FLOWERY BRANCH — Julio Jones crams nightly for his crash course on playing wide receiver in the NFL.
Since training camp opened July 29, he has been through 14 practices or walk-throughs and one controlled scrimmage under NFL coaching supervision.
“Things are going great,” Jones said. “I’m learning the offense a little better. I’m working on my playbook at night. Roddy [White], Matt Ryan and Harry [Douglas] are helping me.”
This season, the assistant-coaching spotlight is on Terry Robiskie, who coaches the wide receivers.
It’s his job to deliver Jones, the prized first-round pick, to the starting lineup for the season opener, just as other staff members have done under coach Mike Smith.
Ryan and left tackle Sam Baker opened the 2008 season as starters against Detroit, and assistant coaches Bill Musgrave and Paul Boudreau had them ready.
Defensive-line coach Ray Hamilton had defensive tackle Peria Jerry ready for the 2009 opener against Miami. Last season, linebackers coach Glenn Pires had Sean Weatherspoon in the starting lineup for the season opener at Pittsburgh.
All signs, including the release of former starter Michael Jenkins, are pointing to Jones being in the starting lineup against the Chicago Bears on Sept. 11 at Soldier Field.
Robiskie, who has coached in the NFL since 1982, is not blinking at the task. He plans to push Jones to the edge of the cliff, but not over it while piling on the tips of the trade. Despite getting a playbook, studying with Ryan and participating in the players-led offseason practices, Jones has a lot to learn.
Because of the connection between Alabama coach Nick Saban and Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey — Mularkey was Saban’s offensive coordinator with the Miami Dolphins in 2006 — the Crimson Tide and the Falcons’ offenses are eerily similar.
Jones already knows most of the basic routes and only has to learn the terminology. Robiskie likes Jones’ work ethic and can tell that he has been exposed to NFL-style practices.
Some observers, including NFL Network’s Mike Mayock and Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez, have been singing the praises of Jones. He has consistently made some nice catches in training camp.
Even running back Michael Turner has noticed his blocking talents.
But, Robiskie isn’t ready to make a bust to send to the Pro Football Hall of Fame for Jones.
“Julio, still has a ways to go,” Robiskie said. “But, he has enough God-given talent that he could do some things bad that can turn out good.”
Robiskie’s task is to polish his precious diamond in the rough.
The Falcons, looking for more long gainers on offense, traded away five picks, including next year’s first-rounder, to move up 21 spots to select Jones with the sixth overall in the 2011 NFL draft.
The last NFL team to mortgage so much of its future to get a wide receiver in the first round was the San Francisco 49ers. In 1995, they made a similar move to select J.J. Stokes out of UCLA. They moved up from 30th in the draft to 10th by trading four picks, including two first-rounders.
Stokes played for 10 seasons, but never went to a Pro Bowl. Like the Falcons, the 49ers were a playoff team trying to get over the hump and made a bold move.
So, the pressure is on for Jones, who signed a four-year contract with $16.2 million guaranteed, to pay dividends immediately.
“He’s got enough ability, but as he goes along, it will come,” Robiskie said. “The No. 1 thing that I tell receivers, all of the time, run fast. If he can run fast, we can overcome a lot of the other things. But, yeah, he’s got a ways to go.”
Jones is soaking up all of the information. He has the base of the offense down. The Falcons are not giving him a lot of options and minute details. They don’t want to overload Jones and have him playing slower than his sub-4.4 speed.
“On certain coverages, he has to break off a route, or there is a sight adjustment, he had that in college,” Robiskie said. “It was the same read on the backside at Alabama as it is here. That part is good.”
Now, there are some plays with a myriad of options.
“We haven’t put that on him yet,” Robiskie said. “Let him get grow, and then eventually we’ll add on.”
Ryan believes that Jones will keep working hard to be ready.
“He’s made some mistakes, but he’s done some things really well,” Ryan said. “He needs to continue to work hard in the meetings. Hopefully, by the time the season rolls around he will feel comfortable in his place on this offense.”
When the Falcons’ offense takes the field in Chicago, Jones plans to be there.
“I’m going to do whatever it takes,” Jones said. “If I don’t start, I’m not going to hang my head. ... Every day, every other day, we install. It’s a lot. It’s all about studying and what’s your goals and what’s important to you.”
Robiskie is confident that he can have Jones ready for the opener.
“We know what we have to do to have him ready when that whistle blows on Sept. 11,” Robiskie said. “We know how to push him to the limit.”
