‘The Predator’ eats young tackles like Oher for lunch
101024 Atlanta - Atlanta Falcons defensive end John Abraham sacks Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer during 2nd half action at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Sunday, Oct. 24 , 2010. The Falcons beat the Bengals 39-32. Curtis Compton ccompton@ajc.com
FLOWERY BRANCH – One of the more interesting matchups will be Falcons defensive end John “The Predator” Abraham on Ravens left tackle Michael Oher on Thursday night’s game at the Georgia Dome.
Abraham leads the Falcons with six sacks. Oher is the former Mississippi star that they made the movie “Blindside” about.
He’s off to a good start in his career, but Abraham has made it a habit of abusing young tackles. Last season, in the opener against Miami, he tossed Jake Long around like a rag doll.
Earlier this season in the 20-10 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Oct. 10, Abraham terrorized Joe Thomas.
Abraham is still ticked that he didn’t make the Pro Bowl in 2008 when he set the franchise record with 16.5 sacks. By the way, fan voting has started for the Pro Bowl.
Here are some other key matchups:
Falcons FB Ovie Mughelli vs. Ravens LB Ray Lewis: Mughelli played with the Ravens from 2003 to 2006 and knows the key to keeping Lewis from destroying the entire offensive operation. Mughelli wants to be considered for the Pro Bowl and knows that if he
Tyson Clabo, Harvey Dahl, Todd McClure and Justin Blalock have tough assignments against the Ravens. (Curtis Compton, ccompton@ajc.com)
pummels Lewis on national television with the rest of the league watching that he can punch his ticket for Hawaii. The Falcons need to establish their power runs with Mughelli leading up in the hole and taking out Lewis.
Falcons QB Matt Ryan vs. Ravens FS Ed Reed: Ryan is 17-1 in the Georgia Dome. Reed has three interceptions in two games since being activated from the physically unable to perform list. He had hip surgery. Reed is a real student of the game and will know the intricacies of the Falcons passing attack. Ryan doesn’t plan to stay away from Reed, but will be determined and calculated when he decides to challenge the six-time Pro Bowler. Ryan has completed 62.5 percent of his passes and has thrown just five interceptions over 288 attempts this season.
Falcons LG Justin Blalock and LT Sam Baker vs. Ravens DT Haloti Ngata: The Ravens will move their linemen around and come with some bizarre blitz packages. Ngata, who has five sacks will slide down inside and be over Blalock on some plays or will flex out at defensive end and be over Baker. The Falcons have struggled against 3-4 fronts as Michael Turner’s per game rushing average is almost 10 yards lower against 3-4 teams.
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121 comments Add your comment
Kurt
November 10th, 2010
7:19 am
I”m ready for Thursday!!!
JSS
November 10th, 2010
7:19 am
Is that when Abraham is not being picked by the trainers?
Dirty Birds
November 10th, 2010
7:23 am
Lets go Falcons…I can’t wait!
JSS
November 10th, 2010
7:36 am
By the way, Oher will be making his 25th straight start. What wouldn’t the Falcons do to get that kind of production out of Sam Baker?
Falcon 8211
November 10th, 2010
7:43 am
i hope we do not choke like we do in big games. go falcons and play hard
Season Ticket Holder
November 10th, 2010
7:46 am
It will be a close game. But the Falcons will win 10 to 7
Rise Up!
November 10th, 2010
7:50 am
@ Falcon8211 & JSS … go back to bed NOW, roll off to the other side, and restart your day! This team, and it’s players and coaches, has shown all year long that it will RISE UP! and find the way to get the job done.
Sid
November 10th, 2010
7:56 am
Ryan and Flacco are 14 and 15 respectively in QB rating.
14 Matt Ryan Atlanta Falcons QB 92.6 Wonderlic 32
15 Joe Flacco Baltimore Ravens QB 92.3 Wonderlic 27
head-mo-fo
November 10th, 2010
7:57 am
Rattling Joe Flacco will be important with Abe coming of the edges (if he is not injured, he left the Tampa game hurt). Baltimore’s running game, as well as their screen game, is pretty solid. They have a complete offense and will be a stiff test for us. I just hope our secondary doesn’t bite on the play fakes, and reverses that left us exposed against Philly and gave up some big plays.
I know this will be a short week for our preparation and heeling but Baltimore has to deal with the same issues. Its imperative that we show up and make a statement on the National Stage this Thursday. Matt, please don’t stare down any one particular receiver or force the ball to Roddy. Just take what the this defense gives you and we should win this game.
Sid
November 10th, 2010
7:59 am
We are going to intercept Flacco twice tomorrow night.
mountain_jim
November 10th, 2010
8:06 am
Mix it up Mularkey!
