Atlanta Falcons: Give Your Bye Week Fixes
Falcons Must Get Better
Can the OL EVER Get it Together (Evan Vucci)
Even though it’s technically game week as the Falcons prepare to face the hated Philadelphia Eagles, the Birds are coming off their bye week and, even though they’re 6-0, they better get some things fixed and fast if they want to stay that way. If the the bye week had come after the San Diego game, everyone’s confidence would be really high, but after 3 straight weeks of lackluster performances that needed a last minute comeback, most Falcons fans have to be one of the least confident of any 6-0 team in NFL history. So as our Atlanta Falcons get ready for the enormous game in Philly, give your fixes the Falcons must make………..
Improve the OL By Any Means Necessary
Newsflash: The Atlanta Falcons have a problem with their offensive line! It’s impossible to fathom that the Birds have issues with their offensive line, but they do. In all seriousness, this has been an issue, basically forever. Fans and the media elite alike have been harping and carping on this area for years, but especially this off-season. Some of the blame of course falls with Dimitroff for not bringing in quality offensive lineman, but he at least tried to correct the error a little by using his first two draft picks (2nd round on Peter Konz, 3rd round on Lamar Holmes) on offensive linemen. We’re not likely to see any changes after the bye week, at least in personnel due the Falcons being undefeated. But does that mean we shouldn’t?
Same OL Group as Last Year (AJC)
Maybe it’s that whole deal of “the backup quarterback is always everyone’s favorite player,” but how many times can you continue to trot out the same lineup and expect different results? Perhaps the coaching staff feels as though the musical chairs rotation at right guard and left tackle last year led to inconsistency and ultimately poor play. Despite some decent performances to start the year, the OL continues to be the Falcons Achilles Heel. If the Falcons don’t get it fixed, fans are expecting some tough days ahead.
Tackling, Tackling, Tackling
ProFootballFocus came out with some stats the other day detailing how many tackles the Falcons defense is missing. It went on to say something to the effect that it would shatter any missed tackles record for the Falcons in the Mike Smith Era. The Falcons have been playing pretty good defense through the first 6 games, but they’re certainly showing some cracks, especially in the run and the fundamentals of tackling. One of the reasons the Falcons have been gashed by runs is the inability to bring their opponents down on first hit. They’re making some big hits, but not wrapping up. Nothing to be too concerned about, but something that should be cleaned up during the bye week.
Break the Offensive Slump
After the first three weeks, the Atlanta Falcons offense was seeming to finally become the juggernaut that so many had expected for so long. Matt Ryan was being tossed in the MVP conversation and the offense could do little wrong. Everyone was getting the ball and the offense was rolling along. Then the Falcons played the Panthers and it slowed down a touch, where they bogged down plenty of times in the game. They went on the road against the Redskins and had issues pretty much the entire game until the 4th quarter, when they had to get it done. The the offensive collapse happened against the lowly Raiders. After sweeping the problems under the rug, it became impossible to do so against Oakland at home. Hitting the offensive wall reminded so many fans of the previous years where it could fall apart in a flash and seem completely inept. Poor blocking, bad reads and throws by Matt Ryan, tons of drops by the running backs and receivers, and a very weak running game pulled an explosive offense crashing back to reality. Maybe the no-huddle attack can help or quicker and better designed route combinations or even better run play-calls. Dirk Koetter, Matt Ryan, and Co. have to find a way, any way, to get back their mojo from the beginning of the season.
Mix It Up in the Backfield
Time to Split the RB Load Up More? (AJC)
Michael Turner and the offensive line are the easy scapegoats for a really weak running game, but it’s more than just their faults. The Falcons have to dislodge their running game some way and somehow. Michael Turner shouldn’t necessarily be relegated to never playing, but fans sure would like to see Jacquizz Rodgers (in the right playcalls), Jason Snelling, and even speedster Antone Smith get some touches in the backfield. Much like the offensive line, when fans keep seeing the same old, same old, it gets frustrating the max degree. The OL hasn’t done a very good job blocking and creating holes, but the running backs (Turner in particular) don’t seem to be hitting the hole very hard. If other NFL teams can see rookie running back after rookie running back (sometimes undrafted) find success, can’t the Falcons coaches at least mix it up?
