{"id":8809,"date":"2025-11-14T15:34:43","date_gmt":"2025-11-14T15:34:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news2.watchtowatch.top\/atlanta-falcons-oc-speaks-out-on-3rd-down-futility\/"},"modified":"2025-11-14T15:34:43","modified_gmt":"2025-11-14T15:34:43","slug":"atlanta-falcons-oc-speaks-out-on-3rd-down-futility","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news2.watchtowatch.top\/?p=8809","title":{"rendered":"Atlanta Falcons OC Speaks Out On 3rd Down Futility"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Atlanta<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Atlanta Falcons\u00a0have mastered the art of playing well in most aspects of a game, only to be let down by the complete failure of another phase.<\/p>\n

Take Week 9’s loss to the New England Patriots, for example. Teams that were +2 on turnovers and +5 on sacks were\u00a064-0 in the last 10 years, until the Falcons lost 24-23.<\/p>\n

Atlanta held the Indianapolis Colts to 1 for 11 on third downs through 60 minutes and 2 for 12 through regulation and overtime, and still lost.<\/p>\n

The culprit the last few weeks has been Atlanta’s own woeful performance on third down. The Falcons didn’t convert any of their eight third-down attempts on Sunday against the Colts, and they are 3 for 29 in their last three games… all losses.<\/p>\n

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For perspective, 3 for 29 is a 10.3% conversion rate. The Tennessee Titans are the worst 3rd-down team in the NFL,\u00a0at nearly triple that rate at 28.4%.<\/p>\n

When offensive coordinator Zac Robinson stepped up to the microphone this week, third downs were a hot topic.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I think as you look at the entirety of the last couple weeks, each third down has its own story,” Robinson said this week. “You’re looking for common themes. Each are different plays, different coverages. We\u2019ve definitely got to clean that up. We\u2019ve definitely got to execute when we have chances too. We\u2019ve got to make sure we have the right answers for the guys, as coaches, all those things.”<\/p>\n

Robinson delved into his habit of blaming busted assignments for many of the Falcons’ problems.<\/p>\n

“We\u2019ve got to communicate,” Robinson said. “The first third down, we get into a check and one of the guys doesn’t get it, and so, it results in a strip sack. So, we\u2019ve got to get that stuff off the tape for sure.<\/p>\n

Teams have also been leaning into the Miami Dolphins’ defensive plan against the Falcons of selling out on first and second down to stop Bijan Robinson. Stop Bijan, stop the Falcons.<\/p>\n

“We also can do a better job avoiding third-and-longs,” Robinson said. “We’ve been the first five weeks, I think we were the lowest in the league in terms of the amount of third-and-longs. We were pretty efficient on third downs. Now the last five weeks, we’ve been in way too many third-and-long situations, which are going to be difficult. But, that can help with early down efficiency.<\/p>\n

“All those things factor into it from first, second down to third down. We get those chances no matter what the D&D (Down and Distance) is on third down, we\u2019ve got to find a way. We’re putting, obviously, a big emphasis on it with the pass protection and routes and just connecting on things. Like I said, as coaches, just making sure we\u2019ve got the right answers for the guys.”<\/p>\n

The Falcons have had injuries on the offensive line and have played with third-string tackle Eli Wilkinson all season, and third-string left guard Kyle Hinton was forced into action against the Colts. The new players are handicapped by what has been deemed a predictable offense from Robinson. Bijan, Bijan, incomplete, punt.<\/p>\n

“We’ll work any of the things that have shown up on tape that we’ve had difficulty picking up from a line-game standpoint, making sure we’re all clean with some of the pass ops up front,” Robinson said. “But we look at all of it. We look at route detail. We look at what’s going on up front. All those things that are playing a factor into it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Falcons kick off on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers\u00a0(5-5) at 1 p.m. at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Atlanta was embarrassed by the Panthers in Charlotte and will need to put together a complete game if they’re going to save face against an improved Panthers team.<\/p>\n

The Falcons held the Panthers to 224 yards of total offense, yet were let down by their offense and special teams in the 30-0 blowout in Week 3.<\/p>\n

Less predictability on first and second down, should lead to shorter third-down attempts. If the Falcons can’t improve on their 10% rate from the last three weeks, it could be another embarrassing afternoon against the Panthers.<\/p>\n

One Bengals legend clearly does not want\u00a0Joe Burrow to return\u00a0this season unless they have a very likely chance to earn a playoff spot.<\/p>\n

Chad Johnson explained why he doesn’t want Burrow to return on Inside the NFL. It has a lot to do with Cincinnati’s historically bad defense.<\/p>\n

“Regardless of what Joe’s out there, it really doesn’t matter, because I think our record will still be the same, and our chances of making the playoffs will still be slim, because we can’t stop no damn body,” Johnson said. “We can’t stop anybody. So we get Joe back, we get excited. We put him out there again, and you know he’s coming fresh off a surgery. No, no, we don’t need that. We don’t need that unless we’re certain we have an opportunity to make the playoffs. Joe Sheisty, just relax, chill.”<\/p>\n

Cincinnati\u00a0is allowing an astounding 2.93 points per drive this season, which is easily the highest mark this century.<\/p>\n

We’ll see if they’ve found any fixes across the bye week on Sunday against Pittsburgh, but football players play football, and Burrow could still barrel his way onto the field once fully healthy, even if the defense stays like it is.<\/p>\n

Johnson doesn’t want to see him play at all.<\/p>\n

“Absolutely not. I’d rather Joe continue to relax and sit down,” allow Joe Flacco to do what he’s been doing with the offense and see if the defense can somehow muster up some type of ability to tackle, ability to stop passes through the air, and then come back. Just coming back to come back, to say, ‘Hey, look, I’m back early from injury,’ and we go out there and have all world offensive play, and the other team scores 50, what’s the point? No disrespect. I love my Bengals, but let’s be serious. Let’s be realistic. I have expectations too, but I also understand where our Achilles heel is. It’s on the defensive end.”<\/p>\n

If the defense can’t turn it around, they’ll have wasted back-to-back seasons of Burrow’s prime.<\/p>\n

The next chance to turn it around is Sunday at 1 p.m. ET against Pittsburgh.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The\u00a0Atlanta Falcons\u00a0have mastered the art of playing well in most aspects of a game, only to be let down by the complete failure of another phase. Take Week 9’s loss to the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8808,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8809","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hot-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t