What Changes are Needed for Atlanta Falcons Offense?
Firecrackers, Dynamite Tosses, or Implosion?
What Changes Needed on O? (AJC)
As the sun sets on the 2012-13 NFL season, most Falcons fans are still grappling with “what could have been” before divulging and immersing into the off-season. For some, it’s therapeutic to jump right back into what the Birds need to fix, but for others a sabbatical from the Falcons and football in general will be needed. Either way, for 31 teams it will be months and months filled with how to reach the ultimate prize, including our Atlanta Falcons. Last off-season provided plenty of excitement with the former coordinators “finding new jobs” and the hiring of Dirk Koetter, Mike Nolan, and Pat Hill. This off-season may not have as many big changes as 2012, but it looks to be the most important one to date since the arrival of Mike Smith and Thomas Dimitroff. How do you go about changing and fixing a team that was only 10 yards away from the Super Bowl and was even up 17-0 early in the game? So with that in mind, The Cage offers a preview of what may need to occur on every facet of the Atlanta Falcons football franchise, starting with offense first: firecrackers (small), dynamite tosses (medium), or implosion (major):
Quarterback
Gotta Cut Out the Turnovers (AJC)
Obviously, this one is pretty easy to assess. Matt Ryan has become one of the best quarterbacks in the league, had a record setting year, and was likely in the top 3 of MVP candidates in 2012. The Falcons franchise quarterback has taken his game to a new level, won a playoff game, and came within yards of taking his team to the Super Bowl. He does, however, need to cut down on his turnovers, especially in the playoffs. He had two interceptions vs. Seattle (one was an enormously terrible decision and two turnovers that very well cost the Falcons the game vs. the 49ers. Roddy White slipping wasn’t his fault, but the fumbled snap was just mind-numbing. Ryan is the best chance the Falcons have ever had to win the Super Bowl, but has to cut out the turnovers in the big spots.
The backup QB situation, more specifically how the coaches handle the backup situation, needs an implosion. Dominique Davis looked like the real deal and even a potential starter one day when he was lighting it up in preseason. It was a no-brainer the Falcons would find a way to keep him, but instead of just promoting him to the #2 QB outright, they cut Chris Redman only to bring in washed-up and bounced around journeyman Luke McCown. And why is that exactly? They chose to keep an extra QB on the precious 53 man roster instead of just going with Davis as the backup? A perfect example of the Witness Protection Program that needs to be cast away for eternity. If the kid can play, put him in as the backup…….period. Assessment — Firecrackers
Running Back
Everyone in the world knows it. Does Mike Smith? Michael Turner will go down as arguably the best Falcons running back in franchise history in barely 5 years of service. His value is simply immeasurable in what he’s done for this franchise, the team, and the city. But the NFL is a business and it’s time for the Falcons and Turner to part ways. Some feel that Turner may have even outrun his effectiveness, at least for this new offensive scheme, by a year.
Quizz Must Get More Touches (AJC)
Regardless, the Falcons have to get faster, quicker, and, most importantly, more effective at the running back position in 2013. The offensive line isn’t the best in the league, but they have shown some improvement and can’t be the only culprit in the Falcons lack of a running game. Many feel that Jacquizz Rodgers and, particularly, Jason Snelling were heavily underused last year at the expense of force-feeding Turner in the run game.
It seems the Falcons are set in terms of depth with Snelling and Rodgers, but a new running back needs to be added. There’s not a ton out there worth much in terms of free agent running backs and the needs to look in free agency has been rendered fairly moot with the advent of rookie backs having immediate success. Most think it’s a matter of what round the back will be drafted, but some even feel that Turner might be brought back in some capacity, and if Turner’s on the roster there’s a good chance that Smith will use him. Rodgers and Snelling make this position very stable going forward, but as mentioned earlier, the coaches have to find the best mix to improve the running back position. There are plenty of high impact running backs in the draft and getting one sooner rather than later will likely be more effective. Assessment — Dynamite Toss
Wide Receiver
One of the strongest areas of the Falcons is their receiving force. Julio Jones and Roddy White make up one of the very best receiver tandems in the entire league. They along with Tony Gonzalez have made up an almost unstoppable trio this past year. It will be interesting to what whether Gonzalez will come back or retire and what the Falcons will do if he does retire. Regardless of what happens at the tight end position, Atlanta is set at the top two spots. Roddy will be turning 32 in November, but he’s shown no signs of slowing down.
Is HD the Answer @ Slot? (AJC)
The other spots are less settled. As much as everyone loves and is pulling for the hometown kid Harry Douglas, a question needs to be asked if he is the answer as the slot receiver. He’s a had a few bright spots here and there, but has definitely not been the boom we all thought after his rookie season. He does catch the ball very well, but rarely gets a ton of yardage after the catch and just hasn’t taken off as many thought. Fans will have nightmares for the next many months replaying “the trip,” where Douglas fell down on a perfect play call with a perfect throw that would have likely seen him walk into the endzone and put the Falcons ahead late.
Drew Davis and Kevin Cone have shown very good talent and should start getting more looks next season and it wouldn’t be the worst thing to take a chance on a receiver later in the draft since they look to have several compensatory picks in this year’s draft. Since Julio and Roddy are so dominant at the top, it’s obviously not going to need much work, but this year should decide whether Douglas is really the answer at slot receiver. Assessment — Firecrackers
Tight End
Clearly this one can’t be assessed until Tony Gonzalez decides whether he’s hanging up his cleats or coming back for one more year. It seems that the longer he waits to decide, the more likely it is for him to come back for one more go. If he was going to retire, wouldn’t we probably have heard it by now? If Gonzalez comes back for another year, the Falcons are definitely set and ready to go with Gonzo leading the way and Michael Palmer and Chase Coffman continuing to develop under him. Palmer and Coffman look to be a part of the TE rotation for some time to come. Palmer is a great blocking tight end with reliable hands and a chain mover and Coffman appears to be getting back the potential he had in college as a vertical threat in the passing game. It’s questionable whether either can take over full-time for Gonzalez, but they offer an excellent, complimentary tight end rotation.
Is Coffman Starter Material? (AJC)
The question really centers around what they will do if Gonzalez does in fact retire. There’s a possibility that the Falcons could try and use both Palmer and Coffman to both try and pick up the slack, but it’s hard to conceive that even both of them combined could match Gonzalez’s almost insane production last season. If they go with just Palmer and Coffman, they would need a lot more help from the likes of Harry Douglas, Drew Davis, Kevin Cone, and all of the running backs.
