Something in the Detroit game that stood out for me. It was a shot of Matt Ryan on the sidelines. Lions had just narrowed the gap to five points. Falcons had squandered the third quarter. Calvin eased into the record books. The crowd was going crazy. But that shot of Ryan– he looked ticked, agitated, about to jump out of his shoes. I thought– man he wants to get his O back on the field and grab the game by the throat. So as far as today goes– I want to see the CS put Ryan IN CHARGE. Running the third quarter waltz won’t help us get any spark for the playoffs.

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Wonder what the “issue” is?

.

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Hard to say to start or sit. The Bucs can be a bad team to face in this situation. Look at the way they dive for QB’s on kneel down plays. They can’t even play spoiler because we handled business so well. As soon as you play not to get hurt, that’s when you get hurt. I hope to have a decent lead by the half to get our guys out of there safely. I especially want to A Smith and Snelling get some touches. Hold out Roddy and let him heal. Put in Davis or Cone and let the birds fly.

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Looking fwd to seeing D.Davis but Dled is saying McCown will get the mop up duties. WTF???

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http://espn.go.com/nfl/conversations/_/id/8793051/jacksonville-jags-fire-gene-smith-mike-mularkey-fate-air-sources

Some entertainment while waiting for the game

Snack, tks but still would rather see Davis who has a higher upside than” avg joe” mccown on his 4th team.

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“After todays game, the saints defense will go down as the WORST NFL DEFENSE in the HISTORY OF THE NFL…all the panthers need to do is rack up about 250 yards, which they will do by halftime, to put that pathetic saints defense into the history books…”

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I’d like to see us start off with the 2nd string players and leave them in ’till half. Then turn the first team loose on them in the 2nd half. Weird I know.

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Of course, we continue to waste plays with Turner. This coach is an idiot!

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Nice hit by Dunta, but looks like a concussion.

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We can’t afford injuries. I’m worried about Ryan. Bucs have nothing to lose.

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I hate to see Roddy taking hits like the one in the first possession especially in THIS game.

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Looks like the same injury Asante has been dealing with. He’s probably going to have to get surgery at the end of the season.

As for the defense, good stop.

Dear Mike Smith… stop using Turner? Please?

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WE WANT ANTOINE…WE WANT ANTOINE… WE WANT…

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I’m not too worried about Dunta…

Seems like a concussion. He’ll have to get by all the league protocol, but I think 2 weeks away from football will allow him to nurse back to health.

Asante’s injury has been lingering.

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WE WANT TO BENCH TURNER…WE WANT TO BENCH TURNER…BENCH…

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I see we are intent on sharpening Ryan’s scrambling skills.

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See what happen when you don’t use fat@ss?

Oh, you tell the truth so eloquently, LOL

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Wabe ,

Ain’t that the truth. That said, dde wants to make the play, wants to win…can’t blame him…his inner fires got out of control.

He might want to share some of those fires with his OL, however…

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Damn….Dent really chased that play down. Nice work!

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Falcons need to stop running Turner up the backs of his O line. He can’t move them! where are his old skills and long runs?

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Yeah, it’s Turner iyard on the back of his own player or 3 yards back. Does he know how to spin or slide?

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Quizz looking to juke…rather than go hard for the 1st?

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Atl. receivers need to at least get to first down marker. bucs playing short pass game well.

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Falcons D looks flat

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where the hell is our right corner or safety?

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Williams really must have put a move on Samuel to be that open.

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Well, I will say this, Tampa is moving the football…and their running back is getting stuffed at the line of scrimmage mush like our fat boy. Maybe koetter should call down and ask the buc’s offensive coord. the remedy.

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Block in the back my Azz!

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No “MO” is going on at this time!

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Refs screwing up the drive.

Dude falls and it’s block on the back? WTF?

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I bet if we had a wild card, we would show more URGENCY. Don’t quite understand this team over the years…we don’t play until our backs are against the wall. VERY DANGEROUS!

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Ugh

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Come on Man

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Falcons look like crap today .All around on both sides of the ball

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best thing that could happen?

i mean, the falcons don’t lose back to back games, do they?

so play it tough and lose means playoff win?

hahaha you never know

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I can’t stand to watch this sh–t. falcons are resting their players but doing it on the field

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How can this be the same team that the aints beat 49 — 0 ? How can we be the same team that we’ve been for the last two games ? I’m beginning to see what you guys mean by “MO” !

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and that folks is the 1st screen pass I’ve seen today…

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should say WR screen

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Meh,

I’m not worried about this game.

I do want it to be competitive. Heck, a loss only makes the players have to work harder on the bye week.

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Seriously? Seriously!

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All these weapons and we cannot get 1 darn yard!

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LOL Truth!

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lets try to get something positive and call it a wrap…

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what HD did there is enough for me to make him the man going forward…

and it’s sad because all he managed to do was make dick stockton raise his voice for a split second.

that’s an indictment on franks.

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OK! McClure is officially a liability!

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WTF is Mike Smith doing?

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Thanks Wabe, I was gonna keep my mouth shut about it.

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I’ve been watching football long enough to know, THIS TEAM IS NOT PREPARED!

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Well would you look at that !!!!!

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Ok, I get that this game means nothing.

However, our play and execution DO mean something.

And if we’re gonna “play possum” or whatever it is that I’m sure some folks will say we’re doing….then whose brilliant idea is it to get Ryan killed in the process?

This is retarded.

Tampa would probably like to hurt Ryan. Our OL doesn’t seem inclined to block any damn thing.

If I see Ryan under center to start the 2nd half, I’m gonna scream. All we’re going is ensuring that he gets beat up. Which should NEVER happen. No matter HOW little this game means.

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I don’t get it. How do you let TB come into the dome, under ANY circumstances, and shut you down? 3-3 in the NFC South could be a real bad vibe right now.

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Smith doesn’t look like he has control of the locker room.

That’s not a good thing.

Hopefully this game shows how useless Turner is.

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Guys, I’m telling you… the falcons are not playing possum, IMO, they would like nothing better than to be undefeated at the DOME. IMHO.

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Asante got burned by the play action.

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Defense leaking like a sieve. And NOT because they are on the field too long, either.

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No Dunta or William Moore.

It’s gonna happen.

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Spoon at least leading the troops.

I think the defense is doubt fine with the weakened secondary.

Offense has no excuse.

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I will have to select the caption setting on my remote when I scan the sports networks (talking heads). I’d rather read the bullsh!t they’re gonna spew , rather hear it first hand.

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Not only are the Birds getting the crap beat out of them

There also getting the Barth Kicked out of them

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WTF is Ryan still doing out there? This better be his last series.

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THERE IT IS! Smith going with the offensive starters, probably have know choice but to play them now, seeing thatt they left a smoking pile on the field in the first half.

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Nice leg by Bosher….wow….well we know HE is prepared for the playoffs.

And might be that we need him a lot, based on what I’m seeing right now.

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In other news, I see the Vagiants woke up. Of course, that isn’t hard to do against the lame duck team from Philly.

