Atlanta Falcons: 12th in PFT’s preseason power rankings
061912 FLOWERY BRANCH: Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan completes a pass during the first day of mini-camp in Flowery Branch on Tuesday, June 19, 2012. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM
Birdland — Our pal Darin Gantt, who’s over at profootballtalk.com now, has the Falcons ranked 12th in the popular website’s preseason power rankings.
100813 Atlanta - Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder gives the thumbs up as the Falcons take the field for the exhibition season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Friday, August 13, 2010. Curtis Compton ccompton@ajc.com
He believes that the Falcons have a hot mess along the offensive line and that if they don’t make their playoff push this year, veterans like tight end Tony Gonzalez, defensive end John Abraham and running back Michael Turner might not be around for the next playoff push.
Gantt considers the receivers and defensive backs as team strengths. (A lot of these previews overlook the job that Keith Armstrong has done with the special teams. The special-teams unit have been a hidden strength in each of his four seasons with the Falcons).
He notes the changes in the coordinators and that he’s going to miss Brian VanGorder’s cool mustache.
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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Atlanta Falcons: 12th in PFT’s preseason power rankings | NFL Online News
July 19th, 2012
2:30 pm
[...] Atlanta Falcons This entry was posted in Atlanta Falcons and tagged 12th, Atlanta, Falcons, PFT’s, Power, preseason, rankings. Bookmark the permalink. ← Patriots.com News Blitz – 7/18/2012 [...]
prepdaa
July 19th, 2012
2:37 pm
1st
prepdaa
July 19th, 2012
2:38 pm
This will be the year we make a deep playoff run.
Rick
July 19th, 2012
2:51 pm
I like our team! We making a run this year DLed, remember you heard that from me!
Nathan
July 19th, 2012
3:00 pm
Not with our schedule. We dont have a chance at winning a playoff game as long as matt ryans timid ass is touching the ball.
Big Chuck
July 19th, 2012
3:01 pm
Same team as last year. When the pressure hits they’ll fold like a wet noodle.
The Real Falcon
July 19th, 2012
3:09 pm
Exactly what I’ve been saying all preseason. Ask the tough questions and don’t drink the koolaid!
SeenThisB4
July 19th, 2012
3:09 pm
#12! That’s the middle third, almost in the middle of the pack, in other words, an also-ran. Guess which “Head-coachless” team is projected securely in the top 10?
Now, go ahead and disparage the experts….
Great Falconi
July 19th, 2012
3:15 pm
So the dude has the Falcons as a playoff team. Win a game or two there and people will shut up.
1998 Was Our Year
July 19th, 2012
3:16 pm
@DLed
The article is spot on, our O-line and veteran’s durability are concerns, and it is hard too make a Playoff/Superbowl run, when you have a totally new staff of coaches and coordinators, but anything is possible….We’ll see…
fanATicaL
July 19th, 2012
3:20 pm
The same team but different leadership and more creative play calling.The flipside of the coin.Is last season we won inspite of the bad philosophy and play calling. Also,Mike Smith is learning from his past mistakes. Always making changes addressing the issues.Most of the time for the better.This is a good team and finally for once our new offensive and deffensive philosophy plays to and fits our team athleticism and chemistry.Great offseason moves excited for the upcoming season.
AlanFalcon
July 19th, 2012
3:38 pm
Don’t sell this team short, from the top to the bottom they have a mission.
AlanFalcon
July 19th, 2012
3:41 pm
Another thing, the new coaches and coordinators have not done a complete make over but made changes in a manner that these players understand and will accept as we have heard.
Don’t sell them short !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
falcon #1
July 19th, 2012
3:49 pm
I like rating…. Will be the year for Falcons. And not the time for the taints.
PMC
July 19th, 2012
4:01 pm
Darren did a good job of summing it up. They are right about where they should be.
mark
July 19th, 2012
4:03 pm
Seen good luck stopping anyone this year with Curtis Lofton as your big FA signing. Could not stop SF last year and their offense was putrid. Obama had one thing right when he said “you did not build that” he was referring to the Saints victory over the Vikings. Did you have fun at comic con? Do you ever leave the computer?
Parker
July 19th, 2012
4:06 pm
How did our O-line get better? …
Just Sayin.....
July 19th, 2012
4:23 pm
5th year for Matt. New franchise qb next year?
Just Sayin.....
July 19th, 2012
4:25 pm
Question:
Which O-Line is better, 2004 or 2011?
