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Could Julio Jones’ Updated Status Give Steelers’ Secondary the Advantage?

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Julio Jones

Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Both the Atlanta Falcons and Pittsburgh Steelers have spent most of this week sweating on the game day status of Julio Jones. The explosive Falcons receiver enters this week as the NFL leader in receiving yards – with this week’s opponent, Antonio Brown, a close second – and fresh off a pair of monster performances against two NFC heavyweights in the Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers.

Well, maybe “fresh” isn’t the right word for Jones’ predicament. Jones has been battling a frustrating hip problem this week, resulting in the Falcons’ final injury report before the game listing him as questionable. Much like Matt Ryan’s downfield bombs, Jones’ playing status is up in the air, but there is little doubt that his impact would be diminished, even against a porous Pittsburgh secondary that has bled big plays all season.

Most recent reports out of Falcons HQ have suggested that Jones is in no condition to contribute, and may serve only as a decoy come Sunday afternoon. With the news comes a conundrum for Pittsburgh. The Steelers are already likely to be without Ike Taylor – who has been useless at best since returning from a nauseating forearm injury – and while their most consistent corner in William Gay is probable, one must wonder where he would line up given Jones’ supposed ineffectiveness.

Do the Steelers take the risk and let a less reliable DB like Brice McCain or Antwon Blake cover Jones? Do they start Gay in man coverage situations and play it by ear depending on the extent of Jones’ participation? And more importantly, does any of this even matter? Don’t be surprised to see Roddy White, Harry Douglas and Devin Hester each rack up triple figures through the air against a pass defense that has spent most of the season in the bottom third of the league. Let’s just sit back and enjoy the shootout.

Jonathon Natsis covers the NFL and the Pittsburgh Steelers for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @JohnHollywood92, ‘like’ him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google+.

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