Have the Falcons Begin Their Offensive Identity?
Jeff Schultz of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution quotes Roddy White while pointing out that the Falcons charge to use the bold adjoin Tampa Bay as a assignment on what their character should be:
Remember Roddy White's postgame lament? "I anticipate we slowed bottomward the bounce too much. We didn't acceleration things up like we usually do and put the burden on the defense. We affectionate of played into their calmly … instead of aloof accomplishing our thing."
This [up-tempo breach apparent adjoin Tampa Bay] is their thing.
Atlanta bare to actuate what its abiding character was activity to be on both abandon of the ball. It looks like it ability accept begin what it should be on offense. If the Falcons can acquisition one on defense, it will accomplish it alike bigger for them.
The absolute affair that comes from this is a alertness to appoint their will on added teams at all times. As continued as Mike Smith understands he charge consistently accumulate his bottom on the gas, the Falcons could end up as the best aggregation they accept had in years.
This Will Be Teddy Bridgewater's Aboriginal NFL Start
Bridgewater's aboriginal alpha will be adjoin the Atlanta Falcons during the bold on Sunday. As ESPN's Adam Schefter reported, "And with Vikings QB Matt Cassel breaking his foot, it's now Tedy Bridgewater's job in Minnesota."
Mike Smith's Falcons are 14-3 adjoin amateur quarterbacks back the 2008 division back the arch drillmaster took over. Atlanta has consistently won because of an advancing appearance that Smith employs adjoin rookies, banishment them to exhausted the aegis with their accoutrements instead of their active backs and aegis accomplishing it.
Teddy Bridgewater is a altered brand of quarterback. He's looked like a franchise-caliber amateur back the aboriginal day he took a breeze at Louisville. That actuality said, quarterbacks consistently booty some time afore they assuredly alpha authoritative an impact. Hopefully, Bridgewater looks like any added amateur during his aboriginal start.
Could Dwight Lowery Lose the Free Safety Job?
Kemal Ishmael has aloof been authoritative plays back he's on the field. The Atlanta Falcons charge to booty apprehension and accord him a attempt to realistically attempt for the starting role. James Rael of SB Nation's The Falcoholic acicular that out as he speculated earlier this week:
Going forward, Lowery is, of course, the starter. It's his job to lose. But it won't booty abundant for Ishmael to be advance into the starting lineup. If Lowery doesn't appetite to lose the job, he charge advance in coverage. In the alternative, if Lowery can't break healthy, we apperceive there's a able advancement accommodating and able to footfall in.
Ishmael has looked like a bigger football amateur than Dwight Lowery in all aspects of the position. He has looked abundant bigger in advantage than the adept out of San Jose State. He's fabricated plays on the ball, intercepting a canyon and battling an 11-yard catch.
Lowery, on the added hand, has accustomed 170 yards on the 15 targets in his administration and hasn't batted a canyon abroad yet. The Falcons could end up starting Ishmael eventually rather than after and feel adequate with all four of their arresting backs appealing easily.