5 things the Falcons need to fix over the bye week
Pro Bowler Roddy White has been working underneath a lot. Do the Falcons need to send him deep more often? (Brian Williams/AP)
IN THE AIR ON THE WAY TO HARTSFIELD-JACKSON — It seems like there is never a good time for the bye week.
But the fourth week of the season is too early.
The Falcons get to stew for two weeks before heading out to San Francisco to face the upstart 49ers.
Here are five things the Falcons need to fix over the bye week. (We’ll get the official list when Coach Mike Smith speaks later today. But for now, we can start with my list!)
1. Find the running game: Pro Bowl running back Michael Turner has rushed for 65, 105 and 56 yards. Miami
Pro Bowler Michael Turner has 65 carries for 220 yards (3.5 per carry). (Brian Williams/AP)
and Carolina targeted Turner, but New England did a good job of playing keep-away in the third quarter. When the Falcons did get the ball for a second time in the second half, they were down two scores and needed to pass. Don’t know if the holes are not there or if “The Burner” is not hitting the holes fast enough. But that’s something the Falcons need to sync up quickly.
2. Solidify the run defense: After the bye, the Falcons will see Frank Gore, Matt Forte, Felix Jones and Marion Barber over the next three games. They will need to get much stiffer against the run. Trey Lewis had a rough day in his first action since suffering a knee injury in 2007. On Fred Taylor’s 8-yard touchdown run, Lewis didn’t hold the point of attack and was pushed back several yards by New England center Dan Koppen and guard Stephen Neal.
3. Get the pass rush cranked back up: The defensive line has been shut out in the sack department over the last two games. They need to dial it back up. John Abraham and Kroy Biermann had two sacks in the opener. Linebacker Stephen Nicholas has the only other sack. If they find out the line can’t get home, then blitz more. Safeties Erik Coleman and Thomas DeCoud had good blitzes in each of the last two games. Nicholas can get home, too. Corners would be left in coverage more, but at least they’d be taking the fight to the opposition. .
Cornerback Brian Williams kept a Randy Moss TD off the board here. (Brian Williams/AP).
4. Find out if Tye Hill can help: By the time the Falcons play again, it will have been five weeks since the trade with St. Louis for Tye Hill. That’s plenty of time for him to get acclimated in the “system.” Doesn’t seem like it should be that hard. Although, Chris Houston, Brian Williams and Brent Grimes have been solid, it’s time to find out if Hill can help. If he can cover man-to-man, then the Falcons would be able to unleash more blitzes.
5. Get Roddy White the ball down the field: The Falcons have to take more shots down the field. White has been regulated to underneath possession receiver through three games. A few more shots will get folks out of the box, too. If White and Michael Jenkins are streaking up the sidelines and Tony Gonzalez roaring down the middle seam, one of them will be open. White has seen 26 passes come his way. He’s caught 15 for 119 yards (7.9 yards per catch). His longest catch of the year went for 17 yards.
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243 comments Add your comment
MV77777
September 28th, 2009
3:49 pm
THE FANS HEAR ME AND HEAR ME GOOOOOOD!!!!!!!!!!
I HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER THAT WORKS FOR SOMEONE(I WONDER WHO ????)
BLANK WANTS HIS MAN BACK MV7!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PETA!!! SHOP AT LOWES
Falcon4ever
September 28th, 2009
3:49 pm
I thought the officiating was terrible at New England. I saw John Abraham being held for 4 seconds on the TD pass to Baker. There is no way in hell that any team can get a pass rush while being held. Did Abraham or CMS say anything after the game about the poor officiating? I don’t know maybe they get fined if they complain. But it sure seemed to me that this example and many others of the poor officiating guaranteed the Pats a win.
EXPERIMENT FAILED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 28th, 2009
3:50 pm
No passes over 27 yards? Boy I didn’t see that one coming
Joe Flacco should have been drafted like I have been saying all along!
The Falcons spent 72 million for a 5 year college loser when they could have drafted Joe Flacco for a bargain 30 million.
Art needs to stop thinking with his little head and think with the big one……….
