2013 NFL DRAFT - Steelers Fourth Round Selection
LANDRY JONES Quarterback University of Oklahoma Sooners 6-3 - 221 Artesia, New Mexico Artesia High School 4th Round – 115th OverallCAREER NOTESJones started 50-of-52 games at Oklahoma, setting the school position record with 48 consecutive starts (previous mark was 34 by Steve Davis; 1973-75)…Shattered school and Big 12 Conference career-records and placed himself high on the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision record charts with 1,388 completions of 2,183 passes (63.58%) for 16,646 yards and 123 touchdowns…Scored three times on 132 carries for minus 375 yards…On 2,315 offensive plays, he amassed 16,271 yards in total offense and was responsible for 126 touchdowns…His passing yardage total ranks third in NCAA annals behind Case Keenum of Houston (19,217; 2007-11) and Timmy Chang of Hawaii (17,072; 2000-04), as his 16,646 yards topped the old conference mark of 15,793 yards by Graham Harrell of Texas Tech (2005-08) and shattered the previous Oklahoma record of 8,403 yards by Sam Bradford (2007-09)…His average of 320.12 yards per game passing is the eighth-best figure by an NCAA FBS performer…His 123 touchdowns placed fifth in major college annals, topped by Case Keenum (155), Kellen Moore of Boise State (142; 2008-11), Graham Harrell (134; 2005-08) and Colt Brennan of Hawaii (131; 2005-07)…His 123 scoring strikes surpassed the previous school mark of 88 by Sam Bradford…His 16,271 yards in total offense ranks third in college football history, chasing Timmy Chang (16,910) and Case Keenum (20,114) on the NCAA all-time chart…That total bettered the old Big 12 career-record of 15,611 yards by Graham Harrell and shattered the Sooners' all-time mark of 8,439 yards by Sam Bradford…Jones' 2,315 total plays broke the old league all-time record of 2,283 by Brad Smith of Missouri (2002-05)…His 2,183 pass attempts broke Graham Harrell's previous Big 12 mark of 2,011 (only two players in conference history with at least 2,000 attempts in a career) and surpassed the old Sooners record of 1,025 by Josh Huepel (1999-2000)…Jones' 1,388 pass completions bettered the previous school career record of 654 by Huepel and rank second in Big 12 history behind Graham Harrell's NCAA record 1,403.
2012 SEASONThe fifth-year senior earned All-Big 12 Conference second-team accolades from the Associated Press and The NFL Draft Report, in addition to being named an honorable mention by the league's coaches…Guided a unit that ranked fifth in the nation in passing (336.46 ypg), 12th in total offense (497.85 ypg) and 15th in scoring (38.15 ypg)…Jones finished 11th in the major college ranks with an average of 319.77 yards per game in total offense, as he completed 367-of-555 passes (66.13%) for 4,267 yards and 30 touchdowns…Carried 14 times and on 569 plays, he amassed 4,157 yards while guiding the Sooners to a 10-3 record…Threw for at least 300 yards in six contests, including a pair of consecutive 500-yard performances…His 367 pass completions rank second on the school season-record chart behind Jones' 2010 total of 405…His 555 pass attempts placed third on that school annual record chart behind his record 617 from the 2010 season and 562 in 2011…His 4,267 yards passing rank fourth on the OU annual chart, topped by Jones' 4,463 in 2011, 4,718 in 2010 and 4,720 by Sam Bradford in 2008…His 30 touchdown tosses are good for seventh on the Sooners' season-record list, while his 4,157 yards in total offense rank fourth…In a 52-7 rout of Kansas, he hit on 20-of-29 tosses for 300 yards and three scores…That was followed by 356 yards on 35-of-51 attempts vs. Notre Dame…He bounced back with 32-of45 tries for 405 yards and four scores vs. Iowa State, marking the 14th time in school history a Sooner threw for 400 yards in a contest…For only the second time in Oklahoma annals, Jones generated 554 yards passing and six touchdowns on 38-of-51 throws vs. West Virginia. His six scoring strikes tied the school game-record Jones set in 2009 vs. Tulsa. His 554 yards broke his own OU record of 505 yards vs. Kansas State in 2011. His 38 completions are the third-best game total by a Sooner and his 554 yards in total offense established another school mark, along with placing fifth on the Big 12 game-record list (his passing yardage was also good for fifth in league game annals)…Jones recorded the third 500-yard passing game for his career (also only three ever by a Sooner) when he gained 500 yards with three touchdowns on 46of-71 passes the next week vs. Oklahoma State. His passing yardage is good for third on the school chart and his 46 completions topped the old OU game-record of 39 by Josh Huepel vs. Mississippi in 1999. His 71 attempts broke his own school record of 62 vs. Oklahoma State in 2010…In the Cotton Bowl, Jones closed out his career by hitting on 35-of-48 chances for 278 yards and a score vs. Texas A&M.
