Atlanta Falcons: Birds Fall to Saints
Too Little, Too Late
That's About Right (Bill Feig)
All the media-elite-talking-heads should be ecstatic, the Falcons finally lost and they lost to everyone’s favorite darlings, the hated Saints. But hey, it’s only the regular season and, as we all know, the regular season doesn’t matter, right? The late game magic finally ran out and, frankly, the Birds deserved to lose. They started fast, blew way to many opportunities, and allowed the Saints to dictate the entire game, save the last quarter. Even Falcons fans and Bird Cage members knew they’d lose at some point, but it just had to be to the Bountygate Saints. A look at the Falcons first loss……….
Blew a Fast Start
The Falcons couldn’t have asked for any better start to the game. They had some big plays, scored on their first drive, and literally intercepted the first play of the hated Saints. Even though there was a shadow, garbage penalty on Asante Samuel for “excessive celebration,” the Falcons bogged down and settled for a field goal. Sure, it was points, but the chance to go up 14-0 was definitely a wasted opportunity. After a hot start, the Falcons evidently went back into conservative mode where Drew Brees had enough time to bake a cake and do his taxes and the offense was hell bent on running Turner through a brick wall and taking losses on first down. It looked as though the game may get out of hand until the defense finally found a way to stop the hated Saints and the offense pulled themselves out of their hyper-conservative funk. Fact is, the Falcons had been living on borrowed time with their comebacks, and that magic finally ran out.
Let Matt Ryan Carry This Team
Defense Shredded (Bill Haber)
Ryan had a career high with 402 yards and 3 touchdowns and yet the Falcons offense always finds a way to bring it back to Turner. This is a new day and it’s a new Falcons team. Michael Turner has done a magnificent job for the Falcons since he’s been here and may be on a track for the Falcons Ring of Honor, but his time has passed. Not sure whether it’s Smith or Koetter, but the truth is that most times when Turner gets the ball instead of Ryan, it’s usually not as good. This doesn’t mean that the Falcons have to throw the ball 50 times every game, but at some point, Ryan should be allowed to do what Brady, Manning, Rodgers, and Brees do with their teams.
ZERO Pass Rush
For the longest time fans were able to blame Brian Van Gorder and by extension Mike Smith. Well, we have one of the best coordinators in the game and it’s true that Sean Weatherspoon was surely missed, but the Falcons don’t have much of anything in terms of rushing (or even disrupting) the quarterback. Drew Brees had enough time to cut the grass, do the dishes, and plan his Bountygate party in the pocket on Sunday. The Falcons mustered one sack, but rarely was pressured whatsoever. The defense stepped up some in the second half, but overall it was another pitiful display by the defense in pressuring the QB. Fans no longer know whether it’s the defensive tackles, the defensive ends, the linebackers, or the scheme to pressure the QB. They were sent on bltizes on Sunday, but most times they looked pedestrian and were easily picked up. John Abraham is the lone exception and how long does it take to get him some help. This did not look like the defense who confused and stymied Peyton Manning and Philip Rivers at all. Somethings got to give with the defense and lack of pressure.
Wasted Plays
400 Yards, 3 TDs = Loss (Bill Haber)
This is not a hatchet job on Michael Turner. The guy has done wonders for this franchise and likely will get a look at the Falcons Ring of Honor, but fans can easily see and call a wasted play coming on first down to Michael Turner. Given first and goal and a chance to go ahead in the game, the Falcons predictably go to Turner (as they always seem to do) to not only a stop, but a loss on the play. It was brought up in the offseason whether or not Turner fits in the offense and it becomes painfully clear every single week that giving the ball to Turner on first down is a wasted play. It’s not necessarily his fault, but seeing undrafted Chris Ivory run like a man possessed makes Turner seem like relic on the Falcons offense.
Franks Not the Answer
This is not meant to be slam against Dominique Franks, but the punt return game has become nothing more than catching the punt with a fair catch and surely is not threat to return it and get some yards. Perhaps Eric Weems was undervalued after all (this author admits). Dominique Franks had a blast on the scene in preseason with his dynamic punt return for a touchdown, but ever since he seems tentative at best and weak at worst at returning punts. The Birds put Harry Douglas back at punt returner with the game on the line and he offered little more.
Shadow Calls
The Falcons deserved to lose. Period. But of course this will come off as sour grapes and may have not made a difference in the grand scheme, but there were some pretty bad calls in New Orleans, a city known for it’s penultimate honesty (Bountygate’s the same as the Iraq War, right Brees?). There was the first part of the game and the “excessive celebration” that Fox never showed. Antone Smith evidently made a penalty on special teams, also not shown at all on Fox. There was the catch that Harry Douglas made as we all saw on tape, but they couldn’t overturn because the initial call was botched to Hades. Again, the Falcons deserved to lose, but the calls all seemed to go the Hated Saints way.
