The Aftermath: What the players were saying . . .
An official separates Falcons cornerback Christopher Owens (21) and Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin. AP
PHILADELPHIA – Free safety Thomas DeCoud is a stand up guy.
He took the blame for the 83-yard touchdown. He was suppose to get over the top of Eagles receiver Jeremy Maclin, but he heard his teammates yelling “reverse” and his instincts took over.
He took a peak and Maclin took off. (You love it when the players face the media music. Baseball players love to go hide in the lounge area when they don’t want to talk. DeCoud stood tall in the pocket. The Cal grad was articulate in explaining what happened to the Falcons defense. He gets a media gameball.)
Here’s what he and other players had to say to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution after the game:
THOMAS DECOUD, safety.
ON THE MACLIN PLAY: “I read my key on the play and that was to read No. 1 (receiver). I was going over the top of him. Then I heard the rest of the team yelling ‘reverse.’ I looked back and he took off. It was just one of those things where I have to be more disciplined in my half. I’ll take the blame on that one.
“I tried to whip my head and give pursuit as fast as I could. They made the play on that one and I’ll take the blame on it.
ON THE BIG PLAYS: “We came into this game knowing that they are a team that tries to trick you with misdirection. You think you’re going one way and then bring you back the other. Maybe we didn’t execute it as well as we could have in that regard.”
ON ROBINSON GOING DOWN: “C.O. (Christopher Owens) and Brian (Williams) came in and did a great job.”
JOHN ABRAHAM, defensive end
ON EAGLES QB KEVIN KOLB: “We didn’t do anything to hinder him from getting the ball out or anything to make him feel uneasy.”
ON THE SCORE RIGHT BEFORE HALFTIME: “We never felt we were out of the game. We didn’t come to play on either said of the ball. As a team, we didn’t play well at all. We usually pick each other up on both sides of the ball. But we didn’t play like we usually play.”
Falcons cornerback Dunta Robinson (right) and Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson (left) are helped after a hit. AP
MIKE PETERSON, linebackers
ON THE MISDIRECTION ACTION OF THE EAGLES: “That’s usually what you get when you are playing fast; a lot of misdirection, a lot of reverses and screens. What we have to do is prepare ourselves for that each week. We have to self check ourselves.”
MATT RYAN, quarterback
ON TOUGH LOSS: “Every week is tough. In this league, every week is a battle. It doesn’t matter what your opponent’s record is, you know it’s going to be a tough physical game. Every week it’s going to come down to making a few plays here and there and today we didn’t make them.”
ON HIS FUMBLE: “It’s tough to say. Those calls are always difficult. It’s tough to say. As a player you always think you’re in the right.
WILLIAM MOORE, safety
Philadelphia's Jeremy Maclin (18) catches a touchdown pass in front of Atlanta defender Brent Grimes (20). AP
ON DUNTA ROBINSON: “We talked to him in the locker room. He was doing (well). You don’t want that to happen to anybody. Hopefully, he’ll feel better and we’ll get him back this week. I’m sure he’ll be all right.”
CHRISTOPHER OWENS, cornerback
ON GOING OUTSIDE AFTER ROBINSON WAS HURT: “You just have to be ready.
ON THE EAGLES PASSING FOR 326 YARDS: “We give all the credit to Kevin Kolb and his receiving corps. They played well. There are some things that we could have done better, but we give them all of the credit.”
TONY GONZALEZ, tight end
ON FALCONS BEING STOPPED ON THIRD DOWNS: “A lot of blitzing. Maybe we pick up the blitz or throw it hot and we weren’t able to make the play.
CURTIS LOFTON, middle linebacker
ON THE GAME: “They did a lot of mis-direction, reverses, passes and some off the wall stuff. We have to have good eyes and be ready for that stuff.”
Get instant updates on Twitter at AJCFalcons and you can join the Facebook Fan page at AJC Falcons.
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
117 comments Add your comment
wes
October 18th, 2010
4:35 pm
we beat the saints im still happy about that.im glad we lost that game we kmow what we gotta do next time. we will see em again.redskins will win that division
SawThat1nce
October 18th, 2010
4:58 pm
The Eagles had the better game plan, which means that maybe the Falcons were outcoached by Reid and his staff.
Have the Falcons started any games this year without handing the ball to Turner, or do they ever hand the ball off to Turner, less that 99.99% on 1st down?
This is just one game, the Falcons will make the necessary adjustments, and move on to the next game, which they will win.
Dallas Cowboys
October 18th, 2010
5:32 pm
Like I said call Jerry Jones, my bet is he would trade straight up “teams” if he could do it — Cowboys for Falcons plus coaching staffs?? You Falcons Fans? You want that? —– I don’t think so!
People get over it — did you really think your Falcons were going to Philly and beat those Eagletts, or were you wishing that was going to happen? This Falcons team just does not match up man on man with the Eagletts, at least NOT yesterday!
