Falcons have one of the top triple threats in NFL
Falcons wide receiver Roddy White (left) tries to avoid St. Louis Rams cornerback Jerome Murphy after catching a pass for an 8-yard gain during the fourth quarter. White led the league in receptions with 115 in 2010. (Associated Press)
The Falcons are one of four teams in the NFL with three players ranked in the top 15 at the three main skill positions, according to NFL.com senior writer Pat Kirwan.
Here’s a link to Kirwan’s list of the top players by position. Here’s what he has to say about the Falcons trio of quarterback Matt Ryan, wide receiver Roddy White and running back Michael Turner:
Falcons
Running back Michael Turner and receiver Roddy White are both in the top five at their positions, and Matt Ryan is in the top 10 at quarterback.
Michael Turner: A solid workhorse who finished third in the league in rushing and tied for fourth in rushing touchdowns. The Falcons’ passing game creates conflicts for defenses, and Turner will benefit from a high number of run audibles against two-high safeties. He could have a big year.
Roddy White: He has 200 receptions and 21 touchdowns over the past two seasons.
Matt Ryan: A rising star with 66 touchdown passes and just 34 interceptions in his first three years.
Houston, Philadelphia and the New York Giants also have three players rated in the top 15 at wide receiver, running back and quarterback.
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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68 comments Add your comment
Paddy
June 12th, 2011
2:59 pm
Now add J. Jones and the Falcons should score a ton of points!
Spivedog
June 12th, 2011
3:14 pm
Let’s hope we can get some D this year. If we can, the Superbowl is ours!
2by4
June 12th, 2011
3:37 pm
yeah yeah yeah only to get no where triple threat my backside what happened when green bay came knocking
ejj
June 12th, 2011
4:21 pm
Nice blog, but why brag about these three when defense wins championships, and we lack one.
fanATicaL
June 12th, 2011
4:22 pm
Enter your comments hereThis is only one of the indicators. As to the potential of this team.
Hopeful
June 12th, 2011
4:25 pm
We took care of the offensive, but I still have major concerns with the defense. We have not addressed the pass rush nor a coverage corner. We lack in both areas. Take care of this with free agency, and we should be fine. Any targets for these two positions?
Whopper Dawg
June 12th, 2011
4:29 pm
As always, Ledbetter, you are cutting edge.
Birrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrd Man
June 12th, 2011
4:40 pm
I’m really looking forward to seeing what Harry Douglas can do with good wheels.
UGASlobberknocker
June 12th, 2011
5:09 pm
Where is Roddy White and why isnt he participating in the players workouts?
Paddy
June 12th, 2011
5:10 pm
ejj…..you could not be more wrong! Defense does not win championships. Without a great offense your chances of winning a Super Bowl is greatly reduced. Good ‘D’ can get you close but big offenes wins championships! Just ask college and pro coaches! They will tell you the same thing! So many have heard that saying and they now believe it to be true. Research and think for yourself and you will sound and act smarter.
Nathan
June 12th, 2011
6:07 pm
Finally someone who agrees with me that Turner is a great running back to have on this team. We also have a top 5 TE in Gonzalaz!
SeenThisDbagB4
June 12th, 2011
6:50 pm
Just win, and shut up all the naysayers.
Seen (Sean Peyton) This (Win a super Bowl ) B (And the Failcans can't ) 4
June 12th, 2011
6:54 pm
and yet no playoff wins…hmmmmmm
D. Orlando Ledbetter
June 12th, 2011
7:01 pm
UGASlobberknocker — Roddy is working out on his own, like several veterans. He’s been out to one of the sessions and will work with Matt Ryan later in the summer.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
June 12th, 2011
7:02 pm
Whopper Dawg — Thank you for your kind words!
