 1 time and should put on 15 pounds and move back inside. Clay's excellent coverage skills and run-support will also probably be needed inside. If Perry isn't move inside then the Packers options at OLB are:

Peppers, Bruce Irvin, Melvin Ingram, Nick Perry, Elliott, or a draft Pick.

My vote:

Move up and get 1 of the 1st Round LB's:
Myles Jack, Derron Lee, or Jaylon Smith

Irvin(or)Peppers.......Nick Perry.....Clay Matthews.......1st Round
or
Irvin(or)Peppers.......Bruce Carter.....Clay Matthews.......Nick Perry

(both with Elliott getting more playing time)

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hobbes's picture

February 01, 2016 at 02:25 pm

I'm not convinced Ingram or Irvin would be markedly better than Perry. Irvin is maybe even a bigger physical talent but in all honesty I don't get the feeling he's a very complete pass rusher; it's not like the Seahawks couldn't afford to exercise his 5th year option and yet they declined to do so. Ingram and Irvin are definitely bigger names so they'll likely cost more in free agency as well.

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Allan Murphy's picture

January 30, 2016 at 09:42 am

If Peppers don't come back Jayrone is the guy ..

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