Chris Ivory vs. Michael Turner
One of Most Pitiful Plays on D EVER! (Bill Feig)
This is not meant to be a hatchet job on Michael Turner. It really isn’t. Turner has been a rock, a stud, and one of the main reasons that the Falcons have been one of the most consistent teams in the National Football League. The argument is always that Turner isn’t very good because the offensive line is so bad. That is an accepted truth with Falcons fans. We all know how poor the OL is. It’s been that way ever since Bill Fralic and Mike Kenn retired. However, one needs to take one look at Saints running back Chris Ivory and the way he runs the football and how Michael Turner runs. Ivory was an undrafted free agent and ran like a man possessed against the Falcons, running tough, delivering blows, refusing to go down, and generally carrying the ball with force. Flip over to Michael Turner and you see the exact opposite. Turner has never seemed to fit in this offense and evidently Coach Smith is afraid of upsetting Turner because after he seemed frustrated with his lack of carries (and subsequent production), Smith and Co. have been committed to giving him the ball regardless. Again, it’s not a hatchet job on Turner, but the fact is that Turner is the exact opposite of dynamic.
Make Changes or Expect Insanity
Even though the media elite are salivating over the Falcons loss and their emphasis that these are the “same old Falcons,” the coaching staff have control over that. Although they seem to overdramatize the Birds issues on the offensive line and running game, they do have a point. The Falcons had woeful losses last season and in the playoffs because they couldn’t muster a few yards. That point couldn’t be any more true, but it can be broken down into a few areas. Albert Einstein said that “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results” is the definition of insanity. The Falcons have changed only one thing in moving Peter Konz to right guard (only after Garrett Reynolds was injured) on the offensive line from last year’s OT debacle to the hated Saints and Meltdown in the Meadowlands. Why did fans expect anything different? After a supposedly “open competition” in the offseason, the offensive line looked exactly the same. Some were holding onto a new “OL coach and new offensive coordinator” in making all the difference. Please. Same goes for the running back situation.
At Least Mike Johnson Scored (Bill Feig)
Thomas Dimitroff hasn’t done a great job of drafting offensive linemen or invested hardly anything in the running back corps, but he did draft two potential-laden OL and it took Garrett Reynolds getting injured to get Peter Konz in the lineup. For all the talk of other running backs getting looks, that’s become a distant memory. It’s the Turner show and all others are lucky to get scraps. Jacquizz Rodgers has shown he can run the ball and we all know that Snelling can too. Antone Smith has speed, but is never seen. After seeing the Saints plug in a new offensive lineman at right tackle and bring up their 4th or 5th running back to look fantastic (Ivory), the Falcons seem stuck in their same old, same old. There’s evidently a refusal to make many changes on the Falcons offensive line or in the backfield, so Albert Einstein’s looking pretty correct.
What Happened to the Defense?
The same defense that held a slew of quarterbacks in check and forced Peyton Manning into three interceptions in the first half, looked just as pedestrian as any Falcons defense that’s lined up in recent years. The Falcons produced no pass rush whatsoever, only mustering one sack and never pressuring Brees at all. How many times will defenses allow elite QBs to pick them apart. Great teams and defenses have proven that pressuring the quarterback is the only way to knock them off their game. While it wasn’t quite reminiscent of the Debacle in the Dome seeing Aaron Rodgers pick apart the defense, it wasn’t far off. Not only that, but tackling was as bad as it ever was under Brian Van Gorder. That long TD run by Ivory has to go down as one of the worst defensive meltdown plays in Falcons franchise history and completely jumpstarted a struggling Saints team. After being so creative with his multiple and different looks, Nolan’s defense was a mirror image of it’s failed soft-zone predecessor. Why not try William Moore in some linebacker looks, for instance. The Falcons defense of old was not good, and especially not good against the Saints. The thought was that Mike Nolan was supposed to change all that.
Overrated? Sure………….
C'mon Smitty, It Was Time (Bill Feig)
A word of advice to Falcons faithful would be to tune out the MTV Sports, Entertainment Tonight Media Elite for the next few weeks. They finally got everything they wanted: the Falcons lost, they’re overrated, they should be 1-8 instead of 8-1, the Bountygate Saints are back on top, and it’s the “same old Falcons” as everyone always says. Too bad Mary Hart and Mario Lopez can’t give their opinions on the NFL, football, and those terrible, overrated Falcons.
Bird Cage Brothers Fallout Corps’ Turn
1) Simple Sack – how bad of a loss is this: just a loss or a reason to believe the Falcons are the worst team in the NFL?
2) At what point did you get a bad feeling on the game? How tough was blowing a good start?
3) Is this Michael Turner or Matt Ryan’s team? Are there still handcuffs on Ryan?
4) Please, please help fix this anemic pass rush.
5) Why has the Falcons pass rush remained so terribly poor?
6) How about those Turner playcalls right up the gut?
