The Atlanta Falcons made a big splash in the 2011 NFL draft this April by trading for the sixth overall pick, and then, selecting Alabama star wide receiver, Julio Jones. The Falcons (5-3) paid a steep price for Jones. They gave up their first, second and fourth round picks in the draft, plus next year’s first and fourth round choices.
Considering most pro football experts believe that a wide receiver’s rookie year normally accounts for the league equivalent of an internship, many fans were left scratching their heads.
Despite missing the two games before the Falcons 31-7 win at the Indianapolis Colts, Jones is making the Falcons’ personnel guru, general manger Thomas Dimitroff, look pretty good about right now.
Even with the two DNPs, Jones has 489 yards receiving. Assuming he stays healthy the rest of the year, he will finish with 978 yards receiving. He would be on pace for1,304 yards had he not missed the two games. Jones is also contributing by running the occasional reverse or end around and is highly regarded as the rare breed of receiver that is a willing, and even more importantly, a capable blocker. What’s even more amazing is how Jones has flourished and extended the passing game, not just taking catches and yards away from other star receivers on the team.
While veteran wide out Roddy White may not equal his production from the last couple years, he has caught 43 passes already this fall and is on pace for another 1,000 yard campaign. Future Hall of Famer tight end Tony Gonzalez has caught 39 passes for over 400 yards and four touchdowns in 2011.
While Julio has been better than advertised as a rookie, he was a man-child on the turf at Lucas Oil stadium. Quarterback Matt Ryan “targeted” Jones just four times, but Jones finished with three catches for 131 yards and two touchdowns.
Before the game was 20 minutes old, Jones had receiving touchdowns of 50 and 80 yards. It was his third game with more than 100 yards in receptions, and his biggest day yet. No, the Colts (0-9) aren’t the Lombardi era Packers, but they are a NFL team that was playing at home, and even though they were without quarterback Peyton Manning, Manning doesn’t play defense. As Ryan said of his star receiver in the making after the game, “It was a great day for him. We had seen it building and building. … To have him back today was huge. He had a great game.”
Jones also carried the ball twice for 33 yards in the Falcons win. Ho hum. The rookie that you can no longer call a rookie has also not fumbled once this season, another bonus.
Jones has been everything you could ask a rookie wide receiver to do in his six games. He’s exceeded expectations. What’s even more scary is what the humble, hardworking young man said about the time he spent out of action injured and during the off week, “I was just sitting on the sideline, watching my teammates and seeing what I can do better, make explosive plays.”
Nicely done, Julio.
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