Archive for the ‘Notes’ Category

Here are the Falcons’ grades for the 31-27 loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

B — Quarterbacks: Matt Ryan passed for a career-high 411 yards and had a passer rating of 100.7. It marked the first time that the Falcons have loss when he’s had a passer rating of more than 100. They are now 29-1 in such games. Ryan had the team poised to win despite the running game being closed for business. He completed passes to eight different receivers including lineman Mike Johnson, who caught a 1-yard touchdown pass as a tight end eligible. Ryan completed 34 of 52 passes, had three touchdowns and one interception. The inability to get 1 yard wasted this fine effort.

D — Running backs: The Falcons were held to 46 yards rushing. Outside of an 18-yard run by Jacquizz Rodgers, they were stuffed. Michael Turner was held to 15 yards on 13 carries. Rodgers had four catches for 33 yards receiving. Jason Snelling caught two passes for 12 yards. …

Continue reading Report card: Falcons’ grades for loss to Saints »

Atlanta Falcons Playtime Percentage vs. New Orleans

(Percent of playtime per player on offense, defense and special teams)

Player     Offense   Special Teams

T Clabo T 73 100% 5 17%

J Blalock G 73 100% 5 17%

S Baker T 73 100% 5 17%

P Konz G 73 100% 5 17%

M Ryan QB 73 100%

T McClure C 73 100%

T Gonzalez TE 70 96%

R White WR 67 92%

J Jones WR 45 62%

H Douglas WR 41 56% 1 3%

M Turner RB 33 45%

J Rodgers RB 30 41% 12 40%

M Palmer TE 22 30% 13 43%

M Cox FB 17 23%

D Davis WR 14 19% 17 57%

J Snelling RB 11 15% 15 50%

M Johnson G 9 12% 11 37%

A Smith RB 4 5% 20 67%

T Gallarda TE 2 3% 3 10%

Player Defense special teams

T DeCoud FS 62 100% 10 33%

S Nicholas LB 62 100% 8 27%

A Dent LB 62 100% 8 27%

W Moore SS 62 100% 5 17%

D Robinson CB 62 100%

A Samuel CB 61 98%

J Babineaux DT 56 90% 5 17%

C Peters DT 48 77% 1 3%

K Biermann DE 46 74% 19 63%

R McClain CB 32 52% 20 67%

J Abraham DE 32 52%

M Peterson LB 30 48% 8 27%

V Walker DT 29 47% 7 23%

R Edwards DE 20 32% 5 17%

P Jerry DT …

Continue reading Falcons playtime percentage chart vs. Saints »

LATEST NEWS

Falcons’ dream of undefeated season ended by Saints, 31-27

OTHER RECENT STORIES

Mike Smith says no major injury for Peria Jerry

Goodell met with Gov. Deal, Mayor Reed to discuss stadium deal

Falcons’ playtime percentage chart vs. Cowboys

Roddy White becomes all-time reception leader

Post game comments from the Falcons locker room

Falcons pull out 19-13 victory over Cowboys to improve to 8-0

Get instant updates on Twitter at AJCFalcons and you can join the Facebook Fan page at AJC Falcons.

Continue reading Video: Falcons QB Matt Ryan after the 31-27 loss to the Saints »

Here's the image that Tyson Clabo is tweeting out to his followers. He wants them to help vote Todd McClure into the Pro Bowl.

By Michael Cunningham

FLOWERY BRANCH — Each week during the season The Atlanta Journal-Constitution will conduct a question-and-answer session with a Falcons player about his off-field interests and activities. The intention is to give fans some insight into the players and a little sense of what makes them tick. This week we spoke with center Todd McClure.

McClure grew up in Baton Rouge, La., where he developed a love for cooking at an early age. He’s known as a good cook among his Falcons teammates, who are known to head to McClure’s house for a good meal.

McClure talked about why cooking brings him joy and the key to making a good dish.

(Falcons tackle Tyson Clabo has started a “Get out the Pro Bowl Vote Campaign for McClure.)

Q: Does your love of cooking come from your Louisiana roots?

A: It does. My dad’s mother, my grandmother …

Continue reading Atlanta Falcons: Conversation with center Todd McClure »

Here's the image that Tyson Clabo is tweeting out to his followers. He wants them to help vote Todd McClure into the Pro Bowl.

FLOWERY BRANCH — Falcons right tackle Tyson Clabo is using Twitter to help get out the Pro Bowl vote for center Todd McClure.

“I’m a big fan of Todd McClure,” Clabo said. “He’s been doing this a long time. He’s one of the better centers in the league, and I think that it’s a joke that he’s never been to the Pro Bowl. It’s just time. We are having a great year, and I think he deserves it.”

After doing an interview with Gil Brandt on SiriusXM NFL Radio on Wednesday, Clabo asked listeners to vote for McClure.

The 13-year veteran is on the ballot. You can go vote here!

