Atlanta Falcons: Birds Take on Bucs as Playoffs Await
Falcons vs. Bucs in Season Finale
Sit or Play? (Rick Ostentoski/AP)
How Much Do Starters Play?
That’s the big question as today’s game looms. It’s a very tough call in many regards. Do the Falcons keep their starters in for most of the game in hoping to keep the momentum going that they’ve built up the past few games as they head into an almost two week wait for the playoffs? Or do they pull their starters early on to prevent injuries and let many of the players completely heal? It’s a tough catch-22, but this much is known: Head Coach Mike Smith has got to find some way to have this team better prepared than the last time he achieved a first round bye. The Debacle in the Dome is still fairly fresh in fans mind and it all starts with Smith to have this team more prepared, more focused, and ready to play on a much higher level than 2010.
What was Smith’s Plan?
Yep, this is About Right (AJC)
As fellow Cage Member Arno said, if you say that you’re going to play to win, than you better be prepared to play lights out. To be fair, it was an extremely difficult game to manage. The Falcons had already locked up home-field advantage and the game literally meant nothing. Normal thought would have said to rest the starters, put the backups in, and try to win the game. But at the same time, perhaps remembering the Debacle from 2 years ago, Smith wanted to keep the momentum that had been built up the past two weeks blowing out the defending champs and beating the Lions pretty soundly on the road.
However, it became painfully apparent that the players weren’t focused and gameplan was pitifully weak. Add to that the fact that on consecutive plays, two of the Falcons defensive starters suffered injuries, both Dunta Robinson and Asante Samuel, and it didn’t seem to make sense why the starters were still in the game well into the 4th quarter. Matt Ryan was taking shots left and right and even John Abraham got injured and had to be carted off the field. Using 20/20 hindsight vision, it’s a little unfair to say that Smith had the wrong strategy all along, but it seemed as though Smith wanted the best of both worlds: get momentum while also not putting in 100% effort and focus. It also seems that Smith really didn’t have a backup plan in case things didn’t go as planned (see injuries to key starters). Hopefully, the injuries aren’t serious and the Falcons can use this as motivation to remember how well they need to prepare to get this first playoff win.
Will Over-reliance on Turner Cost in Playoffs?
First of all, the normal complaint about Turner getting way more carries than any other running back doesn’t hold weight. Turner got 6 carries, Rodgers got 5 carries, and Snelling got 3 carries. That breaks down very good percentage wise in terms of what most fans hope to see: Turner (43%), Rodgers (36%), and Snelling (21%). Both Turner and Rodgers had long runs of almost exactly the same, with Turner netting a 17 yard run and Rodgers getting a 16 yard run. Both of the long runs heavily inflated both players yards per carry: Rodgers – 5.6 and Turner – 3. If you dig down a little further, however, the production is still out of whack.
If you take out each of their long runs, Rodgers ypc goes down to 3 yards per carry, but Turner’s goes down to 0.2 yards per carry. Yes, 2 tenths, not 2 yards. It’s hard to use this game as a good indicator, but it’s a microcosm of the entire season. Rodgers, and it could be argued even Snelling, simply fit better and are more productive in the Falcons new offense. What should make fans think that anything will change once the playoffs hit when over a 16 game span not much has really changed at all. The fear is that the coaches, namely Mike Smith, will over rely on Turner yet again and it will cost the Falcons at the very worst time.
Injury Watch
Awful Injury (AJC)
Hopefully, none of the injuries are too serious, but fans wanted to scream when they started seeing not one, not two, but three defensive starters go down with injuries. First it was Dunta Robinson being taken to the locker room. Then it was Asante Samuel re-injuring his shoulder that’s been popping up all year. And to top it off, arguably the most important cog to the defense, John Abraham, goes down with an ankle injury and has to be carted off the field.
If for some reason these injuries play a role in the playoffs, Smith will get plenty of criticism in a meaningless game. Even though he wasn’t injured, Matt Ryan took his fair share of brutal hits when the OL decided to mentally stay at home on the couch. If nothing else, the two weeks should allow time for the Falcons to be the healthiest they’ve had all year. Hopefully, the players nicked up in the Bucs game will be back to good and William Moore, who’s missed the last 4 games, will be ready to go as well.
