Weatherspoon out; Robinson likely to miss Bengals game, too
Falcons wide receiver Michael Jenkins (12) pushes off Eagles defender Ellis Hobbs (31). AP
FLOWERY BRANCH –Rookie linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, who suffered a right knee sprain against Cleveland, will not play this week against the Cincinnati Bengals, Falcons coach Mike Smith said.
“He’s not responding as quickly as we thought,” Smith said. “We are going to rule him out for this week and hopefully get him back after the bye week.”
Cornerback Dunta Robinson, who suffered a concussion on the big hit he put on Philadelphia’s DeSean Jackson on Sunday, will not likely be cleared in time to play against Cincinnati.
Falcons cornerback Dunta Robinson on Monday, March 8, 2010. D. Orlando Ledbetter, dledbetter@ajc.com
“Right now, Dunta is in the league concussion protocol,” Smith said. “He will have to go through it this week and we’ll have to wait and see if he’s cleared by an independent doctor. That’s where we are with him physically.”
Smith went on to address the play.
“I think that we all know Dunta, he’s been in this league a long time,” Smith said. “He’s a guy that plays the game very, very hard. That was a bang-bang play in terms of the contact. From my vantage point, it looked like there was no helmet-to-helmet contact. But it was a bang-bang play. I’m glad that both of those guys are going to be all right. It was a big time hit.”
Smith is not sure how the league will interpret Robinson’s hit. He could be facing a fine or a suspension. He was called for a personal foul on the play.
“It’s a very complicated rule,” Smith said. “It’s not just head to head contact. It’s contact with the shoulder pads or the arm or any part of the body with the helmet or neck area. Again, a defenseless player, I’m not exactly 100 percent sure how they want to say a guy is defenseless. But again, it was a bang-bang play and I’m glad those guys are going to be all right.”
Smith was careful and picked his words carefully when talking about the play.
“That was two guys moving very fast, going for the same thing and that was the ball,” Smith said. “It was a very, very explosive play. I 
know that the rules are for the players’ safety.”
Here are some of the other subjects that Smith touched on Monday during his press conference with the local media.
ON HOW THE EAGLES TARGETTED THEIR TOP 3 RECEIVERS 13 TIMES AND COMPLETED 13 PASSES FOR 255 YARDS AND THREE TOUCHDOWNS: “They were using a lot of max protection. When you are using seven-man and six-man protections, the players who are going to be targeted are going to be the wide receivers. They threw the ball effectively. We had a plan that we hoped to execute more effectively and we did not execute. . . they wanted to make sure they protected the quarterback and that’s why the balls went to the wide receivers in the game yesterday.”
ON THE THIRD QUARTER REDZONE TRIP THAT COULD HAVE MADE IT 21-14 IF THE FALCONS DIDN’T HAVE TO
SETTLE FOR A FIELD GOAL: “On one of the plays, one of our receivers got tripped up. He was probably going to be open, but he got tripped up. On the second pass play we had down there, there was a blitz and we had to throw it hot and we ended up being short from getting the first down. Again, we’ve got to continue to address this. . . We know that this is something that we have to get better at in terms of red-zone efficiency. It’s not where it needs to be right now.”
ON GETTING MICHAEL JENKINS BACK: “It was good to have Michael back. Michael made a big play there early in the game. He caught the skinny post and got the ball down into the red-zone. . . He played approximately 40 snaps in the ball game yesterday. ”
ON SLOW STARTS THIS SEASON: “We’ve got to start faster. Historically, since we’ve been here, we’ve started fast and have out-scored our opponents significantly in the first quarter. We are not doing it right now and it’s a thing that we have to continue to work
Head coach Mike Smith was not happy with the pass protection against the Eagles. Quarterback Matt Ryan (2) is hit by Eagles defensive end Trent Cole (58). Associated Press
on. It’s not just the players. It’s the coaching staff. We have got to make sure we put our guys in the best opportunity to be successful and right now, we are not getting that done.”
ON ALL OF PHILLY’S MIS-DIRECTION PLAYS: “We have to be more sound in that area. It was not a good start to the ball game defensively, when on the second play of the game they run the ball for a touchdown on a reverse. It’s something we knew they were going to do. They were going to run reverses.”
