Jacoby Jones isn't just dropping passes these days. He's dropping down the Baltimore Ravens' depth chart as well.
Jones has been surpassed by Marlon Brown as the team's No. 3 wide receiver, based on the snap counts. It's been a tough start to the season for Jones, who has more drops (four) than catches (three). In fact, he's dropped half of the passes thrown his way, including an easy throw that bounced off his hands Sunday.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Jones catches passes during practice, and he is working hard at improving by catching passes after practice every day.
"Sometimes I think he’s pressing. I really do," Harbaugh said. "Jacoby has a lot of pride, and he’s made big, big plays in this league before, and he wants to pick up where he left off. [That] hasn’t happened for him, but the thing he has to know -- just like Torrey [Smith], just like anybody -- is that the key is persistence. You just keep hammering, and you don’t get down on yourself and focus on the fundamentals and the details, and it’ll work out.”
Jones has never been considered a reliable pass catcher, which is why he's never developed beyond a No. 3 target. But the Ravens aren't going to give up on Jones because he has a history of being a playmaker.
He made two of the biggest and most memorable catches for the Ravens during their Super Bowl championship run a couple of seasons ago. His 70-yard touchdown catch in Denver, also known as the Mile High Miracle, propelled the Ravens' to an AFC divisional playoff win. His 56-yard touchdown grab near the end of the first half was one of the key plays in the Ravens' Super Bowl triumph.
At this point, the Ravens have to go with Brown until Jones breaks out of his funk. Brown played 31 offensive snaps on Sunday, and Jones received only six.
While he doesn't have the same explosiveness as Jones, Brown caught all three passes thrown in his direction on Sunday for 31 yards. Two of Brown's receptions converted third downs.
"[He] did a good job, made a couple plays -- third-down conversions that were very important," Harbaugh said of Brown. "[He is a] big target, gets off press really well and blocks, and he did a good job in special teams. He played well."