Jerry Jones watched Julio Jones carve up his defense on Sunday to the tune of 12 catches for 164 yards and two touchdowns on 20 targets.
After seeing the Atlanta Falcons receiver dominate from every portion of the field, the Dallas Cowboys owner got an idea: We should do that more with Dez Bryant
"When you cover (Jones) the way we did in the slot and you don't have a sideline to work with, then it's really very difficult for him not to get the plays," Jerry Jones said on KRLD-FM, via the Dallas Morning News. "My observation, though, my coaching observation -- and I'm holding two fingers up on each side -- I want to see the way they do Julio, and does anybody want to see us do Dez (Bryant) that way? Is that too elementary?"
It's not as if the Cowboys haven't moved Bryant around more the past couple years. In 2014 the wideout took 15.8 percent of his snaps from the slot, per Pro Football Focus. He was targeted on 23.1 percent of those snaps. That's a similar percentage to what Jones is seeing this season.Â
The other takeaway Jerry Jones will likely discuss with his coaching staff when Bryant returns to the lineup, is increasing the wideout's targets after watching Julio earn 20 against his defense. Bryant's career high is 17 targets twice in 2013 and 14 in two games last season.
One subtextual note we can pull from Jones' comments is the veiled compliment to Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. The OC has been masterful at scheming wide-open receivers all season long. Jones' performance in Week 3 was just the cherry on the three-week pie for the play-caller.
With the Falcons' offense humming both through the air and on the ground, don't be shocked when you hear Shanahan's name swirling around when it comes to head coaching gigs for 2016.