Dimitroff——-Can’t win with New England rejects
Smith—–Can’t make miracles out of a career assistant coach
Ryan—–Can’t get Peyton Manning from a 5 year loser
Art, you screwed up big time. Time to end the experiment………
IT FAILED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ackshun
September 28th, 2009
3:51 pm
Wow the Falcons lose to the Patsies and suddenly everyone is hopping off the bandwagon. The deck was stacked against the birds from the start. How? Well lets start with weather something dome teams never handle well. We have a young, speed focused, defense but all that speed means nothing on wet turf. The defense slowed down and New England took advantage. Next the run game. Teams didn’t see Turner coming last year. This year they are ready and since the quality of competition as gone up Mularkey will have to be more creative about running from passing formations and disguising the run. The New England coach is no dummy Peria Jerry went down and from what I saw he sent Fred Taylor right into the gap where he would usually be. Good coaching. Lastly when was the last time Tom Brady and Co lost two games straight (I dont know but I’ll bet its be a while).
In the history of the NFL there has been only 1 team that went undefeated from wire to wire. All we know after Sunday is that the 2009 Falcons won’t challenge that record. So stop panicking this may be the best season yet.
**Frederick(Bailey)Douglass**
September 28th, 2009
3:57 pm
DOL,
1) There must be some reason why we don’t THROW DEEP. May not be the shoulder…but what is it?
2) Yes, more Snelling.
3) How could Williams beat out Chevis in…ONE WEEK!?!? LOL
4) That looked like a planned roll out…all receivers ended up on that side of the field.
Knowledge97
September 28th, 2009
3:57 pm
After everything that happened in the game on sunday, I can’t believe that the score wasn’t 51-10 New England. Are you kidding me, maybe I am a bit biased but that had to be the worst officiated game of the season so far. The refs called everything in The Patriots favor. First, the roughing the passer call on Anderson was bull. New England hit Matty worse than that later in the game and the refs didn’t even blink. Second, the offensive pass interference by Jenkins was a close call, but Randy Moss did the same thing 2 or 3 time throughout the game: I guess the refs were sleeping on those plays. Lastly, the phantom Matt Ryan fumble that was returned for a touchdown. I can’t believe that Coach Smith had to waste a challenge on that play; on the replay the ref had a perfect angle to see it. Minus a couple of mistakes and missed opportunities by the likes of Turner and DeCoud, and we might be singing a different tune today. The Falcons played an average game against a great coach, a good team, and a tough crowd.
NFL GAME PLAN
September 28th, 2009
3:58 pm
Continue to zone Gonzalez……..Stack the line and stuff Turner……Press coverage and dare NOODLE ARM to throw past 25 yards
Frank Wren
September 28th, 2009
3:58 pm
Matt Ryan has been his usual great self over the first three games but the run game is non existent and this defense isnt very good. Certainly not on caliber with the elite defenses like Baltimore etc.
Ryans QB Rating is 100.4 which is fantastic. The rest of the team better step it up.
Falconsforlife
September 28th, 2009
3:59 pm
I’m glad we’re losing the bandwagon fans. Good riddance. I’m sick of people saying this “experiment” has “failed” after 1 loss. Did anyone honestly expect the falcons to win EVERY SINGLE GAME THIS YEAR. Let alone their first road game, first out door game, AGAINST THE DAMN PATRIOTS.
It’s not like the season is over. The team will be fine. I’ve said it all along 2010 is the Falcons year. I will be 100% happy with a 9-7 season this year to break the curse, and move forward into 2010 with an amazing shot at winning the super bowl.
SEE YA BANDWAGON FANS YOU CAN ROOT FOR THE LYING DOG KILLER UP IN PHILLY WE WONT MISS YOU DOWN HERE.
Sautee
September 28th, 2009
3:59 pm
Arguably, the most important defensive stat is scoring defense. After 3 games, we are tied for ninth in the league. Tied with the Ravens who have played 2 patsies (KC, and CLE) and one playoff team – the Chargers. Many think the Ravens have the best D in the league.
We have played 3 playoff teams. Yes, there are things to fix, but let’s keep perspective here. We’re giving up 17.7 points per game. Same as the Ravens. Say it again slowly.
With the offense we have, that’s not too bad. Particularly with the obscene time of possession the NE had. Perspective, folks.
Frank Wren
September 28th, 2009
4:02 pm
Oh and did you guys see the TD in the end zone. Ryan throws a BOMB to Jenkins in the corner of the end zone. Perfect throw to give the Falcons the lead and they call offensive PI.
100 bucks if thats Randy Moss making the catch on a long throw like that it doesnt get called.
MJ
September 28th, 2009
4:02 pm
The fourth week of the season is way to early for a “bye week” , so I hope the NFL will give more team off during the second half of the season and not after the 3rd game. Please start throwing more to Gonzales and I agree establish the “run game” and increase the “pass rush”!
