Jump to content

Shootout Next Sunday?


HoosierCat

Recommended Posts

With the gears on the Bengals' offense finally grinding into motion in the second half of today's game, and the return of Chris Henry looming, the leadoff of Don Bank's Snap Judgements column caught my eye. It's here:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=ArZF...i&type=lgns

Just to summarize, he notes that while the Falcons, thanks to Vick's newfound arm, have shown the ability to rack up points, the Atlanta defense is "suddenly a slice of ultra-thin Swiss cheese," having given up nearly 900 yards of offense and 65 points in the last two weeks.

I can easily see next weeks game turning into a track meet, a la that basketball game the Bengals and Browns played not long ago. In other words, this week I take the over. :lol:

I wonder what the chances are that Abraham and/or Coleman will be back for the game?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Looking at some reports out of Atlanta, it appears Coleman sprained a toe against the Giants, didn't practice all last week. Abraham apparently re-aggravated a groin injury in the same game (it was his first game back since getting hurt in week 1). My guess is that they will start off the week listed questionable.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'd love a shoot-out against this team. This was probably the most impressive passing game that Vick has had in his career (and it will be nearly impossible to duplicate on the road). But he still only threw for 232 yards, completed only 60% of his passes, and had 2 INT's.

This is the same team that although is 1st in rushing the ball, is dead last in passing. If this game turns into a shootout, they will find that they brought a knife to a gun-fight.

I imagine their whole game-plan is going to be to run the ball and keep Palmer on the sideline so it won't turn into a shoot-out... and if that isn't their game-plan, it should be. They gave up 418 passing yards to Roethlisberger/Batch. Palmer gets Henry back this week, and we're just getting warm? I can already taste it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Bengals scoring explosion starts this Sunday. I think we can strike early and often, and that'd take away the Falcons' biggest offensive strength - the running game.

Dunn is a quick back though, and his cutback ability will be a big challenge for the defense. They played their gaps all day against the Panthers, and Foster was in turn a non-factor. They better stay that technically sound against the Falcons.

Vick did have a better passing game than usual today, but he's too inconsistent for that to worry me much. If we can contain Crumpler, we should be fine. All his receivers struggle to get open even against single coverage.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Vick did have a better passing game than usual today, but he's too inconsistent for that to worry me much. If we can contain Crumpler, we should be fine. All his receivers struggle to get open even against single coverage.

Yeah... what the hell is up with that group of WR's? Three 1st round picks (Jenkins, White, Lelie) and they all stink. Everyone mocks Detroit for all their 1st round WR's... but at least they got Roy Williams out of it. Atlanta had three 1st rounders, and their only weapon is the TE.

Before today's game, they've only been averaging 16 points a game. They're going to get rushing yards. We're going to have to live with that... but we should be able to make them one-dimensional. If our offense can stay hot, and we get a 2 score lead, they'll have trouble coming from behind.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hate to make it simple, but the NFL has a pattern. The Falcons won an exhausting game against the Steelers at home. Now they go into the very cold Cincy stadium. I don't care how we've looked lately. If Pitt's crappy passing game can move on them like that then Cincy scores 50. Check the past games when Dexter Jackson played for Tampa. He knows how to handle Vick. Dex is quickly becoming the MVP of the D.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hate to make it simple, but the NFL has a pattern. The Falcons won an exhausting game against the Steelers at home. Now they go into the very cold Cincy stadium. I don't care how we've looked lately. If Pitt's crappy passing game can move on them like that then Cincy scores 50. Check the past games when Dexter Jackson played for Tampa. He knows how to handle Vick. Dex is quickly becoming the MVP of the D.

Rudi going 25 carries for 100+ yards will go a lot farther toward a Bengals win. Get the lead and grind it out. It's not pretty, it just wins.

Win time of possession and keep the D fresh. (and oh by the way keep Vick off the field).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is going to test our tackling. If we can prevent vick from running, i think we come out with a W.

Containing Vick and their running game = win....That's a hard thing to do though....We will have to win the shootout variety I think....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

They got to keep Vick in the pocket. Can't have any overpursuit by the DEs. The run defense will have a huge test vs. Dunn and Norwood even w/o contending w/ Vick on the ground and I would expect Norwood to run with more success. The zone blocking is going to be a chore for the defense and the D-line spacing had better not spread too thin like it did vs. Pats because the holes could get huge in a hurry all over again. And Norwood won't need much because he can 1 cut well w/ some power and flat out fly in space.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is the kind of game that actually concerns me. While we played better yesterday than the past coupled weeks, we can't come out with a lackluster offense in the first half like we did yesterday or it could get ugly quick. If we don't stop the run, we are in trouble. Their defense is still pretty good and their d-line is more than capable of putting pressure on Carson with our o-line not quite set.

That being said, if we come out playing like we did in the second half yesterday, we should have this game in hand. I would love to see a defensive effort containing the run and forcing the pass with our secondary. I want to also see what Henry is going to bring to this coming Sunday !!!

