Atlanta Falcons: Ryan Mathews could test run defense
September 17, 2012 - Atlanta, Ga.,: Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) shows his frustration with running back Willis McGahee, right, after Manning is sacked by the Atlanta Falcons in the first half of their game in the Georgia Dome Monday night in Atlanta, Ga., September 17, 2012. JASON GETZ / JGETZ@AJC.COM
FLOWERY BRANCH – San Diego running back Ryan Mathews, who suffered a broken clavicle on Aug. 9 on his first preseason carry, could return to face the Falcons at 4:05 p.m. Sunday at Qualcomm Stadium.
He was cleared for contact last week, but didn’t play in the 38-10 rout of Tennessee.
Mathews, who played for Falcons offensive line coach Pat Hill at Fresno State, has averaged 4.7 yards a carry in two seasons in the NFL. He rushed for 1,091 yards and six touchdowns in 14 games last season.
The Chargers averaged just 1.6 yards per carry in their season-opening win over Oakland. With backup Jackie Battle carrying the load, they had 18 carries for 82 yards — a 4.6 average — with two touchdowns against the Titans.
The Falcons have not stopped the run against Kansas City or Denver.
Denver running back Willis McGahee rushed 22 times for 113 yards and two touchdowns against the Falcons, who played 66 of 67 snaps against the Broncos in their nickel defense.
Overall, the Broncos rushed 27 times for 118 yards. The Chiefs rushed for 152 yards on 33 carries against the Falcons in Week 1.
The Falcons are giving up 135 yards per game, which ranks eighth in the NFL.
“We’re giving up too many rushing yards right now for our liking,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “We’ve got to be able to line up and stop the run when people are going to try to run the football. I think they were effective running the football. That was their answer to our disguise and the looks that we were showing them.”
The defensive line should be able to help more if they can take their normal rotation against San Diego.
Defensive tackles Jonathan Babineaux and Vance Walker had a sack each against Denver. Defensive end Kroy Biermann led the linemen with five tackles.
“There were only certain times that we could rotate in a no-huddle drive,” Smith said. “Basically if we put a guy out there, he was going to be out there for that drive. We didn’t have the capability to be running guys in and out like we normally do when the team is huddling.”
The Falcons’ defense held the Broncos to 4-of-12 (33 percent) on third-down efficiency.
Linebackers Stephen Nicholas and Sean Weatherspoon combined for 18 tackles to lead the defense against the Broncos.
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106 comments Add your comment
Michael M.
September 19th, 2012
12:54 pm
Seen, I ‘ll buy you a Falcons Cap and a towel if you can’t afford one…………
to real
September 19th, 2012
12:54 pm
Run def must better better o-line must run block better as well tha saints look bad of both sides of tha ball dat def is garbage 0-2 maybe they beat kc
Michael M.
September 19th, 2012
12:57 pm
If the little chiefs beat the Caints……………………..the Falcons will destroy them……………….I gave the Caints the victory this week but they better check off with Kansas City on that one …………
Michael M.
September 19th, 2012
1:01 pm
Seen ?
Michael M.
September 19th, 2012
1:02 pm
ha !………………..
Just like the Taliban……hit and run…………………..cowards…………………..
Seen This B4
September 19th, 2012
1:03 pm
@Michael M:
Like you, I too anticipate the Saints will beat the chiefs, and prognosticate that the chargers will emerge triumphant on Sunday evening.
JSS
September 19th, 2012
1:03 pm
While the babies are name calling, Denver played stupid and didn’t stick and commit to the running game… San Diego seems to understand it. Turner mentioned this morning on NFL Network the importance of running against like the Falcons… We’ll see if the Chargers actually commits to running to the center-to-the-right side of the Falcons D. MaGahee ran without impunity against that front. Denver was greedy, should have ground and pound them… When they (San Diego) committed to the run last year (especially against the Ravens), they were lethal…
tjhook
September 19th, 2012
1:04 pm
@Seen,
I actually like watching the Saints normally because they can be counted on to play an entertaining game. Are there exceptions where I want the Saints to lose? Against RGIII (yes, because I watched RGIII play in high school and at Baylor) because watching a good African-American kid succeed without being thug-like and embrace the spotlight intelligently was refreshing. But as long as the Falcons beat the Saints I’m good. I like the Cowboys, but I hate Cowboy fans because they are so pretentious and arrogant . . . and I hate
fans who put another team’s demise above their own team’s success.
Seen This B4
September 19th, 2012
1:05 pm
@Michael M.
What are you? Starved for attention. I don’t stay on one blog the entire day, if I don’t get right back to you, there’s no need to whine, I’ll get back to you, eventually. Jeez, you people are so needy. Woosies.
GEAUX SAINTS!!!
L.A. Mont
September 19th, 2012
1:08 pm
It will be interesting to see how many touches Turner gets on Sunday….if the Falcons brass are about discipline and doing things right, he may dress out, but not play unless there is an injury. Start Snelling. More Quizz.
