5 things Falcons’ coaches learned during their bye week self-scout
FLOWERY BRANCH — Instead of having the Falcons practice over the bye week, Falcons coach Mike Smith gave the team the entire time off.
When making the schedule over the offseason he felt that the Falcons didn’t get enough out of the two bye-week practices and equated them to like “pulling teeth.”
So instead of doing some dentistry work, the players were dismissed after the win over Oakland. While they were out, the coaches conducted a self-scout of the first six games in order to trouble-shoot for potential areas of improvement.
“We spent the week taking a good hard look at things that we have to get better at,” Smith said on Monday. “We identified them. We came out here and really worked hard on fundamentals. (Monday) was a big day on fundamentals and on things that we felt like we needed to do to help ourselves play better through the last 10 games of the season.”
Here are five things that the Falcons, the only undefeated team in the NFL, are focusing on in order to stay atop of the league standings:
1. Missed tackles: The team spent a large part of their practice working on the fundamentals of tackling.
“We had a bunch in this past game and sometimes it’s just being too aggressive or not wrapping up,” linebacker Sean Weatherspoon said. “Sometimes it could be not seeing what you are hitting. It’s something that we’re going to work on and make sure that we are lining people up the right way and that they are taking the right angles. We need everybody swarming to the ball. If we go out there and do that, everybody will be fine.”
Smith and his staff had extra tackling drills scheduled although the defense rarely practices full simulated tackling in practice, in part because of the new non-contact rules set forth in the collective bargaining agreement.
“We don’t really get to work it, but it’s ultimately on us to go out there on Sunday and wrap ball carriers up and get them down,” Weatherspoon said.
Defensive end Ray Edwards said, “All of us have been playing football since we were 10-years-old. All of us know how to tackle. We just have to go out and do it.”
2. Stop the run: Several players talked about changing the math at the point of attack.
“When you have seven-man spacing you have seven men near the line of scrimmage and the math is even,” Smith said. “So you’ve got to do something to change the math. A guy has got to whip a block or you have to slant your defense. There are a number of ways to do it.”
The defense has allowed 143.8 yards per game and seven rushing touchdowns this season.
“We have to change the math,” Weatherspoon said. “We can’t just fit it up right. We have to win our one on one battles a little bit better. I think our run defense will get better if we do that.”
3. Improve the rushing attack: Smith likes to talk about being a “scoring” offense. He doesn’t care if it’s passing or running as long as they are scoring points.
During the self-scout, it was apparent that they could score more points with a better rushing attack.
“We just have to execute better and that’s all 11 guys on the field,” running back Michael Turner said. “That’s mainly what it is.”
Turner’s carries have been drastically cut, but he’s still averaging 4.3 yards per.
Backup running back Jacquizz Rodgers has not been productive and is averaging just 2.7 yards per carry. The team is rushing for a paltry 86.5 yards per game.
“We know that we have the ability to do it,” Turner said. “We have to not take things for granted and go out there and still do the things that we’ve been coached to do.”
4. Staying near penalty-free: The Falcons have just 18 penalties for 152 yards, both marks are the lowest in the league.
5. Takeaways: The Falcons have 10 interceptions and are tied for third in the league with Cleveland and Washington while behind Chicago (13) and the New York Giants (12).
The Falcons have also forced nine fumbles and recovered seven of them. New England leads the league with 13 forced fumbles and 11 recovered.
The Falcons turnover-differential of plus-10 has allowed them time to correct their issues against the run.
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80 comments Add your comment
True Falcon Fan
October 23rd, 2012
1:37 pm
B’Red really could be possibly be the ZERO/JSS etc.,etc.,etc., —- wow
Oh man
October 23rd, 2012
1:43 pm
Our defense is fine! We are giving up a lot of rush yards because we play nickel the majority of the time. Stop hating on Dent, he only plays like 30 percent of the time. What worries me is our offense. Our offense is overrated . Matt struggles throwing the deep ball. We need to get big plays, enough with the 5 yard throws outside. If we can get more big plays then we will be very dangerous.
SeenThisB4
October 23rd, 2012
2:02 pm
The falcants will be pouring it on and giving it all up on my team in a few more weeks and I hate t see them , I hope Drew makes it through the game .
