Mike Mularkey being unduly criticized for masterful game plan
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 them to “Zag.”
Let’s call that, going against the grain.
Or in NFL talk, going against your tendencies.
New Orleans came out and sat down on tight end Tony Gonzalez and Roddy White, who were heavily targeted in the passing game by Chris Redman in the previous game. White had an unthinkable 20 passes thrown his way.
So they bracketed Gonzalez with two defenders and followed White everywhere, even to the bath room. How else do you explain them letting Michael Jenkins run down the middle of the field unguarded, not once, but twice?
Therefore, Redman had to spread the ball around to eight different receivers.
In the run game, Mularkey was able to beat the over-pursuing Saints with a reverse early in the game.
In all, the Falcons had nine plays that went for 18-yards or more. They were gashing the Saints.
Now, if they would have had a better red zone plan, they would not have had to kick those three first half field goals.
So, was the reverse on first down in the fourth quarter, really a bad call? Before that, it was the Falcons best rushing play of the game. Why not start the drive off with the play that’s picked up the most yards?
On the next possession, on fourth-and-2, Mularkey went back to another play that had gotten him 38 yards. Why not call a play that got you 38 yards, when you just need 2? (I do have a pet peeve of not throwing the pass play past the required yardage marker. . . but that’s another blog).
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) rallies teammates in a huddle before taking on the Atlanta Falcons in an NFL football game in Atlanta, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2009. (Associated Press Photo/John Amis)
But there was one major problem with the reverse call.
They Saints had sniffed it out and called a corner blitz.
The Falcons, in the Wildcat, didn’t have an audible out of the play. They were just hoping that Randall Gay went with the play fake to Jason Snelling and that Eric Weems could whiz around the corner undetached.
Head coach Mike Smith took the blame for that play.
“It was obvious, while we were getting ready to run that play that they were coming off the edge,” Smith said. “Really, I’ll take responsibility for that. It should be my responsibility as the head coach to call time out and make sure that we don’t run that play. Either we call time out or put it in the hands of the Lord and hopefully we can run around a blitzing corner. I take full responsibility for that play. It’s not on the players. There is nothing in our system for us to get out of that play. It’s something that I should have handled.”
REALITY CHECK TIME: It’s reality check time for Falcons. The playoffs are nearly a statistical improbability. According to one stat guru, the have less than one percent chance of making the playoffs.
Some of the fans, like Pete of Norcross, want to take the Reality Check.
In an e-mail, Pete wrote,
“D.O.L.
Every week it gets more desperate.
Still in the hunt? The Falcons, with their injury littered roster, are as much a playoff team as Tampa or St. Louis. Please.
We all have drunk the Kool-Aid for the ump-teenth time. It’s getting old.
Let it go.
This season is history. . . on to 2010.
Lot’s of interesting stuff to happen after Feb. 15, 2010.
Thanks.
Pete”
David Gerard has a website called www.makeNFLplayoffs.com and his computer program calculates the chances of the Falcons making the playoffs.
The Falcons have a 0.0% chance of a first round bye, a 0.0% chance of hosting a 1st round playoff game and 0.9% chance of being a road wild card team in the first round.
The Falcons playoff hopes peaked in Week 6 after they improve to 4-1. They had a 62.3 percent playoff chance.
Now after a loss in week 14, the Falcons (6-7) chance of making the playoffs has fallen to 0.9%.
FOILED OR BOTCHED: My man Ron sent me a few e-mails contending that the Falcons didn’t “foil” the fake field goal attempt. He contends that Mark Brunell, the holder, messed up the play by holding onto the ball too long.
What did y’all see?
FRIENDS, HOW MANY OF US HAVE THEM????: It looks like defensive end Jonathan Babineaux didn’t learn
Atlanta Falcons tight ends coach Chris Scelfo offers some encouragement to defensive tackle # 95 Jonathan Babineaux as he warms up for the Saints at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2009. Babineaux was arrested on charges of possession of marijuana during a routine traffic stop Thursday night. (Curtis Compton,ccompton@ajc.com)
that lesson about picking good friends.
The lesson was also on display in the Michael Vick case.
So that brought to mind a line in an old rap song by Whodini, when they ask the question: “Friends, How many of us have them?”
Later on, there’s a line about “With friends like that, you don’t need enemies.”
Have to give some respect to AJC Baseball blog and music guru Dave O’Brien first, but here’s the youtube link and the lyrics. Jalil, Ecstasy and Grandmaster Dee breakdown the meaning of “Friends.”
(LYRICS COURTESY OF http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/nextfridayoldschool/friends.htm)
Friends
How many of us have them?
Friends
Ones we can depend on
Friends
How many of us have them?
Friends
Before we go any further, lets be
Friends*
Is a word we use everyday
Most the time we use it in the wrong way
Now you can look the word up, again and again
But the dictionary doesnt know the meaning of friends
And if you ask me, you know, I couldnt be much help
Because A friend is somebody you judge for yourself
Some are ok, and they treat you real cool
But some mistake kindness for bein a fool
We like to be with some, because they’re funny
Others come around when they need some money
Some you grew up with, around the way
And you’re still real close too this very day
Homeboys through the Summer, Winter, Spring and Fall
And then there’s some we wish we never knew at all
And this list goes on, again and again
But these are the people that we call friends
When we first went out together, we barely knew each other
We had no intentions, on becoming lovers
But in no time at all, you became my girl
Me and you, one on one, against the world
Talkin on the telephone for hours at a time
Or else I was at your house, or you was at mine
Then came the arguements and all kinds of problems
Besides making love, we had nothing in common
It couldnt last long because it started out strong
But I guess we went about the whole thing wrong
Cause out of nowhere it just came to an end
Because we became lovers before we were friends
*Friends
How many of us have them?
Friends
Ones we can depend on
Friends
How many of us have them?
Friends
Before we go any further, let’s be
Friends*
You say you and your girlfriend were so tight
You took her out with you and your guy one night
She even had a set of keys to your home
And you shared mostly everything you owned
But as she shook your hand, she stole your man
And it was done so swift, it had to be a plan
Couldn’t trust her with cheese, let alone your keys
With friends like that you dont need enemies
You wonder how long it was all going on
And your still not sure if your man is gone
You say, well if she took him he was never mine
But deep inside you know thats just another lie
And now you’re kinda cold to the people you meet
Cause of something that was done to you by some creep
But nevertheless, I’ll say it again
That these are the people that we call friends
*Friends
How many of us have them?
Friends
Before we go any further, lets be
Friends*
*Friends
How many of us have them?
Friends
One’s we can depend on
Friends
How many of us have them?
Friends
Before we go any further, lets be
Friends*
*Friends
How many of us have them?
Friends
One’s we can depend on
Friends
How many of us have them?
Friends
Before we go any further, lets be
Friends*
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133 comments Add your comment
Matt
December 16th, 2009
8:16 am
Great column!!! I was one of the critics of Mularkey on Sunday but this has helped put my mind in perspective! All too often it’s easy to dwell on the negatives and not on the positives. If the officials would have had the heads in the game we would’ve handed the “undefeated Saints” Asses to them on a platter! GO FALCONS!!!!
tidog
December 16th, 2009
8:23 am
The problem I had with the last play was the formation. When we lined up I immediately said “why shotgun”. Saints only had to protect the pass and not the run threat. All in all good game with suspcious pass interference calls. Lets run the table now.
NCFalconFan
December 16th, 2009
8:26 am
Thanks DOL….I’m feeling a tad bit. I guess I’m drinking the Kool Aid again, looking forward to 2010. A year w/Gonzalez, Turner, hopefully a healthy Norwood & OL, and Harry Douglas. Just got out and get some DEFENSE!!!
SPARTAN NATION
December 16th, 2009
8:26 am
Whodini rocks!!!
SOME_PLAYS_ARE_BAD
December 16th, 2009
8:30 am
A GAME PLAN IS NOT MASTERFUL UNLESS YOU WIN THE GAME!!!! THERE ARE NO OTHER MEASUREMENT POINTS!!! THE WILDCAT HAS STOPPED US SEVERAL TIMES THIS YEAR ON GOOD DRIVES. PLEASE COLLECT THE STATS RE THE FALCON’S USE OF THE WILDCAT AND THE RESULTS OF THE DRIVE. THE FALCON’S USE OF THE WILDCAT IS GIVING ONE OF YOUR DOWNS TO THE OPPOSITION. WE SHOULD HAVE WON THE GAME ON SUNDAY, AND THE PLAN WOULD HAVE BEEN MASTERFUL. I AM 64 YEARS OLD AND I KNOW THE JOURNEY OF THE FALCONS SINCE CONCEPTION.
