Atlanta Falcons: Resurgent Bucs will test chronic run defense problems
VIDEO: The San Francisco 49ers routed the Chicago Bears, 32-7. Colin Kaepernick threw for 243 yards and 2 touchdowns in his first career start. Aldon Smith recorded 5.5 sacks, a new Monday night record. Now, the 9-1 Falcons have a 1 1/2 game lead over the 7-2-1 Forty Niners for the top seed in the NFC with six games to play.
FLOWERY BRANCH — The Falcons’ run defense has been plagued by the lack of the two ‘M’s’ of defensive football: Missed fits and missed tackles.
A missed fit occurs when a player fails to control the proper gap in the alignment and gives the opposing runner a lane to scurry through.
The Falcons have been trying to fix their run defense for weeks now.
In nearly every game, they have been gashed for big runs, which could be problematic this Sunday. They are set to face a resurgent Tampa Bay team and rookie rushing sensation Doug Martin, who already has run for 1,000 yards in 10 games.
“This running team that we’re getting ready to face is doing a great job,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “The rookie running back has had some really explosive games. It will be a challenge for us.”
In last weekend’s narrow 23-19 win over Arizona, the run defense had two major breakdowns.
Cardinals running back LaRod Stephens-Howling had runs of 40 and 52 yards, finishing with 127 yards on 22 carries. Take away the two long runs and Stephens-Howling had 35 yards on 20 carries.
It was the same story two weeks ago with the Saints. Except for a 56-yard touchdown run by Chris Ivory, the Falcons held the Saints run game under control.
Stephens-Howling was the third back to rush for more than 100 yards against the Falcons this season, joining Denver’s Willis McGahee (113 yards) and Washington’s Alfred Morris (115 yards).
Fortifying the run defense remains an ongoing construction project for the coaching staff. In eight of the Falcons’ 10 games, the defense has given up at least one run of 29 yards or more.
Kansas City’s Jamaal Charles had a 46-yard gain. McGahee had a 31-yarder. San Diego’s Jackie Battle broke loose for a 52-yard gain. Carolina quarterback Cam Newton had a 31-yard run. Morris had a 29-yard run. Oakland’s Mike Goodson had 40-yard gain.
“It’s not where we want it to be,” Smith said. “It’s got to be improved. But we are making progress. Some guys made some nice plays. The two explosive runs were definitely something that we don’t want to be dealing with.”
One of the big runs by the Cardinals came on a mis-alignment by the defense.
“When you don’t align properly, you don’t have a good opportunity to probably be successful,” Smith said. “It was something that was really simple and should not have been an issue. It’s something that we’ve got to be much better at.
“You can’t have 90-something yards of the 127 on two runs. We had opportunities to make them 10-yard runs or 7-yard runs and we missed tackles.”
Smith is hopeful that linebacker Sean Weatherspoon can return this week, which would help patch up the run defense. He has missed the last three games with a right ankle injury.
“Spoon is a run-and-hit linebacker,” Smith said. “Sean is one of our best football players, not only on the defensive side, but on our football team. We’ve missed him and we are looking forward to getting him back.”
Weatherspoon started working out with the training staff last week and could return to practice on Wednesday.
The Falcons run defense will tested by Martin, a first-round pick from Boise State who has 1,000 yards on 197 carries with seven touchdowns.
He has seven straight games with 100 yards from scrimmage, which tied a Tampa Bay team record. He has 1,320 yards combined rushing and receiving yards and is closing in on Warrick Dunn’s record mark of 1,440, which was set in 1997.
With Weatherspoon out, linebacker Akeem Dent has played most of his snaps while Mike Peterson has played in the base defense. He has not been the source of the run defense problems.
“Akeem has done a very nice job for us,” Smith said. “I think he’s gotten better and better each week. The snaps that he’s had to take because of Spoon being out are going to be invaluable for us down the road.”
When Weatherspoon returns, Dent will return to his old role of middle linebacker in the base defense.
“His role is going to change a little bit in terms of his snaps when Spoon comes back,” Smith said. “There is going to be an opportunity, I’m sure down the road, where he’s going to have to step in and play again. It may not be in this exact role, but something very similar to it.”
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124 comments Add your comment
My grades after Falcons ugly win
November 20th, 2012
8:57 am
Enter your comments here
My grades after Falcons ugly win
November 20th, 2012
8:58 am
HA!
dean
November 20th, 2012
9:04 am
Historically, I don’t think ATL has done well at TB. This is going to be a knock-down, drag-out fight. Should be fun to watch.
Ray Edwards
November 20th, 2012
9:06 am
I have a few calendars left. August is a picture of me with my shirt off.
