The Great Debate: Could Soft Defensive Scheming Cost Us A Win Against The Packers?
by Caleb Rutherford on Jan 13, 2011 10:01 AM EST
in Editorial
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PrintIn this series of posts, I seek to find the answer to questions that are brought up around here or around the various sports conversation sites. I use a realistic, low-stat opinion to generate discussion about these topics, but I also encourage the use of stats in an argument.
Today, I'm throwing out statistics or anything related to stats for this post. As you all know, I don't normally do stats, but I'm requesting that you all use your imaginations with me for a bit this time.
Come with me back in time, if you will, to the first Falcons-Packers matchup. I traveled to the local sports bar to catch the second half of the game, and I was relatively pleased with how it was going.
Turn your minds to the 4th quarter and recall a particular scenario in which the Falcons were leading 17-10 with Green Bay moving the ball frantically to attempt to tie the game.
They moved the ball quite well, and then our defense took a heroic stand on the goal line, leaving the Packers with one last play to reign the game back within reach.
It was 4th and goal from...the 10 or so, and we rushed 3 men and dropped 8. Rodgers looked, looked, and looked some more. Poor Abe was being double teamed and was pushed to the ground. He was so tired, he couldn't stand up to continue his vain attempt to get to Rodgers.
Rodgers then rolled left and fired a missile to....whoever it was. Might've been Jordy Nelson, but whoever it was isn't important for this.
We gave Rodgers all bum-diddly day to find an open man, which is easy for him to do when he's back in his La-Z-Boy recliner with no pass rush coming at him. Is that the smart thing to do? Perhaps, but it's been a recurring issue with our defense.
If we get an early lead, could easing up end up costing us the game? Follow me after the jump and let's talk about it!
This is a simple debate post to answer. Yes, soft defensive scheming would ruin any team playing against an offense as potent as the Packers. However, I'm going to delve a bit further into it and lay out what we need to do on defense in order to win this game.
This post wouldn't be the first time this issue has been brought up. Many of the readers on here will gladly nod in agreement when I say that Van Gorder likes to go soft on us when we take an early lead. We do tend to only give up chunks of yards and not chunks of points, but don't forget that this is the playoffs and anything can happen.
Let's face it. The Packers defense is good. They're even better when they can pin their ears back and rattle a QB enough to allow their ball hawking secondary to make a play.
Say, we take a 7-0 lead after a methodical, drawn out opening drive, and Rodgers comes out and starts flinging the ball every which way. Are we going to be able to stop it? If we rush 3 men, no. If we go nickel with BWilliams, I think yes.
I have never in my life seen a defense as angry as we were against the Saints. We were flying everywhere, hitting everybody, you name it. If we're going to win against Rodgers on Saturday, I think we should blitz him.
Yes, I know about the stats and how great he is against the blitz, but wouldn't that deter teams from blitzing? What if a team blitzed him more than usual? Would he eat it up? Or would he be eaten up?
Truthfully, there's no way to know unless we tried, but for a case in point, Drew Brees is a quarterback we see with regularity. We were harassing him all game long a few weeks ago and if not for some missed tackles, we could've walked out of there with a W based on solely defensive effort.
It could be argued that Drew Brees is as good as (if not better than) Rodgers at this point in their careers. Yes, Brees threw an uncharacteristic amount of INTS, but he, too, suffered without a running game for much of the season. The key difference is that Brees doesn't really try to run.
The D got to Brees, they threw his timing off, and they caused him to make dumb decisions. I think we can do the same thing with Rodgers, but we're going to need the secondary to play the game of their lives. I think Rodgers can be rattled, especially because he's taken a few hits this year. He does like to strong arm balls occasionally, but he often does so with deadly precision. Rodgers won't make the behind the back dump-off to the RB, but he will find Greg Jennings 25 yards downfield who has also managed to wear out Dunta by running back and forth for 10 seconds.
If we take the lead, we absolutely have to keep the pressure on Rodgers. We can't sit back with 4 minutes to go in the game and watch him effortlessly lead his troops down the field because we're rushing 3 men and dropping 8. He's going to find the open man much more often when he's not facing any pressure at all. Our depth chart DBs (Owens, Williams, Coleman) are going to be abused by Rodgers's precision if we leave them out on the field for too long.
In theory, the prevent should work. It keeps everything in front of you and drops 8 speedy DBs into zone coverage to scramble the brains of the opposing QB. Well, when a handful of those speedy DBs are average and the opposing QB is secretly Megatron, things change a little bit. It is nearly impossible to cover 5 receivers for very long, and that has been proven time and time and time again.
