Larry Fitzgerald: Julio Jones Will Be “Spectacular”
September 7th, 2022
Major impact expected.
A guy who knows something about the Bucco Bruce Arians/Byron Leftwich offense and how to play wide receiver in his 30s is hyped for one move the Bucs made this offseason.
Future Hall of Fame receiver Larry Fitzgerald is part of that saccharine-laced podcast that Jim Gray does with Tom Brady. The first half of the weekly podcast, heard on SiriusXM NFL Radio each Monday during the football season, is with Brady. The second half is with Fitzgerald.
In the season debut episode on Monday, Fitzgerald was discussing the Bucs’ addition of Julio Jones. Fitzgerald loves this move for both the Bucs and Julio.
Fitzgerald said that in the past couple of seasons, Julio was expected to be the guy. With the Bucs, he doesn’t have to be. Because he is not. The Bucs have Mike Evans and Chris Godwin (coming soon) and Russell Gage.
“I think he is going to be spectacular,” Fitzgerald said of Julio’s impact.
Fitzgerald also noted that defensive coordinators are not crazy enough to single-cover Julio if he’s healthy. This will help open up the field for Evans and Godwin and Fitzgerald said then, defense is playing with fire.
Joe had rarely thought of the single-coverage angle, though it is obvious. The way Fitzgerald speaks of Julio, it almost sounds like he can have the same impact on the Bucs as nutcase Antonio Brown had (in a good way).
What Fitzgerald didn’t say is that since Julio will not be the guy with the Bucs, the Bucs can structure a pitch count for Julio to keep him fresh and help him avoid injury. Bucs coach Todd Bowles has already said they plan on doing that.
This is going to be fun!
You can see Fitzgerald speak about Julio in the SiriusXM video below.
What do you expect from Julio Jones in his first season with the @Buccaneers?
Larry Fitzgerald: “He’s going to be spectacular.”
Download 𝙇𝙚𝙩'𝙨 𝙂𝙤! with @TomBrady, @LarryFitzgerald & @JimGrayOfficial TODAY:
🔗 https://t.co/i3SErgpl8T pic.twitter.com/vyv7ZsncwY
— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) September 7, 2022
September 7th, 2022 at 11:05 am
We just have to be able to pass block long enough in 4WR sets. If we can, then Bucs feast and beast. If not, then not.
September 7th, 2022 at 11:12 am
Im telling you….gas those DB’s with Godwin, Evans and Gage 1st down, then 2nd down, call it “shark”, Evans and scotty one side, Jones, Perriman the other….2 TE set for extra blocking….have both Miller and Perriman run a 60 yard dash but look back for the ball, Evans/Jones on out routes…then 3rd down (if it didnt work) put Godwin and Gage back out there….wear those DB’s down.
September 7th, 2022 at 11:13 am
ME is going to have a monster season if they try to double JJ.
I think the first few weeks will feature a run heavy game plan with the idea of getting ME isolated and seeing how the rest of the guys are getting covered.
Once teams adjust to this style of game from the Bucs. You slice them up with a healthy CG, RG and JJ.
I will put money on the Bucs averaging 100 yards rushing and ME averaging 100 yards receiving the first 4 weeks.
I will even put money on ME have 4-5 TDs the first 4 weeks
September 7th, 2022 at 11:16 am
When all are healthy, our set of WRs may be the best ever. With the GOAT throwing, and Lenny being Lenny, we could be in for an amazing scoring year. It sure looks like it.
September 7th, 2022 at 11:18 am
@MadMax I like it.
I want to see ME and JJ on the same side though. ME is awesome deep ball receiver and has super deceptive speed.
If and when you go to the games. You will see he blows by the DBs on deep routes routinely. I think this is the year that he starts getting those shots early in the game and often throughout the season.
YEAR 3 with Brady is the year Brady starts to really understand his WRs and take chances with them.
September 7th, 2022 at 11:27 am
It’s all about the O line
September 7th, 2022 at 11:32 am
I just can’t believe Gronk doesn’t want a piece of the pie. That would just be an incredible sight to my eyes; a complete nightmare for opposing coaches. But let’s not overlook Otton. The kid can ball, and will be another threat. We just need the online to keep a pocket for 3-4 seconds consistently.
I tell you what. This ol boy can’t wait to see the carnage left on the field by this offense. It has the potential to be extraordinary.
September 7th, 2022 at 11:42 am
Yep!
September 7th, 2022 at 11:48 am
Just watching First Dump, interesting that Stephen A and Jeff Saturday were basically guaranteeing the Bucs are representing the NFC in the Super Bowl, and the naysayer was Mad Dog Russo. Russo sounded a lot like Rob Parker dissing Brady and the Bucs.
I also remember why I never watch that show. All the yelling forces me to drink.
Bloody Mary number 3.
September 7th, 2022 at 11:54 am
This post makes me happy. I’ve been so pissed off with all these other blowhards the past few days spitting on the Bucs with their disgusting predictions.
4 – 0 to start the season….lesssgo
September 7th, 2022 at 12:14 pm
Its likely to be a jail break. You gotta double ME13, which leaves single coverage for Godwin, Gage, AND Julio Jones! And if the defense does that, TB12 is just going to dump it off to Lombardi Lenny. If they leave that extra coverage high, TB12 is just going to go underneath, OR Lenny and White run it against a smaller front. DC’s are going to need horses and make the appropriate calls to keep up with this team. If this is the end of our Cinderella story, then Oline be damned, light up that scoreboard while the GOAT remains upright.
