For the Falcons, defending the run is a matter of basic geometry.
They want to get a triangle of three players around the ball, close in on the ball carrier and take him to the ground.
The Falcons (3-9) need to create a stronger triangle when they face Green Bay (5-6-1) and their fine rookie running back Eddie Lacy at 1 p.m. Sunday at Lambeau Field.
“You have somebody in front of it and somebody securing both sides to eliminate the cut backs each way,” linebacker Sean Weatherspoon said of the triangle concept.
The theory behind stopping the run is solid. But the Falcons’ execution has been lacking this season. The Falcons have given up 135.4 yards rushing per game, which ranks 30th of 32 teams in the NFL.
“We are there,” Weatherspoon said. “We just have got to get (the runners) on the ground.”
Over the past two games, Falcons defenders have missed 28 tackles, according to their coaches’ film-review statistics.
“The most important thing to tackling is your path to the ball,” defensive coordinator Mike Nolan said. “We stress that all of the time. We try to get as many guys around the ball as we can.”
The Falcons are missing tackles on all levels of the defense. Collectively, they have missed 96 tackles this season, according to respected analytics website profootballfocus.com.
Strong safety William Moore leads the team with 13 missed tackles, followed by defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux’s 10. Free safety Thomas DeCoud and Weatherspoon each has nine. Rookie linebackers Joplo Bartu and Paul Worrilow each has eight, and linebacker Akeem Dent and defensive tackle Peria Jerry each has six.
“We are getting guys around the ball,” Nolan lamented.
Against the Bills, running back C.J. Spiller weaved his way for a 77-yard run and a 36-yard touchdown run. He was held to 36 yards on 12 other carries.
“Since I’ve been in the NFL, I’ve never seen a back that can cut like him and is as fast as him,” Weatherspoon said. “When I played against Chris Johnson, I think Chris Johnson has 14 yards when we played them. When we played against (Spiller), it seemed like we had him corralled, and he made some quick moves and he was out of there.”
Nolan said the two runs were “disappointing” because one was a touchdown and the other led to a touchdown.
“That’s really important to do a better job on the second level (linebackers) of tackling and then minimize the plays that get on the second level,” Nolan said. “Those two balls in particular paint a picture that you can’t stop the run, and we can. We have to do it. We can’t let things go to the house. Good teams don’t, and we’ve got to be a better team in that regard.”
The problem has persisted through much of the season, as the past nine opponents have crashed the 100-yard rushing mark against the Falcons.
“A play doesn’t become explosive until it’s after 10 yards,” Nolan said. “If you look at prior to 10 yards, there are several opportunities to tackle the ball carrier. Both opportunities, the disappointing thing (against Buffalo) was that we had a nice little triangle. We always work to have a triangle on the ball carrier. But at the moment of truth we are not tackling very well.”
The Falcons will face another stiff challenge in Lacy, whose power running style will put pressure on the Falcons. The former Alabama star has gained 822 yards on 207 carries (4.0 per carry) and has six rushing touchdowns. He’s backed by James Starks (5.6 per carry).
“Lacy is a big, strong guy,” Nolan said. “He has tremendous balance. I’m really impressed with his balance. There are many times on film where he gets turned around and stays on his feet. He hits piles and stays on his feet.”
The Falcons will have to swarm to the ball to tackle Lacy.
“Everybody has to get to the ball and gang tackle,” defensive tackle Corey Peters said. “When people miss, we have to have somebody else there.”
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