AJC > Sports > Falcons > Blog > Archives > 2008 > October > 06
Monday, October 6, 2008
Falcons playing power ball
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Falcons are off to a 3-2 start because they have played some good old-fashioned power football.
All of the folks in Lambeau Field knew the Falcons had to run the ball with under two minutes to play. The Packers knew the Falcons were going to run it.
Even the ghost of Vince Lombardi himself knew the Falcons were going to run the football.
Green Bay defensive coordinator Bob Sanders put 10 players near the line of scrimmage. Even with the extra manpower, the Packers still could not stop a determined Michael Turner and the offensive line from carving out 11 yards on three plays.
Turner powered his way behind good blocks from Sam Baker and Todd McClure to pick up the first down with 1:42 left.
The Packers were punched in the mouth by a team they were expected to kick dirt on.
It must be noted that the Packers were without three defensive starters in safety Atari Bigby, cornerback Al Harris and defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins. Also, A.J. Hawk, who got beat by Justin Peelle on a touchdown pass, was playing with a groin injury.
On Roddy White’s 22-yard touchdown pass, for some reason the Packers had their top cornerback Charles Woodson on rookie Harry Douglas. Will Blackmon was left in man coverage on White and got roasted.
In short, this was not the Packers team that went 13-3 last year and went to the NFC Championship game. They repeatedly helped the Falcons out with bone-headed penalties, including a holding call that took a field goal off the scoreboard.
But when the Packers tried to give the Falcons this game, they made enough plays to take it.
Last week in Carolina, the Panthers were stumbling about, but the Falcons couldn’t come up with the plays to take the game.
Against the Packers, they made enough plays, overcame a torching of their secondary for 313 yards passing, and then ran the ball to close out the game.
The Packers’ nine penalties for 97 yards were also helpful. The Falcons only had two penalties for 15 yards.
Now, with the Falcons sitting 3-2 and waiting for a 3-2 Chicago team, do you have to recalibrate your projections?
Did you have the Falcons 4-2 going into the bye week?
How do the Falcons get things tightened up in the secondary?
Which receiver is going to step up and become a factor when teams try to take Roddy White out of the passing game?
