The Atlanta Falcons shot themselves in the foot last Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks. The Falcons had three turnovers, and committed nine penalties for 72 yards. Most of the Falcons penalties were drive killers for the offense, and penalties that prevented the defense from getting off the field.
Kirk Cousins’ sack fumble that was returned for a touchdown by Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall completely changed the game as well, so when The Morning Shift asked former Atlanta Falcons Quarterback and now analyst for the Atlanta Falcons Radio Network Dave Archer what he wants to see from the Falcons offense on Sunday versus the Buccaneers his answer wasn’t complicated.
“Well first of all Mike I’d like them to just do what they’re capable of doing. You know if Drake London is running and in cut and the ball is like six inches above his head when he elevates to catch the football he can’t let it go through his hands and get it picked off by the safety that’s behind him. Kirk Cousins can’t think that he’s Lamar Jackson and try to skate out of the pocket and try to do something he’s probably not capable of doing and get the ball raked out, then scooped and scored, so just do the things you’re capable of doing and take attention to detail” Archer said.
Dave also said that the Falcons’ offense is going to have to have a “crafty” game and not only have a good day throwing the ball, but a good game running the football as well.
“It’s gonna have to be a crafty game where you’re gonna pick some of the things that you did really well last time, which was throwing the football, but you gotta get the run game going too against these guys, so they can’t just tee off and rush the passer.” Arch said.
Dave finished his thought by saying “Attention to detail has to be there, hand placement on blocks, catching the football, don’t try to do something you’re not capable of doing those kind of things.”
Running the ball, stopping the run, protecting the quarterback, and rushing the passer are obviously all necessary things that a team has to do when it comes to winning a football game, but those things start to not matter as much when you don’t play clean football and have penalties and turnovers, so Dave is absolutely right because injuries or no injuries if the Falcons don’t play clean against the Buccaneers on Sunday in Tampa Bay it’ll most likely be a long day for the Falcons that ends in a loss.