FALCONS: 5 things we learned from the Carolina win

Falcons Cheerleaders sported Throwback cheer outfits for the Carolina game. (CURTIS COMPTON/AJC).

SPIRIT FINGERS!!!: Falcons Cheerleaders sported Throwback outfits for the Carolina game. (CURTIS COMPTON/AJC).

SEATTLE OF THE SOUTH - We’re closing in on the record for consecutive days of rain. Five down, 35 to go. Who’s out there getting the Ark ready?

The Falcons post-game locker room was bizarre. I have to attend coach Mike Smith’s interview, but one longtime and legendary national reporter asked me why so many players leave so quickly after the game.

For the guys who were left, all of the talk was about how poorly they played.

No doubt, coach Mike Smith came into the room and likely lit into the team for some downright shiftlessness! The

Falcons cheerleaders were ready for the Throwback game. (CURTIS COMPTON/AJC).

Falcons cheerleaders did some high-stepping for the Throwback game. (CURTIS COMPTON/AJC).

penalties by Harvey Dahl, Justin Blalock and the offsides by tight end Tony Gonzalez could not have made him happy. There was Michael Turner’s fumble inside the red zone.  There was a weak arm tackle attempt by Chris Houston.

“I felt that we battled through a number of things the entire football game,” Smith said. “We had some miscues. We had some good plays.”

But in the end, he didn’t seem too happy with the victory. Guess he knows that in order to beat the very good teams in the league, you can’t make so many minor mistakes.

“We’ve got a lot of things that we can improve on,” Smith said.

Here are five things we learned from the victory:

  1. BLITZ BONUS: The Falcons have been working on being more aggressive. Their blitzes are starting to get to the quarterback. Linebacker Stephen Nicholas got his first sack of the season and third of his career. Safety Thomas DeCoud and Nicholas also had quarterback hurries.
  2. SNELLING’S A WEAPON: When Jerious Norwood left the game with a “Head” injury  — Don’t know why they don’t like saying “Concussion” – Jason Snelling came in and ran the ball hard. Every time he’s gotten a chance to play, he’s been up to the task. Because of his strong play, the Falcons won’t have to rush Norwood, who was running pretty hard himself, back into the action.
  3. ELAM’S FINE: Jason Elam, the legendary kicker was listed on the injury report with a hamstring and was coming of a rare bad game where he missed two field goal attempts and an extra point. He didn’t have any field goal attempts, but was striking the ball well on his extra points, where he was four of four.
  4. The 60s/70s era Go-Go Boots were a hit. (CURTIS COMPTON/AJC)

    The 60s/70s era Go-Go Boots were a hit. (CURTIS COMPTON/AJC)

    GONZALEZ IS GREAT: His best catch on Sunday was the one with the linebacker draped all over him. Followed closely be the one that was challenged and ruled a reception at the 10-yard line. He’s a force in the redzone. He got Jason Snelling open for his touchdown when he took two defenders with him into the end zone.

    5. POWER BALL: The Falcons couldn’t run the clock out with just 2:37 left after Chris Houston’s big interception. They want to have a running identity. That’s when you need to grind out 10 yards to secure the victory. If the offense powers the ball at the Panthers, then they would not have needed to sweat out the Hail Mary pass.

  5. NEXT UP:  Atlanta (2-0) vs. New England (1-1). Will the Falcons be favored? They Patriots have looked shaky in Tom Brady’s return.  If Buffalo’s Leodis McKelvin (of Waycross and Troy State) had taken a knee in the endzone in Week One, the Pats would be 0-2.

HERE’S MY FANTASY TEAM: Don’t have time to draft, so got into one of those auto-draft, public leagues on a website. Here’s my team. The Auto-drafter GM did pretty good. Haven’t check, but with Brees, I think I won this week.

