Any Pittsburgh Steelers fan that is old enough to remember Joey Porter the player, remembers the outside linebacker chasing down the likes of Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and a myriad of Cleveland Browns quarterbacks with regularity, all with that nasty smirk on his face.
Pittsburgh Steelers second year outside linebacker Jarvis Jones is doing just that by watching film of his linebacker coach when he was playing for the Steelers and wreaking havoc against opposing offenses.
"When you go back and look at the film, we kind of play the same way." "He was very athletic - probably more athletic than me. I go back and watch film and some of the moves he made to add different things to my repertoire. What really works is when you get to see it and transition it into the game."
After all, Jones draws more comparisons to Porter's game than just a coach-player relationship.
"He's been a great help to me since Day 1 he has been here," Jones told Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "He is slowing the game down for me a whole lot as far as detail work and technique, hand placement, getting off the ball and stuff like that. He is helping me become a great pass rusher."
Jones couldn't have asked for a better mentor than Porter. Both are the same style of pass rusher added with Porter's experience and "been there, done that" attitude will give validation to what he is coaching.
Porter's tutelage has already been seen on the field in this young 2014 season as Jones used an inside move to beat New York Giants tackle Charles Brown and sack Eli Manning for an eight yard loss in Saturday's preseason game.
Jones is looking to take the next step in his career not only as a Pittsburgh Steeler, but also a dominant pass rusher. Turns out, he has the best mentor an outside linebacker could have in Joey Porter to do so, on film and at practice.