SirReal
November 20th, 2012
9:07 am
Well these misalignments have to stop. These missed tackles have to stop. Simply cant keep winning like this because in the post season this effort will NOT be good enough to win.
True Falcon Fan
November 20th, 2012
9:12 am
Your display of intelligence is pretty unique and very deceiving at best.
North FLA Falcon
November 20th, 2012
9:12 am
DOL can you please take that photo of DeCoud down from the website. He is clowning like he just won the Super Bowl or something. Please.
DC Dirty Bird
November 20th, 2012
9:22 am
Sure tackling and disciplined assignment defense should win us that ball game. Matt owes us an MVP performance, and it better come against the Bucs.
4BsihTneeS
November 20th, 2012
9:41 am
I say that Doug Martin is going to gash through that soft fal can’t defense like a hot knife through butter. Goooo Bucks!!!!
Ed
November 20th, 2012
9:50 am
Got to be able to stop Doug Martin. If Matt Ryan can get in the no huddle it would help but Julio possibly being out is going to hurt.
D man
November 20th, 2012
9:52 am
Well I say that the Falcans will take away the ball 3 times on Sunday and will win by 20 against the Bucs not Bucks
Wendell
November 20th, 2012
9:55 am
D-LED – Thanks for turning me on to dirtybirdrock.blogspot.com
Looks like a cool, old school Falcons Blog!
Falcon James
November 20th, 2012
9:56 am
The Falcon Defense seem to be getting beat on the basics. That should be easily fixed if the guys will pay attention during practice and in the film room. We have a good D, just need to pay attention.
I wonder if having Turner running the ball in practice hurts the defense? If Turner runs in practice like he does in the games, why would our D think there was anything needing to be fixed. They are dropping the runner behind the line every single play. That would cause them to be over confident and when they play against a runner who actually can hit the hole and stay on his feet, they are getting burned and by then it is too late.
rollo lawson
November 20th, 2012
10:15 am
I would bring in two additional tackles and start the game in a three tight end formation. We got to get this run game going. Regardless of what Smith says, Akeem Dent was the main culpret in one of those long runs Sunday. He vacated his gap, got caught up in the wash, giving Howlings a nice big hole to run through. Saw that with my own two eyes.
Big O (As in Oscar R.)
November 20th, 2012
10:32 am
Certain defensive players being out of position is certainly a problem. On between the tackle run plays, I see a tendency for the Falcons defense to pinch in leaving the outside open. I saw William Moore do it the last game causing a VERY long Cardinal run play. I see Dent over reacting and getting blocked out of a cut-back play that goes over the area he should be covering. The Falcons seem subject to mis-direction run plays because they tend to over react. I guess this is what the coach refers to as “staying in your assigned run lane”.
I have to admit it is surprising that football players with so much background playing the game still aren’t consistent tacklers; and, know the importance of keeping the outside covered against an elusive runner.
Answer This
November 20th, 2012
10:34 am
We will be tested…………however we will also test that Tamba porous secondary on a consistent basis!
Answer This
November 20th, 2012
10:35 am
And yes I meant Tamba………not Tampa!
David
November 20th, 2012
10:41 am
I hate to say it, but the Bucs will kick our A$$.
extremus
November 20th, 2012
10:46 am
I have an idea on how to make our defense look better against the run: have them try to stop Michael Turner. Too bad that doesn’t work if he plays on the same team, huh?
owen
November 20th, 2012
10:58 am
The falcons have a hurtful tendency to play down to what they think their opponents skill level is. This simply isn’t going to work, especially in the NFL where any given sunday a team that isn’t even in the top playing level will take down a macho team. Being that this is a division game and the bucs have been on the rise, i think ATL will see this and play up a big game to destroy tampa. This is what i’m hoping for; i could be let down for another scrape-by piss poor performance, but i have no doubt that we win. It’s just a matter of how we play.
4BsihTneeS
November 20th, 2012
11:20 am
Man as always I’m really worried about my AInts this Sunday you guys. They are going to get conquered and subjugated to humiliation by the 49ers that just steam rolled the bears. Our Soft Aints defense is statistically the worst in the NFL of giving up an average of 462 yards a game….It appears all teams gash through our defense like hot butter…..
Ron Roberts
November 20th, 2012
11:31 am
Akeem Dent got “up-coached” at halftime and gapped the hole he was being hesitant to stuff in the first half. Adjustment made, run defense bolstered.
We’ll be fine.
1stn10
November 20th, 2012
11:50 am
Turner will get over a hundred yards in this game easy…walking to and from the field to the locker room before and after ther game…enough said!
1stn10
November 20th, 2012
11:51 am
David
November 20th, 2012
10:41 am
I hate to say it, but the Bucs will kick our A$$.
