Falcons are heavy underdogs without Turner
The normally quiet Michael Boley is the latest ex-Falcons to run some smack at the team. He didn't like being told he wasn't aggressive enough when he got benched for Coy Wire last season.
THE BRANCH – Can’t find any prognosticators who are picking the Falcons to fly up to New York and hand out a smackdown to Eli Manning and the New York Giants.
Even the great Swami Schultz has the Falcons losing, but covering the 6½.
In SportingNews Today on Thursday, all seven members of their panel picked the New York Football Giants. All seven – Vinnie Iyer, Steve Greenberg, my main man Clifton Brown, Todd Wright, Real Scouts, Russ Lande and Dennis Dillion – had the NY insigna under their names.
Ken Moll of Scouts, Inc. has the Falcons losing 24-20. He gives the Falcons position advantages at wide receiver, linebacker, defensive back and special teams. He gives the coaching advantage to Tom Coughlin and the quarterback advantage to Manning.
That’s usually when things are most interesting in the NFL. When a team is given absolutely no chance to win an important game, they often times come through.
The Falcons margin of error will be slight with Michael Turner not expected to play. (INJURY ASIDE: The Falcons are hoping that Turner is a fast healer and can bounce back from his high right ankle sprain like he did back in 2001 from a left ankle sprain he suffered at Northern Illinois. “(Turner) Played in 10 games in 2001 and missed one with a sprained left ankle. . .” according to Pro Football Weekly’s 2001 draft guide.)
Here’s a look at some of the issues the Falcons must overcome to pull off the upset in Gotham City:
COVER THE GIANTS RECEIVERS: Steve Smith is their main guy, but the unit has some depth.
“Coming into the year, they were talking about the receiver corps was untested,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “The rookie from North Carolina (Hakeem Nicks) is getting a lot more looks. (Domenik) Hixon is a big, fast and strong guy, who works on their special teams. I think that they’ve started to gel as far as the receivers working with Eli.”
ATTACK THE O-LINE: Some contend that New York’s offensive line man is slipping from the Super Bowl standard of a few years ago.
“I think that unit works very, very well,” Smith said. “They remind me, watching them on tape, of our offensive line. They really play hard and they play well as a unit. They are a bunch of guys that really understand their blocking schemes. They are efficient in both run and pass blocking.”
The Falcons should sendCurtis Lofton on some missions to meet Brandon Jacobs in the backfield. Mike Peterson and Stephen Nicholas will have his back. (Yeah, I taught my 9 and 10 year-old how to cut block!)
STOP JACOBS BEFORE HE GETS ROLLING: The Falcons play a one-gap scheme, but they should just let middle linebacker Curtis Lofton key on Brandon Jacobs and give him the green light to go blow him up in the backfield. Once the big fella (6-4, 264) gets rolling, he’s tough to get down.
The Falcons are ranked 26th against the run (130.3 per game) and 28th against the pass (240.7). To have a chance they need to stop one aspect of the Giants offense and make them one dimensional.
“This is a very good running team and we know that,” Smith said. “This is a team that’s got really three backs. They talk about Brandon. They talk about Ahmad (Bradshaw) but Danny Ware is also a very good running back. It’s going to be very important that we are very gap sound. To defend the run you have to make sure that you are gap sound. You’ve got swarm to the ball and play with good leverage. If we can eliminate explosive plays in the running game we will enhance our chances this week.”
GET OFF THE FIELD ON THIRD DOWNS: The Falcons have also been pretty leaky on third downs. Teams have converted 61 of 125 third downs (49%).
Smith is aware of this major problem.
“We’re not very good, plain and simple,” Smith said. “We are not very good on third down.”
Smith and defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder have a plan.
“We have to do a couple of things better,” Smith said. “First we have to play better on first and second down. We are in way too many third down-and-shorts and third down-and-mediums. In those situations you are putting yourself at a big disadvantage on third downs. It’s very important that we stress having good first and second down play to get us in those third down-and-longs.
“That’s something that you don’t want to see very often because the odds are in your favor defensively in those down
Falcons coach Mike Smith needs to the defense to step up on third downs. (CURTIS COMPTON/AJC)
and distances. There are going to be certain times they are going to make good throws and good catches, but statistically those are situations that the defense definitely has the upper hand.”
WIND SHOULDN’T BE A PROBLEM: Got the weather update from the folks over at The Weather Channel.
“The Weather Channel has your NFL football forecast for the weekend – we would love to let your readers know:
Atlanta Falcons @ NY Giants
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
Gametime Weather Index: 10 (Light winds; 50s)
November and December games in the Meadowlands can be notoriously windy, thanks to both cold fronts sweeping out of the Great Lakes and an occasional coastal storm. While the latter scenario will be in play Sunday, the coastal low should be rather weak, by East Coast standards, and high pressure should remain sufficiently nearby to minimize rain chances. More importantly, the proximity of the surface high should keep winds generally less than 10 mph.”
GASH ‘EM IN THE RUN GAME: Perhaps the Giants will take the Falcons backup running backs lightly. But Jason Snelling and Jerious Norwood are very capable.
Perhaps one of them can pop a 66-yarder like Philadelphia’s LeSean McCoy’s 66-yard touchdown run against the Gaints in Week 8.
