NFL
Falcons WR London to Benefit from Hilliard’s ‘In-Helmet Perspective’
Ike Hilliard played 12 seasons at receiver in the NFL and has spent much of the last 15 years coaching the position at both the college and professional level.
Hilliard knows what it takes to succeed. A first-round pick out of Florida in 1997, he caught 546 passes for 6,397 yards and 35 touchdowns across stints with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Giants.
Now, Hilliard’s tasked with elevating the Atlanta Falcons‘ receivers room – a challenge he’s innately qualified to accept.
“I call it an ‘in-helmet perspective’ that’s sort of unique, having the opportunity to play the game as long as I did,” Hilliard said. “There are a lot of guys that are really, really talented that have a lot of knowledge when it comes to the position.
“But I think I can give more insight that can hopefully help with timing and spacing and dissecting defenders and defenses.”
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (5) reacts after a catch against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Hilliard is taking over at receivers coach for T.J. Yates, who’s sliding to coach the quarterbacks on new head coach Raheem Morris’s staff.
Yates was a professional signal caller and noted he’s more comfortable working with passers than receivers – after all, it’s where he played.
Thus, the 47-year-old Hilliard already brings an upgrade in terms of playing experience at the position he’s coaching, and his extensive past working with wideouts only adds to his allure.
In Atlanta, Hilliard will oversee a receivers room lacking in depth – but spearheaded by an unquestioned leader in Drake London.
Drafted No. 8 overall in 2022, London set a Falcons rookie record by catching 72 passes for 865 yards and four scores.
The 22-year-old London followed his debut season with a strong second act, recording 69 receptions for a career-high 905 yards while adding two touchdowns.
Hilliard didn’t evaluate London during the 2022 NFL Draft cycle, as he’d been fired by the Pittsburgh Steelers and transitioned to receivers coach/co-offensive coordinator at Auburn University.
In essence, Hilliard hadn’t taken a deep dive on London until landing his job in Atlanta. What he saw upon studying the 6-4, 213-pound London blew him away.
“He is extremely talented,” Hilliard said. “Not trying to disrespect him at all, but he is more talented than I gave him credit for before watching the tape. The game comes easy to him, he has natural hands, he’s a fluid mover considering he’s a large young human and he’s a playmaker.”
London’s production in Atlanta’s offense fluctuated frequently this past season.
He had games with 125 and 172 receiving yards and eclipsed the 75-yard plateau four times overall – but he also endured four games where he didn’t reach 30 yards and three others where he didn’t get past 40 yards.
Perhaps nothing illustrates London’s up-and-down season better than his three-game stretch from Week 13 to Week 15.
In a 13-8 victory over the New York Jets, London caught one pass for eight yards on five targets.
The next week – a 29-25 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers – he saw 11 targets and hauled in 10 receptions for 172 yards.
But London couldn’t keep his momentum rolling in a 9-7 loss to the Carolina Panthers the week after, catching two passes for 24 yards. Weather was a factor, but Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder threw 20 passes – and only three of them went to his best receiver.
London’s battled inconsistent – if not subpar – quarterback play through his first two years but has still managed to produce at a high level.
Hilliard wants to see London find a new gear in 2024 – and with the former USC star’s traits, it’s certainly possible.
“I think he’s been extremely productive,” Hilliard said. “Could we add more production? Yeah, we’re always going to ask for more. But Drake, man, he can bend, he’s obviously an easy catcher, he plays to his size, catches the ball away from his frame easily, he can go up and snatch it, he has unique run after catch for a large human.
“He’s a playmaker in this offense.”
Beyond London, no other Falcons receiver eclipsed 20 receptions nor 300 receiving yards. Tight ends Kyle Pitts and Jonnu Smith and running back Bijan Robinson were sandwiched between London and Atlanta’s next-closest wideout, Mack Hollins.
Hilliard wants to add fast, physical playmakers with the mental capacity to make life easier for quarterbacks. London gives him a strong foundation to build from.
Now, the Falcons have their eyes shifted forward – to adding pieces, forming a balanced offensive attack and helping London continue his upward trajectory in Year 3.
“Our job is to put him in position, help him grow (in) dissecting defenses, dissecting defenders, giving him chances to win and put his playmaking on display,” Hilliard said.
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