Help John Abraham Out for Goodness Sake
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Just like the offensive line woes, the failure to generate a good pass rush not named John Abraham is a problem yet again. Many thought that Abraham may have played his last down in Atlanta and be seeking a max contract to finish out his career. Luckily for the Falcons and all their fans, he decided to finish a Falcon. His play has not dropped a bit and is having a great year. Problem is, the Falcons continue to not give Abraham the help he needs. Sean Weatherspoon is second most with 3 sacks, Jonathan Babineaux has 2.5, Vance Walker has 2, and William Moore along with Kroy Biermann each have one a piece.
Those aren’t outright terrible numbers, and do go in line with Mike Nolan’s desire for a bunch of sacks from different players, but the Falcons don’t seem to have any players ready to pick up Abraham’s slack when he finally does start to taper off. Biermann seems better suited for linebacker, Ray Edwards is evidently starting to enter the B-word territory, Lawrence Sidbury is pulling his disappearing act again, and rookie Jonathan Massaquoi along with second year man Cliff Matthews are always on the inactive list. Regardless of who or where it comes from, the Falcons must find a way to help Abraham rush the passer.
Don’t Fear the No-Huddle
Bet Roddy Likes the No-Huddle (AJC)
It’s understandable that most coaches don’t want to use the no-huddle attack as their main offensive base since it speeds up games, can increase the chances for errors and/or turnovers, and doesn’t give the defense hardly any time to catch their breath on the sideline. However, if it works and your quarterback thrives in it, why not? Ryan seems to operate best in the no-huddle attack, calling plays based on the defense, keeping the opposition on their heels, and most importantly, driving the ball down the field. Even the running game seems to flourish more in the no-huddle. Should the no-huddle attack only be used to unstick an offense that’s bogging down, instead of perhaps putting great pressure on the defense?
Improve the Run D
Akeem Dent has been many fans favorite player to pile on the first 6 weeks. The second year man out of Georgia has struggled taking hold of the middle linebacker spot vacated by Curtis Lofton. Every once and awhile he’s shown a few glimpses, but overall he’s had issues at MLB. He’s been over-running plays, missing tackles, getting blocked with ease, and had an overall tough time against the run and in coverage. The Oakland game wasn’t all his fault since he was being asked to play both MLB and outside linebacker with Stephen Nicholas being hurt. Dent is far from the only one to take blame. The defensive tackles have done well getting penetration, but they’ve had issues anchoring the line and keeping linebackers and the secondary clean from getting free-release blocks from the OL. As mentioned above, much of it is just tackling better. This is a big one to get fixed with the tough part of the schedule coming up.
Any Chance for New Faces?
While this likely is just hoping for something for hope’s sake, many fans would love to see some players get some chances on offense, defense, and special teams. Would it be that terrible to see Peter Konz or Lamar Holmes get some snaps on the OL? Kevin Cone has showed his game-breaking speed in pre-season, not to mention getting HD more involved. Then there’s running back with Snelling getting lost in the shuffle and and a backfield dying for speed not even giving speed merchant Antone Smith a chance.
Defense Needs that Early Year Spark (AJC)
On defense, Lawrence Sidbury’s speed is never used and rookie Jonathan Massaquoi along with Cliff Matthews never even make the active roster. Could rookie DT Travian Robertson help out in at defensive tackle, not to mention Vance Walker likely earning a starting spot over Peria Jerry so far in the season. Could they just try Kroy Biermann at linebacker to appease many of us Cage fans? Again, these players likely don’t hold the answers that fans are looking for, but it sure would be nice to see for ourselves instead of always thinking, “what if?”
Bird Cage Patriots Turn
1) Simple Quick Draw – what’s the biggest thing the Falcons need to fix?
2) Rank your list of areas that need fixing, highest priority to least?
3) Should the Falcons mess with the OL or give it a few more chances?
4) Can better tackling alone cure an ailing defense?
5) How best can Koetter, Ryan, and Co. break their offensive slump?
6) What kind of running back split would you like to see going forward?
7) Any new looks or players to help out Abe on the pass rush?
8.) How often should the Falcons use the no-huddle? Should it be a potential base offensive set?
9) What’s the best way the Birds can fix the run D?
10) Any personnel changes you would make to starting lineup in all 3 phases?