SCHEDULE GRIEVANCE: Before leaving New York, the Falcons need to file a grievance at the league office over this bye-week booster schedule they are playing. Here’s the address: 280 Park Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10017. You know, you they can put it in the GPS.
Mathematically, the Falcons rank fourth in strength of schedule this season with their opponents combining for a .588 winning percentage in 2008 (150 wins, 105 losses and one tie).
Considering that they play four teams coming off of bye weeks — including the rested New York Giants – they might just have the toughest schedule in the league is year. (They are 2-1 so far, beating San Francisco and Washington, while losing to Dallas as they were coming off bye weeks).
“This is the fourth one is six weeks,” Smith said. “The schedule is made and we’ve got to go play the games. Up until this point, I think we’ve handled it very well. It’s a little bit tougher when you are coming off a bye week and you’ve got to go on the road than coming off a bye week and having to play that opponent at home.”
Patrick Robinson (21) against Georgia Tech. (Getty Images)
2010 DRAFT PREVIEW OF CORNERBACKS: It’s OK to take a peak ahead to the 2010 draft. It’s a pretty good bet that the Falcons will be giving every draftable cornerback in the nation a workout.
It would be wise to start compiling a file on Florida State’s Patrick Robinson. If the Falcons land somewhere in the 20s, he could be available. Robinson will be rated behind Tennessee’s Eric Berry of Creekside High and Florida’s Joe Haden, the consensus top two corners in the draft.
Here’s a look at some of the other top cornerbacks around the country.
For instant updates, follow me on Twitter.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Guides
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2010 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
125 comments Add your comment
tbhawksfan
November 20th, 2009
11:07 am
Tough game, tough schedule, lot’s of injuries. Falcons are doing well given the circumstances.
gdg73
November 20th, 2009
11:11 am
This is the biggest game of Ryan’s young career. I kinda compare it to a game in 2005 against Miami. Vick had received alot of grief the weeks prior for his lack of production and came away with a solid showing/win against the Dolphins. Ryan needs a “solid showing/WIN” more than anyone could imagine. If he tanks it again, we are in trouble.
gdg73
November 20th, 2009
11:16 am
And as far as a CB, Arthur Blank needs to open up his wallet and pluck a proven corner from next years free agent class. A rookie corner paired with Chris Houston will put us in the same position as we are currently in. Unless Eric Berry is on the board, which I doubt, I say go free agency to fill this need.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
November 20th, 2009
11:19 am
gdg73: They were very picky in FA market last year. Jabari Greer could have helped and maybe they should have paid Foxworth.
gdg73
November 20th, 2009
11:40 am
Unless you have an outstanding pass rushing defensive line, which we do not have, top tier CB talent is needed. We also need to look at RB and LB in the draft, as well as kicker. C.J. Spiller or Renaldo Blackmon (Alabama LB) should be available when we pick, I hope. I was hoping the Falcon brass would draft Brandon Coutu from Georgia in 2008 instead of signing Elam’s antique butt. The position would have been solved for 12 years. Back to the drawing board I guess.
Lesa
November 20th, 2009
11:46 am
DOL, thanks so much for the belly laugh I just got courtesy of what I hope is a typo: ” . . .they should just let middle linebacker Curtis Lofton key on Brandon Jacobs and give him the green light to go BLOW HIM in the backfield.” Well, that would be one way for the Falcons to get “a head.” ROTFLMAO.
Seriously, I was encouraged to read that the Giants have a losing record after bye weeks. An article by Denis Gorman on ajc.com says, “Historically, the Giants have lost 15 of the 20 games following a regular-season bye, including three of five during Coughlin’s tenure as coach.” I hope the precedent continues on Sunday. GO FALCONS!!!
Jay Falcon
November 20th, 2009
11:54 am
I don’t know about Foxworth. Every thing I read coming out of Baltimore is how their secondary is week, and specifically complaints about Foxworth. I think the falcons did the right thing by not resigning him to a huge contract. From what I read Baltimore is his hometown where he wanted to play so the Falcons would have had to pay him significantly more. I wish we would have brought in a vet like Greer or Mcalister to show our young corners a thing or two.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
November 20th, 2009
11:54 am
JUST 2 OBSERVATIONS:
1. I thought “you” guys were saying Ryan was the reason for last season’s success, yet now all of a sudden the AJC Writers are saying the birds are a huge underdog without Turner. I’m so confused
2. Steve Smith seems to be a name that will toast the birds in both Carolina and New York
Come on guys, there is no need to fear the Giants, when you have Peyton Manning on your team
cdog
November 20th, 2009
12:21 pm
THE FALCONS SHOULD WIN IF THEY DON’T GO INTO THE GAMES EXPECTING TO LOSE AND NOT BELIEVING THEY CAN’T WIN. THE GIANTS ARE NOT NO WORLD BEATING TEAM. THE FALCONS MUST TACKLE AND DO THE FUNDAMENTAL THINGS RIGHT AND THEY SHOULD COME OUT OF NEW YORK WITH A WIN
pilgrim
November 20th, 2009
12:21 pm
gdg73 — Giants are using this game to right their season. Even more pressure on Ryan – I agree: a good challenge/opportunity for him.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
November 20th, 2009
12:25 pm
Lesa: BLOW HIM UP!!!!! (thanks). Glad you caught that. I’d have some explaining to do with Lofton.