Really?
Judge Smails
November 20th, 2012
12:05 pm
Now if we can just get Dunta Robinson to WRAP his tackles, we’ll be fine. This is going to be one of those old time “Smashmouth” games.
24-20 Falcons. Go ahead and book it!
yeahsure
November 20th, 2012
12:05 pm
We play Tampon Bay good every year. This year will be no different. They are playing good but still lack in several areas. Just as we played soft against Arizona, TB almost got beat by Carolina. I expect us to be more disciplined in our gap assignments this week. Just have a feeling.
I hope we can get nolan a huge NT next year. I’m sure he will come up with some different looks.
My grades after Falcons ugly win
November 20th, 2012
12:08 pm
Judge Smails
November 20th, 2012
12:05 pm
Now if we can just get Dunta Robinson to WRAP his tackles, we’ll be fine. This is going to be one of those old time “Smashmouth” games.
Really? As long as he’s been in the league and even Mike Smith can’t get him to wrap up…..it’s a lost cause. I hope he is gone by next season.
Eric C.
November 20th, 2012
12:14 pm
How about get Weatherspoon back on the field…what is the deal with him?
okeetee
November 20th, 2012
12:17 pm
I hate to be the bearer of bad news…..but this Hamster kid is going to bust one on us for at least 50 yards….and probably for a touchdown. Our only hope of winning this game is in a shootout where we win the turnover battle and score on a short field with touchdowns and not field goals! That being said, the Bucs are a flawed team, just like us. The bookies have this game close….a “pick’um” game. We are due for an offensive explosion. Personally, I think we will lose this game. However, the Falcons have surprised me on more than one occasion this year. I hope they do so again this Sunday!
1stn10
November 20th, 2012
12:20 pm
Converting just 1 of the 3 1st and goal situations in the aints game we win and would be setting at 10-0 and every negative nancy would be slobbering at the mouth for a Falcons for sure win this weekend. Well, I am 100% positive the Falcons win this Sunday in T-Bay.
Flacons loose the next 7 games
November 20th, 2012
12:20 pm
Fist off the Flacons need 2 be scarred of the Bucks more so then the Siants. They got a beter QB and a beter RB both thigs that have cost the flacons a lot of problims. Next the Falcons need 2 do sumtin with Dunte Robrerson he is the worse palyer on the team he miss 2 many tackels is awyas gettin beet on coverege and is a cheep shot artist.
I just no the Flacons will loose this game.
Flacons never learn
November 20th, 2012
12:24 pm
Witherspoon was a misteak 2 draft he is injruy prone he never paly a compleet season B cuz he is awalys hurt.
Nice job tommy Dummytroff!
Camaro Bob
November 20th, 2012
12:27 pm
I have 2 agreed that Witherspoon is a waisted draft pix
BIGBEN42
November 20th, 2012
12:27 pm
Stopping the run is the achilles heel of this team.They tend to get beat by mis-direction.Staying in their lanes has been a problem,for the last couple of years.This team keeps getting gash by the run.
If this team can finally get this fixed.I can see them going to the super bowl.If not this will be just another good year for total wins.
Falcons need Weatherspoon back to tighten run D | Sport Snapback Hats Sport Snapback Hats
November 20th, 2012
12:31 pm
[...] While they’ve generally been able to pass their way out of trouble (though Matt Ryan passed them into trouble last week), their run defense needs to get fixed quickly. [...]
4BsihTneeS
November 20th, 2012
12:35 pm
Bucks by 10. And it may not even be that close!
Nique
November 20th, 2012
12:50 pm
D-Led
I was watching Sunday Night Football & I heard Al Michaels say that due to some new rule, that while Ray Lewis was played on IR, he’s no longer required to miss the entire season & can come back for the playoffs. Can you explain that rule & does it apply to Grimes as well?
oldmike
November 20th, 2012
12:50 pm
btw the Bucks play in the NBA you moron
LOL at The Aints
November 20th, 2012
12:50 pm
Brilliant!! Flacons loose the next 7 games
November 20th, 2012
12:20 pm
Fist off the Flacons need 2 be scarred of the Bucks more so then the Siants. They got a beter QB and a beter RB both thigs that have cost the flacons a lot of problims. Next the Falcons need 2 do sumtin with Dunte Robrerson he is the worse palyer on the team he miss 2 many tackels is awyas gettin beet on coverege and is a cheep shot artist.
Nique
November 20th, 2012
12:53 pm
Flacons loose the next 7 games
You’ve got to be joking……Freeman better than Bress….not even in his own dreams is that true!
