Soft-spoken Julio Jones excited about Atlanta Falcons’ potential

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones has eased into training camp and is gearing up toward the regular season.

Jones is coming off a 136-catch 2015 season, which tied for a league-high with Pittsburgh’s Antonio Brown.

“It’s nothing new,” Jones said. “That’s why we come out here and practice every day to get ready for games. We come out here and compete just how we play in the games. It’s just a game.”

Jones will likely see some action in the preseason opener at home Thursday night against Washington’s Josh Norman, who tried to start a feud with Jones when he played for the Carolina Panthers.

“Oh, no, no,” Jones said. “It’s not between me and Josh Norman. It’s the Atlanta Falcons versus the Redskins. We just got to go out here, we’ve got to compete, and then when the young guys get in, we just have to stick there with them and help them through.”

Jones doesn’t take a meek approach to the exhibition season.

“It definitely gets you ready,” Jones said. “You know, you’ve been out here, you’ve been hitting on each other, banging on each other the whole camp out here in pads. It’s just good to see a different face and go against different people and just see where your game is at.”

Jones is the Falcons’ No. 1 wide receiver. The second position is being contested by Mohamed Sanu and Justin Hardy.

“Both guys are doing very great for us,” Jones said. “We’re going to compete. It doesn’t matter, I mean, they compete against me, I compete against them. It’s not just Justin and Sanu competing. It’s all of us competing.”

Aldrick Robinson appears to be the fourth receiver.

“Yeah, he’s definitely a great guy, a great deep ball threat,” Jones said. “Great speed, great hands. He’s going to be another addition to the team down the field.”

While Jones piled up yards and catches last season, he only had eight touchdowns and was taken away in the red zone. The Falcons have spent a great deal of time working on their red-zone offense in training camp.

“Last year was last year,” Jones said. “This is a whole new year. We’ll see when the season starts.”

Quarterback Matt Ryan has said that Jones could eclipse 2,000 yards receiving and that the offense could average 30 points per game.

“You know, that’s what Matt said,” Jones said. “We’re going to take it one game at a time. We got to continue, we’re still in camp right now. We’re talking about the season and we still got to do preseason and everything. So when it comes around we’ll see.”

Jones does believe that Ryan looks more comfortable in the second year running offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan’s offense.

“Oh yeah, Matt, he can move a little bit,” Jones said of a Ryan scramble. “Don’t want to give him too much credit because it might go to his head and he’ll always want to run the ball. You know how it is, offensive guys will go on defense and think we can back-pedal and play (defensive back). So, you don’t want to put it into Matt’s head that he’s a running quarterback. Just keep him level-headed, please.”

NOTES: DE Ra’Shede Hageman has been moved to defensive end and has been having a strong camp, according to coach Dan Quinn. … Ryan is expected to play just one series in the exhibition opener against Washington on Thursday. … RB Tevin Coleman returned to practice after missing two days with a minor foot injury. … SS Keanu Neal, who has what Quinn described as a “trunk” injury, may not play in the exhibition opener against Washington. Neal was the 17th player selected in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft. … TE Levine Toilolo (right hand) returned to practice after missing one day. … RB Terron Ward (ankle) the past two practices while recovering from his injury. Quinn said Ward was “day to day.”