GAME DAY CENTRAL: Falcons vs. Chargers
QB corner: Matt Ryan discusses the Chargers
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan fondly remembers his last trip to San Diego.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) runs the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
As a rookie, he led the Falcons to a 22-16 victory over the Chargers on Nov. 30, 2008, at Qualcomm Stadium.
He tossed a 5-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Harry Douglas to put the Falcons up 22-13 with 14:56 left to play in the fourth quarter. He completed 17 of 23 passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns and finished with a quarterback rating of 130.2.
Here’s a brief Q&A involving Ryan and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s D. Orlando Ledbetter.
Q: What concerns you about San Diego’s defense?
A: Their front seven is very good. They’ve got two defensive ends in their 3-4 scheme. Jarret Johnson and Shaun Phillips are really good players. They have some talented guys on the back end like [Eric] Weedle. I think he led the league in interceptions last year. They have two corners that can play in [Antoine] Cason and [Quentin] Jammer. They are a talented bunch.
Q: How is Takeo Spikes playing in the middle of their defense?
A: He’s a veteran guy. He’s physical and is very good at coming down and snuffing out the run. He’s really smart, and it looks like he gets all of those guys on the same page on film. He’s one of those salty veteran guys that is just very good at what he does.
Q: What will be the key to run the ball on that stingy defense?
A: I think, first and foremost, identifying what they do up front correctly. They give you a lot of different looks. They bring a lot of different guys in their fire-zone packages. Identifying what they are doing and getting into the right plays will be important.
The X factor: Falcons safety William Moore
Atlanta Falcons safety William Moore intercepts a Peyton Manning pass intended for tight end Jacob Tamme on Denver's opening drive during first quarter action at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Monday, Sept. 17, 2012. CURTIS COMPTON/CCOMPTON@AJC.COM
One of the trademarks of San Diego coach Norv Turner’s offenses — dating to his days in Dallas with Jay Novacek in the early 1990s — is that the tight end is heavily involved.
Last week in a 38-10 rout of Tennessee, tight end Dante Rosario caught three touchdowns passes for the Chargers, who carry four tight ends on their roster. In addition to Rosario, they have Antonio Gates, Randy McMichael and rookie Ladarius Green.
While wide receiver Malcolm Floyd is quarterback Philip Rivers’ top target, the tight end remains key, and that makes Falcons safety William Moore the X-factor for this game.
“In that offense, they use their tight ends a lot,” Moore said. “Then at the same time, they’ve got gifted tight ends. They are fast, and they are strong. They run great routes. Gates, I never played him before, but I’ve heard nothing but great things about his game.”
Rosario has mainly been a backup with Carolina (2007-10), Miami (2011) and Denver (2011). Before last week, he had five career touchdown catches.
“He’s running great routes,” Moore said. “He doing a great job. He’s matured from his days with Carolina. He’s looking like a great tight end.”
Gates, when healthy, is a great tight end. He returned to practice from a rib injury and could be available Sunday.
“He’s a go-to guy,” Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez said of Gates. “When you see defenses go against him, they put two guys on him like he’s a gunner on the punt-coverage team because that’s how good he is. That’s what he demands. If you give him one-on-one coverage, or if you think you cannot account for him, he’s going to kill you.”
The hot seat: Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones
Falcons wide receivers coach Terry Robiskie has told receiver Julio Jones that he must think that when
110801 Flowery Branch - Atlanta Falcons rookie wide receiver Julio Jones signs autographs for fans following morning practice at training camp in Flowery Branch on Monday, August 1, 2011. Curtis Compton ccompton@ajc.com
the football is in the air that it’s like $1 million, and he has to come down with it.
Jones, the second-year sensation, had a chance to help put the Falcons up by two touchdowns early against the Broncos on Monday night, but he let the $1 million hit the turf.
“I still have to step up and make those plays when they present themselves because everybody is counting on me,” said Jones, who’s on the hot seat to stop his dropped passes. “I just have to step up in that situation and make that play.”
Jones has 10 catches for 124 yards and two touchdowns. He has three drops, according to ESPN Stats and Information.
After catching six passes for 108 yards and two touchdowns against the Chiefs in the season opener, Jones saw double coverage from Denver.
