Atlanta Falcons vs. Baltimore Ravens: Full Report Card Grades for Atlanta
The Atlanta Falcons might as well hang it up after Sunday's game showed they aren't willing to play with heart this season. The squad featured on Hard Knocks showed a lack of physicality and toughness against the team that epitomizes it on both offense and defense.
Atlanta couldn't hold off the Baltimore Ravens during a 29-7 loss, but it did play good, solid, fundamental defense for four quarters.
The offense didn't do the defense any favors by forcing it to be on the field for over 33 minutes.
Quarterbacks
1 of 10
Through the first half of the game, Matt Ryan went 12-of-17 (70.6 percent) for 54 yards and was sacked three times. Despite two sacks, the second half featured a 17-for-27 (63.0 percent) performance for 174 yards and a touchdown.
When Ryan was given time, the Falcons' passing offense was consistent on Sunday.
There were just a few bad throws all day and a couple of drops that might have helped the Falcons out throughout the game.
Atlanta needs to get better at converting third-down passes, and running more no-huddle might be the way to do it.
Grade: B
Running Backs and Fullbacks
2 of 10
The Falcons needed some big plays from their running backs on Sunday. However, they were unable to get that from them.
Instead, they just got steady play with the ground game averaging 4.3 yards per carry.
The 22 yards on eight catches for the running backs also didn't help the Falcons get the first downs they needed. Devonta Freeman had a solid day catching the ball out of the backfield, but the Falcons weren't able to work in Antone Smith enough—yet again.
The best the Falcons played all game was in the fourth quarter, but it was unfortunately a running back who missed the chip that led to a safety on fourth down.
Atlanta could have been better on Sunday, but the running backs will need better offensive line play to perform at their best.
Grade: C
Wide Receivers and Tight Ends
3 of 10
Roddy White dropped four passes on the day. Levine Toilolo didn't drop a ball at all. Neither did Julio Jones.
However, none of them did a great job on third downs until late in the game. The Falcons needed them to get open quicker against a good Baltimore pass rush to help keep the Ravens on their toes.
On the bright side, White had his best game of the season while Jones had a solid game as well. Toilolo made the most of his three targets, catching two of them while the other was knocked away by a Ravens defender right as it reached him.
As blockers, the trio did a solid job at the second and third levels, but failures along the offensive line made it much tougher for the Falcons to make plays throughout the game.
Toilolo specifically had issues going against Elvis Dumervil all game.
Grade: C
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Offensive Linemen
4 of 10
Atlanta allowed five sacks and four additional hits during the game. Elvis Dumervil and Pernell McPhee both got two sacks, each attacking Gabe Carimi and looping inside on stunts against Justin Blalock and James Stone.
The fact that Stone was even playing was a bit scary.
Stone luckily held up decently, but he wasn't the ideal player you wanted against the combination of Haloti Ngata and Timmy Jernigan up front.
Atlanta wasn't able to establish the run until after the half either because of the loss of Peter Konz, who was carted off during the game.
The Falcons need to find a true center who can lead the offensive line and help the Falcons finally establish the power run game that was working during the first four weeks.
Brian de la Puente should be an early trade target.
Grade: F
Defensive Linemen and Edge Players
5 of 10
Atlanta played one of its best defensive games all season because it finally used defensive ends as defensive end and defensive tackles as defensive tackles.
The Falcons also executed some of their best schemes of the season due to some excellent play by Jonathan Massaquoi and the tackles up front.
Atlanta finally rotated Massaquoi as the primary weak-side defensive end and weak-side outside linebacker, and it wound up getting—by my count—four pressures, three quarterback hits, two tackles for a loss or no gain and one forced holding call from the third-year defender.
The rest of the line and edge players played solid football and showed flashes throughout the game.
However, too many long runs and third-down conversions allowed show that the Falcons absolutely need a premier pass-rusher to pair with Massaquoi.
