Offensive Problems. You cannot tie it to just one area.

[MikeV]

(10-18-2010 01:52 PM)babuka Wrote:  It is a cop out, to tie the offensive problems to just one area. There are multiple problems at play here.

They are listed in no particular order:

- Offensive Coordinator - The playcalling and formation choices look bad and very predictable at times. Too many stop and out routes. I like the general style of the offense compared to a Mike Martz type, but Murlarkey needs to be more flexible and include more run-n-shoot, spread, and west coast philosophies in the passing game. Except for the toss sweep out of the shotgun I don't have a problem with how the run game is designed. Some of the playcalling problems are also attributed to the talent on the offense.

- Wide Receivers - Roddy is good. Douglas has potential. Jenkins is still Jenkins. Some people take up for him, but the bottomline is that he cannot create seperation. It took him forever to break down on the route Samuel jumped this past game, and he has done that his whole career. The other receivers are either not very good (Weems), or old and slow (Finneran). There needs to be a influx of talent on this offense and it starts at this position. Maybe not a 1st round pick here, but definitely a 2nd and maybe a 5th. Especially if the 5th rounder is a small burner who can be a threat in the return game. Weems never makes a play in the return game. The receivers not getting any seperation is causing a lot of coverage sacks. The poor job by the receivers is allowing teams to focus on White and Gonzalez and then cover the other recievers with scrubs.

- Running Backs - Turner is what he is. He is solid enough that the Falcons don't need to draft one in the first round, but he is not even as good as a Rashard Mendenhall IMO anymore. Snelling has actually looked better than Turner so far this year, this has really eased the pain of Turner's struggles. The Falcons are in desperate need of a speedy 3rd down back who is a huge threat catching the ball, running screens, and a good enough blocker to pick up the blitz when needed. Snelling is a stop gap right now on 3rd down, he got ran down by a DT this past game, and Turner takes what feels like 3 seconds to get going when he catches a pass. Also Turner goes out of bounds way to easy instead of fighting for a few more yards; he needs to play with more of an aggressive nature. Draft - 3rd round.

- Offensive line - Everyone's favorite subject. The Falcons Oline has some problems but they are harder to pinpoint than people might think. Without the official grading numbers by the coaching staff and film study, most of us on here are guessing where the problems are at. Luckily the Falcons have been drafting guys at this position here the past few years that can hopefully takeover after this year. Wherever the problems are at, they exist, because they are not getting the push up front as they did in 2008; and they are not protecting as well. I could also see the Falcons taking 1-2 more lineman this draft. Draft - 1st round, 4th round.


A problem with one position can cause another position to look worse than it really is. But I don't think there is only just one problem. The OC, the Oline, the WRs, and the RBs all have problems. One weakness among one of these groups can degrade the protectivity of the entire offense.


Things that are not a problem:
QB - The only problem I have with Ryan is that he needs to work on his accuracy, he is making good decisions most of the time. It is hard for him to look good with the 4 areas above him. He is having to throw the ball into tight windows in a predictable offense. His accuracy does not to improve. His release is quicker than it was his rookie year, and his arm is stronger now that it was his rookie year also.
TE - Gonzalez is great. Peele is solid. A future TE prospect would be nice here this draft if there wasn't so many other holes. This will have to wait till to the 2012 draft.


Bottomline - The Falcons look like as a group they have the slowest (in 40 yard dash terms) offense in the NFL. A huge infusion of talent and speed is needed here as TD did with the defense the past two years. I could see the Falcons going all offense with this draft, and then in 2012 going to get a OLB, DE, and future TE.

Here's my view...

If the Offensive line doesn't perform then.........

A) No matter what the OC calls, it doesn't work. There could be creative plays and long passes called, but the QB has to hit his "hot read" or throw short because there is not time for the play to develop.

B) No matter what the QB wants to do he can't with someone in his face in 3 seconds. He will be jittery, look nervous, it will throw him off and make him look worse than he really is.

C) Wide receivers will not be able to finish their routes before the ball gets there because the QB throws early. Opposing CB's will be able to jump routes because they the QB will have to get rid of the ball early. WR's will drop passes because they are not thrown with the accuracy that a QB with time will throw it.

D) Running backs will have nowhere to run. They will look slow and indecisive because there in nowhere to run.

Looks like to me that all the problems stem from one area.

Something else to consider. Who are the STUDS on the O-LIne? Who are the Pro Bowl Tackles and Gaurds and Centers on the O-Line?