Brian VanGorder on the Falcons’ tackling
Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) sits on the field after being sacked by Falcons defensive end John Abraham in the first half of an NFL football game in Chicago. AP
FLOWERY BRANCH — Falcons defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder was not pleased with the missed tackles against the Bears.
He felt his unit was a bit jittery and too anxious to play against the Bears.
“We didn’t have the right intensity and it showed in the tackling area,” VanGorder said. “Now, having said that, we’re behind in tackling. We just haven’t had that many opportunities to tackle. I think you probably will see that throughout the league right now.”
100813 Atlanta - Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder gives the thumbs up as the Falcons take the field for the exhibition season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Friday, August 13, 2010. Curtis Compton ccompton@ajc.com
The Falcons rarely practice tackling and under the new practice rules, they are allowed just one padded practice a week. If they don’t tackle well against the speedy Philadelphia Eagles at 8:20 p.m. Sunday at the Georgia Dome, the game could get out of hand.
“We’ve got to get it emphasized,” VanGorder said. “Obviously, we’ve got to practice it. It’s just different when it’s live.”
Hayden, Sanders close: The Falcons hope to get cornerback Kelvin Hayden and safety James Sanders ready to play more against the Eagles.
Both players were signed on Sept. 1. Sanders played on special teams against the Bears, while Hayden did not play in the game.
“We are going to look hard at them this week,” VanGorder said. “Obviously, we’ve got to get better. If they help us get better, then they’ll be contributing this Sunday.”
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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107 comments Add your comment
badger
September 14th, 2011
10:26 am
Anything to get Robinson off the field.
Frontman
September 14th, 2011
10:38 am
Exactly, badger. When is Dunta Robinson going to start earning his money? Brother, you have been nothing but a bust since day one. Defend a pass when you’re in man and learn how to play a zone. And if you’re not going to be a near-shutdown corner, then you’d better start tackling better, because you may not be even the 2nd best corner on this team when Hayden is ready.
luangtom
September 14th, 2011
10:50 am
How’s an 8 – 8 season sound?
skip
September 14th, 2011
10:59 am
Our defense will be below par as long as BVG is the DC. He is out of his depth at this level. He is out-coached almost every week. His third down defense is a joke.
Dwayne C
September 14th, 2011
11:03 am
Philadelphia Eagles 31 – Atlanta Falcons 17
Falcons are 0-2 after this weekend.
Ivan
September 14th, 2011
11:07 am
I’m not so sure if this is VanGorder’s fault. These are supposed to be professional football players. And they’re not utilizing a fundamental skill called tackling. They should know how to tackle by now.
It’s like having an accountant on your team that can’t add.
Now that I’ve vented, I did see some players (ahem, Weatherspoon) trying to make the “Big Hit” instead of tackle. That is a coaching issue.
Get it fixed.
KB
September 14th, 2011
11:10 am
Maybe we should just go to two-hand touch…
…or flags. We could do flag football.
Clothspin on my nose
September 14th, 2011
11:18 am
Ivan, when players don’t play up to their potential, its a coaching problem. All of these guys have more potential than is being pulled out of them. BVG is trying to cram round pegs into square holes. Design defensive schemes that work to your personnel’s strengths. Not schemes that expose our weaknesses. I would love to see a full on blitz on 3rd down every once in a while.
Dee
September 14th, 2011
11:23 am
“The Falcons rarely practice tackling…”
Well…DUH. It shows.
Falcon Red
September 14th, 2011
11:26 am
DLed, how ’bout planning an interview with ABlank and TD either right after the game on Sunday night, or early Monday am? I’m curious to find out which coach(es) they’ll be firing first!
ubah
September 14th, 2011
11:26 am
I find it troublesome that at this level, we are still talking about tackling. Shouldn’t this be something that these guys know how to do …. by now. Did they all make it through pee wees, little league, high school and college without ever being taught how to tackle? It’s like someone else stated, “looked like the Bears knew how to tackle.” Yes it did.
SimpleDawg
September 14th, 2011
11:31 am
BVG is a fine defensive coach. Running a soft zone is trying to hide a weakness…..poor players.
Falcons need better secondary players. Dunta has been a waste of money. Grimes is very good, for his size. DeCoud is OK, not great, not really good….just OK. Moore not sure – don’t see him in enough of the action….I have a feeling he was a very good college player who will never be as good in the pros. Owens…an empty uniform. We need to try Franks….couldn’t do any worse.
Still must get more pressure on the QB.
RMikel58
September 14th, 2011
11:48 am
Atlanta if you want to model yourself after a Defense look no further than Chicago…… they ate you guys up for lunch!
I think youre an overrated team that had a soft schedule last year and this was the real Falcons team that showed up.
No blocking, no tackling, lots of fumbles and penalties……hell you looked like a college team out there. Mr. Blank should refund money to ticket holders truely.
Saw one play where Matt Ryan was barely touched and he automatically fell down because he was so used to getting sacked so much in that game.
You have no front 4 on Defense, Your Corners cant tackle a 272 lb. player……just loved how that guy missed a tackle on him during the run back……and what……..he missed a 272 pounder?
Scared is more like it.
