About Julio Jones
December 8th, 2017
Yeah, the memory of sitting high up in the Mercedes Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta watching Julio Jones run uncontested through the Bucs secondary as if he had just been sprung from a POW camp is fresh in Joe’s mind.
Last night, Joe was bored so he was watching the pregame show of the Saints-Dixie Chicks game on NFL Network. There, a piece was shown on how to stop Jones, the gifted wide receiver of the Dixie Chicks.
Two weeks ago against the Bucs, Jones went bonkers by catching 12 passes for 253 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The next week, the Vikings held Jones to 2 catches for 24 yards.
The difference? Per NFL Network, the Vikings made sure Jones never got a chance to get loose. He was constantly jammed at the line, sometimes doubled, always had a guy in his face.
The Bucs? It was as if Jones had the measles and Bucs defense backs — often Ryan Smith, who regularly was tasked to guard Jones all alone — acted as if they were scared of getting infected. It was a total cluster.
Then last night in Atlanta’s narrow win over New Orleans, Joe often saw the Saints being physical with Jones. In the pregame piece, NFL Network analyst Michael Irvin noted the only way to slow Jones was to be in his face and make sure he doesn’t get a head start off the line of scrimmage.
Joe didn’t recall that being one of the 14 types of coverages Dirk Koetter stated the Bucs tried to employ on Jones.
December 8th, 2017 at 5:20 am
Good luck with that. Bucs don’t have the manpower. Double Julio, Sanu gets the 🏈. #doomed
December 8th, 2017 at 5:57 am
Mike Evans wants to be paid more than Julio Jones……Hell no!
“Trade ME for 2nd round”
Son of Kobe Faker
December 8th, 2017 at 6:16 am
Any decent NFL defensive back can jam the receiver early so it’s not just pitch and catch. We just play soft, doesn’t matter if it’s Julio Jones or Marvin Jones who we will see Sunday
December 8th, 2017 at 7:37 am
It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if ME13 left this poopy organization for the highest dollar.
I mean, what other incentives does he have to look forward to to stay here besides money?
He got a finger-licking, turnover prone, non deep passing QB that can’t get him the ball beyond 15 yards accurately….so ME13 is always over extending almost getting killed on many plays…..you guys thinks he wants to keep on doing that in his payday years????? I don’t think so.
I think next year will be his last year in a bucs uniform.
December 8th, 2017 at 7:58 am
Not sure why some of you guys think you need a monster out there to jam someone at the line. Its the way theyre coached thats killing them, not the “talent”. The aints took a corner at 11 this season, the bucs took a corner at 11 last. The difference in the 2 is one team makes theirs press and the other allows theirs to play 15 yards off. I say allows cuz if you ask mike smith he seems to say its up to the player. Wtf??? The lack of talent on this team is an indictment on the coaching staff. Our players are drafted in the same draft as anyone elses. I keep thinking back to the aints. Their d was horrendous last few years. Brought in a 1st rnd corner and new d coordinator and look what happened. They finally decided they werent gona play 10 yards off and let teams throw at will. When will we decide that? Cant be soon enough.
December 8th, 2017 at 8:48 am
Preach Darin, Preach!
You hit the nail on the head. It is COACHING. There is do much talent on BOTH sides of the ball. There is enough talent at linebacker to turn one of them loose as a pass rusher on a regular basis. Mike Smith is a freaking joke. More Team Glazer loot down the drain.
December 8th, 2017 at 9:23 am
Everything is simply too predictable with this team opponents know exactly how to beat them and they never make the necessary adjustments to change outcomes and predictability
December 8th, 2017 at 9:34 am
One of the things I have about the past two head coach is the can’t seem to understand the terms in the NFL. It’s just me I prefer the big long speedy corners not the midgets we draft . If smaller corners are quicker and can cover better than the evaluation process is broken because our corners can cover up a sneeze. Miss those talib days, perfect size corner who didn’t have speed but excellent cover corner
December 8th, 2017 at 10:49 am
darin says:
“keep thinking back to the aints. Their d was horrendous last few years. Brought in a 1st rnd corner and new d coordinator and look what happened.”
LOL – just a wee bit of an over simplification there….
In the last 3 years – the Saints have invested THREE 1st round, THREE 2nd round and THREE 3rd round picks on the defensive side of the ball.
December 8th, 2017 at 11:07 am
14 types of coverage? What?!?!
That’s like admitting you were an absolute idiot throughout the game because NONE of those ideas worked. You’re basically admitting your plan was pure sh1t and you were in over your head and spinning trying to figure it out.
The main coverage I saw was “let’s put Ryan Smith on a f*cking island in off coverage”
They barely ever did any press at all in that game (if any?). They barely had Grimes ever covering Julio. They did not give safety help on many plays. Hell there were plays I recall when somehow it appeared Kwon Alexander was covering Julio in his zone lol.
And the D was the most soft on julio on key 3rd downs. It’s like they just gave him the f&cking perfect coverage to easily get a 1st down. You could see the sh1t pre-snap that he was going to get open with ease. It’s insane.
December 8th, 2017 at 11:39 am
Outstanding comments there Darin. You hit the nails..square on their heads!!
December 8th, 2017 at 12:13 pm
Julio and the young and very talented Brandon Coleman and so many other good receivers in the NFC South is why I’m hoping we can lose the last four games, get Dirk and Smitty fired, and have the chance to get Minkah Fitzpatrick. He has the most draft points of any defender in the 2018 NFL draft and could bring so much talent to our secondary.