Bird
December 16th, 2009
8:31 am
Matt Ryan?..lol! Great Read, GO FALCONS!
William
December 16th, 2009
8:37 am
Jeepers Creepers! Give Mularkey and the other coaches a pay raise or bonus for failure! Americans love a winner and will not tolerate a loser! A great statement by a great warrior.
Ok let us get together and send them a Christmas card with all the excuses they need to justify being a loser. It will make them feel warm and cozy about themselves while they spend all those millions.
Same Old Song!!
December 16th, 2009
8:47 am
This is what I hate about my town….. Why is Mr. Ledbelly making excuses for the Falcon coaches? Hey Orlando, Just in case you forgat, the only thing that counts are wins and losses!!! I can assure you that folks in this town would be a lot happier if we had run 75 dive plays up the middle in a win than a fancy “Zig or Zag” in a loss…..
Timbo
December 16th, 2009
8:49 am
How does awful calls late equal a masterful game plan?
Robert M
December 16th, 2009
8:52 am
Matt..do you really think you would’ve handed the Saints their @sses on a platter? After two games against us you should realize, we were very vanilla for the Falcons. We save all our special stuff for real teams like the Giants, Patriots, Eagles, and Cowboys. No need to show our hand against the likes of the Falcons, Panthers, Bills, Jets, etc. Watch the difference come Saturday night. The Saints will dominate the Cowboys the same way they did the Pats, Eagles and Giants.
That said, I do give props to the Falcons for hanging in under difficult conditions. You guys have lots of injuries, but its part of the game. Without all the injuries the Saints had in 2008, this would be the third playoff berth in four years for us.
Good luck next year. The Falcons are building a foundation to have an impressive team for the long term. I don’t really look forward to playing them twice a year with the talent they have now.
Samuel
December 16th, 2009
8:56 am
Mike Mularky should take some of the blame for that silly play. Also Mike Smith needs to do a better job coaching,instead of showing us he’s angry when a call doesn’t go his way. I know there’s alot of starters not playing but it wasn’t like the coaching staff didn’t know. They the coaches won’t publically say it but some of these draft choices were a bust. And there’s several players on the team who would be cut if they were playing for another team. Dimitroff did a lousy job with theses picks and he knows they haven’t panned out. Jamaal Anderson, Brian finneran, Tye hill, Chris houston and Jerious Norwood, Chris Redman. Probally won’t be around next year. The fans in Atlanta take a beating each year,hopes are high and then it seems we’re back where we started. You have to have atleast four probowler’s on your defense to be successful. I can’t remember when the falcons had a defense that was dominate. So don’t call the fans reactionary, but realize that they been witnessing mediority for a very long time.
Justify My Lost
December 16th, 2009
8:58 am
The fact that this bonehead wrote the article is the main reason none of the professional sports teams in Atlanta will be champions of their sport. No Coach in this city holds any of their staff accountable for anything. A bad play call is just a bad play call period. I don’t want to hear a lame excuse to justify a bad play call. Just admit it was bad and move on. The fact that this article was written proves the loser mentality a lot of fans express(including me). And don’t hit ME wit that lame a$$ “you’re no a real fan bull S&%#”
FoxNoise.net
December 16th, 2009
9:01 am
I like Mularkey, overall he called a great game against New Orleans. But he shouldn’t have made those two calls because the Saints defense won’t be fooled twice.
Justify My Lost
December 16th, 2009
9:09 am
Ledbetter should NO better
Justify My Loss
December 16th, 2009
9:10 am
Enter your comments here
Same Old Song!!
December 16th, 2009
9:14 am
Hey Ledbelly,
I guess next you are gonna start with the ” our coach could be up their coach” or Our dome is nicer than theirs, Or ( and this is my favorite) Our cheerleaders as so much better looking!!! Lets see what other lameAzz excuses we can come up with….
Andrew
December 16th, 2009
9:15 am
“FoxNoise,” actually they WERE fooled twice. Jenkins was wide open on the pass that he dropped (were we one dropped pass away?) and then he burned them on the one he caught after they brought the corners around on a blitz.
Great read DOL. Those that say coaches in Atlanta are never held accountable should remember that the majority of the Falcons’ losing legacy can be attributed to a longtime owner who let his son play General Manager.
Justify My Loss
December 16th, 2009
9:23 am
Same Old Song!! : LMFAO!! I know right or “Mike Smith could not forsee Two of his best players Hurt.” Or Roddy(I sat my azz out because i made the probowl) White ” Roddy isn’t use to catching balls thrown by Reddman” Puhleassse!! Stop babying these overgrown boys
Same Old Song!!
December 16th, 2009
9:24 am
Andrew
December 16th, 2009
9:15 am
Funny, I never hear Super Bowl winning teams talk about stuff like this… You my friend have been cursed with the loser gene. You can say “They WERE fooled twice”….He brother, you did not fool them when it counted!!! Excuses are made for losers!!!!!!
Ken
December 16th, 2009
9:28 am
Tidog – The reason you line up in the gun on that is because it’s a wildcat play. The RB was taking the snap so the Saints know he’s not going to drop back and throw the ball. So even when you’re running a reverse you have to do it out of the same formation that you would run wildcat from. Now if you’re suggesting that they shoudl have run it out of their base set then that’s another question all together. Personally, I don’t see anything wrong with running the reverse out of the wildcat though.
Justify My Loss
December 16th, 2009
9:30 am
Hey Andrew you sound like those weak forgiving losers on 680 the fan. We as falcon fans need to grow a set and call that sh## like it is. Does the phrase”Wait til next year” not get old?
Same Old Song!!
December 16th, 2009
9:33 am
I get it now…It seems as if the press is more interested in staying in good with the powers at Flowery Branch than calling it like we all saw it!!!
AceDawg
December 16th, 2009
9:36 am
I’m still impressed with the Falcons’ coaching. Injuries, a once great kicker losing his touch, etc haven’t let the season roll the right way, but realistic Falcons fans should have known that 11-5 or better wasn’t likely, as the Falcons outplayed their abilities last year. With a good offseason where the Falcons hopefully acquire a defensive upgrade or two, and a little depth at QB and O-line, I think they’ll be back to a contender. They are STILL a fairly good team that has missed opportunities, which is hard to recover from in the NFL.
Justify My Loss
December 16th, 2009
9:39 am
Same Old Song: Thats the problem with the entire state of GA sports(including college) we put politics above accountability. Thats why none of our teams can win. Instead of constructive crticism they ask the politically correct questions and make politically correct statements. This foolishness is why the city of Atlanta has all these fairwhether fans. It’s 2010 not 1864
tidog
December 16th, 2009
9:42 am
Ken I get your logic on the reverse. The play formation I had a problem with was the last play of the game. 4th and 2 pass to Snelling who gets blown up by Vilma 1 yard short of first down. That formation was shotgun and had 0 run threat.
DiryBirdLover
December 16th, 2009
9:42 am
It’s time to find some new coaches in Atlanta. The problem is scheme and coaching. The run defense is solid but the pass defense is horrible. Not one of the Falcon defenders turns around to defend passes while they are in the air they just keep running. That is a coaching issue and far as the offensive scheme it’s horrible. The reason Matt Ryan passes are going the other way is because he doesn’t throw deep passes much like when Michael Vick was here. This past two Sunday’s we threw more bombs in those games compared to Matt Ryan’s entire career in Atlanta. Everytime we throw deep it’s wide open because they are playing Atlanta tendencies. We have to spread the wealth and quit focusing on Gonzalez and White. If Michael Jenkins isn’t a reliable receiver find somebody else. Other teams find diamonds in the rough all the time but in Atlanta we don’t develop our players into impact players just into role players with limitations. It’s time for the guys we draft to develop in household names not just average players. Get it together Atlanta…
Justify My Loss
December 16th, 2009
9:46 am
“but realistic Falcons fans should have known that 11-5 or better wasn’t likely”: Thats exactly the bull sh1t I was talking about. The majority of “realistic falcons fans” as you put it sir had high hopes coming into this season based off of last seasons success and all but knew the falcons were playoff bound this season. Now all of a sudden the “realistic falcons fans” knew 11-5 was not likely. Miss me with that. If you really believe that jive you’re spewing then you and the rest of the “realistic falcons fans” need not to be realistic but simply Keep it REAL!!
Mike is Back
December 16th, 2009
9:47 am
Great Piece DLed, I agree with Matt…There were a lot of positive in the game…they showed some PRIDE.
