Julio Jones: Growth Through Student Mentality

Julio Jones met with the media after Tuesday’s practice to discuss the continuing development of the Atlanta Falcons’ offensive line and running backs, his pride in his student mentality for the game of football, and a bit of everything, just not his ongoing contract negotiations with the Atlanta Falcons front office.

Jones said going against the New York Jets would “be a great challenge for us.”  This is a great opportunity for the Atlanta Falcons receiving corps to flex their muscles against a strong secondary of the New York Jets featuring the greatest negotiator in NFL history shutdown corner Darrelle Revis.

-= Atlanta Falcons: Freeman, Coleman Back in Practice =-

Julio Jones expects the starters “to play a little more this week.”  Though it will occur on the road in MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Falcons fans have to like the sound of that as most of the first unit on offense only played in the first series of Friday night’s game against the Tennessee Titans.  The first-string looks to build on a nearly flawless first drive together as a unit where the Dirty Birds came away with a touchdown courtesy of a Matt Ryan to Julio Jones connection.

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Jones praised his offensive line for their strong play on Friday, mentioning to the media that the group did not allow a sack to the Titans at the Georgia Dome.  For a unit that was toothless last year, I have to agree with Julio Jones that the first-team offensive line at least is really benefitting from Kyle Shanahan’s zone blocking scheme.

When asked about his newfound appreciation for the student aspect of the game of football, Julio Jones was extremely quick to give credit to fellow wideout Roddy White in pushing him to become the best football player he could be.  Jones said, “Coming in, I knew how to read Cover-2, Cover-3, but a lot of times defenses try to take away certain things that you wouldn’t be ready for.  He showed me how to break stuff down like that.  Now I do a lot of that myself.”

Julio Jones doesn’t view any game in particular in his four-year career that allowed him to turn the corner as a professional.  Jones’ student mentality is to win every practice to get better.

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It’s a sound approach to focus on the moment at hand rather than dwell on past outcomes or future outlooks.  Julio Jones should have himself a great season for the Atlanta Falcons as Matt Ryan’s premier weapon in the Dirty Birds’ vaunted aerial attack.

Your Atlanta Falcons travel to the Meadowlands to play the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium Friday Night.  Though injuries have hurt many of the other units on the Falcons, the WR group seems fully intact and poised to have a strong performance Friday, hopefully carrying all the positive vibes into the regular season.  Rise Up, ATL!

Next: Robert Alford: Versatility Key in Secondary Improvement

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