Another option is to use an early pick in the draft on a tight end, but history has shown that you don’t need to use an early pick to get an excellent tight end (Jimmy Graham – 3rd rd; Aaron Hernandez – 4th rd) and that many taken in the first round haven’t necessarily lived up to their pick status (Jermaine Gresham, Brandon Pettigrew to name a few). With so many holes on the defensive side of the ball, tight end shouldn’t be a priority in the first few picks. The final option is to look into free agency. There’s not a ton available in free agency, but one target to keep an eye on is Jared Cook. Cook is from North Gwinnett High School and played well at South Carolina. He had a good year and could really take off with a quarterback like Matt Ryan. Assessment — Gonzalez Comes Back: Firecrackers; Gonzalez retires – Dynamite Toss
Offensive Line
Where Will Konz End Up? (AJC)
The bane of many fans existence managed to pull itself together pretty well towards the end of the season, especially in the playoffs. They got much better in terms of pass protection, but have a ways to go in terms of run blocking. They aren’t the sole culprit for the lack of running game success, but they are a major reason. Much like the defensive line, it’s a knock against both Mike Smith and Thomas Dimitroff. How can there be issues every single year at virtually every position on the offensive line year in and year out? The only spot that’s been somewhat stable is left guard with Justin Blalock. Tyson Clabo was seemingly set at right tackle, but had a very sub-par year in 2012. Sam Baker was a pleasant surprise at left tackle, having one of his best years there.
Center and right guard are definitely in flux and, like Turner, the Falcons must let McClure ride off into the sunset as he will turn 36 in a few weeks. He may want to come back, but his play has definitely slipped as he’s gotten older and represented one of the weakest areas of the OL. It will be interesting to see what the Falcons do with Peter Konz. He was the best center in the draft, but played admirably at right guard only after Garrett Reynolds got hurt. Many believe that Konz should slide over to his natural position of center, adding both youth and beef in front of Matt Ryan. The biggest name to keep an eye on is Lamar Holmes in 2013. If he’s not starting in some capacity this season, than the pick has to be considered a bust. He showed great flashes in preseason and was predictably never heard from again. A thought that Holmes could either take over for Sam Baker at left tackle and have Baker move to right tackle. Another scenario would have Holmes starting at right tackle and move Tyson Clabo inside to guard, adding some much needed beef, muscle, and strength to an overall underwhelming offensive line.
Will Holmes (#76) Be a Starter? (AJC)
A few final scenarios could see Joe Hawley take over at center, thus keeping Konz at right guard and still another, which is a fan favorite’s of The Cage, is to use one of the early picks on the best available guard and plug him in next to Konz. While the offensive line did show some glimpses and did improve, they won’t be mistaken for the best OL in the league anytime soon. While not needing a completely overhaul, some serious decisions will need to be made in 2013 if the Falcons want to reach their ultimate goals in 2013. Assessment — Dynamite Toss
Offensive Coaching / Philosophy
It’s hard to argue with what the Falcons did this year on offense. Matt Ryan not only set career highs for himself, but also broke a handful of franchise records as well. Roddy White and Julio Jones both went over 1,000 yards receiving and Tony Gonzalez was very close. The running game wasn’t always pretty, but Jacquizz Rodgers showed that he will definitely be a part of the Falcons backfield for some time to come. There’s really not much to complain about overall. The only thing that needs fixing is when the Falcons would just go on major cold streaks on offense, be it quarters or even sometimes entire halfs at a time. They picked a bad time to get cold on offense in the playoffs and it nearly cost them the Seattle game (4th quarter) and did cost them the Niners game (no points in second half). Adding some speed in the backfield and shoring up the offensive line should make this offense even more dangerous. Assessment — Firecrackers
The Cage Brothers Turn
1) Quick Pitch — What’s your overall thoughts on the Falcons offense going forward in 2013?
2) What are the most pressing changes the Falcons need to make on offense?
3) What should Matt Ryan work on this off-season?
4) Your feelings about the backup QB spot: should Davis be #2?
5) Running Back: keep Turner, cut Turner but bring him back in a reduced role, draft a running back, or get one in free agency?
6) What round should the Falcons be looking to draft an RB?
7) Wide Receiver: Is Harry Douglas the answer at slot?
8.) Are Kevin Cone and Drew Davis keepers?
9) Should the Falcons take a WR in the draft?
10) What should Atlanta do if Gonzalez does retire: Coffman/Palmer, draft, or free agency?
11) What should the starting OL look like in 2013?
12) Will Holmes get in the lineup? What about Clabo and Baker? Where should Konz start?
13) Should the Falcons take an OL in the draft, if so when?
14) What changes should be made in terms of offensive scheme and / or philosophy?
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603 comments Add your comment
Big Ray
February 4th, 2013
4:01 pm
Two of the best defenses in the league just got to the Super Bowl and all you can talk about is offense?
How about getting some legit DL’s, some LB’s that can cover a TE and some DB’s that can tackle and not shoulder bump people to the ground.
The score was 34-31 . 7 touchdowns and 5 field goals resulting in a total of 65 points scored.
Tell me all about the defense in this game….
Big Ray
February 4th, 2013
4:03 pm
Oh sure, THAT post gets through…
D3
February 4th, 2013
4:04 pm
Dickie / Big Ray / Die Hard x 2 — Ya’lls posts are out.
TeamTozzi
February 4th, 2013
4:11 pm
All you posting on here, your all idiots and obviously dont know anything about football, yeah Matt Ryan isn’t the best quarterback in the league but hes easily in the top ten and as for the niners game, you cant blame him that much. I mean yeah he messed up a lil bit but if you look at the season Matt Ryan was called upon too drive down the field and win the game on eight different occasions. The falcons need to work on there defense and second half play. You cant have Matt Ryan directing game winning drives every single game. Not even Tom Brady or Peyton Manning is capable of that.
SOMEBODY NEEDS TO TELL THE TRUTH
February 4th, 2013
4:13 pm
We can talk about upgrading the offense, defense, special teams…and ball boys, but we (Falcons) will not reach their full potential until Mike Smith gets shown the door! I can point out several reasons he (Smith) should go, I’ll just point out a difference of Smith, and compare him to both of the Harbaugh brothers.
Both of the Harbaugh brothers made major changes to their teams in the latter stages of the regular season. Jim Harbaugh chose to start a second year QB he thought (believed) would propell his team to even more higer heights above the competition, give the 9′ers a better chance in the regular and post season. Although that decision didn’t get him the trophy, it says alot about him…and the willingness to make hard tough choices to make his team better.
John Harbaugh, made the decision to cann his offensive coord. the last quarter of the regular season, he also juggled (made) unprecedented changes around the same time to his offensive line.
It takes balls, confidence, swagger…and a good knowledge as head coach to put players in the best situation to succeed…and release (fire) coaches when their not producing, bench players when their not executing.
Now, that brings me to Mike Smith. I can go on and on about some decisions he should have made to make the team the most competitive, but I will only choose one.