11) Should the Falcons give some new guys a chance? Which ones?
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
964 comments Add your comment
Big Ray
October 23rd, 2012
9:42 pm
Now where is Slant Pattern ?
We could run a comedy duo that would put Tim Conway and Harvey Korman to shame (oh wait, maybe we should go with Gene Wilder and Cleavon Little from Blazing Saddles) and have everybody soaking their smallclothes in short order.
Matty Bicep
October 23rd, 2012
9:42 pm
Anyway, night cagers…Always entertaining.
JB Falcon
October 23rd, 2012
9:43 pm
Maybe I should put my hands up and back away from the computer. – MB
MB, I sorry I even put up those stats. They were there to prove a point. You were the only one to respond. As per your post above, maybe you should think about what you’re going to say before you put you hands on the keyboard. This blog has been here a looooong time and we’re not here to argue and prove points. We discuss, cuss, agree and disagree but no one is ever wrong. Learn to accept that and you will be welcome, as is every other Falcon fan. I may not have the official right to say that but the cage is full of true Falcon fans who care more about the team than they do about winning afguements. IMO!
Coop
October 23rd, 2012
9:46 pm
Big Ray – Your black?!?!?!?!
JJ
October 23rd, 2012
9:47 pm
BR, your leaving out my fav comedian…milk n cookies…shes a 2 yr old devil…what u looking at…want me to say ur doing a good job…lol, rip Bernie!!!
falcon21
October 23rd, 2012
9:48 pm
JB, you have the official right to say that in my point of view. You are a Cage man!
Big Ray
October 23rd, 2012
9:49 pm
LOL@ Coop ….guilty as charged…..
Big Ray
October 23rd, 2012
9:51 pm
JJ ,
No doubt. Bernie Mac was a heck of a comedian.
He had me howling in the movie “Life”, amongst others…stand-up shows and all.
Very sad RIP….how he died was so avoidable…but then again, when it’s your time…what can be said.
RIP, Bernie indeed.
Birdman
October 23rd, 2012
9:52 pm
falcon 21 Congratulation on your daughter .
May good health always be with her and may God bless her and your family
falcon21
October 23rd, 2012
9:55 pm
Thank you Birdman, get your butt in here more often, we enjoy talking to you!
Coop
October 23rd, 2012
10:05 pm
So, I continue to wax and wain on the Philly D. Part of me thinks they can’t change much in 2 weeks with a new DC. Part thinks the team has been out on notice. Part thinks Reid will be distracted due to his soon and part thinks he will be more focused. He is 13-0 coming off a bye.
I get the feeling that we’re gonna blow them out and they will tail spin into a 6-10 season… Or they’ll blow us out and got to the NFC championship…
I’m tending to think that Smith is the stable coach and Reid may be at the end of his run.
All I do know, is I’m not confident.
falcon21
October 23rd, 2012
10:13 pm
Coop, as much as I want to be confident, I cannot be. It’s kinda like the Dawgs and Gators, I’m really really worried about it! Later man!
Coop
October 23rd, 2012
10:15 pm
Later 21
Big Ray
October 23rd, 2012
10:17 pm
Coop ,
Part of the confidence issue is…well hell, you already know the answer to that.
The other part is that we know just how dangerous Philly is. They literally have what it takes to beat anybody…but they also can be beaten…damn near by anybody.
I’ll take a win any way we can get it…always will…but I don’t want last minute heroics mixed with last minute gaffes on their part. I want a good, solid, fundamental football game from our guys…and I wan that to translate into a win. Basically, I want them to play at least as well as they did against the Redskins. To me, that was an acceptable win against a credible team, regardless of what their record says.
If you ask me, Philly ain’t going anywhere. Not to the NFC Championship. They’re always dangerous, but never quite where they need to be. They hitched their wagon to MV7. Mistake. And that’s all I gotta say.
Wabe
October 23rd, 2012
10:25 pm
So, was bored and went back and watched bits of that Denver game again.
