Q&A: Mike Mularkey discusses plans for the offense

 

110801 Flowery Branch - Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey signals to the offense while players run through the first padded practice at training camp in Flowery Branch on Monday, August 1, 2011.     Curtis Compton ccompton@ajc.com

110801 Flowery Branch - Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey signals to the offense while players run through the first padded practice at training camp in Flowery Branch on Monday, August 1, 2011. Curtis Compton ccompton@ajc.com

FLOWERY BRANCH – Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey, in an exclusive interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, gave us his early training camp state of the offense address.
He talked about how he survived during the lockout, throwing more deep passes and rookie wide receiver Julio Jones.

Q: What did you do with the extra time during the lockout?
A:
A lot of planning because of what you had to do basically was plan like it was going to be a normal offseason. Then as dates expired you had to anticipate what could happen next. We had to plan for that next thing, which was a lot of planning. All at the same time, we were kind of looking at ourselves. We always do that every year. We self-scout ourselves. What do we do good? What do we do bad? Why did we do it good? Was it the scheme? Was it the players? Was it the defense we were against? We went through the whole 2010 season and then we’ll try to make some improvements. If there are some things that maybe we don’t have the players to do, we throw it out.”

Q: What’s the plan getting rookie Julio Jones ready to play?
A:
Fortunately, with the time period we had after the draft we had a chance to get him the book. At least, he has the beginning stages of the offseason. . . He’s going to always be ahead of the other rookies and he always has a chance to look ahead because he’s already had something previously. The coaches have done a great job with the others guys who didn’t get that book. They have caught them up rather quickly with the way they’ve coached them.

Q: How’s your depth at wide receiver after not re-signing Brian Finneran and releasing Michael Jenkins?
A:
Obviously, with Kerry [Meier] being out with an injury last year, he still learned a lot from being in meetings. I think Harry [Douglas] got stronger. I thought he played better as the year went on and then we had the addition of Julio. We’ve got some guys. We have guys that we can move all over. They are not specifically outside. We can move them all over because they are smart enough. In our offense, we do a lot of things and you have to have the ability to play in different places. We have that ability with our guys.

Q: Were you relieved to see two of the three starting offensive linemen re-signed?

A: You’ve got some guys that have been there for the three years that we’ve been here. They will be great examples of how we do things. It’s easy for me to show tape of what’s expected of them from techniques to finishing. I think it will all come together the more we walk through. . .it will come together.

Q: What goes into scheming and creating more explosive plays (gains of 20 yards or more)? Is it just a matter of throwing more deep passes?
A:
That’s part of it. It’s protecting better to get explosives plays. It’s defenses allowing us to get explosive plays. It’s players creating explosive plays by breaking a tackle or making a guy miss. There are a lot of things that go into creating explosive plays. We all have to manage that and see if we can get some explosive plays.

Q: What’s the status of the no-huddle attack?
A:
Obviously, it’s a part of our offense and we’re very confident in it.

Q: What are the keys to Matt Ryan’s continued development?
A:
The field, he’s seeing things. It’s getting bigger to him. He can see things that I can see from upstairs, he can already see. Before we can even have a conversation, I know that he’s going to see some things as we go forward. He’s already advanced in our protection scheme, just in the little time we’ve been together. I know Matt, he’s told me, that he spent a lot of time in the offseason studying himself, studying the offense, and studying defenses. I know that will help him this year.

Q: How’s rookie running back Jacquizz Rodgers looking?
A:
He has shown some explosiveness out here. Now, he is a little behind the eight ball because he didn’t get a book as Julio did. When he’s had his opportunities, he has gotten some ‘wows’ based on some of the things he’s done. But he’s still got a ways to go, especially with the protections.

 

Q: What are your thoughts on the new practice rules? (Fewer padded practices, required days off and no two-a-day practices).
A:
The one thing I think that Coach [Mike] Smith does, we’re always prepared for what is going to happen. I think our players know that. Nothing . . . It’s just a like a game. Nothing changes. It’s been that way for our team the last three years and more specifically about our offense, we don’t flinch. We just adjust and do whatever we have to do to it the right way. I think the rules are the rules and we’re going to abide by them. We’ve done that every year from the get-go. We’ve got team leaders. We’ve got great chemistry on this team. we all work together well. I think that’s why we have success.

