Jones' hard work continues to pay off for Chicago Bears

BOURBONNAIS - Christian Jones never let the fact that he was snubbed in the 2014 draft affect him.

Despite being passed over by every NFL team, Jones came to Chicago Bears camp last year as an undrafted free agent and impressed with his athleticism, physicality and work ethic.

He also seemed perpetually upbeat, earning the nickname "Cheese," because he always appeared to be smiling for the camera.

Jones was projected as high as the second round coming out of Florida State, where he was a jack of all trades used at multiple positions, including defensive end.

He flashed pass-rush ability as well as range as a rundown player and the ability to cover receivers. But a failed drug test at the NFL Scouting Combine caused his stock to plummet.

Still, Jones came so far so fast as a Bears rookie that the rangy linebacker started the sixth game of his rookie season.

He wound up with five starts overall - one on the weak side, one on the strong side and three in the middle. He was third on the defense with 98 tackles and third in special-teams tackles with 11.

"You hear stories about guys going undrafted, and it didn't faze them," Jones said. "They just went out there and played hard and made a name for themselves.

"When I came in (undrafted), I didn't let that faze me, and I didn't get down about it. I just wanted to come in and work. I knew I could play. I knew I could do a lot of different things.

"A lot of this game's mental. You just have to know you can do something and go out and do it. So I just tried to stay positive and went out there and worked hard every day."

Jones can flat-out play, and he's always been able to do that. All he needed was an opportunity to prove it.

And clearly the unexpected success he enjoyed last year hasn't diminished his ambition.

The new coaching staff wasted no time putting Jones in the starting lineup in the new 3-4 defense, and he has continued to line up with the first team all through camp at inside linebacker alongside Shea McClellin.

"He's athletic, he's got size, he's got length, and he cares about it," coach John Fox said of the 6-foot-3, 240-pound Jones. "He does compete, so if a guy does that it really doesn't matter what round he came from.

"(Jones) is ultracompetitive, and that's kind of the difference maker in choosing your team and choosing football players."

The Bears' new scheme seems tailor made for Jones' skill set.

"It's a versatile defense," he said. "You have to be able to do a lot of things. At times we're sent on a blitz, and at times they want us to drop back and cover tight ends and receivers and backs coming out of the backfield.

"And we have good ones. We have (running back) Matt Forte and (tight end) Martellus Bennett. It can be tough sometimes covering those guys, but we have guys here that can do it, so it's been fun."

But the 24-year-old Jones can outrun those older guys, right?

"I like to think so," Jones said flashing his trademark, ear-to-ear grin. "Sometimes I get down to (running) a 4.3."

That's an exaggeration, but Jones appears almost that fast when he's chasing down a ball carrier. And he's continuing to employ the same mindset that worked so well for him last year.

"I had an opportunity, so I just went out there and played," he said. "I was out there with veterans, and I didn't want to let them down or anyone else on the team.

"I just wanted to prepare so I wouldn't make any mistakes. I had some mistakes last year, but I just continued to play fast, play physical and run to the ball, and it paid off."

It's a plan that has worked well for Jones so far.

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