However, MIKE SMITH is right…he botch that one…the troubling thing is he’s botch a few like that. HIS propensity to play it safe has cost the team dearly in some big games. I like him I think he a good coach…but he has to be prepared to roll dice when the game is on the line…it doesn’t matter if it the first quarter or fourth…when you get your shot…you got to go for the jugular…THAT IT IS!!!
Other than that…he’s my guy…I think he has handled adversity with class…they gotta keep pushing the envelope on offense and come up with more miss direction plays…it something about their base formation that seems to tip the opponents off…that is something that can be experimented with during the remaining of the season.
I thought there was an old rule where you always passed the ball beyond the first down marker on fourth down…that theory should have ruled that play out all together. Heck is was only two yards…if you are going to go with Snell…why not go with the POWER RUN…for god sake…show some moxie some time…THE GUYS WILL RESPOND!!!!!
No sense since in folding the tent in now…there is still plenty to play for this season. I think if we can put back-to-back winning season together…that would cast a positive light on this injury-riddled season. Injury are not…DM got to go get us some first grade corners. lol
KEEP PUSHING FALCONS…ALWAYS TO THE END!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ndccruz
December 16th, 2009
9:55 am
The 4th and 2 play actually worked. Not in the way it did the first time, when it got us those 38 yards, but it still worked. The first time we ran it, the Saints focused on Gonzalez, leaving Snelling open. This time, they knew what was coming and decided to focus on Snelling, leaving Gonzalez in single coverage. Vilma made a great play by hanging back and making it look like Snelling had enough room to get the first down, and then getting the tackle after he saw Redman actually throwing to Snelling. Had Redman read this right and gone through his reads instead of staring down Snelling and doing what the Saints were expecting, he could have had an easy pitch and catch to Gonzalez with plenty of distance for the first down. If your future Hall of Fame TE is wide open on arguably the most important play of the season, I don’t think you can blame the OC for bad play calling.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
December 16th, 2009
10:19 am
Same Old Song: You’re fired up!!! Like that. Keep it coming. I knew I’d get called out for being a suck up. We do have the best cheerleaders in the country. And Mike Smith probably would take most coaches. Did I miss anything. . .
SEASON TICKET RENEWALS: Who’s got their packages? Understand there’s another increase (for like the 19th consecutive year!). Share some details. I will call my tailgating buddies and see if they have receiver their packages, you right before Christmas time.
THE CURSE OF BRETT FAVRE LIVES IN THE ATL
December 16th, 2009
10:24 am
THANK YOU FALCONS FOR GETTING RID OF BRETT,DEON SANDERS,KEITH BROOKING AND MIKE VICK! LONG LIVE THE CURSE OF BRETT FAVRE!
THE CURSE OF BRETT FAVRE LIVES IN THE ATL
December 16th, 2009
10:25 am
MIKE MULARKEY AND MIKE BOBO ARE DRINKING FROM THE SAME STUPID WATER FOUNTAIN!
FalcFan
December 16th, 2009
10:27 am
DOL,
I would agree with you- until midway through the 4th quarter. Then Mularkey went back to his usual 2009 self with below average play calling. It comes down to the old saying fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. Late in the 4th, the Saints knew what was coming as soon as they saw the formation- Vilma even said this.
I’ll call it how I see it- 1. Mularkey was great last season on the ground and in the air. 2. This year his play calling has been sad. The run game is still there (Turner being out has hurt but before he went out he was a force after our line got it together). But all season the pass game has been pathetic. Corners have been glued to our receivers as if they always know whats coming and the lack of the deep ball has really allowed teams to pack guys in near the line of scrimmage.
Now, early in the Saints game Mularkey went back to 2008 where he would stretch the field vertically and it paid off. But calling the same play as earlier in the game is not great play calling- especially if that play generated a ton of yardage because that’s even more of a reason to remember it if you’re the defense.
THE CURSE OF BRETT FAVRE LIVES IN THE ATL
December 16th, 2009
10:28 am
SUPER STUPID PLAY CALLING BY MIKE MULARKEY
D. Orlando Ledbetter
December 16th, 2009
10:30 am
Listen to Blues Legend LEADBELLY – (HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN) – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5tOpyipNJs&NR=1
ndccruz
December 16th, 2009
10:44 am
@ FalcFan: Great point about Mularkey going back to stretching the field early in the game. I disagree with you on the 4th and 2 though. Go back and read my comment about the play. Yes, Vilma knew what was coming, but that left Gonzalez wide open for a first down. If Redman reads this right, he has an easy throw. And he had plenty of time to make that read. I know it’s all speculation, but I say Ryan would have seen this and gone to Gonzalez for the easy first down.
Frontman
December 16th, 2009
10:54 am
Actually, Andrew, the Saints were not fooled twice. They simply chose not to cover Jenkins – he’ll drop it half the time anyway.
FalcFan
December 16th, 2009
10:57 am
@ ndccruz: After thinking about it- I think I do remember seeing Gonzo flash open at the top of the screen as Redman was staring down Snelling- I agree with you. And I think you are correct about your assessment of Ryan too. However, I still question the play calling in the 4th quarter as both the reverse out of the Wildcat and the interception were very similar to plays run earlier for big gains. Now, I know that Smitty says you can blame it on him for not calling a timeout, but if the head coach has to call timeout to save a play that is enough to prove the play call was poor.
I think Smitty is a heck of a coach, but Mularky’s play calling this season has certainly left him open for criticism to say the least. And I’m not even going to start on Van Gorder (who routinely tries to cover running backs and tight ends with John Abraham, Jamal Anderson and Lawrence Sidbury) because I know better than that and I’m in college and the closest I’ve gotten to professional football is on Madden.
FalcFan
December 16th, 2009
11:01 am
@ Frontman: hahaha you are absolutely right- especially if it’s going to be a touchdown. Jenkins would have a hard time catching swine flu if he tried… but he can block so apparently all is forgiven.
DangerousDan87
December 16th, 2009
11:03 am
We wouldn’t even be talking about Mularkey if the refs make the correct calls, Even Troy Aikman was critical of the officiating on the blown pass interference calls. We’ll sweep the Saints next year when we are at 100%.
DangerousDan87
December 16th, 2009
11:09 am
@the curse of Brett Farve…. too bad you don’t know what you are talking about regarding Brett Farve. He has admitted to being hooked on pain pills and alcohol while he was an Atlanta Falcon. Too much nightlife and trouble for him in Atlanta. So, Ex-Falcon brass Tom Bratz goes to Green Bay and gets Farve away from Atlanta. So, Farve focused on football in the simple town of Green Bay without any nightlife. The rest is history. Get your facts right. Its an unfortunate page of Atlanta history. MOVE ON.
ndccruz
December 16th, 2009
11:09 am
@ FalcFan: You’re definitely right about that. No need to call that reverse, and Vilma’s on record saying that he knew what was coming on the interception too. We’ve been really predictable on offense all year, and Mularkey needs to work on that for next season. It seems like we’re running the same 10-15 plays over and over again. He needs to open up the playbook for Ryan.
Same Old Song!!
December 16th, 2009
11:10 am
Bla, Bla, Bla…..Everybody keeps saying that Mike Smith is a good coach… to that I say, Based on what??? During the Smith Era, This team is yet to have a signature win. At some point if you want to claim to be great or even good, you have to do something that warrents that claim, and to this date, he has yet to do it. IMHO, Mike Smith is just another over-rated coach riding on the Arthur Blank hype machine. LedBelly, Put down the Pom Poms…..
anthony hooker
December 16th, 2009
11:14 am
I didn’t notice Gonzalez being open on the fourth-down play but I wonder since we only needed three points why we didn’t create a rollout play that allowed the QB to throw downfield or run for yardage because we know the Saints would play back to prevent big plays. Mularkey and Smith could have determined which side would receive pass rushing pressure and move away from that effort.
anthony hooker
December 16th, 2009
11:15 am
Thanks for the Whodini flashback, by the way.
retired on the lake
December 16th, 2009
11:16 am
D Led love the music links and the song (ala DOB). but man don’t hang with DOB too much he keeps that butt ugly pic up on his post don’t want it to rub off on you. Can’t understand the so called fans that don’t want to stick with the process. Take the Hawks as an example Woody is so blah but he has improved every year and every year fans call for his head. As for the Falcons we all knew the schedule was much tougher and the record wouldn’t improve but the process is in place and changing coaches and QBs and systems every couple of years is idiotic. We have a good core, and need to keep moving forward with the process plain and simple. it ain’t over till the Cryboys win one or the Giants win two OR the Falcons lose one. then the season is over and we can look to next year but 0.09 is not zero yet. Until it is hang in there baby and NEVER GIVE UP NEVER SURRENDER! I just don’t understand the mentality of tearing it all apart when a little adversity comes your way. we are only in the 2nd year of the TD-Smith era. Damn fans jump ship at every dark moment. Band together and have HOPE! of course there are always those that thrive on the Falcons failures whether it’s because they are just haters or feel we have done their hero wrong. Screw them!
