Atlanta's Defense

[YOUGOTMOSSED]

Ill give them denver. But the seahawks were a disaster on defense after the earl thomas injury.

And the packers were a decimated team being held together by tape. I don't consider that win too impressive. A horrible defense, no healthy wrs, no running back, and an ol dropping like flies. They nearly blew a huge lead the week before if it wasnt for some rogers heroics. So they really needed to play perfect to win at all. The missed fg and fumble at the one yard line sealed it

The NFC really hasn't looked good in general and the Falcons have loses against the Chargers and TB.

The recent (12/4) loss against KC at home suggests that they really may not be all that. Good team? Sure. Great team? Not seeing it.

I'm really getting a last year's Panthers kind of vibe from them. Maybe even a 2014 Colts vibe.

 

[moejr]

The NFC really hasn't looked good in general and the Falcons have loses against the Chargers and TB.

The recent (12/4) loss against KC at home suggests that they really may not be all that. Good team? Sure. Great team? Not seeing it.

I'm really getting a last year's Panthers kind of vibe from them. Maybe even a 2014 Colts vibe.

Their loss to the Eagles is the one I am curious about. They only scored 15 points

 

[mgcolby]

Atlanta is a horrendous tackling team by all measurable's worst in the league. They are 32nd in the league in YAC allowed. Take a guess who number 1 is?

It is the biggest thing that stands out when watching them, horrible tackling team. DB's are not consistent gang tacklers. Fast? Yes, but what good is speed if you can't tackle once you get there?

 

[luuked]

Atlanta is a horrendous tackling team by all measurable's worst in the league. They are 32nd in the league in YAC allowed. Take a guess who number 1 is?

It is the biggest thing that stands out when watching them, horrible tackling team. DB's are not consistent gang tacklers. Fast? Yes, but what good is speed if you can't tackle once you get there?

I agree. I think if we are in for an average game (same amount of turnovers on both teams ect.) then the gigantic difference in YAC will decide the game in our favor. What the YAC stats express is not something you can just schematically address and fix in a week as it is a function of how well your team tackles, takes angles and positions themselves.

You can't fix who you are in a week of prep work.

 

[Kid~Brady]

Personally I don't buy "defense wins championships", but the reality is the second half of "the dynasty" we have only won one, as fun as our offense has been.

in general, I wasn't speaking to just the Patriots and their dynasty. Look at last year's super bowl with Denver and Carolina. Remember a couple years ago when that number one ranked, scary ass Denver offense faced Seattle?

Not always, but in the big game, defense seems to dominate in my personal opinion.

 

[The Brandon Five]

Atlanta is a horrendous tackling team by all measurable's worst in the league. They are 32nd in the league in YAC allowed. Take a guess who number 1 is?

It is the biggest thing that stands out when watching them, horrible tackling team. DB's are not consistent gang tacklers. Fast? Yes, but what good is speed if you can't tackle once you get there?

That team is a little under-sized. We should be able to run it down their throat.

 

[mosi]

Their loss to the Eagles is the one I am curious about. They only scored 15 points

And they only had 11 first downs. The eagles shut them down completely. Nobody expected the Eagles to win that game and they just throttled them. Atlanta could not run the ball and Ryan looked uncomfortable all game. The Eagles ran the ball well and controlled the game. Held the ball for over 38 minutes.

 

[gatsby47]

So after 17 pages of reading, I came to a conclusion that if we score with our offense and we stop them with our defense and Lady Gaga gets through her set before we get cold, we should win. Sounds about right. Thanks to all of you for the analysis

 

[GorBelSer]

And even all that will not be enough if the game is cancelled right before the coin toss.

 

[mosi]

And they only had 11 first downs. The eagles shut them down completely. Nobody expected the Eagles to win that game and they just throttled them. Atlanta could not run the ball and Ryan looked uncomfortable all game. The Eagles ran the ball well and controlled the game. Held the ball for over 38 minutes.

So I am actually watching the game again right now. First thing that is odd is that the Eagles looked to be playing single man on Jones. Ryan always looks to Jones who catches anything and everything he touches. This is just the regular broadcast so I can't tell if someone is shadowing.

The Atlanta defense does not look good in this game. The Eagles are running at will but on every pass play, there are tons of people open. If Carson was Brady, that game would have been a blowout.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Atlanta is a horrendous tackling team by all measurable's worst in the league. They are 32nd in the league in YAC allowed. Take a guess who number 1 is?

It is the biggest thing that stands out when watching them, horrible tackling team. DB's are not consistent gang tacklers. Fast? Yes, but what good is speed if you can't tackle once you get there?

They "fly around" out there. But aimlessly.

 

[deroc5050]

I don't care what the stats say, its 1 game guys. If Atlanta gets hot and in rhytham and a turnover or a big special teams play momentum can shift and the game in doubt.

Alot of people are predicting double digit/blowout win for the Pats. Atlanta has impressed me, especially over the past several games.

Alot of Super Bowl teams have bad losses during the regular season, once in the Super Bowl its all meaningless.

 

[n1997y]

So I am actually watching the game again right now. First thing that is odd is that the Eagles looked to be playing single man on Jones. Ryan always looks to Jones who catches anything and everything he touches. This is just the regular broadcast so I can't tell if someone is shadowing.

