Falcons’ charmed existence ends, problems start with Turner
Here's a familiar scene: Falcons running back Michael Turner getting hammered by the Dallas defense in Sunday's 37-21 loss. (Ron T. Ennis/Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
ARLINGTON, Texas – After a performance that saw them commit three turnovers, allow four sacks, have their running back again look like he was trying to move with bricks tied to his ankles, allow a 72-yard punt return for a touchdown and generally get slam-danced Sunday by a Dallas team that struggled to defeat Kansas City, we can safely say this about the Falcons:
They’re probably not this bad.
But do you know what they have been?
Fortunate.
After weeks of tiptoeing over hot coals with a scrambled secondary, they finally watched an opponent turn yards into touchdowns. After weeks of skating on offense despite mediocre performances from a sluggish-looking Michael Turner, having only half of a well-functioning offense finally came back to bite them.
That’s how a 4-1 start turns into a 37-21 loss. That’s how a charmed existence suddenly blows like a Peep in a microwave.
“I felt like we did some uncharacteristic things,” coach Mike Smith said.
And folks, rest assured that his analysis in a team film session Monday will not be put so delicately.
Matt Ryan hadn’t been sacked in four games. Against Dallas, he was sacked four times and pounded often. His offensive linemen resembled milk bottles being knocked over by a softball. Protection was weak. Run-blocking was weaker.
“We got whipped,” tackle Tyson Clabo said.
Acceptance is wonderful thing. It’s the first step toward fixing a problem.
Michael Turner might want to try that.
The field was covered with enough Falcons’ dread Sunday that to pin the loss on one player wouldn’t be right. But Turner is a good place to start. Bottom line: He hasn’t been the same running back he was a year ago. He averaged only 2.8 yards per carry Sunday (18 for 50). He is averaging only 3.4 yards per carry and has gone over 100 yards once in six games, after breaking 100 eight times last season (all wins).
Even illegal mugging (see the penalty flag) couldnt help Brent Grimes stop Miles Austin from scoring this touchdown. (AP photo)
Now, we can sit here and bang on the Falcons’ defense in general and the secondary in particular. But the defense wasn’t expected to be great this season, and it took a big hit when it lost defensive tackle Peria Jerry for the season. The secondary wasn’t expected to be great, and an already suspect group suffered a huge loss when Brian Williams was knocked out for the year last week.
And yes, Brent Grimes was awarded the Charles Dimry Trophy posthumously Sunday, after he was largely responsible for Miles Austin looking like Crazy Legs Hirsch (six catches, 171 yards, two touchdowns). A pile of ashes sat in front of Grimes’ locker after the game.
But Turner was supposed to be a constant. Nothing against Jason Snelling. But when he’s leaving Turner in the dust (seven for 68, including a 31-yarder) on this team, there’s a problem.
Turner carried 376 times last season. The obvious question: Did that take something out of him?
“Physically, I feel the same,” he said. “I’m still healthy. It’s not about 300 and some carries last year.”
Here’s the problem: Turner seems to not be accepting much (or any) responsibility for what’s going on. You don’t hear comments like, “I have to be better.”
When asked what he believed the problem was — be it a lack of holes up front, him not being able to get into a rhythm or something else — he said: “I don’t know. It seems like there’s always guys we can’t get to, we can’t block.”
The offense opened the game with a 16-play, 80-yard, eight-minute touchdown drive. But that turned out to be an aberration. In their next five possessions, the Falcons committed two turnovers (a Ryan interception and fumble) and had three three-and-outs.
You know it’s bad when even Keith Brooking is trash-talking. The ex-Falcon taunted his teammates with his words and, at one point even broke into a bird-like arm flap.
He apologized later for the trash-talking. But the arm flap?
“I ain’t apologizing to anybody,” he said.
The bitterness about being let go following last season finally flowed. Good timing. The Falcons made it easy on an opponent. Too much caught up with them.
