New Orleans Saints secondary ready to face healthy Julio Jones
 

The loss of wide receiver Julio Jones was not the only thing that buried the Atlanta Falcons in 2013.

But it was a fairly big nail in the coffin.

Jones fractured his foot in the Falcons' fifth game last year and was forced to have season-ending surgery.

The Falcons finished 2013 with a 4-12 record, losing to the Saints twice and winning only three of their final 11 games after a bye.

Combine Jones' injury with a hobbled Roddy White and a porous offensive line, and the Falcons weren't able to generate much of an offense down the line. They finished No. 14 in overall offense.

The Falcons lost future Hall-of-Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez to retirement in the offseason. With that, they lose a threat down the seam and a guy who could make big plays in the red zone.

However, with two of their best receivers healthy and the addition of return specialist Devin Hester, it's almost a wash. Almost.

"His threat in the red zone, his size, it is problematic just like Jimmy (Graham) creates problems, he is a guy that has done it forever it seems like," said Saints coach Sean Payton. "We sent him his retirement card, and now Julio Jones is someone that obviously will help them and someone that, and ... you have to be aware of where he is at on the field every play."

How much will they miss Gonzalez?


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Re: New Orleans Saints secondary ready to face healthy Julio Jones
 

been there done that so we know what he can do

Key is up front. pass rush must collapse the pocket.

he will get his yards just minimize the big plays and for the love of God do not let him and Matt get on a roll

Re: New Orleans Saints secondary ready to face healthy Julio Jones
 

Must stop the run first and foremost! If we can't man-handle the O-Line and they get the run going, play-action will be the end.

Now if we slow the run down or get ahead a little, it's all over but the whining for them... Once we force them to have to throw, Galette and Jordan will pressure Ryan into a Byrd/Vaccaro interception or two...

Re: New Orleans Saints secondary ready to face healthy Julio Jones
 

I agree i think the Falcons will be forced early to abandon the run game. There OL still can be had I think. I am more concern about the quick passes to slow down the pass rush exposing our LB.

Re: New Orleans Saints secondary ready to face healthy Julio Jones
 

So do we shadow him with KLew or take the risk of plays with PRob? Maybe we put Cham... Oh, nevermind that.

Re: New Orleans Saints secondary ready to face healthy Julio Jones
 

Lewis always plays the #1 receiver, I think he tries to take Jones out of the game. Robinson will probably be pressing White with safety help over the top.

And hopefully, the pass rush doesn't leave P-Rob hanging too long with the pressure...

Re: New Orleans Saints secondary ready to face healthy Julio Jones
 

I'm glad we have Byrd and Vaccaro back there, I think P-rob would struggle otherwise

Re: New Orleans Saints secondary ready to face healthy Julio Jones
 

Probably the best WR trio we'll face all year, probably as good as or better than Detroit (debatable).

Re: New Orleans Saints secondary ready to face healthy Julio Jones
 

With the emphasis the refs have been throwing flags for pass interference; I wonder if Roddy White will get away with his occasional push off he does down the field :confused:

Re: New Orleans Saints secondary ready to face healthy Julio Jones
 

Shaping up to be a shoot out and I think us use PT and Ingram to slow the game down.

Re: New Orleans Saints secondary ready to face healthy Julio Jones
 

Divison Rivals...
Expect some plays... But not game changers. The Saints will deal with Jones.

Re: New Orleans Saints secondary ready to face healthy Julio Jones
 

Im not really worried about Jones r White... Tony Gonzales is gone and he was a huge pain for us over the past few years....

Re: New Orleans Saints secondary ready to face healthy Julio Jones
 

Julio will probably have a big game and Matt Ryan will complete passes. Hopefully we tighten in the red zone and hold them to field goals while we score TDs. I'm assuming it'll be close for a while and well eventually pull away, winning by 10+.

Re: New Orleans Saints secondary ready to face healthy Julio Jones
 

Jones is a great player, understood. However, can anyone their starting TE?
Bottom line, our corners will get help, and losing Gonzalez is huge. Jones and White aren't safety valve receivers like Tony G.

Re: New Orleans Saints secondary ready to face healthy Julio Jones
 

Occasional? Well Ok... If by occasional you mean "almost every play he is involved in"

The only player I remember being worse was Steve Smith and we have to see that loud mouth sucker puncher later this season.

Re: New Orleans Saints secondary ready to face healthy Julio Jones
 

I think we will see a lot of the 3 safety set with KV, Byrd and Bush. Bush and KV will want to lay some punishment down. Byrd hopefully will help with over the top and go for the Ints.

Hope the defense comes ready to play. This could get intense. And I'm not quite ready for a heart attack this early in the season.

Re: New Orleans Saints secondary ready to face healthy Julio Jones
 

The good news is both Keenan Lewis and Kenny vaccaro showed how to shut him up last season, Kenny smacked him when he tried to get off the line

Re: New Orleans Saints secondary ready to face healthy Julio Jones
 

Don't count out Byrd out as a big hitter... He proved in the preseason, he has amazing instincts and closing speed and brought the pain when he arrived at the ball carrier

Re: New Orleans Saints secondary ready to face healthy Julio Jones
 

Typical Falcon game... the ONLY way they win is if we make numerous mistakes and they play mistake free ball.

Anything can happen in the NFL, but Atlanta needs a lot of help to win this one.

They'll keep it kinda close because they always do but I'm thinking a 6 to 9 point win for us.

Re: New Orleans Saints secondary ready to face healthy Julio Jones
 

How bout press coverage up front by the line backers and safeties and force them to keep out short. If a receiver breaks secondary should be ready in zone. Just my opinion.

Re: New Orleans Saints secondary ready to face healthy Julio Jones
 

More like a 1 to 3 point game.

Re: New Orleans Saints secondary ready to face healthy Julio Jones
 

If you have the linebackers/safeties pressing receivers, than draws and screens would eat us alive...

Re: New Orleans Saints secondary ready to face healthy Julio Jones
 

They'd better contain Julio and Roddy White, because I am not afraid of their run game. Steven Jackson is a shell of his former self, and will probably sustain a season-ending injury on the third play from scrimmage.

(I think I'm just bitter about him not helping me in the slightest the last two seasons in the JoeSam fantasy league.)

Re: New Orleans Saints secondary ready to face healthy Julio Jones
 

Harry Douglas

Hasn't been mentioned, he is a bigger threat than Roddy White and was a top 20 receiver last year on a team that had Gonzo.

He is as relevant as Jones.