But offenses will just dink and dunk their way down the field. 10 yards here, 15 yards there, another 12 yards over there. Next thing you know, it's 1st and goal!
Praytell, WHAT are you so afraid of? The big play? How often does the big play happen when you're in your base or nickel defense? Once a game, tops? Get your heads out of your hidey holes and put Da Police and SpoonHammer in there and go hit somebody. This prevent stuff is for people who only have a wing and a prayer left. Our DBs aren't terrible, but they look a lot better when the pass rush is working. A 3 man rush isn't going to generate any pressure against the Pack, sack totals be damned here. HOWEVER, a 4 man rush with The Police sneaking on in could very well Rodgers timing.
We don't have to get a sack, necessarily, but any kind of disruption to his timing (or, you know, his skeleton when The Police hits him) could go a long way for us. Rodgers does not commit many turnovers, though I believe he has had fumbling issues in the past. We're going to have to exploit that to the fullest, and we're going to need to get him on the ground as much as possible while keeping it clean.
If we can do these things, we will win the game. I'm telling you guys, the offense is going to look like something we haven't seen in a long time (in a good way!)
Speaking of offense, the drawback to easing up on D is potentially losing the lead, thus putting the O in a more treacherous situation. I don't like the thought of that, though I know we can handle it. The Pack's D is tough, so I'd like to be one up on them for as long as possible.
What do you all think? Is the prevent defense THAT terrible of an idea to use? It seems like it would work, but I reminisce of that 4th and goal TD by them and I do not like it as much. What would you suggest we do to stop the Packers' tough offense? Should we blitz or should we lay back? I look forward to discussing this with you all!
(Also, whoever suggested the delayed blitz the other day, you should elaborate about it in here! :D)
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yeah I remember that play
It was weird for lack of another word.I agree that the prevent defense is a losing battle unless you are forty points ahead.We need at least four rushers.At least against the pack we don’t have to go crazy with the pass rush but it does need to be there and Rogers needs to feel like he is in danger of being crushed.A sense of urgency needs to be projected on him.
In total: no.
No, the 3 man rush didn’t cost the game nor will this soft rush cost the game this week. You’ll recall that the referees missed the delay of game (which was converted on a 4th down attempt) and that the field had strected open a bit on the second 4th down of the scoring drive.
Pretty much any drive you give up two 4th down attempts means points. Maybe a 4th rusher would have been in order. I am not fan of 3 man rushes on a good quarterback. But the play should not have even been at that point.
Have we seen Atlanta hold other teams on downs? Yes. The defense won’t be the trouble child here this week. The ATL defense has stood up against good quarterbacks and bad ones. The points allowed by the ATL defense if you take out the short fields given by the Atlanta offense turnovers becomes very laughable.
The reason why Green Bay was even in the last game was they kept recovering their own forced fumbles (3 out of 4) and for some reason ATL commited BIG penalties to drive the ball 50 yards for them.
Also, the idea that the Packers ‘beat’ the Eagles is odd. The Eagles gave away 7 points becuase their kicker couldn’t kick. that failed 2 point coversion was tried because their kicker had missed 2 field goals. Folks that is 3+3+1 points missed. Yes I am glad the Packers WON, but they didn’t get beat. THe Eagles special teams just gave the game away.
by Paul Brian Richardson on Jan 13, 2011 10:47 AM EST reply actions
Eagles/Packers
Wow, the Eagles special teams just gave the game away? You are talking about execution so lets not forget that James Jones dropped a sure TD at the end of the half to make the score 21-3. The referees also missed a drop by Gonzo that would have left the Packers with very good field position earlier in that game.
by Patrick Michael McCain on Jan 14, 2011 12:19 PM EST up reply actions
Don't forget, the Pack left 7 on the field as well
One of the last plays of the 1st half their WR Jones thought he saw demons on the ball as he caught it and quickly dropped a sure TD.
receiver drops a ball a lot more than a kicker should miss
yeah, but that’s an endless game of ‘would of could of’ when talking about receivers dropping balls and quarterbacks making bad throws.
Kickers are not supposed to miss mid-range to short field goals in the playoffs.
