Ito Smith – FalconAlley Football

Falcons Take Defending SuperBowl Champions to the End

Atlanta Falcons 14 at Kansas City Chiefs 17

December 27, 2020

Article by Allison Smith

Photos courtesy of Atlanta Falcons

Key inactives on offense are Julio Jones and Alex Mack. Rookie Matt Hennessey will get his first start today. Darqueze Dennard, Marlon Davidson, and Deadrin Senat are key defenders out.

Starting at the 25, Matt Ryan is under pressure and finally finds Todd Gurley for a 25-yard reception along the sideline. The second play is a hand off for 2 yards. Ryan drops back and hits Russell Gage behind the line of scrimmage. On 3^rd and 10, under pressure, Ryan’s throw is tipped and falls incomplete. Sterling Hofrichter punts to the 13.

From their own 13, Le’Veon Bell goes along the left side for a first down. Patrick Mahomes pitches up to Tyreek Hill who taken out by Isaiah Oliver who crossed the field to knock him out. Bell gets the next call, Grady Jarrett makes the stop for a 3-yard loss. A flag on the next play, Jarrett jumps and pops Mahomes, giving the Chiefs 5 yards. On 2^nd and 8, Hill makes a short reception for a 6-yard gain. On 3^rd down, Travis Kelce makes the reception and behind a Sammy Watkins’ block moves up for the first down, taking Kendall Sheffield and Keanu Neal with them. Mahomes throws incomplete into the end zone, Hill was still at the 10. Blitz is coming, Mahomes throws incomplete over the hands of his receiver with Foye Oluokun in tight coverage. Still at midfield, the blitz coming again, Mahomes steps up and is tripped up by Deion Jones while releasing the ball, Sheffield knocks the ball down before it can reach Kelce.

Ito Smith Finding Holes and Yards Today-Photo Courtesy of the Atlanta Falcons

From the 13, Ito Smith gets the pitch for an 8-yard run. Smith gets another 13 yards on a run by finding a huge hole created by Luke Stocker and makes a defender miss. Smith goes up the middle for another 4 yards. Smith comes out and Gurley returns. Gage in motion and makes the reception at the first down marker. Ryan finds Hayden Hurst for another first down along the sideline. There is a flag on Calvin Ridley for an illegal shift. First and 15 from the 40, Ryan finds Hurst over the middle, taking a big hit, right at the first down marker. From the Chiefs’ 45, Ryan hands to Smith who pauses a second, then goes for 4 yards. Ridley gets the ball around the left side and loses yards, now a 3^rd and 13. Then Kaleb McGary has a false start and backs them up even more. On 3^rd and 18, under a 4-man rush, Ryan scrambles, then is sacked. He lost the ball, but got it back.

After the punt, Tyler Hall immediately hits the punt returner and KC will begin on their own 10. Hill makes the reception, then goes for 31 yards, causing AJ Terrell and Oluokun to miss, finally stopped at the 41 by Ricardo Allen. Hill gets the ball again for no gain. Bell gains 3 yards up the middle. Mahomes drops back, misses Kelce and Sheffield almost comes up with the interception. After a punt, the Falcons will begin on their own 4.

With the jumbo formation, Gurley gets the call up the middle for a gain of 6 yards to the 10.

End of Q1 – No score.

From their own 9, it’s 2^nd and 5, Ryan finds Keith Smith for a first down along the sideline. A fresh set of downs at the 16, Hill in at tailback, get the ball back to the line of scrimmage. On 2^nd down, Ryan throws too long and out of bounds over Ridley. Hill had a great block to give Ryan the time to get the throw away. On 3^rd and 10, Ryan is sacked by an unblocked defender. Hofrichter kicks from his end zone. Hill hits the punt returner immediately and the Chiefs begin at the 45.

Mahomes fakes then throws to Darryl Williams for a 5-yard gain. On 2^nd down, Mahomes fakes to Williams then throws incomplete to Mecole Hardman, covered by Terrell. On 3^rd and 5 at the 50, Mahomes completes to Harman who is rolled up by Jarrett crossing the field and stops the Chiefs 1 yard short. Williams gets the call on the 4^th and 1 and goes up the middle for 11 yards, dragging Jones part of the way. Kelce has a false start and is 1^st and 15 from the Falcons’ 40, Oluokun chasing Mahomes into an errant throw. On 2^nd down, a short pass to Williams goes for 13 yards, stopped by Jones and Sheffield. 3^rd and 2, Williams goes up the middle for a yard, Jarrett on the stop to force the 4^th down. Mahomes passes back to Watkins, Watkins tries to throw to Mahomes and Neal gets the interception. Neal stayed with Mahomes as soon as he left the line of scrimmage.

