Here’s what the players were saying after the game . . .
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is forced out of the pocket as he looks to pass against the Patriots during 1st quarter action. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com
MATT RYAN
On the offense’s inability to score:
“When we come into these games, we don’t game plan a lot. We basically watch zero tape. It’s an extension of training camp. We are out there working on some things. Trying to improve on some different route combinations and stuff like that. We are trying out some different things that we worked on in the offseason. What we like and what we don’t like. What we are going to take to the regular season and what we are not.”
RODDY WHITE
On the offense:
“It’s just the preseason. The thing is, we’re going out there and we are just not finishing drives. We are moving the ball up and down the field, but are not cashing in with TDs. It’s just two games.”
SEAN WEATHERSPOON
On playing against New England:
“It was good to get out there today and go against a great offense. It was good to go out there and get that experience. I had Tom Brady throwing the ball in my direction. I can’t want to get in that film room and get coached up. . . obviously, we have to get off the field on third down because we played pretty good defense on the earlier downs. I know that’s going to be a big emphasis in the film room. We’ve got the right guys in here, we know that. It’s the preseason, but you want to go out there and dominate.”
On starting at strongside linebacker:
“It seemed about the same, but it was a little different because of the alignments. You never know which side you might be going to according to the way we set the defense up. But other than that, I felt comfortable. It wasn’t too much of a difference for me.”
On the touchdown pass to Aaron Hernandez:
“It was pretty good coverage, but I have to be more aware to play through the basket of the receiver instead of trying to get my head around to make a play on the ball. I could have done that a little bit better. That’s something that coach will coach me up on.”
MIKE PETERSON
On the defense:
“It definitely wasn’t up to our standards of Falcons defense. We had a chance to go up against one of the elite offenses in the league and use them as a measuring stick. So Saturday, we’ll go back to work.”
On stopping the run:
“They were able to run the ball; I tip my cap to them. They’re a pass-happy team, and I think everybody on the defensive side of the ball, everybody’s just thinking they’re going to throw the ball, throw the ball. Then, they come out and run it. Sometimes, it’s a shock to you. That’s not an excuse; it’s just great game planning and a great scheme by them.”
On returning players for Miami:
“It’s really big, getting the whole unit back. It starts (coming) together, and we start getting ready for the opener. That’s what it’s all about, being healthy for the opener and having all your guys healthy.”
TRAINING CAMP SCHEDULE
Friday, August 20 — No Practice.
Saturday, August 21 — 9:30 a.m. – 11:35 a.m. (closed to the public); 3:45 p.m. – 5:25 p.m. (closed to the public).
Sunday, August 22 — 9:35 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. (closed to the public)
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109 comments Add your comment
hiramsaint
August 20th, 2010
9:37 pm
but not in the superbowl win column!!!!!!!!!
Techbuzz
August 21st, 2010
1:16 pm
Everybody calm the F&%# down….geezzzz!!! It’s not like we just played in the Super Bowl two nights ago. These Falcons have proven to me that they are serious about winning. Take last year for example, ANY other Falcon team, and I have had to stomach several, would have just rolled over and died if they had three games left in the season and no shot at the play-offs. However, THESE Falcons went out to play, and even though they didn’t have the play-offs to play for, they DID play for this city by FINALLY breaking the B2B winning season curse!
Are there things we need to work on-without question. Then again, there are 31 other teams that would say the same thing. Everybody wants the Falcons to win the SB on every snap and it ain’t gonna happen. The owner, TD, and Coach Smith have these Falcons headed in the right direction. Plus, I really feel Matty Ice will have a banner year this year. When I heard he spent part of the off-season watching and studying film of other great Quarterbacks from the past, THAT ALONE tells me he is serious about playing his position. Considering our former quarterback spent his off-season killing dogs, I’d say we have a pretty damn good upgrade.
Also, keep in mind, pre-season is where you find out who wants to play. Our starters weren’t even out there playing the whole game. In a REAL game you have so much adrenaline, aggression and killer instinct you play on and with. The starters will be ready to perform when it counts. This is just there rep time for the regular season.
I personally can’t wait to see what type of DE Kroy Bierman is going to be. He reminds me A LOT of Patrick Kerney! The biggest issue our defense had Thursday, besides not being able to get off the field on 3rd downs, was nobody wrapped up on tackles. Mike Peterson got knocked on his butt at least three times that I saw. Does anyone remember Scott Case? They boy, back in the day, would lay people OUT that even considered coming across the middle. He wasn’t a big time star or player, but he played when it counted and he did it well!
So, everyone just take a deep breath and relax. The REAL season hasn’t even started yet for crying out loud. The theme this year is RISE UP-not give up after the second pre-season game!
hiramsaint
August 21st, 2010
2:15 pm
techbuzz- with the O not able to get in the endzone -you are right about the superbowl thing. about matty slush studying other qb’s. do you really think thats unique to him? every qb in the nfl studies other qb’s , defensive schemes and film of what works and what doesn’t . if this is his 1st year doing it , shame on the falcons and ryan. the starters will perform when it counts- b.s.. it didn’t happen last year and the injury thing is also b.s. because those back-ups become starters!. the one thing you are right about id the D- same as last year and injury prone dunta and a rookie aren’t gonna help much. good luck none the less on the injury front
Not a Falcons fan
August 21st, 2010
6:17 pm
See what happens when the Falcons play a real team. You might need to quit making the Super Bowl champs t-shirts for the Falcons.
JUST A OVERPAID CHUMP#2 and SAM Baker
August 21st, 2010
9:14 pm
Matt is overrated weak arm , but AJC you if a player to throw under the bus I have one for you Sam no blocking Baker This is a pure bust . both are First rounder and should have been third round picks at best both . punk and a chump all 100 uncut pure bust for that kind of money. The face is not living up to the money nor the hype!! Ice not patty melt when heat is applied!!
JUST A OVERPAID CHUMP#2 and SAM Baker
August 21st, 2010
9:28 pm
The play calling is not the problem it is the players. you want a face but you need football players.
3rd&16
August 21st, 2010
9:53 pm
I was ready to see our new faster defense and Spoon lay the wood on somebody but that never happened. Instead they laid the wood on us. Still lacking a 4.2 40yd dash type fast receiver. Roddy (or Jenkins either when he returns) can’t catch a cold or get open. That new 5-10″ corner has stone hands like all the others (except Grimes). Please don’t let Franks try to catch punts/kicks this year. Lucky so far he only fair catches. All those weird draft picks are looking weird. It’s only pre-season Roddy, so keep on laughing. We are stuck with hoping a bunch of knee surgery returnees are going to make a difference which is nothing to laugh about.
jb
August 22nd, 2010
11:02 am
The Falcons play like a bunch of retards.
FalconFan2010
August 23rd, 2010
7:29 am
With the Falcon Defense, I figured out what the difference was with this game and last game. Not just the team, but the clientèle. Let’s face it Weatherspoon is not ready to start and definitely should not be considered a SLB. He is not an upgrade over Nicholas but maybe Peterson. Nicholas, Lofton and Spoon preformed much better together than Lofton, Spoon and Peterson. I think we go back to the starters of last year and place Spoon in the Nickel package until he is ready to take over at the WLB position. I think we need some consistency with all of our players especially on defense. Let’s be honest, recently ATL has not been good at picking 1st round picks, with the exception of Matt Ryan. If Spoon doesn’t pick up by mid season, he’ll be in the same commentary as JA98 a bust. Being “coached up” isn’t going to be a good excuse by the end of this year.