Falcons’ secondary has been effective mix of crash, flash
Thomas DeCoud leaps onto William Moore after one of Moore's two interceptions against New Orleans recently. (Jason Getz/AJC)
FLOWERY BRANCH – There’s a pair of mustard-colored Dickies’ coveralls hanging in the Falcons’ locker room, an ugly oversized jumpsuit that seems more appropriate for a guy who’s tearing down walls or nailing up Sheetrock than a professional athlete who shortly after practice will climb into his Mercedes.
Which I guess is kind of the point.
“DBs come to work,” safety William Moore said Thursday, reading the words he wrote in black marker on the suit after purchasing it in downtown Atlanta. “I used to wear those back at Missouri in the winter. I bought that one here, but it was too big. I was going to bring it back, but then I thought, no, I’ll bring it here. It means something. It’s who we are.”
There are a few discernible differences between this Falcons team and ones of recent seasons. The game plans are less predictable. Matt Ryan is more accurate. Julio Jones — less mortal.
But few areas of this team stand out more than the secondary. It’s an interesting mix of crash (Moore) and flash (Asante Samuel: “I’m just swag-100”).
The Falcons have given up yardage in chunks this season — 365.6 per game, which ranked only 24th in the league). But they ranked fifth in points allowed at 18.7. One reason has been the ability of the defense, particularly the secondary, to make drive-changing, game-changing plays.
This is a group that lost its best starting cornerback, Brent Grimes, to a torn Achilles in the season opener. But that hasn’t seemed to matter.
The Falcons’ defensive backs immediately embraced the schemes of new coordinator Mike Nolan. Cornerback Dunta Robinson calls Nolan “heaven-sent.”
Asante Samuel has brought a needed swagger to the Falcons' secondary. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
Consider five opposing quarterbacks that the defense has gotten the best of this season: Peyton Manning, Philip Rivers, Tony Romo, Drew Brees and Eli Manning. Their combined totals: two touchdowns, 12 interceptions.
They’ve confused some of the league’s best with disguised coverages. They’ve also have beaten three mobile quarterbacks: Robert Griffin III, Michael Vick and Cam Newton.
So when they face the Seattle Seahawks in Sunday’s playoff game, should rookie Russell Wilson be considered a great threat?
“This guy’s different,” Moore said. “He has the ‘it’ factor. The dude can play some ball, and I’m not gassing him up just because we play him. He makes some plays the average quarterback wouldn’t make. He extends plays with his feet.”
Just guessing here: The feet that caused the Falcons their greatest concern are those of Marshawn Lynch. They likely will be focused on stopping the Seahawks’ running back and letting Wilson try to beat them with his arm.
This is a different crew, both in scheme and attitude. Nolan has given defensive backs far more freedom to rely on their instincts than his predecessor, Brian VanGorder. Coverages have been well-disguised, less vanilla.
“We’re not showing our hand,” safety Thomas DeCoud said. “Last year we were stagnant. We would show people what we were going to do before the snap and then just hoped our execution would be up to par. But this year we’ve been able to disguise some things pretty well. It’s been fun because we also have the freedom [to break away] if we see something.”
Nolan changed the dynamic on paper. Samuel changed the dynamic in the locker room. He won two Super Bowls in New England and played in three, as well as four Pro Bowls. He has no equal on the Falcons in either bling or blab-ability.
“He has a huge hand in our attitude,” DeCoud said. “At the beginning we were like, ‘Oh, he said that? You can say that?’ Everybody has their own way of getting it done. He likes to mess with people’s minds and get them out of their game. More power to him if that’s how you get your job done.”
Moore again: “He has that swagger. I feed off it myself. Sometimes the other team doesn’t respect the humble.”
This isn’t a game-day-only thing. Samuel regularly trash talks in practice, saying, “It keeps me on my game.”
As for the playoffs, Samuel said: “It’s showtime.”
Or work time. In either case, if the Falcons have better results this postseason, the secondary will be a reason why.
The digital jukebox
– Time to put Hall of Fame vote on shelf, overhaul system
– Time’s up for Falcons: They need to win in postseason now
– Falcons vs. playoff field: unbeaten but seldom tested
– Seattle tough but Falcons have some advantages
– After 10-2 start, Georgia Tech gets an ACC reality check
– Georgia projects well for 2013, even with flaws in win
– Georgia needs to finish strong to avoid diminishing season
By Jeff Schultz
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
86 comments Add your comment
JSS
January 11th, 2013
12:05 am
“Banned?” Still trying to flatter yourself? “Boycott?” Ha ha, that’s even better, power to the loonies!
Najeh Davenpoop
January 11th, 2013
12:09 am
The way Wilson plays and Seattle’s offense is structured, the play of the linebackers in containing Lynch and Wilson’s scrambling is going to matter more than how the secondary plays. They have to play better than they did against the Panthers in both games (even in the loss, Cam Newton put up 28 points).
JSS
January 11th, 2013
12:25 am
Nice observation Davenpoop, Did you see this one on the Seattle P-I? http://blog.seattlepi.com/football/2013/01/10/how-seahawks-coach-pete-carroll-is-preparing-for-the-falcons/#9289-1
Eric C.