Go Falcons get the winning season and hope that the Cryboys and Giants lose out.
DLed keep up the good work your columns help a poverty stricken retirement.
Joe M
December 16th, 2009
11:17 am
No matter… The reverse was a bad call, check-out possibility or not.
Reverses are meant to work once. I am shocked to hear they had no checks! In the NFL, no checks?!
Now, Malarky is awesome and hope he stays here forever! Everybody has those bone-head moments. I’ve had too many to cover.
As for the pass play, if Snelling had taken it 2 yds instead of 1 it’d be different. If Redman had not either A. made up his mind pre-snap, or B. rushed the a throw, somebody was open on an out route to the right. Saw that on Fox replay footage.
That was on the players, not the OC.
I’m just glad Mike Malarky is in Atlanta, bottom line.
ndcruz
December 16th, 2009
11:22 am
@anthony hooker: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZJ_M5gd_Vc The 4th and 2 is at 4:12 in the video. Look at the top of the screen. Gonzalez is WIDE open on the out route.
truth
December 16th, 2009
11:24 am
The Falcons will be in the playoffs this year. The Saints will go 16-0 and not win a playoff game.
vafalconfan
December 16th, 2009
11:32 am
Last time I checked it’s a passing league. Look at the teams contending right now. They can run it, but they pass first. Our scheme is flawed and everyone knows it. Having a back carry the ball almost 400 times a season is not a scheme because when that runniing back goes down then what?..run a bunch of cute wild cat garbage?.. we need a change at both coordinators.
DawgNDallas
December 16th, 2009
11:32 am
Same Old Song… I dunno…That last second win last year over the Bears was pretty signature. But decent points otherwise. Still, I’m not ready to give up on them (Smith and Dimitroff) just yet.
DOL – I respect you, man, but you HAVE to stop putting up pictures of Falcons players/staff with that stormy sky in the background…it’s creepy.
Same Old Song!!
December 16th, 2009
11:46 am
DawgNDallas
December 16th, 2009
11:32 am
Sorry, but Beating the Bears is not signature…..How about beating a +500 team on the road, Or this year, why not beat a + 500 team ANYWHERE! The fans in this town have been sold a bill of goods and for whatever reason the can’t / won’t admit it!!!
Halsey
December 16th, 2009
11:55 am
Many fans like to believe they are football experts who can call plays better than the pros putting in 80 hour work weeks. Let them have their fantasy.
The Real Falcon
December 16th, 2009
11:59 am
“So, was the reverse on first down in the fourth quarter, really a bad call? Before that, it was the Falcons best rushing play of the game. Why not start the drive off with the play that’s picked up the most yards?”
This is surely a rhetorical question. With the ball at the 36 and time available winning teams don’t TRY to finesse the other team, they move the ball forward to win or tie the game. You don’t call plays that have been used all day hoping to trick someone again. Not with the game on the line. We were successful throwing the ball on first down. We were in a lot of 2nd and short due to this. That was a bonehead call pure and simple. No amount of sugar coating will make that go down any easier.
No one is saying Mike should lose his job but the criticism is justified.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
December 16th, 2009
12:12 pm
FALCONS RB MICHAEL TURNER SPOKE IN THE LOCKER ROOM TODAY. (NO MATT RYAN SIGHTINGS, THOUGH.)
Ledbetter AJC: HOW ARE YOU DOING, MIKE?
“I’m doing all right. I’m getting better.”
Ledbetter, AJC: HOW’S THE OUTLOOK FOR THIS WEEK?
“Same as the last couple of weeks. Taking it day by day. Just trying to get closer. Close as a I can to being back on that football field.”
Ledbetter, AJC: HAVE THEY INCREASED OR STEPPED UP YOUR REHAB WORK?
“Oh yeah. We’ve been making strides there. It’s looking pretty good. It’s only Wednesday so we have a chance.”
Zach Klein, WSB: HOW CLOSE ARE YOU?
“I’m going to do some running today and test it out.”
Jason Butt, CBSsportsline: DO YOU THINK YOU’LL PRACTICE TODAY?
“No, I won’t be practicing today. I will just be doing some running and stuff on the side.”
SirReal
December 16th, 2009
12:12 pm
I think Mularkey MAY deserve one more year to see what he can really do with the personnel we have. My main knock on him has been how he uses personnel and some ?able play calls but other than that he’s solid….now Brian VanGorder on the other hand…..gotta go. Better suited for college ranks….his schemes do not translate into the pros. If you keep him on, make him just the LBs coach. He is good with the LBs.
Same Old Song!!
December 16th, 2009
12:15 pm
DawgNDallas
December 16th, 2009
11:32 am
So now you are saying it takes 80 hrs of watching film to realize that your personel is a dead giveaway to a gimmick play???? I don’t think NO spent 80 watching the Falcons film and they knew what was coming..LOL
Jonathan Vilma
December 16th, 2009
12:16 pm
I thought Mularkey called a great game, especially his last call on fourth and two.
Navigator
December 16th, 2009
12:17 pm
I have a different perspective on the play, as my heart almost stopped when I saw the wildcat with 4.30 left to play. This isn’t high school, not college, it is the pros and that’s where calmer heads have to prevail. I saw the defense pull out and all I was thinking was call a time out, but again that’s what the book says. Look at all but two losses this year, and you will see the inconsistencies of the calls that either took the team out of a change to win or failed to get them in a chance to win. The real difference between this year and last is the continuity of calls, forgetting the wins and losses. What we heard from the Fox announcers this year versus last year is where’s the consistency, they can’t figure out what they want to do.
Tyler Ramsey
December 16th, 2009
12:27 pm
why is mike mularkey receiving criticism again? The way I see it, the falcons won that game against the saints w/o Ryan OR Turner, they put on a great offensive performance against an undefeated team, & have put on great performances all season w/ the exception of the eagles game. BRIAN VAN GORDER needs to be criticized. the defense is the weak spot, not only is it a weak spot for the falcons, it is a nasty horrible, incurable disease that has plagued them since the beginning of the franchise. How about firing the D-Coordinator, and bringing it someone who wasn’t an ex UGA “big shot”. How about bringing in a pro D-coordinator? and while you’re at it, re-do the whole secondary, and put someone on the line that can get through besides Abraham!!
Mularkey did a great job w/ the play calling last sunday, with the exception of one or two plays.
but, I would sell my soul to the devil if the falcons defensive play could equal their offensive play.
David
December 16th, 2009
12:29 pm
Playoffs? I’m not giving up hope. Dallas has to lose out – VERY possible. The Giants have to lose 2 of 3, again very possible. And of course, the Falcons must win out – POSSIBLE. Keep believing!
Same Old Song!!
December 16th, 2009
12:35 pm
Tyler Ramsey
December 16th, 2009
12:27 pm
This just in…..THEY LOST!!!!! The NFL is the ultimate results driven business. There are no moral victories!!! I don’t care if they played close, or they played hard… Either you win or you lose…Thats it!
Kudzu
December 16th, 2009
12:53 pm
If the Falcons were playing every week with a full deck and they still had this record, dam* record, right, we should all be pi**ed; but (main) players are out, been out all year, at least after game 5. The game is not the same without your starters. You can talk about players (stepping up) and doing the job, or coaching a player (up); but it’s still not the same…Falcon starters are very good players and when they are out…you get 7 losses real quick.
I’m giving them a pass this year…Stop all the bellyaching and pointing fingers…backup players are backups for a reason…why is this so hard to understand…Scream All You Want!
bman
December 16th, 2009
12:55 pm
I like Mike Smith, but if he doesn’t fire both defensive and offensive coordinators, I’ll be calling for a new coach after next season.
This is utter crap these coaches are producing right here….BVG needs to stick with college defense. MM is too predictable, same ole crap no deep ball every game.
Step it up Smitty, its you and TD’s job to fire these slack asses.
