The Falcons have made things more difficult for themselves by committing numerous penalties, after being the least penalized team in the NFL last season.
The Falcons have 23 infractions for 172 yards in three games, and they have not occurred in one facet of the game. They’ve had them on special teams, defense and offense.
The most glaring was defensive tackle Corey Peters’ offside penalty Sunday when the Buccaneers had no plans to snap the ball with under two minutes to play. In the first quarter, defensive end Ray Edwards had an encroachment penalty on a third-and-6. The Bucs converted the third-and-1 and went on to make a field goal.
The offense had to start two drives inside its 10-yard line after special-teams’ penalties. Rookie linebacker Akeem Dent had a holding penalty on a kickoff late in the first quarter to force the offense to start from its 8-yard line.
In the second quarter, Antone Smith had an illegal block above the waist on a kickoff the led to a drive starting at the 7-yard line. Jacquizz Rodgers’ unnecessary-roughness penalty on the same play was declined.
“Where we get frustrated is on pre-snap penalties, illegal formations and jumping offsides,” Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey said. “Things like that; those are frustrating for everybody.”
About the Author