Have Lessons Been Learned?
The coaching staff has to be busy at work getting as much game-planning and research on the three teams they know they’ll face between the Seahawks, Vikings, and Redskins. The coaching staff and players basically have a bye week and they need to use it accordingly. It may be tough to do extensive research on 3 teams, but they can be doing some. The biggest thing that this playoff game boils down to is whether or not Head Coach Mike Smith has learned the lessons from his first 3 trips to the playoffs, all ending in losses. Ironically enough, the Falcons best outing was the first one where he and Matt Ryan were rookies.
He’s had every experience imaginable including two wild card games on the road and one home-field advantage #1 seed with a bye week. There was a thought among many fans that Smith played it way too lackadaisical and even soft. There were clips of the players with shorts and t-shirts and laughing and having a good time at practice. Maybe that’s unfair using 20/20 hindsight form the Debacle in the Dome, but it surely didn’t help.
Falcons Better Shore Up their Run Defense
HD One Bright Spot (AJC)
The Falcons are set to play either the Vikings, Seahawks, or Redskins in less than 2 weeks. All of them have excellent running backs and a playmaker at quarterback who is extremely mobile. In fact, all of the teams remaining in the playoffs have mobile QBs and all except the Packers also have a good running game to complement as well. They have bowed their necks when they’ve needed to, shutting down Doug Martin the first time, holding Alred Morris to no touchdowns, holding Ryan Matthews and Lesean McCoy in check.
However, they’ve also seen times where they’ve given up a ton of yards as well, namely Cam Newton, the Panthers, the Saints first game, among several others. They actually did a good job of shutting down Robert Griffin III the first time, but he’s had a lot more seasoning since then. Then of course there’s the best running back in the game in Adrian Peterson and Pro Bowler Marshawn Lynch. Russell Wilson, Colin Kaepernick, Frank Gore, and Christian Ponder are all out there as well. Ironically, the Falcons are one of the worst remaining rushing teams left in the NFC. The defensive line, linebackers, and all the secondary better be working hard on tackling and stopping the run, because otherwise, it will be another short off-season.
Enjoy and Go Falcons!!!!
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620 comments Add your comment
Matty Bicep
January 1st, 2013
2:20 pm
My guess is if Seattle does win, they stay on the east coast. I don’t think they will fly 6 hours home, then turn around and do it again a few days later…..Also, did anyone notice that St Louis went 2-1-1 against 49ers and Seattle. Seattle also lost to Arizona…..Just shows power of division games.
Unca' Bob
January 1st, 2013
3:01 pm
DHunt
January 1st, 2013
2:18 pm
LOL!
Big Ray
January 1st, 2013
3:41 pm
Dhunt ,
Were you going for “most overzealous homer” or “snarkiest SOB on the blog?”
Either way, you I think you won the award, LOL….good stuff…
Big Ray
January 1st, 2013
3:52 pm
I was gonna say that we should really reserve all judgements and “replacement ideas” for members of the CS for after the postseason.
However, all the talk of interviews published by D. Ledd has me nervous and thinking that we will be having this conversation earlier than we’d like.
I will say this – there’s a lot that I’d do to keep Nolan, if I’m Dimitroff. Including…well, I’ll leave that alone for now.
I thought we got lucky picking up Nolan (and yes, Koetter). That said, and I’m not saying anything against Nolan…we might win out even if we lose him. It gives us a chance to bring in an even better and more expanded offensive mind. A specialist in an offense that could fit this team very well.
That said, the same thing remains – Koetter came in and we kept the playbook still…that’s all Smitty. We also kept some of the same tendencies on offense…many of the troublesome ones.
In a lot of ways, I didn’t see Koetter have nearly as strong of an influence as I saw Nolan have. There are several observations that can be tied to this.
So we’ll see.
But I’m really afraid of losing Nolan. I don’t think we can replace him with anybody that’s not a puppet of sorts. Nolan didn’t follow Smitty’s ideas, he brought his own. He changed so much. Without a presence full of wisdom and knowledge like that, we could very quickly go back to zone coverages, Tampa 2 all day long, and other stuff we don’t succeed as well with.
