Report card: Falcons grades for gutsy win over Bucs
The Falcons have won seven games by seven points or less this season. That's coaching. (Associated Press)
A – Quarterbacks: Matt Ryan bounced back nicely from his 5-interception game. He finished with 353 yards passing as he completed 26 of 32 passes and one interception. He had a 110.0 passer rating. It was Ryan’s sixth 300-yard game of the season, which ties his own franchise record set in 2011. Ryan posted a passer rating above 100 for the ninth time this season. The Falcons are now 30-1 when his pass rating is 100 or more.
B — Running backs: In a move that stunned some, the Falcons came out determined to run the ball at the No. 1 ranked run defense. It was a bold move that paid some dividends. The Falcons knew they couldn’t be one dimensional. The Falcons ran the ball eight times on their opening 12-play drive. Michael Turner had four carries for 14 yards and Jacquizz Rodgers had four carries for 32 yards. Those 46 yards were more than half what the Bucs had been yielding per game. The Falcons finished the game with 24 rushes for 79 yards (3.3 per carry) and Rodgers and Turner both scored rushing touchdowns. The Bucs entered the game giving up 81.8 yards per game. Turner had 13 carries for 17 yards. Rodgers finished with 49 yards on 10 carries.
B – Receivers: With a bad wheel, Julio Jones put on a show. Jones finished with six catches for 147 yards. His 80-yard scoring reception put the Falcons up 17-13 with 8:26 left in the third quarter. The Bucs concentrated on Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez as neither of the veterans scored. White caught five passes for 57 yards and Gonzalez five for 62 yards. The running backs – Jason Snelling (3), Turner (3) and Rodgers (2) – chipped in with eight catches for 76 yards.
C – Offensive line: The line was battling in the run game. The Falcons want to run it efficiently and arguably did that against the Bucs. Cornerback E.J. Biggers, who came on a blitz had the only sack. The unit can use this game to build on as they’ll have to run the ball better down the stretch and are getting more comfortable with Rodgers, the second-year back, who broke loose for a 20-yard gain, the Falcons longest of the game.
B – Defensive line: The defensive line got penetration against the Bucs when they were trying to run the football. Kroy Biermann had a hustle sack. The line played a big part in keeping the blockers off of the linebackers against the Buccaneers vaunted running game. They helped to hold running back Doug Martin to just 50 yards on 21 carries and a 2.4 yard per carry average. Entering Sunday’s game, Martin had totaled 1,000 yards on 197 carries with a 5.1 yard per carry average. Tampa entered the game averaging 128.9 rush yards per game, which ranked ninth in the NFL.
B – Linebackers: Stephen Nicholas led the Falcons with seven tackles. Sean Weatherspoon, who returned after missing the games, chipped in with six tackles. Mike Peterson had a big stop on Martin that forced a field goal attempt. Akeem Dent also had four tackles and one tackle for a loss.
B – Defensive backs: Dunta Robinson had arguably his best game of the season. He was strong in run support with six tackles. He also had a sack, two tackles for losses and one quarterback hit. Asante Samuel played through his right shoulder injury, but was upset with two dropped interceptions. He knocked down the Hail Mary pass. Samuel said his shoulder felt like it was “on fire” after the game. Safety William Moore was also strong in run support with six tackles.
B – Specials teams: Cliff Matthews, Antone Smith and Drew Davis all had special teams tackles to hold down Tampa Bay’s return game. Kicker Matt Bryant missed two field goal attempts, including a troubling 22 yarder at the halftime buzzer. Punter Matt Bosher had one punt of 45 yards.
A-plus – Coaching: The Falcons have won seven games this season by seven points or less. That’s coaching.
NEXT UP: The Falcons (10-1) face the New Orleans Saints (5-6) at 8:20 p.m. Thursday night at the Georgia Dome. The Falcons can wrap up their second NFC South title in the last three seasons with a victory over the Saints and a Tampa Bay loss to Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos on Sunday. The Falcons would have a five game lead over Tampa Bay with four to play. They’ll have to keep playing to stay in front of San Francisco (8-2-1) and Chicago (8-3) for the No. 1 seed.
