All-Falcons Monday (Take III): VanGorder under gun again
Can Brian VanGorder, here with Falcons rookie cornerback William Middleton, help work miracles with the team's defense again? (Curtis Compton/ccompton@AJC.com)
FLOWERY BRANCH – The Falcons won 11 games last season. I felt the need to type those words again as a reminder because after looking at some defensive statistics from 2008, I was afraid maybe I had imagined the whole season.
They had the 25th ranked rushing defense. They had the 24th ranked overall defense. They allowed 64 plays of 20-plus yards, which would’ve been just like the Pittsburgh Steelers, if only the Pittsburgh Steelers had been headless and limbless. (Full-bodied, the Steelers allowed only 27 such plays.)
The New Orleans Saints lit up Atlanta for 25 first downs and 521 yards. The Falcons won that game, 34-20.
“Now, we weren’t always perfect,” Brian VanGorder said, smiling. “But you look at points allowed, which is the key stat for a defense, and we did a pretty good job.”
VanGorder is the Falcons’ defensive coordinator. I venture to say that if you really want to know how many games the team will win this season, it starts with him. With Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez, the question isn’t whether the Falcons will score a ton of points this season — the question is how many games they’ll be forced to win 34-30.
Gone from the defense are several veterans, including Lawyer Milloy and Keith Brooking. The team will be younger and faster. But there’s also the possibility they will be younger and faster but run in the wrong direction.
The Falcons finished 24th in yardage but 11th in scoring in 2008.
Then again, VanGorder and head coach Mike Smith (whose background is in defense) somehow managed to make things work a year ago. Opponents’ offensive possessions could have been measured by the acre. But the defense allowed only 20.3 points per game, nearly a touchdown better (5.6 points) than in 2007.
They didn’t do this with an inordinate number of sacks or interceptions or forced fumbles. They just did it with . . . well, we’re not exactly sure how they did it. Must’ve led the league in survival techniques.
VanGorder has heard the smoke-and-mirrors references. His response: “I don’t get concerned when I hear those things. From my standpoint, we had good chemistry and a bunch of guys committed to doing what they needed to do for us to win.”
When asked about the onus being on the defense, he said, “I think most of us, meaning defensive coordinators, always feel that way. Offenses across the league have gotten more challenging for us. But the pointing at the defense, the wondering about us and all that – we can’t focus on that.”
He’ll tell you he likes this situation. Young players he can mold. Young players he can be aggressive with. He said he considers himself, “a developmental coach.” It’s what made him so successful for four years at Georgia (a standard Bulldogs fans will tell you that Willie Martinez hasn’t quite lived up to).
It has taken VanGorder a while to get comfortable since then. A year at Jacksonville coaching linebackers. A forgettable season at Georgia Southern as the head coach. A year with the Falcons under Bobby Petrino in 2007, after which he accepted the coordinator’s job at South Carolina — only to make a 180 and decide to stay after Smith’s hiring (which didn’t thrill Steve Spurrier).
There will be some debate about who should get more credit for the defense: VanGorder or Smith. But there’s no questioning how players feel about him. As cornerback Erik Coleman said, “He did great last year in terms of instilling us with that sense of urgency. We love his aggressive [nature]. We take on the personality of our coordinator – being aggressive, being physical, flying around. That’s what we like to do. That’s part of our identity.”
It’s an identity that enabled them to win 11 games last season. Even if the numbers don’t quite add up.
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88 comments Add your comment
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
August 10th, 2009
3:52 pm
Probably time for him to bolt
Jeff Schultz
August 10th, 2009
3:58 pm
Touche.
Bryan G.
August 10th, 2009
3:59 pm
I know an SEC school in Athens that would love to have BVG.
Theophilus
August 10th, 2009
3:59 pm
VanGorder is a genius. One of the reasons the Falcons will become the next NFL dynasty.
Jeff Schultz
August 10th, 2009
4:02 pm
BryanG — wait, don’t tell me, um . . .
Preston
August 10th, 2009
4:03 pm
PLEEEEEEASE come back to UGA Coach! Our D needs you so bad. The talent is here, we just need a DC to get the most out of them and you did a remarkable job while you were here.
JB
August 10th, 2009
4:04 pm
Dawgs are missing his “emotion”…..He had it…Erk had it……
Preston
August 10th, 2009
4:04 pm
BTW, I love the Falcons but I love the Dawgs more.