STARTERS

QB Drew Brees, New Orleans

WR Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona

WR Mark Clayton, Baltimore

WR Percy Harvin, Minnesota

RB Thomas Jones, New York Jets

RB Joseph Addai, Indianapolis

TE Kevin Boss, New York Giants

K Stephen Gostkowski, New England

DEF Baltimore

RESERVES

WR Anthony Gonzalez, Indianapolis (have to cut him, he’s hurt)

WR Braylon Edwards Cleveland

TR Vernon Davis, San Francisco

QB Brady Quinn, Cleveland

RB Willie Parker, Pittsburgh

PK Josh Brown, St. Louis

114 comments Add your comment

DJ

September 21st, 2009
2:07 pm

What I learned: the crowd can definetly effect the game. Early in the 1st quarter a Falcons punt was fair caught at the 10 yd line. A Carolina defender body slammed the gunner and the game went to TV time out.

Durning the time out, I ragged the side judge for missing the call. He finally looked at me (can’t miss my mouth on the front row) and I hollered “yeah you side judge you missed the call”. He heard me and ran to umpire; a short discussion ensued and the SJ dropped his flag. Carolina, backed up to the 5 yd line, had a 3 and out and we scored on the next series.

That was my flag and it wasn’t the first time something like that has happened. To the fans attending the game – get off your lazy butts and make some %^^&#$^&((@@ noise!

CJW80

September 21st, 2009
2:12 pm

I’m sorry but I was not worried throughout this entire game, if Turner had not fumbled and the refs had not give them a Bulls@#t TD We actualy could have won by a pretty big margin. I think the team got a little cocky and unfocused against a team that was giving it there all on every play. Smitty will clean that up and have us ready for next week!!!!

Sautee

September 21st, 2009
2:17 pm

ATLeon,

You said this: “We learned what we always knew. BVG is garbage and needs an imagination.”

So far, in two games against playoff teams with a combined record of 23-9 (last year) we’ve given up 27 points.

The Pittsburgh Steelers, the best defense in the league, have played two teams (only one playoff team) with a combined record of 22-11 (last year) and have given up 27 points.

Oh, and the Steelers are 1-1 and we’re 2-0.

So what did we learn about BVG again?

DrJ

September 21st, 2009
2:17 pm

I read the print ajc about Peria Jerry’s previous injuries. I wonder about the wisdom of drafting players who are so injury-prone. The Falcon’s running game looked better in the stats than it did live. If I hadn’t known the score, and only looked at the stats, I would have thought the Panthers won.
Just gotta get the running game going on a consistent basis, not a bunch of three yard plunges and an occasional 20 yd scamper. Yes, a concussion is what they don’t want to call it ’cause successive ones end careers. With only Turner and Snelling, it looks iffy. I hope that Trey Lewis will rachett-up to fill in for Perry, but the coaches had not thought he was up to it previously. Good thing that Abraham and the rest of the pass-rush crew did a good job, or our weak seconday wouldn’t have made it. I am not sure if the refs were out for us or not, but the team does lack discipline, this is up to the coaches to correct: penalties can kill us, earned or not.

MrHughes

September 21st, 2009
2:20 pm

I have little problem with how Houston played. Yea, the arm tackle on the running back was ridiculos. But, Houston had two huge plays in the closing moments. The open field hit on Steve Smith and the interception. I’ll live with those plays. Steve Smith had lots of yardage, but Houston did keep him out of the endzone.

The officiating was substandard yesterday. The 3 overruled challenges is pretty bad, especially when Gonzo’s would have been a TD had the ref not blown the whistle or ruled the pass incomplete like they’ve been instructed to do.

However, the crew should not take blame for that foolishness on the final play of the game. That call came from the booth upstairs. They were checking if time was still on the clock. It was obvious the pass was incomplete. Anyway, the refs on the field had nothing to do with that one.

Just calling like I saw…

JIMBOB

September 21st, 2009
2:26 pm

10 things that sucked,

I agree that it sucked that the Falcons didn’t get the 1st down on the final drive. Ryan hit Jenkins in the hands with that 3rd and 10 pass–Jenkins should have caught it. Also agree that the prevent defense is for losers.

