Since we don’t have a mechanism for promoting reader content like, say, SBNation, we just made up something called: “From the Back Row.” First up, some fantastic Falcons game notes from reader Intropy. Enjoy. Yep, that’s right: Intropy has a free one-year subscription to Steelers Lounge coming his way.
For fun, I kept some notes as I watched the game, and I figured I may as well share. These aren’t in-depth analyses or anything — just a log of some thoughts I had, right or wrong, over the course of the game.
1. A couple weeks ago I read somewhere, possibly here, that Arians loves the end-around to ARE so much that when he’s in motion it’s a dead giveaway one is coming. I agreed. So how about that fake end around to ARE? I liked that.
2. Impressive big leg field goal by Jeff Reed at the end of the first drive.
3. The defensive line is showing some serious power, pushing through blockers.
3. Redman can play against first stringers in real games. I definitely liked Redman in preseason, but there was always that “yeah, but can he do it for real?” in the back of my head. Well, yes, hes can.
4. On that first long pass to Ward over the middle, did he get up and start running the wrong way? It looked to me like he got turned around getting up and his teammates quickly informed him.
5. The Steelers weakness on defense seems to be up the middle of the field 10 or so yards deep.
6. That looked like a clear catch and force out on ARE.
7. That was an incomplete pass on that long up the middle catch for Atlanta at the eand of the half. Very surprised the booth didn’t even review it.
8. That was too long a field goal attempt to make with so much time on the clock. But the decision is tough. What’s the highest percentage play there? I’m guessing you should pooch punt that (and yes this is what I though before I knew the outcome).
9. Roddy White is having a good game on the sidelines, but don’t blame McFadden. He’s playing well too, and the damage would be much worse if he weren’t.
10. The o-line is looking pretty good on both run and pass plays.
11. Reed gets a touchback!
12. I would like to see some passes with Dixon uncovered. (Later in the game an announcer was talking about how “between the numbers” has been much better for Dixon in the game. I don’t think the issue is where on the field the ball goes as much as where it was relative to Dixon. Rolling out buys you more field.)
13. The announcers are fellating Matt Ryan. This is especially odd considering how defensive this game is.
14. Hines Ward is still a star. He isn’t fast and never was, but he catches the ball, and more importantly, the man knows how to get open.
15. I don’t see how that can possibly be an incomplete pass (on the Matt Ryan sack). EIther he has control of the ball or he does not. It he does not, it’s a fumble and the ruling stands. If he does have control, that’s intentional grounding.
16. On that sack right before the two-minute warning warning, I think that should have been a running down given the clock situation (yes, I thought this before the play was run).
17. Why isn’t pushing a blocker into the kick receiver a violation of fair catch?
18. Great run by Mendenhall. Greater hole opened up for Mendenhall.
19. My MVP for the game is Sepulveda. Usually you call out the punter because your team had a bad day. But this time in a field position battle, Sepulveda consistently got off terrific punts and especially in the middle half of the game kept the Steelers from losing a lot of ground series-to-series.
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