Atlanta Falcons: 4 Observations from 49ers Loss

Nov 8, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) looks for an open receiver before throwing a touchdown pass against the Atlanta Falcons during the second quarter at Levi

Where is the Pass Rush?

Seriously, where is it? The Atlanta Falcons played their only game on the West Coast this year and I thought the formidable Dan Quinn pass rush would sojourn down from the Pacific Northwest. That’s where it is, right?, because we surely haven’t seen it in Atlanta this season. Even if the vaunted pass rush is in Washington, it remains hidden like Sasquatch or a new arena deal to bring back the Sonics to the Emerald City.

Atlanta entered Sunday’s game with the third worst pass rush in all of football. Dan Quinn specializes in getting after the quarterback. The only time Atlanta got after Gabbert was when OLB Philip Wheeler had a clear shot at the 49ers quarterback and had a helmet to helmet hit. Hitting him literally anywhere would have been cool, Phil.

I knew the Gabbert had mobility and would make the most of his next opportunity as a starter. That Jacksonville team he was on was like being thrown into a lion’s den with only the long grey rods from your K’Nex set to defend yourself. He should start for the Niners after their bye.

That being said, the pass rush is the only area of this Atlanta Falcons’ team that has not seen improvement in 2015. Honestly, we all knew that this was an arduous task of Quinn’s to transform a toothless pass rush into fearsome front four. It’s still a work in progress to say the very least.

The only positive was that OLB Vic Beasley picked off Gabbert when he dropped back into coverage at one point. Maybe that’s the best way to use our first round pick, because he and the rest of the Atlanta Falcons pass rush are not getting it done.

Next: Special Teams Gave The Falcons a Chance