I used to watch the Falcons blow game after game doing this late game ‘prevent’ defense back in the 70s and 80s. I don’t really understand the concept of letting them complete 12-18 yard pass after pass, then let them take a shot at the endzone. Better to play your normal aggressive defense IMO.

Overall, Falcons played well, Ryan looked sharp. Even Peyton Manning throws a dumb pic here and there, but overall he threw the ball well, made good plays, and made the throw to Jenkins at the end–which Jenkins dropped.

Cawmmon Cents

September 21st, 2009
2:41 pm

all this talk about “getting rid” of Houston or Anderson (everyones favorite player to kick) is ridiculous. We know that Houston is a solid #2 CB…who was covering one of the best WRs in the league. Cut the guy some slack. Obviously The Falcons over reached when they took Anderson….not his fault. But who do you replace him with? Who do you replace Houston with? You think, and you think…but no one comes to mind….right? You have to play with the hand your are dealt. Those guys played well enough to win. …Way to go falcons

PMC

September 21st, 2009
2:50 pm

Ed from Covington Seriously? Roddy White has been fantastic getting open and catching the ball. He’s been brilliant. Andre Johnson… had a great day against Tennessee… he has before… but he’s been repeatedly shut down by double coverage. Roddy White has been awesome the last two years… he is easily a Top 10 receiver league wide.

DJ

September 21st, 2009
2:56 pm

You guys are way too much into fantasy. Remember, the call it fantasy, not reality. Reality is Falcons won, Panthers lost.

Jamal Anderson is a run stuffer, that’s why he starts. Against Miami, Roddy got Tony G in the endzone with a (wide reciever) block).

In the first 2 games, Atlanta “fantasy” players have stunk it up but the Falcon’s are 2-0. I guess somebody has to buy the beer.

Bad News

September 21st, 2009
3:08 pm

PRESEASON IS OFFICIALLY OVER:

Miami………….over

Carolina……………..over

The real conenders start this weekend. Playing in the dome against week offenses and suspect defenses were extended by the Miami & Carolina weak offenses and defenses who could not find their way out of AA ball.

Now it’s time to go on the road and deal with a pissed off New England team. That will be the start of 6 out of 8 games on the ROAD against the meat of the season.

Scheduling Miami & Carolina is both good and bad. The good is having a 2-0 record. The bad is building false hope that this team can actually compete with the elite teams such as New England, Giants, Philly, New Orleans, Dallas, Buffalo and Jets, etc.

I could bash NOODLE ARM but for the next 9 weeks he is going to see what the REAL NFL is really about – no more weak teams on the remaining schedule.

I’ll be in touch guys :)

P.S. Another win for Flacco vs a Superbowl contender!

Aqua Man

September 21st, 2009
3:26 pm

Ryan looked horrible. Too bad Blank turned his back on Vick, on the Falcons might have done something this season.

Headmofo

September 21st, 2009
3:54 pm

Enter your comments here
With Jerry down for the year it looks like Vance Walker will start to get some playing time. I have no problem with Vance Walker however I am unsure why we never hear anything about Trey Lewis. He was supposed to be the man after he recovered from his knee injury. Why doesn’t he get more playing time he looked great in the preason? I know they paid Jerry 1st rd money, so they had to play him, but Trey Lewis was a force and we could stand a little more beef up front. Carolina did gash us on a few runs.

ToccoaDawg

September 21st, 2009
3:55 pm

Perry needs to just get well and watch his team this year to be ready for next year. though lose.

Waycross Ed

September 21st, 2009
4:06 pm

Enter your comments here
“If Buffalo’s Leodis McKelvin (of Waycross and Troy State) had taken a knee in the endzone in Week One, the Pats would be 0-2.” D Orlando you forgot to point out that the Pats kicked deep because it was 2 min left in the game and they had all 3 of their timeouts. They were counting on stopping Buffalo and getting the ball back with bout a minute 30secs left in the game. If my homeboy takes a knee Buffalo still had to get a first down to ensure victory. His bad play did make it much easier for New England but had he taken a knee there is NO guarantee the Pats would be 0-2 !

