Green Bay Packers: Operation Julio Jones, how to stop No. 11
Analyzing the essential matchups remains an excellent way to gauge the Green Bay Packers chances of earning a win versus their next opponent. But the game plan Dom Capers will employ to stymie all-world wide receiver Julio Jones deserves special attention going into Green Bay’s critical Week-8 road trip.
The 27-year-old is at the top of his game and currently leads the league in receiving yardage (830) and is second to only San Diego’s Tyrell Williams in yards after the catch (6.8) among the NFL’s top-40 players at his position.
He is clearly the centerpiece of the Falcons’ passing attack, but he continues to torch defenses on a weekly basis despite defensive coordinators routinely focusing every ounce of their energy on stopping him.
The secret sauce that allows Jones to be consistently dynamic lies in the myriad ways offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan lines him up.
Quite simply, there’s no telling where 6-foot-3 game breaker will end up from play to play from lining up in the backfield, in the slot or out wide on either side of the formation.
In fact, Shanahan will frequently put the Alabama-born phenom in motion with the intent of creating separation from his assigned defender. Off his movement, he can then proceed to run a simple out route and use his natural ability to gain extra yardage after securing the football.
Another method utilized to get him open is lining him up in a stacked formation where he’ll then run straight down the field and often exploit much slower safeties and linebackers defending that part of the field.
Dec 8, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers cornerback Davon House (31) breaks up the pass intended for Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. Green Bay won 43-37. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
No. 11 is the classic long strider who generates high levels of velocity the deeper he gets into his routes that see him reaching speeds of over 21 MPH (miles per hour).
In his signature Week-4 performance versus the Panthers in which he recorded 12 receptions for 300 yards and a touchdown, Carolina’s cornerbacks did nothing to disrupt his timing by continually affording him free release off the line of scrimmage.
While the Packers have already faced another wideout of Jones’ caliber only three weeks ago in the form of Odell Beckham Jr., the Giants are nowhere near as creative as the Falcons in creating mismatches for their go-to big-play threat.
Expect Ladarius Gunter to be the one entrusted with the responsibility of keeping Jones in check given the credible job he did while covering the aforementioned Beckham and Alshon Jeffery in last week’s victory.
But those hoping to see the sixth-year veteran held to three grabs for 30 yards may need to readjust their projections since Jones is averaging 118.6 yards per contest. The key to effectively defending him will involve containing Jones and preventing the big play which means a group effort on the part of Green Bay’s cornerbacks and safeties is required to corral the vertical weapon once he gets the ball in his hands.
Morgan Burnett and Ha Ha Clinton Dix cannot be caught out of position when providing safety help over the top and—more importantly—they can’t afford to miss tackles.
There will be no shame in giving up nine receptions for 95 yards to Jones, as long as he’s kept out of the end zone.
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