Week 4 of the 2016 NFL season saw its share of thrilling finishes and clutch performances, but none were as electrifying as the production from Matt Ryan and Julio Jones.
Sitting atop the NFC South at 2-1, the Falcons hosted the defending NFC champion and division rival Carolina Panthers. The Panthers renowned defense entered this division matchup ranked third in total defense. That didn’t stop Matt Ryan and Julio Jones form having a huge day.
Still, they possessed quality talent at all levels despite the loss of corner back Josh Norman. Regardless, they failed to stop a humming Falcons offense.
Quarterback Matt Ryan became just the eighth quarterback in NFL history to throw for 500 yards in a game following his 503 yards, four touchdown performance.
Entering Week 4, Ryan had ranked in the top five in passing yards and touchdowns, and has certainly deepened his MVP run. 300 of those yards on went to his elite receiver, Julio Jones, who hauled in 12 of 15 targets for a single score; both yardage totals set new franchise records.
571 total yards and 48 points later, the Falcons’ 276 points through their first four games are the most in NFL history. Jones became the first receiver with multiple 250+ yard outings in a career, while this was the first game in NFL history to feature a 500+ yard passer and 300+ yard receiver.
The Panthers opted to man Jones for most of the game, a strange manner considering the Falcons worked to get him in one-on-one matchups. Jones begins his release by taking a swift in-field step with an equal head fake. By maintaining his forward lean, Bradberry can’t execute mirror-and-match footwork and keep his hips square. He is forced to commit to the stem.
Jones understands he’s not going to beat Bradberry deep so he cuts his route short, utilizing fast-firing feet to quickly sink his hips and create a wider window. Ryan recognizes this as he delivers a timely, well-placed ball that allows Jones to quickly work up field and pick up extra yards.
With the athleticism the Panther possess at linebacker, they prefer to run Cover 2 looks that don’t require much from their corners. The Falcons countered their solo looks for Jones with 2×1 and 3×1 looks that occupied their safeties as Jones found windows in the honey hole.
He executes similar footwork to create success on his release and again reduces the inside shoulder to keep the defender from getting his hands on him; from there, he works to stack the corner that allows Ryan to drop the ball in the bucket.
While Ryan is late on this ball and forces Jones to slow and adjust, it’s still relatively well-placed as it lands on his outside shoulder. Jones’ tracking ability propels him to watch the ball’s path in its entirety and adjust his shoulders to haul it in.
Antonio Brown is widely regarded as the best receiver in today’s NFL, but I firmly believe Jones is the most complete. He can match Brown’s footwork success while possessing a combination of speed and strength: notice how he completely defeats the corner with physicality before accelerating into his break to create a bigger target for Ryan.
Jones is easily one of the league’s most refined and crafty route runners with nifty, consistent footwork. Once again, he displays a deliberate inside release before dropping his head and shoulders to work back outside, allowing him to stay flat on the designated path.
In his pre-snap read Ryan recognizes the Cover 1 safety’s depth and the massive window that is going to open behind the blitz, forcing him to throw hot on time.
He does, and delivers the ball in the ideal spot to allow Jones to challenged defenders after the catch, another aspect of his game in which he excels. It’s evident that the Falcons’ offense is clicking on all levels and doesn’t appear to regress anytime soon.