AJC > Sports > Falcons > Blog > Archives > 2005 > October > 17 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USLittle thrill of victory
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Falcons escaped with a 34-31 victory over New Orleans Sunday and the mood in the locker room after the game and today at Flowery Branch was hardly celebratory.
Today, after watching film, players and coaches said they made enough plays to win, despite all of the questionable officiating against both teams. They knew they got handled for the most part, but the long offensive drive in the second half that took more than 10 minutes and the final drive before the do-over field goal by Todd Peterson were the types of plays that propel teams to victory when they don’t play their best, they said.
That was about it for the good stuff, though.
The talk was mostly about finding some way to stop the bleeding on run defense, which has been a chronic problem since Seattle opened the gash in Week 2. Little of the blame was pointed on the reshuffled linebacking corps, even though Demorrio Williams and Keith Brooking seemed to bust the call and go opposite ways, opening up the center of the field, on Antowain Smith’s 24-yard touchdown run.
No particular problem was cited, but, to the naked eye, the Falcons are not gang tackling like great defenses do, that’s why you see so many ball carriers getting yards after initial contact. The run support they’re getting at from the safety spot also is spotty at best.
As for the cornerbacks, it’s about time DeAngelo Hall realizes that teams are throwing at him for a reason. Even if he is in zone coverage, he is getting lost when the ball is in the air, surrendering enough separation for receivers to make catches. Jason Webster is what he is and the Falcons are simply going to have to live with him getting beat deep every now and then, especially by taller receivers.
On offense, the big concern, and rightfully so, is the play of Dez White at wide receiver. Coach Jim Mora has supported White, mainly because of his ability to block, but it’s never a good thing when you talk about your starting receiver because of his blocking and not his penchant for making plays.
White has become more of a liability whose confidence appears to be in the tank. A change could be forthcoming, with Brian Finneran or Roddy White taking his place and veteran Jerome Pathon moving up the depth chart.
Otherwise, the only other offensive concern is quarterback Michael Vick being more consistent in the passing game. Tailback T.J. Duckett is nursing a sprained right ankle and is questionable for Monday night’s game with the Jets, but Warrick Dunn showed once again that the Falcons are fine with him logging the brunt of the rushing load. Justin Griffith would move to the backup tailback spot if Duckett does not play.
Working in the Falcons’ favor, they have a long week to fix their problems then have a bye week after that, which affords them even more time to get things together.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Gumbo
October 17, 2005 05:46 PM | Link to this
Good Stuff, Steve, thanks. I really cannot believe that D. White will be allowed to start another game.
With respect to the run defense, yesterday seemed like 2 primary things happened. First, Bryan Scott played his worst game as a Falcon (which is saying something given his erratic play this year), and second, D-line and LBs seemed to have an extremely difficult time getting off blocks. Oh, and Keion is just non-existent.
Before you guys give N.O. too much credit, remember that they were averaging 2.8 yds/carry (I think) coming in to yesterday’s game. This team ain’t been a running juggernaut, for heaven’s sake. And the Deuce was not even playing.
Depending on how the season evolves, we will look back at yesterday and say “this is the game where we learned to win without playing well” or “this is the game where our 2 biggest weakness (run defense and passing offense) were exposed.
We are currently the 28th “best” passing team. Take away Schaub’s game and we move to 30th.
UGH!
By john
October 17, 2005 06:36 PM | Link to this
how long before heard replaces carpenter who has been invisible all season.
scott was better than last week, this was not his worse game.
By joe
October 17, 2005 07:10 PM | Link to this
We have got to improve on defense. We cannot get a pass rush because we have to put to many players in coverage. D Hall is supposed to be a shut down corner, he is far from it and he gives more cushion than I have ever seen. The Eagle game is proving to be a fluke and without the pass rush he is not that great in coverage. To the Falcon’s credit the NFC South is by far the best division in football right now and every division game will be tough. If Vick is 80% and cannot run put Schaub in, he proved he can throw much better and can lead the team. Bench Dez now! We cannot afford to wait another week.
By William Kitchens
October 17, 2005 07:18 PM | Link to this
Nice read Steve.
By Greg
October 17, 2005 07:35 PM | Link to this
I guess there’s no way to make a deal with San Francisco or Oakland for a safety. That’s a shame, because this is clearly a talent issue, and the back four have very little.
By Mudcat
October 17, 2005 07:50 PM | Link to this
Why was Finneran ignored in the Saints game after coming off 100+ yds. receiving in the previous week? He is obviously the most talented wide-out we have and he blocks as good as Dez.
