Julio Jones is an All-Pro player but also one the Falcons possibly can make do without, at least in the short term.
It sounds paradoxical but wide receiver is a position where the Falcons have proven depth. And it’s not just about the wide receivers—the tight ends and running backs have been a big part of the passing game at times this season, too.
But that wide receiver depth will be tested like never before should Jones (toe) and Mohamed Sanu (groin) both be unable to play at the Los Angeles Rams (4-8) on Sunday. That would leave the Falcons (7-5) without their top two pass catchers for a key game against an opponent with enough defensive talent to give them problems.
The way the Falcons see it, their offense can be effective even without Jones and Sanu in Los Angeles.
“As far as adjusting scheme, we are pretty deep on offense and I think that’s shown throughout the year (with) the number of guys we’ve used,” Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan said. “It is not ideal when you don’t have all your guys, and we will see where (Jones and Sanu) are at. We will be OK. We’ve got a number of different guys who can go out there and make plays for us, who can step up.”
Jones did not practice on Thursday after Falcons coach Dan Quinn said he was “likely” to do so after sitting out the previous day. Quinn said the Falcons planned to have Jones run full speed to test the toe.
If Jones is forced to sit out the game, the Falcons will miss his unique abilities. No wide receiver in the NFL has his combination of size, short-area quickness and top speed.
The Falcons have been effective offensively this season even in games when Jones didn’t produce much. But in those games Jones still was a factor because opponents must deploy more resources to Jones when designing their schemes.
If Jones doesn’t play, it would be up to offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan to piece together a plan that will give other players a chance to produce against an opponent that is unconcerned with the looming threat of Jones.
“We never just keep two or three guys out there,” Shanahan said. “It’s always a rotation. They’ve all played in all of the games so far. We will keep mixing them up.”
Without Sanu and Jones, the three top Falcons wide receivers would be Taylor Gabriel (32 percent of offensive snaps played), Justin Hardy (23.5) and Aldrick Robinson (23.5). Special-teams ace Eric Weems (1.3 percent) would be in line for more offensive snaps and coach Dan Quinn said the Falcons would promote wide receivers Nick Williams and J.D. McKissic from the practice squad.
Gabriel, Hardy and Robinson all are relatively small for their position but well-suited for making plays on shorter routes. Gabriel’s speed has allowed him to turn those short passes into big gains, and his five total touchdowns (one rushing) are tied with Jones for the most among the receivers.
But Jones is the team’s most consistent big-play threat. Ryan has completed 53 passes of 20 yards or more, tied for the most in the league, and Jones has caught 24 of those long plays.
Gabriel (five catches of 20 yards or more) is among the other big-play receiving threats for the Falcons. Others include running back Tevin Coleman (seven) and tight ends Austin Hooper (four) and Levine Toilolo (three).
Quinn noted that 11 different Falcons players have caught touchdown receptions.
“The running backs, the wide receivers, the tight ends—they are all a featured part of this,” Quinn said. “Now how we utilize those guys for that are (active) for that day, that’s an important part of the game plan.”
