The Falcons have the 29th-ranked rushing attack in the league, averaging just 68.5 yards per game on the ground through the first half of 2019.
Offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter spoke to reporters on Monday about the team’s lack of success running the ball. It was the usual coach speak, as Atlanta’s play-caller talked about needing to be better across the board.
Something interesting that Koetter did say, though, was how the team’s play-action pass game hasn’t been affected by the Falcons’ inability to run the ball.
“Surprisingly enough, that not being as efficient as we’d like it hasn’t hurt our play-action game,” Koetter said. “Our play-action game has been very efficient and very explosive, and usually those two things go hand-in-hand.”
Establishing the run game has long been the mantra of top football people, but the game evolves so much every year, maybe coaches need to focus more on what works.
Obviously, you never want to become too predictable. But if the play-action game is working without the team having a legitimate ground threat, it proves that it might be time to re-think the offensive gameplan.
Koetter and many other NFL play-callers need to adapt to where the NFL is going and not where it was twenty years ago.