MIKE SMITH ALLOWED FAIR CATCH FRANKS TO SIT BACK, fair catch…and run lateral for 2, 3, 4 yards a return, until the 14th regular season game, then all of a sudden, he goes to Douglas for the kick return duty? Now, IMHO, the move that Smith finally made to change retuners doesn’t come close to the major changes the Harbaugh brothers made…Smith can’t even recognize glaring SMALL issues, adjust…and make needed changes. If you haven’t noticed, I have no confidence in Smith whatsoever, to take us to the SuperBOWL…let alone win it.
Curt
February 4th, 2013
4:14 pm
Draft needs: OL, DL LB, RB
Falcons should draft the best athlete available in the first round regardless of position with the exception of QB, WR and DB. My feeling is they will take a DL, DE or maybe LB.
I position order I think they need: OL, RB, LB, DL, TE
Mr. Falcon
February 4th, 2013
4:18 pm
There are problems on offense, like the running back position, and offensive line. But defenses win championships, we need a good fast linebacker who can pass rush and keep up with tight ends, and a good fast strong safety who can secure the second line of defense, when tight ends get behind the line backers, and maybe a big strong fast defensive end. Back to the offense there were some questionable play calling, in certain conditions on the field maybe an upgrade in this are also.
David
February 4th, 2013
4:35 pm
You win championships on defense, if the Falcons come back next year and win the same amount of games they had this year, it would be great for the regular season. Playoff is a different animal because you are there want got you there. Getting new players or old players do not matter to me as long as you can get players to make the plays on the field when it counts. GOAL LINE STOPS in the 4th quarter when that team is moving the ball down your thoats up by a few. Yesterday, Baltimore won the Super Bowl by making big plays on defensive especially in the late fouth quarter to stop San Francisco down at the goal line area unlike Atlanta did two weeks ago. Again, folks it about making the big play on defensive when it counts. You do not need to be perfect to win the Super Bowl these days ask Baltimore. Just good enough, Atlanta Falcons we are close to that!!
jerry
February 4th, 2013
4:44 pm
@SOMEBODY NEEDS TO TELL THE TRUTH
Yeah, Smith is a real enigma, what with his overall record and except for a small miracle, he would be 0-4 in the playoffs. Carrying three quarterbacks, therefore wasting a position on the roster, playing his starters late into the 4th quarter in a meaningless game and getting his only pass rusher injured to the point that he was invisible in the playoffs…….. is just mind numbing.
bellboom
February 4th, 2013
4:46 pm
OL consistency is essential.
Cut Turner. Quizz, Snelling, and Lacy (from Bama) at RB.
Promote James Rodgers from the practice squad to be the KR and PR as well at the slot or 4th WR.
Add or develop a true pass rusher.
Get some size in the secondary.
Big Ray
February 4th, 2013
4:46 pm
I will agree to the fact that you need playmakers on defense. However, that is a two-part project. You have to have the stout guys up front to solidify things, anchoring at the point of attack. THEN and only then can you have playmakers in position to make plays.
We have some playmaker types (but not enough). However, we are not nearly stout enough at the point of attack.
The Ravens defense was nasty. However, without that STS touchdown, their effort wouldn’t have been enough to win the game…. if you look at it in a vaccum, that is.
Big Ray
February 4th, 2013
4:47 pm
1) Watching the Super Bowl made me rethink a lot of my free agency and draft ideas. I was stuck on some. I’m not so stuck anymore.
For one thing, the offense is pretty darn close to where it needs to be. Why would I say that? Well, in the past, scoring was a problem. It wasn’t even close to a problem this year, it was a matter of scoring high, consistently. We put up 30 points on a defense that was supposed to shut us down. The next week, we put up 24 on a defense that was even more “likely” to shut us down.
The issue wasn’t “can’t score” or “can’t move the ball”…it was “scored a bunch, then disappeared.”
Plus, our offense was not two-dimensional this season like it needs to be. So scoring wasn’t an issue IN SPITE of the fact that our offense was one-dimensional. And we did it against two of the best defenses in the entire NFL. That is saying something.
2) RB and OL. Growth through osmosis can account for some of the OL changes. Lamar Holmes needs to show something for sure. We need to decide where Konz is going to be in the starting lineup . Do NOT put him back on the bench…it’s a ruin and a waste.
We also need to get away from the old, well-used security blanket at Center. McClure has done a fine service…but his time is basically up. Move Konz in, move Hawley in, or move a high draft pick in.
There may be some real merit to the idea of moving Clabo around. Reynolds need not be in the starting lineup (he might be okay at RT, though).
We need to let Mike Turner go. Period. Find another, more complete RB in the draft, platoon him with Rodgers unless or until he proves he can handle all the duties (pass protection included, obviously). In the meantime, Rodgers gets more carries, as does Snelling.
3) Ryan needs to work on faking out the secondary…not just with pump fakes, but with his eyes. The issues of “locking in on receivers” and throwing into questionable coverage are debatable.
I just watched Joe Flacco make a number of throws that Ryan has attempted, some of which have resulted in tipped passes or interceptions. One of the differences is that Anquan Boldin goes after the ball with a GREAT deal of aggression…and Flacco knows this. Julio could be better at this than Roddy is now, and the thing to consider is that Roddy is getting older. Ryan must establish this kind of relationship with Julio, but know that he can’t always throw like this to Roddy.
That, and catching the snap instead of looking down the field when the ball isn’t even in his hands yet. You can’t throw it if you don’t have it…
4) Unquestionably…the #2 QB should be Davis.
5) Cut Turner. Go cold turkey or this is a waste of time (and money). He already had a reduced role (metaphorically speaking, of course)…didn’t do well with it. Efficiency with the number of carries is very important these days.
6) Ideally, drafting a RB will happen in the 3rd round. In reality…it may have to occur in the 2nd round. Hopefully not as it would be better to obtain DL and OL in the first two rounds. But it just might not happen that way. The issue is that the Falcons are picking in the bottom of every round. One good run on RBs and suddenly the crop gets thin very quickly.
The thing is, there are a number of viable options, even if the Falcons have to settle for a “platoon” RB who won’t take over as a feature RB. If this happens, then the Falcons need to be shrewd with their selection…even if it means going with a more two-dimensional “speed/pass-catching” or “short yardage/tough running” type to compliment Rodgers. With Snelling in the fold, a speedster who can catch the ball well is a better bet.
Side note: this may mean waiting until the 4th round to select a RB.
7) Douglas can play the slot, but we’ve learned that he is not absolutely essential to success at the position. Drew Davis may be just as good, the jury is out on Kevin Cone.
However, the slot isn’t as much of a concern perhaps as finding a replacement for Roddy White. He looked great this season, but when (and how fast) does he slow down? HD can stay in the slot as an incumbent and it wouldn’t kill us if we can maintain steady TE play and a much healthier running game. But if Roddy goes down or slows down significantly (it’s coming one day, some way or another)…who then steps in to be a solid threat as the 2nd WR?
HD isn’t strong enough, big enough, or plain out physical enough to play as the #1 or #2 WR. That much is obvious. And we have NO clear answer as to who would be. That person may be on the roster already. Or they may not.
