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.
501 comments Add your comment
HATinGA
October 26th, 2009
5:23 am
I think the teams after a bye thing caught up with them, dallas looked like we looked in SF, why the leage made 1 team play 4 teams coming off byes is beyond me. And why did we punt down 2 scores with 8 mins left , it was 4th and 2 Smith has to try and pick that up, thats about the third time I can remember us punting at that time and score, the return should show him at that point in the game punting does nothing you are not trying to keep the score close you are tryin to win! Right?
drew berry
October 26th, 2009
5:56 am
I’m amazed that Falcons fans don’t realize their success is a mirage. Just look at the the record of the teams you have beaten. Additionally, your young promising quarterback is one of the real culprits as to why you didn’t win…he couldn’t deal with the heat. Finally, Brookings has been running up and down the sideline all year in Dallas games literally cheerleading both the offense and special teams. He has made play after play in games and is a major upgrade to what Dallas had in Zach Thomas. Get over it and prepare to get crushed, crumbled and dismantled by the Saints.
Felix the Cat
October 26th, 2009
5:56 am
GT Grad……………….@#$% off.. Brooking is a jerk. Mr tackle down field after gaining 15 yards was a non factor yesterday. Yet he showed his true colors. Much like most GT people..Complete idiots. he needs to take his family and move out of atl cause he is no longer welcome.
Topp Dogg
October 26th, 2009
6:30 am
Just like GT fans Keith Brooking has no class.
zino
October 26th, 2009
6:33 am
O line couldn’t block.
D line couldn’t get any pressure. Why did we only blitz ONCE??(Which resulted in a sack)
Ryan looked scared.
Turner has concrete shoes.
Brooking has NO CLASS.
Saints will score 50 on the Birds D.
Falcons finish at 8-8 and the streak continues.
Ed Faron
October 26th, 2009
6:41 am
The blame starts with Turner?? BWA HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Now, that’s sheer comedy. Wow…..could you BE more obvious? Dang….it starts with Turner huh? Wow…just…wow.
Michael P
October 26th, 2009
6:43 am
Guys, i am shocked to hear no one question the play calling that has taken place all year long. As much praise as i hear the tv pundits shower Murlarky with, I am very unimpressed with the lack of continuity of the play calling. How stubborn do we have to be to see that the running game is not working. We must now establish the run by passing, and utilizing the weapons we have at the skill positions. Scrap the darn play action sweep passes and allow Ryan to back up and look downfield. Ryan, Tony is a beast, but jeesh look for your other reeceivers too. I am a falcons fan to the core, but I am very scared we may get our jocks handed to us next week. In addition,lets pick up a back off waivers soon. Bite the bullet and allow someone thats not afraid to hit the holes with a vengence…sadly its not turner….We look like “not ready for prime time players& coaches” Sunday….Pathetic…No need talking about the D and the Mini Me D-backs…you guys have covered that very well.
Manny
October 26th, 2009
6:45 am
It’s not Turner’s fault. It’s not even Matt Ryan’s fault. The problems started with the Offensive Line. That’s it, on offense.
I didn’t see any creases or holes that Turner could have went through. And our faster option (Norwood) didn’t play, so we couldn’t bounce it out to the outside. We only had an inside option at RB and the Cowboys defended it well.
And Matt Ryan was rushed. And then he got scared, because they were hitting him hard. And Ryan isn’t a running threat (unlike Vick, since people keep talking about him on here) so they just pinned their ears back and went after him. The offensive line was being bull-rushed into the QB, and it would be difficult for anyone to get their passes off.
On the defensive side, our tackling was terrible. Plus, our secondary needs immediate help. When Grimes is our best option at corner, we know that we are going to get torched. It’s not that he’s a bad corner, but he’s not a shut-down corner. He’s still too young and inexperienced. What needs to happen is to put Grimes on the weaker WR and find a corner for the better WR. And Chris Houston needs to sit down. He’s just not very good. And the D-line couldn’t cover that up with pressuring the QB.
So those are our holes… actually two players, sitting on the bench- badly needed: Jerious Norwood (to be a threat on the flats and the corners- thus opening up gaps on the interior)- and Brian Williams (who was our best, most experienced corner.)
What I want to see for next week: another corner coming to the Falcons and Norwood’s hip getting better. If we can get that, we have a shot. Without it, we have no shot at beating the Saints.
Manny
October 26th, 2009
6:56 am
Oh, and you know what I loved about this game? Keith Brooking! You know why? Because he celebrated this win like he won the Super Bowl. And he didn’t really do much, but he was just so excited!
Yes! We finally have us a villain! He was celebrating beating a team that was banged up. He beat a team with glaring holes. And he was celebrating it like it was the playoffs. And he admitted it: He REALLY wanted to beat the Falcons! (It’s so cute to see him celebrate so hard that even his teammates were looking at him like “Relax, man! It’s only the regular season.” His poor little heart must have been crushed that he’s no longer a Falcon.)
