The AJC's D. Orlando Ledbetter and CineSport's Brian Clark discuss the causes of the Falcons' three-game losing streak, and whether Atlanta can end the skid in Baltimore.
(Welcome all! With the NFL becoming more of a passing league, the “Cover 9@9” blog will become all of the rage. You can read it here every Wednesday at 9 a.m. throughout the season. We’ll try to get to everything about the Atlanta Falcons from the Hometown Huddle to who blew that coverage against the Bears. -– D. Orlando Ledbetter)
1. STOPPING THE SMITHS: The Falcons young secondary, which had a tough time with Chicago's Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery, will have another stiff challenge when they face Baltimore's Steve Smith and Torrey Smith on Sunday.
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Falcons defensive coordinator Mike Nolan shed some light on what happened on the 74-yard pass play that the Falcons gave up to Jeffery.
“There were actually two routes being run,” Nolan said. “We had four guys for two routes. That’s why it’s really not a simple ‘this guy’ or ‘that guy’ (blew the coverage). There were four people for two guys. We need to do a better job.”
Steve Smith, the former Carolina Panther, leads the Ravens with 35 for 573 yards and four touchdowns.
“He’s extremely competitive,” Nolan said. “I think that’s his number one asset. Along with it he’s obviously a talented guy. He’s an extremely explosive athlete. Age does not seem to have caught up with him yet.”
Torrey Smith, after a slow start, is starting to come on.
“The other Smith, when we faced him a couple of years back in the preseason, he caught a slant route and took it to the house on us,” Nolan said.
The Smiths combined for nine catches, 161 yards, three touchdowns in the 48-17 rout of Tampa Bay last week.
2. POLL VOTING: Jeff Schultz asked y'all "What's the team's biggest problem?" Your options were Coaching, Personnel decisions or There's equal blame.
3. ICYMI - BLANK:
Falcons owner
Arthur Blank
talked to the AJC last week. He spoke to a website
this week and basically said the same things about trying to be positive, etc. Here's the column.
Here's the blog: Blank stands by Smith.Dimitroff. What you Say? by Jeff Schultz.
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
4. THE DROPS: The final tally on the drops was seven by the AJC and Pro Football Focus. Roddy White said the coaches gave them "9 or 10" drops after film review.
“Take away drops, throw aways, and batted passes and the Falcons’ quarterback (Matt Ryan) was accurate on 26 of 32 targets on Sunday,” according to Pro Football Focus.
The Falcons don't stand a chance against Baltimore if the offense keeps misfiring.
“We have to be better catching the football,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “We have to make sure that we are looking the ball in. On the flip side, with regards to explosive plays, we left a lot of explosives plays out there on the field offensively. We have to catch the football. We have to work on looking the ball in practice and in our training.”
5. START TALKING: Falcons free safety Dwight Lowery is the elder of the secondary.
“We have to communicate,” Lowery said. “That’s what it is. Understanding and being on the same page. Communication throughout the week. We all watch film and we see different things. Communicating what you see on film. Everybody has to understand what their job is and execute their job.”
6. HOMETOWN HUDDLE: The Falcons took part in the NFL United Way Hometown Huddle program on Tuesday. Owner Arthur Blank, quarterback Matt Ryan, linebacker Paul Worrilow, defensive tackle Tyson Jackson, offensive guard Harland Gunn, offensive tackle Cam Bradfield and defensive tackle Travian Robertson visited Venetian Hills Elementary in Atlanta.
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Blank also visited Crossroads Community Ministries off Courtland Street.
President Rich McKay was at Brown Middle School in Atlanta along with running back Steven Jackson and safety Dwight Lowery.
Here's the PHOTO GALLERY of the events.
7. FILM REVIEW OF THE BOMB: Here's are our film review of the 74-yard pass play that the Bears hit on the Falcons.
8. KEY MATCHUPS: Falcons CB Desmond Trufant vs. Ravens WR Torrey Smith: Smith has 15 catches for 227 yards and three touchdowns: While the Ravens have leaned more heavily on the run under offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, Smith remains a vital cog in the deep passing attack. After a slow start, Smith has come on strong. He had four catches for 51 yards and two touchdowns last week against Tampa Bay. Trufant has played well over 431 snaps, most on the defense.
Falcons RT Gabe Carimi vs. Ravens OLB Tyrell Suggs: Carimi is coming off a tough game where he allowed two hurries, two hits and two sacks against Chicago,Carimi has taken over the right tackle spot with a season-ending injury to Lamar Holmes. He has been serviceable, but will be over-matched by Suggs, who has 1.5 sacks.
Falcons LT Jake Matthews vs. Ravens DE Elvis Dumervil: Matthews is playing on a bad right ankle. Dumervil leads the Ravens with five sacks: Matthews has tried to play the last two weeks on a bad ankle after missing the Minnesota game. He gave up seven pressures and two sacks against the Bears. He had problems with Jared Allen's bull rush.
9. OFFICIAL DEPTH CHART FOR BALTIMORE: The depth chart shows Prince Shembo as the starter at one of the linebacker spots, while Joplo Bartu made the start against he Bears.
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Antone Smith is still listed as the third running back and Jonathan Massaquoi is listed as the second defensive end behind Jonathan Babineaux. He played the left end for Kroy Biermann in passing situations against the Bears.
OFFENSE
WR 84 Roddy White, 83 Harry Douglas, 14 Eric Weems
LT 70 Jake Matthews, 73 Ryan Schraeder
LG 63 Justin Blalock, 62 James Stone
C 66 Peter Konz, 69 Harland Gunn
RG 75 Jon Asamoah, 69 Harland Gunn
RT 68 Gabe Carimi, 65 Cameron Bradfield
TE 80 Levine Toilolo, 86 Bear Pascoe
WR 11 Julio Jones, 17 Devin Hester, 18 Freddie Martino
QB 2 Matt Ryan, 13 TJ Yates, 12 Sean Renfree
RB 39 Steven Jackson. 32 Jacquizz Rodgers. 35 Antone Smith. 24 Devonta Freeman
FB 42 Patrick DiMarco
DEFENSE
DE 71 Kroy Biermann. 50 Osi Umenyiora. 90 Stansly Maponga
DT 99 Tyson Jackson. 77 Ra’Shede Hageman. 98 Cliff Matthews
DT 96 Paul Soliai. 91 Corey Peters
DE 95 Jonathan Babineaux. 94 Jonathan Massaquoi. 93 Malliciah Goodman. 54 Tyler Starr
LB 55 Paul Worrilow. 52 Nate Stupar
LB 53 Prince Shembo. 59 Joplo Bartu
CB 23 Robert Alford.. 28 Javier Arenas
CB 26 Josh Wilson. 27 Robert McClain. 28 Javier Arenas
S 36 Kemal Ishmael. 29 Sean Baker
S 20 Dwight Lowery. 41 Dezmen Southward
CB 21 Desmond Trufant. 28 Javier Arenas
SPECIALISTS
K 3 Matt Bryant
KO 5 Matt Bosher
P 5 Matt Bosher
KR 17 Devin Hester, 14 Eric Weems
PR 17 Devin Hester, 14 Eric Weems
LS 47 Josh Harris
H 5 Matt Bosher
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
GAME STORY: Jay Cutler's aerial attack leads Bears over Falcons, 27-13
COLUMN: Mark Bradley -- The 2-4 Falcons stand revealed as a house of cards
Cutler makes Falcons pay, especially on third down
Another big-play touchdown for Falcons RB Antone Smith
