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
Chandler going Deep..
September 15th, 2011
12:12 am
Peter King you done lost your Mind??????????????
Tim Parker
September 15th, 2011
7:32 am
The sky is falling!!!
Get a life! Yes, the Chicago game was horrid – in all three phases. Yes, tackling is a concern. However, this is not the Falcons of the past under Rankin Smith. These are the new Atlanta Falcons under Arthur Blank. Trust me, it will be fixed. Smitty will right the ship this week and you will see a completely different team out there this weekend.
BVG has to play zone because the safeties on this team are tackling machines with no instincts. A good coach designs defenses to suit the talents of the players, not trying to force fit the players to a scheme. Yes, zone and prevent tick me off too, but look at our safeties. Do you want to put them on an island and rely on them to cover half the field?
atlfalconfan
September 15th, 2011
12:49 pm
You can’t tackle if you aren’t in the same zipcode as the opposing teams’ receivers. Moron. VG and MM need to go.
Dannyboy
September 15th, 2011
1:48 pm
I agree with everyone who says BVG needs to kick rocks, and all of you BVG jock ryders who feel he is a competent DC in the NFL must still see him as a DC for GSU coacj=hing against that level of talent. BVG : no aggression, no blitzes, no man coverage , no bump and run. As long as he is here no Super Bowl. Someone should pull a Marta bus outside the Georgia Dome after the game and take his soft defensive philophosy back to Pop Warner football.
Bilbo
September 16th, 2011
9:50 am
Well now if you can’t practice blocking and/or tackling you are not going to get better. These are the two most crucial elements in football. All the rest is pretty much show bizz aka “pro” wrestling.
REAL FALCONS FAN
September 17th, 2011
11:00 pm
IF YOU CAN’S SAY ANYTHING GOOD ABOUT MY TEAM DON’T SAY ANYTHING ! GO FALCON’S ,AND BIRD DROPPING’S TO YOU FAIR WEATHER FAN’S.
Falconfan
September 18th, 2011
11:29 am
need better safeties.period.. there is no leadership in the secondary..playing soft zones with no consistent pass rush and getting picked apart by every qb ( and i do mean every qb) is the Falcons downfall..and y ppl outside of Atl question whether the team are serious contenders..see the stats by jay cutler, aaron rodgers twice, drew brees twice, josh freeman,etc..D cant give up 30+ points a game and expect to win consistently..when the D cant get off the field…its puts too much pressure on the offense to stand on the sidelines and watch the other team march up and down the field…last year the offense PROTECTED the defense with long drives.especially if turner only gets 10 carries…