B DA MAN
June 12th, 2011
7:11 pm
People conttinue to point at the defense in the Green Bay game and rightfully so but the offense did not look too good either. Take away a kick returun which is not the offensive unit and a late tochdown after it was all over and you have 7 pts put up by Matt Ryan and company. Against good defenses the Falcons struggle, Pittsburgh 9 pts and of course Green Bay. Against explosive offenses Falcons struggle, Green Bay and Eagles. The Falcons are close and they have both a very good scoring offense and a very good scoring defense because of their offense. The better the offense, the better the defense will be. Let’s face it, Aaron Rodgers made some great escapes when he shoud have been sacked, he playes out of his mind that game. That will not always be the case and the falcons are right there and dont’ forget they did beat Green Bay earlier…so LET”S PLAY SOME FOOTBALL already.
hiramsaint
June 12th, 2011
7:48 pm
triple threat ain’t squat when your 0-1 in the playoffs. now the failcans have 2 sets of the 3 stooges. one set who can’t draft and another set who can’t win a playoff game . hehehehehehehehehehehehehehehe !
jdawg
June 12th, 2011
7:54 pm
Pretty funny, look at the photographs of the NFL arrests since the lockout. See any trends? Any simlilarities? It’s obviously just an anomily. Go big time sports!!! Go modern culture!!!! To hell with character! I want to look good, I want to win! I can excuse anything to get to win!!!!
hjerry
June 12th, 2011
8:16 pm
DOL, I may have asked this already, but I was curious if Ryan or one of the higher paid players, if asked, would be willing to pay to bring any of the other draft picks in to participate in these workouts? I’d love to here about Quizz getting a head start on training camp or that any of these guys could join in. Any thoughts?
Paddy
June 12th, 2011
8:28 pm
hjerry…something tells me non-cba members will not be working out with any team. If they could, I believe we would see them doing so already. Just my guess?
hjerry
June 12th, 2011
8:30 pm
Paddy…Except that right now, Julio is working out with the team and gaining invaluable experience. That’s why I would love to here that others are participating as well.
hjerry
June 12th, 2011
8:31 pm
…hear…(dur)
FalconFan
June 12th, 2011
8:52 pm
I don’t really care what the haters have to say. We have a great team, with a great sense of urgency within the organization. We keep our noses clean; you never hear about any of our players getting arrested, or getting DUI’s or being stabbed or being involved in a fight, etc, etc. We are a organization on a rise and I couldn’t be more proud! Go Falcons!
SeenThisB4
June 12th, 2011
9:22 pm
You know what else those four teams have in common?
None have been in the Super Bowl in a long while,…..and won’t be in Indianapolis either.
GEAUX SAINTS!
woodie
June 12th, 2011
9:59 pm
Julio Jones is a stud !
ernisTbass
June 12th, 2011
10:48 pm
until Turner proves he can run out the clock in the fourth quarter and/or bust through the tackles and score from the 2-3 yard line so we don’t have to constantly settle for field goals he doesn’t merit top five consideration, if he does score from inside the five it is usually untouched thanks to the line, he needs to quit dancing and run over somebody
SuperBowl or Bust
June 12th, 2011
10:55 pm
Our Offense is the improvement we needed to our Defense. I am a true believer that a great offense can make a mediocre D look great! Just keep them off the field and move the chains! In TD I trust… Our D is A year older and the youth movement on Defense hase been placed on hold atleast for this year, If there is one. LET’S GO FALCONS!!!!!!
Bob
June 12th, 2011
11:02 pm
I love reading the Aints fans post on here. I get a good laugh at their ignorance. The Falcons won the division (which is more than the Aints can claim). They point out that they won a Super Bowl (2 years ago), and they got beat by the worst team to EVER make the playoffs.
That is like the Raiders and Redskins talking trash because they won past Super Bowls. They are horrible and disappoint their fans just like the Aints fans will again be disappointed this year.
Tony
June 12th, 2011
11:20 pm
Defense wins Championships huh? How many points were scored in the Superbowl again?
JB
June 13th, 2011
1:24 am
We could not stop the Packers passing attack, it’s that simple.