You shouldn’t see the two missed field goals that we all saw in that game.
by Paul Brian Richardson on Jan 13, 2011 2:13 PM EST up reply actions
Still Execution....mental mistakes
So, what is the excuse for last night…the players didn’t get enough sleep! I think you need to SMELL the roses. GB dismantled a very good team at their place. Atlanta will be in it next year, however, GB exposed a descent but NOT elite QB. Shut down the running game and you can get to him!
by Patrick Michael McCain on Jan 16, 2011 12:55 PM EST up reply actions
crazy
the game was close both teams got breaks…lets just hope u dont try and cheat us with the replay situation again…really bush league stuff that was…u guys wont get lucky again …i think it was 400 plus yards for pack and 250 plus for the little birdies,….u got 13 days rest and u will need it…..o yah i guess we recovered that fumble on the one yard line also…good luck little birdies u will need it
by FA get about it on Jan 14, 2011 10:06 AM EST up reply actions
Bush league replay?
your COACH did not challenge the call and you know that points count more than yards right? We had more points, therefor we won. Nice try though
"The Dos Equis guys want me to be the least interesting man in the world" - Drama
by BravesDawg16 on Jan 14, 2011 3:49 PM EST up reply actions
crazy 2
the packers dominated the line of scrimmage the whole game against the eagles[the other little birdies]. u my friend are clueless.the packers are bird hunting this playoffs,after we beat the birdcrap out of u guys we will then beat the crap out of the seachickens next…packers have not trailed by more then 7 pts all year..that all year in any game..hellooooooo thats incredible stuff…the ony reason for that is WE ARE A SUPERIOR TEAM….PERIOD…GOOD LUCK AT YOUR NEST….WORLD OF PAIN COMING
by FA get about it on Jan 14, 2011 10:14 AM EST up reply actions
yeah FA, what mwalex said!!
If your that big a fan, then you saw the first game between our 2 teams, and you know our o-line dominated your d-line AND our d-line put pressure on Rodgers all game long. We aint the eagles and we aint losing at home either!!
Georgia Native, Indiana Resident, and Falcon Loving S.O.B.
Yeah, thats me.
by ATLsince1972 on Jan 14, 2011 12:27 PM EST up reply actions
You're entitled to your opinion
Feel free to come back by and revise it if you guys lose.
Sign up for a free account today to join the discussion about all things Atlanta Falcons!
i think
BVG should mix it up we cant just completely blitz or just play coverage he has to mix it up and B Williams will be missed if he cant play hopefully Owens or Franks can step up
madden reference
The dime formation that rushes 2 dbs seems to work brilliantly…or miserably but I usually get 5 + sacks a game doin it. Haha
by djnekkid8 on Jan 13, 2011 11:09 AM EST via mobile reply actions
One more view...
BvG defensive doctrine is basically to bend but not break. It is a run-stop, no-big-play foundation but that plays soft for the short pass.
In general, it works. The Falcs wouldn’t be here if both MM and BvG were as completely incompetent as some of their detractors claim. But at the same time, both OC and DC could stand to add some latitude to their plans.
On the O side, there is enough talent at QB and in the receiver corp to see the ball down the field further and more often. Run, run, pass, punt is not a scheme. It is an invitation to a heart attack.
On the D side, BvG needs to find a way to create more pass rush, more often to make that soft short pass D a little more workable. If the opp QB is being harassed, the passes coming out will be off target and could lead to more int’s.
Anyway, that’s my take. More passing, longer passes and more pass rush.
"There's nothing wrong with Florida... er, New Orleans that a rise in ocean level wouldn't cure."
Falcons defense
Is a statistical anomoly, almost the same stats in games against the Saints ans Bucaneers as they were against the Panthers and Seahawks. Don’t know enough about the nuances of your player personel,but with an emerging running game and injured/quesstioable players more healthy by the day, I am really looking forward to a great game
RODGERS=MEGATRON Love it!!!!
by Farveuless Pack on Jan 13, 2011 11:18 AM EST reply actions
Poor tackling
After watching the NFL Replay of the game the other night, missed tackles seemed to be the bigger culprit than the soft defense. Now, the latter did play a role, but think back to some of those drives where their WRs picked up 10+ yards after a missed tackle.
Also, look at the plays were Rodgers escaped the pocket to run or find an open receiver (that back-hand flip comes to mind). Negative plays turned into big positives. We just can’t do that this time!
Go agressive
It’s go time now. No sense in holding back. I think it should be the same basic gameplan used against the Saints in the Monday Night game. Rush Rodgers all game , don’t miss tackles, and the Falcons should be fine. A good Turnelling showing will help too.
RISE UP!
I don't like prevent D
I believe the team should attack until they can’t attack anymore – once the game is over. The only exception is if they were winning by an ample amount and there isn’t too much time left. I really do think our D will be beastly again. I’m not worried at all. But you’re right, anything can happen. Let’s all hope that anything is the Falcons surpassing anyone’s prediction and winning by 21 points.
Dallas, here we come!
I could be wrong...
… but I had the sense that the coaches didn’t “go full out.” MR2 does not stand around without his helmet cocked on his head and with his hands hung on his shoulder pads. That is the visual that I remember from the end of the game.
