Archive for December, 2009

090426 FLOWERY BRANCH Atlanta Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff and head coach Mike Smith introduce their NFL draft pick, Peria Jerry, Ole Miss defensive tackle, during a press conference at their facility in Flowery Branch Sunday morning. KENT D. JOHNSON / kdjohnson@AJC.COM

UPDATE

FLOWERY BRANCH – Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, in order to rest his turf toe injury, did not practice on Wednesday.

Also, running back Michael Turner (right high ankle sprain) did not participate in practice.

“He did go through the walk through this morning,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “We had anticipated that if he was going to play, that would be  the course of action that we would take. It’s not a setback. It was a course of action that we were going to take.”

THE DRAFT AND COMPENSATORY PICKS — FALCONS COULD HAVE 9 PICKS IN THE 2010 DRAFT

THE BRANCH –  There’s indeed a method to the workings of Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff’s madness.

You have to give it to him, for being way ahead of …

Continue reading Matt Ryan, Mike Turner miss practice »

Atlanta Falcons' Brent Grimes, left, tries to escape from New York Jets' Braylon Edwards, right, after intercepting a pass during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Falcons beat the Jets 10-7. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

NEW YORK – Cornerback Brent Grimes snuggled Mark Sanchez’ third interception as he went down to the turf.

It was his second of the game and he now leads the team with four.

“I just read the receiver and made a break on the ball,” said Grimes after the 10-7 victory over the New York Jets.

Grimes was playing right cornerback for Chris Houston. He’s been in out of the lineup this season.

Thomas DeCoud congratulates Brent Grimes. (Kathy Willens/AP)

He opened the season playing outside in the nickel package after Brian Williams was acquired. When Williams went down, Grimes started there fulltime before the team started shuffling him, Tye Hill and eventually rookie Christopher Owens.

Grimes got a chance to …

Continue reading Brent Grimes redeems himself against the Jets »

Have the Falcons been naughty or nice? Who's getting a lump of coal and who's getting that I-pod nano?

(UPDATE THREE: Made it to New York !!!! In an Empire State of Mind. Will put up a new Beat Blog  after the game.  Read about the trip here and chat live during the game with Schultz. –DOL)

(UPDATE TWO: LET’S CHAT — Jeff Schultz and I had to fly to Boston to have a shot at making the game. Schultz pulled the Boston move early and is already on a train to New York. I’m at the South Station in Boston waiting for the 9:45 p.m. train that gets to Penn Station at 2:20 a.m.  So if anybody is out there and want to chat some football. Fire away! I put the Gameday info below and you all can update me on the Dallas at New Orleans game. — DOL)

(UPDATE: Falcons coach Mike Smith said decisions to play Matt Ryan and Michael Turner won’t turn on Dallas game on Saturday night. Invoked the “Best Chance to Win” doctrine. Dallas win over Saints = playoff elimination for Falcons. Ryan and …

Continue reading In an Empire State of Mind »

FLOWERY BRANCH –  Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan and running back Michael Turner both returned to

Ryan returned to practice on Thursday. (Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com)

practice on Thursday.

Both have missed the last two games. Ryan suffered a turf toe injury and Turner re-injured his right ankle sprain on Nov. 29 against Tampa Bay.

Both are hopeful that they will be able to play against the New York Jets on Sunday.

“Nobody likes to have to sit down, but it’s something that you’re going to have to deal with at different points in your career,” Ryan said.

Turner originally was injured against Carolina on Nov. 15. He tried to play two weeks later against Tampa Bay and was re-injured.

“You just want to try to get back out there and be productive,” Turner said. “It’s very important to see where I’m at, to see if the soreness will go away and things like that. I need to see if I can really handle, playing and cutting.

Michael Turner returned to practice. If he doesn't have a …

Continue reading Matt Ryan, Michael Turner return to practice »

Atlanta Falcons cornerback # 20 Brent Grimes intercepts a Drew Brees pass intended for wide receiver # 17 Robert Meachem during 3rd quarter action at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2009. Officials ruled pass interferance on the play awarding the Saints an automatic first down. Curtis Compton,ccompton@ajc.com

BIRDLAND — Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey was praised league-wide for his work last season.

The Falcons were able to win 11 games and reach the playoffs in part because of the fine job that Mularkey and quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave did with a rookie quarterback and the powerful rushing attack lead by running back Michael Turner.

Without either of his main weapons against New Orleans he came up with a masterful game plan. He’s getting unduly

Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey.

criticized by the reactionary fans.

Against the Saints, the Falcons had to come up with a creative game plan. They had to “Zig” when the Saints were expecting …

Continue reading Mike Mularkey being unduly criticized for masterful game plan »

SO CLOSE – This long bomb to Falcons wide receiver # 12 Michael Jenkins is just off his finger tips for a sure touchdown as it falls incomplete during 1st half action against the Saints at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2009. Curtis Compton,ccompton@ajc.com

LAST ONE AT THE DOME – They have scrubbed the Falcons logo off of the Georgia Dome floor and are hanging some black curtains on the field.

It looks like they are setting up for some graduation. But they could be because the Falcons playoffs hopes are dead.

We have been getting a lot of Tweets about the two play calls by offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey. It seems that there is a little uprising over the reverse on first down that resulted in a 12-yard loss and the check-down by Chris Redman to Jason Snelling, who wasn’t able to pick up the first down on fourth-and-2.

“We had an opportunity to possess the ball twice in the fourth quarter,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “We had the interception where we …

Continue reading Without Matt Ryan, Falcons nearly pull off shocker »