The score coulda been worst. You call yourself Professionals ! If i was you i’d send some of that hard earned pay checks back to Mr. Blank so he can refund some people and save your organization some embarrasment.
Oh yeah you’ll beat the bad teams like Detroit or Carolina but playing against the Big Boys you’ll crumble and Matt Ryan will be passing laying on his back.
It’s always a bad investment to hire a Defensive Coach that previously worked in the Peanut Stands at the Stadium.
Go Falcons! Show them what everyone knows you are……..LOSERS! Just like the Braves and oh BTW St. Louis is creeping up on ya.
icedawg
September 14th, 2011
12:15 pm
I think you’re seeing this shift at the collegiate level as well. The days of rock solid dominant defense apparently have gone. It’s all about scoring. Look at the scores. Games have become shoot outs. The last team with the possession wins the game. Fun and exciting to watch as far as action goes and a quantum shift in the history of the game of football. The defensive battles of the Chicago-Green Bay, black and blue days seem to be over.
Ivan
September 14th, 2011
12:21 pm
Cothspin, I agree. I’d love to see more blitzes on 3rd down as well. I don’t think, however, this a “potential” thing. This is a “fundamental” thing. Like Ubah said a few posts above, these guys should already know how to tackle (Weatherspoon), stay on their feet (Robinson) and catch the lame duck passes that were tipped (Decoud).
I don’t see any Defensive Coordinator able to design a scheme to its strength when his players are falling down, refuse to wrap up the tackle, and bring in the interception.
Don’t get me wrong, I disagree with VanGorder much more than it seems I’m giving him credit now, but if we saw them bumbling the plays like that, then that tells me his scheme was putting them in position to make a play.
mark
September 14th, 2011
12:25 pm
its just sick man it was 3 and 15 they make 17 it was 3rd and 21 they make 25 it was like playin madden on rookie with replay! it was just an awfull defensive performance we need mike smith to star running the defense or we are doom for the hole season
jonkfalconsdiehard
September 14th, 2011
12:43 pm
Don’t have right Defensive scheme!@!! that’s why we lost to West coast offense! and they have 3-4 defense you know?
fish2774
September 14th, 2011
12:51 pm
Hey everybody, let’s start a partition expressing Van Gorder has to Go. 1. One of the reasons will be that every week we’re experiencing emotional stress due to a lack of progress in the secondary. 2. We were promised one thing and actually got another ( Aggressive Defense never happened). 3. The man doesn’t have the talent to be a NFL coordinator……….. Period
PMC
September 14th, 2011
12:55 pm
I guarentee they play better this week.
ATL Observer
September 14th, 2011
1:04 pm
The headline is misleading: it alleges that tackling took place.
"Explosive" ?
September 14th, 2011
1:05 pm
The Falcons better be just as “speedy” as the Eagles on Sunday night.
Just be glad every NFC South team is tied up at 0-1.
Ivan
September 14th, 2011
1:06 pm
ATL Observer
September 14th, 2011
1:04 pm
The headline is misleading: it alleges that tackling took place.
——
I lol’d.
Jack Wood
September 14th, 2011
1:13 pm
Players who can’t tackle can’t play football. Teams who don’t practice tackling won’t tackle in games. Exhibit One: Atlanta Falcons.
Falcon James
September 14th, 2011
1:14 pm
We be playing the Eagles yet it forbidden to mention they QB name on this blog. What wrong with that picture?
Falcon James
September 14th, 2011
1:14 pm
Type in the eagle QB name and see if your post show up
Who Me?
September 14th, 2011
1:34 pm
Go back to UGA BVG – its clear you’re not the DC for an NFL caliber team like the Falcons WANT to be. Your schemes and secondary coverage just isn’t cutting it when compared to the Tier 1 teams. For that matter, I’m sure CMR wouldn’t mind you taking over things for Grantham about right now.
Stick with what you do best Coach – NCAA DC….
Th
September 14th, 2011
1:51 pm
Please don’t blitz more. Our LB’s are even worse at rushing the passer than tackling. Put Abraham, Edwards and Biermann in there on passing downs with a DT and turn them loose. We blitzed a CB and LB on the screen pass TD. Got burned, we did.
Decatur Falcon
September 14th, 2011
1:51 pm
Dled- Does D. Robinson have a twitter account? – If so can you check on him and make sure he made it back to Atlanta OK- I watched the game again last night and he may have slid down getting on the plane or lost it in coverage- You may want to see if Owens got lost too. We had one Dback Sunday and that was GRIMEY Grimes
BVG BVD's
September 14th, 2011
2:06 pm
Once again DOL cut out my blog – really no different than any others, just truth. What are you afraid of DOL? Is there a chance you could get a job as Falcons PR man?
smoke and mirrors
September 14th, 2011
2:07 pm
From the begininng to the end the Season opener was a bad
day and the team looked as if it wasn’t sure where they were
on the field as if they were hoping someone would wake up
anybody just wake up and play pro football. Reminded me of
back yard foot ball with no effort from anyone.
Why does this team look the same year after year.. it’s a low
down shame that a major city still plays football like a
want to be without a clue as to what they are capable of.
