Does Mularkey adjust his scheme to beat saints?

[MSalmon]

I have been a huge critic of Mularkey and his inflexible scheme--particularly after the Steelers game. That said, he obviously made some adjustments and his scheme worked against the cardinals. How will the offense fare against the saints and their opportunistic defense? Does the emergence and insertion of snelling make a difference? Do we see more than just Turner up the middle and more of a platoon? Does Ryan get to go no-huddle?

Thoughts?

[vabchbirdlover]

Pretty much felt the same. Maybe MM was limited to the personnel on the field, Turner vice Snelling. Been a proponent of mixing up the passing game with an occasional pass to the RB, seems like Turner nbr was never call of any sort of pass play. Why? dont know. Maybe catching passes is not his forte. But, sure seems like the Falcons were a whole lot less predictable last week on offense, albeit against a lesser opponent than wk 1.

[MSalmon]

Pretty much felt the same. Maybe MM was limited to the personnel on the field, Turner vice Snelling. Been a proponent of mixing up the passing game with an occasional pass to the RB, seems like Turner nbr was never call of any sort of pass play. Why? dont know. Maybe catching passes is not his forte. But, sure seems like the Falcons were a whole lot less predictable last week on offense, albeit against a lesser opponent than wk 1.

i agree it the falcons seemed a lot more "loose" and unpredictable. I know its easy to be a "Tv game manager" but during the Pitt game, it just seemed like i knew exactly what play they were going to run. The cardinals game--i didn't.

The good news about working snelling in (if thats the plan) is that i think all other o-coordinators are starting to have a rotating backfield--maybe mularkey watched some film and decides to join the 21st century

[Ransack]

Not sure what he'll do but he has to be pleased with seeing the 9'ers have huge success with power running and play actions passes. It leads me to believe that we can play our type of game and have good success.

[LADBABY]

His scheme is something similar to Nolan Ryan's

pitching philosophy and that is roughly translated

"here it comes, see what you can do with it!"

Our success is based on execution more than scheme

and it is the same for everybody.

[maxatlanta]

Their OLBs are weak. Opposing TEs have had a field day against them. Shiancoe and Vernon Davis are no slouches, but neither is Gonzo.

[FalconMama]

Mularkey needs to mix it up this weekend (throw more on 1st down, keep screens in the playbook, challenge the defense downfield). Just don't be too predictable! Touchdowns! You have to score TD's, FG's just won't get the job done against them.

Throwing 3 interceptions won't win it to beat the Saints you have to stay fundamentally sound and play smart. Hate to say it but you literally have to be on your "A" game to defeat them at home. You have to score early and often, don't give them a small cushion because they can comeback and comeback quick.

Have a plan B for if Turner isn't working.. If they stop Turner then our chances of losing obviously go up. That's what Gregg Williams wants, stop Turner and put the game in Matt Ryan's hands. He wants to give his opportunistic defense a chance to make plays.

On defense they have to keep everything in front of them and cover the flats.. Big plays are the Saints bread and butter and passes to the flats (it changes a little with Bush being out but Pierre Thomas is very capable).

Repeat this Falcons defense:

Don't give up the big play!

Don't give up the big play!

Don't give up the big play!

Pressure up the middle is important, when you allow Brees to step up in the pocket bad things happen.. I like to say that Babs and Jerry have it covered but the Saints have the best interior offensive line in the league. Their guards are dreamy, they deserve a lot of credit ALOT! The Williams Wall had trouble with their guards, so I hope DT's fair better.

To be honest Mularkey is the one who scares me the most this game. He still hasn't shown the ability to adjust to what teams are doing to us.. He failed to adjust during the Pittsburgh game and we lost. He didn't need to adjust during the Cardinals game because everything was working.

This is the NFL, you can't rely on everything to work every week. What if the Saints stop our running game? What next? Will he challenge defenses downfield to stop the 8 man fronts or will he keep pounding Turner up the middle over and over again hoping that it will eventually work? He has to adjust and he has to do it in a timely manner or the game can get out of hand.

So basically:

1. Don't turn the ball over. Niners 4 turnovers, Saints 0.. That's the sole reason the Niners lost. The Saints love takeaways so we must limit them.

2. Pressure up the middle/ LB's defend the flats.

3. Mix it up, this isn't the game for repeated 10 yard outs or pounding Turner up the middle over and over against 8 man fronts.