It’s just my chess move intuition that they didn’t want to display the whole playbook in a regular season game because they were confident we would secure home field advantage by winning against Panthers. That being said, we gotta perk up the third quarter doldrums.
Anyone else want a Babineaux Bowl for the NFC Championship?
that's what i'm hoping has been going on
conservative, “don’t show all your cards” playcalling. I’m hoping we unleash hell on the Packers come Saturday night.
by cheshire falcon on Jan 13, 2011 12:12 PM EST up reply actions
Yep, this article nails the issue
If the Falcons play the way they are capable of playing on offense and defense, this is a blowout. And I know using the word “blowout” in the NFL is a dangerous thing to do, but I have no problem using that word here. I absolutely believe that the Falcons playing their game well in all phases are about the best team in the NFL.
The problem is that i’m yet to see the defense and offense simultaneously play a dominant, 4 quarter game. You see flashes of it – the defense against the Saints/Ravens/Packers, the offense against the Cardinals and 3 quarters against the Bengals – but never all at once over an entire game. I certainly hope it all comes together on Saturday night, but it would be unwise to hope in that, so i’m expecting a hard fought, “less than 7 points win” kind of game.
Love this team, have loved this season, but it’s the 1 thing about them that has given me fits all year long. And the analysis of the defense above was a perfect example of it – they dominate the Packers for 57 minutes, and then all of a sudden everything changes (in this case, the scheme we were using), and the Packers roll over us. Offense steps up and saves us.
Play a game where one phase doesn’t have to save another one, and we win this game hands down. Play a game where one phase lets up while the other phase has to do all the work, we either barely win or we lose. It is a risky brand of football these Falcons play.
by cheshire falcon on Jan 13, 2011 12:11 PM EST reply actions
LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL…..THE FALCONS DOMINATED THE PACKERS……PUFF PUFF PASS BUD OR BUDDETT.U ARE AS CLUELESS AS PAUL RICHARDSON…REFUSE TO USE 3 NAMES
by FA get about it on Jan 14, 2011 10:19 AM EST up reply actions
learn to read genius
I didn’t say they dominated the Packers. I said if they played the way they were capable of, they could very well do that. I then went on to say they probably won’t do that, so I absolutely think this will be a close game.
Also, see that caps lock key on your keyboard? Learn to use it.
by cheshire falcon on Jan 14, 2011 1:54 PM EST up reply actions
So no ask the Acme Packing Company huh?
Dave’s gracious enough to do his, but they aren’t doing their’s?
Atlanta will win a championship....someday
I will post later on here abou the delayed blitz scheme we need to run
and how it can work against GB.
At work now, a little busy.
Georgia Native, Indiana Resident, and Falcon Loving S.O.B.
Yeah, thats me.
I remember your post the other day
I liked your thoughts and I hope the team understands the things you wrote. it should work against GB.
One way to make it even more effective would be to ask our interior rush to shine all day. If Babs can push it up the middle then ROgers won’t have any room to scramble and his cardboard pocket will fall apart.
Atlanta Falcons fan in Moscow, Russia
Starks is not the key...
… Driver/Jennings are. Starks ran all over the Eagles, but I think we can contain his running style. With our penetrating DT’s and superb LB corp, he is not going to average 4 yds/att. He also does NOT get thrown to, much. The combination of Rodgers plus THESE receivers is worrisome. To contain Rodgers we have to get pressure from 3 directions, not allowing him to escape for a 1st down run.
Of course, owning the clock will help, as well. Turnelling needs to show up with BOTH heads, if you know what I mean.
not a packer fan nor a falcon fan....
In my opinion… Atlanta should not be a #1 seed. With the help of some lucky bounces and alot of refs help put you in that spot. All of the NFL is talking Bears vs Packers Championship match up. Before you rip me on that, that is the same source you go and get your information from. All the fans across the nation believe that’s what the Champion ship match up is going to be. And if the NFL sees all the talk about Packers Bears heating up and hasn’t happend since 1941, the NFL is going to make sure thats whats going to happen. Call me the conspiracy theorist. The way this season went against Tampa, I have all the reason to believe. Point One. Tampa is boycotting the games because of the ownership involved in Euro Soccer and many bucs fans see 90 mil. under the sallery cap not being used but money being put in Manchester United, thus leaving a sour taste in the Tampa fan base, thus not dumping their season tickets and not selling out, thus leaving the stadium half empty, thus making Roger Godell thinking twice on having them in the playoffs with a half empty stadium. Thats why they were getting letters from the NFL on their goof call with a touchdown against Detroit that should have been, Then comes Atlanta’s game in Tampa which two goof calls cost them the game the kick return for a touchdown which he stepped out of bounce and the pick at the end which he was bobbling and clearly dropped. don’t believe me look at the news papers. Heck even the game annoucers thought prior to that call it was a clear drop and Tampa would get it back! letters of apology, the bucs of a folder full of them. That comes to my point of saying be worried falcon fans because the NFC championship game is already been set and its in Chicago. its to big of a game for the NFL not to have. If you were a fan of the NFL not a team, who would you want Bears vs Falcons.. or Packers vs Bears for the right to go to the superbowl.