OldFan

September 21st, 2009
4:19 pm

Last week the O was down and the D was up. This week the D was down and the O was up! Maybe, next week we can have both on the upside. Great win!
We could not stop them and we still won. That’s freakin awesome! (not the “we couldn stop’em” thing, the winning thing). Good teams find a way to win bad games. This is a good team. From owner to waterboy I really like this team. Tony G is amazing.
Somewhere on some team there is a really good DB wishing he could play for us right now :) The DBs we have now need to step up or they will not be here long TD will build a winner. Keith who?
GREAT WIN!
GO FALCONS!

ATL Fan

September 21st, 2009
4:36 pm

Listened to the game on Sirius Satellite radio. The broadcast was from Carolina. The announcers were raving about how good Matt Ryan is. Interesting experience listening to the game from the opposition’s point of view.

SPARTAN NATION

September 21st, 2009
4:46 pm

PERIA JERRY OUT FOR THE SEASON.

Bad News

September 21st, 2009
4:56 pm

Falcons beat the Saints? Are you people on drugs? Brees lit up the Eagles and their top 10 defense – the Falcons are not even in the Eagles area code

You gave up 452 yards against Jake “I can’t stop throwing interceptions” Delhomme and top it off you lost your starting Nose Tackle.

Drew Brees is going to have a field day!

But one matter will be settled in the next 3 weeks, and that is why the Falcons made the wrong pick in qbs in last year’s draft.

The Patriots’ next 2 games are against the FALCONS & RAVENS…… Finally we can put to rest that “B.S.” that NOODLE ARM is better than Joe Flacco…………… NO MORE EXCUSES

CHOKE vs WINNER !!!!!!!!!!!!!

F-105 Thunderchief

September 21st, 2009
5:01 pm

Jamaal Anderson is moving to tackle.

ATL Fan

September 21st, 2009
5:01 pm

Since Jamaal Anderson is a run stuffer, will he be moved inside since Peria Jerry is injured?

BostonBCfan

September 21st, 2009
6:00 pm

To Bad News:

FYI (”for your information” in case you don’t know what FYI means)………..

Belichick just got done telling the studio guys on WEEI radio up here in Boston that Matt Ryan “has an extremely strong and accurate arm” and “looks nothing like a 2nd year QB. Looks like he’s been in the league for years.” He emphasized STRONG and ACCURATE several times during his weekly radio show today.

So why you keep referring to Ryan as noodle arm means either you’re an idiot, a vick fan or you must be an NFL coach in disguise who knows more about QB’s than coach Belichick. My guess is it’s the first two.

Although it’s going to be tough for me, I have to root against Matty for the first time next week and I’m not sure I’m going to be able to do it but i gotta stay with my heart and be loyal to my Pats. Maybe I shouldn’t watch the game because either way it’s going to be tough for me to watch the ending. Unfortunately for the falcons it would have been better if the patriots had won yesterday because after listening to all of them (especially Brady) on the radio today they are all very pissed about yesterdays game.

Good Luck Falcons!!!!!!!!!!!! And Pats!!!!!!!!!!! Hey, I can wish both good luck at least.

Ice2Gonzo4-6

September 21st, 2009
6:11 pm

Geez guys we just beat 2 playoff teams and after reading some of your posts you’d think we just lost to KC and Det! Am I the only one who remembers when we were lucky to win half our home games? Personally, I’d like to thank CMS, TD and AB for (nay, not restoring) but for finally introducing respectablity to the team I’ve loved (and cursed) for the past 30 odd years. For your efforts gentlemen let me introduce you to your new hypercritical completely unreasonable fan base. Give me a break guys. We finally have a franchise not satisfied with mediocrity, you should enjoy it.