DrJ
September 28th, 2009
4:07 pm
The birds were in rarified football country and didn’t realize they were playing with such enthusiasm, but Belichick saw it. Then he promptly called a couple of time-outs, giving the Falcons time to forget what they were doing…and that was it ! Same story in years past, just can’t keep a good thing going. Even if they are winning in the fourth quarter they lose that burning desire to close the deal.
Either the OL is going to have to open some huge holes for Turner, or he is going to have to learn the quick step. Norwood will get some rest for his concussion next week, but I am guessing he will be out three weeks, or if he does come back in sooner and gets dinged, maybe a lot longer.
I think the Pats OL has perfected “holding” so they don’t get the penalty: Brady had all day.
So their OL clicked, and ours didn’t, resulting in a no-running game for us, and since we aren’t Arizona, it is important to run. We tried just passing, and it didn’t work. And please, no more reverses or passes to the flats: only go North-South. Hopefully optimistic…
Divination
September 28th, 2009
4:08 pm
Who is that sitting atop of the NFC South, all alone and in sole possession of first place? Saints are going to win the NFC South by a several games, Falcons are fighting for a wildcard berth.
Sautee
September 28th, 2009
4:09 pm
Use Weems in the slot and get him the ball in space. You can easily see on his kickoff and punt returns that he can make folks miss.
IlliniDawg
September 28th, 2009
4:09 pm
Great column DOL – I must confess that this is the first time I’ve read your stuff – but if it’s always like this then I’m going to be reading it regularly.
My biggest issue is with underperforming players like Jamal Anderson. Why is this guy still on the team? Realistically, do you think he would be starting for any other club? Would he even make the roster of a team like the Patriots? This guy deserves to be relegated to infamy as one of the two worst D-line picks, along with Aundrey Bruce, in Falcons history. What a waste of resources – team salary and coaching time and effort!
MV77777
September 28th, 2009
4:10 pm
FALCONSFORLIFE- WHAT WE WANT YOU TO DO (GO KISS YOUR DOG )SUCK!
NFL GAME PLAN
September 28th, 2009
4:21 pm
Frank Wren
Idiots like you just proved how qb ratings don’t mean squat!!!!!
Joe Flacco has a qb rating lower than 100 and he is 3-0 and has 2 games of 308 & 342 yards, but the most important stats, are WINS!!!!!
We don’t need a poor running back playing qb. He has to be a running back because he can’t throw past 27 yards – any running back can do that
NFL GAME PLAN
September 28th, 2009
4:24 pm
Frank Wren
That was your idea of a bomb
Flacco calls that a shovel pass
IlliniDawg
September 28th, 2009
4:25 pm
Who is the f-ing retard who is constantly obsessing over Flacco? Okay, so the guy is good. But why do you persist in going on and on and on? WTF?
IlliniDawg
September 28th, 2009
4:26 pm
Oh, and emoticons went out with the 80’s
Phil
September 28th, 2009
4:28 pm
Let’s not blame Roddy, he had to dropped balls which if caught, would not have made a difference anyway. Turner had a fumble, which was bad, but he was the second leader in rushing yards and touchdowns last year because that was LAST YEAR! The defense was rebuilt and we all thought it was going to be a long year for them. Don’t jump off the bangwagon yet and dismiss the season because our coaches (seem) to be playing scared. A bye week is good….and in our case REAL good.
Spud Webb
September 28th, 2009
4:38 pm
Gotta say that the Offensive pass interferance play totally changed the game. BS call they both we’re fighting w the hands. Unbelievable, only in NE, where their DB’s hack, hang, hold and push, especially downfield and they get away w it.
Theres no shame in losing that game. The birds will be fine. A week off NEVER hurts an NFL team, heal up boys.
jerry
September 28th, 2009
4:41 pm
On Turner hitting the hole too slow: what hole?
MR2
September 28th, 2009
4:42 pm
I’ll enjoy what you homers say after the 49ers crush the Falcons.
MR2
September 28th, 2009
4:43 pm
Tony Gonzalez needs to hand Michael Turner a copy of his book, The All Pro DIET
gdg73
September 28th, 2009
4:47 pm
What if the Matt Ryan “phantom fumble” had happened at a time during the game where we were out of challenges. Do you realize the play would have stood as a TD. Remarkable!!! Also, Coach Smith needs to chew out BVG and MM for those weak game-plans.
gdg73
September 28th, 2009
4:50 pm
Since everyone is all over Michael Turner, did anyone pay attention to Vince Wilfork bulldozing Todd McClure early and often during the first half before he got injured. How can you run with 350lbs constantly in your face. Just keeping it real!
jerome
September 28th, 2009
4:57 pm
The scariest part of this young season …. Was “the burner” a career back-up for a reason?
