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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1,221 comments Add your comment
Matty Bicep
November 14th, 2012
2:36 pm
What angers me about the playoff red herring is it was created by the Vick camp to try and prove that MV7 is better than Ryan.
However, the more people who buy into it, to more pressure it puts on the staff to show something every game that “proves” something impossible to prove, the outcome of a football game that MIGHT be played in future will be.
Remember when the Browns kept fumbling and losing playoff games?
But as a fan, I am not buying into what the Vick fans created, that a playoff game is any different than any other game. I don’t want our coaches stressing and nutting up at 8-1. I think by endlessly talking about losing in the playoffs, the more we are part of the problem.
If I am wrong, I will stand tall, I am not afraid of some stupid made meaningless benchmark. It is not about winning a playoff game, it is about winning a championship game. A win in a wild card round does NOTHING to me any more than a bye does, it gets me to the 2nd round, and that much closer to the playoffs. I will NOT let the logic of Vick apologists effect my sense of logic.
D3
November 14th, 2012
2:46 pm
I don’t blame Turner– you can’t make a bowling ball into a soccer ball. — Arno
That just got me a belly laugh my friend. Never heard that one. Well, by goodness, they’re evidently going to break their d@mn foot trying to make a bowling ball into a soccer ball. Funny, funny stuff.
D3
November 14th, 2012
2:48 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. — Zoomie
Man, ya’ll are just killing it today. Evidently Big Ray’s comedic shotgun wedding analogy has evoked a comedy competition here in The Bird Cage. Absoutely hysterical
Matty Bicep
November 14th, 2012
2:48 pm
BM defended Koetter
I did not defend Koetter, I said let the guy do his job. Really, after 9 games, and an 8-1 record the poor guy is at his wits end. Any other town, he is the toast, but here, OMG, he’s gonna lose. “We have a history of being right”. Somehow, I am sure if they do win, you will be “right” also.
The Time is NOW (formerly Whynot Us)
November 14th, 2012
2:50 pm
D3 – Thanks!
Geo
November 14th, 2012
3:01 pm
Matty Bicep
MB:
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.
–
Agreed. I can’t understand why they never use the fact that the opposing defense sees the Turner up the middle formation and sells out to stuff it. Fake it to him! By the time they recover, there will be six on the scoreboard. Case in point: first play of the Giants playoff game. It was obvious they were like, “we’re gonna stop Turner and we’ll win that way,” and the Falcons were like “we’re gonna run Turner right at you and stomp your nuts and win that way.” The smart thing to do is to use the situation to your advantage. We could have gone play action on that first play and flicked it to Julio over the middle for a big gain. But Turner was stopped cold and we were like, “oh no, we can’t run, we’re gonna lose.” You’ve got to have misdirection. Give the other team something to think about. Make them worry about all your weapons, every time. We’ve seen how well it works this year. Koetter alluded to the fact that he would liked to go back to it, with the comment, “maybe we should treat 3rd and 1 like 3rd and 10.” Meaning not line up in the obvious jumbo package. Matt had a very successful QB sneak earlier in the game with the spread formation.
SOMEBODY NEEDS TO TELL THE TRUTH
November 14th, 2012
3:13 pm
D3, I know I sound like a broken record wanting to see Antone get a crack in a meaningful, regular season game. He (Antone) might put up pedsetrian numbers if given a chance, at worst, that would equal Turners production. I just beleive Antone can manipulate a crease…make positive yardage, opposed to Turner, staging himself 8 yards behind the line of scrimmage, trying to build up a head of steam for a 2 yard loss.
IMHO, Antone has the ability, agility and speed to take a 8 yard Turner run, Turn it into a 30 yard gainer. Just sayin…
D3
November 14th, 2012
3:15 pm
MB / Geo — I agree as well. The issue I think a lot of Cagers have an issue with is that someone (be it Smitty, Koetter, whomever) keeps trying to make us something we aren’t. We aren’t a power-football team and really never have been, but especially now, our strength is our QB and our plethora of awesome receivers (Roddy, JJ, HD, Gonzo, Quizz, DDavis19, Snelling, and even Palmer can catch the ball pretty darn well). Is Mike Johnson at TE really our best option? It worked one time on the first series, but they knew after that to look for it. Our goal-line should have all our best players on the field at the same time. JJ, Gonzo, Roddy, and HD shouldn’t even be a question. Pick your RB, but I’d go with Quizz and Snelling due to their versatility (who ever thinks Turner will catch a pass ever, much less near the goal-line?). As much as I hate them, take a look at what the sAINTS do at the goal-line.
