7 reasons to ‘Back away from the ledge’
Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones said he looked up too late for the ball. (Associated Press)
BIRDLAND – Here are my seven reasons to back away from the ledge.
I’m sensing that the Falcon Nation did not have a very good weekend after the 34-16 loss to Pittsburgh on Saturday night. (I went to see my neighbor/season-ticket holder George. He normally likes to talk Falcons, but he was paying bills. Anybody would rather talk football than pay bills!)
It seems like folks are ready to jump off of buildings and bandwagons. Why? The Falcons, the defending NFC South champs, haven’t even reached the season-opener yet.
I watched the game again on the NFL Network on Sunday and came away with
The Vince Lombardi Trophy on display at the Super Bowl. (D. Orlando Ledbetter/AJC)
seven reasons to back away from the ledge:
- Jacquizz Rodgers can run without blocking. He made guys miss in the backfield and still was gaining yards. So, hmmm, what would he do with some blocking?
- Chris Redman can’t play quarterback without blocking. The reserve line made him look bad. Tight end Marquez Branson almost got Redman decapitated on one play. However, I don’t know what Redman was thinking on the pass to Kerry Meier. He tried to thread the needle with two defenders surrounding Meier? That’s how 95-yard touchdown returns happen.
- The Falcons have two punt returners. Eric Weems and Dominique Franks are electric on punt returns.
- Who’s the referee who called pass interference on tight end Tony Gonzalez? We need to check his ref card.
- The Falcons threw 42 passes in the first half because they were working on their no-huddle attack and pass protection. Normally, they would have worked on the no-huddle during OTAs.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward (86) tries to break a tackle by Arizona Cardinals cornerback Roderick Hood (26) during the first quarter of the NFL Super Bowl XLIII football game, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2009, in Tampa, Fla. The former UGA standout is now an accomplished ballroom dancer, too. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
- It was Pittsburgh. They’re usually pretty good. I heard they’ve won at least a couple of those shiny Vince Lombardi trophies.
- Julio Jones will make that catch next time.
Here’s the rewind story from the game:
Most starters played deep into the third quarter, but the Falcons were thumped 34-16 by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday night at Heinz Field.
The defeat dropped the Falcons to 0-3 in the exhibition season.
“We made way too many mistakes offensively, defensively and special teams,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “We gave up too many explosive plays there in the first half.”
What we learned
1. Pass defense must improve. Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger, who was on pace to throw for 428 yards, shredded the Falcons’ pass defense. On a 77-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Brown, Brent Grimes nearly made a spectacular pass breakup at Pittsburgh’s 45, but it was a score nonetheless. The swift Brown split safeties William Moore and Thomas DeCoud and outran them to the end zone. On a 44-yard TD pass, Brown was flanked to the left with Dominique Franks in coverage. He ran a post and got behind Franks. Roethlisberger stepped up in the pocket inside of defensive end Ray Edwards, who was on the ground, and threw to the end zone.
2. Julio Jones is fast. The fleet receiver can get open deep. He zoomed past Pittsburgh’s star safety Troy Polamalu, but dropped the pass in the end zone. “I looked early and put my head down, trying to make up some ground,” Jones said. “I just looked too late when I got to the end zone. That’s no excuse. I still have to make that play.”
3. Edwards will help the pass rush. Edwards did not record a sack in his debut with the Falcons, but he had some good pressure. With the Steelers worried about the perimeter rushers, John Abraham and Edwards, defensive tackles Jonathan
Matt Ryan completed 22 of 42 passes for 210 yards with a TD and an interception in a loss to Pittsburgh. (Associated Press)
Babineaux and Vance Walker broke free for sacks. Edwards and Abraham switched sides several times, with Edwards rushing from the right and Abraham rushing from the left. The Falcons also dropped Edwards into coverage at least three times. It’s reasonable to conclude that the Falcons didn’t sign him to a five-year, $30 million contract because of his coverage skills.
