Sports: Chicago plan is simple: Give the ball to Jones

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Chicago plan is simple: Give the ball to Jones

By JOANNE KORTH
Published January 15, 2006

CHICAGO - Running back Thomas Jones spent the first five seasons of his NFL career toiling on losing teams: three in Arizona, one in Tampa Bay and last season in Chicago.

Yet his first playoff game feels like old times.

"It's a really big game for me, just to have the opportunity to play in a playoff game," he said. "I've always been in the postseason ever since I've been playing football, whether it was high school playoffs or a bowl game in college. So, for me to finally be back in a postseason situation means a lot. I'm excited about it. I'm ready to play."

Jones will be the focal point of Chicago's running game today against Carolina. Establishing a ground game will be imperative to take pressure off quarterback Rex Grossman, who will make his second start of the season after missing the first 13 games with a broken ankle.

"We're going to run the football," coach Lovie Smith said. "We know it. They know it."

Jones had a career-high 1,335 rushing yards, joining the late Walter Payton as the only Bears to eclipse 1,300. Jones' 1,478 yards from scrimmage accounted for 36 percent of Chicago's offense. Only Giants running back Tiki Barber accounted for a higher percentage, 41.3.

Last weekend, the Panthers held Barber to 41 rushing yards, which led to several mistakes by young quarterback Eli Manning, who had four sacks, three interceptions and one lost fumble.

"They game-planned for (Barber) to stop the run and their quarterback didn't play well," Jones said. "I think if their quarterback would have made some plays, that would have opened up some things for Tiki."

SURPRISING STAT: Grossman is known for making quick decisions with the football, a skill he honed during three years under coach Steve Spurrier at Florida. Surprisingly, Grossman will be the first Spurrier-coached quarterback to start an NFL playoff game.