Their best player (arguably) is Jimmy Graham and most times he’s split out wide. So already they have a mismatch nightmare and with good enough timing, he’s all they need. Throw in speedy backs who can catch the ball, tall Marques Colston, speedy Devery Henderson, and all-around good WR Lance Moore, it’s no wonder they’re so good in the red-zone. And with all that, they spread teams out so much that it’s so much easier for guys like Ivory, Sproles, or Thomas to take a handoff in the endzone.
Geo
November 14th, 2012
3:28 pm
I’d also like to challenge conventional wisdom. You need to run the ball, but you don’t have to have a dominant run game. The key is to mix it up and be somewhat ballanced, again, so the defense can’t anticipate. We were doing that. We weren’t gaining that much on the ground, but we were gaining enough. Plus, those quick screens and passes to Rodgers in the flat are as good as runs (always liked how Montana used his running backs like that). Pundits were looking for something to criticize, so they were like, they’re winning, but I don’t see a big ground game. I don’t recall GB having much of a ground game in 2010 either.
Also, another vote for Antone Smith. Since I haven’t watched preseason for years, I’ve never seen him run the ball. But the stats that were put up earlier have me shaking my head about that fact.
snacktastic
November 14th, 2012
3:46 pm
Lots of activity in the Cage after a loss…good to know all the fans haven’t jumped off the deep end.
JB Falcon
November 14th, 2012
4:00 pm
Amusing, Jimmy Graham, NFC offensive player of the week. New leader in NFL for dropper passes, Jimmy Graham.
falcon21
November 14th, 2012
4:16 pm
Matty @ 10:48p, just joking here but Ralph Norwood was a Falcon but I never heard of him kicking, I think he was an o-lineman. I remember Scott Norwood missing wide right in a very big game.
E43
November 14th, 2012
4:26 pm
Seminole Warrior- They could get a back in the draft easily. He… or she… very likely wont be starting next year unless there was an injury.
JB Falcon
November 14th, 2012
4:28 pm
“The elite runners in the game get the ball when everyone in the stadium knows they’re going to get the ball, and they still make their yards.”
That was Don Banks from SI, talking about Arian Foster. Quiet a contrast from us talking abut MT.
I do hope DK & Co figure out where to get one of those magic wands he was talking about.
Big Lou
November 14th, 2012
4:45 pm
http://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/injury-report.html
Sean and Julio did not practice today. If Julio came back to the game… I assume he will be playing against the Cardinals.
I still do not know why Sean is still not practicing. I thought it was a low grade sprain…
But, you know how the falcons are with injuries.
Big Lou
November 14th, 2012
4:53 pm
http://www.atlantafalcons.com/media-lounge/videos/Moving-Forward/0b9df284-7f42-4d9e-9d62-794a824d661d
Matt Ryan interview.
Arizona is coming off the Bye Week, as well. This game will be difficult for the offense. Luckily for our defense, they are doing horrible on offense.
Paddy O
November 14th, 2012
4:57 pm
Other commentary beyond the goal line bad play (execution or play calling, take your pick mish mash); who else thought it was rather idiotic to have Willie Mo covering Graham SINGLE COVERAGE – on that long pass play, with DeCoud ambling over to knock him out of bounds? Now, is that bad scheme or blown coverage?
Big Lou
November 14th, 2012
5:06 pm
http://www.atlantafalcons.com/media-lounge/videos/No_Consolation_in_Loss/6896aa8d-7c7c-4fd6-af67-3e4da2228722
Mike Smith interview.
Crap, no HD returning… but can we get somebody else? Toone, maybe?
The Time is NOW (formerly Whynot Us)
November 14th, 2012
5:22 pm
Thanks to Matty Bicep (11:19 am), Arno (11:48 am), and JB Falcon (12:55pm). JB, I owe you for the inspiration for the moniker, brother. And I want that hat too!
Just gotta dodge in and out here, but I want to go on record. I recognize that fans don’t want their team to be good, they want their team to be the best. I enjoy the banter and the various fan viewpoints here. But being good ain’t a bad spot to start from and it SURE beats what this franchise historically has been.
Later cage…
Big Ray
November 14th, 2012
5:32 pm
Coop ,
Glad to not be misunderstanding each other. I value your input. Perhaps your most dogged point has also been the most accurate – winning the trench war on both sides of the ball.