4BsihTneeS
November 20th, 2012
12:54 pm
Niners by 20….awwwwww so sad
LOL at The Aints
November 20th, 2012
1:00 pm
They’re comming out of the woodwork now!! Niners 42, Aints 24, LOL
NARDO
November 20th, 2012
1:01 pm
Weatherspoon a wasted PICK?……u guys kill me u noticed that they shut down McCoy and the Eagles run game with Spoon in for 3 qtrs…….and Jimmy Graham cracker killed us for 146 yards with Akeen Dcent covering him….Weatherpoos also provides passs rush he has 3 sacks and mant qb hits and pressures……u non football guys kill me.
NARDO
November 20th, 2012
1:03 pm
is everyone in the NFL forgetting that the bucs have the 29th ranked defense and is suspect against the pass?
and if NO one else noticed Matt Ryan is leading the NFL in passing yards right now.
Mike Franklin
November 20th, 2012
1:08 pm
All depends on the moodiness of the Falcs and whether our receiver corps has greasy fingers from pre-game box of KFC. We SHOULD win… we CAN win but… WILL we win?
That’s a question for a bottle of Sailor Jerry’s.
falconsrus
November 20th, 2012
1:08 pm
Seen how do you really feel about this season so far ?
cdog
November 20th, 2012
1:11 pm
big game.they falcons must keep pressure on josh freeman and shut down the run game.the falcon offense should rebound this week against the bucs
cdog
November 20th, 2012
1:11 pm
big game.they falcons must keep pressure on josh freeman and shut down the run game.the falcon offense should rebound this week against the bucs
cdog
November 20th, 2012
1:11 pm
big game.they falcons must keep pressure on josh freeman and shut down the run game.the falcon offense should rebound this week against the bucs
cdog
November 20th, 2012
1:11 pm
big game.they falcons must keep pressure on josh freeman and shut down the run game.the falcon offense should rebound this week against the bucs
4BsihTneeS
November 20th, 2012
1:12 pm
Hey Nique: That rules applies to one and only one player per team, and that person has to be on the IR list for at least 6 weeks, so theoretically, it must be a major injury to be returning from.
4BsihTneeS
November 20th, 2012
1:15 pm
@falcantsrus: I think the season is going well, a little bumpy at first, but seems to have smoothed out. Any other questions?
GO Falcons..!!!
November 20th, 2012
1:15 pm
The Falcons will win it in the final moments….It will be a nail biter. falcons 24. TB 21
you watch.
Falcons need Weatherspoon back to tighten run D
November 20th, 2012
1:17 pm
[...] While they’ve generally been able to pass their way out of trouble (though Matt Ryan passed them into trouble last week), their run defense needs to get fixed quickly. [...]
1stn10
November 20th, 2012
1:20 pm
Man I go away for 1 hour and come back and the village idiots took over.
GO Falcons..!!!
November 20th, 2012
1:23 pm
@NARDO
dude…thats racist.
4thn6inches
November 20th, 2012
1:24 pm
idiots are all they have in atlanta.
True Falcon Fan
November 20th, 2012
1:25 pm
Falcon BLOW-OUT — Hope it’s not us that get BLOWN-OUT…..
In heart Falcons win “Don’t bet the over” —- this game will be low score, something in the neighborhood like Falcons 17 — Bucs 10
Go Falcons —- Bucs next
11/29 BIG GAME —- Ain’ts comin to town — Somebody is gonna get Ash – Whippin big time —- Like for sure the lunatic “ZERO” —- Where art thou 14D botox rims sir “ZERO” the lunatic?????
Nique
November 20th, 2012
1:27 pm
4BsihTneeS
thx, so that means Grimes applies, do we know health wise if he’d be ready to go for the playoffs? Especially if we secure a 1st round bye?
4BsihTneeS
November 20th, 2012
1:28 pm
@TrueFal can’tFan: Don’t get caught looking down the road too soon.
abby normal
November 20th, 2012
1:28 pm
Mike Smith has said from day 1 “we want to run the ball and stop the run”. I don’t recall much of either one happening this season so far.
samoore57
November 20th, 2012
1:34 pm
What is the status of Asante Samual? He didn’t look to good at the end of the game! We need to be able to cover their receiver’s well because of the Play-Action-Pass and really need Asante to eliminate one side of the field.
Flacons loose the next 7 games
November 20th, 2012
1:38 pm
Yes Witherspoon is a waisted pix cuz he is alwyas injrued. he cant contrbute if he is not on the feild. They need 2 draft sum 1 that dont get hrut.
Camaro Bob
November 20th, 2012
1:40 pm
Juliet Jones is anoter 1 that is always injrued 2.