And neither of the plays you mentioned against Tampa were bad calls.
In fact, if I recall correctly, they rescinded a Grimes pick because of “bobbling” and they gave one of the Tampa players a pick on a play that looked exactly the same.
by VenomySnicket on Jan 13, 2011 1:30 PM EST up reply actions
haha, exactly
Did he actually say “the announcers even said it”?? That’s not even true. The announcers both stated there wasn’t enough evidence to overturn it.
by cheshire falcon on Jan 13, 2011 4:17 PM EST up reply actions
Packers and Bears wont happen cuz...
it just happened 2 weeks ago!! And of course because the packers won’t win Saturday!
Georgia Native, Indiana Resident, and Falcon Loving S.O.B.
Yeah, thats me.
by ATLsince1972 on Jan 13, 2011 1:42 PM EST up reply actions
Hey, your opinion
You’re welcome to it.
Sign up for a free account today to join the discussion about all things Atlanta Falcons!
I agree with you Dave
Sounds like to me that redtribe can’t stand losing the last five in a row to us, and the Cubs haven’t won diddly squat since 1908. He is welcome to his opinion, but don’t be bitter at us please.
Ridiculous post.
I can’t take anyone seriously who cannot spell. What does “out of bounce” mean? What is a “sallery” cap. When you can’t spell, it means that you don’t have the ability to make coherent thoughts (and yes, I spelled “coherently” correctly). My point is validated by reading your post.
Weems was NOT out of “bounce” nor was he out of “bounds”.
Hmm...
The Falcons, decimated by the idiocy of Coach Petrino and decimated by Michael Doofus Vick, are on the cusp of going to the NFCCG with a young team and Mike Greenberg’s new mancrush (Matt Ryan) just three years after being in the toilet.
The Packers have been good for years. Nothing new there.
The Bears have also been good for years. Good defense, doofus QB. Nothing new there.
The Seahawks, still at sub-.500, have a chance to make it to the NFCCG because a deity took over Marshawn Lynch’s body for about 20 seconds last week and Matt Hasselbeck (now affectionately known as Ice Hass, pronounced like Icehouse but with a northern accent) played the game of his life.
You want ratings? Do Falcons vs. Seahawks for a ticket to the Super Bowl. Everyone is counting the Seahawks out, and Atlanta has a chance to make history by going to the Super Bowl for only the second time in franchise history.
If the Hawks beat the Bears and the Falcons beat the Packers, there’ll be a good bit of hype. Both teams supposedly have no business being where they are (in many people’s opinions) but there they are with a chance for Super Bowl glory.
Who cares if we deserve to be there or not. We’re there and we have 13 wins. Too bad.
And for your viewing pleasure, five reasons why the Falcons are a legit #1 seed.
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by Caleb Rutherford on Jan 13, 2011 3:01 PM EST up reply actions
Like that link Caleb,
All Falcoholics should read it. The dude who wrote that piece is right on. I forgot how the physical the Falcons are…
NO DOUBT U ARE A VERY VERY PHYICAL TEAM…..MORE THEN PITTS……GOOD LUCK….U WILL NEED IT
by FA get about it on Jan 14, 2011 10:24 AM EST up reply actions
Did you mean "physical"?
Can’t spell, can’t turn off the caps. We’re dealing with an intellectual giant here.
by cheshire falcon on Jan 14, 2011 1:56 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
This is quite possibly the most clueless, factless post i've ever seen on this site
And given the number of Saints fans we’ve had on this board, that’s quite an accomplishment.
The number of things this guy ignores and selectively erases from his memory en route to making such ridiculous points makes it too hilarious to even respond to. When you start saying “the NFL has pre-determined it”, you’ve automatically lost all intellectual credibility before you even continue talking.
by cheshire falcon on Jan 13, 2011 4:15 PM EST up reply actions
Delayed Blitz: and why we need to utilize it.
