Anthony "Tiger" Jones rejoins QB Raudabugh, FB Ross and Assistant Coach / Offensive Coordinator as a member of the Soul in 2012. Jones signed on with the Soul the same day (October 3rd) as fellow teammate Ross. Though playing different positions, Jones brings the same kind of pedigree as Ross after they both had monster years in 2011 with the defunct Dallas Vigilantes.
Jones was named Wide Receiver of the Year in 2011 a season where he accumulated 2,232 yards on 171 catches and 42 touchdowns. He ranked 1st last year in receiving yards-per-game (124), receptions (171) and reception yards (2,232). Jones also ranked 3rd in receptions-per-game (9.50) and 5th in touchdown receptions (42). To compare the Soul's top WR Donovan Morgan (who I'll highlight in a future post) led the team with 121 receptions for 1,959 yards and 39 touchdowns. Morgan has signed on for the 2012 season as well, so the Soul's biggest problem would be if Raudabaugh can throw enough passes each way to make everyone happy. That's probably the best problem an offense can have before the season starts.
Jone went to the University of Louisville where he played in 51 games from 2000-2004. Jones was signed by the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent, but was cut out of camp. In 2006 he tried to catch on with the CFL's Brittish Columbia Lions, but was a casualty in final cuts.
He started his arena football career in 2007 as a member of the AF2's Louisville Fire. Jones caught 142 passes for 1,897 yards (the Fire's single-season record) and 37 touchdowns that season.
Jones signed on with the Georgia Force of the AFL during the fifth week of that season in 2008. While playing under Head Coach Plank he was named to the league's All-Rookie Team after accumulating 1,217 receiving yards (3rd on the team) and leading the Force and all AFL rookies with 30 touchdowns.
Jones resurfaced along with the AFL in 2010, but with the Milwaukee Iron. He was named second-team All-Arena Football League in 2010 after recording 125 catches (5th in the league) for 1,810 yards (3rd in the league) and 42 touchdowns (5th in the league).
In 2011 he played for the Dallas Vigilantes before signing with the Soul this offseason. Expectations for this whole offensive unit are pretty high as three of the AFL's biggest weapons in 2011 return as teammates in 2012 but now for the Philadelphia Soul. With Morgan, Ross and now Jones the Soul now have a unit that combined for 120 touchdowns last season. That kind of 2011 productivity should shine very well on 2012 as the Soul combine past players with news players and former Dallas Vigilantes' players.
The Soul have a chance of instantly becoming one of the best teams in the AFL just by talent alone. Many Philadelphia fans have already seen an underachieving team (the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles) with an amazing amount of talent and won't be too happy if their arena team holds the same fate. Plank will have all the opportunity in the world to succeed especially with Dolezel coaching next to him giving him an instant connection with the majority of his offense. We'll see if Jones can keep up his productivity while sharing receptions with one of the games already best WRs Donovan Morgan. I'm sure both will feed off each other as Raudabaugh delivers numerous passes their way every game.
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