CHOKE: Team voted 33 the MVP last year. You missed that? Just starting trouble. . . AGAIN!
D. Orlando Ledbetter
November 20th, 2009
12:40 pm
SportingNews Today has an article ton “Slumping Quarterbacks.” (Cutler, Ryan and Sanchez)
http://today.sportingnews.com/sportingnewstoday/20091120?sub_id=vlH89UsLnX94&folio=CGI#pg1
Lesa
November 20th, 2009
12:50 pm
DOL: thanks for the props. The 12-year-old inside of me couldn’t resist commenting on that. I always enjoy your blog.
GO FALCONS!!!
Matt "Choke" Ryan
November 20th, 2009
12:58 pm
D. Orlando Ledbetter
November 20th, 2009
12:25 pm
Lesa: BLOW HIM UP!!!!! (thanks). Glad you caught that. I’d have some explaining to do with Lofton.
CHOKE: Team voted 33 the MVP last year. You missed that? Just starting trouble. . . AGAIN!
“I guess I missed under all of the Peyton Like articles”
For the record “trouble” is my middle name, but be rest assured, the current quarterback will get no free passes no matter how much you AJC Writers build him up.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
November 20th, 2009
1:09 pm
THIS IN THE LATEST PRO FOOTBALL WRITER’S NEWSLETTER–
Kudos to the Texans for making Dr. James Muntz, a team physician, available to discuss the swine flu after a Texans player was diagnosed. … I got emails from writers amazed the first time Bob Lange sent out MRI results for several of the 49ers players. It was very detailed information on each player. (The results of a MRI on 49ers RB Frank Gore show a right ankle strain and a right hind foot sprain that will sideline him for approximately three weeks.)
WONDER WHY THE FALCONS CAN’T GIVE US SOME DETAILED MEDICAL INFO ON MICHAEL TURNER’S “ANKLE SPRAIN.” Does it “REALLY” give the opposition a competitive advantage?
D. Orlando Ledbetter
November 20th, 2009
1:09 pm
ALSO… The Eagles are doing a great job with information regarding Brian Westbrook’s concussion.
Marcus
November 20th, 2009
1:23 pm
DOL, your last paragraph is what I have been asking here and the Bird Cage since the DAL game: Look @ 2010 CBs. Just from perusing the ‘09 Lindy’s, the cupboard looks kinda bare unless Dimitroff has a sleeper pick.
Some of the other top CBs (Arenas from ‘bama, the Syd’Quan Thompson from Cal) are shorties like Grimes and C. Houston, which does us no good. UKs Trevard Lindley was a pre-season top CB, not sure how his season is going. Same could be said for couple of others, like Clemson’s Crezdon Butler. Walter Thurmond III from Oregon got hurt at mid-season, I think. This draft seems more Safety (heavy w/prospects like Eric Berry and USC Taylor Mays) than CB.
Clueless?
November 20th, 2009
1:35 pm
Hey Lesa, this character “Choke” would probably be glad to perform that activity. He is always trolling.
6 - 10
November 20th, 2009
1:49 pm
It’s over folks. We have….no QB, no defense, no RB, no OL and have lost all heart. Looking forward to 2010.
6 – 10
Matt "Choke" Ryan
November 20th, 2009
1:59 pm
You know it’s a damn shame that this franchise will close the decade after this season and only 1 quarterback holds all the playoff wins and he was just a glorified running back.
HA HA HA
Greg
November 20th, 2009
2:02 pm
The ONLY thing we have going in our favor is the “big underdog” business. So thank god for that. Eli will probably do well throwing the ball, and we will have a big problem stopping Jacobs (why should we be any different than other teams with really GOOD run-stopping ability who have had problems stopping Jacobs?). Meanwhile, I actually look for Ryan to look sharper. He’s got to be really embarrassed over his performance the last four weeks. Still, can you think of any place worse for Ryan to try to come back than a windy Meadowlands? 24-7 Giants.
TMoney
November 20th, 2009
2:12 pm
On the ESPN side, Ditka, Jackson, Allen, and the Madden Simulation picked the Falcons to win. Granted, 11 others didn’t.
6 - 10
November 20th, 2009
2:16 pm
24-7 seems reasonable. We’ll score on our first possession and look like “world-beaters” doing it….then we’ll take the rest of the game off…..as usual.
AceDawg
November 20th, 2009
2:17 pm
Let’s hope we can get Norwood in there and have him burn the Giants on a long one. Then again, the Giants can have a mean defense and might injure him yet again. I don’t see Atlanta winning without Turner or Norwood though.
Standing up every 2nd and 3rd down on defense in sec 340
November 20th, 2009
2:25 pm
Season begins again on Sunday. We are in the position for the playoffs. We have 3 games left against the Bucs and and the Bills. That should put us at 8 wins. We need 2 out of 4 against NY,NO,Ny, and Eagles. A win against the Giants is the most important for playoffs implications, but most importantly confidence. A win and we are ahead of the game. A loss and we are playing catch up.