“They stayed with a [two-man] shell,” Jones said. “It’s kind of hard to have a big game against [two-man] shell and everything. Roddy [White] stepped up and did a great job for us, and Tony [Gonzalez] did as well.”
While Denver locked up Jones, White and Gonzalez combined for 15 catches for 172 yards and two touchdowns.
Jones doesn’t know what to expect from the Chargers.
“When we play people, we have to go out there and adjust,” Jones said. “A lot of people don’t have three receivers, including Tony, that they have to match up against. We have to go out there and continue to keep playing.”
Connections: Nolan, Norv Turner are coaching BFFs
Falcons defensive coordinator Mike Nolan (right) talks with head coach Mike Smith during a recent practice. He has not had much success against Peyton Manning in past. JASON GETZ / JGETZ@AJC.COM
Falcons defensive coordinator Mike Nolan and Chargers coach Norv Turner have been coaching BFFs.
They worked together in 2006, with Turner serving as Nolan’s offensive coordinator when he was San Francisco’s head coach.
Nolan served as Turner’s defensive coordinator with the Washington Redskins from 1997-99 when Turner was the head coach.
“Mike’s been in the league a long time, as well as coach Turner, so they’ve probably had a number of battles where they’ve been against each other and they’ve been on the same side and sat in staff rooms,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “There’s going to be some familiarity in terms of what Mike knows and what coach Turner knows.”
Other connections include:
- Chargers running backs coach Ollie Wilson served two stints with the Falcons, from 1991-96 and from 2002-07.
- Chargers linebacker Demorrio Williams played for the Falcons from 2004-07.
- Falcons running back Michael Turner was drafted by the Chargers and played for them from 2004-07.
- Chargers running back Ronnie Brown (Auburn) is from Cartersville.
- Chargers tight end Randy McMichael (Georgia) is from Fort Valley.
- Chargers backup quarterback Charlie Whitehurst (Clemson) is from Alpharetta.
- Chargers linebacker Takeo Spikes (Auburn) is from Sandersville.
- Falcons cornerback Asante Samuel played with Chargers safety Atari Bigby at Central Florida for three seasons.
Stat corner: Chargers have the league’s top run defense
San Diego’s run defense is stout.
Oakland Raiders' Marcel Reece (45) runs as San Diego Chargers defensive back Atari Bigby (26) dives for him and linebacker Takeo Spikes (51) pursues during the first half of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Monday, Sept. 10, 2012. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
Nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin sets the tone by demanding double-team blocks. In the Chargers’ 3-4 scheme, Franklin then frees up inside linebackers Takeo Spikes and Donald Butler to run to the ball carriers.
They held Oakland’s Darren McFadden to 32 yards on 15 carries and Tennessee’s Chris Johnson to 17 yards on eight carries.
The Falcons have struggled to run this season and don’t appear to have a good matchup against San Diego’s defense, which has allowed only 41 rushing yards per game, best in the NFL. The Falcons have rushed for 75.5 yards per game, 26th in the league.
“We’re going to keep handing it off,” right tackle Tyson Clabo said. “We are going to keep running the ball. I think that we have the personnel to have a good running game.”
The Falcons spent a great deal of time working on their passing attack this offseason. Some contend they forget about their vaunted rushing attack, which has had a 1,300-yard rusher [Michael Turner] in three of the past four years.
“We didn’t have a lack of focus on it at all,” Clabo said. “I can’t put my finger on anything specific, but I think we can run the football, and we’re going to continue to try.”
THE LATEST NEWS
Falcons improve to 2-0 with 27-21 win over Peyton Manning-led Denver Broncos
Falcons running back Michael Turner charged with DUI
Cornerback Christopher Owens is in the concussion protocol
VIDEO: Matt Ryan discusses win over Denver
Secondary puts Peyton Manning back on his heels
OTHER RECENT POSTS
TV, Radio: Broncos vs. Falcons, 8:30 p.m. on MNF
INJURY REPORT: Weatherspoon, Clabo are questionable; Kuper out for Denver
Matt Bryant: The Alligator Whisperer
Brent Grimes out for the season
Video: What loss of Grimes means
Falcons offense makes it look easy
Still room for improvement in run game
Matt Ryan, Dirk Koetter form bond on and off the field
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105 comments Add your comment
Post-It
September 21st, 2012
11:20 am
@Seen: And as for your jabs at Turner and his DUI, that’s funny. Coming from a guy who lives in a city with drive-through daquiri shops and cheers for a team with a head coach who steals Vicodin from the training room.