YuleeFalcon

September 21st, 2009
6:15 pm

Here’s hoping that we have a repeat of the 1998 visit to Foxboro. I was at that game and man was I ever so proud to be a Falcon fan!!

roman

September 21st, 2009
6:24 pm

The saints put up a ton of points last year too, there problem is no defense, we’ll split with them anyway, go birds. this offense can match anybody’s including the aints, go birds

IceFan

September 21st, 2009
6:41 pm

Please include cheerleader pics every week from now on

dawes

September 21st, 2009
7:23 pm

go falcon all to the super bowl

Sautee

September 21st, 2009
8:34 pm

The most important stat of all is WINNING %.

I’m a Vick fan AND a Ryan fan. Here’s where both stood after 18 games started:

Vick: 10-7-1 .555%
Ryan: 13-5 .722%

Career starts:

Vick: 37-30-1 .544%
Ryan: 13-5 .722%

“You play the game to WIN”…Herm Edwards

downsouthdirtybird

September 21st, 2009
8:54 pm

bad news i think u just sat on a pointy object and have been grumpy ever since its ok man

Headmofo

September 21st, 2009
11:20 pm

Enter your comments here
With Peria Jerry out for the season, where is Trey Lewis??????? He was supposed to comeback this year and be a beast anyway!!! Did he fall out of favor with the organization????

Fin

September 21st, 2009
11:33 pm

Hey all..good DIVISION win against a playoff team from last year. Let’s not look past those important facts. Jerry is gone for the year…I think Rod Coleman is available if we want to give him another try. He was a good player for us.

@ Ed Convington. Do you just not like Roddy? Every week, you have some complaint about Roddy getting paid number 1 receiver money and not making plays. What more does Roddy have to do? The Falcons are not the pass first team the Texans are…therefore, Roddy won’t have the same stats.

Man..I bet the Jags are kicking themselves as they see Peterson flying all OVER the field!

DHunt

September 21st, 2009
11:45 pm

I learned that every game for this Falcons team is going to be a “trap” game. And maybe we don’t deserve any respect until the team actually steps up, gets the curse off their backs, and go deep into the playoffs. That’s the only thing that gets respect.

So keep bad mouthing them. Especially when they deserve it, but even when they don’t (Houston should have knocked the ball down?!?! One of the rare times he actually makes a play on the ball rather than another player, and you want him to develop the bad habit of knocking it down? If Steve Smith isn’t right there he maybe takes that ball to the house and puts the game out of reach. But it’s cool. Complain about the Falcons players trying to make plays. They need all the billboard material they can get. I had the Falcons 13-3, but with the loss of Jerry, am now only cautiously optimistic. Maybe he can make it back by the second round of the playoffs.

D. Orlando Ledbetter

September 21st, 2009
11:50 pm

When Curtis Compton post a gallery of the Cheerleaders. I plan on using them. He’s awesome.

Big Ray

September 22nd, 2009
1:20 am

By the way, if anybody wants to know what Flacco vs. Ryan is shaping up to be, here are some stats:

Flacco : 2 games, 43 for 69 (62.3%), 497 yards, 7.2 yards per pass average, 5 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, 6 passes for 20+ yards, a quarterback rating of 96.1, ranked #6 among NFL quarterbacks.

Ryan : 2 games, 43 for 63 (68.3%), 449 yards, 7.1 yards per pass average, 5 touchdowns and 1 interception, 6 passes for 20+ yards, a quarterback rating of 108.5, ranked #3 among NFL quarterbacks.

Strange how “noodle arm” has pretty much the exact same yards per pass and number of passes for 20+ yards as Flacco….

Big Ray

September 22nd, 2009
1:23 am

Sautee,

Great point!

Dhunt,

I wouldn’t be looking for Perry this year, not even for the playoffs. He’s a first round pick and getting him (and keeping him) into the best shape possible should be the focus. As for Trey Lewis, I’m not sure why he hasn’t been playing. Hmmmm….

richbrave

September 22nd, 2009
7:53 am

I’ll try once again. Article in the TIMES-DISGUST about EL SID. Evidently the home folks here in RICHMOND don’t have much to crow over where his play in ATLANTA is concerned. To paraphrase his quote, “I’ve got a lot to learn.” From the silent response on this blog to my queries about him and AARON KELLY, that’s evidently true. Anybody got anything to say on the subject?