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There all but a few playing like a bunch of 1st graders . Even the Ice Man !!!!

Where is the no huddle O ?

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Somebody

Chill. This team is obviously not focused.

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Defense came to play at least.

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SAMUEL — Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about.

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Mo’ Turner? I’ll take it !!

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DAMN! TELL ME QUIZZ/SNELLING CAN’T BE AN INSPIRATION FOR TURNER…

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Looks like the bench motivated Turner.

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Well would you just look at that !!!!!

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Big Ray, if he did mistake it for magic city…Godell might wonna talk to Turner about stuffing a single in the Falcons Cheerleaders short, shorts.

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Wow….

DeCoud. Wow…

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Where is the D

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so much for an interception

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That’s what I hate about Thomas Decoud.

First one to tell you in a post game quote that they need to work on their tackling.

And there’s his veteran ass trying to “shoulder” a 210 lb RB.

Idiot.

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the O line finally opened a hole big enough to drive a truck thru. I could have run thru there.

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We need another turnover.

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Big Ray, the banter we’re sharing in (at Turners expense) helps ease the sting of how we’re playing today. The buc’s have quietly hung 22 points on us today, scoring TD’s! something of a rarity for Nolans defense. hmmmmmmmmm?

All joking aside, Turners longer than usual stint on the pines had alot to do with his efforts on the TD run. IMHO.

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Nice contain by the defense.

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Get a TD here and end on a good note.

Heck, have some pride and comeback to win.

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Sickening display by the offense.

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If the Bucs had more talent in the secondary, Ryan would have 3 INTs by now.

Again, if the alibi is going to be that this game means nothing, then why the EFF do you play the starting QB, let alone into the 4th quarter?

Makes no damn sense at all. If you’re going to play the sstarters and try to get reps, then you should be trying to fine tune, going for the win (as Smitty said they would do).

Otherwise, you rest your guys and let the reserves play.

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Let’s hope that injury is not serious. Abraham is necessary for our pass rush.

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That did not look good

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Nice smash on Ryan.

Konz and Clabo (who is never any help).

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Let’s see if we can get Ryan hurt, shall we?

Maybe that’s the plan. Get him hurt so Smitty has the ultimate alibi for another playoff loss.

Yeah. Extreme sarcasm is my response to record-stupid decisions by the HC.

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Eli with 5 TDs. Damn those Eagles really suck.

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And he nullifies about half of them with that TD toss, LOL…

Nice play.

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I’m confident that Nolan can create pressure without Abe, but I’m just hoping it’s a low grade sprain.

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I hope Adrian Peterson and the Vikings run the Packers over. Just because.

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Nice work by Franks.

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That screen play doesn’t get a whole lot of yardage, but I like it because it sets other plays up better than “Turner to the Wall ” does.

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I’m seeing ZERO separation by our WRs on so many of these pass plays.

And a lot of throws that would be INTs against more talented secondary personnel.

Meanwhile Douglas doesn’t make the catch.

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Not a good day for the Birds . One of there worst looking games

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Going into the playoffs, it would be nice to have an O-line.

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They will have plenty of time to find an O line since they will be off after the first playoff game.

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BINGO, Greg!

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We split with our NFC South foes, who had that right?

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Kudos to our defense having some pride here in the red zone.

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Smitty better be fired immediately after this game or send TD packing too. I have never seen such stupidity out of an NFL team except the Browns drafting and this is most likely worse.

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Atl. should really try for a small scat back in the draft who has some moves and can run. Turner should retire and stop embarrassing himself. He’s lost it. He only has long runs when the hole is big enough to drive a truck thru

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These next two weeks are just going to be worry, worry, worry for me. Players got beat around today for nothing. The whole team looked dull with just a few sparks of life, and the worst part of it for me was it was in the Dome………….sucks.

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SP,

Give him a shot at the postseason. It will either be the beginning of something good or the end of something bad, or so one hopes. I really don’t want another year of the same ol’ “good enough to get to the dance, but not good enough to do anything once there” if this happens in the postseason again.

I’ll be watching Packers/Vikings to see if GB sees fit to rest starters and also if they see fit to play like they want to win.

I have good feelings about our talent everywhere except on the OL (and the DL), yet both have shown an ability to rise to the occasion (like against the Giants).

That said, I’ll be quiet about my exact feelings regarding the CS in the playoffs. They have something to prove, even Nolan.

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I’m not worried about the loss and no fan should be. The game was meaningless and they finished strong.

I’m more worried about Abe’s injury.

Dunta, Asante, and Moore should be good to go by the playoffs.

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I forgot….

#3 Konz is having some serious problems blocking.

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Abe getting hurt, not good…but, I did notice something very encouraging about his rookie apprentice (Massaquoi), he demaned doulble-teams to slow his pass-rush. If he’s demanding double-teams…he should be getting some snaps. Sorry, had a brain fart, forgot who our coach is for a minute.

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Konz is getting his feet wet. I’ll take that, even though it can be costly at times.

But it’s not like his line mates are dominating. I also don’t see him getting help. Not from Clabo (who has a hard enough time holding his own), not from McClure (same issue).

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Too bad Holmes couldn’t get similar seasoning, but it is what it is.

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I just think the players are not that much into M. Smith, he certainly don’t scare nobody, If he (Smith) had that presence…the defense would tackle better. IMHO

Are the players tuning him out just alittle?

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Massaquoi is in the Apprenticeship Program. You will not see him again for a year or two unless somebody gets hurt or cut.

Don’t believe me?

Then tell me where the once “promising” Lawrence Sidbury is?

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Big Ray

They played to win the second half which means: finished strong. I could care less if they had the starters out the whole game. It’s about being competitive and they did that in the final two quarters. It’s good to go into the playoffs with snaps.

Abe’s injury, again, is all that matters at this point. Yet, if the Falcons can’t win without just on player out on the defensive side of the ball, then they shouldn’t be in the playoffs in the first place.

Atlanta is healthier than any team going into the playoffs. Asante, Dunta, and Moore will be back. Mile Nolan will figure things out.

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Big Lou,

Mike Nolan and the defense doesn’t concern me, nor should it concern you.

You know where the concern lies, and if today’s game didn’t concern you in that way, well please hand me that drink because it has GOT to be better thant he Long Island Tea I’m currently staring at, LOL

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Aight, I’m outta here for a while. Gonna watch Packers-Vikings and see how good my skills are with cooking up some grouper….

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Well, the Texans lost & NO got their butt kicked, on the bright side. The Giants destroyed Vick and co, no big deal, but the Giants worry me.

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This team is too up and down for my liking. I swear just when you thought they’ve turned a corner they revert back to the same old Falcons coming out flat.

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If Robinson, Samuel and Abraham aren’t healthy for the playoffs, Smith’s decision to play them is going to draw lots of criticism. Pat Yastinkass, No Shit! And if we had of won with no injuries?

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Packers and Vikings are playing a tough game. 13 — 7 Vikes right now with 3 min left in 1st half. I wish we had a rb like A. Peterson.

