HOUSTON — Patriots cornerback Logan Ryan disagreed with Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones’ statement that no one can cover him one-on-one. Sure they can, Ryan said, but it might not work out very well.
“People can, but it’s just a matter of how well,” Ryan said Wednesday. “He’s going to get his for sure, but I think guys might get theirs. He’s an extremely tough player to cover and he’s one of the best. I don’t know what the stakes would be, best-out-of-seven or something. That would be tough. He’s a great player.”
The Patriots approach versus Jones is the most fascinating X’s and O’s subplot of Super Bowl LI. Will Patriots coach Bill Belichick and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia come up with a crazy scheme to shut down the Falcons’ big man? Will top cornerback Malcolm Butler be on Jones for most of the day, or will they go with a bigger, but less talented, Eric Rowe?
The Patriots are not tipping their hand, of course.
Butler, the hero of the Patriots’ Super Bowl win two years ago over the Seahawks, has answered hundreds of questions about Jones this week. When asked for his reaction to Jones saying he can’t be covered one-on-one, Butler did not have much to say.
“I have no comment about that,” Butler said. “It’s more than about Julio. It’s more than about me. There are 10 other players on the team. It is what it is. He’s supposed to have that confidence.”
Butler has emerged as New England’s best cornerback since he intercepted Russell Wilson at the goal line two years ago. Butler was an unknown rookie at that moment. He became a starter the following fall and now is a key piece of the Patriots’ defense.
“It gave the team the confidence to believe in me,” Butler said of his Super Bowl-sealing interception. “They put a rookie in there in the biggest game in the world and go out there and make a couple of plays. The next year I had to come in ready to play. I had an opportunity to start. I didn’t want to blow that opportunity. I came in and worked hard and hard work pays off. I’m just trying to stay consistent, stick around and play good ball.”
Butler has gone from facing Antonio Brown of the Steelers in the AFC Championship to now possibly facing Jones.
“It don’t get no bigger than that,” Butler said. “They are probably the two best wide receivers in the game. The level of play brings mine up. I’ll be ready to go.”
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