Mike Mularkey: Falcons won’t force deep passes
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) fires a pass against the Chicago Bears in the second half. He's been ordered not to force the deep ball. AP
FLOWERY BRANCH — Fox analyst Jimmy Johnson, in a column on foxsports.com, called for the Falcons to open up their offensive attack.
“I don’t think the Falcons can keep throwing the ball underneath like they did against the Bears and expect to win in the long run,” Johnson wrote. “They have to find a way to get Roddy White deep and find more ways to create something big.”
The Falcons also made a big 5-for-1 draft-day trade to move up 21 spots to draft the fleet Julio Jones with the hopes of adding more explosive plays to the offense. In the 30-12 defeat against the Chicago Bears, the Falcons did not challenge the Bears
Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey.
cover-two zone defense deep down the field.
The tried to attack by throwing underneath. The Falcons were hoping their receivers could take the short passes and then beat defenders up the field. The Bears did a good job of tackling and keeping the Falcons in front of them.
Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey defended his attack. He clearly doesn’t want quarterback Matt Ryan forcing the ball into coverage.
Falcons offensive coordiantor Mike Mularkey and quarterback Matt Ryan opened the game against the Bears in the no-huddle attack. (CURTIS COMPTON/AJC).
“I don’t know what that means,” Mularkey said when asked if the offense could be more aggressive. “When they’ve got guys down there and they are taking away the deep ball; you throw it underneath. You can force it down there and turn the ball over more possibly; which we obviously don’t want to do.”
Mularkey did say he was surprised about the number of check-down passes that Ryan threw.
“There were a number of times where we tried to get the ball deep, but that’s Tampa-2,” Mularkey said. “That’s the scheme of things and that’s probably the most check downs that I can remember that I’ve ever been involved with.”
Mularkey thought running back Michael Turner, who caught three passes for 40 yards did a job when he was the check-down receiver.
The Falcons are going to remain selective when throwing deep passes.
“We are trying to get them down there, but we are not going to force the issue,” Mularkey said.
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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174 comments Add your comment
Dirty Bird 1
September 14th, 2011
8:59 pm
when the falcons finally got rid of michael jenkins and gave up the farm to get jj that ended all of mat ryans excuses. there have always been questions about matt ryans arm strength. maybe the coaches wont let him throw it downfield b/c he cant. he doesnt have the velocity to get the ball in the air downfield and beat the safety to a spot. ryan has no more excuses and pretty soon people will just have to call it what it is. this guy might be the next chad pennington.
hiramsaint
September 14th, 2011
9:31 pm
it should read “failcans CAN’T force deep passes”
I think
September 14th, 2011
9:47 pm
You don’t have to FORCE deep passes, just THROW deep passes, idiot!
Iggles Blitz » Blog Archive » Rolle on the Roll, Plus Links and Some Falcons Talk
September 14th, 2011
10:02 pm
[...] said that the Bears Cover 2 scheme forced the Falcons into throwing short, but even he noted that he was surprised by the number of checkdowns. RBs caught 11 of Ryan’s 31 [...]
Mikefalcon63
September 14th, 2011
10:07 pm
AJC is all about censoring comments that would ruin their opportunity to kiss up to the Falcons. So readers, please google Mularkey play calling conservative and you will see articles from when he was OC in Miami and Pitt. The complaint? Conservative play calling,,, Mularkey’s response? Same as what he is saying now…. Why should we be surprised?
TCCB
September 14th, 2011
10:22 pm
WHO IS GOING TO THROW THE DEEP PASS?
Mystikal
September 14th, 2011
11:01 pm
Okay, so what would be acceptable outcome for Sunday? If the falcons play much better than last week, but still lose or must they win lights out running away with it?
tidog
September 14th, 2011
11:10 pm
The Falcons need to be about the business of being the best team playing the best ball in January and Febuary. These early first quarter of the season games mean about as much as preseason. Rise Up and dominate January and Febuary.
swatguy
September 15th, 2011
12:01 am
The QB can’t throw Deep.
Chandler going Deep..
September 15th, 2011
12:14 am
Chandler can throw Deep…….lol
THE TRuth
September 15th, 2011
12:32 am
MATT RYAN IS NOT ACCURATE THROWING DEEP BALLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Thats why he throws out routes, comebacks, slants, and screens.
MB
September 15th, 2011
5:57 am
Man. This city has waited too long for more another Champion. It’s time to Play Like a Pro NFL baller. Mularkey may be in the way of something great. If something is not working, PLEASE do somethng Coach Smith. These Men are too talented and Fit to be cut short of what what you and I sit back and watch. Turn them loose Man!!!!! Let them Fly Like the Falcon Bird they are designed and Named after. What is a Falcon that short jumps on the ground??? Ans>> One that has a broken wing or a babe. In order to Rise up, the Ball has to Rise up, Go deep and Dare to be great!!! This City deserves the Best. Coach or get out of the way Man. I say bring Jimmy Johnson here, he is a Man that has won and wants to WIN!!! RISE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MB
September 15th, 2011
5:59 am
MULARKEY IS A PUNK BITC#!!!!!