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Giants are out……Chicago or Vikes get the WC, winner of Dallas, Washington get the NFC East.

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F4, Best post of the day!!!

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JJ – Thx, laughing is better than obsessing on what happens if the Falcons do this in two weeks. The Falcons didn’t just lay an egg, they laid a turd – and one that will maintaining a lingering stench for two weeks!!

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If Smith would sit a few players down for awhile during game then maybe they would play a little harder.

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The really bad thing that happened today was the Turner touchdown. Now HC Smith will forget about the negative runs, and we will see more Turner in two weeks to make all of us will be sick.

I wonder where TimeIsNow has been. We haven’t seen him in several days.

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“The really bad thing that happened today was the Turner touchdown. Now HC Smith will forget about the negative runs, and we will see more Turner in two weeks to make all of us will be sick.” Wings

All crap plays aside, Mike Smith did Bench Tuner for awhile after his production(lack there of) in the first quarter. I am hoping that you are wrong, but you will most likely be right. It all depends who we draw in the playoffs, though.

This team has the talent… no excuses in the playoffs.

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Wings – HOPEFULLY, a brief flash here or there won’t blind TD to the fact that the “Burner” is flickering. Quizz doesn’t seem to have the “it” factor to be an every day back, and Snelling is used as a one trick pony apparently (battering ram).

I am still not sure how much of it is RB and how much OL.

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Matt Daniels,

Welcome to the cage but you stated several opinions as facts and that may fly in Shultz or Bradly’s bog, but not here. These cage members are die=hard fans that check up on all facts.

- We’ve been talking about the need to upgrade both sides of the line for yrs, no biggie ur new.

- MR targeted Jones 6x, White 10x and HD 8 x. So HE DID target them, MR was just off target today…it happens but surely sukks going into playoffs.

- they did blitz over a dozen times today but with a vanilla coverage scheme. IE- that 40yd scramble in the 3rd qt. by the muscle hermit was against a blitz.

Bottom line, we knew THE most conservative coach in nfl history would be ubber conservative today. But in my opinion, the players AND the coaches took this game for granted…shame toward us fanatics and die hard fans!!!

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By the way, Duntas’ injury is on Dunta. Once again, he goes for a high “tv hit” instead of a good tackle with arms wrapped up. Hope we get him back for playoffs but he is piss poor in coverage and has been all yr long. Hes a thumper but cares more about the “hit” than the tackle. Id take Maclin any day in coverafe over Dunta…JMO.

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MD,
Your calling for a new signal caller…did you watch mularkshit the last 4 yrs?

My guess is Smith demanded ultra conservative playcalling in case any of our poss playoff opponents cant review film on us OVER THE LAST 16 GAMES, idiot smith.

But there is NO COMPARISON between cooter and mularkey…unless your new to this game we love called NFL.

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Or is it whatever the lowest seed is?

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Big Lou – That means next there is a rematch in Green Bay. If the Vikes win that one, they will come to Atlanta the next week. If Green Bay wins, the Falcons will host the winner of the other Game.

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If GB wins next week they will play San Fran there, I think.

They played the first week of the season, and San Fran won that one by 8 on the road.

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IF, the AFC No.1 seed runs the table, AND the NFC No 1 seed runs the table it will be a rematch of the only other Falcons Superbowl appearance – against the Broncos team led by an aging hall of fame supersmart QB (then Elway, this time manning).

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This focus issue– is it a non-issue? None of the NFC teams in the mix today, SF, GB, MIN, SEA, and I presume DAL and WSH, had issues with FOCUS. Only the Falcons. I just don’t like it. And I’m judging by the Falcons’ own standards. Their long-standing goal was to play at their best NOW. Big Lou should be right– shake this off and get ready.

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Although we match up better against the cowgirls and I soo dislike meangelo hall, I’ve become a huge rg3 fan this yr…even if hes a cornball brother…still dont know what Parker meant…oh yea, rg3 was my ffl qb!!!

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Arno….

You’re comparing teams that had something to play for compared to ATL, who had the number one seed locked. Kinda a moot point, IMHO.

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JJ

Meaning he wanted to be white, instead of embracing his culture. Cause he has a fine white girlfriend. Parker is a racist and a hater.

Believe it or not, we match up with Green Bay and Cowboys the best. All passing, poor run game.

I still think Seattle is overrated. Rookie QBs = snacks for MS era, especially with Mike Nolan.

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Lol

Tony Romo blows. Showing his true colors.

Wings

Greenbay’s defense is pretty bad, but remember that the Vikings have Peterson… who had close to 200 yards rushing. And we got… turtle, tubby turner.

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IDK, it I have not seen a team out there that really scares me, but when AP starts to cut outside I do uh oh, it really seems like everyone is moving in slow motion.

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Watching the Cowboys’ 1-2 punch at RB and wishing we had one more like that.

So while we need not talk at length about it, I look forward to finding out who we decide to pair with Quizz.

Ok…maybe I should say that I look forward to HOPING we find somebody to pair with Quizz.

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BR, I have to wonder how long a really good RB would sit on the bench.

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Yea, it was an SI article on coaches and GMs who could be on the hot seat, it had eveyone you can think of…. Interesting thing David Caldwell, the Falcons college scouting director is mentioned for several teams. Koetter was mentioned at a HC replacement, but I never saw Nolan mentioned…..

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This playing your players for momentum when u have lock up home field advantage is a overcast statement.

Falcons played last season against Giants in playoffs and lost by 25points, so what momentum did they have the week before ?

GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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So, it is either VIkes, Skins, Boys, or Sea Hawks.

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JB ,

I don’t even want to think about that.

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Big Ray,
Can never understand when people (of all races/ backgrounds) follow Dr. Kings message are labeled racist or Unca tom’s. One of the things I love and cherish about the cage family is we have transended (?) the racial barrier thru our love of the falcons and Dr. Kings message rings true in this cage. May it show others that love and friendship is color blind.
PS- Go Falcons!!!

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Nolan is a Defensive genius, the track record of guys like that are not good at being head coaches, different skill sets. But I hope Nolan is happy here.

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darrell, thats YDS not pts, there 5 th best before today!

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Big Lou – I thought Samuel got hurt as well with his bell rung. So we got (2) corners hurt?

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Hamad

Asante got a stinger on the shoulder. He was out a few plays and closed the rest of the game. He’s fine.

Dunta had the head injury… caused by himself, but he’s fine.

Abe is the one to worry about.

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Chris Collinsworth all over the Cowboy’s balls…

And then Romo throws an INT. I love it!

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JJ, In a way i can’t believe the Falcons are 13 -3, i did my home work on time of possession and first down for most of the season our opponent dominate in both category majority of the season.

CHECK IT OUT FOR YOUR SELF.

This bend on don’t break defense will not work come playoffs.

GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Time is Now I see you are back. I noticed you had been away for several days.

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Funny thing about the NFL,tends to be a copy cat leauge. When teams scheme, come up with formulas to beat you…other teams take notice, especially divisional opponents.

