Falcons Will Have Their Share of Challenges

CloakNNNdagger · Dec 1, 2011

We as Texans fans recognize the challenges facing the Texans this Sunday. The Falcons and their fans also recognize their own challenges. Theirs may be more difficult to navigate due to the difficulty of sifting through so many unknowns on both their side of the field and ours.

From AtlantaFalcons.com:

The Falcons have won five of their past six games, but it certainly hasnt been easy. There seems to be one thing that tends to equalize the Falcons in every game, and thats halftime. The Falcons talked Wednesday with the Atlanta media about how important it is for them to keep pushing forward in the second half and come out right after halftime and stay on the offensive attack, as its something they all addressed as a team Wednesday morning.

The Falcons have suffered a second-half malaise this season in more than a few games, moments where they allow teams back into ballgames.

So far, playing flat coming out of the half hasnt haunted them too much, but its required some unnecessary effort late in games to ensure wins.

Against the Titans in Week 11, the Falcons took a 13-3 lead into the third quarter. With just more than three minutes to go in the game, Atlanta clung to a 23-17 lead, needing a clock-running, first-down-converting offensive effort to end the game.

Last week with the Vikings in town, a 17-point shutout was erased and shortly into the fourth quarter, Minnesota was back in the game, turning two touchdowns into a three-point deficit.

The end of the game became a national story, with chapters that saw a Falcons touchdown, Chris Owens stopping a 104-yard kick return and a four-down, goal-line stand from Atlantas defense. When the dust settled, Atlanta had the win, their fifth in six games, but after fast starts there was a sense that things shouldnt have been so close.

This point isnt lost on the players that keep getting wins despite the difficult circumstances they find themselves in. Getting close wins will help down the stretch, but when the Falcons have a multiple-point advantage, they want to shut the door.

We definitely have some room for improvement, center Todd McClure said. Weve talked about it. We havent played a consistent four quarters where were on our A-game for four quarters.

The Falcons have shown an ability to quickly identify where the problems are and fix them week-to-week. When sacks were an issue earlier this year, the coaching staff and players scrambled to fix scheme, injuries and the lineup to help better protect quarterback Matt Ryan.

In the first three weeks, the Falcons allowed 13 sacks. In the eight games since, theyve allowed nine.

After struggles in the redzone in the middle of this season, including a 2-of-9 stint in Weeks 10 and 11, the Falcons scored at a 75 percent rate last week.

Whatever the reason for the shaky play in the second half at points this season, Atlanta is working on it.

We talked about it after the game, tight end Tony Gonzalez said. Its something that does need to be addressed and has been addressed. We talked about it today. Weve got to come out and try to put the game away. In that third quarter we want to come out with a statement, still be in that attack mode. I think thatll be addressed from (head coach Mike Smith) to the coordinator (Mike Mularkey), to Ryan and our no-huddle offense. Were going to keep the pedal to the metal and keep going out there trying to put points up.

One way to look at it is that Atlantas talent has still managed to carve out wins. The talent also believes they havent put it all together yet, still looking for that peak. They know its there and theyd rather have it come later than early, or never.

The positive of that is that we have room for improvement and we can go out there and do it, McClure said. I think its just a mindset. Smittys talked about. We have to focus when we come out of halftime.

The second-half blunders in the past two weeks have come against rookie quarterbacks and teams boasting a combined 7-12 record. This week is the Houston Texans, the 8-3 Texans. Although theyre down to their third-string quarterback, the team is loaded with talent and a flat quarter may be too much for the Falcons to overcome.

According to McClure, its going to come down to the final moments, a situation the Falcons are used to. They just hope theyre not the reason its going down that way.

This game is not going to be decided early, the center said. Its going to be a game thats going to go down to the last drive. We know that going in and were going to be ready to play.

3-4 Rules

The Falcons have only faced one 3-4 defense this season. It came in Week 5 against the Packers.

Against the Texans, theyll get their second crack at it this year and its a tough challenge.

Houston, under new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, is one of the best defenses in the game this year. The Texans rank in the top five in virtually every important category, including points allowed per game, rushing yards allowed per game, passing yards allowed per game, turnover differential and opponents total offense per game.

Its not the Texans defense of years past and Phillips has introduced an aggressive unit with the new 3-4 scheme.

They blitz a lot to force the pass, Tony Gonzalez said. Theyre aggressive, they dont quit. Every player from top to bottom is all out, from the whistle to the whistle. Thats one thing that we know we have to go out there with that kind of mindset.

Phillips held the defensive coordinator position in Atlanta from 2002-2003, so hes no stranger to the franchise. Center Todd McClure is the player on the roster with the most first-hand experience facing Phillips, practicing against the 3-4 every day during those two seasons.

