“Sobering” Julio Jones Numbers
August 2nd, 2022
Bothersome Julio Jones’ numbers.
It seems as if the NFL community of insiders is looking behind their backs, trying to figure out what they are missing.
When the Bucs signed Julio Jones last week, it left several NFL insiders scratching their heads. Why would the Bucs want a washed receiver?
Well, the easy answer is that Tom Brady wants said receiver. And as we all know, what Tommy wants Tommy gets.
Consider Daylight-Savings-Time-scared, crossword-puzzle-puzzled, Elon-Musk-peeved, Barstool-Sports-triggered, almond-milk-sipping, hot-dog-eating-contest-protesting, mock-draft-scowling, L.L.-Bean-wearing, tennis fans’ advocate, Second Amendment abolitionist, Mike-Florio-arguing, parrot-insensitive, chewing-with-his-mouth-open, soup-gulping, California-train-romancing, anti-football proliferation, outhouse-admiring, airline-napping, steerage-flying, Yogi Berra-worshiping, urinal-picture-taking, video-game-playing, Taylor-Swift-listening, pickpocket-thwarting, Bucs-uniform-frowning, Allie LaForce-smitten, Big-Ten-Network-hating, pedestrian-bumping, olive oil-lapping, popcorn-munching, coffee-slurping, fried-chicken-eating, oatmeal-loving, circle-jerking, craft-beer-chugging, cricket-watching, scone-loathing, college football-naïve, baseball-box-score-reading, NPR-honk, filthy-hotel-staying, fight-instigating, barista-training, Budweiser-tolerant, baseball-scorecard-keeping, pasta-feasting, vomit-dodging scrooge, Kay-Adams-following, Coors-Light-souring, pineapple-upside-down-cake-eating social activist and NFL insider Peter King of NBC Sports fame. He too is one trying to figure out why the Bucs would want Julio and perhaps not some else’s roster casualty next month.
So King decided to do some research and what he found are ugly numbers.
Sobering numbers on the Julio Jones signing in Tampa Bay:
• In his six prime seasons, 2014 to 2019, Jones missed four of 96 regular-season games. He averaged 104 catches and 1,565 yards per season.
• In his last two seasons, 2020 and 2021, Jones missed 14 of 33 regular-season games. He averaged 41 catches and 431 yards per season.
One more sobering metric:
• In those six prime seasons, Jones played at least 75 percent of the Falcons’ snaps each year.
• In the last two seasons, Jones played 38.9 percent of his teams’ offensive snaps.
In other words, manage your expectations, Bucs fans.
Joe is confident Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht and Tom Brady didn’t go out and get Julio if the Bucs didn’t have a good plan. And Joe is also going to walk out on a limb and suggest Bucs offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich has watched the tape of Julio and has a good idea of how to use him.
No, Julio is not the same player he once was. But he can still catch, he can still read defenses and he still knows how to work a defensive back.
Are King and others trying to suggest the Bucs would have been better off going out and reclaiming the Calgary Stampeder, Donteea Dye?
August 2nd, 2022 at 12:06 am
I believe more analysts are pushing the “manage your expectations” narrative, when the true fans know he’s just a cherry on top.
August 2nd, 2022 at 12:13 am
I don’t expect prime Julio Jones. I expect probably 50+ receptions for 500+ yards and about 5-6 TDs. Anything more is a bonus at this stage in his career. He gives them added depth with a veteran future Hall of Famer. They have a lot of depth at receiver but not a veteran like that
Evans, Godwin, and Gage are still 1, 2, 3
August 2nd, 2022 at 12:16 am
Meh..these talking heads do just that…talk. I’d be more interested in what a DB or DC has to say about it then someone who has never participated in an NFL game.
On a side note, get Peter King a 4 pack of Big Storm, maybe it’ll end up in his Beernerdness part of his FMIA.
