Farewell to Jason Elam, a standup guy
- Falcons kicker Jason Elam was 2 of 3 making this one in the first half, good enough to help the Falcons survive the Buccaneers 20-17 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009. Curtis Compton ccompton@ajc.com
THE BRANCH – Farewell to Jason Elam.
He was a consummate professional to the media while with the Falcons. He didn’t run and hide in the cafeteria just because things weren’t going perfectly.
Even on Sunday, when he knew he’d played his last game for the Falcons, he talked the AJC’s Ken Sugiura.
“You always feel pressure,” Elam said. “I feel pressure in practice. If you don’t feel pressure, it’s a sign you don’t really care and you need to get out.”
During his slump Elam’s kicks were hooking to the left when the “operation” was not perfect. So when he lined up on the left hash mark to kick that 43-yarder on Sunday, you suspected that it was going to be wide. The offense could have helped him out by running something to the right side, but teams need their kickers to be near automatic from 48-yards on in, according to Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff.
“It’s been frustrating,” Elam said. “It really has been. I’m just trying everything I can, all these little mechanical things to make sure that I get the ball going straight and it didn’t happen again.”
Long snapper Bryan Pittman didn’t help Elam much. He was low on snaps and then he’d shoot a high and hard one back there. Long snapper Michael Schneck, who is out with cracked ribs, hit the same spot on just about every snap. He was near robotic.
“I didn’t notice the snap at all,” Elam said.
What about the timing?
“It was fine,” Elam said. “Again, it’s all about consistency and I’ve got to figure out a way to be more consistent, bottom line.”
- Chris Redman
THE BOOK ON REDMAN: Chris Redman was a longshot to make the team in 2007. A series of injuries had him out of football and he was selling life insurance back home in Louisville.
Most thought he was just in camp to help Bobby Petrino install his offense. But Redman finished out the 2007 season as the starting quarterback.
He was a survivor of the season from the brink that saw former starting quarterback Michael Vick sent off to prison and Petrino leave for a college head coaching job at Arkansas.
So it was understandable that Redman was elated that someone he had a history with, Mike Smith, landed the Falcons head job. Redman wasn’t deterred when the Falcons selected Matt Ryan with the third pick of the 2008 draft.
He made the team, but didn’t play one single snap last season. This season, he played at the end of the San Francisco victory on Oct. 11 and took a couple of kneel downs.
Redman looked liked he’d been playing all season when he entered the Tampa Bay game last Sunday.
“You just have to be ready,” Redman said. “That’s just part of being a backup. When you don’t have that many practice snaps, you just have to take mental reps. It’s definitely different than getting out there and doing it yourself.”
Every pass wasn’t on the mark. There were even a few clunkers.
“During the game I could tell that some of the patterns were a little off between me and Roddy (White) and some of the guys, but everybody hung tough with me and we pulled through,” Redman said.
Smith credited quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave and offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey for shifting to a workable offensive package in mid-game for Redman.
“Coach Musgrave is just so good on the sidelines,” Redman said. “He’s just so calming. He’s been there before. He knows what it takes to get a guy ready.
“We were just running through what we had been seeing and just staying positive. We knew that we had a chance.”
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128 comments Add your comment
Russell
December 2nd, 2009
5:14 pm
I hate to see Elam go but this is the bussiness part of the game I Hoped he would pull thru his problems I just know he will go to another team & be the kicker of his past & then we will regret getting rid of him.
Wildebeast
December 2nd, 2009
5:15 pm
In Jerious We Trust
Barry
December 2nd, 2009
5:17 pm
Hey Y’all:
See ya later Jason Elam. You had a “GREAT” career in the NFL. Sorry you came to the Falcons so late in your career and we have to be the one to cut you. Your home town team. I know it was hard for you and the Falcons. But you gave it your best shot here in ATlanta and it did not work out. We love you anyway. You helped us win more games than you lost the last year and a half here in Atlanta and we Falcons fans are grateful for that. We wish you great success in what ever you do in the future and you will always be remebererd in “ONE HEARTBEAT!!!”.
NOW FALCONS, LET’S KICK THAT EAGLE BUTT ON SUNDAY. PLAY MAD, NASTY, FAST, AND ARROGANT. THE WAR IS ON!!!! TAKE NO PRISONERS. ALL GAMES, “ONE AT A TIME”, ARE OUR BATTLES WHICH MUST BE WON!!!!! AND WILL BE WON IN “ONE HEARTBEAT!!”.
