7 things wrong with the Falcons
Sporting Atlanta's version of the cheese heads, the ice heads Chris Elliott, Brian Sutton and Danny Boswell (left to right) cheer for Falcons quarterback Matt "Matty Ice" Ryan as he takes the field to play the Green Bay Packers at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2011. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com
FLOWERY BRANCH – The Falcons (2-3) will try to circle the wagons against Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers (1-4) at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Georgia Dome.
The one thing that sticks out from our chats with Falcons coach Mike Smith this week is notion that the coaches and players have to work together to right their ship.
“It starts with the coaching staff and the players,” Smith said. “We’re only going to fix this together. We’re not going to fix this individually. It’s not one person, it’s not one thing.”
Man, it sure isn’t one thing. Here’s my little list of 7 things that need some fixing.
- Penalties. They have 32 penalties through five games after being the least penalized team in the league last season with 58 penalties. Tyson Clabo’s holding made sense under the “you can’t let the quarterback get killed” doctrine. Roddy White’s penalty made sense, too. He was complaining about the late hit – that wasn’t called – when Ryan took a pop while sliding. The illegal substitution and illegal formation penalties are pee wee football penalties. Those are the ones that must be eliminated.
Matt Ryan calls an audible at the line of scrimmage during 1st half action against the Packers. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com
- Where’s the Ice Man? Quarterback Matt Ryan is not playing well (seven touchdowns, six interceptions). He had his fourth-lowest passer rating (53.6) in four seasons against the Packers. He had a 49.3 on Dec. 28, 2008 in a season-finale 31-27 win over St. Louis, a 46.6 against New Orleans in a 35-27 loss on Nov. 2, 2009, and 29.3 in the second game of his career, a 24-9 loss to Tampa Bay. The Falcons are 16-0 when he has a passer rating of 100 or more. They need the razor-sharp 100-point man going forward.
- Pass defense. The secondary is still hemorrhaging yards. They are giving up 294.2 yards per game which ranks 28th in the league. Chicago’s Jay Cutler (312), Seattle’s Tarvaris Jackson (319) and Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers (396) have all passed for more than 300 yards against the Falcons. (If Jermichael Finley doesn’t have two drops, Rodgers would have passed for more than 400 yards.)
- Pass rush. Defensive end Ray Edwards, signed to help the pass rush, only has one sack and John Abraham is battling another groin injury. Edwards acknowledged that he has been slowed by knee surgery that he had during the lockout. “It’s getting better and better each week, and it’s starting to show in my play,” Edwards said. Also, Edwards, who was signed to a six-year, $30 million contract, eased into a new role. With Minnesota he rushed solely from left end. The Falcons flip-flop their ends depending on the matchups, so he’s played some left and right end. “I’ve adjusted,” Edwards said. “Actually, my first sack came from the right side. I definitely have adjusted to it.” Perhaps the Falcons need to drop the whole notion of harassing the quarterback and actually getting them on the ground.
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Packers kicker Matt Crosby nails a long field goal over the reach of Falcons defensive end Ray Edwards. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com
Protect the Ice Man. The offensive line, with one new starter, has given up 14 sacks and 35 quarterback hits. However, they have given up only one sack in the last two games.
- Run game: Michael Turner rushed for 100 yards against Chicago and 114 against Philadelphia. The “Ground and Pound” attack has sprung Turner for 20 yards against Tampa Bay, 70 against Tampa Bay and 56 against Green Bay.
- Third down woes. The Falcons are allowing the opposition to convert on 46.3 percent of their third downs, which is 30th in the league. Curtis Lofton has a plan. “Put pressure on the quarterback,” Lofton said. “Get sacks. Sacks equal great coverage and great coverage equals sacks. We have to just keep working together and playing together as a team.” Ask if he could pinpoint the issue, Lofton said, “It’s a combination of different things.”
