Four Critical Matchups In The Falcons-Buccaneers Game

by Dave Choate on Sep 24, 2011 1:00 PM EDT in Falcons News

The first NFC South matchup of the year is a big one, at least symbolically. The Falcons can whip the Buccaneers and have their first winning record of the 2011 season and temporarily submarine a fierce rival. That’s heady stuff for the third game of the season.

Given that and the fact that the Bucs like to be pesky and hang around until the end of the game, circling the Falcons’ collective helmets like a hideous creamsicle fly that buzzes with the sound of cannon fire, this ought to be a good one.

There’s no shortage of matchups to profile, but as usual I’m going to limit myself to the four I think will matter most come gametime.

If you’ll hit the jump with me, I’ll run them all down for your reading pleasure. Enjoy!

Matt Ryan vs. Buccaneers Defense

Getting Todd McClure back should give Matt Ryan a fraction of a second longer in the pocket, at least on a handful of plays. That can only help him as he attempts to connect with his options in the passing game, which are varied. To say the least.

With a little more time, the Falcons should be able to get their passing game going. That's good news for guys like Harry Douglas and Julio Jones, who have yet to break out early in this season. The Falcons should be able to target the Bucs' secondary, which really isn't anything spectacular outside of Aqib Talib. Even he's no Nnamdi Asomugha.

Look for Ryan to have a great game, assuming the protection does materialize.

LaGarette Blount vs. Falcons Run Defense

Blount is a tank, as I noted earlier this week. A guy that big shouldn't be able to jump and make cuts like Blount does, but he can and the Falcons have to deal with it.

The run defense has been pretty stout since last year, and the front seven should be able to hold him check for most of the game. I worry about the one or two Turneresque runs where Blount gets some space and goes all Tecmo Super Bowl on defenders. It'll be another good test of the team's tackling, which I've found to be lacking thus far in 2011.

Josh Freeman vs. Falcons Secondary

This one is always interesting, given Freeman's general excellence and past struggles against the Falcons. I'm sure everyone remembers Brent Grimes snatching a pair of Freeman passe from the air last season. It's a very fond memory for me, anyways.

While Freeman has been as accurate as ever, he's struggled a bit with turnovers and finding his deep touch over the first couple of weeks of the season. If the team can't get Blount going on the ground, they're going to turn to the 23-year-old signal caller to get the offense moving. It would certainly help if the Falcons could make him turn the ball over a couple times in this one.

Matt Bosher vs. The World

I'm going to keep putting this here until Bosher shows up and starts booming some punts. I like the guy's upside, but at some point he's going to have to show something better than 35 yards a punt to set us all at ease.

Maybe this is the game he does it, eh?

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Bret seems to have Freeman's number

I love this article from Bucs Nation

by GA-James on Sep 24, 2011 1:17 PM EDT reply actions

Ugh, I never can link things right

http://www.bucsnation.com/2011/6/26/2244314/josh-freemans-personal-menace-brent-grimes

by GA-James on Sep 24, 2011 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Ryan vs Tampa 2

Ryan has always had his struggles against the Tampa 2. That said, I think this particular D will be easier to gash than Chicago, which has a very strong front 7. The Bucs don’t have the quality of linebackers that Chicago does, and as such, I would expect the Falcons to exploit that.

I imagine we’ll see a few more slant plays from HD to make the safeties honor the first 10 yards. I imagine Turner/Snelling will also be important in the passing game. If we can make some quick hits behind the linebackers and in front of the safeties, we can open up the deep game, so long as Ryan gets protection.

This is a very winnable game, but it comes down to execution, which the Falcons haven’t exactly been fantastic at recently.

by The DW on Sep 24, 2011 1:18 PM EDT reply actions

My Key Matchup

Is MM vs MM

Last year we barely won down there. If Talib had played the whole game, I think we would have lost. They are stronger on the DLine this year, we are weaker on the OLine. If MM doesn’t come up with a way to get our big acquisition, Jones, more involved in the game plan, we could be in trouble.

by Whopper Dawg on Sep 24, 2011 9:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Now who could

call it better than that.

by Whopper Dawg on Sep 26, 2011 12:32 AM EDT up reply actions

Great to see McClure back

I think he will help control McCoy, perhaps the Bucs best talent on a very young defensive line. Hopefully the experience edge the rest of our line possesses can help to control the rookie DEs, Bowers and Clayborn.

We’ve always been good against the run, and I think we’ll control Blount, for the most part. I’m a lot more concerned about our secondary and the soft zone coverage we seem to be running every third-and-long. Doesn’t matter if you stop Blount if they connect with ten yard passes on third at will.

Funny that Bosher keeps coming up like a bad penny. By now it’s no secret that I wasn’t a fan of that draft pick, but I promised I wouldn’t say anything bad about him this week and so I won’t. He does tackle well on special teams.

by randomaxe on Sep 24, 2011 1:22 PM EDT reply actions

lol at bosher tackling well……………i guess he has to earn his money some kind of way………..kicking damn sure isnt it

by dionysus1925 on Sep 24, 2011 1:57 PM EDT reply actions

John Abraham vs. Bucs T Donald Penn

Abe’s been held off of the sack board against him for two years. Eric Weems vs Tampa special teams. He’s got to get back to form.