Rick
July 19th, 2012
4:39 pm
“SEEN”you the “experts” dont know crap. Did they pick the Giants to win the Super Bowl last year? Thought not shut up not a good argument! And I cant believe you bragging about being in the top 10! If and I repeat IF any of this had any bearing you bragging about being in the top ten and not being #1! Who cares about what they are saying and yet you bragging about being 8th loser……..AGAIN!? These so called experts picked Green Bay last year and we see how far they got! Dude please wake up! How about we just wait until the season? We have gone back and forth for the last 4 months and we still have the same results. You proving you know nothing about footbal man. Tell me how many of these so called “experts” picked your swamp rats to win that pitty we feel sorry for you Super Bowl? Not one! Wake up cha cha! Again your blogging privileges are suspended because you never bring it man!
ernisTbass
July 19th, 2012
4:53 pm
He’ll miss VanGorder’s mustache? Can’t take anything else he says seriously
D. Orlando Ledbetter
July 19th, 2012
5:27 pm
Rick– Ok, i’m going to write that down.
Michael M.
July 19th, 2012
5:33 pm
I like the Atlanta Team with the new look so to speak, don’t condemn them before they hit the football field……………………………may be in for a real surprise.
Got to say it………………………… ” SAINTS STINK “
JSS
July 19th, 2012
5:34 pm
Dude, retire that “Cha-Cha” hooey! It’s as tired as the Philly moron who uses as his signature condescending dismissive tone to callers… He’s too stupid to know that University of Toledo mascot happens to be “Rockets,” not “MudHens!” Idiots mimicking idiots is no way to go through your life!
SeenThisB4
July 19th, 2012
5:34 pm
And who did you pick to win the Superbowl last year Rick? The falcan’ts? Who ended up as 12th loser? The point is Ricki, that your prosnostication was that the Saints would wither away due to the off-season noise and static, but I say we won’t fade, and the experts across the NFL agree with that. So, like I said, keep disparaging the experts cha, cha, cha, CHING!!!
Bama Falcon Fan
July 19th, 2012
5:39 pm
Falcon should have cut bait with Mularkey two years ago. Falcons offense has not been good for last 2 years. Team never should have drafted Baker but looked to free agents to fill slot. Also team has failed to develop a group of young RB;s and QB’s. We continue to hold on to players who would be better served as back ups instead of starters
Rick
July 19th, 2012
5:45 pm
I am still picking the “aints” to wear them bags cha cha have said that for weeks now. And FYI after we got dismantled by the Packers I picked them again and I am not afraid to say it I give props where they are due. As for you JSS you have mimicked an idiot on here for weeks so what you saying? That you are an idiot? You have talked with your “seen” counterpart about your”aints” clown! Eat up cha cha and get your bag on your head. O yea one more thing “seen” I saw alot of experts with the aints and green bay in the nfc conference game last year how that work out? Keep hanging on the experts I will hang with DLED HE IS THE MAN! Big ups for writing that down DLED!
SeenThisB4
July 19th, 2012
5:52 pm
Yeah Rick, we fell short by one game. Course NONE of the experts had your team in nfc conference game last year, and they were ALL correct.
JSS
July 19th, 2012
5:53 pm
Well, we know Rick missed “mimic” on the PSAT! SeenThisB4 has his stick, and you’re an idiot… I can care less if the Saints win or lose… I give them their due, they have a Lombardi… Goodell’s latest witch hunt doesn’t change that… That 4 and half quarter offensive playoff scoreless streak speaks volumes about the team you keep trying pawn off on real football fans as a contender, (Miner Bird voice) “Cha-Cha!”
Michael M.
July 19th, 2012
5:55 pm
I wouldn’t even waste my time on those idiot trolls Rick simply because 2/3’s of what they say is baloney and the other 1/3 is just cheap bread. They can say what they wish about me because they can just ” Kiss My Grits ” and I like the Falcons still soar high !
SeenThisB4
July 19th, 2012
6:05 pm
Yup! Michael M. has definitely reduced his rhetoric and challenges from what he was spewing last year. No where near the same volume of retorts, guess he learned his lesson from the fiasco his team handed him. LOL!
Going to be an interesting read tomorrow if D’Led profiles the falcan’t porous offensive line.
JSS
July 19th, 2012
6:05 pm
“Kiss my grits” ha ha, still stuck in the 1970s! You called out yourself!