Sonny Clusters
August 10th, 2009
4:05 pm
We was noticing how busy Jeff has been blogging on the Falcons and we realized he must be trying to make up with Arthur Blank after all that talk about Arthur not being much of a cowboy even if he owns the ranch. These Falcons stories could be good for more ticket sales and that will buy some more horse chowder for Trinity. Keeping a horse can be pretty expensive even when you are a rich landowner with your own football team and a horse that can whistle.
Preston
August 10th, 2009
4:05 pm
Jeff, do you know how much money CBVG makes now vs what he made as DC at UGA?
Eagleblue
August 10th, 2009
4:08 pm
I know a certain Southern Conference team that is glad he’s not with them anymore.
SimpleDawg
August 10th, 2009
4:08 pm
VanGorder is a damn good defensive coach. Just leave him alone. If he has good players, he can definitely coach them up.
The defensive line should be better, the linebackers will be solid, and the defensive backs will be fine as long as the front seven lives up to their promise.
Shadydave
August 10th, 2009
4:16 pm
Just shows it doesn’t matter if you give the other team 99 yards every time they touch the ball… it only counts if they score (of course, if you do that, they will, most of the time)
harleyman
August 10th, 2009
4:17 pm
JB- Please don’t use BVG and Erk in the same sentence. That’s sacrilegious.
"Chef" Tim Dix
August 10th, 2009
4:19 pm
I don’t like paycheck jumpers. That said, he did break one off in the ol’ ball coach. Brownie points there.
SimpleDawg
August 10th, 2009
4:23 pm
The juxtaposition of “breaking one off in the Ol’ Ball Coach” and “brownie points” may paint the picture too clearly for some.
Mac
August 10th, 2009
4:25 pm
No, it was not a forgettable season at Georgia Southern. It will be a long time before we forget how he came in determined to “fix” what was not broken and in the process tore it all to heck. That said, as a Falcons fan, I hope he molds a great defense.
Bubba
August 10th, 2009
4:28 pm
Who cares about stats? Just win, baby!
gatorman770
August 10th, 2009
4:30 pm
Brian deserves a fair chance even if he was a former curdawg!
Cow
August 10th, 2009
4:35 pm
MOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Alan
August 10th, 2009
4:38 pm
This time last year we were all crying about what the season in front of us was going to be like, 12 months later we are worried about the defense. People stop and look at the leadership on this team, they have put the offense together that will worry the hell out of the opponets and they will put a defense together this year that will rival the Grits Blitz defense of the past. Have faith and believe. GO FALCONS!!!!
Bryan G.
August 10th, 2009
4:40 pm
Haha…I bet you can figure it out, Jeff.
Volman
August 10th, 2009
4:40 pm
Cow…you actually say “Shazooooooo”. Not mooooo.
PIG
August 10th, 2009
4:40 pm
SNORK,SNORK!!
DUCK
August 10th, 2009
4:43 pm
AFLAC,ER…I MEAN…QUACK,QUACK!!
Cb@CB.com
August 10th, 2009
4:49 pm
He owes me 20 bucks!
Platypus
August 10th, 2009
4:53 pm
WEEERK! WEEERK!
Just A Fan
August 10th, 2009
4:54 pm
haha knew this blog would buy the farm
Carl
August 10th, 2009
4:54 pm
mmm! I studied on it fer quite a spell, mmm, and I figger VanGorder is all we got fer now, mmmm, so’s we’d best get used to givin up, big plays, lotsa yards, and what have ye, mmmm, maybe we can keep them there other fellers from scorin’ too big, mmmm, I don’t know much about it though, mmmm, I never got picked fer it, mmm.
Mike
August 10th, 2009
4:54 pm
BVG also leads the league in widest mouth celebrations, but I love it. Rumor has it Mick Jagger called and asked how he gets his mouth to stretch that wide.
Mr. Papagiorgio
August 10th, 2009
4:56 pm
Jamaaal Anderson needs to step it up this year and earn his keep.
falcon
August 10th, 2009
5:05 pm
If a former Falcon’s player who played on North Ave had not gotten burnt like a piece of forgotten french toast on 3rd and 16, the Falcons had the Cardinals beaten in the playoffs. So all you Techies, whining about CBVG, stick that in your pipe and smoke it.
Georgia fan for life
August 10th, 2009
5:20 pm
How much is Van Gorder worth?
GSU
August 10th, 2009
5:32 pm
JB, how dare you compare that piece of crap BVG to Erk. All he does is leave somewhere the second he gets the chance, and the program, be it college or pro, is the worse for wear. Not because he is a good coach, but because he likes to take the money and run. That bum isnt good enough to get kicked in the face with Erk’s crap covered boot.