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80 comments Add your comment
Michael M.
November 26th, 2012
1:40 pm
I think the Falcons will wrap it up Thursday night against the Caints at the Dome, forget about the Bucs, we knocked them off in a game they needed to win yesterday. The Falcons are a better football team than the Caints overall and they remember last year how the Caints blew them out in the Swamps. They also remember Drew Sleeze setting the record on them too.
Well, that is last years old news and this is the new future. I think Abe and Beerman and the rest of the pack will light up on Drew Sleeze. Looking for some sacks,fumbles and pickoffs come Thursday night. Also looking to see more of Rodgers running hard like he did in the Bucs game. That was fun to watch, wasn’t it ?
Get over it STB4 and hiramcaint and the rest of those clowns, the Caints are toast and come Thursday night, the New Atlanta Falcons are going to explode all over you !
Esquire
November 26th, 2012
1:46 pm
SuxThisBZero says :
Well, they have pretty much guaranteed themselves to get a
middle of the pack draft pick, they might as well go for it. They virtually do have to run the table though to secure the #6 seed, but at least they control their own destiny at this point in time. Would be nice to get the next four, that would be sweet, and put them right in the driver’s seat.
*************************************
Funny how all of a sudden the Caints are “THEY”
doggoneit
November 26th, 2012
1:50 pm
Orlando: All turnovers are automatically reviewed. What if the Falcons are on defense and recover a fumble and we know it wasn’t a fumble but on the field the refs called it one. Before play is stopped by the refs for review, Mike Smith throws the challenge flag so the play can’t be reviewed. Do the Falcons get the ball minus a 15 yard penalty?
Esquire
November 26th, 2012
2:01 pm
Dear Abby:
whoops, not really. This is a letter SuxThisBZero wrote to Coach Payton back when the Caints were 0-2, desperation already setting in. Get your tissue handy cause it’s a tearjerker:
A letter to Coach Payton:
I hope this letter finds you in good health, I won’t mention your spirits since I am sure it’s as subdued as the spirit of most Caints fans. I do hope, that you are taking advantage of the free time you have (coaching your son’s team can’t be very time consuming) to take in-depth notes on this year’s efforts and results. A veteran laden (authors note – laden means burdened) team like this has no business being 0&2. Next year, there must be some changes. In particular on defense. The time has come to part ways with the defensive stalwarts on this team. There should be no players from the 09 defensive team left next year, especially if this season continues on its present course. You know who they are.
The same can be said for some of the offensive players as well, although not a complete house cleaning is needed there. Yet, some offensive players have not risen to the challenge. Again, you know who they are. Make sure you are sharpening the cutting edge of that axe. I’m looking forward to seeing you wield it with vigor and vengence next spring.
**********************************************
Hey Sux, don’t accidentally trip on that ax, you might hurt yourself.
Ghee Whiz
November 26th, 2012
2:25 pm
THE NEWEST NFL POWER RANKINGS ARE OUT:
http://dirtybirdrock.blogspot.com/2012/11/week-12-nfl-power-rankings.html
Panic fan
November 26th, 2012
2:34 pm
Another great nfc south battle won by the birds Each week we find ways to play as a complete team to win We are as Mr Blank says a relevant team some quick stats show our trends this yr
Turner #27 nfl rank 168 att 592 yds at 3.5 avg 15.3 carries a game 53.8 yds a game long of 43– 27 1st downs 3 –20yd + carries 2 fumbles
Qizz #65 60 att 231 yds 3.9 avg 5.5 carries a game 21yds average game long 43 -10 1st downs
2- 20+ carries 0 fumble
Qizz on receving #74 35 rec 288 yds 8.2 avg 26 yds a game long of 32yds 2 -20+ catches
Tony # 6 68 rec 712 yds 10.3 avg 64 yds a game
50 -1st downs 3 – 20+ catches
Roddy # 8 67 rec 1,003 yds 15 avg 91 yds a game
59 long 15 -20 + catches
Julio # 23 53 rec 883 yds 16.7 avg 80.3 a game
37 1st downs 14 – 20+ catches
Harry # 108 27 rec 257 yds 9.5 avg 25 a game
long 26 yds 3- 20+ catches
To close this out the stats that tell it are turner this past week 13 carries for 17 yds quizz 10 carries 49 yds SO WHO WOULD YOU HAVE AS YOUR
STARTER AND WHY?