From their own 2, Gurley gets the ball and provides some breathing space for the Falcons, out to the 8. Ryan finds Keith Smith at the first down marker, then Smith goes for several more yards out to the 15. On first down, Ryan finds Ito Smith for a 5-yard gain. On 2^nd down, Hill gets the call for 3 yards. on 3^rd and 2 at the 23, Ran fakes to Gurley, as he is being tackled, Ryan throws the ball up and Gurley catches it and gets the first down. At the 31, Hill goes for 4 yards up the middle.

Calvin Ridley Goes for 54 Yards – Photo Courtesy of Atlanta Falcons

In the shotgun, Ryan fakes to Hill, then finds Ridley who goes 54 yards down to the 11. Ridley was cutting and speeding up trying to get into the end zone. A first down at the 11, Ryan gives to Hill for a few yards. Ryan hits Hurst with a shovel pass and he shoves his way through the line for a touchdown.

With 3:55 to go in the half, the Falcons lead 7/0.

Mahomes begins at the 22 with a pass to Bell who gains 8 yards. Watkins makes the first down reception. From the 40, Mahomes finds Watkins who is immediately stopped by Oliver at the 44. Kelce makes the reception for another first down. Under a 4-man rush, Mahomes escapes John Cominsky around the sideline and gains 14 yards and a first down. From the Falcons’ 31, Mahomes throws behind Hardman. Mahomes has to scramble again, up the middle for a 9-yard gain. The coverage downfield was tight and a 3-man rush flushed Mahomes out of the pocket for his run. Jones was able to finally bring him down. On 3^rd and 1, Mahomes finds Kelce right at the first down line and his dropped by Jones and Neal. Jarrett nearly tipped the pass at the line. The Chiefs take a time out. Mahomes under pressure by Jacob Tuioti-Mariner throws the ball away. Mahomes then finds Williams for a 9-yard gain, shoved out short of the first down by Neal. Williams easily gets the first down up the middle, but the entire Falcons’ defense converges to stop the touchdown at the 4. Oluokun was the first man in to slow Williams up. Mahomes pass to Kelce is just inside the endzone for a touchdown.

With 30 seconds remaining in the half, the game is tied at 7.

The Chiefs begin the second half at their own 25. Bell gains 3 yards up the middle. A penalty on Oluokun for a neutral zone infraction gives the Chiefs a 2^nd and 2. From the 33, Mahomes hands to Bell again for a first down. From the 39, Mahomes scrambles, no one open, pressure coming and Mahomes throws out of bounds. Terrell, Oliver, and Jones had tight coverage on the receivers and tight end. On 2^nd down, Mahomes finds Hardman for a first down, shoved out by Sheffield, a quick timing route with lose coverage. Deion Yelder makes the reception for another first down. From the Falcons 38, Mahomes to Hardman on the jet sweep for a 20-yard gain. Bell takes the offense and defense up the middle for 10 yards. Bell literally refused to go down, kept his legs moving and spinning with almost 20 people in a moving pile. Mahomes throws out of bounds over Kelce. On 2^nd down from the 7, Mahomes is pressured back 10 yards, has to throw across the field toward Bell, but the ball falls incomplete. On 3^rd and goal, Mahomes throws directly to Oluokun at the goal line. Oluokun returns the ball 52 yards, finally having the ball knocked out by Hill, but goes out of bounds.

Foye Oluokun Returning his Interception – Photo Courtesy of Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons begin on the 45, Ryan is sacked on first down. On 2^nd and 19, under pressure, Ryan is sacked again. On 3^rd and 22, Ryan gets to Hurst for a short gain and punt.

