Smith to unleash the Predator in New York
Falcons defensive end Ray Edwards dunks fellow defensive end John Abraham during a postgame interview following a his best performance of the year in a 41-14 victory over the Jaguars at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com
“We’ve had him on a play count all season long, and now it’s an opportunity for us to go and extend his snaps as we get into the postseason,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said.
During the season, the Falcons freely rotated in Kroy Biermann with Abraham and Ray Edwards. Abraham suffered a minor groin injury in second game of the season, but continued to play. He has a history of groin injuries, and with the low snap count he started 15 of 16 games.
Without a play-count limitation, the Falcons plan to unleash Abraham, who leads the team with 9.5 sacks, for the entire game.
“They have a good line, but everything is pretty much controlled by [quarterback] Eli [Manning],” Abraham said. “He does a good job of getting the ball out. He recognizes rushes. He recognizes pressure. He does a good job of helping them out a lot.”
Abraham, 33, was fine with the play count. By being held back, he recovered more quickly from the groin injury and showed that he could still turn the corner against Jacksonville on Dec. 15, when he had 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.
The Giants’ offensive line allowed 28 sacks during the regular-season, seventh lowest in the league. Abraham knows it will be a challenge to put pressure on Manning.
“He’s a smart guy,” Abraham said. “He does a great job with the play action fakes. He does a good job of getting the ball out quick. In order for us to have a good day, we actually are going to have to get in his face and try to get him to move out of the pocket.”
Abraham started his career in the Big Apple playing for the New York Jets. He has been with the Falcons since 2006. He’s not looking at the game as any kind of homecoming.
“It’s not the same, but it’s going to be fun to go back to New York,” Abraham said.
Abraham played in the old Giants Stadium. MetLife Stadium, the new stadium, is in the same area.
“The big thing is trying not to worry about the cold,” Abraham said. “It’s going to be cold. It’s cold here now. Hopefully, the mental thing won’t get to them. Once you start playing in all of the cold or heat, it really doesn’t matter.”
–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
65 comments Add your comment
Dunta is the G.W.Bush of the NFL
January 6th, 2012
5:00 pm
Abe’s been on a play count since coming to ATL.
Nothing new here. But I would like to see some pressure from the front four.
Haden much?
If Dunta comes out there looking for easy underneath junk and gets toasted peaking in the backfield as usual it could be a long day.
I love my Birds, but you gotta assume the worst and be aggressive with the play calling on offense – NO MATTER WHAT THE SCORE IS.
FrontRow
January 6th, 2012
5:35 pm
Big Blue – Everything respoonsible? Like team’s leading receiver spending 2 years in jail for being stupid?
The Giants are the Saints of the North. They better pay the refs – the price is higher in the playoffs.
Don’t believe me? Reminder: The all-world Saints got CRUSHED by the sorriest team the ever make the playoffs.
b0rnt0kill
January 6th, 2012
5:53 pm
Everyone make sure you give Rob Parker some love for his idiotic comments about the Falcons: http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_/id/7429623/the-city-atlanta-worst-sports-town-america
techduck
January 6th, 2012
6:27 pm
You mean you are just now unleashing one of your players to make plays this late in a season.Thats all bull crap.(9.5 sacks) thats all.For how much 2 to 3 million this year. Watch him and the rest of the defense play bull crap ball again.You as a coach just now telling us as a ticket buyer tell us alot about you (unleashing -55 ) I have been going all year long and you have not been unleashing players to do there jobs on my time and most important my money.Not no more birdies.Prove me wrong and i will change my mine.Oh . by the way coach are you scare to get in the face of BVG when he don”t call the plays right (*which is most of the time)Why don”t yall Blitz more than you do.Not the right players to do so.Whose fault is this ? ooook
hiramsaint
January 6th, 2012
6:33 pm
wow front row-still that bitter after 2 years ? since our super bowl victory and the demolition of 3 hof qb’s , it appears life has been nothing but miserable for you. GOOD !
CKasey
January 6th, 2012
7:51 pm
well said @tackduck
Fats O Kelly
January 6th, 2012
8:38 pm
Like Pool champ Minn.Fats told the vocal rookie pool challenger………………….”Stop talking and start chaulking,sonny”……………………….Talk is cheap Atlanta
NewOrleansJazz
January 6th, 2012
11:03 pm
When will you unleash Harry Douglas again?
What happened to your boy after that first Saints game? Couldn’t draw anymore plays for him? Your play calling isn’t that diverse? Or not enough room for Douglas and Jones? Just saying. I shouldn’t be helping y’all out like this.
Eric C.
January 7th, 2012
5:55 am
A couple of wins against flame-out teams and the Giant fans and media are screaming superbowl…incredible.
Chop Buster
January 7th, 2012
9:52 am
The Predator is long in the tooth, but he’s never been the problem in our pass rushing. Smith better unleash one or two others to go with Abe and that might get Eli rattled. Everyone knows Eli makes mistakes like most pocket passers when you sack him and get him off his game. Smitty and BVG better have a helluva game plan not to let this guy sit back and pick us a part. We don’t want Eli looking like Brees and Rogers against us.
Just Sayin.....
January 7th, 2012
9:57 am
Just an observation, but don’t the Giants have at least 4 Abrahams?
Chop Buster
January 7th, 2012
10:09 am
Just Sayin…uh no! That would be buying into the hype that they have the best front 4 in the league from the media heads. Not buying it!
Sick of the misery
January 7th, 2012
11:31 am
I want to believe the Falcons will win but haven’t we seen this movie before?
I’m tired of seeing teams convert third and forever on this defense
I’m tired of seeing Mike Mularkey come up with unimaginative game plans
I’m tired of the seeing other teams’ primary receivers running wide open down field.
I’m tired of the Falcons having a lead in games and not remaining aggressive
I’m sick of the misery from the Falcons, Braves and Hawks.
When will it end?
Sick of the misery
January 7th, 2012
11:39 am
@NewOrleansJazz
When I watch the Falcons I wonder why they don’t throw more to Douglas out of the slot. He’s a serious threat to pick up yards after the catch. The Falcons offense underachieved this year even though Matt Ryan set the single season record for most passing yards in Falcons history.
BIG JIM
January 7th, 2012
12:23 pm
I love my falcons been loving them every since 1966 and i am proud of them but forgive me for saying this ROB PARKER is not lieing we don’t show up in a big game it look like when we turn the ball over we quit 2008 playoff after half time agianst the cardinal 2010 agianst the packer turn over the ball and gave up i am not mad at ROB PARKER but the only way to close his mouth the falcons must beat the giants