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
SeminoleWarrior
November 12th, 2012
9:03 am
What defensive player for the Falcons do you see striking fear in the hearts of the opposition? What defensive player for the Falcons gets any SERIOUS consideration as a threat? I thought so…none.
Spoon is up and coming but I need my man to stay on the field for a full season. But can you tell me that there is another Falcons defender that strikes fear among league offensive coordinators and QBs. Not!!
Sis-Boom-Bah Humbug
November 12th, 2012
9:10 am
For several years, it was evident that the Falcons needed coaching changes. At long last, the coordinators were changed & the results have been immediate & very successful. Other same-old/same-old problems continue to exist, however, and once again attempts to fix some of them are at best slow in coming. As was previously the case, the fans are clearly Not Overreacting in pointing out what are major & unaddressed problems with the Falcons. Do they have to go ignominiously One-and-Out in the playoffs yet again before corrective actions are even attempted?
That won’t do if only because the window of opportunity won’t stay open indefinitely. And the competition WILL be changing.
Why is there such irrational resistance to change on the Falcon’s part? Quite simply, I believe the reason is pathological stubbornness on Mike Smith’s part.
Clearly, the elephant in the room here is Michael “Refrigerator” Turner. As a team member, he should (privately) step up & acknowledge that his terminal incapacities are severely handicapping the Falcons. In any case, he should be discreetly benched (or saved for a Jaguars game). No more bitching & no more excuses!!! After all, when he is on the field nowadays, it is like 10-against-12 players in favor of the opposition, or else spotting the other team 7 or 10 points per game. And then there is the obscene amount of money he is paid.
If benching Turner doesn’t happen immediately, the Falcons management needs to sit Mike Smith down & explain the obvious realities to him. This is not a change-for-change’s-sake situation or mere experimentation. It is an imperative & long overdue correction of a flagrant/persistent/debilitating problem. Corrective actions need to be taken NOW in order to get reorganized BEFORE the playoffs.
SeminoleWarrior
November 12th, 2012
9:12 am
BL,
Wabes comments are rock solid and I appreciate them.
And yes, my brother, the emotions are running high in the TeePee as I get back into the fold. Both my beloved teams, my Falcons and Seminoles, have flirted with danger too damned often this season. I can understand if you were facing superior competition but both of my teams easily have been the best team on the field EACH week they have played thus far this season. And to be easing by just gets old.
There is too much damned talent on both of these squads to be squeeking by. I understand and do respect that it happens at times but to be a repeat occurrence is just more than I am willing to accept this season.
So, my friend, I vent. This past weekend, both team could not rush the ball worth a damned against defenses that had been horrid against the rush all season long. And it cost one team and nearly tooki down the season of another.
There has to be an element of pride to what a team takes onto the field. And, at least in my point of view, just getting by does that pride an injustice.
darrell starks
November 12th, 2012
9:26 am
DT and middle LB is becoming a big issue now, teams are running straight up the gut on the Falcons this season, coaches has to be address this problem.
GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
November 12th, 2012
9:31 am
Dunta continue to play 15yards of his Man, im very surprise to see this special in a Mike Nolan defensive scheme, Dunta has to play bumb and run on his side, he is to physical to continue playing so far of his man, if you have slide a safety over top help then do so, come palyoffs this will be expose in a big way.
GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SeminoleWarrior
November 12th, 2012
9:32 am
D3 / Snack / Truth / BL
Thanks, my brothers. It feels good to be back.
Mike, you nailed it. There is an URGENT need for some soul searching. This schedule just got a little more interesting going down the home stretch.
SeminoleWarrior
November 12th, 2012
9:33 am
D Starks, come on brother. Dunta Robinson out of position? Giving up a play? Are you REALLY surprised?
darrell starks
November 12th, 2012
9:40 am
Im done with Dent this season, he is not ready for big boy football, Peterson is just to old.
Kroy must move to LB, and Robert James has to play now, this LB core is just not getting the job done.
KROY, NICHOLAS, ROBERT
Should be starting until Spoon come back.
GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SeminoleWarrior
November 12th, 2012
9:56 am
Darrell Starks,
What needs to happen is that the Falcons need to move to a 3-4 defense ASAP after season’s completion, use FA and the draft to facilitate that transition and fully implement the ZBS.
