At the conclusion of the first during the NFC Championship Game in January, the Green Bay Packers defense experienced the two most common emotions that accompany superstar wide receiver Julio Jones for the Atlanta Falcons. It was a third and one situation from the Green Bay five-yard line with the Falcons looking to extend their lead to 17 with another touchdown. 2016 MVP Matt Ryan threw an unjustifiable pass to the four-time pro bowler, who somehow managed to tap both his toes inbounds near the right pylon while successfully catching the football.

Julio Jones was a tough out for this secondary

Instantly Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, the safety of the Green Bay Packers raced towards the referee and wailed his arms in the process as he believed Julio Jones was out of bounds on the play. However, his teammate LaDarius Gunter, who was supposed to be covering Jones on the play, knew the play was a touchdown and walked with his hands on hips towards the sideline. Jones continued dominating the Packers secondary and ended with a stat line of nine catches, 180 yards, and two touchdowns.

The possible strategies Green Bay can use

LaDarius Gunter is no longer a member of the Green Bay Packers as he was cut on Tuesday.

The Green Bay Packers are still in a position of revising their strategy of covering Julio Jones, who along with Antonio Brown of the Pittsburgh Steelers is considered by many as one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. The high number of injuries forced Gunter to the number one spot on the depth chart last season and caused Quinten Rollins and Damarious Randall to miss significant time due to injuries. On Sunday night, defensive backs coach Joe Whitt Jr will have four viable cornerbacks at his disposal. The biggest question that faces defensive-coordinator Dom Capers and Whitt is whether Jones should be shadowed every snap by one corner, which was the take Gunter had when these two teams matched in 2016, or to have their most appropriate defensive package on the field and accept the consequences whether good or bad.

The most likely strategy is that the Green Bay Packers will choose to play man-to-man coverage against Julio Jones using their full disposal of cornerbacks to defend him wherever he is across the line of scrimmage. Everybody from Damarious Randall, Quinten Rollins, and Davon House to this year's second-round pick Kevin King will all have an opportunity to match up against debatably the best wide receiver in the NFL.

The Falcons are used to these strategies

Despite this, the cornerbacks will still receive some help. Free safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix will be prowling on Jones' side of the field during the match to help with double coverage, which he did both times the Packers played the Falcons last season.

This job will be Clinton-Dix's primary responsibility whether Jones is shadowed by the Packers or not. Having help from the safeties allows the cornerbacks to be more aggressive at the line of scrimmage. However, the Falcons have been used to Jones having double coverage on him for several years now, so it is known they have planned strategies if Jones is the victim of double coverage.