In a slip of the tongue earlier this week, Baltimore coach Brian Billick confused Thomas Jones with his own tight end Terry Jones and called the Bears’ leading rusher by the wrong name.
Detailing the main focus of his defense, Ravens middle linebacker Ray Lewis said he hopes to slow down “this Jones guy.” Lewis didn’t use a first name, but who knows? Maybe he would’ve said Terry too.
With 502 yards rushing and six touchdowns, Thomas Jones is making a name for himself whether the Ravens know it or not. At least the Ravens know this: The Bears have to get Jones established to accomplish anything offensively.
“Teams know that’s what we’re going to do,” coach Lovie Smith said. “We have to establish the run each game. That’s where it starts for us. They know we’re going to run and we’re going to do it.”
The Bears are averaging 121 rushing yards per game, 12th best in the league. Jones has accounted for 100.4 of those and is unfazed by Baltimore’s brain cramps.
“I really don’t care, to be honest, if you know my name or not,” Jones said. “I have a job to do and that’s my intention. If a guy doesn’t know my name, that’s not really hurting me.”
As for Lewis’ claim that stopping Jones is the most important element to Sunday’s game?
“Every linebacker’s focus is stopping the running backs,” Jones said. “That’s nothing new. Every week is a different challenge. I have respect for every defense I go against. But we know that if we go out there and do what we’re capable of doing, we should be all right.”
Forgive Jones if he seems nonchalant about Baltimore’s second-ranked defense. This is far more a reflection of Jones’ even-keeled approach than any disrespect to the Ravens.
“Their defense, like the rest of the defenses in the league, has some good players,” Jones said. “I’m approaching this game like I approach every game.”
This approach–and intense commitment to conditioning and working out–is what enabled Jones to rush for 89 yards and two touchdowns against Minnesota despite being told that the sprained right knee he suffered against Cleveland could sideline him for three to four weeks.
This week, Jones practiced Thursday and Friday, and he will participate in the Bears’ walkthrough Saturday. Listed as probable on the injury report, he is ahead of his pace last week, when he could only practice on Friday and take part in the Saturday walkthrough.
“This time last week, [my knee] was more sore and weak,” Jones said as he left the practice field. “I’m definitely ahead of that. I feel a lot better.
“I’m very fortunate. When I did it, it was tough. I figured I was out a couple of weeks. Luckily, I was able to come back the next week and be productive. Obviously, if I don’t hurt it any more, I should get better each week.”
It would be difficult to overstate what Jones has meant to the Bears’ offense this season. With a rookie quarterback in Kyle Orton and a defense that ranks just behind Baltimore in third place, the Bears need to control the ball offensively.
Jones, in one of the better stretches of his six-year career, has done so behind a veteran offensive line that is expected to get John Tait back from a sprained left ankle.
“We run the ball very well,” Orton said. “We’re one of the better running teams in the league. Hopefully, we can continue to establish that and put us in manageable third downs.”
Jones said he would decide Sunday whether he would wear a brace to protect his knee, a precaution he took against Minnesota.
Jones also took a pain-killing shot just before kickoff.
This much is certain: The Bears–and Jones–need to put a hurt on Baltimore’s run defense Sunday.
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kcjohnson@tribune.com