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501 comments Add your comment
CAN U SAY OVER-RATED
October 26th, 2009
12:10 am
@ Scott – We know Michael Vick isn’t coming back, big deal….We do know however that DJ Shockley was the best QB on this roster since 2007 & the new regime cut him for Ryan, Redman, & Parker-Wilson…….”PREPARE FOR MEDIOCRITY, OK” Boston College, Louisville, Bama all > UGA…….How you like that…………
President Obama
October 26th, 2009
12:10 am
Atlanta Peach
I own you now go make me some money ho
Vick Supporter
October 26th, 2009
12:11 am
Scott
You need to look in the mirror.
Also, vick rules over there too.
vick will have his chance again. he will shine again, and it just may be Dec 6th.
“The Great Mike Vick Has Returned”
Atlanta Peach
October 26th, 2009
12:12 am
Were the falcons supposed to have waited until vick get out of jail ?! Hell to the No !!
Atlanta Peach
October 26th, 2009
12:13 am
No Pres, I owe you more !!
President Obama
October 26th, 2009
12:13 am
Atlanta Peach
You should be seen not heard, shut up stupid wench
Barry Jay
October 26th, 2009
12:13 am
Scott,
I do agree with you…I wish the ajc would get someone to moderate these blogs and ban those whose intent is to disrupt the conversation. The vick supporter morons are just trying to get people to respond to them or, and this is just as likely, they are too stupid to actually converse and respect the opinion of others.
With that said, the best course is to ignore them. I don’t even read a post with the name “vick” or “noodle arm” or “choke” in it. Don’t respond and let them talk to themselves.
Atlanta Peach
October 26th, 2009
12:15 am
Do something !! You are soo bad behind your computer !!! Do something !!
Matt "Choke" Ryan
October 26th, 2009
12:16 am
Barry Jay
BOO HOO HOO
Stop whining you little BIATCH
tom
October 26th, 2009
12:16 am
Questionable play calling. 8 min left and 4th and 2 and they punt? They are way behind. Plus the punt return turned into a touchdown. Third and 6 and they throw a 4 yard pass. Grimes needs to sit. He is too small to match up. The killed him today. If Turner cannot get the yards, try something different. If his feelings get hurt, so what. Poor tackling all day. When will the defensive backs start really tackeling. They throw their bodies at someone and expect them to fall down.Use your arms.
CAN U SAY OVER-RATED
October 26th, 2009
12:17 am
Scott “YOUR NEW ATLANTA FALCONS” actually suck…..its not “exciting, I have to watch the game Falcons today” football- Let’s just be honest, “GUY” – BC, Louisville, Bama all > UGA………How do you love that!
PMC
October 26th, 2009
12:17 am
I don’t know what Keith Brooking was looking for. The guy played a decade here and is obviously in decline. They even let him have a press conference. He was a very solid outside linebacker for 5 of the 10 years and the Falcons vastly overpaid the heck out of him for his work.
This guy basically got paid management money for showing up to work every week. Ooooh but he’s a “locker room guy” he’s a leader.
Yeah ok. He’s one reason this team struggled for so long. Our defensive “star” is the guy in the kitchen cutting up food while the good teams are paying guys who make impact plays in the backfield not guys who get off the ground and get ready for 2nd and 2.
Barry Jay
October 26th, 2009
12:17 am
On Brooking: I hope Atlanta never retires his number. His ridiculous, unprofessional behavior was not only a slap in the face to the franchise who paid him beyond his productivty, it was also moronic coming from a guy who had two takles in the game. Wow…he really showed up the Falcons management by proving just what they gave up.
Scott
October 26th, 2009
12:18 am
As a realistic Falcons fan, and aside from all the Vick related crap, Ryan DID have a crappy game today. The INT didn’t lead to Cowboys points though, and you can’t really put a fumble on your QB when his offensive line decides to play revolving door. That being said, he didn’t throw any particularly good balls today, but again, the lack of a running game is killing this team. I’m not pinning it all on Turner, but something’s got to change and if Snelling keeps looking good, give him more carries.
Atlanta Peach
October 26th, 2009
12:19 am
Come over to the south side and try to slap me !! Come on !!