Hes been in the league since 1976 and has had plenty of time to develop his blitz-heavy scheme. Hes credited with turning around numerous defenses and the Texans are just the most recent benefactor of his experience. His system relies on intelligent and aggressive players that can play within the system and gameplan he creates each week.

We know a little bit about him, McClure said. Hes always coming up with new blitzes and new schemes. They are pretty simple. They line up and try to play man-on-man, see who is better. We definitely have a challenge going into their place.

The Texans 3-4 employs a man-to-man approach, depending on the corners to hold down the coverage while the front seven blitz the passer. They have an urgent style that matches up well with Atlantas offense, especially in the no huddle. They know they have a tough draw this week and theyll have to match Houstons energy.

Theres no one taking a play off out there. Its to the whistle, Tony Gonzalez said. You better be prepared because youll get embarrassed if you try to take a play off.

While everyone on offense has to adjust to a 3-4 look, the offensive linemen have the most work to do.

For us its going to be really important to ID the front and communicate from that standpoint, know where theyre going to be and know where theyre going and be on the same page, left tackle Will Svitek said.

Having faced only one 3-4 this season means the lineman have some adjusting to do against the unfamiliar.

Its definitely different, Svitek said. You try to break it down into simple terms, but its definitely different. We face a 4-3 in our defense every week. Youre comfortable with that 4-3 so when you switch it up, theres different rules. Weve played 3-4s in the past so we know those rules. During the week we try to hone in on those techniques and know where guys are going to be.

The Curious Mr. Yates: The Texans have had a tough week.

They lose their starting quarterback, Pro Bowl candidate Matt Schaub in Week 11, and then lost their backup last week.

Houston now turns to rookie and former third-stringer T.J. Yates.

When asked what he knows about Yates, linebacker Curtis Lofton said he knew nothing.

I dont know anything about him, Lofton said. Ill probably have to go back and see if I can find him in preseason.

Yates is an unknown not because hes a rookie, though it has something to do with it. The former UNC starter wasnt in the plans for Houston this year. With the injuries to the guys in front of him, hes now the most important player in Houston.

But dont expect the Texans to put much on his shoulders.

Theyre not going to do too much to put him in opportunities where hell make bad decisions, safety Thomas DeCoud said. Theyll try to keep the game simple for him to make sure he doesnt get lit up, so to speak. Well have to be sound in the run game and do what weve been doing.

Houston has an advantage in that they have a top running game as well. Their 151.7 rushing yards per game is good for the third place in the NFL. Running backs Adrian Foster and Ben Tate have added a new dimension to Houstons high-flying attack and with the balance came more danger earlier in the season.

Now, Foster and Tate will be expected to help carry the limping Texans past the Falcons and into the playoffs.

I would say theyll open the running game more, Lofton said. Theyll lean more on the running backs than the quarterback. They have two talented backs.

Lofton wont see much of Yates from the preseason either.

In Week 1 of the exhibition season, Yates was 6-for-12 passing with 97 yards in a win over the Jets. He threw one pass in Week 3, and in Week 4 he was 6-for-13 with 77 yards in a 28-0 loss to Minnesota.

Cornerback Chris Owens said Atlanta wont look at Yates college film, instead relying on what he showed last week, in addition to his preseason work.

Last week against the Jaguars, he was 8-of-15 for 70 yards.

With Jacksonville and Carolina and their rookie quarterbacks coming up soon, Atlanta will face four consecutive rookie quarterbacks. Although that seems like an advantage, no one is taking these young guys lightly.

Its a little bit out of the ordinary, DeCoud said. Youre not used to seeing this many backup quarterbacks in a row. Still its professional football so well have to prepare as if we were going to see their starter.

Injury Report: Smith often says the game is a battle of attrition with injuries coming at all points of the season. This weeks injury report is a sign of that.

Smith announced on Wednesday that Brent Grimes will have surgery on his knee and will miss some time.

Hes been doing everything in his power to get back out on the field, Smith said. Hes been playing with it. Right now, he will be out for a couple of weeks. Hes going to have a minor procedure done on his knee. We dont know the time frame in terms of getting him out. Brents been fighting through it for some time.

In addition to Grimes, Kelvin Hayden, John Abraham, Tony Gonzalez, Todd McClure, Stephen Nicholas, Julio Jones, Michael Turner and Vance Walker missed practice Wednesday.

Sam Baker was limited in practice.

Kelvin Hayden is probably very doubtful for the game this week with a toe injury that was sustained two weeks, Smith said. He was inactive this week.

Abraham, Gonzalez and McClures inactivity was not injury related.

Smith said he hoped to have Nicholas back by the end of the week.
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Falcons Will Have Their Share of Challenges

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