Dirk Koetter isn't shy about what he's looking for out of the Atlanta Falcons offense in 2012. He wants Atlanta's offense, which has plenty of playmakers, to be explosive -- and who can blame him?
"We want explosive plays, whether they're runs or passes," Koetter said, and then he defined his terms. "When I think about explosive plays, I mean 12-yard runs or 16-yard passes. [Those yardage figures are minimums, please note.] Next to turnovers, 12-yard runs and 16-yard passes are the biggest factors in winning. If you have eight of those plays in a game, you'll have a great chance to win."
Koetter's offense should be a bit different from what Falcons fans have seen in the recent past. Koetter said that his offense will have screen passes, which he believes should be "part of every offense."
"I've been a big believer in screens my whole life. It's a way to slow down a pass rush, and it's a way to get the ball to your playmakers in space. I tell our guys, ‘Think of a screen pass as a punt return.' "
Koetter is quite happy with his new quarterback, too:
Five months on the job, Koetter already is crazy about Matt Ryan. Asked if the quarterback who has yet to engineer a postseason victory is cut from championship cloth, Koetter said: "Absolutely. Absolutely. The guy has everything you want and more.
Certainly, Falcons fans have plenty to be excited about in the 2012 season, as Atlanta looks to translate regular season success into postseason success.
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