Frank Wren
September 28th, 2009
4:58 pm
Joe Flacco has a qb rating lower than 100
Actually his is 101 to Ryans 100 so after 3 weeks they have been about the same. But I wouldnt expect you to know that.
Only difference is Flacco has gone against cupcake defense like the Browns while Ryan has had to face Dolphins and Patriots. Little difference in the competition.
MrHughes
September 28th, 2009
5:11 pm
Okay, whoever was talking about Ryan’s long throws… lets put it in perspective. If you throw the ball 25-30 yards and the reciever gets 40 yards after catch that’s not the same as the QB throwing a 70 yard pass. Most of us can throw a fairly accurate ball 20-30 yards. That’s one of the misleading things about “passer” ratings.
Say whatever you will about MV7… he could throw a very accurate deep ball. Flacco is much better at the deep ball too. Ryan often times misses guys that are in one of one coverage. If a reciever is on a DB one on one with no safety help a QB with a good arm can hit him in stride (or, not underthrow the reciever and help the DB that’s already been toasted and trying to catch up). More often than not Ryan doesn’t have the arm strength to loft the ball out there for the reciever to run under and our guys get tackled or lose YAC because the deep ball wasn’t put in the correct spot. Also, Jenkins was wide open at times during the first three games. Opposing defenses are focusing on Roddy and Gonzo. It’s open… they are daring Matt to beat them with his arm deep down the field by covering our best recievers and playing 8 in the box against Turner. He doesn’t have the arm strength to do it. Look at his physique… There are guys in the pressbox with a better build than our franchise QB.
Lofton was one a bright spots yesterday. You are not going to beat anyone if you only put 10 points on the board in this league. The D kept the game competitive. The deciding TD didn’t come until there were aproximately 7 mintues left. I can’t fault the D for this one guys. Blitzing Brady for the heck of it isn’t what works; they just go with a hot read on the wideout and your safeties end up tackling their wideouts 30 yards down the field. That’s exactly what New England’s game is. Also, you can’t get pressure if the refs refuse to call offensive holding. Also, the Jets play the Pats twice a year. They are built to face them and know their personel kinda like we are famililar with NFC South teams. It’s not like the Jets have been largely sucessfull against New England either. Wasn’t it a surprise when New York beat them? You can’t really compare the pressure the Jets and the Steelers bring to the scheme the Falcons use because both of those teams run a 3-4. That whole scheme is based on disgusing pressure by sending one of the linebackers as an extra rusher. Anyway, it’s not like either team has been hugely sucessfull against Brady and Co and the golden boy has three rings.
NFL GAME PLAN
September 28th, 2009
5:15 pm
Frank Wren
Would that be the same 0-3 Dolphins &…..
Patriots that got dominated by the 1-2 Bills?
Yeah that’s some real good competition.
Looks like you have an excuse for every occasion
Like I have said all along…………….
72 MILLION DOLLAR BUST
bird man of dc
September 28th, 2009
5:19 pm
HOME TOWN REFS!!! all the calls were atrocious – and none against the Pats. They even tried to give them an incomplete pass as a fumble TD. It was a JOKE – those refs should be investigated.
mellowfella1
September 28th, 2009
5:28 pm
Fire Chris Houston and Brent Grimes who can’t cover anyone .
Frank Wren
September 28th, 2009
5:33 pm
Would that be the same 0-3 Dolphins &…..
Patriots that got dominated by the 1-2 Bills?
Yes it would. Both those teams have good defenses unlike the Browns or Chiefs which is what Flacco has faced.
Frank Wren
September 28th, 2009
5:37 pm
Oh and NFL GAME PLAN
Can you get me some fries with that? LOL
Falcon Fan
September 28th, 2009
5:37 pm
We need to get rid of Chris Houston. He is a best a nickel back. He can not play man 2 man and he is terrible in the zone coverage and even worse tackler. We need 2 get some real help in our secondary. Tye Hill is not the answer. We need a shut down corner to replace Dominique Foxworth. The Saints are going to light our secondary up if this is not corrected. GET RID OF CHRIS HOUSTON PLEEEEEEASE! Waste of cap salary cap space.
RJ
September 28th, 2009
5:51 pm
Good points. I’ll add a couple to the mix.
1. Rolling a QB out on 3rd and long isn’t going to fool anyone. Also, it limits the field of play to only 1/2 of the field which makes it easier for the defense to cover.