Grade: C
Linebackers
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Joplo Bartu and Paul Worrilow were tackling machines on Sunday. However, most of Bartu's tackles were downfield on passing plays and Worrilow's were more concentrated toward the line of scrimmage.
Against the run, the duo did a very solid job attacking the ball-carriers, but it was unable to shed guards and tackles all day.
Pass coverage was the real issue with the Falcons linebackers this week. They allowed too many completions in their soft zones. However, it's fair to question whether the issue lies with the play-calling or the players themselves.
With that said, Prince Shembo was missed on running downs. It was nice to see Worrilow sent up the middle on a blitz, though. He delivered the team's only sack on the day as a result.
Grade: C
Secondary
7 of 10
Robert Alford had an up-and-down day. He allowed two huge plays and was also burned by a 36-yard penalty for pass interference.
After that penalty, his coverage was great all game and he even got two interceptions.
Desmond Trufant was only truly beaten on one play, but it appeared to be a zone call and Steve Smith went behind someone who was going to block Trufant. Trufant also dropped an interception on a 3rd-and-15.
The safeties were solid but unspectacular. Atlanta allowed way too many yards over the middle of the field. Kemal Ishmael and Dwight Lowery need to instill fear into guys going over the middle, and they just don't do that.
Josh Wilson also had a tough game, getting beaten quite often on third-down plays.
Grade: C
Special Teams
8 of 10
Matt Bryant missed his only field-goal attempt, as it hit the upright. However, it was a 58-yard kick, and that's a tough one to make no matter who you are.
He did connect easily on his extra point, but the Falcons should have attempted two more field goals than he did.
Matt Bosher had a good game punting the ball and on kickoffs. He also had a safety punt that he made the tackle on by pushing Jacoby Jones out of bounds. Unfortunately for him, the Falcons still gave the Ravens an average starting field position around their own 35-yard line.
As a returner, Devin Hester didn't have a great game. Atlanta's average field position was its 24-yard line, but Hester had some terrible returns throughout the game.
The saving grace of the special teams came from Dezmen Southward, who has stepped it up as a gunner throughout the season. He helped force a game-changing fumble.
Grade: B
Coaching
9 of 10
Mike Smith has the Falcons playing completely uninspired football right now. On top of that, they haven't been playing like a tough, physical team—instead looking like a weak-willed, sad excuse for a team.
The Falcons don't play with the urgency of a team trying to save their coach's job.
On offense, the Falcons didn't realize that they could have schemed better pass protections. It was also obvious when the Falcons were planning on trying something deep because they inserted Jacquizz Rodgers or Steven Jackson to pass-block.
Not being able to convert third downs and lack of no-huddle are coaching issues.
On defense, they looked much better. They finally started playing guys in the proper spots and drastically simplified the defense to be either a 3-4 base or a 4-2-5 nickel. It helped out the team a ton, and the only reason why the defense allowed 27 points is because of three big plays—including one penalty.
Grade: D
Overall Grades
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| Positional Unit | Grade |
| Quarterbacks | B |
| Running Backs and Fullbacks | C |
| Wide Receivers and Tight Ends | C |
| Offensive Linemen | F |
| Defensive Linemen and Edge Players | C |
| Linebackers | C |
| Secondary | C |
| Special Teams | B |
| Coaching | D |
| Overall Grade | D |
Despite the team suffering its worst loss margin of the season, the Falcons defense played its best game of the year. Atlanta also had a good day overall when it comes to its receivers. The offense was finally getting into a rhythm late in the game.
Additional familiarity and jet lag could help Atlanta have an edge against the Detroit Lions.
However, right now, the Falcons need to make sure they don't let this season spiral out of control. As it is, they are fighting quicksand.
All stats are from Pro Football Focus (subscription required), ESPN.com, CFBStats or NFL.com. All combine and pro day info is courtesy of NFLDraftScout.com. All contract information is courtesy of Spotrac and Rotoworld.
Scott Carasik is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. He covers the Atlanta Falcons, college football, the NFL and the NFL draft. He also runs DraftFalcons.com.
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