Kevin
December 16th, 2009
1:01 pm
D-Led I think Mike M has done a good job for the most part, but he has made bad calls in critical moments of games. He did it a few times last year and it has happened more and more this year.As far a key players go most teams can plug in the 2ns string and never skip a beat, I guess just not the falcons.Lets not forget Mike M scaled down the play book from last year as well, I wonder if thats why teams D are having such an easy time with the Falcons O.Being a life long Falcons fan I am tired of loosing and I want more!
diesel
December 16th, 2009
1:04 pm
Remember two weeks ago when Mike Mularkey called the same 3 run plays, and a HB Direct Snap on the goalline and we couldn’t gain two yards?
We didn’t have Turner, and this playcalling is f’in insane.
BRING IN BRIAN BILLICK for OC and anyone but BVG on Defense.
MV#777
December 16th, 2009
1:11 pm
The Intelligencer
The Michael Vick experiment doesn’t look quite so much like an experiment anymore. It looks like a success.
Vick has 11 touches in the last two games and among them are two touchdown runs, a touchdown pass, a 32-yard completion to set up a touchdown against the Giants, a 43-yard completion to set up a touchdown in Atlanta, a five-yard run for a first down and a five-yard run down to the 1-yard line to set up a touchdown against the Giants.
“It’s funny how you don’t hear anybody say, ‘Oh, Michael Vick is going to upset the offense’s rhythm’ anymore,” guard Todd Herremans said with a chuckle Monday. “I don’t think he’s upsetting our rhythm right now.”
Vick is no longer a work in progress. He’s an intriguing weapon that Eagles head coach Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg are increasingly placing in critical situations.
After spending a year and a half in prison and not playing football for nearly three years, Vick is starting to look once again like the guy who went to three Pro Bowls for the Falcons between the 2002 and 2005 seasons.
“It’s great to have some plays in the offense where you can actually have some success,” Vick said after the Eagles beat the Giants 45-38 Sunday night at Giants Stadium. “I felt relaxed. I felt good. I felt myself again.”
Vick’s role has evolved since he made his Eagles debut against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Eagles third preseason game on Aug 28. He no longer is a Wildcat. He’s simply a quarterback like he was during his big years in Atlanta as a threat to run or throw whenever he’s on the field.
“The tough thing about him is you can’t view it as what everybody in the league refers to as Wildcat,” Giants defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan said. “He is a quarterback. You have to treat him like a quarterback.”
That means defenses can’t cheat up like they would against a pure Wildcat quarterback. They have to play the Eagles honest, since Vick is now throwing the ball so well. That makes him an even more dangerous runner.
“He’s a quarterback with great athletic ability and a great arm,” Reid said. “You’re talking about one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL before he was suspended there.”
Earlier this year, Vick was missing when he threw. He missed a wide-open DeSean Jackson on what would have been a 30-yard gain in San Diego. Now, he’s hitting those passes.
Advertisement In his first nine games after serving a two-game suspension, Vick was 3-for-9 for six yards. The last two, he’s 3-for-4 for 80 yards and a touchdown.
Similarly, he was 12-for-27 rushing (2.3 average) up through the Chargers game. During the Eagles’ four-game winning streak, he’s run 10 times for 66 yards (6.6 average) and two TDs.
He’s been almost unstoppable on third down, running seven times, converting six times, and gaining 68 yards on those seven runs – an average of 9.7 yards per carry.
“You know what he does – there are a lot of guys with his speed and quickness,” Reid said. “He’s very patient. He (receives) the ball first, and then he sees things set up and then – phew – he goes. The more he plays, the better he’s going to feel.”
Vick isn’t the only reason the Eagles have won four straight games, moved into first place in the NFC East and find themselves on the brink of their eighth playoff berth in the last 10 years.
But it’s not a complete coincidence that the offense has been rolling and the Eagles haven’t lost since Vick began making plays. Big plays.
“He’s really become a big part of our offense,” Herremans said. “What he’s able to do, it’s definitely something that teams have to game plan for. I don’t think of him as a gimmick or a novelty. He’s just a good player. He’s dangerous.”
midnite
December 16th, 2009
1:16 pm
Thanks DOL. The pass interference on Grimes was the worst call of the year(against the Falcons).
Grimes is a good player he may be small but he makes up for it with heart. We need more players like him. I think he has done more than any of our other corners.
I was really thinking this would be the year we broke that blasted “curse”. I just don’t see us winning out.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
December 16th, 2009
1:18 pm
BABAINEAUX MAKES STATEMENT, TAKES NO QUESTIONS
BABINEAUX SAID, “First and foremost, I want to apologize to being a distraction to my family, my teammates. I want to apologize to Mr. (Arthur) Blank, coach (Mike) Smith and Mr. (Thomas) Dimitroff and also the fans, most importantly. I’m embarrassed to standing here in front of you guys (the media). But as you all are aware, it’s an ongoing legal matter and I can’t talk about it or answer any questions.”
sainthater
December 16th, 2009
1:26 pm
the falcons will always be mediocre until we shore up our defense with some bigger corners 6′2 and 6′3 D2 AND D3 SCOOLS HAVE LOTS OF TALENT GIVE THEM A SHOT
Bab-slanger
December 16th, 2009
1:29 pm
This guy should get together with Willie Martinez because Mularkey might be the next scape goat.
Yo DLED
December 16th, 2009
1:36 pm
Is Ryan and or Turner playing this weekend??
Darrick
December 16th, 2009
1:39 pm
It is funny how the talk of injuries seem to mask that the Falcons were losing with Matt Ryan and Turner in the line up, Turner was on his job running well before injuries were all over the place. But the play of Matt Ryan and the awful play by our defense on 3rd downs are the true reason why this team is on the outside looking in. Matt Ryan has had the year many would have expected last year, but here it is now, he looks uncomfortable in the pocket, mechanics have been very poor on the interceptions he has thrown (ball sailing on him). The defense plays well for two downs and then they are simply unable to get off the field on 3rd down, I would bet Atlanta has the worst 3rd defense in the league right now, if someone could verify that would offer validity to my claim. Play makesrs have to make plays when the game is on the line, the throw to Roddy white on 2nd down was a tough catch but a cath the team needed to get a first down and not go into the 3rd and long and 4th and 2. A pass thrown shorter than the yardage needed at crucial point in the game leaves me speechless, you have to get beyond the stick!
Cap'n Nugs
December 16th, 2009
1:49 pm
1. The problem with the 4th and 2 was that our QB, under a little pressure, threw the ball a second too early. With a little more experience, he holds the ball another second, Snelling breaks free, Falcons win, Mularky’s a genius, and this blog never happened.
2. Does Mularky make some bad calls on occassion? Yes, just like every other OC in the league. I’m sure the Mularkey critics could do a much better job, and they would never call a bad play.
3. The Falcons need to put a rest to the wildcat. I’m just saying…
Cap'n Nugs
December 16th, 2009
1:54 pm
Good call Darrick…the Falcons are indeed the worst defense in the NFL on 3rd down:
http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/team/_/stat/downs/sort/thirdDownConvs/position/defense
David
December 16th, 2009
2:05 pm
Darrick, I am calling you out. Have you ever played quarterback before? I can tell you, that the answer is NO. Quarterbacking in football is the hardest position to play, especially in the NFL. Fact number 1, the playbook is bigger than the magazines you read.
Fact number 2, He is only in his 2nd year, look at most quarterbacks in this league and I mean the great ones and non of them were superstars in their 2nd year.
Fact number 3, half of Atlanta’s schedule had an off week to prepare for Matt Ryan which makes it even more difficult to play that position.
Fact number 4, quarterbacks have to get into a rythm when playing and if the Falcon’s defense never stopped an opponents offense on 3rd down, then how the hell is the Falcon’s offense and Matt Ryan going to get into a groove.
Fact number 5, the NFL games are not like college or high school. The games usually come down to the last final drives.
Fact number 6, half of the Falcon’s team was injured or out for the year, which even makes it harder to compete in this league.
Fact number 7, injuries happen, some teams (usually the lucky ones, like the Falcon’s last year), who don’t have that many injuries, especially to their best players usually make the playoffs and the ones that are unlucky and have injuries to thier best players don’t make the playoff.
Fact number 8, you could never coach or play in this league because you have no idea how hard it is to compete at that level.
Keep watching TV, that is probably the only thing you are good at Darrick!!!
Buzz
December 16th, 2009
2:10 pm
You know why Mike Smith gets so mad at bad calls?????? Because I have never seen a team get so many bone job calls against them. I could name 10 horrible offical calls this year but I really don’t have the time. Our secondary isn’t very good plus they never get the benefit of a call when they are close to a receiver! FLAG FLAGS AND MORE FLAGS!!!!
midnite
December 16th, 2009
2:14 pm
I’m thinking Ryan’s toe may have been a problem even before leaving in the first series of the Tampa Bay game.
