BGO Blind Pig: Week 12 vs. Atlanta Falcons

[Boone]

In between the stuffing and the cranberry sauce, the guys talk keys to the mid-season turnaround, the return of Chase Young, last weekend's solid win against the Texans, and prospects at home in a crucial clash against the 5-6 Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. #RIP Sean Taylor

 

[Chris]

I didn’t realize that the first report of Snyder hiring BOA to potentially handle the selling of the franchise was only 3 weeks ago. Seems longer than that to me. The Forbes article was published on Nov 2.

The team won the 3 games prior and have gone 2-1 since.

 

[Bulldog]

Yeh 2-1 but the Eagles win is probably the biggest shocker of the NFL season so far and I think that win carries momentum forward.

The team is clearly playing better with Taylor (4-1) and that I think shows how Snyder after the Smith, Haskins, Fitzpatrick and Wentz moves is being b**** slapped by the football Gods.

Heinicke is still standing. Amazing.

The potential sale itself and the financials that go along with it is more of a media and fan point of intense interest.

To the point the suits and sale keep Snyder away from operations the better everyone feels.

 

[SkinsOrlando]

We control TOP again this week and it'll be another win, we revert to having our defense gassed by half time due to lackluster play calling and offensive output and it could get ugly if the Falcons are in a position to just pound the rock.

 

[Boone]

Our run D has been pretty consistently stout this season, especially the last 5-6 weeks. I think we can at least keep Atlanta’s run game under decent control. But you never know. If we intend to be a playoff team I view this as a must win.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

Our run D has been pretty consistently stout this season, especially the last 5-6 weeks. I think we can at least keep Atlanta’s run game under decent control. But you never know. If we intend to be a playoff team I view this as a must win.

What concerns me is Mariota running. They did a good job containing Hurts and Fields. So I want to see them do the same thing against the Falcons. Mariota is much more athletic than people give him credit for. He’s currently 6th in QB rushing yards. It think if they can contain him they will dominate. The regular run defense has been outstanding as you say. So keeping Mariota under control will be the key.

 

[Chris]

It seems to me that rush discipline has been an area of major improvement for the dline this year. J. Davis playing more instinctively rather than robotically hasn’t hurt either.

 

[SkinsOrlando]

Also depends on how they use Chase, as ST pointed out the D has been playing top 5 without him lately, if we put Chase in for too many snaps my fear is some of that chemistry could dissipate. That being said it depends on where Chase actually is in terms of "go mode". If he's 80% I'd sit him this week or severely limit his snaps.

 

[SilentThreat]

Also depends on how they use Chase, as ST pointed out the D has been playing top 5 without him lately, if we put Chase in for too many snaps my fear is some of that chemistry could dissipate. That being said it depends on where Chase actually is in terms of "go mode". If he's 80% I'd sit him this week or severely limit his snaps.

If he's only 80%, I see no reason to play him at all.

 

[DieselPwr44]

Y’all worry too much about the defense. It’s the offense that bothers me.

I do not believe that currently the Oline and Qb play good enough to get them to the playoffs.
Their level of play has to improve in order to be a true playoff contender.

 

[SilentThreat]

Y’all worry too much about the defense. It’s the offense that bothers me.

I do not believe that currently the Oline and Qb play good enough to get them to the playoffs.
Their level of play has to improve in order to be a true playoff contender.

We've seen what the defense is capable of over the last 6 weeks. Thing is, the first 5 weeks happened. We've seen how bad it can be also. The defense is why we're winning, not the offense, so the focus on the defense is because, if it takes a step back... the offense has been consistently bad... but it's consistent.

 

[DieselPwr44]

Complimentary Football.

If somehow, they can get enough improvement so that the offense does their part, then maybe the defense doesn’t have to be asked to play lights out every week?

Heinicke desperately needs to up his game. Question is, can he? Followed up by… .Will the Oline afford him the opportunity?

 

[Boone]

I’ll keep saying it - we are winning is spite of Heinicke, not because of him. Not saying he’s been awful but he’s missing way too many opportunities and you can’t bank on having the D continue to bail out an offense that can’t seem to score more than 2 TDs a game.

 

[DieselPwr44]

Agreed Boone.

And you’d think by now, he’d understand where the easier throws are.
His Farve worship(trying to make plays like him) may be too much for him to overcome to see it?

 

[Chris]

Arguably Taylor Heinicke’s best game was against the Falcons in week 4 last season. That would work.

 

[DieselPwr44]

 

[Chris]

Well…at least I didn’t jinx Milne for this weeks game. Whew.

 

[Om]

So we finally get some solidity and consistency at CB…and St. Juste goes out.

 

[SkinsOrlando]

So we finally get some solidity and consistency at CB…and St. Juste goes out.

Not too concerned for this week, Falcons don't really have receiving threat.

 

[SilentThreat]