Sid
November 10th, 2010
8:09 am
head-mo-fo, Ravens are 11th in rushing and 15th in passing, 13th against the run, 9th against the pass. I agree with your assesment, we can win this game. Also, Baltimore had to travel here, one more coin in our pocket.
We are 3rd in interceptions, Ravens are 16th. Interestingly we are almost tied in sacs, Atlanta is 20th, Ravens 21st. I would have assumed the Ravens to have a higher sack total being 9th in total defense.
Tweets that mention John Abraham eats young tackles like Oher for lunch | Atlanta Falcons -- Topsy.com
November 10th, 2010
8:14 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Myron Abernathy and Fantasy Tackles, D. Orlando Ledbetter. D. Orlando Ledbetter said: John Abraham eats young tackles like Oher for lunch http://bit.ly/cILfjK [...]
dean
November 10th, 2010
8:19 am
I smell a heavy dose of Jason Snelling coming up tomorrow night, not to mention TE Palmer might have an interesting night.
Good luck Falcons.
BirdDog
November 10th, 2010
8:21 am
Should be a heck of a game. Good ol physical smashmouth football! Go Falcons!
Camaro Bob
November 10th, 2010
8:23 am
I thing Abe is over the hil. His producion has droped off a lot. Done be sruprized if the Falcons draft a DE next year in the fist round.
Big Dude
November 10th, 2010
8:38 am
Now is the time for the Falcons to show the Sports Pundits that they are real front runners for the title.
SeenThisB4
November 10th, 2010
8:41 am
The ravings will win easily, in a laugher, 27-10.
GEAUX SAINTS! OUR TIME!!
Sid
November 10th, 2010
8:54 am
SeenThisB4
November 10th, 2010
8:41 am
***************************************
The Saints will definately not win this Sunday. Tough road trip to Seattle the following weekend.
JosephDaKoolest
November 10th, 2010
9:02 am
The Ravens are tough, arguably one of the best teams in the nfl. However the home team is ready to go. We have learned how to win the close games we used to lose. We never had a problem competing with elite teams. We just needed to limit our mistakes late in games. It wont be easy but the Falcons will win this football game. Go Falcons!!!! Hey Ed Reed Matt Ryan and the gang is coming at you. Hey Ray Ray big O says Michael Turner is going to have a great day!!!!
SeenThisB4
November 10th, 2010
9:06 am
Sid: That’s going to be an awful short road trip, especially since the hawks will be traveling to the Super Dome.
The tough road trip will be the following week when the Saints have a Thanksgiving Day game against the cowboys, who by then might have found their self respect again and started trying to win again. That game last Sunday night, was the first time I had ever seen a pro team quit, and that’s saying something since I have been a life long Saints fan. That cowboy performance was shameful.
The Jama
November 10th, 2010
9:08 am
It seems that every time we play the Ravens at least 1 of our players goes out with a seaosn ending injury. This is why I hate playing them in the preseason or really anytime. It would be refreshing to see 1 of their guys go down for once! Big opportunity to really put this season into perspective.
joewhite
November 10th, 2010
9:08 am
Well camero bob abe is not over the hill yet, he is having a solid season if you cant tell, and yes we need to draft a de next year for sure for the fture. Falcons will beat the ravens 23-16. GO FALCONS
JSS
November 10th, 2010
9:08 am
@ Rise Up…
Take all of that “Snarky” mess and send it some where else… This team has shown a level of resiliency; but it has also shown that it can be TKO’d by next level teams… This is their first real home test against such a team in two since the Saints came to town last season… So in all honesty, a dose of reality hurts no one except for those who to be patted on the back constantly…
Damage Inc.
November 10th, 2010
9:14 am
this is not a saints blog. I think seen is a closet Falcons fan.
Birdthethird
November 10th, 2010
9:26 am
I think Biermann and Sidbury will rise to be the DE’s of our future. Good coaching is even bring Anderson along. As for the game, I’ll say Ray Lewis will have his way but our big backs will wear anybody down. Start with Turner and bring Snelling on in the 4th. Ed Reed is a tough character but I don’t think we’ll throw down the field too much and if we do we will make plays. Our special teams is my concern. The Falcons have confidence now and Babineaux is a demon. Bring it!
SeenThisB4
November 10th, 2010
9:27 am
Damage Inc: Didn’t Ledbetter just put a picture of the Saints’ Lombardi Trophy on the previous blog? I think this IS a Saints blog!
GEAUX SAINTS! OUR TIME!!
D. Orlando Ledbetter
November 10th, 2010
9:38 am
Seen — Get out of here with that Saints stuff. You guys are in SECOND place. That’s the Vince!
