Slowing down Julio Jones will be Ravens toughest challenge yet in 2018
The Baltimore Ravens have seen their fair share of trials ion 2018, but slowing down Julio Jones of the Atlanta Falcons might be their toughest yet.
You’d think facing Antonio Brown and A.J. Green twice a year (each) would prepare the Baltimore Ravens to take on any wide receiver in the NFL. However, when the Ravens go down to Atlanta, Georgia to take on the Falcons, they’ll face an absolute juggernaut at the position: Qunitorris Lopez Jones, A.K.A. Julio Jones.
More from Ebony Bird
- Will Baltimore Ravens be rewarded for risky Lamar Jackson decision?
- The Baltimore Ravens Big Gamble
- Ravens Super Bowl odds present fascinating insight on Lamar Jackson’s future
- Should Baltimore Ravens be interested in this recently released WR
- Do the Baltimore Ravens have serious interest in this free agent wide out?
If for some reason you’ve been sleeping under a rock and have no idea who Julio Jones is, I’ll make it very simple for you: Julio Jones is the best wide receiver in the entire NFL. Jones’ rare combination of size (6’3″ 220-lbs.), speed, hands, and play-making ability makes him a nightmare for opposing defenses. As good as Baltimore has been all year, they’ve yet to take on a player of Jones’ caliber.
In years past, guys like Jimmy Smith would be asked to step up and take control of the match-up against Jones. But with Smith’s incredible decline, lining him up over Jones for 60-minutes would lead to the Ravens inevitable doom. Instead, youngster Marlon Humphrey will be tasked with going toe-to-toe with Julio Jones.
Of course, Humphrey can only line-up on Jones for so long before needing a break. Therefore, it’ll be up to both him and Smith to handle Jones. After all, Baltimore can’t soon forget about rookie sensation Calvin Ridley. Ridley leads the Falcons in touchdown receptions with eight thus far in 2018, so keeping him out of the end-zone will be key for a win on Sunday.
But back to the matter at hand, Julio Jones is by far the biggest challenge the Ravens will face this week, and perhaps for all of the 2018 season. Jones is off to another marvelous year, having already amassed 1,300 receiving yards in just 11 games. Jones has also caught a touchdown in three of his last four games. Throw in the fact that the 29-year old All-Pro receiver has had at least 100 receiving yards in all but three games in 2018 and it’s fair to say that Jones is almost entirely unstoppable.
Come this Sunday, the Ravens will have no choice but to try their best to keep Jones at bay, at least if they want to leave Atlanta with their third-straight win.
Next. Baltimore Ravens: 5 optimistic predictions for 5 more games. dark
The duo of Marlon Humphrey and Jimmy Smith may not be enough to keep Julio Jones silent, yet it’s the best shot Baltimore has at keeping the future Hall of Fame receiver from ripping them a new one. Even though the Atlanta Falcons team has been decimated with injuries in 2018, Jones has somehow kept them in contention. If the Ravens want a shot at winning this game, they’ll need to slow down Jones just enough to keep their offense in the game without being buried early on.