Glad you enjoyed the analogy…I’ve been saving that one, LOL…
Wabe
November 14th, 2012
5:32 pm
Honestly, I’m tempted to let Julio and Spoon sit this one out.
I know there are no ‘gimmes’ in the NFL. But, I honestly don’t see this game as one we can’t win with either of those guys out.
Especially Spoon. The Cardinals offense isn’t exactly lighting it up out here right now. They can’t block for anything. They can’t run it or throw it. I’d just let Spoon get an extra week of rest this week and use the extra days to get back to 100%.
I know the offense looks completely different without Julio. But, again, I don’t see us in a shootout this week vs. Arizona. I think we can manage to go minus Julio for a week here. Let the dude rest up and get back up to a 100%.
I’d rather have both guys 100% as we near the home stretch and get into the playoffs,
Big Ray
November 14th, 2012
5:35 pm
MB ,
What angers me about the playoff red herring is it was created by the Vick camp to try and prove that MV7 is better than Ryan.
Some folks might think you’re coming out of left field (or section H of the parking lot) but I say damn good point .
Big Ray
November 14th, 2012
5:35 pm
Greg Mendel ,
Never apologize for improv….that was great!
The Time is NOW (formerly Whynot Us)
November 14th, 2012
5:36 pm
Wabe you make an interesting and valid point. Nonetheless, I’ll feel much more confident if we don’t screw up and turn a “good” loss (if there is such a thing) into a losing streak.
Big Ray
November 14th, 2012
5:45 pm
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-falcons-blog/2012/11/14/atlanta-falcons-tomlinson-faulk-weigh-in-on-michael-turner-run-game/?cxntfid=blogs_atlanta_falcons_blog
I really didn’t think much of what Faulk had to say, other than he’s telling the story right (except we’ve already done this years ago). The stats faulk puts up, I know I put on this very blog a year ago. That doesn’t mean I’m Mr. Super Smart guy, it means that Turner’s runs and how they come (one big run always brings up his paltry average the last couple of years) is not NEW news. Been that way for a couple of years.
I get what Tomlinson is saying…but I’m gonna call BS. Why BS? Because while what he’s saying may be true of Turner, it wasn’t always true.
Who the hell wants a RB that needs 20 carries per game to “get going?” Really? So by which carry can we expect him to “get going”? If that’s true, then why did Quizz produce immediately? Dude had 3 carries. The first two went for 5 yards or so apiece. The third one went for 18 yards. He never saw the ball again on a running play.
So if “getting into a rhythm” is the magic potion…then guess what? You should use the guy who gets there in 3 carries…screw the guy who needs 18-20 to “get there.”
Because that is exactly what is happening. I can tell you right now, Turner is averaging roughly 16-18 or so carries per game by now. Certainly no less than 15. So I’m just not buying it….if he can’t get us something in a handful of runs here and there, time to bring a new threat to the table.
I’m going to keep saying it over and over…Put Quizz in there in the first half. He’s a double/triple threat guy. He can bounce it to the outside and/or make guys miss. He can catch out of the backfield. And he can line up like a slot receiver. Turner can do none of those things. Line him up there in the second half or after you have a sizeable lead, and let him pound the heck out of the defense.
But…if he “can’t get going” and it starts to cost you in the form of “3 and outs”…then be smart. Be proactive. Mix Quizz and Snelling in there.
Cutting Turner’s carries in favor of the pass game is a one-trick pony type of move. The smart move involves determining when he gets his carries.
I’m also not saying that Turner shouldn’t ever play in the first half. Just that he shouldn’t be the primary RB unless there is a clear advantage to employing him in such fashion. As it stands now, that is not the case most of the time.
The Time is NOW (formerly Whynot Us)
November 14th, 2012
5:51 pm
Great post, Big Ray! I like the idea of a fresh Turner in the second half. OK, I really outta here now.
Big Lou
November 14th, 2012
6:40 pm
Wabe
Cardinals have a way better defense than the Saints… just saying.
JB Falcon
November 14th, 2012
7:22 pm
Wabe & BL, both good and different points. For what it’s worth, in the rankings last week the Falcons were #1 and NO was #22. This week the Falcons are #2 and AZ is #22. As numbers go, I don’t think AZ has a chance.