A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones that need the advice.

by FrozenFinger on Sep 24, 2011 2:03 PM EDT reply actions

If this game doesn't motivate Bosher to improve, nothing will

After all, his predecessor will be standing on the opposite sideline. The last thing he’ll want to see is Koenen booming 60 yard punts and out-of-the-endzone touchbacks while he’s shanking 18-yarders. Undoubtedly, he’ll hear the whispers wishing the team still had MK. So, I think the kid will step it up. It doesn’t hurt that he’s back in Florida which should have a familiar feel to him (I suppose).

by atlien698 on Sep 24, 2011 2:27 PM EDT reply actions

To be honest fear of losing his

job should be more than enough motivation for Bosher. Koenen was a good kicker for us but if we’re not going to pay Chauncey Davis $3.5 then you sure as hell aren’t going to pay your punter – kickoff guy that. But he and Weems have made some errors that have killed field position for the team.

A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones that need the advice.

by FrozenFinger on Sep 24, 2011 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions

If he doesn't show serious improvement in this game

they have to replace Bosher. At the very least, start bringing in kickers to try out. Upside is great but if it never manifests its worthless. You made the move to bring in DB help. Don’t skimp on the ST.

by drmondo667 on Sep 24, 2011 2:40 PM EDT reply actions

Koenen is pumped up for this game, btw.

I can see us having terrible ST returns.

by ChickenLay on Sep 24, 2011 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Keonen is the only guy we brought again

why didnt you resign him? That was a big mistake. At his current pace he might end up in the pro bowl, he has been that good.
We were initially upset that we signed him for like 20 plus million dollars. So far he has been wirth every penny.

East Coast Fan

by Bucfan on Sep 24, 2011 3:03 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Very few teams are going to pay

that kind of money to a special teams player. Worth every penny? It’s been two games what’s he doing, gettin’ you guys laid?

A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones that need the advice.

by FrozenFinger on Sep 24, 2011 3:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Nope

Out of 11 punts he has 9 touchbacks and he kicks off for us as well. No one ever gets a chance to return kicks against us..
Thats worth it in my book.
Just sayin!!!!!

East Coast Fan

by Bucfan on Sep 24, 2011 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Well good then. He wasn't disliked in Atlanta

and though he’s kicking well in Tampa doesn’t make it a “mistake” to find another kicker.

A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones that need the advice.

by FrozenFinger on Sep 24, 2011 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Compare that around the league to other punters,

and then look at their contracts…

by FlyYouFalcons on Sep 24, 2011 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Touchbacks on punts isn't always a good measure of punting success.

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by Caleb Rutherford on Sep 24, 2011 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions

I think we could even say

it’s NEVER a good measure of success.

That’s one of the dumbest comments I’ve ever seen, actually.

by KMarch on Sep 24, 2011 6:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Then your s fool guy.

Touchbacks are huge in the game of football. Because we didnt get a TB in our game in tampa last year you ran one back and we lost. Your comment is the dumbest I have heard. Maybe you should stick to something you know, like tiddly winks you bozo….
You are going to get smoked tomorrow too bozo…..

East Coast Fan

by Bucfan on Sep 24, 2011 8:56 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

While I see your point...

touchbacks are important. But, as bad as Bosher has been, we have covered very well on punts…only 20 return yards on 12 punts so far. Philly helped us a little with that stat by making a couple of boneheaded plays the biggest of which was a -10 yard return on one punt.

One man does not make your special teams and no kicker is worth that kind of money, that’s why we didn’t resign him. I like that money where we spent it…Ray Edwards!! (and a few other signings as well)

April 1974 - Tug McGraw, when asked if he preferred grass or AstroTurf: "I don't know. I never smoked AstroTurf."

by Blood_Talon on Sep 24, 2011 9:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Touchbacks on punts?

Bucfan, The reason why we didn’t resign Koenan is because his net average was in the bottom 5. The reseaon being, he was getting touchbacks on punts when he should have been pinning them inside the 5 yard line. Koenan did have a strong leg but that doesn’t help any if he couldn’t angle a punt and leave the opposing offenses inside the 20.

Did you mean touchbacks on kickoffs? That would make sense then but touchbacks on punts is the next worst thing a punter can do beside shank the ball if he is trying to pin the ball inside the 20. I mean think about it, do you want the other team to start on the 20 or the 5?

by cajunfury on Sep 24, 2011 11:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Your right, I meant kickoffs, not punts. Thank you

He has, so far (knock on wood) been very good on pinning the opposing team deep on his punts.

East Coast Fan

by Bucfan on Sep 25, 2011 12:03 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

For Price of Keonen

Falcons signed Matt Bosher,James Sanders,Mike Peterson and Kelvin Hayden. Matt Bosher is a rookie,so may be coaching staff are hoping he picks up from here. If he doesn’t they can get a Punter from some where. I think signing 3 veteran backups/starters instead of a punter is a great move.