8 ) Drew Davis seems to be. Haven’t seen enough of Cone to know anything about him at all.
Side Note – DraftCountdown’s Scott Wright noted that the Falcons scouted Baylor WR Terrence Williams at the Senior Bowl. Terrence Williams is a big (6′2″, 205) WR with deceptive speed.
9) Yes. Nothing wrong with adding another option to the crop of uncertainty. Why? We know what we’ll get out of Julio and Roddy, but Roddy is getting a bit older. We pretty much know the extent of what HD can do. Drew Davis has potential, but can he be consistent? Too many questions, and they need answers. Soon.
Pick up a WR in the later rounds, and there is always UDFAs to consider.
10) A mixture. Go after Jared Cook in FA. Put him in camp with Coffman and Palmer. Palmer shouldn’t have a problem making the roster and seeing adequate PT, especially if Cook isn’t signed. Coffman has some serious pass-catching potential and should get a serious look. And I don’t mean for the practice squad. If Dennis Pitta and Zach Miller can get some burn and make plays, surely Chase Coffman can. His catch in the playoffs was a glimpse of what he could do.
11) Tough one to call. This will depend, in part, on what happens in the draft. If a center/guard (most notably, Barrett Jones or Travis Frederick) is available, then that fella and Konz should be the C/RG combo for the short and longterm future. Blalock is still basically a lock at LG, Baker may be better off staying at LT, and hopefully Lamar Holmes gets the RT spot (or swaps with Baker). There is still the matter of Clabo, who could stay at RT but might fit better at RG, which then puts Konz…again…at Center.
Either way, there should be three starters that we know of – Blalock, Baker, and Konz….with a 4th – most likely Clabo – slotted where he plays best.
12) See answer from #11. Holmes should break into the starting lineup, however. If not, then something didn’t go right. It’s understandable that 3rd round picks may need some time to develop, especially if the consensus is that the pick was a reach in the first place. However, it’s still too high a slot to be expecting some serious action/contribution in year 2. If Holmes isn’t healthy or can’t stay that way, we shouldn’t afford him the same confidence that was given to Baker.
13) First or second round. Solidifying the interior of our OL is very important. Both teams in the SB had pretty strong interior OL play. SF especially exhibited this with a dominant running game, though a good deal of that must also be attributed to RB Frank Gore. Yet, the Ravens were able to handle many short yardage situations due to the push they could get that allowed Ray Rice to squirt forward.
I originally thought DT was an absolute must in the 1st round, followed by perhaps a LB in the 2nd. However, DT could be addressed via FA and with a later draft pick (2nd or possibly even the 3rd round…at the latest). However, if there is a damn good OL player available, can the Falcons really afford to pass on him? Not with the state of this line.
The simple fact is, this OL is one injury away from being horrible again. What if Baker isn’t healthy? We will probably go with Holmes, but we don’t know what his health tendencies are yet either. At the same time, we’d do the same thing if Clabo was out – substitute Baker. I think we can maybe survive a Tackle getting hurt.
Here’s a worse one – imagine Blalock getting hurt. Or Konz. What then? Who plays LG? Who plays RG? Who plays Center?
MUST add early round talent to the position and get the rookie(s) some serious seasoning early on. It has worked with Konz (turned out better than Reynolds).
The other thing is this – both teams in the SB were known for their nasty, dominating defenses. Neither defense was able to stop the other team’s offense. Both teams scored over 30 points.
Even with Mike Nolan around, I don’t think we have the cap space, the coaching and development (yes, I mean that), or enough draft picks to put together a defense that competes for the status the 49ers and Ravens have. And even if we could, we just saw that neither defense is ENOUGH.
The best solution may be to finish building an offense that can’t be stopped. A BALANCED offense.
14) Why you gotta ask so many damn questions? LOL.
The offensive philosophy needs to be tweaked, but some tweaks can’t happen without a change in personnel. Better OL play, better RB play – these are the things that allow scheme/philosophy implementation to occur. Without them, options are limited.
Asking Ryan to sling the ball 40+ times per game every game as a means to win, not as a means to keep the defense on it’s heels is a recipe for eventual disaster (see NFC Championship game).
Ask Tom Brady about all that…
It’s one thing to ask Ryan to put up 350-400 yards of offense and 4 TDs because the opposing defense is worried about stopping our run game and is committed more to that. It’s another thing to have him throwing like that because he’s ripping the opposing defense a new one and they just can’t stop our aerial attack.
Big Ray
February 4th, 2013
4:48 pm
1) Watching the Super Bowl made me rethink a lot of my free agency and draft ideas. I was stuck on some. I’m not so stuck anymore.
For one thing, the offense is pretty darn close to where it needs to be. Why would I say that? Well, in the past, scoring was a problem. It wasn’t even close to a problem this year, it was a matter of scoring high, consistently. We put up 30 points on a defense that was supposed to shut us down. The next week, we put up 24 on a defense that was even more “likely” to shut us down.
The issue wasn’t “can’t score” or “can’t move the ball”…it was “scored a bunch, then disappeared.”
Plus, our offense was not two-dimensional this season like it needs to be. So scoring wasn’t an issue IN SPITE of the fact that our offense was one-dimensional. And we did it against two of the best defenses in the entire NFL. That is saying something.
2) RB and OL. Growth through osmosis can account for some of the OL changes. Lamar Holmes needs to show something for sure. We need to decide where Konz is going to be in the starting lineup . Do NOT put him back on the bench…it’s a ruin and a waste.
We also need to get away from the old, well-used security blanket at Center. McClure has done a fine service…but his time is basically up. Move Konz in, move Hawley in, or move a high draft pick in.
There may be some real merit to the idea of moving Clabo around. Reynolds need not be in the starting lineup (he might be okay at RT, though).
We need to let Mike Turner go. Period. Find another, more complete RB in the draft, platoon him with Rodgers unless or until he proves he can handle all the duties (pass protection included, obviously). In the meantime, Rodgers gets more carries, as does Snelling.
3) Ryan needs to work on faking out the secondary…not just with pump fakes, but with his eyes. The issues of “locking in on receivers” and throwing into questionable coverage are debatable.
I just watched Joe Flacco make a number of throws that Ryan has attempted, some of which have resulted in tipped passes or interceptions. One of the differences is that Anquan Boldin goes after the ball with a GREAT deal of aggression…and Flacco knows this. Julio could be better at this than Roddy is now, and the thing to consider is that Roddy is getting older. Ryan must establish this kind of relationship with Julio, but know that he can’t always throw like this to Roddy.
That, and catching the snap instead of looking down the field when the ball isn’t even in his hands yet. You can’t throw it if you don’t have it…
4) Unquestionably…the #2 QB should be Davis.
