D. Jones: Looking Good on the Field?

[falcndave]

I haven't watched the last two games yet. I will, but I haven't yet. I was curious to see how Jones has played since his return. Is he they same guy?  I just glanced at the box score. I think it was 7 tackles, 3 asst, and 2 PD to lead the defense vs. the Packers. So, statistically that line would have fit in a lot of box scores from last season without being noticed. In other words, so much as I can tell from the box score, he looks to be "right."

For those who have seen the games, how has he looked on the field?  Same closure speed on outside runs and screen passes?  Same ability to insert himself into the back pocket of RBs and TEs in pass coverage? If DJ is right, I start to feel a lot better about next year!

I've got to run out and do some doings this AM.  I'm going to try to sneak in the condensed replay before football starts this afternoon. I'll come back and drop some thoughts on my own observations here once I've done that. 

[TRUju2111]

Well it depends what you mean by good, because according to half the board he by himself was going to turn thus team into a contender, and we may have gotten worse, not because of him, just the team.

But first gsme back he had 15 tackles 13 solo and a sack, not sure about last game

[falcndave]

15 minutes ago, TRUju2111 said:

Well it depends what you mean by good, because according to half the board he by himself was going to turn thus team into a contender, and we may have gotten worse, not because of him, just the team.

But first gsme back he had 15 tackles 13 solo and a sack, not sure about last game

My take was that he alone would have been enough to make the difference in specific games, like Saints 1 and Cincy. Had they won those two, do they have a little more confidence and consistency and find a way to get it done against Dallas?

So, I didn't think he could save the team by individually shutting down entire offenses. I did, and probably still do, think that he can make a significant enough difference alone to tilt the occasional one score game in our favor. That, alone, could turn the team into a contender. In team sports there is a "mood" or "personality" that each team develops during the course of a season. I think it is what some refer to as "identify." That can be changed based on whether things seem to be going your way, or whether your always coming up one play short. It is really all a matter of how you define "turn this team into a contender." 

[TRUju2111]

Just now, falcndave said:

My take was that he alone would have been enough to make the difference in specific games, like Saints 1 and Cincy. Had they won those two, do they have a little more confidence and consistency and find a way to get it done against Dallas.

So, I didn't think he could save the team by individually shutting down entire offenses. I did, and probably still do, think that he can make a significant enough difference alone to tilt the occasional one score game in our favor. That, alone, could turn the team into a contender. In team sports there is a "mood" or "personality" that each team develops during the course of a season. I think it is what some refer to as "identify." That can be changed based on whether things seem to be going your way, or whether your always coming up one play short. It is really all a matter of how you define "turn this team into a contender." 

So winning 3 strait and going into Washington and destroying them didn't set the right "mood" before our 5 game losing streak? I understand what your saying, but had we beat cincy and NO this would still be the team we see on Sunday but with 2 more wins and a bigger collapse

[papachaz]

2 minutes ago, TRUju2111 said:

So winning 3 strait and going into Washington and destroying them didn't set the right "mood" before our 5 game losing streak? I understand what your saying, but had we beat cincy and NO this would still be the team we see on Sunday but with 2 more wins and a bigger collapse

and a higher draft pick to piss off the tankers  

[TRUju2111]

1 minute ago, papachaz said:

and a higher draft pick to piss off the tankers  

Ya everyone would be complaining that the falcons are just good enough to not get a high draft pick and that the falcons always do this

[papachaz]

Just now, TRUju2111 said:

Ya everyone would be complaining that the falcons are just good enough to not get a high draft pick and that the falcons always do this

well, THAT might be a case where they'd be mostly right for once though......

[falcndave]

1 hour ago, TRUju2111 said:

Ya everyone would be complaining that the falcons are just good enough to not get a high draft pick and that the falcons always do this

Or, they would have also won the Dallas game and the 2nd NO game. If you go back and look, the Saints were in every way beatable that night. It is not like they ran into a buzz saw. Look at the history of games when Jones has faced NO. Can he beat them alone?  No. Can he frustrate Brees enough to make a difference? In fact, he consistently has. 

If you want to take the position that Jones is not different than the other options, and can't do more to influence outcomes, that is your prerogative. 

[ki46dinah]

dude is a ****ed missle....and almost had a pick 6 last week....he hits with so much more authority than anyone else on this soft as butter defense

[EJmusic]

He had a case of the Trufants with a couple dropped picks. It's gonna be a few weeks until he's back to his final form.

[FalconFanSince1970]

He played well but dropped two picks in GB that would have changed the game.

[UGABOZ]

7 hours ago, falcndave said:

I haven't watched the last two games yet. I will, but I haven't yet. I was curious to see how Jones has played since his return. Is he they same guy?  I just glanced at the box score. I think it was 7 tackles, 3 asst, and 2 PD to lead the defense vs. the Packers. So, statistically that line would have fit in a lot of box scores from last season without being noticed. In other words, so much as I can tell from the box score, he looks to be "right."

For those who have seen the games, how has he looked on the field?  Same closure speed on outside runs and screen passes?  Same ability to insert himself into the back pocket of RBs and TEs in pass coverage? If DJ is right, I start to feel a lot better about next year!