Shout out to the O-line for better protection the first two weeks of the season! Now need to open up some more holes in the run game, and need better vision by our RBs!
Michael M.
September 19th, 2012
1:10 pm
Naw…just having some fun at you ……………….better hope you get the big ” W ” Sunday or it is going to be hard to climb out of that water well your team is sitting in……………………………………….
Michael M.
September 19th, 2012
1:11 pm
JSS……………..Denver didn’t have the time to mess around running the ball in a catch-up game…………………………………….
tjhook
September 19th, 2012
1:13 pm
Back to football, the Falcons are on a good roll and I don’t think the Chargers have a front seven that will challenge Matt Ryan. I am concerned that Mike Smith is so concerned about holding a lead that he kills the offense’s momentum by trying to force a time-killing drive once we get a lead. If you can blow a team out, blow them out. You can create enough of a lead that you can sketch time killing drives for later.
JSS
September 19th, 2012
1:22 pm
“Denver didn’t have the time to mess around running the ball in a catch-up game”
Who had the ball first on Monday? “Commit,” look it up…
Michael M.
September 19th, 2012
1:30 pm
oh yeah…………………………………. they had it first but you had to know Manning and he is going to throw the football and when they did try to run the ball, what did they do ? ………..Go right back to the air attack……………………….
I was thinking this morning , it will take a team like the Niners who like to run and pound the football first to beat the Falcons
JSS
September 19th, 2012
1:35 pm
Nope, it takes a committed to running and taking the air out of the ball… Possess the ball and protect the ball, the force them (the Falcons) from playing the underneath game. When someone gets that in their head, then it will be a dogfight…
Michael M.
September 19th, 2012
1:42 pm
That Chargers game will be another test for Atlanta ………………….but it is one game at a time………………….
Chargers beat the Raiders and the Titans
Falcons beat the Chiefs and the Broncos
I take Atlanta over the Chargers by 4 but it could be a trap game if Atlanta goes in there over confident……………………..
Michael M.
September 19th, 2012
1:46 pm
JSS……………….you pulled the page out from underneath what Atlanta has tried to do and be in the past years before the OC and DC changes………………….
North FLA Falcon
September 19th, 2012
1:46 pm
I didn’t see nearly as many busted tackles vs. Denver. We wrapped up pretty well. They had some very creative blocking vs our defense which sprung a few nice runs. Including the surprising TD run (not pass) late in the game. Denver played from behind for the whole game, which put us in our nickel, which was not great vs the run. We will adjust.
Denver lost
September 19th, 2012
1:47 pm
Atlanta won
Michael M.
September 19th, 2012
1:47 pm
run the ball and control the clock……………………………
JSS
September 19th, 2012
1:47 pm
Confidence has nothing to do with it… The teams that have lost to Atlanta have not protected the ball… Protected the ball and keep that defense on the field, and don’t have stupid penalties in or near the red zone…
Lao Tzu
September 19th, 2012
1:54 pm
Those who have knowledge, don’t predict. Those who predict, don’t have knowledge.
Michael M.
September 19th, 2012
1:55 pm
We will see if that works out and plays out on the Chargers behalf come Sunday afternoon…………….I look for them to mix it up and go to the air more often than run the ball on the ground…………Rivers likes to toss the ball through the air too……hurry up Sunday !
Michael M.
September 19th, 2012
1:58 pm
@ Lao Tzu………………Send that message to those experts out in NFL.com,SI,Fox Sports,blah blah…………………………………
JSS
September 19th, 2012
2:00 pm
Nope, the Falcons were never creative enough on the defensive side to play that way… That is why you went “smoke and mirrors” with Nolan. Y’all are still counting on that to last an entire season and post-season… The difference between “smoke and mirrors” in Houston and in Atlanta is that I feel they were and remain far more talented in my estimation… The more you get on video, the more you can counter it if the talent is not out of this world…
Michael M.
September 19th, 2012
2:07 pm
I tell yah what……………………I’ll take this year’s smoke n mirrors on defense and thunder n lightening on offense than what the Falcons had the past few years on both sides of the ball…………………………………………………
JSS
September 19th, 2012
2:07 pm
And as far as Rivers being pass happy, when they beat the Ravens, he only threw it 23 times. They ran it 37 times for a 145 yards… They’re capable… If they take advantage of it, it is up to them…
True Falcon Fan
September 19th, 2012
2:12 pm
Just week 2 —- My bet is Nolan has more defensive schemes up his sleeve than two weeks worth — let’s discuss your point around week 8 or 9
I was very impressed with #94 Jerry his play — infact 94 & 95 had very good games!
Go Falcons – Chargers next
True Falcon Fan
September 19th, 2012
2:18 pm
Your point is very well substantiated re Rivers —- if the Falcons are not prepared properly by the coaches this game 3 could be a “TRAP” game for sure. However i am expecting a “WIN” — Chargers don’t match-up totally.