Truth Hurts
Could not agree with you more. RW84 has toned it down a little bit but Samuel, like Robinson, does not impress me. I am not one for the flashy plays that come once a three or four games; I want a consistent effort. And Falcon cornerbacks do not give me that.
D3
November 12th, 2012
9:58 am
The Orkin man is on patrol today and this week, have no fear.
darrell starks
November 12th, 2012
10:05 am
DT is and major issue also, but i do like the 3man DT on the front line.
Travian Robertson need to be playing ASAP he is the biggest and maybe the strongest DT on the team.
DL STARTERS
BAB, TRAVIAN, PETERSON, ABRAHAM
GO FALCONS!!!!!!!
darrell starks
November 12th, 2012
10:11 am
DEFENSIVE STARTER
BAB, TRAVIAN, PETERSON, ABRAHAM
KROY, NICHOLAS, ROBERT
DUNTA, DECOUD, MOORE, SAMUEL
GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Matty Bicep
November 12th, 2012
10:14 am
I’ll keep saying it until it happens. Starting OL should be LT – Holmes, LG – Blalock, C 0 Konz, RG – Clabo, RT – Baker. I mean really, what the hell do we have to lose?
Going to have to respectfully disagree with this analysis. What do we have to lose?
I can think of one very critical player whose blind side needs protecting. Sure, Baker gets bulldozed from time to time, but I can’t remember a really bad blindside shot Ryan has taken all season. You let a raw rookie miss one single assignment and our season is done, especially with the concussion awareness and policies.
You put guys like that in to see what they can do when your out of it, or to get them experience for next year, not as the final strategic piece to push you through the playoffs into the Superbowl.
Finally, it is my understanding that Holmes has pass blocking tools, but his run blocking is suspect, and that is where our problems on the line really lie. We put up over 400 yards in the air, in spite not having an ounce of run support.
Smitty gets Johnson, Hawley, and an array of TEs on the field in situations where we might need a push, the fact that Holmes has not even stepped foot on it says he ain’t ready to take over the starting LT on a SB contender.
Being a Falcon fan, I know the “what do we have to lose” mentality is ingrained in us over 40 years of having nothing to lose. But when you are 8-1, leading the entire NFC, you have something to lose. Every team in the NFL would love to be as desperate as we are.
Paddy O
November 12th, 2012
10:15 am
Personally, I don’t see DT as our problem. The key to this loss was multiple – but, after Ryan brought us down the field and we got stuck at the 2, the Turner run, and then the stupid cute play with Mike Johnson flaring out to the right – which is also where Tony G ended up – was horrible play calling. then, MR2 still had a chance and did not throw an optimal pass to RW84. Now, whatever we did at half time – whether it was Nolan throwing out HC MS’s imposed game plan or not, was successful. We pretty much stuffed the Aints. Now, one thing that did bug the crap out of me: our last possession of the 1st half – we had ample opportunity to AT LEAST get the ball into FG range – but, we simply ran out the clock – that is quintessential Smitty Ball – far too conservative. AGAIN – I watched Mike Turner get the hand off, have a NO line men blow through our line, hit the ground, AND STILL TACKLE THAT TURD. Turner has ZERO lateral movement, and apparently crappy vision. I’d seriously prefer running Snelling. For those pollyannaists – we have been winning again against lower tier teams. Our only playoff win was against Denver. The Saints are coming on – WE COULD HAVE KNOCKED them out of the playoffs. Our failure means they are still in the hunt. Tampa is now OVER 500. We have our work cut out for us. I hope Smitty does not treat this season like he does a game – coast the last half/quarter because he has a big lead.
Wings
November 12th, 2012
10:15 am
Good to have you back SW. We need your energy.
Yes Sis-Boom-Bah Humbug – “or saved for a Jaguars game”
Chop Buster I read your similar post yesterday on previous blog. It was well said re Smith but today’s is refined.
Paddy O
November 12th, 2012
10:17 am
MB – have you been watching a Smitty coached team? HE NEVER PUTS HIS ROOKIES IN – even in junk time to get experience – it is one aspect of Smitty Ball which is further called the Falcons Apprenticeship Program. Smitty does NOT use a rookie unless FORCED TO.
darrell starks
November 12th, 2012
10:17 am
SeminoleWarrior, Kroy starting at OLB has it’s advantage, this will allow Kroy to blitz more up the middle or outside unprotected or drop back into coverage, when Spoon comeback i like the idea of having Kroy and Spoon being the aggressive players up front blitzing more.
GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Paddy O
November 12th, 2012
10:19 am
Matty – the Falcons DO NOT NEED FING RUN SUPPORT. WE DO NOT NEED IT. When we try to lean – unnecessarily – and i would say INEPTLY – on the run, we lose yards or simply WASTE plays. Smitty has some severe tendencies -which teams we play repeatedly are good at exploiting.
Matty Bicep
November 12th, 2012
10:19 am
Really, we all know our O line needs push. If Holmes we pushing people around in drills, you don’t think Smitty, Welcome, and Ryan would look at each other and go, hmmm?
I say we are not desperate, but we are desperate to find a solution to our short yardage issues. We need a pile pusher fall forward kind of guy. Maybe Quizz can find a mouse hole for a yard,but he is more a change of pace, gimmick back. We just don’t have what we need on our roster.
SeminoleWarrior
November 12th, 2012
10:20 am
Nice points, Matty Bicep. Konz is in the mix; what is the latest on Mr. Holmes. Said it then, will say it again. I think dude was a hell of a reach…..
Hawley is in the mix as he will take over the center duties next season. Totally agree with you on the Baker situation; another reason why I advocate the ZBS. It does not rely on individual point of attack rather places a premium on blocking in a window.
From what I see, the Falcons OL has considerable mobility and thus, the ZBS would work well. Why would you bring in a ZBS specialist to coach the OL if you have no intention on fully implementing it?
Paddy O
November 12th, 2012
10:20 am
The fear here is that, once again, it has all been a smoke screen. If we collapse against teams in our own division, the smoke screen “pretenders” clarion call we get very loud.
SeminoleWarrior
November 12th, 2012
10:26 am
“MB – have you been watching a Smitty coached team? HE NEVER PUTS HIS ROOKIES IN – even in junk time to get experience – it is one aspect of Smitty Ball which is further called the Falcons Apprenticeship Program. Smitty does NOT use a rookie unless FORCED TO.” – Paddy O
This has got to change if we are ever going to get over the hump and fully take advantage of the process. Otherwise, trade the damned picks!!
Wings
November 12th, 2012
10:30 am
scoots – go somewhere else. The orkin man will take care of you.
SeminoleWarrior
November 12th, 2012
10:30 am
Paddy O, the Branch is not worried about the collapse. They are too damned busy trying to get that new stadium. $300 million from the state, joint private/public financing after that. Can you say PSLs?
If so, so long to my time as a season ticket holder. I refuse to have my tax dollars help pay for the stadium, then I have to pay a fee (a LARGE one at that) for the right to then pay AGAIN for my tickets.
Not going to do it; can’t do it. Will keep my money in my other ticket package in Tallahassee.
Wings
November 12th, 2012
10:31 am
Paddy 0 – you are right. The aint’s could beat us twice and so could the bucs.
Wabe
November 12th, 2012
10:33 am
SW,
Good to see you back in here. Hope all is well with you bro.
BL,
I appreciate the shout out. I try to maintain some type of objectivity, despite it all probably going out the window when we’re in the heat of the moment. But, objectively speaking, I can see where SW is coming from. I don’t completely agree with his take on the defense, but I definitely see what he’s getting at. There really is a level of inconsistency with this group. I do think some of it has a lot to do with how these guys are being coached up. The run defense, for instance, is an area where I just think we’re not maintaining sound gap discipline paired with bad tackling. These are some of the same faces we’ve been had for years, so to see them struggle so bad tackling makes me think they’re not working on it as much as they need to. But, SW is dead on when he’s talking about ‘players who strike fear’. The Falcons really don’t have anybody of that caliber. They have a bunch of high-priced FA acquisitions that haven’t lived up [Dunta, Ray Edwards]. Other than Abe and Asante Samuel [whose not even really a member of the 'core'], I don’t think there’s a single player on this defense that’s really nationally recognized.
We don’t have a Clay Matthews, or JJ Watt, or Aldon Smith, or Patrick Willis, or Charles Tillman, or Brian Urlacher, or Lance Briggs, or Julius Peppers, or JPP, Umenyiora, Tuck. Those teams have greats. We have guys that are great ’scrappers’. But, a lot of it has to do with how the football teams are built. The Falcons will never be a defense that stands up to the likes of the Bears or Niners, nor will those offenses ever live up to what we have. They invested in defense. We’ve invested in our offense.
