Falcons: 10 things we learned from the Lions game
Falcons QB Matt Ryan had a good showing against Detroit. (Robin Buckson/ The Detroit News).
THE BRANCH – Here are 10 things we learned during the Falcons’ shocking 27-26 loss to the Detroit Lions.
1. The Falcons front-seven — with two new linebackers and a new nose tackle — has to improve against the run. Perhaps they are just working out the kinks and getting used to each other.
Matt Ryan on the cover of current issue of Atlanta Magazine. (Ledbetter/AJC)
2. What was most impressive about rookie cornerback Chris Owens was how physical he was when he came up in run support.
3. Quarterback Matt Ryan and tight end Tony Gonzalez are going to be a force on third down.
4. Running back Michael “The Burner” Turner’s legs looked pretty fresh on that 40-yard touchdown run.
5. Defensive tackle Thomas Johnson, a free agent signee, might be a keeper. His sack on third down to force the Lions to attempt a field goal on their opening drive was a big-time play.
6. Right guard Harvey Dahl is still a beast. He worked out poor rookie Sammie Lee Hill in those first two series. Hill is trying to make the jump from SIAC school Stillman. (Morehouse and Clark Atlanta’s conference.)
7. Punter Michael “The Franchise” Koenen is not in mid-season form. His first punt went 24 yards.
8. Linebacker Tony Gilbert, who was inactive all 16 games last season, still knows what to do with an interception.
Ford Field in Detroit. (Ledbetter/AJC)
9. Thomas Brown was a little rusty on kickoff returns. He seemed to be running into tacklers.
10. Defensive end Jamaal Anderson needs to stay on his feet to stop getting so easily taken out of plays.
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119 comments Add your comment
The Grinch
August 17th, 2009
1:47 pm
Sara Palin and Matt Hasselbeck’s Mom? Now we’re talkin’! Roll film, please.
“Mr. Falcon,” seems like on a play or two where he was flushed out of the pocket he got rid of the ball way before he needed to. He looked scared to me.
Nativebird, you’re right about Chauncy being twice the DE Anderson is, the problem is that he’s still not a legitimate compliment to Abraham. We really gotta hope Sidbury and Biermann turn it up three notches or there ain’t gonna be much pass rush. Maybe they’ll be blitzing more with these new harder-hitting DB’s.
bruce mitchell
August 17th, 2009
1:49 pm
Jamaal Anderson, hope you saved your first round bonus money; the Turk is coming.
Trainwreck
August 17th, 2009
1:59 pm
I can’t wait for more games to see the first unit a little more. I’m optimistic from that first defensive series that maybe once again we will be a bend but not break defense, with a big opportunistic defensive play to keep the other team out of the endzone
Turtsnap
August 17th, 2009
2:00 pm
I agree with Observer. I mean, we weren’t playing to win a preseason game. You don’t scheme for situations in preseason games either. It was a game where you throw it all out on the field and build from there. We lost our first 2 preseason games last year. If memory serves, we had a pretty decent season last year. No big deal about last Saturday.
SC
August 17th, 2009
2:09 pm
D Led, got to disagree with you on the ’shocked’ part. The Lions beat the NY Giants last year in the first preseason game, 13-10. The Giants went on to have the better record. I agree about the 10 things learned, though.
Dell
August 17th, 2009
2:10 pm
The Grinch, you’ve gotta kidding about Peterson not being as fast as Brooking? He could run through quicksand, and beat Brooking!
cdog
August 17th, 2009
2:12 pm
WHY ARE YOU CALLING THIS A LOSS? THE FALCON IF THEY PLAYED THE LIONS ON A NORMAL BASES WOULD HAVE DESTROYED THEM. THIS IS PRESEASON WHERE ROOKIES ARE PLAYED AND EVALUATED. THE FALCONS REGULARS ARE AT LEAST 4 TOUCHDOWN BETTER THAN DETROIT. THE ONLY WEAKNESS I SAW WAS AS USUAL, IN THE SECONDARY BUT THE OWENS KID IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING SPECIAL BUT ANOTHER TWO CORNERS MUST STEP UP. JAMAAL ANDERSON PROBABLY COULD BRING A DECENT CORNER IN A TRADE.PLUS THEY NEED TO GO OUT AND FIND A GOOD PUNT RETURNER GOING INTO THE SEASON, A VETERAN WHO NOT ONLY CAN TAKE IT THE DISTANCE BUT HAS SURE HANDS. I SEE A 12-4 SEASON THIS YEAR
D. Orlando Ledbetter
August 17th, 2009
2:13 pm
Looks like you all are having a good time in here today.