Injury report
No injuries for the Falcons were announced during the game. However, Smith said a couple of players left the game with injuries and did not return. Center Todd McClure (knee) was among them. Smith said he’d have a full report on Monday. Defensive tackle Corey Peters (knee), cornerback Dunta Robinson (hamstring) and defensive end Lawrence Sidbury (ankle) did not play. Peters likely won’t play against Baltimore in the exhibition season finale, while Robinson has a shot. Both have been rehabbing with the training staff.
The numbers game
42
The Falcons threw 42 passes in the first half. They wanted to unleash the passing attack and get a good read on Garrett Reynolds and Mike Johnson in pass protection against the Steelers’ vaunted 3-4 defense. Both held up well in their battle for the starting right guard spot.
23
Kicker Matt Bryant made all three of his f
These two have to get the pass defense figured out. Here, Falcons defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder emphasies a point with head coach Mike Smith during defensive drills with players in the first padded practice at training camp in Flowery Branch on Monday, August 1, 2011. Curtis Compton ccompton@ajc.com
ield-goal attempts from 23, 30 and 46 yards. He has made all eight of his field-goal attempts in the exhibition season and, dating back to last season, Bryant has converted 23 straight field-goal attempts.
13
The number of players who caught passes against the Steelers, including Kevin Cone, the former Georgia Tech receiver, who had one catch for nine yards.
Sound bite
“Those are some of the plays that we just need to make. It was good really on both ends. We kind of got the ball to the right spot. We just have to come down with those. Julio has made those plays before in college and he’s going to make plenty of those plays for us.”
– Quarterback Matt Ryan on Jones dropping a deep pass in the end zone.
Loose ends
Ryan completed 22 of 42 passes for 220 yards with a touchdown and an interception. His 10-yard touchdown pass to Roddy White was his third of the exhibition season. … Eric Weems set up the Falcons’ lone touchdown drive with a 48-yard punt return. … Jones was the team’s second-leading receiver with five catches for 59 yards. … Running back Jacquizz Rodgers led the team in rushing with 38 yards on seven carries. … Wide receiver Harry Douglas, who’s having a strong exhibition season, had three catches for 31 yards and had a touchdown-saving tackle. … Safety William Moore led the team in tackles with six. … Tight end Tony Gonzalez was called for offensive pass interference to nullify a 2-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter.
What’s next
Atlanta (0-3) plays Baltimore (2-1) at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Georgia Dome. The Ravens defeated the Redskins 34-31 on Thursday.
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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196 comments Add your comment
KQuark
August 29th, 2011
5:18 pm
My only worries are the DB giving up the big play and our kicking game. I hope the rookie kicker will developed but for now Koenen will be greatly missed.
If I was Dimitroff and Smith I would be scouring that waiver wire for an experienced DB and pick up another player like Brian Williams like they did a couple years ago.
Chandler going Deep..
August 29th, 2011
5:21 pm
JSS u DA MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Say it Dude!!!!!! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
ICEMELT AINT THE ONE……………..Yawn………..
Eagles 42, Falcons 24 Sunday nigh 9-18-11 on NBC. Let the games begin!
Chandler going Deep..
August 29th, 2011
5:25 pm
If Butter ball does not get off..Game over…
Brian
August 29th, 2011
5:49 pm
Earlier in the game, Gonzo had his defender beat, so the linebacker covering him held onto his jersey and tackled him as he went for the ball. Why was there no call on that one?
coleski
August 29th, 2011
5:56 pm
Fellows, we are talking about the Atlanta Falcons. The bigger the swagger, the sorrier the play. I said earlier
10-6 or 9-7, but I believe I need to drop it to 8-8. Sorry, I just don’t see the improvement. So it’ll probably be
another rough season.
falconfever74
August 29th, 2011
6:00 pm
coleski who is your team or they that horrible that u have to come into a falcons blog to see what it feels like to be a winner
falconfever74
August 29th, 2011
6:06 pm
most of u people in this blog would be great marketers for a wellbutrin ad. i mean come on csi isnt as picky. some of u keep saying the falcons gave up all these points against the steelers well the beloved patroits gave up the same amount this weekend
Just looking
August 29th, 2011
6:12 pm
test
Just looking
August 29th, 2011
6:12 pm
Hey Falcon folk.
