Falcons Team Report

[falcon057]

Falcons Team Report
Updated: September 23, 2010 01:54 EST


INSIDE SLANT

The Falcons have retooled their defense and are playing a new brand of football.

Instead of basically sitting in their 4-3 base defense and playing cover-two zones, the Falcons have attacked and tried to get after Pittsburgh's Dennis Dixon and Arizona's Derek Anderson in the first weeks of the season.

The defensive staff wanted to come up with the answer for teams like the New Orleans Saints that try to spread out the defense and then attack the favorable isolated matchups.

By replacing five starters, the Falcons wanted a faster and more intense unit that could attack the spacing issues and then still be stout enough against the run.

The strategy has worked for the most part, but the team has allowed runs of 50 and 80 yards, too.

It has rushed as few as three players and brought as many as seven on third downs situations.

Middle linebacker Curtis Lofton said the team wants to switch up its coverages and attack from different angles.

The defensive line has been ordered to make one move and then attack the pocket.

The new strategy has resulted in four different players having interceptions and five different players having sacks.

"We want to disrupt the timing in their passing game," defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux said.

The Falcons had 14 hurries, five knockdowns and two sacks against the Cardinals.

"Guys were getting the edge, making one move and crushing the pocket," Babineaux said. "We were getting some hits on that guy and getting him rattled. Instead of worrying about where his receivers were, he was probably worried about us because we were hitting him all day long. It was a good day for us."

The Falcons have kept 10 defensive linemen and use a nine-man rotation in the games.

"Any time that you've got a good rotation, guys coming in and taking a few plays for us it is a good thing," Babineaux said. "Just keeping us fresh throughout the game is key."

Now, we get to see if they try to do the same thing to New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees of if they will resort back to conservative zone coverage.

"This test is in all facets, not just in the run game, but also in the passing game," Lofton said. "We haven't faced a passing game like this in the first two games."

The Falcons also have to control the big running plays.

"It's definitely a priority," Lofton said. "The last two games we've had explosive runs. We've just been getting in the film room and trying to get that stuff cut out and stop it for four quarters."

SERIES HISTORY: 82nd meeting. Falcons lead regular-season series, 44-37. The Saints have won seven of the last eight meetings, including the last three.

NOTES, QUOTES

--The Falcons placed running back Jerious Norwood on injured reserve because of a torn ACL in his right knee. In 2009, he missed six games with a hamstring injury and a concussion. He entered this season in a battle with Jason Snelling for the No. 2 job behind Michael Turner. In relief of Norwood and Turner on Sunday, Snelling ran for 129 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 57 yards and a touchdown receiving in the Falcons' 41-7 win over Arizona.

Turner, who left that game with a groin injury, likely will be back in the lineup Sunday at New Orleans. Snelling should step into Norwood's spot.

The Falcons also announced the addition of running back Gartrell Johnson to the active roster and terminated the contract of linebacker Bear Woods, who was on the practice squad. They signed running back Shawnbrey McNeal to replace Woods.

Johnson was a fourth-round draft pick of the Chargers in 2009. He had 43 yards on 13 carries for the Giants last season.

McNeal, who was signed to the practice squad, started his college career at Miami before transferring to Southern Methodist. The Dallas native was a two-time 100-meter state champion in track in high school.

--Wide receiver Michael Jenkins, who missed the first two games with a shoulder injury, returned to practice.

Wide receivers Eric Weems and Harry Douglas have started in Jenkins' spot. Douglas started against Pittsburgh and Weems made his first career start against Arizona.

Jenkins injured his shoulder in the team's scrimmage at North Gwinnett High School on Aug. 6.

With Jenkins out of the lineup, Roddy White has gotten off to a fast start this season. The two-time Pro Bowler is tied for the league-lead with 20 receptions.

Jenkins was limited in practice and didn't work with the starting offense. He's not slated to start this week against the Saints.

"We are going to bring him along slowly this week," Smith said.

--RB Jason Snelling was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week after amassing 186 total yards and scoring three touchdowns in the 41-7 rout of the Arizona Cardinals.

Snelling is also a candidate for the FedEx Ground Player of the Week honors. Snelling is in the running against Philadelphia's LeSean McCoy and Oakland's Darren McFadden.

--CB Brian Williams, who is battling back from knee surgery, saw his most extensive action since the injury on Sunday against the Cardinals.

