The Falcons had trouble covering the Packers’ talented receiving corps last season, and those receivers weren’t at full strength.
Jermichael Finley, their versatile tight end, was injured and didn’t play in both games. He should be the X factor Sunday night.
“He is one of the most athletic tight ends in the [NFL],” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “He’s a guy that can line up anywhere. ... He’s going to be someone that they move around.”
He suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 5 last season against Washington. Finley ranks second on the Packers with 18 receptions for 234 yards (13 yards per catch) and three touchdowns.
“He catches the ball extremely well with his hands,” Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. “He’s extremely talented. There are not many guys like him in the league. To have him back [gives us] another weapon. He’s given us great balance in the passing game with teams trying to figure out how to stop us.”
Falcons defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder must make an choice when the Packers flank Finley outside. VanGorder will have to decide if the Falcons want to treat Finley like a tight end or a wide receiver.
“It’s difficult because they put him all over the place,” VanGorder said. “It’s a little bit difficult to completely scheme against where he is. The guys just have to know that he can be [anywhere.] He is a wide receiver in a lot of their personnel groupings, so you have to treat him as a wide receiver.”
Falcons linebackers Sean Weatherspoon and Stephen Nicholas could spend time covering Finley.
“He’s definitely like a big receiver, if you ask me,” Weatherspoon said. “If you look at him, he can get up the field and can make plays on top of cornerbacks or safeties. You definitely have to see him as a receiving threat.”
If the Falcons try to take Finley away, they may leave more openings for Green Bay’s other talented receivers.
“He’s a tough chore,” VanGorder said. “He’s a big strong tight end that you look at the film and go ‘Wow, that’s a tight end?’ He can run. He’s a handful. But if you overemphasize him, you’ve got [Greg] Jennings and [Donald] Driver and [Jordy] Nelson and [James] Jones. It requires discipline across the board.”
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