Offense almost shootout ready.

[atljokerz]

Hope the Defense comes because we know the offense will.

Offense is almost shootout-ready

By D. Orlando Ledbetter | Tuesday, November 4, 2008, 09:04 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Was up late watching the Monday Night game. I think the Redskins lost because of those hideous all Burgundy uniforms.

It was good to see former Falcon Byron Leftwich show out. I’ve got a theory that the football Gods are smiling down on the players who went through last season with the Falcons. So good for Leftwich and his rocket arm. He may have resurrected his once-promising career.

Then I flipped over the Falcons game that my daughter had recorded for me. What jumped out in my review of the broadcast tape was that the offense is very close to being shootout-ready.

Offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey is going to great lengths to unleash Jerious Norwood to go along with running back Michael Turner in a Thunder (Turner) and Lightning (Norwood) attack. He used Norwood at quarterback, wide receiver, threw him a swing pass and flipped tackles Tyson Clabo and Todd Weiner on Norwood’s 12-yard touchdown run.

Clabo moved to left tackle and Weiner went to right. They must think that Clabo is more mobile in space as he pulled to lead the way to the endzone. Turner was also the upback at fullback on the play. It was a nice look. The defense flowed with Turner to the right and nobody but a overmatched cornerback whom Clabo was steaming toward was on the backside. Norwood got the toss and zipped on around the corner.

The Falcons haven’t gotten much out of their “Dirty Bird-Wildcat” attack, but it makes teams get ready for something else. When Norwood lined up at receiver he broke off his route, while quarterback Matt Ryan thought he was going deep. If Norwood had kept going, he may have open for a touchdown.

There was another missed opportunities. Brian Finneran beat DeAngelo Hall up the right sideline, but a scrambling Ryan didn’t get enough muster on his throw. That could have been six points, too.

Michael Jenkins got open on both of touchdowns at the line of scrimmage. On the first, he jumped to the outside of Hall and then turned on the burners to beat him up the field. On the second, he got inside of Stanford Routt went straight up the field and then broke to the flag and was wide open.

Tight end Justin Peelle looked good catching the ball.

Harry Douglas didn’t set the world on fire in his first game as the punt returner. On his second return he should have stepped up and made a fair catch at the 30. He let the ball bounce and it rolled all the way to the 12, costing the Falcons 18 yards of field position. Adams Jennings was probably saying, “I could have did that.”

If the Falcons keep feeding Norwood, Jenkins stays on his game and Peelle turns into a catching threat at tight end, they’ll have additional weapons to go with Turner and White. The offense is not far from being shootout-ready. That’s important as they face the Saints this week.

The game on Sunday pits the league’s top passing attack — Saints at 314.4 yards a game - and the league’s top rushing attack - Falcons at 163.4 yards per game. The Saints average 27 points a game (sixth in the league).

Sunday’s game could turn into a shootout if the Falcons don’t bring the pass defense A-game.

Is Mularkey, Ryan and the rest of the offense ready to win a shootout with the dynamic Drew Brees? Can the defense lock down his receivers man-to-man or should they stay in their zone defenses? The Saints get the ball out quickly and have only been sacked seven times so blitzing doesn’t appear to be an option. Got any other ideas on how the Falcons can Defend the Dome and stop this four-game losing streak to the Saints?

ESPN.COM

[chifalc]

Hope the Defense comes because we know the offense will.

Offense is almost shootout-ready

By D. Orlando Ledbetter | Tuesday, November 4, 2008, 09:04 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Was up late watching the Monday Night game. I think the Redskins lost because of those hideous all Burgundy uniforms.

It was good to see former Falcon Byron Leftwich show out. I’ve got a theory that the football Gods are smiling down on the players who went through last season with the Falcons. So good for Leftwich and his rocket arm. He may have resurrected his once-promising career.

Then I flipped over the Falcons game that my daughter had recorded for me. What jumped out in my review of the broadcast tape was that the offense is very close to being shootout-ready.

Offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey is going to great lengths to unleash Jerious Norwood to go along with running back Michael Turner in a Thunder (Turner) and Lightning (Norwood) attack. He used Norwood at quarterback, wide receiver, threw him a swing pass and flipped tackles Tyson Clabo and Todd Weiner on Norwood’s 12-yard touchdown run.

Clabo moved to left tackle and Weiner went to right. They must think that Clabo is more mobile in space as he pulled to lead the way to the endzone. Turner was also the upback at fullback on the play. It was a nice look. The defense flowed with Turner to the right and nobody but a overmatched cornerback whom Clabo was steaming toward was on the backside. Norwood got the toss and zipped on around the corner.

The Falcons haven’t gotten much out of their “Dirty Bird-Wildcat” attack, but it makes teams get ready for something else. When Norwood lined up at receiver he broke off his route, while quarterback Matt Ryan thought he was going deep. If Norwood had kept going, he may have open for a touchdown.

There was another missed opportunities. Brian Finneran beat DeAngelo Hall up the right sideline, but a scrambling Ryan didn’t get enough muster on his throw. That could have been six points, too.

Michael Jenkins got open on both of touchdowns at the line of scrimmage. On the first, he jumped to the outside of Hall and then turned on the burners to beat him up the field. On the second, he got inside of Stanford Routt went straight up the field and then broke to the flag and was wide open.

Tight end Justin Peelle looked good catching the ball.

Harry Douglas didn’t set the world on fire in his first game as the punt returner. On his second return he should have stepped up and made a fair catch at the 30. He let the ball bounce and it rolled all the way to the 12, costing the Falcons 18 yards of field position. Adams Jennings was probably saying, “I could have did that.”

If the Falcons keep feeding Norwood, Jenkins stays on his game and Peelle turns into a catching threat at tight end, they’ll have additional weapons to go with Turner and White. The offense is not far from being shootout-ready. That’s important as they face the Saints this week.

The game on Sunday pits the league’s top passing attack — Saints at 314.4 yards a game - and the league’s top rushing attack - Falcons at 163.4 yards per game. The Saints average 27 points a game (sixth in the league).

Sunday’s game could turn into a shootout if the Falcons don’t bring the pass defense A-game.

Is Mularkey, Ryan and the rest of the offense ready to win a shootout with the dynamic Drew Brees? Can the defense lock down his receivers man-to-man or should they stay in their zone defenses? The Saints get the ball out quickly and have only been sacked seven times so blitzing doesn’t appear to be an option. Got any other ideas on how the Falcons can Defend the Dome and stop this four-game losing streak to the Saints?

ESPN.COM

The way to beat them is using the Oakland Strategy: Don't let them on the feild. CHew clock liek there is no tomorrow and stuff the ball down their throats then do it again.

[Karst41]

This is my post to the ajc and also includes a quote from Bear

Nice thread D. I will not agree to a shootout ready offense.

Shoot outs are bad because your D does not get much rest. if any.

Controlling the clock is another thing entirely. 1 Keeps defense rested. 2 Scores some points One TD per quarter and a field goal or two. (34 points)

Bear wrote: The Falcons need to matriculate the ball down the field.

and I could not agree more, because that is exactly what we did to Oakland Sunday and what I would love to see us do to the NFC South.

Cheers

[chifalc]

This is my post to the ajc and also includes a quote from Bear

Nice thread D. I will not agree to a shootout ready offense.

Shoot outs are bad because your D does not get much rest. if any.

Controlling the clock is another thing entirely. 1 Keeps defense rested. 2 Scores some points One TD per quarter and a field goal or two. (34 points)

Bear wrote: The Falcons need to matriculate the ball down the field.

and I could not agree more, because that is exactly what we did to Oakland Sunday and what I would love to see us do to the NFC South.

Cheers

You know, if we get 40+ minutes of Possession time in any game, or even nearly 40, its going to be hard to lose.

[Big Zee]

We'll be fine on offense but I'm worried about our defense b/c Brees is playing out of his mind right now. Our front 4 (especially Abe and Anderson) better apply some serious pressure... if that happens, we'll win but if we can't put pressure... the only way we win is in a shootout.