I remember as a kid playing a game called Frogger. The frog would jump all over the screen trying to get across the street and logs. You smallish CB Brent Grimes reminds me of that frog. Watching the game I couldn’t help but notice how he was jumping all over the place trying to intercept passes. Alot of blame was placed on your safeties but this guy needs to calm down on the jumping for INTs. I think recent success has went to his head and he is trying to INT everything.
Just looking
August 29th, 2011
6:24 pm
oh yeah..that lil Quizz Rodgers need some reps with the first team..he is very shifty
tom
August 29th, 2011
6:24 pm
You describe Grimes almost spectacular pass break-up as though it was great. Duh! Touchdown Steelers.
Killer
August 29th, 2011
6:27 pm
It was just a preseason game, so no one should get their panties in a wad. I have a feeling that these two teams will next meet in the Super Bowl. The Falcons did not look that bad considering they were still in a practice mode and were not looking to win the game. Overall a good performance as the next game will be played mostly by the reserves.
Cornerback Smurf
August 29th, 2011
6:35 pm
I wish I was taller.
Voice of Reason
August 29th, 2011
6:46 pm
I keep hearing reports of the Falcons secondary getting “shredded,” “destroyed,” “exposed,” etc… by Big Ben, and I’ve got to say that I don’t think it’s accurate. Green Bay exposed the Atl pass defense. They could not be stopped. Rodgers was completing at will. Big Ben, on the other hand, was 11/16 for 214 and two TDs. Two big plays, both inches from being knocked down / picked. INCHES. If those two plays are incomplete (77 and 44 yards) he’s 9/16 for 93, and maybe a pick. Those are pedestrian numbers. Granted, the plays weren’t made, but when the differences is that small between what he got and pedestrian numbers, that indicates that our pass D DID NOT get “shredded.” Relax.
rt
August 29th, 2011
6:47 pm
I think our kicker/punter may be a big downgrade.
Steven A.
August 29th, 2011
6:54 pm
Trade the “burner”while he still has value. 2nd round pick?
I would find a way to start Jaquizz Rodgers. Best 5th rounder this year.
Just looking
August 29th, 2011
6:56 pm
Voice
if Aaron Rodgers would of missed on his 2 biggest plays his numbers would have been pedestrian as well….think about what your saying..that goes for any game on all levels
TDnoclue
August 29th, 2011
6:57 pm
Looks like we drafted the wrong Bama player. I think N.O. got the better player and we needed someone to replace Turner.
Just looking
August 29th, 2011
7:00 pm
TDnoclue
the only thing concerned me on the Julio dropped pass and how ackward he looked. He didnt look comfortable at all going for the ball. He even banged his chin on the ground..he looked a bit hurt but I think it was more embarassing for him…he need to work on that..but your right..that Ingram kid does look nice.
woodie
August 29th, 2011
7:41 pm
Do we have a 1st round pick next year ?
Columbus
August 29th, 2011
7:45 pm
Panic? Who is panicing? It’s preseason of a lockout year. The starters look fine. It’s early. Are the little girlie-men panicing? It amazes me every year there are alwasy little girls talking about how the coaches need to be fired and this player needs to go and we need to get thsi and that and tdade this peroson and go get that person. It happens every year in every sport. baseball fans are the worst on these blogs. they know nothing about baseball and want to dismantle the team after 3 weeks. It’s preseason. Will the Falcons go undefeated? No. Will they have a losing season? No. Will they make the playoffs? Yes. Will their record be as good as last years? I doubt it. Will the team actually be better than last year? Absolutely Yes.
Falcons want to win, every team wants to win. But this is more about getting in game shape, trying different things with different players and putting the team together. Does anyone actually think that the Falcons will not be dominating at home again? Does anyone think that opposing defenses are going to have nightmares about our offense? Do you not think that our offense will wear defenses down and just get better and better as the game goes along and put up 30 points a game? Then show your intellect and your gender little girls.
Hobbler
August 29th, 2011
7:57 pm
I agree, we need a #3 Vet DB/Nickelback. No Owens or Franks in the lineup this year please or we will be doomed to repeat history.