Big Ray
January 1st, 2013
3:53 pm
That said, and I’m not saying anything against Nolan…we might win out even if we lose him. It gives us a chance to bring in an even better and more expanded offensive mind. A specialist in an offense that could fit this team very well.
I meant KOETTER…not Nolan. Do NOT want to lose Nolan.
trademark
January 1st, 2013
3:56 pm
I think I’ll call this my version of what the press would LOVE to write, if they actually were telling us the truth about what they really think of Atlanta….
“E.S.P.N.S.I.C.B.S.Yahoos-2 Jan. 2013 – It’s Playoff time, and we all know what that means, we can evaluate all of the talent in the playoff field and drool over which team we would love to see in the Super Bowl. In the AFC, the top seeded Broncos really do deserve to play in the Super Bowl. After cleaning house on powerhouses like Kansas City, Oakland and San Diego for 6 of their wins, they also slammed teams that SHOULD have been in the Playoffs like New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Carolina, Pittsburgh and Cleveland, just to name a few worthy opponents. OK, they lost to Houston, New England and Atlanta, but those are regular season games, and those don’t mean anything. The Atlanta game being obviously the biggest anomaly, because Peyton wasn’t really warmed up yet, just ignore that 129 QB rating he put up against Pittsburgh in Week 1, he really wasn’t ready, and if he played against the Falcons today, he’d have at least 8 TDs and a rating so high it would take NASA to count it, because, well, his name is Manning, and Atlanta really has a shaky defense, especially against truly elite QBs. OK, if Denver doesn’t go to the big dance, we’re perfectly happy with New England or Indianapolis as well. New England is a nice, comfortable team that we’re very used to praising and won’t have to come up with to many original thoughts on, and Indy would have that rookie QB in the Super Bowl and all, with the cool last name. Everyone likes to write stories about guys with cool last names.
In the NFC, it gets more complicated. The obvious favorite, Seattle, will have to win a few on the road, and it makes us a little nervous to pick them. The safest choice , and therefore ours, is Green Bay (see comments about New England, above). If they go to the Super Bowl, we’ll all be much happier. Minnesota is also OK, with the whole Peterson story and all, and RGIII is also easy to write about, because he’s a really good rookie with a cool nick-name. That counts as much as having a cool last name. San Francisco has been fading lately, and they usually win with Defense, which is boring. We’d prefer it if they went home early. Atlanta is the top seed, but it doesn’t matter, they shouldn’t be there at all. In fact, we’re going to ignore anything they might have accomplished this season, like hanging the biggest loss ever on a defending champion and beating all of the teams on their schedule with winning records, and the NFC East in total, and just talk to some players on teams that SHOULD be there instead of them. Says J. Thomas of Carolina; “We’re the better team, we know it, our 7-9 record is no indication of who we are or what we’ve actually accomplished this year,” Thomas continued as he took a slurp of vodka over the telephone from his garage in Florida. “Man, we would light up those other teams. We’re elite.” We contacted Drew Brees as well from his condo in Malibu, where he was in the middle of mowing the lawn in his boxer shorts, unfortunately, most of the telephone interview was an incoherent blur of cursing mixed with a few “Goodells” for good measure. We were able to get from it though that New Orleans would have won a second Super Bowl, hands down. Tampa Bay’s Coach Shiano had this to say; “Our dominant win over a determined and focused Atlanta team playing in top form, with everything on the line, shows without a doubt that Tampa is a better representative.” The interview was sadly cut short, because his dog had just thrown up and his wife was busy taking down the Christmas decorations. Osi Umenyiora of the Giants weighed in as well; “Man, it was all part of the plan, defending champs should automatically get a playoff berth anyway, no matter how bad they were beat down. Especially if that spot is Atlanta’s. Their schedule was too damned soft to earn it.”
We couldn’t agree more Osi.”
Hope you enjoyed. It’s gonna be a LOoooooooooOOONG two weeks.
Go Falcons!!
DHunt
January 1st, 2013
5:24 pm
Trademark, you really ought to submit that one for publication at all of the sports news outlets you can find.
