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.
-
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
Get instant updates on Twitter at AJCFalcons and you can join the Facebook Fan page at AJC Falcons.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
347 comments Add your comment
nobody
October 13th, 2011
4:49 pm
falcons should move the franchise somewhere…anywhere… else…they would be far happier….and so would we
Michael M.
October 13th, 2011
4:50 pm
I think if they changed thier name to somethin else it would be a plus ha! ha !
eturn
October 13th, 2011
4:51 pm
If Carolina comes in here and win over the Falcons,,,its all over for the season..Players will start to not believe in the system that Mike Smith been preaching… The coaches better get it right…or heads will roll. But heads need to roll anyway.. MM BVG must go.. and Mike Smith also because the buck stops with him.. He said he makes the final decisions of plays.
JayCool 4DABirds
October 13th, 2011
4:52 pm
Falcons will be fine, you guys just watch. The talent is there, and though it doesn’t look like it right now, we have a good coaching staff. When this plane takes off don’t expect it to land. I like this team more than any other team I’ve seen in Atlanta. BTW GB started out 3-3 last year.
Michael M.
October 13th, 2011
4:55 pm
Im aboard that ship and hope you right JayCool later people got things to do !
Peion Deion
October 13th, 2011
5:05 pm
7 things wrong with Falcons are not named Lofton, Spoon, Babineau,& Moore. The rest of the D is the problem! Jerry, Dunta,& Edwards please stand up???
Bob
October 13th, 2011
5:17 pm
Our defense can be summed up in three words…over-rated, over-the-hill, and over-paid. Also, not much talent there either.
hammbone
October 13th, 2011
5:33 pm
dunta robinson needs to earn his money also sam baker and thomas decoud needs to start being aggressive. The falcons need to used sidbury more on pass rushes. We need a screen game to help slow the rush down and i am gone.
dawg4u
October 13th, 2011
5:44 pm
The key is for the Falcon offense to just get 3 1/2 yards average on first and second down. That means 3rd and 3 not 3rd and 10 or 3rd and 12. The defense is guessing on 3rd and 3 and licking their chops on 3rd down with 10 or 12 yards to go which has been our season basically. A team that finished 13-3 last year shouldn’t have too much trouble figuring out how to average just 3 1/2 yards per play with all of our weapons. Keep that defense rested and off the field as long as possible. That’s how we can figure it out!
Leeman Bennett
October 13th, 2011
5:57 pm
Obviously, we all agree that cajnges need to be made to see the Falcons sud=cceed at the next level. Reading all the comments above , you can see that the number one concern is coaching and the number two is personne. I believe we have good personnel. Let’s change the coaching before it is too late and see what happens.
Leeman Bennett
October 13th, 2011
6:01 pm
Sorry about the typos above. I’m a coach, not a personal; assistant.
hiramsaint
October 13th, 2011
6:10 pm
the coaching problem seems to be very evident to all …except the coaches-imagine that! GEAUX PANTHERS!!!
PlanB
October 13th, 2011
6:15 pm
Trade Ryan to who ever gets the first pick if possible. Do this while he has some credibility. Pick the best QB with a good arm. They get smart and experience and we get a good QB.
mrbjgus
October 13th, 2011
6:27 pm
Falcons need a new offensive coordinator. Offense is to predictible. Rarely runs screen plays, reverses or counters. And the QB does not have a strong arm. That is why he does not go deep often. He under throws the recievers. No quick slant plays. All Atlanta needs to do is look at the plays that teams hurt them with and try to run the same plays against the other teams. Some colleges run a better offense then Atlanta.
falconsfansince1966
October 13th, 2011
6:36 pm
The problem is with the coaching staff; In today’s NFL, you can’t sit on the ball after gaining a 14 lead;We came out in the second half on Sunday, RUNNING THE BALL, instead spreading out the offense and wearing the defense down; See how GB did it??? The staff CONSISTENTLY does this
Todd A.
