The Atlanta Falcons have the NFL's best rushing attack and worst passing attack. So look for the Cowboys to try to force the Falcons to become one-dimensional Saturday - they'll gang up on the run and dare Mike Vick to pass. There is one flaw with that approach, however. The weakness of the Dallas defense is the pass coverage ability of its safeties – and tight ends generally spend a lot of time downfield with linebackers and safeties.
The Cowboys have struggled with pass-catching tight ends. Jeremy Shockey (Giants), Chris Cooley (Redskins), Dallas Clark (Colts) and Ben Troupe (Titans) have caught touch- down passes against Dallas.
Shockey caught six passes for 65 yards in the last meeting. Cooley caught three passes for 66 yards and Philadelphia's L.J. Smith two for 63. When in doubt, offenses know they can always throw to the tight end for a chunk of yardage.
The Falcons will take it a step further – Vick would rather throw to Alge Crumpler than his wideouts. Crumpler leads Atlanta in catches and receiving yards, and his seven touchdowns are more than Atlanta's wideouts combined.
Like Tony Romo, Vick is at his best when he's on the move. He's the premier running quarterback in NFL history and when he takes off, street ball explodes. Receivers abandon their routes and look for soft spots in the secondary.
Crumpler is Vick's biggest target at 6-2, 262 pounds. He's the only Atlanta receiver with a 100-yard game this season (six catches for 117 yards and three touchdowns against Pittsburgh).
Stopping the run is the goal. But covering Crumpler might be the challenge.
E-mail rgosselin@dallasnews.com
