Falcons WR Julio Jones frustrated with team’s red zone play calling
After a fourth-straight game without catching a touchdown pass, Atlanta Falcons star wide receiver Julio Jones expressed his frustration with his team’s play calling in red zone situations.
Talking to the media after Sunday’s 23–19 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in which the Falcons went 1 for 3 scoring touchdowns in the red zone, Jones said that the scenarios the team practices during the week aren’t reflected in the play calling during the games.
“I don’t know what the thinking is as far as if we’re going to throw the jump balls or if we’re going to run the ball or whatever look we’re getting down there,” Jones said. “We practice throughout the week throwing jump balls, throwing fades, throwing all these little things. But when the game comes, you never know what's going to come up.”
Jones has caught six touchdown passes this season over four games. The Falcons are 3–1 in the games in which he has scored a touchdown, suffering their only loss to the Buccaneers on Nov. 1.
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The Falcons have lost five consecutive games since starting the season 6–1. Atlanta is now in a tie for second place in the NFC South with the Buccaneers.