Mike Franklin
November 20th, 2012
1:40 pm
Ditto on what samoore57 asked: What is the status of Asante Samual?
Flacons R idiots
November 20th, 2012
1:44 pm
And the Flacons trayed a way the future 2 get Juliet and he only paly a few games a year so far. Could of had used that pix 2 repalce Perrier Jerry.
BK
November 20th, 2012
2:00 pm
ATL-30 BUCS-24..
Old Man Peabody
November 20th, 2012
2:20 pm
Strength of schedule for playoff teams:
GB – .530
SF – .494
MIN – .465
CHI – .461
NYG – .455
ATL – .380
1998 Was Our Year
November 20th, 2012
2:22 pm
@BK, I wouldn’t make predictions like that so soon, TB’s running back is killing right now, and The Falcons Run Defense is dismal.
Esquire
November 20th, 2012
2:37 pm
Hey, Tampa plays us tough. We are going to know we were in a battle at Raymond James. If we have more than 2 turnovers this team will eat our lunch.
Esquire
November 20th, 2012
2:39 pm
Ya know, lookin at that Caints game Oakland out gained them in Rushing and Passing………Caints got one TD on a pick 6 and Carson Palmer had another interception in the end zone …..Caints next three games come against teams currently in first place, starting with a home game next week against the Bay Area’s other team, the San Francisco 49ers, followed by games against Atlanta and the New York Giants. Former Raiders coach Jon Gruden lit the torch honoring late Oakland owner Al Davis, hmmm wonder if Brees tried to get Coach Payton invited to attend that. Roman Harper had 9 tackles, 2 assists, that tells me Oakland was getting into their secondary……quite frequently it would seem. Wow, Curtis Lofton had ONE tackle. Oakland beat them in First Downs, Total Yards, wow, the Caints had 11 penalties for over 100 yards. Oakland won the Time of Possession battle as well……………they beat them just didn’t score more points.
Esquire
November 20th, 2012
2:43 pm
Falcons
Offense
PTS 27.4 (7th) YDS 385.2 (6th) PASS YDS 292.6 (4th) RUSH YDS 92.7 (26th)
Defense
PTS 19.3 (6th) YDS 365.6 (21st) PASS YDS 235.8 (20th) RUSH YDS 129.8 (25th)
Tampa
Offense
PTS 28.9 (3rd)YDS 365.6 (13th) PASS YDS 240.9 (15th) RUSH YDS 124.7 (11th)
Defense
PTS 23.2 (18th) YDS 401.4 (31st) PASS YDS 321.3 (32nd) RUSH YDS 80.1 (1st)
Good for us, you can pass on ‘em all day but Turner may have trouble again.
Esquire
November 20th, 2012
2:43 pm
Am I nuts or did Colin Kaepernick remind anyone else of Joe Montana……?
Whadda Ya Know?
November 20th, 2012
2:44 pm
Smitty acts like this some nuclear physic problem to be solved. This is football man, plain and simple. Throw big boy Robertson in the middle, Babs and Peters as the ends and Abe, Kroy, Spoon & Nicholas as your LBs in a 3-4. Stop playing around and utilize different defenses on these teams based on their strengths. Also, EVERYONE on defense needs to go back to learning how to wrap-up and tackle. Stop with the should hits and air tackles. This is the very reason no one takes the Falcons serious. They don’t do anything well.
Whadda Ya Know?
November 20th, 2012
2:45 pm
“shoulder hits”
Samuel
November 20th, 2012
2:49 pm
The weakness the Bucs have is their pass defense, the Falcons have the weapons to exploit it. But at some point the running game has to show up..Tony Gonzales will be huge in this game. Obviously some of the Falcons are banged up, but they have to find a way to stay on the field .Hopefully,Matt Ryan fairs better than last week and the Birds can come out with a victory.
Esquire
November 20th, 2012
2:50 pm
When you see the “1″ in the Kansas City Chiefs’ 1-9 record, that win is over the Caints.
MG3
November 20th, 2012
2:51 pm
Reading this blog you’d think the Falcons are in last place. I’ll just say we have the best record in the NFL, a QB with the most passing yards in the NFL, and going down to play a team who just barely escaped with a win in Carolina. Another team we beat BTW. My guess is Tampa is scared of the Falcons right now and rightfully so. WE are the better team and they have a lot more to lose than we do.
MG3
November 20th, 2012
2:54 pm
And I love Julio but he is on the sideline a lot and that was a knock on him during the draft regarding being injury prone. Can you imagine if we’d taken Aldon Smith instead? With him and Abraham on each end our defense would be incredible.
