What we learned: Falcons continue to be different, improved team since bye week

[Goober Pyle]

https://theathletic.com/1463929/2019/12/16/what-we-learned-falcons-continue-to-be-different-improved-team-since-bye-week/

 

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — If the next two weeks are anything like the past six, this year’s Falcons team will be remembered as two different units.

There will be the group that didn’t seem to have a clue what it was doing on defense for eight games. While the talent was always there, the communication errors and lack of a pass rush were so glaring that the defensive play was, quite frankly a laughingstock. And for a defensive-minded head coach in Dan Quinn, the word used multiple times was “maddening.”

Coming out of the bye, Quinn made some decisions that, with the benefit of hindsight, could have been made much earlier in the year, if not during the offseason.

Sunday’s upset victory of the San Francisco 49ers, a thrilling 29-22 win, proved to be the latest example of a team showing up late to the party. And if the team that showed up Sunday was present all season long, the outlook at this stage of the year might be dramatically different.

Remember the aforementioned communication errors? Remember cornerbacks out of position? Remember the front seven seemingly clueless at times as for what teams were trying to do to them?

Those days, even in the two losses out of the past six games, seem like a distant past. The base Cover 3 defense that was ridiculed in the first eight games of the year kept the 49ers from breaking big plays. When San Francisco scored on a long drive, it needed 21 plays to do so. The only other touchdown Atlanta surrendered came after Kenjon Barner fumbled a punt return that was recovered and ran back to the 1-yard line by Kyle Juszczyk. After losing a yard on the next carry, Juszczyk scored on a 2-yard touchdown reception a play later.

Otherwise, the defense did what it was designed to do — keep completions in front of the defenders while containing the run. While San Francisco finished with 120 rushing yards, 90 came in the first half. The Falcons were able to limit the 49ers to only 30 second-half rushing yards.

Again, where was this team in the first eight weeks of the year?

“It’s all a process. It takes time,” safety Ricardo Allen said. “The football season comes with the nicks and bruises. You never want a season to go the way it did. But we’re starting to figure it out. We’re starting to keep building. We’ll take it one game at a time, one day at a time and just keep growing together. I wish we could have popped it up earlier in the season but I’m not going to complain about it now.”

Said quarterback Matt Ryan: “Obviously we’re disappointed not to be in the playoff picture, but you can only control what’s in front of you. The second half of the season we’ve done a better job of that. We have two weeks to finish it out the right way. We have to keep the same mindset we’ve had of excellent preparation during the week, and then going, cutting it loose and having the right mindset on Sundays.”

During the past six weeks, which has seen the Falcons post a 4-2 record, three changes have occurred that have since shown improvement in specific areas.

• It remains amazing at how much the secondary has improved since Raheem Morris moved from coaching receivers to defensive backs. As the third-down play-caller, Morris’ involvement proved tremendous against the 49ers. The Niners were only able to convert 33 percent (4-of-12) of their third-down plays. Atlanta did a good job of mixing its coverages throughout the game and was able to do have success in doing so without top cornerback Desmond Trufant. If Quinn ends up keeping his job as the head coach, moving Morris to defensive coordinator would seem to be an absolute no-brainer. The fact he was coaching receivers for as long as he did will long be a head-scratcher. But much of the improvement the Falcons have exhibited on the defensive side of the ball can be credited to Morris’ finally moving back to his area of expertise. Since the rearrangement, the defense has limited big plays, communicated in a more efficient manner and further slowed opposing teams’ rushing attacks. Sunday’s performance proved to be a great all-around effort on defense.
• Austin Hooper has been tremendous for the Falcons all year long. A knee injury, however, sidelined him for three games during the past six weeks. During that time, the Falcons lost two games to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New Orleans Saints. It should be noted that the Falcons’ offense has averaged 29.7 points with Hooper available (this excludes Sunday’s special teams touchdown) and 20.7 points without him (this number excludes Barner’s punt return touchdown in the first meeting against the Panthers). Receiver Julio Jones will always draw extra attention, which certainly helps Hooper out. But Hooper has proven to be a mismatch in man coverage over the middle of the field, especially if he can draw a linebacker or safety on him. The Falcons also can line up Hooper at different positions and scheme plays where he’s the primary option. With Hooper in the lineup, the Falcons’ offense is much more dynamic, as evidenced by how the offense has performed in the three games he has been available the past six weeks.
• Based on these past two weeks, it sure seems the Falcons missed Chris Lindstrom way more than anyone initially thought. In back-to-back losses to Tampa Bay and New Orleans, the Falcons surrendered 15 combined sacks. Ryan has been sacked 41 times this year, with his highest total being 44 from the 2013 season. With Lindstrom back from a broken foot that he suffered in the opening game of the season, Ryan has only been dropped three times in the past two games. And Lindstrom’s return has seemingly boosted Kaleb McGary at right tackle, as well.