What I mean when I am talking about this is rushing 4 linemen and then delay blitzing a LB and /or safety or 2 LB’s(my top choice)- usually CB’s either have to run with a receiver or blitz immediately so they usually don’t have the luxury of delaying anything! lol
Ok here’s why we can do it and it can help versus GB
1. By utilizing this scheme we can still defend- not pass defend, but tackle it for minimal gain defend the slant routes because those are usually very quick throws so they are made before the delay blitz occurs therefore your still in your base defense formation so the LB’s can still defend and/or tackle the WR’s on quick slants.
2. We can Still defend the run because like I said still in base formation and delay blitzing can fill running lanes – SOmetimes you can get beat on draw plays, but GB doesn’t run too many of these, if ever.
3.Still can Defend the screen game- which GB runs some of – LB’s and D line SEE IT, KILL IT!!
4. Allows time for their o-line to match up blocking our d-line which then creates blitzing lanes that the 2 LB’s can run thru to get to rodgers.
5. Can prevent Rodgers from using QB keepers to hurt us by having LB’s delay blitzing makes them almost like QB spies – how can he get away from them when they have a clear path to him or can see where he’s going and chase him down quicker?
6. By doing this, having your blitzing players WAIT for 2 seconds, allows for things to develop in front of them and then attack it so we still are getting the pressure on Rodgers AND not giving away who the blitzers are before the snap so rodgers and o-line can adjust to it.
That is some reasons why I think it can be an effective weapon on defense against Rodgers. NO I am not saying to do it all game long, mix it in and do it on about 15 snaps during the game. GB does this sometimes, watch for it on Sat. , However, the Falcons are good at picking it up still. One of the few teams in the league that can. WHY? Because they’ve played together all 16 games THIS year plus the other 2 years together, our o-line can pass of blocks like nobody’s business. Our o-line is very very good guys, watch them Sat nite, you’ll see.
So what do you think, use this tactic or not?
Georgia Native, Indiana Resident, and Falcon Loving S.O.B.
Yeah, thats me.
I haven't seen our DEF use a delayed blitz effectively
I know that they’ve tried it some, but the player never seems to get there. I think it could be very valuable if Rodgers is running as much on Sat as he did in the last meeting. Other than that, I think if you’re going to blitz you’ve got to get to him as fast as you possibly can.
three keys
1. Having consistent push up the middle. Need a huge day from Babs.
2. That delay has to be reasonable. wait out too long and Rogers will hit someone downfield.
3. Once you get around Rogers, don’t try to go after the ball, simply tackle him.
Atlanta Falcons fan in Moscow, Russia
Very true, our guys seem to run into the wrong lanes, into each other, spinning in circles, etc.
But there’s always a first time! Dropping 8 and rushing 3 just doesn’t work w/a good QB standing back there for an hour. Our secondary is improving but we’re a long way from piling up coverage sacks. I like ATL’s take and hopefully BVG has come up w/a few wrinkles that will have us spinning in circles of our own, patting the tops of our heads yelling whooooopwhooopwhoop!! You know, cuz we’re happy.
Agreed GRU
must have a push up the middle or else they’ll be able to run the ball on us too. And yeah, the delay is slight but enough to be effective, and they should mix the delay time as well. I know you guys have seen when a LB blitzes like 4 seconds after the snap? Throw in a couple of those in those 15 snaps. AND god yes, just wrap him up!!
I know what your saying Ace, the delayed blitz should be practiced to be effective, I’m hoping they’ve put in some and practiced it this last week, knowing CMS they did! We are improving in the coverage sack area, but with rodgers you rarely get those because of his ability to take off and make something out of nothing. BUt we MUST pressure him I believe after watching the first game again. Rodgers threw quite a few incompletions when we blitzed 6 or more.
I really feel like we can win this game. GB’s offensive line is not that good guys. Philly had NO pass rush, not like we have, they were missing a lot of key defensive players up front too. I know we can take advantage of their o-line all day long. As long as we adjust slightly with a few delayed blitzes we can maybe keep rodgers in that pocket longer and limit his running yards therefore getting them off the field on 3rd downs. Then we can run the ball down their throat and eat clock. I think we score TD’s and they score FG’s, mostly, and the final score ends up being 31-20. Remember, it’s the mistake free, solid teams that win in the playoffs. Not the flashy, we can score quick when we play scrubs, but we can’t do it when we play in the playoffs against real teams!! Thats too bad for them.
Georgia Native, Indiana Resident, and Falcon Loving S.O.B.
Yeah, thats me.
by ATLsince1972 on Jan 13, 2011 6:09 PM EST up reply actions
I like it.