–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog

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103 comments Add your comment

Falcon Fan

August 3rd, 2011
6:53 am

I have a feeling this is going to be a great year……

SeenThisB4

August 3rd, 2011
7:10 am

Q: Who do you think will win the NFC South?
A: The Saints of course!

Jim

August 3rd, 2011
7:26 am

We`d better be able to score a lot of pionts-as it looks with our secondary right now we are going to give up a lot of points!

Marty The One Man Party

August 3rd, 2011
7:29 am

The entire NFC South is going to be the BEST division in football. It wouldn’t surprise me to see three teams to go to the playoffs from the division! But with Atlanta has done in the off-season, the Falcons are going to be darn right AMAZING this year. New Orleans has a good veteran team. Tampa Bay is going to be set for years with their young, ever improving roster and Carolina is not that far way either. I am glad the lockout is over and we are only about 6 weeks away from NFL Football. Go Falcons!

True Falcon Fan

August 3rd, 2011
7:31 am

B4 – “NO” – I Disagree!

Go Falcons

honest_abe

August 3rd, 2011
7:34 am

brent grime’s wife = pyscho!

hopefully this offense gets more explosive. could’ve used ronnie brown for a mil. instead of douglas and meir in the slot i would’ve rather have had the falcons draft randall cobb or greg little. then went out and got another TE.(i.e. greg olsen) but oh well, that’s all hindsight. the falcons put all their eggs in the julio basket now he needs to produce.

falconsfan

August 3rd, 2011
7:38 am

SeeThis,

What happened last year? Oh right the Saints choked and lost the South!

falconsfan

August 3rd, 2011
7:39 am

I see the Saints finishing behind the Falcons AND the Bucs this year.

They’ll lose at least 1 game to each the Falcons, Bucs and Panthers.

honest_abe

August 3rd, 2011
7:41 am

should’ve cut tony g and gotten a younger TE. could’ve signed carlos rogers to a 1 yr deal as well. rogers and robinson with grimes in nickel coverage plus two up and coming safeties and the birds would’ve had a nice secondary.

falcon1

August 3rd, 2011
8:12 am

Only way aints win the south is if buy it cause they aint doing $hitwell on the field

teamguy

August 3rd, 2011
8:16 am

Good questions, D’Led. Evasive, coach-speak answers, but at least you asked.

Falcons4Eva

August 3rd, 2011
8:17 am

Hurt Kurbstreit

August 3rd, 2011
8:18 am

I think this will be a better team this year than last year. However, the big problem is that the Falcons have a very difficult schedule this year. It will be tuff to get as many wins as last year. But I’ve got my season tickets and I’m ready for some football. Even looking forward to the 1st preseason game.

Falcons4Eva

August 3rd, 2011
8:20 am

Can anyone explain why some players got their playbook early right after draft and others did not? Julio Jones got his and is ahead of the curve, while Jacquiz Rodgers did not get his early and is behind. How stupid is that?

mountain_jim

August 3rd, 2011
8:24 am

I wonder if he thinks we have the people to run screens this year, or has he already thrown those out again for this season.

. (And yet I know Rodgers should be a great screen back(

Falcon Fanatic

August 3rd, 2011
8:34 am

I think we now know who wear’s the pants in the Grimes house…..

That girl is nuts, Brent good luck with that (%$*%^

rm

August 3rd, 2011
8:35 am

They still need veteran backups at RB, WR and CB. There are guys still available so I don’t understand why they aren’t signing some more vets. Are they really gonna have no RB with any experience behind Turner?

HJones

August 3rd, 2011
8:36 am

MIKE MULARKEY, CALL BETTER PLAYS, PERIOD!!!! IT’S YOUR CHOICE!

DON’T BE SO PREDICTABLE!! YOUR PHILOSOPHY IN CALLING THE SAME PLAY FOR MIKE TURNER IN THE NEW ORLEANS GAME IN DECEMBER LAST YEAR WILL NOT WIN GAMES!!

RUNNING MIKE TURNER FOR 1-2 YARDS OR NO GAIN ON FIRST AND SECOND DOWN WILL NOT WIN GAMES. THE OFFENSIVE LINE CANNOT PROTECT BETTER FOR EXPLOSIVE PLAYS IF YOU WAIT UNTIL 3RD DOWN TO TRY FOR AN EXPLOSIVE PLAY.

THE THOUGHT PROCESS HAS TOO CHANGE IN THE OFFENSIVE STRATEGY. ONLY POINTS WIN GAMES!

