There pre- snap looks were fairly similar - but the LB's and SS consistently let their assignments run past them down field and focused on containing the underneath routes. On the runs, while they started with 7-8 men close to the LOS in the fist half - not everybody seem to be playing the run 100% post snap. In the 2nd half they often had 9 guys playing run first on many if not most running plays.
Falcons explain what changed in second half in win over Cowboys: 'We had to respect the speed and start cheating up'
Falcons defensive lineman Jonathan Babineaux said stopping the run was just a matter of realizing what run plays the Cowboys were using. Moore said stopping the short passes to Dunbar was a matter of cheating up.
"With Dunbar, his speed, we knew what we were facing," Moore said. "Once he gets out of the backfield, they like to bubble him a lot and most of the time matchup him up against linebackers. We had to respect the speed and start cheating up on him a lot."
That cheating up made the Falcons susceptible to a deep pass, but Cowboys quarterback Brandon Weeden rarely took the opportunity and never connected. His only completion of more than 20 yards came on a catch-and-run by Dunbar.
"They weren't trying to beat us down the field at all," Allen said.
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sports/...o-respect-the-speed-and-start-cheating-up.ece
Just don't waste your time!
Dan Quinn has already indicated in interviews and on his coaches show the defense made minor adjustments to take away underneath routes to Dunbar and Beasley, what was caught was for a short gain.
They also attacked the line and attacked the runner.
Certainly they played soundly as well by tackling better but the simple adjustments frustrated and also exposed the tendencies they noted and shut down the running game and underneath stuff, resulting in 4 passes to Beasley, no other receivers.
The reason it worked is because the down field game was not attempted and what was successful was being frustrated, these were not all self-inflicted.
Predictable run calls every first down backed up down and distance as well.
I give Atlanta credit for outplaying and making the necessary adjustments regardless of how extensive the adjustments were accordingly.
Surely, the Cowboys own mistakes were on display at various times but failing to attack down field was a huge and critical mistake!
The offense had 19 snaps with 52 yards of offense and ZERO scores in the entire second half.
Atlanta dominated our offense in the second half, just like the defense.
For perspective: The Falcons were ranked 29th against the pass playing the same two teams the Cowboys beat with Tony Romo at the helm.