Big Lou
January 1st, 2013
6:05 pm
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-falcons-blog/2013/01/01/atlanta-falcons-smith-to-ramp-up-bye-week-practices/?cxntfid=blogs_atlanta_falcons_blog
————
What I liked:
“With the bye week after the sixth game, breaks after Thursday and Saturday games, Smith believes the team is well rested. With the extra work, Smith plans to sharpen up on the fundamentals of blocking and tackling, which he found lacking in the loss to Tampa Bay.”
This really worked for the falcons against the Eagles, Giants, and Tampa(first game) this year. I am liking what I am hearing there.
————
There is one part that stands out to me that I didn’t really like:
Falcons offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter, who wasn’t with the team in 2010, said it will be “weird” to practice without knowing the next opponent.
“I’ve never been in that situation before and I don’t care for it,” he said. “I like to focus on one team. It’s hard when you have as many as four teams you are preparing for. The flip side is there’s no pressure. I look at it as it’s bonus work.”
————-
I dunno about you, but that sounds like some bellyaching right there.
Big Lou
January 1st, 2013
6:49 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DbIxSDXZbM
Watching the defensive replays(halfway through the video) of the Saints game(2nd one), I see why we need William Moore. I cannot wait to have him back for the playoffs.
Big Lou
January 1st, 2013
6:53 pm
Heck, we even need Owens back.
He made a couple nice plays, too.
D3
January 1st, 2013
6:58 pm
I figured it wouldn’t take long for Reid to get another job. Kind of surprised about the Cards. Figured he would look somewhere like San Diego that has a proven QB, something that plagued him in Philly…..
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/8800439/andy-reid-favorite-become-arizona-cardinals-coach-sources
The Time is NOW
January 1st, 2013
8:40 pm
DHunt – Well said.
The Time is NOW
January 1st, 2013
8:45 pm
trademark – LOL
falcon21
January 1st, 2013
9:19 pm
Of the 6 teams that made the playoffs in the NFC, what team do you think will be the least prepared? Honest question!
falcon21
January 1st, 2013
9:45 pm
I really want to believe in Smith, the nice guy thing I can see but you have got to win in the playoffs. Nice guy and not winning when it counts gets old.
Arno
January 1st, 2013
9:47 pm
Interesting question fal21. My guess is Washington. I think RGIII will try to do too much.
Arno
January 1st, 2013
9:54 pm
Dhunt and trademark– We got a long two weeks ahead. Thanks for filling some of it in… Sportswriters know that our past record is a mystical/lunar warp in space/time that disqualifies Falcons’ achievements today. Doctors know that the Falcons never actually win– periodic collective brain fog invasion (PCBF) causes other teams stumble and lose to us. These empirical findings were highlighted yesterday with another local team at the Sunbowl. USC exposed the Jackets. I quote an expert blogger who speaks for everyone in the country: “Everyone in the country knows USC is a far superior team over GT. Without a coach at all USC could have pounded GT.” Poor USC. They didn’t get beat by the Jackets– they got Kiffined. All USC had to do was show Tech their past record, and the Jackets would have fallen over and passed out on the field. The past is the future! Everyone in the country knows that the Steelers, Saints, and Giants should get automatic seeding in the playoffs this year. If the Falcons don’t humbly offer the Saints the #1 seed– I hope at least the Falcons will use this time in sober appreciation of their insane good fortune.
Speaking of what the whole country knows (at least in the Cage) … great having D3 back!
JB Falcon
January 1st, 2013
9:55 pm
21, I’ll go with Arno. We have already beat them once.
Paddy O
January 1st, 2013
9:55 pm
I’m assuming folks watched the first almost sack of the game -where the LB I think came in and grabbes Ryans arm and he hauled ryan to the turf – luckily, the LB had some mercy and let the arm go as they both bounced off the field – but, that violent yank of Ryans arm I suspect affected his throwing the rest of the game. we know the Falcons KGB is effective -but sadly, it only prompts invective toward guys in the line up who are playing with serious injury – now, us fans don’t get to watch copious amounts of tape so we don’t detect potential, but unannounced, serious play making ability affecting injurires – but the way teams abused Baker last year, I suspect the Falcons KGB only damages player/fans rooting relationships, not how other teams evaluate their opponent (except maybe us – we are lousy at abusing opposing teams weaknesses).