Bring on some no huddle
Matt Ryan Is the Truth
In Dimitroff and Smith We Trust
A biased season ticket holder
Go Falcons
A biased season ticket holder
Bitter Vick Fan
November 20th, 2009
2:39 pm
The Man helped the Eagles tear up the Giants on November 1: 2 rushes for 3 yards. Zero passes.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
November 20th, 2009
2:39 pm
LAWYER MILLOY is not too happy riding the bench in Seattle. Here’s the link:
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20091120/SPORTS/711209835/1018/SPORTS09
Marcus: I just did a little work on it this week after seeing Robinson’s name in a mock draft coming to the Falcons. “Coaching up” Christopher Owens is an option, too. He’s smart and tough kind from Compton. Just wondering why they don’t just roll him on out there now.
SHOTYME
November 20th, 2009
2:57 pm
“MAN CRUSH” is at it again looking for attention. Chris Chandler not only took us to the playoffs he also took us to the Super Bowl,Falcons ran him out of town and got your boyfriend, but I dont see you saying anything about that “MAN CRUSH”.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
November 20th, 2009
3:02 pm
If I was the CHOKE I would be very concerned by a pissed off other former Falcon Michael Boley. In an interview, he was quoted as saying he was not happy the way the Falcons handled him.
What a shocker – the Falcons have a history of not handling players that do not have blue eyes.
With Justin Tuck and that fierce pass rushing defensive line, the CHOKE will be doing some serious “Dancing With The Stars” this Sunday.
As far as Brandon Jacobs, he is nearly bigger than most of the Falcons linemen – this should get ugly early.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
November 20th, 2009
3:07 pm
vs Chicago 68 QB RATING………….. 2 PICKS
vs Dallas 66 QB RATING……………2 PICKS
vs Saints 46 QB RATING………………3 PICKS
vs Redskins 81 QB RATING……………1 PICK
vs Panthers 57 QB RATING…………..2 PICKS
- A pick in last 5 games
- 10 Picks in last 5 games
- Ranked 20th in the NFL in passing
- Ranked 3rd in NFL with 12 PICKS
“DUMP THE CHUMP”
TB
November 20th, 2009
3:09 pm
One mistake I noticed about Bye week wins and loses. The two teams we beat coming off bye weeks were Washington and Chicago not San Francisco. SF was headed into their bye after playing us and the announcers kept saying it couldn’t get there fast enough for that team. How come no one is mentioning the biggest factor? The record of the road team always winning between the Falcons & Giants going back to 1979. I think we even won there the year Mike Vick was knocked out. We are on the road against the Giants, WE WIN!
Hey Choke
November 20th, 2009
3:09 pm
You need to find yourself a girl, mate.
Hey Choke
November 20th, 2009
3:10 pm
Or perhaps the reason you’re on these boards everyday is that you already found one, and are otherwise incapable of wooing said strumpet. You’re not a eunuch are you?
Matt "Choke" Ryan
November 20th, 2009
3:13 pm
SHOTYME
November 20th, 2009
2:57 pm
“MAN CRUSH” is at it again looking for attention. Chris Chandler not only took us to the playoffs he also took us to the Super Bowl,Falcons ran him out of town and got your boyfriend, but I dont see you saying anything about that “MAN CRUSH”.
“Glad you brought that up”
The Falcons “ALL TIME” win leaders:
1. Steve Bartkowski
2. Mike Vick
3. Chris Chandler
The Falcons “ALL TIME DIVISION WINNERS”
1. Mike Vick
2. Steve Bartkowski
3. Chris Chandler
Clueless?
November 20th, 2009
3:22 pm
Choke
You are the biggest racist on these blogs. The Birds let Boley walk because he regressed big time last year. What has he done this year?
I will say this for you little girl, you are the best at taking parts of stories out of context, which is actually lying.
Tell mommy I said see ya soon. What color skirt are you wearing Sunday.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
November 20th, 2009
3:25 pm
Anybody know what goes good with CUP’O NOODLES?
I don’t want to CHOKE
gdg73
November 20th, 2009
3:28 pm
You are the biggest racist on these blogs. The Birds let Boley walk because he regressed big time last year.
Boley’s play did tail off, but Keith Brooking was regressing for 5 years and made $5 million a year for doing so. Choke might have a bit of a point on this one.
Clueless?
November 20th, 2009
3:28 pm
Enter your comments here
Clueless?