5. For the love of God don't give up the big play! The Saints offense has been a sleeping Giant for the past 2 weeks. Please don't wake them up on Sunday!

6. Control the clock with the run game.. Oh and Mularkey it's okay to use the pass to set up the run sometimes, you'd be amazed that it does work.

7. Play smart, save the bonehead plays and penalties for another week. Particularly for a scrub team.

8. Finish, finish, finish drives! We have to score TD's!

9. Coaching! Depending on field position 4th and 1, down by 7 with 2:30 in the 4th qt.. Please Smith don't give them the ball back. The chance of us seeing it again is highly unlikely.

10. Mularkey's Plan B.. I hope he has one if we need it!

I would love for us to win, to go on the road and defeat the Champs would be an incredible thing. I'm not expecting it but it can be done. I prefer my crow baked but I'd eat it whatever way you serve it if we win on Sunday.

[stoned_jc7]

Keys for me are....

1. Run the freakin football with Turner and Snelling. Power running keeps our D off the field along with Brees. Also wears down their turnover based defense.

2. Go after rookie CB.

3. Spread the ball around. We can't target White every time without eventually facing the consequences.

4. Choose a guy to basically spy on Pierre. With no Bush, they are going to use him almost exclusively. He won't be as effective splitting out into space, but if he is in the backfield, he is a better pure runner than Bush.

[MSalmon]

Keys for me are....

1. Run the freakin football with Turner and Snelling. Power running keeps our D off the field along with Brees. Also wears down their turnover based defense.

2. Go after rookie CB.

3. Spread the ball around. We can't target White every time without eventually facing the consequences.

4. Choose a guy to basically spy on Pierre. With no Bush, they are going to use him almost exclusively. He won't be as effective splitting out into space, but if he is in the backfield, he is a better pure runner than Bush.

i like your thoughts. on #4 with weatherspoon's and nicholas' speed i don't think we need a spy. Pierre is good but not nearly bush speed. I think the key is gap control. Miss assignments and brees will make you pay

[rightsaidfred]

I have been a huge critic of Mularkey and his inflexible scheme--particularly after the Steelers game. That said, he obviously made some adjustments and his scheme worked against the cardinals. How will the offense fare against the saints and their opportunistic defense? Does the emergence and insertion of snelling make a difference? Do we see more than just Turner up the middle and more of a platoon? Does Ryan get to go no-huddle?

Thoughts?

I have given Mularkey grief as well, but to be honest, it's not all MM.

As the OC, he designs and calls the plays, yes. But overall, the team has a game plan and a strategy. Mike Smith, as the HC, oversees the O, the D, and ST. He tells his coaches what he wants to see happen. If the plan is not working, I believe it is MS who decides when and if they go to plan B. Until and unless that happens, MM will continue with the designed game plan.

Vs. ARI, the run worked as it should. That, gentlemen, is Falcons Football 2010. Establish the run and thereby open up the passing game. That's what happened, and the results were a W. Conversely, PIT stifled the run, yet the coaching staff continued to try running anyway. That made the passing game more an act of desperation.

Look at what Gore did vs. NO - avg. 5.6 yds with one TD on the ground. The way to beat the Saints is to run the ball right at them. So all things being equal, the Falcons should have good success tomorrow. If the D can put pressure on Brees, the game is very winnable. Remember that last year both games were very close.

Falcons - 27

Saints - 14

[Falconsfan4ever&always]

I have been a huge critic of Mularkey and his inflexible scheme--particularly after the Steelers game. That said, he obviously made some adjustments and his scheme worked against the cardinals. How will the offense fare against the saints and their opportunistic defense? Does the emergence and insertion of snelling make a difference? Do we see more than just Turner up the middle and more of a platoon? Does Ryan get to go no-huddle?

Thoughts?

Well The Saints DE Alex Brown thinks were simple.

Sept. 23, 2010 3:33 p.m. - DE Alex Brown on the Falcons offense being straight forward: “I don’t want to say plain, but they don’t have a lot of things that trick you. They have a good football team. They’re very balanced and they believe they can beat you with that.” Saints RapidReports

Mularkey has been getting a lot of heat but I think he does some trick plays this week, does anybody remember the play with HD on a double reverse to score a TD in 2008. We might see some of that to exploit some mismatches. Personally I dont care if were simple or just run it down their mouth 100 times. As long as we win and get these stupid trolls out of here for atleast a couple weeks.