Colts Stars Darius Leonard, Michael Pittman Jr. Waste No Time Recruiting Julio Jones

-

The Indianapolis Colts have signed two of the top players in their respective recruiting classes, adding both Darius Leonard and Michael Pittman Jr. to a team that already has superstar receiver Julio Jones on board.

Colts Stars Darius Leonard, Michael Pittman Jr. Waste No Time Recruiting Julio Jones

The Indianapolis Colts have found their starting quarterback.

Okay, they’ll still have to find their future quarterback, but their new quarterback, former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, can help them win now while they search for that man.

Colts studs Darius Leonard and Michael Pittman Jr. wasted little time responding to the news of Ryan’s trade to Indy, in which the club recently handed a third-round selection to Atlanta. They did, however, swiftly begin wooing Julio Jones, a former great NFL teammate of Ryan’s.

Matt Ryan will join the Indianapolis Colts.

*{padding:0;margin:0;overflow:hidden} html,bodyheight:100% img,spanposition:absolute;width:100% ;top:0;bottom:0;margin:auto;bodyheight:100% html,bodyheight:100% html,bodyheight:100% html,bodyheight:100% html,bodyheight:100% html,bodyheight:100% html,bodyhe spanheight:1.5em;text-align:center;font:48px/1.5 sans-serif;color:white;text-shadow:0 0 0.5em black;text-shadow:0 0 0.5em black;text-shadow:0 0 0.5em black;text-shadow:0 0 0.5em black;text-shadow:0 0 0.5em black;text-shadow><span>▶</span>

Matt Ryan has spent the previous several years with the Atlanta Falcons in a difficult circumstance. He still put up respectable statistics, but Atlanta had lost each of the previous four seasons.

Atlanta was 31st in rushing in 2021, allowing Ryan to be sacked 40 times. It also had a bad defense, which ranked 29th in the NFL in terms of points allowed per game (27.0). Calvin Ridley, his primary weapon, only appeared in five games.

With the Colts, who traded Carson Wentz earlier this month, Ryan will have a much superior offensive line (though pass protection might be improved) and a rushing offense that finished second in the league behind Jonathan Taylor’s 1,811 yards. Indy will likely acquire more weapons for their new quarterback, but they already have third-year standout Michael Pittman Jr., who had 1,082 receiving yards last season. The Colts also placed ninth in points allowed per game (21.5) and second in total turnovers (33).

Ryan will join a significantly improved roster in Indianapolis, which had seven Pro Bowlers last season, the most in the NFL. And it looks that his new colleagues are looking forward to working with the 2016 NFL MVP. They’ve even enlisted the help of his former pass-catcher.

Darius Leonard and Michael Pittman Jr. are looking for a job. Jones, Julio

Indianapolis Colts stars Darius Leonard and Michael Pittman Jr., who recently tried recruiting Julio Jones.

Indianapolis Colts stars Darius Leonard and Michael Pittman Jr., who recently tried recruiting Julio Jones. Michael Pittman Jr. and Darius Leonard (L-R) | Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Colts players and supporters reacted positively to Matt Ryan’s move to Indianapolis almost immediately.

Pro Bowl cornerback Kenny Moore II tweeted, “I just texted Matthew Ryan. I can’t wait to annoy him.” Michael Pittman Jr., on the other hand, quote-tweeted a post from the Colts’ official account and said, “WE GOT OUR GUY!!!”

Pittman and All-Pro linebacker Darius Leonard, on the other hand, put out tweets praising Julio Jones, the Tennessee Titans’ seven-time Pro Bowl wide out who was released last week.

In response to a fan saying the Colts now need to line Jones across the field from Pittman, the receiver tweeted, “I like this idea,” with a smiling emoji.

Darius Leonard, also known as the Maniac, on the other hand, was direct. Julio is what he seeks.

“Aye man hear me out,” Leonard tweeted directly to Jones. “Matt have already thrown you a lot of touchdowns in the dome in Atlanta, y’all could finish what y’all started in Atlanta in the dome here in Indy!”

Would Julio Jones be willing to join the Indianapolis Colts?

On the Atlanta Falcons, Julio Jones had a tremendous run with Matt Ryan. Jones was a two-time First-Team All-Pro and was selected to seven Pro Bowls. With 1,871 yards in 2015 and 1,677 yards in 2018, he led the NFL in receiving yards twice.

Ryan was named to three Pro Bowls and was named NFL MVP in 2016 with 4,944 yards, 38 touchdowns, and seven interceptions while using Jones as his main target. During the 2016 season, the two also assisted in getting the Falcons to the Super Bowl.

If Indy were to sign Jones, it would not be as a No. 1 or even a second option for Ryan. Jones appeared in just nine games in 2020 and ten games in 2021. Last season, he recorded a career-low 434 receiving yards on 31 receptions in his one season with the Titans. He’s no longer the player he once was, but he showed sparks in a Week 2 victory against the Seattle Seahawks, catching six catches for 128 yards.

Given that Pittman was the only Colts player to collect more than 384 receiving yards in 2021, Jones has a chance to make an impact on the offense. However, if the front management wants Ryan to have greater success than Carson Wentz, it must do a lot more. It will need to sign another receiver in free agency (if they have the funds) or via the NFL draft.

Overall, Matt Ryan and Julio Jones had a memorable time in Atlanta. Playing for the Colts on a quality roster would offer them another shot to win a ring — this time together.

Pro Football Reference provided the statistics.

RELATED: Indianapolis Colts’ Kenny Moore II Uses Twitter to Seemly Recruit Tyler Lockett

Share this article

Recent posts

Popular categories

Recent comments