2. Falcon receivers need to stay active. I saw way to many standing aroundwhe the QB was scrambling.
3. Don’t give up on the run so quickly. This probably falls under the needing to run the ball better.
4. Mix up the D-line stunts a bit more.
5. Bring up people more to stop the run if needed and bring more blitzing. We need to take more chances on D.
Dean T
September 28th, 2009
5:54 pm
The question was asked to mike smith yesterday and he gave his great politian answer. “Was you defense too vanilla?”
We don’t have the fastest or most athletic LB’s but they are versitile. A “fix” is to blitz them more from all angles, drop back JA98 into coverage sometimes, mix it up and zone blitz some. Play some 3-4 maybe. Our LB’s are good guys with the right attitude, Boley didn’t fit and Brook was just getting beat too much over the last 3 years. I was excited for these new core of guys (nich., loft & Pete) to really mix up our D and incorporate some nice blitz packages and schemes.
Instead, we get a four man rush with Abe getting the double and everyone else getting manhandled. We have to out smart/scheme to win with this personall group. We have to hit the QB, hurries and knock downs are ok, to safe our secondary from being embarrassed.
jfreak13713
September 28th, 2009
5:55 pm
The Falcons looked soft and that is a major problem but also one that can be fixed. They have a difficult schedule this year so we should be reasonable about their wins and losses. I still see 10 – 6 record and the offense will pick it up. Turner is starting slow but he’ll pick it up. To think he was going to put up the same numbers as last year might have been a little unfair, but we do need him to play better if we are going to contend with the Saints.
MrHughes
September 28th, 2009
5:56 pm
Chris Houston isn’t the problem. He had two huge plays at the end of the Carolina game. He made a nice open field tackle on Steve Smith for a loss and the interception were he jumped the route towards the end (again on Smith). That guy is pretty good; Houston is not playing poorly. It comes down to time. Anyone will get open if the QB has 5+ seconds to stand in the pocket. The WR’s know were they are going, the DB’s don’t. Also, there’s really no such things as a shut down corner. The best corner in the league is out in Oakland. Do you think he’s shutting down Randy Moss? Even Deion got toasted. Cornerbacks are going to get beat. It’s about how you play it the next set of downs.
MrHughes
September 28th, 2009
5:58 pm
Also, on that roll out that everyone is mentioning… didn’t Ryan miss someone wide open on the goal. There’s wasn’t a NE player within 20 yards of this guy. Any kind of throw would have equaled a TD. Ryan didn’t read the D and see it.
RdHdKid
September 28th, 2009
6:11 pm
DOL – I can’t see that Grimes has been anything BUT horrid. Because I abhor his play so much, I watch him *very* closely. The only play I’ve seen him make that I’d credit a pass defended was yesterday and on that play, had the refs seen it, he’d have been called for interference.
Deborah – you must be Mrs. Grimes. Sorry to rain on your parade, but hubby is NOT an NFL caliber CB.
Barry Jay
September 28th, 2009
6:14 pm
Enter your comments here
MV77777
September 28th, 2009
6:16 pm
Say whatever you will about MV7… he could throw a very accurate deep ball. Flacco is much better at the deep ball too. Ryan often times misses guys that are in one of one coverage. If a reciever is on a DB one on one with no safety help a QB with a good arm can hit him in stride (or, not underthrow the reciever and help the DB that’s already been toasted and trying to catch up). More often than not Ryan doesn’t have the arm strength to loft the ball out there for the reciever to run under and our guys get tackled or lose YAC because the deep ball wasn’t put in the correct spot. Also, Jenkins was wide open at times during the first three games. Opposing defenses are focusing on Roddy and Gonzo. It’s open… they are daring Matt to beat them with his arm deep down the field by covering our best recievers and playing 8 in the box against Turner. He doesn’t have the arm strength to do it. Look at his physique… There are guys in the pressbox with a better build than our franchise QB.
robertussen
September 28th, 2009
6:27 pm
we WILL bounce back
robertussen
September 28th, 2009
6:34 pm
Everybodys a hater if youre not a fan then blow
Casey
September 28th, 2009
6:41 pm
I don’t understand how anybody could blame this on Ryan. Look at his stats for yesterday and then look at the running stats. It is completely obvious where the deficiencies lie.
Frank Wren
September 28th, 2009
6:57 pm
Say whatever you will about MV7… he could throw a very accurate deep ball.
That maybe the funniest post ever. Keep em coming.
D Hall
September 28th, 2009
7:35 pm
TO: RdHdKid, B.Grimes is not my husband, you know what they say when you assume and you are entitled to your opinion, you are not raining on my parade, I am very proud of my son. You have a blessed day.