If the team is ever going win again this season, the Falcons’ offense needs to figure out how to consistently push the ball into the end zone.
At this, they have consistently failed. After being shut out by Carolina last Sunday, the Falcons (6-7) extended their losing streak to six games during which they’ve scored only eight touchdowns.
“We need to jump-start it on offense. Obviously, the last couple of weeks have been unacceptable in terms of us getting into the end zone,” quarterback Matt Ryan said. “Of all the things that are important in terms of playing good offense, getting in the end zone is number one. In order to do that, we have to execute really well, we have to create some explosive plays and when we get into the red zone, we have to be really effective.”
With just two touchdowns in the past three games, the Falcons have fallen to 19th in the NFL in points scored (279) and points per game (21.5).
A large part of the offense finding life again is resurrecting the running game.
The ground game has almost disappeared since the Falcons started the season at 6-1. During that seven-game stretch, the offense averaged 130 rushing yards per game and 4.5 yards per carry with 11 of its 21 offensive touchdowns coming on run calls.
In the their last six games, the Falcons averaged 75 rushing yards per game and 3.5 yards per carry with no rushing touchdowns. Jacksonville, Sunday’s opponent, is yielding just 3.6 yards per rush, tied for third-lowest in the league.
“It’s got to start with our balance and the ability to run the ball,” coach Dan Quinn said. “(The Jaguars) are going to play some eight-man fronts for sure and our play-action that comes off that has got to be on point. You got to step up on the play-actions and when you’re not feeling the run game, that’s when it’s really hard. You got to be able to run against the eight-man fronts.”
The missing element for Quinn — and he said he’s worked on this on both sides of the ball — is effort.
“How hard you play, how hard you push one another to get our football exactly like we like. That’s when the big plays come and that’s when we’re at our best,” he said. “You can’t fake that. You have to put the work in and I’m not someone who believes in overnight success. When all that comes together and we’re working together and playing together and understanding, that’s when the looseness comes. I firmly believe it starts with the work first.”
With criticism focused on first-year offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, Ryan said the lack of red zone success falls on each player.
“We’ve had opportunities for play calls. I think (Shanahan) has put us in some good spots,” Ryan said. “As a player, I feel like you always have to look in the mirror and you have to take responsibility for what we’re doing and take ownership for it. We haven’t done a good enough job of that.”
Quinn said the offense needs to improve in the fundamentals like passing and catching against an energetic Jaguars defense.
“I think it’s a defense that scheme-wise is similar to our defense,” Ryan said. “They do some things differently but they play sound in what they do and they force you to make plays when you get your chance. But you have to execute down in and down out and be able to execute really well against them.”
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