To have him on all special teams is such a waste. He and Alge make avvery competent catching and blocking tandem.
By john
October 17, 2005 09:20 PM | Link to this
schaub is not the better passer. vick is, that is proven.
By Gumbo
October 17, 2005 09:24 PM | Link to this
John, please explain how Vick is a better passer than Schaub. Otherwise, just let the Bong pass by next time.
By Erik
October 18, 2005 12:52 AM | Link to this
I’ll explain it for him man…..
Schaub has a 47 career completion percentage and a 4/4 TD turnover ratio…
What does this mean? Nothing really…
But, does it really matter? Schaub is the backup Vick is the starter. End of story….
That might be the best blog Steve has ever had…..
New Falcons Blog
By micka
October 18, 2005 03:16 AM | Link to this
Vick is the best.
By Great Falconi
October 18, 2005 03:53 AM | Link to this
I’m 25 and I’ve been a Falcon fan for as long as I can remember. Given that, I can honestly say that I have never seen a starting Falcon quarterback that is as bad as Vick at reading coverages and making the right kind of throw. I hate to type that, but it’s the truth. The guy wins games, which, in the end, is the ultimate judgment of a QB. I guess I just know that it takes more than handing off, making some plays with your feet and hitting a little over fifty percent of your passes to win a Super Bowl. I know the 2005 edition of the Falcons cannot win a Super Bowl unless many things drastically improve, Vick’s passer status notwithstanding. However, I will take the “Vick is still young and growing as a QB” bait and say that Vick will someday be at least a decent passer who can consistently put up 200-yard games. If he can accomplish that feat and maintain the other wonderful abilities he has, I have the feeling that the Falcons will be talked about as contenders for a long time.
By the way, Schaub is a better passer than Vick. He can read coverages. He can make the proper throw for the proper route. It isn’t just a coincidence that Schaub was able to hit big passes in his start. They lost the game, but he certainly didn’t do the losing.
Here’s an interesting question: Do you think the refs call Vick out-of-bounds if he is the one diving for the first-down marker against the Pats? That’s one thing that makes Vick extremely valuable. He gets calls. You always want a guy like that on your side.
By Pravin
October 18, 2005 05:01 AM | Link to this
I was new to game.I watched game for the first time in 2004. I was watching ESPN classic and they were showing college game where Vick made superb plays and I started enjoying game ( I did not understand game that time as its unknown in India(Asia)).I was so impressed by Vick’s athleticism that I studied game and became Vick’s fan and enjoyed 2004 season at Atlanta. My idea of QB is Vick. Pass it - run with it..just have a thrill on the field. Vick is unpredictable and I feel football fans enjoy this factor more than accurate passing every time!.. at least I do.
By john
October 18, 2005 06:52 AM | Link to this
really, how do you know he can read coverages. vick or schaub?
are you god? vick has been going through his progressions when given time, even crump said after this game he was going through his progressions.
vick was 6 of 8 against the vikes. schaub was 5 of 15 or something like that.
schaub completed 52% of his passes against patriots and had some inaccurate throws. the patriots gave the broncos a team that was avg 150yds a game passing 300yds, w/ plummer completing close to 80% of his passes. season high for the broncos.
please use facts to tell me how schaub is a better passer, he is not. schaub is getting better and is a good backup.
By Blank
October 18, 2005 08:47 AM | Link to this
What planet are you living on John, bizzaro world? Granted, Vick’s a winner. But Shaub is an infinitely better passer. About Vick, he looked poised and accurate at the beginning of sunday’s game in spite of Dez White’s incompetence. After he dinged his knee though, he was anxious and had happy feet until the last drive of the game. If not for Dunn and Boley’s play that game is tallied in the loss column.
By ebineezer
October 18, 2005 09:26 AM | Link to this
The Falcons win with defense. They did last year and will this year as well. The defense plays poorly against the Saints but they get just enough turnovers to sneak out with a win. Unitl Vick and his receivers get to where they can hook up with some consistancy, the Falcons will have to win with defense because the offense is not going to outscore anybody. NFL football is a passing game and the Falcons are one of the worst passing teams. Its a good thing they have one of the better defenses.
