Jones enjoyed a phenomenal showing at the annual NFL Scouting Combine, where his numbers literally blew away the competition. Seen by many as slow and without the burst needed to excel in the NFL, Jones silenced doubters by running a 4.39 in the 40-yard dash and showing phenomenal overall athletic ability in various tests and workouts. Jones not only answered critics, he has put himself in the conversation to be the first wide receiver drafted this April.
His footwork is among the best in the class, and his burst getting in and out of routes is above even No. 1 wide receiver A.J. Green. Jones is by far the most physical receiver in this class, and the most overall physically gifted wide out. Few players are blessed with the raw athletic ability that Jones is.
Jones has seen his ability as a wide receiver develop during his three years at Alabama. From the beginning of his time there he showed wonderful athletic ability with raw talent, but lacked the refinement of better receivers. As he has aged and progressed through the years Jones has shown better skills and more discipline in route running, an area he was sorely lacking in during his freshman and sophomore seasons. Jones has also been plagued with easy drops throughout his career, largely due to his knack for trying to catch with his body and turn to run before securing the ball. As Jones has startedt o use his hands more he has become more consistent in this area.
Jones rare strength at the position is a great benefit when releasing against press coverage. At 220lbs he is much stronger than most defensive backs, but he is also longer and can use his arms to keep them from getting inside his frame. Jones does need to continue learning the intricacies of the position, such as sinking his hips when cutting and accelerating through changes in direction.
Jones enters the 2011 NFL Draft as one of the most accomplished receivers in SEC history. His ability as a wide receiver was somewhat overshadowed by Alabama head coach Nick Saban’s insinstence on a power running attack. Jones possesses the toughness to become an elite blocker at the wide receiver position and to play through nagging injuries. He is a no-nonsense player who will give his all to the team without asking questions.In an era of prima donna wide receivers, Jones is a throwback. He is a quiet leader and a player teammates will look to as an example of hard work. Some of Jones best plays came late in games, or in big spots during close games. Moreso early in his career before Alabama started relying on a power running game, Jones was the Tide’s go-to offensive player.
Julio Jones has shown over the course of his three-year career at Alabama that he is able to be coached, able to develop as a receiver and also is a tremendous athlete who can break a defense down on any given play. Wide receivers with this ability are rare, and highly valued by NFL teams. Jones entered the offseason as a top fifteen player who many scouts liked, but there were always questions about how fast he was and if he had the explosive speed to break away from coverage in the NFL. Jones answered those questions with a strong showing at the NFL Scouting Combine, but there are still holes in his game when viewed on film. This is not to say Jones will not become an elite wide receiver in the NFL. He has the athletic ability, competitiveness and drive to become one of the best receivers in the NFL.
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