November 20th, 2009
3:34 pm
gdg73
Uh, I did not say anything about Brooking. You are random with that comment, your point??? Oh yeah, and by the way Boley slapped his wife around too. Go ahead and drink Chokes koolaid.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
November 20th, 2009
3:44 pm
- 2007 Boley was a Pro Bowler
- 2008 New Coach, new system
- 2009 Cut
Yes that’s how you handle a Pro Bowler, one year removed. Oh it has nothing to do with his brown eyes
TMoney
November 20th, 2009
3:55 pm
Once again, I feel compelled to shed some light on Choke’s stats. Is he right that Vick is second in career wins for the Falcons? Yes. But he is also tied for the second most starts for the Falcons at QB:
Quarterback GS W L T
Steve Bartkowski 121 55 66 0
Chris Chandler 67 34 33 0
Michael Vick 67 38 28 1
Chris Miller 66 23 43 0
Bob Berry 51 19 28 3
Randy Johnson 37 8 28 1
Jeff George 35 16 19 0
Bobby Hebert 25 7 18 0
Matt Ryan 25 16 9 0
David Archer 23 9 13 1
Bob Lee 18 10 8 0
Scott Campbell 11 2 9 0
Joey Harrington 10 3 7 0
Chris Redman 4 1 3 0
Byron Leftwich 2 0 2 0
Other QBs not included due to insufficient stats:
Cliff Washam
Brandon Proctor
Dennis Claridge
Steve Sloan
Terry Nofsinger
Bruce Lemmerman
Dick Shiner
Pat Sullivan
Kim McQuilken
Scott Hunter
June Jones
Mike Moroski
Turk Schonert
Erik Kramer
Steve Dils
Hugh Millen
Billy Joe Tolliver
Wade Wilson
Tony Graziani
Steve DeBerg
Danny Kanell
Kurt Kittner
Doug Johnson
Matt Schaub
One thing very strange is that, over the course of their 44 year history, the Falcons have start 39 different QBs. When QBs averaging what would now be 18 games in their career as starter for the Falcons, it doesn’t take long to climb to the top of the list.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
November 20th, 2009
4:00 pm
ART BLANKS BIGGEST MISTAKES:
- Hired Dimitroff
- Hired Smith
- Drafted CHOKE
DIMITROFF’S RESUME:
- Drafted a qb with 22 interceptions in senior season
- Drafted an injury prone lineman (out for season)
- Drafted an injury prone db (out for season)
- Cut starting cb, db, 2 linebackers (defense ranked near last)
SMITH’S RESUME:
- Never had been a head coach
- Supposedly a defensive guru
- Defense has regressed since 2007
- Passing & rushing defense ranked near last
- Can’t control temper (fined for attacking opposing player)
- Can’t manage with intangibles (No Turner – they lose)
CHOKE’S RESUME:
- 5 straight games with dropping QB RATINGS
- 5 straight games with at least 1 PICK
- 10 interceptions in last 5 games
- QB RATING 10 points lower than rookie season
- Lost 3 out of last 4 games (bad in crunch time)
- Nervous under pressure (nervous feet causes him to sack himself)
- Weak arm (can’t pass over 20 yards without lobbing the ball)
- Lacks confidence (In press coverage, loses accuracy)
Art Blank blew this one big time!
hiramsaint
November 20th, 2009
4:07 pm
falcons 5-5 sunday ……. saints 10-0 sunday….WHODAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Matt "Choke" Ryan
November 20th, 2009
4:07 pm
TMoney
November 20th, 2009
3:55 pm
Once again, I feel compelled to shed some light on Choke’s stats. Is he right that Vick is second in career wins for the Falcons? Yes. But he is also tied for the second most starts for the Falcons at QB:
Quarterback GS W L T
Steve Bartkowski 121 55 66 0
Chris Chandler 67 34 33 0
Michael Vick 67 38 28 1
“You just confirm my point” Check out the winning percentages, especially the ones with more than 2 seasons as starter.
Thanks guy
Steve C
November 20th, 2009
4:17 pm
CHOKE,
You never responded to why you lied about Jacobs running a 4.40 when he ran a 4.56 at the combine.
Clueless?
November 20th, 2009
4:23 pm
Choke
What has Mike Vick done in the last 4 years?
Hasn’t thrown a 4th quarter TD pass.
Blew a $130,000,000 contract.
Shot the local fans the bird.
Blew millions in endorsements.
Had marijuana in a concealed stash fake water bottle.
Brutally abused and killed dogs.
Went Federal Prison. (which in your mind makes him a hero)
Put up fantastic numbers in 2009 (LMAO at that one)
So put that in your racist pipe and smoke it you know just like Mike.
Jamaaliver
November 20th, 2009
4:26 pm
Doesn’t Matt Ryan have the highest winning percentage as a Falcons starting QB? Of all time?
Steve C
November 20th, 2009
4:28 pm
Matt “Choke” Ryan
November 20th, 2009
4:00 pm
ART BLANKS BIGGEST MISTAKES:
- Hired Dimitroff
- Hired Smith
- Drafted CHOKE
Hey CHOKE,
Don’t for get his biggest, most expensive mistake: giving an immature, self-aggrandizing prima donna a $120,000,000 contract and then believing him when he lied to both the owner of the team and the commissioner of the league. “Ya know, I never go up there. That’s my cousin’s place, ya know.”
Remember the “Mike Vick Experience” commercial? Well, I’m sure that all of the dead pit bulls didn’t exactly enjoy the Mike Vick experience.
TMoney
November 20th, 2009
4:30 pm
Also, the Falcons have 3 divison championships, so the way Choke put it is very misleading. It should appear as follows:
T1. Steve Bartkowski (1980 – West)
T1. Chris Chandler (1998 – West)
T1. Michael Vick (2004 – South)
TMoney
November 20th, 2009
4:32 pm
Jamaaliver
November 20th, 2009
4:26 pm
Doesn’t Matt Ryan have the highest winning percentage as a Falcons starting QB? Of all time?
Yes, Ryan’s current winning percentage is .640, .615 if you include the playoffs.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
November 20th, 2009
4:33 pm
“YOU” people are really drawing straws – you guys are desperate & pathetic
“DUMP THE CHUMP”
FALCONS SORRY
November 20th, 2009
4:34 pm
Damn “Choke” you still on here foolin wit these Vick haters? No wonder you got a small penis!
TMoney
November 20th, 2009
4:35 pm
What’s drawing straws? We’re just stating statistics, much like you.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
November 20th, 2009
4:36 pm
TMoney
November 20th, 2009
4:32 pm
Jamaaliver
November 20th, 2009
4:26 pm
Doesn’t Matt Ryan have the highest winning percentage as a Falcons starting QB? Of all time?
