FLOWERY BRANCH – After Falcons coach Mike Smith ripped the media for not knowing the coverage call on the 74-yard pass play, we decided to take a closer look at the play.
“Miscommunication, a mental error, missed leverage or missed tackle lead to explosive plays,” Smith said. “There is a design to every defensive call. Everybody has to be seeing it the same way.
“We were not as nearly as clean as we needed to be. I don’t want to talk about specific plays, nor will I talk about specific players. What you see on tape, unless you know what the play call is, you have no idea what is supposed to happen.”
I then kindly pointed out that normally when receivers are running free down the field that something happened!
He concurred, I think.
“Absolutely, my daughter knows that something went wrong when it was wide open,” Smith said. “Obviously, but I’m not going to talk about who the specific defender was. We talk about that in our meeting room. Not in your meeting room.”
Well, well then.
So, in our meeting room we’ll try to break down the play without his help and we can make our own conclusions.
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Alshon Jeffery took off at the beginning of his route and cornerback Desmond Trufant sat down at the Chicago 40. Jeffery kept on running at the 40 and made his cut to corner. Ishmael started to give chase over the top. The TV announcer said Ishmael looked back for help, but there was no help. So, either Ishmael didn't know the coverage or his help was out free-styling. Take your pick.
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
The Falcons sent LDE Ra'Shede Hageman, nose tackle Paul Soliai, RDE Malliciah Goodman and blitzed linebacker Joplo Bartu. No one got close to Cutler.
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
The Falcons are starting three second-year players in the secondary. On this play, there was a mis-coummunication, a mental error and a leverage concern. There were seven first- or second-year players on the field.
"We are young in the back, but youth is not an excuse," Smith said. "This is a no excuse business!"
The most impressive part of the play was that Jay Cutler, with no pressure, fully stepped into his throw and his front foot was on the 13-yard line. The ball landed at the Atlanta 31.
So, that’s 37 plus 19, which equals 56 yards. The ball was in the air for 56 yards.
Smith didn't want to throw Trufant or Ishmael under the bus. Or, he didn't want to reveal if Lowery was supposed to stay back or if he bite on the play-action fake.
Defensive coordinator Mike Nolan said they had four people committed to two routes.
Also, Pro Football Focus contended that Trufant stopped because of a crossing route.
So basically it was a hot mess back there on that 74-yard play.
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