The Aftermath: What the players were saying . . .
101024 Atlanta - ONE HANDED CATCH - Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Roddy White makes a one handed catch against Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Adam Jones for a 1st down during 2nd quarter action at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Sunday, Oct. 24 , 2010. Curtis Compton ccompton@ajc.com
Falcons linebacker Mike Peterson gave the media a little tip in the post-game locker room session.
“Just listen,” Peterson said. “You
hear all of the chatter. Guys are upbeat. We could easily be 2-5 vs. 5-2.
“We just have take this momentum and good spirit and try to carry it with us to the end of the season.”
The Falcons were giddy after beating the Bengals 39-32 and heading into the bye week.
Here’s what the players were talking about after the game:
JOHN ABRAHAM, defensive end
ON OCHOCINCO AND T.O.: “I don’t pay any attention to them. I was talking trash myself, just to the offensive lineman. My thing is to get to the quarterback.”
BRIAN FINNERAN, wide receiver
ON HIS TD CATCH: “A lot of guys jump Tony (Gonzalez) down there. That’s what they did, the linebackers jumped Tony and I came open in the back of the endzone. Matt did a good job of putting it on me.”
ON THE BYE WEEK: “It gives you a little bit of momentum. In this league, we pride ourselves in not losing two games in a row.”
ON OFFENSE, BEST SHOWING OF SEASON?: “Probably, the first half, for sure. There is always stuff that we can correct. In the first half, we were just about where we want to be. . . In the first half, we were rolling.”
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE THIRD QUARTER: “In this league, you can’t turn the ball over because it usually turns into points. That was our biggest issue.”
DUNTA ROBINSON, cornerback
ON THE LEAGUE’S CRACKDOWN ON DANGEROUS HITS: “I think it will definitely settle down. It was just one week where guys got hit hard. You probably won’t have another week like that for a long time. It does happen. This is what comes with these games. It’s a violent sport. This is what happens sometimes in this game.”
MATT RYAN, quarterback
ON THE BYE: “We get a chance to have two extra practices, but also we get a chance to rest. Also everybody gets an opportunity to take a deep breathe and re-charge their batteries and come out firing when we start the stretch run.”
ON THIRD QUARTER: “The best part about our football team is the mental toughness. Understanding that there are going to be some ups and downs throughout the game. There are going to be plays that don’t go our way. You need to respond to those. We did that today and we were able to come away with the win.”
FAST START: The big thing is that we converted our first third down. We were able to move the ball on our first third down. . . from there we felt like we had a little bit of a rhythm and we went down and scored.
ON SMITH CALLING OUT THE O-LINE: “I don’t think he called them out. (But) I like when Coach has my back like that. I thought they did really well today. We had a great pocket to throw from and that enabled us to take some chances down the field. We were also able to run the ball really effectively. That’s completely due to the physicalness of our offensive line. I thought they played great. They’ve done a great job all year.”
TONY GONZALEZ, tight end
ON THE OFFENSE: “It felt good to be able to attack them a little bit more. It’s something that we need. (It’s) something that we are capable of. We can put up some big numbers with the talent that we have on this team. We just have to keep it up. Keep the pedal to the metal.”
JUSTIN BLALOCK, guard
ON THE BLOCKING: “We blocked pretty well for most of the evening. We were able to get off to a good start.”
SCORING ON THE OPENING DRIVE: “That really helped us build some momentum and it carried us through the first half at least. We had a little dry stretch in the third quarter.”
AFTER THE BENGALS WENT UP 25-24: “It was a really quick turn of events that led to a big point swing. No one panicked. No one really pressed. We just went about our business. Let’s take our time, get down the field and get our points and it worked out.”
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109 comments Add your comment
FrontRow
October 25th, 2010
8:03 am
Yep I jumped on the bandwagon….27 years ago.
D Falcons
October 25th, 2010
8:12 am
Very nice win yesterday. Clicked on all cylinders except for the 3rd quarter lapse. Once the guys figure out how to take the same energy/effort/game plan on the road, look out NFL! This team has as good a chance as anybody to play in Jerry World in February.