True Falcon Fan
November 20th, 2012
2:59 pm
@1:28 When there is a series win loss record between the ain’ts and the Falcons of 46 – 40 out 86 meetings between these two teams, check yourself again. There is no reason to question, don’t look too far down the road in either teams club house. That being said, i feel the Falcons will struggle by the Bucs and hopefully we have no real injuries to deal with come 11/29th. Also that said, i would love to see the ain’ts and Falcons completely in full health, so there will be no mistake, your sorry ashes will be dragging your dead ashes home around 1:00 am come 11/30th with your tails between your legs & heads completely stuck up your ashes……
Go Falcons —- Bucs next
Looking forward to the ain’ts in the Ga Dome —- we gonna open a serious CAN of WHOPPIN ASHES on your ain’ts!!!!
hiramsaint
November 20th, 2012
3:03 pm
esqueer- when you see 9-1 that 1 is courtesy of a butt whoopin by a less than .500 {at the time } team !
Whadda Ya Know?
November 20th, 2012
3:17 pm
hiramtaint, i would exactly call it a butt whoopin. You all were scared as h3ll with us having the ball last. And don’t lie. If it wasn’t for that little gnat Greer holding and pulling on Roddy down the field that would have been a TD. We’ll getcha in the dome.
Whadda Ya Know?
November 20th, 2012
3:18 pm
“wouldn’t” exactly call it a butt whoopin.
hiramsaint
November 20th, 2012
3:18 pm
ledbetters tag line should read exploits instead of test
FOOTBALL RUNNERS » Resurgent Bucs will test chronic run defense problems
November 20th, 2012
3:19 pm
[...] Denver’s Willis McGahee (113 yards) and Washington’s Alfred Morris (115 yards).” Click here for full article Share on Facebook [...]
hiramsaint
November 20th, 2012
3:20 pm
whatever helps you digest the fact that the worst D in the league shutdown the vaunted failclown O
SawThat1nce
November 20th, 2012
3:29 pm
I think that the Falcons will win against the Bucs.
The Taints will not win against the 49ers.
If San Fransico can play up to half the level that they played against Da Bears, they will smear New Orleans into the turf.
I believe that is what’s going to happen.
SawThat1nce
November 20th, 2012
3:29 pm
I think that the Falcons will win against the Bucs.
The Taints will not win against the 49ers.
If San Fransico can play up to half the level that they played against Da Bears, they will smear New Orleans into the turf.
I believe that is what’s going to happen.
Whadda Ya Know?
November 20th, 2012
3:40 pm
hiramtaint, where were you all those games when the Taints couldn’t buy a win? Hiding as usual. It’s funny how you guys hide and come out the minute your team wins a game. I believe the name is “band wagon” for fans like yourself.
Captain Crazy
November 20th, 2012
3:51 pm
Hey sportswriters, come up with a new phrase besides “gashed!” Everyone at SI, Yahoo, MSN and the AJC uses that term, now. Try something original, please!
Go Dawgs! Go U So.Cal, Go Falcons!
TNScott
November 20th, 2012
3:52 pm
The problem is that the Falcons do not have Super Bowl caliber offensive or defensive lines. We wasted multiple draft picks, that could have been used to address these issues, on an average at best wide receiver named Julio Jones, whose history is not showing up against the best competition if you can get him on the field to begin with. I told everyone around me that this was waste of a choice based on his history of injury and drop passes at Alabama. With a few exceptions he is still the same wide receiver that I expected him to be when the Falcons made that mistake. If you were going that high in that draft, then go higher and get the best receiver in that draft named A. J. Green.
d
November 20th, 2012
3:57 pm
paper sack came off the hiramsaint head but he did get one thing right aints are the “worst d in the league”
i say let’s keep the bucs offense off the field
hiramsaint
November 20th, 2012
4:00 pm
I was hiding in a fort constructed and decorated by 4BsihTneeS’s living on Purina and pickle juice….. NEVER THE LESS you guys a couple of wins later and what do know AINT’S fans coming out of the wood work, shadows, trees, bushes, park benches, forest, swamps, garbage cans…..
PMC
November 20th, 2012
4:24 pm
Spoon is the key to fixing a lot of the misfits.
A defense can usually take one player out of position or taking a bad angle but not many more than that. Akeem Dent hasn’t been in the right spot a lot, and then the two safeties, well, when they are in the right position we right it on the calendar.
hiramsaint
November 20th, 2012
4:48 pm
capt crazy- if the word fits – use it
hiramsaint
November 20th, 2012
4:49 pm
pmc- isn’t that what was said about big pay ray ?
PMC
November 20th, 2012
4:50 pm
Just kind of funny to see Saint’s fans talking crap when they actually lost AT HOME to Kansas City.
