Q&A with Falcons coach Dan Quinn after the 17-16 loss

Here’s what Falcons head coach Dan Quinn had to say after the Falcons’ 17-16 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

Opening Comments

“We’ll give credit to San Francisco. I thought they played a really good game, in terms of the toughness and the effort. Hard fought both sides. I’ll get right to the start of it, the sequencing at the end of the game, the fourth down play, I chose to kick it there. Thought we were getting the stops defensively, we’d get the kick, get stops, use our timeouts and then go attack on offense. We’re a really good two minute team on offense. So, that was the reasoning for it. We didn’t stop them on the third down, they converted. Really that’s where the game took place, so I wanted to make sure I explained our thinking going into that one. And, I was pleased to see the turn over from the defense. That part was encouraging for sure. Something we’ve been preaching in a big way. Now, I’ll open it up to the questions regarding the game.”

Given that rationale on the road, we’ve seen folks go for the win there. Was there any thought to running a play there and try to score a touchdown?

“Yeah, I think, I’m always prepared for them. The way I chose to do it in that one was to, ‘Let’s kick it, get the stop.’ I felt like we were stopping defensively and we’d go stop it again and go win it that way. Looking back, yeah, it’s always a chance to second guess. You have two ways to go win it, go try and get it right there, kick, get another stop and then go down. So, could have went either way. I chose to go the way to kick it and get a stop and go win it in two minute. I just have such belief in our guys both offensively and defensively. That’s just the way I chose and that didn’t work out for us today.”

Did you have a belief too that Atlanta Falcons RB Devonta Freeman could pick up the yardage that you need in that situation?

“I totally do, and it just happened to be for me, I believed in the defense that we were going to get the stops as well. So, it was really both sides it was just, ‘OK, which way do we want to go with this one?’ Looking back, of course, I’d love to give it to him and end it there. That’s not how it went. Thought we’d kick it, get the stop. Third down stop, first down play, second down play, use our timeouts, and make them punt, and then go attack again. If we had to kick a field goal to win it, we would do that. That’s where the thoughts were going.”

What about what you guys were doing defensively led you to believe you would get the call back? Because, obviously they had made plays.

“Yeah, I think just the fact that we were playing better on third down that they hadn’t scored in the second half. Those were the kind of thoughts going in. I just felt confident we would get the stops to do it. I thought in the four minute situation we would get the runs, or get a pass, or keep it on third down. So, for us not to do that, that was where the game came down, to us not getting a stop on third down.”

The other thought about this game is that you’re even in that position against a team that obviously was reeling. You guys played a poor game last week. Some people would say you had an embarrassing loss at home to a mediocre team. How do you come back and have a performance like this against another team that’s reeling?

“It’s a really disappointing anytime to have back to back losses. For us to be at our best, our whole team working together, getting turnovers, not turning the ball over, attacking like we’d like to. So, when we’re not playing our best it makes it hard on us. Both losses, any of them are difficult, and certainly this one was, because we thought we had a chance to win it there at the end and we didn’t.”

What did you see on the replay, on the challenge that you did on the fourth down that cost you your third timeout?

“It did, and we really felt like we had the stop. So, that was the total rationale, to say, ‘Alright, let’s go take a shot at it,’ and see if that could be the one to knock it back. So, it was just a gut feeling, and one we went with to say, ‘Alright, let’s move it back, and have a punt, and go from there.”

Recently, offensively it’s usually been the case of you guys stopping yourselves with the turnovers and you’re having some problems. That really wasn’t the case today. You guys didn’t turn the ball over. What is the problem?

“I’ll go back for us to look and see for us to be at our best, in the throw game, in the pass game. What are the issues that came up today? And, that’s when we’ll go back and look at it on tape. In all phases of the stuff, third down stuff, red zone information, and we’ll get a better feel after we look at the tape.”

I know this has been asked many times, almost every week, but what’s the deal with Atlanta Falcons WR Roddy White? It seems like rarely, if ever, is he a primary receiver on a play. Seldom does he even seem like the secondary target on a play. I don’t think he was targeted until late in the third quarter in this game.