Bubba Bean
October 25th, 2010
8:13 am
Hey Seen, is Brees color blind? He keeps throwing it to the wrong jersey. That perfect storm from last year has blown on through. Now you can become WillNeverSeeItAgain. GO FALCONS!
G
October 25th, 2010
8:14 am
I know everyone wants to talk to B4 about the Saints losing to the Browns. Who cares? The Aints aren’t going to make the playoffs! Let’s talk to Joe Tess Fish House. Didn’t look like we were missing TO. JTFH are you finally over it?
james
October 25th, 2010
8:31 am
Let me see if I have this right: the Falcons absolutely punished the Cardinals, 41-7, yet the Saints LOSE to the same Cardinals by 10 ponts. Atlanta pretty much manhandled the Cleveland Browns – IN THEIR HOUSE NO LESS; but the Saints lose to the same Browns – IN THE SUPERDOME – by 13 points. And given all of this, the Saints STILL have a “rightful place atop the Division”?? You cannot be serious. Can anyone say “Purple Drank?”
Samuel
October 25th, 2010
8:31 am
We will never score any touch downs on special teams, with weems running the ball back. Although he is solid he just doesn’t have break away speed. The defense has to get better if we are to compete down the stretch. I like William Moore he’s seems to be always around the football. But our corners don’t scare anybody. We need a speed back to offset Snelling and Turner.
james
October 25th, 2010
8:36 am
Yeah, I’d have to agree Weems is the weakest link on this team at this point. Whatever happend to using Harry Douglas on punt returns? It seemed he was exceling in this role in 2008.
SeenThisB4
October 25th, 2010
8:52 am
LOL! You bozos keep laughing it up. We shall see who is laughing at the end of the season. Saints suffered a bit of a set back last night, but they are far from out of it.
GEAUX SAINTS! OUR TIME!!
Joe Tess Fish House
October 25th, 2010
8:52 am
I must admit the Flacons got lucky yesterday. TO showed us what we past up on by not sighing him. He was prety darn good.
Next, was Matt Rayn throwing that horrible pass that got INT. Why is he still a starter?
Tony G – This guy needs 2 be cut. He has nothing left in the tank
Witherspoon – Bust. He cant stay healty to play. Mr Blanks is paying all this mony and he sit on the bent?
Donto Robinson – See above.
Reaaly, this team should be 2 – 5. Luck go along way in the NLF
Fred in Columbus
October 25th, 2010
9:02 am
Excellent game for the falcons. Sceeeered me the the third, but kept it today of the W …
Fred in Columbus
October 25th, 2010
9:11 am
… kept it together for the W …
SirReal
October 25th, 2010
9:12 am
Who can argue with a 5-2 start no matter how the Ws came. We have the best WR in the league right now. (Check the stats. White leads NFL in catches and yards) We have a bye week to get the rest of the guys healthy. No major injuries on first half of season. Mularkey actually called a decent game for a change. If the momentum carries over…we’re in good shape for the second half.
Al Goldstein
October 25th, 2010
9:32 am
I am a Falcon Fan and season ticket holder from 1968 thru 2008 and now live in
Panama Central America,The Falcon fan club in our part of the world is now the largest of all NFL teams and after this game I know we will be busting out of the doors. exciting no mas football
Go Falcons
Semper Fi
RE:Joe Tess Fish House
October 25th, 2010
9:37 am
You are a loser. L O S E R! Crawl back into your hole. LEARN ENGLISH you TARD!
B-Man
October 25th, 2010
9:38 am
I agree with Iron Head at the beginning of the blog…it needs to be repeated…Vance Walker (TD’s 7th round pick) played a great game. He was the most active D lineman other than the predator. Great game young man.
Joe Tess Fish House
October 25th, 2010
9:41 am
More inluts but no real discussion.
Barry
October 25th, 2010
9:42 am
Hwewy Y’all:
All I have to say is “ONE HEARTBEAT,BABY!!”. “ONE HEARTBEAT!!” The FALCONS, THE COACHES, AND THE FANS, ALL DID THEIR THING IN
“ONE HEARTBEAT!!!” I AM LOVING THIS. I TRULY BELIEVE “THE COACHES GET IT NOW IN WHAT THEY HAVE, ESPECIALLY ON OFFENSE, AND THEY JUST LET THE “GORRILLA” OUT OF THE CAGE, AND IT”S THE FALCONS!!!
