The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
» Snapping skid against Saints a tough task,
The prognosticators are calling for a major blowout.
The Saints, winners of their past six games, are projected to roll over the Falcons, losers of six consecutive, when they meet at 1 p.m. today at the Superdome in New Orleans.
The Falcons are double-digit underdogs in this rivalry game.
“It always comes down to being a close, tough, football game when you go against these guys,” Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan said. “You know that they are going to compete for four quarters – there is no question about that. They are tough and resilient. We have to play our style of football and make sure that we come out on the right side of it.”
The Falcons have a three-point plan to turnaround their season: create turnovers, communicate better on defense to eliminate the blown coverages and win the field-position battle with a new kicker and punter.
“Everybody in the league is talking about the ball, what makes you different?,” Falcons assistant coach Raheem Morris said. “Be the team that can actually go out and get them.”
Morris switched from wide receivers coach to help with the defensive backs Monday.
“There are a lot of talented coaches on our staff,” Morris said. “There are lot of talented players in our building. We ask people to do different things every single week. Julio Jones plays in the slot. He plays on the outside. He plays on the right side, on the left side. These guys do different things. It’s no different for our coaches. Our guys are equipped and well equipped to do different things.”
In their previous game, the Falcons twice left Seattle’s DK Metcalf wide open in the end zone. Falcons coach Dan Quinn believes Morris, a longtime defensive backs coach, can help.
“Particularly with our corners, getting them playing down at the line of scrimmage,” Morris said. “Some of those techniques. The other thing is dealing with our communication. We have a young safety out there in (Damontae) Kazee, who’s still young. He’s playing with (Ricardo Allen), who’s a very good communicator.
“Kazee, we want him to be able to communicate better. We know what Kazee can do really well. He got the ball in his hands last year. Let’s get him back to doing that.”
On the hot seat
The Falcons’ secondary will be on the hot seat against Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who’ll be playing his second game since returning from a broken thumb.
The Falcons, who only have two interceptions, have given up 261.1 yards passing a game, which ranks 23rd in the NFL. The secondary has allowed 17 touchdown passes (28th in the NFL), and the team has given up 31 plays of 20 yards or more (23rd).
Brees was sharp in his return against the Cardinals before the bye week. He completed 34 of 43 passes for 373 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
“Drew is such a phenomenal player,” Falcons defensive passing-game coordinator Jerome Henderson said. “You watch him and how he does everything. He’s so meticulous in his preparation. He has command of their offense and can get them in and out of trouble based on his information and time in the system.”
Brees guided the Saints to two victories over the Falcons last season.
“You can see him at the line of scrimmage identify looks, expose a defense and then take advantage of them,” Henderson said. “Moving guys around and doing that extra step to get the exact setup or matchup that he wants, to manipulate the defense, it will be a tough challenge for us.”
While wide receiver Michael Thomas is the main target in the Saints’ passing attack, Brees spreads the ball around.
“It’s a big challenge, that’s how the
Saints’ offenses have been so dominant over the years whatever guy they have at the time whether it is (Alvin) Kamara, Michael Thomas or Latavius Murray now,” Falcons cornerback Isaiah Oliver said. “They always have weapons. They just have a good system.”
Three key matchups
Here are the three key matchups when the Falcons (1-7) face the Saints (7-1) at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome:
Falcons RT Kaleb McGary vs. Saints DE Cam Jordan: McGary needs to come out and establish himself against the dynamic Jordan, who took to Twitter to bemoan the release of former right tackle Ryan Schraeder. The Falcons have the 13th rated pass-blocking line in the NFL (21 sacks, 6.4% sack ratio), according to Football Outsiders. Jordan, a four-time Pro Bowler, leads the Saints with eight sacks. The nineyear veteran is working on his fifth season of double-digit sacks.
Falcons CB Desmond Trufant vs. Saints WR Michael Thomas: The Falcons
love to play their zones but may need to consider matching Trufant on Thomas, if he’s fully recovered from his turf-toe injury. Trufant has missed the past three games, but the Falcons have an all-hands-on-deck mentality with the hopes of ending their six-game losing streak. Thomas has 73 catches for 874 yards and four touchdowns. “When you look at the completion percentage when they throw it to him, I think it’s one of the highest that I know I’ve been accustomed to seeing,” Falcons defensive passing game coordinator Jerome Henderson said. “They do a really good job of moving him around, featuring him and putting him in spots where it’s hard to get to him.”
Falcons LB Deion Jones vs. Saints RB Latavius Murray/Alvin Kamara:
Jones has 60 tackles, including seven for loss. He has one pass breakup and no interceptions. With Kamara out, Murray rushed 21 times for 108 yards and a touchdown in the 31-9 win over the Cardinals before the bye week. He also caught nine of 12 targets for 55 yards. Kamara has missed the past two games with ankle/knee injuries but is expected to play. “They’ve got good backs,” Jones said. “We’ve got to do what we’ve got to do.”
QB corner
Here’s Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan on the Saints:
Q: What’s the key to getting run game going against the Saints?
A: “It’s going to be a challenge for us. What we’ve got to focus on is taking care of our business and being the type of football team that we can be. We have not been that in the first half of the season. It’s a good opportunity for us to come out and hopefully play a little bit better brand of football.”
Q: What’s the new approach for the second half of the season?
A: “You know, it’s trying to win one football game. That’s my approach. This week is trying to stay present in what we’re doing right now ... trying to knock those wins out one in a row as we go. My focus isn’t really any further than just the opponent that we have this week.”
Q: Since coming into the league in 2008, what’s your view of the rivalry with the Saints?
A: “We have played them in all types of situations in my career. Both teams have been rolling some years and getting ready for the playoffs and some years we have been up and they have been down, while some we have been down and they have been up. It’s one of those games that you can throw that (team record) out.”