Saints want to know if the Sky is falling
THE BRANCH – Bradley Handwerger, a webwriter at WWL in New Orleans, asked me 5 questions about the Falcons.
1.) WWL: Since these teams played on Nov. 2, Atlanta is 2-3. What has happened to the Falcons, who started out 4-3?
The scene outside the Georgia Dome before the Washington game. (D. Orlando Ledbetter)
Ledbetter: The league’s schedule maker was not very kind to the Falcons. They had to play four teams – San Francisco, Dallas, Washington and the New York Giants – who were coming off byes. While they went 2-2 against those teams they were taking those teams best and rested shots. You wondered if injuries would start to mount. They have and that’s certainly been a factor It was very evident in the Philadelphia game when five starters on offense didn’t play including Matt Ryan and Michael Turner.
2.) WWL: Chris Redman got pummeled in his first game as a starter. Should he start in place of Matt Ryan, who has an injured toe, do you expect a better performance from him?
Ledbetter: Yes. Redman was excellent in relief of Ryan against Tampa Bay. The Falcons played most of the Philadelphia game with three starters along the line – LT Sam Baker, C Todd McClure and RG Harvey Dahl – on the sidelines. McClure went down with a knee in the game and Baker and Dahl were
Loading ...3.) WWL: When these teams last met, Michael Turner exploded for 151 yards. He’s banged up right now. Do the Falcons have anyone who can burn the Saints on the ground this time?
Ledbetter: It doesn’t appear so. Jerious Norwood has explosive play ability and Jason Snelling is a hard runner.
Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma in action (Rusty Costanza/The Times-Picayune)
Norwood is not 100 percent recovered from a hip flexor injury that caused him to miss five games.
4.) WWL: Coach Mike Smith said the Falcons are now in the “Wild Card Division” after the Saints clinched the NFC South this past weekend. What will be the biggest hindrance to the Falcons getting one of the two Wild Card spots?
Ledbetter: If they lose to the Saints they will practically be eliminated. It doesn’t look like 9-7 is going to make it in 2009. But in the alternative the fans will root just as hard for a 9-7 finish. That would give the franchise its first consecutive winning seasons. There would be a major party down Peachtree Street!
5.) WWL: Are the Falcons falling apart?
Ledbetter: Don’t sense that. They are loose and Tony Gonzalez seems to thinks that’s a good think. We’ve seen some recent Falcons teams start fast and then fade. One could sense the impending doom in Jim Mora’s 8-8 and 7-9 seasons. This team is much younger and you don’t get that sense that they’ll stop fighting. “Guys, the sky is not fall,” Smith said on Monday.
(That’ was it. Hope I didn’t come off as homer for the Falcons. Tried to just throw out some facts. Tampa Bay coach Raheem Morris called me out for asking about his defensive play calling tendencies, which he’d made a newsworthy issue by firing his DC before the game.)
VILMA ON GONALEZ: Saints linebacker Jonthan Vilma has been providing mini scouting reports each week on his PlayMaker Mobile page. Wednesday he wrote about facing the Falcons and tight end Tony Gonzalez.
Here’s the link to Vilma’s take on Sunday’s game.
Give your answers to the WWL questions. What do you think about Vilma’s take on the game?
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
111 comments Add your comment
Choke Needs His Passy (Again)
December 10th, 2009
2:30 pm
Choke needs to go back to reading his copy of Dog Killer Magazine
and stop trying to impress us with NFL material.
Thomas
December 10th, 2009
2:30 pm
Who Dat!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TheManMike
December 10th, 2009
2:33 pm
Poo Scat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TMoney
December 10th, 2009
2:39 pm
TheManMike
December 10th, 2009
2:33 pm
Poo Scat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
___________________
Is there a way to nominate this for best post ever?
JMar
December 10th, 2009
2:43 pm
I sense the impending doom. But impending “our entire team is injured” doom is much more reassuring than impending “I don’t see this improving next season” doom.
Chris(Rell)
December 10th, 2009
3:25 pm
TheManMike:
In case you didnt notice they werent playing well before all the injuries.