September 7th, 2022 at 12:31 pm
If he can stay healthy the sky is the limit… If not then his numbers will be similar to 2021.
September 7th, 2022 at 12:48 pm
Fitzgerald…ever the class act. A storybook ending to his career would have been to join the Bucs late last season when injuries ( and insanity ) piled up and he could have won that elusive ring . But…he knew he was done playing and fairy tale endings are very rare. Now that I think of it…the Rams have replaced The Taints as my most hated team. Got all the breaks last year ( OBJ showing out…no trip to Green Bay or KC in the SB to name a few ) and took advantage of them.
September 7th, 2022 at 1:01 pm
@ Goatfarmer…yes Oline needs to pass block. For about 2.5 seconds. That’s what TB12 needs. And that’s not just for check downs. He averages a little over 9 yards based on that. Further, against Philly in the playoff game he got it down to 2.17s.
The line will be a question, but lets be clear they can consistently win for 2.5 seconds.
@ Crackwise I agree, with everyone healthy at the beginning of the year and not so much tape on this 4 some of receivers it should be really fun to watch!
September 7th, 2022 at 1:26 pm
Jim Gray is creepy. Full stop.
September 7th, 2022 at 1:29 pm
Still waiting to see how Julio gets deployed. Very likely Gage & Jones act like they’re in a revolving door in terms of where they line up and tbh Jones stacked to the inside of Evans puts any safety shading to Evans in a really tough pre-snap position because who do you take away based on your coverage assignment? Also, who are you least likely to get PI called against you? The answer isn’t ever Evans lol
September 7th, 2022 at 1:31 pm
Gre G – I agree . That’s what I meant by “long enough.”
2.2 seconds. Of course Quinn and his defense will be expecting lots of bubble screens, tunnel screens, screen screens, check downs and hot slants. Hoping BL gives Brady the full playbook to audible from. I’m ready.
September 7th, 2022 at 1:34 pm
This receiving corps is going to be crazy good. Evans and Julio will command double teams. Probably both when on the field together. That mean the Bucs will see a lot of 4 man rushing. That leaves a lot of single coverage for Godwin and Gage, and Darden is a lot more like AB(Obviously not as good) than people realize. I think the Bucs will go empty a lot as well. All 5 of those guys carving up the back end against only a 4(5 at most) rush is going to be very very lethal.
I got a feeling by the halfway point, all the Darden hate will cease.
September 7th, 2022 at 1:59 pm
I understand that a pitch count helps with the possibility of injury, but he could be in there one play, and it’s the play he gets hurt.
I’m not so sure it’s a snap count as much as what routes he runs.
Obviously won’t go over the middle a ton.
But in the Red Zone, this guy is gonna have more than 1 TD.
September 7th, 2022 at 2:15 pm
If JJ can give us 500 yards and 5 TD’s, I’d be super happy. We all know ME is gonna ball out for his annual 1K yards.
Most teams would drool for a ME/JJ tandem. Now add in a healthy CG, and the potential for Gage….that’s 4 ballers at the WR position. Who is gonna get doubled? Man this WR room is loaded, which is great because we will need all 4 this year. Not even discussing spots #5-7 yet.
So much potential for this offense. Could JJ have a R Moss-type season with Brady? Possible, not likely. I can see at least our top 3 WR’s having pro-bowl worthy numbers, and I really don’t see how defenses can stop this passing attack, except for questions on our O-Line. Assuming health, this O should average somewhere close to that 30 PPG line. If our D plays up to their potential, opponents should average no more than 21 PPG.
Man, this season has so much potential, and I’m super fired up.
September 7th, 2022 at 2:19 pm
Getting in for the Bucs-Rams………..oh boy!
September 7th, 2022 at 3:36 pm
Maniac!
Dude. – I appreciate you love your North Texas guy but…. AB? Really? Look I’m sure you know your inside sources and what they’ve told you and all. Maybe he looks like AB in practice.(hahaha)
Show me one Bucs game – ONE – where he’s made a difference at receiver? You can’t because he hasn’t.
And then there’s the guy who wears number 10 you assured us would be cut. Still on the team.
Production > Potential.
See Bell, Kenny.
See Bowles, Todd. How he decides on players.
September 7th, 2022 at 4:01 pm
Do they still need to cover up one tackle with a TE or can they have four sides and a RB?
September 7th, 2022 at 4:58 pm
@madmax
You nailed it.
Brilliant.
I totally agree.
“Wear down their DBs.”
September 7th, 2022 at 5:26 pm
I’m going to have to curb my enthusiasm if Wirfs doesn’t play. We know how capable Wells is of mimicking a turnstile.
We need wirfs back Sunday
September 7th, 2022 at 6:27 pm
We don’t have the offensive line to pass block in 4WR Sets. The opponents are going to bring heavy heat and get to our Quarterback. Hence , the only passes Brady can make are short dumps to running backs.
Hopefully management will do something to about this problem.
September 7th, 2022 at 7:23 pm
It all comes down to injuries and the o-line. Yes, those 4 receivers could be great. OTOH, Godwin is coming back from an acl, Evans and Gage have already had nagging injuries, and Julio is older and has been injury prone the last couple of years. The o-line is already suspect, and injuries there would be devastating.