A Houston update:
Houston didn’t practice this morning. Injury is not major. His deal is “day to day.”
Txetxo Arizmendiarrieta
August 17th, 2009
2:18 pm
How badly is Chris Houston hurt?
Dell
August 17th, 2009
2:19 pm
Testing 1 2 3
Txetxo Arizmendiarrieta
August 17th, 2009
2:19 pm
Sorry, I sent that before i saw that D-Led had provided a Chris Houston update
Dell
August 17th, 2009
2:20 pm
DJ, has to go!
NeNe's Greg's boss
August 17th, 2009
2:21 pm
I know its preseason but not a good sign Falcon Fans…….
Dell
August 17th, 2009
2:22 pm
DJ, I hope you get to play elsewhere. You never will in the ATL!
Gwinnett Fred
August 17th, 2009
2:30 pm
Anderson is officially a bust. Period.
I would like to have had a replay on the pass interference call that wiped out a “clinching” interception in the middle of the 3rd quarter. Great interception (I forget by who) and the PI wasn’t on him, so I wonder who’s mistake cost the team on that one (the kind of penalty that gets players demoted or a bus ticket).
BTW – The Bengals HBO training camp show is pretty good. I never watched the others when a great team was used – but a training camp with a 4 or 5 win team is more interesting. I’d come close to say it’s a “must watch” for all pro football fans (and no, I don’t work for HBO).
Sensitive
August 17th, 2009
2:33 pm
Maybe Jamaal has personal issues that are conflicting with his job. Reggie Bush call Jamaal please!!!!!!
Pi$$onaDawg
August 17th, 2009
2:35 pm
An OLD Brooking was better than the crap we played. T. Brown— that Dawg can HUNT. Stafford look good, even doing the TECH replay of his pick6 for the Lions. We just might see an UGA QB not have to hold a clipboard to get a check.
Jim
August 17th, 2009
2:35 pm
Knowshon was awesome for the LIONS!
Needabailout,too!
August 17th, 2009
2:40 pm
75 pared by Sept. 1. 53 more pared by Sept. 5. Some of you just may get your wish.
…..BTW, I kinda dug Wilson at QB…
Big Dan
August 17th, 2009
2:44 pm
Peterson got out ran by an old washed up QB with bad knees. That’s scary. I was all for moving on with out Brooking, and he never looked that slow..
The Grinch
August 17th, 2009
2:46 pm
Dell, I was insinuating Peterson looked slow more than I was praising Brookings’ speed. I’m not passing full judgment on him for part of one preseason game, though. Smitty brought him in for a reason, I’m sure.
ddawgdavis
August 17th, 2009
2:48 pm
I predict we cut Jamaal Anderson, sorry to be negative, but what’s the point of having someone whose a bust and not as hungry as a Chauncey, Sidbury, etc. Plus, we might be able to pick-up a veteran during the roster cuts if no one likes Chauncey.
Mike
August 17th, 2009
2:53 pm
So with all the wisdom and intelligence posted here, the game still was lost. Is that correct? I just need the facts.
BurningRedBleedingBlack
August 17th, 2009
3:01 pm
I see us being like the colts a couple of years ago. Score 35, 42, points a game but Defense gives up 31, 35, and even may lose some. However, over all we’re heading in the right direction. I really liked that owens kid, fast and physcial. Thomas Johnson looked sharp at DT. Tony G is gonna make us falcon fans so happy. Tony Gilbert looked nice a LB. Mke Pettersen is gonna work out nice he was in the backfield everytime they blitz. But remember this is preseason and the starter are not tryin to get hurt
"Mr. Falcon"
August 17th, 2009
3:09 pm
Did somebody say the Falcons have hard hitting DBs. You are taking the comedy way too far. Who are you talking about, and did you watch the game Saturday? The Falcons DBs looked pretty bad. The safeties and the corners.
"Mr. Falcon"
August 17th, 2009
3:12 pm
Dell, you really should lay off DJ; until we see what he can do with the #1 O-line.
Mike
August 17th, 2009
3:15 pm
DOL said: “OBSERVOR: The Lions were 0-16 last season.”
They also went undefeated in the pre-season…so obviously the success in the pre-season means about as much as the Pro Bowl.
"Mr. Falcon"
August 17th, 2009
3:16 pm
Big Dan, Dante is faster than 85% of the QBs, and some of the RBs in the NFL. Peterson is a serious up grade from Brooking.