Yes, Ryan’s current winning percentage is .640, .615 if you include the playoffs.
“Don’t forget, has the most interceptions in a 25 game span (22)” – Damn that’s how many he had in his senior season.
Karma is a BIATCH
Tmoney
November 20th, 2009
4:39 pm
I like his small penis.
TMoney
November 20th, 2009
4:40 pm
I like Matty’s better.
TMoney
November 20th, 2009
4:41 pm
Wow, way to copy what other people are doing to you. So original. You always try to get under people’s skin, but you doing that makes it clear that I’ve gotten under yours.
Steve C
November 20th, 2009
4:41 pm
CHOKE,
FYI, in case you missed it, the ONLY reaon you have to watch Matt Ryan start for the Falcons every week is because of your hero’s actions, period. If “your guy” had a brain, he would still be here and earning millions and millions of dollars as a starting NFL quarterback. But of course you ignore that. Matt Ryan is RICH and starting in the spot that “your guy” so foolishly and irresponsibly threw away. So instead of dogging Ryan, why don’t you get on Vick for being a jackass? Oh wait, is it because he has a certain color eyes? You seem to have a problem with that.
Steve C
November 20th, 2009
4:43 pm
It’s grasping at straws, not drawing straws. Choke, you must have attended Va Tech if you don’t know the difference.
long dong
November 20th, 2009
4:44 pm
I’m reporting live from inside “Choke’s” corn-hole! News at 11!
midnite
November 20th, 2009
4:50 pm
There is no logical way to communicate with this psychopathic “Choke ” troll.
He has openly bragged on earlier blogs about he himself abusing and killing dogs. So he definitely has some mental issues.
So best to ignore this pathological lying, disgusting pest. He is a “big man” safely hiding behind his computer, a coward that’s all.
A healthy individual does not have this type of abject hatred for a football player or football team. That is just weird.
You sir, are a sad little man.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
November 20th, 2009
5:04 pm
Enter your comments here
Matt "Choke" Ryan
November 20th, 2009
5:05 pm
Interesting articles…………
Interesting article………….
Observation
Some people like to use the term “sophomore slump” for second year players whose productions slips from their rookie seasons. What I don’t understand is why be so polite about it?
Matt "Choke" Ryan
November 20th, 2009
5:12 pm
Continued………..
http://www.opensports.com/community/user/blog_entry/169/8497336e-cdd9-4a47-9596-246f81271924
Matt "Choke" Ryan
November 20th, 2009
5:13 pm
Interesting penis……………….
In my butt.
MV7
November 20th, 2009
5:14 pm
Hi, it’s Mike, y’know? Has anyone seen my career?
Lesa
November 20th, 2009
5:26 pm
Hey, TB, thanks for this info: “How come no one is mentioning the biggest factor? The record of the road team always winning between the Falcons & Giants going back to 1979.”
I had forgotten all about that!! We even beat the Giants at the Meadowlands in 2003 with Kurt Kittner at QB!!!! Hope the streak continues on Sunday. GO FALCONS!!!
logic?
November 20th, 2009
5:34 pm
Dimitroff dropped Brooking and Boley at the same time. Was he supposed to drop Brooking while working for the Patriots?
logic?2
November 20th, 2009
5:36 pm
Wish he had.
D Hall
November 20th, 2009
5:37 pm
Is this a porn site? Why are people talking about liking someone’s penis in their butt and then small penis. This is suppose to be about sports not body parts. This should not be allowed.
Michael Turner
November 20th, 2009
5:43 pm
Well, D Hall, compared to what I did to you in the game a few weeks ago you’ve come to the right place…
A.B.
November 20th, 2009
5:48 pm
D Hall
As long as DOL won’t do anything about Choke,It’ll get worse before better…
Choke Needs His Passy
November 20th, 2009
5:53 pm
Choke,
I see there’s a Cat Show over by the airport this weekend. The AJC is even sponsoring it. Why don’t you go over there, you feline?
Why don’t you save some wear and tear on your fingers? We know you need them for other purposes.
If you used the same amount of energy typing away on all your hater/repeater spewage posts and used the same amount of time sending requests to big buniesses to donate to a holiday charity at this time of the year, wow, what a difference you could make.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
November 20th, 2009
6:01 pm
I understand that “YOU” people are upset with your “Great Hope”, but you should have learned your lesson during the 44-years of the franchise’s existence.
I mean it doesn’t take a brain surgeon or hog farmer (in most of you people case) to figure out that if it took all those years to produce a quarterback that dominated at both running back and quarterback, being the only qb to finish 2nd in MVP voting, elected to 3 Pro Bowls and sign the largest contract in NFL history (I know that hurts your pride) – how in the hell can you expect a “Hope” to replace him.
You can’t send a boy to do a man’s job BOY
Matt "Choke" Ryan
November 20th, 2009
6:06 pm
I mean come one, let’s be serious. That’s like going to KFC and ordering a T-Bone steak. It’s just not very logical.
If it walks like a duck, then folks it is a duck. If you draft a 22 interception quarterback, how in hell is it a big surprise that he has thrown 22 INTERCEPTIONS In just 25 games? That nearly 1 interceptions per game.