REALITY
August 10th, 2009
5:34 pm
Brian Van Gorder is awesome. He will have this defense dominating….watch!
Southside Falcon
August 10th, 2009
5:37 pm
People didnt think that much of the offense last and look how that turned out. All Im saying is you should never underestimate ANYTHING, the whole team suprised last why can’t the defense do the same this year?
"Mr. Falcon"
August 10th, 2009
5:40 pm
The Falcons defense was not great last year, but they were good! All those yards they gave up were trash yards. The Aints got all those yards after the Falcons had beaten them down for three quarters. The Falcons simply played the game with class. Smith is a classy coach, and Van G. does what he is told.
MJM
August 10th, 2009
5:42 pm
JB. Erk had it alright but VanGoober is a moron. Nothing like taking a Payton Award winning QB, switching him to WR and leaving him standing on the sidelines fot most of the season. The Goob didn’t do right with Jayson Foster one of the top 5 players ever to attend Georgia Southern.
Would Erk have done that, heck no.
"Mr. Falcon"
August 10th, 2009
5:48 pm
If the Falcons defense was so bad last year why couldn’t the Cardinals blow them out in the playoffs,”AT HOME”. If Milloy would have been healthy, Bouldin never would have taken that sideline pass to the endzone. Also if Brooking had not made that boneheaded play at the end of the game the Falcons could have made it to the Superbowl! Both of them are gone. That is called addition by subtraction.
"Chef" Tim Dix
August 10th, 2009
6:16 pm
Mr Falcon, that game PROVED Milloy and Brookings were done.
jerry
August 10th, 2009
6:18 pm
Hell, I wouldn’t blame him if he left GSU for……………………………………..fill in the blank.
TheItalianDawg
August 10th, 2009
6:22 pm
it was BVG first season for the god sake and did pretty darn good, i’d love to see him in Athens.
Sonny Clusters
August 10th, 2009
6:24 pm
We was never going to make it at Clemson because they wanted us to go to class and that was not where we was best. Instead, one of us went to the Braves and the other to the second shift. I never regretted that until we started blogging here with Jeff and we realized that our first love is writing sports and blogging and being insightful. Knowing that Van Gorder has that sense of urgency would explain brief disappearances from the sidelines during the games. We’d do a blog on that if we had the chance.
The Grinch
August 10th, 2009
6:28 pm
Whatever it is BVG’s doing, he’s doing it well. I hope he sticks around long enough for when we have more defensive talent stockpiled. Next year’s draft and FA period will have this team just about loaded.
The Grinch
August 10th, 2009
6:29 pm
Loaded with talent, that is; not “loaded.” That’s what I’m fixin’ to do at my local watering hole.
"Chef" Tim Dix
August 10th, 2009
6:30 pm
And for the record, I think he is a good coach. Attemting to skip a few rungs on the ladder makes his resume look shaky, which I have heard him admit in hind sight he would not do again given the chance.
Time will tell.
Jeff Schultz
August 10th, 2009
6:41 pm
Not surprise BVG is getting a lot of support from Bulldog nation
## Preston – don’t know numbers but I’d have to think it’s SIGNIFICANTLY higher. NFL coordinators make very good money.
Sage of Bluesland
August 10th, 2009
6:45 pm
Losing the fraudulent Hometown Hero (Keith Brooking) is truly ‘addition-by-subtraction’…Good ol’ Keith 3:16; It’s a shame it took a boneheaded play in the last game to finally show (the sheep) that the man was the most overrated, overpaid, bum of a linebacker that I’ve ever seen…
What, do ya’ll think his replacement will do much worse?! How can he?! I expect impact from linebackers–not ankle-grabs eight yards downfield.
Mikefalcon63
August 10th, 2009
6:50 pm
I don’t know if you know this or not, but there are several schools who would love to have BVG as their DC. Take that further, I would bet there would be a few NFL teams calling his name. Forget the year at Southern, people make mistakes and he probably figured out pretty quick that he is a better DC than HC.
Were you kidding?
August 10th, 2009
7:01 pm
Can that horse really whistle?
Sonny Clusters
August 10th, 2009
7:10 pm
We was told that Trinity could whistle several tunes, mostly cowboy tunes. That’s what happened to Winsome, couldn’t whistle and sometimes had gas. A man like Arthur Blank dont have to put up with that. It can get lonely out on the range and a whistling horse will comfort any man – even a Dandy. When the tumbleweed is blowing by and some of your best players is in the hoosegow and it looks like everything is gone bad, a whistling horse can make a difference.
