Simple Plan For Falcons
December 5th, 2015
This can’t happen again
You want a good feel for Falcons football? When Atlanta comfortably marched up and down the field on the Bucs last month, Julio Jones caught 12 balls on 13 targets for 162 yards and a touchdown.
Their next busiest wide receiver caught two balls for 24 yards.
That’s how the Falcons roll. They’re not balanced in the passing game.
Jones has 94 catches this season to 27 for Roddy White. And White has done his share of complaining. Falcons wide receiver Leonard Hankerson has caught 26 balls, but he won’t play Sunday with a hamstring injury.
Journeyman tight end Jacob Tamme has caught 44 balls, but 10 of those and his lone touchdown this season were against the Bucs on Nov. 1. It was his best game since 2010. He’s only a serious threat if the Bucs revert back to their inability to cover a tight end.
So much of the Bucs shutting down the Falcons will be about continuing their NFC best run defense (allowing just 3.5 yards per carry), and finding a way to keep Jones from lighting it up. The latter is the huge challenge.
Joe suspects cornerback Sterling Moore will get the call to shadow Jones all over the field. He was solid against Dez Bryant, so there’s hope.
December 5th, 2015 at 9:43 am
The plan is simple. We kill the Falcon.
December 5th, 2015 at 9:56 am
Going to the game tomorrow planning on parking at Al Lopez. Anyone want to invite a fellow Bucs fan to tailgate? I have my own beer and food just looking to hang with good people.
December 5th, 2015 at 10:13 am
1Gr8Buc head on over to the WTB! tailgate. Best around, period.
http://whatthebuc.net/tailgate/
December 5th, 2015 at 10:20 am
We won the first game with the Falcons because of turnovers, and 2 of those were outright gifts (center snaps?). They also had far more penalties than we did (124 yds for them vs only 43 for us).
But when they weren’t busy shooting themselves in the foot, the Falcons lit us up in the passing game (395 yds) and in time of possession (39 mins plus).
So here we face them a second time with potentially several key players out on defense (maybe GMC and Kwon?) and several others hurting. At least 3 keys to the game if the Bucs are to win:
1 – Force turnovers (and hope that the Falcons self-destruct a second time).
2 – Keep the penalties down (and hope that the Falcons self-destruct a second time).
3 – Win the time-of-possession battle (and keep the Falcons offense off the field).
Piece of cake. We just need Santa to come to Ray-Jay 3 weeks early.
December 5th, 2015 at 11:07 am
I agree with Defense Rules keys to the game, except I’d add to #3 that we need TD’s and not field goals at the end of those long drives.
December 5th, 2015 at 12:49 pm
The falcons were successful in the passing game the 1st meeting b/c the bucs CB’s were playing off and kept giving up the slant rant to Julio Jones, i say jam the Wr’s at the line to give your D-line a lil more time to try and get to Ryan.
December 5th, 2015 at 4:57 pm
We have been beaten all year on short slant over the middle passes. Our corners and LB-ers have played too far off the receivers. Let’s see if we can tighten up.
December 5th, 2015 at 5:36 pm
I think this will be a high scoring affair. We are gonna need jameis’s offense plus some field goals. To began with our Defense is up and down..more down without McCoy. All hands on deck. The Falcons are saying this is a, Must Win game for them. Lets see what our Bucs got without McCoy.
GO BUCS!
December 5th, 2015 at 7:57 pm
Brian thank you for the invite. Can’t wait to join everyone. What time does it start?
December 5th, 2015 at 11:45 pm
Not sure if people realize that Matty Ice had 45 pass attempts and 37 completions (82%) in the last game? That is astounding. Granted the former All-Pro Mike Jenkins was in coverage but that is not easy to do at this level. If not for the 4 turnovers the Dixie Chicks would have put a thumping on us. Sterling Moore (only 4 snaps vs Falcons last game) is the X factor and if this game is to be won, it lies on Moore’s shoulders. He must contain Julio.
December 6th, 2015 at 7:14 am
Since Gonzalez retired the Dixie Chicks have been too one diminensional.
I’m glad we don’t have to worry about him on top of Julio.
When we faced the Falcons last time it was right at the beginning of their slide.
They had only lost once to the Saints…Then gain some of their wins were not that impressive barely beating the Giants and the Skins two teams we should have whipped.
I think they are not playing with confidence right now and Matty Ice is struggling big time for the first time in a long, long time.
Ya gotta believe and right now that’s harder for the Falcons than the Bucs. I think the young Bucs are beginning to feel it. Today’s game will not just determine if we actually have a chance to sneak into the playoffs…I think it’s a pivotal game in the season and how we finish.