Regardless, this team, as has been said numerous times, will go as far as Matt Ryan and the offense takes them. Despite the horrid play for most of the game yesterday by the defense, it doesn’t excuse what our offense failed to do with the opportunities we had. The Samuel pick set us up with great field position, but resulted in 3 points. The drive where we threw the bomb to Julio Jones, we were set up with 1st and goal, and it resulted in 3 points. The final drive of the game, we had 1st and goal again, 4 opportunities to get it in, and it resulted in 0 points. That can’t happen. Not against the worst defense in the league. And, it’s not just one game, it’s been happening quite frequently for the Birds. Against Dallas, we rack up 450 yards of offense, but only score one TD. We attempted what, 5 to 6 FG’s. Can’t do that. Gotta capitalize.
They’ll go as far as the offense takes them. The defense, IMO, isn’t one with studs everywhere like other teams might have, but are good enough to get us where we wanna be. And folks will knock Nolan [and some criticism might be deserved], but being a DC became increasingly difficult yesterday when the Saints running game got going. Not only are you responsible for slowing down one of the league’s best QB’s, but now he has a running game which opens up the playaction game as well. Just too many facets available to them at that point for the defense to really make much headway.
SeminoleWarrior
November 12th, 2012
10:35 am
Wings, do not give him the satisfaction.
Big Lou
November 12th, 2012
10:36 am
Alright, before I answer these questions… let me just say I am trying to look at this objectively and not with emotion. I do not care that it was the Saints that we lost to, ’cause even though I have no love towards that organization, they are still just another NFL team–a NFL team with a potent offense.
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?
Just a loss. Any thoughts past this is beyond knee-jerk. I argue that the loss being handed by our rivals will be even more helpful in the development of this team by the end of the year. Guess what? We are nine games into the season. This isn’t the playoffs. Things can be worked on and adjusted.
2) At what point did you get a bad feeling on the game? How tough was blowing a good start?
Never had a bad feeling. This team is different. My posts speak for themselves. When everyone was throwing the towel after the first half, I was still believing in the Falcons. They fought back, and they adjusted well.
3) Is this Michael Turner or Matt Ryan’s team? Are there still handcuffs on Ryan?
It’s Matt Ryan’s team. They need to get rid of the power run game period. They need to start running from the shotgun. Our offensive line cannot get push at all. It’s time to adjust. Period.
4) Please, please help fix this anemic pass rush.
What do you expect with three tackles? No Spoon? Poor Tackling?
5) Why has the Falcons pass rush remained so terribly poor?
It has been decent this year, actually. Yet, we need to get out of our heads that our front four will get to the QB consistently. We need to zone blitz and tire out the oline. Problem was, we couldn’t stop the run due to poor tackling, so it took the defense out of its groove.
6) How about those Turner playcalls right up the gut?
Can’t defend Mike Smith anymore on this. I really do not think DK is the one behind those, especially goal line stands where MS overruled MM last year a couple times with it to put in Burner.
7) Anyone else at punt returner?
I agree so much with this… At least put in Kevin K.
8.) Thoughts on the Mercedez-SuperDome officiating?
As always, biased and poor. But, still, the Falcons beat themselves more.
9) Please explain the Curious Case of Michael Turner.
Offensive line is getting no push and he cannot cut well. That’s it.
10) Has Albert Einstein pegged one Coach Mike Smith?
11) What happened to Mike Nolan and his defense? Yikes
People are too angry to see the half time adjustments. The Saints only scored 10 the second half…
First half was bad tackling. It has nothing to do with Mike Nolan. The players need to look long and hard into the mirror.
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.
Only person to call this team overrated after the loss was Pat Y. (go figure). Most of the media that I have seen so far said Atlanta gave the game away. They had the chances…. Roddy was right, for once.
SeminoleWarrior
November 12th, 2012
10:38 am
Wabe @ 10:33
Well stated, my brother.
Invested in our offense. Speak that truth!! And it will be the offense that brings us any true hope of that Lombardi celebration.
For I do not see where there is the focus or discipline in this defensive unit to get it done.
Big Lou
November 12th, 2012
10:41 am
“The fear here is that, once again, it has all been a smoke screen. If we collapse against teams in our own division, the smoke screen “pretenders” clarion call we get very loud.”