The Saints were the first team to target our strength and weakness, both happen to be on offense. Saints began to chip-away at our stellar 3rd down efficiency…and they found where we were leaking the most on the offensive line (McClure, Center) and exploited it with pass rushes straight up the middle.

What the Panthers did to us was simply, IMO, the same game plan (scheme) the Saints used, but they (Panthers) perfected it, fed it steroids…smoothed the template on how to beat us. Take away our bread & butter (Roddy, Gonzales) on third downs…apply so much pass rush up the middle, Ryan will not have the time to hook-up with JJ on the routes designed for him. Julio is a great receiver…but he’s not, yet, that possesion receiver that keeps the chains moving.

If you football guru’s saw some glaring simularities in the game against the Panthers and Buc’s, simply, IMO, they schemed almost identical to stop us.

Most of you (me included) thought the team came out flat, had no urgency in the games we lost against the Panthers, Buc’s…but, when a team schemes you, much like the aforementioned teams did, it will have that effect. when a team prepares much like the Buc’s and Panthers…and our coaching staff don’t make the necessary adjustments, you get what you saw in the game on yesterday.

Better believe the teams we meet in the playoffs will try the same approach. Smith has shown he has a helluva checkers game (winning in the regular season) but, he has shown he’s out of sorts on the chess board (ie. making adjustments to counter schemes, winning in the playoffs). IMHO.

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Somebody: Very well stated! IMO, teams can’t scheme as successfully against our defense as against our offense. Rapidly getting in Ryan’s face has reduced his passing effectiveness. Stopping Turner became a no-brainer long ago.

I keep on saying it — if Ryan had the same protection enjoyed by other big-name QBs (or even Freeman), we’d be undefeated, with a string of blowouts.

We’re taking the same baggage into the playoffs. By “baggage” I mean negative facets of the team that drag down its positives. On the bright side, the 2012 Birds have often found ways to win, and I think they’ll play the next game like rabid kamikazes and win it. They may not win the one after that, but I’m convinced they won’t be one-and-gone.

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Either say the game is unimportant and play your backups, or say the game is important and play lights out. The Falcons said the game was important. Empty words, apparently. The Bucs, for crying out loud, played with more motivation than the Falcons. What was the Bucs’ motivation? To end a five game losing streak. The Falcons’? To prepare for the playoffs. You tell me which team should have the stronger impetus. Whatever. The Falcons should be ticked today– not dismissive. We’ll see what Smith has to say at the PC.

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Either say the game is unimportant and play your backups, or say the game is important and play lights out. The Falcons said the game was important. Empty words, apparently. — Arno

You got that right! It seems as though Smith wanted the best of both worlds, and once we started looking so terrible, then he felt he needed to have them end on a good note and salvage the win. Once Dunta got hurt, which was really early, he should have pulled all his guys and put the backups in. It would have done wonders for them, and we’d probably have the same result. Why not put in D.Davis and let him run around and give our opponent another aspect to worry about? Stupid, stupid coaching.

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Paddy O:

I agree regarding yesterday’s no-performance, and I wonder if it was a result of general confusion. I don’t think the Falcons had a BAD plan. I’m not sure they had ANY plan at all, and that’s on the coaches.

I don’t think they knew what they wanted to do (and they should have known). Win the game? Go through the motions? Experiment? Put in the backups? I didn’t see a plan, didn’t see cohesion.

As I wrote above, I have confidence going into the first playoff game, but yesterday made no sense to me. A big first-round playoff win could be followed by a game like yesterday’s, if avoiding 1-and-done is the only goal with a plan.

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I fully expect to finally revisit Nolans ameba defense against who ever we face.
Biggest concern has to be stopping the running backs.
Our Secondary should be healthy and fully manned by then with Dunta over his head injury, more time for Asante’s should to heal and Willie Mo back and fully ready to re-establish himself.

On the O-side, Roddy has time to get his leg back in shape ( and hopefully keep his mouth shut), Julio’s knee heals up
Finally, Turner gets LipoSuction to get ready of that extra 30 lbs he is carrying and comes out in Beast Mode.. (HAHA)

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Greg Mendel – I still believe that the sky is the limit IF we win the first playoff game. To do that will be tough, not only because of the significant mental hurdle, but because we will have to stop a team with a good running attack. Stopping the run has been the Achilles heel of our defense. Furthermore, to have real hope, MR will have to make more plays on 3rd down and at the end of each half. He has done that before. Better protection would help MR, but at this point better protection is probably wishful thinking. Recent history indicates that whoever wins our first playoff game will represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. Still hoping it is us.

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Somebody

I’m sorry man… you’re reaching. Don’t you think the Giants and Lions(who have better defensive lines) schemed the same way?

Let me break it down for you the reason why the Falcons lost:

1. They play down to their competition(which they did all year). Explains the lack of execution across the board. DeCoud, Matt, offensive line, receivers getting separation…
2. Coaches came out with a vanilla gameplan and slept walked on Tampa(hence the horrid 3rd down conversions and stops).
3. This game meant nothing.

You guys are reading too much into this game! We have seen the best from ATL. Wait till the playoffs till you judge. Wabe has been the only reasonable voice so far.

Yes. We have the same issues we had before: Mike Smith, Turner, offensive line. Yet, these issues were exponentially exploited due to lack of focus and gameplan.

This team will not be the same in the playoffs with this talent.

Only person standing in their way is Mike Smith and turtle Turner.

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Arno

How about Decoud’s missed tackles that lead to the go ahead touchdown?

Call a spade a spade. The Falcons came out flat and tried to save face by trying in the second half. Problem is… they gave Tampa momentum, where they had to play perfect football to come back. A couple bad tackles and dropped passes away from a victory…

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Greg! Lmao!

Good one.

Don’t forget a Cop on the sidelines with a LiDAR gun so he can move faster.

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Big Lou,

Let me break it down for you. I understand where you’re going…but, IMO, you’re analyzing the tale, instead of the head. IMO, the Bucs schemed us almost identical as the Panthers. Go back, watch both games, get back to me. Therefore, the end result was very simular to the one against the Panthers.

…and a little homework for you. Check 3rd down efficiency for both of those games, check how many times Ryan was pressured…and check where the pressure came from mostly in the two perspective games.

Big Lou, with all due respect, teams don’t set out to play flat…the other team usually has something to do with it. IMHO

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SN4T– I thought at one point, “Bucs? Shouldn’t those guys be wearing Panther unis?”

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greg – you evaluation is correct. we saw a team that did NOT know what it wanted to do. I thought the Defense played fairly well; considering how 3 and out the O was. As others have said, Carolina provided tape on how to disrupt our team – get pressure on Ryan – preferably from the outside and inside simultaneously. I think tape of Konz shows he either takes plays off, or occasionally plays too upright – resulting in him getting pancaked. THAT CANT happen. I was thinkiing: what if we move Baker to RG, Holmes to LT and Konz to C? Would that give us a stouter line? Again, what the bleep were we thinking at the end of both halves? At the end of the 2nd half, we let the clock run out without calling a time out – the CS essentially quit on the game – which if that was the attitude, why keep our guys out there? Plus, our young DE’s NEED fing game time. Which we could have given the Octopus and Massaqua in the 2nd half. This game is the epitomy of Smith: screw ups at crunch time. Ineptitude in pressure situations. I have severe worries. The Jekyll and Hyde 2012 Falcons are alive and well.

