Falcons: My Take on the Falcons vs Pitt and expectations looking forward

[Hit Stick]

Alright look, first and foremost I never want our team to lose a game, and I'm not totally happy with everything the way it played out against Pitt. That being said, I think there are very few teams in this league who have an offense that can go out and swing with any team that stacks up against it.

I could see our team turning into that very easily. You really have no way to completely shut down ATL's offense, Atlanta intentionally made itself 1 sided in the first half against the best defensive team in the NFL, and still moved the ball. If it weren't for dropped passes would have hung a number on the Steelers no team could hang in a full game much less a half a game. The Falcons ended up 15 points shy of what they *should* have been in the first half of the Steelers game. Most teams would be happy to put 15 points up on the Steelers in a game, that's how many blown drives the Falcons had. Despite that they still were only 8 points down to the Steelers going into halftime, and if it were the starters that came back out instead of the backups, you'd have seen a different ending to that story.

We had Julio's 49 yard drop (on a 60+ yard throw from Matt Ryan, a thing of beauty) we had Matt's terrible overthrow to Harry D wide open for what would have been his 3rd touchdown in as many preseason games, and we had Tony's "pushoff" that wasn't, but he did lock out his arm and make it look really bad. You gotta know we're going to make those plays normally, and come the regular season this offense is going to be just pure nasty. I wouldn't be at all shocked to see the Falcons hang 50 on someone this season, just because they can. Just going out there and pounding someone into submission, and I wouldn't be shocked to see the Falcons get in a few more gunfights this season with teams like New Orleans, and Philly. Well I'll tell ya what, with Matt Ryan as our gunslinger, I like our chances.

I saw Julio Jones absolutely torch people an get open seemingly at will. I saw Julio Jones that looked like a young Roddy White with some of the concentration drops that he had, BUT, I saw him react more like Roddy would NOW instead of the way he did back then. I saw Jaquizz Rodgers establish himself as someone I'd like to see get as many if not more touches than Snelling. The kid can play football, despite being tiny, I like it! I saw Turner absolutely rip a couple gashes in the best defense in the NFL, and I also saw him blown up in the backfield due to poor blocking, I think Turner is back to healthy (which he didn't look last year)

I saw Roddy White being Roddy White, and I saw him seemingly more energized by the pieces around him. I saw him doing his part when the ball came his way, and I saw him being genuinely happy for others when it went theirs. I saw Harry Douglas, my goodness did I see Harry Douglas, that kid is ready to make some big time plays this year. I saw Michael Palmer looking very good out there despite the 1 drop that should have been an easy catch.

I saw an offensive line that didn't allow Matt Ryan to get sacked, but I also saw Matt Ryan helping that offensive line by getting the ball out quick. I saw Sam Baker really step it up for most of the game and lock down rushers to his side. I saw Andrew Jackson not being quite ready for the NFL pass rushers he's going to face week to week, albeit against one of the strongest LDEs in the 3-4 in the league as well. But I saw Mr. Johnson take the same guy and handle business. For now I give the nod to Johnson over Jackson.

I also saw some rusty looking defense out there against the Steelers, I saw a team that on the first drive was ready to pound a run first team into the ground and make them cry, get caught off guard and blown up for a couple of 'big' plays by a guy who I've never heard of, from a position that in Pitt's offense traditionally goes to a guy by the name of Heath Miller.

I saw Ray Edwards start the game shooting out of the blocks like a friggin bullet, even beating JA55 off the line, but as the half wore on I saw him get weaker and more winded. I attribute that to his lack of football preparation in the offseason, and the Falcons bringing him along very slowly in camp. I'm okay with that, as long as by 3-4 games into the season he's at 100% and able to keep that burst off the line I saw to start the game. I saw him pancaked on the 44 yard TD pass because he got over extended and the RT just put him down face first (I give that as an example to not being in game shape)

I saw Curtis Lofton everywhere, that dude was flying around and looked great out there. Didn't rack up a ton of tackles, but there weren't that many to be had once the defense settled in. I saw Sean Weatherspoon bite on the PA (along with the rest of the defenders) and give up a couple plays, but I also saw him make some plays pushing the pocket on the blitz, and making some tackles as well. I saw William Moore do his job, without the monster hits this time, but still very sound and overall great job by Moore.