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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347 comments Add your comment
I say:
October 13th, 2011
3:36 pm
8. Lets get redman some snaps
9. Change the font on the Icehead hats to Stencil Bold, it’ll look better
Michael M.
October 13th, 2011
3:37 pm
7 things wrong with Falcons…..
1- wrong town
2-wrong players
3-wrong state
4-wrong plays
5-wrong Coach
6-wrong timing
7-help me out here……
Junior Miller
October 13th, 2011
3:38 pm
Jenn, Just how has the new QB coach hurt Matt Ryan? His arm was weak when he came out of college. He is a dink and dunk Quarterback, that can manage a game, if he has a running game. He can not take the team on his back and win passing. These QB’s, like Ryan win super bowls with a elite defense, which we don’t have!! He is te bottom qyuarterback in the south division, Brees, Freeman and Newton are better than Ryan.
Rising Up? The Elavator's broken
October 13th, 2011
3:38 pm
Cam Newton should look at Dun’ Nothing robinson and lick his lips.
True Falcon
October 13th, 2011
3:39 pm
Okay already… The O-line is not perfect but they cannot be totally blamed for Ryans disfunctions. Let’s look at the Green Bay game. Rogers was sacked 4 times to Ryan’s 1 and was hit far more. Who’s stat’s are better and by how much? In previous years when protected Ryan rarely throws deep and extremely rarely throws deep accurately. The entire NFL knows this and have made ADJUSTMENTS by stacking the box and pressing the receivers. Look at our receivers YAC yards. They hardly exist due to press coverage to defend the dinks and dunks. Turner’s production is down due to the crowd in and near the box. It’s not O-line, it’s not Turner, it’s not Malarky. It’s Ryan’s inability to put the ball down the field that has brought this offense to a halt.
Michael M.
October 13th, 2011
3:39 pm
heyyyyyyyyyyy……maybe we can get the Govt. to bail out the Falcons too ! ! !
JayD
October 13th, 2011
3:40 pm
Why all the excuses for Matty Ice??
Michael M.
October 13th, 2011
3:43 pm
They say marriage can ruin a man…….maybe thats what happen to him cause he did get married back a few months ago !
Michael M.
October 13th, 2011
3:44 pm
Not trying to be funny here but this Team cant beat their own Cheerleaders…at least it seems that way !
Mike Rozier
October 13th, 2011
3:46 pm
I’m a little old, put I can hit the the line faster than tip toe Turner! Why do we have Snelling, Rogers and Smith. Why not let them try and run football?
ctfalconsfan
October 13th, 2011
3:47 pm
Let’s not get too down as we’ll be .500 come Sunday at 4:01…
Andre Bruce
October 13th, 2011
3:48 pm
JayD, he has no excuses.
Michael M.
October 13th, 2011
3:50 pm
The Team is just plain out Jinxed ! Ever since the King article on SB prediction they have been cursed cause the players already had the big head from last years 13-3 season !
KennyD
October 13th, 2011
3:51 pm
Yes the play calling sinks ! Matt Ryan, still need to use more than 2 receivers a game. Jone is a rookie, Matt Ryan has thrown to Jones more this season, than he thrown to White/Gonzales/Douglas. There’s no more excuses for Matt Ryan ! TReally he need to watch films on Brees, Manning(both), Rogers, Matt Ryan release is about 8.5 seconds. He will never be the type of QB, the press hype him to be in the NFL.
Note the NFL is a passing league now, the running game has taken a backseat ! Get it together Matt Ryan ! Yes the Defense need much work ! Go Falcons !
Michael M.
October 13th, 2011
3:52 pm
Afraid its over for this year, they are a confused bunch now and cant figure out a way to fix it……so pitiful too
ATAlien
October 13th, 2011
3:52 pm
So how did you chose only 7 things wrong with the Falcons? The list could go on and on and on…
seer
October 13th, 2011
3:54 pm
An earlier comment was correct. We did have a better quarterback before Matt Ryan. His name was Shaub.
ctfalconsfan
October 13th, 2011
3:54 pm
@ True Falcon your statement : ” Turner’s production is down due to the crowd in and near the box. It’s not O-line, it’s not Turner, it’s not Malarky. It’s Ryan’s inability to put the ball down the field that has brought this offense to a halt.”