When they whine and cry and say how bad we are.How we don’t deserve it. I like it! It just brings out the compassion in me and I just want to give em a big hug and pat em on the back and hand them tissue as we win.Its fun.Especially the announcers.Boy what a hoot to see their faces and hear that little catch in their speech as their favorite team goes down the drain.
Only one left to slober on
You’ll have to excuse all the haters and naysayers in the press boxes. They’ve had a steady diet of slobbering all over Micheal Vick, Drew Brees and the big boner himself, Aaron Rodgers that they’re scared to have nothing to slobber on after Saturday.
I’m surprised they don’t cry about how empty their mouths feel.
by Paul Brian Richardson on Jan 13, 2011 2:05 PM EST reply actions
WOW!!
KAAAA-BLAMO!!
Georgia Native, Indiana Resident, and Falcon Loving S.O.B.
Yeah, thats me.
by ATLsince1972 on Jan 13, 2011 2:06 PM EST up reply actions
I see your "WOW" and raise you a "Damn Straight!"
These playoffs have not gone the media’s way for QB-love. Payton – out. Breesus – Out. Vick – Out. They still have Tom Terrific and Sanchez – one of them is guaranteed to get to the AFC game. Flacco is like Ryan – no real love there. Big Ben is still tarnished by his off-field shenanigans. It is like the Media NEEDS Rodgers vs. Brady.
Whatever – here’s hoping for a Flacco/Ryan re-match!
6 Bird Bowls in one year.
Cards, Seahawks, Ravens, Eagles.
Potentially Bird Bowl 5 w/ the Hawks and then Bird Bowl 6 with the Ravens if we meet in the SB.
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by Caleb Rutherford on Jan 13, 2011 3:02 PM EST up reply actions
And even that's a sour note
Because the media has spent the last three seasons wondering when Rodgers is going to live up to Favre, which he’s already done and then some.
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by Dave Choate on Jan 13, 2011 3:39 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Perhaps in terms of ability, but there are few who could make the plays Favre made.
He was a fire-and-brimstone, all-or-nothing QB and personally one of my favorites to watch because he was a gunslinger in every sense of the term.
They’re different. Following in Favre’s footsteps is no easy task, but Rodgers has performed well enough minus all the media hype about him.
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by Caleb Rutherford on Jan 13, 2011 3:44 PM EST up reply actions
I love the video footage of the kid that pulled away his football when Rodgers tried to sign it!
If memory serves he said something like “No! We hate you!” Wonder how he feels about both of them now now???
VICK IS A D.I.C.K PERIOD…OVERRATED AS HELL……THAT BONER WILL GET SHOVED RITE UP YOUR A— ON SAT NITE ,CANT WAIT PAUL BRAIN RICHARDSON THE 3RD…..ANY RELATION TO THURSTON HOWELL THE 3RD…LAWYER PAUL ????? ILL BET OR JUST A SPOILED RICK KIDDIE
by FA get about it on Jan 14, 2011 10:29 AM EST up reply actions
WHAT ARE WE ALL YELLING ABOUT???
"The Dos Equis guys want me to be the least interesting man in the world" - Drama
by BravesDawg16 on Jan 14, 2011 3:50 PM EST up reply actions
Stop. Typing. In. All. Caps.
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Stay with what brought you to the dance
The Falcons need to stay with what brought them to the dance. The only thing that I have seen this year that causes me concern is our defense does not tackle but rather attempt to knock down the opposing player.The defense needs to tackle and have as many hats on that player as possible be HEADHUNTERS.
by oldschoolfalcon on Jan 13, 2011 3:58 PM EST reply actions
Wow!
I think that “redtribe” is meant to be some remote reference to Florida State. Maybe? As I heard one Falcon blogger state “Light is faster than sound. That is why some people are considered bright until you hear the me speak.” Or something to that effect. LOL! An apropo statement for redtribe. In any event, I get the feeling that all of this banter from the Pack Fans is lots of nervousness. They are nervous as hell about this game. No Lambeau leaps in the Georgai Dome! The crowd noise is going to be off the charts! I was on the Bird Cage blog and one of them even mentioned “Releasing the Kraken” or some foolishness of that sort. The Falcons win this game hands down!!! The packers’ fate rest on the shoulders of rodgers. If he doesn’t perform at a very high level, we send the packers packing for a long hibernation UNDER the frozen tundra. LOL!
Talking Heads
Just heard another talking head on the NFL network picking the Pack because of their “deep Receiving Core and Superior Defense.” Isn’t this essentially the same Packer team we beat 20-17 with 7 of those points coming in the last 2 minutes???? Just want to make sure this isn’t a parallel universe. You would think that THEY had beaten us by 30 points in the last game. You’d think that the Seatttle/Saints game would have taught them to give a little pause before making the “sexy” pick. They can come up with all of the “convenient” excuses they’d like, but when the game clock with to “0.00”, the Falcons had 20 and GB only had 17. At that point everything else became totally irrelevant.
i honestly think...