PMC
November 20th, 2012
4:52 pm
Indeed Hiram, It was, but that was wishes and hopes I think. That guy was a bust from the word go.
He’s been a punk since he got here. He ought to send that million dollars he got on the way out to the Williams Wall and Jared Allen. He didn’t earn a dime of it.
PMC
November 20th, 2012
4:53 pm
Most of the issues with this edition of the Falcons were evident in the offseason. I’m just glad it took until now to matter.
We thought this was a 9-7 team and they have already won 9 in week 11.
Barry
November 20th, 2012
5:24 pm
We need to copy cat some of the offensive running plays that other teams are running against our defense and others. This is a copy cat league. Let’s start copycatting running plays from successful running teams in the NFL, if we can ‘ t come up with original, successful running plays. What are they doing in Tampa for s running back to have 1,000 yards at this point of the season. What’s really going on????
Ledbetter blocked me
November 20th, 2012
5:35 pm
Don’t worry the Falcons are just saving it for the postseason…..right?
JSS
November 20th, 2012
5:44 pm
@Ledbetter
I know that you have heard by now about the greatest meltdown in the history of Radio by now by Old Abe?
Ed
November 20th, 2012
6:19 pm
Whenever the Falcons play Tampon Bay we know their going to test us in every facet of the game mentally, physically and athletically. I think it will ultimately come down to how effective we are at scoring touchdowns inside the redzone instead of bringing Matt Bryant on to kick field goals. I think we score atleast once on a int return. Falcons 28 Bucs 14
biscuteater
November 20th, 2012
7:07 pm
D.Led..Ask the coach’s WHY M.Turner is Not being used in the punt return and kick off game..Too me, as big and beefy as he is, he could make a lot of those tacklers miss and put us in better field position than D.Franks or J. Rogers!
Turner seems to be at his best when he has a head of steam! Though he has missed on some balls thrown his way..I wonder if he can field the ball cleanly or if that’s a problem!?
Jay Dubu
November 20th, 2012
8:25 pm
Info on Ray Edwards that I did not see in the AJC story.
http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/67045/falcons-gave-edwards-1-million-to-walk
Red Rum
November 20th, 2012
8:45 pm
Bucs will sweep the Falcons for the division crown. Falcons can’t run on them, and the Bucs defense ranks 3rd in interceptions. Matty will get his yards, but will GIVE takeaways. Bucs 31 – 17…
Great Falconi
November 20th, 2012
8:54 pm
The first big run the Cards had in the game was the result of a mis-fit by Akeem Dent. He ran to the middle where there was nothing to do but stand and watch Stephens-Howling burst through a hole to Dent’s left and run wild and free down the field.
Falcon Since 1966
November 20th, 2012
8:55 pm
WoW! To all you Tuner turn coats, You must not know anything about football. When the Falcons were pounding all the other guys with Turner and Snelling we were winning games and making it to the platoffs. When we got there we lost because the better teams could stop our running game and we could not throw like we needed to. So then Everybody was “oh no , we got to get this passing game fixed.” Now we can pass most of the time but we are trying to run from a passing formation and not from a two back play action set. We should take several pages from Dan Reeves playbook and only be in shotgun formation when we have too.
okeetee
November 20th, 2012
9:34 pm
“What’s really going on????”
…..here’s what’s really going on! First off, we drafted Jones and there’s no turning back. He’s actually done well for us overall and since this has become a passing league we are now stacked with excellent wide receivers, correct? We will address defensive issues as soon as we can through free agency and the draft. Who ever thinks the Bucs can catch us for the division title has been smoking dope! Have you seen there remaining schedule? Absolutely brutal! Even if they beat us twice, which they won’t, they still won’t win the division! I strongly suspect we will split the last 6 games and end up 12-4 which will give us a bye week and a home game. These other NFC teams chasing us have brutal schedules and will not fair as well as we should. Unless Ryan gets hurt!
PMC
November 20th, 2012
10:18 pm
It’s not an either or with the passing/running game. The personnel issues are the problem on the line of scrimmage.
They aren’t good enough. I can’t say whether it’s size, strength or what, but they aren’t good enough period. They don’t get to the QB enough and they don’t keep the one they have clean enough in addition to opening holes.
