FLOWERY BRANCH --Falcons defensive coordinator Mike Nolan was not real happy about the Falcons’ major malfunction on defense on the third down-and-19 from New England's 12.

The Falcons were in a battle, trailing only 13-10 and were set to get the ball back on a short field. Instead of holding and perhaps taking over the game, the Falcons were sent reeling after Kenbrell Thompkins came up with a 26-yard reception that was compounded by safety's William Moore's 15-yard hit to the head penalty.

Several players didn’t take the proper drops in a five-across, three-deep, play-the-first down-marker (sticks) coverage.

“I thought we were playing a real good game for three quarters,” Nolan said.  “The first play of the fourth quarter was when we gave up that third-and-long. If anything bothered me that was probably the most disappointing thing to me because I thought it kind of gave them a little life at that point. Because they were getting ready to punt and all of that because they were backed up.”

On a Game Rewind film review, linebacker Akeem Dent and Robert McClain appeared to be at fault, but Nolan said there were “several” players out of position.  He’s playing with several young and first-year starters.  

 “I hate to say it, you’re kind of learning on the go here,” Nolan said. “Some of them haven’t done it as much as others, but we just have to get up to speed quicker, that’s all.”

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