With all due respect to a True Falcon Fan your statement doesn’t add up . If the D is stuffing the box THEN IT IS INDEED MULARKEY’S responsibility to call the right plays in that situation which would be : SCREEN PASS, QUICK OUT/SLANT to WR, DRAW.
If Mularkey knows they are over loading the box why is he still calling for hand offs to Turner right into the pile!!
MULARKEY must be fired!!!
Michael M.
October 13th, 2011
3:55 pm
Either thay are jinxed or someone from New Orleans put a voodoo curse on em….but they are in shambles
Michael M.
October 13th, 2011
3:56 pm
you know those Saints fans will do anything to Win ha ! ha !
KennyD
October 13th, 2011
3:57 pm
@Mike Rozier I agree !
@JayD , I agree with you as well ! Matt is not a rookie and there’s no excuse for the way he’s playing. Matt is not a Start QB in the NFL of today ! Remember, this is a passing League now, the running game is second.
The Falcons have a 3 in 3 and Matt pass for a 20 yard and incomplete. What happen to the Hot Read (move the stick and get the 1st down)
CGD..
October 13th, 2011
4:01 pm
Ryan Ryan Ryan is a MAJOR ROAD BLOCK TO ADVANCING! HE cant carry this Franchise..Not talented enough ….
NFL FILMS HAVE CAUGHT UP TO RYAN. DONT LET TURNER BEAT U. LET THE STAR QB TRY…
CGD..
October 13th, 2011
4:04 pm
RYAN HAS GOT TO GO DEEP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Michael M.
October 13th, 2011
4:04 pm
Falcons got 11 gms left, if they get lucky they might could win 7 plus 2 wins they have is 9 and thats not enough to go into the playoffs way these other top teams are playing.
Michael M.
October 13th, 2011
4:05 pm
Ryan goes deep on another receiver then he will be hurt too !
CGD..
October 13th, 2011
4:06 pm
BENCH TURNER YESTERDAY!
Michael M.
October 13th, 2011
4:07 pm
Hes got a arm…he can throw that ball deep…..just hes got no timing hook-up with his receives to make that big play but maybe once in a blue moon.
Michael M.
October 13th, 2011
4:07 pm
I still say they are JINXED !
Michael M.
October 13th, 2011
4:10 pm
Better call Fema…. Cam Newton and the Panthers gonna blow up the Ga Dome Sunday !
Michael M.
October 13th, 2011
4:16 pm
Jinxed ! Jinxed ! Jinxed ! Jinxed ! Jinxed ! Jinxed !
skeptomania
October 13th, 2011
4:17 pm
Matt Ryan is the problem. His arm isn’t strong enough for the long pass game which we got Jones for and he can’t scramble or find the open receiver fast enough. You would think a smart guy from Boston College could make a decision where to pass a little faster.
Michael M.
October 13th, 2011
4:18 pm
oh and number 7 of what is wron with Falcons…………….. ” Jinxed ” !
nathan
October 13th, 2011
4:18 pm
@Chandler going Deep..
“When your Qb is misfiring all over the place in quarters 2,3, and 4 it just take the momentum out your teams mojo…
And it wears down your defense….”
right on…offense lagging saps the motivation and drive of the defense, keeps the on the field longer, tires them out…gotta find a way to put together longer drives and SCORE.
ctfalconsfan
October 13th, 2011
4:19 pm
Good Lord can any more of guys pile on Ryan?
The guy plays in a bad system. He’ll be fine once Mularkey is fired.
Michael M.
October 13th, 2011
4:23 pm
they wait to regular season is voer before they fire anyone..just watch n see
Old White Haired Man
October 13th, 2011
4:23 pm
seems i remember Ryan’s first pass in his first NFL game. That one went long, deep, accurate and for a touchdown…
Michael M.