Mahomes finds Hill for a quick first down. From the 34, 4-man rush, Mahomes out of the pocket and throws an incompletion. On 2^nd down, blitz coming, Mahomes trying to escape Jarrett, throws the ball incomplete. Downfield coverage is tight again, Mahomes is flushed deep in the pocked with Tuoiti-Mariner and Jarrett coming again, forcing another incompletion and punt.

The Falcons begin on their own 8 with an Ito Smith run of 5 yards. A 4-yard pass to Smith. On 3^rd and 1, Gurley gets the call and the first down and a couple more, behind the lead block of Keith Smith. Ito Smith is back in for a short gain. After a snap infraction by the center, the Falcons have a 2^nd and 12 at the 17, Smith gains no yards. Now, a 3^rd and 11, Ryan drops back and throws toward Hurst who is already tackled and on the ground. A first down fake, then successful pass to Hurst for 3 yards. Smith up the left side for 3 yards, with another flag on Hennessy for holding. On 2^nd and 17 from the 22, Ryan is pressured and throws the ball into the ground. Chris Lindstrom gives up the near sack. On 3^rd and 17, under pressure, Ryan throws another short errant pass that Gurley hauls in for a loss and another forced punt.

From their own 37, Williams goes for 4 yards. On 2^nd down, Mahomes is under pressure from Cominsky and throws incomplete. Before the snap of the ball on 3^rd down, false start on the offense and it is 3^rd and 6. A 3-man rush, flag on the play, Mahomes cannot find anyone open, goes toward the sideline, then finds Kelce coming back for a big first down to the Falcons’ 38, 25-yard reception. Williams goes up the middle for 3 yards.

End of Q3, tied at 7.

From the 35, Mahomes drops back and is nearly intercepted by Tuoiti-Mariner in front of Watkins. On 3^rd and 7, Mahomes drops back, up to Williams who is stopped behind the line of scrimmage. The Chiefs kick a 53-yard field goal and take the lead.

14:08 to go in the game, Chiefs 10/Falcons 7.

From their own 25, the Falcons begin with a pass to Ridley for 15 yards. Hurst is open in the middle of the field for a 17-yard gain. Hill goes up the middle for 2 yards. From the Chiefs’ 41, Ryan throws to Laquon Treadwell for 6 yards. Gurley is on the field, Ryan rolls out, finds an open Stocker for 9 yards and the first down. Stocker escaped coverage and came back to Ryan. Ryan throws to Hill for 6 yards. Ryan finds Powell near the first down marker, but the ball is knocked out and called a fumble, Kansas City recovered.

Williams goes 11 yards for a first down. Oluokun is injured on the play, Mykal Walker comes in to replace him. Williams with another short run as Kelce limps off the field. Another quick pass for a 4-yard gain, stopped by Sheffield. Kelce returns to the field. On 3^rd and 4, Mahomes pitches to Williams and Neal – from the middle of the field, comes to the sideline to ensure Williams does not gain the first down. A punt to the 25.

Ito Smith reverses course and gains 9 yards, but is negated by the third penalty on Hennessy. 1^st and 20, Ryan fakes to Smith and finds a wide-open Ridley for 31 yards. Hill goes up the right side behind Matt Gono for 17 yards, then 4 yards and 2 yards. From the Chiefs’ 31 on a 3^rd and 4, Ryan finds Gage for another first down. From the 22, Ryan sees Hill wide open, he gains the first down and is shoved out of bounds at the 5. First and goal, throws out of bounds over Ridley in the end zone. On 2^nd and goal, Ryan changes the play at the line and finds Treadwell in the front of the endzone for a touchdown.

With 4:33 to go in the game, the Falcons lead 14/10.

Mahomes rolls out and throws the ball out of bounds. On 2^nd down, Mahomes rolls out under pressure again, Hardman cannot hold onto the ball. On 3^rd down, Mahomes finds Kelce wide open in the middle of the field who goes for a 36-yard gain, but is backed up by a Hill block in the back on Oliver. A 10-yard penalty from the spot of the foul, giving Kelce extra yards. Steven Means nearly blocked the pass at the line. From the 45, Williams goes for 3 yards. On 2^nd down, Mahomes finds Kelce again for a 16-yard gain with Sheffield in coverage. Mahomes quick to Hardman, a yard short of the marker. On 2^nd and 1, Mahomes hands to Williams who easily gets the first down. With 2:40 to pay, from the Falcons’ 25, Mahomes flings the ball into the end zone….to AJ Terrell, but he loses the ball as he hits the ground. The Falcons challenge the call that he dropped the ball. The ruling stands, incomplete pass and Falcons lose a time out. Mahomes throws a touchdown to Demarcus Robinson over Sheffield.