August 2nd, 2022 at 12:19 am
Travesty if we cut one of the promising from BP, Grayson, and TJ. Scotty is a lock. This was a stupid signing.
August 2nd, 2022 at 12:25 am
I have suspected this all along. But I think Brady is drooling over Gage and Jones switching out. It is like having a different gun.
August 2nd, 2022 at 12:51 am
Right. Julio will probably only be seeing about a dozen snaps a game and he’ll be getting covered by every team’s nickel and dime defender. I think Julio cleans up in that scenario.
August 2nd, 2022 at 1:13 am
omg, the days of donteea dye and the gang…
how things have changed in a few year period…
#AllTheWayUp
August 2nd, 2022 at 1:14 am
if we can only find out the official news on the ryan jensen status by now
August 2nd, 2022 at 1:21 am
That might be concerning if they had signed Julio to be a number one but they didn’t obviously everyone knows that’s not the case. Do talking heads even try anymore they just vomit things out it seems with no thought behind it.
August 2nd, 2022 at 1:25 am
we had richard sherman last yr –this yr its julio jones ??
August 2nd, 2022 at 1:27 am
As long as he produces up to and beyond limited expectations, worth what he cost, fine. The problem on the OL renders almost everything else a moot point.
August 2nd, 2022 at 2:01 am
while Julio gets all the media attention, gage will fly under the radar. good for bucs.
August 2nd, 2022 at 2:49 am
King is just blabbering and bloviating as he is one to do. Nothing new here….
August 2nd, 2022 at 3:01 am
He won’t be expected to be the number one receiver. He will get limited snaps. Good chance he then remains healthy. Hasn’t lost much speed / he was clocked at over 20 mph last year. Great signing for the role he was signed for.
August 2nd, 2022 at 3:42 am
‘In his last two seasons, 2020 and 2021, Jones missed 14 of 33 regular-season games. He averaged 41 catches and 431 yards per season. In the last two seasons, Jones played 38.9 percent of his teams’ offensive snaps.’
And for the privilege of signing Julio, the Bucs paid a hefty $6.0 mil, ALL of which is guaranteed. We already have a stable of WRs that’s the envy of every team in the NFL: Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Russell Gage PLUS a handful of others who could easily contribute numbers like what we should expect from Julio Jones.
And in the meantime, our defensive line is 1 injury away from disaster. Lose Vea or Hicks and we’ll struggle to generate a respectable pass rush. Re-signing Suh (or a comparable DT) for that same $6 mil would’ve provided the flexibility that we desperately need to make a run for this year’s championship. It’s a matter of priorities, and signing yet another WR was NOT the priority.
August 2nd, 2022 at 4:56 am
Jones has averaged six receptions per game for his entire career, including in 2020 when he only played nine games due to injury.
Last year however, he only averaged three receptions per game with Ryan Tannehill as his QB.
Let’s face it, with the exception of interchangeable first and last names, Ryan Tannehill is no Matt Ryan. The only way Tannehill could light up a scoreboard is if he’s tasked with plugging it in.
With Brady at the helm, who knows what Jones might do.
At this point, with a nightmarish memory of last year’s depleted receiving corps, I can think of far worse potential signings than Julio Jones.
August 2nd, 2022 at 5:21 am
Jones can still rip when he’s healthy And, like the previous writer said, its going to be Brady throwing him the ball. Jones is a great addition to our current receivers Brady will know how to use Jones and Gage.
Go Bucs
August 2nd, 2022 at 5:53 am
He was injured and playing with lesser talent at QB. He’s healthy, playing with Brady, and ranked as the #4WR. He still scares the crap out of most any DB in the league. Keep him healthy and just bring him in when the situation is critical. He’s still dangerous enough to draw double coverage. Somebody has got to be open when he’s on the field. He will be the difference between a win and a loss, more than once,imo.
August 2nd, 2022 at 6:10 am
It’s the $6 million that gives me heartburn too, Defense Rules. I ‘get’ the signing, most likely good depth.