I've got to run out and do some doings this AM.  I'm going to try to sneak in the condensed replay before football starts this afternoon. I'll come back and drop some thoughts on my own observations here once I've done that. 

had a terrible flag early in ravens game that cost us

[kiwifalcon]

6 hours ago, ki46dinah said:

dude is a ****ed missle....and almost had a pick 6 last week....he hits with so much more authority than anyone else on this soft as butter defense

Keanu Neal and Brian Poole can hit.

You put those 3 in on there day can scare the bejesus out of anyone coming across the middle.

I think that Neal hit on Snead 2 years ago is one of the best open field hit I’ve seen in years.

[⚡Slumerican⚡]

He just had a small cracked bone in his foot, he's as good or bad as he ever was lol.. Like I've said before, injuries had very little to do with how poorly this team performed this season.. It just happens to be Quinns excuse for now

[⚡Slumerican⚡]

9 hours ago, TRUju2111 said:

Well it depends what you mean by good, because according to half the board he by himself was going to turn thus team into a contender, and we may have gotten worse, not because of him, just the team.

But first gsme back he had 15 tackles 13 solo and a sack, not sure about last game

Paul Worrilow used to lead this team in tackles also, didn't make the team better or mean he was any good 

[Black Francis]

2 hours ago, FalconFanSince1970 said:

He played well but dropped two picks in GB that would have changed the game.

Yeah but he was there for the play. Can’t say that’s been a thing with the other linebackers being in place to you know potentially or actually make a play. He’s a valuable player. Glad we have him. 

[atljbo]

Yup... shoulda had 2 ints on rogers.. a deion Jones is a STUD

[falcndave]

15 hours ago, ⚡Slumerican⚡ said:

He just had a small cracked bone in his foot, he's as good or bad as he ever was lol.. Like I've said before, injuries had very little to do with how poorly this team performed this season.. It just happens to be Quinns excuse for now

Being how the glaring weaknesses are OG and pass catching RBs, it wouldn't be illogical for someone to draw the conclusion that the particular injuries line up with the biggest problems the team is having. I've never been a huge Quinn fan.  To be honest, I'd like to see him replaced or at least bring in a coordinator on either side of the ball who is strong in game management. 

Just giving things the eye test, these injuries are strongly correlated with the areas of bad performance. I tend to believe that there is some causation as well. That said, I can see arguments on both sides.

[falcndave]

15 hours ago, ⚡Slumerican⚡ said:

Paul Worrilow used to lead this team in tackles also, didn't make the team better or mean he was any good 

These two players are not alike, and you know that. 

[falcndave]

Thanks for the comments all. I watched the game, and I think he looked about 80%. There were times when he seemed to be approaching things in more of a "don't get burned" fashion than in an attacking fashion. Perhaps that was be design in the GB game due to the AR factor. So, I'm encourage overall. 

As far as the overall debate in this thread as to whether the injuries are responsible for the meltdown.  Here are my thoughts, most of which have been expressed in other threads over the past two weeks.

• Safety, MLB, OG, and RB have all been areas of poor play on the field.
  • I think the above issues were so bad, they are contributing to poorer pay at DB, DL, C, and OT.
  • Marginally better play (not good play, just marginally better), might have won us 3+ more games to this point depending on the intangibles that go with those wins.
• Quinn and his style and influence on games is, at the very least, as big an impact. 
  • Inconsistency is the consistent hallmark of his HC stint in Atlanta. Streaks similar to losing 5-7 and winning 5-7 are pretty common fodder in all 4 seasons. 
    • When the uptick has come late in the year, the team has done well in the playoffs
    • When the down tick has come late in the season. The HC, QB, and FO all suck in the opinion of TATF. (I forgot, in 2015 the OC was the effigy of choice.)
  • Quinn is loyal to a fault. He has buddies in key positions where we need coaches. No other way to say it. (oddly, Sark isn't one of those buddies, so I don't get OC at all. I think he was the only guy willing to say: "Sure, I'll run a system I've never used before.")
• I don't care what scheme any team chooses to run. You must be able to run for one yard almost every time you need it and stop the other team from running for one yard, when you know they are trying to, at least 1/3 of the time. Set up your roster with the size required to make this happen. It is okay to put DTs in on the OL if that is what it takes. It is okay to bring in a lumbering old vet who goes 300+ to take a few short yardage snaps at C or OG.  Use 3 or 4 roster spots to give this team a chance on 4th and 1. Run you ZB scheme forever, but have the roster flexibility to go big for 3 snaps a game. 

So, why is this is lost season? In my opinion: Injuries and coaching issues are the primary two drivers while roster construction (call it a GM issue) is also problematic in short yardage and on special teams. 

[KCartledge85]

Well he looked terrible on that first Cardinals drive. Gave up big pass plays to Johnson and also got walked back trying to tackle Johnson on stretch play for 11 yards.

[kiwifalcon]

Lol says the guy whose just taken it back for a 40 yard INT return has he made a difference lol.

[Francis York Morgan]

Stop.

Also, how is that word not blocked?

[Malachore]

On 12/16/2018 at 1:34 PM, Francis York Morgan said:

Stop.

Also, how is that word not blocked?

It used to be blocked, it was blocked when I initially used it and then not.