Paddy O
January 1st, 2013
9:57 pm
as stated, RG3’s knee injury – mandating a brace and his losing a lot of steam on his runs – is akin to Bo Jacksons – but, RG3 can still toss the ball. irregardless, here we are in the top 25% dance – can we overcome our upper echelon opposition? that is the crux and why many pundits think we are frauds. we shall see. personally, I think the real reason smith stated he was going back to fundamentals and falcon on falcon play is his 2 coordinators are too busy intervewing.
Paddy O
January 1st, 2013
9:58 pm
regarding the supposed “smitty tree” – auburn terminated BVG after one horrendous season; anybody here think MM made J’ville better? lol. perhaps the tree has root rot?
Paddy O
January 1st, 2013
9:59 pm
last quickie comment: If i’m smitty, and Moore is healthy with our decent back ups – I give Decoud an ultimatum – you shoulder tackle one more time, you are on the bench the rest of the game.
Matty Bicep
January 1st, 2013
10:03 pm
I think Seattle has the biggest challenge, they only made 1 tip to the East Coast all year, and got beat by Miami. I suspect they won’t play their best.
Arno
January 1st, 2013
10:05 pm
In our 3 losses, I have vivid memories of poor tackles/YAC. On the other hand, doing well here can inspire the whole team– like Peterson’s goal line stop. Very glad they are emphasizing this.
Arno
January 1st, 2013
10:06 pm
MB– Seattle is my second choice. I suspect they have been playing in a bubble.
Matty Bicep
January 1st, 2013
10:07 pm
Re the Smitty Tree, Les Sneed did pretty well in St Louis, although that might be the TD tree.
Matty Bicep
January 1st, 2013
10:14 pm
Of all the QBs, I have the least confidence in Colin K. Guy has only played a handful of games, now he did go into foxboro and win, so I will give him that, I can just seem him making a pressure mistake.
waynester
January 1st, 2013
10:22 pm
When HCMS chose Mularkey and BVG he was a totally unknown quantity as a HC on a losing team in disarray. Things have changed a lot since then. Other coaches would kill one another to get on this staff now that we have a team that’s become relevant in Dec/Jan and seems poised to stay there for a few years and a launching pad for new NFL HCs…..
falcon21
January 1st, 2013
10:30 pm
All in all, I just want to see us win in the playoffs!!! Later!
Matty Bicep
January 1st, 2013
10:50 pm
Wayne, we were not just a team in disarray, we were the among the most dysfunctional teams in NFL history. Vick, Parcells, Petrino? Are you kidding? That is why teams are wanting to hire our personal men. I am a little surprised by all the interest in Koetter, but Ryan did take it to a new level this year. Then that happens, people take notice.
Hamad Meander
January 1st, 2013
10:53 pm
It is sure nice to have the bye week coming up. I hope to see some beat up NFC teams after this weekend. Any updates on Abe or Robinson?
trademark
January 2nd, 2013
6:34 am
Man, I almost feel sorry (ALMOST) for the nation’s Sportswriters if the Falcons do win their first Playoff game this year….I mean, what the hell are they supposed to write about after that? The only thing they’ve ever mentioned about the current incarnation of the Falcons is that the past few teams had lost in the playoffs….I mean, even they would get fired if they turned in a blank column with just a few photos tacked on it right?
Right?
Wings
January 2nd, 2013
7:20 am
HC Smith – “With the bye week after the sixth game, breaks after Thursday and Saturday games, Smith believes the team is well rested. With the extra work, Smith plans to sharpen up on the fundamentals of blocking and tackling, which he found lacking in the loss to Tampa Bay.”
I have a big problem with this statement by HC Smith. Maybe I don’t understand the necessity of it. So would someone help me? The regular season is over and we are the top seed in the NFC and we are working on fundamentals of blocking and tackling. If the players don’t know how to do these things by the end of the 16 game season, they will never know. Isn’t this the time to improve higher level performance beyond the basics. I just don’t have a good feeling about the preparation of this team for the playoff games.
trademark
January 2nd, 2013
7:55 am
@ DHunt – Thanks for the vote of confidence! They tend to ignore me, though…I was the guy that bet Don Banks his job at SI that the Falcons would make the Super Bowl….still waiting to hear back on that one….