October 13th, 2011
4:24 pm
I wish we had John Gruden as the Coach……he wouldnt put up with all this crap going on thru the Team !
LawDawg
October 13th, 2011
4:25 pm
So all phases of the game then? Gotcha.
Michael M.
October 13th, 2011
4:25 pm
yep…and to the receiver then canned ! Jenkins !
ctfalconsfan
October 13th, 2011
4:26 pm
@Nathan… I think your idea is the same as Mularkey’s CONTROL THE BALL!!!
This doesn’t work! We should be an explosive offense. Trying to move the ball slow and steady down the field we basically get down to the 10 and have a short field to play with..
The other issue is if it takes you ??? 17 plays (example) to score when we should score in 10 then those extra 7 snaps all open the door for penalities, turnovers, sacks, etc.
Let’s score quick and instead of having this loser mentallity of let’s hold the ball and grind it out we should have the mind set of
WE ARE GOING TO SCORE 40 POINTS ON YOU!!! so maybe we start winning game 40-38 instead of losing them 16-13..
Michael M.
October 13th, 2011
4:34 pm
Last year Atlanta had Finneran,Jenkins ( both cut this year, but caught passes to win gms last year )
White and Tony G. and were catching balls, this year ….well…we all see the dropped balls and all…enough said .
Michael M.
October 13th, 2011
4:36 pm
Ryan is missing those two receivers that got cut …they caught passes when the Team most needed it to make a first down or touchdown verses the difference to this year ..they cant make it happen.
FACTS
October 13th, 2011
4:38 pm
Why all the crying….it is obvious that Ryan is not an upper echelon QB, he cannot make the deep throws…ask Julio why his hamstring is hurting right now? Due to a terrible throw when he clearly had his man beat!!!!…..this team is not going anywhere soon, they have mediocre coaches & overrated talent….the reality of winning lucky has set in…..Green Bay is the perfect example of putting together a franchise from top to bottom….NoodleArm Ryan will never get that first post season victory!!!!!
Michael M.
October 13th, 2011
4:39 pm
Whos crying about it ? The Team is Jinxed ….cant yah read ?
Double Zero Eight
October 13th, 2011
4:40 pm
Ryan can throw the ball long only if he
has time to plant his feet. He has no trust
in his “o” line and you can’t much blame him.
Turner is basically a fullback. You know 9
out of 10 times he is going to run up the middle.
Mularkey needs to mix up the play calling. The
opponent pretty much knows what is coming, and
might as well be in the huddle.
We have the players to be explosive, especially
once Julio Jones is healthy again. A good analogy
would be Mularkey owning a Corvette but only driving
it a maximum of 50 miles per hour.
ctfalconsfan
October 13th, 2011
4:43 pm
Double Zero… U r one of the only ones on this blog that really understands the situation..Thanks for your intelligent comments!!
Michael M.
October 13th, 2011
4:44 pm
Turner cant run sideways he cant do the stop n go on a dime or make the cuts…..hes a straight ahead or to the right straight ahead power back !
Hes tough though !
They need McFadden type runner to do all that dash and dart and explosive style of running !
FACTS
October 13th, 2011
4:45 pm
Here comes the Abyss Falcon fans…..a lost to a rookie GA native on a one win team…. will definately expose this team for what it is worth….I hate Fantasy football, but Steve Smith will have a historic day against Dunta Robinson mark it down!!!
Michael M.
October 13th, 2011
4:47 pm
they need to let that rabbit they bought run the ball more and see what he can do, the Rodgers guy and keep Turner fresh for late in the game and towards the goal line .
Michael M.
October 13th, 2011
4:48 pm
Michael M.
October 13th, 2011
4:10 pm
Better call Fema…. Cam Newton and the Panthers gonna blow up the Ga Dome Sunday !
Already beat cha FACTS