January 11th, 2013
1:10 am
I’m not sure anymore who the bully is on this blog?
If the Falcons win, will they recover in time for the next game?
FalconJim
January 11th, 2013
1:24 am
I can only hope it’s “crash and flash”, and NOT “crash and BURN”. We gotta get after Lynch early and OFTEN, and make the Rookie QB beat us, if he can.
I see a couple of picks or more coming from our secondary, and a fumble or two by the “rookie”.
Falcons are gonna win this one, BIGGER than anyone thinks….mark it down!!!
GO, YOU DIRTY BIRDS!!!!!
Eric C.
January 11th, 2013
1:28 am
http://blog.seattlepi.com/football/2013/01/10/statistician-nate-silver-predicts-seahawks-patriots-rematch-in-super-bowl/
Funny to read the fan comments…the Seattle fans are already looking past this game and discussing the superbowl. I just hope the players are also doing that.
Hawknation
January 11th, 2013
6:03 am
The game is going to be in marshawn lynch’s hand!!! We are going to run the ball run the clock and keep the offense on the sidelines. Sorry Matt Ryan 0-4 and sorry Tony g 0-6 try again next year with your 5% ass.
The 12th Falcon
January 11th, 2013
8:49 am
FALCONS 34
Seahawks 0
Say what
January 11th, 2013
9:58 am
Nate Silver should stick to political analysis. His comments were on the level of a typical Seattle homer.
Say what
January 11th, 2013
10:00 am
“sorry Tony g 0-6 try again next year with your 5% ass”
The Seattle fans here have no class, with one or two exceptions. The city should be embarassed.
JSS
January 11th, 2013
10:07 am
Amazing, (Morten) Andersen misses the final cut for the Hall of Fame voting… That’s a shame…
Ryder
January 11th, 2013
10:21 am
If Atlanta sticks to the Amoeba defense it will create confusion among the Seattle backfield. The key to this game will be Matt Ryan using the short passing game to keep Russell Wilson off the field. I expect a lot of bubble screens to Roddy White and Tight End flats to Gonzalez. As they get in the red zone, expect a lot of fade passes to Julio to go one-on-one with the cornerback Sherman. I expect Harry Douglas to get a big catch in this game as well. Falcons will win 27-17. The foot injury to Lynch will slow him down enough for Atlanta to get to him.
Say what
January 11th, 2013
10:26 am
Seattle PI is good for something, at least. Specifically the 27 pics with this article:
http://www.seattlepi.com/default/article/Bama-QB-s-girlfriend-in-spotlight-after-title-win-4174673.php#photo-3998982
Say what
January 11th, 2013
10:27 am
Hey look, a JSS and Say what post side by side with no bickering. Could world peace be far behind?
Billy Ryckman
January 11th, 2013
10:47 am
if we played the Broncos again, Peyton Manning would light us up this time around. First time with all those interceptions was a fluke
CF-Faclons Fan
January 11th, 2013
11:52 am
The best defense will be if the ATL offense can move the ball, use the screen, maybe a run or two so they can play action. Maybe a few trick plays, what the heck – keep the ball, and get TDs. Three and outs will doom the defense, no matter what – it will wear them down. Also, none of the national media is mentioning our secondary, it’s all about Seattle. I would not trade ours for theirs, especially with Moore back at full strength
1st Time Post Never Again
January 11th, 2013
11:56 am
I promise to never post on this blog again as you can see that this is my 1st and only time. However I felt compelled to say something about how good I feel about this Falcon Team and one blogger in particular. I usually read these blogs and find them quite informative with information about the Dirty Birds and I love how the friendly banter goes back and forth with the rival team on a weekly basis. I am a long time Falcon Fan (days of Bartkowski, Andrews, and Cain, etc…) since I moved here from South Carolina. I know that it can become a thing of passion when many of us talk about the home team and how we show our loyalty no matter the circumstances, in good days and bad. I know that we will play hard this Sunday and pull out a win and continue to march forward to the Super Bowl in New Orleans ( think of that the Falcons in New Orleans….wow those Saints will just roll over and die! LOL). JSS I find myself looking at you quite frequently on these blogs and notice how you have a running feud with many of the bloggers on this site. Your attitude, disdain for others, meanness and downright Superiority complex is such a sad event on a day by day basis. Please, I don’t send this to you to attack you or to try and throw jabs at you but I know that from past readings that you are a antagonistic person who seems to enjoy the crudeness of going back and forth with people here. Your reasons are yours alone, however if I had to share just some insight about what I have seen it would so appear that it is you against every other blogger in this room almost. I kind of figure that the masses can’t be the ones that have so much hate and displeasure about posting the passion that they have for Atlanta Falcons. It so appears that it is you that has so much pain, anger and downright meanness about the Falcons and the fans on here. Much like I said to open this up, first time posting on this blog and I promise it will be the last. However to balance the things I have said, I find some of your points valid and with much thought out information, however to be a person that is on neither side of the fence as being a Falcon fan or not being a Falcon fan, it is puzzling to me that you come here to post and continue to be the person that you are with regards to having that standing feud weekly. I guess I am also puzzled as to why one of AJC beat writers, would allow you to keep posting the vile hateful things you do which creates more vile hateful language from many of these bloggers. It puzzles me? I am sure that you will repost with more hateful insight as I have seen you do too many who try to speak to you with respect and sincere honesty, but like I said I won’t repost again, just felt like something had to be said. I wish you luck for the 2013 blogging season.
