Players to keep an eye on in the Falcons vs. Colts game
It’s time for fresh and familiar faces to shine.
Naming five Atlanta Falcons is a difficult undertaking in and of itself. It becomes very impossible to do so while also looking for intrigue. Almost as absurd as the Falcons actually meeting expectations in a season rife with playoff possibilities.
Yet here we are, attempting to overcome such impossibilities as the Falcons’ playoff hopes dwindle as they prepare to face the Indianapolis Colts. This week’s intrigue involves several recognizable names who will need to finish well if the Falcons are to turn around their poor season.
Taylor Heinicke
Taylor Heinicke is now the Falcons’ only hope of making the playoffs. This is Heinicke’s second term as starter, and the hope is that it goes better than the previous. Heinicke’s play against the Tennessee Titans in the second half was outstanding. However, things went worse after that, with quarterback play that was no better than Ridder’s. That tendency must reverse itself against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, with Heinicke looking like the QB boost the Falcons urgently need if they are to finish 2023 on a high note.
However, Heinicke cannot be asked to carry the offense unless the Falcons’ ground game improves.
Drew Dalman
If the Falcons are to have a more balanced offensive attack against the Colts, it will begin with center Drew Dalman. His return to the lineup after missing the previous two games due to an ankle ailment should relieve some of the strain on Heinicke. Dalman’s absence has coincided with a three-game span in which the Falcons’ run game has stagnated after a strong performance against the New Orleans Saints in Week 12.
Dalman’s performance against Colts nose tackle Grover Stewart will be key to the Falcons’ rushing success. Stewart’s presence has significantly altered the Colts’ run defense, making neutralizing him a top objective for the Falcons if they want to give their attack the balance it urgently requires.
Kaleb McGary
Right tackle Kaleb McGary is also an important part of the Falcons’ running success and might make his comeback this week against the Colts.McGary is classified as questionable with a knee ailment and might miss his third game in a row. It’s no surprise that the Falcons’ run game has plummeted since McGary went down early against the New York Jets.
Looking at some of the PFF stats shows just how important McGary is to the Falcons’ rushing performance. Prior to the Jets game, the Falcons ran around 29 percent of their runs to the right side behind McGary, averaging 5.1 yards per carry. The Falcons have ran only around 18 percent of the time to the right in the last three games, primarily without McGary, and have averaged only 3.4 yards per carry. The sooner McGary returns, the better the Falcons’ running game will be in these final three weeks.
Tucker Fisk
With fullback Keith Smith out for the rest of the season due to an ankle injury, the Falcons will rely on his replacement to perform better. Despite the obvious choice of promoting Parker Hesse from the practice squad, the Falcons have decided to go with Tucker Fisk against the Colts.
This will be Fisk’s fourth game standing in for Smith, and he’s been generally effective. However, he’ll need to improve if he’s to replace the vacuum left by Smith’s absence while also justifying his elevation ahead of Hesse. This would also improve the running game.
Arnold Ebiketie
During this last three-game stretch, the Falcons need more from their pass rush, which means more heavy lifting from outside linebacker Arnold Ebieketie. To become a more consistent threat off the edge, the Falcons’ current sack leader (5.5) must take the next step. The one obvious weakness on the Colts’ offensive line is rookie right tackle Blake Freeland, so this is an excellent opportunity to capitalize. Freeland is also a backup, and it’s worth noting that in the majority of games where Ebiketie had a sack, backup tackles lined up against him.
A great finish for Ebiketie not only benefits the defense in the immediate term, but also boosts Ebiketie’s long-term career in Atlanta as more than a complementing pass-rusher.
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