AlphaDawg

August 3rd, 2011
8:39 am

Falcons4Eva….Julio was at the draft and the coaches or team rep gave him the playbook after drafting him, Rogers wasn’t in NYC, and right after the draft the team had to cease all contact with their draftees.

Mr. Phil

August 3rd, 2011
8:40 am

DOL is feeling himself today. Got us an interview with some actual useful information. Let’s hope this is a developing trend.

Remarkable

August 3rd, 2011
8:42 am

Good questions D.Led. Thanks for not asking him what was in his IPOD.

Dan

August 3rd, 2011
8:54 am

Plus runningback is easy to learn just got to know what hole to run through in the line 1-6 ( 1 left of the left tackle, 2 between the left tackle and guard, 3 between the left guard and center, 4 between the center and right guard, 5 between the right guard and right tackle, and 6 outside the right tackle) I am pretty sure since he is a rookie anyway and with the playbook situation when its Jacquizz turn to run Ryan will call the play in the huddle and then turn to Jacquizz and say hole # 2.

Chad Rider

August 3rd, 2011
8:57 am

I know some say his coaching is well…a bunch of Mularkey. However, the picture that goes along with this wonderful story says it all. He is brilliant at getting back to basics. In that particular picture he tells the player- ” Okay, pretend I’m the goal post and run toward me. With some of the players he has to work with, you really have to break things down in the simplest terms. The guy is a wise communicator who can deal with the recent heat wave.

Mary L.

August 3rd, 2011
8:58 am

Another fine job of reporting D. Led! You’re awesome!

Falcon'sTalon

August 3rd, 2011
9:08 am

The first five games of the season are very critical. They could esily go 2-3 during this stretch. All the more important to give these teams a heavy dose of no huddle and matriculate the ball down the field!

JohnnyB

August 3rd, 2011
9:10 am

Wow, it’s after 9 AM and we’ve not had even one four letter rant on twitter from the Mrs! Oh wait, she has class and self respect. Sorry, I guess I was thinking of someone else.

Falcons King Leo

August 3rd, 2011
9:11 am

Nothing about Turner or Roddy ? The playmakers…
I hope Meier & Douglas show up every week. Falcons need some help for Roddy & Julio.

WHO DAT BLACK

August 3rd, 2011
9:17 am

Hey filthy birds,

I will give you some credit. You have a class organization and team. But, the facts are the facts. If you can’t score more than 21 points a game consistently, YOU WILL NOT WIN 13 GAMES!!!!

The Saints figured that out. Maybe we (The Saints) can’t stop Seattle from moving the ball, but we score touchdown and will be in every game. Your team may be 0-2 and it will be simply because of offensive blight. Julio is nothing more than a run blocker (I would know, we got Mark Ingram), who will catch some passes. Jacquizz Rodgers needs to be involved more in the passing game since he will probably be on the field for 3rd downs. No depth at TE or WR, as well as a predictable gameplan, means 17-20 ppg.

Finally, look at the schedule. You need to outscore teams like GB, HOU, IND, MIN, PHI, and of course, the Saints. If you can’t score, 9-7. If you can, 12-4. Good luck, break a wing!!!

AlanFalcon

August 3rd, 2011
9:17 am

Sure wish the Braves would take an example from the Falcons as to how to put together a winning team.

PMC

August 3rd, 2011
9:18 am

I kind of wanted to know what was on Mike’s Ipod

We dat black and red

August 3rd, 2011
9:50 am

“You have a class organization and team.” Never, a truer statement. After that, you slip into fantasy land. Oh well, we can all dream.

ASHCAN.

August 3rd, 2011
9:50 am

1.PACKERS 2.EAGLES 3.WHO DAT 4.DALLAS(GONNA SURPRISE) 5.BEARS(QB RISE) 6.FALCONS OK now give me your flack from the over hyped falcons me putting them in the 6th slot.I knew last year they were one and done.Defense wins championships,there secondary will still get scorched against top teams recievers expecially in the playoffs.edwards is not enough.

ASHCAN.

August 3rd, 2011
9:51 am

And if you don’t like my comment,YOU CAN KISS MY ASHCAN!!!!!!!!!!!

Stumped

August 3rd, 2011
9:53 am

What was Mike’s favorite book or food ?

Stumped

August 3rd, 2011
9:55 am

1)Eagles 2)Bears 3)Packers 4)Falcons 5)Cowgirls 6)Aints

Larry

August 3rd, 2011
9:56 am

Very nice interview DLED…good job!