Felix the Cat
August 10th, 2009
7:16 pm
MEOWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
StingerSplash
August 10th, 2009
7:28 pm
Mr. Schultz,
So, given BVG’s history, I take it you can diagram a China route against a cover 2? (That’s an inside joke for all you fellow Eagles out there … not that it’s much of a joke, but BVG’s inglorious tenure at GSU sure was one.)
BILLY BOB
August 10th, 2009
7:57 pm
Brooking made one bone head play and that’s all you guys want to talk about. For several seasons he made outstanding plays repeatedly. Why can’t you give him credit for his hustle and leadership shown all those years instead? He was a helluva good linebacker.
My guess is that most of you have never seen a Falcons game from the stands.
fanatic
August 10th, 2009
8:00 pm
Billy Bob….well stated. He deserves much better from these loudmouth folks.
Jeff Schultz
August 10th, 2009
8:06 pm
China route? Is that like, straight down?
DH
August 10th, 2009
8:13 pm
BVG is awesome, but the Falcon’s record setting special teams deserve a huge assist.
The Walrus
August 10th, 2009
8:35 pm
Van Gorder’s defense scares me. People talk about the great defenses he had at UGA, but let’s be honest – he had some exceptional talent on those teams. Even at UGA, he played a bend-don’t-break style of defense, and it drove me crazy.
I hope I’m wrong about him, but I don’t think that Van Gorder is the man to lead the defense.
Billy Goat
August 10th, 2009
8:43 pm
Dem Falcons is BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD!!!!!!!!! Da gonna gore, stomp, smear, tromp, smash, crush, and trample alotta teams on their road to the super bowl. Road kill galore!
Go Coons!!!!
michaelgee
August 10th, 2009
8:44 pm
The name is not VanGoder as you have written on the sports page.
pasted:
**VanGoder under the gun**
Jeff Schultz: In order for the Falcons to repeat last year’s success, the defense must step up.
get a spell checker or get the ajc to hire people with a brain to proof read.
Dominic Hughes
August 10th, 2009
9:01 pm
Michaelgee – you’re right, but that’s not Jeff’s fault. Columnists and reporters don’t write their headlines. It’s probably some hapless copy editor/web geek who will get a rap on the knuckles. And spell checkers are useless when it comes to names. Especially ones like VanGorder.
I think the Falcons D could be a work in progress, but I’ll be very happy if that progress improves on last year.
Bill from Dublin
August 10th, 2009
9:02 pm
I agree with Billy Bob; Brooking gave us ALL he had for as long as he could. Leave the man alone!
Jeff Schultz
August 10th, 2009
9:45 pm
Michael Gee — where do you see that typo? Seriously, I just looked and can’t find it.
Dawg Talk
August 10th, 2009
9:57 pm
Alright, may offend the 10% that does not follow UGA but let’s dedicate the remaining 26 days towards UGA football. Always interesting… either the Dawg Nation or the nerds will comment.
Sonny Clusters
August 10th, 2009
10:15 pm
We was always happy to help when we was at the paper and nothing has changed. Look on the Falcons page and you will find the headline error. Could be the narrower spelling.
panic
August 10th, 2009
10:16 pm
this sounds like same time last year had same people saying same stuff.
this years def is a diffrent animal faster younger stronger there mood on the field will show up on game day Mr def guru who ever that is, is looking forward to having a player that can get there on time,
if your faster even with mistakes u can recover to make that play. lots of upside on def this yr
can run better scheme with faster younger players yea the gritz blits days were cool so whats this 2009 def gonna be named? thinking something violent like how a falcon attacks. humble and hungry
Sonny Clusters
August 10th, 2009
10:19 pm
We was never all that good at writing and just caught on with the AJC by the skin of our teeth but it was honest work and we was always trying to get better at our writing and our paper route. Back then, the paper boxes was yellow and we’d fill ‘em up in the morning and go back the next day and they was gone. Them was the days. We was wanting to do a route again but they dont throw the paper anymore where we live. That’s what blogging has done for newspapers.
Chocobo
August 10th, 2009
10:22 pm
Wark! Kweh! Woo-Hee-Woo!
Jeff Schultz
August 10th, 2009
11:29 pm
Sonny — maybe I is blind or maybe I is just wondering if there was a typo that was fixed, but I is thinks that everything is spelled correctly because I just looked at Falcons’ page.
