Atlanta Falcons: Birds Edge Past Redskins to 5-0
5-0 for First Time in Franchise History
Huge Hit by Spoon (Evan Vucci)
The Atlanta Falcons weren’t pretty, but they got the job done yet again on the road, coming from behind, and finding a way to win. The offense looked out of sync for almost the entire game, the defense had major problems with the run and even gave up a first career touchdown pass to a brand new rookie in Kirk Cousins, but nonetheless, the Falcons found a way to win the game and got it done when it really counted. And by the way, the Atlanta Falcons are 5-0 for the first time in franchise history and they have plenty areas for improvement. They may have “sucked” as Roddy White jokingly said after the game, but they’re also undefeated. A look at the Birds road win in DC………
An Ugly Win Always Beats a Pretty Loss
It marks the second week the Falcons have looked less than stellar and had to make a comeback in the 4th quarter to win the game, but an ugly win beats a pretty loss, or as some call them “moral victories,” every day of the week. The offense slogged around the first half, throwing a pick-six in the process, and the defense got gashed by the run and torched by a brand new rookie QB, but the Falcons buckled down when they had to. Matt Ryan led the offense to score 17 points in the 4th quarter and the defense came back from their awful blown coverage TD to Cousins to steal two interceptions in a row to close out the game. If they Falcons continue their overall subpar performances, than it’ll be a cause for concern, but for now their finding ways to win, and they’re only one of two teams that are undefeated, by the way.
Run Defense a Concern
The Ageless Wonder (Susan Walsh)
Cam Newton almost racks up 100 yards himself and 6th round draft pick rookie steams to 114 rushing on Sunday. The Birds are doing a great job in the pass game and takeways, but are showing some weaknesses and vulnerabilities in the run game. The Falcons are currently ranked 27th against the run and will face plenty of strong running teams as the season goes along. In particular, the defensive tackles and middle linebacker play seem to be giving up large amounts of yards. Jerry, Babineaux, and Walker are excellent getting penetration against the pass, but seem to be wearing some vs. the run. Akeem Dent is having major issues at middle linebacker (more below) and that’s putting more and more pressure on the outside linebackers, safeties, and cornerbacks. It should be said that the Falcons are 7th against the pass, but they need to stiffen up against the run a little bit.
Gonzo the Great
Did someone say Tony Gonzalez is supposedly retiring this year? It appears that the 36 year old is on track for one of his best seasons yet. Gonzo hauled in 123 yards with a touchdown and is tied for 3rd overall with 4 touchdowns (among all wide receivers) and 15th in yards including all wide receivers (1st among tight ends). He is surely benefitting from teams trying their best to keep both Julio Jones and Roddy White in check and Koetter is happy to oblige him with the targets. Many teams have talented receiving corps, but few have the additional talent at tight end to occupy the middle with authority the way Gonzalez does. No one is surprised at what he does anymore and he’s playing like he just came into the league. Looking forward, the Falcons and their fans are starting to realize how big the hole will be at TE when he leaves.
Enough with the “Offensive Linemen as Tight End” Mess
Fans and the Bird Cage faithful were ready to toss anything they could get their hands on at the TV seeing Joe Hawley, Mike Johnson, and Garrett Reynolds go out for passes, line up as a 3rd tight end, or doing anything other than blocking on the line (Reynolds illegal man downfield was an accident, but still). What in the Hades is going on here? Some thought the first pass to Joe Hawley (he’s a center remember?) was just an accident, but when it happened again, it bordered somewhere in between being nauseous and bewilderment. Seeing Hawley trying to catch the ball was akin to seeing him in a tutu on a highwire.
JJ Back in the Groove (Susan Walsh)
The Falcons are struggling at fullback in losing Bradie Ewing in the first preseason game and not having Lousaka Polite active this week, but having Hawley or others go out for passes with all the talent available is just criminal. Mike Johnson has been playing a lot of 3rd tight end roles lately which brings up another point: if Tyson Clabo is needing that much extra help in blocking, why is he still in there? Every time Johnson or Hawley are in as an extra lineman, that’s taking out guys like Harry Douglas, Jacquizz Rodgers, Jason Snelling, or even Kevin Cone and Drew Davis. Very, very puzzling and strange.
