AJC > Sports > Falcons > Blog > Archives > 2005 > September > 22
Thursday, September 22, 2005
You be the defensive coordinator
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Right defensive end Brady Smith practiced Wednesday and it appears as if the right thigh tightness/cramping that kept him out of Sunday’s loss to Seattle is close to being fully healed.
Without Smith, the Falcons had just two sacks against the Seahawks, whose quarterback, Matt Hasselbeck, had plenty of time to pick apart the secondary, especially in the second quarter. The sacks came from tackle Chad Lavalais and linebacker Keith Brooking.
Ends Patrick Kerney — who moved from his normal left end to right — and Chauncey Davis were pretty much neutralized in both the passing game and running game as Seattle was able to run outside with surprising ease. Much of the perimeter run-defense failure came because of a lack of support from linebackers, cornerbacks and safeties, so Kerney and Davis aren’t fully responsible, coach Jim Mora said.
The Bills are a strong running team with a woeful passing attack. Do you think having Smith back will be a huge benefit in minimizing Buffalo’s outside running game and forcing unsteady quarterback J.P. Losman into making mistakes? Or do you feel that Atlanta would be better served by blitzing more or bringing up a safety in run support since the Bills’ passing game is so suspect?