When do you think we bust out that nasty amoeba defense again? Man, that stuff was something else to watch. Vick tends to struggle reading the blitzes, but, I’m not sure if we’ll be seeing the amoeba type looks this week. I am curious to see whether we play it more conservatively, utilizing more 3-man rushes and keeping Vick and those speedy receivers in front of us or do we come out aggressive looking to get after Vick and risk letting those speedster receivers get behind our defense? I think both ways could be successful, but I think I would lean more towards forcing Vick and the Iggles put together methodical drives to beat us. They don’t seem to be an offense that’s oober successful when having the homerun threat taken away from them. Therefore, I say we’ll see some blitz packages, but more 3 to 4 man rushes with a lot of zone looks.
I’m sure Philly knows exactly what Asante’s capabilities are. I’m 100% sure they’ll definitely look to draw him in with a double move. Asante will have to stay disciplined this week covering either Maclin or Jackson. Can’t let Philly get over the top on us.
Big O
October 23rd, 2012
10:32 pm
A-a-a-h! At last an AJC writer is suggesting trying out Biermann at MLB! He is taller, stronger, heavier, and as fast as Dent with much more experience; and, he has shown some cover skills.
I agree D3, they have got to find a way to use Sidbury’s speed (4.56 sec 40). How about employing a 3 – 4 line up with two of the four linebackers being Sidbury and Biermann? Wow! I think this would kill our opponents run game. Put Edwards on the inactive list and play 2nd year man Matthews. Replace Jerry with T. Robertson for a few games.
On offense, forget the OL, they are what they are until the 2013 draft. Ryan is going to have get the ball out of his hands quickly. When A. Smith is ready, use his sub 4.4 speed. He looked good in pre-season. Kevin Cone is as fast, tall, strong, and heavy as J. Jones. And he is a skilled blocker – thanks to Ga. Tech. They must find a way to use Cone. Try some 4 WR sets and replace HD sometimes.
Coop
October 23rd, 2012
10:36 pm
Wane – I think that defense is better suited for the pocket QBs and less running teams. I doubt we’ll see it here.
As for the way to attack Vick, I’ve always thought blitzing the hell out of him was the way. I know you fear his running, but I wouldn’t let him get comfortable in the pocket either. He can get streaky with is passing. Blitz him. Flush him from the pocket. He doesn’t protect the ball when he scrambles. I think that’s the best way to induce some turnovers.
If he’s hot though… We may be screwed. As much as I hate him, he has the most physical skills I’ve ever seen.
Coop
October 23rd, 2012
10:39 pm
Big O – good ideas. I like Cone in the game plan more.
Birdman
October 23rd, 2012
10:40 pm
I hope the Nole has the Falcons D ready and on fire for this game . Can;t wait till Sunday.
Coop
October 23rd, 2012
10:41 pm
D3 – quick thought about Edwards. I know you said he’s a bust. I’m sorry to agree, but I was thinking, who did he replace… Yeah, Beerman… Who is still better than Edwards. It is depressing.
Birdman
October 23rd, 2012
10:49 pm
Time to Rise Up
So all these Sport critics will Shut Up
SPS
October 23rd, 2012
10:55 pm
@Coop. Nope. He effectively replaced JA98. And I’m not seeing much difference at this point. Except that JA98 was at least a likable figure off the field. He had a compelling story growing up with deaf parents. Seemed like a good guy. Just a lousy 1st round DE.
Paddy O
October 23rd, 2012
10:55 pm
In Vegas, a 10 point + spread indicates blow out. We got lucky winning against Carolina; I think RG3 & the Skins – with Shanahan – are dangerous, and to rack up 17 in the last quarter indicated somebody was holding MR2 back. No way, even with a bye, should we have been so inept against the Raiders – that was the worst game I watched as far as rhythm in what? 3 years?
Atlanta Falcons: Give Your Bye Week Fixes | Atlanta InformerAtlanta Informer
October 24th, 2012
1:01 am
[...] News here – Atlanta Falcons: Bird Cage ← Free screening of classic vampire flick “Nosferatu” gets live soundtrack [...]
Chop Buster
October 24th, 2012
8:07 am
1) Simple Quick Draw – what’s the biggest thing the Falcons need to fix? OL issues that have been plaguing us for years now, stopping the run, running the ball.
2) Rank your list of areas that need fixing, highest priority to least?
OL
Stopping the run
Running game
Use more than just Roddy, Tony, Julio and Turner on the offense
3) Should the Falcons mess with the OL or give it a few more chances? They definitely need to give Clabo and Baker help against teams with stout front fours. They should at least try Reynolds at RT and Konz at RG. What’s the worst that could happen?