Hurricane Katrina
December 10th, 2009
3:38 pm
Do I need to come back to that rape and ghetto superdome ?!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TheManMike
December 10th, 2009
3:39 pm
Chris:
I think you may have forgotten – We started losing starters before the season even started. It didn’t just start the last couple weeks. We’ve had guys sit out a game or two to injury more than last year, and have definitely lost a few of our key guys for the entire season – Douglas, Jerry, Williams to name a few….It’s been stacking up all season man.
hiramsaint
December 10th, 2009
3:46 pm
it’s not your team it’s your coaching staff. the only reason smitty got hired is because no real coach is gonna put up with king arthur walking the sidelines distracting players and the game he needs to be in his owners box like all other owners and let people who know football do the coaching
Chi G Squared OPP
December 10th, 2009
3:51 pm
Good analysis D Led! If the NFL does lift the salary cap for next year, do you think the dirty birds should throw a boat load of money at the defensive secondary or should they take the position that the best defense is a strong offense and bolster the offense?
hiramsaint
December 10th, 2009
3:56 pm
that boat load of money is tied up in matty slush
TheManMike
December 10th, 2009
4:02 pm
hiramsaint:
I don’t understand all the hate on AB for walking the sidelines. I think that is exactly what makes him such a great owner. If I were an owner, I for sure would be down on the sidelines with my boys. It’s not like he’s in the middle of the bench screaming at guys, or hovering over a coaches shoulder. In the heat of a game, I doubt him being down there makes a bit of difference to a professional.
Chi G:
IF the salary cap is lifted, I see AB making a check out for some CB and WR help.
Hurricane Katrina
December 10th, 2009
4:03 pm
Author Blank is the George Steinbrenner of football, but unable to spend because of the cap. If it is lifted, watch out ! and you know it’s true ! Author has ten times more money than George !!!
hiramsaint
December 10th, 2009
4:17 pm
gruden ,billick ,parcells ,cowher. do you really think guys of that caliber are gonna come here to be blanks yes man. i didn’t think so. so now you have smitty, before that moron jr. i’m sorry but i’m not hating just being realistic. i’m sure the people in austell and powder springs just love your name h k
Hurricane Katrina
December 10th, 2009
4:22 pm
I’m sure too !!! By the way, Who said we are looking for a new coach ?! We love Smith ! You know Author has money and if the cap is lifted, He will buy a championship like George did ! So stop hating for you know it is true !
TheManMike
December 10th, 2009
4:28 pm
<hiransaint:
I HATE John Gruden – He is the worst t.v. announcer of all time. He makes me mute the t.v. – and as for Parcells…I don’t think I even need to touch that one….
TheManMike
December 10th, 2009
4:28 pm
**hiramsaint
tyger
December 10th, 2009
4:41 pm
Why weren’t Falcoons prepared?
In biggest game of the year, the Falcoons were unprepared and embarrassing. Why?
1. We knew Ryan wouldn’t play, didn’t Redman get his reps?
2. Ditto for Turner – Norwood-Snelling aren’t equal but they ain’t chopped liver either.
3. When hasn’t the OL been compromised? Baker is out every other game, last year Weiner was on one leg – Svitek, Romberg, Ojinnaka were deemed serviceable reserves. Was Dimitroff duped? I find it hard to believe that experienced NFL players cant line up and play a game of football.
4. Did the Eagles blitz package surprise them? How could it, they’ve played that way for the last decade. They were not prepared are not tough enough.
5. Where was the offensive coordination? Mike Mularkey and friends did a horrible job. Reminds you of why he was run out of Buffalo and Miami. What was that on the goaline before halftime? I haven’t seen such ignorance since Dan Reeves.
6. Have the Falcoons ever heard of a HB screen? It neutralizes over-aggressive defenses – everyone knows that, but the Coons. Funny though how the Eagles ran one every series.
7. Mike Smith nor Thomas Dimitroff nor the organization look very good right now. Injuries happen every year, that’s part of strategic planning and cap mgt. Again, its the NFL, not JV, they are paid to be ready to do their jobs.
8. Were the Eagles not banged up, everyone is this time of year. They did not properly scheme against the Eagles and were blown out. Did they not know Redman is only 6′0 in high heels, why weren’t there more roll-outs?
9. Have the Falcoons covertly given up? They haven’t signed anyone of significance off the waiver wire since Tye Hill, despite obvious weakness in the secondary. The DL shuffle hasn’t worked, yet no tough decisions have been made there either.
10. If Redman starts to falter again this week, then what? Do the Falcoons have what it takes to pull the trigger and get a better competitor on the field?
The Saints don’t screw around, it could get real ugly real quick. Now, Chris Houston is out. We’re looking at Grimes, Hill, Owens, Jackson? None of which could start anywhere else but here.