The Atlanta defense does not look good in this game. The Eagles are running at will but on every pass play, there are tons of people open. If Carson was Brady, that game would have been a blowout.

That seems very odd. Especially in light of the Eagles having serious secondary woes. After the AFCCG I was listening to Philly radio as I was driving down the NJTP and one caller was crying about the Rowe trade, commenting that it left the Eagles with nobody who cover. Wonder how they did it against the Falcons.

 

[mosi]

That seems very odd. Especially in light of the Eagles having serious secondary woes. After the AFCCG I was listening to Philly radio as I was driving down the NJTP and one caller was crying about the Rowe trade, commenting that it left the Eagles with nobody who cover. Wonder how they did it against the Falcons.

Yes, it make no sense. The Eagles looked to be getting some pressure on Ryan and often Ryan would dump the ball thinking there was more pressure than there was. The coverage on Jones was tight and he was generally tackled immediately after the catch. He is an amazing receiver that will catch anything near him.

One part I remember from the first time watching it was the Falcons were always in 3rd and long and that is obvious again. What struck me this time was when it was 3rd and 8, they would throw a 5 yard slant and get tackled 3 yards short. Or a curl route 3 yards short. Very odd to say the least.

The other thing that struck me was the inexperience of Carson Wentz. The falcons also looked to be playing lots of man (maybe 50/50) and there were receivers open on almost every play. Wentz was sacked by Vic Beasly a couple of times but that was because Wentz held the ball for 10 seconds.

Honestly, if the Pats get pressure on Ryan, this could be the first easy win for the Pats in the SB. If not, it could be a high scoring game.

 

[Uptown]

Tom Brady dominates playoff defenses that feature multiple rookies

 

[chris_in_sunnyvale]

In SB49, Edelman was killing Seattle's D, especially Simon. Yet, Quinn stuck to his scheme. Did he try to switch things up and put Sherman on Edelman the way the Pats put Browner on Matthews and end his upstart performance? Nope. It seemed like he just kept crossing his fingers that his scheme would get a stop. The stops never came in that 4th quarter and were a part of why the Pats won.

Can Atlanta fans count on changes being made if something isn't working? Based on history, I wouldn't count on it.

Regards,
Chris

 

[SHOWTIME15]

In SB49, Edelman was killing Seattle's D, especially Simon. Yet, Quinn stuck to his scheme. Did he try to switch things up and put Sherman on Edelman the way the Pats put Browner on Matthews and end his upstart performance? Nope. It seemed like he just kept crossing his fingers that his scheme would get a stop. The stops never came in that 4th quarter and were a part of why the Pats won.

Can Atlanta fans count on changes being made if something isn't working? Based on history, I wouldn't count on it.

Regards,
Chris

Sherman only sticks to playing on the left side if I'm not mistaken.

 

[The Brandon Five]

Sherman only sticks to playing on the left side if I'm not mistaken.

I think that is usually true, but in SB 49 he was moving around. I saw him on both sides.

 

[Sycola]

So I am actually watching the game again right now. First thing that is odd is that the Eagles looked to be playing single man on Jones. Ryan always looks to Jones who catches anything and everything he touches. This is just the regular broadcast so I can't tell if someone is shadowing.

The Atlanta defense does not look good in this game. The Eagles are running at will but on every pass play, there are tons of people open. If Carson was Brady, that game would have been a blowout.

From a Falcon Fan. The biggest thing that stood out to me was they were taking a lot of shots down the sidelines that didn't connect. They were getting away from what they had been doing for whatever reason..not many crossing routes or TE packages.. this is vague recollection, keep in mind.. but I do recall coming away from that game thinking they looked like a different team. Shannahan had a terrible day as well

Example, we were getting stuffed on runs to the left all day. Fourth and short.. they run to the left. Was just a weird game all around.

 

[mosi]

From a Falcon Fan. The biggest thing that stood out to me was they were taking a lot of shots down the sidelines that didn't connect. They were getting away from what they had been doing for whatever reason..not many crossing routes or TE packages.. this is vague recollection, keep in mind.. but I do recall coming away from that game thinking they looked like a different team. Shannahan had a terrible day as well

Example, we were getting stuffed on runs to the left all day. Fourth and short.. they run to the left. Was just a weird game all around.

Yes, they did try some long balls to both Sanu, Gabriel and Jones when they were one on one and the Eagles had tight coverage.

That first drive by the Eagles in the 3rd qrt was typical of that game. That ran the ball and would get 8-15 yards each play. They quickly get to the Falcon's 30 and get a false start. 1st and 15, they pass and the guys drops it. 2nd and 15, they get 12 yards and convert a short pass to get the 1st down. Subsequently, they try to pass it to get into the endzone and come up short and have to settle for the FG.

The Falcons first drive features a great play action and long pass to Jones who is single covered for a 20+ yard gain. What the Eagles were doing single covering Jones is beyond me. They were choosing to double Gabriel on most plays.

It look to me that neither Sanu or Gabriel can't beat double coverage. Jones can and will. So, putting 2 people on Jones may be a waste as he will get his catches regardless. You just have to make sure he does not get too much YAC. Control those other guys and you can actually limit the Falcons.

Also, control the run and don't bite on the play action. That is pretty much how the Eagles played it.