Knox Barden: 49ers may have motivated Falcons with move

FLOWERY BRANCH -- Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn used more effort Wednesday making sure he didn't give the San Francisco 49ers any bulletin-board material than responding to his defense reportedly being slighted by a San Francisco quarterback change.

On Monday, Kyle McLorg reported that the 49ers waited an extra week to replace starting quarterback Colin Kaepernick with backup Blaine Gabbert so Gabbert "could debut against a weak Falcons defense at home."

Quinn smiled when asked if he had heard the report, then succinctly and with calculated calm replied.

"I had heard it," said Quinn with a pause for effect. "What I can say is we don't allow anyone else to help get us ready. We'll be ready to rock."

If the first-year Falcons head coach had been able to drop the mic and walk away, he absolutely would have. The moment was that compelling. But he stuck around for more of the news conference that was obviously going to hinge on this story.

Is there such a thing as bulletin-board material, Quinn was asked. Quinn sort of coach-spoke his way around the topic. He tried to paint a picture that playing for the players in Atlanta's locker room was far more important than getting riled up.

"The people we have to answer to are in our own room in how we play, the style we play and the attitude we play with," Quinn said after admitting, yes, he believed in bulletin-board material. "I think it's way more meaningful when you're playing for one another and not some quotes that are up on the wall."

As Quinn tried to downplay San Francisco's extra motivation for Atlanta, he conceded the fact that at some point during his 20-plus years of coaching, he actually has taped a quote up to the wall to inspire his team.

"I've probably grown in that way to know that the connection is really about the guys you play with and how hard you play," said Quinn, moving on to the next question as to whether he would use the comments about Atlanta's weak defense to his advantage.

Quinn said his job is to prepare for the overall concepts of San Francisco's offense first. Defensive coordinator Richard Smith gave more insight. While any changes to the 49ers' offense won't alter what Atlanta plans to do, the 49ers' new quarterback has forced Smith and company to add hours of extra prep work.

"We've gone back and looked at both the quarterbacks; we know them very, very well," Smith said. "If Blaine (Gabbert) starts, he's a veteran quarterback who's started in the league 27 games. We know him from Jacksonville; we looked at every single rep he's taken in preseason this week.

"Whoever they play, their system isn't going to change. They're both good athletes, they have strong arms. Sure, (Kaepernick) is a little bit faster in terms of mobility with his feet."

It's also possible both Quinn and Smith downplayed the news because there's a bit of truth and good reasoning behind the timing of Gabbert's promotion.

San Francisco's past two games were against Seattle and St. Louis, both losses. The Seahawks have the third-ranked scoring defense (17.5 points per game) while the Rams own the No. 4 unit (17.9). Atlanta has allowed 21.6 points per game (13th).

After Atlanta, the 49ers have to play Seattle again and then the Arizona Cardinals (ninth-ranked, allowing 19.1 points per game). In terms of yardage allowed per game, Seattle is ranked second (284.9 yards), Arizona fourth (312.8) and St. Louis sixth (328.1). Atlanta is ranked 11th at 345.4 yards allowed per game.

Of course, if given the chance, the 49ers would rather wait until they're at home and playing the weakest defense they have during the course of five weeks. Atlanta's defense isn't weak; it's just weaker than the teams on both sides of it on San Francisco's schedule.

Should the Falcons feel slighted by the timing of San Francisco's quarterback change? No. Will they use it to their advantage on Sunday? If Quinn has any input, you can count on it.

This story was originally published November 5, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Knox Barden: 49ers may have motivated Falcons with move ."