7) Anyone else at punt returner?
8.) Thoughts on the Mercedez-SuperDome officiating?
9) Please explain the Curious Case of Michael Turner.
10) Has Albert Einstein pegged one Coach Mike Smith?
11) What happened to Mike Nolan and his defense? Yikes
12) Promise yourself a prize if you can ignore the MTV Sports / Entertainment Tonight media-elite-talking-heads-experts for a few weeks………..or maybe ever.
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The Time is NOW (formerly Whynot Us)
November 14th, 2012
12:07 am
Well, couldn’t sleep so I came to the cage and wrote my signature post. Tired of waiting for it to be resurrected from the blogmonster, so I’ll try to go get some z’s. Later cage…
Big Ray
November 14th, 2012
12:16 am
Now here is where coach speak, flimsy excuses, and “Disconnect Theory” all collide.
How anybody can see this OL as capable of opening holes the way they did in years past is beyond me. So I don’t buy that part, no matter what any coach says. They can’t look at tape this year and tell me that they think our OL is every bit as capable as before in the run game. Especially “post Dahl.”
How anybody can look at Michael Turner and say he is the same RB he was 2-3 years ago is beyond me. He’s not. Simply isn’t. Can’t turn, can’t get to the edge, can’t adjust.
Now you take Dirk Koetter, who, although life was tough in Jacksonville…scraped together a living off of a particular type of RB. One that could gash a defense on runs, but could also do that on passes.
NOW ….
Picture this scene –
A bride at the alter with a veil. She’s not very attractive. Seems slightly apathetic. Didn’t bother with the makeup.
A bridesmaid a few spots away from the altar, looking kinda lost and a little sad. She’s not the world’s biggest hottie, but she’s better looking than than half the chicks in the room…more so than the bride…
An uneasy groom who seems to be in no hurry to lift the bride’s veil, and is mumbling the words/vows….all the while casting quick, furtive glances at the bridesmaid on the edge of the scene.
A bride’s father in the first row, holding and fondling a loaded double barreled shotgun.
Want to know who is who?
Bride – Mike Turner
Groom – Dirk Koetter
Bridesmaid – JaQuizz Rodgers
The shotgun-totin’ Father – Mike Smith
I’m just sayin’…..
Big Ray
November 14th, 2012
12:17 am
The Time is Now ,
LOL…thanks…I’m in a bit of a humorous mood. Stay tuned…
Big Ray
November 14th, 2012
12:55 am
Coop ,
BR – you and BL can laugh all you want, but fractured locker rooms are not unheard of. My suppostion of conjecture could certainly be wrong, but there is a ton about this move that smells bad. Call it a hunch. I’m sure in your line of work, you’ve had a hunch before. Sometimes they’re right, sometimes not. But hey, no one at FB EVER gave misinformation or used the media to get THEIR story out. So, you guys are right, I’m the one out in left field.
Finally, some members like SP and myself (and others) have taken heat from JJ, BR, SW and others about engaging with other members, specifically BL and MB. I sat back and watched for a few days and thought about those comments from the OBCM. I don’t think that my opinion or SP’s opinion, or any other’s is less (or more) important than yours. Some on here have been accused of HATING the team, not being fans, and wishing the Falcons would fail. To me, that’s a fairly blatant personal attack and I feel that our retorts to this idiocy is warranted. But if the OBCM don’t like it, then scroll on past or ask D3 to block us. But I’m not listening to censorship when I’m defending myself from being called non-fan.
I’ve re-written a reply to this rant about two dozen times and deleted each one…because what I had to say right off the cuff was just not going to make things better.
I may advise folks to cool down because fighting on this blog (I don’t mean arguing, I mean fighting) is a waste of time. But, since you feel that I’ve unjustly given you heat for engaging BL and MB…in spite of the fact that I’ve done the same…then I’ll not say another word to you about it.
Being called a non-fan…I have never had anything to do with this to my recollection and would like somebody to prove me otherwise.
As for the actual subject at hand:
1) Perhaps all you saw was my light-hearted silly comment. Perhaps you missed the previous comments back and forth with Seminole Warrior. I don’t know. But if you put that comment with all the previous ones, you should not come to the conclusion that I believe everything is fine and dandy in the village of Falconville.
2) I have no hunch about this move because it shocked me and I really have no idea what to think. The only dots I can connect right now is that we have two new Coordinators, an unspoken (at least to us) mandate from Arthur Blank (yeah…I don’t buy the part about Smitty’s seat not being hot one bit, sorry), and guys being cut in the middle of the season. Did it not strike anybody as odd that Smitty/TD do NOT have a history of making these kinds of moves? Not since both took over in their present positions have prominent guys like Polite and Edwards been cut in the middle of the season. What’s your hunch on that?
3) Not once did I say anything about this NO game NOT exposing our flaws. I think I was as vocal as anybody about those issues. But apparently that got missed as well. Do I think we have common issues that we had last season? Yeah. I’ve only spent all season saying that. But I also see (or so I think) solutions.
