Post by Guvmintcheeze on Oct 1, 2014 21:54:56 GMT
Falcons players point fingers at themselves, not DC Mike Nolan
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- With Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith giving Mike Nolan a vote of confidence as the defensive coordinator, it's up to Nolan to help orchestrate defensive improvement.
But the onus really falls on the players to execute. So far, that's something they have been unable to do consistently in surrendering 429.8 yards and 28.3 points per game. It certainly doesn't help matters when you don't have an elite pass-rusher, a veteran inside linebacker or ball hawking defensive backs -- although cornerback Desmond Trufant will be among the league's elite sooner than later.
The players trust in Nolan and the scheme and know they need to play better.
"Mike Nolan is a guy who really knows his football," outside linebacker Kroy Biermann said. "His defense is structured that way. And the way he coaches is a way that can create success for a lot of guys on the field at a lot of different positions. As a player -- and me included -- you've got to know that everybody's doing their job. You've got to trust that. And you've got to turn things loose and fix what we've been doing wrong."
Asked if he felt the players were letting Nolan down, linebacker Paul Worrilow responded "yes" without hesitation.
"Coach Nolan can call whatever he wants. We've got to be able to go out there and execute," Worrilow said. "He's putting us in positions where we go out there and we can put ourselves in a good chance to win. To put together a good four quarters of defense, it's up to the players to go out there and do that. ... It's always about the players."
But can the players get things corrected before it's too late? The Falcons will be challenged even more with strong safety and defensive leader William Moore out at least the next eight weeks with a shoulder injury. The secondary now will include three second-year players in Trufant, cornerback Robert Alford and new starting strong safety Kemal Ishmael. Worrilow, in his second year, is working alongside rookie inside linebacker Prince Shembo. The defensive line has veterans, but none of them have been outstanding through four games, save for Corey Peters against Tampa Bay.
"I think we've got a great group of guys in there that want to win, want to do it right," Biermann said. "Guys aren't out there doing their own thing. It's just small things here and there, breakdowns. And those small things in the NFL lead to big losses and big performances by the guys going against you.
"I'm disappointed in myself. I've let myself down. And I think every man in the room would say that. When you're not letting yourself down, you're not going to be letting the guy next to you down. You've got to self-assess where you're at first. Then if there are a few guys here and there who are not picking stuff up, then that's when you've got to help them and bring them up and along."
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- With Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith giving Mike Nolan a vote of confidence as the defensive coordinator, it's up to Nolan to help orchestrate defensive improvement.
But the onus really falls on the players to execute. So far, that's something they have been unable to do consistently in surrendering 429.8 yards and 28.3 points per game. It certainly doesn't help matters when you don't have an elite pass-rusher, a veteran inside linebacker or ball hawking defensive backs -- although cornerback Desmond Trufant will be among the league's elite sooner than later.
The players trust in Nolan and the scheme and know they need to play better.
"Mike Nolan is a guy who really knows his football," outside linebacker Kroy Biermann said. "His defense is structured that way. And the way he coaches is a way that can create success for a lot of guys on the field at a lot of different positions. As a player -- and me included -- you've got to know that everybody's doing their job. You've got to trust that. And you've got to turn things loose and fix what we've been doing wrong."
Asked if he felt the players were letting Nolan down, linebacker Paul Worrilow responded "yes" without hesitation.
"Coach Nolan can call whatever he wants. We've got to be able to go out there and execute," Worrilow said. "He's putting us in positions where we go out there and we can put ourselves in a good chance to win. To put together a good four quarters of defense, it's up to the players to go out there and do that. ... It's always about the players."
But can the players get things corrected before it's too late? The Falcons will be challenged even more with strong safety and defensive leader William Moore out at least the next eight weeks with a shoulder injury. The secondary now will include three second-year players in Trufant, cornerback Robert Alford and new starting strong safety Kemal Ishmael. Worrilow, in his second year, is working alongside rookie inside linebacker Prince Shembo. The defensive line has veterans, but none of them have been outstanding through four games, save for Corey Peters against Tampa Bay.
"I think we've got a great group of guys in there that want to win, want to do it right," Biermann said. "Guys aren't out there doing their own thing. It's just small things here and there, breakdowns. And those small things in the NFL lead to big losses and big performances by the guys going against you.
"I'm disappointed in myself. I've let myself down. And I think every man in the room would say that. When you're not letting yourself down, you're not going to be letting the guy next to you down. You've got to self-assess where you're at first. Then if there are a few guys here and there who are not picking stuff up, then that's when you've got to help them and bring them up and along."
