Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
How and why did this loss---a bad loss by any standard---happen?
The most simple answer is: the Falcons and HC Mike Smith were all-in on this game, while the Cardinals and HC Bruce Arians were not.
Football is a game of wills. Are the Falcons as bad as their record suggests? Probably not. Are the Cardinals as good as their record suggests? Probably not.
Which team looked like the 9-2 team yesterday?
Which team looked like the more motivated team?
Why did the Cardinals' defense---which has been superb the first 11 games---lay an egg on that first Falcons' possession?
First of all, the Falcons were very well amped and prepared for this game. Who would have ever thought that Stephen Jackson would suddenly go into beast mode (18/101/5.6/55 long)?
Who would have thought that the Falcons' WR corps minus Roddy White would boast two 100+ yard performances---one of which, by Julio Jones, was nearly 200 yards (10/189/1 TD), the other by slot WR Harry Douglas (9/116)--well, we learn after the game that the Falcons had actually changed some of their standard routes for this game---and we saw that Todd Bowles and the Cardinals' front seven were not generating the kind of pressure on Matt Ryan that would cause Ryan to throw off-balance or force passes into coverage.
It was way too easy---just ask defensive line coach Brentson Buckner who right from the get-go was blasting his unit for playing soft.
The first Falcons' drive---set up by a surprising 55 yard off tackle run by Stephen Jackson---tested the defense's resolve at the goal-line and the defense answered---but Mike Smith went for it on 4th down and had the guts to call a play action pass---and if one studies the Cardinals' defense in those situations they sell out for the run---as it is almost impossible to defend both the run and the pass.
Then---the Julio Jones show took over from there---and it was painful to watch CB Patrick Peterson who promoted and showcased this matchup all week in the press---get "torched" (as John Lynch so aptly termed it) by Jones. What was so bad about it was how passive Peterson was throughout the torching, electing in press situations to give Jones a free release and then let Jones twist him around on moves---or even when Jones was sitting alone as a safety valve to allow Jones to sit there uncovered and then whiff on him when caught the easy pass.
What was even worse than this and a telling thing about how passive the Cardinals' coaches were in this game---was that no adjustments at all were made at half-time. Clearly, Bowles should have either switched the taller, more experienced and more fundamentally sound Antonio Cromartie over to Jones---or at least---go back to Peterson playing LCB and Cromartie RCB where they could switch turns on Jones.
Instead---to the detriment of the team---Peterson was allowed to remain on Jones.
Same thing happened in reverse at Denver, where clearly Cromartie was no match for WR Demaryius Thomas and yet Cromartie remained on Thomas for most of the game.
The first quarter TD pass to Jones was tough to accept because Peterson played up in press position on Jones and yet decided not to jam him or touch him at all, which then caused Peterson to go into the chase mode where Peterson did not run as fast as he could to recover on Jones and with Jones having a step and a half on Peterson and being the taller player it was an easy fade catch turned into a TD.
Too too easy.
Thank goodness for Rashad Johnson making the big defensive play of the game on his perfect FS bracketing of Jones for a stunning 88 yard pick six, highlighted by some alert blocking by Jerraud Powers (who earlier switched and jumped a red zone slant route for Jones almost making an unbelievable interception and thus causing the Falcons to settle for a field goal)---or it could easily have been 24-0 Falcons early in the second quarter.
People can talk about the defense being gassed from the week before---but there's one way to combat being gassed and that is to force three and outs and come after the offense like full aggressors---the way ILB Larry Foote does week in and week out.
What may have been the most disappointing effort from the defense was following Chandler Catanzaro's 42 yard FG to make the score 17-10, and now having seized the momentum in the game, the defense allowed Matt Ryan and the Falcons easy open catches in their hurry-up, covering 12 plays and 68 yards. The opening TD drive and this drive here----even though the Falcons had to settle for a FG---were the difference in this game.
On offense, the game plan from the get-go was once again ultra-conservative and uninspiring---and even worse did not play to Drew Stanton's strengths. Look at the first play call---a sideways hitch pass to Michael Floyd?
While no one needs to make excuses for Stanton's handful of poor throws in this game---he did find a bit of a groove when the playbook and field was opened up for him. Too bad Michael Floyd was once again his skittish self with the ball over the middle, because it looked like Stanton was getting on a bit of a roll, thanks to 20 yard deep outs to Ted Ginn Jr. and John Carlson.
But this was really the first time since going up 14-0 on Detroit that Stanton was given some consistent chances to drive the ball down field.
A huge play in the game was the 3rd quarter non-call on Ted Ginn Jr.'s double move on 3rd and 2 just inside Falcons' territory. Great for BA to have the guts to call that play---but usually when one calls that play in that situation it means the team is in 4 down mode---and this is where BA, unlike his counterpart Mike Smith, did not challenge his own players. There was no reason at all to punt at that juncture of the game---particularly in a game where the defense was giving up over 500 yards of total offense. For all intents and purposes that punt ended any real chances the Cardinals still had in that game.