That’s all I gotta say about this right now.
We can discuss this sh!t or we can fight about who is pissing on who’s opinion. Personally, I’m all for the former, and I refused to engage in the latter anymore. I’m sick of it.
Big Ray
November 14th, 2012
12:59 am
It also strikes me as ironic that with the first loss of the season comes a blow-up amongst Cage Members.
Irony thick enough to chew on. Thank God the team isn’t like the fans. Or they damn sure would not be 8-1.
Let me amend that statement, seeing as how I can’t prove that the locker room isn’t disintegrating, nor can I prove that it’s NOT disintegrating, and apparently saying that you have an opinion to either degree is going to get you blog-lynched….
Oh to hell with it….
Atlanta Falcons update: Atlanta Falcons: Todd McClure on struggling run game: 'More to it than 5 ...... - NFL Team News
November 14th, 2012
2:05 am
[...] Atlanta Falcons: Birds Fall to Saints All the media-elite-talking-heads may very well be ecstatic, the Falcons finally lost & they lost to everyone's favorite darlings, the hated Saints. But hey, it's only the regular season &, as we all know, the regular season doesn't matter, right? The … Read more on Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
BobbyDawg
November 14th, 2012
4:37 am
Post Dahl — I’ll have to remember that one. How the head cheese in the Falcons office could let big Harvey get away is beyond me. I guess they figured that he wasn’t ready to make the big bucks so they let our running game walk out the door. Then they turn around a year or two later and pay Ray Edwards big money to come in and be a great pass rusher. I love my Birds but sometimes seems that they can’t tell a diamond from a rhinestone.
BobbyDawg
November 14th, 2012
4:41 am
PS — I always thought Screen Pass was a great name !
Birdman
November 14th, 2012
5:59 am
Morning Cage
Seems some in here have a lot on there minds . Great reads from a lot of you . I can promise you that the ones making the paychecks for this team with all the bells and whistles going off in there heads don.t think about are care what is being said on this blog. But it is a fans blog not a players are coaches blog.
8 wins in a row !! That is something to be proud of .But 3 years in the playoffs and can,t get past the first round is not.What good is it to be hot and not matter in the end.Even if us as fans don,t like the end results. We still keep watching them play.
All have a blessed day
Wabe
November 14th, 2012
7:15 am
I took Koetter’s comments simply as ‘coach speak’.
Despite what we all think about Turner, they’re not just gonna do him like they did Ray Edwards. Why? Simple. Despite Turner’s struggles and having lost a step, he has actually performed for the Falcons throughout his time here in Atlanta. Yeah, his best days may seem like a longggg time ago, but the mere fact that he’s had a couple games this season where he’s broken out in the 4th quarter will keep Smitty/Koetter/TD open to him getting carries.
I think what Koetter said doesn’t really tell us what he’s feeling. He knows Turner’s lost a step. And, coaches aren’t gonna let one player take the brunt of the blame. They’ll chalk it up to ‘it’s a team thing’. I remember when our secondary was getting abused a couple years back and Mike Smith would constantly have to answer questions about the secondary. How would he respond? Smitty: “It’s more than just the guys on the back end. The guys up front have to do a better job of getting to the opposing QB to take some pressure off the guys on the back end.” Now, he makes a valid point. But, it doesn’t excuse the fact that our secondary was clearly not cutting it. But, coach speak doesn’t pin it all on one guy, or one group of guys. Coach speak emphasizes team work, etc. I’m sure Smitty knew it was mainly the secondary. Why else would they go out and sign Dunta Robinson to a monster contract in the offseason? They knew all along what the issue was. But, they weren’t gonna speak up about it to the media, they’ll keep that stuff to themselves.
So, with this Turner issue, I think it’s the same bit. They know what the issue is, but they’re not gonna come out and throw Turner under the bus. They’ll give us the ‘coach speak’, but what they do in this upcoming game and the games to come will speak volumes regarding what they feel the real problem is. Should they continue to ride Turner, they’re thinking it’s O-Line issues. If Quizz’s carries start to increase, that ‘coach speak’ doesn’t tell us what they really felt.
Wings
November 14th, 2012
7:36 am
Big Ray I knew you would cover it from all angles. I never expected the wedding story; it was great.
When I read the Koetter article, I was kinda piss@d. Does the Falcons’ upper echelon of coaches think the fans have not seen what has transpired in the past few years, and do they think the fans aren’t capable of seeing problems. Michael Turner is part of the problem. Football players don’t improve with “old” age.
Then I concluded it was not Koetter’s message but it was Mike Smith’s message. Koetter was delivering it for Mike Smith as noted by the shot gun reference in your wedding story. According to BM, many jumped on the messenger and BM defended Koetter. And here is the rub with BM and BL, both want to control the opinions of all others. How can “you” say anything negative, etc……
I suggest that BM reread Coach Ken Strickland’s post shown below again. The cage has its history of identifying problems with the team, and it has a good record of being RIGHT.