Stumped

August 3rd, 2011
9:57 am

Tampa Bay or G-Men might take 6th spot.

SimpleDawg

August 3rd, 2011
9:58 am

Hey B4……you can ‘think’ in one hand and $#!+ in the other – see which one fills up first.

SeenThisB4

August 3rd, 2011
10:14 am

Obviously, the Falcon’s have a great team and will be a force in the NFL. They have probably the best receiver lineup in the NFL with Jones, White and Gonzo. Add to that Douglas and you can see where they are going to just blow the field wide open. If Ryan can get the ball the deep early and score early, I don’t thing there is one team, not even my beloved Saints, that could catch up to them. They are just too powerful. The Falcon’s have also may significant improvements on the Defense. The addtion of Ray Edwards opposite Abe, will have opposing quarterbacks shaking in their shoes. It will definetly be fun to watch this year.

D man

August 3rd, 2011
10:16 am

1) Falcons 2) who cares…….

PMC

August 3rd, 2011
10:16 am

Who Dat Black, nice to see a reasonable Saints fan on this blog. I’ve always thought of the two franchises like brothers. We fight tooth and nail but I don’t have hate really. I respect what yall do too. I will never be over the Saints winning that Superbowl first but I respect it. I want the Falcons to beat the Saints as much as any team on the schedule, but I have a lot of respect for the organization.

We dat black and red

August 3rd, 2011
10:17 am

Nice call. You are stumped.

Yeahsure

August 3rd, 2011
10:24 am

Good job D.Led. Don’t let the haters get ya. Keep getting us Falcons news.

willie g loves football

August 3rd, 2011
10:40 am

where is my comment

willie g loves football

August 3rd, 2011
10:44 am

Enter your comments here

Rey

August 3rd, 2011
10:55 am

The FALCONS schedule is WICKED, especially early on. Not sure who I fear more, the EAGLES or PACKERS. kind of like pick your poison. Sure hope we can pick up Asente Samuel.

mario jordan

August 3rd, 2011
11:32 am

Why is Miko Grimes crazy? Because she defends her husband

Seattle Falcons Fan

August 3rd, 2011
11:42 am

St. Louis is signing C. Williams…….. So Giants down, Rams down…… Snelling coming back?

Seattle Falcons Fan

August 3rd, 2011
11:44 am

I know that Franks has looked impressive…. So I’m taking it we are not trying to grab a CB? What about a safety?

seenThisB

August 3rd, 2011
11:45 am

Enter your comments here

Seattle Falcons Fan

August 3rd, 2011
11:50 am

1. Packers
2. Eagles
3. Falcons
4. Rams
W. Saints
W. Bucs

JONESBORO SLIM

August 3rd, 2011
11:58 am

DOL or anyone

Whats going on with the re-signing of Snelling?

darren harper

August 3rd, 2011
12:05 pm

D, why don’t you actually ask the questions everyone wants to know instead of dancing around it? Why don’t we ever run screen passes? Do we have any plays for Weemes? Are we ever going to run a slant pass? Does Harry Douglas have any plays where the ball is intended to come his way? Are we going to squander Roger’s gifts like we did with Norwood’s? Give the keys to Rtan and get your old Dan Reaves want to be out of the way. Great job of building an offensive but it needs more than you can give at this point. Please move aside and don’t slow down The Falcon Express.

Peter

August 3rd, 2011
12:09 pm

Would have liked to hear his feeling about our RB situation and whether the other 2 no-names will be able to add anything.

Good interview though

Sam

August 3rd, 2011
12:21 pm

I think the Falcons have a good plan and were ready to go from the end of the lockout. If you were watching NFL Network team cams. You saw a lot of standing around on other teams and the Falcons already looking like a regular training camp. Also most people said Falcons players had the most organized workout sessions during the lockout. Hopefully, that means we get off to a good start.

mountain_jim

August 3rd, 2011
12:25 pm

Excellent comments darren harper and others. The office was too conservative, un-imaginative, and predictable last year. That’s on Mularkey, and this year wiith these weapons he better fix his schemes and play-calling so that we and they don’t already know what’s coming down after down, and screens, slants, and bombs are a part of that.

Mr. Falcon

August 3rd, 2011
12:26 pm

Why are my posts not showing up! You must be doing some serious censoring?

dean

August 3rd, 2011
12:30 pm

Please, coach, lose that out pattern that everybody knows is coming in critical situations.

