Atlanta Falcons to Test Offense Against Jets D

The Atlanta Falcons have a tremendous opportunity to showcase their new-look offense against an overall sound defense in the New York Jets Friday night when the Dirty Birds travel to the Meadowlands to play Gang Green at their place.

Since 2011 when Julio Jones came to Atlanta with the 6th overall pick, the Atlanta Falcons have had one of the best passing attacks in the NFL.  Led by QB Matt Ryan and wideouts Jones and veteran Roddy White, Atlanta can put up points in a hurry with their vaunted aerial attack.

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Coincidentally, 2011 was the last season that the Atlanta Falcons had competence with their running game as that was the last year of prime RB Michael Turner.  Since 2012, the Falcons have struggled mightily to move the chains and keep the clock running with their lackluster ground game.

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To have a better, more balanced offensive game plan, new HC Dan Quinn brought to Flowery Branch seasoned OC Kyle Shanahan and his proven zone blocking scheme from the shores of Lake Erie.  Quinn hopes that Shanahan’s ZBS will allow the Atlanta Falcons’ offensive line to become more of the aggressor and effectively run block and pass protect in the new offensive scheme.

While the first-team offense methodically orchestrated an efficient first drive against the Tennessee Titans at home last Friday night in the first preseason game, a real first test will come against the strong defense assembled by Todd Bowles‘ New York Jets.

Even when the Jets are bad, their defense has still been a point of pride for the organization the last decade or so.  With players like CBs Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie, not to mention the entire front four of the Gang Green Defense, how the Atlanta Falcons perform on Friday Night at MetLife Stadium should indicate how balanced the offense is against a top-flight defense in the NFL.

I don’t doubt that Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, and Roddy White will make plays in the first quarter moving the ball vertically.  Ryan is a Top 10 passer than can find ways to make plays even against two great man-cover corners like Revis and Cromartie.

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Where I have a great deal of concern is how the offensive line plays against the likes of Sheldon Richardson, Muhammad Wilkerson, and 6th overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft Leonard Williams.  Can Jake Matthews, Ryan Schraeder and the other offensive tackles keep Matt Ryan, T.J. Yates, and Sean Renfree upright in the pocket?  Will Joe Hawley, Chris Chester, James Stone, and the rest of the interior offensive line play with enough conviction to establish dynamism in the running game?

Expecting the Atlanta Falcons’ quarterbacks to not fall victim to a sack is highly unlikely against Todd Bowles’ New York Jets defense.  I’d love to see either or both Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman get at least a few carries against a deep front seven like the Jets in Preseason Week 2.  If Atlanta wants to win its second preseason game, the RB corps will need to average more than 3 yards per carry, something that didn’t happen against Tennessee.

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I think a great focal point for the quarterbacks to attack the Jets D is with the tight ends.  So long as Ryan, Yates, and Renfree can deliver catchable balls to Jacob Tamme, Tony Moeaki, and Levine Toilolo, I feel that the Atlanta Falcons can exploit the Jets linebackers with timely catches in the middle of the field.

Though it’s only the second preseason game, this contest with the New York Jets will illustrate where the Atlanta Falcons are in their conversion to Shanahan’s ZBS.  How Atlanta plays in the short-to-medium passing game as well as if the running game is effectively will decide where the team needs to improve to play its best offensively against good competition.

Next: Ricardo Allen: From Practice Squad to Starting FS?

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