[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”]
[et_pb_row admin_label=”row”]
[et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”]

Notifications

Clear all

The Falcons' offense will test the Chargers' defensive achilles heel

Ryan Watkins · 2024-12-01T15:35:07Z

Coming off the back of conceding 64 points over the last two weeks , it appears that the hype around Jesse Minter's defense has started to fade away. The tape shows a different story, Minter has called good games and it has been more of a lack of talent and depth in certain positions that has meant his unit have lost fine margin battles against two of the best offenses in the league. By no means has it been all on the players and entering into a game against the Atlanta Falcons, Minter has a chance to show how he can overcome what seems like a bad matchup. At a high level, a betting man would look at the form of the both teams and question why the spread is set at a single point in favor of the Bolts. Atlanta just got smacked 38-6 by the Denver Broncos, the same team that the Chargers handed a 23-16 loss to a few weeks earlier. Both affairs were not close contests from the first snap to the last and on paper, it seems like a mistake from the bookmakers to have the line at a virtual coin flip.That is not how the NFL works though, it is a week-by-week league where any team can win on any given Sunday. Just look at the pathetic 2-9 Las Vegas Raiders taking the 10-1 Kansas City Chiefs all the way to the last play before Patrick Mahomes' deal with the devil kicked in again to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. So, why is the line in this week's game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium so narrow especially given that the Falcons have a bottom five defense? The answer is that the failings of the Chargers' defense over the past two weeks are exactly where the Falcons can hurt you. Zac Robinson, Atlanta's offensive coordinator, has a system that wants to do one thing: stretch you out across to defend the whole field. This applies to both how they run the ball and how they pass the ball. Ground Game On the ground they run a heavy dose of zone concepts as they want to get their offensive line blocking in one direction which is something the Chargers have not dealt with well over the past two games. The Chargers' front has earned decent penetration on the front side of these looks with Poona Ford and Teair Tart finding ways to slice through the angled blocks but the backside is where the problems start as Otito Ogbonnia, Scott Matlock and Justin Eboigbe have struggled with how to pursue the runners whilst still maintaining their gap integrity. On this example against the Ravens on Monday night Matlock failed to read the line shift and it cost him the chance to penetrate the backfield or cut off the backside lane so Henry couldn't press inside.This play illustrates why linebackers matter despite what the media groupthink has been trying to pedal in recent years. Derwin forces the fullback block which means that Henley has to hit the outside shoulder of the tight end as he has a backside fill coming his way in Niemann. Instead he tries to shoot the gap which would have been fine if the tight end didn't have a free release due to Derwin forcing the issue from a wide alignment. Which player was wrong here I can't say as I don't know the exact run fit principles but needless to say if the front is not in cohesion, this stuff will happen again. Injuries have forced Jesse Minter into playing Troy Dye and Nick Niemann in base looks as Denzel Perryman is out again to add to Junior Colson being on IR and even the only remaining starter, Daiyan Henley, is carrying an injury which could limit his snaps. Together these absences and limitations have put the Bolts in spots they don't want to be in against a Falcons' interior line group which has become the lifeblood of their offense. "The Falcons were on a bye this week, but Chris Lindstrom retained his lead atop the run-blocking grades for guards. His 93.4 is made up of 90.0-plus grades in zone and man blocking." - PFF Chris Lindstrom, their All-pro right guard, is playing at an elite level but the two lesser known names of Drew Dalman and Matthew Bergeron have flashed as young players to watch in the future as they grow into their scheme. All of this meshes will with who they have in the backfield with Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier being put in a position to expose the creases their line create for them in very different ways. In the example below you can see Bijan path to the second level by some great reach block from the center and a solid climb from the left guard. To give a back that talented , that much space is a killer.After this play the Broncos contained Robinson in check for 13 carries and only 44 yards, they adjusted quickly to have their outside linebackers play hard off the edge and they had Zach Allen causing chaos on the backside every single play. Both these moves allowed their off ball front players like Justin Strnad and Cody Barton to fire through gaps early. Jesse Minter's defense is likely not going to be able to do the same thing as the linebackers haven't shown they can do this and if they play overly aggressive, the other part of the Falcons' attack will come...

Page 5 / 15 Prev Next

Scheme Breakdowns

Last Post by GBGH 1 year ago

280 Posts

12 Users

5 Reactions

16.7 K Views

RSS

Posts: 2273

Buck Melanoma

Dec 01, 2024 11:58 am

(@buck-melanoma)

Famed Member

Joined: 2 years ago

It's McConkey or nothing today.

Where the fuck is Chark? He can't crack this lineup???

Comment

Family. Trust. Respect.

2 Replies

NickCoulter

(@nickcoulter)

Joined: 2 years ago

Estimable Member

Posts: 232

Dec 01, 2024 11:59 am

Reply to

Buck Melanoma

I'm not giving up on QJ yet.

Comment

Buck Melanoma

(@buck-melanoma)

Joined: 2 years ago

Famed Member

Posts: 2273

Dec 01, 2024 12:01 pm

Reply to

NickCoulter

Me either but that doesn't prevent Chark from getting snaps.