Mr. Falcon

August 3rd, 2011
12:31 pm

FINALLY.

The Falcons are going to have a tough row to hoe this season.
Maybe they will have the same kind of luck they did last season.

I feel pretty good about this season so far.

PlanB

August 3rd, 2011
12:55 pm

GB threw at will against Chris Owens after Brian Williams went down with an injury. Williams was doing a pretty good job but we got rid of him and kept Owens. Age difference of course but still a major skill difference in the two. That means we will be weaker at that position unless Owens drastically improves. With that being said, how can we possibly let Grimes get away. If this happens and we don’t get Samuels, I’ll be very disappointed. I know be thinking we have weakened our team for every game I watch just for a few dollars. TD has done very well to this point (except for drafting injury proned players) so I hope he makes the deal with Grimes but if he doesn’t, I’m not a happy camper.

just sayin'

August 3rd, 2011
12:56 pm

looks like MM is giving the ‘i surrender’ signal…wishing for more explosiveness in his offense..

good old joe

August 3rd, 2011
1:15 pm

I THINK ATLANTA THE,SANT’S CAN WIN THE N FC SOUTH , BUT TAMPA IS GOING TO BE TOUGHT TO . LESS HOPE ATLANTA STAY’S HEALTHY………..

ctfalconfan

August 3rd, 2011
1:49 pm

The bottom line is we should have fired Mularkey last year. Our offense SHOULD BE HIGHLY EXPLOSIVE!!!!!
We reached 13-3 inspite of Mularkey not because of him.
- Look at last year’s Pro Bowl I think we had 5-6 Falcons on the field when the NFC offense played!!
- Our offense under performed last year and we can’t have Mularkey’s predictable play calling..
- Last in the NFL in explosive plays last season – that’s terrible!!!

I was at the PITT game last year and we kept running and running even though the Steelers were stacking the box. we kept running and as a result we scored 0 TD’s and lost the game!

Sid

August 3rd, 2011
2:13 pm

I have read where some biological scientists note that Brees may not be able to ever fully recover from his torn MCL. Who is their 2nd string QB?

Sid

August 3rd, 2011
2:16 pm

I just wonder if all that dampness in Seattle caused more pain in Brees knee than he could tolerate.

Sunshine21

August 3rd, 2011
3:05 pm

MARIO JORDAN:

She IS crazy because she can’t control her emotions and express them with anything other than 4 letter words. She is an embarrassment to her husband, child, and the entire team. She should know better than to act like she did yesterday. Can u imagine Peyton Manning’s wife acting like that? People who have class and self respect know better. She obviously does not.

Miko

August 3rd, 2011
3:24 pm

You might take me out da hood but da hood you aint never taking outta me!

I runs my man!

joe white

August 3rd, 2011
3:30 pm

Rey we dont fear either of those teams period, falcons ready we just need to sign grimes which is done as of friday and snelling

rudy

August 3rd, 2011
3:46 pm

the falcons schedule is brutal….this will tell alot about our team

Von

August 3rd, 2011
4:49 pm

The birds will be highly disappointed….Why? because they’re trying to fix something that ain’t broke. Their offense. They won 13 games last year. They were the best ball control team in the NFL. Now…as Gonzalez describes the offense as a “Ferrari”! Are you kidding me. You can’t just decide you want to be like the Packers and Saints after you were tops in all the NFC last year. These guys just don’t get it…DEFENSE wins championships! When the Saints won the Superbowl it wasn’t the offense that won the game, their defense did. It wasn’t the Packers great offense but the defense who slowed the Steelers. C’mon man. Do what you do best and stick to it. Look what the Eagles and Saints did, they bulked up their defense like crazy. Sorry man but the birds will get plucked this season. It just makes no sense.

Greg Mendel

August 3rd, 2011
4:51 pm

This Falcons season IS brutal. As much as like the changes, I’m not making any predictions — except that we’re going to see a bunch of entertaining games. This season we’re playing four tough teams in the first seven games, with a chance to stumble against one of the other three if we aren’t careful. The second half isn’t much better. But those are the kinds of teams we have to beat to consistently be in the playoffs and win.