Seen This B4
September 21st, 2012
11:21 am
@Neutral: Nawh, sometimes I am more caustic. I take it you’re a bandwagoner, huh?! Welcome. I am sure more like you will start to chip in.
PMC
September 21st, 2012
11:21 am
I liked Cam’s speech. I thought he was too negative, but as a fan. The dejected feeling of a loss is something we almost never get especially from QB’s. I like that he wears his emotions like that. Lets his fans know that he cares. Carolina has a long way to go as far as building the team still.
Th
September 21st, 2012
11:23 am
This whole back and forth about running the football shows how stuck in the past people can be. Ray Rice said in an interview that he considered the short passes to him to be “long hand-offs.” I want the ball in Turner’s hands but there is no reason to give it to him and make him run through four 300 pound D-linemen when Ryan can flip the ball to him. Don’t get stuck in the past when we have seen Brees and Manning live off the little flip to a back that gains 10 yards.
The way to neutralize Franklin is to make him turn and chase a back running up the field with the ball about 10 times.
Seen This B4
September 21st, 2012
11:25 am
@Post-it: What exactly is my connection with the drive through daquiri shops and Payton’s raiding of the vicodin cabinet? Must be the same as you cheering for a guy who’s driving 95mph, stoned drunk or out killing dogs that won’t win a fight.
Post-It
September 21st, 2012
11:26 am
Now it’s all about the bandwagon?! Your team’s fans – the few there were – used to wear bags over their heads. They briefly became a feel good story because of what Katrina did to NO. But after last years scandal, they’re are a tainted team with an asterisk by their SP win. So if you want to talk about bandwagons, let’s talk about the one everyone is jumping off right now.
Neutral Onlooker
September 21st, 2012
11:26 am
Just happen to see this blog, no bandwagon here, NCAA. More Caustic, you sure seem pretty mad at something, you should check your attitude my friend… but anyways, good luck with that.
Post-It
September 21st, 2012
11:28 am
And what’s my… or any Atlanta fans connection with a drunk, speeding running back? You were the one that lobbed that one out there. Must be because you can’t find anything to criticize our team about these days!
Seen This B4
September 21st, 2012
11:30 am
@Neutral: My attidude? Or your perception of my attitude? You should check your bias at the door, but…aw heck, I don’t care about your bias or your opinion. You like your team, I like mine, end of story.
Seen This B4
September 21st, 2012
11:33 am
@Post-It: I lobbied it because of other fans marvelling and gushing over the class act that they thought Ryan displayed, which he did, but then they made it universal to your whole team, which it isn’t, is it?!Enter your comments here
Post-It
September 21st, 2012
11:38 am
@Seen: It’s a Falcons… read that again… FALCONS site. The team is undefeated and playing really well. Fans are going to gush about it. I’m sure that is painful for you right now. In your situation.
Neutral Onlooker
September 21st, 2012
11:39 am
My perception ?, Na, you told me “@Neutral: Nawh, sometimes I am more caustic” doesn’t matter, you fellas have a good day, if thats possible.
Falcon fan 24-7
September 21st, 2012
11:39 am
According to Fox Sports, Matt Ryan’s 45 wins since 2008 are the most of any starting QB during that stretch. His 233 consecutive passes without throwing an interception also tops the current list. With those numbers it is hard to call this a breakout year, but that is what it will be if he can win his first playoff game.Go Falcons!
SawThat1nce
September 21st, 2012
11:48 am
SeenThisBsB4………What are you doing, hanging around here?
M. Turner
September 21st, 2012
11:52 am
I’m gonna run it down there throats.. just watch the game
Falcon James
September 21st, 2012
11:53 am
Please give Seen the last word so he will STFU. It’s really not worth it. He verbal vomit is like a endless rewind clip. He will never add anything new and he does this to get a rise out of people. It is truly pathetic, but there is always one on every blog.