Any predictions on Drew Brees’ passing records? 10TDs in one game.
hiramsaint
December 10th, 2009
5:17 pm
gruden –superbowl winner ..parcells–superbowl winner. nobody said your looking for a new coach retard. all i said is as long as king arthur roams the sidelines and interferes you will not have a coach of that caliber. that is why you are having another losing season and you will continue to do so for you neaux it is true
Ben Hill Shawty
December 10th, 2009
6:14 pm
Is the Falcons undefeated?
tyger
December 10th, 2009
6:26 pm
Vick still matters
MV7 turned the dome out. Forget the Falcoons, it was all Vick from the start. Some say all he did was score from the 5yd line, nevermind that the Falcoons couldnt score from the 5 yd line.
He did more than that, he opened old wounds. His larger than life persona took over like purple haze, and by the 4th qtr., they were Vick drunk and wanted another hit. How did this happen?
Vick was made a martyr, he was crucified, buried – yet, arose like Lazarus – erstwhile, the others wanted him put to death. But the believers had witnessed a small miracle.
Even more bizarre, as Vick was rising, the Falcoons savior was down and out. And the others were losing faith. He had not been victorious, but odorous – now his feet hurt. He is young and owed tens of millions, yet has bad feet.
What is an athlete with bad feet? A coach.
tyger
December 10th, 2009
6:48 pm
Black College Hall of Fame Player Finalists:
Lem Barney (DB, Jackson State University, 1963-1966)
Mel Blount (DB, Southern University, 1966-1970)
Robert Brazile (LB, Jackson State University, 1971-1975)
Rosevelt Brown (OL, Morgan State University, 1949-1952)
Willie Brown (DB, Grambling State University, 1959-1963)
Junious “Buck” Buchanan (DE, Grambling State University, 1959-1963)
Harry Carson (DE, South Carolina State University, 1972-1975)
Willie Davis (DL, Grambling State University, 1952-1956)
Eldridge Dickey (Tennessee State University, 1964-1967)
Willie “Gallopin’ Gal” Galimore (RB, Florida A&M University, 1953-1956)
Joe Gilliam, Jr. (QB, Tennessee State University, 1966-1969)
“Bullet” Bob Hayes (WR/RB/KR, Florida A&M University, 1960-1964)
David “Deacon” Jones (DE, South Carolina State and Mississippi Valley State, 1958-1960)
Ed “Too Tall” Jones (DL, Tennessee State University, 1970-1973)
Leroy Kelly (RB, Morgan State University, 1960-1963)
Willie “Honey Bear” Lanier (LB, Morgan State University, 1963-1967)
Steve McNair (QB, Alcorn State University, 1991-1994)
Marion Motley (RB/LB, South Carolina State University, 1939-1942)
Walter “Sweetness” Payton (RB, Jackson State University, 1971-1974)
Jerry Rice (WR, Mississippi Valley State University, 1981-1984)
Willie “Wonderful Willie” Richardson (WR, Jackson State University, 1959-1962)
Art Shell (OL, University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, 1964-1967)
Ben “Big Ben” Stevenson (RB, Tuskegee University, 1923-1930)
Willie “Satellite” Totten (Mississippi Valley State University, 1982-1985)
Paul “Tank” Younger (RB/DB, Grambling State University, 1945-1948)
source: Leo Willingham’s HBCU Blog
TR
December 10th, 2009
8:30 pm
Stop making excuses for the state of this team! If they built the team to compete with the top tier teams in the league–and wasn’t trying to be cheap with Arthur’s money–we would have a mix of vets and rookies playing better. They didn’t bring in guys until they saw our DBs getting spanked in games. DL and OL are a patchwork of busters, old players, rejected FAs, and guys playing way out of their league. Why in the world did we ever think we would have a power house offense just because we have to players to do so? Mularkey is NOT the guy to take our offense to the next level. Can you same Dan Reeves offensive minded? Does two TEs, blocking fullback and WRs sound familiar? BVG may be a good DC but I can’t judge him until we put better defenders on the field. You CANNOT blitz if you don’t have a defense to cover WRs, TEs or RBs (screens and draws). I’m sure we will eventually get a quality product on the field, but it won’t be this year.
tom shoupe
December 10th, 2009
9:43 pm
I hope the comment about a party on Peachtree if the Falcons have a winning season is a joke. Who cares about the winning season if they don’t make the playoffs. It is like the Braves winning all those Division titles and not making it to the big game more often. If a winning season or a division title is the goal, give it up. Find something else to do. If you come in second you are a loser.