2 minute warning. Chiefs 17/Falcons 14

Ryan rolls away from pressure, finds Hurst, but ruled incomplete and a penalty in the secondary. Prior to the pass, holding on the defense, 5 yards and a first down. From the 30, 1^st and 10 with 1:49 to go in the game, Ryan drops back, finds Gage who literally leaps over a defender to get past the first down marker. From the 42, Ryan finds Ridley at the 42 along the sideline. First and 10 from the Chiefs’ 42, Ryan finds Ridley for 9 yards. On 2^nd and 1, Ryan goes to the end zone, Ridley was 5+ yards out. On 3^rd and 1, jumbo formation, Gurley gets 2 yards for the first down. From the 26, Ryan throws to Ridley, but out of bounds outside the endzone, but there is a penalty on the defense for 12 men on the field and offsides. First and 5 from the 21 with 27 seconds to go. Blitz coming, Ryan throws incomplete toward Gage. With 23 seconds to go, Hurst in motion, Ryan is sacked and ball is fumbled and recovered by Kansas City. The referees rule it is an incompletion that bounced off a defender and bounced back to look like a fumble. On 3^rd and 5 with 19 seconds, Ryan back peddles and releases an almost interception that Ridley knocks out of the defender’s hands.

Younghoe Koo comes out to attempt the field goal and misses.

The game ends Chiefs 17 – Falcons 14

Another Great HALF of Atlanta Falcons Football

Atlanta Falcons 27/Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31

December 20, 2020

Article by Allison Smith, Photos Courtesy of Atlanta Falcons

On the first play of the game, Matt Ryan hands to Todd Gurley for a 1-yard loss. On 2^nd and 11, Brandon Powell caught the ball, but was immediately stopped. On 3^rd and 9, Ryan finds Gurley for the first down reception. From the 36, Ito Smith comes in and finds a seam on the left side for a 5-yard gain. On 2^nd down, Ryan hits Hayden Hurst who stretches for the first down, but the refs mark him 1 yard short. On the 3^rd and 1, Ryan finds Calvin Ridley crossing the field at the 40, then Ridley goes for anther 8 yards. From the Tampa Bay 32, Ryan finds Russell Gage now in the middle of the field and Gage goes to the 5-yard line. On first and goal, Ryan in the shotgun, easily finds Gage in the left edge of the end zone for a TOUCHDOWN.

With 10:34 to go in the first quarter, Falcons lead 7/0.

Tampa Bay starts on their own 25 and a quick throw to Antonio Brown at the line goes for another 6 yards. On 2^nd down, Tom Brady is under pressure but finds the tight end for a 14-yard gain, taken out of bounds by Foye Oluokun. From the 45, Brady drops back, looking deep, but throws it short out of bounds. Brady hands off to Leonard Fournette who is immediately met hard by Keanu Neal, Fournette circles around behind the line and is finally taken down by Sherrod Neasman and Neal. On 3^rd and 18, Brady finds LeShaun McCoy or a 14-yard gain where he is stopped short of the first down by Deion Jones. Powell fair catches the punt at the 10.

On the first play of their second possession, the Falcons hand off to Brian Hill for a single yard. From the shotgun, Ryan hits Powell for a short gain along the left side for a 3-yard gain. On 3^rd and 6 from the 14, Ryan is pressured, then decides to run, not only for the first down, but up to the 30 for a 16-yard gain along the right sideline. On play action, Ryan finds a wide-open Luke Stocker on the right side for a big first down of 25 yards. On the Buccaneers side of the field, Stocker cannot haul the pass in. On 2^nd and 10, Hill gets buried behind the line of scrimmage and a 5-yard loss. Gurley is back in for the 3^rd and 14, on a 4-man rush, Ryan hits Gurley, short of the first down marker. The punt goes to the 7 and is returned for a couple of yards.

