Due to the holidays and Maureen’s surgery, the article is streamlined to just star treatment with thorough detail on pressure, packages, and scheme on the defense podcast with Tyler Grose.

Star Treatment

Roquan Smith

  • (Q1, 13:02):  He was blocked by LT Matthews to lead WR Zaccheaus PM8
  • (Q1, 7:57):  He helped touch down QB Ridder for S0 (credit to Madubuike) after forcing slide
  • (Q1, 2:25):  He beat the 1-gap pulling LG Wilkinson to wrap up RB Allgeier RR0 assisted by Bowser
  • (Q1, 1:37):  On 3rd/10, he chased Ridder left for RL5 pushed OOB by Humphrey to force 4th/5
  • (Q2, 10:45):  He penetrated to tackle RB Allgeier RR0 off edge hold from Bowser
  • (Q2, 1:53):  He made a quick downhill tackle to tackle WR London PR9 (5 + 4) [4] with assist from Stephens
  • (Q2, 1:08):  On 3rd/9, he rushed unblocked through the left B-gap to pressure Ridder.  He passed to WR London PL15 (15 + 0) [1] as Humphrey just missed force out on review.
  • (Q3, 14:56):  He collided with Hamilton on PM10 tackle of London.  Hamilton appeared shaken up but reappeared after 3 plays.
  • (Q3, 11:36):  He assisted Madubuike on tackle of RB Allgeier RR2
  • (Q3, 7:51):  On 3rd/8, he chased down WR Zaccheaus PL0 (-1 + 1) [2] after Hamilton’s missed tackle forced a reversal of field to force field goal attempt
  • (Q4, 13:31):  He was bulled by RG Lindstrom as part of Allgeier RL16
  • (Q4, 11:40):  On 3rd/6, he was blocked by C Dalman to help spring RB Williams RR13 conversion
  • (Q4, 8:42):  On 1st/4, he received solo tackle credit on Allgeier RR2 after Madubuike missed tackle
  • (Q4, 8:19):  On 2nd/2, he touched down the slipping Allgeier for RL0
  • (Q4, 2:58):  On 3rd/1, Ridder pitched to RB Patterson and Smith penetrated to stuff RL-3 with assist from Clark

Roquan was all over the field in a 15-tackle effort.  He lost a sack to Madubuike despite forcing Ridder’s slide.  He was regularly able to penetrate the OL on the Falcons wide-zone runs and collected some valuable clean-up tackles.  He contributed to 2 drive-ending plays.

Broderick Washington

  • (Q1, 12:24):  On 2nd/2, he crossed the face of RT McGary to tackle RB Patterson RR0
  • (Q2, 11:21):  He was bulled 2 yards by RT McGary then shed him to assist Clark on tackle of RB Allgeier RM3
  • (Q2, 1:12):  He stood up then shed LG Wilkinson to tackle Allgeier RL1
  • (Q4, 4:59):  He drew a hold on C Dalman to negate PR3 to Patterson
  • (Q4, 3:45):  On 1st/10, he bulled LG Wilkinson for pressure but Ridder threw PL8 to Allgeier

Broderick continued a terrific season of powerful play at the LoS.

Patrick Queen

  • (Q1, 7:15):  On 3rd/10, he mirrored QB Ridder right after pocket break and tackled for S-6 with Stephens
  • (Q1, 3:09):  On 2nd/7, he missed the tackle on RB Allgeier at -4 on eventual RR8
  • (Q2, 10:02):  On 3rd/7, he assisted Stephens on tackle of TE Firkser PR5 (4 + 1) [5] to bring up 4th/2
  • (Q2, 9:22):  On 4th/2, he recovered Humphrey’s punch out of WR London PFM20
  • (Q2, 0:43):  On 3rd/5, he had trailing coverage and tackle of RB Williams on PL7 (1 + 6) [2] conversion
  • (Q3, 14:00):  On 2nd/6, he bulled then shed RB Patterson for QH as Ridder’s pass was knocked up incomplete by Clark
  • (Q3, 7:57):  He rolled over TE Pruitt and dislodged the ball for a PD
  • (Q3, 3:13):  He assisted Jones to tackle WR Zaccheaus RM0
  • (Q4, 7:37):  On 3rd/7, he collided with Ridder’s helmet to assist Pierre-Paul on RM1
  • (Q4, 6:49):  On 4th/1, he penetrated off LG Wilkinson pancake of Madubuike to bubble Allgeier outside on eventual RL-1 to complete goal-line stand

In terms of the stat sheet, Queen has only 1 primary tackle (S-6), but he had a number of important assists, had a PD in coverage, recovered a fumble, and was involved in 3 drive-ending plays.

Marlon Humphrey

  • (Q1, 1:42):  On 2nd/10, he induced an overthrow for WR London 13 yards [5] with tight coverage
  • (Q1, 1:37):  On 3rd/10, he pushed Ridder OOB on RL5 to force 4th/5
  • (Q2, 9:22):  He had the back end of bracket coverage of WR London on PFM20 (17 + 3) [2] and punched the ball free for recovery by Queen
  • (Q2, 1:08):  He just missed a force out of WR London PL15 (15 + 0) [1]
  • (Q2, 0:46):  On 2nd/5, he had tight coverage of London in the endzone and forced him out but no PD was credited
  • (Q3, 3:17):  He made a sliding INT attempt but was unable to dig out Ridder’s pass for Zaccheaus 17 yards [3]
  • (Q4, 9:06):  He had the backside of bracket coverage (M. Williams underneath) on PR20 (19 + 1) [5]

Marlon commonly found himself in coverage of the Falcons top draft pick, Drake London.  He had a big game by most measures but Humphrey tilted the balance with a big forced fumble to wipe out a 20-yard reception.

Brandon Stephens

  • (Q1, 7:15):  On 3rd/10, he assisted Queen on S-6 of Ridder by right sideline
  • (Q1, 3:09):  He was blocked by RT McGary as part of RB Allgeier RR8
  • (Q1, 0:49):  On 4th/5, he had tight coverage of WR Byrd 27 yards [4] on an underthrown ball to force turnover on downs
  • (Q2, 11:57):  Ridder booted right and threw to WR Zaccheaus PR10 (9 + 1) [5] with Stephens very soft
  • (Q2, 10:02):  On 3rd/7, Ridder threw to TE Firkser PR5 (4 + 1) [5].  Stephens initially grabbed hold and Queen finished to bring up 4th/2.
  • (Q3, 8:06):  He drew holding on WR Zaccheaus to negate RB Patterson RR13 TD
  • (Q4, 4:48):  On 2nd/20, he pushed OOB but was unable to dislodge the ball on PR15 (15 + 0) [5] to WR Byrd

Brandon could have been picked on in this game, but Ridder’s most frequent target was London, who Humphrey shadowed.  He was involved in 2 drive-ending plays and another which brought up 4th and 2.