JYD
December 11th, 2009
8:32 am
The Falcons are falling apart, ohh we know what we are, Saints come in have a home field advantage just like the team that played her last weekend. We are paying for having No legit backup QB and a swiss cheese defence, 9-7 season doesn’t cut it having know tie break win with anybody in the playoff hunt. Just don’t play anybody whose hurt let them pack it in for rest of the season.TD & Smitty second out your scouts out early and review free agents and the upcoming draft.
SeenThisB4
December 11th, 2009
9:02 am
Man, the falcons are falling apart at an exponential rate. Now Babineaux has been arrested for possession and intent to distribute! Wow.
The falcons have as much chance at beating the Saints this weekend as the browns do of beating the ste…..uh, never mind.
Anyway:
Saints 34
falcons 10
Geaux Saints Geaux!!!
NOLA
December 11th, 2009
9:10 am
Dumb ‘Cons are now distributing mary jane. Is Arthur really that cheap? Put a fork in this season and the franchise. He should have been bounced when he abused his dogs.
Definitely not the ‘Cons this weekened?
jokurone
December 11th, 2009
9:23 am
Yes, it’s official, the Sky (dome) is falling on the Falcon’s season. They truly are the DIRTY BIRDS resurrected. What next?
JADE
December 11th, 2009
10:04 am
TYGER I could not agree with you anymore. the offensive and i do mean offensive coach mullarky is so predictable that my wife , who does not study football , but watches the Falcons with me each week can and does relate what the oc is calling for each play, and she’s correct 99% of the time. yeah we’ve won games however it was all on the players playing above their heads or executing with 110% efficiency, not on the brilliant play calling of our oc. lets face it if we are going to win against the elite teams we need an “elite” o c. start looking thomas d.
Atl Hawk
December 11th, 2009
10:51 am
JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY!!!!!!!!!!!
scott
December 11th, 2009
11:44 am
I blame the coaches preparation for losing most of those games , The falcons look totally unpaired to play . I will go out on a limb and say this again i don’t think coach Smith have what it take to move the falcons to the next level in the NFL .Watch if the falcons continue to lose more game this season the fans will start calling for coach Smith head on a platter .
Eric C.
December 11th, 2009
12:26 pm
This hurts so badly, all I can do is laugh…ha ha ha ha ha, lol, lmao…roflmao. 2009 Falcons will forever be known as the most disappointing Falcons team in history…no wait, that was the 1981 team. No…actually, it was 1986, or better yet…how about 1992? Or did the 1999 and 2003 teams actually disappoint us more? I think some would argue that 2005, 2006, and 2007 were all tied as the biggest failures…but for this year, I will say 2009 is right at the top of the list. Oh the agony!
BigHittas
December 11th, 2009
12:49 pm
NOLA and hiram,
Maybe y’all could move back to NO where they could use your help?
When’s the last time the Aints played in the Superbowl? Geez, I can’t rememeber, can ya help me with that?
tyger
December 11th, 2009
1:10 pm
Perhaps Babineaux needs a license for medical marijuana? It is technically illegal, but its still just marijuana – but I’m more upset that he’s driving w/o a license and expired tags – now that’s just sloppy and very stupid.
champ01
December 11th, 2009
1:28 pm
The Saints are undefeated with all their injuries.
Let me give you a list….
17 on IR, including….
ProBowl LT Jamal Brown – missing entire season
TE Billy Miller – missing entire season
FB Evans, LB Dunbar, DT Clancy
http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcsouth/post/_/id/5501/saints-lead-in-stadings-on-injured-reserve-list This is old. Saints are up to 17 on IR.
Five Saints players missed practice Thursday — tailback Mike Bell (knee), cornerback Jabari Greer (sports hernia), cornerback Tracy Porter (knee), linebacker Scott Fujita (knee) and linebacker Marvin Mitchell (hamstring). The severity of Bell’s injury is unclear. The other four players are expected to miss Sunday’s game at Atlanta.