Von

August 3rd, 2011
5:04 pm

Gaining one rookie receiver and a good but not great DE won’t get it done chief. You need depth at all the crucial positions. You got one proven receiver in White and one rookie. You got two DEnds, one just ok and the other injury prone. And then you got the biggest problem…1 running back in Turner. Who’s behind these people? Saint’s, Buc’s, Falcons and Panthers. Saint’s win division and Bucs make playoffs. Falcons 9-7 and miss playoffs. There’s your NFC South.

hiramsaint

August 3rd, 2011
5:08 pm

that was almost my exact post but d-led is mad at the truth and keeps blocking me . well good because it appears everyone already knows the truth-some of us just can’t accept it can we d-led

GT GRAD

August 3rd, 2011
5:19 pm

How many 20+ yard plays did Turner have last season?

How many 20+ yard plays did the average NFL RB have last season? Also, how many 20+ yard plays would the average NFL RB have given the same number of carries/touches Turner had in 2011?

Does the fact that opposing defenses do not have to worry about screen passes or running plays outside of the tackle when Turner is in the game have ANYTHING to do with the fact that we did not have very many 20+ yard plays?????????

Last point………..How many 20+ yard plays would the Falcons have accomplished IF Adrian Peterson was the RB for every play that Turner was the RB for Atlanta……….this question makes my point rather difficult to ignore (does ot not?).

I sincerely think we would have had a significantly higher number of 20+ yard plays last season IF we had a more versatile and faster RB than Turner……….I think the team was more balanced tougher to defend when Snelling was playing RB!!!!!

GT GRAD

August 3rd, 2011
5:26 pm

I think the birds will be signing a veteran CB that has been cut from another team (maybe even Kelvin Hayden from the Colts) and let Dante, Grimes and the unknown veteran player compete for #1, #2 and the nickle spot. I REALLY hope so anyway.

I also hope they plan to sign Snelling. If not Snelling, let’s all hope they wait for a team to cut a solid veteran RB and then sign the veteran RB to motivate Turner.

Greg Mendel

August 3rd, 2011
5:27 pm

Prob’ly shouldn’t play the games, then. August 3rd, and the season’s been decided. All that Lockout anxiety for nothing. Maybe there’ll be a League press release tomorrow.

Dang!

Hey, D-Led! Who won Super Bowl XLVI? Who was the Most Valuable Pixel?

Paddy

August 3rd, 2011
5:38 pm

Von……you are wrong. You have heard that old saying for so many years; “defense wins championships”, you start to believe it is gospel. No they don’t. You must, of course, have a good defense. But great offense wins championships at every level of football.

SeenThisB4

August 3rd, 2011
5:41 pm

Sid: I was reading where Mularkey questions Ryan’s capacity to comprehend the playbook.

SeenThisB4

August 3rd, 2011
5:48 pm

Paddy: The NFL has skewed the deck in favor of the offenses, that’s a fact. But a great defense can still stalmate a great offense. The falcan’ts have neither.

hiramsaint

August 3rd, 2011
5:56 pm

looking forward to watching the grand wizard of the offensive playbook stymie all opposing defensive coordinators this year LOL LOL. don’t y’all call for his head after every other game?. i think he and smitty will be job searching in jan. after failing to address the D in the draft this year. reminds me of what happened to ditka following the ricky williams mistake

falcon

August 3rd, 2011
6:08 pm

Would you please ask Coach Mularkey why he never calls for any screen passes? This is a great tool to use to slow down an opponent’s pass rush and the Falcons never, ever throw any screens.

hiramsaint

August 3rd, 2011
6:29 pm

who are they gonna throw them to and who’s gonna block downfield for it. it’s simply a product of a one dimensional O. Maybe with quizz but thats a lot of responsibility to put on a rookie who can get hurt if no one knows how to block for the screen.

Matt

August 3rd, 2011
6:43 pm

Seriously, can you please report on the full answers/interveiw? Some of the answers seem out of context with the question — or 100% off-the-topic.

whodat sisterz

August 3rd, 2011
7:40 pm

Why don’t y’all just give it up this season because the Saints have owned your sorry team for the last 5 years and now that you haven’t fixed your pitiful 16th ranked defence , we will continue to own you. Kiss the ring!

Sid

August 3rd, 2011
7:44 pm

The falcan’ts don’t use the screen play because Ryan can’t make that pitch. He’s got a depth perception problem.

whodat sisterz

August 3rd, 2011
8:17 pm

And Mularkey has a play calling problem…problem is , he doesn’t know how to do it!

Greg Mendel

August 3rd, 2011
8:32 pm

It’s true. The Falcons defense is not what it should be. I reckon we’ll have to put in the Seattle defense (and offense) for the Saints games.