Julio Back in the Groove
Another game, another big drop early in the game. The Falcons had a huge play drawn up where Ryan hit Julio Jones on a nice deep ball right at the end zone only to see him drop another big one. Fans were starting to get anxious after seeing Jones struggle the last few games, mainly with drops. Could so much talent not explode as everyone thought? The good news is that Ryan and Koetter kept feeding Jones the ball and he looked like the stud we’ve all come to know in the very short time he’s been in red and black. He helped the offense drive down the field with excellent routes, good catches, and his signature extra effort to get more yards. He capped it off with a dazzling touchdown catch where he adjusted to a sidline pass, snagged it, and kept his feet in for the score. Great to have you back JJ!
Issues at MLB
Akeem Dent is struggling mightily at middle linebacker. There’s really no other way to spin it. He looked lost, had weak instincts, overran plays, missed tackles, and was blocked with ease. Even though some are bringing up the B word already after many thought he was a big reach for the 3rd round, it may be a little premature for that. To be fair, Dent hasn’t had a ton of snaps since Nolan is a fan of the big nickel and he’s only a few games into his first starting year. Sean Weatherspoon didn’t look that great as a rookie himself. Dent also has undergone some serious changes the last 4 years, going from a 4-3 defense under Willie Martinez as a junior at UGA to the 3-4 as a senior under Todd Grantham back to a 4-3 under Brian Van Gorder and finally to a new scheme, more of a hybrid, under Mike Nolan. He is, after all, from a Mark Richt led Georgia team well-known for under-developing their players (see that Justin Houston is top 5 in sacks and Blair Walsh is on fire in Minnesota). Also, Dimitroff did sign Lofa Tatupu in a great low-risk, potentially high-reward move before he was injured.
However, defending Dent can only go so far and he can only get so much time to improve. At what point will Mike Peterson get brought back in or Kroy Biermann get a permanent move to LB (a very popular idea here in the Cage). This much is a lock: linebacker moves to the top of the 2013 draft board.
These Falcons Have Some Mettle
Can an OL play QB Next? (Evan Vucci)
On one hand, the Falcons have had two performances that are easy to forget, playing an opponent that is decent-to-good, but surely not great or elite. However, the Falcons have proven the last two weeks that they can find ways to win even if they’re not playing their best. At some point, this will start being an issue instead of a strength, but for now, they’ve won two games in a row down at various points in the game.
What’s Up with the Drops?
The drops are starting to add up and it’s not that big of deal just yet, but something to be looking out for moving forward. Julio dropped a potential long touchdown catch, Quizz dropped an easy screen/dump-off, and then there was Joe Hawley dropping two catches….oh wait, he’s a center running passing routes like a receiver, but surely that can’t be right? In all seriousness, the Falcons need to start locking up the easy catches when they get a chance and eliminate as many drops as possible.
Defense Had RG3 Hemmed Up Anyway
Even though it wasn’t as much as expected, there are surely some who think that the game may have been different if RG3 hadn’t got injured and left the game, but just like forcing Peyton Manning into his interceptions, the Falcons defense brought the wood to him when he pulled the ball down and started to run. Also, the Birds did an excellent job keeping him hemmed up even before the injury. The Falcons defense held him to 91yards passing and only 7 yards rushing in the 3rd quarter. Overall, the Falcons defense pretty much shut down the rookie QB.
5-0 Feels So Good
Mike Smith, Thomas Dimitroff, and Arthur Blank just keep on knocking down those walls. The newest one is getting to 5-0 for the first time in franchise history, which doesn’t mean too awful much to being so early in the season, but it’s been a great start to the campaign and bodes well for the Falcons and their fans going forward.
Your Turn
1) Opening Kickoff: what’s your overall thoughts on the Falcons win?
2) How concerned over rush defense?
3) Do you think Gonzalez is rethinking his retirement after all?
4) What object were readying to throw after the Hawley passes?