YOU GO FALCON!! THE “PROCESS” CONTINUES!!
“WE RISE” IN “ONE HEARTBEAT!!!!!”
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is a SECRET from a FALCON FAN. TELL EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!!
…………………….”ONE HEARTBEAT, BABY!!!!!……………..
JB
October 25th, 2010
10:11 am
Paddy I would agree to a point if these last minute down to the wire games were an occasional issue, but everyweek the same thing occurs.. when you dominate a team for a half and have a 20 point lead, you shoud not be scrapping to save the win in fourth quarter…particularly against a team we were favored to beat anyway. I agree there will be slips but giving up 22 unanswered points in one quarter is not just poor exeuction on one play or drive it was 15 plus minutes of football in which our team and coaches apparently decided to go to the snack bar or have a beer, and watch from the stands.
Trainwreck
October 25th, 2010
10:18 am
Can I get some Roddy quotes on his huge game DLed? Thanks for these though. Great 1st 2nd and 4th quarter
Josh
October 25th, 2010
10:25 am
One Heartbeat!
ET
October 25th, 2010
10:27 am
joe tess fish house is worthless as an Atlanta fan… But this is what makes the internet so great. Any loser can come here and post like they know what they are talking about…even when they have no clue. Falcons are 5-2 going into a bye week. Most fans are happy, but not joe fish. He wants us to think Atlanta is a 2-5 team. Pathetic!!!!!
FrontRow
October 25th, 2010
10:28 am
Fans at the stadium need to learn a little more about backing the team:
1. Don’t do the wave when your team has the ball. Kudos to the AJC for not publishing a picture of that like they did after the AZ game.
2. The turnstiles are crowded at 12:55. Forego the last tailgate beer and get your tail in your seat.
3. Plenty of opportunity to get a beer in the 2nd quarter. There is no excuse for the stadium being half empty on the opening kickoff and durning the (entire) 3rd quarter.
Naysayers want to point out the team’s shortcomings. The team is fine – the hometown fans are – at times – pathetic. If you want to stand in line and badmouth the team then just stay home or go to the mall with your wife.
Stevie B.
October 25th, 2010
10:35 am
Can’t you imagine what we could have done to them Cleveland yesterday if we still had MV7. I bet he wouldnt not have thrown the ball away so much and gave us up out lead in third qrtr. He would have run for a 1000 yards and run all their defense line. Mr. Author, please call Mike Vick back to work on you team. We need him back bad.
Jaycee
October 25th, 2010
10:52 am
@ B-Man I am with you bro, Vance Walker played a hell of a game, judging from what I saw of him yesterday, I would like to see more of him I think we got a steal when we drafted him, and who is this Gartrell Johnson guy never heard of him before, but I like the speed he showed on that one play could this be the possible replacement for Norwood?
Jaycee
October 25th, 2010
10:58 am
@ Stevie man i am a Vick fan my self, but we dont need Vick back in Atlanta, the man didnt have a damm! about Atlanta when he was here Atlanta had more love for Vick that he had for Atlanta i wish him all the best but we dont need him back here, that ship has sail bro
Joe Tess Fish House
October 25th, 2010
11:01 am
Vick won plaoff games. Ryan hasnt.
Falcon Jim
October 25th, 2010
11:16 am
Back-to-back posts from SeenB4 and Joe Phish-Breath.
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm………………
ATL Observer
October 25th, 2010
12:01 pm
james makes an important point. As of right now, the Falcons have the head-to-head over the Saints and in the common opponents category, they are 1-2 to the Falcs’ 3-0. If the Falcons can handle Tampa Bay, they have to feel pretty good. Roddy White is a monster right now!
