Austin Hooper absorbing knowledge from Corridor of Famer Tony Gonzalez

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Atlanta Falcons tight finish Austin Hooper couldn’t recall all the small print, however he remembered being fascinated the primary time he spoke with Corridor of Famer Tony Gonzalez.

“Clearly, as a child rising up watching him, I simply loved his model of play,” Hooper mentioned. “I can’t let you know when that first discuss was, however after the dialog I used to be like, ‘Man, that man is cool as hell — tremendous cool and laid-back, like SoCal.'”

Hooper, from San Ramon, has a California vibe much like that of Gonzalez, who was born in Torrance and raised in Huntington Seaside. Each have numerous ethnic backgrounds, with Gonzalez having a African-American, Mexican, Jamaican, American Indian, Scottish and Portuguese heritage, and Hooper coming from a mix of African-American, Mexican, Irish, Native American and Belgian ancestors.

Oh, and each had been two-sport stars, with Gonzalez doubling as a slightly dominant ahead in basketball at Cal and Hooper being an all-league highschool shot-putter earlier than specializing in soccer at Pac-12 rival Stanford.

Hooper totally understands that on the soccer area, there’s no true comparability to Gonzalez. Nobody in historical past can match Gonzalez’s sheer dominance as a pass-catching tight finish, which is why he’ll be enshrined Saturday evening in Canton. Gonzalez completed his 17-year profession with 1,325 catches, 15,127 yards and 111 receiving touchdowns. However there’s nothing flawed with Hooper striving for such greatness because the Falcons’ most harmful tight finish menace since Gonzalez’s last season in 2013.

“I’ve positively taken bits and items from his recreation,” Hooper mentioned of Gonzalez. “There’s a purpose why he’s a first-ballot Corridor of Famer and one of many biggest pass-catchers, no matter place. There’s a whole lot of nice features of his recreation. I can’t point out only one.”

Hooper is coming off his finest season in 2018: 71 catches, 660 yards and 4 TDs. He wished to work out with Gonzalez within the offseason but revered that he had different obligations, akin to making ready for this week’s Corridor of Fame ceremonies. The 2 exchanged texts, and Gonzalez supplied phrases of knowledge.

“The one half I can share is he simply preached the significance of wanting the ball all the best way in,” Hooper mentioned. “It sounds so trivial. It feels like, ‘Duh.’ However there’s a distinction between taking your eye off only for a millisecond and actually framing the ball, and that’s what Tony did very well. That’s why he has the [second] most catches within the historical past of the NFL. One thing as simple as that interprets in an enormous method. That’s type of what he preached. You’ve received to get the child steps down earlier than you begin sprinting and doing loopy stuff.”

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Hooper took a deeper dive into Gonzalez’s movie a number of years in the past, dissecting clips of when Gonzalez performed for Dirk Koetter throughout Koetter’s first stint because the Falcons’ offensive coordinator (2012-14). Hooper performed for former Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan on the time so the terminology was totally different. Regardless of not recognizing the precise playcalls, Hooper couldn’t assist however discover how Gonzalez stored getting open.

“He was beating defenders utilizing his footwork, his measurement,” Hooper mentioned of the 6-foot-5 Gonzalez. “From that facet, I discovered lots when it comes to how he moved his physique to govern defenders.

“And the best way he attacked the soccer — each catch, it doesn’t matter what, he frames the ball and also you see his eyes proper on the soccer. You see typically receivers don’t look all of it the best way in. However with Tony — like, each image you’ve ever seen of him — he’s all the time framing the ball along with his palms and eyes, and that’s why I believe he was probably the most constant to ever do it. That’s one thing he’s carried out to be actually profitable, and I attempt to emulate that. I believe it’s actually helped me develop into extra constant.”

Each Koetter and new Falcons tight ends coach Mike Mularkey coached Gonzalez as coordinators and have inspired Hooper to proceed learning the nuances of the Corridor of Famer’s recreation.

“After I was right here with Tony, if it was fourth down — like, to win the sport — I knew who I used to be going to throw it to due to the belief issue,” Mularkey mentioned. “The belief I had and the belief Matt [Ryan] had was there. And that’s what I’m attempting to point out Hoop: You’ve received to construct a belief that if a play known as, you’re going to win for him.

“Tony had an actual knack for endurance at organising his route. The issues that he did on the high of his routes had been very exhausting to defend. I’m attempting to point out that to Hoop. He’s already very proficient on his personal however the extra he can decide up from the good ones, the higher.”

Hooper went to his first Professional Bowl final season (Gonzalez went to 14) and has 139 profession catches (1,186 fewer than Gonzalez) however his future seems to be promising as he continues to mature as a participant. He spent a part of his offseason once more figuring out one-on-one with Ryan in California. Hooper believes there might be much more alternatives for tight ends in Koetter’s offense, particularly when the Falcons go up-tempo.

Final season, Hooper ran 474 routes and performed 769 offensive snaps. Mularkey needs Hooper to proceed to enhance his inline blocking so he doesn’t have to come back out in sure personnel groupings.

Ryan believes Hooper will proceed his ascent. The quarterback was requested about any similarities between Hooper and his Corridor of Fame pal, Gonzalez.

“Each are comparable in they’ve nice size,” Ryan mentioned. “Tony, a whole lot of his separation was because of how lengthy he was, his physique place. … Hoop could be very a lot the identical method in that he’s received nice size and has the flexibility to make use of his size to have the ability to create separation. … In addition they catch the ball prolonged from their physique very well. That’s an enormous benefit, particularly in third down and purple zone conditions. The home windows are going to be tight, and also you’ve received to have the ability to prolong and have robust palms out in entrance.”

Hooper’s play is getting stronger, thanks partly to Gonzalez’s serving to hand.