Atlanta Falcons Talk » Blog Archive » All-Falcons Monday (Take III): VanGorder under gun again
August 11th, 2009
1:34 am
[...] http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/200…nder-gun-again/ [...]
michaelgee
August 11th, 2009
2:06 am
Jeff,
It was on the ajc Falcons Page, but has since been fixed. I didn’t figure it was your typo but the God part was bugging me a bit, lol. I’m from Statesbnoro and I can fill you in on the China Route “inside joke” if you like.
Before BVG left Statesboro he gave an interview with a TV guy, Dal Cannady from WTOC TV in Savannah. BVG somewhat chastized the local football folks aroud here by saying that nobody here even knew what a China Route was. Well, football is pretty big here at Georgia Sourhern, BVG was the only Head Coach we have had who got whooped more than he gave out the whipping to opponents. The locals didn’t really get into BVG with losing going on. When BVG left he did a somewhat ridiculous interview and attempted to zap the local fans with the China Route comment. To this day I have never found anybody else who has heard of a China Route. It must be his description for how he fled Statesboro. It doesn’t seem to fit into football but being a Falcon optimist I hope he whips out this China Route on NFC South opponents this year and surprises everybody.
Go FALCONS!
James Adams
August 11th, 2009
3:00 am
It’s always funny to see Georgia Southern people acting like their football team really matters…so humorous.
M. Joseph
August 11th, 2009
3:01 am
It’s okay, Jeff. Sonny and I go way back. He called and I had the typo fixed for you.
Flo-Ri-Duh!
August 11th, 2009
6:33 am
Van Gorder is no genius – just a hard worker that understands defense and he will definitely have his work cut out for him this year with so many new and inexperienced players. The offense controlled the clock last year and that is a major reason the defense had fewer points scored against them . Also the kicking game was excellent – giving better field position to the defense. Most of the stars are on the offense since Jamaal Anderson was a reach in the draft that has not worked out. Another pass rushing d-end and a cover corner are still missing and Van Gorder is one draft away from having a GOOD but not great defense.
Jeff Schultz
August 11th, 2009
6:57 am
MichaelGee — Thanx. Hadn’t heard that story. Certainly aware BVG’s popularity in Statesboro and Athens are at opposite ends of the spectrum, and it’s understandable.
FreeMikeVick
August 11th, 2009
9:47 am
I hate the Falcons. They turned their back on their greatest player ever.
nhe
August 11th, 2009
10:06 am
I think people are forgetting the most important weapon on our “d” last year – Michael Koenen. He set a record for lowest net return yards – meaning teams were having to drive the length of the field on EVERY possession. There were no big returns by Hester, Bush and other good PR guys we faced last year.
We franchised Koenen after the season for a reason – and I think actually he is the key to the defense again this year.
The other key is bettering our give away/take away ratio by 8-10. The yards given up from scrimmage will be better than last year, but it will still be a work in progress – which is why we just need more big plays – AND WHY Brooking and Boley are gone.
...akward silence...
August 11th, 2009
10:37 am
…umm…FreeMikeVick, please expand upon your comment. I seem to be lost as to who the subject of such comment is referencing.
Question: If the Falcons are the target of such ire, why continue to read and respond to every blog posted concerning the Falcons? Very intrigued to read your response, which I hope attempts to be persuasive and not outlandish.
Ken Strickland
August 11th, 2009
10:43 am
I think being younger and faster, instead of older and slower, is a major upgrade. It’s not like we’re replacing the old and slower group with a bunch of rookies. CONSIDER THIS:
(1) OLB MPeterson has spent most of his career playing in this DEF and he has just as much speed, quickness and experience, and is known as a stronger more aggressive tackler, as the the player he’s replacing, KBrooking.
(2) OLB SNicholas was on the team last yr. Before OLB MBoley was demoted, Nicholas replaced him in passing situations, as well as CWire, who replaced MBoley. He’s a known commodity and is familiar with the system and the players.
(3) FS TDeCoud will be entering his 3rd yr, so he’s also a known commodity and knows the system and the players. Consider this: As far as comparing the speed, quickness and pass coverage ability of new SS EColeman to former SS LMilloy is concerned, it’s like the old tortoise and the hare debate. And even though EColeman played FS last yr, he made more tackles than SS LMilloy, who played closer to the line and focused more on stopping the run.