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Jekyll and Hyde – Giants or Carolina/Raiders/TB? We whooped the Giants. Honestly, we knocked the Giants out of the playoffs – payback for me was pretty sweet – and, it proved what this team COULD do. I pray we avoid SMITTY BALL, or we will have problems. Spoon played pretty well yesterday – and, as the announcers repeated – the Falcons are exceptionally well coached – rarely do we commit penalties and unforced errors – the Falcons wait for other teams to lose the game; and Big Lou is also correct – we play to our competition’s level – that is a hallmark of Smitty teams. Compare us to NE – they kicked the crap out of Miami. Our CS just does not have the kick the crap out of the opposition mentality. I really do worry about Ryan not having the authority to call a timeout- as was indicated at the end of the 1st half – or, both the QB and HC had a major brain cramp (zombie coaching).

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Hey Paddy O, re: the @ss kicking of the Giants and our sore backsides from the week before. I think in both cases, the winning team made that game their superbowl. I think there are games like that for every team at different junctures throughout the year. They key is to make every game in the playoffs your “superbowl.” We haven’t found that key yet, but we have shown more promise this year of finding it than any year previous. I think we will bounce back and win (or at least perform) this year in the playoffs, IF they can mitigate the heavy pass rush we know is coming. A big if.

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Paddy O

The same team that almost lost to the Jags and lost to the Cardinals? Great teams play down to their competition. The only reason why NE showed up against Miami was because they were fighting for a first round bye. The Falcons had nothing to play for. It happens…

Wings

You’re absolutely right. We have the TEAM to beat anyone. We just need MS out of the way do we can utilize it properly. Turner should be used sparingly.

…….,

Guys. This game was no clunker. The game was just an unmotivated effort that they tried to save face for the fans. That’s all it was.

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In the past, we played like this against the best teams, and beat up the poorer teams, this season, it looks like it might be the other was around this season.

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I just don’t see it. Most of you are saying the game yesterday didn’t mean much in the whole scheme of things. I respect yalls opinions, I just don’t necessarily agree with them.

I challenge you to look at the play of all the NFC teams that made the playoffs, all of them are playing verygood football. Might make some of you uncomfortable with what I’m about to say.

To tell the TRUTH, All the teams that made the playoffs in the NFC, are playing better football than we are.

I’ve read some comments in here within the last 24 hours that we play better( inspired) football after a lost…and we’ve never lost back2back games in the Smith era, thats all good, but, if it takes losing to get this team focused (MOTIVATED), I’m sorry, but something is short-circuited somewhere…and we dont have the luxury of losing in the playoffs, to acquire motivation for the next game (its called one and done) if you don’t have your sh!t together. Teams like the Broncos, Redskins, Seahawks, Vikings are on substantial winning streaks, wonder what keeps them motivated each week? It sure aint losing.

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Geo.. look at the Skins game last night.. they blitzed pratically every down, making Romo throw picks and could have blitz him outta job..

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Should be part “deux”.

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LRD, in that Dallas-Washington game, I saw the ATL Falcons in the Dallas Cowboys. Yes, very similar defensive game plan to what teams use successfully on us. At least we’re better than Dallas!

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Big Lou,

Reading too much into that game, yet the only thing standing between the Falcons and success is Smith and Turner? You do realize those two will be quite prominent in the playoffs, right?

LOL….

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I can’t say that he will get the axe, but I will say that I can’t imagine going through another year and hearing 0-4, can’t win in the playoffs for another 365 days………and I’m just a fan, not an owner who’s trying to get fans to spend more money on a new stadium that’s not needed.

Therein lies the proverbial devil and details….

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I should say he gets a chance to do his job.

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I think Smitty’s under a lot of pressure to win a playoff game and he’s just throwing stuff out there to see what sticks to the wall. The only plan he has is to “do it differently” than he did in the past.

I don’t think there was a lot of emphasis on winning yesterday’s game. The emphasis was on some abstract concept of “maintaining momentum” by keeping the starters in the game as opposed to resting them as in the previous 13-3 season.

Here’s what I think he should do: let Koetter and Nolan do their jobs and let the kids play ball. Too much boss has been the death-knell of many a project. There comes time when the most effective action a leader can take is to get out of the way.

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Big Ray,

Perhaps he pushed for Kolb? That’s why he may have been made to be the fallguy.

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If Smitty is true to his MO, then he will be playing the percentages. If he plays the percentages then hopefully he will realize that the odds of using the same game plan as in past playoffs, will spell doom for us.

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DT?

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“I don know what game you guys watched, but turner was not very involved, actually the only time they looked good was when he came in he game. ”

Have to disagree. In the first half, Quizz and Snelling both had good runs and catches. They, and the offense, looked good, briefly, during that small stretch.

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TT (turtle turner):
1 play – 17 yds
5 plays – 1 yd

AWESWOME!!!!!!!

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awesome…frickin keyboard lol

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JJ, lol, well, that did not lose the game….fact is, I don’t thing he touched the ball in the first half, and they scored 3′pts. It is not like we were kill it when he is on the sideline.

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Anyway, I am watching coaches and GMs get fired left and right, EVERY owner says they want consistency year in year out. Hopefully smitty breaks through.

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Winning consistently year in, year out is what every team strives for. You have to do that first, it is a formula that took the falcons 45 years to figure out. I guess I am more patient, like, waiting for them to actually play a playoff game before start to rationalize how they lost.

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Big Ray

I understand that, but the gameplan will beach better in the playoffs and the focus of the players to execute will be high. We started with Smitty ball right off the bat, which usually, we do that when we have a lead.

I feel Turner and Smith can be overcome by our talent. They just need to be focused, which they were not on Sunday. Heck, why would they be? They weren’t playing for anything but to get reps in. It look like a preseason game and that’s how they treated it.

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All I got to say is wait for the playoffs. Somebody will eat crow and I hope it’s not me. I feel the Falcons can beat any other team in the league, and they will show it in the playoffs. Does this team have flaws? Yes. But, every team does. Yet, with our new coordinators and Matt Ryan’s stellar play… I think we can break through.

As for anyone pointing out the winning streaks of other teams…

Who had the best record? Who has the best record against winning teams? I rest my case. It’s all speculation till the playoffs and so far, the Falcons have given me more good to look forward to than bad.

I can’t wait to see who we play.

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Big Ray,

I’m with you on Lovi, but the buck stops somewhere and with the pathetic OL which they had from last year, the coach had to take responsibility.

Smitty will be better in these playoffs. Hopefuly he doesn’t micro-mange and let his coordinators do their thing.

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Nookah,

I hear you.