It's all about Process...

by Vishnu_falcon on Sep 24, 2011 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm not say that I disagree

The glazers run our team has all of us upset. Would prefer new owners, hell maybe eddie bartolo….. Who knows..
My team is cheap and has over paid its own players as well.
A lot of upset fans down here. You guys ate lucky to have a good owner who cares about the fans, we cant say that.

East Coast Fan

by Bucfan on Sep 24, 2011 5:09 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I really miss Koenen. I miss not having to worry about it.

by LuvGems on Sep 24, 2011 11:13 PM EDT up reply actions

If you’ll hit the jump with me,

what does ‘hit the jump’ mean?

by iamvlad on Sep 24, 2011 7:03 PM EDT reply actions

When you write a column...

you have a block to put in your initial thoughts and points of the article. This is what you see on the main “Home” page. Then you will type in the rest of your article in the second block which is hidden from view until you hit the “Continue reading the article” link (or “the Jump”) which give the remainder of the story and allows you to post comments and responses.

Hope that clears it up for you… :)

April 1974 - Tug McGraw, when asked if he preferred grass or AstroTurf: "I don't know. I never smoked AstroTurf."

by Blood_Talon on Sep 24, 2011 9:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Sorry, didn't continue reading to see someone had answered this already...

April 1974 - Tug McGraw, when asked if he preferred grass or AstroTurf: "I don't know. I never smoked AstroTurf."

by Blood_Talon on Sep 24, 2011 9:40 PM EDT up reply actions

IT MEANS

Click on “Continue reading this post”.

by old cuss on Sep 24, 2011 7:21 PM EDT reply actions

thanks

i didn’t have to click on anything however.

by iamvlad on Sep 24, 2011 7:22 PM EDT reply actions

Bosher and Weems vs. Tampa ST

We all know Bosher has been bad so I won’t beat a dead horse. But Weems has been awful on punts/returns. I’ve counted at least 3 times where he has let the ball roll to the 1yd line giving us horrible field position. Kick return 101 is to let the ball go over your head only if you are inside the 10 and the ball is still in the air. If the ball is descending at the 20, you gotta fair catch it. I love Weems to death but his decisions are killing us with field position.

by leonw92 on Sep 24, 2011 7:44 PM EDT reply actions

Rise Up!

by Dirtybirdz90 on Sep 24, 2011 7:59 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Rise Up

by Dirtybirdz90 on Sep 24, 2011 8:00 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Michael Turner

The Bucs like to play the pass…run it at them time and again.

http://cdn0.sbnation.com/imported_assets/811102/JULIOJONES.gif

Click here to see why the Falcons drafted Julio Jones.

by ndnpride8806 on Sep 24, 2011 9:33 PM EDT reply actions

Weems

I would rather have resigned Jerious Norwood then Eric Weems to return punts and kickoffs. I, for one, don’t like Weems much. At times, I even wonder what he is doing on our team. His return averages aren’t anything spectacular, he return ONE kickoff for touchdown last year (his 1st ever?) and he is non existent in the passing game. The only reason why he decided to resign with us was because he swore he was going to get better offers from other teams and when that didn’t happen he came crawling back. He found out what he’s really worth the hard way.

And if some of you were curious and didn’t know, Jerious is still healthy while returning kickoffs, not sure about punts, and has been running the ball due to Jackson’s quad injury. Jerious would have been far more productive then Weems. Bad move not resigning Jeri.

by cajunfury on Sep 24, 2011 11:44 PM EDT reply actions

Your kidding with this right??

He had the 3nd best return average on kickoffs (1100 yards on 40 attempts) and the 7th best return average on punt returns (230 yards on 18 attempts) and he MADE the Pro Bowl!!

Only 13 players had kickoff returns for TD’s (Weems had 1), only 5 had more than one and no one had more than 3 (and only one made 3).

Only 6 players had punt returns for TD’s (Weems had 1) and only one player had more than 1 (D. Hester had 3).

The stats are here.

He was not on the field much as a receiver BECAUSE of his value on special teams. Also, Weems was a restricted free agent which meant any new team would have had to compensate ATL with a draft pick for signing him. Side note: NO restricted free agent was signed to a new team in 2011, if they signed they signed with their old team. So he never really tested free agency to begin with as there was NO interest in restricted free agents!!

Just me, but I would do a little research before making such statements about a players performance.

April 1974 - Tug McGraw, when asked if he preferred grass or AstroTurf: "I don't know. I never smoked AstroTurf."

by Blood_Talon on Sep 25, 2011 12:31 AM EDT up reply actions

I agree with what Blood Talon said

and you also have to remember he returned a kick for a touchdown against Green Bay in the divisional round. He’s a gamer, and an excellent returner AND gunner, which is why he made the Pro Bowl as a special teamer. He’s had a few poor decisions early on, but it’s only two games folks. To pass judgment on guys who played so well for us last year only two games into the season is just silly.

by orion12 on Sep 25, 2011 9:58 AM EDT up reply actions