A Look At The Falcons Red Zone Performance: Week 14

I’m not sure if HD will really help much unless there is a shift in the overall passing game. For the life of me, I don’t understand why Roddy is the “possession receiver” and Jenkins is the “deep threat” this season (in general, of course). Also, all the short pass routes seem to be choking the life out of the passing game. That was what was so great about the few times they took a deep shot against the Saints (the Jenkins TD, plus the one off his fingertips). Although, they don’t have to be just dink-and-dunk or “bombs” – there are these little things called intermediate routes…

Back to the short routes, with an example from the Saints game (and forgive me if I’m slightly off – I’m piecing this together from memory, the play-by-play, and Pro Football Focus): 1:22 left in 1Q, 3rd&2 @ NO12. Shotgun, with split backs (Snelling and Weems in backfield). Jenkins to the Left, Roddy to the Right, Tony G lined up slot Right. At the snap, Jenkins, Tony G, and Roddy all ran quick hitch routes right at the first down line. They literally each took 2-3 steps then turned around. One of the backs (Weems?) leaked out into the flats, and I’m pretty sure the other back stayed in to block. That makes 4 eligible receivers about 2 yards away from the Line of Scrimmage. The problem (well, the main problem) was that the Saints were in man-to-man coverage, and since nobody could get any separation, Redman had to tuck and run. He got zero yards, so Sedrick Ellis was given credit for a sack (this is the play they were facemasking each other on the tackle). FG, and a missed opportunity for 7.

Several things here. 1) It’s not like Mularkey doesn’t know Gregg Williams likes to run man coverage a ton, especially if he’s bringing heat. 2) We’re on the 12 yard line – can’t we send somebody into the endzone, if nothing else than to open up some space? Again, I’ll go back to a quote from the “What’s wrong with Cutler?” post:

The defense was “…waiting for the short pass, and knowing that the Bears Falcons had admitted defeat in a strategic sense.”

Mularkey either doesn’t have confidence in the Pass Protection to allow time for deeper routes, or he has no confidence in either QB to complete the deep passes, or simply prefers the “horizontal” passing game (my vote goes here). Whatever the reason, the scheme is forcing the offense to execute for 10+ plays to get close to scoring range. It is the world’s best “bend but don’t break” Offense. What should we call it? “Smoke but no Fire”? “Jabs but no Haymakers”? “The Big Tease”? Maybe just “Dud Fireworks”…

Sorry for the rant.

but don’t consider him a savior. We will have much better game from the whole offense once our offensive life is healthy. in the beginning of the season we have success also because the line protected Ryan well. I am hoping that this offseason other than fixing those pressing defensive problems, team management will find some resources to build some depth in the offensive line.