SECOND QUARTER
Saints drive continues at the ATL 30 on 1st and 10. Saints come out in a standard offset I-form .. 2 WR, 1 TE, FB, RB set with both WR's standing close to LOS. As was the case in quarter 1, Ingram carries over the RG for 6 yards.. again coming from the result of shoddy tackling by the Falcons defense. Frankly, this is a very subpar unit when it comes to tackling.. something that could play a huge role in the outcome of Sunday's game. 2nd and 4.. Saints again in an offset-I formation with 2 WR split to Brees' right.. Brees motions inside WR (Morgan) to the left and hands off ball to Ingram now running an off tackle to the left. Great blocking downfield by the Saints FB and Morgan gives Ingram an 8 yard gain but a personal foul after the play backs the Saints up 15 yards with a new set of downs. Saints come out on 1st and 10 with 4 WR's in the shotgun.. Moore motions to the right flat and Brees hits him on a quick pass out of the backfield for a modest 2 yards. 2nd and 8 for the Saints.. Brees again in the gun with a RB on his right. Saints have 2 WR to Brees' left with Jimmy Graham in the slot standing up. Colston is split out to the right.. the Saints fake the WR screen here allowing Graham to beat zone coverage down the seam for the easy touchdown. Really well drawn up play that came as a result from the Saints showing screen a few times throughout the first half, and more recently on this drive. One thing of note.. Ray Edwards is getting absolutely manhandled in this game.. total non-factor, and possible reason why he's not a Seahawk right now
Saints 14, Falcons 10 - 13:33 2Q
Falcons start their first drive of the 2Q on their 20. They come out in a single-back form with 3 WR and Gonzalez in a 3-point stance on LOS. Ryan hands off to Turner on the right side and Turner FINALLY gets some good blocking.. literally running about 6 yards before he's touched.. pick up of 9. 2nd and 1.. Falcons in the offset I form with Roddy split left and Jones split right.. Turner carries it on the right side again, this time much better defended .. still picks up 1 for the first however. 1st and 10 for Falcons on their 30 .. Ryan now has Rodgers in the backfield, Falcons return to the formation where their FB starts out right and motions back into the backfield to block. Rodgers carries for 3, but Saints should have had him bottled up for loss of 1. Great effort by Rodgers and you can see a much more noticeable burst from him over Turner. 2nd and 7 for ATL at their own 33.. Ryan comes out in shotgun with Rodgers to his left. Falcons have left side of field loaded up with Douglas spread far out left, Jones in the slot and Gonzalez standing up near LOS. White is lined up isolated to the right. Saints are able to get some heat on Ryan up the middle (seems to be a theme here), and Ryan just misses throwing an interception over the middle on intended throw to White. Roman Harper had it go through his hands. 3rd and 7, same formation as before only White is now in the slot with Jones split to the right.. Ryan has more time to throw, even with the Saints bringing 7, and finds Tony Gonzalez over the middle of the field for 12. Basically if we blitz Ryan.. we better get to him. 1st and 10 now at ATL 46.. Falcons staying in this formation, Ryan runs a screen to Rodgers which the Saints snuff out.. great effort by Rodgers turns a 5 yard loss into a 1 yard gain. The guy is a pain to bring down.
NOTE: Apparently Jones was out on this drive.. not sure who the Falcons had in there with White and Douglas.
2nd and 9 at ATL 47.. Falcons come out in the single back form with Palmer on the LOS and Gonzalez upright in the slot. Roddy White is lined close to him. The Falcons really throw out all kinds of wrinkles in their formations.. always trying to find a mismatch. Ryan runs a PA sprint out to his right and is looking for White running back across the field but he's held by Saints DE Cameron Jordan. The Saints are running a zone-blitz on this play and Tony Gonzalez has DE Will Smith trying to run stride for stride with him.. no chance.. easy 13 yard gain even with the holding penalty. Falcons 1st and 10 now at Saints 41, again the Falcons come out with 2 TE and 2 WR. Douglas is split out to the left with White starting in the slot.. White motions pre snap to his right, and runs a corner route free and clear off the snap. Roman Harper is the nearest guy to him, and pushes him OOB after an easy 26 yard gain. Seattle will have to jam White as much as possible because the guy runs really crisp, flawless routes and EATS up zone coverage.. even though the Saints aren't exactly a great example of how to run zone coverage. 1st and 10 now for Falcons at NO 16.. Falcons come out with a single back form, 3 WR and TE (Gonzo). Gonzalez motions to the right.. Turner carries the ball on the right side and again, the Falcons run blocking is awful. Turner has absolutely no chance and loses 2 yards. 2nd and 11.. Falcons come out in another new formation.. this is almost like an offset full-house form.. fullback motions over far to the right leaving just Palmer and Rodgers in backfield.. Ryan runs a PA pass and checks it down to Palmer for the easy 5 yard gain. 3rd and 6.. Ryan goes shotgun with 2 WR split to the left and Gonzalez in the slot.. Roddy White is lined up to Ryan's right.. Ryan motions Gonzalez over to just over the LT spot.. Gonzalez runs a button hook to the soft spot of the Saints zone and picks up 10 .. setting the Falcons up with first and goal on the 1. Falcons come out on 1st and G from the 1 in a jumbo set before Palmer and Gonzo each motion out as WR's. Ryan throws a fade route to Gonzalez that he has for a split second before its knocked out.. 2nd and G from 1, Falcons go jumbo yet again.. hand off to Turner who is stuffed for a loss of 1. 3rd and G from the 2.. White split out left with Gonzalez in the slot. Douglas motions over to be behind him.. Ryan takes the snap and throws to Gonzalez who boxes out his man in the end zone, touchdown Atlanta. Matt Ryan looked absolutely flawless on the drive aside from the pass that should have been intercepted. Gorgeous drive though.