This is the game Chad has been looking forward to as well (D.Hall) so you never know. I think all that attention between those two is going to lead to many receptions for TJ and Henry !!!

WHODEY !!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is another team that doesn't blitz a lot. Only 2 of their 15 sacks come from guys that aren't D-Lineman. Our O-Line proved that we can match up with any front 4 in the NFL. The problem seems to be with complex blitzes out of the 3-4.

Also... 9 of their 16 sacks have come from guys who are currently battling injuries. It seems like all those guys will play, but it doesn't seem like any of them are 100%.

The question is going to be how Whitworth does against Abraham. This week it was Peppers against Anderson. We won that battle. Can Whitworth hold his own against Abraham? If he can, we should score a lot of points.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The question is going to be how Whitworth does against Abraham. This week it was Peppers against Anderson. We won that battle. Can Whitworth hold his own against Abraham? If he can, we should score a lot of points.

He won't have to be relied on that heavily....so long as Kenny Watson remains the 3rd down back. :sure: Watson will blow his a$$ up.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Picked up off the boards over on the falcons official site...

Kynan Forney - #65 - Guard - 6'3" - 307lbs

News: Falcons G Kynan Forney's shoulder may prevent him from playing again this week.

Impact: His shoulder reportedly popped out of its socket during Sunday's game. The Falcons are also missing starting G Matt Lehr, although their running game looked fine against Pittsburgh. (Mon. Oct 23, 2006)

John Abraham - #55 - Defensive End - 6'4" - 258lbs

News: Coach Jim Mora said DE John Abraham and DT Rod Coleman should return to the field in Week 8.

Impact: Atlanta heads to Cincinnati this week. It would be great news for Carson Palmer owners if either lineman misses this game. Atlanta's defensive line didn't play well against Pittsburgh. (Mon. Oct 23, 2006)

So, Atlanta will be down two starters on the o-line, same as us. The posters on the falcons board were surprised by the news of a Coleman return, thinking his turf toe injury would keep him out another week or two. Either way, tho, neither big name is likely to be 100%.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Vick floated a lot of passes in that game. If he does that against us, I bet we get atleast 2 picks.

I think Geathers should start over B-Rob in this game because I think Geathers speed will be more important than B-Rob's gap control in this game.

I disagree. A D-Lineman isn't going to catch Vick with his speed. Dexter knows what he's talking about... because he was part of the Buc defense that has had more success against him than anyone. It's not about running around chasing Vick... it's about letting him come to you. B-Rob is better in the run game than Geathers (although Geathers does appear to be improving), and since the Falcons have almost twice as many rushing yards as passing yards (which by the way, is a ridiculous stat considering how the NFL is becoming a passing league more and more), The proven run stoppers need to be in there as much as possible.

The Falcons are averaging 70 more rushng yards/game than any other team in the NFL, and are dead last in passing. They are not a balanced team... but are clearly the best rushing team in the NFL. If we can play smart football, and have everyone just do their job, rather than trying to do someone elses, they are stoppable. If we make mistakes though, they'll make us pay for it to the tune of over 200 yards rushing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You guys should handle the Falcons. Remember, the Steelers (as we have been doing all year) handed the Falcons the ball on OUR 20, 23, 26 & 23 again. Also, the Falcons got a TD off of a on-side kick in the 2nd quarter. Bottom line, don't fumble punt returns and snaps deep in your own territory and you will beat this team.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You guys should handle the Falcons. Remember, the Steelers (as we have been doing all year) handed the Falcons the ball on OUR 20, 23, 26 & 23 again. Also, the Falcons got a TD off of a on-side kick in the 2nd quarter. Bottom line, don't fumble punt returns and snaps deep in your own territory and you will beat this team.

Agreed. In fact, said another way, any good team will typically beat any other good team by not turning the ball over to them. As I am completely tired of folks making excuses about 'giving games away', I will go a bit further and include the amount of turnovers a team commits as being related to how truly good a team is. If you think your team is 'good', yet turns the ball over 4 times per game ... well ... uh ... last I checked, 'good teams' simply do not do that on any regular basis. Just tired of hearing VARIOUS teams claim to 'give games away' and 'the better team didn't win' (as Willie Parker said concerning the Bengals game earlier this year). Uh, 'better teams' do not commit 4 turnovers a game. Period.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You guys should handle the Falcons. Remember, the Steelers (as we have been doing all year) handed the Falcons the ball on OUR 20, 23, 26 & 23 again. Also, the Falcons got a TD off of a on-side kick in the 2nd quarter. Bottom line, don't fumble punt returns and snaps deep in your own territory and you will beat this team.

Interesting. I didn't know that. I didn't see a single snap of that game until the Bengals game was over. Looking at the drive chart the Falcons needed less than 30 yards in 3 of their 5 TD's, and another where they needed only 51 yards. That is terrible from the Steelers persepective. You can't give a team that many easy TD opportunities.

As long as we can do a better job in the field position battle, we should be fine at home. Especially if our offense is really getting into a groove. I mean... the Steelers had 27 1st downs and almost 500 yards!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...