On Sunday when the Texans host the Jaguars, former teammates will be on opposing sides. Over the course of a week through various calls and texts, Greg Jones and Maurice Jones-Drew have developed a friendly rivalry with this week's upcoming matchup.
"I told him I wish him the least amount of luck as possible and I hope he stays healthy and has a horrible game," Jones-Drew said.
"That's one of my closest friends," Jones said. "I've got some things to tell him. I think I'm going to tell him that out there on Sunday."
Jones, signed with the Texans as a free agent in March, was the lead blocker for Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor in Jacksonville. The ten-year veteran fullback also rushed for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns before being signed by Houston as a free agent in March.
"Obviously, his blocking style is something that is hard to replace," the Jaguars' three-time Pro Bowl running back said. "Our fullback, Will Ta'ufo'ou, has done a great job here for us. But it's great when you're with somebody for so long and you understand how he blocks, he understand how you run and you kind of can do little certain things."
Now in Houston, Jones says he has adapted to running backs coach Chick Harris' system which differs from the one he was a part of for nine years with the Jaguars.
"Jacksonville was more downhill, power scheme, gap scheme," Jones said. "Here is a whole lot of outside zone so a little bit more detail goes into the blocking."
Now facing his lead blocker for the first time, Jones-Drew joked on Wednesday that the key matchup would be "Greg Jones vs. everyone on the Jags team." The Texans will host the first of two contests between the AFC South opponents this Sunday at Reliant Stadium.
"Throughout the offseason and through the season, me and Greg, we talk every week, maybe two or three times a week just to see how he's doing," Jones-Drew said. "And this is the kind of game I guess some of us have circled just because of him. It's nice to finally to get an opportunity to go against him."