PMC
October 23rd, 2012
2:05 pm
Amen Spoon, See what you hit and it removes about 90% of tackling problems.
SIX and O Falcons
October 23rd, 2012
2:07 pm
The 5 things I want is:
7-0
8-0
9-0
10-0
and 11-0.
warfalcon
October 23rd, 2012
2:10 pm
one game at a time,LETS GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
True Falcon Fan
October 23rd, 2012
2:17 pm
AMEN…..
One game at a time…..
MV 7 next
Go Falcons
J-Man
October 23rd, 2012
2:42 pm
Here is my Team analysis on the Falcons http://watercoolersportsnetwork.com/2012/10/22/where-6-0-atlanta-falcons-go-from-here/ I hope you guys give it a look and leave a comment.
Thanks
1 thing the FAILCANTS should note...
October 23rd, 2012
3:09 pm
Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear…..
Sincerely,
The Who Dat Nation
Ps – won a playoff game yet or SB, FAILCANTS? We all know that answer…
DR. FALCON
October 23rd, 2012
3:23 pm
COREY PETERS, WILL HELP OUR BELEAGURED, RUN DEFENSE! IT’S ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE SELF-EVALUATION! HAS ANYBODY SEEN PERIA JERRY, AND RAY EDWARDS, MAKE CONSISTEN PLAYS THIS YEAR? WE ALSO NEED TYSON CLABO, TO PERFORM AT HIS PRO BOWL LEVEL, AT RT! SAM BAKER, IS OUT PLAYING CLABO, ON THE OTHER SIDE! DAMN! WHO WOULD’VE THOUGHT THAT?
tom
October 23rd, 2012
3:52 pm
Edwards talks about tackling since they were all 10 years old. Correct on that. Problem is the cornerbacks, defensive backs and sometimes the linebackers are not using their arms to wrap up the runnier. They are slamming their bodies into the runner without arms extended and in many cases bouncing off the runner as he continues running. Why do coaches tolerate this? It is on film. Do they not discuss this when they watch film. Guess not since they continue doing it. WASSUP coaches?
Brothas Hunt 2
October 23rd, 2012
4:21 pm
Let me start by saying the Falcons will figure out the tackling and run blocking situation. Pete Carroll HC for the Seahawks believes in playing his rookie players in real game situations. Pete Carroll believes that a rookie needs to prove to him that he cannot play NFL level football. Whereas, with Mike Smith he is more oldschool and believes that a rookie needs to prove that he can play.
I said all this to say that Akeem Dent should have gotton some real playing time last season and he would be a lot further along in his development (i.e., being able to recognize the run and play faster, being able to shed blockers and get to the football). Right now, in his second season, Dent is virtually a rookie and he is not playing fast. The Falcons also drafted Travian Robertson DT this year and he is sitting on the bench. I guess he has to prove to the coaching staff that he can play football at the NFL level. Bottom line, Coach Smith and his staff needs to adapt to changing times in the NFL.
BH2
falCANS
October 23rd, 2012
5:04 pm
Upmost faith!!! I wanna see Turner 25 rushes pg
Sparks
October 23rd, 2012
5:23 pm
Never mind “rise up”…I think we need to simply buckle down.
True Falcon Fan
October 23rd, 2012
5:33 pm
It’s called takem’ “One at Time”
http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/eagles/20121023_Eagles_will_face_a_well-rested_Falcons_team_-_as_they_ve_done_before.html
DLed: Please deliver a message to the coaching staff & players, go to this above link Our Falcons must be ready for this game. These Eaglettes will be ready to rumble with these Falcons for sure.
Go Falcons — Eaglettes next
Ed
October 23rd, 2012
7:34 pm
I think this bye week came at a very good time for the Falcons and I think this self evaluation gave the coaching staff an opportunity to tighten some loose bolts on the offense and get it fine tuned for the 2nd half of the season. We need to come out against Philadelphia and establish the tempo early and keep the pedal to the metal.
