An Honest Look At Each Drive

[capologist]

1st Qtr:

Drive #1: First play is a 7 yard run. The next 2 plays are 1 yard runs. This is a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation. If KS calls a pass everyone yells why didn't you run after a 7 yard gain and if the run fails everyone yells why didn't you pass. Bottom line, when you have 2nd and 3, you expect the line and back to be able to get 3 yards in the next 2 carries. They didn't. EXECUTION

Drive #2: First play is a 46 yard run. Obviously the play worked, Coleman just didn't hang on to it. EXECUTION

2nd Qtr:

Drive #3: Chester false starts putting the drive in the hole before it gets started. Not a scheme problem, that's on Chester.

Ryan and company overcome that and convert the 3^rd down. They drive the ball downfield until Ward decides to kick a player out of bounds (no matter how slight it was, it was still stupid) and instead of 2^nd and 5, it’s now 2^nd and 20. This is a drive killer. Fortunately, no turnover, and a FG gets points on the board. EXECUTION

Drive #4: Falcons move the ball effectively from their own 15 to the Minnesota 43. Ryan throws the pick intended for Nick Williams. Per Matt Ryan’s own words, Williams got open but Ryan saw it too late. EXECUTION

Drive #5: Ryan kneels to end the half

3^rd Qtr:

Drive #6: Falcons drive from their own 20 all the way down to the Minnesota 1 (apparently the scheme worked good enough to get them there). Moeaki is called for a clip (which I don’t believe was a clip) nullifying a touchdown. Ryan promptly throws an INT when Tamme wasn’t open (and if anything should have thrown it towards the back of the endzone where only Tamme could make a play. EXECUTION

Drive #7: 14 yard pass to Julio, 3 yard run, incomplete to Roddy and on 3^rd and 7, Matthews gets beat allowing sack and forcing the first punt of the game for Atlanta. When you don’t punt the entire first half and only have 3 points, that is an indicator of poor execution. Obviously, allowing a sack is an execution issue (especially when it’s one on one) not a scheme issue. EXECUTION

4^th Qtr

Drive #8: 4^th and 1, Falcons go for a pass instead of running. I can chalk this one up to playcalling but because there was a sack, you can’t ignore that factor as well. If everyone blocks does the play succeed? We’ll never know that one because Levitre got ran right past. 50/50

Drive #9: Garbage time touchdown drive but it worked.

End game

[Mr. Lubba Lubba©]

So you mean to tell me that you expect us to have the capacity to blame multiple players and coaches instead of one coach or one player. You know we can't process that amount of information.

Unfortunately, here's what's about to happen:

#TeamShanahan vs #TeamRyan

FIGHT!

[JDaveG]

Drive #8: 4^th and 1, Falcons go for a pass instead of running. I can chalk this one up to playcalling but because there was a sack, you can’t ignore that factor as well. If everyone blocks does the play succeed? We’ll never know that one because Levitre got ran right past. 50/50

I don't know if Levitre was the culprit or not, but on watching the replay I noticed Person was standing there looking around like John Travolta in Pulp Fiction, with no one to block.

It was absolutely a blown blocking assignment, by someone. My guess is they failed to account for Barr blitzing in that gap which left Levitre with a 2-on-1 and Person blocking Manti Teo's girlfriend.

[CraigSmackDaddy]

Big Matt Ryan fan and I'm pretty sure you'd have a hard time finding where I've ever said anything negative about him. With this said.. He played a good game despite the INTs. Unfortunately that killed us. This game is on Matt. Not saying the others were but this one def. is. On another note, Coleman has got to hang on to the ball. He has cost us as well.

[birdz4i]

if the offense does not start turning it around, we all might be calling for their execution.

[HEIST]

Yeah a lot of it was execution but if I'm being honest the pistol formation and 4th and 1 empty backfield were not putting us in a position to succeed. Though every OC has a couple of weird playcalls every game. The Steelers make some of the most boneheaded playcalls I've ever seen but **** that offense can score with anyone.

The dumbass penalties and mistakes are killing us and that's execution. Quinn talks about it being about the ball every week, brought in refs to practice and it's not getting through to the guys.

[MAD597]

We have to ask WHY? players that have a history of much better execution are all of a sudden playing like rookies. Is Ryan done and pulled a Delhomme? Is the offensive scheme not built well for our players? Are the coaches not properly prepare the players to execute?

I do not know the answer but I'm pretty sure doing nothing won;t help.

[theDIRTYcode]

I don't know that I have ever witnessed a team with this kind of turnover epidemic. It's the only thing we do consistently. I have no answers or even guesses for it at this point. All I know is that after 5 weeks....we are a turnover prone team. That's what we are.