Fournette goes up the middle for a yard where he is met by Allen Bailey. Brady passes short to Cameron Brate for 8 yards where he is met by Oluokun and Jones. On 3rd and 1 from the 21, a pitch to Fournette goes for the first down along the far right side, pushed out by Isaiah Oliver. From the 23, Fournette goes up the middle again, being pulled backwards by Neal. On 2nd and 9, Brady throws to the line to Scotty Miller, who is immediately stopped by Oliver. On 3^rd and 7, blitz coming, Brady throws toward Brown who is tightly covered by Kendall Sheffield and the ball falls to the ground. From the 26, Ryan cannot make the completion to Gage.

End of Q1 – Falcons 7/Buccaneers 0.

Ryan has the ball tipped before it can reach Gage. On 3^rd and 10, from the shotgun, Ryan throws downfield just over Ridley along the sideline. He leaves the field holding his midsection as Sterling Hofrichter punts 48 yards to the 26.

Brady begins with an incompletion to Rob Gronkowski. Second down, Mike Evans hauls in the reception and is immediately stopped by Sheffield. On 3^rd and 3, Jones goes behind the line and sacks Brady with Grady Jarrett inches away, an 8-yard loss. A 3 and out for the Bucs and a punt to the Falcons’ 35.

Deion Jones Sacks Tom Brady – Courtesy of Atlanta Falcons

Ryan finds Hill at the 40 for a quick reception. On 2^nd down, Ryan hands to Hill who goes up the middle for a couple of yards. On 3^rd and 2, from the shotgun, Ryan hands to Smith who finds a hole and 3 yards for the first down. Ryan changes the play at the line and has the pass intended for Powell tipped at the line of scrimmage. Hill gets the call again for no gain on the left side. On 3^rd and 10, Keith Smith gets the reception and gains 8 yards. On 4^th and 2 across midfield, Ryan rolls to the right and finds Gage open for the first down for 7 yards. On the Tampa 39, Ryan fakes the handoff, looks at two receivers, then hits K. Smith again for 13 yards. Ryan finds Laquon Treadwell for 14 yards. From the 12, Ryan fakes to Hill and finds an open Ridley in the front corner of the end zone for another touchdown. Ridley made a move in the end zone to escape his defender and get open as the ball was released.

With 7:48 to go in the half, Falcons 14/Buccaneers 0.

Tampa Bay begins on their own 25 and Brady’s pass falls incomplete. Second down, Brady finds Chris Godwin, Oliver pulls the ball out, but the Bucs recover. First down from the 41, Ke’shaun Vaughn goes for 3 yards. Brady finds Gronk, right at the first down marker, shoved out by Neal. Brady under pressure, drops back, but Godwin cannot make the catch. On second down, Evans makes the reception along the sideline with AJ Terrell shoving him out of bounds at the marker. With the blitz coming, lead by Oluokun, Brady releases the ball into the sideline. Vaughn gets tripped up and gains a couple of yards up the middle. On 3^rd and 9, Neasman zips up the middle and sacks Brady for a 9-yard loss. On 4^th and 18, the Bucs punt to the 11.

Ryan begins with a 2-yard pass to Ridley. From the shotgun, Ryan hands off to Smith for a 3-yard gain. On 3^rd down, seeing no coverage on the outside on Ridley, Ryan makes the completion for 7 yards.

2 Minute Warning

From the 23, Ryan throws to a wide-open Ridley at the 37. Ito Smith with the block to give Ryan time. Another reception by Ridley, for 18 yards into Tampa Bay territory. Ryan’s next pass is tipped at the line. Smith gets the reception of 5 yards near the sideline. The blitz is picked up, Ryan finds Gage crossing the field for 15 yards. A scrambling Ryan is able to find Hurst for 12 yards down to the 13. The Falcons take a time out. Gage is being looked at on the sideline – ribs. Ryan throws to Blake behind the line of scrimmage. Falcons take another time out with 33 seconds to go in the half. On 2^nd and 11, Ryan drops back, flushed from the pocket and has to throw it out of the end zone. On 3^rd and 11 from the 13, Ryan’s pass to Gage is knocked away in the end zone. Younghoe Koo kicks the 32-yard field goal.

On the kickoff, the Buccaneers return the ball to the 18. Jaedon Graham on the stop and is injured on the play. Brady takes a knee.

