Raheem Morris: ‘We have to find ways to run the ball better’
The Falcons moved to 3-2 under interim coach Raheem Morris following their 24-9 loss to the Saints. On Monday afternoon, Morris spoke to the media regarding the Falcons’ offensive woes.
On whether or not he felt the offense was too one-dimensional:
It’s hard to say one-dimensional when the Saints did a good job at dictating the terms. We didn’t do a good enough job in the second half of running the ball versus two-high to make [Saints defense] one dimensional.
Morris noted that after the Saints pulled away, the Falcons had to rely on the pass and kept New Orleans playing man coverage. The Saints’ exceptional man coverage was a key reason why Atlanta allowed eight sacks on Sunday.
When asked about too many third-and-long situations brought on by poor first and second down execution, Morris detailed that the Falcons must do better at giving the offense manageable third-down situations:
First and second down was less of a problem last night and more of a third down issue last night, we couldn’t get the chains going. When you talk about first and second down, we have to find ways to run the ball better versus two-high defenses.
Part of our identity is being able to run the ball really effectively, being able to run it like we have the last couple of weeks. Not necessarily getting a bunch of yards but being able to do it to get us in a manageable third down in order for us to convert those third downs and keep those chains moving.
Atlanta went just 2-for-14 on third-down conversions in Week 11. Morris was also asked about the frustration of seeming to never have a healthy receiving group, but was stern in the belief that his players need to have a next-man-up mentality:
People are going to go down and you have to figure out ways to get guys in, you got to figure out ways to fulfill those guys with a next man up mentality and those guys have it. Ridley stepped up in a major way yesterday, we had Russell step up in a major way yesterday and we got to have other guys step up in a time of need to go out there and provide the level of production that we need from that position group.
Morris added that Julio would be a game-time decision against the Raiders in Week 12. His status will be continuously examined throughout the week.