October 13th, 2011
6:39 pm
Looks like the honeymoon is over with Dimitroff. All these areas of weakness listed are his responsibility, and the players he brought here haven’t panned out. Drafting Sam “whiff” Baker in the 1st round is bad enough, but we actually moved up in the draft to select him. Every year, Ryan is being exposed as a good qb, just not an elite or franchise qb. We could have kept Matt Schaub and been just as functional at qb. We can win with him imo, if we have a superior running game and great ol (both of which we don’t have). Ray Edwards and Dunta Robinson to bolster the pass rush and secondary respectively have also been big misses. Now it’s looking like the decision to move up and draft Julio Jones was not a great idea. It hasn’t impacted the offense as expected, and we lost several needed draft picks to shore up the defense. Not to mention, some of his 1st round selections just aren’t having a major impact: Witherspoon hasn’t lived up to his draft position, and the GM ignored Pera Jerry’s injury history at Ole Miss and took him high as well. It’s time for some of Dimitroff’s decisions to be scrutinized for once. Trying to emulate the Patriots model is a Nobel concept, but we don’t have Tome Brady and Belichick.
DR. FALCON
October 13th, 2011
7:07 pm
HOW IN THE WORLD CAN YOU NOT SINGLE OUT SAM BAKER?! HE GETS CLOWNED EVERY WEEK WHEN ONE COG BREAKS DOWN ON THE 0-LINE, IT MAKES THE WHOLE UNIT BREAK DOWN! WHY HE IS STILL EARNING A PAYCHECK IS A MYSTERY! I’LL SAY IT AGAIN, I WILL TAKE A 49 YEAR OLD BILL FRALIC OVER A WASHED UP 4TH YEAR FORMER 1ST ROUND PICK! UGH!!!!!!
Run4ever
October 13th, 2011
7:27 pm
Who or what fans are we expected to hear in the Dome on Sunday? If it was anything like last Sunday, this would be a sad case of the Phillips Arena mentality, whereby away teams come in and their fan also show up and out cheer the home fans. This is pathetic and I’m surprised that no one in the Falcons organization, maybe except Blank referenced anything about it. There will be Cam Newton fans just as loud cheering against the Falcons when Matt has the ball, so forget about a quiet playcalling day. The Hawks fans are used to it-and have permeated into the football arena. Instead of booing J. Smooth-they will boo J-Birds.
Run4ever
October 13th, 2011
7:32 pm
The run game is in our DNA. So why aren’t we patient? We have to run the ball period. That doesn’t mean we can’t be creative with the run. Who has the best running game in the NFL? Figure it out and don’t copy, but emulate and add your own twist to the mix. That is-if running the ball is in your “DNA”.
E
October 13th, 2011
7:34 pm
Words of the rap group Public Enemy back in the 80’s (Don’t Believe The HYPE!!)
Run4ever
October 13th, 2011
7:49 pm
My favorite team in the early eighties was the NY G-Men, with LT. Phil Simms at qb. Phil wasn’t a great passer as well, kinda reminds me of Matt. But the G-Men has the running game. They had Dave Meggett. They had Rodney Hampton, Otis Anderson, etc. They were a unit. They ran hard, and they played hard. L.T. would roam the backfield and other teams feared him like a pit bull on the loose. With these new NFL feather touch rules out now, L.T. would’ve never been “LT”. So I say this: if you gonna hit someone-hit to hurt them because you gonna pay $$ and be suspended anyway. The nastyness of football is what made football, football. Now adays, it’s unreasonable for defensive players to put up and stop on a dime to avoid hitting the qb, rb, te, or the wr. Just think about the time when helmets were made of leather! The offense has to pick it up and score as many points as possible-because they can’t predict how the defense will hold the opponents yards per catch, and give up the conservatism-it won’t work in football and it hasn’t worked in the NBA, as well. The Hawks and other teams have built in sizable lead and played not to lose and as a result, loss the game. Be like the Lakers-or should I dare to say-the Mavs, who had the killer instinct.
jalex49
October 13th, 2011
8:33 pm
It is what it is ! Maybe next year? I’m not sure I’m ready to throw in the towel on this team but if I were a betting man, I have to believe unless something changes soon, the season is over for the Falcons.