THE FANS , THE COMMUNITY, AND THE LOCAL MEDIA ARE ARE BEHIND YOU. LET”S DO THIS THING!!!
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is a SECRET from a FALCON FAN. TELL EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
……………………………………………..”ONE HEARTBEAT, BABY”………………………………………..
Gbaby
December 2nd, 2009
5:42 pm
Matty Ice has been playing terrible, the falcons chances are just as good with Redman. They will lose of course but hey! it’s the Falcon’s were talking. Maybe next year.
jo
December 2nd, 2009
5:51 pm
ATL might be competitive this weekend if Turner is there, but without Ryan and Turner……it cannot happen because Redman will be outgunned. Let us hope we finish 8-8 because NO is a sure loss the following week.
Samuel
December 2nd, 2009
6:19 pm
Farwell to Jason Elam, he’s not a bad guy . He just won’t be kicking for the Falcons anymore. I think I can live with that. Quarterback Redman will be all right, they have to call plays that suit his skill set. It time for the Atlanta Falcons defense to put a game on It’s back. Next man up…..
Former Falcon Fan
December 2nd, 2009
6:42 pm
Falcons fans, Good Riddance.
You people are clueless.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
December 2nd, 2009
6:43 pm
jo
December 2nd, 2009
5:51 pm
ATL might be competitive this weekend if Turner is there, but without Ryan and Turner……it cannot happen because Redman will be outgunned. Let us hope we finish 8-8 because NO is a sure loss the following week.
“Like the CHOKE has guns” that’s hilarious
The Falcons chances improved by the BENCHING of the CHOKE
TAY
December 2nd, 2009
6:44 pm
I think they did the rite thing by letting his old ass go! but to get another old ass dude leaves me question about the GM and the whole coaching staff The kicker was not the issue whats three points they need to start working and BENCHING them secondary players TYE HILL,CHRIS HOUSTONthem boy boys getting killed out there with them deep balls lol and every week and different team is picking on them LOL i know u all will agree com-on son HOLLA IF U AGREE?
redbull
December 2nd, 2009
6:58 pm
Matt Rayan Choke up way to go Matt you got your self hurt you are not hurt ok hurt Boy all that money you are making get you sorry ass back on the field fool you are not hurt just playing hurt so the espn can feel so sorry for you choke boy who in the hell told you that you can QB we need to let High School QB can pass the ball better than you
MV7
December 2nd, 2009
7:13 pm
Hi, it’s Mike, y’know? Finally figured out why I’ve been running so slow. I forgot to take off my house arrest ankle bracelet!
grand pa's advice
December 2nd, 2009
7:23 pm
Hey Former Falcon Fan. I understand. After having been an unwavering Falcon fan for forty years of many bitter disappointments and scant few rewards, I have to admit I must be totally “clueless.” Seems like I’m always rooting for the klutz. But I know an old-time long-suffering Saints fan and he can certainly testify that long-term loyalty has its rewards. So I say, find a team you can root for, and DIG IN. And if you reconsider being a Falcon fan, then welcome back.
MARTIN
December 2nd, 2009
7:37 pm
For all you falcons fans who could not wait for the saints to make that trip to the georgia dome, december 13, 2009 is fast approaching. I remember what you guys said in week 8, you know with that moral victory. Well. guess what guys, if you go back to what I said after the saints beat your team then. You guys were saying, how you could not wait to get the saints in the georgia dome, and I said, it may not even matter, if by some chance the falcons were to get lucky and beat the saints. Why, as I stated back then, ” the division will championship will be won by the saints by then”. Well guys, guess what, a win by the saints on sunday over the redskins, will give us the division. That being said, I predict that the eagles will beat the turd birds come sunday. As for the saints and falcons, december 13, 2009, I pray that ryan and turner be back for that game, no excuses. We will sweep the turd birds. See you guys in hotlanta next week. I love the city, I love georgia tech, and I love the braves, however I have no love for the turd birds. The saints and the turd birds are rivals, so you understand why I have no love for them.
pilgrim
December 2nd, 2009
7:53 pm
MARTIN – You are mostly right. And Saints are better now than week eight. Glad to have the rivalry, but you got to come up with something better than “turd birds.”
Vick Supporter
December 2nd, 2009
9:15 pm
I work for Crisco G D IT !!!
Macon Braves (RIP)
December 2nd, 2009
9:44 pm
Good Lawd this blog is unreadable with the constant TROLL DROPPINGS being flung around here. If you people would stop feeding the TROLLS they might finally get bored and go the hell away. Then maybe this might be a readable, respectable blog.
