FLOWERY BRANCH -- The Falcons, in need of a pass rush, benched perhaps their most promising prospect apparently after he spoke up about his decreasing playing time.
Massaquoi, the Central Gwinnett High product who played at Troy, had played in all 13 games and made two starts.
"It was a coaching decision," Falcons coach Mike Smith said on Monday.
He didn’t see the field against Pittsburgh after complaining about getting just seven snaps in the Green Bay game in an ESPN.com report.
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Massaquoi, who was drafted in the fifth round of the 2012 draft, had two sacks and 21 tackles. The Falcons have the 32nd ranked defense in the league.
Massaquoi’s best game of the season was against Baltimore on Oct. 19. He played 51 of 67 snaps (76 percent) against the Ravens and had six tackles, a tackle for a loss and two quarterback hits.
After that game, he played 37 snaps (49 percent) of the snaps against Detroit before being slowed by a foot injury.
He played just six special teams snaps against Tampa Bay and seven special teams snaps against Carolina.
Massaquoi returned to the defense against Cleveland and played 23 snaps (31 percenct) snaps. He played 13 snaps (24 percent) against Arizona before playing seven snaps (10 percent) against Green Bay.
OFFENSE
NAME OFFENSE SPECIAL TEAMS
R Schraeder 100% 60 4 15% T
J Matthews 100% 60 4 15% T
J Blalock 100% 60 3 12% G
M Ryan 100% 60 QB
J Stone 100% 60 G
R White 95% 57 WR
L Toilolo 93% 56 3 12% TE
H Douglas 83% 50 WR
D Hester 60% 36 9 35% WR
G Carimi 58% 35 4 15% T
S Jackson 45% 27 RB
J Asamoah 42% 25 1 4% G
J Rodgers 32% 19 9 35% RB
B Pascoe 30% 18 4 15% TE
E Weems 23% 14 17 65% WR
D Freeman 22% 13 6 23% RB
P DiMarco 10% 6 11 42% FB
H Gunn 7% 4 10 38% G
DEFENSE
NAME DEFENSE SPECIAL TEAMS
R McClain 59 100% 8 31% CB
K Ishmael 59 100% 6 23% SS
D Trufant 59 100% 5 19% CB
P Worrilow 59 100% 5 19% LB
D Lowery 59 100% FS
K Biermann 49 83% 5 19% DE
C Peters 37 63% 5 19% DT
P Soliai 35 59% 4 15% DT
J Babineaux 34 58% 5 19% DE
J Bartu 26 44% 3 12% LB
C Matthews 25 42% 14 54% DT
J Wilson 22 37% 9 35% CB
M Goodman 21 36% 8 31% DE
T Jackson 19 32% 9 35% DT
P Shembo 18 31% 11 42% LB
J Arenas 15 25% 19 73% CB
D Southward 15 25% 10 38% FS
O Umenyiora 15 25% 3 12% DE
R Hageman 13 22% 5 19% DT
S Maponga 10 17% DE
N Stupar 22 85% LB
D Davis 14 54% WR
M Bosher 12 46% P
C Godfrey 8 31% CB
J Harris 7 27% LS
M Bryant 4 15 K
FALCONS FAN MAILBAG: We take your questions from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Friday.
ICYMI: In case you missed it
GAME STORY: Steelers knock Falcons out of first place with 27-20 wi n
QUOTEBOARD: What the Falcons had to say after the loss to the Steelers
SIDEBAR: Falcons slow Bell but not Steelers wide receivers
SIDEBAR: A franchise record for Roddy White, but no reason to celebrate
COLUMN: The blame for lose No. 9 falls on Matt Ryan -- Mark Bradley
NOTEBOOK: Jones, Moore held out with injuries
BY THE NUMBERS: Steelers 27, Falcons 20
UP NEXT: The New Orleans Saints at the Superdome where the Falcons are 1-6 under Coach Smith
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