5) Please explain the “Extra OL as 3rd TE” mess, if you can.
6) Is Julio back after a few missteps in games?
7) What’s your thoughts on Akeem Dent, MLB overall?
8.) Are the comeback wins a sign of mettle or slowing down?
9) Are the drops starting to worry you?
10) What do you like about your 5-0 Falcons?
11) What worries you most about your 5-0 Falcons?
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827 comments Add your comment
PoolerSpirit
October 13th, 2012
7:49 pm
Searching for Ray… I went through the past week’s Obits on Savannah Now and only saw one Ray… assuming Big Ray wasn’t lying when he talked about his “big, black a$$” then that wasn’t him. He was in Memorial Hospital… if anybody knows Ray’s last name, I’ll go by and check on him tomorrow…
JB FALCON
October 13th, 2012
7:50 pm
JJ, same thing happened last night. I think everyone is thinking the upcoming game will be a gimme, and it may well be, but there is a thing in my mind wondering, will anyone beat us and when and how. I look at NE going 16-0 and losing the big one. Then I look at the Giants and barely getting into the big one and winning it. The suspense it building week after week.
I truly believe we will get into the play offs and break the play off losing streak. After 46 years of hoping, I’m not sure how we will react if we actually bring home the Lombardi. I am very willing to take that chance of having the big one. Each game, from here on out, is writing history and I am anxious to see how the story turns out. If we were to duplicate the Miami miracle that would surely make a lot of the talking heads and general media negativity STFU once and for all!
Wabe
October 13th, 2012
7:53 pm
No reason not to blow out the Raiders tomorrow…
I expect a blowout, anything short of that would be somewhat disappointing. I get it, wins are wins. But, you can’t play down to your competition week after week. Gotta smack some folks around, and we play one of those teams that we should smack tomorrow.
The Raiders running game hasn’t been all that effective this season. McFadden is a good back, but, for whatever reason, they haven’t been able to run he football. I’d hope we’re not the team that McFadden has a coming out party against.
Not really much to break down in this game, IMO. Blowout. That’s what better happen.
35-14. Falcons get to bye week at 6-0.
Birdman
October 13th, 2012
8:01 pm
No worries yet .
I have seen SW take a time out are two before.I Pray that all is well with our two brothers
JB FALCON
October 13th, 2012
8:01 pm
I hope to see the Falcons get better each week, correct a weak point each week, and peak out at the NO swamp with the final win.
Birdman
October 13th, 2012
8:13 pm
44 to 10 Falcons
The Ice Man gets 400 yards throwing .
Birdman
October 13th, 2012
8:29 pm
The Birds will go into the bye 6 & 0 If all goes the way it should .
After there bye they go to Phill and face the other Birds. And they also will be coming off a bye .You can bet that the Eagles are going to be studying the Falcons on there week off and working on our weaknesses.
This will be our OC and DC:s biggest challenge so for this year
JB FALCON
October 13th, 2012
8:44 pm
BM, I am looking forward to the Igles game but the bottom line is I just want to see a Falcon put a hurtin’ on Prick. Maybe bite him on the leg.
JB FALCON
October 13th, 2012
9:52 pm
D3, one last time. you have Big Ray and SW’s em address, could you check on them for us, or is that asking too much?
Ken Strickland
October 13th, 2012
11:59 pm
BIG RAY is ok. He’s been spending a little time on the Hawks blog.
Big Ray
October 14th, 2012
10:09 am
JB ,
Sorry bro’, been hanging out a bit on the Hawks blog, as Ken S can attest to…stirring the pot, as it were…LOL.
I’m fine, just been overdoing it a bit lately and have to get back to recovering the right way. Couple of comments on your recent opinions.
1) Yes, I do think somebody will beat us, we won’t go 16-0, but it’s all good. Rather lose in the regular season and get into the postseason and make a run. HOW will they beat us? It’s as likely that we will beat ourselves, but my guess is we will get outsmarted by a team that matches up well with us. Matchups and stategy make up for a LOT in this game. Brings me to my next point…
2) The Pats going undefeated and then losing in the SuperBowl was EXACTLY about matchups and strategy. They came across an opponent with the right matchups, which allowed them to employ the right scheme against them. As we all know, it was the Giants. The game still could have gone either way, but the Giants had enough of the right stuff to compete in that game against a team that was making it look like there WAS no competition for them.
