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It’s tricky to locate positives in a 4-10 period, specifically right after surrendering a 17- direct from a divisional opponent in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But the Atlanta Falcons do have an prospect this 7 days to examine some talent and take a look at some of their making blocks for following year, and to do so from the defending Tremendous Bowl winner Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.
Here’s a closer glance.
What can the Falcons get out of Ito Smith?
Coach Raheem Morris announced Monday that Smith would be having above as the “guide doggy runner.” Smith rushed for only 25 yards on 6 carries towards the Bucs, but he did average 4. yards a carry against the league’s prime-ranked rush protection. This week, it’s a various style of examination in that section, with the Chiefs surrendering 123.5 yards for each activity and 4.61 yards a pop.
An even even bigger dilemma although, will be if the Falcons stay dedicated to the operate extended adequate to see final results, which would enable continue to keep the Chiefs from teeing off against Matt Ryan. Portion of the problem in the fourth quarter towards the Bucs was that Tampa Bay realized they were being heading to move, which allowed them to turn Devin White loose.
“They did a definitely good job on defense of locking in on the fact that we could not run the ball, and have been a tiny bit deficient in that all 12 months,” Morris mentioned of the Bucs. “They took advantage of that and were being capable to appear again and get a earn.”
QB security against extra blitzes
The Falcons’ offensive line truly seemed powerful in defense through a few quarters, but struggled in the fourth quarter. Still left tackle Jake Matthews created a go-block gain amount of 93.9% from Pro Bowlers Jason Pierre-Paul and Shaq Barrett, making it possible for neither to get home with sacks. Where by they ran into difficulties was when Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles blitzed White in the fourth quarter.
Todd Gurley, who’s struggled at instances this year in blitz pickup, unsuccessful to account for White on a B-hole blitz for a 7-property decline. Then with 5:34 to go in the fourth quarter, White took on Keith Smith prior to bouncing within to chase down Ryan.
The Falcons will want to have their defense concerns corrected this week as the Chiefs are yet another blitz-weighty team who will not hesitate to deliver the complete house. In reality, the Chiefs have utilised additional Protect- (no deep defender) than any other team in the league this year, with 46 dropbacks. They do not essentially need to have to deploy extra sources for stress, however.
Hold developing with Calvin Ridley and the enjoy-motion passing game
The Falcons made use of a ton of play-motion against the Bucs, and it paid out off in various explosive plays and arguably their most effective work there this 12 months. Ryan accomplished 14 of 16 dropbacks (87.5%) of his engage in-motion passes for 215 yards. Wherever they ran into trouble was when the Bucs commenced two-manning their receivers in the 2nd fifty percent, despite the fact that it’s fascinating for the reason that Ryan’s experienced a lot of achievements concentrating on Ridley from 2-male seems this calendar year.
“They changed their coverages,” Ridley said. “They doubled a little little bit a lot more, two-person. I imagine they figured that was beginning to work. They trapped with it during the 2nd 50 percent.”
But they’ll confront a substantially greater examination this 7 days from a Chiefs squad that has been among the league’s stingiest against explosive enjoy-steps, giving up just 734 passing yards off play-motion this year — 2nd-fewest in the NFL. How will Ridley and Gage fare against Charvarius Ward and Tyrann Mathieu, especially if Bashaud Breeland just cannot engage in?
Gono, who looked solid filling in for McGary from Joey Bosa past 7 days, had a 72% pass-hurry acquire rate against the Bucs, with his one error becoming that he authorized Barrett to get a hand on Ryan from at the rear of, supporting collapse the pocket for White’s sack for a 6-garden decline with 2:40 to go. Even so, he’s building a situation for some kind of part subsequent time.
“We’re delighted with the way Matt Gono’s participating in in Kaleb’s absence,” offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter explained. “If almost nothing else, we’ve definitely created some depth at deal with.”
What more can they get out of A.J. Terrell?
Can the Falcons’ 16th in general select, who’s been one of the team’s shiny places this year, rebound soon after surrendering 9 catches on 12 targets, with 8 to start with downs to the Bucs? He’s confronted a gauntlet of receivers this yr with Mike Evans, Antonio Brown, Jerry Jeudy, Michael Thomas, DK Metcalf, Allen Robinson and Keenan Allen, with Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins and Mecole Hardman up next.