If Baker Mayfield beats Atlanta on Thursday night time, the Falcons may need solely themselves accountable in additional than simply the normal sense.
“Sean McVay and people guys form of acquired him again on observe,” Falcons security Jessie Bates III stated of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback this week.
“These guys” embody Atlanta head coach Raheem Morris and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, who have been with the Rams when Mayfield joined the group in December of 2022. On the time, the quarterback’s profession seemed to be winding down. The Carolina Panthers had simply launched him, the second group to indicate the previous No. 1 decide the door in his profession.
When Los Angeles signed him two days earlier than a Thursday night time sport towards the Raiders, it felt like an insurance coverage coverage. As a substitute, Mayfield began and threw for 230 yards whereas main the Rams to a 17-16 win.
“It was clearly a whirlwind,” stated Robinson, who was then the Rams’ quarterbacks coach. “That sport was an all-timer for a man to come back in on brief discover and to have the ability to ship like that in a two-minute state of affairs (on the game-winning drive). Definitely a sport that I do know he’ll all the time keep in mind, and us as coaches will as a result of it was simply such a cool expertise.”
On Thursday night time, the Falcons (2-2) will face Mayfield because the Bucs’ quarterback, and he’s a distinct quarterback now than he was then. Mayfield’s passer ranking (95.2-86.5), EPA per dropback (.04-.01) and touchdown-to-interception ratio (2.9-1.7) have all improved because the day he joined the Rams.
“I’ve acquired a lot respect for Baker after we acquired him in L.A., and he acquired an opportunity to form of revitalize what he had misplaced a little bit bit, and we acquired an opportunity to see the power and the fervour that he performs with,” Morris stated. “I believe Baker goes to do no matter it takes to win a soccer sport, and proper now he’s discovered a pleasant system of getting the ball out of his palms.”
Mayfield is enjoying like among the best quarterbacks within the league this season. He’s second within the NFL in passing touchdowns with eight whereas throwing solely two interceptions, and fourth in passer ranking (106.9) because the Buccaneers (3-1) lead the NFC South.
“He’s all the time been an excellent gifted man, tremendous, tremendous gritty,” Falcons defensive sort out Grady Jarrett stated. “The blokes actually comply with him up there. He’s an excellent competitor, and I believe that’s what makes him particular.”
Mayfield’s recipe for achievement this season is evident. His air yards per try (5.5) are the fewest within the NFL, and his common time to throw (2.68 seconds) is the fourth shortest. The ball’s popping out fast and brief.
“You may have to have the ability to go on the market and take away what he’s been given up to now and attempt to make it a little bit bit tougher on him,” Morris stated.
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‘We’re not scoring sufficient factors’
The Falcons rank tenth within the league in yards per play (5.8) however solely twenty second in scoring (18.75 ppg), whereas the Buccaneers rank seventeenth in yards per play (5.4) however eleventh in scoring (24.25). That disparity is the kind of factor that retains offensive coordinators up at night time.
“Yeah, it’s troublesome as a result of the most important factor it’s important to do on this league is rating factors, and we’re not scoring sufficient factors,” Robinson stated.
The Falcons aren’t attending to the pink zone sufficient or enjoying properly sufficient after they get there. They’re ranked twenty ninth in each pink zone journeys (38) and pink zone landing share (40 p.c), in accordance with TruMedia.
“We’re simply not linked on some issues that execution-wise you’d suppose we’ll simply proceed to construct on with a brand new group, getting used to one another, the continuity,” Robinson stated. “We acquired a ton of religion, and naturally, it begins with us as coaches, simply ensuring that every thing is tremendous clear with these guys in order that they’ll go execute.”
Payton Turner coming in scorching 😤#Saints | 📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/wdvMaaBLoi
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) September 29, 2024
Fast turnaround fits Falcons wonderful
The most important problem of the brief week earlier than Thursday night time video games is psychological, not bodily, Jarrett stated.
“When the sport comes, everyone is on the identical enjoying area,” he stated. “If you happen to’ve acquired the mindset of each time, wherever, nevertheless it’s acquired to be, you’ll be higher off. We’ve form of acquired to squish every thing into a pair days, nevertheless it’s cool and it’s an excellent problem. All people within the league has acquired to undergo it, so we’ve simply acquired to get it achieved.”
The Falcons didn’t apply Monday and held solely a walkthrough Tuesday to let their gamers recuperate bodily. Defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake stated he left his home at 3:30 a.m. every morning this week.
“Our employees is normally early-morning guys. Some staffs are late guys. We’re early,” Lake stated. “But it surely’s gone actually, actually easy.”
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Matt Ryan’s second within the solar
Twelve days after proprietor Arthur Clean went into the group’s Ring of Honor, former Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan will be a part of him at halftime of Thursday night time’s sport. Ryan, Atlanta’s first-round decide in 2008, owns each vital passing file in group historical past and is seventh in NFL historical past with 62,792 passing yards.
The Falcons, who traded Ryan to the Colts after the 2021 season, now function him in an in-stadium, pregame hype video.
“Matt is someone that I had watched once I was in highschool after which for me to play with him for years, go to the Tremendous Bowl with him, see him win MVP was particular,” Jarrett stated. “I really admire him, and I’m grateful I acquired to spend time with him. He confirmed up and did his factor each time, by no means complained. I’m tremendous excited for him. No person deserves it greater than him.”
How will the rookie fill in for Troy Andersen?
Inside linebacker Troy Andersen, who was named NFC Defensive Participant of the Week on Wednesday, gained’t play Thursday night time towards the Bucs due to the knee harm he suffered late within the Saints sport. Which means rookie linebacker JD Bertrand, who has performed solely 9 defensive snaps this season, in accordance with Professional Soccer Reference, is anticipated to begin.
“JD performed very well, method again into the spring, within the coaching camp and people preseason video games,” Lake stated. “He sees (the sport) actually, very well. It’s the explanation why we drafted him. We are able to see and really feel his soccer instincts. As soon as he arrived right here, all of these traits confirmed up in apply. He acquired just a few reps this final Sunday, performed very well. Us as coaches, we’re anticipating no drop-off. We have now numerous confidence in JD.”
The Falcons signed veteran linebacker Rashaan Evans to the apply squad this week and will elevate him to the energetic roster for the sport. Evans, a first-round decide by the Titans in 2018, began 17 video games for the Falcons in 2022 and began one sport for the Cowboys final season.
(Picture: Julio Aguilar / Getty Pictures)
