The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Linebacker to build on Pro Bowl season
Deion Jones led team in tackles and had 3 picks, but he hopes for more.
Falcons middle linebacker Deion Jones, in just his second season in the NFL, had a breakthrough campaign in 2017.
He led the team with 138 tackles and three interceptions while being named the first-alternate to the Pro Bowl. He played in the game after the Panthers’ Luke Kuechly withdrew because of injury.
Jones is already planning an encore.
He was one of the 27 Falcons players running and stretching during the open portion of the team’s second offseason workout on Tuesday.
“It’s like starting from the bottom,” Jones said. “Starting from scratch. A new chapter. Just excited to get after it. To start back from looking at film from last year and figuring out how we can get better. Then it’s on to start building on it.”
For Jones, a speedy linebacker who’s had trouble keeping on weight, the training portion of the offseason is his primary focus.
“I really started paying attention to my body and the way I eat,” said Jones, who’s listed at 222 pounds. “The way I take care of it. I really feel like that’s going to take me to the next level.”
Jones, who was selected in the second round of the 2016 draft, was an immediate starter. He flashed at times during his rookie season
and last season maintained a high level of play throughout the season.
Jones, normally a quiet sort, became more vocal even though he prefers to lead by example. Jones believes he can blossom even more and expects linebackers coach Jeff Ulbrich to push him even harder.
“He knows what type of person that I am and he knows that I’m always looking for that edge,” Jones said. “We just pretty much go through all phases . ... We get input from each other in our room. We are very open and very critical of each other. I feel that helps to bring us together.”
With Jones making strides, the Falcons’ defense improved from 27th to eighth in scoring, 25th to ninth in total yards, 17th to ninth in rushing yards and 28th to 12th in passing yards in one season.
While there was statistical improvement, the turnover margin dipped. The Falcons were down from 22 takeaways to 16. Overall, the turnover margin was minus2, which ranked 19th in the league after being a plus-11 and ranking fourth in 2016.
Jones doesn’t have a specific list of things he wants to improve on.
“Just being a better overall me,” Jones said. “Stretching for as far as I can each year. I’m not putting anything in stone. I’m just going to go into it, fight and grind like I always do. Whatever God has for me, he has for me.”
Keeping on weight was one of Jones’ goals last season.
“I felt like I did a good job of keeping it for the most part,” Jones said. “I feel like I could have done an even better job taking my game to a whole new level eating-wise.”
Don’t look for Jones at QuikTrip getting the two hot dogs for $2.22 special.
“I’m being very specific about what I put into my body,” Jones said.
Jones is the leader of a young defense, with no projected starter over the age of 30.
“It’s seems like the light bulb goes (on) for each and every one of us almost every day,” Jones said. “Especially practicing and going through situations on the run. Coming back and learning from it. We figure out ways to play it better and make it our own style.”