2011 SEASONThe Manning Award finalist would end his junior season as the owner of 13 program passing records, including become Oklahoma's all-time passer with a then 12,379 career yards, which had ranked fifth in Big 12 Conference history…The All-Big 12 first-team pick by The NFL Draft Report guided a team that finished fifth in the nation in passing (349.38 ypg) and total offense (512.31 ypg) while the Sooners ended tenth in scoring (39.54 ppg)…Jones was the nation's sixth-rated player with an average of 341.46 yards per game in total offense…His 355 pass completions rank third on the school season-record chart, while his 562 attempts are topped by Jones' 2010 record 617 tries…He ranks third on the OU annual list with 4,463 yards passing and eighth with 29 touchdown tosses…Scored twice on 32 carries and generated 4,439 yards in total offense (third-best season total by a Sooner) on 594 offensive plays…Threw for over 300 yards eight times, with five 400-yard efforts that included a then career-best 505 yards (second on the school game-record list) on 35-of-47 tosses, along with five touchdowns vs. Kansas State…That was the third time in 2011 that Jones had five touchdowns in a game, accomplishing that feat a week before the KSU clash, when he connected on 30of-55 attempts for 412 yards vs. Texas Tech; and hit on 23-of-33 throws fore 425 yards in an October meeting vs. Ball State…Prior to the BSU game, he had completed 35-of-48 passes for 448 yards and three touchdowns vs. Missouri…His final 400-yard performance for the year came vs. Baylor, as he threw for 447 yards on 36-of-51 attempts vs. the Bears.
2010 SEASONJones, the Sammy Baugh Award winner, earned honorable mention All-American from Sports Illustrated...The All-Big 12 Conference first-team pick by the Dallas Morning News and Kansas City Star, he added league second-team accolades from the Associated Press…Named the Fiesta Bowl Offensive Player of the Game after setting OU bowl records in yardage (429) and passing touchdowns (three) in Oklahoma's win over Connecticut, the sophomore set school season-records by completing 405-of-617 passes (65.64%), topping the previous marks of 355 completions and 562 attempts by Jones in 2009…His 4,718 yards passing are topped by only Sam Bradford's 4,720 in 2008 and is good for eighth on the conference annual record report…His 38 touchdown tosses rank third on the OU record list, topped by Bradford's 50 scoring strikes in 2008 and Jason White's 40 in 2003…His pass efficiency rating of 146.31 ranked second in the conference and was the eighth-best rating ever by a Sooner…Gained 4,590 yards in total offense, ranking behind Sam Bradford's 4,767 yards in 2008 on the OU record chart. That yardage figure also ranks eighth on the Big 12 season-record list…Threw for over 300 yards ten times, with three of those contests generating at least 400 passing yards, including 453 with four touchdowns on 32-of-46 chances vs. Colorado; adding 468 yards and four scores on 37 pass completions (tied for third on the OU game list) of 62 throws (second-highest game total by a Sooner) vs. Oklahoma State before he connected on 34-of-49 throws for 429 yards and three touchdowns vs. Connecticut in the Fiesta Bowl…His 59 pass attempts vs. Texas A&M (completed 36 for 290 and a score) ranks third on the OU game-record chart.
2009 SEASONJones started 10 of the 12 games he appeared in…The NFL Draft Report's Freshman All-American placed third in the voting by the league's coaches for Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year accolades…He led a team that ranked 11th in the nation in passing (289.23 ypg), as Jones finished 28th in the FBS with an average of 257.08 yards per game in total offense…His 261-of-449 passes (58.13%) rank eighth on the school season-record list and his 3,198 yards passing, along with 26 passing touchdown strikes both rank ninth in OU season annals…Generated 3,085 yards on 484 offensive snaps…Threw for over 300 yards three times, picking up 336 yards with a school game-record six touchdowns behind 25of-37 throws vs. Tulsa…Added four scores and 294 yards on 26-of-37 chances vs. Kansas State and 392 yards with five touchdowns while hitting on 24-of-39 passes in the Texas A&M clash…Finished his rookie season with 30-of-51 throws for 418 yards and three touchdowns to guide the Sooners to a 31-27 decision over Stanford in the Sun Bowl, as his 418 yards set a then school postseason record and rank second-best in Sun Bowl history.
