NFC South team putting extra effort to reduce threat of pistol formation.
The Atlanta Falcons have put some extra effort this off-season into defending the read-option and pistol formation, as the team struggled badly against it last season, and realise they must improve if they want to reach the Super Bowl.
Next season, the Falcons will face San Francisco, Washington, Seattle and Carolina twice, and all teams use the read-option package as a big part of their offensive system.
Linebacker and defensive captain Sean Weatherspoon spoke to AJC.com on Monday and said preparation was going well.
“We’re definitely crossing the T’s and dotting the I’s because the league is kind of coming to that, with these athletic quarterbacks,” Sean Weatherspoon said.
“It’s kind of becoming a little bit like college in that aspect and some teams are multiple (threats). They do the regular, traditional-style offenses as well as going to the pistol and the read-option. That’s something that you really have to focus on.”
Atlanta are one of the big favourites to win the NFC this season, after making key additions on offence and defence. The big question mark against them is the ability to stop the read-option, and running game in general.
The Falcons realise their weakness from last season and are looking to erase that for next year, if they can do so successfully, they will be a very tough team to beat in 2013.
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