Colts at Falcons: Q&A with Blogging Dirty

The Indianapolis Colts (4-5) head south to face the Atlanta Falcons (6-3). Both teams have struggled lately but are hoping to get back on track after a much needed week off.

We spoke with the editor of Blogging Dirty, Freddie Boston, to get some inside information on this week’s opponent.

Here’s what Boston had to say about the Falcons in this week’s Behind Enemy Lines:

1. The Falcons got off to a hot start but have lost three of their past four. What’s been the problem in recent weeks?

The play on offense has been the issue, and a lot of the problems have been self-inflicted. When the Falcons were winning games, they were moving the ball with ease with a combination of Devonta Freeman and Julio Jones, but the team began to turn the ball over way too often in New Orleans, and they have lost three out of their past four games since.

What’s more head scratching is how these turnovers have happened, as many were unforced errors. In the loss to the Buccaneers at home, the Falcons turned it over four times, three of which were in Tampa Bay territory and twice inside the red zone. A fumbled snap on the 4-yard line and a fumbled handoff also in the red zone resulted in zero points, and the Bucs scored from both turnovers.

2. Julio Jones was described this week as the kind of player you would create in Madden. What is the most effective way to slow down Jones?

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I don’t really see any clear way of slowing down Jones. He’s got everything you want from a receiver. He’s big, athletic, strong, has good hands. He dealt with a hamstring injury for a few weeks which limited his production, but when healthy defenses haven’t had a whole lot of success slowing him down.

The biggest concern has been a lack of support. No receiver has stepped up consistently as a No. 2 option, and this has resulted in too many passes being forced Jones’ way, and this has hurt the entire offense. If the Colts can take away the other pass-catchers, the Falcons may become predictable and easy to defend.

3. Who is someone on the Falcons roster that the Colts need to be on the lookout for? Is there an emerging player that can be a difference maker come Sunday?

One of the biggest problems offensively for Atlanta in recent weeks has been the lack of a consistent option in the passing game outside of Julio Jones. Leonard Hankerson has been banged up, Roddy White hasn’t been productive enough and rookie Justin Hardy is still developing.

One player that has stepped up and made some plays is tight end Jacob Tamme. Tamme took a while to make an impact after being added in free agency last spring, but he is starting to become a reliable target. In the Week 8 loss to the Bucs, Tamme caught 10 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown. He’s one to keep an eye on Sunday.

4. What can the Colts expect from the Falcons defense? Is there any hope for the team’s lackluster pass rush?

The pass rush hasn’t been something to fear this season, despite the offseason additions. Vic Beasley was selected with the eighth overall pick but hasn’t been the game-changer we expected just yet. O’Brien Schofield was a good addition via free agency, but there hasn’t been much else outside of him.

The Falcons are expected to move Beasley to the left side with Schofield on the right to try and help the pass rush improve. Time will tell whether this plan is effective in pressuring Hasselbeck.

5. What is your prediction for Week 11? Who wins and why?

This is a tough one to call. I have a ton of respect for Matt Hasselbeck and think he can do a good job in relief of Andrew Luck. I expect the Falcons to have improved offensively during the bye, and because it’s at home I give them the edge. Falcons win 21-17.

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