By Timothy
October 18, 2005 09:54 AM | Link to this
hmmm informative.. i like…thanks
By E-Rud
October 18, 2005 11:36 AM | Link to this
The defense will not get better this year with the talent they have on the field and they will not make quality trades for talent. If you look at the history of the team you do not have to have much talent to play for the falcons. I also think it is a good idea to place Griffith at halfback behind Dunn because he can run and catch the ball and if I was the coach, Duckett would be placed at Fullback because he can not do nothing else other than run the ball. (can not catch,block or play special teams which is a waste) please place him on the trading block before he becomes a free agent.
By john
October 18, 2005 12:48 PM | Link to this
i use my eyes and stats tell me vick is the better passer right now than schaub.
By Andy
October 18, 2005 01:08 PM | Link to this
Nice Blog Steve…and a little of your opinion too with D. Hall. Keep this kind of blog coming. AND add a response to our questions.
I do think Dez needs to be benched and let Finn start with Roddy and Pathon as the 3rd WR.
I think the O-line has played pretty well and the offense is coming along.
I think our D is horrible. There is a drop off when Kerney, Smith and Coleman aren’t on the D-line. The LBs weren’t playing together (so they should get better) and our CBs aren’t playing tight enough (Webster is a bust!). Add that our safeties are not helping out AT ALL (Carpenter is thinking too much and not making plays).
Question, do you think that Byran Scott is still affected by that injury last year, the concussion in the Lions game? The guy refuses to make the hard hits he used to. It is all shoulder shots and dropped potential INTs. Very hard to watch.
By Brian Hunt
October 18, 2005 01:52 PM | Link to this
The defense has enough talent to play better. There are a few goats on that side of the ball for sure. Scott is one, but I can’t say that it’s all his fault. The scheme needs to be examined too. The Falcons didn’t draft a safety because they didn’t think that there were any that fit their scheme. They didn’t upgrade the position at all with the FA signings. What is it that’s required of the position in their scheme that makes it that difficult to play? Seems like it might be time to simplify. Scott missed a lot of time in training camp and the organized team activities rehabbing his shoulder injury and that probably explains his problems tackling. You need training camp to hone that part of your game because most teams don’t practice in full pads once the season starts. It may take him a while to get better at wrapping up and taking good angles to the ball carrier. In the mean time maybe Heard should be worked into the rotation.
By RAY
October 18, 2005 02:06 PM | Link to this
YO STEVE CAN YOU TELL ME WHY OUR CORNERBCAKS ARE GIVING RECIEVERS SO MUCH OF A CUSHION? IN THE EAGLES GAME THEY PLAYED A LOT MORE PHYSICAL W/RECEIVERS & DIDN’T GIVE UP TD’S. DON’T THEY UNDERSTAND IN ORDER TO STOP THE PASS YOU HAVE TO DISRUPT THE TIMING OF THE RECIEVERS SO THEY CAN’T GET INTO THEIR ROUTES WHICH LEADS TO SACKS & INT’S WHEN THE QB HAS TO FORCE BALLS INTO COVERAGE OR IS WAITING ON A RECIEVER TO GET OPEN? I’M TIRE OF TEAMS CONVERTING 3RD & LONG ON A CONSISTENT BASIS BECAUSE OF THE WAY OUR CB’S ARE PLAYING - HOW DO YOU LET AZ HAKIM GET OPEN AS MANY TIMES AS HE WAS IN THE LAST GAME IT IS SO FRUSTRATING TO WATCH THIS MESS TIME & TIME AGAIN.
By ray
October 18, 2005 02:20 PM | Link to this
when are thay going to bench keion carpenter? he doesn’t have it anymore I think all the injuries(acl, neck injury a few years ago) have finally caugh up to him. This is disappointing to me because when he was on the sideline last year you’d see him kind of coaching th other memebers of the secondary on what to do. I though he knew what was going on so to see him or I shoud say not see him making plays is disappointing because I thought that he would bring that big play element & attitude to the secondary so now it’s time to look in a different direction now while we still have time. IM GONE!!
By john
October 18, 2005 03:05 PM | Link to this
i also would like to know if carpenter will be benched. he was never known for tackling and doesn’t have the range to be the deep safety in the middle of the field.
By danny cardwell
October 19, 2005 12:47 AM | Link to this
easy boys, vick and schaub are both good quarterbacks, though very different in strengths and shortcomings. the real problems is still recievers that cant catch and safetys that cant cover or tackle. we had sunshine and cut him. we could have had matt jones and had depth at several positions, including quarterback. we could have drafted saftys and corners but we did not. we drafted poorly in the first round and are paying the price. but we will get better. we have to.