Ghee Whiz
November 26th, 2012
3:10 pm
http://dirtybirdrock.blogspot.com/
New NFL Power Rankings AND an open letter to Atlanta Falcons Head Coach Mike Smith regarding Michael “Slow Burner” Turner
billyho55
November 26th, 2012
4:13 pm
D,
I LOVE YA MAN BUT THE REASON THE FALCONS HAVE HAD ALL THESE CLOSE GAMES IS SOMEWHAT ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE COACHING, OR LACK THEREOF AT TIMES! EVERY MAN IN AMERICA CAN SEE THAT TURNER JUST CAN’T CUT IT ANYMORE! TO CONTINUE TO USE HIM THE WAY WE HAVE IS DOWN RIGHT CRIMINAL! THE MAN IS JUST STEALING HIS MONEY RIGHT NOW! UNFORTUNATELY ON THAT GRADE I HAVE TO RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE! HOPE YOU HAD A GREAT THANKSGIVING WITH THE FAMILY!
follow @yoursporthouse
November 26th, 2012
4:14 pm
Here comes the blow out, we are about to punish the Aints Thursday.
Sis-Boom-Bah Humbug
November 26th, 2012
4:18 pm
Mike Smith often expresses concern that the rigors of the long NFL regular season will progressively degrade Michael Turner’s performance. If that should happen, how would anyone be able to tell?
Would Turner simply fall down BEFORE taking the handoff?
Per ESPN, Turner had 17 yards on 13 carries against the Bucs – a lusty 1.3 YPC. Quizz had 49 yards on 10 carries. Why is Turner on the field at all in an undecided game?
A point-shaving move?
Speaking of which, deliberately running time off the clock at the end of the second quarter, instead of enabling another shot at a TD, also tends to keep the score needlessly close.
Coaching Grade: D.
Flacons never learn
November 26th, 2012
4:38 pm
How can U give matt Rayan such a high grade after he throw that INT? It was the worse past of the game they are lucky the got a win. Why do U all love Rayan so much?
Mike Franklin
November 26th, 2012
5:30 pm
if this ain’t been said before…
J’Quiz is a great RB… but his role is limited because of his size. No arguing this… he is not an up-the-gut guy. It just ain’t happening in this league and never will.
Turner is still the back for toughing short yardage through the hell of the opposing D. The problem is NOT #33 but an O-line that has been re-trained for a passing game. That is just plain as day. When this happens, the opposing D has a simple format; rush the QB but also then aim for the legs of the big guy if he gets the ball. This is very basic football taught in junior high school.
Getting your offence to balance so perfectly so that both systems function well is really hard and that is why you see very, very few teams that excel in both aspects of the game.
So, here we are. Do the Falcs try and regain some dominance on the ground game or air the ball because, as of this moment, that’s what we do best?
Esquire
November 26th, 2012
6:03 pm
4BsihTneeS
November 26th, 2012
10:21 am
The fal can’ts are owned by the Saint s!
********************************
I thought Arthur Blank owned the Falcons!!
WE ARE THE MIGHTY MIGHTY FALCONS!!!
Falcon James
November 26th, 2012
6:04 pm
Good win, but the grades seem somewhat generous. If you breakdown the RB’s- Quizz would get the B or B+ and Turner would get a BIG FAT “F”. 1.3 yards per carry is beyond pathetic. He is lucky he gained anything at all because he was stopped behind the line half the time.
