Q&A: Armstrong has a speed trap for Sproles
Falcons special teams coordinator Keith Armstrong units were ranked second in the league last season by FootballOutsiders.com Curtis Compton, ccompton@ajc.com
FLOWERY BRANCH — Heading into the NFC South showdown with the Saints, the Falcons’ special teams are playing well.
They did have the blocked punt against Jacksonville, but special teams coordinator Keith Armstrong and coach Mike Smith noted that it was a mental error along the front line that was the problem.
His coverage units will be on the spot against dangerous returner Darren Sproles on Monday. Sproles is averaging 9.6 yards on punt returns and has a 72-yard touchdown. On kickoff returns, he’s ranked fourth in the NFC and seventh in the league, averaging 26.1 yards per return.
Here are some excerpts from an interview with Armstrong on Wednesday:
(The Georgia and Georgia Tech guys mixing it up at practice!) Atlanta Falcons fullback Lucas Cox, right, is covered by linebacker Akeem Dent during a passing drill at NFL football training camp Saturday, July 30, 2011, in Flowery Branch, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
ON AKEEM DENT WHO LEADS THE TEAM WITH 16 SPECIAL TEAMS TACKLES: He’s doing a nice job. He’s been productive. He studies. He puts his time in. He’s really learning and starting to grow. He’s starting to make some decisions on the field. He’s starting to look like a vet. He just needs to keep playing at a high level. Keep playing with a lot of energy. He’s physical. He’s everything that you look for in a young cover guy. He can run and he likes to hit. He doesn’t get in any physical mismatches because of his size. He’s been a big plus for us.
ON WEEMS AND SCHILLINGER, THE SECOND AND THIRD LEADING TACKLERS: Eric always does a good job for us. He leads by example. He’s an aggressive football player. He’s doing a nice job for us. Shann has improved from last year to this year. He has escaped some single blocks and is starting to get some production.
ON KEYS WHEN FACING A BIG RETURN GUY LIKE DARREN SPROLES: I think it’s total team coverage. (Aside: Coach sounds like my insurance guy, right here!) You can’t expect one guy to get there and make the play. It’s a combination of things. We have to place the ball. We have to create hang-time. Now, with all of that being said and done, that just sets the parameters. Now, what you need to do is get off of blocks, gang tackle this guy and get him on the ground. You can’t expect one person to make the play.
ON THE BLOCKED PUNT AGAINST JACKSONVILLE: The get-off was fine. (Bosher got the punt off in 2.08 seconds.) Everybody says 2.0, but that’s clinic talk. If you are getting the ball off in 2.0 you’ve probably got a return coming back at you for 25 to 30 yards. We just got in a physical deal up front and we didn’t step into the block. That’s all, a mental error that we can’t make.
ON PLAYING WELL DOWN THE STRETCH: You’ve got to be clicking on all cylinders. We talk about it all the time. We’re not going to be the weak link. . . . What did you do? Did you score? Did you set
Atlanta Falcons kicker Matt Bryant (3) speaks with his son Tre Bryant, 5, before the first half. AP
up a score? Before you open your mouth, did you score? Our goals are to score or set up a score. Which is what we got accomplished this past weekend and that started to open some things up. We’ve got to find ways to score and find ways to set up scores. Whether if it be takeaways, a long return or a form of a block. You could be rushing off the edge, you don’t block the kick, but they throw a flag. That came up in the last game. Find a way to affect the score. . . People always talk about field position. But field position is a team stat. If you really think about it, that’s a team stat. We can find ways to steal drives. We can find a way to create a play that will give our offense a (short field.)
–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
73 comments Add your comment
trademark
December 23rd, 2011
1:10 pm
I agree, DOL, Damned good article about Armstrong and the outstanding job he’s done with the special teams.
Don, I think it gets recognized in a lot of circles as one of the best rivalries in the game (hence the Monday Night game in the strongest push of the playoff race). But yeah, East coast teams get a lot more press. Just is that way. Lots of sports writers on ESPN and SI come from there or out west. They have a tendency to have tunnel vision. Plus, they play the markets. More fans there, more readers.
P B Orr
December 23rd, 2011
1:24 pm
Don, whatchya talkin’ about chief? This game is getting a lot of attention. It’s at the end of the weekend. The whole world will be watching. Gonna be war!
Michael M.
December 23rd, 2011
1:37 pm
Merry Christmas Weekend Atlanta Fellow Fans !
Hopefully eveyone has got their Presents and Groceries for the Christmas Dinner out of the Stores already and if not yet better hop to it as quick as you can ! Merry Christmas D-Led !
Saw where Indy took a W from Houston. That’s the magical thing about playing football games. A Team can be on top of the ladder and then fall to the floor in defeat on any given game. So it goes too this Weekend with probably some more games ending as last Sunday.
Most games are Saturday I believe. As for the Monday Contest upcoming, odds favor those pesky New Orleans Saints who always are close around the Falcons this time of year.We all know that the television know it all’s will always favor them over the Birds most every time they play.Do I believe Atlanta has a shot at beating them ?……………………..Oh yeahhh ! They seem to be preparing physically , mentally and professionally to go to New Orleans and come home with the W in the bank as a late Christmas Gift to the home crowd.It will most likely be a hard-fought game with hopefully none of the players getting too banged up on our side.
Looking for another close one with Atlanta pulling it out at the end, again, one point,three points,seven points or more I will take it in the W column either way !
later taters
Falcons Fan
December 23rd, 2011
1:47 pm
DOL Nice article and I’m saying this sincerely this time. Liked the Akeem Dent info and I have to admit you have been on point the last few weeks. If these seem like back handed compliments that’s not the spirit I’m posting them as.
