Giants Vs. Falcons: Scouting Report & Game Plan
Dec 28, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) runs against Carolina Panthers middle linebacker Luke Kuechly (59) during the second quarter at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
The Atlanta Falcons favor three personnel packages. They are quite balanced in their 21 personnel (2 backs one tight end) and they like to pass out of 11 personnel (1 back, 1 Tight end meaning three receivers). They also like to operate mildly out of 12 personnel. I think the reason they run such a high percentage of plays with 2 backs in the backfield is because their concerns with the offensive line. In 21 personnel the Falcons have a balanced attack of pass and run.
They love to run the football to set up play action passes. Tevin Coleman, a rookie out of Indiana, had 80 rushing yards on 20 attempts. This offense is going to keep the Giants guessing, that’s what they do. The Falcons run mostly a zone blocking scheme. Penetration on the play side can really bust up the Falcons rushing attempts as their offensive line doesn’t have ideal quickness. Their shotgun running is very slow to develop and should be easily stopped.
Matt Ryan is a pretty good athlete who can run for a first down on the bootlegs that the Falcons like to run so much. The Falcons like to give themselves three options on these play-action passing plays. They like to have Julio Jones go deep, Roddy White be the intermediate option and have the fullback or tight end be the option in the flat. More times than not Ryan will go with the intermediate pass.
The Falcons love feeding the football to Jones. Multiple times out of 21 personnel, Ryan would just take 1 and a half steps and fire a bullet to Jones on a quick slant. It is a hard play to defend because Jones is so quick with the route and Ryan is even quicker with the throw. The Falcons will run screens out to Jones, anything they can do to get him the ball in the open field, they will do it. If there is a flaw with the passing game it is that Ryan will force balls to Jones even when it isn’t there.
The Falcons defense was surprisingly strong against the Eagles fast paced offense. The Giants offensive line is going to have their hands full blocking guys like Johnathan Babineaux and Vic Beasley to block. The Falcons were very stingy against the run in week one, which was something they struggled with last season. This week two game will be the moment of truth for the Falcons defense. Are they as tough as they looked in week one or did the Eagles miscues make them look strong.
The defensive standouts in the past week were Desmond Trufant and Justin Durant. Trufant is a tough cornerback with exceptional coverage skills. The Giants are familiar with Durant who is a linebacker that used to play for the Dallas Cowboys. Durant was all over the field in the first game of the season.
Next: Defensive Game Plan