4) Can better tackling alone cure an ailing defense? No, it’s a good start. We have to get back to attacking offenses again–seems like we’ve eased up after the first three games.
5) How best can Koetter, Ryan, and Co. break their offensive slump? Be more creative with the offense. Add Cone, Davis, Antoine Smith to the mix instead of the usual players.
6) What kind of running back split would you like to see going forward? Snelling and Smith more playing time to see what they can do. We should be trying all sorts of combinations to see who/what would work out best for us.
7) Any new looks or players to help out Abe on the pass rush? What happened to possibly playing some 3-4? Sidbury, Biermann, Matthews, Massoquoi as the LBs
8.) How often should the Falcons use the no-huddle? As often as necessary to wear down attacking defenses. And we should go more quick snap at the line instead of running the clock down to the last one or two seconds. Should it be a potential base offensive set? No, we want unpredictability.
9) What’s the best way the Birds can fix the run D? Discipline in the gaps. Our LBs get wiped out by OLmen, and we need Biermann or Nicholas playing the middle. Why hasn’t Travian Robertson been in the games?
10) Any personnel changes you would make to starting lineup in all 3 phases? We need HD returning punts and not Franks (he gives us zero return game). I know a lot are concerned about HD getting injured, but we have Cone behind him. That’s why we have backups.
11) Should the Falcons give some new guys a chance? Yep. Which ones? Smith, Cone, Davis
D3
October 24th, 2012
10:06 am
Great Wednesday Cage Family! — Went to bed early last night and the Cage blew up. Since we’re talking about players and such, decided to take a look at a few contracts going forward…..
Ray Edwards (5 yr / $27 mill / $11 mill guaranteed) Signed through 2015; Will be a $7.05 mill cap hit next year. By my calculations, we’d have to pay almost $4 mill just to let him go before next year. He got 11 mill guaranteed and he will have only earned $7 mill of that after this season. Looks like we’re stuck with him for at least another year.
Tyson Clabo (5 yr / $25 mill / $11.5 mill guaranteed) – Will have earned $9.1 in guaranteed money after this season. Stuck with him for at least another year. (That’s why I continue to advocate, as SW has said, to move him to RG and problem solved).
Michael Turner (6 yr / $34.5 mill / $15 mill guaranteed) – This is the biggest misnomer out there, that Turner will be a UFA next year. WRONG. He’s signed through 2013. He will be an $8 mill cap hit next year. Reading these contracts is like reading high level calculus, but it says he got a $15 mill signing bonus and also that $15 mill is guaranteed. I would think that they are one in the same, essentially that if the Falcons decided to cut him long ago, that would be dead money, because the other way would mean that he’s actually guaranteed $30 mill, which can’t be right. You all know my position on this one. Time to cut the cord.
Jonathan Babineaux – Signed through next year. Will be a $4.6 cap hit in his final year and turns 31. Let him ride out his contract and let him walk in 2014 as a UFA, in my opinion, especially since we don’t really have a great backup plan with Peters and Jerry having injury troubles, and not really knowing what we have in Travian Robertson yet. If we drafted a DT pretty high or signed a FA DT and kept Walker, than Babs might be cap casualty after all. However, he’s having a good year so far.
Sam Baker – (5 / $13 mill / $8 mill guaranteed). He’s having a “decent” year this year, but this is an interesting one right here. My personal opinion would be to re-sign him for pretty cheap, move him to RT, move Clabo to RG, Konz @ C, Blalock at LG, and Holmes at LT. Keep Reynolds as an excellent backup who has starting experience. Problem solved. Issue is, we have no idea he would be OK at RT, because they trot out the same OL lineup every frackin’ week for the last two years.
Chris Owens (4 yr / $2.45 mill) – Due to be a free agent in 2013. Do they keep him? Do they have a ton of options with DRob, Asante, and Grimes (even if he’s kept) are all at, near, or over 30 years old. I like McClain a lot, but hard to think we wouldn’t be able to keep Owens very cheap.
Big Ray
October 24th, 2012
10:14 am
D3 ,
Good points. My issue with them moving Clabo to RT is that….they won’t. Why? Remember how stubborn Smitty was with Baker. How “if they just got him healthy, he’d be alright.”