Rick
July 19th, 2012
6:40 pm
Mike that is a classic line the 2/3 and 1/3 awesome! Now as for you JSS I know your jaws are tired as you have been on the “aints” footballs for a minute for someone who does not care about them not to mention you have rode “seen” shtick for quite some time! Like i said jaws tired? Did you misspell shtick? Heheheheheheh! For someine who does not care you sure troll this blog like a mad fan! As for you “seen” you wrong about that! Look it up ! Pat from espn had us winning it all so put that in your gumbo and eat that! Hehehehehehehe. You cant touch me swamp rats and you know that! Go BIRDS!
JSS
July 19th, 2012
6:45 pm
“Tired?” That’s what your ______ said! “Ride?” I ride no one’s jock… Did you misspell “someone?” EE Cummings you are not!
Rick
July 19th, 2012
6:47 pm
You the only one who remembers that you fell short one game “seen” everyone else remembers that the Super Bowl champs were the Giants. Who cares who came in 5th place? You so satisfied with being first loser or should I say 5th loser?! Hehehehehe.
Rick
July 19th, 2012
6:49 pm
FALCONS FAN I am. Looks like I touched a nerve! Lol. You mad? Go Birds. You still got tired jaws JSS.
Rick
July 19th, 2012
6:52 pm
I see you are a little slow JSS I did mispell someone however rather the misspelling than that Fraud slip you made with talking about “seen”shtick. Heheheheheh. Go getem BIRDS!
SeenThisB4
July 19th, 2012
6:55 pm
Rick, YOU were talking about the NFC ’ship. Not the SuperBowl. You’re classic revisionist aren’t you?!
JSS
July 19th, 2012
7:04 pm
Like your last comment on “nerves” or “mad,” the world is still spinning… Take the normal tow hours to wrap your little brain around the implications of that point…
Rick
July 19th, 2012
7:05 pm
Seen you only had to lose one game and as you put it almost get in! Lol. Clown! You proud!?
JSS
July 19th, 2012
7:06 pm
Oops, let me type t-w-o for Rick Schroeder!
Rick
July 19th, 2012
7:06 pm
What are tow hours? Mr. Cummings?
JSS
July 19th, 2012
7:10 pm
Pick up the pace Rick, are still using a 386x or something? Or will you blame Dial-up?
SeenThisB4
July 19th, 2012
7:17 pm
Hey Bozzo: Let me quote you: “O yea one more thing “seen” I saw alot of experts with the aints and green bay in the nfc conference game last year how that work out?” You were talking about the NFC championship game, dimwit. You weren’t talking about the Super Bowl and neither was I.
Rick
July 19th, 2012
7:24 pm
Doea it matter clown? Did you win it all? No shut up and keep it moving. Schools is out JSS comes back with dial up after I came with Fraud and shtick? No more fun swamprats, same time tomorrow and I will spit in your gumbo and still tell you the BIRDS ROCK!
SeenThisB4
July 19th, 2012
7:29 pm
Nothing you say Ricki matters, absolutely nothing.
Ike jones
July 19th, 2012
7:29 pm
Wow Ive read these comments for weeks and never say a word. Ok,the Matt Ryan bashing? I’ve been an ATL fan for 35 years…lighten up people,he’s a very good QB! Short memories for the arm chair QBs!! O-line will probably do better than most think. We have a very talented team in the Falcons! Mike Nolan has many toys to work with..the defense will be very good! The offense needed a fresh face,and we got it!! It’s sickening to read what “Atlanta fans” say on here! You don’t support your team…you self indulge in being negative!!! It’s embarrassing to think that’s the fan base of the Falcons! TD,Mike Smith,and Blank have done what no one EVER has in our history of ATL football. But it’s not enough for some of you! All you do is BASH A WINNING TEAM! The FALCONS will surprise many this year! They will be aggressive,and they will win…a LOT! Try supporting your team! If you can’t do that…then PLEASE SHUT UP!!! I lived in Seattle for 10 years…win or lose..the fans are POSITIVE..and LIVE THEIR TEAM!!! The Falcons need our support…because true fan!! Not a fat ass loser whose only joy is to Bash the guys working so hard to make you happy! You’re an embarrassment as a fan!
D man
July 19th, 2012
7:33 pm
Drew brees is getting old and on his way down. Matty Ice is better than Drew was after 4 years and getting better every year. Future is looking bright for my Fal-CANs.
D man
July 19th, 2012
7:36 pm
12th is better than 32nd. I think the Falcons will finish higher, like 1st…
JSS
July 19th, 2012
7:36 pm
Rick, it took you 14 minutes to post that one? Yep, must be dial-up!