(4) CB BGrimes looks like the odds on favorite to replace departed CB DFoxworth. We earned the starting position last yr before suffering a season ending injury. So, he’s also a known commodity and knows the system and the players.
(5) DT is an open battle with TLewis and PJerry being the two frontrunners to replace departed GJackson. TLewis is entering his 3rd yr and is familiar with the system and the players. If PJerry beats him out, it means he’s better and is able to give Van Gorder’s DEF more of what it wants and needs.
So, the replacements on this yrs DEF won’t be like the replacements on last yr’s OFF. Last yr we started with an entirely new coaching staff, OFF system, terminology and philosophy. Then we brought in a rookie QB and LT, and a new RG, RB and TE. Realistically, there were no known commodities in any of last yrs OFF replacements, and none of them were familiar with the system or the players.
Van Gorder now has the speed, quickness, youth, versatility and depth to do the things he couldn’t do last yr, due to the limitations of the slower and older players that are no longer on the roster. We have so much speed, quickness, versatility, talent and depth at the positions mentioned above, that we don’t have to depend on any one player to get the job done. If one goes down, or doesn’t adequately get the job done, we just plug in another player. I LOVE THIS TEAM!!!!!!!
fanATicaL
August 11th, 2009
11:10 am
Free I understand loyalty to an player.And I too am a Vick fan and wish him the best.But you are definitely matching PETA’s fanatacism.You are making your point.But we all still need to see if he has truly changed.Only time will give us that answer. And I’m glad he will atleast get his opportunity to redeem himself.
As to BVG and this defense.The road to the Superbowl should be trecherous.How can you surprise a league in a Twitter world ? By what seems to be a weakness isnot.
fanATicaL
August 11th, 2009
11:17 am
Ken the only other thing you didn’t address.Is the depth we are creating at these positions.The one unforeseen killer of a SB season,injuries.It just may happen fans.
"Mr. Falcon"
August 11th, 2009
1:41 pm
Billy Bob And fanatic…Brooking did not make A bone-headed play;he made THE bone-headed play. I liked Brooking, and Milloy, but they are both done. I wish both of them a happy retirement.
"Mr. Falcon"
August 11th, 2009
1:47 pm
BILLY BOB, look up this stat; Tackles for loss. If you make 150 tackles “AFTER” allowing 8 yards; what good is that? Also, Brooking got smoked in the passing game every time he faced a good tight end. He used to be a good linebacker.
"Mr. Falcon"
August 11th, 2009
1:48 pm
Enter your comments here
Dee
August 11th, 2009
2:19 pm
Love the Dawgs, but love the Falcons even more. Not even close. Kudos to BVG, doing the dang thing!
Ken Strickland
August 11th, 2009
3:44 pm
FANATICAL-reread the last paragraph of my last post and you’ll see where I addressed our depth at those particular positions. If fact, in an earlier post, I mentioned how we had quality depth at every positon on the team except FB and receiving TE. Don’t forget, we can still add depth at those positions during the portion of training camp when teams have to make their mandatory cuts.
Our OFF will be one of the NFL’s most dominant and well balanced. That means we’ll not only rank at the top in scoring with the Cardinals and, Saints, but at or near the top in rushing, time of possession and 1st downs with the Giants. How do you stop last yrs #2 rushing OFF, without moving your LB’s and safeties up, and still contain last yrs #14 passing OFF, and #6 overall, with the addition of Probowl TE TGonzalez?
On DEF, we finished near the bottom of the NFL in rushing and passing DEF, interceptions, fumble recoveries, sacks and turnovers. Yet, our DEF managed to finish well into the top half of the NFL in scoring allowed, which is the most important statistic of any DEF. With the ability to replace last yrs departed starters with added speed, quickness, youth/stamina, versatility, mobility and athleticism, without sacrificing chemistry, depth and leadership, how can anyone with an open mind think our DEF won’t be much improved. The question isn’t if it will be improved, BUT HOW MUCH.
I’ll tell you one think, our DEF will be improved enough to prevent our OFF from having to score 30+ pts per gm in order for us to win. Before any team can get a chance to attack our DEF, they have to first get our OFF off the field and keep it from putting points on the scoreboard, and that won’t be easy.
John1415
August 12th, 2009
2:04 am
Very nice site!
Beanie
August 12th, 2009
9:32 am
Apparently you never watched a georgia game when BVG was the def coor. He has always had a bend but don’t break def. If you are a falcons fan then u are just going to have to accept that because that’s the way it is!