5) Cut Turner. Go cold turkey or this is a waste of time (and money). He already had a reduced role (metaphorically speaking, of course)…didn’t do well with it. Efficiency with the number of carries is very important these days.
6) Ideally, drafting a RB will happen in the 3rd round. In reality…it may have to occur in the 2nd round. Hopefully not as it would be better to obtain DL and OL in the first two rounds. But it just might not happen that way. The issue is that the Falcons are picking in the bottom of every round. One good run on RBs and suddenly the crop gets thin very quickly.
The thing is, there are a number of viable options, even if the Falcons have to settle for a “platoon” RB who won’t take over as a feature RB. If this happens, then the Falcons need to be shrewd with their selection…even if it means going with a more two-dimensional “speed/pass-catching” or “short yardage/tough running” type to compliment Rodgers. With Snelling in the fold, a speedster who can catch the ball well is a better bet.
Side note: this may mean waiting until the 4th round to select a RB.
Big Ray
February 4th, 2013
4:49 pm
7) Douglas can play the slot, but we’ve learned that he is not absolutely essential to success at the position. Drew Davis may be just as good, the jury is out on Kevin Cone.
However, the slot isn’t as much of a concern perhaps as finding a replacement for Roddy White. He looked great this season, but when (and how fast) does he slow down? HD can stay in the slot as an incumbent and it wouldn’t kill us if we can maintain steady TE play and a much healthier running game. But if Roddy goes down or slows down significantly (it’s coming one day, some way or another)…who then steps in to be a solid threat as the 2nd WR?
HD isn’t strong enough, big enough, or plain out physical enough to play as the #1 or #2 WR. That much is obvious. And we have NO clear answer as to who would be. That person may be on the roster already. Or they may not.
8 ) Drew Davis seems to be. Haven’t seen enough of Cone to know anything about him at all.
Side Note – DraftCountdown’s Scott Wright noted that the Falcons scouted Baylor WR Terrence Williams at the Senior Bowl. Terrence Williams is a big (6′2″, 205) WR with deceptive speed.
9) Yes. Nothing wrong with adding another option to the crop of uncertainty. Why? We know what we’ll get out of Julio and Roddy, but Roddy is getting a bit older. We pretty much know the extent of what HD can do. Drew Davis has potential, but can he be consistent? Too many questions, and they need answers. Soon.
Pick up a WR in the later rounds, and there is always UDFAs to consider.
10) A mixture. Go after Jared Cook in FA. Put him in camp with Coffman and Palmer. Palmer shouldn’t have a problem making the roster and seeing adequate PT, especially if Cook isn’t signed. Coffman has some serious pass-catching potential and should get a serious look. And I don’t mean for the practice squad. If Dennis Pitta and Zach Miller can get some burn and make plays, surely Chase Coffman can. His catch in the playoffs was a glimpse of what he could do.
11) Tough one to call. This will depend, in part, on what happens in the draft. If a center/guard (most notably, Barrett Jones or Travis Frederick) is available, then that fella and Konz should be the C/RG combo for the short and longterm future. Blalock is still basically a lock at LG, Baker may be better off staying at LT, and hopefully Lamar Holmes gets the RT spot (or swaps with Baker). There is still the matter of Clabo, who could stay at RT but might fit better at RG, which then puts Konz…again…at Center.
Either way, there should be three starters that we know of – Blalock, Baker, and Konz….with a 4th – most likely Clabo – slotted where he plays best.
12) See answer from #11. Holmes should break into the starting lineup, however. If not, then something didn’t go right. It’s understandable that 3rd round picks may need some time to develop, especially if the consensus is that the pick was a reach in the first place. However, it’s still too high a slot to be expecting some serious action/contribution in year 2. If Holmes isn’t healthy or can’t stay that way, we shouldn’t afford him the same confidence that was given to Baker.
13) First or second round. Solidifying the interior of our OL is very important. Both teams in the SB had pretty strong interior OL play. SF especially exhibited this with a dominant running game, though a good deal of that must also be attributed to RB Frank Gore. Yet, the Ravens were able to handle many short yardage situations due to the push they could get that allowed Ray Rice to squirt forward.
I originally thought DT was an absolute must in the 1st round, followed by perhaps a LB in the 2nd. However, DT could be addressed via FA and with a later draft pick (2nd or possibly even the 3rd round…at the latest). However, if there is a damn good OL player available, can the Falcons really afford to pass on him? Not with the state of this line.
The simple fact is, this OL is one injury away from being horrible again. What if Baker isn’t healthy? We will probably go with Holmes, but we don’t know what his health tendencies are yet either. At the same time, we’d do the same thing if Clabo was out – substitute Baker. I think we can maybe survive a Tackle getting hurt.
Here’s a worse one – imagine Blalock getting hurt. Or Konz. What then? Who plays LG? Who plays RG? Who plays Center?
MUST add early round talent to the position and get the rookie(s) some serious seasoning early on. It has worked with Konz (turned out better than Reynolds).
The other thing is this – both teams in the SB were known for their nasty, dominating defenses. Neither defense was able to stop the other team’s offense. Both teams scored over 30 points.
Even with Mike Nolan around, I don’t think we have the cap space, the coaching and development (yes, I mean that), or enough draft picks to put together a defense that competes for the status the 49ers and Ravens have. And even if we could, we just saw that neither defense is ENOUGH.
The best solution may be to finish building an offense that can’t be stopped. A BALANCED offense.
14) Why you gotta ask so many damn questions? LOL.
The offensive philosophy needs to be tweaked, but some tweaks can’t happen without a change in personnel. Better OL play, better RB play – these are the things that allow scheme/philosophy implementation to occur. Without them, options are limited.
Asking Ryan to sling the ball 40+ times per game every game as a means to win, not as a means to keep the defense on it’s heels is a recipe for eventual disaster (see NFC Championship game).
Ask Tom Brady about all that…
It’s one thing to ask Ryan to put up 350-400 yards of offense and 4 TDs because the opposing defense is worried about stopping our run game and is committed more to that. It’s another thing to have him throwing like that because he’s ripping the opposing defense a new one and they just can’t stop our aerial attack.
Big Ray
February 4th, 2013
4:50 pm
7) Douglas can play the slot, but we’ve learned that he is not absolutely essential to success at the position. Drew Davis may be just as good, the jury is out on Kevin Cone.
However, the slot isn’t as much of a concern perhaps as finding a replacement for Roddy White. He looked great this season, but when (and how fast) does he slow down? HD can stay in the slot as an incumbent and it wouldn’t kill us if we can maintain steady TE play and a much healthier running game. But if Roddy goes down or slows down significantly (it’s coming one day, some way or another)…who then steps in to be a solid threat as the 2nd WR?
HD isn’t strong enough, big enough, or plain out physical enough to play as the #1 or #2 WR. That much is obvious. And we have NO clear answer as to who would be. That person may be on the roster already. Or they may not.
