Comparing two rookies...

Sitting here on Saturday morning, relaxing, coffee in hand, watching NFL Network. NFL Network had a story on UGA standout turned Cincinnati Bengals wideout A. J. Green, and his lack of productivity the last two games. It made me think of comparing him to another star rookie wide receiver of my home town Atlanta Falcons, Julio Jones. It is true that Green has had a strained shoulder the last part of the season that could have contributed to his zero TD's, four catches, and only 51 total yards in the last two games of the regular season. On the Julio Jones

Julio Jones directing traffic in game vs Indianapolis Colts. Photo: AP/Michael Conroy

front, he has had 3 TD's, and 204 total yards in closing out the last two games . Jones has also had a little injury bug that has plagued him as well, ever since the first meeting with the New Orleans Saints in the Georgia Dome. He left that game early in the first quarter with a hamstring injury.

But lets look at in another way. Has both players hit that dreaded rookie wall that effects most rookies? You could say yes for Green because maybe the injury has slowed him down. But not for Jones. He has been on fire as of late. I contribute the production, or the lack thereof to double teaming. The Bengals do not have a lot of offensive players that draw a lot of double teams. Green is the number one receiver, and Jerome Simpson the number two. So if Green is doubled teamed, the ball goes to Simpson, or vice versa. For Jones, the Falcons have many go to guys, five to be exact. Jones, WR Roddy White, TE Tony Gonzalez, RB Michael Turner, and I'm even going to place WR Harry Douglas in the mix. Though Douglas doesn't draw double teams, he does get a burst of speed in the open field. If any one of those guys are double teamed, the ball can go to any one of the other four. I know I write about the Falcons, and I'm trying not to be bias. But in hindsight, advantage Falcons. But Green does more with less.

AJ Green's jumpball catch for TD. Photo: John Grieshop/Getty Images North America

Both Green and Jones are already stars for their respected teams. And for this year, the advantage goes to Green in the Pro Bowl votes, as he was elected and Jones was not. Overall, Green accumulated 1057 receiving yards and Jones 959. The media saw that Green meant more to his team than Jones due to the Bengals didn't have the surrounding players like the Falcons. Both teams and players are looking up and have bright futures.

Bengals travel to the Texans and play today at 4:30 to open up Wild Card play. Falcons travel to New York to play the football Giants on Sunday at 1:00. It will be interesting to see which one of these rookies steps up and performs well.