I don’t want to point fingers but I will say I’m deeply dissappointed. I thought even with loss last year to Green Bay, the Falcons were a complete team?
Still a Falcon fan and always will be. I stood with them when they were 1-13, and 12-4 and lost the Super Bowl to Denver. I can still support them in this moment, with their struggles. I am not a flip-flop type fan with the teams I like.
I don’t have an answer as to what’s wrong with the team but I must admit there were some free-agents the team passed on that are playing well with other teams. At least we don’t have the “Dream team”
mattel! That’s got to be a nightmare for Philly?
Coaching? Players? Lack of Confidence? Who knows, We saw this in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s with the falcons and it took until the 90’s before something started to really go right. I just hope it doesn’t take that long again !
Go Falcons!!!!!
PlanB
October 13th, 2011
8:51 pm
We still have a pretty good team but I think most of us agree some changes have to be made to be competitive. I’m thinking mostly coaches, but I do think TD has made his share of mistakes too. Injuried choices. Making picks that would have been there in the next round and only players they think will not have any trouble with. Bosher, Oops.
playcalling?
October 13th, 2011
9:18 pm
change the playcalling? that’s like rearranging the deck chairs on the titantic. This team is a wreck and will not get better. Too many overpaid stiffs at key positions. The ATL will not make the playoffs–take it to the bank.
ATL > panthers!
October 13th, 2011
9:20 pm
Bet the house–atlanta will figure a way to beat newton and carolina! newton’s overrated and will get some INTs!
techmule
October 13th, 2011
9:59 pm
wrong head coach ,offense coach,and surely 100% wrong defense coach.i sure hate 2 say it but wrong quarter back 2.he just ain’t tough enough.want and can’t take a hit for his team.all players give up 2 quick (coaches fought) on every play.wrong running back(turner)for the team he”s 2 slow .
William Smith
October 13th, 2011
10:00 pm
To me the biggest problem for the Falcons has always been judgement of talent. The Colts have Peyton Manning but even they know his days are numbered and so they are looking at the drafting of Andrew Luck. The Packers had Brett Favre but they realized they had reached the limit of upside and they turned to Aaron Rodgers. The Falcons now have a choice. Will they have a short passing slow footed quarterback and waste draft choices to get home run receivers or will they run a ball control short passing game and use all there draft choices to build a great defense.
Matt
October 13th, 2011
10:09 pm
I don’t think the lockout has affected anyone as bad as the falcons. If they get to 500 this year it would be a blessing. I think they will be back next year. I honestly don’t care how many games we win as long as we win a championship.
Birdthethird
October 13th, 2011
10:43 pm
ROTFL at ‘Heads Will Roll’! Finally Matt Ryan is being called out. I didn’t think he was elite last year. In time though. Problem is we want it now. We don’t have next year….
Runner-
October 13th, 2011
11:18 pm
No special teams mention?? Bosher? Kickoffs? Big part of why the other team is getting much better feild position each time out.
west coast offense
October 13th, 2011
11:38 pm
if you guys don’t know what a west coast offense is, then watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dA2BKf6UWko
Kris G
October 14th, 2011
12:16 am
I don’t blame Mularkey, even though he could be better. I think you have it backwards. I think he has some creative play calling, but there aren’t a lot of directions to go once the defense adjusts. There’s only so much that can be masked, especially with a weak O-line, and a weak secondary.
Stepchild
October 14th, 2011
12:25 am
Falcons are in trouble. They made a big mistake of trying to build a Saint/Packer/Patriot like offense without having the pieces to do so. It’s like trying to make an elephant run a sprint against a cheetah….aint no way he gonna win.