Good win, I think the 3rd quarter was a classic example of what can happen when you get lulled to sleep by your own success. Ryan’s pick wasn’t the worst disaster in the world (underthrew it a bit but the effects were basically a short punt), but then they INSTANTLY got burned on the next play and suddenly everything steamrolled. Chris Owens looked bad out there; we were actually lucky the Bengals didn’t throw on him even more than what they did.
Hopefully, having Spoon & Dunta come back after the bye will revitalize the D. If you’d have offered me 5-2 going into the bye week before the season started, I definitely would have taken it!
ATL Observer
October 25th, 2010
12:03 pm
Oh, and one other thing: I’ve hated Mularkey’s playcalling from day one so it’s only fair that I give him credit when he gets it right. Job well done yesterday, Mike! Hope to see more of that in the future!
Ueeediot
October 25th, 2010
12:07 pm
FrontRow
Totally agree with you about the people in the stands. Why is the place empty until 1:15?
Also, dont leave in the 4th quarter, people. Win or lose. You’re not beating traffic.
The halftime problem isnt just with the lines. Its the apathy of the people running the concessions and the more than obvious inefficiencies behind the counter and at the condiment stations.
I had to go through 5 different condiment stands to find ketchup yesterday. Are the people that run the Georgia Dome that absolutely obtuse about their jobs or are they just so insulated and protected that they flat dont care?
It would be a revolutionary idea if they had these people that would walk around and actually bring you a cold beer. Key word there being a *cold* beer. And yes, this means the guy would actually have to go beyond just the entrance of the section once a quarter. (I know you saw me and just didnt want to walk up the stairs)
Ueeediot
October 25th, 2010
12:14 pm
Jaycee
Gartrell Johnson is a second year player we signed from the NYG practice squad at the end of Sept when Dimitri Nance was picked up from us by the GB Packers.
He was in the game yesterday because #35 Antoine Smith was questionable with a shoulder injury. #35 and #27 show how deep this team is at RB.
in A
October 25th, 2010
12:14 pm
If any Bengal fans are on here, WOW for Shipley, he’s going to a force to reckon with!!!
Go Falcons!
FalconsFan284
October 25th, 2010
12:18 pm
Joe Tess—–When Tony Gonzalez is facing bracket coverage on almost all of his routes, that doesn’t mean he is out of gas. What it means is that teams are paying more attention to him! They are worried about him! Which means he is being more effective than most players in the NFL.
Matt Ryan is the Falcons starter because he is one of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL!!!! The interception he threw was not because he didn’t make the correct read. It happened because he tried to guide the throw as opposed to passing it! What that means is that he didn’t he was trying to make the perfect throw and not put enough juice on the ball. Yes, that was his mistake and he paid for it. What you probably don’t understand, due to limited ability on your part, is that every quarterback in the world has done the same damn thing! Drew Brees did it in the Saints game yesterday. Bret Favre does it all the time. Dan Marino used to do it to his tightends. Even the great Joe Montana has done it a time or two. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t! It didn’t work for Ryan yesterday. But he also makes plays that even Mike Vick couldn’t make. Matt Ryan is exceptional with his timing routes, he is accurate but he is also a great leader. I doubt there is a player, on the team, that wouldn’t run threw a brick wall for him if he asked. That is a sign of a great quarterback and leader. You would know that if you knew anything about football.
As for TO, do you not understand that he is the biggest reason the Ben Gals are a losing football team? Do you not see the negative impact his presence is having on Ochocinco? How, by having him on the team, Carson Palmer is forcing the ball instead of throwing it to the open man? Just look at the play where Palmer missed Owens in the end zone. Owens was triple covered and had very little chance of getting the ball cleanly. While, on the far side of the end zone, Ochocinco was running against air. He was wide open! But given that TO has already begun shooting his mouth off to the media, I’m fairly certain Palmer felt he had to give Owens the ball. Owens is a horrible teammate and that is also the reason Ochocinco is having a down year. Unless you missed the part where it was Chad leading the charge against the Falcons yesterday until they got the lead. Then Owens went back to the left side and the Ben Gals offense lost it’s rythme!!!!
I write this and yet I know you won’t understand any of it. It’s sad really but maybe you’ll learn something, some day?
Ueeediot
October 25th, 2010
12:31 pm
I know it was a joke, but its still fun to look at the numbers.