Could that money have been better utilized elsewhere? Suh? Gronk?
August 2nd, 2022 at 6:40 am
It’s possible Julio is ca,p insurance. If one of the top three goes down with injury, then he makes the team. If not he gets cut.
August 2nd, 2022 at 6:53 am
Julio catches the winning pass in the Super Bowl this season. Signed me for two more years and accomplishes the same with Brady.
Tommy THEN retires right after his Sports Illustrated centerfold spread where he’s shirtless and covering his chest with 8 fingers and two thumbs (spread out hands) ALL sporting a Super Bowl ring.
He then calls Giselle and says, “Honey, I’m home.”
Until he leaves the following weekend to start collecting payment on his $37MM Fox announcing gig.
August 2nd, 2022 at 7:28 am
If he stays healthy, he adds another solid piece to the O, even the “sobering” stats show that.
August 2nd, 2022 at 7:39 am
Tom knows the this better than most, he would rather exploit with Julio on the end of his throw, than Julio be on the end of someone else’s throw and find himself being exploited
I think it’s going to be good
Bilobi
August 2nd, 2022 at 7:51 am
Matchups.
Suh.
August 2nd, 2022 at 8:05 am
By the end of training camp the coaches should have a good idea of whether or not be can be a good fourth or fifth receiver. I’m hoping for a resurgence, but Julio has never been more than decent at scoring touchdowns considering all the hype that has surrounded him throughout his career. Someones gotta make up for Gronk’s touchdowns, so maybe Gage or Brate?
August 2nd, 2022 at 8:16 am
Also wasn’t healthy last two years, so of course his production was in the toilet. It’s not about ability falloff, it’s literally just staying healthy. Far easier to do as a number 4 WR than a number 1.
August 2nd, 2022 at 8:17 am
Julio’s legs might die towards the end of the season, or might not. He’s not the Julio of old, he’s old Julio. But even if that’s true, the team will need to lean on him while his legs are fresh, as it will take time for Godwin to regain most of his effectiveness. That’s what happens after successful ACL surgery: it can take months for the player to trust his knee again. In that transitional period, Julio can help make those “lost” yards up.
Julio won’t be the same player that was six or so years ago when, in my opinion, he was the second-best WR in the league following Antonio Brown. But he’s a very crafty route runner, and maybe some of that loss of speed was due to injury. If that’s the case, he can be transitioned into a rotational role being Godwin and Gage. That would help preserve Julio’s legs for the postseason.
August 2nd, 2022 at 8:20 am
Defense Rules I agree with you 100%
August 2nd, 2022 at 8:49 am
TDTB … CAP insurance? Not sure I understand how. Julio’s 1-year $6 mil contract is GUARANTEED. From what I can see on Spotrac, his CAP hit is $2.0 mil this year AND $5.5 mil in Dead CAP (‘repayable’ as $3.5 mil in 2023, then $865K in 2024, 2025 & 2026). So even IF we get 1 year out of Julio, he’ll be the ‘gift that keeps on giving’ for the NEXT 4 years. BTW, he’ll have LOTS of company on that ‘Gee I’m getting paid & don’t even have to work’ list. We should all envy him.
Mort … Granted he wasn’t healthy the last 2 years, but 2 questions still remain. First, will Julio stay healthy THIS year? Second, does this signing best serve our goal of winning the 2022 Super Bowl? IOW, it’s the PRIORITIES thingie. With limited CAP dollars left to spend, was this the best way to spend them?
My concern is that the answer to BOTH is probably NO. If Vea or Hicks (or Shaq? or Gholston? or JTS? or even the unproven Hall) go down, our DLine will be sucking hind teet. And so will our pass rush. And so will our dreams of a 2022 championship.
August 2nd, 2022 at 9:00 am
Agree with DR
I wanted suh or Carlos Dunlap….