The first thing you need is an elite QB. If you have one you call tons of pass plays…because it puts the ball in your best players hands. Matt Ryan is not the best player…..but who is??
The Falcons are meant to have time eating methodical drives…it’s the only way they can win. Limit the other teams possessions & keep their offense watching.
Win the field position battle…have your opponent put together 80yd+ drives….this requires good special teams play…..ooops we’ve got Bosher.
Kris G
October 14th, 2011
12:26 am
I think Matt Ryan is decent, maybe good, but definitely not elite. It’s possible he’ll get better. Roddy needs to tighten up, he’s the biggest star we have. Dimitroff is the weak link. Too many injuries ignored when we draft and sign. Too many big misses. Too much focus on skill positions. Too many picks traded away.
Grounded Falcon
October 14th, 2011
2:58 am
From reading all these blogs I can tell the ,so called, Falcon fans are upset and ready to jump ship! I will say it’s not much fun seeing them play this way, but they’re only 2-3. Give’em a chance to turn it around! These are the same coachs that coach this team to a 13-3 record last year. I beleive, and I’m no coach, that the other teams have caught on to the Falcon’s coaching style and system! The coaches need to change up their system somehow. I beleive in these coaches and I think they will get it done! Lest we forget all those glory years in the past with Rankin Smith and the coaches we had. Norm Van Brocklin, Leeman Bennett, Jerry Glandville, Etc…
My point is this coaching staff and owner gave the Falcons their first back to back winning seasons Ever… Let me repeat that, Ever!!!! I’ve been a suffering fan since 1970. But I’m still around, pulling for them! Bandwagon fans take a hike! No punn intended.
I’m sure that if this current coaching staff doesn’t make the necessary adjustments then Arthur Blank will do what he has to do to keep the team moving forward. I do think some of you bloggers have some suggestions with merrit. It looks like the offensive line needs to find their identity! Also, I would like to see our young defensive line rachet up their intensity and not let the opposing quarterback breathe very often, at the very least, not get comfortable. It would be nice to see plays that were design to augment the FAlcon’s strength’s instead of their weeknesses. Thankyou for your time! and GO FALCONS!!!!!
Mr. Panic Button
October 14th, 2011
7:31 am
Don’t mean to sould so negative, but I don’t believe this coaching staff is capable of improving this team’s play. Shoot, they can’t even adjust between first and second half of the game. Ryan is definitely regressing. I don’t know if it’s because of all the hits he’s taken lately and prematurely panics or what. I have noticed he rushes the play and doesn’t give it time to develop–even when the defense hasn’t gotten to him yet. Defense is just as much of a mess. Even if the offense scored 30 points the defense cannot stop the opponent from coming back. Time to rebuild the way we should have to begin with like Detroit did (inside the trenches). We need to shore up the OL and DL with some nasty bohemoths. Additionally, Dimitroff needs to stop going after these midwest small school players and draft players from perennial contenders who come from a winning tradition.
OPEN YOUR EYES
October 14th, 2011
9:11 am
@ MR. PANIC BUTTON- YEAH I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY TD IS SO OBSESSED WITH DRAFTING GUYS FROM SMALLER COLLEGES!!!! IT REALLY IS A PAIN IN THE ASS TO WATCH BUST AFTER BUST EACH AND EVERY YEAR AND I JUST CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE!!!!! WHY THE HELL WOULD YOU DRAFT A PUNTER IN THE 3RD ROUND REALLY JUST BOGGLES MY MIND!!! HE NEEDS TO “OPEN HIS EYES” AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO DRAFT!!!!
THOMAS NEEDS TO LEARN THAT THIS ISN’T PATRIOTS, YOU CAN’T JUST DRAFT WHOEVER AND EXPECT THEM TO BE A “DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH”. THAT ONLY WORKS FOR TEAMS LIKE THE PATRIOTS WHO ACTUALLY UTILIZE THEIR TALENTS AND MAKE THEM BETTER!!! ON THE OTHER HAND FALCONS ARE NOT ABLE TO UTILIZE THEIR DRAFT PICKS TALENTS TO THEIR HIGHEST ABILITIES AND THAT IS WHY WE SEE BUST AFTER BUST AFTER BUST!!!!!!