That has been the problem in the playoffs forever, it’s just that we missed on some guys.
okeetee
November 20th, 2012
10:51 pm
Actually, our pass blocking has been rather good. With the exception of that one game where Ryan was sacked 7 times, he’s been able to move the ball through the air pretty well. It would be nice to have offensive lineman that can pass block AND run block…..but right now, we don’t have the later.
chucktown38
November 20th, 2012
11:41 pm
Falcons should pick up Aarron Curry to help LB depth
DR. FALCON
November 21st, 2012
12:16 am
Enter your comments here
DR. FALCON
November 21st, 2012
12:23 am
I AGREE WITH NARDO! WITHERSPOON, IS A STUD! HE LED THE TEAM IN TACKLES LAST YEAR, AND WAS ON HIS WAY AGAIN! IF NOBODY STEPS UP, THE ROOKIE DOUG MARTIN WILL CLOWN US!!! REAL TALK!
Adogg36
November 21st, 2012
2:57 am
I SAID IT ALL SEASON WACTH DEM BUC’S.DEY HOT NOW DIS IS GONE TO BE A ROUGH GAME FOR MY FALCONS.WE CANT STOP DA RUN!!!! BUT HOPEFULLY WE WILL WIN IN DA AIR.DEFENSE NEEDS TO STEP UP DIS WEEK FOR SURE.FALCON FOR LIFE!!!! RISE BUT DON’T POP!!!
Adogg36
November 21st, 2012
7:32 am
I wuz laying here thinking about it.Its gone be a NIGHTMARE in dat bac feild for micheal turner wit dat defense of line of dares.WE IN TROUBLE.
Doug Martin Compared to Ray Rice and Emmitt Smith, and More NFC South News | Football Betting
November 21st, 2012
8:40 am
[...] Atlanta Journal-Constitution believes that the Tampa Bay offense will test Atlanta’s porous run defense [...]
Mikey.
November 21st, 2012
8:45 am
Another nice article DLed! I sleep well knowing that we have M. Smith and M. Nolan managing the run defense problem. Having Spoon back will give them many more options and he is DEFINITELY not afraid to tackle. I, for one, was happy to see that A. Dent got an opportunity to gain experience on the field. He was noticibly improved each week and that is a sacrifice that must be made to improve our depth. I suspect that it will pay off for us in the future. I wonder if the lack of practice contact in the new NFLPA agreement is having a negative effect on field of play? I must admit that I have rarely seen such poor tackling form even on high school teams. On the positive side, lack of contact is maybe keeping the defense healthier. I’m hoping to see a more explosive offense this week and if it arrives, it will shock the Bucks. They are now a tough team but they are up against one of the best in the NFL. I can’t wait to see this one! GO FALCONS! YOU ARE RISING UP!
Atlanta Falcons update: Home field advantage not necessary for Atlanta Falcons... - NFL Team News
November 21st, 2012
9:16 am
[...] Atlanta Falcons: Resurgent Bucs will test chronic run defense problems VIDEO: The 49ers (San Francisco) routed the Bears (Chicago), 32-7. Colin Kaepernick threw for 243 yards & 2 touchdowns in his 1st career begin. Aldon Smith recorded 5.5 sacks, a new Monday night record. Now, the 9-1 Falcons have a 1 1/2 game lead over … Read more on Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Esquire
November 21st, 2012
11:50 am
hiramsaint
November 20th, 2012
3:03 pm
when you see 9-1 that 1 is courtesy of a butt whoopin by a less than .500 {at the time } team !
**************************************************
We gave away that game ………!! I understand why you are infatuated with the “1″, they have helpful programs for that affliction. A less than .500 team for sure.
Esquire
November 21st, 2012
11:53 am
4BsihTneeS
November 20th, 2012
12:35 pm
Bucks by 10. And it may not even be that close!
**************************************
Wow, you’re a regular Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators and Weather Prophet Extraordinary. Who knew Punxsutawney Phil was a stinkin’, smells like vomit on Bourbon Street, Caints fan.
Hey Phil, stick to the weather.
Transcripts: Mike Smith and Matt Ryan Interviews + More Atlanta Falcons News | US News Page - trending news stories at your fingertipsUS News Page – trending news stories at your fingertips
November 21st, 2012
10:38 pm
[...] Atlanta Falcons: Resurgent Bucs will test chronic run defense problems VIDEO: The 49ers (San Francisco) routed the Bears (Chicago), 32-7. Colin Kaepernick threw for 243 yards and 2 touchdowns in his 1st career begin. Aldon Smith recorded 5.5 sacks, a new Monday night record. Now, the 9-1 Falcons have a 1 1/2 game lead over … Read more on Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Dogmatic meme
November 23rd, 2012
1:19 am
what do you want? total domination, this is the NFL, it aint happening! we are 9-1 even when we have a really bad game we still win. the D or the O steps up! WE lost 1 hard fought game in the toilet town Cmon man! either get behind us or get the hell outta town!
Dogmatic meme
November 23rd, 2012
1:26 am
F’n pundits ya make wanna spew, they have tryouts 4 losers like you!