Sep 18, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Atlanta Falcons tight end Jacob Tamme (83) is congratulated by wide receiver Julio Jones (11) after catching a touchdown against the Oakland Raiders in the third quarter at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. The Falcons defeated the Raiders 35-28. Photo Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
OAKLAND, Calif. — The Atlanta Falcons made it clear Sunday that opposing defenses will have more to worry about than All-Pro wide receiver Julio Jones in the passing game.
The Falcons spent much of the day using a three tight-end formation in their 35-28 victory over the Oakland Raiders. Tight ends Jacob Tamme, Austin Hooper and Levine Toilolo combined to catch 10 passes for 179 yards and one touchdown.
Tamme caught five passes for 75 yards and a score, Hooper had three catches for 84 yards, and Toilolo had two grabs for 21 yards.
“For us, it’s huge to be able to switch personnel groupings the way we did,” Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan said. “You try and find whatever’s an advantage for you that week. “We thought that was a good matchup for us. Our guys did an outstanding job. Across the board we’re talented at that position, and those guys did a great job.”
Hooper, a rookie, and Toilolo are both Stanford Cardinal products.
“Twelve Cardinal, that’s what we call it,” Ryan said of the package with three tight ends, one running back and one wide receiver. “Levine and Austin made some really good plays. Jacob did a great job for us.
“We just felt like with the big personnel that they go to on defense, we liked our guys. We felt like their athleticism would show, and we felt like we could run the ball effectively from that personnel grouping. We did both.”
–Raiders starting left cornerback David Amerson sustained a possible concussion with 4:35 left in Sunday’s game when Atlanta’s Tevin Coleman scored on a 13-yard run. He did not return to the game. “Going through the concussion protocol,” Raiders coach Jack Del Rio said. “He was checked out. The last drive, he was not in. He was held out and he’ll go through the protocol.”
–The Raiders’ defense allowed more than 500 total net yards for the second straight game and coach Jack Del Rio, a former NFL linebacker and defensive coordinator, vowed to fix the problems, most of which he said are mental. “A lot of mental, which I take full responsibility for,” Del Rio said.
“We have to make sure we’re teaching it better and make sure we our guys understand what we’re asking them to do. We’ve got work to do. That’s what we’ll do. We’ll roll up our sleeves and get to work.”
Del Rio said he made the defensive calls during a stretch late in the game, taking over from defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. Will Del Rio continue making defensive calls?
“I think those types of things or discussions are not really part of this wrap-up right now today,” Del Rio said.
