Koetter concerned about tackling on interceptions
FLOWERY BRANCH – Falcons offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter wants to see some better effort and tackling when the opposition intercepts passes.
He was irate about the offense’s inability to tackle Pittsburgh’s William Gay on his 52-yard interception return.
It was the third time this season that the opposition has returned an interception for a touchdown.
In addition to Gay’s play, Tampa Bay’s Danny Lansanah returned a T.Y. Yates pass 27 yards for a touchdown on Sept. 14 and Arizona’s Rashad Johnson had an 88-yard interception return on Nov. 30.
“As much as balls are thrown in the NFL, we’re going to have interceptions,” Koetter said. “The main thing is that we’ve got to tackle the gosh darn guy. We have to get him on the ground.”
When a ball is intercepted, the running backs and receivers are counted on to make the tackle.
“The thing we tell our guys is that we’re not counting on the five (offensive) linemen or the quarterback to make the tackle,” Koetter said. “So, that only leaves five other guys. You have to get the guy on the ground. We can’t have pick-sixes. That’s a huge turnaround. We’ve got to get the guy on the ground.”
Turnovers will be key against the Saints. The Falcons are 4-1 when Ryan doesn’t throw an interception. The only loss was to Baltimore on Oct. 19. The Falcons are 1-8 when Ryan does throw an interception this season.The only win was against Arizona.
Ryan's thrown an interception in each of the past four games.
He’s a look at Ryan’s interceptions
Saints 0
Bengals 3
Bucs 0
Vikings 2
Giants 1
Bears 1
Ravens 0
Lions 1
Bucs 0
Panthers 0
Browns 1
Arizona 1
Green Bay 1
Pittsburgh 1
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ICYMI: In case you missed it
GAME STORY: Steelers knock Falcons out of first place with 27-20 wi n
QUOTEBOARD: What the Falcons had to say after the loss to the Steelers
SIDEBAR: Falcons slow Bell but not Steelers wide receivers
SIDEBAR: A franchise record for Roddy White, but no reason to celebrate
COLUMN: The blame for lose No. 9 falls on Matt Ryan -- Mark Bradley
NOTEBOOK: Jones, Moore held out with injuries
BY THE NUMBERS: Steelers 27, Falcons 20
UP NEXT: The New Orleans Saints at the Superdome where the Falcons are 1-6 under Coach Smith
About the Author
Honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his "long and distinguished reporting in the field of pro football," D. Orlando Ledbetter, Esq. has covered the NFL 28 seasons. A graduate of Howard University, he's a winner of Georgia Sportswriter of the Year and three Associated Press Sports Editor awards.