Mike
August 17th, 2009
3:19 pm
It’s already been noted that there was no gameplanning done for this game. It was a glorified practice/scrimmage if you will. I don’t see the big deal with pre-season one game. Really…
Georgia Fan
August 17th, 2009
3:35 pm
We lost on a last second field goal in the first pre-season game. At least 75% of the snaps are taken by the backups, including many who will not be on the final roster. There were certainly some things that concerned me as a Falcon fan but the final score was not one of them. Please never again refer to a close loss in a preseason game as a “shocker”.
What exactly was “shocking” about the game?
Bird Dawg
August 17th, 2009
3:41 pm
The 11th thing we learned; it was the first preseason game and meant basically nothing…………:)
The Grinch
August 17th, 2009
3:49 pm
I was referring to Owens, who looked like a hard-hitting DB to me (especially for his size) and Moore when he returns. I didn’t mean Jamal Fudge or Brent Grimes. No, there’s no Scott Case in this crew, but they’re faster and more hard core than last year’s DB’s. I’m just suggesting our lack of a basic pass rush might necessitate some creative blitz packages, a la the Eagles. We can’t give QB’s 5 seconds to throw every down.
Brian
August 17th, 2009
3:52 pm
I’m excited about Ryan having Gonzalez and Finneran to hit on 3rd and long. Turner is the real deal. So what if we have to win high scoring games? It worked for another team with a decent quarterback and relatively decent offense called the Colts.
JR
August 17th, 2009
4:03 pm
Neither Shockley or Redman showed anything. Wilson, playing with next week’s burger flippers, looked better. UGA fans have to give it up. Shockley may be a spunky kid, but he’ll never make it in the NFL. The Falcons have to keep Ryan healthly or it’s back to 5-11, especially with a defense that makes Detroit look like New England.
YUP!!
August 17th, 2009
4:06 pm
GOOD LORD YOU BIG CRY BABIES!! I hope we go 0-4 this pre-season. Steelers did last year and won the superbowl. The Lions went 4-0 pre-season and ended 0-16 for the season.
With that said…….IT’S JUST PRE-SEASON YOU CRYING LOOSERS!!!!
nhe
August 17th, 2009
4:43 pm
cdog saying “Jamaal Anderson could bring a decent DB in a trade” may be one of the funniest things I’ve read in a while………………..if there is any guaranteed money left on his contract, we just have to hope someone else will pick it up……….Jamaal ain’t fetchin’ anything in a trade my friend.
It was interesting to me that in the short time Trey Lewis was in, he was chasing every play to the whistle, I didn’t P Jerry pursue anything……….that was the most troubling thing to me from Saturday – our first round pick got no push and seemed to quit when the play was by him………not good.
Ed-Covington
August 17th, 2009
4:58 pm
First preseason game, doesn’t matter if we win or lose. But the defense gave up 450 yards to an offense that went 0-16 last year in what basically was a glorified scrimmage; and supposedly the defenses are way ahead of the offenses due to lack of coordinated practices. Now that was “shocking”
anon-knee-mous
August 17th, 2009
6:09 pm
Is it too early to be worried about the defense?
Barry
August 17th, 2009
6:12 pm
Hey Y’all:
I really was paying attemtion to the coaching on the defensive side of the ball. I liked coach Smith and Van Gorder continuous teaching on the sidelines with the young defensive players. Believe me, I am more than confident that when these youg guys get it down they are going to be “MONSTERS”. You have to understand, what NFL team drafted nothing but defensive players in the first 7 rounds? I am telling you, we got the “cream of the crop” in this years draft of defensive players. There are some Falcon legends in this bunch. For now, we will call them “THE NO-NAME DEFENSE”. But by mid-season, they’ll be known as Atlanta’s “YOUNG GUNS”. Smith and Van Gorder are going to have these guys playing real “NASTY” and in rare form by the time the season starts. Therefore, one game at a time with this defense. Smith and Van Gorder are excellent defensive coaches. And when they take the leash of these guys we are really going to see some new defensive legends on the Falcons for years to come. Therefore, I am going to enjoy being patient with this defensive group. They are going to come together before our eyes in “ONE HEARTBEAT!!!”.
GET READY FOR THE “YOUNG GUNS!”
GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
This is a SECRET from a FALCON FAN. TELL EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
……………………….”ONE HEARTBEAT,BABY!!!!!!”………………
GT GRAD
August 17th, 2009
6:18 pm
11. Vance Walker looked really good and will earn serious playing time if he continues playing as well as he did against Detriot.
