Falcons offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter knows that his unit will face a much stiffer test from San Francisco’s defense, which features six Pro Bowlers, in the NFC Championship game Sunday than it did against Seattle.
“Right now, where we are standing on Tuesday, we are just trying to figure out how to make a field goal against these guys,” Koetter said. “How can we score any points?”
Linebackers Aldon Smith, Patrick Willis and Navorro Bowman all made the Pro Bowl, along with defensive end Justin Smith and safeties Dashon Goldson and Donte Whitner.
Justin Smith is the tone-setter. Aldon Smith had 19.5 sacks during the regular season, but hasn’t had a sack over the past four game games.
Bowman and Willis patrol the middle of the field, while Goldson and Whitner take turns playing the role of hard-hitting sheriff in the secondary.
“When we look at the front, we talk about the front seven,” Koetter said. “The three down (linemen) and four linebackers. Their front seven is as tough as it gets. They are tough against the run, and they are good pass rushers.”
The Smiths work in concert.
“(Justin) Smith does a great job with his power of attracting two guys, and then (Aldon Smith) plays off of him,” Koetter said. “They’ve got some (stunts). It’s tough to get an extra guy over there, so they can get (Aldon Smith) free. They’ve done a good job of that.”
Justin Smith is playing with a partially torn triceps tendon in his left elbow.
The 49ers gave up 294.4 yards per game in the regular season, which ranked third in the NFL. They gave up 94.2 rushing yards per game (fourth) and 200.2 yards passing (fourth).
If anything gets past the front seven, Goldson and Whitner attempt to clean things up.
“Their safeties are very physical,” Koetter said. “Good tacklers. They have taken some shots on some wide receivers, but I think that will be something where our guys will get up for the challenge. Our guys usually like that kind of a challenge.”
After running for a season-high 167 yards against Seattle, the Falcons are not sure how to attack the 49ers.
“We always have a no-huddle plan,” Koetter said. “We always have a rotation plan, but when we get into the game and sometimes it just doesn’t go that way. Sometimes your huddle stuff is going well, so you don’t want to get into the no-huddle.”
Koetter plans to leave himself some wiggle room if one player gets hot. Then, he’ll ride the hot hand for as long as he can.
“(Running back Jacquizz Rodgers) got hot the other day,” Koetter said. “He got hot running the ball early in the game. He hit three or four runs right there in a row, but then Mike (Turner) came back in and did an excellent job. Mike had three explosive runs in that game.
“Once we get in there, the fact that we do have some depth, we can go with the hot guy at times.”
Koetter is not certain that the running plays the Falcons used against Seattle — a steady diet of pitches and stretch runs — will work against San Francisco’s sleeker and swifter defense.
“We will have a plan, and it will all be based specifically on how we think we can attack San Francisco,” Koetter said. “It will have nothing to do with last week.”
There are too many variables in the run game for Koetter to assume that the rushing attack will continue to roll against the 49ers.
“I wish it was that easy,” Koetter said. “It’s just not that simple. When a play works, it’s for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, it’s scheme. Sometimes, it’s the matchup. Sometimes, heck, how many times do you think Jacquizz was just going to run over their free safety?”
Also, Koetter knows that he’s going to need another stellar showing from his offensive line, which didn’t give up a sack and allowed only one quarterback hit against the Seahawks.
“We protected well,” Koetter said. “Matt did a good job of getting the ball out of his hand on time. Obviously, we had receivers winning their matchups. Every quarterback in the league plays better when they are not getting hit. Matt is no exception to that.”
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