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
219 comments Add your comment
Saints LSU
October 19th, 2010
10:22 am
The champs are here Geaux Saints its time to play ball
papadawg
October 19th, 2010
10:23 am
Talk about violence, try standing between the offensive line and the defensive line every play, that will show you some violence not ever once in a while when your precious backs and recievers get hit
Mr. Mustard
October 19th, 2010
10:34 am
One week we are heading to the Superbowl, the next week the scourge of the league. The Falcons had back to back winning seasons for the first time in history.
We have some holes, we also have some great young talent. The Falcons will grow and be okay.
I stand behind Dimitroff and Coach Smith, they are taking the long view and building from the ground up.
We were that bad three years ago. I do agree about Mularkey, we need to mix up the play calling.
ctfalconsfan
October 19th, 2010
10:34 am
Waynester I agree with you that the NFL is becoming a weak league while the UFL is picking up fans.
The NFL needs to becareful to give the fans what they want – good, hard nosed football!!
- Look at Boxing, the MMA has taken that sport out as people want to watch the more violent MMA fights than just old fashion Boxing.
- NFL ticket prices are driving families and KIDS away. As kids grow up they aren’t going to take their kids to NFL games as they themselves never went. They instead went to college or UFL or other pro leagues.
- While I support Breast Cancer awareness I don’t think we need the players wearing pink. What about lung cancer, colon cancer, aides and all the other medical problems we have in this world.
THE NFL JUST NEEDS TO STICK TO FOOTBALL THEY WAY IT WAS BEFORE GOODELL…
Clay
October 19th, 2010
10:39 am
The Falcons will be fine. we will go into our bye week 5 and 2 get some healthy players and finish up the year 12-4 with one of the best records in the nfc. Saints fans YOUR LUCK has run out. The Falcons are just getting started. GO FALCONS
ex-BCS and ex-NFL
October 19th, 2010
11:02 am
OK, all you “fans” who think the NFL is becoming “weak” or “sissies” go pay your pay-per-view and watch your MMA, or better yet, if you’re under the age of 30, enlist and go take a front row seat in Afghanistan or Iraq. Are any of you folks aware of what happened in the Rugers – Army game on Saturday? I know about this because I was there. I competed at the BCS and NFL level (20 years ago) and I am telling you, unless the NFL and NCAA (and of course, H.S.) removed facemasks from helmets, or better yet, replace football helmets with hockey helmets, the “head-to-head” contact and subsequently, the injuries and death produced by such contact will continue; if not increase. Football can be played without helmets (I believe it is called rugby football). The contact and brute force required to compete is rugby is just as intense as American football, but the equipment is different. And I while I rejected numerous overtures from local rugby teams/players to “give it a try” I like my ears intact, all my teeth, and I am not interested in shoulder or knee surgery in my future. But, it’s moved passed the point where paralysis or death are rare. And this red flag does not even consider the increased incidence of suicide, dementia/Alzhiemer’s disease, and pre-mature death connected with former NFL or major college athletes. If the NFL and America want to buy and sell blood sports, it is a free country, but somebody tell me (and Michael Vick) how this is different from dog fighting?
ctfalconsfan
October 19th, 2010
11:06 am
EX nfl ex bcs? Yawn!!!!!
Go preach somewhere else..
VICK IS A LOSER
October 19th, 2010
11:08 am
All you idiots shut the hell up about the FELON VICK and D,Orlando please leave my blog up.Why do u take it off because i tell the truth about the dumbest pro player in Atlanta history.
ctfalconsfan
October 19th, 2010
11:27 am
Wouldn’t the dumbest player in pro ATL history be Pauschal Perez (sp?) who missed a start for the Braves becuase he got lost driving to the stadium??
Weatherspoon Out, Dunta Out w/ Concussion
October 19th, 2010
11:32 am
[...] [...]
Ty
October 19th, 2010
11:41 am
I feel like the hit that duanta, was a clean hit. If that play was in the end zone, what are you suppose to do? Hit him as hard as you can so the ball comes out so its a incomplete pass and not a touch down.
ctfalconsfan
October 19th, 2010
11:48 am
TY, NO!!! If the pass is into the end zone the DB should watch the ball land in the WR hands and just hope he drops it. Im not sure if the NFL will allow the DB to even yell or try to distract the receiver while he is in the process of catching the ball.