Atlanta Peach
October 26th, 2009
12:19 am
I’m still here !
Mike65
October 26th, 2009
12:20 am
The Falcons looked awful today starting with Matt Ryan,you never see Peyton or Brady scared to throw the ball down field but Ryan is he looks like hes scared to take deep shots down the field.And Turner slow A$$ looks ridiculous.The secondary is bad starting with Grimes and Houston your not going to stop many teams with them at corner.And Brooking old washed up A$$ showed why we let him go in the first place.
Trill
October 26th, 2009
12:23 am
This team is going down hill very fast.
can’t block,tackle,catch,cover or coach this year.We have been very lucky so far and the luck is running out.
CAN U SAY OVER-RATED
October 26th, 2009
12:26 am
@ Scott u sound a bit rational, its really not as polarizing as many make it out to be. The kid is solid, just not as good as the PR he gets……Contrary to popular belief Shockley is the better QB & many people know this. As you all may recall, once DJ made what may be considered a controversial statement that he should be starting & will start, he was cut…..FIRE DIMITROFF & SMITH, BRING BACK REEVES
Atlanta Peach
October 26th, 2009
12:27 am
And I am telling you, I’m not going !
CAN U SAY OVER-RATED
October 26th, 2009
12:29 am
U PEOPLE R HILARIOUS! BC, Louisville, & Bama > GA……..How u luv that
Atlanta Peach
October 26th, 2009
12:31 am
LMAO !!!
Atlanta Peach
October 26th, 2009
12:33 am
No matter who is playing quaterback for the falcon, the african americans are going to support this team !
Atlanta Peach
October 26th, 2009
12:34 am
Quarterback !
Atlanta Peach
October 26th, 2009
12:35 am
Crickets chirping……..
Atlanta Peach
October 26th, 2009
12:37 am
I guess I got him told !!
CAN U SAY OVER-RATED
October 26th, 2009
12:37 am
@ Barry Jay (12:13am) well buddy I hate to inform, but it appears the Vick Supporters actually got u to respond……C’mon Buddy, I know that u’re smarter than that
Mike65
October 26th, 2009
12:39 am
The Falcons looked awful starting with Matt Ryan he seems like hes scared to throw the ball down field.Turner slow A$$ looks like hes running in slow motion everytime he gets the ball it seem like it takes days for him to get out of the back field something I didnt see last yr.Grimes and Houston suck they need to upgrade the CB position.
Atlanta Peach
October 26th, 2009
12:42 am
What happened to the President ?! I guess Michele wanted some !! You go Girl !!
Barry Jay
October 26th, 2009
12:44 am
On Brooking: His behavior today was unprofessional and slap in the face to the organization who paid him far beyond his productivty. His childish antics were made more ridiculous by the fact that his two tackles just proved Atlanta’s point in releasing him.
Barry Jay
October 26th, 2009
12:46 am
Enter your comments here
Atlanta Peach
October 26th, 2009
12:49 am
The eleven alive guys are not hopeful for the falcons right now ! Rightly soo !!
Barry Jay
October 26th, 2009
12:49 am
I agree with those who were offended by Brooking today.
His behavior was unprofessional and a slap in the face to the organization who overpaid him far beyond his productivity. It was a slap in the face to the fans, like mysel, who have always supported him. And what made it worse…it was a slap in his own face. Making only two tackles just proved Atlanta’s point in releasing him.
Falcons Hero Zero
October 26th, 2009
12:50 am
Next Monday Night should be a bye week..lololol. It won’t be pretty.
Atlanta Peach
October 26th, 2009
12:55 am
Author Blanks is willing to spend his money so why haven’t we got the players to get to the next level ?! I haven’t given up yet but……..
Atlanta Peach
October 26th, 2009
12:56 am
Damn ! Author Blank.