Division? Check...Homefield? Getting ready to Check
November 26th, 2012
6:24 pm
Falcons can clinch division this week. After only the 12th game of season!! Didn’t Drew “Trash Talk” Brees say, only two weeks ago, N.O owns this division? Not this year (or two years ago, or …. you get the point). Falcons will kick some Aint’s butts in Atlanta thursday night.
Now it’s time to play for homefield througout playoffs!
old man
November 26th, 2012
8:29 pm
G I V E A N T O N E S O M E C A R R I E S.
old man
November 26th, 2012
8:30 pm
How about:
GIVE + ANTONE + SOME + CARRIES
old man
November 26th, 2012
8:32 pm
Or:
G I V E — A N T O N E — S O M E — C A R R I E S
okeetee
November 26th, 2012
8:56 pm
Excellent post by “Mike Franklin!” Very well said and spot dead on! We have built our offensive line to pass protect and keep Ryan upright…..because it is now a PASSING league! All the rule changes have been to give the advantage to the receivers and the quarterback…..and we have 4 good ones, actually 3 great ones! We have a quarterback with brains that can read defenses and generally knows when to throw the ball away rather than take a sack or throw it up for grabs! We’ve won 10 out of 11 games so far with this “system” and our defense deserves a lot of credit for there improvement over last year, too! This year we are again back in the playoffs and more than likely will have home field advantage all the way to the Superbowl if we get that far!
Olediehard
November 26th, 2012
8:59 pm
Upon further review, how the heck did anyone miss the glarring errors in the first paragraph?
The game was against Tampa not Arizona, and it wasn’t played at the dome. Guess that copy and paste technique backfired!!!!!!!
Too funny, what grade is that? At GSU j school thats a failing grade to anyone
phil
November 26th, 2012
9:48 pm
NO will eliminate us this thursday nite from playoff contention…..
Sigh.
phil
November 26th, 2012
9:49 pm
Fire CMS!!
LOL at The Aints
November 26th, 2012
9:50 pm
Seen! Whats up buddy,, your team sux,, LOL
Hit Em With It
November 26th, 2012
10:46 pm
who dat not goin to them playoffs this year?
DR. FALCON
November 26th, 2012
11:57 pm
VERY GOOD, OKEETEE! I CAN TAKE CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM! YOU GOT ME ON SPECIAL TEAMS! AS FAR AS SMITTY’S CONSERVATISM, YOU STILL HAVE TO KEEP BANGING AT THE RUN, EVEN IF IT’S NOT PRODUCTIVE! PLAY-ACTION FAKES, AND OTHER ELEMENTS OF THE PASSING GAME, WILL OPEN UP, IF WE KEEP TURNER, RODGERS, AND SNELLING ACTIVE!
FalconUGAFan
November 27th, 2012
7:37 am
Didn’t see the game..How much of that 80 yard bomb was YAC?
D. Orlando Ledbetter
November 27th, 2012
8:35 am
FalconsUGAfan – Off the top of my head, about 30. But I’ll look for that when I do the film review.
WTF
November 27th, 2012
8:36 am
Since when is being held to 79 yds. rushing – and held below the Buc’s average allowed – deserving of a ‘B’ grade? That’s a ‘fail’ by stats. At most a ‘D’.
Turner seems washed up (out?) – too heavy, slow, and newly easy to bring down. Rodgers is a good complimentary back, but we need the #1 back to be more productive – especially in the playoffs.
Perhaps Turner is holding something back for the playoffs. We better hope so.
D man
November 27th, 2012
8:45 am
Here’s my thoughts; grades look good except for the special teams. Should be a “D” because of the two very makable field goal misses by Bryant. I agreed with Smiths decision to try the 48 yard field goal rather than a pouch punt at the end of the game because that would have forced Tampa to score a TD and we would have been able to kick off forcing them to start at their own 20 with 10 seconds left. Bryant should have made that field goal…
FalconUGAFan
November 27th, 2012
2:28 pm
Thanks D…