Ken Strickland:
This isn’t rocket science we’re dealing with here. Common sense should tell anyone that after 3yrs of running the same play and the same runner in the same short yardage situations, that DEFs know what to expect with Turner in the gm. Our total unwillingness to pass to him or run him outside in short yardage situations makes it a helluva lot easier for DEFs to figure out what’s coming.
What we’re doing in short yardage situations now is what we routinely did under Mularkey as part of our overall OFF.
darrell starks
November 14th, 2012
7:47 am
Turner is not the issue,
Todd Mcclure is getting push around up front with his lack of strength, this allow for DT have controll of line of scrimmage allowing the hole to be clog up front, this is why the Falcons can not run the ball on short yardage.
Changes is need at center or adjustment.
GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
November 14th, 2012
7:50 am
On short yardage Coach need take Mcclure out and move Konz to center and let Holmes play guard with Mike Johnson at fullback and give the ball to Turner.
GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
November 14th, 2012
7:56 am
Special in the red zone inside the 10yards take Mcclure out.
BAKER, BLALOCK, KONZ, HOLMES, CLABO
On short yardage or in side the 10yard line.
Falcons must have strength up the middle for shortyards.
GO FALCONS!!!!!!!
darrell starks
November 14th, 2012
8:02 am
Travian Robertson is the the only true NT on this team.
Will he started on Sunday ?
I most definitely hope so.
When your Rank 25th against the run then changes must be made on DL.
GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
November 14th, 2012
8:08 am
3 – 4 Defense
KROY, BAB, TRAVIAN, PETERS, ABRAHAM
NICHOLAS, ROBERT JAMES
ASANTE, MOORE, DECOUD, DUNTA
GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Zoomie
November 14th, 2012
8:27 am
I’ve always been intrigued with the goal-line stand, especially when it’s successfully executed against 1st-and-goal on the one-yard line. It’s a rare occurrence in the NFL. Typically, a team with 1st-and-goal on the one gets the touchdown.
Here’s my take on it: an O-lineman’s job is to block and move defenders. By virtue of them collecting a paycheck in the NFL, they are deemed to be among the best in the world at their craft. When you have these things in your favor: 1) you know the play and where the run is going and , 2) you know the snap count, no matter how good the defenders are and who’s in your backfield, if you can’t move the football one yard, THREE MEASLY FEET, when it has to be done, you have no business being a starting O-lineman in the NFL. Sounds harsh, but that’s what I truly believe.
Mud Duck, and apparently, the rest of the big-uglies, doesn’t/don’t like answering to the media. They darn sure should be answering to somebody!
PoolerSpirit
November 14th, 2012
8:58 am
Loved the note that Vick is soon to be 231 years old in dog years!
And Big Ray breaking down what Kooter said was another reason I have to read this blog every day.
Keep up the great work Cage…
D3
November 14th, 2012
9:20 am
Special in the red zone inside the 10yards take Mcclure out.
BAKER, BLALOCK, KONZ, HOLMES, CLABO
On short yardage or in side the 10yard line.
Falcons must have strength up the middle for shortyards.
GO FALCONS!!!!!!! — darrell
I love it. When you’re trying to get a push for one yard (if you’re bound and d@mn determined to not get creative with lack of OL personnel), why not have your biggest beast in there? Holmes is liek 6′7, 331 lbs and yet he’s on the sideline? Or better yet, not even activated. Einstein is my homeboy this week and I’ll keep saying it “when you do something over and over (exact same OL) and expecting different results (2011: NO in OT, Playoffs vs. Giants), that is the definition of insanity.”
LRD
November 14th, 2012
9:53 am
NFL replay last night.. watched the final series with the pass being knocked down in the end zone… and 1) Ryan was backpedaling throwing off his back foot.. no velocity on the ball allowed defender to close… 2) Pressure from the right side of the line forcing Ryan backwards. 3) Ryan steps forward into the pocket allowing him to move into the throw with velocity OR allowing a split more second to gland to his right and see Gonzo wide open. Frustrating watching it over and over and over… but water over the dam.
I am not overly concerned at this point. However, if we do not come out and score at least 14 in the first half of the cards game I will start getting a bit more worried. In some ways, I expect the cardinal game to be a (for lack of better descrption) a testing game.. where we will try some different looks to see what the results are…
With Tampa in a week and then short week to get ready for the Saints..and then Carolina , Giants… we have entered the crux of the schedule ( master of obvious eh?).
The Time is NOW (formerly Whynot Us)
November 14th, 2012
9:59 am
D3
The blogmonster got a long post of mine last night (page 9). Thanks if you can help when you get time. Know you’re working now.