Posts about The Falcons From Other Great Blogs issue #1 | Falcons - NFC South Daily | Atlanta Falcons Blog
October 23rd, 2012
8:30 pm
[...] Atlanta Falcons visiting the Philadelphia Eagles, the New York Giants visiting the more… 5 things Falcons’ coaches learned during their bye week self-scout – blogs.ajc.com 10/23/2012 FLOWERY BRANCH — Instead of having the Falcons practice over [...]
Esquire
October 23rd, 2012
9:12 pm
Sparks
October 23rd, 2012
5:23 pm
Never mind “rise up”…I think we need to simply buckle down.
*******************************
Not hunker down……………….?
Hobbler
October 23rd, 2012
9:43 pm
I hope they also tried to teach Edwards how to sack a QB this week.
bama52
October 23rd, 2012
9:58 pm
Improve the rushing attack is a must. The O-Line is not getting it done. We drafted two huge offensive lineman and neither is playing. We still have a couple of what have you done for me lately O-Linemen. We need more rush off the edge other than John Abram. Vance Walker need to rest Jerry a lot where is the rookie defensive tackle and where is Sidbury . Play more defensive linemen and play the 2 rookie offensive lineman and we will be a better team. THIS IS THE YEAR OF THE FALCONS!!!!! GO FALCON!!!
Starship 1
October 23rd, 2012
10:22 pm
Why are all our comments underlined?
Kandy Krowley
October 23rd, 2012
11:29 pm
Speaking of the running game, why do teams, college and pro, use the sweep so sparingly? You hardly ever see teams run a sweep on short yardage situations, especially at the goal line. The last time I recall a team doing that, the Broncos ran a sweep against Atlanta in their last meeting before this season, and Denver got a TD.
Just wondering, why plow into the pile nearly 100% of the time? Is the sweep a bad play for short yardage?
j-dawg
October 24th, 2012
12:53 am
i wonder the same thing kandy
FalconFanSince RunNShoot#!M1983
October 24th, 2012
7:31 am
Leave Da Burner alone, were are saving Bruiser for da PLAYOFFS yall!!!!!!!!!!! No need to fret
Dave
October 24th, 2012
8:39 am
bama52 – I know you’re from bama, so you’re a little slow, but seriously.
The 2 OL probably won’t play much at all this year. OL almost never play their rookie year as they learn the schemes. John Abram? Who? You mean John Abraham? Learn a name – want someone calling you the wrong name? So, you know who’s better on the D-Line than the coaches do? Then call up Mike Smith and let him know he’s wrong.
Rod
October 24th, 2012
8:41 am
Yes, the sweep is bad for short yardage. You have a much higher risk of losing 3-5 yards with that, messing up the opportunity for the next play. If you go in the pile, even if you fail, you at most lose 1 yard and can try it again.
Cindy
October 24th, 2012
8:43 am
BH2 – Really? What a bunch of crap. I’m not playing an unproven rookie over a veteran who’s done it time and time again. Rookies HAVE to prove themselves. 99% of coaches agree. Either you’re WRONG or all the other coaches are. Hmmmmmmmm
Ueeediot
October 24th, 2012
9:33 am
in a word…. DUH!
everyone knows these are the issues with the Falcons.
Im curious how a head coach coaches his team and is able to make decisions on such things as when to challenge a fumble or not…..when he consistently stands 40 yards off the line of scrimmage?
Talmadge
October 24th, 2012
9:38 am
Bottom line, the success of the rest the season 10 games lies with the players. How hungary are the Falcons team? You make things happen on the field not the coach’s dry erase board.The words for the rest of the season is all hands on deck! I think it is finally time for Atlanta, the people of the city and fans are hungary for a winner, now “team” right the final chapter to this season.
Go Falcons!……………
Brothas Hunt 2
October 24th, 2012
4:24 pm
Cindy,
Go back and read my post again. I gave an example of an NFL coach Pete Carroll who is doing things differently in Seattle. Julio Jones started as a rookie, Matt Ryan started as a rookie. The point I was making in my post is that if the veteran is not getting the job done look at the players on the roster and give a player including a rookie some real game time opportunities to prove that he CANNOT play. Our Defense is currently at the bottom of the league in stopping the run. Our Offense is at the bottom of the league in running the ball because our O-line sucks at run blocking.