At half, Falcons 17/Buccaneers 0

The Buccaneers begin on their own 20. Brady starts with a 20-yard pass to Brown, who is stopped by Oliver. An incompletion to Evans is followed by a 14-yard reception by Brate at midfield and the first down. Fournette pushes through the middle for 9 yards. Fournette gets the next run along the left side for 4 yards stopped by Neasman. Then, Brady lobs it downfield to Evans for 32 yards, he is stopped at the 1 by Neal. Fournette goes in for the touchdown.

With 11:28 to go in the 3^rd, Falcons 17/Buccaneers 7.

Under pressure, Ryan steps up and able to find an open Ridley for 13 yards. From the 38, Ryan hands to Smith who gains 2 yards up the middle. Ryan drops back after the fake and throws on a rope to Ridley flying out of bounds, one foot down, one foot drag, a 28 yard reception. Smith gets a big lead block and zooms for 7 yards along the right side. Smith runs up the right side, turns, catches the ball and gains 4 yards behind a big Matt Gono block. Ryan finds an open Gage for another 14 yards. On first and goal from the 7, Gurley is in and Ryan finds a tightly covered Hurst in the end zone for the touchdown.

With 7:34 to go in the 3^rd, Falcons 24/Buccaneers 7.

From the 25, Brady throws behind Gronkowski. Brady is successful to Gronkowski for 5 yards, shoved out of bounds by Neal. On 3^rd and 5, Brady drops back and under a 3-man rush, Evans makes the 26-yard reception. Next, Brady finds Fournette who out moves Terrell and is taken out by Oluokun and Jarrett. Fournette rushes for no gain, stopped by Jacob Tuioti-Mariner. On 2nd and 10, Brady is under pressure by Jarrett and Jones, he points for Evans to come back and Evans makes the reception at the 4. With Jaylinn Hawkins in tight coverage, Brown cannot make the touchdown reception. On 2^nd down, Godwin makes the touchdown reception.

With 3:44 left in the 3^rd quarter, Falcons 24/Buccaneers 14

After the fake hand off to Hill, Ryan drops back and throws up to Hill for a 4-yard gain. With time, Ryan throws incomplete to Ridley crossing the with the inroute. An incompletion out of bounds on 3^rd down forces a quick punt.

From their own 24, the Buccaneers’ first pass falls incomplete. Second down, Brady finds Gronkowski who is tightly covered by Oluokun for 17 yards. Another incompletion, going for Tyler Johnson, but Terrell knocks the ball away. Blitz coming, Brady finds Miller wide open, who is hit by Jarrett (who was rushing the passer) forcing the fumble that is recovered by Jones. Jarrett is pressing the offensive lineman, as soon as the ball goes by, he turns toward the ball carrier. The referees decide his knee was down, the Falcons challenge. The play is confirmed and the Falcons lose a time out and the challenge. An incompletion to Evans is negated by a “hands to the face” and a PI by Terrell. Both penalties are accessed for 28 yards. First and 10 at the 17, Brady finds Fournette wide open in the flat for 8 yards. Second and 2 at the 9, Brady’s pass is complete to Brown for the first down, but not the touchdown. Terrell slows Brown up and Oliver saves the touchdown. At the 1, Gronkowski can’t haul in the pass, but gets another PI. On first down from the half yard line, Fournette takes it in for another touchdown.

First and 10 from the 25, Ryan hands to Hill for a 3-yard loss.

End of the 3^rd quarter, Falcons 24/Buccaneers 21.

On 2^nd and 12, Gage cannot make the reception thrown slightly behind him. Ryan drops back and passes to Stocker at the line. There is another penalty for movement and the Falcons punt. And there is another penalty on the punt. After Tyler Hall was blocked in the back, he hit the returner with his helmet. Offsetting. Still 4^th and 16, Falcons will punt again. On the re-punt, Barner gets a 21-yard return to the 49.

Brady’s pass to Fournette is incomplete. A 5-yard completion to McCoy who is stopped by Oluokun. Oliver is injured on the play, Hall in for Oliver. On 3^rd and 6 from the Falcons’ 46, Evans is wide open for the easy first down at the 35. Brady passes to Godwin for 9 yards, stopped by Hall and Oluokun. A side pass to Brown goes for 13 yards, shoved out of bounds by Hall. From the 13, Brady throws out of end zone over Gronkowski who is covered by Oluokun. Quick throw to Miller at the line, Terrell stops Miller after a 4-yard gain. On 3^rd and 6, Brady fires incomplete to Gronkowski, covered by Terrell.