Matchups, my friend…it’s what will take us as far as we can go. We learn to take advantage of our matchups from game to game…and that’s how we win.
There is a lot of work to do, a lot of stuff to correct. Koetter in particular has work to do. He has to learn which matchups work best in which games. Last week it was Julio and TG more than most. But he had other favorable matchups as well, and did not exploit them.
Like you said…fix a piece of this or that each week…
Big Ray
October 14th, 2012
10:11 am
And to D3’s credit, he emailed me a week ago asking how I was doing and saying that some of y’all were concerned.
I do appreciate that, guys/gals. I really do.
Love ya, Cage Fam. Love ya all.
And I will be doing some play-by-play today!!
JJ
October 14th, 2012
10:11 am
From ESPN Insider scouting report:
After watching film of both teams, Scouts Inc. breaks down key elements of the Week 6 Raiders-Falcons matchup.
• Oakland needs to eat up the clock: Atlanta coach Mike Smith is a firm believer in ball control and counts time of possession as one of the keys to a win each week. In last week’s win over the Washington Redskins, the Falcons owned a 37:01-22:59 advantage in time of possession. With the Falcons’ ability to eat up yards and sustain drives with a solid combination of passing and running, it is imperative that the Raiders use a strong ground game that eats up the clock and keeps the chains moving.
• Look for Falcons to create one-on-ones for receivers: The Raiders are not only struggling to cover out wide, but their defensive front hasn’t been able to mount much of a pass rush. If Oakland can’t pressure the pocket, it will give Atlanta’s receivers time to run more combination or double-move routes. When he sees his wide receivers in single coverage, Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan loves to throw balls up high where his tall receivers can catch the ball over the top of shorter cornerbacks.
• Crowd the box: Atlanta’s defense has been built more for speed and the kind of wide-open passing games it tends to face in the NFC South. The Falcons are often exposed a bit when facing a strong ground game; they are ranked 31st when it comes to stopping the run. Raiders running back Darren McFadden hasn’t exactly embraced their new zone blocking scheme, but he can still put up yards when he gets off to a quick start. Look for the Falcons to crowd the box with an eighth defender as they try to plug up the running lanes and limit McFadden’s options.
• Home QB: Ryan has really come into this own this season and is doing a great job of reading defenses and protecting the football. He is completing 68 percent of his passes and has connected for 13 touchdown passes while throwing just three interceptions. He is making a good case for inclusion in the class of elite quarterbacks who can be game-changers and lead their offenses to new levels.
• Away QB: Carson Palmer is a quality quarterback with a strong arm and good field vision but has limited foot quickness and ability to extend plays. He is limited to throwing from the pocket to be effective. While he has thrown only two interceptions, he also has thrown only five touchdown passes. He can be very effective when backed up with a strong ground game and is most effective when the play-action fake manages to momentarily freeze the coverage as it makes its reads.
• Key positional battle — Falcons’ ground game vs. Raiders’ LBs: One thing we can count on is Smith’s commitment to the run. While the Falcons might not pour on the yards early on, he will keep pounding the ball knowing Michael Turner is apt to break one eventually. Atlanta is more explosive with its passing game, but it’s the ground game that wears opponents down. The Raiders’ linebackers, especially MLB Rolando McClain, are much stronger defending the run than they are in coverage, and it may end up being a matter of which team can force its will on the opponent early that decides this game.
• Featured player: For the Raiders to have any kind of chance, they will need a huge game from McFadden. He can be a dominating running back when on his game but has not looked like the McFadden of years past so far this season. The Falcons are giving up 5.4 yards per rushing attempt this year and could be exposed if the Raiders can get their backs off to a fast start. McFadden needs to run with his eyes up and an aggressive downhill style that commits early and hits the hole at full speed.