Chances are, they’ll take the same tag line with Clabo. “He’s not healthy, we have confidence in him, just get him healthy.”
Uggghhhh….
Big Ray
October 24th, 2012
10:17 am
Ray Edwards….barf….being wrong about him is nothing compared to the disappointment of having him take the Bier Truck’s place and watch the Bier Truck NOT get put where he needs to be – at LB. Full-time.
Turner stays, Turner goes….what’s more important here is getting a speedy RB in here and playing the guy. Turner’s carries have already been cut in favor of us passing more, and that’s good (as long as the offense quits stalling, that is).
Big Ray
October 24th, 2012
10:21 am
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-falcons-blog/2012/10/24/atlanta-falcons-akeem-dent-winning-over-his-linebacker-mates/?cxntfid=blogs_atlanta_falcons_blog
Interesting. Weatherspoon says the kid is gonna be good. Nolan called his performance on the head – average. Tough judge, but that’s what you want in a DC.
We shall see how this progresses.
Coop
October 24th, 2012
10:29 am
D3 – Lot of interesting questions. The one thing I know I would do from the list above is let Grimes go for good. Don’t want him anywhere near our roster.
Matty Bicep
October 24th, 2012
10:57 am
In Vegas, a 10 point + spread indicates blow out.
I don’t consider a 2 score game a “blowout”. I know 10.5 is about as large a spread as you will see in the NFL, but that just goes to shows there is a pretty narrow gap between “good” and “bad” teams. A 2 score game means a team has an outside of winning the game if they have the ball, and a minute left. A blowout is game over with 10 minutes left,…My opinion.
Matty Bicep
October 24th, 2012
10:58 am
Ray Edwards…something we all agree on.
darrell starks
October 24th, 2012
11:39 am
D3, Excellent post my brother.
GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
October 24th, 2012
11:46 am
I have watch MV7 for 7years with the Falcons, and this how you beat him, Blitz him up the middle in his face, Spoon should be that guy, do not blitz him from the edge because of his quickness and his vision, by coming directly at him face front he will become reckless and jittery throwing atleast 2picks.
GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
October 24th, 2012
11:48 am
Hit Vick in the mouth and pressure him the hole game and Falcons will shut Eagles down.
GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Paddy O
October 24th, 2012
11:48 am
matty – I dont think you understand spreads and betting. any double digit spread is huge.
Paddy O
October 24th, 2012
11:49 am
I also am pretty dubious on your conclusion off the evidence you offered. there are quite a few bad teams. smell that son? that’s the smell of pollyanna. I love the smell of pollyanna in the morning.
darrell starks
October 24th, 2012
11:55 am
OL, Falcons need slowly starte bringing in Lamar Holmes and Peter Konz, there should some changes on the OL.
LAMAR, BLALOCK, KONZ, CLABO, BAKER
I like this OL alot, should slowly groom Lamar and Konz.
GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Coop
October 24th, 2012
12:12 pm
Darrell – completely agree on the way to rattle Vick. Pressure him up the middle. He is much less dangerous running out of the pocket than up through a hole in the pcket. The DTs MUST anchor the line this week. When Vick runs, he almost always runs left. If he runs right, awesome, get ready for a poor throw. If he runs left, he leaves the ball hanging longer and provides opportunities for strips.
Playing a soft zone against him is a bad idea.
Greg Mendel
October 24th, 2012
12:19 pm
Apropos of nothing, Paddy O’s comment about “bad teams” reminds me of an explanation I once heard regarding “lemons” — as in cars and other machines — and I wonder if it applies to sports teams.
This Theory of Lemons is that manufacturers specify tolerances — high and low, minimum and maximum — for all the parts that are assembled into a machine. A “lemon,” so the theory goes, is a machine containing an excessive number of minimum-tolerance (weakest) parts. An abundance of weak parts = more failures, more often. Hence, a lemon.
I’ll shut up now. As you were. Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em.
Matty Bicep
October 24th, 2012
12:21 pm
I know a double digit spread is huge for an NFL game in Vegas, but I don’t think a 10 point game constitutes a “blowout” on the field. Like I said, a two score game is not secured until the home team goes into victory formation, with a blowout, the victory is sealed midway through the 4th quarter.
