Dawand Jones has built relationship with Joe Thomas, appreciates belief from Hall of Famer

Dawand Jones and Joe Thomas have one critical thing in common: playing left tackle for the Browns.Beyond that, they're a bit of an odd couple."We have a really good relationship. I really like him," Thomas recently told The Chronicle-Telegram. "I wouldn't say we have a million common interests. He's a NASCAR guy. I've never watched a race in my life, but trying to do anything I can to learn about it and pick his brain and just be curious about what he likes to do and how he likes to spend his free time and just understand how he thinks and how he learns and the best way to get through to him."Browns-Packers Preview: 3 things to watch, 3 key numbers, the predictionJones holds up his end of the relationship."I try to ask him about beef. I try to ask him about what he likes," Jones told The Chronicle this week. "He's from Wisconsin, which they do have a track up there, Road America, and he said he's never been. So I was like, you've got to do something besides football and take care of beef.'"Before Thomas was a cattle farmer, he was a 10-time Pro Bowl left tackle who played 10,363 consecutive snaps and was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. He spent time with the Browns during the preseason, not only serving as an analyst on the TV broadcasts but attending meetings and practices and working with Jones as a coach.As Jones, a fourth-round pick out of Ohio State in 2023, continues to get acclimated to the left side after spending most of his life as a right tackle, he has a trusted advocate to help him navigate the struggles and challenges, including the matchup with Green Bay pass rusher Micah Parsons coming Sunday.Head rush: Superstar ends Myles Garrett, Micah Parsons form tight off-field bond, wreak havoc on it "We really got along and had a lot of great opportunities just one-on-one to watch film and to talk and chat," Thomas said. "Anytime you want to make a connection with somebody to make an imprint and get through to them about certain things, I think you need that personal connection. We definitely have that."Jones is grateful. And a bit in awe to have such a heavyweight in his corner."It's something that I never thought I'd be able to get to, having that as a resource," he said. "Growing up, that was definitely one of my favorite tackles. So it's pretty dope, just having Joe here. He even texted me today, just letting me know, what am I thinking today? He's just checking up on me, making sure I'm all right."It's a Hall of Famer, he's willing to make sure I'm OK, make sure I got everything handled for this week and I really appreciate that."According to the coaches, Jones has made progress in an up-and-down first two games. Pro Football Focus has seen mostly downs, grading him 63rd among tackles at 33.4 — 43.0 pass blocking and 37.4 run blocking.He was held out for 10 snaps Sunday against the Ravens as a precaution due to the heat. With the forecast calling for temperatures in the 80s Sunday on the lake, coach Kevin Stefanski could go with a similar plan.In search of complementary football, special teams must clean up mistakes"That rotation will come down to Kev and what he thinks is best," line coach Mike Bloomgren said. "You look at the second half of football there in that game against the Ravens, and it's the best football we've seen from Dawand with very good strain and some very good things. Now, again, there's still the rep of pass pro we've got to clean up."Anytime you have an opportunity on a down block to take No. 0, Roquan Smith, and put him into the ground on the other side of the formation, that's good stuff, and that's the violence and the expectation of physicality we have for our room. And there's still so much more out there, there's no telling how much more progress we can make with Dawand and we're going to keep working towards it."Parsons, a four-time Pro Bowler, was acquired by the Packers before the season in a trade with the Cowboys and signed a record deal for a non-quarterback. He moves across the defense and will spend at least a few snaps across from Jones."He's elite as we know," Jones said, putting Parsons on the same level as teammate Myles Garrett. "You can't take no reps off. He's a high-motor effort, everything that you see is what you get."He's just fast."The Browns opened vs. the Cowboys in 2024, and Parsons spent much of the game against Jones. Parsons had a sack and five quarterback hits in Dallas' win."I'm prepping on that film, take those plays, my good plays, my bad plays and just reorient to my game," Jones said. "Just bring the fight to him. Just play your game. Don't do nothing out of the ordinary, honestly."Parsons is only one piece of a Packers pass rush that has eight sacks, 18 quarterback hits and 33 pressures. End Rashan Gary has 2.5 sacks, tackle Devonte Wyatt two and Parsons 1.5. He had eight pressures last week against the Commanders.Jones is also a work in progress as a run blocker. At 6-foot-8, 374 pounds, he has the potential to destroy defenders but hasn't done that consistently."I thought Week 2 the run game was a lot better. He's improved in that," left guard Joel Bitonio said. "It's crazy how we're all big people, but he's just so big and so when it clicks on film and he had one, it wasn't a huge run, but he had one where he got his hands on Roquan and drove him past the ball and put him down and I was like, I would love to see that every play."It might be him getting more comfortable and just understanding the offense and getting there, but you saw some strides and hopefully it continues and consistency continues."Thomas said the hardest part of the transition to the left side is the pass set because of the "very unnatural" movement of going backward."You're kicking with your opposite leg, you're pushing with your opposite leg, you're using your opposite hand as maybe a dominant hand or your lead hand in certain situations," said Thomas, who spoke as part of a Crown Royal promotion. He visits NFL stadiums before games and hangs out with fans.Jones said the best tip from Thomas is to take two square kicks and punch."He's in pretty good shape right now, but I think you are going to see progress throughout the course of the season," Thomas said. "Just having more of those full-speed game reps playing left tackle."The Browns need Jones to be good, as they search for young, homegrown cornerstones. If he's not the long-term answer, they could be looking at an entirely new starting line in 2026, as the other four starters — Bitonio, center Ethan Pocic, right guard Wyatt Teller and right tackle Jack Conklin — are at least 30 years old and in the final years of their contracts."The first two games, I think I played OK, pretty average, nothing over the top," Jones said. "Definitely got room for improvement and I can't wait to do it this game."His confidence is buoyed by the faith shown by Thomas."Just knowing that a Hall of Famer is watching me and he believes in me, wouldn't text me, wouldn't do all this extra stuff if he didn't believe in me," Jones said. "I really appreciate that."The post Dawand Jones has built relationship with Joe Thomas, appreciates belief from Hall of Famer first appeared on BrownsZone with Scott Petrak.