BA deserves tons of credit for teaching this team how to overcome adversity and how to win close games. But, these past two weeks have been very curious and anomalous to say the least...especially for a self-described "riverboat gambler" who by virtue of a three game lead was playing, for all intents and purposes, with house money. Plus---how could he miss Jones being out of bounds? He says they didn't see the replay? If we can see it at home how can't the coaches upstairs at least see it? Plus, Peterson was waving over for the challenge.
We can all put it on Stanton---that's the easy thing to do. Stanton made some boneheaded throws out there in situations where he did not have to force the ball. However, how is it that Stanton comes into the Rams game with the team behind (and with Palmer struggling in that game, to boot) and goes bam---bam---bam down the field and leads the team to a great come from behind win---and then comes out in attack mode versus the Lions---bam--bam---bam---and then suddenly after that is relegated into the ultra-conservative mode for 8-9 straight quarters.
We have seen enough of Stanton to know that his strength is driving the ball downfield---he's not a good dink and dunker---and if the coaches would move him around some to buy him some extra time and vision, the chances are he will be able to exploit defense where they hate to be exploited the most, either by the deep passes or by scrambles.
So, the silver lining in this game, is that moving forward---it further highlights the need for BA to open this offense up for Stanton and go all-out and all-in. There were some real positives in this game in that Jonathan Cooper got his first taste of extended playing time and played fairly well---Jaron Brown showed how mentally and physically tough he is (playing up Fitz's role)---and Jaron Brown can slip behind defenses too with his speed---and Marion Grice showed some good athletic ability and versatility (nice screen!) from the RB spot.
On defense Larry Foote was a dude was again---as was Rashad Johnson and Tyrann Mathieu (sure hope that he can wrap the thumb up and play because he is a key player)---as was Cromartie who even came up and made some good tackles---as was Jerraud Powers---and there were some good signs from Tommy Kelly, Alex Okafor, Sam Acho and Lorenzo Alexander. Even Glen Carson got some decent hits in late in the game.
As for STs---have you ever seen two punt cover tacklers run right by the return man (Hester) in tandem like that before? Was Hester the Invisible Man? Have to praise Butler, not only for working his butt off to make that play on Hester while getting held by the blocker, but for punting so well after that. Good to see Catanzaro get back on track.
One last thought on Patrick Peterson---it would be great for him to learn a lesson here---take a page out of Julio Jones' book and let the play on the field do all the talking. And as tough a game as this was for Peterson, who has been stellar in key wins versus the Cowboys (Dez Bryant) and the Lions (Calvin Johnson)...this actually was the first game all year the Cardinals lost with him playing poorly. So, we may want to keep that in perspective.
The most simple answer is: the Falcons and HC Mike Smith were all-in on this game, while the Cardinals and HC Bruce Arians were not.
Football is a game of wills. Are the Falcons as bad as their record suggests? Probably not. Are the Cardinals as good as their record suggests? Probably not.
Which team looked like the 9-2 team yesterday?
Which team looked like the more motivated team?
Why did the Cardinals' defense---which has been superb the first 11 games---lay an egg on that first Falcons' possession?
First of all, the Falcons were very well amped and prepared for this game. Who would have ever thought that Stephen Jackson would suddenly go into beast mode (18/101/5.6/55 long)?
Who would have thought that the Falcons' WR corps minus Roddy White would boast two 100+ yard performances---one of which, by Julio Jones, was nearly 200 yards (10/189/1 TD), the other by slot WR Harry Douglas (9/116)--well, we learn after the game that the Falcons had actually changed some of their standard routes for this game---and we saw that Todd Bowles and the Cardinals' front seven were not generating the kind of pressure on Matt Ryan that would cause Ryan to throw off-balance or force passes into coverage.
It was way too easy---just ask defensive line coach Brentson Buckner who right from the get-go was blasting his unit for playing soft.
The first Falcons' drive---set up by a surprising 55 yard off tackle run by Stephen Jackson---tested the defense's resolve at the goal-line and the defense answered---but Mike Smith went for it on 4th down and had the guts to call a play action pass---and if one studies the Cardinals' defense in those situations they sell out for the run---as it is almost impossible to defend both the run and the pass.
Then---the Julio Jones show took over from there---and it was painful to watch CB Patrick Peterson who promoted and showcased this matchup all week in the press---get "torched" (as John Lynch so aptly termed it) by Jones. What was so bad about it was how passive Peterson was throughout the torching, electing in press situations to give Jones a free release and then let Jones twist him around on moves---or even when Jones was sitting alone as a safety valve to allow Jones to sit there uncovered and then whiff on him when caught the easy pass.
What was even worse than this and a telling thing about how passive the Cardinals' coaches were in this game---was that no adjustments at all were made at half-time. Clearly, Bowles should have either switched the taller, more experienced and more fundamentally sound Antonio Cromartie over to Jones---or at least---go back to Peterson playing LCB and Cromartie RCB where they could switch turns on Jones.
Instead---to the detriment of the team---Peterson was allowed to remain on Jones.
Same thing happened in reverse at Denver, where clearly Cromartie was no match for WR Demaryius Thomas and yet Cromartie remained on Thomas for most of the game.
