Mularkey getting offense ready to face No. 1 defense
FLOWERY BRANCH – Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey is getting his unit ready to face the No. 1 ranked defense in the league.
Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey.
The Houston Texans are giving up just 268.4 yards per game and are second in the league in points allowed at 16.3. They have held five straight opponents to 14 points are less.
In our weekly chat on Tuesday, we talked about how some of the key players are doing, the no-huddle attack, Houston defensive coordinator Wade Phillips and the Texans’ playmakers.
ON HIS ASSESSMENT OF MATT RYAN’S PLAY AGAINST THE VIKINGS: Very good. He had a high completion percentage. It could have been higher. . . Matt is just operating at a really high level right now and putting us in good situations in our no-huddle. He’s really done a great job with that. He spends a lot of time preparing and you can see it show up on film.
ON RODDY WHITE PLAYING AT A HIGH LEVEL: Roddy probably had his most complete game of the year. I say that for just about everything. In the run game and everything, he was just a factor. That’s important in our offense. It was good to see Roddy get involved like he did. He made some plays and he really made some plays after the catch, too.
ON HARRY DOUGLAS’ PLAY AS OF LATE: Harry has been a factor I think all year. He really has played well for us. You can tell (the difference from) Harry coming off of an injury and coming in here healthy and knowing the offense. We are putting a little more on his plate. He handled a little more when Julio was not in there. He’s really stepped up when his number has been called. He’s been really good.
Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez makes a first down catch in front of Vikings safety Mistral Raymond. He caught a season-high nine catches for 69 yards and moved past wide receiver Steve Largent (13,089) for 12th place on the NFL’s all-time receiving yardage list with 13,093 career yards. He is 289 yards shy of moving into the top 10. (Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com)
ON JACQUIZZ RODGERS BIG FOURTH QUARTER RUN: Huge run. He just seems to make the plays when we need them. . . You have to give him credit for his size, he does move piles. When we needed something, especially at the end of games, he’s really come up big for us.
ON WHAT MAKES WADE PHILLIPS’ 3-4 SO HARD TO DECIPHER: It’s not hard to decipher. We know where they are going to be. They are not complicated by any means. They play the scheme extremely well. They have the personnel to play the scheme extremely well and they play at a very high level with effort and intensity. It will be a great challenge and matchup for us. But they are not very difficult to decipher.
CAN YOU LEARN ANYTHING FROM GOING AGAINST HIS DALLAS TEAM A COUPLE YEARS AGO: There are some things, but you just kind of have to look at everything. Wherever he’s been, if it’s been with the Falcons, other guys on our staff have been facing him somewhere. We look back and see if there is anything that we can find that will help give us an advantage.
HOW DID JULIO JONES LOOK IN HIS FIRST GAME BACK: He’s doing good. He obviously didn’t get many chances. There was that deep ball. There were other opportunities there for him to get the ball, but Matt just . . . we were emphasizing ‘take what the defense is giving you’ and that’s been important. Matt did that. But there were opportunities there for Julio. Julio really helped block in the run game. He helped with some of the coverages by getting other guys open. He plays at a high level for us. He’ll have his numbers and his day. That was a day where his production was more in the run game.
Harry Douglas, left, celebrates his 27-yard touchdown reception with Julio Jones. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com
WHO ARE THE PLAYMAKERS ON HOUSTON’S DEFENSE: Their front seven and (cornerback Johnathan) Joseph, who they brought in from Cincinnati. He’s having a really good year and has helped them secondary-wise. There are really, overall, a very good defense. If there is something missing here of there, it’s made up for by effort. They are pretty darn sound.
WHAT DO YOU SEE FROM HOUSTON’S CONNOR BARWIN? He’s high energy. High motor. Great hands. He can create problems for you if you’re not smart going into it with your protections. He’s just a really good player out there on the edge.
ON J.J. WATT, THE ROOKIE DEFENSIVE END: I think he’s having a great year, too. This isn’t your typical two-gap hold up (guy). These guys are making sacks based on their ability to get off and shed blocks. It’s a very good defense in getting off blocks and they are very good tacklers. We have to do a good job of staying on blocks and he’s a hard guy to stay on because he’s just so active and he’s very good with techniques. He’s just got an endless amount of energy and he just keeps coming. He was a great draft pickup and we have to reckon with him.
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
Get instant updates on Twitter at AJCFalcons and you can join the Facebook Fan page at AJC Falcons.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
147 comments Add your comment
GG
November 30th, 2011
1:26 pm
TERRELL….i think you are spot on with you assmessment of the style of play from the FAlcons. I personally don’t have a problem with a 24-7 win. it just seems to me that the problem is becoming too conservative on both sides of the ball in the second half. This is not the 1980’s NFL where there were very few combacks from large deficits. Today’s NFL can score quickly and often as we have seen especially earlier this season where team after team was blowing hugh second half leads. The lack of a pass is extremely frustrating as well as the conitinual dive up the middle for a no gain.
DB
November 30th, 2011
1:27 pm
@boo brees yes they do think they are the second coming of the greatest show on turf..and the Giant win…um..no one really thought the Giants were all that good anyway..the NFC east is shaping up to be as bad as the NFC West ALL HYPE !
