FLOWERY BRANCH -- It was big news when the Saints upgraded mobile quarterback Taysom Hill’s injury status Thursday.
The Falcons (3-4), who are set to the face the Saints (5-2) at 1 p.m. Sunday at Caesars Superdome, have had trouble with quarterback runs and scrambles this season.
The Saints will be without quarterback Jameis Winston, who suffered a season-ending left knee injury Sunday against Tampa Bay. Trevor Siemian is expected to start, but Hill likely could be used as a change-of-pace running threat against the Falcons.
“Playing the Saints, if they put Taysom back there, he’s part of the run game obviously,” Falcons Pro Bowl defensive tackle Grady Jarrett said. “Then if you just leave (Siemian) wide open, he can definitely go get it. So, you definitely have got to be disciplined.”
The Falcons’ run defense is giving 34.1 yards per game to quarterbacks, which has hurt them from getting off the field on third downs. Teams have converted 50% of their third downs against the Falcons, which ranks 30th of 32 teams in the NFL.
“It’s no secret, we’re not playing well enough on third down,” Falcons defensive coordinator Dean Pees said.
The Falcons’ defense is giving up 92.7 yards per game to running backs/receivers, which would ranked seventh in the league. But together with the quarterback rushes, the 125.1 yards per game ranks 25th.
The Falcons must find a way to contain the opposing quarterbacks on scrambles and designed runs. Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts (seven carries for 62 yards), the Giants’ Daniel Jones (8-39), Washington’s Taylor Heinicke (5-43), Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa (4-29) and Carolina’s Sam Darnold and P.J. Walker (9-65) all have hurt the Falcons’ efforts to stop the run.
“In two of the games, the Washington game and in the last game, it’s been disheartening that their quarterbacks …,” Pees said. “Last Sunday, gained 60 yards rushing, that (weren’t designed runs.) In the Washington game, the guy gained 48 yards (actually 43) and none of them were designed runs. So, we’re giving up yardage in the run game, which looks terrible, but it’s more on third downs and loose plays by the quarterback getting it out than it is actually the running game.”
If the Falcons figure out how to control the quarterbacks, they still want to play the run better.
“But it’s not that as much as the daggone loose plays that are just killing us,” Pees said. “We had chances to get off the field on third down last week, too. But the quarterback got out on a pressure.”
When the Falcons’ play zone defense, they must keep an eye out for the quarterback taking off. It’s tougher when they play man-to-man.
“That’s the downside of playing man coverage is now everybody’s backs turn to the quarterback, (then there’s) nobody to go get him when he gets out,” Pees said. “So, you got to contain a quarterback when you play man coverage.”
The Falcons are getting ready for Siemian and Hill, who’s coming back from a concussion.
“You just got to have a plan for both,” Pees said. “So, two different types of guys.”
In addition to contending with Siemian and Hill, the Falcons figure to have their hands full with Saints running backs Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram. The Saints rushed for 152 yards against the Bucs, who had the No. 1-ranked run defense going into last week’s game.
The Falcons want to keep down Kamara’s big plays.
“We’ve got to control him,” Pees said.
The Saints re-acquired Ingram in a trade with the Texans on Oct. 29. Ingram, the Heisman Trophy winner at Alabama who played with the Saints from 2011-18, played his first game back with the team against Tampa Bay.
“Well, what he brings to their offense is a whole different style running,” Pees said. “He’s the one-cut downhill power runner.”
Ingram’s style is a stark contrast to the electric Kamara.
“When you play (Kamara) you just have to tell everybody that you’re at the point of attack,” Pees said. “It was like when we played (Le’Veon) Bell at Pittsburgh. I mean, I don’t know where he’s gonna end up. I don’t know. Guy can jump cut, take it outside, inside, wherever he’s going to go.”
Ingram is the hard-charger.
“He’s a hard runner,” Pees said. “He’s gonna run over you if he gets a chance. It’s kind of like the quarterback situation. I’m not too worried about (Siemian) running over us, but (Hill) can run over you. That’s the kind of player he is. That’s like they have two different types of quarterbacks, they are two different types of runners.”
Linebacker Deion Jones believes the Falcons will be up to the challenge.
“We just have to be sound in our fits and stop the run,” Jones said. “That’s basically it. Knowing when it’s coming, communicating and getting down hill when it’s time. That’s the biggest thing.”
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