A 10 point spread also means HALF the people are willing to put money of the fact they think it will be less than a 10 pt victory, again, hardly overwhelming expectations of a blowout. You can call me Pollyanna, but people coming on here predicting 24 pt wins, then thinking there is something internally wrong with our team and extrapolate it with playoff doom if changes are not made pronto are negative Nancys. Like I said, if we can easily be 4-2, so can Carolina. I feel we are very close in talent. Roddy=S Smith. They have better RBs, they have some good pass rushers,…They got maybe the most freakish athlete in the NFL…But their safety sucks….
Matty Bicep
October 24th, 2012
12:25 pm
Paddy, who are bad teams? I think the worst “teams” are Jacksonville, KC, Carolina….what do they all have in common? they don’t have NFL QBs, if they had one, they would be just fine, easily in the 3-3 range of 75% of NFL teams.
Slant Pattern
October 24th, 2012
12:34 pm
“This may be the blogosphere, but we are very much creatures of habit. Persona or not, we always give ourselves away somehow, LOL.” – BR
I don’t understand this…maybe a more complete explanation is in order? Oh by the way, did you notice the Lions OC rarely used screen passes and kept sending Megatron into the teeth of the Bears covers 2? I mean he had this RB named Leshoure that kept gashing the D for 7 yrds a carry or more but kept passing inside the RZ instead of punching it in! C’mon man, a backfield of Leshoure and I. Pead would have covered up the OC’s incompetance and gotten an easy win there…Lions GM is asleep at the wheel!!
Matty Bicep
October 24th, 2012
12:36 pm
Lions GM is asleep at the wheel!!
They must put ambien in the coffee in Detriot.
Big Lou
October 24th, 2012
12:36 pm
I seriously doubt Mike Nolan will go zone against Vick. He isn’t the runner he used to be. He is more of a pocket passer now. He will probably just have Bierman spy and mix it up.
I am more worried about our offense scoring on the Eagles. They have one of the best scoring defenses in the league, just like the Falcons.
My prophet genes make me think Vick with turn over the ball at least two times, which will lead to ATL’s win.
Big Lou
October 24th, 2012
12:38 pm
“I don’t understand this…maybe a more complete explanation is in order? Oh by the way, did you notice the Lions OC rarely used screen passes and kept sending Megatron into the teeth of the Bears covers 2? I mean he had this RB named Leshoure that kept gashing the D for 7 yrds a carry or more but kept passing inside the RZ instead of punching it in! C’mon man, a backfield of Leshoure and I. Pead would have covered up the OC’s incompetance and gotten an easy win there…Lions GM is asleep at the wheel!! ” SP
And what makes it even worse… they were not down by that many points the whole game! Why not run the ball? Seriously, Lions are pathetic.
Slant Pattern
October 24th, 2012
12:43 pm
“That’s right folks – a black guy quoting the Beatles. It’s showtime, folks!” – BR
Chim Chim Chimney Cheru!! This ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WICfZ4_V-ys ) is what you went to the hospital for? Modern medicine is so marvelous.
* RUNS * and changes license plate.
Slant Pattern
October 24th, 2012
12:55 pm
“MB, I sorry I even put up those stats. They were there to prove a point. You were the only one to respond” – JB
He is new and doesn’t realize you are the star of a fishing show on the hunting network. Maybe he will see your line of shiny lures at Bass Pro Shops one day
.
Slant Pattern
October 24th, 2012
12:59 pm
“And what makes it even worse… they were not down by that many points the whole game! Why not run the ball? Seriously, Lions are pathetic.” – BL
There may have been bad humor involved with that post but I do agree with you. We get alot of flak for talking about schemes and things in the Cage but the announcers and Lions fans were not happy with the way the Lions OC attacked the Bears defense. I find using other teams as examples helps remove the Falcons fans “homer filter” sometimes lol. I didn’t really enjoy that game too much tho..Bears are way overrated, if Lions had played even halfway decent they would have stomped Da Bears.
JB Falcon
October 24th, 2012
2:30 pm
And now this from Pat Yas:
The Atlanta Falcons haven’t clinched anything yet, but history says they have 94.6 percent chance of making the playoffs, a 54.1 percent chance of reaching the Super Bowl and a 27 percent chance of winning it.
I can live with that!