In three seasons at this pace, that will be around 44 interceptions – UNACCEPTABLE!
He needs to stop IMPERSONATING a quarterback.
“DUMP THE CHUMP”
Dr. McCoy
November 20th, 2009
6:10 pm
Dammit, I’m a doctor, not a hog farmer!
Gamer
November 20th, 2009
6:36 pm
If the Falcons can pull a win against the rested G-men then they should definitely win out the remaining scheduled games to make post season. However, without Turner the Burner it hard to imagine it happening at Giants.
Giants are too desperately hungry for a win. After the Panthers game I question the Falcons appetite to win easy games. How much more easier is it for Falcons to lose the tough games, like Giants?
True to theory, the games must be played and any given Sunday, any team can be victor!! Go Falcons!!!
Falcons still has a chance to 10-6, maybe enough wins to make post season.
logic?
November 20th, 2009
6:49 pm
CHOKE — “How in the hell can you expect a “Hope” to replace him (Vick).”
After six thousand posts, I finally understand. CHOKE thinks the Falcons were trying to REPLACE Vick. How can you replace Vick? Everybody knows there is only one Vick. Vick can’t be replaced and he is never coming back. So can we please move on now?
MV7
November 20th, 2009
7:02 pm
Hi, it’s Mike, y’know? But I AM coming back. December 6th. Will be holding a clipboard in a dome near you. Y’know?
Peter King
November 20th, 2009
7:26 pm
You know the old quarterback line: “The quarterback gets too much credit when you win, and too much blame when you lose.” Most often, I buy it. But Ryan’s getting bashed a little too much for my taste in the Falcons’ precipitous slide, seeing that he’s still put up 22 points a game in Atlanta’s 1-3 skid. But he’s also not seeing the field as well, and part of being a great quarterback is finding a way to extend drives to keep a poor defense off the field. And make no mistake about it: The Atlanta defense has slid since a solid 4-1 start. I also think as much as Ryan’s gained with the addition of tight end Tony Gonzalez, he’s lost with the subtraction of slot receiver Harry Douglas, who was a revelation as a rookie last year, as Ryan was. I think he needs to be checking down more, particularly if Michael Turner’s out this week with his ankle injury. It’s early in his career to have the weight of the team on your shoulders, but that’s exactly what Ryan will feel Sunday in New Jersey.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 20th, 2009
11:57 pm
Tough to feel sorry for the Falcons’ schedule this year, after they played one of the easiest schedules in recent league history last year.
Choke Needs His Passy (Again)
November 21st, 2009
1:11 am
Choke,
It’s very sad to read you posted at 6 pm on Friday night. What no date, no wife. No life. Thought so.
I just wanted to tell you I’ve been out having a great evening.
You- Just the usual hatin’ And repeatin’.
You must be re-living your childhood, rewritting and repeatening on a grammer school chalkboard.
I LOVE THE DOG KILLER
I LOVE THE DOG KILLER
I LOVE THE DOG KILLER
Don’t you ever get weary from all the Choke discourse?
Is ANYTHING in your life good.
When the sun shines, I bet you find fault with that.
When freedom is celebrated every July 4th, I’m sure you tell someone this freedom thing isn’t really all that great.
How do you deal with things when the people you hate succeed? It must really get to you.
Enjoy that fathead of yourself dressed as a RAT on the wall of your mother’s basement.
I’m sure you were also dressed as vermin at Halloween.
6 - 10
November 21st, 2009
7:04 am
Go GIANTS and put us out of our misery!! We’re done.
Come on 2010!
Bill
November 21st, 2009
7:06 am
I don’t usually respond to choke, but I had to this time. He said –
“If it walks like a duck, then folks it is a duck. If you draft a 22 interception quarterback, how in hell is it a big surprise that he has thrown 22 INTERCEPTIONS In just 25 games? That nearly 1 interceptions per game.
In three seasons at this pace, that will be around 44 interceptions – UNACCEPTABLE!”
OK, nearly one interception per game. I just looked at Brett Favre’s career statistics http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_career_achievements_by_Brett_Favre
282 games, 313 interceptions = 1.11 interceptions per game. He has a winning percentage of .630, very similar to Matt Ryan. What did you say the Falcon’s WL percentage was with MV??
Mary Wanna
November 21st, 2009
7:26 am
Hey DOL – are you really OK with the fact that CHOKE TROLL has hijacked your blog? It’s obvious that there are about half the participants since the season began. Is this what you’re shooting for, a racist nobody running off your readers?
SHOTYME
November 21st, 2009
7:31 am
Matt “Choke” Ryan= “MAN CRUSH”
jerry
November 21st, 2009
7:41 am
Even after Ryan’s “slump” he has a higher passer rating than Vick’s career rating. And intangibles are not included in QB ratings.
ATL
November 21st, 2009
7:52 am
Choke you are right. Hate to say that but some people just won’t except it. Vick was a better QB than 90% of his peers when he played. The Dome was exciting and people flew in from around the country to watch. We are now a methodical average/below average team. It was not because everyone around the nation love the Falcons they loved M. Vick. He truly messed up a great situation. What if Vick had M. Turner and T. Gonzales as weapons man that would have been nice. We would be on MNF 8 times a year at least. No thanks to Vick that will never happen again.
Mary Wanna
November 21st, 2009
7:56 am
CHOKE TROLL
As a blue-eyed former Vick FAN, I would ask: what the hell do you expect me to like about him?