The Falcons didn’t get blown out like the previous years. They fought back and never gave up. They just didn’t execute. This is not a smoke screen. But, I agree, if they keep making mistakes like this… it will get loud.
SeminoleWarrior
November 12th, 2012
10:42 am
BL,
They did give it away…but the way we have been giving wins away over the Smith regime continues to be the same. Poor execution, questionable play calls, overrulling competent coaches at the wrong times, etc.
I repeat. The Falcons are an immensely talented, offensive football team with a few issues that need to be addressed. But defensively, I am at the end of my rope. Until there is a consistent, determined effort, I can not trust these guys to get it done on defense.
Wings
November 12th, 2012
10:54 am
SW you are correct the Falcons gave it away. Many don’t like RWhite’s talking but I have found he is pretty much the best barometer of how the team is playing. He is not afraid to tell the facts. Whether he should or not is another story.
Big Lou
November 12th, 2012
10:55 am
“I repeat. The Falcons are an immensely talented, offensive football team with a few issues that need to be addressed. But defensively, I am at the end of my rope. Until there is a consistent, determined effort, I can not trust these guys to get it done on defense.”
Again, knee jerk. They got it done versus the Eagles, they got it done versus the Cowboys, they got it done versus the Broncos. Stop looking at ONE GAME as the determining factor. Stop overreacting with your emotions an understand that the issues of the Falcons were on their tackling/being too confident. They got smacked in the mouth and adjusted in the second half. The Saints only scored ten points in the 3rd and 4th quarter combined!
Again, I am not saying that the defense does not have issues, but I feel they are way better than the effort they gave in the first half. They were too arrogant and got burned. They needed this. I feel sorry for the Cardinals next Sunday.
Case in point: how Asante acted after the first interception, which resulted in a 15 yard penalty which hurt the Falcons from getting another TD instead of three points. Fundamentals can be fixed. Oh yeah, weren’t we missing our best defensive player? NO SPOON. Come on, man. Chill out.
P-Dawg
November 12th, 2012
10:56 am
Looks like Thomas DeCoud was right about the lot of you… ““The bandwagon is over,” said DeCoud, who then mumbled something about how the crowd at the Georgia Dome next Sunday probably will be filled with fans of the Arizona Cardinals.”
http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/66560/saints-bring-falcons-down-to-earth
Big Lou
November 12th, 2012
10:58 am
Even Stephen A. Smith isn’t overreacting about this loss.
He understood we didn’t have Julio for two quarters, no Spoon, and still had an opportunity to win the game. We will destroy the Saints in the dome in a couple weeks. Book it.
Big Lou
November 12th, 2012
11:01 am
“SW you are correct the Falcons gave it away. Many don’t like RWhite’s talking but I have found he is pretty much the best barometer of how the team is playing. He is not afraid to tell the facts. Whether he should or not is another story.”
Amen, Wings. He needs to keep those comments in the locker room.
D3
November 12th, 2012
11:03 am
SW — As much as I’ve disagreed with regarding the “disconnect” theory, you may be onto something. I think any and all disconnect comes from Smitty. It is his refusal to change in many key areas, mainly at running back and on the offensive line, as well as the defensive line. I know we both wanted Brandon Thompson, but would he be making that big of a difference on our DL? I mean there’s so many areas that seemingly need improving and only so many draft picks. I finally agree that it starts with the lines after fighting that assumption for so long. I say let Grimes walk and cut Turner, freeing up nearly $18 million and sign the biggest, best defensive tackle in free agency. Still think we should have signed Solai away from the Dolphins, even though it would’ve been pricey. We’ll have to respectfully disagree on Holmes. The small amount I saw of him in preseason lets me know that he’s our future at LT.
I mean there’s so much that needs fixing in terms of defensive pieces. I think we’re OK at safety and decent at (starting) linebacker, but beyond that, you can justify using the first pick on any number of positions: cornerback, defensive tackle, defensive end, linebacker, etc, etc.
I believe that we must fix our defensive tackle. Wabe I think said it best last night in that we have a bunch of rotational guys, but no studs. Walker is a great rotational, Jerry is a never has been, Babs is 31 years old, and Peters is hurt this year. I think that DT is more important than DE. For whatever reason, Sidbury simply can’t use his speed and talent to get on the field, so I don’t really expect us to re-sign him. We’re stuck with Ray Edwards for better or worse through this year and next. Biermann should be moved permanently to OLB, thus killing two birds with one stone (alleviating depth while also freeing up a spot on the DE). I mean, do we really want to gamble on a first round pick DE? I can’t imagine taking another guy that will get the same treatment as Abe, Ray Ed, and Biermann where they are fighting double teams and getting little to no help from the DTs.
