A "NO DUH" Article from Ledbetter

[Peyton]

Like most of them.

Falcons hoping to find their big play formula

FLOWERY BRANCH -- The Falcons plan to find their big play detonator before facing the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

The first-team offense, which struggled during the preseason, did not score a touchdown against Pittsburgh in the season opener. Several players agreed that the team needs to connect on some big plays not just to spice up the offense but to unnerve the opposition.

"We have to get some more explosive plays on offense to make the drives easier," wide receiver Roddy White said. "We are making it real hard on ourselves."

The Falcons had only one play that went for more than 20 yards against the Steelers. Quarterback Matt Ryan connected with wide receiver Harry Douglas for a 23-yard gain in the second quarter. In last season's opener, the Falcons had three 20-yard-plus plays in a 19-7 win over Miami.

There are several ways for the Falcons to create more big plays.

The most elemental is in play-calling. They could throw more deep passes. Receivers could strive for more yards after the catch by breaking some tackles.

Springing running Michael Turner was a staple in 2008. In Pittsburgh on Sunday, he averaged 2.2 yards per carry. His longest gain in 19 attempts was seven yards. He was tackled for losses four times. The offensive line is working on trying to find him room with better blocking.

The Falcons also can create some mismatches with some of their speed players like Douglas and running back Jerious Norwood, who appeared set to run away from a linebacker at least twice against Pittsburgh.

Against the Steelers, the Falcons also had pass plays of 20, 18, 17 and 15 yards.

"We do need to make some big plays, but we need to do a lot of the little things," right tackle Tyson Clabo said.

Just blindly throwing the ball deep is not an answer.

"I think we are probably just trying to take what they are giving us," Clabo said. "You just can't throw it deep."

White had a career-high 13 catches for 111 yards against the Steelers, but was limited to a low 8.5 yards per reception. White averaged 13.6 yards per catch last season on 85 receptions.

Last season, White also had 14 plays that went for more than 20 yards. Michael Jenkins, who is out with a shoulder injury and did not play against Pittsburgh, had 10 such plays.

The Falcons will likely turn to White, their leading receiver for the past three years, to make some big plays.

"He's a guy that we like in matchups," head coach Mike Smith said. "It really doesn't matter who they put on him. We know Roddy is going to win his share."

Douglas didn't play last season because of a knee surgery. He provides another big-play artist with some of the team's rawest speed.

"Every play can be an explosive play," Douglas said. "Everybody has to do their job. It could be a block here or there."

Jenkins was injured on Aug. 6 and was expected to miss four the six weeks. Even upon his return, the Falcons still plan to utilize the crafty Douglas.

"He is going to be an integral part of what we want to do offensively," Smith said.

Turner was anything but the Burner in Pittsburgh. He had 10 rushes of more than 20 yards last season. In his breakout season in 2008, Turner recorded eight 100-yard games, two 200-yard games and had a 70-yard touchdown run against St. Louis.

"We have to be more physical," fullback Ovie Mughelli said. "We just have to show our true intentions. We have one heck of an offense."

Turner believes it's just a matter of time before the offense starts ripping off long gainers.

"We've got too many play-makers on this offense to not be scoring touchdowns," Turner said. "Guys are full of pride on this team so I have faith in those guys, including myself, that we are going to get the job done next week."

Link

[Peyton]

My favorite part is "just blindly throwing the ball deep is not the answer".

Well, nobody can accuse the Falcons of that, that is for sure.

You have to show the other team you are willing to do it. You absolutely have to do it, even if you don't complete them. The critical pick yesterday was a direct result of Roddy running the same pattern over and over again and the Falcons not taking any shots deep.

[JKH5785]

I agree Peyton.

If you don't at least try to do it, you provide no threat for the defense that you can and will

[papachaz]

(09-14-2010 09:30 AM)Peyton Wrote:  [/align]My favorite part is "just blindly throwing the ball deep is not the answer".

Well, nobody can accuse the Falcons of that, that is for sure.

You have to show the other team you are willing to do it.You absolutely have to do it, even if you don't complete them. The critical pick yesterday was a direct result of Roddy running the same pattern over and over again and the Falcons not taking any shots deep.

+1 Peyton, this is exactly what i've just typed over in the Vincent Jackson thread, having someone like him here, or even trying to get HD DOWN the field would at least show we're willing to try, forcing them to move some of the 'clutter' back some thus opening up the middle of the field in the intermediate range

[JKH5785]

I really hated to see Douglas and Weems not being utilized in the second half of the game.

Our offense was the same bunched up cluster f*ck that it has been since the start of 2009. Nothing appears to have permanently changed. When I saw the lining up in the 4 and 5 wide sets, they would f it up by running terrible routes.

If our offensive line was as good as they are said to be, we wouldn't need to bunch everyone up on the line to try and run the ball, and we could afford to run more 4 and 5 wide sets.

I almost don't even blame Turner, I mean hell, where is he expected to go. There aren't any glaring holes, and when you have 22 players in the same area, where are you to go!?

[hitwriter]

Let's hope Smith and Co. are actually going to address the issue.

We've been reading and hearing since week one of training camp that the offense looked sluggish was getting beat by the defense....

We saw it in the preseason games and now in week one.

There is no excuse for a team with this much talent "on paper" not scoring touch downs and more points.

The home opener can't get here soon enough!

[ChrisD]

After watching a few deep passes that Matt Ryan has thrown, I'm starting to believe that the Falcons don't even run deep ball plays in practice. It seems like our receivers and Matt Ice are never on the same page with the deep pass. If the ball is out in front of them (On target too) the receiver is looking for a throw behind him. And vice versa.

[RnB]

I was glad to read this the first time someone posted up, on the other forum. I am just as happy to read it again. More explosive plays will be great, and I am glad they are emphasizing it now. Im not one of those fans that needs huge passing numbers to get me excited or interested, or to feel our team is doing well. It would definitely be nice to see a couple long gainers every game, though.

[phocis850]

I remember hearing Dunta being shocked that Ryan can throw a ball 60 yards.

He has the ability, but doesn't have the play calling for it.

Ok. I'm done with blaming MM for the rest of the day... I think.

[RnB]

(09-14-2010 01:43 PM)phocis850 Wrote:  I remember hearing Dunta being shocked that Ryan can throw a ball 60 yards.

He has the ability, but doesn't have the play calling for it.

Ok. I'm done with blaming MM for the rest of the day... I think.

Yall blame him enough, thats for sure. Im going to dig up a post Trick made (i think) on the old forums and repost it. The dogging of MM no matter what he does is just silly to me.

Not a single one of the people, not specifically you Peyton, that constantly blames everything on MM even mentioned how well MM adapted to what the Steelers were doing defensively. He adapted, changed up his playcalling, and we started moving the ball. Its unbelievable to me that so many people think so little of MM.

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Posted by Trickworm on Sept 12 2010, 6:54 PM

What's Mularkey supposed to do?

Mularkey didn't make a misread and throw a deep out on the same side of the field that one of the best safties to ever play the game was on, when a rb was wide open in the middle of the field with NO ONE around him.

Mularkey wasn't the one that couldn't open a running lane.

Mularkey wasn't the rb who, when a lane was open, ran with happy feet and no authority or burst. He got caught by Ziggy Hood from behind on one play with open field in front of him.

Mularkey wasn't the one that blew a run gap assignment in overtime.

Mularkey called a good enough game to win...the players didn't execute.