JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The most important thing that Abry Jones wants to show in his first season as the Jacksonville Jaguars' starting nose tackle is that he's more than just a big body that can clog up the middle and occupy double-teams.
Jones wants to prove that he can rush the passer, too.
"I don't want to be [known as a run-stuffer]," Jones said. "I want to be a complete, total football player. I want to be a guy that's going to help this team in all situations, no matter what."
Jones stepped in for the injured Roy Miller midway through the 2016 season and recorded a career-high 26 tackles but didn't have a sack. However, he did have two in 2015 and a career-high three in 2014 as a reserve behind Miller.
The Jaguars were so pleased with Jones' progression since he signed as an undrafted free agent in 2013 that they rewarded him this offseason with a four-year, $16 million contract that included $6.5 million guaranteed and they cut Miller.
The nose tackle in the Jaguars' defensive scheme is meant to occupy double-teams and stand ground in the middle to make it tough for the offense to run the ball. Defensive coordinator Todd Wash said the 6-foot-4, 318-pound Jones is "not a true plugging nose guard" and can help the Jaguars' interior rush.
"The athleticism that Abes brings is important to us," Wash said.
Jones said he's made strides as a rusher this offseason and he's eager to prove that he doesn't have to leave the field when the Jaguars go to one of their third-down rush packages.
"I'm trying to prove more in the pass-rush game, especially with the weapons we have in Yan [Yannick Ngakoue], Calais [Campbell] and Malik [Jackson],” Jones said. “I don’t want to seem as a weak link where [offenses] can scheme them up. I want to stay on the attack so they can continue to get their single blocks.”
Campbell, whom the Jaguars signed to a four-year, $60 million contract ($30 million guaranteed) in March, said Jones has been invaluable in helping him make progress with learning the Jaguars' defensive scheme.
"He's really helped me a lot because he's been a part of the defense for a while and so he knows it like the back of his hand," Campbell said. "He's on top of everything. When I need something, he's the first person I go to just to get an understanding of what the concept is, why we're doing things.
"He's quick on knowing why exactly we're doing things and calling things out and he's definitely made my job a lot easier."
Jones started in the Jaguars' 31-24 victory over New England in the preseason opener this past Thursday but didn't record a tackle. He’s looking forward to the joint practices against Tampa Bay on Monday and Tuesday so that he can measure how much he's improved over last week's joint practices with the Patriots.
"I still have some things I want to improve on, but right now I'm happy with the progress," Jones said.