Falcons seek ways to get Jones in end zone
Here’s the good news: After the first five games, the Atlanta Falcons have the third-most productive receiver in the NFL.
Here’s the puzzling news: Jones doesn’t have a touchdown catch.
While his peers are grabbing and scoring – Pittsburgh’s Antonio Brown had a couple last week against Atlanta – the opposition continues to find ways to keep Jones out of the end zone.
“There’s no frustration,” Jones said. “(Pittsburgh) had a good game plan for me – a lot of two-man, things like that. Discouraged me early on, you know in the game, that two guys were going to be on me throughout the whole game.”
Tampa Bay (2-2) has had a week to design a scheme to keep Jones out of the end zone. The Bucs are coming off a bye week. The Falcons (1-4) are trying to end a three-game losing streak.
Jones is accustomed to seeing double coverage on almost every play. But he is typically targeted early and often by quarterback Matt Ryan. Last week, Jones didn’t get his play-making hands on the ball until the fourth quarter.
Jones wound up being targeted nine times and caught five passes for 62 yards. His longest reception was 16 yards. His season totals are 34 catches for 564 yards.
Head coach Dan Quinn said the lack of activity by Jones was “not by design.”
“Just to make sure he gets as many touches as we can in the game,” Quinn said. “He’s one of our best and most explosive players every game. We want him involved.”
But since the season opener at Philadelphia, after which Ryan and offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian were criticized for relying too heavily on Jones, the Falcons have been content to spread the ball around.
Veteran Mohamed Sanu has become a more integral part of the game plan. Rookie Calvin Ridley has shown some explosiveness of his own and was NFL Rookie of the Month for September. Tight end Austin Hooper has also seen his stock rise.
But there has been a level of frustration surrounding the lack of big-play productivity for Jones. It’s akin to owning a Porsche and only driving it to church on Sunday.
“Sometimes you can’t force it his way,” Quinn said. “So if there are some games they say, this guy we’re going to spend extra attention to … when those plays happen, there’s an opportunity for another guy to get the ball, to move it down the field.
“So (Jones) is always part of our thinking and design. So as coaches, what can we do to put him in spots that it’s way harder to find to double. To get to a spot where they can’t put two guys on them. Every week we have to think that that way.”
SERIES HISTORY: 50th regular-season meeting. Falcons lead series, 25-24. Atlanta has won the last three meetings. Bucs last win came 31-24 in Atlanta in 2016.
