Atlanta Falcons with D. Orlando Ledbetter

Will Washington's Jason Campbell become the 4th straight QB to pass for 300 yards or more against the Falcons defense on Sunday at the Georgia Dome.

THE BRANCH – After the last three quarterbacks have thrown for 300 or more yards against the Falcons, the pass defense ranking has dropped dramatically.

The Falcons give 256.4 yards passing per game, which is last in the National Football Conference and 31st overall in the league. Jay Culter passed for 300 yards against the Falcons. Tony Romo hit them up for 311 yards. On MNF, Drew Brees passed for 308 yards.

The Redskins are passing for 202.6 yards per game, which is 20th in the league. Their yards are so low because Jason Campbell won’t throw the ball down field. Some folks are starting to call him “Check Down Charlie” because he checks it down so much and too quickly.

“Jason (Campbell)  has completed 66 percent of his passes and they have a good group of receivers led by Santana Moss,” Falcons defensive coordinator Brian …

Continue reading 5 things to improve the Falcons pass defense »

Will Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan get some good protection against Washington and Albert Haynesworth, the $100 million man? (CURTIS COMPTON/AJC).

THE BRANCH — The one thread that runs through the last three performances by Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is that the opposition  — Chicago, Dallas and New Orleans – brought the noise up front.

Coach Mike Smith said the one thing about Ryan’s seven interceptions is that he was being competitive and trying to make plays.

You can bet that offensive line coach Paul Boudreau is taking a closer look at the protections.

In the Chicago game, Alex Brown was a threat even though the Bears didn’t get any sacks or quarterback hits.

DeMarcus Ware had two sacks and made things rough on Matt Ryan. (V

In the Dallas game, Jay Ratliff and DeMarcus Ware put on Pro Bowl performances. The Cowboys had four sacks and three quarterback hits.

In the New Orleans game, defensive end Will Smith got jiggy with it. They had three sacks and seven …

Continue reading Falcons version of “Saving Private Ryan” »

This is not the goal post that Jason Elam missed twice. That one was at the other end of the Superdome. (D. ORLANDO LEDBETTER/AJC)

LUCYS RETIRED SURFER’S BAR – Lucy’s is the best bar in America.

Lucy's, a safe haven for retired surfers and sports writers.

Only the Slippery Noodle in Indianapolis is on par.

After the game –- because newspaper folks don’t charter out with the team like some of our TV/sponsor friends –- that’s where I retreated.

I did see Jeremy Shockey drop his Cadillac at the hotel and ask how much valet was for the night ($50). He hopped into the back seat of a cop car and rode off to his little celebration. I’m thinking the cop was his body guard for the night.

But here are the five things I came up with at Lucy’s  with the benefit of watching the ESPN replays while B52s and Rock Lobster were blaring in the background.

1. Vilma’s tip: If Jonathan Vilma doesn’t tip that pass, the Falcons win. Tony Gonzalez was open and set to gather in the go ahead …

Continue reading 5 things we learned from the Saints game »

Last season the Saints went for the jugular on the first play of the game, throwing deep to the speedy Devery Henderson. But Falcons safety Erik Coleman was over the top for the interception. (CURTIS COMPTON/AJC)

THE BRANCH – The Falcons and Saints were in the same predicament this offseason.

They were making changes in the secondary and were looking for cornerbacks and safeties.

The Saints elected to sign ball-hawking safety Darren Sharper and cornerback Jabari Greer during free agency.

Both moves have paid off for the Saints. Sharper has six interceptions and returned three for touchdowns. Greer, the former University of Tennessee standout, is off to a good start.

With the secondary holding up, New Orleans’ new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has implemented his more

The Thomas Wade Landry statue outside to Cowboys Stadium.

aggressive approach.

Now, the Saints appear to have a defense to match their high-scoring offense and are the only undefeated team in the NFC at …

Continue reading Who Dat? Secondary playing well for Saints »

Tony Romo ducks out of sack attempt by Jonathan Babineaux. (Louis Deluca/Dallas Morning News)

DIRTY BIRDLAND – Let’s get right to the point.

Five things we learned from the Dallas game.

1. STAY ON THE SCRIPT: The opening drive was a masterpiece. The Falcons script their first 15 plays.

When the offense went “off script,” it grinded to a halt.

“Second drive, we went out and had two drops and the penalty,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said.

Wonder why you can’t “stay on script” if the script is working?

“They came back and made some adjustments,” quarterback Matt Ryan said. “They played well up front and in the secondary. It’s frustrating because we feel like we can play better. But that’s a good defense that we played.”

Miles Austin shown here, pulling away from Brent Grimes. (Louis Deluca/Dallas Morning News).