2008 SEASONRed-shirted as a freshman.
HIGH SCHOOLJones attended Artesia (N.M.) High School, playing football for head coach Cooper Henderson…Led his team to consecutive Class 4A state championships, throwing for a combined 7,013 yards and 89 touchdowns…The first title came during his junior season, as the All-State selection threw for 3,432 yards and 45 scores, also rushing for 294 yards and nine scores in 2006…As a senior, Jones earned EA Sports and Parade All-American honors, in addition to being a finalist for the Joe Montana Quarterback of the Year Award, given to the nation's best prep passer…Selected as New Mexico Gatorade Player of the Year in 2007, gaining 3,850 yards on 366 pass attempts and 44 touchdowns on his way to yet another state title…Finished his high school career by starring in the Under Armour ESPN All-American game…Rated the nation's second-best multi-purpose quarterback by EA Sports and ESPN regarded him as the third-best passer in the prep ranks…Both Scout.com and Rivals.com placed him sixth on their national quarterback recruiting list, with Rivals also rating him the best overall player in the state of New Mexico.
PERSONALThe Multidisciplinary Studies major married Oklahoma Sooners women's basketball guard Whitney Hand on July 6th, 2012…Landry was named after Dallas Cowboys Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Tom Landry…Son of Kellye and Kevin Jones...Born 4/04/89…Resides in Artesia, New Mexico.
Landry Jones Conference Call Transcript
LANDRY JONESQuarterback – University of Oklahoma Sooners 4th Round – 115th Overall
Did you expect this at all?I have no clue. I was sitting there watching it and talking to my agent Dave Young. We were going back and forth. He thought it would be between me and a couple of guys, and then I got the phone call. I didn't even know what to say. I'm so overwhelmed and so thankful for the Pittsburgh organization for taking a shot on me and picking me up. I'm just excited to get down there.
How do you feel about coming to a place that has an established quarterback who is still in his prime?The thing about it is, I am going to go in there and compete as hard as I can and try to win a job. At the end of the day this is going to be a great opportunity for me whether I play quick or whether I have to sit and wait for a couple years. Getting to stand behind Roethlisberger is going to be a huge opportunity for me. He is a guy who has been established in this league for a long time and I get to learn from one of the best quarterbacks to play the game. I'm just really excited to get to work with him and really excited about this opportunity.
Do you know Ben's sister Carlee? She and your wife were on the same team right?Yes, they played together for two or three years on the same basketball team so obviously my wife is pretty pumped about this whole deal.
What are some of the other teams that considered drafting you? Are you surprised at maybe some of the other quarterbacks in the draft that were picked in the fourth round as opposed to earlier?It was such a weird draft this year for all quarterbacks. I know a lot of guys, and for me, you're expecting to go earlier, but it was a strange draft. At the end of the day, God had everything in his hands and he knew exactly where you were going to place me and couldn't have placed me at a better organization with this team.
You said you thought it was coming down between you and some other guys for this pick. Who were you thinking?I really honestly didn't know. All my agent had told me was it was between me and a couple other guys. That was literally what he said. I don't know who else they were thinking about, but I'm really happy that they chose me.
How much contact had you had with the Steelers?Honestly none. It's funny, I had more contact with the Bills than anybody else, so I didn't really have much, but like I've been saying, at the end of the day, I was just so excited that they chose me and they picked me out.
Do you see yourself as a starter in this league?Yes. Ever since you're a young kid, you do see yourself as a starter. You see yourself winning Super Bowls. You see yourself doing all these different things in the NFL, so I'm just excited about being there and having an opportunity.
Is it a little bit of a disappointment to come to a place with one of the best quarterbacks in the league and he's only 31?It's not disappointing at all. I was just happy to get picked up and you have to start your career somewhere. On every single team there's going to be a quarterback that has your job and you're going to go in there, you're going to be respectful and do all these things and compete as hard as you can.
*What part of your game do you think is your strength and what part of your game do you think needs the most work? *I think I have a lot of arm talent and then what needs the most work, mobility. Moving and that sort of thing.