8 ) Drew Davis seems to be. Haven’t seen enough of Cone to know anything about him at all.
Side Note – DraftCountdown’s Scott Wright noted that the Falcons scouted Baylor WR Terrence Williams at the Senior Bowl. Terrence Williams is a big (6′2″, 205) WR with deceptive speed.
9) Yes. Nothing wrong with adding another option to the crop of uncertainty. Why? We know what we’ll get out of Julio and Roddy, but Roddy is getting a bit older. We pretty much know the extent of what HD can do. Drew Davis has potential, but can he be consistent? Too many questions, and they need answers. Soon.
Pick up a WR in the later rounds, and there is always UDFAs to consider.
10) A mixture. Go after Jared Cook in FA. Put him in camp with Coffman and Palmer. Palmer shouldn’t have a problem making the roster and seeing adequate PT, especially if Cook isn’t signed. Coffman has some serious pass-catching potential and should get a serious look. And I don’t mean for the practice squad. If Dennis Pitta and Zach Miller can get some burn and make plays, surely Chase Coffman can. His catch in the playoffs was a glimpse of what he could do.
11) Tough one to call. This will depend, in part, on what happens in the draft. If a center/guard (most notably, Barrett Jones or Travis Frederick) is available, then that fella and Konz should be the C/RG combo for the short and longterm future. Blalock is still basically a lock at LG, Baker may be better off staying at LT, and hopefully Lamar Holmes gets the RT spot (or swaps with Baker). There is still the matter of Clabo, who could stay at RT but might fit better at RG, which then puts Konz…again…at Center.
Either way, there should be three starters that we know of – Blalock, Baker, and Konz….with a 4th – most likely Clabo – slotted where he plays best.
12) See answer from #11. Holmes should break into the starting lineup, however. If not, then something didn’t go right. It’s understandable that 3rd round picks may need some time to develop, especially if the consensus is that the pick was a reach in the first place. However, it’s still too high a slot to be expecting some serious action/contribution in year 2. If Holmes isn’t healthy or can’t stay that way, we shouldn’t afford him the same confidence that was given to Baker.
13) First or second round. Solidifying the interior of our OL is very important. Both teams in the SB had pretty strong interior OL play. SF especially exhibited this with a dominant running game, though a good deal of that must also be attributed to RB Frank Gore. Yet, the Ravens were able to handle many short yardage situations due to the push they could get that allowed Ray Rice to squirt forward.
I originally thought DT was an absolute must in the 1st round, followed by perhaps a LB in the 2nd. However, DT could be addressed via FA and with a later draft pick (2nd or possibly even the 3rd round…at the latest). However, if there is a damn good OL player available, can the Falcons really afford to pass on him? Not with the state of this line.
The simple fact is, this OL is one injury away from being horrible again. What if Baker isn’t healthy? We will probably go with Holmes, but we don’t know what his health tendencies are yet either. At the same time, we’d do the same thing if Clabo was out – substitute Baker. I think we can maybe survive a Tackle getting hurt.
Here’s a worse one – imagine Blalock getting hurt. Or Konz. What then? Who plays LG? Who plays RG? Who plays Center?
MUST add early round talent to the position and get the rookie(s) some serious seasoning early on. It has worked with Konz (turned out better than Reynolds).
The other thing is this – both teams in the SB were known for their nasty, dominating defenses. Neither defense was able to stop the other team’s offense. Both teams scored over 30 points.
Even with Mike Nolan around, I don’t think we have the cap space, the coaching and development (yes, I mean that), or enough draft picks to put together a defense that competes for the status the 49ers and Ravens have. And even if we could, we just saw that neither defense is ENOUGH.
The best solution may be to finish building an offense that can’t be stopped. A BALANCED offense.
Big Ray
February 4th, 2013
4:53 pm
14) Why you gotta ask so many damn questions? LOL.
The offensive philosophy needs to be tweaked, but some tweaks can’t happen without a change in personnel. Better OL play, better RB play – these are the things that allow scheme/philosophy implementation to occur. Without them, options are limited.
Asking Ryan to sling the ball 40+ times per game every game as a means to win, not as a means to keep the defense on it’s heels is a recipe for eventual disaster (see NFC Championship game).
Ask Tom Brady about all that…
It’s one thing to ask Ryan to put up 350-400 yards of offense and 4 TDs because the opposing defense is worried about stopping our run game and is committed more to that. It’s another thing to have him throwing like that because he’s ripping the opposing defense a new one and they just can’t stop our aerial attack.
Big Ray
February 4th, 2013
4:53 pm
14) The offensive philosophy needs to be tweaked, but some tweaks can’t happen without a change in personnel. Better OL play, better RB play – these are the things that allow scheme/philosophy implementation to occur. Without them, options are limited.
Asking Ryan to sling the ball 40+ times per game every game as a means to win, not as a means to keep the defense on it’s heels is a recipe for eventual disaster (see NFC Championship game).
Ask Tom Brady about all that…
It’s one thing to ask Ryan to put up 350-400 yards of offense and 4 TDs because the opposing defense is worried about stopping our run game and is committed more to that. It’s another thing to have him throwing like that because he’s ripping the opposing defense a new one and they just can’t stop our aerial attack.
RobbE33
February 4th, 2013
4:53 pm
I shouldn’t complain about the offensive coordination (it’s SO much better than we’ve ever had) but it was apparent that the 49ers were fooling Ryan during his pre-snap reads in the second half. Whether its lack of adjustment or communication on Koetter’s part or Ryan’s inability to play by the seat of his pants can be debated. Nolan will get linemen more suited for his 3-4 and I assume the same on offense as well. Just a few tweaks with conditioning and a ruthless Smitty and they’ll be fine.
Paddy
February 4th, 2013
4:55 pm
I must really be in the minority; I just can’t get excited about Rodgers as a big part of a quality NFL backfield. Combined w/ Turner is year was hard to watch.
speedy
February 4th, 2013
5:04 pm
draft marcus lattimore or get isiah crowell next year
Fa l-co-Mania
February 4th, 2013
5:08 pm
1. Draft rb Lacey from Al. if available in the 1st rd. If not draft best D end available. There should be a couple of really good ones there at 30th pick. 2. Pick best D tackle or LB in the 2nd rd. 3. Baker LT, Blaylock LG, Konz C, Claybo RG, and Holmes RT. If Holmes can’t handle RT it will show how ineffective Dimitroff is at drafting O linemen. 4. Drew Davis in the slot and Douglas as a back up. Douglas stumbling, and bumbling catch that wasn’t cost us a possible super bowl. 5. Draft a RB in the 3rd if Lacey not there in the 1st. Falcons are real close but have a tougher road to the playoffs next yr. Must cut Turner to free up cap space for free agency. He’s to slow to the hole.