The REAL dream team
October 14th, 2011
9:53 am
Have faith…. This is what will happen… We will win this Sunday and become 3-3. NO will take care of TB and drop them also to 3-3. We will be tied for second place in the NFC South with a perfect opporunity to still get First with two upcoming games against NO. The DET game next week will also be very important and a must win prior to our BYE week. We will be sitting at 4-3 if we beat DET and can look sharp right before the BYE week. We will win the NFC south again and go 12-4 with a one week bye…. We will play SF in the playoffs and win followed by GB in the NFC conference game and win…. We will take our beautiful talents all the way to the Naptown (aka Indianapolis) and go up against the Brady Bunch NE… we will win that game by 7. Superbowl 2011 Champs Atlanta Falcons….
Then I woke the F – U – C – K up.
Atlanta Falcons Fan Dude YeeHaw
October 14th, 2011
10:06 am
7 Things wrong with the Falcons add double 0 to the end of 7 and you will have the correct number of things wrong with the FAILcants.
Matt Ryan - Adios en vaya con dios
October 14th, 2011
10:08 am
I got my toes in the water @$$ in the turf… not a worry in the world… a big defender in my face… life is bad today…. life is bad today.
Mike Smith
October 14th, 2011
10:12 am
Adios en vaya con dios!!! Mike Mulamekey needs to leave GA!
Frankie
October 14th, 2011
11:50 am
THey need to trade for a runnnig back right now bring someone in to spell turner, he is not getting it done. he is tip toe-ing to the line like he did two years ago when he was over weight.
Samuel L. Jackson
October 14th, 2011
1:07 pm
What do Falcons do!!!!!!!!!!!????????????
Melt.
fanfrom'66
October 14th, 2011
4:54 pm
Undenialbly, Matt Ryan has never thrown the deep pass consistantly well since he has been here. It is not arm strength that he lacks as he usually overthrows the reciever or throws the pass off line out of bounds. For whatever reason his timing and accuracy on the deep pass is subpar. His underthrown interception in the end zone started the collapse in the playoff game last year. His other interception just before the half lost the game. You can’t win consistantly without being able to complete the deep pass when it is open, unless you have an outstanding defense. Is his shortcomming something that can be improved on or is it just what we have to live with?
If he dosen’t improve significantly,the only answer is to get a quarterback who can throw deep or get a defense that can keep the score low in almost every game. Both things are going to be difficult to achieve, so we may be years away from a championship team. But we are still better than we were for 80% of the time the Falcons have been here. For now, we may just have to enjoy watching a mediocre team that occasionally overachieves.
What the team will be like two years from now without, Gonzolez, Turner, Abraham, and McClure is very sobbering. Even if Ryan improves, in order to be a Championship calibre team we must find a real first class running back with speed, and the pass defense must significantly improve while at the same time we lose the above mentioned aging veterans. Not a rosey picture I’m afraid. Without a first round draft choice next year we will be hard pressed to even replace the retiring veterans with quality players, much less improve. We will soon learn whether Dimitroff is brilliant or just exhuberant. One has to wonder how he thought Julio Jones was going to be worth all those draft picks with a quarterback who has never demonstrated that he could consistantly throw the deep pass,
OPEN YOUR EYES
October 15th, 2011
6:31 pm
@FANFROM’66- I AGREE WITH YOU A 100%!!!!! OUR ONLY HOPE IS THAT WE GET COMPENSATORY DRAFT PICKS FOR ALL THE AGING VETERAN PLAYERS WE WILL LOSE!!!!!
Marcelino Bawany
October 16th, 2011
4:02 am
Want to kill my tennis coach, woke up early for nothing
Madlyn Feraco
October 19th, 2011
5:49 am
Great, cheers!