01-15-2017, 04:12 PM
This is just a few things I have noticed about the Falcons that are eerily similar to the Bengals, and the Bengals could learn by doing some of the things that Atlanta has done to improve their team. In no particular order:
1.) The running game- Devonta Freeman was drafted in 2014 and really got his shot last year with over 1000 yards on 264 carries. He actually improved his average this year, with almost 1100 yards on 227 carries. He also chipped in 54 receptions. His presence seems to be the missing piece to an offense that always had receivers and a solid QB, but needed that threat of the running game to make it all work.
Notice, also, that the Falcons don't run him 30 times a game. Instead, they keep him fresh with a balance of a decent number of carries and spread the ball around to the TEs and WRs as well.
2.) Defensive line- I was surprised when I saw Tyson Jackson, a former high first-rounder that started his career as a 3-4 DE at Kansas City. He was playing DE in Atlanta's 4-3 defense. The Falcons also have Brooks Reed, from the Texans, playing opposite of him, but they rush more than the four down linemen with Vic Beasley and Dwight Freeney rotating in. The really impressive thing I saw was Ra'Shede Hageman, a beast of a man from Minnesota that I really wanted a couple years ago to replace Peko. I was apparently off on his grade of a second rounder, as he doesn't start in Atlanta, and had some off-the-field troubles in the off-season. He was selected before the Bengals picked in Round 2. Regardless, I thought it was impressive how he was consistently double-teamed, but would not allow himself to be forced away from his assignment: stay to the right of Russell Wilson. He would push and fight to get to a spot to the right of Wilson, forcing him to run to his left, where he is nowhere near as dangerous a passer on the run. It was great execution of a great game plan.
3.) Guts- Late in the first half, Seattle had a punt that they downed at the 2 yard line. I think there was just under 3 minutes remaining in the half. I pictured Andy Dalton in the same scenario. You could see what plays would happen if Cincy was in the same situation: Rush middle, rush middle, pass play where Dalton scrambles and throws out of bounds to stop the clock. This is what Atlanta did: right before the snap, the RB split out wide and they went with 5 WRs. Shotgun snap, quick pass, 8 yard gain. Immediately, you felt Seattle get back on their heels. Atlanta got a TD, and went in to the half up 19-10 and never looked back. If the Bengals had run their typical gutless series at the goal line, they would have given the ball back to Seattle who would have likely scored at the very least a FG and taked the lead before the half. Instead, Atlanta went up two scores and ended up winning the game. It takes guts.
4.) Attitude- I'm not sure if anyone was listening to the broadcast, but I LOVED what I heard from Kyle Shanahan in an interview with one of the announcers. There was a play that was flagged for defensive holding by Sherman, which was blatant on the replay. The announcer described what Shanahan had told him in a pre-game interview that (not direct quote) "We knew they were going to hold us on every play. We told them they have to arm-fight and get off their defenders. We can't hope an official sees it. We knew it wouldn't be easy, but if you want easy go work at a grocery store." If Marvin busts this year, I now am firmly in the camp of Kyle Shanahan as our next coach.
1.) The running game- Devonta Freeman was drafted in 2014 and really got his shot last year with over 1000 yards on 264 carries. He actually improved his average this year, with almost 1100 yards on 227 carries. He also chipped in 54 receptions. His presence seems to be the missing piece to an offense that always had receivers and a solid QB, but needed that threat of the running game to make it all work.
Notice, also, that the Falcons don't run him 30 times a game. Instead, they keep him fresh with a balance of a decent number of carries and spread the ball around to the TEs and WRs as well.
2.) Defensive line- I was surprised when I saw Tyson Jackson, a former high first-rounder that started his career as a 3-4 DE at Kansas City. He was playing DE in Atlanta's 4-3 defense. The Falcons also have Brooks Reed, from the Texans, playing opposite of him, but they rush more than the four down linemen with Vic Beasley and Dwight Freeney rotating in. The really impressive thing I saw was Ra'Shede Hageman, a beast of a man from Minnesota that I really wanted a couple years ago to replace Peko. I was apparently off on his grade of a second rounder, as he doesn't start in Atlanta, and had some off-the-field troubles in the off-season. He was selected before the Bengals picked in Round 2. Regardless, I thought it was impressive how he was consistently double-teamed, but would not allow himself to be forced away from his assignment: stay to the right of Russell Wilson. He would push and fight to get to a spot to the right of Wilson, forcing him to run to his left, where he is nowhere near as dangerous a passer on the run. It was great execution of a great game plan.
3.) Guts- Late in the first half, Seattle had a punt that they downed at the 2 yard line. I think there was just under 3 minutes remaining in the half. I pictured Andy Dalton in the same scenario. You could see what plays would happen if Cincy was in the same situation: Rush middle, rush middle, pass play where Dalton scrambles and throws out of bounds to stop the clock. This is what Atlanta did: right before the snap, the RB split out wide and they went with 5 WRs. Shotgun snap, quick pass, 8 yard gain. Immediately, you felt Seattle get back on their heels. Atlanta got a TD, and went in to the half up 19-10 and never looked back. If the Bengals had run their typical gutless series at the goal line, they would have given the ball back to Seattle who would have likely scored at the very least a FG and taked the lead before the half. Instead, Atlanta went up two scores and ended up winning the game. It takes guts.
4.) Attitude- I'm not sure if anyone was listening to the broadcast, but I LOVED what I heard from Kyle Shanahan in an interview with one of the announcers. There was a play that was flagged for defensive holding by Sherman, which was blatant on the replay. The announcer described what Shanahan had told him in a pre-game interview that (not direct quote) "We knew they were going to hold us on every play. We told them they have to arm-fight and get off their defenders. We can't hope an official sees it. We knew it wouldn't be easy, but if you want easy go work at a grocery store." If Marvin busts this year, I now am firmly in the camp of Kyle Shanahan as our next coach.
![[Image: 4CV0TeR.png]](https://i.imgur.com/4CV0TeR.png)