Fresh Prince
November 30th, 2011
1:29 pm
Im putting out a APB for John Abraham….and Kroy(Housewife)Bierman
just sayin'
November 30th, 2011
1:35 pm
DB…where do you get ur stats?…NO actually rushes for more YPG than atl does…and please, would somebody tell FOX that Billick should announce before he does atl games that he is coach clean shot’s brother in law….is so sickening to listen to him rave about how GREAT the coaching and playing is from atl……..
DB
November 30th, 2011
1:45 pm
Just sayin’ your right…im comparing apples and oranges i actually was speaking on a 1,000 yard back consistantly compared to a pass heavy team that does rack up their yardage because the defenses play soooo far off the ball. And yes brian billick is a Mike Smith homer..good grief can he go coach the jaguars or something
Tell it like it is.
November 30th, 2011
1:50 pm
I think the Texans are a lot like the Falcons,good running team,and great receivers,with very otimistic defences.only differance i can see is the home field advanage,Texans lose by 3. we have our QB,you don’t!
Juggernaut
November 30th, 2011
2:04 pm
Plan all you want frail-cons, we will stomp your team to the end. Get a stretcher ready for matty ryan and turner. It going to long day for atl.
Go Texans !
Juggernaut
November 30th, 2011
2:05 pm
Tell it like it is @ we are way better than your hyped mediocre frail-cons team.
Juggernaut
November 30th, 2011
2:06 pm
Texans 27 Frail-cons 17
CGD..
November 30th, 2011
2:13 pm
This will be an awesome test for Melt! The #1 Defense against Matt Pro Bowl Ryan….This is gonna be good!
Power run will not work this Sunday! Matt better be ready to deliver accurate balls quickly out of the pocket. SLANTS CURLS SLANTS………
CGD..
November 30th, 2011
2:15 pm
Blitz this 3rd stringer 80% of the time. The falcons have got to bring the house and crush this QB!
CGD..
November 30th, 2011
2:17 pm
John Abraham’s is running on fumes?
DB
November 30th, 2011
2:31 pm
You stupid texan fans on a falcons blog i have a question. How do you plan on beating the falcons…who is gonna score all of the points Arian Foster???? Yates aint putting up passing numbers like that and Jake Delhomme has never done well against the falcons so…plan on taking a loss sunday at home
chuckie doll
November 30th, 2011
2:39 pm
We got this…. GO FALCONS!!!!
iceBIRDcold11
November 30th, 2011
2:51 pm
FLY
iceBIRDcold11
November 30th, 2011
2:55 pm
The Texans make the playoffs for the first time in team history if the season ended today. In that weak division you will get run down by the Titans and that in itself will be the joke of the year. Predicting the score you should be predicting where you will watch the Falcons in the playoffs.
Run4ever
November 30th, 2011
2:56 pm
Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey is getting his unit ready to face the No. 1 ranked defense in the league.
Ok. And your point would be-what? Don’t get me started, but you know I will_in my next comment.
Child Please
November 30th, 2011
2:59 pm
If Norv Turner gets fired by the SD Chargers, the Falcons should ship Mularkey out and hire Turner. Like Wade Phillips, Norv Turner is NOT a head coach, but, he is a heck of an offensive coordinator.
CGD..
November 30th, 2011
3:04 pm
Grimes and Hayden out???? OUCH!!!
DB
November 30th, 2011
3:10 pm
CGD its not going to matter this week…not with who the texans have throwing the ball….
CGD..
November 30th, 2011
3:13 pm
Coach Smith,Wade,and Norv should never be hired again as HC’s. Not gifted that way…Coordinators are where they belong.
Ben Tate and Arian Foster= lots of cut backs, defense has got to stay disciplined or get burned..
Also Texas has one the best offensive lines in the NFL too…This aint the Vikings by a long shot!
Boo Brees
November 30th, 2011
3:24 pm
The Texans beating the Falcons? LOL…… yeah I don’t think so.
Fresh Prince
November 30th, 2011
3:42 pm
I really honestly see the falcons running the table to go 12-4 yes Aint fans that means the falcons are going to beat you in the superdome
waynester
November 30th, 2011
3:59 pm
Some of Y’all have terrible memory loss.
(SeenB4) who claimed “complete dominance”of the NFCS–remember week 6? When NO lost to Tampa? NO? See a doctor…..
(just sayin’) Remember when we started the season on a down note and Billick was HIGHLY critical of the team’s and Coaching staff’s performance–not only on Sunday but on his weekday show? NO? See a doctor…
(JUGGER”nut”) The only players who’ve been getting toted off on stretchers lately are your QBs. Remember? NO? See a doctor(preferably a psychiatrist)…..
Juggernaut
November 30th, 2011
4:12 pm
wAY-estrogen @ problem with you frailcon fans are most of you are quite delusional. You need a mass psychiatric clinics across the burnt city of atl. We can beat the crap out of your team with with our 3rd string QB. By the way atl is not a good road team. Other detroit (who were exposed by 49ers) tell me one good team you beat.
None……………………………..
