You wouldn’t know from observing the Falcons’ post-practice body language Thursday that they’re off to a slow start, particularly on offense, and Julio Jones has a theory on why they are where they are, which is 1-3.
To simplify, they need to kick the devil out of their details.
And Jones also suggested that might be easier said than done for human beings.
Following their second practice in preparation for Sunday’s game against the Texans (2-2), Jones was asked what he learned from reviewing last weekend’s 24-10 loss to the Titans that can be carried forward to the Falcons’ betterment.
“We’re a way better ballclub than we presented last Sunday. It’s all around. It’s the way we took the field, the way we executed, everything ...” he said. “We played hard as hell, always, but just detail-wise it was always one guy here and there ...
“For me, my message was just everybody have fun, but just get on your details then go out here and cut it loose.”
The Falcons were upbeat in the locker room Thursday, when several players were laughing and carrying on. Several players broke out dance moves as music blared.
They didn’t appear 1-3, even as some reasons why they are seem tangible.
Their minus-5 turnover margin is tied with the Giants, Broncos and Bengals for second-worst in the NFL, ahead of only the Dolphins (-7).
It’s more difficult to understand how a team ranked 11th in total offense (382.8 yards per game) and 11th in third-down conversion rate (42.8 percent) can rank 26th in scoring (17.5), with only 20 total points scored in the first halves of four games.
On Monday, offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter said, “I think we have a frustrated offense because we know we can move the ball. We know we can be explosive, but we’re not scoring enough points. Whether you’re running it more or throwing it more, we’ve got to score more points.”
Jones declined to apply that word to himself.
“That’s what he said. For me, it’s the 10 points,” the ninth-year wide receiver said. “I never get frustrated or tired of working. I love what I do, and I just try to get better each and every week and every day. So, I’m not really frustrated like that.
“It’s moreso we’re just a better ballclub, but we can’t get that right until everybody collectively just does their job instead of worrying about somebody else’s job.”
The Falcons have not been consistently dominated on offense or on defense, but rather they’ve busted just enough plays or committed too many penalties -- such as the 16 at Tennessee -- to muck up enough drives to finish on the wrong side of the scoreboard in three games.
Koetter pointed out that the Falcons drove inside Tennessee’s 39-yard line on seven of 11 possessions, yet scored only 10 points.
That formula will not work.
There have been similar issues on defense, where the Falcons are allowing a 51 percent conversion rate on third downs.
“Every week we come in and we look at the film, man, and I know it’s not clicking the way that we want to, but when we look at it, it’s like one or two plays (on a drive),” safety Ricardo Allen said. “Like say on third-and-15, if I make that tackle, we’re off the field on that play.
“That drive doesn’t extend and turn into a touchdown. It’s like little, small details of figuring out what you have to do. Do your role.”
Several players and coaches have suggested that the Falcons are practicing well, yet they need to transfer more of those habits into games.
That’s not always as easy as flipping a switch. The search for lapses in concentration and lags in game-day execution continue.
“It can be many things ... who knows? It’s not an excuse for what’s going on,” Jones said. “We’ve just got to fix it. It could be any and everything. We’re human. We could have things going on at home, or that one player who was in for eight plays and that one he decided to take a little break throws off the whole play. Who knows?
“There’s a lot of stuff that can go on in a ballgame. (We need) 11 guys on one play doing the right thing. But like I said, it’s on us.”
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