Then there’s cornerback. I like Robert McClain a lot and think he’s legit. Samuel is up there in age and Dunta was not a good signing (even though I think he’s OK). Do we try and bring Grimes back for a somewhat cheaper price? Hell, he’ll be 30 next year also and coming off a pretty major injury.
The fact is that after this season, TD is going to have to make some hard choices with this team. I’d say that we’re going to have to be pretty active in free agency and bring in some guys somewhere. Turner, Grimes, and Babs should all be on the block. As much as I love Babs, we have to start getting younger at some point. Hell, maybe even DRob gets the axe. Assuming Gonzo retires along with Grimes, cut Turner, you’re looking at well over $20 million in cap space. I know some of that will get eaten up, but we can’t keep doing piecemeal, stop-gap stuff.
Wings
November 12th, 2012
11:07 am
I don’t have a problem with RWhite talking. I didn’t make a judgement in the post.
The defense is only as good as its efforts. Any other assessment is based on emotion.
Wabe
November 12th, 2012
11:08 am
BL,
To SW’s defense, yeah, they got it done against the Iggles, Cowboys, and Broncos. But, then they’ll have games like they did vs. Oakland where Carson Palmer throws for over 300 or so yards and marches down the field and ties it up 20-20 when our defense needs to make one stop to get us the W. We let the Panthers pretty much have their way with us, with a few forced turnovers proving to be critical in that game.
I do agree with you, it’s been better this season. But, the level of consistency still isn’t there. To SW’s point:
“I can not trust these guys to get it done on defense.”
That’s pretty much it in a nutshell. You don’t know what to expect. Will they play like they did against Denver, Philly, Dallas, or will they come out and give us one of those ‘dud’ performances. That’s why it’s difficult to trust them. I think they’re better suited to matchup to the likes of Rodgers and Manning because Nolan can get exotic with his looks. But, after watching how bad we were yesterday, and the ups and downs they’ve had this season, it’s difficult to say with certainty [like Bears, Niners fans can say] that there defense will definitely come to play.
It kinda boils back down to what we said all last season and this past offseason. You have to be dominant on one side of the ball or the other. The Falcons have the weapons offensively to be dominant, but, I wouldn’t say they’re quite at dominant yet. I’d say they’re solid. Same with defense, they’re not great, they’re alright/good. They need to put the pressure on opponents on one side or the other. The Pats don’t have a great defense, they still got to the big game last season, but that’s mainly because their offense put a lot of pressure on opposing offenses to keep up. The Colts with Manning never had a shutdown type defense. They just forced folks to play keep up. In the same way, the Falcons offense will need to cover up for any potential holes this defense has.
I’ll tell you one way to eliminate this issue about the run defense. Make the run game irrelevant for opponents. Not by playing ball control offense. But, by building big leads and forcing teams to abandon the run game. That’s what the Colts used to do with Manning.
Big Lou
November 12th, 2012
11:09 am
D3
I agree. There is gonna be many offseason moves that need to be made, but I am more worried about the Falcons making noise in the playoffs this year, which I think they will.
D3
November 12th, 2012
11:10 am
Last thing before I take a break. It’s easy to criticize the linebackers and defensive backs for their poor play, but Drew Breesbag had all day long to throw the football. I mean we never even got close to him at all. We had one sack and that’s basically it. We did better in the second half for sure, but he had all the time in the world. Spoon is the heart and soul of this defense, but they were missing Darren Sproles, so it’s hard for me to just point to not having one guy.
Finally, I think it’s just frustrating and I’m not going to use the term, but Smitty’s refusal to change in key areas (mainly offensive line and running back). There is no change at offensive line after a supposedly “open competition.” We keep doing the same stuff in the backfield that’s got our tails whipped in the playoffs (Turner up the gut for no gain or even a loss). I think defense just had a bad game, but I was so disappointed in the gameplan to just let Brees pick us a part. No, the sky’s not falling, but if we don’t change and adapt, I can’t see us achieving our ultimate goals.
Wings
November 12th, 2012
11:12 am
Wabe 100% build big leads and let the offense play the entire game.