I agree with Wabe as far as we do not need to start either player but certainly do not put them on the injured.out list. Let them dress and sit.
I also agree with BL as far as never look a gift horse in the mouth. Look at what NO did.
OR, go with my gut. Make AZ wish they had never made the trip but do not jeopardize the health of our players doing it.
SOMEBODY NEEDS TO TELL THE TRUTH
November 14th, 2012
7:33 pm
Associated Press captured some very revealing, interesting, post practice interviews (perspectives) from Falcons player commenting on Edwards release…and understanding that every player is expendable, shock waves through the lockeroom when they heard word of his release.
Most interesting, is who moved into No Play Ray locker…hmmmmm…
This just a portion of the AP article.
”That’s the way this game goes,” cornerback Dunta Robinson said. ”You can be replaced.”
In a sign of how quickly things change, Massaquoi had already taken over Edwards’ locker space on Wednesday, claiming a more prominent spot among the other defensive linemen.
”Ray was a great friend of mine,” Robinson said, looking over at Edwards’ former locker. ”I hate to see him go. But it’s a business. Things like this are going to happen when it’s a business.”
JB Falcon
November 14th, 2012
7:50 pm
Truth, do you have a link for that article?
Coop
November 14th, 2012
7:53 pm
Big Ray – Also glad we’re good. I enjoy your input, and yes, I think ALL our woes start with the trenches.
Time is Now – Like the new tag… Now drop the formerly part. Keep up the good posts.
MB – Interesting take on the MV7 over MR2. That was definitely true in the early years. I had thought that folks seemed to move past it since we have been so successful. I opined that it was a north/south bias that was instigating the “playoff” argument. But your take is mort specific. Does ESPN hate Atlanta cause of what “we” did to Vick? Maybe we’re both correct…
Arno
November 14th, 2012
8:10 pm
Here is the breakdown (for what it’s worth) of the playoff argument, that the Falcons stink because in three out of four years playoff runs, we have zero wins.
The teams that have reached the playoffs in three of the past four years and their records in those playoffs:
Steelers 3-1
Saints 4-2
Packers 4-2
Colts 2-2
Pats 2-3
Eagles 2-3
Falcons 0-3
Ravens are the only team that made the playoffs all past four years and are at 5-4.
JB Falcon
November 14th, 2012
8:21 pm
“Time is Now – Like the new tag… Now drop the formerly part. Keep up the good posts.” – Coop
Coop thanks, I been wanting to say that but felt bad enough for saying something in the first place. It’s like when SP changed his handle, didn’t fool anyone.
The time is now? I christen you “NOW.” One of my favorite sayings is “If you want it get on it!”
NOW finishes the saying up.
JAW
November 14th, 2012
8:23 pm
Hi! Bloggers, this is my first comment. Probably my last. I hope y’all can educate me about a few of my problems? Most of this opinion is from watching football on TV for about 40+ yrs. after I quit buying tickets to the Falcons. My ground rules are this. I don’t have the equipment for TIVO, Slomo, Freeze, etc., just DirectTV satellite.
1. How do fans like me rate, compare abilities, locate whoever screwed-up/looked good in the group of players TV allows me to see.
2. Considering all the rotations of personnel packages/players almost every play, how do you know who’s on the field, Falcons and opponents?
3. In the bygone era the analyst kept the audience abreast of personnel on/off the gridiron first.
4. Now and for a long time all I see is a coach with a clipboard over his mouth and headset or a view of a player, owner, sideline gimmicks, and/or whatever. I like the cheerleaders.
5. Seemingly the rest of the time is who is a pro bowler, all pro, Hall of Fame, S.B. Rings, elite, stats of no consequence.
6. I know this is a TV commitment of personality issues (who talks the most wins). How do I obtain vision for my own interpretation of a play/game?
falcon21
November 14th, 2012
8:42 pm
@ 8:20p, finish your 40 ounce and call it a night!
Coop
November 14th, 2012
8:57 pm
Laugh all you want douche, when our team wins the Super Bowl, we won’t have to cheat.
JB Falcon
November 14th, 2012
9:01 pm
21,
We both know better but sometimes you just can’t help yourself.
falcon21
November 14th, 2012
9:03 pm
My bad JB, could not help it!
