Tennessee Titans: The 3 Biggest Ways Julio Jones' Return Will Help the Offense
Tennessee Titans WR Julio Jones returned to practice on Sunday after sitting out three games with a hamstring injury. While the former All-Pro remains on injured reserve, he is eligible to play in the Titans' upcoming game against Jacksonville on Sunday. If that happens, he will give the offense a boost in three major ways. […]
Tennessee Titans WR Julio Jones returned to practice on Sunday after sitting out three games with a hamstring injury.
While the former All-Pro remains on injured reserve, he is eligible to play in the Titans' upcoming game against Jacksonville on Sunday.
If that happens, he will give the offense a boost in three major ways.
1. Gives the Titans a downfield threat.
During Jones' absence, the Titans' offense relied too heavily on short and intermediate passing plays, rarely taking shots down the field.
One of the reasons Tennessee didn't call very many deep passes is that, without Jones and A.J. Brown, they didn't really have a receiver who could stretch the field.
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine is a reliable route runner and Chester Rogers has good short-area quickness, but neither of them has the speed necessary to get downfield in a hurry.
Jones, on the other hand, does have that ability. He showcased it in the Titans' Week Two win over Seattle when he stretched the Seahawks defense for a 51-yard completion in the first half.
Hopefully, for the Titans, those types of plays will be available to them, again, when Jones re-takes the field.
2. Takes pressure off of other receivers.
Beyond Jones and Brown, when healthy, the Titans have other receivers who are capable of being effective role players, notably Rogers and Westbrook-Ikhine.
With Jones and Brown being out, though, Rogers and Westbrook-Ikhine have become QB Ryan Tannehill's go-to-guys, and that's resulted in them being asked to do more than they're capable of.
Jones, when he returns, can assume the role of Tannehill's go-to guy and, in turn, take some pressure off of Westbrook-Ikhine and Rogers. They can go back to doing what they do best.
3. Gives Tannehill a consistent, reliable target
Being in the right spot is just as important for NFL wide receivers as speed, explosiveness, size and other athletic traits.
Far too often in Jones' absence, Titans receivers⏤most notably rookie Dez Fitzpatrick⏤failed to do that.
A quarterback must be able to trust his receivers to run the correct routes to the correct depths and, ultimately, arrive at the correct spots on the field.
Jones, a smart veteran player, does all of those things consistently.
His presence will, undoubtedly, make life easier and more comfortable for Tannehill.
Cover image: Christopher Hanewinckel/Tennessee Titans
