Is It Time For Atlanta Falcons To Clean House?
Clipped Wings
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
We all saw this coming from Week 1. The Atlanta Falcons lost again, falling to 1-7. How did we get to this point? Should we be surprised?
It’s been all downhill since the epic Super Bowl LI collapse. That is understandable since there is nowhere to go but down.
Kyle Shanahan was the offensive coordinator during that time. He left to take the head coach position in San Francisco.
The Atlanta offense has struggled since his departure. He currently has the 49ers at 7-0, the only undefeated team in the NFC.
Dirk Koetter has returned as offensive coordinator this season, after his first stint in Atlanta (2012-14). On paper, the offense is decent. Their ranked 7th in total offense, averaging 386 yards per game. They lead the league in passing offense. They are ranked 29th in rushing offense with 69 ypg.
We have grown accustomed to bad Falcons defense and this year is no different. They rank 27th in total defense, giving up 31 points and 380 ypg.
They were 28th last season. We know Dan Quinn got this job because he led a great defense in Seattle. That has not translated in Atlanta.
The Seahawks won 27-20 so the final score was close. Matt Ryan missed his first game in 10 years with an ankle injury. His streak of 154 consecutive regular-season starts ended.
They trailed 24-0 at halftime but they played considerably better in the second half.
“We have to come out for the second half of the season the way we came out for the second half of the game today,” Quinn said.
Seattle rushed for 151 yards. Atlanta has been outscored 144-50 in the first half this season. The Falcons have faced six double-digit halftime deficits.
Team owner Arthur Blank said after the game he will “take the next couple of weeks … and evaluate where we are” before reaching a decision on Quinn’s future. He said the record is “just not acceptable at any level.”
The offensive line has been a problem and the team tried to fix it in the draft. The team made a $150 million investment in Ryan, but they have to keep him upright and healthy.
The bad offensive line also makes it difficult to establish the run game. Losing running back Tevin Coleman in free agency was also a tough blow. I always thought he was better than Devonta Freeman and he’s having a better season.
In his last game against Carolina, Coleman rushed for 105 yards and 3 touchdowns. Freeman has not rushed for 90 yards in any game this year.
Kicking has also been an issue for the Falcons. Matt Bryant missed two field goals in the second quarter. In Week 6, he missed an extra point to tie the game in the final seconds against Arizona. He’s made 64% of his field goals in 2019. His career average is 86%.
The team is going into their bye week, so they will go about two weeks without losing another game.
They return Week 10 at New Orleans. The following week is at Carolina. They will be under dogs in both of those games.
At this point general manager Thomas Dimitroff and Quinn should be fired as soon as possible. They need to clean house and select the right player with the third pick in the upcoming draft.