True Falcon Fan
September 21st, 2012
12:19 pm
This game could be a trap game if we show-up as “ZOMBIE-FIED” i.e., “Jet-Lagged” and tired – we’ll be done toast for sure…. Me being the “HOMER” i am — This will be a defensive battle for sure —- My bet is don’t bet the over, Falcons barely cover the spread: Falcons 20 — Chargers 17 – in a 4th quarter shoot-out…..
Go Falcons!!!! 3-0
Seen This B4
September 21st, 2012
12:20 pm
I have a tiny penis. A little help here, guys?
old falc
September 21st, 2012
12:28 pm
i hope A. Dent desides to play this week
Several Tampa Bay Players Come to Work on Their Day Off, and More NFC South News | :: Sparxxrx LLC ::
September 21st, 2012
12:35 pm
[...] William Moore is the X-factor in Sunday’s game against the Chargers, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. [...]
Dirtybird of Prey
September 21st, 2012
12:39 pm
The Falcons will win this game…nuff said…..oh yeah…Go DirtyBirdz…cuz we 2 legit 2 quit.
johnm
September 21st, 2012
12:53 pm
thats enough about turners dui, he blew a .10 which was the legal limit 15-20 years ago and i wouldnt call drunk. and anyone whos familiar with atlanta traffic 97 mph isnt all that fast really. Dont get me wrong he was stupid but the fact is he probably wasnt really impaired and at 4 in the morning on a tuesday i doubt theres many people on the road. if he had just waited one more hour he would have been legal so giving him the level of crap people are giving him is stupid
Ueeediot
September 21st, 2012
12:55 pm
The Falcons have been consistently excellent on west coast trips under Mike Smith.
Beat the Chargers last time we were there….beat the 49ers…laid a massive whooping on the Raiders a while ago (and wow that was a 45-10 beat down and the score wasnt nearly that close)
I expect a quality game from the Falcons and win or lose it wont be because they are tired from a short week or jet lagged.
Joe Tess Fish House
September 21st, 2012
1:20 pm
The olny way the Falcons win this game is if the refs make the same misteaks they did agains the Bronos. Falcons got reel lucky last week.
True Falcon Fan
September 21st, 2012
1:26 pm
12:55 — I agree with you on most points. This is 2012 — we have our share of injuries this season already, that being said we for sure have the team this year to handle those Chargers. Also i like HC plan to travel today to get that extra day re 3 hour difference in time zones and get their body clocks turned. If the coaches have this team ready, they will show-up and hopefully put a “KINGSIZE” whoppin on Rivers & his gang.?.?….
Go Falcons
True Falcon Fan
September 21st, 2012
1:28 pm
FISH — What game did you watch, REALLY, REALLY,REALLY
Go back and clean somemore fish “You idiot”
Go Falcons!!!
Ueeediot
September 21st, 2012
1:41 pm
show me a drunk who doesnt think that .1 and above is impaired and I’ll show you a drunk
ohhhhYEAH
September 21st, 2012
1:57 pm
@ Seen
No, driving drunk is certainly not class, but getting in front of a camera and admitting you were wrong, accepting whatever consequence he does have coming his way like a man without whining, IS class.
Ueeediot
September 21st, 2012
2:15 pm
Oh, seems like other people noticed Cam Newton has thin skin and are upset with his childish behavior.
Cam Newton meet Vince Young
http://www.ajc.com/ap/ap/top-news/panthers-wr-steve-smith-unhappy-with-qb-cam-newton/nSHKD/
FalconFANatic
September 21st, 2012
2:41 pm
Hey Seen-In New Orleans, is being 0-2 classy? Is the idea of a bounty classy? This is the first time anything like this has come out of the Falcons organization. You are just butt hurt because Drew Sneeze is getting old and is losing a step. Falcons will light the Saints up this year and you you know it. I can tell by how much you are posting on our blog….ALL I GOT FOR YA IS MATTY ICE, JULIO JONE, RODDY WHITE, TONY GONZALEZ, HARRY DOUGLAS AND THAT SWARMING LIGHTS OUT DEFENSE! GO FALCONS ITS OUR TIME!!!!
Otis
September 21st, 2012
5:27 pm
Has anyone noticed that Akeem Dent has only one tackle in two games, what’s up with that?
Big Ray
September 21st, 2012
6:46 pm
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/cam-newton-steve-smith-carolina-panthers-092112/
Hilarious….
