Falcons hope to score on more opening drives

By D. Orlando Ledbetter

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

While rummaging through the scrap heap of the Dallas game, there was one little gem the Falcons could pick up and carry forward.

For the first time this season, the Falcons came out and scored a touchdown on their first possession of the game.

With Matt Ryan converting on four third-down attempts, the Falcons cobbled together a 16-play, 8-minute-and-34-second potentially tone-setting drive.

Things went south later, but it was a good start.

The Falcons used such good starts last season to help propel them to an 11-5 record and wild card playoff berth. The Falcons led the league in first-quarter scoring (114) points last season.

They were 8-0 when they scored on the team's first possession – four touchdowns and four field goals – in 2008.

This season, the Falcons have scored two field goals on opening drives, had two three-and-outs and one punt. They have scored only 31 first-quarter points and are on pace to score just 83 points.

Offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey opens the game with a 15-play script.

"The last two weeks [before the Dallas game], we had three-and-outs," Mularkey said. "Other than that . . . we've been efficient with the exception of the last two weeks."

The touchdown drive was particularly impressive because the Cowboys were coming off a bye and had two weeks to prepare for the Falcons.

"I told these guys earlier, that there are things we'll have to adjust to from teams that have had two weeks to prepare," Mularkey said. "That's not an excuse for a three-and-out, but we will have to adjust to some things we haven't worked on."

The Falcons have two more games against teams coming off bye weeks in Washington and the New York Giants.

Against San Francisco, Mularkey was not happy with the opening drive. Wide receiver Roddy White dropped a pass on first down, Michael Turner had a 6-yard run and wide receiver Marty Booker and Ryan didn't connect on a third-down pass play.

"The San Francisco start, that was on us for not getting started," Mularkey said. "We had open guys. We had a drop. We'd like to start out fast.

"I think every team in the NFL would tell you that, but it doesn't happen every week. Teams are going to have to make the right call as well."

Maybe scoring on the opening drive is overrated. The Falcons went on to lose to the Cowboys 37-21, and against San Francisco, despite the poor start, they went on to a 45-10 romp.

The Falcons went to their no-huddle attack on their fourth series against San Francisco and fifth series against Chicago. They did not get into their no-huddle against Dallas.

They have yet to open the game in the no-huddle to perhaps help with their opening-drive scoring.

"We talk about it all of the time," Mularkey said. "Sometimes it isn't predetermined. Sometimes it's predetermined what series we are going to go to it. Then other times, it's available for a tempo change as it was [against Chicago].  But it's discussed weekly."

The Falcons would like to open up with a good start against New Orleans on "Monday Night Football."

"We pride ourselves on starting fast, and we haven't been as fast-starting as we'd like to be," Falcons coach Mike Smith said. "It's something that we are always addressing."