- Of course if the receivers flag has fallen off in the field of play the ball is down where the WR catches the ball..
ex-BCS and ex-NFL
October 19th, 2010
11:58 am
ctfalconsfan, Talk about yawn. Go coach/officiate/set NFL policy somewhere else. FYI, the term “de-cleater” is a John Madden phrase. There is not a specific “hit” called a “de-cleater” whereas a leading with the helmet – helmet-to-helmet or not, which was called “spearing” in my day, is certainly a known type of hit. You should change your name. You’re not a fan. You are a loser who gets off watching others compete.
Johnny Fever
October 19th, 2010
12:17 pm
@Saints LSU, Geaux Away! ;-p
ctfalconsfan
October 19th, 2010
12:21 pm
ex BCS ex NFL, only a true loser would tell us all that you were a BSC and ex NFL player – OK, yeah right. ALso you stated that you played 20 years ago but there was no BCS back then. You might have tried to make your local Div III team but could only dream as you do today.
You call me a loser and say ” Who gets off watching others compete” UHM ISN’T THAT WHAT ALL FANS ARE DOING AT HOME AND AT THE STADIUM – WATCHING OTHER COMPETE??
You are obviously live in a fantasy land. If this was a baseball blog you would sign your name ex MLB.
Get life kid and go back to school..
Falcon Jim
October 19th, 2010
12:32 pm
When someone starts off saying they played at such and such a level, you can pretty much assume the exaggeration is in. Now if someone gives their name and the team, etc., then potential verification creates validity.
(And y’all know Falcon Jim was an NFL Pro-bowler.)
ctfalconsfan
October 19th, 2010
12:39 pm
Falcon Jim, ex Pro-bowler??
You must be the best TE that ever played for us – Jim Mitchell??Yes?
Yourpoliticalanimal
October 19th, 2010
12:46 pm
Great Hit Dunta!!! That’s how we played ball when I was growing up . . . now if I could only remember where I put my keys . . .
RonATLfan
October 19th, 2010
12:54 pm
MV7 .follow Vick to Philly…Mike Smith WAH…WAH…WAH…to many excusses.
Falcon Jim
October 19th, 2010
1:03 pm
Right, and I’m also the King of England !(HA HA)
LCDawg
October 19th, 2010
1:05 pm
wow, matt ryan and our offense looked very, very predictable all game long and quite frankly all season long. When will theylearn that you can actually run a few trick plays a game to soften up the Defense? How about a few screen plays too?
Eric C.
October 19th, 2010
1:33 pm
Just reflecting on the first 6 games, it’s really tough being without Jerious Norwood…he has that spark the offense has been missing in most games.
2nd Tier Team
October 19th, 2010
1:33 pm
1) Fire Gooddell
2) Fire Mularkey
2nd Tier Team
October 19th, 2010
1:37 pm
3) Hire more Dunta Robinsons
4) Hire more Spoons
2nd Tier Team
October 19th, 2010
1:38 pm
5) Demote Michael Turner
6) Promote Jason Snelling
joewhite
October 19th, 2010
1:41 pm
We all know that was not a dirty play dauta did its just how there bodies met after the blow. but our team did play very dirty, dirty to stink up the place. For the third staight week our offense has looked like pure dee shiiiiiiiiiii. The play calling has been suspect so bad. For some reason this coaching staff has not been able to beat philly.here or there, so something has to change, yes our defense got burned and its because no offenseive drives being put together, all philly did is blitz and they got to us from the start, We start our runing the ball get a 1st down or two then go to passing. I am really agian this week not please at all with mike mulurkey the oc and mike smith hc cause there are not on the same page. This weekend at home against cincy, PLEASE FALCONS LETS PLAY 4 QTS OF FOOTBALL FROM TOP TO BOTTOM, and we will win. GO FALCONS
FHZ
October 19th, 2010
1:58 pm
Here is what happened.