Hobbler
August 29th, 2011
8:08 pm
We need to sign someone with a stronger leg to kick off like #5 from Pittsburg. Waters (I think) was kicking it too deep in the enzone for us to run it out. Bosher hits short line drives that will kill us this year.
Aints Got No Class
August 29th, 2011
8:17 pm
Columbus,
Best comment yet!
Matt Ryan overrated
August 29th, 2011
8:34 pm
0-3 don’t fool your self if it walk like a duck look like a duck and sounds like a duck it must be a duck. they are not looking like world beater or NFC south beater. Two big holes for the Falcons. one passing over the top of the defense. Two If run game go south so does the falcons. they have to keep a lead because Matt will not win it by him self. He will do a lot of look up from the ground this year!
Aints Got No Class
August 29th, 2011
8:49 pm
Matt Ryan overrated,
You sure know a lot about ducks. I bet you don’t like dogs though.
Delbert D.
August 29th, 2011
8:53 pm
Surely the roster cuts in the league will turn up a KO guy better than Bosher. Also, after 3 years it’s disturbing that Sam Baker almost got Ryan killed on a pass play.
Voice of Reason
August 29th, 2011
9:04 pm
Just looking –
You’re wrong about Rogers. In that playoff blowout, he hit 31/36 for 366 and 3 TDs. His longest pass was 30 and was not a TD His long TD was 20. Let’s say we take out 50 yards on two passes and one TD and we get 29/36 for 306 yards and 2 TDs. Hardly pedestrian. If we project Ben’s hypothetical 9/16 for 93 to match Rodgers’ attempts, we would get approximately 20/32 for 210. See the difference?
Reality Check
August 29th, 2011
9:28 pm
From Prison to 100 MILLION.
Just sayin……………
SeenThisB4
August 29th, 2011
9:42 pm
DLed: You think this week’s game will be the last push some of these guys that are on the proverbial ledge are going to need?
You know what blows my mind is the number of people who actually think that the falcan’ts can improve their squad by picking up some of the discards from other teams this week. How shallow can the depth problem be for the falcan’ts? Wow!
Mike
August 29th, 2011
9:45 pm
Ok so I am understanding this right…Ryan is weak, Julio is a bust, Turner is slow, the O-line can’t block, Edwards is no good, Abe is old, LB’s can’t tackle, DB’s can’t cover…our punter/kicker has a weak leg…. coaching is terrible, TD must be a total joke…while we are at it let’s have Blank sell the team to an owner that is passionate about winning. Fans in Cleveland will be happy to get the #1 overall pick in next years draft. Oh can’t stop there, I am sure there is even some criticism out there for Freddie Falcon. Oh yeah, our cheerleaders skirts are not short enough…. ok think that covers every one. Here’s to another terrible year of Falcon Football.
Just looking
August 29th, 2011
10:10 pm
Voice of Reason
The bottom line is that in 1 half of footall Big Then went 11/16 for 214 yds. Yet, to make yourself feel better your saying the 2 big plays shouldnt count and if they didnt it would be 93 yards…..I’m sorry but that is stupid..the 2 big plays did count..that is why you play the game..they went for those plays..it wasnt a fumble it was a actual pass(es) that went for 6pts…
also see the difference if you take Big Ben actual numbers 11/16 and 214, you’d get 22/32 428 yds and 4 TDS…see i took his actual numbers for the game…not your whatif numbers.
Just looking
August 29th, 2011
10:16 pm
Voice of Reason
Dude I can’t believe your actually trying to take away Big Ben 2 deep throws for 6pts and saying the defense was ok if you get rid of those…that is the craziest thing I have heard. We got to be more realistic then that. There was deep passes in the Miami game, Jax game and now the Steeler game…see the pattern….secondary issues with Green Bay exposed in the playoffs.