I saw Thomas Decoud pull up on that 77 yard touchdown pass as the catch was being made. I'm not sure what caused that, if it was the fact that #1 it's the preseason and he didn't want to risk getting hurt in a game that didn't matter. #2 if the new rule about defenseless receivers popped into his head, or #3 if he thought Grimes picked or tipped the ball and went to looking for it. But I saw him blow that one completely. I saw Grimes blow the timing on that play (trusting his Safety to clean up after him, which *should* have happened) I saw Grimes blow the play on the 44 yard touchdown as well, and I saw something I liked on that play too, I saw Dominique Franks coming in to try to help out, and he almost got there too, but to me that showed awareness by the youngster.

I saw Vance Walker, and so did Ben Roethlisburger, however I didn't see him get the man on the ground like he should have. I did see him hit Big Ben as hard as I've ever seen Ben get hit, which was impressive, but c'mon big fella, finish that off. I saw Babineaux doing his thing, causing problems and being disruptive in the run game as well as the pass. I saw Peria Jerry, not do much this week. I saw Kroy Bierman playing like the DE we all love to have out there with his high motor and great quickness. I saw Christopher Owens shat himself when he was in space against Brown, but still was able to keep the WR from breaking a big gainer by running him back into his help.

Here's to a healthy season for the Falcons (and truly everyone in the NFL) and here's to the Falcons taking the fans on a joyride through the regular season!

[Ballfan]

I like your rose colored glasses and I wear them too!

[JDaveG]

(08-30-2011 03:04 PM)Hit Stick Wrote:  I saw Grimes blow the play on the 44 yard touchdown as well, and I saw something I liked on that play too, I saw Dominique Franks coming in to try to help out, and he almost got there too, but to me that showed awareness by the youngster.

Good take except for the above. If you re-watch it, that was Franks' man, and Franks got absolutely roasted. I couldn't tell if he thought they were 2 deep and the safety just didn't get there (or Franks was wrong), but he was beat by 10 yards. I mean absolutely burnt. Grimes came over to help and almost saved the play.

[Penumbra]

Always like to read thought out posts, very nice Stick.

[SoCalFalconFan]

(08-30-2011 03:54 PM)JDaveG Wrote:  Good take except for the above. If you re-watch it, that was Franks' man, and Franks got absolutely roasted. I couldn't tell if he thought they were 2 deep and the safety just didn't get there (or Franks was wrong), but he was beat by 10 yards. I mean absolutely burnt. Grimes came over to help and almost saved the play.

^ this. It still dumbfounds me how athletic Grimes is. Dude is a keeper. If Dunta plays up at all this season the secondary will be improved.

[papachaz]

good read, nice breakdown. lots to be excited about. i like your take on all the passes in the first half, and yeah, lot's of teams would hope to be able to get over 200 yards passing in a GAME against the steelers, much less a half.

out of the game, and the other two as well, the only thing i have real concerns over right now is ST. we started off last year a little 'off' on ST, i hope they get this fixed this week.

secondary concerns as well, who knows what was going through DeCoud's mind, you may have it pegged, but we don't know. I just hope we don't see him make this same mistake multiple times this year like he did last year.

overall good read, thanks!

[Hit Stick]

Thanks guys, I'll have to watch that whole 44 yard touchdown again it appears, I was seeing it the other way. I can't tell what the hell kind of defense that was supposed to be from that play, i was thinking he was lined up on this side cause of the close up they showed, but that was Wallace. So it was a guy Franks was lined up on, but it looked like he was dropping into a deep quarters or at least Cover 3. So if it was either one of those it was on the middle guy, because Grimes being in the other deep 3rd would have been in the area close enough to make something happen there. So I'm not sure who is to blame, the only thing I do know for sure is that the coaches know for sure who to blame and they'll get it taken care of.

[Penumbra]

(08-30-2011 06:18 PM)Hit Stick Wrote:  Thanks guys, I'll have to watch that whole 44 yard touchdown again it appears, I was seeing it the other way. I can't tell what the hell kind of defense that was supposed to be from that play, i was thinking he was lined up on this side cause of the close up they showed, but that was Wallace. So it was a guy Franks was lined up on, but it looked like he was dropping into a deep quarters or at least Cover 3. So if it was either one of those it was on the middle guy, because Grimes being in the other deep 3rd would have been in the area close enough to make something happen there. So I'm not sure who is to blame, the only thing I do know for sure is that the coaches know for sure who to blame and they'll get it taken care of.

The camera coverage was awful but I do know that Franks was in cover and again failed to,...cover his man. Grimes is a freak of nature. Wish I could share the team's game film but that's not an option.

But you are right on with everything in that post. Thanks for the great read.