Unca' Bob
November 14th, 2012
10:11 am
***FFL***
Coop,
Ties are broken by bench points.
Coop
November 14th, 2012
10:18 am
UB – Thanks for the FFL update. That, however, is a real kck in the taint to my playoff chances…
Coop
November 14th, 2012
10:24 am
Big Ray – Thanks for the response. First, I loved your take on DK, the OL, and Turner. Second, your wedding analogy was magnificent. I completely agree! At the end of the day, Smitty is the one holding the shotgun. Playcalling and execution may not be enacted y Smitty, but he is staring ovr the double barrels at those who do enact.
As for the rant, I was taking a broad rush and using several folks as examples. I didn’t mean to imply that everyone I mentioned had called everyone else a non-fan. I have no recollection of you ever questioning fandom.
Coop
November 14th, 2012
10:25 am
Zoomie – Well said.
D3
November 14th, 2012
10:26 am
Time is Now — Post is out my friend.
SOMEBODY NEEDS TO TELL THE TRUTH
November 14th, 2012
11:15 am
I will continue to advocate for Antone Smith. Antone, Jacquizz and Snelling are a better fit than Turner, IMO, in the new vertical attack style passing offense. Rather than me shooting off at the mouth, writing checks my azz can’t cash, I will put up a few eyebrow raising preseason stats that will show why I’m lobbying for Antone. There are know conclusive reg season stats on Antone, with this being his 3rd season with the Falcons, he’s only recorded a couple of touches in the regular seasons.
2010 Preseason Rushing
Antone Smith: 32-124 yds/att 3.9
M. Turner: 28-108 3.9
J. Snelling: 18-59 3.3
2011 Preseason rushing
Antone Smith: 17-124 yds/att 7.3
M. Turner: 18-54 3.0
J.Snelling 16-71 4.4
*Quizz Rodgers 27-120 4.4
2012 Preseason Rushing
Antone Smith 23-72 yds/att 3.1
M. Turner 18-49 2.7
J.Snelling did nor participate (injured)
Quizz Rodgers 22-85 3.9
Three year preseason averages for A. Smith, M. Turner:
A. Smith: 72 atts, 320 yds, 4.4 yds per
M. Turner: 64 atts. 211 yds, 3.3 yds per
Two year preseason averages for J. Snelling, Quizz R:
J. Snelling: 34 atts, 103 yds, 3.5 yds per
Quizz Rodgers: 49 atts, 205 yds, 4.1 yds per
I know these are preason numbers…but, IMHO, still a good barometer of production.
Matty Bicep
November 14th, 2012
11:19 am
Time, you said I would like you post, you did not tell me it would bring tears to my eyes.
“I was there when General Lee and the Gritz Blitz beat the Vikings in ATL on Monday Night Football”……………THAT was my introduction to the Falcons. It was that fall when I was told we were going to move to Atlanta, I was still living in NJ, and I was fearful. I remember my dad putting the game on TV and telling me this where we are going, and is “our” new team (not the Giants), and he said “things are gonna be alright”. My dad passed away 7-8 years later, way, way too soon, this is my very first memory of my dad and I bonded as men. I think I was 10, we were jumping around, screaming at our tiny TV, I was allowed to say up late to watch the game, I remember the room of the house I was in, my mom and sister coming downstairs saying WTF is going on like woman do when men are acting like men, it was me an him….and the Falcons. Man, I am gonna cry.
———
I was enthusiastic about the draft the year AB hired TD and MS, but to be honest I was not particularly enthusiastic about either hire….Ok, composure back…Ditto here. We got dumped by Parcells, got a “young and upcoming guy from a winning organization” (I thought of Dan Henning), and some nobody coach from a loser franchise. (figured we are going on the cheap, saving a few bucks).
—–
I did my research (more than normal) and waited for draft day. When it arrived, I was ambivalent about Matty Ice and Baker but thought the rest of the draft was an unmitigated disaster….I was curious to see what we would do, I was not as plugged in as you, optimistically I thought we were 2-3 years from 8-8; I was thinking post Smitty, I had little hope….But then I remember our first preseason game, and Ryan got the ball with 2 minute left in the half, and sorta milked it down the field, making good reads and working the clock. I remember having thinking, hmmm. By the end of the Pre Season I was sold on Ice, I remember telling my friend that this team is not SO bad, and might even go 8-8…He scoffed and said Ryan will get killed, we have no line. I agreed…..But Bordreaux worked wonders (not that chop blocking crap), MM, BVG….They brought us to respectability, they brought the process…They had a plan for the first time in 40 plus years.
So, the process has brought us:
From laughing stock to respectability in once season.
Back to Back winning Season.
The development of the best QB in Falcon history.
Now on season 5, we are still breaking new ground, even if we go one and done, get got our first 8-0 start.Nobody said the process would be complete overnight.
