On Sunday night time, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs face the Atlanta Falcons. We welcome Tre’Shon Diaz of The Falcoholic — our sister SBNation web site overlaying the Falcons — for 5 Questions with the Enemy.
1) If Patrick Mahomes is Superman, no participant has been extra his Kryptonite than former Denver Broncos security Justin Simmons. How has Simmons seemed within the Falcons’ secondary?
Justin Simmons has been nothing however dependable. We haven’t seen him make the kind of influence performs he grew to become recognized for throughout his time in Denver — however the security has not made any errors, and it’s clear offenses aren’t comfy testing him deep. Jessie Bates has appeared to make life a lot simpler on Simmons.
Simmons’s pure management qualities have been on show from the second he arrived. This Falcons secondary was trying somewhat pedestrian even with the likes of Bates and Terrell, however Simmons has made them a legit power.
2) Kirk Cousins appeared to have a mediocre first six quarters as Atlanta’s beginning quarterback earlier than executing the most effective drives of his profession on Monday night time to defeat the Philadelphia Eagles. Do you anticipate the Falcons’ offense to have the ability to construct from their late-game success?
The Kirk Cousins expertise has been an fascinating one, to say the least. Week 1 actually wasn’t about Cousins as a lot because it was about first-time playcaller and OC Zac Robinson, who rolled out a bush-league sport plan that tipped off whether or not the Falcons would run or go, didn’t make the most of any play motion and solely had Cousins beneath middle as soon as. That state of affairs made Cousins look much more rusty than he was — however he has been rusty nonetheless.
After Kirk accomplished his first landing go to Darnell Mooney Monday night time, one thing appeared to have modified. Whereas many had been pointing to bodily limitations, it truly appears to be like like a majority have been psychological. Cousins was not assured in his determination (or new teammates) previous to the second half of the Eagles sport, however it seems that issues are shifting in the correct path. I feel the Falcons offense will be capable of proceed to enhance as they turn into extra comfy within the first-year system.
3) Former Falcons coach Arthur Smith took heavy blame for disappointing returns on anticipated fantasy stars like Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson. What have you ever seen from the brand new employees to counsel these former prime ten picks can attain their anticipated ceilings?
I feel Smith will get lots of flack from the fantasy neighborhood, which wants assist understanding simply how unhealthy the state of affairs was throughout most of Smith’s tenure. It’s a miracle they gained seven video games of their first two years. Kyle Pitts has eclipsed 1,000 yards and Bijan Robinson had 1,400 all-purpose yards as a rookie, so we’ve seen a few of these picks already flirt with their ceiling. Drake London is the one who hasn’t had that kind of season but — and when your quarterbacks are Marcus Mariota and Desmond Ridder, that comes as no shock.
This offense runs via Bijan — and the utilization has been nice. The staff needs to make use of Kyle Pitts as a standard inline tight finish. I don’t know what which means for his fantasy inventory, however I anticipate his function to ramp up because the season progresses. Drake London is handled because the staff’s WR1, and it’s going to be on Cousins to feed him. Teaching staffs can solely achieve this a lot. Sooner or later, gamers need to execute, and the dearth of execution is what tanked these gamers’ fantasy shares beforehand.
4) With the Chiefs and Falcons not often going through each other, who’s a participant on offense and a participant on protection you’re feeling needs to be extra recognized leaguewide?
On offense, Matthew Bergeron. The second-year left guard had a decent rookie season after transitioning from his faculty place of proper sort out. Now, with a full yr of expertise beneath his belt, he appears to be like able to take off. The Falcons had been operating left at will on Monday night time, and an enormous a part of that was resulting from Bergeron. His go safety was the realm that wanted probably the most enchancment, however he did properly beginning off in opposition to powerful back-to-back inside matchups; will probably be fascinating to see how he fares in opposition to Chris Jones and firm.
For the defensive facet of the ball, I’m going to go along with Kaden Elliss, who’s the staff’s Swiss Military knife. Elliss will line up as an inside linebacker, outdoors linebacker or inside lineman, relying on the situation. His sport jogs my memory lots of Leo Chenal’s. It’s uncommon that you will discover guys who’ve the power to take action many various issues. The Falcons have been using lots of 5-man fronts — and on the ultimate play in opposition to the Eagles, it was Elliss who obtained the strain that precipitated Jalen Hurts to throw an interception.
5) Do you may have a prediction for a way this one performs out?
I anticipate the Chiefs to play like the most effective staff within the league. It doesn’t matter who they’re lacking on offense; that is Andy Ried we’re speaking about. That stated, I do imagine that Atlanta may give them combat. The offensive line has been strong; everyone seems to be lastly beginning to gel. Beating the Chiefs requires a staff not beating themselves at the start — and if Atlanta can play their sport with no errors, then this may very well be one other one-score end for both staff.
