November 26, 2019
Article by Allison Smith
Photos courtesy of Atlanta Falcons
Wow. Talk about two steps forward and one step back. Fans completely discounted the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, then the team gets slaughtered, in their own house, first time back home in quite a while. And coming up in 4 days, the New Orleans Saints. Wanting revenge.
No one can seem to explain how the team could go so far backwards after 2 excellent games against good teams. The defense is back to cover 3, for no good reason. The Falcons didn’t have enough depth covering the Tampa Two plays. Most of what Tampa got were big plays. Obviously the 71-yard touchdown, but a 22-yard reception, on 2nd and 21, a 30-yard reception, on 3rd and 9, twice, converted on 24 and 25-yard runs. The Bucs were excellent on 3rd down conversions, while the Falcons were 25%, inside and outside the red zone. There were too many missed tackles. There were no sacks and only one hit on Jameis Winston, when they had nearly lead the NFL is sacks allowed…and interceptions.
Deion Jones lead the team in tackles with 9 and had the only hit on Winston. Ricardo Allen was on a mission with 9 tackles, tied with Damontae Kazee. De’Vondre Campbell had 8 tackles, one for loss and one of the interceptions and a pass defended. Foye Oluokun, getting more playing time, had 5 tackles, and rookie Kendall Sheffield with 4 and a near pass defended on a touchdown, but just out of reach. Qadree Ollison had 2 tackles – on punt returns. He is really making a contribution in limited playing time.
Winston was able to step up in the pocket and make plays, throwing for 313 yards and 3 touchdowns, with his 2 interceptions. The Bucs ran for an additional 133 yards. The Falcons tried to balance their man to man vs. zone, but whatever “disguising” was supposed to be happening was not working. While the Falcons did have 2 picks on the day, they got no points out of the first one, a touchdown out of the second. After starting out quickly, moving 68 yards in 3 plays, then stalling at the 7-yard line and ended up kicking a field goal to open the game. Instant momentum slasher themselves. Two plays later they get an interception, then end up punting themselves. There was never any momentum.
The Bucs had so few sacks all season and had given up the most in the NFL, until Sunday. They sacked Matt Ryan 6 times and hit him 13 times. The Falcons’ offensive line was horrible. Allowing pressure, sacks, hits, or were holding. Wes Schweitzer was rotated in, according to Dan Quinn, as a designated/planned rotation. In my opinion, they need to revamp the entire line again (short ofAlex Mack – but need to think of a replacement for him before too much longer). And find someone that can evaluate O-Line talent, because the partial revamping done this season has not done any better than the last few years, while still keeping some of the weak points as back-ups. Jake Matthews and Kaleb McGary needed help and Luke Stocker was in as a legit blocker, ie, no additional receivers down the field. Which explains how/why Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley were both double covered a couple of times, and Ryan still could not find anyone.
The Falcons could not run the ball, again. Ollison had 8 carries for 20 yards and Brian Hill 9 for 15 yards. Accuracy on passing or receiving was way off – even from our earlier bad games. Overall Ryan was 28 of 52. Ridley caught 6 of his 14 targets (some out of bounds so not drops or complete misses) for 85 yards. Russell Gage 8 of 10 for 76 yards, with Jones limited to 5 of 9 receptions for 68 yards, one of which was 31 yards. Christian Blake caught 2, Ollison 1. Jaeden Graham caught 1 of his 2 targets, which he turned into a 53-yarder.
Again, so many coaching decision questions. Down 15 points in the fourth quarter and go for the field goal instead of the touchdown. Late in the game, inside the 10 yard line – went for 3 passes and no run plays, after you had seen some good running from Ollison. Unlike most of the games in the first half of the season, there did not seem to be adjustments at half time, as the same team that went into the locker room at half is what came out after the half.
Julio moved up on the All Time Receiving Yards list – now 30th, passing Calvin Johnson.
One highlight continues to be Sheffield, who blocked an extra point that Sharrod Neasmen picked up and returned a long distance before being tackled.
Injury Report:
· Julio Jones tweaked his shoulder.
· Brian Hill – no information, but did play the rest of the game.
· Kemal Ishmael – no information, concussion in Panther game.
· Devonta Freeman – making progress, evaluation continues Tuesday/Wednesday.
· Austin Hooper – making progress, evaluation continues Tuesday/Wednesday.
· Chris Lindstrom – being evaluated, once released from IR will determine play date.
Golden Talon
Qadree Ollison – coming in when called, scoring another touchdown, 2 special teams tackles, trying to make things happen.
De’Vondre Campbell – another interception, nearly leading in tackles again.
#RiseUp
FalconAlley OWT
FalconAlley Football 