@ Wings….I think reading between the lines is “polishing up” Even experts gain something by practicing it.
Big Ray
January 2nd, 2013
9:12 am
Major kudos to Dhunt and Trademark .
Outstanding humorous posts.
Nookah
January 2nd, 2013
9:42 am
Greetings Cagers!
@Wings,
I understand your concern but at any level, it’s not a bad thing to go back to basics sometimes. In any sport, the right footwork, positioning, technique etc. is always what enables you to execute efficiently.
Even in baseball when a hitter goes in a slump sometimes it’s just a minor tweek in his swing or how he stands in the box, his grip etc that allows hi to correct that swing. Smae thing goes for cricket (if there are any cricketers on the blog). It never hurts to re-visit the fundamentals.
We will be ok. We never lose 2 games in a row so it augers well for us in the first round.
@ trademark – 6:30 – you got that right man, they will be scratching their heads and asking themselves, “what other negative aspect of the Falcons can we write on now?”
It is what it is Bro. Just a snippet from the Honourable Robert Nesta Marley dedicated to all sports writers:
You a-go tired fe see me face;
Can’t get me out of the race.
Oh, man, you said I’m in your place
And then you draw bad cyard -
A-make you draw bad cyard,
And then you draw bad cyard.
Propaganda spreading over my name;
Say you wanna bring another life to shame.
Oh, man, you just a-playing a game
And then you draw bad cyard (draw bad cyard);
A-make you draw bad cyard (draw bad cyard);
A-make you draw bad cyard.
PuLLLLLLL UPPPPPPPPP!!!
Go Falcons!! Falcons Rule!!
Big Lou
January 2nd, 2013
10:02 am
Wings
Practice doesn’t make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect.
Going over fundamentals is not only necessary during the bye week(to keep mentally focused), it’s also a good way to focus on ironing out tendencies.
If anything, it’s a good thing. I’m actually glad Smith is doing it. He understands the team hasn’t won anything and needs to sure up some things.
Big Lou
January 2nd, 2013
10:04 am
Anybody else find Dirk K’s comments about the bye week disturbing?
It sounds like he’s complaining.
Nookah
January 2nd, 2013
10:23 am
Big Lou,
If anything his potential employers should find that comment disturbing. To me it’s suggesting he cannot multi-task too well or he is inexperienced at it. As an NFL head coach you have to be able to manage many scenarios at the same time. As a future employer I’d have to look at his ability to remain focused when all kinds of things are happening around you.
DHunt
January 2nd, 2013
10:36 am
Looks like we’ll have Welcome Back Koetter for at least another year. Fox news is reporting the Falcons tossed a little more cheddar his way and he’s signed up for another year as a Dirty Bird. http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/Dirk-Koetter-signs-extension-with-Atlanta-Falcons-010213
The Falcons should definitely see major benefits from continuity in the coordinators’ positions, more familiarity and additions to the new systems, and the opportunity to bring in potentially a few more players who fit the systems even better than the 2012 team.
Big Lou, I can give you the eternal optimist take on DK’s comments. The man has never been with a team than earned a playoff bye. He’s being truthful that this is something new for him. Furthermore, he’s probably a bit of a perfectionist and likes to focus in on his goals. He’s not going to be able to do that this week, rather he’s going to have to put in some ultimately wasted work time planning for two (or three) teams that he ultimately won’t have to face next week. He’d rather be putting his laser focus on a known entity. These were simply the musings of a man in a new spot, I wouldn’t take much more than that from it. If he keeps hanging around these Falcons, he’s going to have to get used to doing business like this in the playoffs, because The Falcons have become a perennial power in the NFC.
DHunt
January 2nd, 2013
10:53 am
Do a Google search on Falcons news and the only news you will find is that the Eagles (among other teams) are going to interview every coach and waterboy in the Falcons organization this week. WTH?!?!?! Everybody knows the Eagles are going to hire a college coach to come in an run that frat house! I’m getting the impression that the Eagles are intentionally trying to disrupt the Falcons playoff preparation in retaliation for that after the bye week butt whooping we put on them this year. You know that still has to sting, even in a season full of butt whoopings they took.