Ricky
December 16th, 2009
2:18 pm
Let me print this article and take it with me as I walk my dog and use it to pick up the poop in other people’s yards. These 2 calls by Mularkey cost us the game. The wildcat and reverse have seldom worked for any positive yardage for the Falcons. On 4th and 2 I can only say (in defense of Mulakrey) that Redman could have used a pump fake, ran to the scrimmage line and thrown, or possibly picked up the 2 yards himself. A shovel pass or a screen would have been a better call. YOU DO NOT THROW SHORT OF WHERE YOU HAVE TO BE WITH THE GAME ON THE LINE……EVER……!!
Ricky
December 16th, 2009
2:23 pm
Congrats to Vick, he was able to muster back to back weeks with a rushing touchdown, first time since 2002.
Same Old Song!!
December 16th, 2009
2:25 pm
David
December 16th, 2009
2:05 pm
Bla, Bla, Bla, Bla, Bla…..Now that you have made every excuse to justify the sorry state of this team, What do you have? You have a middle of the road team that have a bag full of excuses and a fan base begging to let them out.
Ted Striker
December 16th, 2009
2:30 pm
This was an excellent column. I’ve said all along that the offensive strategy for the game was great. And I had no problem with the wildcat call.
Suwanee Jim
December 16th, 2009
2:31 pm
I agree that Mularkey’s game plan WAS masterful until the Wild Cat call in the 4th quarter. Your defense DID THEIR JOB and held the Saints to a field goal. Your special teams DID THEIR JOB and gave you good field position. Your offense, for the most part, DID THEIR JOB all day by moving the ball on the Saints. Why, when you’re coming out of a TV time out, would you keep your quarterback on the sidelines and come out with a play for which you HAVE NO AUDIBLE?!?! The 8 year old sitting behind me at the game said to her father “look daddy, that guy is moving in” … If an 8 YEAR OLD can see it …. !!!
The players DID THEIR JOB and put the team in a position to have a chance to win. The coaches screwed the pooch on this one and let the players down. Mularkey should have never have called the play and Smith SURELY SHOULD NOT have let it be attempted.
GT
December 16th, 2009
2:43 pm
You run out of all those weapons, play calling gets pretty tight. New Orleans guessed what we were doing mainly because the list of options was very limited with the personal we had. The Falcons executed very well the limited plays they ran.
SCAPE GOAT
December 16th, 2009
2:43 pm
Ledbetter….all you sports writers are “FULL OF MULARKEY!”
retired on the lake
December 16th, 2009
2:44 pm
Hang in there fans we still have a chance small as it may be!
Mike Smith is a WINNER
TD is a WINNER
Mularkey is a WINNER
ATLANTA HERE IS THE SCENARIO THAT WE ALL (haters of all colors, fans of all backgrounds) can get behind it’s a win win situation that everyone here gets something good.
FOLLOW ME NOW
#1 Drink whatever cup of koolaid you drink from, be it the Vick is the next coming of the messiah cup or the Falcons can still win out and make the playoffs cup.
#2 Have faith in your individual beliefs (biases) and …….
#3 Read the following and repeat during daily prayers while facing the Georgia Dome!
If there is any justice to this NFL season and seasons past the following scenerio would play out.
Week 15 Saturday night the New Orleans Saints dismantle the Dallas Cryboys
Sunday afternoon the Atlanta Falcons beat the NYJets
Philadelphia wins
Carolina shocks the Vikings
Monday night the Washington Redskins maul the NYGiants
Week 16 Washington wins 3 in a row by beating Cryboys
Carolina does Atlanta a favor and beats NYGiants
Falcons beat Buffalo
Philly wins again
Vikings lose Monday night to the Bears
Week 17 Vikings needing win to clinch 2nd seed instead lose 3rd straight to NYGiants
Falcons beat Tampa Bay
Philly with chance to gain 2nd seed goes into overtime with the Cryboys
with no score for more than 7 minutes.
All Atlanta is tuned into the end of the Eagles – Cryboys game.
A certain former Falcon and current federal felony probationer runs 56 yards
with a certain former Falcon and GTech graduate unable to catch him
and scores a winning touchdown that propels Atlanta into the playoffs.
More koolaid DRINK more Koolaid
COME TOGETHER FOR A 2ND WINNING SEASON
retired on the lake
December 16th, 2009
2:45 pm
Go Falcons!
Same Old Song!!
December 16th, 2009
2:49 pm
Exhale folks…. The chances to make the playoffs are gone!!! The Jets are going to SMOKE the Falcons Like Babainaeux was doing on 85N!!!
K-DAWG
December 16th, 2009
3:13 pm
MURLAKEY!!!!! needs to go!!! NUFF SAID!!!!
tmac
December 16th, 2009
3:17 pm
I believe Coach Milarkey is a good coach, but both of the calls you write about were BAD calls at the time and situation in the Saints game.
1st: You said it exactly right in the ( ) when you said you must throw the ball beyond the first down distance… Pet peeve #1 as a offensive player. The defense wants you to throw short of the first down… that’s why you don’t. I don’t care what yardage you made on the same play during the middle of the game. It’s crunch time and you can not depend on the player making the yardage by breaking tackles… YOU MUST THROW BEYOND THE YARDAGE NEEDED.
2nd: The reverse and loss of huge yds.
The offense was just coming off two drives where we begun to dominate their defense by running up the middle and attacking their offense down the field in the air… Not by running east-west and allowing their team speed to catchup… Those plays work in the middle of the game as a surprise. They NEVER work twice in a game much less in a critical drive situation. Never. I’m not even a coach and i know that… so a falcons coach has no excuse. And to hear them say there wasn’t an audible and couldn’t change the play… In crunch time, that should never be something you find yourself in. I wish they did take a timeout and change the whole thing… who know’s it might have turned out differently.
tmac
December 16th, 2009
3:23 pm
My question is:
Can this team win 3 straight game and end the worst streak in NFL History?
answer me that, please.
THE CURSE OF BRETT FAVRE LIVES IN THE ATL
December 16th, 2009
3:28 pm
BRETT FAVRE SAYS THE ONLY WAY TO BREAK THE CURSE,IS TO BRING MIKE VICK BACK!
THE CURSE OF BRETT FAVRE LIVES IN THE ATL
December 16th, 2009
3:29 pm
MATT RYAN AND MIKE VICK CAN PLAY TOGETHER!
cutter
December 16th, 2009
3:51 pm
This freaking article/blog is only posted twice on AJC.com I was wondering if you could post it one more time. Next time leave out the word unduly.
Reid Adair
December 16th, 2009
3:52 pm
Very well said, D Led. Mike Mularkey has done just fine, in my opinion, for the last two seasons. It is unfortunate the injuries that this team has seen, particularly on offense in his case, this year.
pilgrim
December 16th, 2009
4:07 pm
Who would have expected that Redman would have more passing yardage than Brees? That tells me Mularkey did his job and deserves the chance to learn from his mistakes.
timthebrave
December 16th, 2009
4:10 pm
We have no shut down corners and most of our corners wouldn’t be starting anywhere else in the league. Can’t blame coaches on that. What I can’t understand is what happened to our defensive line rush? We used to get all kinds of pressure last year.
I can't help but wonder
December 16th, 2009
4:11 pm
How many dogs have to die; how many crimes have to be committed; how much of a setback does one man have to create for a fan’s beloved franchise before some color-blinded fools see that man for what he was, for that franchise?
If you’re a fan of the PLAYER – get it through your ignorant skull – he’s gone, and will N-E-V-E-R play for the Atlanta Falcons again. You’re MORE than welcome to continue being HIS fan all you want – by rooting for another team and blogging about his exploits (and criminal activity) on a blog that covers said team.
If you’re a fan of this former team, then you should be happy that both he and his former team have moved on and are both moving in positive directions.
Stop trying to advance a movement based on the hue of his outward appearance; it’s ignorant and lacks depth (figuratively and literally). We know the ONE primary reason you liked him, but there are STILL players on THIS Falcons’ team that you should be able to root for for the very same reason.
Is it a “power” issue? Do you need to have somebody “like that” be the primary focus on offense or something? Does that raise “your cause” to something loftier?
I don’t care what a person looks like as long as he can play ball; when MV7 was a Falcon he couldn’t throw a precise ball often enough and comPLETEly lacked a “touch pass” ability. There’s a reason WRs couldn’t catch many of his bullet passes. He brought an intangible to the field that is rarely – if ever – duplicated, but he’s G-O-N-E, and all the blogging and “choke” references and fake log-in names aren’t going to change that.