78dawg
February 4th, 2013
5:08 pm
Add some “mean” beef on the OL. Turner outta here. Ryan needs to get stronger and more muscled and please will someone teach himhow to make a play when he rools out. Has to be the leagues worst playmaker outta the pocket. DL blow it up Draft pick No.1. and add free agent. DB’s keep Owens Moore, Samual. Grimes comes back. I’m sick of DeCoud missing tackles. Linbackers…Nicholas .hescan’t c over
Wings
February 4th, 2013
5:18 pm
Big Ray – “We need to let Mike Turner go. Period. Find another, more complete RB in the draft, platoon him with Rodgers unless or until he proves he can handle all the duties (pass protection included, obviously). In the meantime, Rodgers gets more carries, as does Snelling. ”
Letting Turner go is the number one priority. IT MUST BE DONE. Big Ray you know that has been my mantra for several years. I posted and posted the lack of production of his runs and wasted plays. I am not going to look at another issue until I see his name on the waiver list. I have been thinking that if he returns as the FEATURE BACK, I will find a new things to do during football season. It has to happen. It is not Michael Turner’s fault; it is Mike Smith’s weakness about making difficult decisions. LET HIM GO!!!! PERIOD!
Really?
February 4th, 2013
5:26 pm
D line, running back, O line are all must have help right away. I’m glad we will have a full bag of picks this year. I love JJ but can’t help but think “what if” after seeing AJ’s stats and his Pro Bowl performance.
On the petty side, what a humiliating total implosion by cesspool city in the super bowl. It’s bad enough you couldn’t get inside without being assaulted by an army of drunken crackheads beging for handouts, but to lose lights for even a second much less over a half hour is truly pathetic.
ATLBIG FALCON FAN
February 4th, 2013
5:38 pm
Falcons had all the weapons to be having a parade on peachtree tommorrow instead of the ravens having one in baltimore tommorrow..i,m still verrrrry disapointed…..
Greg Griffin
February 4th, 2013
5:59 pm
In order to have a chance at SB next year we must get better at the running game and improve the pass rush. The conundrum is how to accomplish that. You cannot improve every area of need in one year through the draft and free agency. It appears that we need better talent at defensive end and running back, and that should be our first priority. We lack speed at running back. Although Rogers has quickness he does not have good speed. That is the difference in him and Sprools. We haven’t had a speed back to use as a change up for a full season since 2008, when our running game was at its best. Our offensive line could be improved by larger meaner center and guards, but those positions are rarely improved by rookies. That might be an area to look at in free agency. The bigger problem is improving the pass rush. That might be done by drafting linebackers and switching to a 3/4, but we lack a player who can be effective and nose tackle. It might be improved by getting a good pass rushing defensive end, but they are rare commodities and must be gotten early in the first round usually or by overpaying in free agency. In the early rounds of the draft we should focus on taking the best player available among running backs, defensive end/linebacker, or offensive linemen. In free agency we should look for tight end ( if Gonzo retires) defensive and offsensive linemen or pass rushing linebacker. And we need to teach our defensive backs how to tackle (including Moore, who often fails to wrap up).
leeroyo
February 4th, 2013
6:16 pm
The falcon as a team need to be in better condition. If you remember the SF game when the camera show our bench, I forgot what quarter it was in , player soak in sweat sucking oxygen and looking very much out of shape.
Ken Strickland
February 4th, 2013
6:29 pm
This is just a thought CAGERS, but what if Ray Lewis retiring after a glorious SB win makes TGonzalez rethink his position on retiring after coming so close to a SB appearance this yr?
I’m also sick and tired of hearing the comments about RB JRogers being too small be an every down RB. Hell, the truth is MTurner was too doggone big. They keep saying we need someone that can pound the DEF, like we’re still anything close to a run 1st OFF.
JRogers is perfect in every way to be the #1 RB in our OFF. They also said he was too small to block LBs in pass protection, but we all saw that was a lie. They act like JSnelling is a light weight with no ability as a power runner. If we draft a RB, it should be for depth purposes.
We need LBs more than anything else. We don’t have any backup LBs with starter potential. We also need an improved pass rush, but acquiring the right LBs can help resolve that. It’s time to unleash the hounds(DEs)and see what shakes out. I advocate drafting and/or signing FA LBs with passing rushing ability.
With a yr of experience in Nolan’s system, along with another training camp & preseason, DT Robinson, & DEs Mathews, Massaquoi and Sidbury should be ready to take a step forward. Another off season to fully recover from injuries should improve DT CPeters production as well.
Let’s face it, DE REdwards was released because of his negative behavior, not his lack of performance. Smitty and Co need to make the same comment to our younger DLinemen that’ been made to veteran players like MTurner & REdwards.
Based on production, our starting DTs should be VWalker and JBabineaux. If Gonzo returns, we should definitely use our early picks to draft DT Short, if available, or a DE/LB hybrid like Okafor or Montgomery.
PlanB
February 4th, 2013
6:46 pm
Ken @2:22 65 points were scored against those great defenses.
We must chose carefully in this draft and not be taking players a round too early as TD has been accused of. Since we have so many needs some things have to wait if they were adaquate this past season as was the OL. I like what many are saying about Baker, Blalock, Konz, Claybo & Holmes. Don’t know why MS plays so many out of their drafted positions. I would like to see a RB, DE, LB & gigantic DT drafted but I’ll leave the order to TD, MS and hopefully they will be taking the advice of the coordinators. Some good points on the WPP and I like the idea of Dom Davis as $2 QB. He looked good in preseason.
I would like to say that the biggest turn around to this team has been caused by Arthur Blank. He’s made a few mistakes but has learned by them. Thanks Mr.Blank.
Arno
February 4th, 2013
6:52 pm
“If he was going to retire, wouldn’t we probably have heard it by now?” –D3
Smith said Gonzalez could take up to six weeks to decide. The seventh week is the start of FA signings. Is TG waiting to see if we pick up any significant pieces? Just a thought…
SeminoleWarrior
February 4th, 2013
7:24 pm
Cage
This a a great topic…I will definately have to squeeze in some time to discuss this one later tonight. It is busy this week with an abundance of Severe Weather Awareness Week Activities.
A quick professional plug (Meteorology) that is:
Courtesy of my friends at the National Weather Service and the American Red Cross. Please read or download this and make it a staple in your homes, your families, and your places of work. Have a plan, practice the plan, and be prepared PLEASE. The government is NOT the answer when the effects of severe weather are to be dealt with. Trust me on that one….Ask those still dealing with Katrina, Sandy, Joplin, or Tuscaloosa.
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/severeweather/resources/ttl6-10.pdf
Thanks family. Please take the time now to prepare and plan. The lives saved when the event happens (and it WILL) could be those most important to you.
Back later for a football discussion.