Merry Christmas to you and the Ledbetter family and all my fellow Falcons and Georgia fans.
hiramsaint
December 23rd, 2011
2:25 pm
don- we’ve been on mnf 5 of the last 6 years i believe. thats national attn. in my book saints by 17 on mnf
Don
December 23rd, 2011
2:37 pm
Put sports center NFL network First Take on and you will see what I’m talking about!
Tell it like it is.
December 23rd, 2011
2:38 pm
This game Monday night reminds me of the NFC championship game when the falcons played the Vikings with thier hight powered offence, and beat them,and went to the Superbowl.Can history repete its self?
Don
December 23rd, 2011
2:39 pm
My Question is why doesn’t this rival get more attention nothing to do with playing on MNF.
Tell it like it is.
December 23rd, 2011
2:46 pm
don– its because the falcons are considered small market.if the saints were playing the Giants or eagles it would be all over ESPN,and NFL Network!
Don
December 23rd, 2011
2:52 pm
@Tell it like it is yeah that makes sense!
DMF1120
December 23rd, 2011
3:02 pm
The reason the rivalry hasn’t gotten much national attention in the past is because this is the first time in forty years both teams have been playoff caliber for several years in a row at the same time. Usually, they both stink with one or the other coming up for air every once in a while. Add to it that both teams are in the South instead of the Northeast and it takes a lot to break through that sports media bias.
Von
December 23rd, 2011
3:31 pm
Why do ya’ll still call the Saints the “Aints” when it the Falcon’s who “aint” got a ring? Just tryin to make sense of it all.
joe white
December 23rd, 2011
4:41 pm
Monday night is our night primetime in the big easy, Go falcons
Mr. Panic Button
December 23rd, 2011
4:46 pm
DLed, did ya ever think the Saints can now plan to counter this little Speed Trap for Sproles? Some things can be left out of the public news.
joe white
December 23rd, 2011
4:51 pm
Go Falcons
hiramsaint
December 23rd, 2011
5:51 pm
saints by 17 on mnf !
Day One Fan
December 23rd, 2011
6:17 pm
classy, Don. If all Saints fans had your attitude, most here would welcome them on this blog.
Blove
December 23rd, 2011
7:26 pm
We don’t care if we are welcome on ur Blog or not !!! All we care is that the Saint spank that A@#
And u garbage atl fans Rinse the hell up out the Dome and go the hell home !!!
Who DAT !!!
WhoDat4Eva
December 23rd, 2011
7:35 pm
It’s gonna be a close one, these 2 teams always play hard against each other but the Saints will prevail by 10.
WhoDat!!
1game@atime
December 24th, 2011
7:59 am
You know what? I’m starting to like the Falcons team chemistry. Check out D-Block. Mike Peterson and the gang. You gotta love it. Spoon and the guys. I’ve haven’t seen this type of chemistry in the Falcons locker room in quite a while. I think that will serve them well in the future. Stand up guys, win or lose. I’ve seen how they react in wins and losses. Makes you want to pull for them, more and more. Check out how they interview former Falcons greats, like the Hammer (Jesse Tuggle, and Prime Time, Dion Sanders). This group is special. If you don’t know, now you know.
Richard
December 24th, 2011
10:02 am
The only certainty about this game is that the level of play will be several levels higher than some fan comments on Internet forums, whether based in Georgia or Louisiana.
Saints fan here. The margin of victory in each of the last four games has been three points, with two of those games decided in overtime. I think the Saints will win–they have been playing especially well since the last Atlanta game–but respect greatly Atlanta’s receivers, and the speed and sound tackling of Atlanta’s defense. In fact, Atlanta’s defense seems to match up relatively well against our offense, helped in part by Atlanta having to prepare so frequently for the match-up challenges the Saints offense presents.
I do take issue with one post above commenting on the two quarterbacks. Doubtless, were Brees to become injured and miss games, the Saints would be greatly impacted, as would New England were Brady to become injured. Brees is an elite or top three quarterback (excluding Peyton Manning). The Saints are built on Brees executing at a very high level Sean Payton’s offense. Most weeks, the Saints put on a clinic on how offense in today’s NFL should be played. Brees is only 32 and should have another four to five seasons where he is playing at a very high level.
I respect Ryan and consider him a top 10-13 quarterback. But I am not sure that he has materially improved since his rookie year or will materially improve in the future. It appears that Ryan entered the league exceptionally well prepared but playing much closer to his talent ceiling than other first year quarterbacks.
My observations as a Saints fan. Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday to all.
coloradofalconsfan
December 24th, 2011
10:41 am
Richard and many others, make some interesting comments about Ryan already reaching his ceiling. I think we need to evaluate Ryan not even on his yardage numbers because Falcons offense is designed to be balanced. To me a QB should be evaluated on how they play when the game is on the line. Matt Ryan has11 fourth quarter comebacks, 16 game-winning drives in little under 4 seasons. He’s already tied with the likes of Joe Namath for CAREER game winning drives. He’s only 8 behind Brees in 4th quarter comebacks with 7 less years of playing. His win total in 4 years is outstanding. I think, just like Rodgers last year, he needs to put a playoff win under his belt to be considered elite. But there is absolutely nothing that shows he has reached his ceiling. That’s just wishful thinking of Saints fan’s who know they have to face him 2x for many more years.
hiramsaint
December 24th, 2011
11:23 am
an elite qb shouldn’t have to base his eliteness on 4th qtr comebacks and final game winning drives . don’t you get it ? an elite qb bases the eliteness on controlling the game from beginning to end and not having to rely on last second miracles. how many elite qb’s are 0-2 in the post season?