Macon Braves (RIP)
December 2nd, 2009
9:47 pm
DOL–Do you have no control on your blog? Why do you let the constant BS go on here? That’s the reason this blog has probably 10% of the hits that DOB’s blog has. He will boot the TROLLS when they become a detrement to the blog.
Hmm
December 2nd, 2009
11:20 pm
Choke , BOY and I use the term BOY very loosely, you little sniveling son-of -a HO!, tell ya what how bout you spit MV7herpes infested tool outta yo mouf Ignorant azz Porch Monkey!!! Phuck Mike Vick I hope he get his damn neck Broke by Abe!
Najeh Davenpoop
December 3rd, 2009
12:39 am
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/eagles/2009-12-02-michael-vick-falcons_N.htm?csp=34
Jimmy
December 3rd, 2009
1:16 am
Elam’s kicking didn’t look good in 2008 either.
He was erratic.
Some kicks were low knuckle balls.
Many kicks were hooking left.
He didn’t miss as many…but the quality of kicks was not consistent.
My guess is that the way Elam’s injuries healed threw his mechanics off.
He may never get it together because of the scars (both physical and mental).
I wish him best of luck.
NYC State of Mind
December 3rd, 2009
2:45 am
Hmmm, funny how you called Choke a porch monkey but want Abe ,who happens to be black, to do a good job. Not to mention some of the other Falcon fans on this blog are black. Maybe you should choose better words to voice your frustration? Just because your mad at Choke, don’t offend everyone else on the blog to make your point.
truth
December 3rd, 2009
10:33 am
Who cares what Vick says on the radio. The man is a non-factor in the NFL and forever will be. No team will put enough trust in Vick to put him in at starting QB. Get real real people you are wasting your time and effort supporting the looser!
And I’m a Falcon fan not a Matt fan. I said a 100 times if he don’t get it done get another. He needs the time off anyway. In the long run this will do him and the team good.
With that said I do believe Matt will be a good NFL QB. If not no sweat and no lose of sleep. That’s the difference in a player fan and a team fan. Alot of Vick fans are driving themselves crazy wanting their boy on the field. It aint gonna happen………consistantly anyway.
HamburgerHelper
December 3rd, 2009
10:43 am
God bless you Mr. Elam. Take your missed field goals somewhere else so that we can break the curse. I dont know why people keep saying Matt Ryan will be a good qb. Matt Ryan won the nfls rookie of the year award last season, I guess because he is a horrible quarterback. There are folks out there who are so stupid it doesnt make sense to even reason with them. I keep remembering what I heard hall of fame quarterback Steve Young say about Matt Ryan, which is absolutely true for anyone who knows and follows football. MATT RYAN LAST YEAR PLAYED LIKE A HALL OF FAME QUARTERBACK. THAT SHOULD REGISTER WITH SOME PEOPLE BUT THE CHOKE FANS ARE DUMMIES AND THEY WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT STATEMENT MEANS AND WHAT MATT RYANS ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AWARD MEANS. TO THEM IT MEANS NOTHING BECAUSE THEY WILL ALWAYS SLAM MATT RYAN, EVEN IF HE THROWS FOR 6000 YARDS, 70 TOUCHDOWN PASSES AND WINS SUPBOWL MVP. Those folks will call Matt Ryan a “choke” no matter what he does.
falcondfan4life
December 4th, 2009
9:41 am
It is on you Redman. We win Sunday and the playoff chances are fantastic. We lose Sunday and we need a collapse by at least a couple of teams to make it. It is all on you.
cdog
December 4th, 2009
1:27 pm
the falcons will beat the eagles sunday then take care of business with lucky saints.the defense and the running backs need to step up their play.there’s is no rule that says the falcons is suppose to lose again this season.the falcons need to treat every game like its the superbowl and they are in the playoffs.they have the talent and team to dominate every team left on their schedule.they will prevail in all games left by a wide margin
indianman
December 6th, 2009
1:51 am
way to alabama it could.nt happen to a better of guys in tebow i don.t feel sorry for tebo way to go out now you know how your been beating on every body
Former Falcon Fan
December 6th, 2009
6:13 pm
Good move, releasing Elam. That’s gonna turn the season around.
Congratulations to Mike Vick on a triumphant return.
butch
December 13th, 2009
4:48 am
play JOHN PARKER WILSON