Return of the K-Gun? - SPTO's Blog

SPTO's Blog

Return of the K-Gun?

Posted on December 13, 2008 at 01:35 PM.

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This is more thinking out loud then a definite opinion. In fact, I hope observers of the Falcons could chime in and tell me if i'm going in the right direction or totally out to lunch.

I've watched one complete game (The Bears game) and bits and pieces of a couple others and have come away very impressed at Matt Ryan. Let me say that I was one of the few defenders of Ryan when he was drafted and it's nice to see him having such a good rookie year. There's something about his cool demeanor and poise at the pivot that impresses the hell out of me.

The offense in Atlanta reminds me a lot of the K-Gun offense of Jim Kelly's Buffalo Bills. They're obviously not as explosive but the style of play is very similar. Michael Turner can pound opposing defenses but he also has the ability to get up to the second level and just zip by defenders with his speed much the same way Thurman Thomas did. Roddy White doesn't quite have the blatant disregard for his health the way Andre Reed seemed to have but White is just as explosive in terms of getting huge yards and getting big TDs. Matt Ryan is young but he seems to have the team's attention and I really love it when the Falcons allow him to run the no huddle.

When the Falcons are in the no huddle you can really see Ryan's poise and how he can direct the team in an organized fashion. The guy is just very mature. I wish the Falcons would let Ryan run the no huddle more often because that's when the Falcons offense reminds me the most of those old Bills with the formations and the routes that the receivers run. In many ways the Falcons when they go uptempo seem to run a hybrid of the run n' shoot and it's worked effectively for them.

Maybe i'm just crazy but if it's not similar to the Bills' glory days it's at the very least a variation on the old Run n' Shoot.