I don't really think the problem is Mike Mularkey

[Peyton]

I see a ton of hate for Mularkey today, even though, honestly, it was the defense that was particularly horrible yesterday.

I think the reason that this offense is disappointing to some is really quite simple - none of these players on the offense are quite as good as the fanbase thinks they are - except for Roddy White.

Even Tony Gonzalez, who still has great hands, is strictly a possession TE now, not capable of getting vertical unless the defense completely blows the coverage.

Our fanbase likes to think Turner is a top 5 RB in the league, and I love the guy, but we are talking about a guy still with one 1,000 season on his resume - he hasn't earned that elite status. In 2008, the Falcons played one of the most rediculously easy schedules in league history with regards to run defenses, and frankly, I think it all made us think that both the line and Turner are better than they actually are.

Mularkey's offenses have been in the top 13 in scoring since he got here and top half of the league in yards since he got here. He inherited a rookie QB that the fanbase was mostly not sold on and also an offense that was losing 3 Pro Bowlers.

In 2008 we all thought Mularkey was a freaking miracle worker. He and the players did a great job but also benefitted from the rediculous schedule. Now, he is a bit of a victim of his own success.

[g-dawg]

my only defense for Mularkey is the subpar offensive line play in pass blocking. I think Sam Baker is systematically destroying the passing game almost by himself...

Other than that, Mularkey will not "outthink" defensive coordinators on good teams and the lack of adjustments when Falcons are losing and getting shut down is disheartening to me.

[Sun Tzu 7]

I think most of our problems start with the o-line.

And then there appears to be a lack of speed at the offensive positons all of a sudden...

[Peyton]

Well I agree that the offensive line is not as good as folks think it is. The dominate bad front sevens, and get dominated by good front sevens. That puts them right in the middle, not in the top 3rd of the league like a lot of people think they are.

[SeaMill]

I think its a multitude of things.

1.) Bad play calling
2.) bad predictable formations (this hurts Turners' running too)
2.) our line sucks
2.) Always putting pressure on Ryan in 3rd and long to bail us out
3.) Ryan inaccurate passing/missing receivers/locking on
4.) avg receivers after Roddy

[Sun Tzu 7]

I'm starting to think the O-line is REALLY limiting what we can do on offense.

Deep passing plays take time to develop... Ryan hasn't been getting the time needed for this. So we have go go with short to intermediate routes which the defense is prepared for so they jump routes/tip balls/etc.

The Eagles showed that you can gameplan around problems in the offensive line sometimes... if you have playmakers.

Norwood has shown he hasn't been dependable in the last 2 years and Douglas doesn't look like he has that gamebreaking speed I was hoping he would.

Better pass blocking would help our passing game greatly.... At least with Jenkins back in we were able to do a few things. If the defense didn't get completely shredded we might have been able to have a decent offensive performance.

[Peyton]

(10-18-2010 10:48 AM)Sun Tzu 7 Wrote:  I'm starting to think the O-line is REALLY limiting what we can do on offense.

Deep passing plays take time to develop... Ryan hasn't been getting the time needed for this. So we have go go with short to intermediate routes which the defense is prepared for so they jump routes/tip balls/etc.

The Eagles showed that you can gameplan around problems in the offensive line sometimes... if you have playmakers.

Norwood has shown he hasn't been dependable in the last 2 years and Douglas doesn't look like he has that gamebreaking speed I was hoping he would.

Better pass blocking would help our passing game greatly.... At least with Jenkins back in we were able to do a few things. If the defense didn't get completely shredded we might have been able to have a decent offensive performance.

I think Tandy has done a tremendous job of illustrating this during the season. Pass protection is one of the areas limiting this offense, without a doubt.

[Swift Is a Die Hard]

Mularkey scheme is terrible ..The out routes and slant routes.. The up the middle runs..Nothing like pitch outs..The rolls outs are ineffective..When you see our scheme and look at the Eagles you wonder why ..I was one of the first people that been calling for Mularkey head over the past year I was killed on AFMB now I see more and more fans are starting to see what I saw about a year ago

Matt Ryan is a avg QB that is smart but doesnt have the physical tools to be a great ..His arm is truly lack luster..Did you see that roll out where he threw it to Roddy and dropped 5 yards short ..Roddy beat 2 defenders and the ball just died..Ryan under shot gun is another problem.Defenders are reading his eyes and jumping the slant routes ..He has no pocket awareness any more ..He is getting happy feet in the pocket and is not going through his progressions


The online is inconsistent and we need to shift Baker ..The pressure we are facing is more on Ryan/Mularkey not stretching the defense..This is allowing defense to send all out blitzes cause we strike no fear into opponents with our awful passing attack..Its not easy picking up a extra defender

[ggp]

(10-18-2010 10:39 AM)SeaMill Wrote:  I think its a multitude of things.

1.) Bad play calling
2.) bad predictable formations (this hurts Turners' running too)
2.) our line sucks
2.) Always putting pressure on Ryan in 3rd and long to bail us out
3.) Ryan inaccurate passing/missing receivers/locking on
4.) avg receivers after Roddy

1. Mularkey's play calling is severely impacted by the mediocre OL play. He has to keep things tight because the five-man OL can not handle pass rushes. Additionally, they seem to have trouble with larger DL's. As soon as the OL is upgraded, the play book will likely be opened.

2. These "predictable" formations are required to keep our QB alive.

3. The OL is mediocre; they do not suck.

4. If we would run the ball better on first and second rounds, our options on third down would widen.

5. Ryan is what he is. He is a good QB that could rise to the top with better protection.

6. Yeah. It would be nice to have another star receiver, but not necessary.

[Peyton]

(10-18-2010 11:18 AM)Swift Is a Die Hard Wrote:  Mularkey scheme is terrible ..The out routes and slant routes.. The up the middle runs..Nothing like pitch outs..The rolls outs are ineffective..When you see our scheme and look at the Eagles you wonder why ..I was one of the first people that been calling for Mularkey head over the past year I was killed on AFMB now I see more and more fans are starting to see what I saw about a year ago

Matt Ryan is a avg QB that is smart but doesnt have the physical tools to be a great ..His arm is truly lack luster..Did you see that roll out where he threw it to Roddy and dropped 5 yards short ..Roddy beat 2 defenders and the ball just died..Ryan under shot gun is another problem.Defenders are reading his eyes and jumping the slant routes ..He has no pocket awareness any more ..He is getting happy feet in the pocket and is not going through his progressions


The online is inconsistent and we need to shift Baker ..The pressure we are facing is more on Ryan/Mularkey not stretching the defense..This is allowing defense to send all out blitzes cause we strike no fear into opponents with our awful passing attack..Its not easy picking up a extra defender

You seem to think the player are extremely average and the coaching is terrible. The ONLY problem I have with that theory is that it should add up to a terrible offense. The Falcons offense isn't terrible, they are top half of the league in points and yards 3 years running.

I share some of the same frustrations with Mularkey that other board members do. I just think the talent he is working with isn't nearly as substantial as we'd all like to think.