2. WHERE WAS THE NO-HUDDLE?: The Falcons didn’t go to their vaunted no-huddle attack. The one that served them so well against the Chicago Bears. The one they scored two …

Continue reading 5 things we learned from the Dallas game »

THE BRANCH — For the second week in a row, the Falcons will face a team coming off a bye week.

Dallas linebackers Bradie James (56) and Keith Brooking (51) in training camp. Brooking, the former Falcon, leads the Cowboys in tackles. (ERIC GAY/ASSOCIATED PRESS)

A quick start will likely be necessary against the Dallas Cowboys, who appear to be losing confidence in Tony Romo’s passing ability. A big early lead will force the Cowboys to go away from their talented fleet of running backs – Felix Jones, Marion Barber and Georgia Tech and Lovejoy High’s own Tashard Choice.

 Loading …

The magic of the bye week is that Jones and Barber are now healthy. While Jones and Barber were out, Choice was making a strong case for starter status. It’s no secret that the Cowboys are going to try to power the ball …

Continue reading Falcons to face the “Brooking factor” against Cowboys »

The cheerleaders weren't the only folks dressed in pink in support of Breast Cancer awareness. (CURTIS COMPTON/AJC)

DIRTY BIRD LAND – In the aftermath of the victory over the Chicago Bears, the Falcons were not rejoicing like they’d won a big game.

It was more a business-like tone in the locker room after the game.

Coach Mike Smith was in a good mood, but noted that several mistakes were made.

Pro Bowler Roddy White wasn’t too impressed with the victory that pushed the Falcons to 4-1 for the first time since the 2004 season.

“We just did enough to win I think,” White said.

The biggest play for the Falcons might have been the 62-yard kickoff return by Eric “The Whizzer” Weems. He received  good blocks on the return from tight end Keith Zinger and cornerback Chris Owens.

“That was key for us,” Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan said. “Eric did a great job all night. That was a great play by Eric.”

The offense got out of a funk when it went to the no huddle in the second …

Continue reading Falcons handle their business vs. Bears »

The Branch – Jay Cutler is thinking about re-naming the Georgia Dome, “Cutler’s Castle.”

The Falcons have a custom AirTran Airways designed plane as part of a sponsorhip program with the airline company.

Under second-year head coach Mike Smith, the Falcons are 9-1 at the Georgia Dome. Cutler has been the only quarterback to get out of the place with a victory.

Last season, before he whined and hissed his way out of Denver, Cutler tossed a 9-yard touchdown pass to tight end  Daniel Graham with 5:35 left to secure a 24-20 victory.

The Falcons had a shot to win, but Matt Ryan couldn’t pull of the dramatic touchdown drive in that game. He obviously had too much time.

His specialty is the 11-second thriller.

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, you know that Cutler is now the quarterback of the Chicago Bears and he’s up to his old tricks.

Granted Matt Hasselbeck wasn’t playing, but Cutler took the Bears into Seattle and beat our old pal Jim Mora and the Seattle Seahawks …

Continue reading Cutler has conquered the Georgia Dome vs. Smitty »

In the final seconds, the 49ers were already beatdown. The fans had retreated to the Candlestick parking lots. (D. ORLANDO LEDBETTER/AJC)

DOCK OF THE BAY – The Falcons left their home in Flowery Branch, Georgia, headed for the Frisco Bay on Friday.

They were just sitting on the dock of the bay, ready to make this place their home.

They got off to a 14-0 start, but when it looked like the 49ers were going to storm back, the offense threw down a 21-point barrage.

After losing to New England, the Falcons felt they had nothing to live for. It was looking like, with the running game sidetracked, that nothing was going to come their way.

But instead of just sitting on the dock of the bay at Candlestick Park, the Falcons dealt out a 45-10 whipping, unknowingly paying tribute to Macon native Otis Redding and his classic hit.

Here are five things we learned in that victory that pushed them to 3-1.

1. Roddy White is not a possession receiver!: After holding out for nine days in …

Continue reading FALCONS: 5 things we learned from the San Fran Beatdown »

This was "Hat Day" during training camp. Coach Smith is on the left. Yours truly on the right. (CURTIS COMPTON/AJC)

THE BRANCH – The Falcons head coach Mike Smith stops by the blog this week to shed some insights into the game with the San Francisco 49ers.

The reigning Coach of the Year and the rest of  team will leave for San Francisco on Friday around 5 p.m. They’ll land around 10 p.m. and have dinner.

 Loading …

“Leaving early, will allow the Falcons to go through their regular Saturday routine and then treat Sunday like a normal East Coast 4 p.m. start.

He’s impressed with how they are playing under Coach Mike Singletary. Check on this NFL.Com clip from the 49ers 35-0 pasting of the St. Louis Rams last week. They clearly are not the most talented team, but have …

Continue reading Coach Smith previews the 49ers game »