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ESPN: Falcons eating up short passing games


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Falcons eating up short passing games

October, 14, 2010

OCT 14

12:19

PM ET

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By Pat Yasinskas

Just got some interesting stuff on the Atlanta Falcons from our friends at ESPN Stats & Information.

We already know the Falcons lead the NFL in interceptions with 10. But the really interesting thing is that five of those have come within 5 yards of the line of scrimmage (think about Kroy Biermann’s interception Sunday against Cleveland). No other team has more than two interceptions on passes of 5 yards are less. In fact, in the 2009 season, only three teams had more than five interceptions of passes that were within 5 yards of the line of scrimmage.

In fact, the Falcons are particularly good against the short passing game. In those situations, they’ve held opposing quarterbacks to a 78.3 passer rating. The league average is 83.7.

Awesome stats. That's a perfect match up for Captain Checkdown and that WCO.

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We do a very good job against short passing games because we do a good job stopping the run and forcing long 3rd down situations.

Our defense is literally built to stop our kind of offense, strange as it is.

The key to this game on defense will be fundamentals. Keep the WR in front of you, and don't whiff on a tackle (Grimes, I'm looking at you!)

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We do a very good job against short passing games because we do a good job stopping the run and forcing long 3rd down situations.

Our defense is literally built to stop our kind of offense, strange as it is.

The key to this game on defense will be fundamentals. Keep the WR in front of you, and don't whiff on a tackle (Grimes, I'm looking at you!)

Good point. Another reason is because we are taking the long passes away. Maybe not a ton of INT's but we are covering well deep. We are running the 4 - 3 cover two very well. Take away the big plays and the run, pressure the QB and make him make mistakes in the short to intermediate passing game.

Our D is starting to make it happen.

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Good point. Another reason is because we are taking the long passes away. Maybe not a ton of INT's but we are covering well deep. We are running the 4 - 3 cover two very well. Take away the big plays and the run, pressure the QB and make him make mistakes in the short to intermediate passing game.

Our D is starting to make it happen.

I'm not quite sold on our coverage abilities.

While last season, the lack of pass rush allowed teams to throw downfield more then usual, this season has been the opposite. Our pass rush has allowed our CBs to focus on the short-intermediate routes and improvement from our LBs in coverage out of the backfield has forced teams into difficult situations.

However, judging from the past several weeks, our downfield coverage has not been as good as you seem to believe. There has been one to two deep balls per week that 'should' have hurt us. Devery Henderson against the Saints, Morgan against the 49ers, Josh Cribbs and Massaqoui against the Browns. Those situations occurred when we gave the QB time to scan the field when the OC was lucky enough to have called a deep ball.

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I'm not quite sold on our coverage abilities.

While last season, the lack of pass rush allowed teams to throw downfield more then usual, this season has been the opposite. Our pass rush has allowed our CBs to focus on the short-intermediate routes and improvement from our LBs in coverage out of the backfield has forced teams into difficult situations.

However, judging from the past several weeks, our downfield coverage has not been as good as you seem to believe. There has been one to two deep balls per week that 'should' have hurt us. Devery Henderson against the Saints, Morgan against the 49ers, Josh Cribbs and Massaqoui against the Browns. Those situations occurred when we gave the QB time to scan the field when the OC was lucky enough to have called a deep ball.

It's hard to judge our deep pass protection considering the lack of teams we have played who can hit the deep pass. Saints made some plays, but I expect our young DB's to continue to improve.

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Did you write something? Can't seem to look away from your avatar...

Yea those are some tig ol bittys :P

Good point. Another reason is because we are taking the long passes away. Maybe not a ton of INT's but we are covering well deep. We are running the 4 - 3 cover two very well. Take away the big plays and the run, pressure the QB and make him make mistakes in the short to intermediate passing game.

Our D is starting to make it happen.

How the eagles OL looked last week I'm sure there not going to be doing a lot of 5 step drop pass plays. I expect a lot of screens this game and that means a lot of McCoy shaking dudes out of there nikes so. The D better be prepared or we might get a bigger fight than we suspect coming in.

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I'm not quite sold on our coverage abilities.

While last season, the lack of pass rush allowed teams to throw downfield more then usual, this season has been the opposite. Our pass rush has allowed our CBs to focus on the short-intermediate routes and improvement from our LBs in coverage out of the backfield has forced teams into difficult situations.

However, judging from the past several weeks, our downfield coverage has not been as good as you seem to believe. There has been one to two deep balls per week that 'should' have hurt us. Devery Henderson against the Saints, Morgan against the 49ers, Josh Cribbs and Massaqoui against the Browns. Those situations occurred when we gave the QB time to scan the field when the OC was lucky enough to have called a deep ball.

We have made some mistakes, but the entire basis of the defense we run is to take away the big play/deep pass and inside run game and force the team to dink and dunk until they make a mistake.

Ours might not be the prettiest defense, but it's working.

And your there are "should have been" plays every week in every game. The CB can fall down and break his leg if the ball is not well thrown. The key is to be there when it is and so far I guys are doing this.

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Yea those are some tig ol bittys :P

How the eagles OL looked last week I'm sure there not going to be doing a lot of 5 step drop pass plays. I expect a lot of screens this game and that means a lot of McCoy shaking dudes out of there nikes so. The D better be prepared or we might get a bigger fight than we suspect coming in.

There is a very easy way to stop screen plays to RB in the flats (I'm assuming that is the type of screen you are talking about, it's what most people think of).

You develop a good inside pass rush and send a safety or MLB on a blitz between the tackle then drop the DE (usually weak side) into the flat. Totally blows up screen passes but you can beat it with center screens to the TE.

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We have made some mistakes, but the entire basis of the defense we run is to take away the big play/deep pass and inside run game and force the team to dink and dunk until they make a mistake.

Ours might not be the prettiest defense, but it's working.

And your there are "should have been" plays every week in every game. The CB can fall down and break his leg if the ball is not well thrown. The key is to be there when it is and so far I guys are doing this.

More often than not, a deep ball is not well thrown because a QB is trying to 'place' the ball because he is cognizant of corner's cover ability and ball skills.

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There is a very easy way to stop screen plays to RB in the flats (I'm assuming that is the type of screen you are talking about, it's what most people think of).

You develop a good inside pass rush and send a safety or MLB on a blitz between the tackle then drop the DE (usually weak side) into the flat. Totally blows up screen passes but you can beat it with center screens to the TE.

Yea I agree with what your saying but this is philly we are talking about. They have different ways to set up screens just like NO. I'm pretty sure our guys will be in position to make a play don't get me wrong. I'm more worried about there running back more than the actual play itself.

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