Coming off their most humbling loss of the season, the Falcons will need to assess everything during their much-needed break.
After riding a few high emotional waves of thrilling wins and electric offensive performances, the Falcons have crashed down to a lonely crossroads where they can go two ways. They can respond to the recent setbacks and rise up toward the bright lights of being a credible playoff team. They can also continue spiraling downwards into the abyss that is the NFC South, where they are only a playoff team purely because of the division’s ineptitude.
It’s been a troubling few weeks where the offense has frequently beat themselves with costly penalties and critical self-inflicted mistakes at the worst possible teams. As they try to rediscover what made them flourish in October, the defense looks to prove they have some level of competency after looking overmatched in Denver. The concern levels are very high in Atlanta. Less than half of the fanbase is confident about the team’s direction.
It’s a sensible time to grade coaches as the bye week allows time to reflect on overall performances. Raheem Morris’ return to Atlanta generated plenty of enthusiasm. His strong ability to connect with players, experience learning four signature defensive schemes, and knack for making savvy adjustments made him an excellent fit to get Atlanta back to the playoffs. His willingness to go for it on most occasions has greatly benefitted the offense toward becoming one of the more prolific units in the league.
Despite those positives, the defensive regression and recent losses have fans conflicted about how to rate him. It’s difficult to ignore two ugly losses that will remain fresh going into December.
There is no conflict over assessing Jimmy Lake. The embattled defensive coordinator has struggled to find solutions over a sluggish defensive front relying on aging veterans, limited linebackers, and a secondary with plenty of star power yet hasn’t adapted well to playing Cover 3 and other zone-heavy concepts.
It’s left a unit that looked intriguing on paper as one of the worst units in the league. They can’t generate pressure unless Kaden Elliss twists or bursts into the B-gap. Opposing running backs can find lanes with relative ease to get downhill. Quarterbacks can find consistent high-percentage looks without being disrupted. It’s hard to find any positives for what Lake has brought with his vision. A failing grade is justified.
Have you lost confidence in the Falcons in recent weeks? Does Raheem Morris deserve a better grade? Can Jimmy Lake somehow end the season with a passing grade? Let us know below in the comment section.