FLOWERY BRANCH – Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones spoke with the media after working out on the second day of the team's offseason program on Tuesday.
Jones addressed the misfiring of the offense last season and said it lacked an identity. He also addressed his mentor Roddy White’s release, new receiver Mohamed Sanu, the retirement of Calvin Johnson and helping Alabama players prepare for the draft.
Here’s what Jones had to day:
Q: What’s it like being back in the building and getting the offseason program started?
A: It's great. Just coming back, getting everybody back together. Everybody showed up. Everybody wants to win. It just feels good at the end of the day. It just feels like it's been so long, the offseason just being without these guys and being around them. I can see the fire in guy's eyes. They want to do better this year.
Q: How was the passing camp that you all held down in Fort Lauderdale?
A: It was very good. We had a great turnout. I think probably one or two guys didn't show that said they were going to come, but overall we had an amazing time. The DBs came out. The receivers came out. The quarterbacks came out. We just threw it around. You get a little timing down. Matt has been working with someone in the offseason as far as his quarterback situation. We were just going out there and getting the timing down. But everything, overall the timing was pretty good.
Q: How did you and Mohamed (Sanu) hit it off down there?
A: Good. He's not a guy who feels like he knows everything. He's willing to learn and listen. It's a new scheme he's coming into, a new offense and he listened to me. There were certain things, I was like hey, 'this is what we are looking for on this route.' The next time he was up to run the route, he did it perfect. He's going to be great for us."
Q: How different is it not to hear (Roddy White’s) voice?
A: The voice is always going to be there because I learned a lot from him. The way I work… he passed along some great traits to me. So, now I can teach the other guys. That's what I was just talking about with Sanu. I feel like that was the Roddy in me, to coach up other guys and not be selfish. I would be so easy to keep all of that wisdom to myself and not share it. … but we are out here to win.
Q: How can the offense be better in 2016?
A: We just have to be more consistent. We were just so up and down last year. We really couldn't find an identity for ourselves. Just with this offseason, we have time. It was Kyle's first season, last year. All of us as well, our first time in that scheme. We just have to find an identity and it should be better.
Q: As you look, do you think maybe you lacked comfort in the scheme last year?
A: I believe in everything Kyle (does) and puts in. You know, for me, it just that identity. What are we going to be? You have to consistent. You've got to beat great at certain things. I just felt like we were everywhere. We really didn't have an identity. I believe in everything that he put in. But my thing was jut being consistent. Just going out there and knowing what we were going to do.
Q: What should your identity be?
A: I don't know, that's up to them. I'm just here to do whatever. I'm comfortable with what ever they want to do.
Q: You don’t have an opinion what you would like your offensive identity to be?
A: Dominate. Dominate of course. We are going to go out there a kick but, you know. But …. that's the mindset. But in certain games, the defense is going to give us certain things, but we still have to have a set number of plays that we are known for and certain things that we are going to do.
Q: Do you think there were times last year were maybe you all didn’t have they mindset whether in attitude, scheme, play-calling or whatever?
A: I definitely think all last year, it was always up. We always had stuff in to do it. It was just at certain times, we didn't call it or we didn't get it handled properly on the field. Like if Kyle called the play, we don't execute or whatnot. It was definitely at times up, but like I said, we just didn't know who we were and what we were going to do in certain situations.
Q: Who are your new neighbors in the locker room?
A: I've got (Devonta) Freeman beside me. I'm on the corner, so it's just Free really. So, he talks a lot. But it's good. He asks a lot of questions as he should. He's still a young guy. But just moving forward, he's going to be great. As you (saw) last year. The potential is there and he still wants to learn. He's steady asking questions. He's going to be good. I like the layout. It's very open. Guy can just mingle. Guys can sit down with different guys… it's not like the linemen are over here, the quarterbacks are over here and the receivers here. Everybody is just mixed up. Defensive and offense is kind of mixed up as well. Just to bond. We are trying to connect here. We want to connect more. That's what we are heading for right now.
Q: You were across from Roddy and he talked a lot.
A: He was across from me, but I could kind of tune him out. But Free is right (next to me). I just have to take it.
Q: What’s your opinion on Calvin Johnson retiring early and players in general retiring early?
A: I don't fault anyone for stepping away from the game. I think he had bad knees or something. I'm not a doctor so I don't know everything behind why he retired. But for me speaking for myself, if I was ever to think about retiring, it just like when my game starts declining and I feel like I can't go anymore or do the things I can usually do, that's when you hang it up. Because you can only give what you've got. … You just want to live a life after football. You want to be able to walk around. Just the little things. If anybody is considering retirement. I'm all for it. You've got to live your life. I can't live your life for you. You know what you want to do with your life and after football what you want to do.
Q: How many years do you want play?
A: I'm year to year. I'm just going to keep going. Like I said, if I feel like I've had a decline in my game and I can't go, or if I can't over come something. I'm very tough and I have a high tolerance for pain. If I feel like I can't go, I just can't go. If other people tell me I can go and I know I can still go. When I can't go, then it's time.
Q: What is your advice to the Alabama guys getting ready for the draft?
A: Just keep an open mind. We all grew up with favorite NFL teams and the guys what to go here or go there. …it's an opportunity. Take full advantage of it. Hit it running and have fun.
Q: How many of those guys have you talked to, just Derrick (Henry)?
A: Mainly Derrick. We worked out together down there. All of the guys come up and talk to me. I just gave them a little advice here and there. But at the end of the day, just be themselves and always be willing to learn and listen to the older heads when you go to an organization. Someone is going to take you under the wing and help you out.
Q: What advice did you give to Reggie Ragland?
A: I can't tell you that. That's private. We thinking about getting him? What's up? You know something I don't know? Let me know. That's what I'm talking about. We were just talking. The same thing. Same kind of speech basically that I gave to Derrick. It's an opportunity. Just have fun with it.
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