Sorry, guys. A rebuilding team losing to the Green Bay Super Bowl champs is understandable. Losing to Seattle is inexcusable for a team that won a Super Bowl once B4. And (quoth the Raven) nevermore.

You can win a Blog Bowl, though. (Garrrghhh Saints!)

PS: I like the Saints, btw. And New Orleans.

Greg Mendel

August 3rd, 2011
8:39 pm

RIP — Bubba Smith has died at age 66.

rash

August 3rd, 2011
8:40 pm

@seenthisb4 !! wrong answer the correct answer is b… the falcons

Lord Stanley

August 3rd, 2011
9:15 pm

Lord Stanley

August 3rd, 2011
9:17 pm

Hopefuly those “Falcons Fans” that showed up for the last Eagles game stay in their own hood.

Saints fan need to stick to something they are good at. Like pickin up the trash on Borbon St

Hobbler

August 3rd, 2011
9:46 pm

All we needed to get was a DE and a Nickel Back and to keep our FAs to win a Super Bowl. Well, as of today, we still have some unfinished business.

Saints Fan

August 3rd, 2011
10:59 pm

Falcons are one injury away from disaster. Sorry not this year folks!

hiramsaint

August 3rd, 2011
11:25 pm

always 1 player away from a superbowl! same old story , new year. with that mentality – you ain’t never gettin’ a trophy.

WHO DAT BLACK

August 4th, 2011
12:05 am

Filthy birds,

You will never be rewarded with the title because you fail to realize the truth. You can’t outscore anyone!!!! Just run the ball, run play action and be predictable. Here is your sorry season.

ATL 17 vs. CHI 21
PHI 41 vs. ATL 27
ATL 21 vs. TB 14
ATL 10 vs. SEA 34
GB 48 vs. ATL 31
CAR 13 vs. ATL 21
ATL 28 vs. DET 25
ATL 19 vs. IND 30
NO 21 vs. ATL 17
TEN 13 vs. ATL 20
MIN 3 vs. ATL 24
ATL 27 vs. HOU 21
ATL 14 vs. CAR 17
JAC 0 vs. ATL 23
ATL 21 vs. NO 42
TB 17 vs. ATL 19

8-8. Field goal here and there, 9-7. Break a wing!!!

WHO DAT BLACK

August 4th, 2011
12:08 am

Oh yeah, CAR game week 14, TB game week 3 and DET game week 7 will be OT games.
Break a wing!!!!

Chris

August 4th, 2011
1:24 am

FIRE LEDBETTER

Dirty Bird Nation

August 4th, 2011
4:14 am

After that GB game, both coordinators should have been FIRED! Mularkey will never win a superbowl with his play calling. Where did the defensive coordinator come from? Troy Aikman said it best last season doing the GB lost. The defensive coordinator had NO CLUE how to DEFEND GB offense!

Mookie

August 4th, 2011
9:25 am

Every year it’s been the same trash talk from Falclowns fans like they don’t wanna understand that since Drew Brees and Sean Payton came to the Saints in 06′ they are 8-2 vs the Dirty turds. All you have to do is go to nfl.com, Go to schedule for either the Saints or Falcons, and look at the scores of our games from 06, 07, 08, 09, 10. We have been owning you !!!!!

toloberto

August 4th, 2011
12:18 pm

I for one also think Mularkys play calling could be alot more imaginative, but the truth of the matter last yr was that our offense was clearly the strength of our team.

Matt Ryan and company had to be sure that they didn’t allow the Falcons defense to be on the field too much. Because of this our offense specifically tried to play keep away and aid our defense all season. I feel that without our offense possessing the ball the majority of each game our defense would certainly have been exposed well before the playoff loss to GB.

toloberto

August 4th, 2011
12:20 pm

Does nobody see this also???? i know MM could use his players more effectively and i have still been one of his detractors but who am i to assume he wasn’t simply playing into mike smiths game plan all season long???

yeswecan

August 5th, 2011
11:29 am

Snelling will gladly resign with falcons. Falcons forgot about him when they were giving up all the money. They expect him to play for rookie pay. Ask them

bethelboy

August 6th, 2011
9:16 am

hey who dat black its better to be thought of as a fool, than to open one’s mouth and remove all doubt. good call on julio bro thats why the falcons drafted julio number 6 they needed a down feild blocker. keep it coming who dat black you really make things easy to understand even for me.