Falcons vs. Bengals: This week’s big question revolves around the safeties For all the questions facing the Falcons both now and in the
future
Customized Atlanta Falcons Jerseys , few loom large than safety play. Atlanta has significant room for improvement in terms of their pass rush, need to figure out
if Wes Schweitzer can hold up all year at left guard, and will keep a watchful
eye on Duke Riley’s development, but the hits have been heaviest at a position
that just four weeks ago featured Keanu Neal and Ricardo Allen.With both of
those high-end players lost for the year, the Falcons will turn to Damontae
Kazee and Jordan Richards to start, with Keith Tandy and Sharrod Neasman waiting
in the wings in case they’re needed. There is no universe in which this isn’t a
real downgrade, even if Kazee has shown real promise and quality play through
2.25 weeks thus far, and those safeties will be tested almost immediately this
week against Cincinnati.Why? Cincinnati’s set to be minus A.J. Green,
potentially, but have solid tight ends and a capable receiving back in Giovanni
Bernard. Those TEs and Bernard figure to see plenty of Kazee and Richards, and
Richards in particular is a well-known liability in coverage the Bengals will be
keen to exploit. Again
www.authenticsatlantafalcons.com , Kazee should be fine. There are hiccups to be expected with a young player, but
my concern is with how Richards will hold up. Chances are he won’t get too many
weeks as a starter if he can’t hold steady early on, so this will be a pivotal
game for him. If he falters and falters badly—and if Neasman and/or Tandy do the
same if they get into the game—the Falcons are in trouble again on defense, and
will likely have to face more uncomfortable questions about their unwillingness
to try to substantially upgrade the position.So watch those safeties, is what
I’m saying, and Jordan Richards in particular. The Atlanta Falcons are 1-3 and
facing another tough challenge this week.Coach Dan Quinn, in his fourth season,
has been in this situation before and still led the Falcons to the playoffs."My
guess is in December and January we'll look back on these games much like we do
in past years," Quinn said Monday. "In '17 we had a tough stretch with Buffalo,
Miami and New England, or the year before in the opener when the sky was falling
externally. I want you to know inside it's not."Quinn insists the Falcons have
the right mindset to turn the season around
Atlanta Falcons T-Shirt , but their defense must make some quick fixes if Atlanta is to stop a two-game skid with a victory Sunday at Pittsburgh. The Falcons gave
up 80 points the last two weeks at home, allowing New Orleans and Cincinnati to
overcome late deficits in the closing seconds."The best thing about our team is
the attitude that they're in it for one another and the togetherness that it's
going to take," Quinn said. "We'll just throw all of our focus, all of our
attention right into right now, and that'll be this week's preparation. But I
will say you've got to learn from these."Injuries have caused matchup problems
for the defense. Starting safeties Keanu Neal and Ricardo Allen are out for the
season, and middle linebacker Deion Jones, the defensive captain, had foot
surgery and will miss at least the next six weeks.The Falcons have plugged in
Damontae Kazee at strong safety. He took 73 snaps, tied with cornerback Robert
Alford for the most on Sunday, and had his first career interception. Rookie
Isaiah Oliver, a second-round draft pick
Atlanta Falcons Hats , made his first career start and manned both free safety and cornerback.The loss of Neal and Allen hurt most against the Bengals when the
Falcons lined up in nickel. Longtime starting cornerback Desmond Trufant,
usually a regular on the left side, moved to the slot while Brian Poole went
from nickel to safety and Oliver went to left cornerback.It all unraveled on the
last drive.With 1:30 remaining, defensive end Vic Beasley sacked Andy Dalton to
force and recover a fumble, but the ruling was changed and Cincinnati kept the
ball. Trufant dropped an interception on the next play and defended a third-down
pass before Tyler Boyd beat him for a fourth-down catch to the Atlanta 24.After
Boyd and Dalton beat Trufant for another fourth-down completion, the Bengals
used their last timeout with 12 seconds remaining. They had no choice but to
throw the ball into the end zone on the next play. That way, if it wasn't
successful, they would get a chance at one last snap.Defensive coordinator
Marquand Manual quickly switched the Falcons from man to zone coverage, which
might have worked if Oliver hadn't let A.J. Green streak behind him and emerge
wide open for the winning catch.It was a big mistake, leaving a rookie with a
chance to be out of position against Green, a seven-time Pro Bowl selection."In
that moment
Atlanta Falcons Hoodie , in that part of the field, you want (Oliver) to play it from high to low," Quinn said. "As opposed to a communication error, that was a
technique error. Those scars aren't fun."Quinn was also disappointed that Dalton
threw a pair of easy TD passes in the first half when Tyler Eifert and John Ross
were wide open."Correction-wise we allowed two touchdowns on two-seam routes,
and we know that we certainly haven't seen that happen against our defense and
the style that we play," Quinn said. "So for us to foul up those two, that part
we know we can get corrected."NOTES: Quinn hopes that RB Devonta Freeman and DE
Derrick Shelby will be full participants when the Falcons return to practice
Wednesday. Freeman has missed three straight games with a right knee injury.
Shelby has been out two games with a groin injury. DT Grady Jarrett is still
being evaluated after leaving the final drive with an ankle injury.