Falcons 17, Saints 14 - 6:32 2Q
Saints begin their drive at their own 20. Again they try a run to the right side, this time its better defended and Ingram only gets 2 yards. 2nd and 8.. Saints go 2 TE and motion Miller to the left, this time Ivory carries it on the left side and gains 8 more yards. Atlanta really had a difficult time with the Saints run in this game. 1st and 10 on Saints 30, Saints remain in the 2 TE formation. Brees runs play-action and goes to Devery Henderson who beat Dunta Robinson pretty clean.. only Henderson drops the pass. Henderson likely gets 40 yards minimum here, maybe even the long 70 yard TD. Big drop. 2nd and 10, Saints run a repeat look of the Ivory run and get 6 yards with Ingram. 3rd and 4, Graham commits a false start. 3rd and 9, Brees is in the gun with Colston and Henderson split out wide .. Moore and Graham are on the left and Graham motions to the right. Falcons get good pressure on Brees and force Drew to move outside the pocket.. he hits Graham for what should be a first down, but Graham drops it. Second big drop of the Saints drive. Saints punt.
Falcons 17, Saints 14 - 4:05 2Q
Falcons begin on their own 23. Falcons come out with 1 WR (White), 2 TE, FB and Turner in backfield. Ryan hands off to Turner off the right side, who is stuffed for pickup of 1. At this point in the game it's 112-17 in rushing yards for the Saints. 2nd and 9 for Ryan who comes out in the gun, with trips WR to his left and Gonzalez to his right. Saints again generate great pressure up the middle and bat Ryan's pass down at LOS.. 3rd and 9 .. Falcons come out in an empty set before Snelling motions back into the backfield. Gonzalez is in the slot with 2 Falcon WR's out left. White is split out right. Saints send only 4 guys and again attack the middle of their line, sacking Ryan for a loss of 3. Falcons punt ball back to New Orleans
Falcons 17, Saints 14 - 2:25 2Q
Saints start their 2 minute drill in the shotgun with a HB draw to Pierre Thomas. Thomas gains 4 yards and the clock hits the 2:00 mark. On 2nd and 6, Abraham gets good pressure on Brees and nearly strips him (got a hand on the ball but Brees somehow held onto it) before Brees heaves it downfield for Moore, Robinson has good coverage and nearly gets the pick but the pass falls incomplete. 3rd and 6, Brees comes out again in the gun.. Colston and Graham are bunched up in the slot with a RB at Drew's side. Moore is split out far right and Henderson far left. Falcons are in man coverage and Graham beats his man off the LOS.. Brees throws a beautiful ball and Graham picks up 18 yards. Saints now in hurry-up offense, remain in same formation only with Colston now in the slot without Graham near him. Brees' pass for Thomas out of the backfield is deflected and falls incomplete. 2nd and 10.. Brees again picking on LB Nicholas .. finds Graham for 15 more. Nicholas seems to be really struggling with Graham in this one, though a lot of defenders do. 1st and 10 at ATL 32, Saints back in the hurry-up.. Colston and Graham in the slots.. Brees gets good protection and finds Moore on right sideline for easy first down. Falcons D on this one looks like a 4-2-5 .. the Falcon fans who say Nolan runs a 3-4 hybrid are correct.. as this quarter its shifted away from the 3-4 (likely because the Saints are throwing it more though).. Similar formation on 1st and 10, Brees again pressured big time by Abraham so he dumps it off to Pierre Thomas who gets 6 yards. Saints call timeout following play.
2nd and 4 at ATL 14, Brees again in gun.. this time Graham is in 3-point stance on right side of Saints OL.. Colston again in the slot. Falcons show blitz here but wind up dropping back into coverage.. doesn't matter though as Graham is basically left unguarded in the middle of the field for the easy TD. He is absolutely killing Nicholas in this game.
Saints 21, Falcons 17 - :40 2Q
Falcons start next drive at their own 20 and come out in the shotgun with 2 WR to Ryan's left and Tony Gonzalez lined up in the slot. Gonzalez motions over to the right where Roddy White is standing. The Saints only bring 3 but are still able to generate pressure up the middle and they sack Ryan with ease. Falcons hand ball off to Rodgers to end first half.
END OF SECOND QUARTER