Why Julio Jones will be a better pro than AJ Green.

I have been a big fan of AJ Green for years now. He was a part of the very talented class that included a lot of big name recruits that came out that year (Patrick Peterson, Julio Jones just to name a few). And honestly I feel that AJ is the better pass catcher. But Julio Jones will be a better pro than AJ Green for a couple of reasons. I will tell you why.

1. AJ Green will be forced to be a #1 WR and that will mean double coverage. It will also mean that primarily he will be looked to for big plays. It can be a first down catch to move the chains, or it can be a game changing touchdowns. Julio Jones on the other hand is a #2 WR. He will get single coverage most times. He will be matched up on less talented CB's than Green will be.

2. We THOUGHT that Chad Ochocinco would be there to show AJ Green the ropes. Face it. Whether you like him or you hate him, Chad Ochocinco is a good WR and did make multiple pro bowls. Yeah, his shenanigans run far and wide, but he would have been a great tutor for AJ to learn from. Now he is the most talented, but also the youngest of a young receiving corps that includes Texas teammates Quan Cosby, Jordan Shipley. You also have Jerome Simpson, Andre Caldwell. He also has two young but talented TEs Jermaine Gresham and Chase Coffman. Julio Jones fell into a better situation. Some would say a perfect situation. Pass catchers all around him. Roddy White is a pro bowler. He also has Tony Gonzalez, one of the greatest to ever play the game as well as up and coming Harry Douglas. Need I say more? He has at his disposal NFL greats. This is awesome to have when you are rookie WR with the organization expecting big things from you.

3. AJ Green thought that he was going to be catching passes from Carson Palmer. Well Carson is..... Retired. And now he has fellow rookie QB Andy Dalton with him for this ride. Andy Dalton is struggling in the preseason, and playing NFL QB is a lot more of a daunting task than say playing at TCU. So Dalton's struggles will be Green's struggles. Julio Jones has a pro bowl QB throwing him the ball. Ryan threw for 3705 yards and 28 TDs. He was telling Julio where to go on the routes. Matt Ryan has control of the offense. Julio Jones' career will benefit from having an experienced QB.

4. Green plays in possibly one of the most defense heavy conferences in the league. With the Steelers and the Ravens looming in the AFC North, Dalton is going to have a problem staying upright, mere less completing passes. Rookie QBs struggle badly with these defenses. Hell experienced QBs struggle with them. Even the Browns are tough defensively. As Dalton struggles, so will Green. Julio Jones is in a division where offense chats are achievable. I am not taking anything away from the NFC South, but the teams in the NFC South are not as stout defensively as in the AFC North. Julio Jones will have more opportunities to catch more passes because Ryan will not be pressured and sacked as much as Dalton will. Another year in the offense will do that for you.

5. Julio Jones and his blocking down field for fellow WRs as well as in the running game has been his strong suit for some time now. This will be no different in the NFL. He will be an asset for a team that is already a great running team. AJ Green has always been known for a receiving WR not a blocker. He chicken fights enough. But to be an effective WR, he is going to have to learn to block in the NFL. Bar none, bottom line

I have honestly always felt that AJ Green was the most talented pass catcher in the draft. I felt that way when he dominated games with his natural ability. The way he attacks the ball in the air is second to none. Julio Jones had an excelent combine with a broken bone in his foot. But remember a WR is only as good as the QB that can get it to him. And being a great NFL WR is not only how hard you work, but also how good of a situation you find yourself in when you are drafted.