FLOWERY BRANCH -- One of the few bright spots from the Falcons’ 32-6 season-opening loss to the Eagles on Sunday was the play of running backs Mike Davis and Cordarrelle Patterson.
The ran the ball with authority early in the game before the Falcons fell behind and had to move away from the run.
“Just keeping Philly guessing, keeping them on their toes I guess,” Davis said. “Going hurry-up (tempo) and then running the ball, just mixing it up.”
They’ll need to run the ball well against another stout defensive front when the Falcons (0-1) face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0) at 4:05 p.m. Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.
“Run blocking-wise, I think they did their thing,” Davis said of the offensive line. “I just think it’s something that we have to continue to improve on. We know we have Tampa coming up. We just have to make sure that we improve on every aspect as far as offense.”
Davis and Patterson started the game together.
Davis rushed 15 times for 49 yards, including a long run of 12 yards. Patterson, a former first-round pick as a wide receiver, rushed seven times for 54 yards, including a long of 14 yards.
Both had some bruising runs and fullback Keith Smith got a couple of runs for 13 yards.
“Of course we feel confident that we can run the ball and pass the ball,” Davis said. “We can improve in everything.”
Patterson, after playing at Tennessee, was the 29th player taken by the Vikings in 2013. He mostly was a special-teams player until New England coach Bill Belichick started playing him some at running back in 2018.
“Whenever my number is called, I feel like I’m at home,” Patterson said. “I just try to go out and make a play for my team.”
Patterson is fine with playing running back.
“When you are playing running back, you want the ball the every play,” Patterson said. “That’s not possible. That’s not how the game goes. The good thing about this offense is that we try to spread the ball around. It’s only one football on the field. When your number is called, you have to go out there and make a play.”
Quarterback Matt Ryan, who has been sacked more than 40 times in each of the past three seasons, would welcome a sustained rushing attack. He was sacked three times by the Eagles in the fourth quarter.
“I think if you watch how we ran the football early in the game, the effort and intensity that our backs played with, I think that is something that you can hang your hat on,” Ryan said. “Both of those guys, I thought ran the football really hard.”
The Falcons repeatedly told everyone that Patterson, a four-time Pro Bowler as a kickoff returner, would play running back.
“A lot of people were just looking at him as a receiver, but Cordarrelle is a running back,” Davis said. “He went out there and did his thing. He ran hard. He played hard. Those are type of things the coach wants at the running back position.”
The combination worked well together.
“I think we complement each other well in terms of power and speed,” Davis said. “I don’t think there is any type of drop-off when either one of us is not in the game. I think that is key in the offense.”
Davis liked the formation with both players in the game. Either one could end up motioning to the slot and serve as a pass catchers.
“If we are in the backfield or he’s in the slot or if I’m in the slot, it gives us information on how teams will play us,” Davis said.
The Bucs’ defense which features big defensive tackles in Vita Vea (347 pounds) and Ndamukong Suh (313 pounds) and held the Cowboys to 60 yards rushing on 18 carries. Running back Ezekiel Elliott was held to 33 yards on 11 carries.
“They have a great defensive line, great linebackers as well,” Davis said. “Overall, their defense is very solid. It’s not going to get any easier. With those guys, the way that they rush. They play as a team. Guys, we just have to be ready. Be ready for what is to come.”
Behind the tackles, linebackers Lavonte David and Devin White are the inside linebackers for the Bucs.
“It’s an opportunity to get better knowing that you are playing a stout defense,” Davis said. “Guys that rush well in the run game and pass. I think is just a great opportunity to get better.”
The Falcons had to move away from the running game that worked so well early in the game against the Eagles.
“Here’s the simple reason – I’m not trying to sound patronizing or anything like that – so you get into the game,” Falcons coach Arthur Smith said. “We have about 31 snaps in the first two drives, came away with six points. So, credit Philadelphia.”
The Falcons had red-zone problems last season, too.
“You get into those drives; you feel like you’re in a good rhythm,” Smith said. “We had a good balance. We knew how we started it – if you want to blame – conservatively, yeah, we got to go punch the ball in there and find a way score touchdowns.”
The two field goals were let downs.
“Those are what I call four-point swings,” Smith said. “I think we had about 40 snaps, the first three drives with six points to show. You’re balanced. I thought we’re running the ball pretty well.”
After an exchange of punts, the Falcons found themselves backed up at the 8-yard line.
“I did play conservatively, you know we tried to get the ball out of there, milk a little time off the clock, knowing they got the ball start the second half,” Smith said. “Just get into that drive and let’s go down and score some points. Then we had the false start.”
After getting pushed back to the 4-yard line by Jalen Mayfield’s false start, Smith called two running plays that netted seven yards and left a fourth-and-6. Cameron Nizialek came on and hit a 52-yard punt.
The Eagle came down and scored and another penalty lead to a two-point conversion and a 15-6 lead, which forced the Falcons to toss the run sheet to the side.
“But those are the ones, the discussions you have, the postmortem after action report whatever term you want to use when we’re talking as a staff, and I put that on myself in a 7-6 game that’s where I felt we were, and I didn’t want to go lose it backed up,” Smith said. “So, hindsight. Sure, I wish I had called something maybe different on third down.”
In the second half, the Falcons, with more penalties, found themselves in a bunch of second- and third-and longs.
“We’re trying to jam a run in there to get going on the drive and we damn near lost it on a fumble,” Smith said. “Then you’ve got to make a decision at some point, you’ve got to speed up and go. Give yourself a chance to win the game.”
Credit: Curtis Compton / curtis.compton@ajc.com
Credit: Curtis Compton / curtis.compton@ajc.com
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