You can spin his stats any way you please, but he turned out to be a complete and total failure, a loser on so many levels and a backstabber to all his friends, fans and teammates. What are Ryan’s interceptions compared to Vick’s monumental screw ups? What about the games where he admitted he didn’t try?
You can laugh off all your critics here, but deep down you should realize that spending countless hours every week hating on white people truly defines your life. With all the incredible black players and coaches in the NFL, a multitude of winners and leaders, the best role models on the planet, YOU spend your time worshiping the biggest thug, low-class loser?
I’m calling you out, CHOKE TROLL, you racist loser. Tell us why we should get rid of Blank, Dimitroff, Smith, Ryan and all the other white guys to bring back the one loser who completely hosed the team, players and fans. Huh? What? Didn’t hear you, loser – speak up. Maybe Falcons Sorry can explain for you.
Mary Wanna
November 21st, 2009
8:18 am
Well the Giants just lost their defensive captain, Antonio Pierce. Wish him well, but could offset some of our injuries. With Norwood back we could do some damage in the running game.
Already tailgating for this one- no reason the Falcons can’t win outright. Ryan and company are due for a win (as are the Giants, albeit) but I suspect we’re going to see a strong performance from our team. This seems to be the biggest game of the season so far and if we win this, 9-7 is much more realistic and the curse is dead! (The back to back win seasons, not choke troll – oops).
Fanatic overboard
November 21st, 2009
8:36 am
jerry, you said “intangbles”?? LMAO! Yeah, 12 interceptions thru Week 9 shows what those mystical “intangibles” really are….can’t read a defense!
Fanatic overboard
November 21st, 2009
8:40 am
“Atlanta’s pass-protection terminology and blocking schemes are the same as Ryan had as a BC senior, so right away he knew such technical elements as whether the tight end or the running back would pick up a stray blitzer. That allows him to immediately identify his hot receiver.”
http://www.cardinalsportal.com/news/young-man-s-game-.php?act=print
This offense was designed for Matty Ice…Michael Turner, Roddy White, Tony Gonzalez, Sam Baker….all for Matty Ice’s success – not to mention the above confirmation that Mularkey practically put him in an offense that he was completely versed in BEFORE he ever took his first snap. So all of these excuses, including the phantom “sophomore slump” are just BS.
jerry
November 21st, 2009
8:57 am
Without quoting the actual statistics, Ryan’s career incompletions including interceptions, plus sacks, divided by career passing attempts comes to 43% either throwing an interception, an incompletion, or getting sacked. Using the same criteria for Vick it was 69% per attempt. I did not include fumbles as the NFL includes them with rushing attempts but Vick had 55 with 27 lost and we know that many of these came while he was attempting to pass. Ryan had 8 with 1 lost. Many people consider yards gained per attempt as the ultimate judge of a quarterback’s passing ability. Career: Ryan, 7.4 Farve, 7.0 Vick, 6.6
jerry
November 21st, 2009
9:00 am
Fanatic: Did you not read Bill’s post at 7:06 regarding interceptions?
pilgrim
November 21st, 2009
9:30 am
Fanatic overboard — BS? Fran Tarkenton, who ran his own offence, supports Ryan.
Ameer
November 21st, 2009
9:35 am
With Bryant out for the g-Men you have to like our chances
Ameer
November 21st, 2009
9:37 am
With Pierce out you have to like our offense now
Choke Needs His Passy
November 21st, 2009
9:39 am
Choke,
It must make your head spin to post under all the different alias’s you blather under. Sometimes you gotta wonder who you even are.
You go Mary Wanna! We’re all right behind you! Finally more people on here to ambush the Choke. Anyone find out where his rat-cave address is, and we’re all right there to take the hood off his head.
Choke- when you said 6-10, why even bother to give the Falcosn another win. You feelin’ especially generous today?
How many teams can deal with- the loss of a No. 1 pick run-stuffer. A solid pickup at CB that goes down. The PR/WR the is lost for the season even before September 13. The No.2 tailback who misses a big stretch in Oct and Nov. And now the No.1 RB coming off 3 monster games in a row, who might be out for 4-6 weeks.
How many teams are gonna recover from all that?
Yet the Falcons will remain in this thing. Maybe just hanging for the next few weeks, but as the schedule finally allows for some home games (thanks NFL for this lousy unbalanced schedule), things can turn around quickly.
Choke and his posse of one have turned this blog into a complete mess. I can’t imagine that DOL, Schultzy and MB aren’t taking note. Even if they don’t run the sorry scumbag, remember this- Choke’s negative karma is going to come back and gnaw at him. Like a rat trying to gnaw his way out of a trap. Eventually, the rat is always done alway with.
Playoff Drive in the Meadowlands? | The Bird Cage
November 21st, 2009
10:41 am
[...] make the right choice in letting Michael Boley walk into free agency and into a Giants uniform? (Check out DOL’s Falcons-Giants Preview Blog) Boley’s numbers are modest (21 tackles, 0 Ints, 0 Sacks), especially considering that he signed [...]
Lil Larry
November 21st, 2009
10:52 am
Wow! This blog has went crazy even acknowledging this “Choke” character. Can we just put him on *Ignore*? The best way to get rid of an attention seeker is to pay him no attention.