From packets and rundowns to re-watching every rep on video, the Atlanta Falcons have a clear strategy for progress during the bye week. The Atlanta Falcons’ bye week is a respite by definition, but not in practice.
Despite suffering their biggest loss in three years on Sunday, a 38-6 setback to the Denver Broncos (6-5), the Falcons (6-5) returned home with a 1.5-game lead in the NFC South. However, Atlanta, which is 1-4 versus teams above.500, may have more concerns than answers, and it now has a week to solve an issue that is more urgent than its record shows.
“How do we fix it?” quarterback Kirk Cousins stated. “That is to be determined. These are crucial discussions that must continue, and only time will tell. We’ll look back to see how those queries were answered.”
The Falcons’ number one priority is in the medical room. Head coach Raheem Morris believes Cousins (right shoulder, right elbow) and receiver Darnell Mooney (hamstring) will benefit physically from the week off. Several players on or just removed from injured reserve, including starting center Drew Dalman and rotational defenders Ruke Orhorhoro and DeMarcco Hellams, will either return to the field or be close to doing so.
However, health cannot disguise a defense that ranks 25th or lower in the league in overall defense, passing defense, scoring, and sacks. It also does not have a direct impact on an offense that has suffered many self-inflicted wounds in the red zone and has not thrown a passing touchdown in two games.
The Falcons’ coaching staff, as it does every week, will assess everything in all aspects. Bijan Robinson, a star running back, stated Monday that he will do the same thing, observing every run, throw, and pass protection rep in which he is on the field. Robinson and teammate running back Tyler Allgeier will examine film together to look for small improvements, such as pressuring rushing lanes or finding ways to open up for Cousins in the passing game.
“It’s more so like, ‘What could I have done better?'” Robinson said. “Chase the hole a little longer, if I should have cut back into slots, where can I see where the defense ends up, or how do they flow? Because I feel like that’s what kind of takes my game to the next level.
“Just understanding the whole picture of the offense and not just knowing what I could do.”
Atlanta’s coaches help in this process, too. Morris said the staff will make a packet with information dating back to the Falcons’ mini bye week after their Thursday Night Football victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The packets show different blocks of the season and contains key information regarding areas of improvement for each phase. Morris, meanwhile, wants the bigger picture.
He considers it a nuanced rundown broken into sections. There’s normal down and distance, be it first-and-10 or second-and-one through six. Then, the packet goes to “get back on track” downs, such as second-and-seven-plus. Defensively, that process includes looking at how to affect the opposing quarterback.
Third down buckets follow — from third-and-short and third-and-medium to third-and-long and third-and-extra-long. The Falcons also look at situational settings, including red zone and two-minute drives.
Morris said it’s essentially like walking oneself through a normal week of preparation, but the packet and rundowns are put together with information from the past six weeks.
“Now you can go out and see what you really did well, what you didn’t do that you like,” Morris said. “What can you fix? How can you help those situations? What can be helped? What can’t be helped? What do you got to overcompensate for?
“All of those things got to come into place with those things.”
Some of these discussions happen together. Others occur separately, providing a window for coaches to form their own views and bring back different ideas surrounding a variety of players.
But these specific conversations, Morris said, don’t include the players.
“When they come back, you make it learnable and likable for those guys to be able to absorb those things better to go out there and execute,” Morris said. “The better and better you see those guys go out and play, the more things you can give them, the things you want to give them, and how you want to give it to them.”
Robinson stated that the bye week learning process is not difficult. Morris even went so far as to call it entertaining, especially given the Falcons’ status as NFC South leaders with a clear path to the playoffs. However, in order to capitalize on the chance that awaits them after the bye week, the Falcons must first find answers. Without an answer, the question becomes moot.
In some ways, Atlanta’s roster is set in stone. Becoming healthy is beneficial, but the Falcons understand who they are and what they have — though Morris believes there are other real solutions accessible.
“Some of it is a scheme. Some of it involves putting players in different positions. “Some of it is doing different things across the board,” Morris explained. “I believe everything will
be considered and perhaps applied to our future expedition. “We will do whatever is necessary to win football games. I know my teammates upstairs and on the football team are willing to do all of those things. I’m really confident in all of those things.
The Falcons’ undermanned but sluggish effort in Denver resulted in their first losing streak of the season. The sky, however, is not falling in Atlanta.
Morris remarked Sunday evening that the game will not define the Falcons; no single effort will. However, it activated warning sirens, highlighting the urgency with which Atlanta requires solutions.
Morris described the 32-point setback as a difficult day for the players, coaches, and organization. But the Falcons, he claims, are built on tough individuals.
Morris anticipates that his staff will respond appropriately after a week of relaxing, reenergizing, and spending time with family.
“Everything’s still right in front of us,” says Morris, “and I think that’s the most important thing for everybody to know.”
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