• Film room nuggets: Atlanta TE Tony Gonzalez is not as fast or explosive as he once was, but few tight ends — or receivers for that matter — run as precise routes and do as good a job of finishing their routes off. He goes to the ball and doesn’t just sit and wait for the ball to come to him. … Oakland’s cornerbacks have struggled in man coverage and just don’t do a great job of playing the ball in the air. They could be in for a long day against these receivers that excel at catching the ball over the top of defenders. … Turner may have lost a step over the years and is not quite the workhorse back he once was, but he still runs with a great base and tacklers often end up just bouncing off his thighs.
Prediction
Atlanta 31
Oakland 20
While the Falcons did not enjoy one of their better passing games against the Redskins in Week 5, they shouldn’t have much trouble moving the ball on the Raiders. Look for a big game for Ryan and his stable of receivers.
Big Ray
October 14th, 2012
10:22 am
JJ ,
Good post.
Manning up against the run will continue to haunt us until we can nail it down. We could lose a game off of this, to be honest. It could be THIS game if we’re not careful. We don’t need to let our guard down and lose to a team we have no business losing to, but don’t think it can’t happen.
At the same time, we should be able to roll up 300+ yards through the air again, and it should happen early, often, and continuously. That’s what is going to win games anyway, in the end.
The only thing is, we don’t need to get stupid while “trying things out”….I can see trying a double bubble screen or whatever, but I do NOT want to see anymore BS with throwing to the Center, or any other OL player.
Big Ray
October 14th, 2012
10:27 am
Speaking of throwing…
I figure our “out of the backfield” game improves dramatically next season. No, I’m not necessarily talking about kicking Mike Turner to the curb, though it may well happen.
I’m talking about Bradie Ewing. The guy can catch the ball out of the backfield, but he can also block. He’ll have all of this season and all of next offseason to get stronger. While the FB position won’t be used heavily if Turner isn’t around next season (or even if he is), the FB who can catch and block is a guy who allows you to do two things:
1) Add extra pass protection without adding another OL player (and subsequently using them as an eligibile receiver).
2) Create another credible dump-off receiving threat…especially after a chip-block or something like that.
And to be honest, we’ve seen this play attempt enough times to know that we do need that option with a better catch-and-run threat than Mike Turner gives us. Turner has to be wide open and squared towards the QB to make that catch, but then he’s got to turn all the way around and gather some steam to make anything of the play. Guys like Snelling, Quizz, and yes…Ewing…can catch more like receivers, body slanted away from the QB and pointed upfield. This allows them to gain yardage after the catch unless the defender is already on them.
It does make a difference….
snacktastic
October 14th, 2012
11:08 am
I thought the Falcons would blow out our opponents the past couple of weeks, and they didn’t…so maybe I shouldn’t be so quick to assume they’ll do so today. But you know what? I expect them to handle business at home against an inferior team before the bye. Falcons roll 38-10.
Big Ray
October 14th, 2012
11:27 am
true that
Slant Pattern
October 14th, 2012
11:39 am
“It does make a difference….” – BR
Having ya here certainly does. People were freaking out, started to make me nervous lol. Gald you’re ok and good stuff on the analysis. I can’t be mad at TD about Pead since he went earlier than our pick, but getting Demps would have helped us so much. I hope the Branch guys start to see the many things possible with this offense…and I don’t mean the power-running part.
Wabe
October 14th, 2012
12:20 pm
31st against the run?
Man, I knew we were bad, but didn’t know we were almost dead-last in rush defense. Gotta work on that through the bye.
snacktastic
October 14th, 2012
12:31 pm
Looks like Nicholas and Babineaux are in.
JB FALCON
October 14th, 2012
12:51 pm
Big Ray, good to hear that you are recovering well. Waitin’ for the game to start and hear a 14-2 SB win prediction on the pre-game show. That’s what I’m talking about!
Big Lou
October 14th, 2012
12:55 pm
Giants were one of the worst teams stopping the run last year. They won the Super Bowl. As long as the offense scores, the run defense becomes an overrated stat. I really believe they will do a better job against the run today, though.
Wings
October 14th, 2012
12:56 pm
Lawd, Lawd JBF, undefeated and Big Ray is back.