Wings
November 12th, 2012
11:15 am
Maybe someone at Falcons office will see this:
1st and 10 at ATL 20 M.Turner left guard to ATL 17 for -3 yards
1st and 1 at NO 1 M.Turner left tackle to NO 1 for no gain
1st and 10 at NO 27 M.Turner left end to NO 24 for 3 yards
3rd and 1 at NO 18 M.Turner right tackle to NO 19 for -1 yards
1st and 10 at ATL 42 M.Turner left guard to ATL 48 for 6 yards
1st and 10 at ATL 20 M.Turner right end to ATL 29 for 9 yards
2nd and 1 at ATL 29 M.Turner right end to ATL 30 for 1 yard
1st and 10 at NO 15 M.Turner right end to NO 16 for -1 yards
2nd and 1 at NO 1 M.Turner left guard to NO 2 for -1 yards
1st and 10 at ATL 23 M.Turner right end to ATL 25 for 2 yards
1st and 10 at ATL 20 M.Turner right guard to ATL 21 for 1 yard
1st and 5 at NO 5 M.Turner left guard to NO 5 for no gain
3rd and 1 at NO 1 M.Turner left guard to NO 2 for -1 yards
Big Lou
November 12th, 2012
11:16 am
Wabe
Do you think that maybe, just maybe… the Falcons were playing down to their competition?
Oakland is a bad example because the Falcons held them pretty well the first half, but got gassed in the second half because our offense was doing jack crap.
Also, you need to take the Saints out of the equation, because they score 20 points or more on almost all the defenses in the league. Just because they have a horrible defense, doesn’t mean that their offense is inept, which it never was.
I concede that the panthers was a horrible defensive game-plan. That one was on Mike Nolan.
Your argument as a whole doesn’t hold validity because the Falcons would have great defensive stands(in the past) versus inept offenses, and get creamed against good ones–look at 2010/2011 for examples in this. Yet, this year, they had great defensive performances against some of the most potent offenses in the league. This team is different. They just got to high and mighty with their record. They came out with poor technique.
It happens. It’s just one game.
Wabe
November 12th, 2012
11:17 am
Might sound crazy…
But, this team might wanna start coming up with something different to help jolt the redzone offense.
Wildcat, Dominique Davis, Julio leaping over defenders to get into the endzone, I don’t care. Because when our season’s on the line with a one and done situation, we better exhaust all options knowing Turner success rate ain’t all that sucessful.
Big Lou
November 12th, 2012
11:22 am
Wabe
The Giants defense isn’t consistent either. Texans defense is consistent? You mean the ones who got creamed by Green Bay? Didn’t the Bears get creamed by them, too?
Our offense would destroy them, because they have strong lines/linebackers, but weak azz secondaries. Cowboys kept us in check because they have one of the strongest(secondary) cores in the league.
Point is. Defenses have bad games. Offenses have bad games. This is the NFL. Nothing is consistent.
Big Lou
November 12th, 2012
11:24 am
Wabe
That’s not a bad idea, but I feel the Falcons need to start running the ball from the shotgun. They have had huge success with the delayed hand-offs this year. I would never take Matty Ice from the game, though.
Gotta give Saints credit… they made some damn good plays in the secondary. Yet, I agree that Turner is done, especially with how bad out push is on the offensive line.
D3
November 12th, 2012
11:25 am
Wings — You got it right there my friend. Turner just doesn’t get it done. I’m not happy with getting “one good run” a game after losing yards, getting no gains, or 1 yard on the other 15-20 carries. I’m not saying that Quizz or Snelling are Earl Campbell and Barry Sanders, but it’s time to give them a shot. Would it kill Smitty and Koetter to just TRY Antone Smith? All these other teams are doing it with ease and yet we just keep rolling out the same ol’ junk.
MB — As you said, we’ll just have to respectfully disagree. As Einstein said, doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is the definition of insanity. Outside of putting Konz in (when Reynolds got hurt BTW), what have they tried different on the OL in 2+ years?
Wings
November 12th, 2012
11:26 am
BL why are you trying to defend them for such a bad effort. It doesn’t matter who did or didn’t, it was bad!! You loose your credibility. What they did against other teams in previous weeks is history.
D3
November 12th, 2012
11:26 am
Wabe — Totally agree. Anything but the same old, same old, same old. Turner up the gut for no gain or a loss. Put JJ or HD in the backfield for chrissake.