According to Josh Alper of NBC Sports, Steve Sarkisian and Julio Jones are in a much better place this season. Falcons fans will certainly hope so as the offense enters a make or break season for the second year offensive coordinator.
Bringing in a new OC can set back any offense, and this was the case last season. It hurts even more when you lose arguably the best OC in football at that time. The offense just never clicked the same way last season. The jury is still out on Sarkisian, but the time for him to perform is now.
The results should come as no surprise. Continuity is huge in football and when you look at the Falcons offense, clearly talent is not the issue. Now, the Falcons bring in first-round pick Calvin Ridley who can make life even easier for Julio and maybe, just maybe, open up the offense enough to get him the red zone looks he should be getting.
It seems ridiculous to say this when the man had 1444 receiving yards last year, but the Falcons should expect more out of Julio this season, especially with him demanding money. Hopefully, this improved relationship comes hand in hand with a greater comfort level for Julio that can allow him to continue playing at a Hall of Fame level.