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I don know what game you guys watched, but turner was not very involved, actually the only time they looked good was when he came in he game.

What I saw was Turner being used at the right time in a game.

I also saw that the running game was NOT the problem in the game. The problem was a lack of protection and some gawdawful throws on the part of Ryan, not all of them due to OL issues, either.

Add in some shoddy WR play and there you go.

Kudos to the CS for using Turner at the right times. Because Rodgers was starting to really run it in the first half…when he got the ball, that is. Had only one run that was less than 4 yards.

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For some reason, I was not under the impression that quizz ran well, but he did put up 5 ypc, so I guess I was mistaken. …unless the vikes win, play a rookie QB. Actually, the Vikings are the team I least want to play, AP just makes everyone look like they are in slow motion. I have not seen a dude so physically superior to the others on the field since Hershal.

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Wonder if Petrino gets hired…..I love Karma. You know, if all he did was bang the co ed, he would be a hot name for an NFL job, but never again.

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TD is going to look at the tea leaves (and headlines) of Coaches AND GMs being let go today.
He is going to think, will he and Smitty survive 0-4? They are tied to one another.
Nolan is going to come out super aggressive.
Ryan is going to come out in the no huddle.
The Falcons are going to be the team we fans KNOW they can be.
We will finally win our first Play off Game under this regime.. and right now, its just one game at a time.

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TD is safe, I thing sometimes you just need a new voice, but TD had done a really good job finding Chris Hope type players.

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I’m not sure there is ever a “right time” to use Turner in a game. I’m not saying that as a snark, but because there have been multiple times we should have been able to depend on a big RB to get that one, single, solitary yard for a first down or touchdown. A couple of years ago, Turner could get that yard and more. He just can’t do it anymore. He can barely get to the line.

I’ve seen Turner trundle towards the line like he’s running a marathon, only to be stuffed by the whole opposing team. I know this sounds crazy, but I’ve wondered what would happen if he pitched the ball back to Ryan at the last moment (hour?). Ryan could throw to anybody still standing up.

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Well Greg, Ryan was 7/7 with 3 Tds with turner last week. It appears you are right about teams selling out to stop molasses turner, you just got to make em pay.

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BR (1:32) – I wasn’t saying fire Smitty and replace him with Whiz. Koetter’s name has come up for three teams and I was just saying Whiz would make a good replacement OC if he doesn’t pick up another HC job.

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Andy R. as the offensive coordinator.
Mike Nolan the defensive coordinator.
Lovie Smith Head coach…

GG. ATL.

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Why Lovie smith? His teams are too streaky. I can t put it on talent when they look like the best team in the nfl one week, them them worst the next. We are living proof that you can be consistent with mediocre O line talent, even Sam baker can get is someone’s way.

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I think Petrino has already hired at Western Kentucky.

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We all know Coach Smith isnt going anywhere but if we get embarrased in 2 weeks next yr may be his last. Our OL coach and special teams coach should be red hot right about now.
About to head out and pick up mom for our annual ny eve dinner(Outback…yum) and get back before the crazys get out. Be safe on amateur night, I graduated to professional long time ago!

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Greg Mendel —- “I know this sounds crazy, but I’ve wondered what would happen if he pitched the ball back to Ryan at the last moment (hour?). Ryan could throw to anybody still standing up.”

Haha, you are probably right.

On another note, I think that is why “eligible 79″ is so effective.

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Smitty: Love the guy.. but honestly.. if I am sitting in the GA Dome and we are losing yet again in the first round and if it is a debacle like we had against green bay, then I will have no choice but to hop on the new coach bandwagon….

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BL (3:53) – I can live with that as well. LOL

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But then again Lovie got fired for a reason…he could never do much of anything. I like the Andy Reid as OC if Koetter jets–they both have similar offensive philosophies.

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In past 13 years, 26 teams have been to the Superbowl, a QB named Manning, Rothisburger, Brady or Warner have been the QB of 15 of those teams, and won 8 of them. I don’t care about the past, the new era of QBs is coming upon us, Ryan needs to get his name on the new generation list.

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Wow…KC, Browns and Eagles all set to interview Koetter. Seems like everyone wants Falcons coaches all of a sudden. LOL

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Yep, first MM, now Koetter, all part of the Smitty Tree. David Caldwell, an Atlanta scout looking is getting mention as a GM.

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Say what you want about Welcome Back, but nobody was knocking on his door last year to be a HC. People in the NFL saw something out of the guy this year that did not see before, and if they felt he was just running Smitty’s playbook.

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I’m not a Tech fan at all but I will give them credit. They played one hell of a game today to beat USC and the Refs.

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Apparently Lane Kiffin and his beach boys don’t like El Paso so much. Local bloggers are quite pleased Tech ran them out of town.

Yahoo Sports: USC shows up an hour late for bowl dinner, Trojans player cusses El Paso very classy, USC

By Frank Schwab / Yahoo Sports
Posted: 12/28/2012 09:58:09 AM MST

At every bowl game, there are events for each team to attend. The committees that put on the bowls normally bend over backwards for the teams, to ensure they have a great bowl experience. The people responsible for the bowls work tremendously hard at planning executing such things. That’s not always easy with more a couple hundred people traveling with the teams.
And, one of the few requirements of the teams is that they show up. USC apparently believes it is too good to follow this one requirement.
Last night, Duke Keith of the El Paso Times tweeted that USC was an hour late for the Sheriff’s Posse Dinner, so Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson took his team and left. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported the obvious, that the Yellow Jackets were apparently not pleased at the snub. The AJC and Los Angeles Daily News reported that the Trojans were actually 90 minutes late for the dinner.

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Arno, great story-behind-the-story reporting! Thanks.

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D3

Thank you Man for another great Year . Bless you Brother For all your hard work !!

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This one statement says and confirms everything all have said about HC Smith. JJ posted it from another blog.

Again, Smith is a nice guy, I like him but he can’t be very smart in that he kept MaLarky for four seasons.

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Just caught D.Led’s article about Smitty changing up his bye-week approach this time around.

I actually liked what I read. They seem more tuned in, more focused, and intent on cleaning some things up.

4 days of practice this week. Smitty said rather than emulate a scheme of an opponent, it’ll be more ‘Falcon on Falcon’ time. He said he wanted to work on the fundamentals of blocking and tackling, both of which have needed work all season, so it’s good to see them use the extra time to try and improve upon it.

I just like the vibes coming out of the Branch. If I’m Mike Nolan, I’m getting ready for an unconventional offense. Mobile QB with a stud back. Both the Skins and Seattle have that. I think we’ll play the winner of that game, and they do both have some similarities to their game. Tackling will be huge, so it’s good to see them stressing that.

All in all, good vibes coming out of the Branch. Stay focused, and stay sharp.

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Happy New Year everybody! I’ll be looking forward to all the great reading in the upcoming year that all of my cage friends provide. I sure hope our Birds are ready to put on their best run defense. Strong running is headed our way regardless of who we play next.
GO FALCONS

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HAPPY NEW YEAR CAGE FAMILY!

