Here’s what Carolina coach Ron Rivera had to say to the Atlanta media Wednesday on a conference call:
Q: How has quarterback Kyle Allen been playing for you since he’s been starting (for Cam Newton)?
A: "I think he's done a nice job. He really has. He's been solid. He's a guy that's really is just growing every time that he gets on the field. The biggest thing that everybody has just got to remember is that is really kind of like his rookie year. He's done a good job. (He's) done the things we've asked. Has been very productive. Assumed a nice leadership position for us in terms of leading the offense. I've been very pleased with what we've gotten from him so far."
Q: How do you square leading the league in sacks, but giving up 136.7 yards rushing per game (29th in the NFL)?
A: "The biggest thing is that we have to stop giving up an explosive run or two. That's probably the biggest thing that has gotten us. You give up a 20- or 30-yard run or two of them, your stats get out of whack. We've probably given up more explosive runs than we need to. That's the thing we have to shore up. We've got to be more discipline in our gaps. We can't jump gaps. We can't play behind the football, and we have to make better tackles."
Q: How are (former Falcons defensive linemen) Bruce Irvin and Dontario Poe playing for the Panthers?
A: "They've been tremendous. They've done a great job for us doing the things that we asked of them. It's been very good to have them on our football team."
Q: What have you seen from Falcons running back Brian Hill?
A: "I think he's a versatile running back. It shows that he can run the ball. He's got good vision and can make the cuts. He sticks his foot in the ground and goes downhill. You are not going to arm tackle him. You've got to hit, wrap and drive. I think this is guy who has the potential to be a good football player for them and do things that they need. He's a third-year player and guy that we have to pay attention to. Same thing when Kenjon Barner gets in there. He's a good receiver out of the backfield. We know who Kenjon is in terms of that. He's got a good skill-set."
Q: What’s it been like facing Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan over the years?
A: "He's a good quarterback. He's a guy that's given us trouble, given us fits. At the end of the day, the thing that you've got to do is be discipline against him. He's going to go hard play-action, and he does a good job with play-action. He'll throw the ball downfield. He has got a good arm. He still makes good decisions. He's got a good touch. He makes all of the throws. He's a guy that you've got to be discipline against."
Q: Can a win like the Falcons had over the Saints be a springboard over the second half of the season?
A: "Oh yeah, it doesn't matter who you beat. Winning is winning. If you go out there and you win, you want to repeat it. The thing that you've got to do is you just have to take the momentum and go. That's the thing about it."
Q: What does Christian McCaffrey mean to your offensive attack?
A: "The obvious thing is that when he has the ball in his hands, he's an explosive football player. You want to get the football into his hands as much as you can. He's done a great job of handling the load. The thing we have to do is be smart, judicious and make sure we are not over exposing him when we are giving him the football."
Q: Are you pleased with the development of your two young receivers D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel?
A: "Very much so. Both of those guys are doing a very good job and seem to get better and better every time they get on the football field. They are playmakers, so we have to be able to put the ball in their hands."
Q: How do you square the Falcons’ defense from last week with what was on tape for the first eight games?
A: "Well, I think it goes hand in hand. When things are going well on the offensive side, it helps the defensive side. To tell the truth, we've kind of gone through that as well. It's a team thing. When you're playing well as a unit, you're going to play well on both sides of the ball."
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