I realize the Falcons aren’t playing this week, and no news is (often/usually/maybe) good news. But the radio silence on the Falcons as the Number ONE seed in the NFC seems somewhat strange. Let me also look to see what news is out there about the Denver Broncos, the AFC number one seed and owners of the same 13-3 regular season record.
Where the Falcons have a total of 28 news sources (all about pretty much the same topic of head coaching job interviews), the Broncos have FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY (450) news sources about such a wide variety of topics that I have neither the time nor typing skills to accurately delineate. But hey, the Broncos did win a playoff game last year, so obviously they are worth 20x more news coverage.
Nookah
January 2nd, 2013
11:08 am
Well said DHunt.
Good news on DK; now sign up Nolan for one more year too. I know we can’t keep him forever but can you imagine if Nolan get’s one more full offseason to have a more meaningful contribution as to who he wants on his defence? This defense will be better next year.
Nookah
January 2nd, 2013
11:17 am
DHunt, – 10:53am
I am sure you are not surprised at that now are you? It is par for the course when it comes to the Falcons and media coverage. You can say one thing for them, they are consistent.
This is only the beginning because when we reach the SB and win, there will be all kinds of excuses why Manning, or Brady or whomever lost. You’ll hear we can only win in a dome and we were fortunate that we had home field advantage and all the other possible excuses they can find to denigrate our success.
We as Falcon fans, especially the Cage Faithful, know what they are in denial about. We have a championship calibre team and we will get the job done. So lets not get caught up with opinions of biased journalists and get ready to support our team wherever we may be next week.
Go Falcons!!!
Arno
January 2nd, 2013
11:25 am
Big Lou 10:04
Falcons offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter, who wasn’t with the team in 2010, said it will be “weird” to practice without knowing the next opponent.
“I’ve never been in that situation before and I don’t care for it,” he said. “I like to focus on one team. It’s hard when you have as many as four teams you are preparing for. The flip side is there’s no pressure. I look at it as it’s bonus work.”
Purely guessing… I’m hearing a little irony in what he is saying. I expect he is sort of chuckling as he says it– like preparing for the playoffs is too much of a good thing.
trademark
January 2nd, 2013
11:49 am
OK DHunt, here’s one I think I’ll title “The news as it should have been reported”
“The Cage – 3 Jan. 2013 – With the Playoffs approaching, it’s time to size up the field. Starting with the NFC:
1. Atlanta Falcons (13-3) And why not? The lack of national media attention be damned, this is an extremely dangerous team. Take them lightly, and you’re fooling yourself. Think they can’t beat you in any number of ways, and find yourself sitting on the couch in a few weeks with a few beers and some close friends. MVP candidate Matt Ryan is coming off his best year as a professional, setting franchise records in completion percentage, yards and touchdowns. With the trio of Gonzalez, White and Jones (no particular order- maybe age before speed…) there are literally no teams in this league that can contain them. It’s a case of pick-your-poison with this attack. While the run-game has been pedestrian, the Falcons have hardly needed it, compiling enough yards to be considered the 8th ranked offense, and 7th in points per game. Nonetheless, it’s been there when they’ve needed it, if it isn’t accounted for, Turner, Rodgers and Snelling can end your dreams very quickly. The offensive line has been solid as well, allowing under 30 sacks on a QB that made over 600 drop backs. The Defense has been taken to account for allowing too many yards. To which we say-”empty calories”. This Defense has been extremely stingy, allowing only 18.7 points per game, and forcing 31 turnovers, good for 4th in the NFC, and tied with other more “respected” Defenses like Seattle. Again, ignore them at your own peril. Add to this that they are playing at home for the rest of the ride, and are also playing for more than a ring, but also for Respect, this is our favorite, don’t try to listen to the silence, you’ll get exactly what you deserve, and it won’t be the Lombardi Trophy, the sound you will find will be the screaming and shouting Falcon fans yelling ” We told you so!!”.