Just looking
August 29th, 2011
10:30 pm
Mike
The only sarcastic point you made that I sincerely believe is the one about the DBs. All 3 pre-season games the DBs/secondary have been burned
Voice of Reason
August 29th, 2011
10:30 pm
Just Looking –
I’m not saying our secondary is fine. Those kinds of plays are the plays that lose games. No question. And, as a Falcons fan, I hate to see it. To say, however, that that game is similar to getting burned in the playoffs is totally off. Green Bay couldn’t help but complete a pass. I don’t think Rodgers could’ve thrown an incompletion if he’d wanted to. The two big ones from the Steelers game would’ve bothered me a lot more if there had been separation or dropped coverages. That was not the case. CB was in position and almost, but did not, make the play. The sky is not falling.
Just looking
August 29th, 2011
10:41 pm
Voice,
All I know is the last 4 games..playoffs and pre-season the secondary has been torched. Once the league figure our a weakness they will exploit it like he11. This offense better get explosive like they have been saying all off-season
DrJ
August 29th, 2011
10:41 pm
Went to the replay to check out the Gonzo “interference”, and the DB had his hand on TG’s arm, and when Tony pulled away the DB lost his balance and fell down, he wasn’t pushed. So the call went for the hometown crowd. Should have been a TD.
Ryan had a bunch of good passes, but two that stood out to me were the one to White in the endzone that was a laser past a DB that was covering Douglas and in between a few more in the EZ. And the 60 yarder attemp to Julio in the endzone was a perfect spiral all the way, on target, with no fade. Quite a throw. So I don’t think we have to worry about his arm strengh.
Just looking
August 29th, 2011
10:51 pm
DrJ
Yeah that was just a flat out drop by JJ. He didnt look to comfortable during that seqence of laying out for the ball. I hope he correct that. Looked like he was nervous. Nerves leaves to drops which was the dang knock on him…arghhhhhh!!!
(cursed) of rotten roddy white
August 30th, 2011
12:09 am
ur team is JInKs u r doomed 12 more days u see u a ll w ill s e e
DR. FALCON
August 30th, 2011
12:22 am
D-LED, WHO THE HELL IS ANTONIO BROWN? LOOKS LIKE OUR SECONDARY HAS NOT RECOVERED OR GOTTEN ANY BETER SINCE THAT GREEN BAY DEBACLE! 77YD TD’S IN THE 3RD PRESEASON GAME IS NOT COOL! WAIT UNTIL WE PLAY DESEAN JACKSON, OR CALVIN JOHNSON, OR GREG JENNINGS! SH@#T!!!
Drizzy Swagghard
August 30th, 2011
12:37 am
I think the offense will be pretty good & the defense will be improved because the starters have showed flashed of brilliance when in the games. I am very concerned with the kick off man/punter & the coverage units. They have been terrible. If you are not a true fan stay off the blog & ride some other teams bandwagon. Atlanta Falcons will be a playoff team in 2011.
Mike
August 30th, 2011
7:18 am
JUST LOOKING- I think the secondary is a valid concern. Spec teams looks shaky as well. Just reading some of the post in here you would think we were coming off the 2007 campaign. I am disappointed by the results of the last meaningful game that we played, however I am not looking to dwell on it. A new season begins with Chicago in a couple of weeks. I think this team is going to be better than last year…however the record may not reflect it due to their schedule.
Bird Dawg Country
August 30th, 2011
1:45 pm
Harry Douglas is faster…..somebody mentioned Julio dropped a lot of passes in school…haven’t seen too much to form opinion, but hope it’s not true. He sure did drop an easy one Saturday. Looked like he was thinking more of running than catching….
Funny, one of the picture captions reads “these two(Smith and DC) have to get the pass defense figured out”.
They should have one that says Smith and OC need to get the scoring opportunities figured out….this team should easily average 30 points a game with that offensive talent.
Bird Dawg Country
August 30th, 2011
1:48 pm
And how was that for some “long ball” that Matty threw to Julio in stride, on target…
Bite on that Matty haters
Chandler going Deep...
August 30th, 2011
3:19 pm
#7 live conference on ESPNews
Mrsbanks
August 30th, 2011
11:52 pm
I am a ride or die Falcon Fan but I just don’t have a good feeling about this year….Julio Jones was a great addition but what about the defense??? Specifically, the secondary….why wasn’t this addressed in the draft…free agency….is it too late????