That DeCoud character is a waste of money!!!!! What happened to the
GRITS BLITZ and man to man coverage?
Mike Franklin
September 14th, 2011
2:14 pm
With Babs out now… we could be passed on and run slap over.
We need a monster on the line. What ever happened to Grady Jackson?
Reggie
September 14th, 2011
3:02 pm
Brian VanGorder and Mike Mularkey need to be fired. Neither have intensity, desire, or enthusiasm to win. Therefore we will always be an over-hyped team. Arthur Blank here’s a public announcement, “GET RID OF YOUR DEAD WEIGHT NOW”!!!
OC/DC Dinosaurs
September 14th, 2011
3:18 pm
I tried typing the QB of Eagles. Name only. Rejected!
Bob Berry to Cannonball Butler
September 14th, 2011
3:30 pm
My new team won last week. Sold our dooty bird tickets, and got Jags tickets. They won’t win it all, but at least they’re not cringe-worthy embarassing, and they didn’t gamble away their future on a rookie slot receiver. I feel better already. Get out from under the falcon curse.
MistaGamer
September 14th, 2011
3:40 pm
How about asking BVG about is propensity for the 3-man rush, and how that inspires aggressive, dictating play on defense???
E Glaze
September 14th, 2011
4:05 pm
I agree that Van Gorder needs to go. In WAY over his head. Professional coordinators don’t make excuses for what their team is supposed to do. This isn’t college.
Ichabod
September 14th, 2011
4:36 pm
I can’t imagine Coach Ditka talking to the press and saying his boys didn’t tackle well because they hadn’t practiced tackling enough and were nervous and anxious. After all, this is the NFL! This shows BVG isn’t a motivating defensive coach, even if he knows his X&Os. And why do our DBs play off receivers by 3-4 yrds in their zone coverage, other teams DBs are all over the receivers…as Charlie Brown would say….good grief!
ATLtodolavida
September 14th, 2011
4:42 pm
The worst missed tackle was Weatherspoon on Forte’s long touchdown run. Should have been tackled on the 35. Looked like pin-ball. Next Sunday needs to be VERY low on mistakes in order to win.
Bird Dawg Country
September 14th, 2011
4:58 pm
Give BVG some players and he will have them destroying offenses.
It’s no secret the Falcons need defensive help.
Bubba Bean
September 14th, 2011
5:07 pm
When will you bloggers stop blaming BVG and MM. It starts with the head coach. He makes millions and its him. He tells coaches what he wants them too run. BVG was not with him when he was D coach for the Jags. In AFC championship game. Mike Smith was jag coach. Tom Brady was 26 of 28. Rushing three, cover with eight. Does this sound like what we are doing now.The NY Giants won the superbowl by rushing and attacking Brady.
We have the player to pressurer the QB. Abe playing cover, come on man!
Bubba Bean
September 14th, 2011
5:12 pm
I believe the safety that was playing in the super bowl last year for GB was cut by falcons.
Bird Dawg Country
September 14th, 2011
5:20 pm
“That’s Matt Ryan’s house (The Dome), I’m just a visitor”. “He’s (Ryan) a great QB”…..guess who just said that.
Rock the Dome this weekend as FALCONS FANS….Leave the 7 jersey at home.
Milt Olsen
September 14th, 2011
5:31 pm
There is entirely too much negativitey from one loss. You cannot change the DC and OC after one game, who are you going to replace them with???? Even if you make the change at the end of the year it will still take 2 or 3 years to both install the system and update or get new players. Stay the course, it can only get better. There is nothing wrong with the players or coaches. The HC and OC both have Super Bowl rings, there is no reason to panic.
JSS
September 14th, 2011
5:41 pm
Milt Olsen
September 14th, 2011
5:31 pm
“There is entirely too much negativitey from one loss. The HC and OC both have Super Bowl rings, there is no reason to panic.”
Mularkey has a Super Bowl ring? When did that happen?
Animalector
September 14th, 2011
5:43 pm
Tackling… I thought the guys learned to do this in pop warner… Fundamentals WTF!!!
Chandler going Deep..
September 14th, 2011
6:01 pm
The coaching here is horrific!!
FIRE Mr. Blank….
Chandler going Deep..
September 14th, 2011
6:06 pm
His House?
Eagles 21 Falcant’s 3 end of the 1st Quarter..
Still Melt’s house? lol
X
September 14th, 2011
6:37 pm
All you georgia fans making excuses for bvg, he is a joke! If he is so good then take him back at ga.
BTW he has input on players for his scheme so if he doesn’t have the players as some people keep saying then he shoulders more blame and really should be FIRED!!!!
(cursed) rott0n r0ddy white
September 14th, 2011
8:06 pm
CURSE OF CHICKEN=MAN / VO0DO0-MAN U SEE U ALL WILL SEE
Chandler going Deep..
September 15th, 2011
12:09 am
Bird Dawg Country
September 14th, 2011
5:20 pm
“That’s Matt Ryan’s house (The Dome), I’m just a visitor”. “He’s (Ryan) a great QB”…..guess who just said that.”
Hey PattyMelt will hand the keys back Sunday night! lol