AJC > Sports > Falcons > Blog > Archives > 2006 > October > 30
Monday, October 30, 2006
Blown coverages only bad sign
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
For the first time this season, there was some exuberance in the Falcons’ locker room Sunday, after beating Cincinnati 29-27. Typically, win or lose, it’s pretty businesslike with the Birds, but players were feeling pretty good after improving to 5-2.
Michael Vick’s second straight good game is a huge reason why. In the past, Vick has followed a good showing with something less productive, even if it came in victory. The past two weeks against the Steelers and Bengals, the lefty has been on fire. Throwing, running, decision-making, it’s all working for Vick right now.
Vick, and rightly so, attributed a lot of his effectiveness on having time to throw the ball. The past two games he’s been sacked three times and rarely hurried. Coincidentally, those two games came when the Falcons used guards — Tyson Clabo and P.J. Alexander — who were making their first NFL starts.
Offensive coordinator Greg Knapp has shown more trust in Vick to make plays with his arm and been far less predictable when he was going to run or pass.
Defensively, though, the Falcons have got to get things together. Defensive coordinator Ed Donatell made some nice adjustments in the second half by blitzing up the middle to clog the run and put pressure on Carson Palmer, but more blown coverages in the secondary have to be a concern. This was the week, defensive backs pledged, the mistakes made against Pittsburgh wouldn’t surface again. They did.
The offense has picked up the defense the past two weeks, much the way the defense carried the Falcons early in the season. If Atlanta could ever put it all together and if Vick sustains this roll, the Falcons could be a team to seriously be reckoned with.