“Yeah, he had a big third down catch for sure. It depends on the package that we’re in and where the reads take us. So, that’s really where it goes to. It’s not a matter of going to him, or not going to him. It’s really where the reads of the coverage that we’re playing. Where does it go? If we have it go to one guy and it’s man-to-man, or you know middle field is open, we’ll go outside. If not, you know some of the reads take us inside.”

I know you expressed confidence in your defense, but you also gave up a couple touchdowns to a tight end, and there’s been some issues with the tight end. How do you tighten that up?

“Yeah, for sure it’s a problem. It’s technique is what it comes down to. One was a corner and we can play our top shoulder better. So, it wasn’t a function of can we not match up on tight end, we were in a zone coverage. We didn’t play the technique as good as we’re capable of. So, those are things we have to improve on for sure. It wasn’t specific to a tight end necessarily as it was playing a play. Does that make sense?”

The run attack was shut down. Davonta 12-yards, 12 carries today. What did they do to take that part of the offense away from you?

“Yeah, for sure. We usually have good success on our outside wide zone plays, and I think some of the TFLs were really what took us and made us into some long yardage, second down scenarios for us today. So, you know the edge set did a good job. The pressure that came with it and some of the runs. We’ll go back and look at it, and find the ways to go correct it and go attack again.”

How much is this a learning experience for you, to be in this kind of situation, a tough decision you had to make and everything like that? Probably, one of the first one’s that you’ve had.

“There’s been a number of them. And, for us to go on the fourth down plays, or not to go for them, that’s part of the job that goes with me. I kind of had a sequence of how this would go to win the game, and it didn’t work out that way today. I thought we would get the kick, get the stop, go kick it again if we had to to go get the win. That’s kind of how I envisioned it going in, and it didn’t happen for us in that way today. So, that was my goal for how it went down, and it didn’t execute it like we thought.”

Did you have a sense during the week, after the way you guys played last week, that you would respond better this week?

“I did. When we went back to it, we did a good job in practice. We had a big emphasis in terms of taking the ball away, and taking care of it, and we responded in that way like I hoped we would. So, for us to have the turnovers, and not give it up, and not have the results we want, that made it real hard for us today. Usually, in terms of taking care of the ball, and going after it, and getting turnovers, you know the formula for us usually equals win, and that didn’t happen today. We’ll go back and look, and find where are the areas we can certainly improve on.”

Did you feel things were going to change in your way when Atlanta Falcons OLB Vic Beasley Jr. got the interception?

“I certainly did. It was a big play for us. I thought it was good pressure that was called. It was one we’ve done a few times this year, but for him to go catch it just kind of shows the athletic ability that he has. That was a really big play in the game.”

I know coming into this season a lot of people wondered what your pass rush would be like. Obviously, you guys are banged up in the secondary now and you’ve got a few guys out, but offensively would you agree you guys aren’t performing given what you guys have on the field?

“Offensively, or defensively?”

Offensively. Defensively, I think some people expected problems, is what I’m saying and you’re banged up right now. Offensively, do you think you guys are underperforming given what you do have on the field?

“Well, I know for us, in terms of performing today, we’re not at our best. When you look at it for us overall in terms of third downs and moving, that part we’re doing good. We took care of the ball better today. I can’t wait to go back and look and find how those points can convert. Those are the ones for us that’s going to be a big factor. Although, we didn’t run the ball well today like we have every game up until today. Throwing the ball we didn’t have time. I can’t wait to go back and look to see how we can specifically get better. The Bye is going to be a good time for us to take a look at the things we have to improve on, each player, scheme, all the things that we go into when we go into the Bye. Then come out the other end and experience these are the things we’re doing well.”

What’s closer to your team? The first four games or the last four games?

“Certainly the first four games. For us, we’re at our best when we’re attacking and flying. The effort, the toughness, the finish, so that’s when we’re at our best. It’s disappointing for us to have back to back losses. For us to be at our best and have that kind of performance, it’s disappointing.”

When you think those first four games are closer to reality of what you guys are?

“I absolutely do, and knowing the style we can play and the playmakers on both sides, I absolutely do.”

Were you surprised by the number of blitzes?

“I think anytime you go against a team how do you want to choose the feature to play. They hadn’t had as many the last couple of games, but earlier in the season they had a few games they did. So, it just depends on which opponent they were playing.”