MB
September 15th, 2011
6:00 am
This city has waited too long for more another Champion. It’s time to Play Like a Pro NFL baller. Mularkey may be in the way of something great. If something is not working, PLEASE do somethng Coach Smith. These Men are too talented and Fit to be cut short of what what you and I sit back and watch. Turn them loose Man!! Let them Fly Like the Falcon Bird they are designed and Named after. What is a Falcon that short jumps on the ground??? Ans>> One that has a broken wing or a babe. In order to Rise up, the Ball has to Rise up, Go deep and Dare to be great!!! This City deserves the Best. Coach or get out of the way Man. I say bring Jimmy Johnson here, he is a Man that has won and wants to WIN!! RISE UP!!
MB
September 15th, 2011
6:02 am
This city has waited too long for more another Champion. It’s time to Play Like a Pro NFL baller. Mularkey may be in the way of something great. If something is not working, PLEASE do somethng Coach Smith. These Men are too talented and Fit to be cut short of what what you and I sit back and watch. Turn them loose Man!!!!! Let them Fly Like the Falcon Bird they are designed and Named after. What is a Falcon that short jumps on the ground?? Ans>> One that has a broken wing or a babe. In order to Rise up, the Ball has to Rise up, Go deep and Dare to be great!!! This City deserves the Best. Coach or get out of the way Man. I say bring Jimmy Johnson here, he is a Man that has won and wants to WIN!!! RISE UP!
MB
September 15th, 2011
6:04 am
This city has waited too long for more another Champion. PLEASE do somethng Coach Smith. These Men are too talented and Fit to be cut short of what what you and I sit back and watch. Turn them loose Man!!!!! Let them Fly Like the Falcon Bird they are designed and Named after. What is a Falcon that short jumps on the ground??? Ans>> One that has a broken wing or a babe. In order to Rise up, the Ball has to Rise up, Go deep and Dare to be great!!!
darkfalconcw
September 15th, 2011
6:13 am
Sounds like the oc going to call the same game plan all season long. Wow!!! Can someone please tell blank to fire this coaching staff because they don’t have a clue on how to game plan for defenses or offenses. WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!
charg
September 15th, 2011
7:17 am
most predictable and boring offense in america. thx mularkey.
Savannah Seer
September 15th, 2011
7:31 am
The “process” has evolved into becoming a “recess”. We are predictable, and that in the NFL MEANS THAT THE OPPOSITION KNOWS WHAT IS COMING AND KNOWS HOW TO STOP IT!!! For the record, we have lost 6 games in a row now! Last year’s playoff loss, 4 pre-season no-shows, and now this poor exhibition against the Bears, who were/are completely BEATABLE!!! Our QB isn’t mobile, which says he can’t evade rushes nor buy time in the pocket. The O-line was inept, and was out-muscled, thus making the predictable happen. Either check down, throw it away, or take a beating. DUH!!! Wide outs have to be in motion so that they aren’t bumped off their routes. We NEVER put people in motion, watch and see. How often do we pull Tony G and go with 5 wideouts??? NEVER. This is a league where you can lose 5 times a year and still be called a champion at the end of it all. We had better get things turned around this week or there will be major changes, namely, Coach Mularkey had better get in touch with his travel agent. Add one more soon to the list of the unemployed!!
Chop Buster
September 15th, 2011
12:12 pm
Mularkey is a has been whose time has passed him by. He’s still using 1970s offensive philosophies. What’s even more troubling is this the type of offense Smitty wants (very conservative and outdated).
atlfalconfan
September 15th, 2011
12:46 pm
Really? He doesn’t know what “being more aggressive” means? Then he is an uneducated idiot. Fire him.
LT
September 15th, 2011
8:40 pm
The Red State Gets it now… You don’t draft a Quarterback in the first round who threw 21 interception his final year in College, where is the growth in four Years…This is year Four has a Pro-QB.. can the Red State say he has Regressed… I have seen Mularkeys, offense when he was in Pitt., with Bettis finish in the top Three of the League…This OC has to close his playbook (DUMB DOWN his playbook) for this weak armed Quarterback to survive in the NFL, guess what folks, the league knows he can’t throw the Deep Out…with Accuracy… The league knows he can’t throw the Deep Down…with Accuracy… He has trouble throwing Slants…A rush to Forget, is now your Worse nightmare. This Kid can’t Will this team to win like some QB’s can.
Bill
September 18th, 2011
12:43 pm
As much as we would all like to see a more explosive offense, if Atlanta is going to beat the Eagles, it will be with the run. They are susceptible to the run, we have the weapons, and it will keep MV off the field.
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September 19th, 2011
8:01 am
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