12. Trey lewis is an impact player and will probably be a starter in Week #1 as long as he stays healthy.
13. Jamal Anderson has a long way to go if he wants to avoid the “bust” label.
14. Falcons will miss LB Keith Brooking……..Brooking is simply not as slow as some Falcons fans would like to think and Peterson is MUCH slower than Brooking (most Falcons fans expected Peterson to be an upgrade, but they will soon realize the team was much better with Brooking!).
In defense of Brooking (since several anti-Brooking fans will begin to spout off negativity), the famous 3rd & long play against Arizona was actually Lawyer Milloy’s fault. NFL Network and Lawyer Milloy have both confirmed this fact. Brooking was enough of a team player to take the blame and let it go, but he should have explained that he was assigned to stay home to cover the middle while Milloy was supposed to cover the zone behind Brooking. NFL Network spent more than 5 minutes explaining this fact and showed the play several times in slow motion with in depth analasis. I AM A LITTLE SICK AND TIRED OF ALL OF THE NEGATIVE ATTACKS toward Brooking when he had his responsibility covered and has been man enough to let ignorant fans blame him for something when he was not at fault! I will admit Brooking looked bad at the time, but he would not have looked so bad if Milloy had stayed in his zone and had that area of the field covered. The fact that Milloy was not even in the camera view made it appear as if Brooking was getting beat by the TE, but in REALITY it was Milloy who allowed such an easy reception due to the fact he was so far out of position!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go Falcons!
OmarH
August 17th, 2009
8:12 pm
Just heard Marvin Harrison coming back, personally I would love to see him as the Falcons number 3 reciever
Bill
August 17th, 2009
8:39 pm
“Yeah, if DJ would just get a shot to play with the first unit…” You Dawg fans are just unbelievable!
Shockley is LUCKY to be pulling an NFL paycheck as a 3rd stringer (for now). Just sit tight, the Dawgs season will start soon enough. Leave the PRO FOOTBALL blogs alone, you Kool-Aid drinking freaks!
Bill
August 17th, 2009
8:44 pm
…and GT Grad, Brooking plays for the Cowboys now, who the HELL cares about that play now, It’s a new season.
I’m sure he’ll appreciate how SICK and TIRED that you are about this 8 months after the fact…
What a Fanboy.
Dwayne
August 17th, 2009
8:51 pm
Barry…Good call…Smith will get more out of the D than people think. It’s just a preseason game. Who cares???
VICK SUPPORTER 2
August 17th, 2009
9:09 pm
EAGLES 50
FALCONS 3
VICK SUPPORTER 2
August 17th, 2009
9:11 pm
ONLY A LOSER’S MENTALITY IS: “IT’S ONLY A PRESEASON GAME”
VICK SUPPORTER 2
August 17th, 2009
9:13 pm
WILSON LOOKED BETTER THAN MATT RYAN “LEAF”!
GT GRAD
August 17th, 2009
10:27 pm
Several bloggers consistently pounded Brooking after he signed with Dallas. Very disrespectfull way to treat a long time Falcon player who gave everything he had to the organization and was an upstanding person and impact player from day one until the day he left. I was simply stating a few facts regarding a solid, upstanding ex-Falcon player which I still respect AND also making a prediction that we will miss having Brooking lining up for the Falcons in 2009. It is relevant because there are several ignorant “Brooking Haters” which will soon realize Peterson is not an upgrade over Brooking.
To Mr. Bill: I admit that I am a huge fan of the Falcons and I still like/respect Brooking; just because you don’t care means VERY little to me, but your negative post did give me another opportunity to write a shameless plug for Mr. Brooking…………..Thanks! Enjoy reading the other blog comments & have a great evening.
Kenny D
August 17th, 2009
10:29 pm
Why are we hanging on to Redman ! If he is our #2 god help us ! The never the voters said DJ should be #3. I wonder what game did they watch last weekend. DJ did good, I bet if you put him in with the second unit, he will show the fans he should be #2.
REDMAN NEED TO GO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ken Strickland
August 18th, 2009
12:12 am
Some of you are simply too emotional in your decision making. Why cut JAnderson when he still has value? He might be a bust at this point, but that might be due to the fact he’s more suited to playing DE in a 3-4 DEF rather than a 4-3 DEF. That’s important since more and more teams are making the switch to the 3-4 DEF and might see him as an asset. And why switch him to DT when we have so many quality DT’s already on the roster that have yrs of experience playing the position.
Why not let our excellent coaching staff make the decisions on who gets cut, demoted or assigned to another position. They’ll get to see in detail what took place when they review film of the gm. Do you really think our coaching staff won’t be able to see what we saw and make corrections and adjustments over the next 3wks?