Columbus
June 13th, 2011
3:09 am
Yeah and now nobody will be able to stop us. Green Bays defense was not all that either our defense is our new and improved offense which will be scoring 30 points a game and will score over 40 several times and will be keeping other teams defenses on the field for a very LOOOOONG time which keeps the other teams offense on the sidelines which is in fact a defense against their offense. 2 ways to fight Green Bay’s offense, beef up the defense or improve the offense to join them and with ALL the offensive weapons including Gonzalez, Turner and receivers, I sincerely think the Falcons offense is better than Green Bays and will be much tougher to defend and if the newly drafted running back contributes, look out NFC! If there is a season…..Falcons can only stop themselves and the defense will not need to be much better than last year to beat ANYBODY and EVERYBODY.
SeenThisB4
June 13th, 2011
7:43 am
When you proclaim that your team will use its offense to keep their own defense off the field, in order to counter balance their own perceived notion of how weak their defense is, that’s a classic case of denial.
The reality is, the falcan’t defense could be on the field for a record short amount of time, simply because other teams will be able to score at will, and take only a few seconds off the clock to move down field on drives. Atlanta’s offense could be forced to be on the field a long time each game, playing catch-up. The only team in the South Division that they should be able to stop defensively, will be the panthers. The Saints and bucs offense won’t be stopped by that ragtag, slow footed, defensive squad that the falcan’ts will be fielding this year. Better get help, and a lot of it, from free agency, assumming there is free agency this year!
hiramsaint
June 13th, 2011
8:21 am
i’ll have to agree. would jj have put you in the super bowl last year- no . would a better d have helped-yes. so what do the 3 stooges do- trade the draft for a receiver. an older , slower and more predictable d is what you have and all teams know it and will exploit it just like the saints and packers did in your own house last year.
Falcon Red
June 13th, 2011
9:17 am
Then why didn’t the Aints exploit it at THEIR house?
Rikus
June 13th, 2011
1:01 pm
Hmm? Oh sorry, I just skip over any posts written by a stains fan. No point indulging in ignorance…
Jborodawg
June 13th, 2011
3:34 pm
In Total Defense, Steelers ranked 2nd and the Pack ranked 3rd in the league. But, the Pack also ranked 4th in total Offense. But, as anyone can see, D got those two teams into the Super Bowl.
Back to the topic: can’t help but like the Falcons’ offense.
HJones
June 13th, 2011
3:45 pm
If we only had a offensive coach who knew how to call plays!
hiramsaint
June 13th, 2011
5:24 pm
if only they had a D
mclark
June 13th, 2011
5:52 pm
HOW MANY MISS TACKELS AGAINST THE SEAHAWKS? TALK ABOUT DEFENCE!!!!!
hiramsaint
June 13th, 2011
10:20 pm
the packers game was much more memerable defensive display because it entailed the entire game and not just one play,
hot22rod
June 13th, 2011
10:38 pm
The two missing pieces that will make or brake the defense are to sign free agents (DE from Minn: Ray Edwards) I do believe this will happen 98% sure and I know this will be a long shot (CB from Oak: Asomugha, Nnamdi) not sure about this one. If he goes anywhere it would be Dallas. Once this lockout is over, “Mark my words in stone!!!!!!!!!!!” Ray will be a Falcon and let the Dirty Birds fly again to the big. Even Jarred Allen thinks he’s going Altanta because of Mr. Blank and company.
Chucktown38
June 14th, 2011
2:23 am
D wins super-bowels? I think good all around team play wins. I have seem D win as well a good O and special teams
Chucktown38
June 14th, 2011
2:25 am
As far as our D goes we have more than our fare share of talent, but we are stuck with a sorry D coach in Van Gorder.
Falcons have one of the top triple threats in NFL | Atlanta Falcons | atlantafalcons.sportsblogstoday.com
June 14th, 2011
3:52 am
[...] is a new Post at Falcons have one of the top triple threats in NFL | Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons are one of four teams in the NFL with three players ranked in the top 15 at the three [...]
mattie Ice
June 14th, 2011
3:59 am
now they need someone to get the ball to them
NoTacklingRequired
June 14th, 2011
8:32 am
We have very good talent on D–just play the right players at the right time! Coach–put me in!
