Special teams coordinator Keith Armstrong confirmed that kickoff specialist Matt Bosher mis-hit his final kickoff that allowed Seattle to throw a pass into the Falcons’ end zone as time expired Sunday.
He said that it was a human error.
Bosher also mis-hit two punts that were returned for 9 and 15 yards. He had a net average of 30 yards and failed to get good hang-time in order to limit the returns of Seattle’s Leon Washington.
“We did not punt the ball as well as we’d like to in terms of what we’re asking our guys to do,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “The last kick was not executed the way it’s supposed to be executed. It was not the type of play that we needed to have at that point in time.”
Armstrong noted that Bosher did have a fine squib kick against Oakland on Oct. 14.
Armstrong didn’t believe that Bosher, a second-year player, was under too much pressure in his second playoff game.
“He had an outstanding game last year against the Giants in the wind and cold up there,” Armstrong said. “He smashed the ball to a really good returner. I don’t think it was that at all. It’s like anything else … sometimes you’re going to have a bad day.”
Bosher will be on the spot against the 49ers, who blocked a punt against then-Falcons punter Michael Koenen in 2010 at the Georgia Dome. The Falcons won 16-14 after some heroics by Harvey Dahl, Roddy White and Matt Ryan in the final 1:31 of the game.
Read-option: Falcons defensive coordinator Mike Nolan believes that San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick presents some different issues than Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson.
“Thoughout this process, as every team in the NFL has done with these new offenses, there is a little bit of a learning curve that’s going on for several people because they are not all the same,” Nolan said. “You have the Pistol, the read-option and the trap-option, but it still entails the option which involves the quarterback.”
Rodgers' block: The Falcons are still marveling at how running back Jacquizz Rodgers came across the formation to pick up a blitzer that allowed Ryan to complete the key pass to Tony Gonzalez.
“Matt hits Tony, but Jacquizz was on what we call a scan, and he came all the way across the field and blocked the outside rusher,” offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter said. “When you look at it on film, you are still not sure he’s going to get there, but he did.”
With the pocket firm, Ryan was able to step into his throw.
Scouts promoted: Marvin Allen, who's in his fourth season with the Falcons, was promoted to national scout Tuesday.
Allen was the team’s Eastern Regional scout. He will now work closely with director of personnel Lionel Vital. Allen fills the spot that was vacated by Vital’s promotion after David Caldwell left to become Jacksonville’s general manager Jan. 8.
Allen spent 16 seasons with the New England Patriots, including his past 12 in the player-personnel department as an area scout. He was responsible for the collection of data on all prospects in his region.
The Falcons also promoted Mike Potts and Sae Woon Jo to area scouts.
Etc.: The Falcons' defense noticeably started to slip against Seattle after end John Abraham left the game late in the second quarter when he aggravated his sprained left ankle. "Anytime you take a good player off the field … it does change things," Nolan said. … The NFL Network will air sound of Smith from Sunday's game against Seattle on the "Sound FX" show at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday.
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