Comment

Family. Trust. Respect.

Posts: 714

Smith

Dec 01, 2024 11:59 am

(@smith)

Prominent Member

Joined: 2 years ago

I’d like to see some semblance of game from QJ, Palmer, Chark, and/or Davis, but damn, a 7-92 first half for Ladd is incredible.

Comment

An enthusiasm unknown to mankind!

1 Reply

Buck Melanoma

(@buck-melanoma)

Joined: 2 years ago

Famed Member

Posts: 2273

Dec 01, 2024 12:00 pm

Reply to

Smith

And injured too.

Comment

Family. Trust. Respect.

Posts: 714

Smith

Dec 01, 2024 12:01 pm

(@smith)

Prominent Member

Joined: 2 years ago

Oh, good. Haskins in for 3rd and 8.

Comment

An enthusiasm unknown to mankind!

Posts: 2273

Buck Melanoma

Dec 01, 2024 12:03 pm

(@buck-melanoma)

Famed Member

Joined: 2 years ago

Setting up for Dicker again.

Comment

Family. Trust. Respect.

Posts: 714

Smith

Dec 01, 2024 12:03 pm

(@smith)

Prominent Member

Joined: 2 years ago

Amazingly, Bolts will win ToP in the first half. Didn’t think it possible after that opening drive.

Comment

An enthusiasm unknown to mankind!

Posts: 232

NickCoulter

Dec 01, 2024 12:04 pm

(@nickcoulter)

Estimable Member

Joined: 2 years ago

DPI on Johnston not called. Defender was holding both arms down.

Comment

3 Replies

Buck Melanoma

(@buck-melanoma)

Joined: 2 years ago

Famed Member

Posts: 2273

Dec 01, 2024 12:05 pm

Reply to

NickCoulter

Maybe if he'd fight a little harder in those situations he'd get a call. He doesn't contest much at all.

Comment

Family. Trust. Respect.

NickCoulter

(@nickcoulter)

Joined: 2 years ago

Estimable Member

Posts: 232

Dec 01, 2024 12:06 pm

Reply to

Buck Melanoma

Agree.

Comment

Smith

(@smith)

Joined: 2 years ago

Prominent Member

Posts: 714

Dec 01, 2024 12:07 pm

Reply to

NickCoulter

I’m on radio, so I didn’t see it. I usually wait for Daniel Jeremiah to go ape shit on calls like that. He was quiet on that one.

Comment

An enthusiasm unknown to mankind!

Posts: 714

Smith

Dec 01, 2024 12:04 pm

(@smith)

Prominent Member

Joined: 2 years ago

QJ and Herbert not on the same page. Crap.

Comment

An enthusiasm unknown to mankind!

Posts: 2273

Buck Melanoma

Dec 01, 2024 12:04 pm

(@buck-melanoma)

Famed Member

Joined: 2 years ago

Better than a swift kick in the ass. 🫤

Comment

Family. Trust. Respect.

3 Replies

Smith

(@smith)

Joined: 2 years ago

Prominent Member

Posts: 714

Dec 01, 2024 12:06 pm

Reply to

Buck Melanoma

To be ahead in a game where they’re being completely outplayed is a comfort, but an awfully cold one.

Comment

An enthusiasm unknown to mankind!

Buck Melanoma

(@buck-melanoma)

Joined: 2 years ago

Famed Member

Posts: 2273

Dec 01, 2024 12:07 pm

Reply to

Smith

Yeah....is it sustainable?

Comment

Family. Trust. Respect.

NickCoulter

(@nickcoulter)

Joined: 2 years ago

Estimable Member

Posts: 232

Dec 01, 2024 12:09 pm

Reply to

Smith

The stats don't support that at all. Chargers are leading in almost every category.

Comment

Posts: 404

Arne-sixpakfrombelgium

Dec 01, 2024 12:07 pm

(@arne-sixpakfrombelgium)

Reputable Member

Joined: 2 years ago

Would have loved to see a TD there. Don't know why but I've been having a bad feeling about this game all day. Probably just a mental preemptive coping mechanism kicking in. Being a Chargers fan since 2009 sure has done a number on me Smile

Comment

2 Replies

NickCoulter

(@nickcoulter)

Joined: 2 years ago

Estimable Member

Posts: 232

Dec 01, 2024 12:11 pm

Reply to

Arne-sixpakfrombelgium

You get used to it. I watched Charger games at Balboa Stadium.

Still this team feels different.

Comment

Arne-sixpakfrombelgium

(@arne-sixpakfrombelgium)

Joined: 2 years ago

Reputable Member

Posts: 404

Dec 01, 2024 12:13 pm

Reply to

NickCoulter

Oh I agree. Still getting used to the fact it feels different though Smile

Comment

Posts: 636

Kyle DeDiminicantanio

Admin

Dec 01, 2024 12:07 pm

(@kylededi)

Member

Joined: 2 years ago

Some updates from KevDiego on the sidelines:

"Davis getting a lot of snaps
QJ can't block or catch
Bosa looks like he's limping on the sidelines
Hate Haskins at RB
He (Chark) has been in on a few snaps

Comment