Fan
June 14th, 2011
10:01 am
This blog and so called falcon fans are funny… How can Matt Ryan win a championship with one wide receiver and no speed back… He had no offensive threats too go to and this is why he has not won a playoff game. The defense have no LBs that can cover zone or passing lanes and they need one more CB. The defensive line is not really the problem because if the linebackers will cover the sacks will be big. MANAGEMENT KNOWS THIS AND THEY WILL FIX THE PROBLEM..Football is a game of knowledge and understanding of it and the needs at select positions. This past falcon team was like the one that went too the super bowl a few years early. This team is close too winning this super bowl like the Dallas did in NBA. I think they will win it this year
Keeping It Real
June 14th, 2011
10:32 am
It’s amazing the Mattie Slush is considered a top 10 QB when his stats indicate that he is not even in the top 15 (in any catagory). Ryan is the weak link to the Falcons potential juggernot.
Seen (Sean Peyton) This (cross picket lines and play as a scab) B4
June 14th, 2011
10:38 am
Yes, Hiram and SeenThis, Atlanta’s management is AWFUL. They’ve totally screwed up this team since taking over in 2007 when the team was on the verge of greatness.
Seen (Sean Peyton) This (cross picket lines and play as a scab) B4
June 14th, 2011
10:40 am
Sorry, I meant 2008. Must be the painkillers.
chickenman
June 14th, 2011
11:01 am
JULIOOOO
realitycheck
June 14th, 2011
11:01 am
That 13-3 was an absolute joke and the Packers certainly proved what a joke it was. The Falcons caught every regular season break imaginable, including hardly a single key injury. How has that defense that Green Bay torched improved? And what are the odds that the Falcons will continue to be blessed on the health front? With the NFC North replacing the NFC West on the schedule, the road to the playoffs will only get tougher. There is a decent possibility that the Falcons will not even make the playoffs this season.
ugaclassof2004
June 14th, 2011
11:37 am
Offense is what wins in the NFL no doubt about it. However, the defense needs to be able to generate sacks and force turnovers if they aren’t going to be dominant. Our secondary in particular needs to improve( I think we were like 22nd in the league last season). The Falcons had a “Bend but don’t break” philosophy where they tighted up in the redzone and forced turnovers. And for most of the season that worked out for them. But in the playoffs, when guys like Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady get hot, it doesn’t matter what the defense does because those guys are going to score points. And in those type of games your offense has to be able to win a shootout. Our offense didn’t have the capability to do that. Part of it is the conservative playcalling, and part of it is the focus on the running game.
But now that Ryan is in his 4th year, it is really time for him to be the guy and have the offense run through him. And I think he likes being the guy. He carried his team in college and he runs a great hurry up offense. If you have a QB that thrives in the 2 or 1 min. offense( which Matt Ryan does), then you can build your offense around him. I’m fine with having a top 15 defense, as long as we have a top 5 offense. Thats good enough to win a Super Bowl.
gcs
June 14th, 2011
11:42 am
Top 15? This is just stupid.
fanATicaL
June 14th, 2011
11:43 am
Oh YEAH of little faith.On the health front we did have several injuries on the team last season.Including several players recovering from previous year injuries not fully healed.
I would agree that the schedule is tougher tha last year.But the addition of JJ AND J Rodgers will definitely make our team better.Also the off season is not over.We still have a few moves left in free agency.
If the Falcons survive this schedule.They will be ready for an SB run.
Awful, Awful, Awful
June 14th, 2011
11:46 am
Who cares, they ain’t gonna play anyway.
