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***Peyton*** · 08-19-2012, 11:56 PM

(08-19-2012 11:49 PM)phocis850 Wrote: Do we have a choice?

Maybe not. Maybe the people who say that running the ball is of no use in this league anymore are right.

I'm not ready to conceded that though. The 49ers very nearly got to the Super Bowl last year. A balanced attack can still get it done I think, if the defense is strong.

Beef · (This post was last modified: 08-20-2012 10:51 AM by Beef.)

(08-19-2012 11:46 PM)Peyton Wrote: If the Falcons plan for getting to the Super Bowl is for Matt Ryan to outgun Aaron Rodgers or Drew Brees.....I don't know if I like that idea.

Roddy and Julio are bona fide 1a and 1b talent receivers. Add HD for the ocassional underneath middle layer route, ultra-reliable possession passes to TG and Meier, and then the added screen game to both Quizz and Turner, plus you know Snelling will get in that mix and we've also obviously added the FB to that as well, and it's overwhelmingly clear that we have the makings of an elite receiving corps. Very VERY few teams, if ANY, have the high level mix we have for receiving.

Last year, Julio was brand new with no camp and he and Matt didn't have timing down. HD was 1 year back from a torn ACL and we all know that takes 2 years to get back to 100%. Meier, though obviously less of a deal, missed the season with a torn ACL, which will probably hinder him a bit this year, but he's different from HD, he's more of a reliable hands possession guy. And Mularkey completely under-utilized the screen, Quizz, and HD on top of running the most predictable and vanilla offense in history.

The combination of Turner, Quizz, & Snelling, along with the screen game helping prevent DL's from pinning their ears back and bullrushing every down and the much bigger threat of us passing keeping safeties/LB's/CB's on their heals rather than cheating up and stuffing the box, if our OL can take advantage of this and open some holes, we can also have a very dynamic running game.

We have the same recipe and ingredients as the elite teams now. Actually, our ingredients might just be better. Think about it, Roddy, Julio, Gonzo, Turner, & a stronger laser-focussed Matt, in an unpredictable spread offense with significant deep pass and screen game potential? It really can't get much better without picking an all-madden team on a video game.

If our defense can keep the better teams in the league down a TD below their normal game scoring averages, I absolutely believe we can compete with them on the offensive side. And most of these elite offensive teams have very mediocre to horrible defenses. I believe we'll have a top 15 defense to go along with a top 5 offense. And THAT is a recipe for a SB right there.

Drathdon · 08-20-2012, 11:05 AM

^
This.

***Peyton*** · 08-20-2012, 11:16 AM

The teams hardly hit in practice anymore, so I don't understand how the Falcons evaluate the OL competition without running the ball. It's hard for me to imagine this line is going to be very cohesive in the running game if we keep the run/pass ration like it has been in these next two games.

ggp · 08-21-2012, 04:56 AM

(08-19-2012 11:46 PM)Peyton Wrote: If the Falcons plan for getting to the Super Bowl is for Matt Ryan to outgun Aaron Rodgers or Drew Brees.....I don't know if I like that idea.

I don't think that is the plan. The Falcons already have the makings for a better rush attack than either the Saints or the Packers. Preseason games need to be used to fine tune the passing attack.

ggp · 08-21-2012, 04:59 AM

(08-20-2012 11:16 AM)Peyton Wrote: The teams hardly hit in practice anymore, so I don't understand how the Falcons evaluate the OL competition without running the ball. It's hard for me to imagine this line is going to be very cohesive in the running game if we keep the run/pass ration like it has been in these next two games.

Our rush attack is pretty good. Yes, the Pass/Rush ratio has been a little high this preseason, but that is a necessary step to make real gains in the pass offense. I think that the run offense will be a little "rusty" during the early part of the season. But, I also think that it will come around when we need it the most.

ggp · 08-21-2012, 05:11 AM

Another reason to be optimistic about our rush offense is the gradual inclusion of Polite. This guy is the real deal. Once he and Turner get on the same page, our power short yardage run offense will take a step forward.

juraitwaluzka · 08-21-2012, 07:25 AM

Wouldn't it be awesome if we had a back named Rude.

***Peyton*** · 08-21-2012, 08:05 AM

(08-21-2012 04:56 AM)ggp Wrote: I don't think that is the plan. The Falcons already have the makings for a better rush attack than either the Saints or the Packers. Preseason games need to be used to fine tune the passing attack.

Last year when the Falcons were supposedly a "run first" team, Atlanta finished 17th in rushing.

New Orleans broke the NFL record for passing yards, but finished 6th in rushing, and they outrushed Atlanta by about 300 yards.

***phocis850*** · 08-21-2012, 08:46 AM

(08-21-2012 05:11 AM)ggp Wrote: Another reason to be optimistic about our rush offense is the gradual inclusion of Polite. This guy is the real deal. Once he and Turner get on the same page, our power short yardage run offense will take a step forward.

Lord knows Turner can't get anywhere unless someone is leading with a block.