Teddy KGB
September 21st, 2012
6:48 pm
@Otis
Akeem has seen limited snaps as the Falcons are playing 5 Defensive Backs and 2 linebackers a majority of the time. This is why Lofton was expendable.
Big Ray
September 21st, 2012
6:48 pm
I see the usual Saints fan is back to hanging around…can’t blame him…not fun hanging around Saints blogs right about now. 0-2….
Big Ray
September 21st, 2012
6:49 pm
Akeem has seen limited snaps as the Falcons are playing 5 Defensive Backs and 2 linebackers a majority of the time. This is why Lofton was expendable.
Exactly…
Big Ray
September 21st, 2012
6:51 pm
That’s how you know you’re 0-2….when you’re main subject of conversation is about another team’s player with a DUI.
Though that was stupid of Turner. Speeding? By the way he runs these days, you wouldn’t know that he new anything ABOUT speed….
JSS
September 21st, 2012
10:59 pm
“Falcons wide receivers coach Terry Robiskie has told receiver Julio Jones that he must think that when the football is in the air that it’s like $1 million, and he has to come down with it.”
Well there is the problem right there… That is pocket change at Bama… Give him a better carrot Coach, that folding money ain’t gonna get it done!
rushing attack
September 22nd, 2012
1:56 am
The Burner will be burnin’ come Sunday.
rushing attack
September 22nd, 2012
1:58 am
Everything is all right
2-0 leading the NFC South.
Shipdit
September 22nd, 2012
8:03 am
I hate the phrase “I need to step up.” I don’t know where it originated from but it is the equivalent of saying, “I’ll do my best.” You need to do one thing Julio… catch the ball. Period. No rising up, no stepping up, no manning up. Just CATCH THE FREAKIN’ BALL. Stop believing the press (the jury is not in on you yet) and get back to the fundamentals of catching and holding on to the football. You won’t be great until you play great. Go Falcons!
Angelo
September 22nd, 2012
10:28 am
Can The Falcons stop the running game?
Esquire
September 22nd, 2012
1:51 pm
Seen This B4 is trying to comment on what constitutes class? Seen and the Caints try to carry on the legacy of Earl Long……..! So we can now confirm 2 things this dunce hat idiot knows nothing about.
Esquire
September 22nd, 2012
1:58 pm
Falcons 24 San Diego 20
5-6-7-8
Everywhere we goooO,
Everywhere we goooO,
People wanna knooOw,
People wanna knooOw,
Who we aaa are,
Who we aaa are,
So we tell theem, So we tell theem,
We are the FALCONS!! We are the FALCONS!!
MIGHTY MIGHTY FALCONS, MIGHTY MIGHTY FALCONS !!
OHH AHH OHH YEEAHH
Esquire
September 22nd, 2012
2:13 pm
Note to SuxThisBZERO:
NFL Rule 8 Section 1 Article 3 Item 3
“The requirements for a catch in the end zone are the same as the requirements for a catch in the field of play.”
Just thought I would bring this to your attention…………..Dunce Hat.
jaz
September 22nd, 2012
3:51 pm
Hey DLed, I just got thru reading the weekend edition of USA Today Sports, and they have no respect for the Birds. The cover story is all about Flacco: ” Flacco has suddenly become the epitome of the new wave of NFL quarterback, a deep-strike passer with a no-huddle-offense. After two games, Flacco and the Ravens are averaging 33.5 points a game, tied with the Atlanta Falcons for second best in the NFL.” Not one word of mention of Matt Ryan! That was page one. Then they start talking about Peyton Manning, and instead of crediting the Falcon defense, they say the ITs were all due to his “wobble’ passes. What does is take to get a little national respect?
Cambell Soup
September 23rd, 2012
9:04 am
The “No Huddle” will dominate. Falcons 41 San Diego 28.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
September 23rd, 2012
10:59 am
JSS — I will be sure to speak to Coach Ollie for your. He’s super !!!
D. Orlando Ledbetter
September 23rd, 2012
11:00 am
Pappy — Thank you kindly.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
September 23rd, 2012
11:03 am
jaz – It’s along season. They’ll have to keep winning to get more “media” respect.
rushing attack
September 23rd, 2012
11:48 am
Magic Mike