JC

September 22nd, 2009
8:46 am

THERE NEEDS TO BE A PETITION TO KEEP THESE UNIFORMS. WE ARE NOT AN EXPANSION TEAM ANDS THATS WHAT ARE CURRENT UNIS LOOK LIKE!!!! ALL GREAT UNIS ARE TRADITIONAL: CHI, GB, WASH, DAL, OAK, NY, PITT, IND, MIA, AND ON AND ON!!!! PLEASE BRING THESE BACK THERE IS NO ARGUMENT AS TO WHICH LOOK BETTER, ITS NOT EVEN CLOSE!!!

ddawgdavis

September 22nd, 2009
8:57 am

JA98……..
Looks like we have a new role to earn your money. Start him opposite Babs, they don’t have the size or the girth, but they have the strength against a weak (I said it WEAK) NE line. All we need is for them to plug up the middle and get Abe and Biermann and Sids their chance to eat Brady.

Prediction: Brady broken Tibia.

J Dub

September 22nd, 2009
10:09 am

D. you also need to cut Vernon Davis, Brady Quinn, Braylon Edwards, and Willie Parker while your at it…..

Sautee

September 22nd, 2009
10:47 am

Ray,

about this: “Strange how “noodle arm” has pretty much the exact same yards per pass and number of passes for 20+ yards as Flacco….”

Breaking it down even further:

Flacco: yds /attempt 7.20
Ryan: yds / attempt 7.13

That’s .07 difference, or about 2.5 INCHES per attempt more.

So you can see just how Bad News could reach the conclusion that Flacco’s arm is stronger. Much stronger. Oh yes. ;-)

Sautee

September 22nd, 2009
10:58 am

And I pray that Peria doesn’t earn the moniker NJerry. ;-)

I MUS WRITE

September 22nd, 2009
11:32 am

Ditto Mr Falcon…. JA is officially a bust in my eyes. What hurts the most is we could have drafted Patrick Willis who I was very high on- he’s a flat out beast and will probably make the Pro bowl this year.

Houston is horrible, he doesnt cover well and now he cant tackle,what exactly does he do to help the team. What a horrible attempt at tackling near the goal line -Im mid 30’s and i swear i could have put up more of a effort.I would play C Jackson over him.
Grimes is athletic and thats about it….Too dam little!!!!!

We better have some blitz packages ready for Mr. Brady -if not he’s gonna pick our thin secondary apart. Use the Jets/Giants strategy -Hit him hard and often so he doesnt develope a rythm.

O yeah Peterson is definitely a player -Ive seen him make more impact plays in two games than #56 made all last year…..Whadda ya know he barely got in the game sunday night …hmmmm i wonder y? Dam pile diver!

Joe

September 22nd, 2009
11:57 am

Make sense adding another DT to the squad to expand options? Maybe Darryl Richard from New England’s practice squad?

Ken Strickland

September 22nd, 2009
12:01 pm

BAD NEWS-can you explain to everybody why a majority of the sports writers, coaches and players voted old NOODLE ARM ROY honors and not JFlacco? And please tell us why his rookie performance is considered the most outstanding in NFL history and he, and not JFlacco, was selected to play in the Probowl?

YOU SEE, YOU’RE SO BLINDED BY THE IDEA OF ARM STRENGTH MAKING A QB SUPERIOR, YOU CAN’T SEEM TO SEE WHAT THAT NOODLE ARM HAS MANAGED TO ACCOMPLISH. WELL, ONLY A BIASED IDIOT LIKE YOU COULD MANAGE TO OVERLOOK THE OBVIOUS. Please don’t overlook the questions?

Also allow me to fill in the gaps created by your narrowminded attempts to justify you ignorance.

