The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Hankerson seizes chance to shine with Falcons
Hobbled by injuries in 2013-14, ex-Redskin races off to good start.
REJUVENATION FLOWERY BRANCH — There was one play in particular Sunday that showed why the Falcons and Leonard Hankerson each made a good decision in joining forces for this season.
Hankerson, lined up in the right slot, quickly got inside Texans cornerback Darryl Morris (with a little interference from tight end Levine Toililo). Hankerson took a short pass from quarterback Matt Ryan, turned up field and saw nothing between him and the end zone.
“It doesn’t happen that a guy catches the ball in the middle of the field and no one is there,” Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan said. “That’s usually when it’s zero coverage, and it wasn’t.”
No, the Texans weren’t in man-to-man coverage without a free safety. It’s just that free safety Rahim Moore had bailed from the middle of the field and was running toward the left sideline to help defend Falcons star wide receiver Julio Jones. By the time Moore turned around, Hankerson was sprinting between the hash marks for a 55-yard gain to the 6-yard line.
Jones dominated through three games, but opponents increasingly are using extra defenders to slow him. Hankerson has quickly emerged as the No. 2 receiving threat behind Jones, supplanting Roddy White in the pecking order.
“The big thing is we needed some plays away from Julio,” Falcons wide receiver coach Terry Robiskie said. “People are going and doubling Julio. In some cases they’ve had three guys chase Julio. When that happens, we consistently tell these guys we need somebody on the back side to win. We’ve been lucky: (Hankerson’s) been able to pull a couple things through for us.”
In only four games Hankerson already has produced nearly half as many catch- es (17), yards (241) and touchdowns (two) as he did in 16 games in 2012, his best season with the Redskins. The 55-yard reception against the Texans was his longest since he had a 54-yard touchdown in Week 15 of 2011.
Hankerson’s rejuvenation is what the Falcons envisioned when they signed him to a one-year, $1 million deal on the second day of free agency in March. It’s what Hankerson was looking for when he left the Redskins after four injury-marred seasons looking for a good fit and a chance to shine.
He’s found it with the Falcons, just as he predicted soon after joining them.
“There’s something special going on around here, and I couldn’t miss joining that,” he said.
Hankerson was drawn to the Falcons by the chance to play with Jones and quarterback Matt Ryan. He also knew that Shanahan, the Redskins’ coordinator for three of Hankerson’s four seasons there, would find a big role for him while using lots of formations with three wide receivers.
“He knows the offense, so I knew he would fit in right away,” Shanahan said. “He knows I believe in him and I think that makes him comfortable,” Shanahan said.
The Redskins selected Hankerson in the third round of the 2011 draft out of the University of Miami. He soon declared that he was better than every other wide receiver in the draft, which included Alabama’s Jones and Georgia’s A.J. Green.
Hankerson hasn’t come close to backing up that boast. Injuries have limited his chances.
A hip injury ended Hankerson’s rookie season after four games. He played all 16 games in 2012 and showed big-play potential with eight catches for 20-plus yards among his 38 total receptions. But Hankerson suffered an ACL tear after 10 games in 2013 and played one game in 2014 as the injury lingered.
Shanahan said Hankerson had bad luck because “he ended up with an injury at the time it always seemed he was about to take off.” It started with Hankerson’s first year: the hip injury happened soon after he had eight catches for 106 yards against the Dolphins, who play near his hometown of Fort Lauderdale.
Hankerson is just 26 years old, so a strong and healthy season for the Falcons could mean a more lucrative contract next offseason.
“I don’t really look at the contract,” Hankerson said. “Just come here and do my job like always. In the past I had a couple of injuries that held me back, but I’ve always been capable of making plays. It’s just about doing what I can to help the team out, and it’s going well.”