When will the #2 jersey over take the #7 jersey?
In 74 games with Atlanta Vick 38-28-1 (Vick lost his first playoff game to the NFC team that went on to lose the super bowl in the final seconds)
In 30 games with Atlanta Ryan is 20-10 (and lost his first playoff game to the NFC team that went on to lose the super bowl in the final seconds)
Joe Tess Fish House
October 25th, 2010
12:37 pm
You thing you no so much, but U R wrong. Tony G is 2 old to play ever week. Matt Ryan keeps getting worst as the season wears on and TO did catch a TD pass. Did Jenkins? I keep sayin get rid of Jenkins and repalce him with TO.
FalconsFan284
October 25th, 2010
12:44 pm
SEEN—–It seems my schooling would not be complete without teaching you a little something. Seriously, you are almost as clueless as Joe Tess, but you spell better then he does.
The reason the Saints are struggling is because Greg Williams has always struggled in his second year; just as I told you he would before the season started. After teams get a look at what he wants to do, his tendencies towards certain blitzes with a given personnel group, they are able to make plays against that defense. Like, being able to run an in after Vilma blitzes to the left side of the route when teams line up with the tight end and third receiver on the right. Vilma leaves the middle of the field open allowing either the tight end or receiver to run into that hole. I watched at least three instances where Cleveland knew that exact scenario was going to play out and they took advantage of it. In fact, Hillis was able to run by a blitzing Vilma for his touchdown because of Greg William’s tendency for that particular blitz.
The other thing wrong with the Aints is that they have no balance. Their best game was against Tampa and it was because they had the running game going. For the most part, the Saints have been entirely one dimensional. Relying on the pass to get the chains moving. So, what you are seeing now are teams darring the Saints to run the ball, while they line up in Nickel or Dime and defend the pass. Sean Payton is really making it easy to game plan for the Saints. Everyone knows they are going to throw the ball so just pin your ears back and go after Drew Brees. For his part, Brees has looked gun shy in the pocket and has been throwing a lot of bad balls. Do you think he wishes he didn’t have to drop back 40-50 times a game in order to win the game single handedly? The reason the Saints won, last season, is because they had a balanced offense. Remember you touting their sixth best rushing offense, in the off season, as the reason they would be repeat champs? I bet you also forgot me saying that it didn’t look like they could do it again.
I have been telling you, for several weeks, that the Saints are a one dimensional team that closely resembles the Arizona Cardinals of last season and the 7-9 and 8-8 Saints teams of 2007 and 2008 respectively. Considering how difficult it has been for the Saints to defeat the worst teams, Carolina and San Fransisco, I find it hard to believe that you think they are real contenders. I mean they do have losses to such stalwarts as Arizona, in the first game with an undrafted free agent quarterback, and Cleveland, who has only two wins. See there, I didn’t even mention the fact Atlanta ran all over them to win in New Orleans. I am a nice guy that way.
Jesse Stone
October 25th, 2010
12:49 pm
SeenThisB4
October 25th, 2010
8:52 am
Joe Tess Fish House
October 25th, 2010
8:52 am
————————————————————-
Anyone else see the irony in both Joe Tess and SeenThisB4 disappear for a day and show up at the exact same minute after being called out today? hmmm.
RE:Joe Tess Fish House
October 25th, 2010
12:50 pm
READ THIS:
You thing you no so much, but U R wrong. Tony G is 2 old to play ever week. Matt Ryan keeps getting worst as the season wears on and TO did catch a TD pass. Did Jenkins? I keep sayin get rid of Jenkins and repalce him with TO.
YES YOU WROTE THAT. WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT. Are you just a child? You write like one you stinky vage
FalconsFan284
October 25th, 2010
12:57 pm
Joe Tess—–TO did have a touchdown catch but did his team win the game? Jenkins didn’t have a touchdown but his team won and Cincy had to account for him. Tony Gonzalez was getting double the entire game which allowed Roddy White to take over and have all of that open running room. I guess you missed that one kid. As far as your ignorance concerning Matt Ryan, I must point out that the team is ahead of last season’s record, he has thrown for more touchdowns and has a higher completion percentage. He also has a higher win percentage than Mike Vick!!!! For my last little trick, I am going to correct your reply to me, as it appears English is a second language to you.
