Direction of the Franchise

by maxxj3 on Dec 28, 2011 1:29 PM EST

Don't let the title deter you as "oh another pessimistic rant," but it is a general observation with years of falcons watching experience.

After the this past Monday's game, I wondered if the falcons management were left behind in the evolution of NFL offenses and defenses. As we all know passing teams will thrive in the NFL for years to come with the new rules, but as constructed the falcons are still more of a running team with good WRs and a defense built to keep everything in front of them rather than force a lot of turnovers or sacks.

From 2008 to 2010 we drafted defense mainly and addressed offense sparingly. Then you know what happened in 2011...almost as if the panic button was pressed to address the lack of scoring, but really and truly the schematics of our offense seem a bit old fashioned with the defense not too far behind. The direction of the franchise appears to have swung with the flow of the prolific pass happy offenses of today in more of a transition.

Since Michael Turner is still getting the lions share of carries, we are still a team that goes as far as MT (and the line) takes us. That's why personally I thought moving away from the run game so early was a mistake in the Saints game.....unless they (the falcons) are conceding the fact that the line cannot run block well anymore. I digress, I've often heard that stability on the offensive line is crucial to offensive success (and we all know about the line's stability this year). Also, the best blocking fullback in football is on IR, who could be considered as much a part of the line as the RG and LT.

What do you all think? Are we trying to play catch up with the elite of the league?

This FanPost was written by one of The Falcoholic's talented readers. It does not necessarily reflect the views of The Falcoholic.

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Yes and Yes

Good article. I feel we are behind from the other teams in the league. I don’t think we should abandon the run game all together but we should balance it since I don’t think Matt can compare to Brees, Rodgers, and other QBs in the league. I think the Texans offense is ideal for us since they have similar pieces to us and they can win all kind of games. High scoring or low scoring.

by pierre02 on Dec 28, 2011 3:42 PM EST reply actions

Houston has the 2nd highest Run/Pass ratio in the league (behind Denver)

And it’s not like they just quit passing since Schaub got hurt… they’re only averaging 2-3 fewer pass attempts per game with TJ Yates.

Ryan has statistically had as good (or better) of a season than anybody not named Rodgers, Brees, Brady or Romo. With help from Julio, his Yards per Completion is way up this year (11.9 Y/C, 16th) from last season (10.4 Y/C, 28th). The #1 area he needs to improve is to pump that Completion Percentage up to 65%+ instead of the 60-62% range.

Back to the point, if anything I’d say we should be running less… any way you look at it, we have one of the least efficient running games in the whole league:

Standard Yards per Carry – 29th
Rushing DVOA – 28th
EPA/ WPA/ Success Rate – generally 20th or worse

"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein

by orang3b on Dec 29, 2011 4:21 PM EST up reply actions

The "least efficient running game" I think...

points more towards MM very predictable offense than lack of talent by the players. This predictability has waned of late but not enough to matter.

"I'd run over my own mother to win the Super Bowl." - Joe Jacoby, formerly of the Redskins
"To win, I'd run over Joe's mom too." - Matt Millen, formerly of the Raiders

"We now have exactly the same situation as we had at the start of the race, only exactly the opposite" - Murray Walker, Sportscaster

by Blood_Talon on Dec 31, 2011 2:19 AM EST up reply actions

Again...This is incorrect...

the Falcons use the run to support a “Pass First Offense”…this isn’t 2008 any longer…just saying!!

"I'd run over my own mother to win the Super Bowl." - Joe Jacoby, formerly of the Redskins
"To win, I'd run over Joe's mom too." - Matt Millen, formerly of the Raiders

"We now have exactly the same situation as we had at the start of the race, only exactly the opposite" - Murray Walker, Sportscaster

by Blood_Talon on Dec 29, 2011 1:04 AM EST reply actions

as constructed

we are a run first team still because of personell and pace

Atlanta will win a championship....someday

by maxxj3 on Dec 29, 2011 3:55 PM EST up reply actions

there are only 2 teams with more Run plays than Pass plays

(Denver and Houston)

We are slightly above league average towards pass. Slightly… we rank 18th most heavy “run” team.

"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein

by orang3b on Dec 29, 2011 4:24 PM EST up reply actions

It's like the Saints caller said on the radio

The Falcons have an identity crisis.
They are shifting philosophy and they don’t know what they want to be.
A running team or a passing team.
The Saints knew what they wanted to be from day one.

Secondly
The Mike Mularkey, BVG combo is actually in theory incompatiable.
A zone defense is best played for a team that plays with a lead and can score with AUTHORITAY. (which is kinda what the Falcons did in 2008, but it was an element of surprise)
But Mike Mularkey is a run first offense, like the 49ers.
The Falcons are not built to score fast, but like they did in 2010.

If the Falcons don’t fire both coordinators…at least fire one of them, and rehire someone that compliments the other.

by brotherbrown on Dec 29, 2011 3:54 AM EST reply actions 1 recs