Falcons wide receivers Julio Jones and Roddy White, who dazzled the NFL last season, lined up together during the OTAs on Wednesday.
White was not present during last week’s OTA session that was open to the media.
White and Jones combined to catch 171 passes for 2,549 yards and 17 touchdowns last season.
Jones was absolutely dazzling in the NFC Championship game as he caught 11 passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns. He broke the franchise record for playoff receiving yards in a game, set by Alfred Jenkins in the 1980 season (155 yards), and tied White’s team record for receptions in a playoff game.
But like the little girl in the phone commercial, Falcons coach Mike Smith wants “more, more, more.” You know, because more is better.
“Oh gosh, I think they can continue to get better,” Smith said. “The guy that’s distributing the ball is going to be better. Julio is going to be a more polished player. … what Roddy has done, he has a long track record.”
Despite the astronomical statistics, Smith believes they can continue to grow together.
“They haven’t reached their ceiling, and I think it gives us an opportunity to distribute the ball to a number of different players,” Smith said.
If teams try to double-team Jones and White, tight end Tony Gonzalez and running back Steven Jackson could be left in single coverage.
Jones believes it’s possible that they could improve on the stellar 2012 campaign.
“We are always trying to get better,” Jones said. “Every day when we practice we are competing against each other.”
Jones believes that the wide receivers can also help the defense improve.
“We have young cornerbacks, and we have to just keep going out there and playing our ballgame,” Jones said. “That will make them come up to our level. That will make us an overall better team.”
Jones, who’s set to enter his third season, can relate with the young defensive backs.
“It’s all about it coming second nature to them,” Jones said. “Just keep working on it and don’t get down on yourself.”
Roll call: Rookie cornerback Desmond Trufant and tight end Levine Toilolo were not present because their schools, Washington and Stanford, have not held graduation ceremonies.
Gonzalez and cornerback Asante Samuel did not attend the voluntary session.
Smith was pleased that White was on hand.
“It was great to have Roddy here,” Smith said. “We all know what Roddy means to this football team. He’s a playmaker. He’s a mentor to a lot of these young guys, so it’s good to have Roddy here.”
Bigger is better? Much has been made of the size of the offensive linemen the Falcons have signed over the offseason. The personnel department notes that they don't have a linemen under 300 pounds on the roster.
“I don’t know if that means a lot,” offensive line coach Paul Dunn said. “I know that there are a lot of under-300-pound guys that are (in the Pro Football Hall of Fame). Maybe this is the way the game is going. I don’t necessarily know that you need to be a certain size or framework or body makeup, but they are bigger guys.”
Halfway point: The Falcons are at the halfway point of their 10 OTAs. They will conclude on June 14.
“I really like the way that the guys have been working,” Smith said. “It’s been very competitive through the first half of the OTAs. There are some positions that are more competitive than others. With the offensive line, I really like the competition that we have there. There are some young guys that really have learned our scheme that we feel like are going to be able to contribute and help us. Those are probably the two biggest highlights.”
Lights, camera, action: Smith doesn't believe the league rule to place cameras in the locker room during pregame will be too intrusive.
“I don’t know that anybody would want to see what really goes on in our locker room before the game, but I know that we are, as the home team, I believe it’s a league policy that we’re going to have to make it available and we will,” Smith said. “We’ll follow the guidelines that the league has in place.”
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