The Falcons will have access to some inside information about several key members of the San Francisco 49ers which may help them prepare for Sunday’s NFC Championship game.
Falcons defensive coordinator Mike Nolan was San Francisco’s head coach from 2005 to 2008 and also served as general manager.
“Mike Nolan played an integral part in the building that San Francisco team,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said on Monday. “Mike is very familiar with them. I think that will give us some more insight in terms of what these guys are all about.”
In 2005, the 49ers drafted backup quarterback Alex Smith and running back Frank Gore. The next season, they picked up tight ends Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker.
In 2007, they drafted linebacker Patrick Willis, tackle Joe Staley and safety Dashon Goldson.
Smith, after guiding the 49ers to the NFC Championship game last season, was benched midway through this season in favor of Colin Kaepernick, who was drafted by the current administration in 2011.
Kaepernick rushed for 181 yards in the divisional round against Green Bay, a record for a quarterback in any regular season or playoff game.
Kaepernick is particularly dangerous on the read-option plays that the Falcons were able to contain against Seattle’s Russell Wilson and Washington’s Robert Griffin III. Wilson accumulated his 60 rushing yards Sunday on scrambles. The Falcons held Griffin to seven yards on one carry.
However, they struggled against Carolina’s Cam Newton and Carolina’s read-option attack.
Kaepernick presents a different challenge; he’s much faster than the other quarterbacks. Against Green Bay, he gained yards when the Packers were in man-to-man coverage and the defenders had their backs to the action.
“You’ve got to have vision on defense,” Smith said. “You can’t match up and play match coverages or man-to-man because when he gets in the secondary, he’s a guy that can go the distance. He outran a number of fast players in the ball game on Saturday night.”
Kaepernick seems to favor wide receiver Michael Crabtree as a passing target. When Smith was starting, he leaned heavily on Davis.
“It looks to be over the last four or five games, that (Crabtree) and Kaepernick are on the same page,” Smith said. “They are making the throws that you have to make to be successful, in terms of the back shoulder throws and the timing routes. They’ve done a very nice job.”
Abraham update: Smith expects defensive end John Abraham to return to practice this week. He left the Seattle game in the second quarter after re-aggravating his sprained left ankle.
Abraham played on 15 of 67 defensive snaps (22 percent) against Seattle and did not record a tackle.
Coffman a keeper: The Falcons signed backup tight end Chase Coffman, a former third-round draft pick, on Aug. 11. He was on the practice squad until being moved up to the active roster on Nov. 13 and then played in five of the last seven regular season games, catching one pass for 11 years.
Against the Seahawks, his big 16-yard catch set up the Falcons’ first touchdown.
The concern for Coffman, who’s father Paul played in the NFL from 1978-87, was over his blocking. He caught 247 passes at Missouri, was an all-American and John Mackey Award winner.
“He catches the ball extremely well,” Smith said. “Coming out, we did a lot of work on Chase. We actually went to Missouri and had worked him out. The scouting staff had spent a lot of time on him.”
Stopping Davis: Smith was not happy with the pass coverage against Seattle, especially against tight end Zach Miller, who was targeted nine times. He caught eight passes for 142 yards and one touchdown.
The defense will be stressed again by San Francisco tight ends Davis and Walker.
“Vernon Davis is probably the most athletic tight end in all of football,” Smith said. “I can remember sitting in Indianapolis watching this guy run a sub 4.5 (seconds in the 40-yard dash) there at the combine. There are a lot of things that we are going to have to address this week.”