You told Jon Gruden that you're better than RGIII. Can you explain that?I mean just as a competitor standpoint. I don't want to go into games saying I'm not able to compete and that I'm not better than anybody. You don't want to go up there, you don't want to be scared of somebody as a competitor. You do think that you're better than anybody that steps on the field. Now is that reality? I don't know, you'll have to play against guys. You'll have to see different things. But from a competitor standpoint, that's the way I've always thought and that's the way I've been taught and raised.
Is [wife] Whitney's career over now?Yes. She used up her eligibility. She did get drafted to San Antonio. She won't be cleared to play this year, but she's thinking about doing that next year and you never know. God has a plan for people and for us and for our family on how it's going to work, but right now we're just focused being excited about becoming a Pittsburgh Steeler.
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Quarterbacks Coach Randy Fichtner RE 4th Round Pick Landry Jones
LANDRY JONESQuarterback – University of Oklahoma Sooners 4th Round – 115th Overall
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Why the need for a QB now?We have had great experience in that room with Charlie and Byron. I just think it was time to start grooming a new player. Freshen up the room if you will.
Re: Replacing Ben in the future?I think you always draft that. I don't think that was the thought process.
Tell us about Landry:Landry is a productive player, a four-year starter playing big football. He has some of the biggest production I've seen out of any of the QBs in several years. He's a guy that still has a lot of upside. He played in the system that is basically one back; he knows the system very well. He's been easily adaptable in meetings that I've spent with him, so he can understand the pro game. That's going to be very exciting.
Re: Ben as a mentor:It may be time for Ben to give that experience to somebody else, and to help in the room. I am excited about coaching a young player in the room. There has been a great respect between Byron and Charlie and Ben. I think this gives Ben an opportunity to share his experiences. That is an exciting time. I saw that with Hines when I was in that room.
Does Ben get anything out of that role?He's got lot of great experiences, he's been the starter. I think anytime that you are communicating that to others you are reaffirming it to yourself. If it takes you a little bit more time in a room to explain a concept that he understands very well to tell a young guy in the room, that just re-confirms to Ben positive things. I think it is always good when you're talking football anytime whether it's outside the media room or the locker room. I just think it gives you an opportunity with a young guy to do that.
Why Landry over some of the other QBs?I don't know if it's one over the other. Landry is a good fit, and we generally stick to our board. So Landry is in a great spot to be here right now. I have always thought of it as who you get, being a college coach I've never worried about the ones that you didn't get or the ones that slipped away. I'm excited about having Landry.
Re: Any point last year that you felt you needed a younger QB in the room?I don't know if there was a point where you felt this just wasn't working anymore. They have given us some very good reps here. They have been great compliments to Ben, to me and our offense. So no I don't think that was ever the case. There was never one minute where we decided we had to move forward. I just think it happens.
Re: Differences between Jones and QB Jerrod Johnson from last season:At the time Jerrod was here, he was young and developing. He was just getting potentially at full strength. He was a quarterback that came here that was still rehabbing his shoulder. I think, without looking back and saying one or the other, you look at it and say it wasn't the right time, and it wasn't time to move Charlie [Batch] or Byron [Leftwich] out. Sometimes timing changes every year.
Was this your one year to make a pro day appearance?No, because coach Tomlin's been great. Whether I was coaching receivers or quarterbacks, we've always gone out. And they push out so you can be making comparisons and building a library. To me, that's one of the unique things we do. Whether we're in play for a quarterback or whether we're in play for a defensive back, we get a chance to go out and work guys and get a chance to keep comparing, to keep putting guys in perspective where you might see them. How do you feel they rank. And also when you get a chance to get out and visit with guys, you get to see them in their environment. You get to evaluate that. You get to talk to them on your terms and things that you might do, concepts that we might do. How do they adjust to that? I know in this case, I was able to be at Oklahoma's workout. I was able to see and visit with their offensive coordinator, their head coach, who are all friends of mine. I've been at clinics there before with them. Hear what they have to say and see how this youngster has developed in their system. They've had him the whole time. Josh Heupel, his position coach and coordinator, was a very good player in college football too and he loves this kid. But it was easy to see because when you're around them, everyone does and he has some background in Pittsburgh here in general. His wife Whitney played basketball with Ben's sister Carlee and they had been friends and I believe Carlee was in their wedding last summer.
