ATLANTA -- So much for leading the NFL in rushing the last
three years.
Even coach Jim Mora acknowledged the Atlanta Falcons' offense
has "some inconsistencies" and lacks "sync."
Given how sensitively Mora once reacted to questions about poor
pass protection, dropped balls and abundant sacks, he has seemed
more willing, at least during the last several weeks, to discuss
the issues.
"Statistically, where we rank in the top 10, there's that
feeling [of inconsistency]," Mora said after Sunday's 10-3 loss to
Carolina. "I'm not going to argue with you. There's that fear that
we're not typically synced out. That's something that you
constantly work on."
Despite sporting the league's top ground attack since Mora,
coordinator Greg Knapp and line coach-turned-consultant Alex Gibbs
arrived in 2004, the Falcons are dangerously close to missing the
playoffs for the second straight season.
Michael Vick broke the single-season record for rushing by a
quarterback last week and on Sunday became the first player at his
position to break the 1,000-yard barrier.
Running back Warrick Dunn, a 10th-year veteran and three-time
Pro Bowl pick, run just nine times for 29 yards in the Falcons'
fourth straight home defeat. The only other occasion that he ran
for 29 or less in the last two years was in a 44-11 loss to
Carolina at the Georgia Dome in 2005.
Fullback Justin Griffith, who's considered a solid blocker,
hasn't missed a game since the end of 2004.
The team has three former first-round draft picks -- Michael Jenkins, Roddy White and Ashley Lelie -- at receiver. Tight end Alge Crumpler was chosen to his fourth straight Pro Bowl.
"Like I said, man, this team has to keep fighting and has to
keep pushing, but we've got to figure out what's going on, and I'm
tired of going through it on a week-to-week basis," Vick said.
"You know, guys questioning themselves and what we need to do. It
needs to get done, and how we're supposed to, you know, coaches
have to be coaches and players have to be players. That's the way
it is."
Blaming Knapp is the local rage, a trend that started in the
final two months of 2005, when the Falcons went 2-6. With the same
record in November and December this season, criticism of Knapp
quickly resumed.
Knapp and receivers coach George Stewart might seem the two
assistants most likely to leave, but the entire staff, including
Mora, could wind up unemployed if the team finishes 7-9.
As much as Knapp's questionable play calling seems to frustrate
players like Vick, the coordinator is compromised by the small line
Gibbs demands to run his beloved zone-blocking schemes.
The formula works if the Falcons take an early lead, but the
team is 0-15 under Mora when Atlanta trails entering the fourth
quarter.
Vick, meanwhile, has lost the edge he had from 2002-04, when he
seemed capable of nearly taking over games at will. He finished
9-for-20 against Carolina for 109 yards, two interceptions and a
22.7 passer rating that's the third worst of his career.
Entering Week 16, Vick had a fourth-quarter rating (59.4
percent) that ranked 34th in a 32-team league. His receivers were
31st in yards after the catch and 13th in drops.
Not that the defense and special teams don't deserve blame. In
the home loss to Carolina, the defense allowed a 16-play, 73-yard
opening touchdown drive that consumed 10:36.
Panthers quarterback Chris Weinke, a backup since Jake Delhomme
took charge of the Carolina offense in 2003, ended an 0-17 starting
streak that began in Week 2 of 2001.
Though it was just one play, Michael Jenkins' illegal block
above the waist wiped out Allen Rossum's potential game-tying
80-yard touchdown return with 8:51 remaining.
"On all cylinders, we didn't make the plays we needed to
make," Vick said, "and we didn't win the game."