[blizzard_falcon]

I don't know that I have ever witnessed a team with this kind of turnover epidemic. It's the only thing we do consistently. I have no answers or even guesses for it at this point. All I know is that after 5 weeks....we are a turnover prone team. That's what we are.

I feel like we are as likely to turn the ball over each offensive drive as we are to score points.

Especially these last 6-7 weeks.

[NateDogg1215]

Thanks for the breakdown . Coleman fumble and Coleman TD called back were huge. 😩

[ATLFalcons11]

1st Qtr:

Drive #1: First play is a 7 yard run. The next 2 plays are 1 yard runs. This is a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation. If KS calls a pass everyone yells why didn't you run after a 7 yard gain and if the run fails everyone yells why didn't you pass. Bottom line, when you have 2nd and 3, you expect the line and back to be able to get 3 yards in the next 2 carries. They didn't. EXECUTION

Drive #2: First play is a 46 yard run. Obviously the play worked, Coleman just didn't hang on to it. EXECUTION

2nd Qtr:

Drive #3: Chester false starts putting the drive in the hole before it gets started. Not a scheme problem, that's on Chester.

Ryan and company overcome that and convert the 3^rd down. They drive the ball downfield until Ward decides to kick a player out of bounds (no matter how slight it was, it was still stupid) and instead of 2^nd and 5, its now 2^nd and 20. This is a drive killer. Fortunately, no turnover, and a FG gets points on the board. EXECUTION

Drive #4: Falcons move the ball effectively from their own 15 to the Minnesota 43. Ryan throws the pick intended for Nick Williams. Per Matt Ryans own words, Williams got open but Ryan saw it too late. EXECUTION

Drive #5: Ryan kneels to end the half

3^rd Qtr:

Drive #6: Falcons drive from their own 20 all the way down to the Minnesota 1 (apparently the scheme worked good enough to get them there). Moeaki is called for a clip (which I dont believe was a clip) nullifying a touchdown. Ryan promptly throws an INT when Tamme wasnt open (and if anything should have thrown it towards the back of the endzone where only Tamme could make a play. EXECUTION

Drive #7: 14 yard pass to Julio, 3 yard run, incomplete to Roddy and on 3^rd and 7, Matthews gets beat allowing sack and forcing the first punt of the game for Atlanta. When you dont punt the entire first half and only have 3 points, that is an indicator of poor execution. Obviously, allowing a sack is an execution issue (especially when its one on one) not a scheme issue. EXECUTION

4^th Qtr

Drive #8: 4^th and 1, Falcons go for a pass instead of running. I can chalk this one up to playcalling but because there was a sack, you cant ignore that factor as well. If everyone blocks does the play succeed? Well never know that one because Levitre got ran right past. 50/50

Drive #9: Garbage time touchdown drive but it worked.

End game

Great post. I do want to call out another blunder on the ply calling side.

On the drive #6 after the clipping call there was a 2nd and 15 or something like that and Shanahan calls a draw play with Terror Ward. I thought that was a soft and terrible playcall, but I blame everybody, not just one side.

Just wanted to call that out to be even.

[MAD597]

I don't know that I have ever witnessed a team with this kind of turnover epidemic. It's the only thing we do consistently. I have no answers or even guesses for it at this point. All I know is that after 5 weeks....we are a turnover prone team. That's what we are.

Yep during the first 5 games things looked pretty decent offense and defense was in good harmony, run game was a big surprise then it just fell apart for no single reason.

Crazy.

[ATLFalcons11]

Thanks for the breakdown . Coleman fumble and Coleman TD called back were huge. 😩

When that Coleman TD was called back and right after the interception I thought that we are officially cursed.

Let us list the redzone blunders: Blunders can be refs, Falcons, or whatever

1. Coleman fumble after long run - 3 to 7 points

2. Terron Ward kick - 0 to 4 points

3. Phantom clipping call - 7 points

4. Interception to Tamme - 0 to 3 points

There aren't that many blunders in a 3 game span in the redzone on average. Ballgame!

[NateDogg1215]

When that Coleman TD was called back and right after the interception I thought that we are officially cursed.

Let us list the redzone blunders: Blunders can be refs, Falcons, or whatever

1. Coleman fumble after long run - 3 to 7 points

2. Terron Ward kick - 0 to 4 points

3. Phantom clipping call - 7 points

4. Interception to Tamme - 0 to 3 points

There aren't that many blunders in a 3 game span in the redzone on average. Ballgame!

