Falcons offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter has some very specific goals for his unit when they drive inside the opposition’s 20-yard line.
“Our goal is always to be 55 percent or higher (with) touchdowns in the red zone,” Koetter said. “That’s our goal every week. We did not reach that in the preseason. You always wonder in the preseason if that’s because you’re rotating so many guys or you didn’t have the right play called or you didn’t execute or what the situation was”
Koetter has addressed the red zone issue with the offensive players.
“If you get in the red zone times, to get over 55 percent, you have to score 3 out of 4 times,” Koetter said. “It’s not an easy task, but the best teams in the NFL will get there. We are definitely shooting to be one of those teams.”
In the opener last season against the New Orleans Saints, the Falcons’ inability to score in the red zone hurt them.
The Saints won the hotly contested game 23-17 at the Superdome after the Falcons stalled twice inside the 10-yard line.
The Falcons’ third drive of the game stalled on the 5-yard line after pass over the middle to Jones was incomplete. Matt Bryant added a 23-yard field goal.
On the Falcons’ final drive, they moved from their 20 to the Saints’ 3. But after running back Steven Jackson dropped an apparent touchdown pass, Ryan was intercepted on fourth down.
The Falcons were 2 for 4 in the red zone against the Saints as Tony Gonzalez and Jones had touchdown catches 7 and 4 yards.