Injuries on defense hurt us more than the lost of weapons
GO BUCS
August 2nd, 2022 at 9:03 am
If Vea or Hicks (or Shaq? or Gholston? or JTS? or even the unproven Hall) go down, our DLine will be sucking hind teet. And so will our pass rush. And so will our dreams of a 2022 championship.
Maybe that’s why TB is experimenting blitzing the DBs….
But still, I’d rather have suh
GO BUCS
August 2nd, 2022 at 9:05 am
Staying healthy would be great, but in the end, what matters is that he plays long enough to get our starters through the first half of the season and that he makes a few key catches at the right moments.
Beyond that, anything more is icing.
August 2nd, 2022 at 9:21 am
Julio is a legendary wide out who at just 75% effectiveness adds a considerable threat behind Godwin, Evans and Gage. He will worry opposing defenses on several levels, making him both a psychological weapon and a true WR threat with opposing secondaries having SO many Bucs receivers to worry about.
Provided TB has time to throw, he is gonna have a field day with all these awesome receivers to toss to. The Bucs should have a legendary passing game this year provided our OL holds up.
August 2nd, 2022 at 9:21 am
Cap slap. Baloney. The cap is a joke. If they want to sign someone they can. Julio’s money is not stopping them. Did u learn nothing from the Saints and a host of other teams that were supposed to be in Cap hell. Hogwash.
August 2nd, 2022 at 9:37 am
Feed him the TB12 fountain of youth kool-aid and he will be fine.
He is not going to be a starter, or the number 1 receiver. If he gets 15% of snaps it will be a lot.
I think he will just be tossed in as a decoy, when the 2 high safety defense is doing its thing.
Julio is not here for production, he is here as a distraction.
August 2nd, 2022 at 10:30 am
All of this Julio at 75% is better than nonsense is ridiculous when Julio pops his hammy he is 0% for 3-4 weeks then comes back and pops it again on the first play back. That’s his recent history. He was not necessary at a position where the team has probably the most depth. Defense is where the team had issues and they are counting on a lot of production from some very young and unproven players. Go Bucs
August 2nd, 2022 at 10:58 am
I think the warm Tampa weather, the careful management of use by the team, and integrating parts of the TB12/ Guerrero training methods will likely revive Julio and he will have a great season. Am I an optimist? Why not?
August 2nd, 2022 at 11:25 am
Not a huge Julio Jones fan at this point of his career but those suggesting that Bucs fans should want Brett Perriman, Tyler Johnson or Scotty Miller over him seem a little misplaced on those Bucs reserve receivers’ skill and ability.
Tom Brady knew that a Julio Jones in 50% of the games is more valuable than Brett Perriman in 100% of the games.
I am hoping that Mark2001 turns out to be correct.
August 2nd, 2022 at 12:14 pm
Julio Jones is 33yo.
When Jerry Rice was 33yo he went for 122rec, 1800yards, 15tds.
He needs 1K yards to move into 10th place all time.
IDK. I think JJ could surprise a lot of people.
August 2nd, 2022 at 12:28 pm
No worries, halfway through the year they will give him a headset and say what a good coach he is and all the sheep will agree..
August 2nd, 2022 at 1:11 pm
I don’t think anyone with even half a brain is expecting Julio in his prime, so those numbers aren’t really that sobering IMO.
August 3rd, 2022 at 8:58 am
If slow behind Gronk (thanks for everything please come back after you leave South Beach) caught for 800 plus yards then Julio should really assist in giving Defensive Coordinators less sleep. Too big of a heavyweight star to just be a decoy on the field. When’s the first game I just ordered wings?
August 3rd, 2022 at 12:09 pm
We have 2 perphaps 3 receivers (when CG is healthy), very good receivers who can play 75% of the snaps. If JJ doesn’t re-injure his hamstring, we may have 4. Once JJ learns the playback
this offense is unstoppable! I agree with JR Jones…JJ is just a cherry on top of this offensive Sundae (on Sunday, Mondays, and Thursdays, too)!!!!!!