Short Cuts: Fickle Falcons

After watching every play from every game this past weekend, and talking to some people who have broken down the games on film this week, here are some random thoughts from last week.

• Falcons QB Matt Ryan(notes) never got into a comfort level last week, and he’s still not playing well physically or mentally. Ryan was erratic and scattershot with his accuracy against the Saints. At this point, there’s no indication why.

• There was clearly a difference with Falcons RB Michael Turner(notes) last week. He wasn’t as stiff and was looser in his movement, and the Falcons did some different things to get him into the second level. It was a good sign, but in a week-to-week league, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he was sluggish again in the near future.

• Chicago’s offense is getting worse; it is out of sync – no rhythm or flow whatsoever. The Chicago OL is very bad, so it is a week-to-week offense. Despite his numbers last week, RB Matt Forte(notes) is nothing more than an average featured NFL back right now. The Bears did a bad job not bringing in another RB when Kevin Jones(notes) was lost because Forte could use some help. I would have called Dominic Rhodes(notes), but what do I know?

• The Cardinals defense is tough to figure out. They looked great in Week 7, and then they couldn’t stop the running game last week.

• Cardinals QB Kurt Warner(notes) usually has 2-3 really bad games a year, and last week would qualify. He seemed to be moving away from pressure too quickly, and he looked very uncomfortable. The problem is, unlike last year, he hasn’t been that great otherwise.

• The Ravens have made some adjustments on defense. They are becoming more aggressive with blitz frequency, and they went zone coverage because they don’t play man very well. They will be aggressive going forward, which is what they should have done weeks ago.

• Ravens RB Ray Rice(notes) is a very tough inside runner for his size. He gets the ball a lot on delays and draws, which helps him, but he just keeps coming at a defense. He’s way better than what he showed last year.

• The Ravens last week played no-huddle almost the whole game, and QB Joe Flacco(notes) is very comfortable playing that.

• When Texans TE Owen Daniels(notes) got hurt last week, the Bills changed their coverage and handled WRs Andre Johnson(notes) and Kevin Walter(notes). The Texans didn’t have a third option, so they have to respond to that problem and make adjustments.

• Texans RB Ryan Moats(notes) showed great downhill burst and acceleration; he understood the zone running scheme, and he had some juice and quickness. He may be a guy who gets carries every week because the Texans can’t have a guy who fumbles every week. Moats was also very decisive, and he was actually quicker than Steve Slaton(notes) running the ball.

• The 49ers defense played with great discipline last week, and they took away some throws QB Peyton Manning(notes) usually makes. When teams do that to him, he can actually look human, but it’s rare.

• The Dolphins have run 23 Wildcat plays for 41 yards the last two weeks, so the blueprint may be out on how to stop it, and it involved corners coming up to stop the run and safeties playing closer to the line. If this continues, that’s not good news for RBs Ronnie Brown(notes) and Ricky Williams(notes).

• Dolphins QB Chad Henne(notes) really had a hard time getting a clear picture this past week, and he didn’t pull the trigger on a number of throws that were there. He’s a work in progress and not someone you can count on.

• We’re a little disappointed with Packers QB Aaron Rodgers(notes) lately. He’s putting up numbers, but he gets sacked way too often on shorter drops. They are calling the right plays to avoid sacks, but he’s still getting sacked because he’s holding on to the ball. He’s trying to do too much, perhaps. He has to be a timing and rhythm guy, but he’s hurting the foundation of that offense by running around a bit too much trying to make plays. He may put up better numbers than he did in 2008, but he’s not playing as well this year.

• Packers RB Ryan Grant(notes) looked bad against Minnesota. He looks robotic when he shifts and cuts. He may not be the guy, and they may look for another lead back this offseason because the new deal he signed prior to 2008 isn’t that substantial. Grant basically needs a great matchup to excel, and he has one this week against the Bucs.

• Jags QB David Garrard(notes) has settled into a week-to-week player who lacks consistency. He was off with his accuracy against the Titans, and it didn’t help that they had the ball only 20 minutes.

• Jaguars DT John Henderson(notes) can’t play anymore. He’s done.

• Seattle’s protection was better last week, but QB Matt Hasselbeck’s(notes) not out of the woods yet because his OL was only passable, not very good.

• Seahawks WR Nate Burleson(notes) is clearly the No. 1 WR here, and he has much more juice than T.J. Houshmandzadeh(notes).

• The Panthers passing game has whittled down to a bunch of smoke plays. They are trying to make Steve Smith a factor on every play with screens, hitch and goes, etc. At least they’re getting him the ball lately, but forget about seeing many downfield plays.

• The Saints are very balanced on offense, and that’s the story with their offense. Their OL is not great, and they can be attacked with blitzes. They can’t have QB Drew Brees(notes) drop back 40-plus times because their OL is their top Achilles heel. Brees compensates for that at times, but not all the time. They are actually not a high-percentage pass offense; they’re just efficient throwing the ball.

• The Saints running game is very good, especially Pierre Thomas(notes). He’s a lot tougher inside than his size would indicate, and he runs with toughness and physicality. He’s not great in one specific area, but he’s really good in all areas. Mike Bell(notes) is a hard inside runner, but he takes on a lot of contact because he’s not elusive.

• They were terrible early in the season, but the Chargers defense is respectable at this point. Teams can still move the ball against them, but they’re not a sieve, and players are giving full effort, which did not appear to be the case earlier in the year.