Jackson was a pest. He’s very good. He burned The Falcons.
(By The Way: I would never admit that 4 Falcon DBs were burned by 2 WRs of any team in a Max Protection alignment… That’s awful. The public may see it..As a player and organization? I’d deny it..lol…forever).
Dunta saw him, and did not intend to hurt him, but to stop him.
Sometimes when you play, you really want to step-up a stop the guy who is embarrassing you..
Jackson jumped to catch the ball.. He was above the level of Dunta’s helmet.
If you are 5′7″ and 150 lbs., you should be able to do what he does to bigger men, but you should not be a NFL WR. I feel for Jackson and hsi family..
It’’s more about his lack of height than his weight.. There isn’t really much to tackle because he is 5′10″ (maybe 5′8″). And he is fast. Maybe his cleats were not digging into the turf up there.. Some players like their feet to be freer to gain more speed.
The NFL should look into these types of issues.
When Jackson caught the ball he bended his knees to stand below Dunta’s helmet.
…and Dunta Robinson still did not commit a helmet-to-helmet hit!!
That is why The NFL Offices had to spin this hit as a “Violent Hits”..
This is the game, pay more money for the pensions! lol.
The NFL is just sensitive to this weekend (including the sad incident of a Rutgers player)..
Anything to make their product seem safer than it really is…
Also it has something to do with The NFL Lock-Out that is coming in 2011.
Falcon Jim
October 19th, 2010
2:12 pm
Can someone (that REALLY KNOWS) give a synopsis of what we are looking at for next year with the labor agreement? To be honest, I’ve spent more time on national politics than NFL politics.
Mr. Ledbetter, this would make for a great special report. It could elevate you beyond everyday team coverage.
rme
October 19th, 2010
2:16 pm
Good game in Philly! No, I am not a Philly fan, I am a Falcon fan. The Eagles showed both our offensive and defensive coordinators if we intend on playing with the strong teams, we need to get aggressive. We became so passive it was sad. From the opening kickoff, we need to make things happen. Get the oppsong team back on their heals. I’m concerned for Matt Ryan. I saw so many open receivers and I mean really open when he threw to someone who was covered or just didn’t catch the ball. Where did our defensive line go? When there’s no pressure on the quarterback, he will make it happen. I hope we get it together and come out this week screaming and fighting and make the Bengals ask “who the heck are these guys”??
JoeDirt
October 19th, 2010
2:27 pm
D-JAX had it coming and he knows all along, there are a lot of D-JAX alikes in the league these day that wear numbers 10, 14, 16 etc. These guys are super fast because they are skinny, they are fully aware of the danger of the profession that they decide to make their living in, and they are willing to take that chance, but chances are that they are going to get hurt badly, it is just a matter of time, D-JAX knows it and he time is up, all said.
ctfalconsfan
October 19th, 2010
2:29 pm
An experienced O-Line (except for Baker!), 3 pro bowlers, solid FB and a QB who is suppose to be the next coming of Montana (very questionable) and all Mularkey can do is :
PITT – 0 TD’s
SFO – 1 TD
CLE – 1 TD
PHL – 2 TD’s
WOW!!!! 4 Offensive TD’s in 4 games that resulted in us going 2-2.
This is certainly the high powered offense that everybody anticipated.
Why Mularkey still has a job is a direct reflection on Mike Smith’s leadership or lack there of..
JoeDirt
October 19th, 2010
2:32 pm
In other words, skinny guys like D-JAX don’t belong in the game of big muscles. They ought to go make their livings running on no-contact speed tracks where they really belong.
FHZ
October 19th, 2010
2:43 pm
“D-JAX had it coming and he knows all along, there are a lot of D-JAX alikes in the league these day that wear numbers 10, 14, 16 etc. These guys are super fast because they are skinny, they are fully aware of the danger of the profession that they decide to make their living in, and they are willing to take that chance, but chances are that they are going to get hurt badly, it is just a matter of time, D-JAX knows it and he time is up, all said.”
___________________________________________________________________
Well Kolb left Jackson out to dry…on that pass..
Kolb did not want to take the sack proving that he could make plays like Vick..
Just take the sack.
