Falcons Gameday: 5 keys to the Tampa Bay game

By D. Orlando Ledbetter

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

1. The ball in the air on passes: The secondary, especially right cornerback Chris Houston, had a difficult time playing the ball in the air against New York on Sunday. For example, Houston was called for pass interference on a play when it appeared that he could have turned around and made a play on the ball.

“I think it’s something that some guys have better ball skills than others,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “I think it’s something that can be improved.”

Some coaches contend that playing the ball in the air should be instinctive for defensive backs.

“It’s something as coaches where we have to continue to work with our guys to help them play the proper technique in playing the ball in the air,” Smith said. “I don’t think it’s strictly instincts. I think it’s a skill that is learned. I think that guys can improve on it.”

2. The Falcons’ offense wants to stay in rhythm: The offense arguably played its best half of the season in the second half against the Giants. They scored on four consecutive possessions and cobbled together an 18-play drive.

“Just try to keep the rhythm,” said quarterback Matt Ryan when asked what needed to be done to have some carryover to the Tampa Bay game. “I felt like we got into a rhythm. You have to try to take that to the practice field and keep it going during the course of the week and hopefully get off to a fast start in the game.”

One of the keys against the Giants was Ryan’s ability to find open receivers as he rolled out.

“Justin Peelle did a great job for us,” Ryan said. “Coming out of the backfield from a number of different spots. The kind of versatility that he brings to the offense really helps. This past week he had a number of catches.”

Some teams have taken away Ryan’s rollouts.

“We do a good job of getting outside of the pocket,” Ryan said. “We’ve got receivers and tight ends that can get into those voids.”

3. The Bucs’ running game: The Falcons held the Giants to 88 yards rushing as they slowed Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw.

The Tampa Bay tandem of Cadillac Williams and Derrick Ward doesn’t appear as daunting. Williams is the Bucs’ leading rusher (450 yards, three touchdowns) and Ward, a free-agent signee from the Giants, has 243 yards on 66 carries.

“We have to stop the run and make them a one-dimensional team,” said middle linebacker Curtis Lofton, who leads the team with 118 tackles. “Then we have to get off the field on third downs and [also] affect the quarterback. If we do that, then we have a great shot of winning the game.”

Earnest Graham, who has hurt the Falcons in the past, has moved to fullback.

“He blocks well, and they like to get him out in pass routes,” Lofton said.

4. The Falcons’ defense and big plays: The Falcons gave up 234 yards on seven pass plays of 20 yards or more against the Giants.

Overall, they have given up 41 pass plays for 20 yards or more. There have been at least two “explosive” pass plays in every game: Miami (two), Carolina (five), New England (three), San Francisco (two), Chicago (five), Dallas (six), New Orleans (four), Washington (three), at Carolina (four) and New York Giants (seven).

“We are at the back of the league in giving up explosive plays of 20 yards or more,” Smith said. “It’s something that’s been our Achilles heel.”

Look for rookie Christopher Owens to get play and possibly start.

“We are going to evaluate as a staff, not only scheme, but also personnel, and come up with answers that we feel will give us the best opportunity to win,” Smith said.

5. Is Morris going to tackle? Tampa Bay coach Raheem Morris got upset when asked about taking over the defensive play-calling and how studying his team’s tendencies under former defensive coordinator Jim Bates had become irrelevant.

Morris, a rookie head coach, has already gone through his first offensive and defensive coordinators. We’ll see if his play-calling can cover up the 32nd-ranked rushing defense in the NFL.

The Falcons could be at full strength in the backfield with the potential return of Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood.

Tampa Bay is allowing 168.9 yards rushing per game.

“They have given up some yards,” Smith said. “The biggest thing to me is that they are a team that is giving up the explosive runs. They’ll play the run well for three or four snaps, and then they’ll give up an explosive play.”

The defense does have some players. It’s anchored by tackle Chris Hovan, who has 34 tackles and 14 quarterback pressures. Defensive end Jimmy Wilkerson has 5.5 sacks, and middle linebacker Barrett Ruud is the leading tackler.

Three key matchups

1. Falcons RG Harvey Dahl vs. Bucs DT Chris Hovan: Dahl, in his second season as a starter, is having a fine season. He has maintained his aggressiveness with all of the allegations of nasty and dirty play. Hovan is one of the bright spots on a team clearly rebuilding on defense.

2. Falcons SS Erik Coleman vs. Bucs TE Kellen Winslow: Winslow leads the Bucs with 47 receptions and five touchdowns. He averages 10.3 yards per catch. Coleman did a good job against San Francisco’s Vernon Davis, Chicago’s Greg Olsen and Dallas’ Jason Witten earlier this season. However, the Giants’ Kevin Boss got loose for two touchdowns.

3. Falcons WR Roddy White vs. Bucs CB Ronde Barber: White has only two 100-yard games this season and is coming off a four-catch, 45-yard game against the Giants. Barber has a long history of turning in big games against the Falcons. He had an interception return for a touchdown last season on a pass intended for White.

Falcons will win if ...

1. If they are able to run the ball: Michael Turner returned to practice this week, but it’s unclear if he’ll be available. Jerious Norwood should see his first action after missing the past five games with a right hip flexor. If the Falcons are at full strength, they shouldn’t have much trouble running against the league’s lowest-ranked run defense. Jason Snelling did a good job filling in, but Turner and Norwood are more explosive and can rip off the long-gainers.

2. They show some ghosts to rookie quarterback Josh Freeman: The Falcons will throw a ton of different looks at Tampa Bay rookie quarterback Josh Freeman. They hope to spook him into some turnovers and errant throws. “You can confuse a rookie quarterback,” middle linebacker Curtis Lofton said. “You have to disguise all of your looks. Give him different looks, and hopefully he’ll give the ball away.”

3. Elam shakes off a tough week: Jason Elam, 39, broke out the film from earlier in his career last week after the Falcons brought in four kickers for tryouts. He wants to get back on track and acknowledged some technique issues. The legendary kicker has been in a funk of late with two key misses against Carolina and New York. He has missed six field goals this season.