Fury
December 16th, 2009
4:12 pm
Coach Milarkey had done a wonderful job with the Falcons. Any stupid fan that criticizes his work
is just showing the total lack of football knowledge.
Lets look at the real issues here:
INJURIES AND PERSONNEL ….the O-Line has NO depth and sorely misses last years left tackle….
The D-Line is 2 players away from a solid line…
The linebackers are just above average…..
The D-Backs, well lets just say we need to draft as least 3 in the next draft or get 3 Free Agents!
Lets go Falcons!
Fury
December 16th, 2009
4:12 pm
Mularkey. sorry about the spelling.
gdg73
December 16th, 2009
4:27 pm
To MV#777, Thanks for that article. Me, you, and other sensible football fans knew that it would only be a matter of time before this guy got back to his usual “amazing” self. Now this guy is focused, driven, and hungry. A dangerous combination to go with his phenomenal athletic ability. I see Philly showcasing him for the rest of the season and playoffs, possibly going to the Super Bowl, and trading him to the highest bidder in the off-season to some QB starved team that is not sold on these overhyped golden boys coming out in the draft. I pray he goes to Carolina. This franchise is definitely snake-bit, I swear!! Like I said back this summer, by December the Vick controversy would be old news, and another athlete will have take Vick’s title as the “flavor of the month”. Hello Tiger Woods!!!
tiger7_88
December 16th, 2009
4:39 pm
You’re right, Ledbetter… he does deserve credit for the gameplan against the Saints last Sunday.
But that doesn’t excuse the uncreative CRAP that has come out of that booth with regard to the offense for all of the rest of the season in my opinion.
sirluciouscp
December 16th, 2009
4:42 pm
I cant help but wonder–YOURE A MORON. GET THAT THROUGH YOUR SKULL!
Tailgate
December 16th, 2009
4:44 pm
Dear Falcons, please scratch the Wild Cat formation from your playbook. It doesn’t work. Never has. Is it too late to get Matt Schaub back? I have a problem with an Insurance Salesman QB’ing my team.
Dr Richard Handler
December 16th, 2009
4:54 pm
D-LED!!!!!!!!!!!!!Whodini!! That’s what I’m talkin’ about. Great column as always. One question; who is the better fullback, Ovie Mughelli or Larry Conjar?
I can't help but wonder
December 16th, 2009
5:02 pm
Thanks for that in-depth analysis “Sir Lucious.” You really showed who’s smarter in this battle of wits.
Darrick
December 16th, 2009
5:25 pm
David, it appears you took my statement out of content where Matt Ryan is concerned, and boy you seem upset, so let me clarify yes I palyed football (Z Slot Receiver) I do understand the complex state of the game if only from College level, all that I was stating the year Matt Ryan had last year in most cases would have been expected from Quarterback with at least two years of starting every down, so the year he is having now is not a big surprise to me. And Matt Ryan does not play defense, so he is not the blame for all that is wrong with Atlanta, but has made some unforced errors that has really hurt the team with the game on the line. As far injuries go, as I stated the Falcons were losing before the 5 starters went out, so I am not sure what point you are making there, the team does not look that different if at all with Redman Quarterbacking.
I was not nor am I now bashing Matt Ryan, he is the number one guy who is hurt and it simply is what it is.Defensive schemeing and corner play are bigger concern to me than Matt Ryan, and my point was proven when I stated the Falcons had the worst defense on 3rd down, the inability to get off the field is what hurts this team more than anything else.
Darrick
December 16th, 2009
5:33 pm
Oops, context vice content, sorry David.
MCook
December 16th, 2009
5:33 pm
Hey Choke, If you can read…
Take notes from Darrick…
outside of that…go back to your vick/ vick supporter poster
Old Dawg
December 16th, 2009
5:44 pm
I was totally surprised by how well the Falcons played against the Saints. With the injuries on both sides of the ball it’s amazing they remain competitive. I know these guys are professionals, but there’s such a difference between starters and back-ups.
That being said, the game plan, play selection and quarterback play were all exceptional. I know the Saints blew up the play out of the wildcat and it’s obvious the Falcons have learned from their mistakes.
MCook
December 16th, 2009
5:47 pm
At least Troy can catch a football.
cutter
December 16th, 2009
6:03 pm
No wonder we have a lack of depth we keep signing these no names. Reggie Swinton has not played pro ball in 4 years I thought practice squad was for up and coming talent. Thomas Johnson had not played pro ball in 2 yrs. Troy Bergeron has never played pro ball nor college ball. Bergeron turned down a scholarship because they asked him to change positions and then ends up not playing college ball at all. Sounds like he might have a problem making good career decision like Babineaux.
cutter
December 16th, 2009
6:06 pm
My bad James Swinton not Reggie. Still a no name.
cutter
December 16th, 2009
6:09 pm
Total of 5 catches for entire college career. WOW. Dimitroff gets a kick out of trying to find a diamond in the rough.
Sid
December 16th, 2009
6:10 pm
Fury, don’t worry about the spelling, nobody else does.
ATLBLACKBIRD40
December 16th, 2009
6:30 pm
There was absolutely no reason to call the Wildcat play in that situation on Sunday…The D was finally getting some stops and the O was moving the ball on the Aint’s pretty well…
For all the Aint’s fans…the most you can hope for is a Division Title…”you’ve been exposed and won’t make the SuperBowl”
gabugman
December 16th, 2009
6:35 pm
Here’s the problem with the in question wildcat call:
Mularkey called it during a TV timeout. NO had 3 MINUTES to digest the personnel. The play wasn’t the problem, the timing was.
cutter
December 16th, 2009
6:37 pm
Now Weems gets a DUI!!! Cut him tomorrow. At some point the organization is gonna have to send a message to these players.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
December 16th, 2009
7:01 pm
The Falcons & the CHOKE are so pitiful & pathetic right now, it’s not even worth debating – my job is done here
tyger
December 16th, 2009
7:15 pm
Mularkey called a fine game except for the dumb as reverse. And he should’ve redeemed himself after the egg he laid against Philly. The 4th down play was Redman and Smith’s fault. He should use Shockley on short yardage plays like the Eagles are doing with Vick – it creates problems. But, I guess he would rather lose, than abandon the “process” of eliminating all black quarterbacks from the franchise.
Falcoons Easy Button 0.5 – Pre-post season Evaluations:
Offense:
QB – Ryan twinkle toe has happy feet and weak arm; more Danny White than Tom Brady – paycut.
Redman may have salvaged his job; jury still out; need more talent there. OUT
Charlie Parker Wilson – holds a great clipboard and looks fine in a baseball cap. WHY
DJ Shockley – sadly wont get a fair chance here, cut bait – plenty teams need a QB. OUT
RB – Excellent – Strongest position on the field – Turner, Norwood, Snelling compliment each other.
TE – Excellent – Gonzalez, Peele are very strong; need a young one, where’s Martez Milner?
WR – Very average. No hands. White/Jenkins need a paycut. Douglass/Weems good backups. (Do you take a Dez Bryant if he’s available?) OUT: Finneran
OL – Very average. Baker unreliable, Blalock-Dahl tough, McClure old; Clabo is a backup.
Defense:
DL – Poor. Abraham, Davis, Jerry, Babineax, Biermann, Sidbury. OUT – Anderson, Lewis, Johnson
LB – Very Good. A little slow, but thumpers. Lofton, Peterson, Nicholas, Wire good group.
CB – Below average. Too young, too small. No upside. OUT – Hill, Jackson
S – Excellent. Coleman-DeCoud held this defense together. Healthy W.Moore big addition.
K – Fail. Who gave Jason Elam all that money? They need their collective ases whooped.
Overall – Average. Last season’s weak schedule made them look like the next young turks, but this year they were exposed as the next young turds.
Michael
December 16th, 2009
7:18 pm
the gameplan seemed to work really well actually. considering our injuries, 394 yards is pretty darn good. we also left some points on the field, like when Redman missed Jenk on that deep ball.
the only thing that infuriated me was the wildcat play we ran, basically screwing the game over for us. everything else was flawless in my opinion…and we nearly beat the Saints.
as long as this teams people stick together it will win a lot of games next year, and anyone who thinks otherwise needs to back off.
cutter
December 16th, 2009
7:44 pm
Plenty teams might need a QB but none of them seem to be interested in Shockley. Martez Milner is not even in the league any more.
cutter
December 16th, 2009
7:44 pm
Neither is Thomas Brown.