 

 

The most frustrating part — for the team, for the fans, for everyone — is that when this team plays like it did against San Francisco, it can probably compete with anyone in the NFL. After all, this is 5-9 team with road wins over the 49ers and Saints. Looking back, the Falcons were simply missing in action for eight weeks.

This second half of the season, while promising, is also a harsh reminder of what could have been.

“You guys are starting to see what we can do,” Hooper said. “The Niners (entered Sunday), what, the No. 1 team in the NFC? Phenomenal at every position offensively and defensively. Pro Bowlers on both sides of the ball at almost every position group. Falcons fans were able to see what we can do against one of the best teams in the NFC.”

 

 

[MAD597]

This narrative ignores the loses against the Saints and Bucs. It's all Fools gold right now.

[octoslash]

Of course you all realize they're going to lay a big fat stinky egg against the Jagoffs next Sunday, right?  

The Atlanta Jekyll n Hydes

[matty72780]

Too little too late. The same as last year too! My fear is that this team is complacent, it seems as though everyone performs at the end of the year to keep their paychecks coming in or keep their starting position. It’s the exact same personnel as last year and virtually the exact same results. This feels to me like the players dictate when they want to come together and perform to their potential level which should fall on the coaching staff. These same players come in and play undisciplined the first half of the season but then all of a sudden we look like one of the best teams in the NFC after we’re eliminated, it makes no sense. 

[sandtrap]

44 minutes ago, Goober Pyle said:

 

 

didn’t see all of the game but wow. If we can keep this the right side is solid.

 

[NCFalconfan]

Me watching Lindstrom ERASE Bosa in that clip...

 

[since68andcounting]

I think moving Kazee out of nickel should have been included. And once again, why was he ever moved?

And if I hear "top" CB Desmond Trufant again I might puke.

Hooper's quote sort of made me angry. Of course we knew what you guys could do dude. That's why it's so frustrating.

[etherdome]

IF Blank accepts these recent wins as a sign that Quinn has turned this team around, then he is a fool. 

Quinn prepared this team poorly and he continues to make very poor decisions.  The fact that the team is finally playing well enough to win meaningless games is an indication of what should have been going on since week 1.  

 

[RoddyWhite84]

13 minutes ago, etherdome said:

IF Blank accepts these recent wins as a sign that Quinn has turned this team around, then he is a fool. 

Quinn prepared this team poorly and he continues to make very poor decisions.  The fact that the team is finally playing well enough to win meaningless games is an indication of what should have been going on since week 1.  

 

Prepare to be disappointed then

[vel]

This is what makes it hard. We see constantly how very few HCs were super successful their first go at it. I've been on the fire DQ train for weeks. But, I also said 7-9 is his floor. If the Falcons roll the Jags and Bucs, they will be 7-9. At that point, they went 6-2 the rest of the way, with very impressive wins vs NO and SF. They will have also shown they figured out where they missed wildly during the 1-7 stretch and corrected what a new HC would be hired to do. 

I'm more leaning towards firing TD and letting a new GM figure out what he wants to do with DQ, if that's possible. Again, Payton survived three straight 7-9 seasons while getting the house in order. Now look. These guys are playing for DQ. Hard. Even Vic Beasley. It's not so clear cut. 

[vafalconfan]

Makes you wonder what our record would be had Lindstrom not been on IR, I mean 3 sacks in the last 2 games?.. I really thought Ryan would be sacked maybe 5-6 times yesterday, The line really held up well despite having Schwietzer at LG.

[falconsd56]

One of the sacks yesterday could have been avoided if Ryan just looked left or right.

Julio and Hooper were deep but Free was in the flat and Gage seemed open on what looked like a  drag.

Ryan had loads of time but SF covered the deep well and Ryan never looked short.

 

 

[SPITFIRE]

1 hour ago, vel said:

This is what makes it hard. We see constantly how very few HCs were super successful their first go at it. I've been on the fire DQ train for weeks. But, I also said 7-9 is his floor. If the Falcons roll the Jags and Bucs, they will be 7-9. At that point, they went 6-2 the rest of the way, with very impressive wins vs NO and SF. They will have also shown they figured out where they missed wildly during the 1-7 stretch and corrected what a new HC would be hired to do. 