Sure I want it all, and I want it now, this is America, right? But I respect the process. Am I too optimistic? Maybe, but to quote the old man when I told him I was scared of moving to GA, “everything is going to be alright”. and he was correct.
Paddy O
November 14th, 2012
11:45 am
Big Ray – that may have been the funniest angle you’ve posted. and yes, Mike Turner is an ugly bride- looked hot when we started dating, got a ring, and let herself go. so now, she can barely push herself out of the chair to get to the chapel. but, daddy’s got that shotgun, so everything is ALRIGHT.
Paddy O
November 14th, 2012
11:48 am
darrell- Turner IS the problem – he has NO lateral agility; lacks speed to get outside (remember Bruce Carter running him down, despite both essentially starting from the same distance from the point of impact?). If Turner gets tackled by a D lineman who has penetrated out O line, hit the turf and simple trying to grab Turners ankles, and Turner can NOT avoid the guy on the ground, he is a ROLLING STONE. with very rough edges.
Arno
November 14th, 2012
11:48 am
Great stuff NOWtime and MB. My loyalty (with all its lean joys and frequent disappointments) goes back to the P’tree Bart days, so to have consistent success now almost seems unreal. And thanks to D3 and the AJC for this great blog. I mostly lie in the weeds here, but really appreciate the insights and intensity.
Paddy O
November 14th, 2012
11:56 am
Coop – wings has noticed what I have – a couple guys here WANT TO CONTROL WHAT YOU SAY. I’ve never called anybody a non-fan; I’ve pegged both you and SP as the most negative guys on here – both of you accept that as a proud fact and continue to post your perspective – most of the time I read what you say and look for evidence to support your positions – vast majority of the time you are correct – SW has summed it up by calling it a disconnect. A good read. ON our last goal line stand that failed – the play where Mike Johnson was subbed at a TE, Johnson ran a route to the right of the line; Tony G also ran a route to the right of the line, slightly deeper than Johnson – the Saint covering Johnson pullled off him and shaded Tony G- that forced MR2 to throw the ball a little shallower than he intended – allowing the Saint defending Tony G to deflect it – that was one of the worst designed play of the game.
Paddy O
November 14th, 2012
12:00 pm
regarding turner wasted plays – about 13 in the last game – against average and crummy NFL teams -you (Falcons) can throw away a dozen plays and still triumph. Against the top 25%, where the victory comes down to 2 or 3 crucial plays, those wasted plays come back and bite you – which if you are a cause and effect observer make be the key reason we lose come playoff time – we squander too many plays with Turner in playoffs – and those Turner plays ARE EASILY PREDICTED BY THE OPPOSITION. Watch for these WASTED plays in our games against our division colleagues.
Big Lou
November 14th, 2012
12:08 pm
Wabe
Can we stop the us versus them routine. MB and I are two completely different posters overall. Let’s focus on blogging and not on individuals.
D3
November 14th, 2012
12:09 pm
SOMEBODY — Preach it brother. That’s where I absolutely lose patience with Smitty, his stubbornness, and refusal to change. Just because you try something, such as giving guys like Antone Smith a few carries here and there, doesn’t mean you have to stay that way. If it doesn’t work, you can always go back to the status quo. I’ll never forget a few years ago when Gartrell Johnson (I think) got a quick pitch and took it almost 40 yards for a touchdown, and looked mighty fast doing it. Was he ever heard from or seen again?……….Nope.
Same goes for the offensive line. I said way back in March that if we trot out the EXACT SAME offensive line from a year ago, why in the Hades should we expect anything different? Blalock is the only rock on that line that shouldn’t have been in question. OK, so you don’t want to start rookie Lamar Holmes at LT on day one, particularly after his injury. Sure. OK, so you want to start Reynolds at RG and not Konz. That doesn’t mean that you are stuck that way forever? Mix it up. Bring in some of these guys when the game is out of hand. Get a look at them. I understand that 90% of your decisions you make in practice, but sometimes you just have guys that hit another gear when they’re in the game. But we’ll never know the difference, because Smitty doesn’t play them. Same goes for Sidbury on defense.
D3
November 14th, 2012
12:15 pm
Sure you guys have seen this, but like both of these moves……
Wide receiver Tim Toone and tight end Chase Coffman were signed to the Falcons’ active roster on Tuesday.
The team played tight end Tommy Gallarda, who suffered a shoulder injury against the Saints, on injured reserve, and signed tight end Andrew Szczerba to the practice squad.
Toone was signed by the Falcons as an unrestricted free agent on July 25. He was waived-injured by Atlanta on September 6, 2012. Toone caught three passes for 55 yards, including a 39-yard touchdown during the exhibition season.
Looks like Toone (hopefully) will finally put a rest to the Franks as PR era, what a failed venture. I’ve always liked the idea of Coffman and glad he’s getting on the active squad (whether he’ll be activated or not…..who knows. Not knowing Smitty). But for a team in desperate search of goal-line issues, Coffman can run routes and catch the ball. His issue has always been blocking. For gosh sakes, put him in instead of Mike Johnson at TE. Better yet, stop going jumbo at the goalline when we clearly don’t have the OL to do that.