Yeah man just unreal how many blunders in so many consecutive games .... Like some kind of curse .... Wth????

[Leggggggo]

Coleman kills me... he really does. I like him as a back but he need to protect that ball.

With that said, the entire game plan changes with each and every error! Had Coleman held onto the ball, we are looking at worst case 6-10 at Halftime, or best case maybe 10-7 for the good guys because we would have held the ball longer on that drive and likely had the TOP battle easily wrapped up in the first half.

I think the execution errors as pointed out cause scheme issues later in the game where we could be running out the clock and chewing time but instead are having to play from behind and force the issue with an uncomfortable Matt Ryan.

Just my thoughts. but great write up Cap!

[paulitik]

There's a point when we are having the same issues with execution over and over again, we have to ask why.

Matt has always had a penchant for a couple dumb throws a game. Why all of a sudden has he become so bad in the redzone when he didn't even throw a redzone INT last year?

Something is off.

Matt is an issue, but it's bigger than just that. Matt has proven he is a good to great QB. This regression doesn't make sense. Something has changed.

[ATLFalcons11]

There's a point when we are having the same issues with execution over and over again, we have to ask why.

Matt has always had a penchant for a couple dumb throws a game. Why all of a sudden has he become so bad in the redzone when he didn't even throw a redzone INT last year?

Something is off.

Matt is an issue, but it's bigger than just that. Matt has proven he is a good to great QB. This regression doesn't make sense. Something has changed.

Lol yes, the scheme. We went from vertical to WCO.

Because it's new, not because it's bad. There's a difference.....a huge one.

Edited November 30, 2015 by ATLFalcons11

[capologist]

Great post. I do want to call out another blunder on the ply calling side.

On the drive #6 after the clipping call there was a 2nd and 15 or something like that and Shanahan calls a draw play with Terror Ward. I thought that was a soft and terrible playcall, but I blame everybody, not just one side.

Just wanted to call that out to be even.

Only reason I didn't mention that one is that it's another damned if you do, damned if you don't call. I'm sure the thinking was that everyone and their brother was looking for a pass there so catch them off guard and get a good chunk of it back. Unfortunately, the blocking sucked on that play and the Vikings, to their credit, played it well...

[Clark Kent™]

Thanks for taking the time to do that work. Agreed on all accounts.

I'll say on that last sack that its not necessarily bad play calling. When Ryan gets to the LOS its his job to get his protection set up and the O lines job to block. It appeared as though this was another fault on the execution because like you said, Levitre got blown by.

[paulitik]

Lol yes, the scheme. We went from vertical to WCO.

Because it's new, not because it's bad. There's a difference.....a huge one.

I agree, then the coaches need to do more to transition. If it means hold Matt's hand, so be it.

We can't just week after week say the same thing over and over again, and not adjust the scheme.

[ATLFalcons11]

Only reason I didn't mention that one is that it's another damned if you do, damned if you don't call. I'm sure the thinking was that everyone and their brother was looking for a pass there so catch them off guard and get a good chunk of it back. Unfortunately, the blocking sucked on that play and the Vikings, to their credit, played it well...

Understandable but I think that's every playcall for the most part.

If it works out, then it's genius and if not, then it's trash.

I'm not basing it on if it worked out or not tho. Just thought it was a soft playcall in general.

[FalconJim]

I don't know if Levitre was the culprit or not, but on watching the replay I noticed Person was standing there looking around like John Travolta in Pulp Fiction, with no one to block.

It was absolutely a blown blocking assignment, by someone. My guess is they failed to account for Barr blitzing in that gap which left Levitre with a 2-on-1 and Person blocking Manti Teo's girlfriend.

"and Person blocking Manti Teo's girlfriend" ------- Haha! I see what you did there!

[jidady]

Ryan's mistakes over the last six games all seem to be of the Hellscape variety. It's so strange that he's largely playing well but when he screws up, it's absolute doom in terms of impact on the game.

I actually quite liked Shanahan's playcalling overall yesterday. There was the 4th and 1 call where we emptied the backfield, but New England ran the same play on X and short multiple times last night to positive effect. That was again a case of execution rather than the call itself.

[papachaz]

if the offense does not start turning it around, we all might be calling for their execution.

that ole John McKay quote eh........

LOL

[Falcon Ben]

Don't know if it has been mentioned or not yet, but our offense hardly saw the field in the first half, thanks to the three-and-out, Coleman's fumble and the Vike's good running game.

Stat of the day: Matt Ryan did not throw a pass in the first quarter. The Falcons Offense snapped the ball just four times in the quarter.