2. Green Bay Packers(12-4) – The experience factor is the biggest up-side with this team. Rodgers is battle tested and a very dangerous competitor. The team has the pedigree of past success to bolster their confidence, and with the league’s 13th rated offense (5th in points scored), and 11th rated defense, they are a balanced and dangerous group. A safe bet to be competing for the title, no questions.
3. Seattle Seahawks (11-5) “The Team No One Wants to Play” title award winner this year, Seattle went on a tear about a month back and hopes to carry that momentum into the Playoffs. With a dynamically balanced rushing and passing attack, at least in the past 5 games, as Wilson has been finishing out his rookie season, Seattle can score points in bunches if allowed, and with the league’s top rated defense in points allowed (4th in yards), their balance on both sides of the balls in daunting. The only reason I won’t rank them higher is that the story and performance of this team see-saws wildly based on whether they are playing at home or on the road, and since they are coming in as a Wild-Card, the racous environs of Lincoln Field will not be a deciding factor if this team is to reach the summit.
4. San Francisco 49ers (11-4-1) A ferocious D combined with a talented rookie QB and punishing run game has made San Fran. one of the most feared teams in football this year. Their D is the sotry, though, not allowing yards or points, they can take over a game. This team would have been one of my top 2, but their play of late (3-2, with losses to St. Louis and a blowout loss to their division rival Seahwaks) raises some concerns. Bottom Line: If this team is firing on all cylinders, they can hoist the trophy, no problem.
5. Minnesota Vikings (10-6) The Adrian Peterson show, ‘Nuff said. To play and beat Minnesota, “all” that you have to do is stop him. Go ahead. Try it. Hasn’t and won’t happen. The defense is very middle of the road literally in yards allowed and points scored against, so, not shabby. But the rushing attack is devastating, and yes, Peterson can beat you by himself. The QB situation though is much more shaky, and I just don’t feel this team has all of the pieces together yet to be a serious contender. But, anything can happen.
6. Washington Redskins (10-6) RGIII is dynamic, and the Redskins have been hot of late, winning their last seven games, mostly against division opponents, and featuring an offense ranked 5th in yards per game and 4th in points scored, they can light up a scoreboard, no question. But it isn’t their offense that has them ranked last here, it’s that 28th ranked (22nd in points allowed) defense of theirs. Besides San Francisco, there are some high-flyers out there in this year’s NFC field, and getting into a shoot-out with a rookie QB at your helm, even if it’s RGIII, doesn’t really help your chances. All of that being said, the Redskins are hot, and if they can keep that going for a few more games, well, it’s the NFL.”
Now…if ANYONE in the national media were paying attention, I wouldn’t have had to do that. going to go soak my fingers in ice now.
Rise up!
Big Ray
January 2nd, 2013
11:54 am
So “Welcome Back” has been…well….welcomed back.
I’m nervous as hell about Nolan. Really would hate to see him go to Philly….they’d beat us every time, I swear.
But then, there’s always this for a pick-me-up:
http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcsouth/post/_/id/43764/mutiny-on-the-saints
First it was a bounty, now there’s a mutiny? Oh, the possibilities of sarcastic wit abound, but either way it’s plain funny to me…
Big Ray
January 2nd, 2013
11:56 am
http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/69609/ryan-wants-gonzalez-to-stay
If you ever had any questions about Gonzalez’s $7 mil for this season….I think the above answers the question. And he proved his worth yet again.
Same can’t be said of “Magic City”…..
Big Ray
January 2nd, 2013
11:56 am
It also makes you wonder about the future for us at this position….
Geo
January 2nd, 2013
11:59 am
“Anybody else find Dirk K’s comments about the bye week disturbing?”
I don’t. Someone asks him about this new playoff situation he has never experienced, he says it “weird” i.e. different. Seems like common sense. Then he says studying four teams is harder than one. They asked him how it’s different now, and he gave them a bland, factual answer. I would wonder about him if he said that’s it’s no different. Then he says the preliminary prep for three possible opponents is “bonus” work. And that sounds positive to me, like he enjoys the intellectual challenge. So, no, don’t see a problem or complaining in that answer.
DePlane
January 2nd, 2013
12:01 pm
Tradmark…nice rollup of the NFC teams. Agree on all counts.