Good article from DLed that Wabe mentioned………

http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-falcons-blog/2013/01/01/atlanta-falcons-smith-to-ramp-up-bye-week-practices/?cxntfid=blogs_atlanta_falcons_blog

“We probably thought back then like we arrived,” Falcons running back Michael Turner said. “We thought we were better than we were. We didn’t approach the week like we should have, looking back on it. Hopefully we learn from that mistake and will be ready to roll.”

After the Falcons defeated the Panthers in the final regular-season game of 2010, players didn’t have to report to Flowery Branch for practice until Thursday, four days after the game. They then then had the next weekend off.

No wonder we got absolutely humiliated in the Debacle in the Dome. Hell, we’re lucky it wasn’t 60+ points for goodness sake. This article is music to my ears, but Smitty not’s always the best at following through on his proclamations (see Tampa Bay game).

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> Happy New Year Cage <

Given TB was filler game, it did not have to be a wasted game. DeCoud admitted his part in the fail. Gonzo didn’t dismiss the loss. He said they could learn from it. So nobody’s freaking out about it– and it could be for the best if it reminds them AGAIN that they haven’t arrived, if it energizes the upcoming preparations. As DeCoud said, “We just have to be mature.”

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D3 – “This article is music to my ears, but Smitty not’s always the best at following through on his proclamations (see Tampa Bay game).”

The problem is HC Smith doesn’t know what he doesn’t know.

Happy New Year D3! Hope everything is getting back to normal for you. You are appreciated by all of us, and we thank you for your hard work going into 2013.

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REST OF THE POST IS FINISHED CAGERS

http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-falcons-fans/2012/12/30/atlanta-falcons-birds-take-on-bucs-as-playoffs-await/

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I’m am a temporary Redskins Fan. I don’t wanna see Seattle in the Dome. Looking at who they have beaten kind of brings the message home….SF, MN, GB, NE, CH…they are scary good folks with a D that is stingy with a league leading 15 pts per game given up.

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Savannah-Seattle.

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I’ll be the overzealous homer for the next two weeks, since there will be no shortage of people who see the Falcons as woefully incapable and over-matched by whatever opponent we may have to face. Never has a number one seed been so overshadowed, not just by the other top seed, but I’ve heard that literally every other team in the NFC playoff field is far and away superior to the Falcons and there’s no chance the Falcons could even begin to compete with the AFC top seeds.

It’s to be expected. After all, the Falcons can’t block anybody. Even though Matt Ryan has taken less sacks than many of the other QB’s remaining in the tournament, we obviously have the worst offensive line of any playoff team, not just this year, maybe ever. Still, Matt Ryan did set career highs in a number of categories, and had his best year statistically since entering the league, but surely he did that in spite of that terrible offensive line. But Baker did play a pretty decent Left Tackle this year, Blalock was his usual stout self, and the other three guys stepped it up at times, so maybe they are capable of not being completely terrible when it really matters.

I’m also hearing that the Falcons have the worst defense of all the playoff teams. Those Falcons do give up yards by the boatload particularly in the run game, have evidently never learned how to tackle, and don’t pressure any QB ever. But somehow their opponents don’t score. Somehow though, that same shaky defense keeps taking the ball away, and has performed superbly against several elite QB’s this year, going an amazing 4 of 5 game stretch without giving up a single passing touchdown. Maybe as bad as they are, they might still manage to play well enough to keep the upcoming playoff game from being a complete blowout, since they managed to do that very thing over a grueling 16 game regular season (giving up 30 or more only twice on the season).

Of course the Falcons coaching is so suspect as to make what the players do virtually a moot point. Those new coordinators aren’t getting it done on game day. Well maybe Nolan is, but that Koetter guy doesn’t seem to get it. Hard to understand why they’ll spend the next few days interviewing for head coaching jobs. Well maybe Koetter is a little better than we’ve had in the past. At least he’s familiar with the screen pass, and occasionally even lets Matt Ryan throw a deep ball. But it won’t matter because ultimately Smitty is going to take over all the offensive and defensive play calls, right? Even though he has said repeatedly that he doesn’t call plays on game day, and as far as I can tell isn’t really responsible for personnel packages on either side of the ball on game day either. Well, even though he’s the winningest coach in Falcon history, that’s like saying he’s the brightest kid on the short bus. He’ll figure out some way to put his bad luck mojo on the Falcons come playoff time. He’s always done it in the past. Except, things just seem to be a bit different overall, with new coordinators, a more mature team, better leadership on the field. That should count for something right? It’s not like it’s the exact same team that lost the last two playoff games.

Well, maybe I’ll be even more optimistic after we see who we will face after the bye week. Once I figure out how in the world we ever got to the point where we get a bye week. Bet Houston, wishes they had a buy week, but they couldn’t win enough games to do it.

I guess

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DHunt

January 1st, 2013
2:18 pm

LOL!

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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.

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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!!

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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.

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Heck, we even need Owens back.

He made a couple nice plays, too.

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DHunt – Well said.

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Of the 6 teams that made the playoffs in the NFC, what team do you think will be the least prepared? Honest question!

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Interesting question fal21. My guess is Washington. I think RGIII will try to do too much.

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21, I’ll go with Arno. We have already beat them once.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Re the Smitty Tree, Les Sneed did pretty well in St Louis, although that might be the TD tree.

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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…..

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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.

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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?

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@ 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.

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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!!

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Anybody else find Dirk K’s comments about the bye week disturbing?

It sounds like he’s complaining.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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…

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It also makes you wonder about the future for us at this position….

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Tradmark…nice rollup of the NFC teams. Agree on all counts.

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Big Lou,

Nah. Him “bellyaching” about having to try and prepare for four different teams is kinda like me bellyaching about having to cover my own squad, plus the squad that belongs to another Sergeant while he’s on vacation.

I don’t love doing it, but it’s both necessary and inevitable…and it doesn’t affect my personal performance because I ramp up my efforts as opposed to slacking off.

That, and this is probably new territory for Koetter.

I kinda don’t give a rip what he says. I’m focused on what he does .

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The New York and Detroit games point toward a successful post season, while the Tampa game throws up some red flags, even though it was “meaningless.” What concerns me about the Tampa game is that it follows the blueprint teams have used to beat us in the post season: get physical with the receivers and pressure Ryan. Koetter needs to gameplan the hell out of this. Also, the Falcons should have figured out how to get a yard on the ground by now. They couldn’t, and didn’t even try, in the Tampa game. I hope this doesn’t come back to haunt us again.

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Agree, Paddy O. I know it’s highsight, but I would have given Abe all or most of the game off. The dude is getting old (for a football player) and I don’t think we need to worry about him losing his game-speed edge. I also would not have played Samuel. Guy still needs time to heal his busted arm/shoulder, and he is critical to our D. On offense, I would have also given backups some more time, and worked on the running game, which would help keep Ryan out of harms way. Just not a very smart gameplan for the situation, and no adjustment in-game. I know we will do better in the playoffs, and maybe we can make something positive out of it by using the subpar game for motivation.