LATEST NEWS

Mike Smith says no major injury for Peria Jerry

Goodell met with Gov. Deal, Mayor Reed to discuss stadium deal

Falcons’ playtime percentage chart vs. Cowboys

Roddy White becomes all-time reception leader

Post game comments from the Falcons locker room

Continue reading Atlanta Falcons: Clabo leading Pro Bowl voting campaign for McClure »

Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez vs. Saints SS Roman Harper: The amazing Gonzalez has 50 catches for the 15th straight season. He has 495 yards and five touchdowns and a streak of 187 straight games with a reception. Harper, the heart and soul of the Saints secondary, has 58 tackles and one interception. Harper, who also is a threat to blitz, has 17 sacks since 2006.

Falcons DTs Corey Peters, Jonathan Babineaux vs. Saints Gs Jahri Evans and Ben Grubbs: The battle for turf in the middle of the line will be fierce. Peters is rounding back into form after returning from a stress fracture in his foot. He played 20 snaps against Philadelphia in his first game back and 36 against Dallas. Evans, who has reached All-Pro status and is a three-time Pro Bowler, is considered one of the top guards in the league. The Saints signed Ben Grubbs away from Baltimore after losing Carl Nicks in free agency. “I definitely will go against Jahri sometimes,” Babineaux …

Continue reading Video: Tony Gonzalez helps with the 3 key matchups »

Tackle (75) Garrett Reynolds levels a tackling dummy while running a drill. He will replace Harvey Dahl as the team's starting right guard. Curtis Compton, ccompton@ajc.com

FLOWERY BRANCH — Falcons guard Garrett Reynolds was placed on injured reserved with a lingering back injury and is considering back surgery.

“It’s definitely an option,” said Reynolds, who’s out for the season. “We are going to continue to look into it and we’ll see how it goes.”

Reynolds started the first six games at right guard. He played on special teams against Philadelphia. Rookie Peter Konz, a second-round draft pick, started the last two games.

Reynolds was fine with the move.

“It hadn’t been getting any better,” Reynolds said. “I had a couple of epidurals and they really weren’t kicking in. We thought they’d work. I tried to do a little bit of running last Friday and I just wasn’t moving very well. I could feel it a lot. I kind knew it was time to go get this thing taken …

Continue reading Atlanta Falcons: Garrett Reynolds is facing back surgery »

Since the NFL adopted a 16-game schedule, beginning with the 1978 season, 14 other teams won their first eight games. Nine of those teams played in the Super Bowl and six won it.

Then again, four of the teams lost their first playoff game, including the 2011 Packers.

TEAMS TO WIN FIRST EIGHT GAMES OF SEASON SINCE 1978 (When the schedule was expanded to 16 games)

Year   TEAM   FINAL RECORD  PLAYOFF RESULT

1984  MIAMI           14-2    Lost Super Bowl XIX

1985  CHICAGO         15-1    Won Super Bowl XX

1990  SAN FRANCISCO   14-2    Lost NFC title game

1990  NEW YORK GIANTS 13-3    Won Super Bowl XXII

1991  WASHINGTON      14-2    Won Super Bowl XXIII

1998  DENVER          14-2    Won Super Bowl XXXIII (over Falcons)

2003  KANSAS CITY     13-3    Lost in Divisional round

2005  INDIANAPOLIS   14-2    Lost in Divisional round

2006  INDIANAPOLIS   12-4    Won Super Bowl XLI

2007  NEW …

Continue reading Since 1978, 9 teams have started 8-0 and went on to the Super Bowl »

FLOWERY BRANCH–Falcons coach Mike Smith said starting defensive tackle Peria Jerry did not suffer any structural damage to his knee Sunday against the Cowboys and is hopeful Jerry will be able to practice this week in preparation for Sunday’s game at New Orleans.

Jerry left in the second quarter of Atlanta’s 19-13 victory over the Cowboys. Smith said Jerry has swelling in the knee but no ligament or cartilage damage.

“He had a study done on it today,” Smith said. “We are anticipating he should be out with us by the end of the week. It’s not anything like [Jerry's] knee injury of two years ago. We are hoping to get him a few days rest and let him get a lot of rest and he will be back out with us.”

Jerry suffered a season-ending knee injury in September 2009.

Linebacker Sean Weatherspoon missed the Cowboys game with an ankle injury. Smith said there’s a possibility Weatherspoon will be a game-time decision but hopes he will be able to practice this week.

“This is his eighth day …

Continue reading Atlanta Falcons: Mike Smith says no major injury for Peria Jerry »

Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons remained undefeated after pulling out a 19-13 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night. Falcons beat writer D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution broke down the win.

LATEST NEWS

Sean Weatherspoon is out for Sunday’s game vs. Dallas

Matt Ryan is climbing the charts to elite status

Tony Gonzalez needs four catches to reach 50 mark for 15th straight season

Video: Matt Ryan on scoring in the red zone

UNDEFEATED: Can the Falcons pull it off?

OTHER RECENT STORIES

Falcons rough up Vick, Eagles to soar to a 7-0 mark

Video: Falcons soar to 7-0 win over Eagles

Falcons guard Peter Konz shines in first NFL start

Falcons quotes after win over Eagles

Injury report: Weatherspoon suffered an ankle injury

Get instant updates on Twitter at AJCFalcons and you can join the Facebook Fan page at AJC Falcons.

Continue reading Video: Falcons pull out hard fought 19-13 win »