He took over at nickel back for Owens.

"It felt pretty good," Williams said. "Our defensive line put a lot of pressure on the quarterback and that made our jobs easier on the back end."

BY THE NUMBERS: 15-4 -- QB Matt Ryan's record when playing in domes.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I don't think anybody overlooks him. When you watch him on film, his play speaks for itself. He's a great player. A fine running back. We're going to have to put our pads on him." -- MLB Curtis Lofton on Saints running back Pierre Thomas.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Jason Snelling is also one of teams' top special teams players, but with an increased role on offense he will be removed from some of the units. He will assume Jerious Norwood's third down back role and also backup fullback Ovie Mughelli.

Gartrell Johnson, who was signed on Tuesday is a candidate to take over some of Snelling's special team's chores. He played on the kickoff, kickoff return, punt and punt return units for the New York Giants last season.

PLAYER NOTES

--QB Matt Ryan in 19 games in Domes has completed 316 of 512 passes for 3,972 yards and 25 touchdowns, while posting a quarterback rating of 89.9.

--RB Michael Turner (groin) was also limited in practice but is expected to play against the Saints.

--FS Erik Coleman (knee) did not practice and is not likely to start against the Saints.

--CB Christopher Owens (back), who left the game on Sunday, fully participated in practice.

--OLB Sean Weatherspoon recorded his first career sack and added nine total tackles (eight solo) against the Cardinals.

GAME PLAN: The Falcons has 221 yards rushing and 224 yards passing the 41-7 rout of the Cardinals. That is the type of balance that will carry your unit a long way in the league.

They are however are lopsided in the passing game with Roddy White having 20 receptions.

Jason Snelling is the next highest receiver with six catches.

The receivers opposite of White need to start getting more involved in the passing attack and the team needs to get the ball more to tight end Tony Gonzalez.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH: Saints S Malcolm Jenkins, who is in his first season as a full-time starter, vs. Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez, the only tight end with 1,000 catches. Gonzalez has attracted a great deal of attention early in the season and the Falcons have elected to run route combinations off of him. If the Saints elect to roll coverage to WR Roddy White, Gonzalez should have plenty of room to operate.

Saints WR Marques Colston, who has 10 catches for 129 yards, vs. Falcons CB Dunta Robinson, who is making his third start with the team. Colston will have a decided height advantage when he shows up on the right side where Robison resides. Robinson has help to stabilize secondary as the team is comfortable with leaving him along on the backside of some blitz operations.

Saints DE Will Smith, who had a big game against the Falcons last season, vs. Falcons LT Sam Baker, who has been called four times for holding. Smith had two sacks in the first meeting last season. He was a disruptive force. Baker has a rough time in the opener in the similarly athletic James Harrison.

INJURY IMPACT: WR Michael Jenkins (shoulder) returned to practice, but is being brought along slowly.

--RB Michael Turner (groin) has been limited in practice, but is expected to play.

--FS Erik Coleman suffered a left knee injury against Pittsburgh and has not return to practice. Second-year man William Moore started in his spot against the Cardinals.

[Peyton]

I am guessing from this that Jenkins is not going to be ready for Sunday.

[TAZZ77]

(09-23-2010 07:16 AM)Peyton Wrote:  I am guessing from this that Jenkins is not going to be ready for Sunday.

Nope I read that Jenks practised but not with the starters and wont start this game Smitty saying he wants to bring him along slowly.

[falcon057]

(09-23-2010 07:16 AM)Peyton Wrote:  I am guessing from this that Jenkins is not going to be ready for Sunday.

hell Peyton you know how they are, guard it with their life

Sun 11:45 maybe

[Peyton]

(09-23-2010 07:28 AM)falcon057 Wrote:  hell Peyton you know how they are, guard it with their life

Sun 11:45 maybe

After having this much time off and still not going full speed, I don't think Jenkins is even going to be activated. Glad that he is finally practicing again.

[falcon057]

(09-23-2010 07:31 AM)Peyton Wrote:  After having this much time off and still not going full speed, I don't think Jenkins is even going to be activated. Glad that he is finally practicing again.

update I found: Jenkins was limited in practice and didn't work with the starting offense. He's not slated to start this week against the Saints.

[Paprika Neck]

im tired of the saints owning us last 2 seasons... time to bust some freaking heads.

[Jesus]

15-4 in domes.
3 of those loses came from NO