Juggernaut
November 30th, 2011
4:14 pm
you frailcons are a joke
Texans 27 Frail-cons 10…was 17 last time but don’t think your team can score that much either.
SAINTS#1
November 30th, 2011
4:16 pm
N/S Falcon’s LCB Grimes Having Knee Surgery
Falcons coach Mike Smith announced Wednesday LCB Brent Grimes will undergo “minor” knee surgery, and be sidelined a “few weeks.” With Grimes and Kelvin Hayden (dislocated toe) possibly not available for Houston, the Falcons will have Christopher Owens and Dominique Franks ready to play against the Texans on Sunday.
Juggernaut
November 30th, 2011
4:16 pm
Frailcons had hard time playing viqueens in atl dome. Imagine how it is gonna be in relient.
Juggernaut
November 30th, 2011
4:20 pm
If mickey mouse turner is stopped atl is pretty much 1-dimensional. Our secondary will take care of your over hyped receivers…roddy ”trash” white, hulio hones, dwarf zzz rodgers, hairy dogless and grandpa gonzales…
Boo Brees
November 30th, 2011
4:22 pm
Jugger”Nut”?…. That’s HILARIOUS!!!
Another bye week for the Falcons. Not worried one bit….. Nope, not at all.
Falcons 24 – Texans 6
Tell it like it is.
November 30th, 2011
4:23 pm
Texans in the Playoffs Ahhahahahahahahaha,it will never happen!Who do ya’ll think ya’ll are? the Aints,ahhahahahahahahahaha.
Juggernaut
November 30th, 2011
4:24 pm
@boo brees…. are you day dreaming ?
Texans 27 Frailcons 10….
Juggernaut
November 30th, 2011
4:25 pm
@ Tell it like it is….we may not be aints but we definitely can beat your mediocre team out of your dome.
Go Texans !
Juggernaut
November 30th, 2011
4:29 pm
I would prefer to watch texans playing aints then playing mediocre frailcons. No talent on both side of the ball. Just plain lucky
Dawg
November 30th, 2011
4:29 pm
How can the Texans miss Schaub? He can’t hit a WR in stride on the long bomb anyway…always under throws. Crossing route and dump passes…fine; the long throw not so much. He was a Falclown 2nd teamer anyway to your old SPCA friend. Yates will be fine…beware the D…you know the one, the Defense your O-coordinator said was average, bunch of over achieving high energy guys. Yeah, the Texans Defense is terrible.
Boo Brees
November 30th, 2011
4:30 pm
I’m tired of all these easy opponents we’re playing. We don’t play another tough game until the Aints game. Oh well, a win is a win!!
Juggernaut
November 30th, 2011
4:31 pm
Dawgy dog @ you must be high !!! Texan defense is terrible ? then why is it no.1. Where is your defense ? way below us. We ain’t no.1 for no reason.
Juggernaut
November 30th, 2011
4:33 pm
@Boo boo… over confidence is equivalent to stupidity. We are as worthy opponent or infact better on defense then aints. Best thing is we playing at home.
Dawg
November 30th, 2011
4:35 pm
Juggernaut – I realize sarcasm might be just above your comprehension level….read again chief. We just might be speaking the same language. Catch up.
Juggernaut
November 30th, 2011
4:37 pm
Lol @dawg…oops I was just charged up bashing this spineless frailcons.
Go Texans !
Boo Brees
November 30th, 2011
4:38 pm
Since the Falcons won’t be playing anybody this Sunday, I think I’ll go walk my dog at the park.
When is the last time a team got 2 bye weeks in the regular season?
Juggernaut
November 30th, 2011
4:39 pm
@Boo hoo… not just your dog take even your neighbor’s dog. It is not going to change the outcome of the game
Tx 27 Frailcons 10
Boo Brees
November 30th, 2011
4:40 pm
LOL at Jugger”NUT”….. talk about stupidity! Dawgs post went over your head, huh?
Juggernaut
November 30th, 2011
4:40 pm
@boo boo…sometimes you miss some points when excited about something. That doesn’t make anybody stupid.
Dawg
November 30th, 2011
4:41 pm
We love everyone BOO BREES just not on game day. Defense will rally like it has all year…watch your blind side. Keep your team and fans at home…we don’t need any stupid bird dances in our great tailgating lots or in our HOUSE OF PAIN.
Juggernaut
November 30th, 2011
4:42 pm
@ Boo… Frailcon fans cannot talk about intelligence by the way. Either your blind or totally stupid to realize that your team isn’t aints. Your team is always sidekick. Lol
Tell it like it is.
November 30th, 2011
4:42 pm
Texans are pretenders,not contenders! Since you lost Slaubb,ya’ll ant got no chance.The Falcons will stuff the run,and make yall beat them with the pass,and we all know that aint gonna happen.
Juggernaut
November 30th, 2011
4:44 pm
Another idiot…
Dawg
November 30th, 2011
4:44 pm
Based on Dunta’s stat line I see he is still ripping teams off…overpaid DB. Ranked 51st in the NFC. C’mon man!
Juggernaut
November 30th, 2011
4:45 pm
schaub or no slaubbb…doesn’t matter. We will still whip frailcons …