Let’s go Falcons! Bring it home this year! We are on a roll and this is the year that Tony G., rides off in the sunset with a much deserved SUPER BOWL!!!!!! RISE UP ATLANTA FAITHFUL!!!!!
one&done
January 11th, 2013
12:24 pm
all you sacks of poop are just that..you don’t know your arses from a hole in the ground! We do NOT have top notch talent..We are probably 6 players short of a full deck,,that being said, the coach’s are getting the best out of the hand they were dealt!
Listen up all you numbskulls..the team that wins Sunday will be the team that makes the fewest mistakes..Bank on it!!
And if you beat writers don’t have anything to report on the Falcons other than the T.G. 95% factor..PLEASE!! Don’t write anything.
cdog
January 11th, 2013
1:11 pm
the linebackers and secondary of the falcons should have a field day.they can’t be playing scared or cautious.they have the advantage.they should be aggressive and knock out the seahawks.if russell wilson tries to run someone should bust him in the mouth repeatedly until he runs out of gas.coach smith should watch the seattle corners for holding and grabbing beyond legal boundaries
today
January 11th, 2013
2:42 pm
the falcons beat Manning in his second game with a new team. Much has changed since then
Answer This
January 11th, 2013
2:57 pm
You are correct @ today
THE FALCONS GOT BETTER!!!$!!!
RISE UP!
Answer This
January 11th, 2013
2:59 pm
Remember it was the Falcons second game also, behind a new OC and DC….we went 11-3 after that game….we continued to Rise Up!
Back 2 The Brown Paper Bags
January 11th, 2013
4:32 pm
dams@FalconsJAdams
John Abraham is questionable for Sunday’s game vs. Seattle. William Moore and Dunta Robinson are probable
robable
DJANGO
January 11th, 2013
5:05 pm
An article on ESPN.com says Matt Ryan’s 28 qbr in the
playoffs is the 2nd worst in NFL history.
DawgNole
January 11th, 2013
6:36 pm
JSS
January 11th, 2013
10:07 am
Amazing, (Morten) Andersen misses the final cut for the Hall of Fame voting… That’s a shame…
________________________
A shame indeed. MA was a kicking machine for many years. Very few PKs in league history more reliable or durable.
The 12th Falcon
January 11th, 2013
6:49 pm
The Falcons will flash and the Seahawks will crash.
Atlanta 34
Seattle 0
rise
UP
fan
January 11th, 2013
6:53 pm
iF the “dirty birds” win, how many will be arrested for DUI that night…but of course they want because Mattie Ryan will choke his guts out .
JSS
January 11th, 2013
7:36 pm
@ DawgNole…
I truly thought he’d at least make the final round of voting… This does not bode well for his candidacy… There should be five no-brainers in the kickers: Groza (in), Blanda (in), Stenerud (in), Guy (not in), and Andersen (not in)… That is indeed a shame…
Hey Now
January 11th, 2013
8:27 pm
Hey DJANGO: Matt Ryan’s playoff statistics will be much improved after Sunday’s blowout win over the Seahawks.
DJANGO
January 11th, 2013
5:05 pm
An article on ESPN.com says Matt Ryan’s 28 qbr in the
playoffs is the 2nd worst in NFL history.
Link Report this comment
LOL at the Aints
January 11th, 2013
9:12 pm
http://youtu.be/4VIvE39vTPQ
If we come out like this we’ll be OH, Tay,,,
LOL at the Aints
January 11th, 2013
9:16 pm
JSS, we finally agree on something,, Morten Anderson belongs in the hall of fame. What are they thinking.. 2544, all time leading scorer,, sheez
LOL at the Aints
January 11th, 2013
9:20 pm
Last time i checked scoring is what this game is all about. And dude holds the Record…
Georgia
January 11th, 2013
9:28 pm
Thus is the greatest time of year. The playoff season. I can’t believe there will be four playoff games, each one more exciting than the next, until of course, the falcons take the field. Omg. I do live for football.
C from Marietta
January 11th, 2013
9:32 pm
I have a feeling it’s going to be a Julio Jones type game. His toughness will help the Falcons overcome. Seattle’s corners were interviewed on NFL Radio (XM satelite). They said nothing but great things about the Falcons tandom. Their definately respect the Falcons. So, the Falcon’s will have their hands full, b/c Seattle is not taking anything for granted. I believe this is the year the Falcons get that playoff win!
Jeff Schultz
January 11th, 2013
9:40 pm
FOLKS — Sorry for the change but we now have an entirely new digital platform. My new URL for my blog page is: http://www.ajc.com/weblogs/jeff-schultz/
Thanks, Jeff
JSS
January 11th, 2013
10:32 pm
Finally, Jeff Schultz, will the new log-ins going to be in effect now?