I'm more leaning towards firing TD and letting a new GM figure out what he wants to do with DQ, if that's possible. Again, Payton survived three straight 7-9 seasons while getting the house in order. Now look. These guys are playing for DQ. Hard. Even Vic Beasley. It's not so clear cut. 

My feelings are still the same. Firing DQ will be one of the bigger mistakes we could make. his biggest issue was having bad assistant coaches at the start of the year and trying to personally take on to much.  I also feel like you have to allow a coach to churn the roster. Some draft picks do not work out and you have to be able to move on. Like you said 3 7-9 seasons while they got things in place. 

[vel]

2 hours ago, vafalconfan said:

Makes you wonder what our record would be had Lindstrom not been on IR, I mean 3 sacks in the last 2 games?.. I really thought Ryan would be sacked maybe 5-6 times yesterday, The line really held up well despite having Schwietzer at LG.

I never thought Wes was bad. He got a bad rep for some reason, but he's been one of the steadier OL all things considered. Could have been perfectly fine just drafting Lindstrom and McGary 

[vel]

53 minutes ago, SPITFIRE said:

My feelings are still the same. Firing DQ will be one of the bigger mistakes we could make. his biggest issue was having bad assistant coaches at the start of the year and trying to personally take on to much.  I also feel like you have to allow a coach to churn the roster. Some draft picks do not work out and you have to be able to move on. Like you said 3 7-9 seasons while they got things in place. 

Yea. He deserves a lot of heat for the coaching staff, but if you really believe a 6-2 finish shows they made the proper changes, through the injuries, then moving on doesn't do much. The worst things that happened was losing to the Colts and Cardinals. Those are two inexcusable losses that held you back from a winning season that should have been wins. 

If DQ survives, he's on a VERY short leash. 

[Big_Dog]

4 hours ago, octoslash said:

Of course you all realize they're going to lay a big fat stinky egg against the Jagoffs next Sunday, right?  

The Atlanta Jekyll n Hydes

We are only about a 6 or 7 pt favorite so you could be right.

[falconsd56]

4 minutes ago, vel said:

I never thought Wes was bad. He got a bad rep for some reason, but he's been one of the steadier OL all things considered. Could have been perfectly fine just drafting Lindstrom and McGary 

He is the average nfl lineman...he does well sometimes and then flubs up others.

For where he was picked he has been a steady player

[vel]

2 minutes ago, falconsd56 said:

He is the average nfl lineman...he does well sometimes and then flubs up others.

For where he was picked he has been a steady player

Exactly. Carpenter and Brown have both been that and got paid for it. Crazy.

[Godzilla1985]

10 hours ago, NCFalconfan said:

Me Lindstrom ERASE Bosa in that clip...

 

Laid his *** out!!!

[BUBBASBEANS]

10 hours ago, octoslash said:

Of course you all realize they're going to lay a big fat stinky egg against the Jagoffs next Sunday, right?  

The Atlanta Jekyll n Hydes

I enjoyed the win but I STILL DO NOT TRUST THIS BUNCH!!!   We’ve seen this show before. “ Next verse same as the first”.  I have no doubt they’ll string together a decent season next year if allowed but mark my words....”they’ll fall just short”......I’m not calling for DQs head on a platter......just stating my opinion after having seen this one too many times.  

[HouseofEuphoria]

I could see no coaching changes this off-season.

It's probably the best move, considering the age of our core roster.

I believe in redemption.

[falconsd56]

6 hours ago, vel said:

Exactly. Carpenter and Brown have both been that and got paid for it. Crazy.

Won't surprise me to see Wes get similar type deal when he hits FA.

Decent NFL linemen are at a premium

[shc]

16 hours ago, MAD597 said:

This narrative ignores the loses against the Saints and Bucs. It's all Fools gold right now.

How does it ignore it, when it specifically mentioned them both?

[jm_falcons]

So whats with this team? Under Quinn, every year they look like @#$% in the pre season and the unpreparedness transcends into the beginning half of the season. But because they play  better in the second half of the season...we should forgive? I don't think so. I flushed more coaching talent down the bowl this morning that what I have been witnessing from this team. The talent to output result is an epic fail...this is irrefutable.   

I think back to the Minnesota opening game. That first half the Falcons looked totally unprepared...like the players all thought it was pre season still.  

This team is in a bad bad rut right now...and I'm not so sure that AB wants to fix it. 

 

[me4falcons]

17 hours ago, vel said:

I never thought Wes was bad. He got a bad rep for some reason, but he's been one of the steadier OL all things considered. Could have been perfectly fine just drafting Lindstrom and McGary 

Aww he still is and we must find a starting LG bad. Carp.  must go and Brown.