BirdDawg
October 26th, 2009
12:58 am
I’m a Falcons fan, period. And as bad as Matt Ryan played, I will make the same argument for Matty Ice as I used to make for MV7…IT IS HARD TO BE AN EFFECTIVE QUARTERBACK WITH A TOILET PAPER OFFENSIVE LINE!!! And until the someone in the Falcons’ front office recognizes the need to upgrade the talent on this line, the Falcons are going to continue to have the same problems. How many times this year has Matt been put in 2nd or 3rd and long because of some idiot lineman drawing a penalty? Or worse yet, every single time he’s been sacked, there has been an offensive lineman less than two feet away watching him get sacked. Sure, you can say he hadn’t been sacked much this year, but that’s because they run quick hit passes that don’t require much blocking from the line. Whenever blocking for more than 2 seconds has been necessary, the line falls apart. The line has been doing it with smoke and mirrors and changing blocking schemes is only going to work for so long. Eventually, you are going to have to get some talent to keep your quarterback healthy and open holes for your running back. Not even Peyton Manning and Steven Jackson could have sustained success behind this line. Smoke and mirrors are great until the smoke clears and the mirrors crack…then you gotta play football.
not a uga fan anyway
October 26th, 2009
12:59 am
Hey, Guys! How about some coverage for the N. Y. Yankees!!!!!!!!!!!! THEY’RE BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great job, Guys! And good luck in the World Series!!!!!!!!!!
Atlanta Peach
October 26th, 2009
1:02 am
Let the trash talking begin between the Stankies and the Lillies !!!!!!!!!!!!
Atlanta Peach
October 26th, 2009
1:04 am
Matt the Choker, where are you ?! Oh, I forgot you have to get up early to hop on the Dump trunk ! Nice job !!
Atl Resident
October 26th, 2009
1:21 am
Matt “CHOKE” Ryan
October 25th, 2009
11:42 pm
THE TOUR OF EX-FALCONS VENGENCE CONTINUES………..
Brooking (Cowboys)…………….DONE
Boley (Giants)…………..COMING
Vick (Eagles)………………COMING
D-Hall (Redskins)…………..COMING
Just like with Deion, if you want to win a Lombardi Trophy, you have to leave the Falcons and Brooking, Boley, D Hall or Vick’s odds just increased by being cut from this LOSER City.
Lol, I agree with Matt on this one. I’m glad somebody keeping this real. Just leave D-Hall out. Everyone who gets traded from Atl for no reason, wins somewhere else. It’s been that way for years. So we just now seeing the REAL beginning of this Ryan and QB issue.
JP
October 26th, 2009
1:42 am
Watching today’s game made me that much happier that Atlanta got rid of Keith Brooking. The Falcons need an idiot redneck linebacker that can’t play pass defense and who — to borrow a page from Peyton Manning’s book — behaved and spoke like he got liquored up 15 minutes before the game, as much as our players need holes in their heads, or a convict at quarterback.
“We bloodied their noses, and then we stepped on them, and then we kicked them into the ground, so that’s a good feeling.” — Keith Brooking postgame press conference.
Daaaaaaannnng. Bitter, a lil’, Keith?
Don’t be. Save some of that rage. After all, you’ll need it for when Tony Romo chokes your season away later this year.
Brooking had two tackles for the game. Two. The only possible reason I can think of that would give him the right to be trash talking after that performance is if he spent the rest of his time ferrying Gator Ade to Miles Austin between plays.
If Keith Brooking wanted to stay in Atlanta, maybe he should have learned how to keep practice squad tight ends from converting a third-and-forever in the playoffs.
All I can say is, the Cowboys’ annual collapse will be a whole lot more satisfying this season.
As for Michael Turner, the guy looks like he either has something horribly wrong with him, or he has totally phoned it in.
90 percent of the runs I see from him consist of him shuffling up to the line like his ankles are tied together, followed by him immediately falling backwards — or if we’re lucky, sideways — the instant someone makes contact with him.
I get that he’s not a game-breaker, but when you’re that thick, you at least need to be able to break tackles.
You shouldn’t be hitting that running back wall for a 3 or 4 more years, Michael, so how about you get your act together sometime soon?
bird
October 26th, 2009
1:53 am
GTJackets,
What the heck are you talking about? The person you’re responding to didnt even mention Vick!