You thing you no so much, but U R wrong. Tony G is 2 old to play ever week. Matt Ryan keeps getting worst as the season wears on and TO did catch a TD pass. Did Jenkins? I keep sayin get rid of Jenkins and repalce him with TO.
It should read:
You “think” you “know” so much but, you are wrong! “Tony Gonzalez” is “too” old to play “every” week. Matt Ryan keeps getting “worse” as the season wears on. “And,” TO did catch a “touchdown.” Did Jenkins? I keep saying, get rid of Jenkins and replace him with a player that has signed with another team and they look unlikely to release him.
I’m not sure what elementary school you dropped out of, at the age of 21, but you should really think about going back there. I hear the third grade is easier the fifteenth time around!
Falcon Jim
October 25th, 2010
12:58 pm
Jesse,
Look at 11:16; I saw it. And I have noted this before. SeenB4 is certifiably insane. He has appeared under so many different names I can’t even remember half of them. Cheese Steak and atlapp come to mind. Now, I wouldn’t put it past him to be Joe Tess; it would be his greatest farce yet. (SeenB4 = Lon Chaney, the man of 1,000 faces.)
Falcon Jim
October 25th, 2010
1:30 pm
SeenB4
HA HA HA HA HA HA.
Backed into a corner after being exposed. Trying to act innocent.
HA HA HA HA HA HA
What a joke. Insane.
Falcon Jim
October 25th, 2010
1:31 pm
Mr. Ledbetter……………………where did Seen go?
joe
October 25th, 2010
1:31 pm
MR.BLANK.I know many of the fans from ATL.is very enraptured by the early success of the team.I am very happy to see the DEVELOPMENT of RODDY WHITE.As someone said early a speed back would really compound the ability of other teams to compete with our OFFENSE.One suggestion i have is to inquire about STEAVE SLATON OF THE HOUSTON TEXANS.
SeenThisB4
October 25th, 2010
1:32 pm
Falcan’t Jim: Those two back to back posts by Fish House and myself that you pointed to, they actually posted at the same time. If you concede my ability to posts two separate posts at the same time, then you should also concede my superiority over you and your falcan’t buddies. Otherwise, use your cognitive abilities, assuming you have some, to figure out that I am not Joe Tess. I told you B4, I don’t use other people’s usernames, I don’t need to, nor want to.
GEAUX SAINTS! OUR TIME!!
Falcon Jim
October 25th, 2010
1:36 pm
All the regulars on this blog know it. Mr. Ledbetter knows it.
The cat’s out of the bag.
Keep your delusions.
SeenThisB4
October 25th, 2010
1:40 pm
Uh-huh. If you say so.
SeenThisLoserB4
October 25th, 2010
1:40 pm
Still waiting on the aints to rise up to the top of the division. A rookie QB took your team to the wood shed.
Jaycee
October 25th, 2010
1:47 pm
Why do we falcons fans take time to indulge SeenThisB4 and others that bring noting but negativity to this blog, now if he has something constructive to add he is worth lending an ear to, but for the most part he is just someone that camps out on this blog for what reason I cant seem to figure why, lets just pay no attention to this cat hopefully he would away, on another note a positive one that is, did we see the Grimes play on Owens he did a dang good job
Jesse Stone
October 25th, 2010
1:49 pm
Seen- you probably typed a post, minimized, typed under Joe Tess sent one message, then sent the other. I imagine it’s not too hard
SeenThisB4
October 25th, 2010
1:59 pm
Jesse Stone: Why don’t you try that? Go ahead, let me know how it works for you. But let me ask you this first, even if that does work, why would I do that?
I tell what else I find amusing regarding you falcan’t fans: If I had not shown up today, the blog would be full of the “SeenThisB4 ain’t man enough to show up” baloney. LOL!
Falcan’t Jim: Keep laughing, there’s still plenty of football to play.
GEAUX SAINTS! OUR TIME!!