DrJ
December 16th, 2009
9:24 pm
Yes, Mularkey did a great job, as we see by the score (with a little help from the players). You asked why Jenkins was left all by himself, and I guess they figured that left alone, he had a fifty percent chance of holding onto the ball. Well, maybe the percentage is wrong, but their coverage tells us how they figured it.
I’m glad the reverse worked, but as I recall, in the past, when we tried to run the reverse we usually got stopped at the line of scrimmage. This has happened in a bunch of games. I don’t know if it is our blocking scheme on reverses, or the speed of the DBs, but it’s a problem.
As to Snelling not getting to the first down marker for the short pass, I think he had a LB all over him, and Redman had the same problem and couldn’t wait for him to clear.
Lil Larry
December 16th, 2009
9:33 pm
Mike Mularkey doesn’t get a pass for calling plays that are as predictable as Jerious Norwood running into a pile of his own blocker’s backs. I don’t see the “genius” that everyone talks about in his play calling? Do any of you? As I’ve said before, he’s Dan Reeves reincarnated…two TEs, blocking FB, blocking WRs. Who’s available to make a play if everyone is kept in to block?
stendec
December 16th, 2009
10:19 pm
I LOVE IT! As I said, one (known) drug dealer in starting lineup now one (known) drunk. Phantom injuries to Matt “Toe Bruise” Ryan and Michael “Pick A Bogus Injury” Turner and the Falcons do the National Felon League proud. Completely without honor or heart. Fully expect them to go bellyup against Jerks to keep disgraceful streak intact. Hope gloom and doom lasts for decades more. When it comes to Falcon updates scan police blotters not NFL newswires. Fondest wish would be losing streak from here on out. These quitters and their brainless fans deserve nothing better. ++STENDEC++
Tina
December 16th, 2009
10:55 pm
I was sad about the wildcat play but realistically, one play doesn’t lose a game. It took a series of misses to lose that one. Jenkins missing Redmond’s passes, which were well thrown, is in the mix somewhere as well!
Billy Bob
December 16th, 2009
11:16 pm
To Same Ole Song.
I’m afraid you need an enema. You seem to be back up a bit. Relax and have a bowl of jello or a corn dog. Loosing is good for the soul. Your post have the depth of a petri dish. Maybe it is the insulation in your double wide that is causing your mental disorder. One thing I can take pleasure in is when the Falcons loose you are one step closer to having your name in the obits. No that is not nice I take it back you are already brain dead.
psgab01
December 17th, 2009
8:59 am
Chris Henry – natural selection at work.
All I'm Saying Is...
December 17th, 2009
10:35 am
(psgab01: You’re entitled to your opinion but that’s cold, man.)
And, back on topic, all that needs to be said about Mularkey and play-calling was said very well yesterday by…
tmac
December 16th, 2009
3:17 pm
I believe Coach Milarkey is a good coach, but both of the calls you write about were BAD calls at the time and situation in the Saints game.
1st: You said it exactly right in the ( ) when you said you must throw the ball beyond the first down distance… Pet peeve #1 as a offensive player. The defense wants you to throw short of the first down… that’s why you don’t. I don’t care what yardage you made on the same play during the middle of the game. It’s crunch time and you can not depend on the player making the yardage by breaking tackles… YOU MUST THROW BEYOND THE YARDAGE NEEDED.
2nd: The reverse and loss of huge yds.
The offense was just coming off two drives where we begun to dominate their defense by running up the middle and attacking their offense down the field in the air… Not by running east-west and allowing their team speed to catchup… Those plays work in the middle of the game as a surprise. They NEVER work twice in a game much less in a critical drive situation. Never. I’m not even a coach and i know that… so a falcons coach has no excuse. And to hear them say there wasn’t an audible and couldn’t change the play… In crunch time, that should never be something you find yourself in. I wish they did take a timeout and change the whole thing… who know’s it might have turned out differently.
Barkin'Dog
December 17th, 2009
10:55 pm
All I know is Ryan is returning this week with a rested arm. If Turner can get 100, I like their chances in NY. Let’s have a run of 3 and win THIS season. Go Falcons!
MV#777
December 29th, 2009
7:19 pm
IT FIRST BECAME obvious, this feeling between Michael Vick and his new teammates, a couple of weeks ago in Atlanta. It was his homecoming game, as it were. It was where he scored his first touchdown for the Eagles and his teammates bounded off of the bench in celebration, where cornerback Sheldon Brown said that he and some of the players were telling each other before the game that they wanted to win it for Vick.
I mean, win one for Mike? Really? We all observe from a distance, and it was so hard to see or to understand. But it was real. There is no doubt that it was real, this bond between Vick and his new teammates.
And, now, this:
The Eagles’ players have unanimously voted Vick as the team’s recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award, given annually to the player on each NFL team who exemplifies “commitment to the principles of sportsmanship and courage.”
Guilty of horrific crimes. Sentenced to a federal prison term. Forfeited millions and millions of dollars. Back in the league for only a few months, only through the good graces of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Eagles coach Andy Reid. Now, a convicted felon honored by his teammates for overcoming a terrible situation into which he had put himself.
“I’m not sure you can explain it unless you’ve gone through it here with him,” Reid said yesterday. “Everybody is going to have their opinion on it, I’m sure. Until you’ve been with him for the hours that his teammates have been with him and seen him through all these different things that he’s had to go through, that time-tested part of it, you can’t appreciate it quite as much.
“I don’t expect everybody to understand it, no, but I think it’s a tribute when it’s a slam dunk by his teammates voting him that. It was just a unanimous vote there.”
That this is just a gut punch to the people who have opposed Vick’s reinstatement goes without saying. For them, a PETA spokesman said:
“The Philadelphia Eagles fumbled when they gave Michael Vick the Ed Block Courage Award, which was named after a man who advocated in behalf of abused children. Michael Vick should not be the person anyone points to as a model of sportsmanship, even though he has now exchanged dogs for touchdowns after serving time for extreme cruelty to animals. We wish him well in educating others, but this is not appropriate and does not mark a joyous moment in NFL history.”
It is hard to disagree with any of that. It does seem too soon to be celebrating Vick. It does not feel right – and this comes from somebody who thought Vick deserved a chance to play this year, somebody who was looking forward to seeing what he could do on the field.
But here is the thing: I did not get a vote and you did not get a vote. This is a players’ award, voted upon by players. And whatever your personal feelings, it is impossible not to be fascinated by this team’s embrace of Vick, right from the start.
“I never worried that guys wouldn’t accept me,” Vick said. “That probably was one of the last things on my mind. The most important thing was to get in here and get to know the guys and get acclimated in the city and playing football again. You just let things happen naturally. You just be yourself.”
This is more than just teammates supporting a teammate. It is clear that they like the guy. Talking to them through the season, it is clear that they thought the punishment for the crime was so severe, prison-wise and especially financially, only because Vick was a celebrity. Their inclination as fellow celebrities was to root for him, and as fellow teammates to root for his ability to help them on the field. But the feelings still ended up going deeper, and this award demonstrates it.
“It means a great deal,” Vick said. “I’ve only been in this locker room for 3 1/2 months. For those guys to feel that way about me, it means a lot to me. The bond that I have with the players on this team and the way we’ve jelled has been outstanding.”
Someone asked Vick what kind of courage he demonstrated, per the award.
“I’ve had to overcome a lot, more than probably one single individual can bear,” he said. “Take a look at what I’ve been through. You ask certain people to walk in my shoes, they probably couldn’t do it – probably 95 percent of the people in this world. Because nobody had to endure what I’ve been through, situations I’ve been put in, situations I’ve placed myself in, decisions that I’ve made, whether they were good or bad. There are always consequences behind certain things and there are repercussions behind them, too. Then you have to wake up every day and face the world, whether they perceive you in the right perspective or it’s a totally different outlook on you.
“You just have to be strong and believe in yourself and be optimistic. That’s what I’ve been able to do and that’s what I display.”
When you talk to Vick, it sometimes takes him a minute to get to the key point: situations I’ve placed myself in. That is what rankles for some, still, that minute it sometimes takes. But it is all part of a longer process.
Anyway, Vick said, “The thing I told Roger [Goodell] was that, 4 or 5 years from now, when I come to him, I’ll be able to say everything I told you I was going to do, I’m still doing it. That’s what I pride myself on. That’s my focus and that’s my goal.”
That might have seemed a more appropriate time for an award such as this one, not now. Then again, this is all about a bond within a locker room, a place that none of us can hope to understand from the outside
MV#777
January 2nd, 2010
3:07 pm
WHAT GOES AROUND….
COMES AROUND……
LOL………..