Falcons coach Dan Quinn is content to let others use their brains.
He’s trusting a different body part when it comes to his decisions about going for two-point conversions or fourth downs.
“Sometimes, it’s gut,” Quinn said of the call, via D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The Falcons went 8-8 last year, losing five games by four points or fewer. But they only went for the two-point conversion after three of their 38 touchdowns, converting one. The Steelers led the league with 11 attempts, and are openly lobbying to do it more often.
But Quinn’s not sure he’s ready to go that far.
“How many things are they going to do from the 2-yard line?’” Quinn said. “You score 50 touchdowns. What 50 two-point plays are you running from there? . . .
“Like most things, knowing when you have an advantage, take it. Those guys like Mike [Tomlin], Sean [Payton] and Mike McCarthy are three coaches that I really respect a lot. If they have a decision about it, I’ll respect that. It might not be ours at the time. But that doesn’t mean I don’t respect it.”
The Falcons have tried to beef up their analytics department to funnel more information to Quinn. But he’s still not sounding convinced it’s a cure-all.
“There is a time for it,” Quinn said. “Real information and knowledge is power. But at the same time, it’s feel. The shift of the game may feel differently.”
But after a year of close losses, the Falcons may feel differently this year.
