Some post game thoughts - Offense Edition
General 1st half sloppiness I wouldn't put down just to Bradford's rust. Was more of a whole unit issue. Tried to hit back shoulder/stop type routes once each to Huff (didn't turn around) and Agholor (timing, positioning off) and both times I thought it was there and the mistakes were on the WR.
On the 3rd down play in the first series Ertz on a corner route was looking over his inside shoulder for the ball when Bradford correctly put it outside.
OL played badly across the board in the 1st half. On the play where Murray lost yards back almost to the goalline, Lane Johnson and Andrew Gardner both whiffed their blocks about as badly as you could. Peters had problems with Vic Beasley, got cleanly beaten around the corner a couple of times and didn't have him under control on some other plays.
Regular responsibility confusion with guys unblocked while two players go to 2nd level etc. Gardner struggles to position himself at the 2nd level and on screen plays. Reguarly couldn't find a target in space. Gardner does do a solid job as an inline blocker on run plays.
Kelce and Babre both blocked nobody on a WR screen to Matthews at Q2 6:20 that only gained 3.
Great blocks by Johnson and Kelce on Murray's TD run at Q3 13:20. Johnson made contact and then turned his man inside with strength and footwork to give Murray the edge. Gardner did a good job pinning his man inside.
Ertz couldn't single block #50 on an Inside Zone for Sproles at Q1 2:38 and the play got stuffed for no gain. He lost #50 again in pass pro at Q3 6:30 and gave up a pressure as Bradford rolled right before finding Austin.
Beasley beat Peters outside on a play with :23 left in Q1 for a hit on Bradford.
Overall, pass protection improved significantly in the 2nd half, but Chip never came back to the run plays to see if that translated.
Great blocks by Johnson and Kelce with solid assists from Gardner, Babre and Tobin (in for 1 play) on Sproles 27yd run at Q3 4:46
Tried some kind of misdirection run play at Q3 4:16, with Kelce pulling right and Peters going left. Falcons didn't bite and shut it down.
Gardner gave up a QB hit at Q3 3:46 on the TD throw to Murray.
Nice throw in a tight spot to Huff for 13yds at Q1 5:50, he'd started the throw before Huff turned, then took a gang to bring Huff down.
Good, quick decision on the seam throw to Austin on the same series, ball was slightly overthrown but could have been caught. Nice pass pro from Murray on the same play. Came across the formation and stoned #71.
Confident sideline throw in a tight spot to Matthews for 25y at Q2 9.53
Awful drop by Ryan Mathews @ Q2 8.59, wide open.
Tried a tight throw to Ertz at the goalline @ Q2 7.28. Ball placed outside away from the S but Ertz couldn't turn or reach back for it.
#25 was squatting on the inside of Ertz route on the INT waiting for the throw and jumped on it. Mental mistake from Bradford there. Ignored Matthews wide open in the right flat, with 1:05 and 1 timeout left, got greedy for a throw that wasn't there.
After the pick by Thurmond, could have taken a shot to Cooper for a TD at Q3 13:25 as he cleared the LB. He had inside position on the CB and the S was far enough away, but went incomplete underneath to Murray instead. Also could have had a short gain to Celek open in the right flat. Until now there hadn't been a read I disagreed with.
Great throw under pressure to Matthews at Q4 9:11 to get to the 1yd line. Kelce's man cut Bradford in half just as he threw the ball, saw it coming and made the throw.
Kelce got beat badly on the Mathews TD run on the next play too. Babre got away with a hold on Kelce's man before he pushed Mathews in to the EZ.
Nice blocking by all 6 including the Gardner coming off the combo block to push the attacking MLB out of the hole on an Inside Zone to Sproles for 11yd at Q4 4:32.
Terrible, unnecessary hold by Kelce to wipe out a 25yd gain at Q4 4:15. He made a couple of nice highlight blocks in space but overall this was not his best game. This play, as well as Mathews drop obviously were huge in determining the outcome.
On the 3rd and 1 at Q4 3:14, Falcons schemed the MLB free to attak the hole. 2 DL slanted inside, Kelce picked up the DT, Gardner the DE. Johnson picked up the OLB and the MLB looped and hit the G/T gap unblocked before Mathews did. That's the downside to short yardage runs from shotgun, gives directional keys.
Chip seemed indecisive on whether to go for it or not and IMO the kick was rushed. Who knows? It missed.
Overall everybody on O was sloppy early but improved as the game went on. I liked Bradford's game much better on this viewing that I did live. Only two plays where I would question his choice, and one slight overthrow to Austin on that seam route. Take away the pick and it was almost a perfect game.
The Falcons D played a mix of Cover 3 and single high man. Very disciplined in coverage, nothing got behind them, no busts and there were really no deep shots to be had.
Definitely not. Glad to see people enjoy those posts is all. Carry on...