FalconsFan284
October 18th, 2010
6:17 pm
Wow!!!! All of the crazies coming after Matt Ryan. You say the loss is his fault but don’t mention the defense giving up two quick touchdowns and forcing the Falcons out of their game plan? It’s easy for a defense to play when they know you have to throw and they can just pin their ears back and blitz!!!!
The Falcons were out played and the Eagles were more prepared. That’s it people. Enough of the gloom and doom garbage. You are all starting to sound about as sane as Joe Tess!!!!
John
October 18th, 2010
7:06 pm
Matt Ryan mostly throws the ball in the flats and to the check down player, he is very timid in the pocket. There are at least 4 receivers over 6′3″ (White, Jenkins, Gonzalez, Finnerin) and a speedster (Douglas) and Matt Ryan aren’t using their height or speed as an advantage. There are no passes over 15 yards. Where are the slant passes for 3rd and short. Turner the rice burner was actually running out of bounds to avoid contact. Turner was taken down on numerous tackles by 1 guy, oftentimes a much smaller guy. Atlanta’s Defensive line gave Philly’s quarterback all the time he wanted to throw the ball, no pressure what-so-ever, Kolb was never rushed or hurried the whole game and that was a new, put together offensive line for Philly. Falcon’s special team is not special at all. We need a return man with some kind of speed threat. Falcons in the red zone is so sad it’s almost laughable.
Ron
October 18th, 2010
7:11 pm
When you say that we will learn and make adjustments you lack understanding, that is what we are complaining about, the falcons seem unable to make adjustments. They make a game plan and it is all they do whether it works or not,and it is a very simple plan, that the other coaches can easily determine and prepare for, first down run, second roll out to the right try for Roddy, and third down throw to Gonzalez open or not, then repeat at least three times. When we are getting pressure on Ryan you have to run draws, screens and roll outs just like Philly did, but we just run Turner for no gain, or Matt has a rushed pass or a sack. I will admit we saw a little bit of what could be with Jenkins and Douglas yesterday, if that side of the field gets going White and Gonzo will tear them up,and that will open up the running game. I want to defend Turner a bit he has nowhere to run, the holes are just not there when we play some teams. That is part the line and part Turner he is not the best at seeing there is no hole and changing the direction of the play, he just runs into the pile. If you give him a little hole Turner is a beast, we need two things on our offense a Wes welker type receiver and I think Douglas just might turn out to be that, and we need a Regie Bush type back to supplement Turner. The problem is we have two big bruiser backs, and if you can stop one you can stop the other.
If we had those two player types to add to what we got now we would be very hard to stop. Now they load the box on runs and blitz on passes, and we have problems if they get pressure on Mat. In addition before you cover White and Gonzo and we were done, but I see real potential now with Dougllas in the slot and Jenkins returning as our wide out. It should help open the run and the passing game it will make us much harder to defend, IF MAT HAS TIME TO THROW THE DAMN BALL..
mv7southernbird
October 18th, 2010
11:50 pm
well its obvious that the falcons have played only one true game and thats against the stellers and special team dropped the ball too lose.
understanding that matt ryan is and average QB, very good for college but the NFL is a different monster, in 3 yrs he has digressed to mediocore, equal redman, parker shouldnt even be there.
spped is the falcon biggest problem, defense avg around 4.5, too slow need to be as most teams now avg 4.4 & 4.3, perry showed up for one play, no help with the giant for abraham,Vandergorg need to go imediately he cant coach my little league team, all your bd’s play too far off the offensive player, no bump and run, cant play man to man, and surely cant tackles m maybe two hitters out of eleven.
yes the falcons have too many holds to withstand the good teams, now on to offense:RB, Turner need to ride the bench till he’s ready to play again, snelling needs to start ,he plays much harder, dump the dudd norwood, and get you another speester, why you havent played Antiono smith.
as for your o-line with the eception of Dahwl the rest are dudd’s, WR’s: teams are always going to double white, jenkins back, too soon to report but where is your down field player that spread the defense, you passed on T.O, you passed on Moss and it looks like you are going to pass on Vincent Jackson, oh well.
Mularkey will never be great at OC dont like change once the game start, I dont know or understand why VG is still in atlanta as DC, true this is the firt whooping, but if you watched Clevland pressed there button. maybe just maybe Mike Smith will wake up, but he’s stuck on matty whose still in college mode, sorry that how I see it, been a fan since 1970, falcon got to play a different game and stop marching to the same drum.
Thomas
October 19th, 2010
12:50 am
D.O.L.
Despite been a stand up guy, how many plays have DeCoud given up so far because he has allowed the receiver to get behind him or he is late with his rotation. I liked DeCoud but I believe it is time for him to hit the pine. Secondly where was Abraham all game, you expected to hear his name plenty yesterday but you never heard it in a positive way. I really thought Thomas Dimitroff would have addressed the LT position this year, hope he will next year.
