The Thread for Reasonable Discussion...

[pantherj]

#1) Matt Ryan has to hit the turf a lot. I don't care if we get burned on blitzes, he has to take hits early and often. Their passing attack has enough talent to completely destroy our average defense, but football is also about violence. Blitz Ryan and keep the maximum possible amount of pressure on him. Yes we'll pay for it, but so will he, and it will take a toll on him. We have to set the tone that we're going to deal out violence. That means something. If we play coverage, then we'll get eaten alive, and Ryan gets to relax and enjoy the game. The occational blitz won't matter. Hitting him once or twice over the course of the game is irrelevant. If he's going to play pitch and catch all game, then he's going to take hits for it. They want to throw screens, fine, play smart and sniff them out. Force them to react to what we're doing on defense, but don't sit back and hope they'll start throwing incompletions to open recievers. They're not that type of team.

#2) Make a decision early on as to whether or not our O-line can actually execute our read option against their D-line. If the O-line is getting blown up and pushed around, then ABANDON THE READ OPTION. If the O-line is blocking well, then RUN THE READ OPTION TO DEATH.

#3) Replace Nakamura with Martin, he's a lot faster, and Nakamura screws up just like Martin anyway. Replace Hangarter with Bruce Campbell, he's much bigger, stronger, and he played OG for the Raiders. Get power up front to execute the read option. Cam throwing a lot of passes into the Falcons secondary is no bueno.

[YourManInAmsterdam]

1. O-Line plays to Expectations - It's just been strange to see this offensive line play in such an inconsistent (almost schizophrenic) way. So far, we really don't know which line we're going to get. We know they're capable of being among the best. The question is whether they'll play like it. Atlanta's pass rush is no joke.
   
2. D-Line Plays Above Expectations - Coming in to the season, we all knew there were problems here. But to beat ATL, Matt Ryan needs to be neutralized and Michael Turner contained. And that all starts with the D-Line. These guys have to come up with something nasty against Atlanta, 'cause we're gonna have a hard time simply out-scoring them.
   
3. Better, More Fundamental Tackling - One thing I've noticed is that it looks like our tackling in general has degraded. There are big hits in there, but the wrap up is missing. I'm seeing arm tackling without contact. This has to stop. Michael Turner doesn't go down easily and neither does Roddy White, Julio Jones, or Tony Gonzalez.
   

So basically, what I'm saying is that if we win in the trenches, we win the game. Otherwise, we're effed.

[Dunn]

I think the biggest thing for us is not to stutter out of the gate, be it on Offense or Defense. We need to hold them to NO score on their first possession. I think thats huge in the ability to set the tempo and mindset of Cam. He won't feel as rushed and pressured to get throws where they shouldn't be and to make sure our plays are fluid and not 'on the fly'.

If we can slow it down I think our chances of success will raise greatly.

[csx]

What concerns me is that I question whether the team can run effectively at all without the option formations and that is why they have clung to it so much.

[saX man]

I'm nervous about TG because he has been playing like he did in his Kansas City prime this season.

We all know how we are against the run but add on the whole Roddy-Julio-Douglas-Gonzalez gang and its gonna be nasty if we don't get pressure up front. This is a big game for our defensive line.

[thefuzz]

Consistent pressure on Ryan will be the biggest thing.

Consistently staying ahead in the down and distance. Can't have too many incompletions on first and second down.

Can't turn the ball over, their O is too good.

Everybody wants blitzes and I do as well, but more importantly we need push from our front 4 on D.

They will try to take SS out, and make Lafell and Olsen beat them, they will have to step up big time.

[BIGH2001]

Michael Turner doesn't go down easily

This probably depends on how much he's had to drink before the game. That fat fuger.

[Keep Pounding]

-Tight man coverage, I rather see a guy lose the battle on a one on one, then see guys sit back 10 yards of the LOS and let QB's just hit us with underneath routes all day.

-Run out of the I formation with Tolbert lead blocking more.

-Better play calling on both sides of the ball.

-Minimize the use of the Option.

-Coach Cam up to look for the underneath routes, check downs, short passing ect.

-Call more screen passes.

[NanceUSMC]

If we can't generate some sort of pass rush, it could be a long day for the defense... It's likely that it'll be a long day regardless, but minimizing the damage should be doable, and could determine the outcome of the game...

Sticking with the run for more than a quarter is also imperative... We paid for it, now let's use it... It isn't as sexy as a nice 65 yard TD pass, but it chews up clock, and is what we are built around... It'll keep the Falcons offense off the field, and help negate some of our defensive weaknesses...

The Falcons are an excellent team, but they haven't been beating powerhouses this season (KC, SD and Denver aren't powerhouses)... If we can knock them in the mouth early, we could potentially come out with a W...

[Harris Aballah]

Seems to me that confidence and attitude make the difference for this team. The guys have to be intimidating on the line. And we have to get at the qb all day long. We looked angry against the aint's but nervous at the giants. Gameplan is one thing. Attitude is a whole nother ball game. We need to come at them like they owe us money!!!!

[Proudiddy]

Speaking of pass rush Nance, can anyone seriously explain to me something I've been touching on since the preseason?

Why do we send our DLs so wide every play? Especially the DEs. I can't find any explanation for it. I've noticed it most typically when we only pressure with our front four but our DEs go so wide coming off the ball that the pocket essentially expands and the DEs have to work back to the QB from behind usually.

I know it's not a lack of strength or bulk, it appears to be by design. But, I have no idea why you would design that or what benefit it would have, especially against less than mobile QBs like Manning.

Yet, when I watch any other DL of the teams we've played, they do what I would expect we would do... They pinch down and make the pocket as small as possible. Even mobile QBs have a hard time getting around the edge in those instances, and regardless, it gets them off of their spot.