One Falcon To Watch: Julio Jones

by Dave Choate on Sep 11, 2011 8:01 AM EDT in Falcons News

Could it really be anyone but the man the Falcons traded a raft of draft picks for?

All eyes will be on Julio Jones today, in the first regular season game of what we all hope will be an illustrious career. The sixth overall pick in the 2011 draft has blown away everyone by flashing considerable skill on the field and a world traveler sense of maturity off of it. It would be fair to say that expectations will be running a little high.

For this game, at least, Jones seems like a good bet to deliver big on his Jupiter-sized potential. He's matched up against tiny Tim Jennings, who stands 5'8". The Bears have to account for Roddy White, so it's not like they can afford to double team Jones, either. Add that to a stout Bears run defense that's likely to stymie Michael Turner somewhat and you've got a recipe for a nice game.

Look for Matt Ryan to find Jones early and often in this one. Even when he doesn't have the ball in his hands, it's going to be worth seeing how well he blocks, especially taking over for much ballyhooed blocker Michael Jenkins.

So there's your one Falcon to watch. Discuss!

Tweet Comment 35 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

As was pointed out yesterday

JJ has nearly a foot on Jennings, and I’ll expect him to haul in a TD today. Unless he breaks off a huge gain, I’ll put JJ down for 4 catches, 40-55 yards and a TD.

If I could do a one to watch for the first 5 weeks of the year it’d be Harry Douglas. I think he’ll have the bigger impact than JJ tonight.

Be sure to check out this week's Best Case/Worst Case article here.

Follow me on Twitter! @HarrisonN17

by Turner_The_Burner on Sep 11, 2011 8:04 AM EDT reply actions

It's gonna be nice to see what JJ does with a pro QB.

I agree abou HD, he’s due.

Rule #1: Double tap.

by Ball Hawk on Sep 11, 2011 8:58 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Now we see what our team plays like with more than one capable WR

Unfortunately I didn’t believe in jenkins. Too soft.
23-17 Falcons

"I'm about rings now"
~Arthur Blank

by CollegePark4Life on Sep 11, 2011 8:47 AM EDT reply actions

Can't discount Jenks

Not always open but he sure made some nice catches for us.

Rule #1: Double tap.

by Ball Hawk on Sep 11, 2011 8:56 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

True, some were pretty but few and far in between.

"I'm about rings now"
~Arthur Blank

by CollegePark4Life on Sep 11, 2011 8:59 AM EDT up reply actions

Oh HELL, FALCONS RISE UP!

Taco Mac or at home?

Rule #1: Double tap.

by Ball Hawk on Sep 11, 2011 8:57 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

I think I'll rise up at a bar. Haven't decided yet but I would like to try Taco Mac one time.

"I'm about rings now"
~Arthur Blank

by CollegePark4Life on Sep 11, 2011 9:00 AM EDT up reply actions

Also BG gets two picks!

Special s/o to fellow veterans and active service members and everyone affected by todays history.
Whorah!!

"I'm about rings now"
~Arthur Blank

by CollegePark4Life on Sep 11, 2011 8:57 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Thanks vets!

We should go take over Cuba today for shits and giggles.

Rule #1: Double tap.

by Ball Hawk on Sep 11, 2011 9:00 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Co-sign

I’ll vote for that.

by TheSpectr on Sep 11, 2011 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Rec'd

Preciate that CP4L.

by TheSpectr on Sep 11, 2011 9:45 AM EDT up reply actions

Julio is a devastating blocker.

It will be very interesting to see what this offense looks like. Teams are gonna have to zone us like they have the Colts and Pats for years. I think Matt has what it takes to pick those zones apart similar to Brady and Manning.

'There are two pains in life. There is the pain of discipline and the pain of disappointment. If you can handle the pain of discipline, then you'll never have to deal with the pain of disappointment,'- Nick Saban

by J Tadpole on Sep 11, 2011 9:01 AM EDT reply actions

Freaking out!!!!

I had a terrible nightmare, that Jones had a terrible, terrible game.. I seriously woke up in a bad mood hahahaha, how sad am I?
Having said that, I Julio can play terrible in my dreams, but in real life, he’s a monster. I hope that he gets the ball early to get him to calm down.

Also, Harry Douglas might be special in this no-so-good secondary. Finally, look for KM on third downs and redzone as well. He did not get a lot of work in the preseason with the first team, but the dude is tall and has nets for hands.

I will be buying anti-acids today…..game on falcons!!!!!!

by svene on Sep 11, 2011 9:09 AM EDT reply actions

JJ11's "Indirect" Impact

Agreed that, after giving up eleventeen picks to get him, JJ11 warrants extra attention. But my hope is that his impact goes WAY beyond his individual stats. In an ideal scenario, JJ11 also "warrants extra attention" from da’ Bears D so they can key less on other skill players. Sort of all works out to give up eleventeen picks for JJ11 if having him on the field makes eleventeen other players (i.e. TG88, RW84, HD83, MT33 etc.) more betterer.

by LifeLongBirdFan on Sep 11, 2011 9:13 AM EDT reply actions

I think it was intentional

Follow me on Twitter! twitter.com/FalcoholicZippo

If you're a fan of the Falcons, or if you want to chat it up with some Falcons fans, sign up here, share your opinion, and get to know some great fans of the Falcons!

by Caleb Rutherford on Sep 11, 2011 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions

'Twas...

supposed to be an intentional attempt to be mildly phunny.

by LifeLongBirdFan on Sep 11, 2011 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions

remember that the bears plays the tampa 2 defense

So they’ll always have 2 on 1 coverage down the field. The slot is whaer we can take advanatage of our mismatch. With a LB, like Urlacher or Briggs covering HD, that is where Ryan will attack their defense. If they change up and drop into zone coverage theri dead meat. But the T2 is their base defense so that is what we’ll see most of the game. They expect to get pressure on the QB with their front 4 and another bitzer sometimes like a LB or posibbly even a safety or corner blitz. But 90% of the time they run the T2 defense and force you to take what they want you to, but we must take it and make it into bigger pkays than they expect. They rally to the ball quickly and have good tacklers one on one. Hopefully our guys can break free often today. Also a beautiful weapon to use against a team like the bears are the screen passes. so hopefully we
ll see Quizz kill them on some short screen passes that he turns into 20-30 yard gains.

This game will be exciting, but most pundits are picking us to win, let’s see how we do wwhen we’re the favorites on the road and the media heads are expecting us to win it.

LETS GO FALCONS!!

Now Gentlemen, get your butts up, and get back on that horse! You have no choice. The expectations are running much higher this year.

by ATLsince1972 on Sep 11, 2011 9:40 AM EDT reply actions

Very Good Points.

I guess Falcons will try to throw the ball,run and what ever works to get a win. I can’t wait to see JJ’s NFL debut. I would like to see his first pass something like this" Ryan in the center with Turner in the Back field, Play action fake and wide open JJ catches the ball in the end zone. His first professional pass is TD and he stays with Ryan in ATL"

It's all about Process...

by Vishnu_falcon on Sep 11, 2011 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions

Teams are very rarely in their base defense

The Falcons played nickel more than 50% of the time last year. The Packers were in their base 3-4 only once on Thursday night. They will adjust to our formations. We will probably only see t heir base defense when we are in 2TE 2 WR 1RB sets or 1 TE 2RB 2WR.

by Mosugo on Sep 11, 2011 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions

I'd like to give a shout out to all military...vets, active and reserve.

Thanks for the opportunity to sit at home and watch my Falcons and I know I owe that to y’all.

by LuvGems on Sep 11, 2011 9:54 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

WELL Rec'd

Yo, thanks a BUNCH for saying that, because I’m active duty navy and I’m in Cuba RIGHT NOW at work WISHING I could be at home to watch my Birds play today. I really appreciate that.

by TheSpectr on Sep 11, 2011 9:56 AM EDT reply actions

Thanks for your Service Sir!

Hope you can catch up with the game on the internet.

It's all about Process...

by Vishnu_falcon on Sep 11, 2011 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions

Take care of yourself, man

The Falcons will get a win for you today.

by Dave Choate on Sep 11, 2011 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions

Thanks for your service!

Military is always appreciated in my place. I have several family members and friends that serve, and it’s never appreciated enough.

The Birds are going to deliver, I believe.

Follow me on Twitter! twitter.com/FalcoholicZippo

If you're a fan of the Falcons, or if you want to chat it up with some Falcons fans, sign up here, share your opinion, and get to know some great fans of the Falcons!

by Caleb Rutherford on Sep 11, 2011 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions

Ok guys...

Being a falcoholic from Memphis, TN but living in Starkville, MS has me watching Aints games every F@#*$&% weekend… Excuse my language but I cant take it anymore… Is there anyway to see the Falcons game not on TV?? Don’t have the money to buy NFL Sunday Ticket haha… PLEASE HELP!

by falcolicmsudawg33 on Sep 11, 2011 10:49 AM EDT reply actions

sports bar?

or else you could find a link online. I’m sure someone here could email you one.

by KMarch on Sep 11, 2011 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions

thats what im hoping because the bars around here dont buy packages like that…. being a college town the only football that counts around here is SEC

by falcolicmsudawg33 on Sep 11, 2011 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions

unreal

they’re missing out on a lot of money then. I can’t believe Starksville doesn’t have at least one decent sports bar with the ticket, but then again, Gainesville (where I’m at) only has a couple and FL actually has 3 NFL teams (supposedly).

by KMarch on Sep 11, 2011 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions

If you have Directv...

I think today EVERY Directv customer has free Sunday Ticket. Check and see. At least that would get you through this week. :)

by Jeanna Thomas on Sep 11, 2011 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions

Jeanna is correct....sorta.

Anyone who signs up for DirecTV this year gets Sunday Ticket for free. My dad did it and got it for 24.99 a month for the first 12 months, with Sunday Ticket for free. Worth looking into, in my opinion.

Follow me on Twitter! twitter.com/FalcoholicZippo

If you're a fan of the Falcons, or if you want to chat it up with some Falcons fans, sign up here, share your opinion, and get to know some great fans of the Falcons!

by Caleb Rutherford on Sep 11, 2011 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions

Easy for MM

Fade route to JJ every single play. :-p

I’m excited to see him score a TD. I think he can get 50-75 yards this game. What’s scary…he’ll get better as the season progresses. I hope he turns Jennings around, and I hope to see HD get some looks as well.

Also, I really want to see Michael Turner have a good game against the Bears. That would be nice.

by ndnpride8806 on Sep 11, 2011 11:50 AM EDT reply actions