Coop
November 14th, 2012
12:24 pm
Paddy – You’re correct, though, I’m not negative… Just realistic.
Paddy O
November 14th, 2012
12:35 pm
Heck, when things are going along APPEARING to be good, yet there are nagging continued problems – last 2 or 3 years – Ken Strick was mad as a wet hen – we were squandering out talent. Now, with us leaning more toward passing/WCO – he is a lot calmer/satisfied – and, the team is much more explosive. I still think the first half of the NO game was Smitty’s take on how the defense should have been arranged; once Nolan got a look at what Brees was trying to do, he adjusted so the defense worked. I saw Ray Edwards a lot in the 2nd half; so his release is VERY odd. wonder if the paper will actually interview Ray directly. find out what the coaching staff told him.
Greg Mendel
November 14th, 2012
12:36 pm
(With apologies to Big Ray:)
Minister: If any one can show just cause why this couple may not be lawfully joined together, let them speak now or forever… um, er, I see a hand raised in the back.
Bride’s Father: Sit down, Arthur!
Minister: Ahem…
Bride’s Father: You, too, Mularkey!!!!
Paddy O
November 14th, 2012
12:38 pm
consider – last year Turner had 1300 yards – about 81 per game – if in each game he had 25 carries, and typically had a single break out run of 40 yards; that mean the other 24 carries averaged 1.71 yards. Those are wasted plays. Turner is now an anchor on our team. He needs to be phased out. Remember Quizz with that burst around the right side of the line, I think he picked up 18 yards? Could Turner do that? Not this year.
Wings
November 14th, 2012
12:44 pm
D3 have you noticed no matter how many blockers are signed the running game doesn’t change.
JB Falcon
November 14th, 2012
12:55 pm
The time is NOW, excellent handle. A lot of us have been saying that since the very first game. That was a very good opening statement you made last night.Been there, done that , and looking forward to doing it some more.
MB, my blast on DK last night was, in no way, a reflection on my loyalty as a fan, although I can appreciate your thoughts on that. You asked if you were too optimistic? I don’t think it is possible to be too optimistic. I suppose optimism can be overdone to become a hinderence in the big picture but we are all individuals and have different levels.
I was glad to read the reason for RE’s release and am looking forward to the changes that will be made from here on out. I STILL want a Atlanta Falcon Super Bowl hat!
Wings
November 14th, 2012
1:05 pm
And just because one doesn’t defend or doesn’t criticize the Falcons in no way defines a fan.
I see things that could be improved and I criticize. I am not going to defend the players or coaches when I see things that are not done properly. I am a fan because I say I am a fan.
Matty Bicep
November 14th, 2012
1:11 pm
I like to spend the rest of the season on 3rd and 1 going play action to him and sending JJ, RW and Gonzo deep and letting matty take his pick. We get a couple of those, that will get teams thinking a little differently.
D3
November 14th, 2012
1:14 pm
RE: that interview with Koetter about the running game………it better be coachspeak, because if it’s a genuine feeling, than we’ll be seeing 0-4 in the playoffs. Sad, but true.
Wabe
November 14th, 2012
1:29 pm
Big Lou
November 14th, 2012
12:08 pm
Wabe
Can we stop the us versus them routine. MB and I are two completely different posters overall. Let’s focus on blogging and not on individuals.
———-
Not sure what you’re talking about here bro? I didn’t reference you nor MB in my post.
Arno
November 14th, 2012
1:45 pm
Koetter: Turner never had a chance. Which was Turner’s biggest obstacle– the NO Saints or the play calling? I don’t blame Turner– you can’t make a bowling ball into a soccer ball. They know what Turtner can do. Either use him properly or don’t use him at all.
Big Lou
November 14th, 2012
1:50 pm
Wabe
Apologies, I meant Wings, who obviously has a hard-on for me on this blog. I can’t get through one D3 post without him saying something about or to me.
SOMEBODY NEEDS TO TELL THE TRUTH
November 14th, 2012
2:01 pm
Big Ray definitely put things in perspective with that light-hearted (shotgun) wedding analogy.
Greg Mendel, awesome ad-libbing…too funny.
Zoomie
November 14th, 2012
2:14 pm
MT33 is like the Sta-Puft Marshmallow Man. He looks big and imposing, but he kind of just poofs up to the line, mashes into the backs of his linemen, then does the slow-motion melt in the back field.
If he does get an opening, though, he looks really scary to the opposing DBs, kind of like the giant, angry Sta-Puft man in the Ghost Busters movie . . .
(As you can tell, I’m getting pretty disgusted with the deja-vu we’re seeing in the O-line and running game; we’re halway through our second season with the same unaddressed issues!)