Kevin
February 4th, 2013
7:36 pm
look at the last 5 years of Matt Ryan with Mike Smith as head coach, Ryan notoriously quits playing after a lead and when he sits there watching the other team making its comeback , he has lost all his adrenalin flow from the yards our dfenses give up over the last 5 years. The team was built wrong to begin with, you always build your defense first , along with fining your hopefully elite QB too. then you have the best offensive line in the league, this allows mediocre runners and mediocre QBS to perform above their heads! Then you build the D line into a man-eater style defense line. But The Falcon’s havent a clue on how to build a team correctly.When was the last time the Falcon’s drafted and coached up a hall of fame D- Lineman in last 47 years of existence?When wa the last time the Falcons drafted any hall of Famer?? AND KEPT HIM besides Deion and even he knew Falcons were a lost organization to stay with.. Lets look at Dimitroffs draft, Who has he drafted besides the absolute obvious in 5 years?…. Ryan and Julio were obvious in your Face drafts, But after that in 5 years who do we have? Ok Weatherspoon, but 3 players dont make up for 5 years of drafting!
falcon21
February 4th, 2013
7:58 pm
What is up with all the Matt Ryan bashing today? Matt Ryan quits playing after he gets a lead. That is total horse shet. The coaches may shut him down but that is not on Matt Ryan. Where do all these guys come from? We don’t hear crap from them in the regular season, and all of a sudden they know what is wrong with the team.
Unca' Bob
February 4th, 2013
8:13 pm
My goodness. Where Oh where are all the rock crawlers coming from? Reminds me of the D-Led days.
JB Falcon
February 4th, 2013
8:17 pm
21, the wierdos flock to a fresh post every time. Give it time to settle down and it will smooth out and they will lose interest. The thing that interests me most is the resemblance of the SB to our 9er playoff game. It’s really erie, except the results were different. I might be able to get some intelligent opinions after the minons have cleared out.
falcon21
February 4th, 2013
8:24 pm
Agree JB, from the no calls and to just how the game ended.
Matty Bicep
February 4th, 2013
8:32 pm
Our loss is on Ryan, no “bashing”, just the truth….You just can’t turn the ball over on half your possessions in the 2nd half of playoff games and expect to win….Now, I understand that we don’t get in the position we were in without Ryan, but as QB, you get to be the hero, or the goat. It just goes with the territory, not that we can’t make improvements and get Ryan some help, but no reason to walk on eggshells, the man is going to have to play better in critical times if we expect to win a SB. Blame Smitty all you want, but Tony Romo is on coach #3 and doing the same stuff…..I really really hope Ryan stops that crap, or we at least don’t make him play 11-1 chess for 60 minutes.
Quizz, I am with Paddy, he is not too small, but he is too slow. We need a RB who can either be a snow plow, or one who can take it to the house when he gets a step. That stopping-and-letting-the-guys- get-in-front-so-you-can-juke-em-again is very unsound.
Matty Bicep
February 4th, 2013
8:41 pm
But with the cap, every team has holes as big as swiss cheese. I don’t know why teams win, say is coaching, scheme, toughness, whatever, but every year, it is another team. The great ballsy Bill Belechick gets comes off looking like a idiot getting spanked at home.
Nobody can dominate, I really thought the Packers might have been onto something, but….not to be….If anything, the packers SB win looks more like a fluke than any “trend”.
I just go back to what I believe, you just got to get to the playoffs, and let the football gods pick your number…..and don’t turn the damn ball over, it did New England in too.
JB Falcon
February 4th, 2013
8:48 pm
21, I should have said “most” of them will clear out.
Unca' Bob
February 4th, 2013
8:52 pm
I see dumb and dumber reappears. Timing in life is everything.
Nytol. Enough is enough.
falcon21
February 4th, 2013
9:02 pm
LOL JB, I know it’s not funny, it’s like when you hurt, you just deal with it until it goes away. Have a good night Unca’ Bob.
darrel starks
February 4th, 2013
9:14 pm
1. First cut Turner, much respect for him but time is up.
2. Get Chris Ivory ASAP, Saints already have 3 legit RB no way they bring him back, I say get him on Arthur Blank Jet and bring him home TD.
3. HD is not explosive in the slot, Falcons need find a WR in slot that can take it 2 house.
4. TE Chase Coffman could be the sleeper next season for the Falcons.
5. Lamar Holmes is a beast, should be the next starting LT for Falcons and move Baker to the right side and Clabo RG with Konz moving 2 center.
GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
darrel starks
February 4th, 2013
9:21 pm
OL 2013 FALCONS STARTERS
HOLMES, BLALOCK, KONZ, CLABO, BAKER
320 POUND AVG
MUCH BIGGER AND STRONGER UP THE MIDDLE WITH CLABO PLAYING RG.
GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Matty Bicep
February 4th, 2013
9:28 pm
I like Chris Ivory, we need an RB who is not afraid of contact, who will put their head down and get a yard. If we pick him up, we need someone with speed who can get outside so the defense has to respect the perimeter. Quizz is good darting and dodging in traffic, but after every game, you look at his stats and he is in the 3-4 YPC territory.
Big Ray
February 4th, 2013
9:49 pm
http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/football/abraham-turner-could-be-released-create-salary-cap/nWFsr/
Never thought I’d say this, but Baker is one of the guys I’d bring back. Moore is the other.
Here’s the tough part – I REALLY like Tony Gonzalez. But it may be something we have to move on from. If he retires, it could be a good thing in that it forces us to move past the offense we’ve been leaning on and beef up in other areas. Like the running game.
TG will be sorely missed as a team leader and stalwart….and most importantly, as a very productive player. But we have to move on sooner or later. Won’t be a point in him coming back if we keep doing things the way we are now.
David E.
February 4th, 2013
9:53 pm
Draft Eddie Lacy at the bottom of the first round. OL in the scond round. A pass rusher and a tight end in free agency.
Big Ray
February 4th, 2013
9:57 pm
Falcon 21 ,
We go through this every year. Even so-called fans of the team do it….when their favorite anal dwelling place has been threatened (you know, when folks start to hold the head coach responsible, and things like that).
It is what it is. Some folks prefer to live under a bridge and talk smack to billy goats….
Big Ray
February 4th, 2013
9:58 pm
Wings ,
I agree absolutely. I want another RB in the draft, and maybe one via FA. Problem is, we have cap issues, as we were warned by Slant Pattern and Seminole Warrior .
Big Ray
February 4th, 2013
10:01 pm
In the theatre of the irrelevant and not even remotely applicable:
Blame Smitty all you want, but Tony Romo is on coach #3 and doing the same stuff…..I really really hope Ryan stops that crap, or we at least don’t make him play 11-1 chess for 60 minutes.
Dumbest thing I’ve read all day. And I have read some truly stupid sh!t today. I cannot even begin to name all the reasons why this is so off base. And so I won’t.
Big Ray
February 4th, 2013
10:03 pm
Ken Strickland ,
Very good points…
I’m feeling an “offensive beef-up” in the early rounds, even though I was seriously hard up about the defense at first.
What do you think?