With just over 11 to play, game is tied at 24.

Ito Smith Pushing Through – Courtesy of Atlanta Falcons

First play is an 11-yard reception by Keith Smith. From the 36, Ridley is wide open again, makes the reception and gains 34 yards, 15 after the catch. Ito Smith picks up 4 yards. Ryan fakes to Smith, then looks to Ridley in the end zone, but the defender gets a hand on the ball to knock it incomplete. Ryan is quickly sacked on 3^rd down. On 4^th and 14, Koo comes on to kick a 52-yard field goal.

With 8:22 to go in the game, Falcons take back the lead 27/Buccaneers 24.

From the 22, Brady finds Brate in the middle of the field, big hit by Neal stops him, after an 18-yard gain. Fournette gains one yard, stopped by Jones and Deadrin Senat. On 2^nd and 9 from the 41, Godwin makes the reception and gains 13 yards, pushed out by Jones. Brady then finds Brown for a 46-yard touchdown reception over Hall.

With 6:19 to go in the game, Falcons 27/Buccaneers 31.

From the 25, under pressure, Ryan throws to Hurst behind the line of scrimmage who is tackled for even more of a loss. On 2^nd and 12, Ryan drops back under a 4-man rush, he goes long for Gage, but the ball is too long, just off his fingertips. On 3^rd down, Ryan is sacked, again. Hofrichter kicks from inside the endzone for 57 yards.

Fournette easily gets the first down and is stopped at the 44-yad line by Jones, Neasom, and others. Fournette is stopped for a single yard gain by Jones. After the play fake, Brady meets Jarrett again. On 3^rd and 16, after the Falcons final timeout (wasted one with a challenge), McCoy is 3 yards short of the first down.

Grady Jarrett After Reacquainting Himself with Tom Brady on the Sack – Jarrett sacked Brady 3 times in SB51

After the punt, the Falcons begin on their own 12-yard line with 2:44 to go and no time outs. Ryan throws incomplete toward Powell. On 2^nd and 10, Ryan is under pressure and steps on an offensive lineman and falls to the ground. Then throws in the area of Hurst. On 4^th and 16 from the 6, Ryan throws to Ridley at the 20, but needs the 22. Buccaneers take over at the 22.

Fournette goes for 2 yards, then another 6 and another 2. They come out to measure for the first down or not. The ruling is that it is a first down, while the chains, the announcers and Raheem Morris disagree. The Bucs are “given” the first down and can take a knee to win the game.

Falcons 27/Buccaneers 31.