• Giants RB Brandon Jacobs(notes) is shaky on film. He was hesitant and indecisive. He can’t stop his feet in the backfield; he has to generate downfield momentum. He’s not running to his power and is taking too many hits.

• Giants QB Eli Manning(notes) didn’t play very well this past week. Manning is nothing more than a solid guy; he’s not elite and never will be. He’s a puzzle piece. The Giants have needed him to carry them the last three weeks, and they’re 0-3 in those games. The Eagles felt the Giants don’t have a receiver who can beat them over the top, so teams end up sitting on routes, and there are fewer voids in the coverage. They still miss WR Plaxico Burress(notes).

• Giants WR Hakeem Nicks(notes) is a big physical receiver who plays to his size and catches the ball well. He’s more physically talented than Marques Colston(notes). He needs to be a featured guy in their offense the rest of the way.

• The Chargers passing game is designed very well, so they have success each week throwing the ball. They are built on power running and downfield passing.

• Titans QB Vince Young(notes) was the exact same guy this past weekend as he was in 2007. When you can control the down and distance consistently, you can play with a guy like Young. But when you can’t stay on schedule, you can’t consistently play with a guy like Young. When you have a lot of 3rd-and-8 plays with Young, the offense will stink because he can’t consistently throw from the pocket. This style of play with Young will always produce big plays, but you can’t count on that over the course of a full season.

• The 49ers have a pro offense now. They are still limited a little, but they are viable on offense with QB Alex Smith, who threw it pretty well last week. Their biggest issue is they couldn’t get ahead of the down with their running game. Other than his long run, the 49ers were always looking at 2nd-and-9 situations. Their OL is not very good.

• The Eagles have totally morphed into a big-play offense. If they make big plays, they score. If not, they don’t do anything.

• Eagles QB Donovan McNabb(notes) was sharp and accurate against the Giants. He has to play at a high level, given the state of their offense right now, or else they’re mediocre.

• The last two weeks, Dallas’ defense is playing faster and more aggressively. But they can still be had for big plays.

• Cowboys QB Tony Romo(notes) has been a lot more under control the last few weeks. They have done a good job with him, and his confidence is growing. He’s playing as if he’s starting to understand that he’s not playing a pickup game in someone’s backyard. He’s clearly comfortable throwing the ball to Miles Austin(notes), and there’s a trust between him and Romo.

• Cowboys RB Marion Barber(notes) is a volume carry back, and they seem to have chosen to go away from that with the presence of Tashard Choice(notes) and Felix Jones(notes). They are still trying to figure out how to utilize those two, and they are not doing a good job of maximizing Jones’ potential.

• Broncos QB Kyle Orton(notes) threw only one pass that traveled more than five yards in the air from the line of scrimmage last week. He played very poorly.

Near Misses
I don’t claim that these are every near miss from this past weekend, but this is what I saw.

• Packers TE Donald Lee(notes) almost hauled in a TD, but it was a little high.

• There was a pass thrown to Bills WR Terrell Owens(notes) in the end zone that was broken up, and he was unable to haul it in. It was a poor throw by QB Ryan Fitzpatrick(notes).

• Colts QB Peyton Manning missed WR Pierre Garcon(notes) for what could have easily been an 85-yard TD on the first play of the game for Indy.

• Colts QB Peyton Manning also just missed WR Reggie Wayne(notes) for a TD early in the game; it was batted away. He then overshot Wayne again in the end zone.

• Colts QB Peyton Manning threw a pass in the end zone to TE Dallas Clark(notes) – no go.

• Jets QB Mark Sanchez(notes) threw a pass to WR Braylon Edwards(notes) in the end zone – no go.

• Eagles WR DeSean Jackson(notes) had a pass thrown to him in the end zone and almost had it, but it was broken up well by the CB.

• Eagles TE Brent Celek(notes) caught a TD but it was called back for holding. He scored again two plays later.

• Cardinals WR Steve Breaston(notes) had a 35-yard pass thrown to him in the end zone, and there was a defensive pass interference call on the play. Breaston then caught a ball and was downed at the 1-yard line two plays later.

• Browns RB Jamal Lewis(notes) had a run in which he was downed inside the 1-yard line. He just missed a TD on his next carry, and then QB Derek Anderson(notes) snuck it in.

• Rams TE Randy McMichael(notes) had a pass thrown to him in the end zone that was incomplete.

• Cowboys WR Miles Austin had a pass thrown in the end zone, but he was held on the play, or else he might have scored his second TD.

• Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson(notes) almost scored a third TD on a run to the outside, but he was down at the 2.

• Chargers WR Vincent Jackson(notes) had a pass bounce off his chest in the end zone, or else he would have scored two TDs.

• Dolphins QB Chad Henne missed WR Brian Hartline(notes) on a bomb thrown about 40 yards that could have easily been an 85-yard TD.

• Jets TE Dustin Keller(notes) was down on the 1 on a catch; QB Mark Sanchez ran it in the next play.

• Falcons QB Roddy White(notes) had a second TD overruled against the Saints.

• Titans RB Chris Johnson ran in for an apparent third TD, but he stepped out of bounds.

• Titans WR Justin Gage(notes) had a bomb thrown to him in the end zone – no go.

• Jags QB David Garrard overthrew a wide open Mike Sims-Walker(notes) at about the 5-yard line, and MSW could have easily caught the ball, turned around, and ran into the end zone.

• Bears WR Devin Hester(notes) had a punt return TD nullified by penalty.