Ann Arbor Thriller: Unranked Michigan Tops Notre Dame with 11 … « DIY Projects
October 26th, 2009
1:59 am
[...] Falcons' charmed existence ends, problems start with Turner | Jeff … [...]
The Grinch
October 26th, 2009
2:05 am
The Falcons looked absolutely pathetic today. I have stated in the past and still believe we’re moving in the right direction, and God knows the schedule is brutal. Two NFC teams off bye weeks followed by the Saints on the road and then two more teams off bye weeks is obscene. Nonetheless, they played very poorly. The Cowboys tried as hard as they could to give this game away and only took it when it became obvious we didn’t want it. Just like the New England game, when we’re on the road and in a big stadium not only does the team play poorly, but Smitty/Mularkey coach scared. I have no idea why they suddenly play conservative, unimaginative, try just to keep the score close football when they’re so bold and creative otherwise. They’re apparently still learning the ropes like Ryan. And let’s be honest, he looked like crap today just like almost everyone else. The only person who had a good game for us was Jamal %$#^-ing Anderson, and I’m not sure what that says.
Every team has the occasional off game, and I expect Ryan, the O-line and the coaching staff to recover and do well. Let’s not forget we were out Mughelli and Norwood as well.
However, Turner looks like he may have been a one year wonder, Tony Gonzalez has become a non-factor for whatever reason and our defensive secondary couldn’t cover Parkview High. The first two I hope can be fixed; the last problem isn’t going to go away. How Dimitroff let the deadline go without addressing the CB problem is perplexing. We’ll be lucky as hell to go 9-7 if that problem isn’t fixed.
Whatever
October 26th, 2009
2:14 am
Dang. Calm down. The Falcons will be fine. Brooking’s lame. Goodnight all.
myra
October 26th, 2009
2:18 am
I could care less what Brooking did. The guy has heart! He played for this city for years and he loves it here. And we shoved him out like we did David Justice,Dominique,Glavin. These guys were our guys!
Nobody gets that pizzed off and excited unless they r hurt. Im glad for Brooking that he felt a little revenge.
Its ok Brook ur still a Falcon 4 life.
As for game, please don’t forget BIG D had a week off to prepare. They got rested,healed up,and watched a lot of film on us. Them winning is bigger to them than us losing.( We hope) We also played a tough game against CHI town.
I expected BOYS to play good…..didn’t expect us to no-show and look out of sink.
Good luck to BiRDS 4 next week.
Fin
October 26th, 2009
2:41 am
Hmmm, I’m concerned that more people seem to be upset about Brooking being excited about a win than our poor performance this week. We have two receivers that are 6′4..why are we not just throwing slants ALL DAY! Jenkins and Finneran always get the position so why are we not using that to our advantage like EVERY team does against our CB’s.
As for Turner, there is a year of film on him which is why people are keying on him. Any def coordinator worth his salt knows that Turner LOVES the cutback lanes and looks for them on EVERY RUN! If you close up the cutback lanes, there is nowhere to run. Snelling doesn’t have the film on him, that’s why he looked good. The line MUST open up some better holes and get to the 2nd line of defense and put a hand on someone. Miami has the tape on how to beat the Saints, we just have to execute. And can someone PLEASE REMIND MULARKEY ABOUT OUR NO HUDDLE and it’s effectiveness!
Najeh Davenpoop
October 26th, 2009
3:42 am
Oh no, an opposing player made fun of the Falcons as his team blew them out. God forbid.
Keith Brooking busted his azz for over a decade for the Falcons, playing out of position for entire seasons, playing behind undersized and talent-deficient defensive lines, absorbing more punishment than linebackers typically should, and he was rewarded by being cut for a guy one year younger than him. He deserves his opportunity to mock the Falcons.
Steve
October 26th, 2009
5:19 am
The Falcons look bad Sunday when you don’t block or tackle well your not going to win. The Falcons defensive line needs to put heat on the opposing quarterback if not there small cornerbacks will get tourch. Mike Smith is a good coach so is his staff the falcons will have a winning record.