#RiseUp

FalconAlley Owt

Falcons First Half Highs, Second Half Lows

August 17, 2018

Chiefs 28 at Falcons 14
Deion Jones and Matt Bryant were in street clothes, announced inactive. Again, Devonta Freeman and Julio Jones were dressed, but did not play at all. So many teams have seen season ending injuries already, so happy to have those guys sit.
Justin Hardy and Calvin Ridley were sent back to receive the opening kickoff. Ridley received the kick and returned it 34 yards.
Brandon Fusco got the start at right guard. Ridley, Marvin Hall, and Mohamed Sanu with the start as receivers. The first play was to Ridley for no yards. Then to Tevin Coleman for no yards. Third and eleven, Matt Ryan finds Austin Hooper for 29 yards. Tevin stepped behind Alex Mack and rushed up for back to back 15-yard gains. Ito Smith now in at running back for 3 yards. Then a 4-yard diving touchdown pass to Hooper.
Matt Bosher resumed his kickoff duties. Foye Oluokon had a good stop on kick coverage. Terrell McClain and Duke Riley made a good stop. Clearly Riley trying to step up his game this week. Brian Poole came across the field and took the receiver out of the air to stop the Chiefs with a 3 and out.
Hardy is starting for punt returns as well and returned it 17 yards. Unfortunately, Smith had an illegal block in the back to cancel the return, but we did get to see what Hardy can do.
The first team returns to the field and Ryan shoots a 16-yard pass to Hall. Then, the upcoming star of the year, Ridley catches a big 36-yard pass over his left shoulder as he falls. And the Falcons are instantly inside the Chiefs’ 30. A few plays later, facing a 4 and 2, Andy Levitre had a hands to the face penalty and the Falcons turn the ball over on downs.
Brooks Reed, Deadrin Senat, and Keanu Neal combined for a stop, and Neal (not surprised) gets called for the helmet to the head penalty. But if you watch the replay, he did not lead with the head, but took the call. Grady Jarrett got major pressure up the middle and Poole was able to make the 11-yard loss tackle. Poole continued to show out with another tackle to the sideline. Then Grady made a stop to cause 3rd and 5. The running back was able to get around the side along the sideline where he was stopped by Ricardo Allen. Duke Riley was in pursuit, but got caught up in a block. Robert Alford had a nice pass break up. As seen in training camp, Blidi Wreh-Wilson has greatly improved and playing smart and aggressively and nearly had a pick in front of Sammy Watkins.
Kansas City had a first down at the 4 and the Atlanta defense stood up and forced a field goal.
For the third offensive set, Matt Schaub comes in. Smith is in at running back. Ben Garland and Ty Sambrailo are in on the left side, while Wes Schweitzer is in at right guard. Hardy had a nice quick reception for a first down. Russell Gage gets his shot and hauls in an 18-yard reception. Reggie Davis comes in at receiver. Smith is getting allot of carries and being successful with his quick spin moves and pushing through for some good yardage. Schaub finds Ridley on a crossing route for a first down. Justin Crawford gets a chance at running back and gains 2 yards. Back to Smith who goes to the right side for another few yards. On 3rd and 4, Schaub finds Davis. Then, Big Play Ridley, catches his first touchdown as a Falcon.
Blidi Wreh made the stop on the kick off. Patrick Mahomes threw up a pass to Sammy Watkins, and Damontae Kazee picked it off. Kazee came to play tonight again. Blidi Wreh knocked Watkins off his timing a bit and Kazee reads the play from the start, cuts across the field, and leaps up and rips the ball out of the air.
Schaub and the offense come back out. More successful hand-offs and passes to Smith, then a big 24-yard catch by Eric Saubert, with many of those yards after the catch. Schaub finds Davis on a crossing route, just short of the first down, due to having to slow up for the pass. On fourth down, Smith gets stuff and the Falcons turn the ball over on downs.
The second half took on the same hot mess as last week’s game. Kurt Benkert looked good, until he threw an interception that he should have tucked in. Oliver looked good in kick coverage. Ito Smith had several kick returns, which except for bobbling each several times, looked good. He also had 13 carries for 34 yards at running back. Brandon Fusco looked good at the right guard spot and pancaked several guys making room for Tevin to get some good yards.
Foye Oluokon flew around at the linebacker spot, finishing with 1 tackle, but also very active on special teams. Duke Riley stepped up tonight and was better in coverage most of his time in. As always, Brian Poole was on point and covered the explosive Tyreek Hill perfectly. Russell Gage came in with the 2nd team and had 1 reception for 18 yards.
Of course, Damontae Kazee is a stand out again, with no tackles, but a big interception. Terrell McClain really stepped up tonight.
The first team offense got into a good rhythm tonight. No pre-snap penalties, Ryan went 5 of 7 for 90 yards and a touchdown. Calvin Ridley had 3 receptions, 1 touchdown, 49 yards, and a 35-yard return. Austin Hooper had a touchdown and 2 receptions for 33 yards. Definitely more consistent.
First team defense did not give up a score. Robert Alford with the knock down in the end zone. They started with a 3 and out. And the regulars were swarming.
Dave Archer spoke to Calvin Ridley after the game, he is so humble, with his stats on the night and he is just “ready to contribute.” Ridley said he’s just working and practicing, and again, “Willing to contribute however the team wants me.” Again, said that Julio Jones is coaching him up after every play.
Overall, this game was not as painful as the first, and saw some real bright spots for the first teams and some guys on the 2nd or 3rd. And another week and no one is hurt. Likely, 50 spots are already on lock and there are not many position battles. We will see what we see in game 3 next Saturday.

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Photo Credit: Atlanta Falcons