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“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…” – BR

Great article, Taints tears always cheer me up.

Koetter’s comment? It just reinforces my belief he has alot of learning still to do. Koetter did better than my worst fears but was also short of taking this team’s talent to the edge of it’s potential. Some of that, maybe alot of that is on Smitty, but the fact the exact same defensive strategies that started working in week 5 were not figured out by week 17 is telling. A couple of teams installed option read/ pistol sets in just one year and made the playoffs, expecting a nearly 2 decade veteran like Koetter to figure out Cover 2 and some old school Walsh philosphy should not be asking the impossible. I did see alot of evidence of learning and some damn well crafty adjustments made so I’m ok with him coming back. We will hopefully see him make up for some of Smitty’s faults in the playoffs and maybe he can spend offseason getting better at theory craft/ other philosphies.

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Thanks JB, kinda standard this year, huh?

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Eagles interviewing Nolan tonight.
http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/eagles/Eagles_flying_to_Atlanta_to_interview_Nolan_Armstrong_tonight.html

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It would seem all of these negative stories would make the players so mad that everything else that occurs would be irrevelant.

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Greetings Cagers! —

It’s nice to see that Koetter will be staying and that he’ll be here for awhile. I really think that with an actual running back that isn’t slow as molasses and the head coach isn’t forcing you to run a sta-puft, than his offense will be even more dynamic. Get oldman McClure out of there, move Konz to C, move Clabo to RG, move Baker to RT, and Holmes to LT and we should light it even more next year, especially if we FINALLY drop Turner and add another RB through the draft to complement Quizz and Snelling. So, even though Koetter looked as bad as Malarkey at times, the offense overall was much better.

Like Big Ray said earlier, I’m betting we lose Nolan. Look what the dude’s done at all the places he’s been in only a year. Even though Singletary and Harbaugh get all the credit for that Niner defense, Nolan helped lay a little of the ground work. I simply think that there’s way too many openings for someone like Nolan not to get a job. He likely has learned lessons from his head coaching days and has been around several head coaches since.

There’s 7 openings, so here’s what I think:

-Andy Reid will fill one of the jobs, looking like Cardinals
-Ken Whisenhunt will get another one, sounds like the Bills
-Probably see Lovie Smith get another shot somewhere
-Sounds like Chip Kelly will be lured
-Even though rumors abound that Saban will be lured back, don’t count it.
-Broncos OC is the hot name and likely he gets one of them.
-That’s still two teams that will hire new coaches, and what better coordinators are out there I ask?

You know Norv Turner, Chan Gailey, Pat Shurmur, and Romeo Crennel will not be getting head coaching jobs again.

If Lovie Smtih or Romeo Crennel don’t get picked up, there’s two names who could take over, but here’s my absolute biggest fear………..

that Mike Smith picks himself up another puppet in the vein of Brian Van Gorder or the ilk. Even though Koetter’s not as bad as Malarkey, that whole “we’re keeping 85% of the playbook the same” garbage reeks of grand puppeteering and we know who’s behind the deal with Turner.

Nolan has saved our tail many times this year, and outside of proven guys like Crennel or Lovie Smith, I think we’re screwed if Nolan leaves.

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Eagles are also supposed to interview Mike McCoy, Broncos OC. Ducks’ Chip Kelly, too. Maybe we dodge the bullet (for now)? Who else beside Eagles said they want to talk with Nolan?

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Falcons Receiver Stats:

HD: 38/59, 10,4 YPC, 64% of balls that are targeted for him.
TG, 93/124, 10.4 YPC, 75%
Roddy…92/143, YPC, 64%
JJ 79/129, 15.2, 61%

HD’s production per attempt is below the other guys, even though he dropped the ball once, that does not tell the entire story…If you don’t get TO the ball, it does not mean you should not have caught it.

He averages what TG does on YPC, and with a completion % of Roddy, who averages 40% more yards per catch.

As I have mentioned, we have to get more production out of HDs spot, that is who they are leaving open with Tampa 2 and brackets on TG…..I am not going to lay it on HD, but I do there there is a chemistry issue between Ryan and HD, or at least it is not as good as the other receivers, hence, Ryan goes to him less.

That said, his best game of the season was against the Giants, so looks like they did scheme to get him to take advantage of his matchups, but I agree, it is key.

Also, if TG does leave, regardless of who we get to play TE, I expect HD to see a lot more ball his way.

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Hear ya Wabe, the only problem I see with that, is that while he’s a great fit/fix for Philly’s Defense, their offense is anemic. His (Nolan’s) Head Coaching resume from San Francisco doesn’t really speak volumes about his ability to resurrect that phase of their game. He’s only part of the solution. The only thing they would be smart to do there would be to convince him to make a lateral move, from Atlanta to Philly as the Defensive Coordinator, but I don’t see why he would want to do that.

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Nolan and Alex smith reunited…yeeaa, somehow I don’t think the Philly fans are exactly feelin’ it.

But how do you not get behind the up and coming young coach idea?

I heard of this innovative young guy who runs something called an H-back……And can you believe that Dan Henning stayed in the NFL until 2007 until he was 65 years old?

Sometimes, guys are just born to be coordinators.

Another interesting stat, the Atlanta falcons were 29th in yards allowed per play,, just a few notches above New Orleans. and 5th in scoring. What saved their azz?

Turnovers, and we dominated the time of possession, so the other team just did not have the ball enough, or offensive play calling has a lot to do with that.

Call me names, say what you wish, but there is not denying that field position, turnovers, time of possession is what separates winners and losers in the NFL, at least during the regular season, I believe that is proven true.

Can we win with it in the playoffs with it? We have not yet to date….but, I smell crow in the oven, the question is, who is eating it.

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Can we win with it in the playoffs with it? We have not yet to date….but, I smell crow in the oven, the question is, who is eating it.

There’s crow in the oven every year. I’m not into demanding that fans with differing opinions eat it, but I damn sure am into shoving it into the pie holes of the sports pundits and talking heads….

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SP ,

Good post on Koetter/Smitty/The offense….I do believe I’m seeing what you’re seeing.

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Could be that Tony really is gone after this year. I think the key is Ryan, though. It’s Ryan that wants him back, and why wouldn’t he?

Problem is, sooner or later Tony G really does have to go, and it’s better for him to go out at the top of his game…which ironically is right now.

This makes me wonder – is Michael Palmer really good enough to be the heir apparent at the TE position? He’ll never be Tony G, but is he good enough to be anything like a Jason Whitten? Or a not-so-damn-crazy Jeremy Shockey?

If not, then we’d better be making moves SOON, because we don’t seem all that in a hurry to find a replacement for the amount of balls that get thrown Tony’s way.

I think no matter what we do, we’re not going to get that kind of production out of the TE position for a loooong time once Tony is gone. But it doesn’t mean we can’t get close. If we don’t find or have a guy that can catch 40-60 balls a season, we’re going to have to seriously tweak our offense.

Just look at what Tony is putting up stat-wise and tell me things wouldn’t be different…

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