JB FALCON
November 10th, 2010
9:43 am
Format is in reverse order, click on Show All at the bottom and they will be in the order they were received, as they should be.
G
November 10th, 2010
9:53 am
I think that JA98 needs more snaps.
SeenThisB4
November 10th, 2010
9:56 am
Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick,….
GEAUX SAINTS! OUR TIME!!
D. Orlando Ledbetter
November 10th, 2010
9:58 am
JSS — Abe has started 41 straight games I believe.
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
November 10th, 2010
10:10 am
should be a low scoring game, Falcons by 3.
FrontRow
November 10th, 2010
10:12 am
SeenThisB4
November 10th, 2010
9:06 am
……That game last Sunday night, was the first time I had ever seen a pro team quit,
Was your TV broken last Sunday when the Taints played the Panthers?
Tea Party Meber
November 10th, 2010
10:22 am
Why is Abe caled the predator? R U sayin he preys or steels things? If so, the Falcons need 2 cut him. We dont need no crooks on R teem.
SeenThisB4
November 10th, 2010
10:34 am
Front Row: The panthers didn’t lay down like the cowboys did. Besides, the talent on the cowboys team far exceeds the panthers talent. Don’t forget, almost everybody and their mothers were picking the cowboys to be Super Bowl contenders this year, nobody picked the panthers to even be in contention for the division. The Saints and the falcan’ts have had more than their share of bad teams in the past, but I never once remember either team playing with absolutely zero heart like the cowboys did Sunday night. Part of the reason was Wade Phillips for losing his team, but a major part of it was the so called professionals not living up to their contracts. That was a pitiful, pure and simple. They quit after the first quarter. Not that I feel sorry for them, but as a fan, I thought the cowboys completely sold out their fans. Remember when Vick gave you all the finger? Even I was offended by that, as a fan; I laughed about it to be sure, cause I HATE the falcan’ts, but as a fan, I say that no fan deserves that.
PMC
November 10th, 2010
10:42 am
It’s not Abe I’m worried about, it’s the other side which hasn’t brought it consistantly.
Not to mention, WTF is wrong with Spoon’s knee. Roddy is Doubtful and so is McClure?
This is not looking good at all.
Tea Party Meber
November 10th, 2010
10:54 am
Let me tell U this.
Spoon is a BUST! He is injruy prone and can not find a way 2 the playin feild. Falcons should of have drafted Suh insted.
JONESBORO SLIM
November 10th, 2010
11:02 am
@JSS
are you the same JSS that played OLT back- in- the day for…I forget the team but I remember seeing you on TV before “color” …..you were sorry then as your comments today…..
JONESBORO SLIM
November 10th, 2010
11:20 am
Ledbetter why are the comments being displayed from bottom to top….and the page numbers being displayed from right to left?….whats wrong with your blog?
JSS
November 10th, 2010
11:42 am
@ D. Ledbetter
The question was how many times the trainers have picked him, not how many he’s started… But thanks for the stat…
@ Jonesboro Tara Blvd Terror…
Nope, all of my video is in color… and were transmitted on Satellite too!
JONESBORO SLIM
November 10th, 2010
11:46 am
@JSS
What do you mean trainers have picked him?…or was that what they said back in the day?
Eric C.
November 10th, 2010
11:57 am
Any thoughts on the chance that Weatherspoon will play this week?
Tea Party Meber
November 10th, 2010
12:01 pm
I fear the Falcons will choke 2
Frozen Rope
November 10th, 2010
12:34 pm
Spoon listed as doubtful,,, Roddy White listed as doubtful,,, Not Good,,,,
Jesse Stone
November 10th, 2010
12:53 pm
This new format is garbage.
Joe Tess Fish House
November 10th, 2010
1:03 pm
Spoon – Doutfull
Spoon – Bust
Nuff said!
Dispatches from the Front: Atlanta Falcons » Ravens Gab
November 10th, 2010
1:04 pm
[...] has a short stable of Sports writers, Ledbetter checks in one final time on his belief that Michael Oher will get victimized tomorrow [...]
FrontRow
November 10th, 2010
1:10 pm
250+ words to make excuses as to why the Panthers didn’t mail it in?
Face it, the Panthers mailed it. The only reason they appeared (to a feeb like you) to play hard was their best players were all out (i.e. mailing it in) and the preseason first teamers always look like they are playing hard.
Fact is, 1/3 of the Taints wins are against a team that gave up after week 1.
JB FALCON
November 10th, 2010
1:23 pm
Jessie Stone & JOnesboro Slim, I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks this format is awful. Seems like when I post to complain, the blog monster eats it.