My mom used that term all the timne.
Big Lou
October 14th, 2012
1:01 pm
Go Falcons!!!!!!!!
snacktastic
October 14th, 2012
1:03 pm
Ryan wastes no time.
JJ
October 14th, 2012
1:04 pm
7-11
Big Lou
October 14th, 2012
1:04 pm
Good to have polite back.
Big Ray
October 14th, 2012
1:05 pm
Big Lou ,
I think it’s no coincidence on a few things…
1) Most teams that reach the SB have a mean passing attack.
2) The Giants faced teams in the SB that didn’t have mean running games. Such as that undefeated Patriots team a few years ago…and the one last year. What if they had to face a team that could pass AND run? Just a thought…
3) I agree that our offense MUST be able to score. And that happens quickest through the air.
Big Ray
October 14th, 2012
1:06 pm
SP ,
Thanks, good to be around! Agreed on the offensive possibilities.
Meanwhile not a good start. Ryan’s over-the-middle pass picked off…
Big Lou
October 14th, 2012
1:06 pm
That was…
I just I don’t know.
snacktastic
October 14th, 2012
1:07 pm
Bad pick, but we got it right back!
Big Ray
October 14th, 2012
1:08 pm
…aaand the defense takes the ball RIGHT back.
Matty Ice threw a pick…which means he will probably now throw three TDs.
Big Lou
October 14th, 2012
1:08 pm
Why is Matt Ryan throwing really bad int? WTF?
snacktastic
October 14th, 2012
1:08 pm
The pick was thrown too far behind the receiver, I think. Just a bit too far to the left.
Big Lou
October 14th, 2012
1:09 pm
Stop staring down the receivers!
snacktastic
October 14th, 2012
1:10 pm
What are we doing kicking a field goal?
JB FALCON
October 14th, 2012
1:11 pm
And Bryant missed? Somebody done flung a spell on the Birds
Big Lou
October 14th, 2012
1:12 pm
snacktastic
The throw was going in the right area; it just seems Matt Ryan completely missed the defender. That’s happened in all of his INT this year. And then we miss the field goal… WTF is going on!?
Wabe
October 14th, 2012
1:12 pm
Disturbing start…
Don’t want to even give these dude’s a hint that they can come here and win this game…
Supposed to start strong, and put these dudes in their place.
snacktastic
October 14th, 2012
1:13 pm
Weirdest start I’ve ever seen.
Wabe
October 14th, 2012
1:14 pm
Nice penetration. Babs been bustin’ through the middle of that line.
Big Lou
October 14th, 2012
1:16 pm
Wow.
Heck of a catch..
snacktastic
October 14th, 2012
1:16 pm
The Predator strikes!
Big Lou
October 14th, 2012
1:20 pm
You know I love the Mattural, but that’s an INT 4 games in a row. Every time he was staring down his target. He needs to tighten this up.
Wabe
October 14th, 2012
1:21 pm
That’ll be there all day…
Twice now we’ve seen big plays on post-out routes.
Wabe
October 14th, 2012
1:22 pm
Here’s the problem…
You can’t seriously make other secondaries look better than they are. Happened last week in Washington, happening here too…
It’s a joke. This secondary hasn’t had an INT all season. And they just picked us off twice in the 1st quarter.
snacktastic
October 14th, 2012
1:23 pm
That’s two picks. This one looks like it’s going to get ugly yet again.
Big Lou
October 14th, 2012
1:23 pm
Matt threw that INT because he was hit on the throw. Let’s go defense.
Big Ray
October 14th, 2012
1:24 pm
On the pick, I’m sure somebody can point out what Ryan should have done…but I also know that the defender sniffed the play and was right on the ball.
Slant Pattern
October 14th, 2012
1:27 pm
Just meh. The first interception the defender jumped the route and then the Quizz toss seems sniffed out by a mile. We are telegraphing plays or the Raiders got our radio frequency lol. Throwing into triple coverage is never smart but yet we do it again. I would really like to know how defenses can keep getting triple coverage on us but yet something not be obviously open.