(1) QB TBrady passed for 378yds in their luck win over the Bills. He threw for only 216yds in their loss against the Jets. So what a QB does against one team doesn’t automatically mean it will be repeated against another.

(2) Yes, QB DBrees has been passing lights out, but their DEF has also played lights out pass DEF, by giving up 391 passing yds to Philly’s inexperienced backup QB Kolb, WOW!!!!(that’s light our like playing pass DEF in the dark). By the way, wasn’t DBrees passing lights out last yr when we whipped his butt?

(3) The Saints are playing about as well as they’re capable of playing, and we’re not, and that will definitely change after our bye week.

Tell me BAD NEWS, who was the Falcons QB in 2006 when we were soundly defeated twice by the Saints, especially that very embarrassing Monday night loss right after hurricane Katrina?

WISHFUL THINKING, DELUSIONAL IDEAS AND A BOATLOAD OF STUPIDITY AND IGNORANCE ARE THE ONLY REASON YOU’RE ABLE TO REMAIN ON THESE BLOGS.

DJ

September 22nd, 2009
12:12 pm

Huh? Losing Jerry is big but Trey Lewis would be in the rotation on alot of teams (inactive both games). The Falcons lost some depth at the top but Trey is a player.

FYI JA #98 has been moving to tackle on pass plays for 2 seasons now. You all watch too much TV; according to most poster’s logics here, the Beer Man should be cut cuz he didn’t have a sack against the Cats.

The Falcons have yet to play up to potential yet they are 2-0.

Ken Strickland

September 22nd, 2009
1:10 pm

I MUS WRITE-I have to question your assessment of BGrimes(5′10″ 181lbs) being too short to be effective playing CB. Consider this. Of the 8 CB’s selected to last yrs Probowl, half were 5′10″ or less, AWinfield(5′9″ 180lbs), CFinnegan(5′10″ 188lbs)were starters, ASamuel(5′10″ 185lbs), RBarber(5′10″ 184lbs) were reserves. DRevis is 5′11″ 198lbs.

A lot of it has to do with scheme and having, or not having, an efffective pass rush. It’s more than just a matter of size or height. There were a lot of things wrong with last yrs DEF, and we can’t expect to fix it all in just one season, especially not after 2 gms. We’ve definitely fixed the OLB and safety problems, and we’ve seen definite overall improvement in our DL play. Getting more QB pressure will go a long way toward fixing our CB problems. I think we’ll see improvement in our CB play after we make some adjustments and/or changes during our bye week.

Tom

September 22nd, 2009
2:35 pm

Jerry is a good player, would have been good with no injuries, with that said, it was a waisted pick in the draft. He came out of college
with injuries, he knew if he played another yr of college he would have gotten hurt and never drafted by the pro’s so he came out early..I hate because he is hurt and hate it that the falcons wasted the pick and money drafting a hurt player..I don’t for see him ever playing a full season and lucky to play a half season..To many injuries at to early of an age, it will only get worse..

Ken Strickland

September 22nd, 2009
3:18 pm

TOM-an awful lot of people thought like you and actually said some of the same things when we signed DE JAbraham. DO YOU THINK THAT WAS A BAD DECISION AND A WASTE OF MONEY? The same thing was also said about DT SBaker, which is why he dropped to the lower half of the 1st rd. DO YOU THINK WE MADE A BAD DECISION AND WASTED MONEY DRAFTING HIM AS WELL?

Injuries are a part of the gm, which is why we have backups.

Jack Falcon

September 22nd, 2009
3:35 pm

The Falcons are not throwing the ball deep because Matt Ryan CAN’T throw deep. Every time he tries it is underthrown and/or intercepted.

The REAL Bad News

September 22nd, 2009
3:39 pm

Michael Vick can’t get on the field even with Donovan McNabb injured, Vick will be 3rd string QB.
ha ha ha

The REAL Bad News

September 22nd, 2009
3:41 pm

Michelle Vicky will ride the bench this week while McNabb is out and the rookie + Garcia take care of business