Recent Matt Eberflus Comments Will Make One Of His Players Happy

The NFL always tweaks its rulebook every year to keep the game fresh, but not all of the decisions are popular. One of the more controversial in recent memory was electing to establish a fair catch rule on kickoffs. That means teams can wave off any kickoff and automatically get it at the 25-yard line. They insist this is a measure to increase player safety. Nearly all special teams coordinators around the league feel different. If anything, it will increase the risks. Matt Eberflus thinks he knows why.

The Chicago Bears head coach was asked about the rule change and whether it might lower the number of kickoffs returned moving forward.

“I think we’ll get more squib kicks, I think you’ll get more drop kicks, more drive kicks, those types of things, and make guys return it. I suspect you’ll see more returns than less. That’s just what I’m thinking right now, but we’ll see what happens.”

If that is true, there is at least one player on the Bears’ roster that is happy. Velus Jones faces uncertainty on going into training camp after the team invested multiple new players at wide receiver. His spot depends heavily on his continued usefulness as a kick returner. He averaged 27.6 yards per return last season. If teams do give him more chances, as Eberflus expects, his value on the roster goes up.

Matt Eberflus will leave the door open for Jones.

There is still a possibility the former 3rd round pick has a role to play on offense. His versatility showed up a few times with his ability to run jet sweeps. That, along with his kick return prowess, might be enough to secure one of the two roster spots behind D.J. Moore, Chase Claypool, Darnell Mooney, and Tyler Scott. The coaching staff will leave it up to him. They’ve made it clear since the beginning that competitions will be held across the entire roster. If you want playing time, you need to earn it.

Jones would be wise to practice how to field returns against squib kicks, drop kicks, and drive kicks. The better prepared he is, the greater his odds of convincing Matt Eberflus to keep him around. His preseason performance could carry more weight than normal. It will be interesting to see if teams test the new rule frequently to see how it’s handled. No question Jones will have the green light to make some things happen.