Coop
November 14th, 2012
9:11 pm
JAW – For me, you have to know what you’re looking for and zero in on that. It takes some predicting and you’ll miss things, but I start with the personnel packages. First, I know all the numbers. It goes too fast to try to recognize who’s in if you don’t have them committed. So before the play, I take a quick scan and considering the down and distance and the time of the game, I get a small set of things to zero in on. If you practice, it will become second nature. Though this may sound stupid, if you have Madden NFL, play that ALOT. I know, but if your are really a novice, you can learn the names of plays, packages, etc. I taught my nephew a ton about football by playing Madden with him.
Anyway, as an example, when we were 1st and goal at about the five, the first thing I looked for was how many WRs. I saw 3, plus TG. Immediately, I think of 3 plays. The first is a fade to JJ or RW. For me, the key on that is single coverage. Second play is TG either back of the end zone (most likely) or right at the goal line. TG is almost always at the post. He rarely goes to the corner, but can. The third play is a delayed draw to the RB (least likely for that formation).
That doesn’t mean I’m right, but if you do this, you’ll see why so many see the Falcons being unpredictable. The trends become disturbing.
So, know your players. Scan the O package quickly and see how their D is matching up. If we look run, do they have 7 or 8 in the box. If we look pass, where are their safeties. Make a prediction and see what happens. Then watch the replays and see how you did. Once you get our O down, you can do the same in reverse. Scan their O and see what our D is lining up to stop. D is more difficult to me.
Finally, if their killing us on the pass, focus on the line. If their killing us on the run, I say watch the LBs, but the DL is still the key.
Really finally, watch the NFL breakdown shows. Jaws (no pun) does amazing work breaking down plays and can help teach you what to look for.
SOMEBODY NEEDS TO TELL THE TRUTH
November 14th, 2012
9:21 pm
Coop, I have a sneaky suspicion that 8:23pm comment you responded to, was a spoof. IMO.
falcon21
November 14th, 2012
9:25 pm
Damn Coop, I thought I was one of a kind. Guess I was wrong. I catch myself watching our o-line break down now more than anything.
falcon21
November 14th, 2012
9:28 pm
Later Coop and JB, y’all have a good night.
JB Falcon
November 14th, 2012
9:40 pm
Coop. I can see JAW’s answer. “Say Whaaaat”?
Coop
November 14th, 2012
9:42 pm
21 – On D, I look to see if our CBs are playing off (nearly always), then I try to identify a blitz. After the snap, I focus on the DTs, then the DEs, then the play is usually happening.
Jaw – Welcome by the way. Feel free to post more.
Coop
November 14th, 2012
9:45 pm
JB – Too much? I was seriously trying to be helpful.
Big Ray
November 14th, 2012
9:54 pm
Coop ,
If ESPN is mad about that, then they should be mad at Philly and Andy Reid as well. Ooops…too many facts, too many similarities, and OHHHH the irony that the man who figured out how to stop MV7 in the first place is the same man who has discovered that nothing about MV7 has changed. He still can’t read good disguises by defenses, still plays too recklessly with the ball at times, still is a turnover machine, STILL IS NOT A LEADER.
ESPN can suck a fat one. Andy Reid spent $100 million on a guy he figured out years ago. Get mad at him …
Matty Bicep
November 14th, 2012
10:05 pm
Yea, the Vick folks said that Ryan can’t win a playoff game, and ESPN picked up on it….I remember when they both said Ryan had a weak arm and can’t throw the long ball.
Coop
November 14th, 2012
10:11 pm
Big Ray – Concur. Frankly, it couldn’t happen to a better franchise. Eff Reid.
As for ESPN, I get the feeling that they think Georgians are just backwoods, white, racists or militant, oppressed, blacks. This is my paranoia, but I really think some in the north look at the south that way. Atlanta is the home of the south and racism. All white Atlantans hate black people and vice versa. So they see the Vick versus Ryan as a racial divide. To a degree, I think that was true at first. I really believe that has mostly passed. But MB may be on to something that the playoff tag is another attempt to elevate Vick above Ryan in Atlanta lore.
Big Ray
November 14th, 2012
10:14 pm
http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcsouth/post/_/id/41748/fixes-for-falcons-in-short-yardage
What does this guy do, archive the Cage blog? I swear I’ve read the words he wrote… on here a dozen times or more.
Except his last suggestion. That ish he came up with all by himself…
The Time is NOW
November 14th, 2012
10:15 pm
Thanks Coop. Done.
JB Falcon – you have nothing to feel bad about. Call me whatever you like my brother, no matter what it is I’ve probably been called worse.