Yeah, we still gotta do snap counts.
At this point I think the Falcons need to cut down considerably on their usage of three receivers. I know that the Falcons are already running it less than many teams—heading into Sunday, [per SumerSports](https://sumersports.com/teams/offensive/personnel-tendency/), they were 18th in the league in 11 personnel—but they’re getting less than nothing out of it at this point. Atlanta’s third receivers have been targeted 33 times this year and have managed 96 yards on 17 catches, all dismal numbers juiced by a 23 yard Zachariah Branch reception. Their second and third tight ends, meanwhile, have 21 targets for 101 yards and three touchdowns on 14 grabs, and that group is providing you a lot more on the blocking front. I know you can’t entirely eliminate your third receiver usage, but while Branch is out, Olamide Zaccheaus and Chris Blair just aren’t giving you a ton to work with. It’s time to embrace the power of _more tight ends._
The only other really interesting note here is that Beaux Collins actually got a little run in this one, and it’s possible he could eat into the snaps for Zaccheaus and Blair until Branch returns; Blair is still giving you enough when he stays in for pass protection to think he’s a better choice.
ILB Harold Perkins Jr.: 34
The Jessie Bates trade immediately hurts the defense’s playmaking ability, but it might help cure a growing logjam in the Falcons secondary. Atlanta has A.J. Terrell and C.J. Henderson outside, but also has Sydney Brown, Avieon Terrell, Mike Hughes, and Billy Bowman (inactive) available to play nickel, and divvying up those snaps was obviously getting tricky given that they parked Bowman Sunday. Having Brown or Bowman sliding back to safety on a more full-time basis will help that logjam, but they’ll be competing with DeMarcco Hellams for snaps.
The outside linebacker rotation continues to be tough right now. Smith, Abdullah, and Pearce are both getting limited snaps—Pearce should keep ramping up—and Snowden is still fairly new to this defense. The Falcons could probably use more help here, but they’ll likely grit it out until Samson Ebukam returns and hope Pearce returns to the force he was a year ago.
Two costly penalties this week from Chris Blair and Mike Ford impacted Atlanta’s field position. Ford is up to three penalties and four missed tackles on the year on special teams.
Also, Nick Folk has to be done in Atlanta, right?
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* [Atlanta Falcons game information](/atlanta-falcons-game-information)