That a lot of these guys are constantly looking for the upset so they can come on the air after it happens, say “I told everyone so!!!”, and then look like they are REALLY good at their job to validate the fact that they have it.
So when you’ve got a #6 seed and a #1 seed who are as closely matched as the Falcons, of course they’re going to pick the #6 seed. What do they have to gain by picking the #1 seed? If they win, that doesn’t make you look any smarter. I mean if you’re in a position where it benefits you to constantly be trying to find the upset, this is a good game to pick it.
Are there plenty of reasons to pick the Falcons? Yeah, absolutely. But again, what’s the benefit to an idiot like Dilfer if he picks the Falcons and they win? Nothing. He’s got nothing to lose and everything to gain if he picks the Packers.
by cheshire falcon on Jan 13, 2011 7:48 PM EST up reply actions
Uh oh, core versus corps versus corpse
just for reference;
Apples have cores. A corps is an organization, like the Peace Corps. A corpse is a dead body, a carcass.
I love how it’s like Atlanta has no receivers other than White. Sheesh! I hope Douglas, Jennings and Weems light them up.
by Paul Brian Richardson on Jan 13, 2011 5:12 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Sounds like
Talking head crap to me. Most of them are crap, anyway. We’ll light them (GB) up on Saturday.
Lets not talk about the "talking heads"
I might have to TRANSFORM on everybody up in here!!
Georgia Native, Indiana Resident, and Falcon Loving S.O.B.
Yeah, thats me.
I think BVG gets it right...
At the beginning of most halves…1st quarter and 3rd quarter, he has the defense out, revved up, ready to hit anything that moves…but then he gets complacent with his “Prevent mode”…Gotta hate that.
hey falcon fans look...
Do I think your a good team yes, I don’t think other wise..all I’m saying is, Im a bucs fan seeing my team get screwed out of the playoffs on calls that would make you wonder. I wish you all the luck in the playoffs, Living here in Chicago and being a Bucs fan since the 80’s didn’t go well with me and the bears fans around. Although this year they didn’t make playoffs, I can’t wait ti’ll next year if next year happens with this lock out shit! Freeman looks like the real deal, a franchise QB this team has not seen since Doug Williams. Anyway, I really would love for you guys to beat the Packers because Rogers is a punk B****. I hate when he runs in a touchdown then makes a wwe wrestling move like he has a belt around his waist. I really want to think you guys will win, But again I just see it otherwise, Packers vs Bears equals more ratings and $$$$ for the NFL and Goodell sorry ass! either way good luck!
You know
I’m pretty sure we didn’t land on the moon, that was staged. And OJ really didn’t do it!! Gosh, how i didn’t see this before, I will never know…
"The Dos Equis guys want me to be the least interesting man in the world" - Drama
by BravesDawg16 on Jan 14, 2011 1:18 AM EST up reply actions
you forgot 911 was an inside job
ha!
Georgia Native, Indiana Resident, and Falcon Loving S.O.B.
Yeah, thats me.
by ATLsince1972 on Jan 14, 2011 6:55 AM EST up reply actions
You team got "screwed" out of the playoffs
because they couldn’t finish their games. Be an adult about the thing. TB is building a good program, be happy about that.
redtribe,
Thanks for the comment. Yeah, I have to agree with that last assessment about the NFL, reminds of that jerk off David Stern in the NBA when the Lakers and Celtics get in. Hopefully, tomorrow you’ll see Rodgers get what’s coming to him, like in the Lions game…
Dave, Another Troll
Is Fa Get About It. Not liking his tone. Coming in here and not giving any respect to us or anyone else. May want to ban him, and suggesting that no one respond to him.
can we keep him here, but give him a typing course?
by cheshire falcon on Jan 14, 2011 1:57 PM EST up reply actions
at least his ALL CAPS style makes it easy
to recognize his posts and quickly gloss over.
Anyone else in the NFC have 13 wins? No? I didn’t think so.
The Pack lost to Washington, Miami, and Detroit. Just Sayin. We lost to Pittsburgh in Pitt (OT); Eagles in Philly (our Kryptonite); and to the Saints, our bitterest rival.
BUT ALL CAPS IS FUN! ITS LIKE YELLING AND I LIKE YELLING A LOT!!!!
"The Dos Equis guys want me to be the least interesting man in the world" - Drama
by BravesDawg16 on Jan 14, 2011 3:51 PM EST up reply actions
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