Falcons: Not worried about preseason rush attack

[ggp]

The first two preseason games have sparked a lot of attention in Falconland. Usually, these games are met with a lot of yawning and discussions about some unknown kid that is "looking like a beast" in camp. This year, the interest is very different. People are getting excited about the obvious change in strategy on both sides of the ball. In a word the Falcons are now AGGRESSIVE. Fans, including myself, like that.

Tempering all this preseason excitement is an underlying concern about the run offense. The NFL has morphed into a pass-first league, but everyone knows that a team must be able to run the ball, when they enter the red zone. We haven't seen much running in the preseason and it has many on these boards a little worried. I am not.

A recent AJC article noted that Koetter, our new OC, is not worried about our run offense. He goes on to say that he never worries about running the ball in the preseason. I thought that was a pretty intelligent thing to note. Let's list reasons why the running attack should not be a priority for us in the preseason:

1. This is a pass-first league. The Falcons have been a plodding offense for several seasons and their offensive point production has been "meh". In order to compete with teams like the Packers and Saints, the Falcons must be able to score quickly and often.....from anywhere on the field. The passing game is the missing piece.

2. The Falcons have been a pretty good run offense for several years. We know Turner can run between the tackles and we know that Snelling and Rodgers can do the same.

3. The passing attack is far more complex and intricate than the run game. While timing is essential for both, the timing for passes has to be much more precise. For that reason, the pass offense requires more practice than the rush offense.

4. Smith has already said that Turner's carries will be rationed, so that his legs will be fresh during the play offs. Certainly, the best time to ration his carries is during the time we need him the least.

5. Screen passes require a lot of patience to develop and a lot of practice. Success for this type of play requires that blockers mobilize and reorganize themselves to create a moving wall of protection. That is tough coreography.

Koetter strikes me as a pretty smart guy. I feel good about his leadership.