DR. FALCON
October 19th, 2010
1:13 am
ARE YOU KIDDING ME? YOU FAIR WEATHER MOTHERF’S! WE ARE 4-2 INA VERY YOUNG SEASON, AND EVERYONE IS PANICKING? WE ARE 3-1 IN THE NNFC AND 1-0 IN THE DIVISION! YOU PEOPLE ACT LIKE THIS IS WEEK 12 OR 13, AND OUT OF THE PLAYOFFS! WHEN WE BEAT CINCY, WE WILL BE 5-2 GOING INTO OUR BYE WEEK. WHEN THE SCHEDULE CAME OUT IN APRIL, HOW MANY FANS WOULD HAVE TAKEN THAT? FANS IN DALLAS, OAKLAND, SAN DIEGO, AND SAN FRANCISCO, HAVE WAY MORE PROBLEMS THAN US! BUT, TO HEAR SOME OF YOU TALK, YOU WOULD THINK THE FALCONS WERE 0-6! GET REAL! ITS A LONG SEASON!
D-Bird
October 19th, 2010
9:25 am
This season has started off very disappoiting even though were 4-2. We could easliy be 2-4 with winning games final seconds on the clock. Mr Blank we need speed and impact players ASAP! Our 1st round pick should be another Quater Back who can come in and push ICE Matty or Take his $72million dollar job. I have been a season tcket hold for the last 12 years and sick of watching a mediocore team play ever season. Get it fix or sell the team to someone who is more in to football and not home building stores.
Saints LSU
October 19th, 2010
10:14 am
The saints are back now you have a fight on your hands Bush, Sharper, Thomas, Porter, & etc you should have close the door when you had a chance now you are in for it saints win the NFC south
JB
October 19th, 2010
1:53 pm
Thing that distrubed me was that after the whipping with the Iggles rubbing it in last year, I thought the Falcons would come out this year seeking revenge. Fact that they weren’t fired up gives me concern about who they really are.
knute
October 19th, 2010
2:02 pm
I was listening to one of the “learned” announcers saying that the Falcons are one of the most consistent teams in the NFL, I had to LOL because i think they are one of the most inconsistent!
Later I got to thinking and I realized the announcer was right! The Falcons, especially on offense,
are CONSISTENTLY predicctable. 1st down, Turner up the middle, 2nd and long, Snelling slides off a block and curls in behind the defensive line, pass almost intercepted by one of 3 defenders around him, 3rd and long D blitzes, Ryan quick dangerous pass to Roddy in the flats. The offense is a bunch of MULARKEY!!!! Why do we not have screen passes in our playbook? If we are goiing to throw high risk passes, why not throw them 40-50 yards downfield? Why, to my knowledge, have
Turner and Snelling never been in the same backfield (Snelling is the backup FB)? I think everyone on the offensive side of the ball has good talent and with the right game plan should score on jjust about anybody. Baker to me is the only weak link on the offense. Look at the Patriots. Only the QB excels over Ryan, and maybe their left tackle. Our other players are equal to or better. Some Falcon fans think our receivers are too slow – tell that to Wes Welker. Patriot running backs are average at best. So that leaves DA COACH!?! No aggression on either side of the ball. Soft D! Easy-to-read blitzes! The EAGLES D looked like they were calling offensive plays for the Falcons! The Eagles are aggressive on both sides of the ball. BVG should watch the Eagles defense and take some notes.
The past three weeks the Falcons have taken the field looking like they did not have a clue as to who they were playing. Saint near the goal line, not one defender lined up on Jeremy Shockey to hit him and disrupt the timing with Brees’ favorite red zone target. Browns’ Senaca Wallace played like a seasoned All-Pro QB – we were lucky he got hurt! The Eagles played their normal game and the Falcons played “prevent” which prevented any shot at a win.
Climbing down off my soap box. Love the Falcons, but hate to see coaching holding back a team with great potential!
BLACKNGOLD
October 19th, 2010
4:54 pm
Well Well Well////I guess that “Falcons is going to the Superbowl crap is out the window”…..
kj the gold glove winner
October 19th, 2010
7:41 pm
The Falcons are overrated. They have an average offense and defense.
kj the gold glove winner
October 19th, 2010
7:42 pm
To be an elite team you got to go on the road and win. Not by luck, you need a true hard win.
raymond
October 20th, 2010
5:13 pm
matty ice weighs 160 ponds of course he is not physically fit for pro football, and i have seen at least 6 dropped interceptions by opposing defenses. i told my friend in matts second year that i dont think he will make it well now everyone else is finally seeing it he averages about 170 yards a game pleaseeee. they had jarrious who should have been a defensive coordinators worst dream coming out the backfield in motion but never used him to that affect JUST BECAUSE WE FANS DONT GET PAID TO COACH DOES NOT MEAN WE DONT KNOW WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT I HAVE SAID IT A THOUSAND TIMES EVEN IF THEY GO 10-6 THIS YEAR OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR HAS TO FREAKIN GO THE PEACE