Fan
June 14th, 2011
12:35 pm
SOME OF THE PEOPLE ON THIS BLOG ARE NOT FALCON FAN BECAUSE THIS ORGANIZATION IS WAY BETTER THAN 2007 SO QUIET THE CRAP.. YOUR ARE NOT FALCON FANS YOUR ARE JUST THE GET ALONG GANG WHEN TIMES ARE GOOD AND THE POINT THE FINGERS FANS WHEN TIMES ARE DIFFICULT. I FEEL SORRY FOR ATLANTA FALCONS WITH FANS LIKE YOURS IN GEORGIA … SAD SAD FANS SUPPORTING THE FALCONS
Not a falcon fan
June 14th, 2011
12:52 pm
Let’s be honest. All the Falcons have ever been is big hype. At the end of every season they choke. Just look at last season. I rest my case.
dallas cowboys
June 14th, 2011
1:01 pm
the falcons benefited from a easy schedule last year. tampa should have beat them the niners had the game won. The real falcons came out in the dome against green bay. Matty ice cant hit the deep ball, turner tip toes after he has gotten hit hard. roddy white is just an average reciever that got shut down with that said leets see what happens this year
FlexLuth
June 14th, 2011
1:47 pm
Plenty of talent on offense and more coming. Yet, will Mike Mularkey be able to actually call plays that score points? Will he still run , run , pass our way to more and more 3rd and long situations? Will he ever learn to us play action?
Seen (Sean Peyton) This (cross picket lines and play as a scab) B4
June 14th, 2011
5:42 pm
To quote Bill Parcells: You are what your record says you are. Sure the Falcons caught some breaks–maybe they were closer to a 10-6 team than 13-3. Either way, to malign the current GM/Coaching regime is absurd, given how they’ve resurrected this franchise after the 2007 debacle. And yes, the “D” is a concern, but as I recall, a team from New Orleans won a Super Bowl not that long ago with a suspect “D” that was torched by the likes of Chris Redmond that season and sub-.500 Seattle and Cleveland teams this season. I think they can easily win 10 or 11 against the 2011 schedule and that’s all it will take to be in the playoff mix.
Seen (Sean Peyton) This (Win a super Bowl ) B (And the Failcans can't ) 4
June 14th, 2011
7:35 pm
but then again , maybe they will show out as the 8-8 or 7-9 team that they really are. it’s of no consequence because if lightning strikes twice and the failcans make the playoffs by some miracle , then lightning will also strike twice and we’ll watch the failcans go to 0-3 in the playoffs under matty meltdown and coach-where is my peroxide- smitty ! the saints will take 2 and the bucs will maybe take 2 and definately 1. good luck getting into the playoffs at #3 in the nfc south!
Dukester
June 15th, 2011
9:10 am
Well in my opinion. I think if we didnt win the super bowl last year we will not win with this current QB, WR, and RB. Our offense is not explosive as some think. We rely on ball control explosive offenses take it to the defense. See the Rams (greatest show on turf) and the Saints 2 years ago. Like another poster said as long as we are playing the bottom feeders we look good. But the schedule we had last year was the easiest. We played Carolina(twice), Bengals, Rams, 49ers, Cardinals, and the Browns will be replaced with Chicago,Indy,Detroit, and Houston which will all be road games. O by the way I will take the Texans big 3 over ours. Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson, Adrian Foster. Calm down this year will be the fall of this team and the over hyping that has went on over the last couple of years. And yes I am a falcons fan born and raised in Atlanta. I just love to tell the truth.
Benny Birds
June 15th, 2011
12:00 pm
The O- is ready for the Indy. D-, we need help. Bring Ray Edwards (DE), Rocky McIntosh (WLB) and Bob Sanders (S). Arthur, spend just a little money to get us to Indy.
Reality Check
June 15th, 2011
10:17 pm
Enter your comments here
Reality Check
June 15th, 2011
10:21 pm
Anybody heard the rumors that the Eagles are rumored to have Albert Haynesworth, Plax Burress, Reggie Bush and maybe even number 21 from Oakland (namdi), can’t spell his name.
I have even read the owner, GM and Andy Reid talking about they have big names in place, just waiting for the lockout to end before they pull the trigger.
With that explosive offense, this could be scary.
Reality Check
June 15th, 2011
10:26 pm
One more thing, how many Falcons are on the top 15 players selection top 100? I think the actual players that play this game know more about football.
Just saying.
patrick Sulley
June 16th, 2011
12:55 am
Falcons had Aaron Rodgers for a sack multiple times and he escaped. Most were on third down. Missed tackles (execution) not scheme and personnel lost that game.