Fourteen players were limited in practice — tailback Pierre Thomas (quad), Reggie Bush (knee), tailback Lynell Hamilton (shoulder), receiver Lance Moore (hamstring, ankle), tight end Jeremy Shockey (hamstring), tight end Darnell DInkins (foot), offensive tackle Jermon Bushrod (thumb), guard Jahri Evans (toe), center Jonathan Goodwin (ankle), cornerback Randall Gay (hamstring), linebacker Jonathan Vilma (knee), defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis (knee), defensive end Bobby McCray (thumb) and safety Usama Young (hip, calf).
Saints are still heavily favored. What’s your excuse now?
FalconUGAFan
December 11th, 2009
2:02 pm
No excuses. NO is clearly the better team this year. Good luck on Sunday.
Ted Striker
December 11th, 2009
2:33 pm
D-Led, you came off as realistic, journalist, and stylistic.
You got transcendental fundamentals.
peter
December 11th, 2009
5:01 pm
bumb that:: BLACK AND GOLD IN THE SUPERBOWL… we took yall song and rocked it … GET CRUNK.. BLACK AND GOLD IN THE SUPERBOWL.. WHO DAT….
hiramsaint
December 11th, 2009
5:32 pm
little hittas, the falcons have done 1 thing we’ve not done…….lose a superbowl. anyway i’m here , to bad 4 you ! home field advantage for the saints again..GEEZ i can’t help you with that little one
XFalcon
December 11th, 2009
9:04 pm
MV7 fans b watching filly on the telly…..WODAT in d dome!!!!!!!!!!!!
falcon21
December 11th, 2009
9:17 pm
The Saints may make it to the second round but they will fold as usual. Who Dats may as well let it go, you will never make it to the Superbowl, not this season or ever.
hiramsaint
December 11th, 2009
9:20 pm
we will make it to the second round as you will provide us a first round bye …thanks
falcon21
December 11th, 2009
9:24 pm
You are good hiramsaint. Be proud of yourself.
falcon21
December 11th, 2009
9:26 pm
Fold, fold, fold, same Saints as in the past.
falcon21
December 11th, 2009
9:54 pm
hiramsaint, no disrespect intended. I wish you guys the best.
hiramsaint
December 12th, 2009
8:32 am
falcon21.. thanks .. i’m a saints fan but i’ve pulled for you guys against many teams when our season was in the toilet[ many many times]. i really believe y’all will be a force in 2-3 yrs. with a little rebuilding. i’m still not sold on smitty as a coach tho. i think there are to many coachs out there with winning experience for y’all to settle on a guy who gets in scraps with players on the sidelines and acts like a little kid when things go wrong or right. i really don’t think y’all will get one of those untill blank gets off the sidelines and lets the coach do his job. parcells was asked to come here but he went to miami cause he knew he’d be in charge there and here he’d have to be a yes man to blank during the game. no real coach wants the owner walking the sidelines distracting players and coachs during a game.no disrespect to you either…these are observations from a fan of a team that has been thru the wringer over a number of years. enjoy the game tommorow
Matt "Choke" Ryan
December 12th, 2009
8:48 am
Damn Saints fans are dumb
“gruden –superbowl winner ..parcells–superbowl winner. nobody said your looking for a new coach retard. all i said is as long as king arthur roams the sidelines and interferes you will not have a coach of that caliber. that is why you are having another losing season and you will continue to do so for you neaux it is true”
I got one for ya. Jimmy Johnson, Superbowl winner. Owner Jerry Jones all over the sidelines, all the time.
Explain that one, you dumb f_ck. Stupid Saints fans…..
Matt "Choke" Ryan
December 12th, 2009
8:51 am
Falcons are in second year of rebuilding from the ground up. Saints are four years into it. They just now became this good, this year. Nobody is taking that away from them. But don’t act like it’s been this way all this time. Please. And stay on your own blog, quit polluting ours before we send another hurricane your way.
hiramsaint
December 12th, 2009
9:34 am
choke..i’m on here all the time and i read your dribble too. i know also that you got your name from what your boyfriend makes you do when he gets done with your mouth
hiramsaint
December 12th, 2009
9:58 am
also gag i’m not acting like it’s been this way all the time, if you’ll read my post i’ve said we’ve been thru the wringer for a number of years. guess that sack of peanuts swung in your face AGAIN and blocked your view of mommies monitor. try to get a life loser, i know everyone hates you on this blog so don’t pretend to be a falcons fan all of a sudden. real fans stick with their team but you abandoned yours when your drug using, dog killing, flipping the fans off thug hero went to prison and learned what you already know… how to choke. i’ll bet in prison they turned him into a wide reciever