Go Falcons!!!
Samuel
September 19th, 2012
2:29 pm
.Being that Turner has never had a DUI, he should be fined by the league. Now if Mike Smith benches him that’s an in house thing. I thought the Falcons got rid of Jamaal Anderson because he couldn’t rush the passer. But Jamaal was consistent with stopping the run. Now you bring in Ray Edwards and give him a decent contract, and he can’t seem to consistently get sacks or obviously stop the run. Being we been torched the last two games. Mike Smith said he played in pain with a knee injury last year. Well, coach what’s the excuse this year. Either this dude get’s off the snide or he should be bench for not being productive. I’m sure somebody on that roster can do better than that, no tackles in a whole game. Akeem Dent got out played by Nichols and Weatherspoon.
falCANS
September 19th, 2012
2:33 pm
Turner will sit the next game epect a big game from Quizz and Snelling
Falcon Fan
September 19th, 2012
3:12 pm
Whats the status of Akeem Dent…Will He play against the chargers..?
Stephen
September 19th, 2012
3:14 pm
I understand where this is coming from, but look at the running backs the falcons have faced the first two weeks. All veteran running backs. I believe our defense is much improved and if we had played these teams with old system, it would of definitely have been a lot more yards given up to them. That is just my opinion on it all.
abby normal
September 19th, 2012
3:41 pm
Maybe the Falcons would be better against the run if they had an actual middle linebacker! For the second game in a row Akeem Dent was a freaking mirage!
@spencaman
September 19th, 2012
5:54 pm
@Seen This Before – what an IDIOT! Saints are 0-2 so the only thing u can harp on is a DUI arrest. Turner will get no suspension from the league. Hell, Kenny Britt was arrested 3 times and got a ONE GAME suspension. Seen This B4 pisses me off and I KNOW that is all he is trying to do on the falcons blogs. This is my last response to him and I hope others follow me.
@spencaman
September 19th, 2012
6:03 pm
At Abby Normnl – dent played # DOWNS because the Falcons were in the nickle package for almost the entire game, which means, no middle LB on the field
Loyalfalconfrmthemississippi
September 19th, 2012
6:12 pm
Go falcons seen u need to go put ur paper bag on and hide in ur crappy city
FalconUGAFan
September 19th, 2012
7:36 pm
Seen…you are usually affable, but you sound very hostile… Home life ok? Under increased stress?
Blake
September 19th, 2012
11:11 pm
@Michael M……Your the Man !
Blake
September 19th, 2012
11:14 pm
BTW….Seen Is starting to sound just a little more humble on here….but just a little….It’s hard to admit that your team just don’t have It no mo…..
Blake
September 19th, 2012
11:16 pm
But after you’ve blown that tuba for awhile…your lungs…just like your team,gives out of air!
Ackshun
September 20th, 2012
9:53 am
Uh yeah look there is a good chance the Chiefs are going to smash the Saints at the dome this weekend. For a couple of reasons. 1) Saints have no defense 2) Chiefs have a healthy secondary for the first time in three weeks 3) Saints will take Chiefs lightly thinking this is a easy win 4) Romeo Crennel loves pounding teams that disregard him (just ask the Packers).
Bottomline: First team to 14 points wins this one and it might not be the Saints.
I C the haters R back
September 20th, 2012
1:47 pm
Where is my post Dled? It was a clean post?!
I C the haters R back
September 20th, 2012
1:50 pm
@JSS
They dont protect the ball dude because defense puts then in a position to make bad decisions! Not like they just throw the ball on the ground cause and effect! Come on JSS stop hating and just once congratulate…….stop throwing salt man!
I C the haters R back
September 20th, 2012
1:55 pm
@Seen
no vegas for you! Every week you pick against the Rise Up Nation just so you can get on the blog and bash the team! Lol, clown! Your so called predictions have been wrong for two weeks now! Just from the Falcons games and the Aints you my simpleton are 0 and 4! No more picks for you. Beat it!
Big O
September 20th, 2012
4:40 pm
Back to the article subject; i.e., stop the run! Many of the runs I saw by Denver and KC were up the middle. It’s very simple. Get a bigger, stronger, faster MLB than Akeem Dent! Guess who that is? Lawrence Sidbury. L-Sid’s Pro-Day 40 time was 4.5 sec. Dent’s was 4.7 sec. L-Sid had more 225 lb repetitions, and is taller. He’d be far more effective at MLB on run downs than Dent and since ATL is carrying 6 good DEs, L-Sid can be spared from playing DE all the time.
JSS
September 20th, 2012
4:50 pm
“Throwing salt?” Do you mean “pouring salt in an open wound?”
JSS
September 20th, 2012
4:56 pm
Multiple user-names and a unneeded desire for exaggeration gets you in the filter sometimes…
I C the haters R back
September 20th, 2012
5:57 pm
You must have pictures of someone! With your wackness you still get to post!? Wow! DLed has a soft spot for those with special needs!