NFL should reinforce “In The Grasp” even before they can prove the QBS knee is completely down..
That’s been a problem for a while QBs holding on to ball to long, throwing 4 yard shovel passes while being sacked after 10 seconds in the pocket. Refs have to blow the whistle. Kolb was well-sacked on that play. Jackson tried to help him out. Dunta was trying to stop Jackson from running in the open field on a freelance play by Kolb.
Chucktown
October 19th, 2010
2:46 pm
Dear NFL here is a thought. If you don’t like the hitting aspect of football, lets embrace the sex you are selling these days. You know hot women on the side lines in the locker rooms who know less than nothing about football. Lets stop the hard hitting and tackleing and go to to hande touch and let women play, you might have something with that.
Chucktown
October 19th, 2010
2:50 pm
OOPs thats two hand touch
Falcon Jim
October 19th, 2010
2:52 pm
Or just outlaw sports and replace with sex, drugs and rock and roll.
Me? Just leave my football alone. It has changed enough in the last few years.
PHILLY FAN IN TEMECULA CA
October 19th, 2010
2:54 pm
out of all the hits i as an eagle fan DO NOT think robinson should be suspended, it was unintentual, and a very hard CLEAN HIT!!!!!! nfl is starting to be a woosie league, and only cares about money and protecting there investments, it makes it easier for me not to care if they go on strike next year,
Falcon Jim
October 19th, 2010
2:55 pm
Like when and who decided to assess penalties on ensuing plays? Either take the penalty or decline with the yardage imposed on the current play that it was called on. (I hope that made sense.)
PHILLY FAN IN TEMECULA CA
October 19th, 2010
2:57 pm
i hope all ya atlanta fans now that braves gone are rooting for phillies today and rest of year to do the division PROUD!!!!!!!!
Falcon Jim
October 19th, 2010
3:00 pm
Screw Philly.
PHILLY FAN IN TEMECULA CA
October 19th, 2010
3:02 pm
ANYBODY SEE THE PHILLIES WINNING 3 GAMES IN SF????????????
PHILLY FAN IN TEMECULA CA
October 19th, 2010
3:04 pm
COME OM falcon jim, big brother phillies will do what little brother braves could not do TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS AND WIN WORLD SERIES,
Falcon Jim
October 19th, 2010
3:06 pm
Good luck, but my hearts not in it.
PHILLY FAN IN TEMECULA CA
October 19th, 2010
3:15 pm
PHILLIES FEVER, EVERYONE FEELING IT???? GO PHILLIES————-
PHILLY FAN IN TEMECULA CA
October 19th, 2010
3:19 pm
FINDING OUT SUNDAYS GAME MATT RYAN FROM PHILLY GREW UP A LOVING ALL PHULLY TEAMS, GOT TO PULL FOR THE GUY I GUESS THE FALCONS ARE NOW MY SECOND FAVORITE NFL TEAM BY A LARGE MARGIN OF COURSE
PHILLY FAN IN TEMECULA CA
October 19th, 2010
3:22 pm
IM NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THOSE LOUSY ORANGE/BLACK TOWELS AND FAKE BEARDS IN STANDS IN SF, THE BEARDS ARE SOOOOOO STUPID—–
PHILLY FAN IN TEMECULA CA
October 19th, 2010
3:24 pm
WELL OFF TO GET READY FOR THE PHILS GAME, GO PHILS, LETS MAKE IT 2-1 IN GAMES, YEAH BABY———————————————-
Falcon Jim
October 19th, 2010
3:27 pm
Philly Fan, this is a Falcons Blog, genius.
ATL Observer
October 19th, 2010
3:35 pm
>>Wonder how many will stand up when they suspend Duanta?
<>I bet none. Just like they didn’t stand up for D Hall when he was
<>suspended and not supported by even his own coaching staff
<>and then run out of town.
My sentiments exactly!
That hit was hard and clean and, quite frankly, could have helped turn the game around until it suddenly became a penalty.
There’s lot of different opinions here but is there a single person out here ready to defend bunch-of-malarkey as OC?
Chucktown
October 19th, 2010
3:36 pm
Hey Philly don’t ask don’t tell!! Bunch of Pirates!!