The first quarter TD pass to Jones was tough to accept because Peterson played up in press position on Jones and yet decided not to jam him or touch him at all, which then caused Peterson to go into the chase mode where Peterson did not run as fast as he could to recover on Jones and with Jones having a step and a half on Peterson and being the taller player it was an easy fade catch turned into a TD.
Too too easy.
Thank goodness for Rashad Johnson making the big defensive play of the game on his perfect FS bracketing of Jones for a stunning 88 yard pick six, highlighted by some alert blocking by Jerraud Powers (who earlier switched and jumped a red zone slant route for Jones almost making an unbelievable interception and thus causing the Falcons to settle for a field goal)---or it could easily have been 24-0 Falcons early in the second quarter.
People can talk about the defense being gassed from the week before---but there's one way to combat being gassed and that is to force three and outs and come after the offense like full aggressors---the way ILB Larry Foote does week in and week out.
What may have been the most disappointing effort from the defense was following Chandler Catanzaro's 42 yard FG to make the score 17-10, and now having seized the momentum in the game, the defense allowed Matt Ryan and the Falcons easy open catches in their hurry-up, covering 12 plays and 68 yards. The opening TD drive and this drive here----even though the Falcons had to settle for a FG---were the difference in this game.
On offense, the game plan from the get-go was once again ultra-conservative and uninspiring---and even worse did not play to Drew Stanton's strengths. Look at the first play call---a sideways hitch pass to Michael Floyd?
While no one needs to make excuses for Stanton's handful of poor throws in this game---he did find a bit of a groove when the playbook and field was opened up for him. Too bad Michael Floyd was once again his skittish self with the ball over the middle, because it looked like Stanton was getting on a bit of a roll, thanks to 20 yard deep outs to Ted Ginn Jr. and John Carlson.
But this was really the first time since going up 14-0 on Detroit that Stanton was given some consistent chances to drive the ball down field.
A huge play in the game was the 3rd quarter non-call on Ted Ginn Jr.'s double move on 3rd and 2 just inside Falcons' territory. Great for BA to have the guts to call that play---but usually when one calls that play in that situation it means the team is in 4 down mode---and this is where BA, unlike his counterpart Mike Smith, did not challenge his own players. There was no reason at all to punt at that juncture of the game---particularly in a game where the defense was giving up over 500 yards of total offense. For all intents and purposes that punt ended any real chances the Cardinals still had in that game.
BA deserves tons of credit for teaching this team how to overcome adversity and how to win close games. But, these past two weeks have been very curious and anomalous to say the least...especially for a self-described "riverboat gambler" who by virtue of a three game lead was playing, for all intents and purposes, with house money. Plus---how could he miss Jones being out of bounds? He says they didn't see the replay? If we can see it at home how can't the coaches upstairs at least see it? Plus, Peterson was waving over for the challenge.
We can all put it on Stanton---that's the easy thing to do. Stanton made some boneheaded throws out there in situations where he did not have to force the ball. However, how is it that Stanton comes into the Rams game with the team behind (and with Palmer struggling in that game, to boot) and goes bam---bam---bam down the field and leads the team to a great come from behind win---and then comes out in attack mode versus the Lions---bam--bam---bam---and then suddenly after that is relegated into the ultra-conservative mode for 8-9 straight quarters.
We have seen enough of Stanton to know that his strength is driving the ball downfield---he's not a good dink and dunker---and if the coaches would move him around some to buy him some extra time and vision, the chances are he will be able to exploit defense where they hate to be exploited the most, either by the deep passes or by scrambles.
So, the silver lining in this game, is that moving forward---it further highlights the need for BA to open this offense up for Stanton and go all-out and all-in. There were some real positives in this game in that Jonathan Cooper got his first taste of extended playing time and played fairly well---Jaron Brown showed how mentally and physically tough he is (playing up Fitz's role)---and Jaron Brown can slip behind defenses too with his speed---and Marion Grice showed some good athletic ability and versatility (nice screen!) from the RB spot.
On defense Larry Foote was a dude was again---as was Rashad Johnson and Tyrann Mathieu (sure hope that he can wrap the thumb up and play because he is a key player)---as was Cromartie who even came up and made some good tackles---as was Jerraud Powers---and there were some good signs from Tommy Kelly, Alex Okafor, Sam Acho and Lorenzo Alexander. Even Glen Carson got some decent hits in late in the game.
As for STs---have you ever seen two punt cover tacklers run right by the return man (Hester) in tandem like that before? Was Hester the Invisible Man? Have to praise Butler, not only for working his butt off to make that play on Hester while getting held by the blocker, but for punting so well after that. Good to see Catanzaro get back on track.
One last thought on Patrick Peterson---it would be great for him to learn a lesson here---take a page out of Julio Jones' book and let the play on the field do all the talking. And as tough a game as this was for Peterson, who has been stellar in key wins versus the Cowboys (Dez Bryant) and the Lions (Calvin Johnson)...this actually was the first game all year the Cardinals lost with him playing poorly. So, we may want to keep that in perspective.
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