In addition to hearing about how Player X is in the best shape of his life, training camp is a good time to catch up on what individual goals a player is setting for himself.
Someone wants to run for 2,500 yards, another guy wants to set the single-season sack record and a slew of players want to win awards or make the Pro Bowl at the end of the season. Given how good wide receiver Julio Jones has been since joining the Falcons, you’d expect his own goal-setting to be of the grandiose variety but you’d be wrong. Jones says he doesn’t set individual goals because he doesn’t want to limit himself.
“No, no goals for myself. It’s all about the team,” Jones said, via the team’s website. “I’ve always been like that. People always say ‘you don’t have any personal goals?’ No, I don’t have any personal goals. I don’t want to sell myself short.”
Jones may not set any goals for the season, but he certainly set them during the offseason. Jones changed his diet this offseason and added nine pounds of muscle to his frame, which he says hasn’t impacted his speed. That’s not great news for the defensive backs who are going to be trying to keep up with a player who was already a handful thanks to his combination of speed and strength.
Jones’ work early in camp has led to rave reviews from both teammates and those observing practice, which further sets the stage for a season that could make Jones look very smart for not limiting himself in the goal-setting department.