Yep, this is great! I would love to see him again in the playoffs (if they make it that far.)
dd
October 26th, 2009
6:57 am
For the real sports fans, Atlanta got beat on both sides of the line of scrimmage. That’s where it starts. You don’t win up front, you usually lose.
A lot of you guys on here need to grow up. These blogs read like a bunch of kids playing tit for tat.
No one cares about your ignorant points of views. The past is gone. Act like you’ve got some sense.
Bill
October 26th, 2009
6:59 am
Bottom line, Falcons didn’t come to play yesterday and Dallas did. They were generally whipped all over the field on offense, defense and special teams. Ryan didn’t play well, the offensive line didn’t play well, nobody played well. That’s going to happen in the NFL on any given Sunday – heck, Oakland even won a game recently. Hopefully, the Falcons will regroup and come back next week ready to kick butt and take names.
Gotta say, though, it’s going to be a long season if the Falcons can’t come up with anybody better than Brent Grimes to put out on the corner. He’s the complete player – can’t cover AND can’t tackle. Watching him repeatedly get used by and then bounce off of 200 pound wide receivers is embarrassing. It’s like watching a Jack Russell terrier trying to fight a Great Dane. Game, yes – competitive, no.
The really galling part, however, was the “homer” broadcast repeatedly showing Keith Brooking on the sidelines shooting his mouth off like he was Dallas’ spiritual leader. Two whole tackles, Keith. Outstanding performance for a starting “professional” linebacker. Next time, try letting your play on the field do your talking – any knucklehead can trash talk on the sidelines. No wonder Dimitroff sent you and your lead shoes packing
Manny
October 26th, 2009
7:01 am
Scott…
Also, just a matter of correction:
Michael Vick is the 2nd-string QB with the Philadelphia Eagles, not the 3rd. He was promoted a couple weeks ago. But he’s now a traditional backup- not playing in games unless something goes wrong with McNabb.
FalconPhil
October 26th, 2009
7:07 am
The falcons should have not let keith brooking go–he made them look like a fool.
Ross
October 26th, 2009
7:17 am
I wouldn’t panic – it’s the NFL – we took an ass whuppin’ but winning next week makes it all good.
mcgruff04
October 26th, 2009
7:30 am
Why are so many of you hating on Brooking? I’m sure if you get kicked out of the door by your employer you would want to stick it to them when you got the chance as well. I don’t think he’s has any less class than he had before he left. You guys are just overreacting. I don’t hear anyone saying Brett Favre has any less class when his whole reason for going to Minnesota was to have to opportunity to stick to Green Bay.
jacket3
October 26th, 2009
7:34 am
We just were terrible. No pass protection. No finding creases on the change of possessions – just straight up the middle. Pass routes 5 yards short. No running game. Romeo looked like Joe Namath….Ryan was completely out of rhythm. “D” backs? – well the entire defense was like Swiss cheese.
Got some work to do – a lot of it. Right now they might finish with a 9-7 record and that would be ok…but the Falcons are better than that – we all hope.
Hagood
October 26th, 2009
7:34 am
Never liked Brookingsssssssss…Over-rated Tech Nerd! Good riddance! Classless! I always hated that porn-star looking slow piece of garbage! And screw the Tech fans that still support him!
Go FALCONS!!
WTFyousay
October 26th, 2009
7:38 am
You gotta love the classless fans of Atlanta. Red neck beer drinking fools. Go to the Dome and sit on your hands as usual while real fans make noise and not beer burps at ball games. Can’t be that many people graduatiing, er dropping out of, Georgia.
cbo
October 26th, 2009
7:41 am
Brent Grimes big heart but he needs to be benched. Where is this Hill guy we picked up from the Rams. There are several CB still out there.Go get them plz. Before the SAINTS!
Dandy D
October 26th, 2009
7:49 am
All I want for Christmas is a Falcons Secondary. What we have now is not a secondary – it’s cheesecloth.
Jamaal Anderson…welcome to your destiny – DT. Keep on pluggin’.
Smith better turn into a magician quick if we’re gonna play in the same world as the Saints. Otherwise Brees is gonna turn our DB’s into pillars of clay.
Sautee Dawg
October 26th, 2009
7:52 am
Brookings= NO CLASS.
Richard Dawson
October 26th, 2009
8:01 am
Brooking is a classless Ga Tech thug.
Atticus
October 26th, 2009
8:03 am
F– Brooking. It’s one thing to want to beat your old team, I give him that. But that dude makes NO plays anymore. It’s not as though he made some big plays to help Dallas win. Be happy and show some class….. Not jumping around like an idiot showing your redneck a$$ over and over and over.
The Real Falcon
October 26th, 2009
8:05 am
When your quarterback has 4 turnovers it’s rather hard to win a football game in PeeWee much lest the NFL.
The truth hurts!
Chuckles Dimry
October 26th, 2009
8:14 am
Man my star pupils were great yesterday! It is just too bad that Brett’s incredible play has taken the limelight off of my best student, Chris Houston! Well, not everyone can win my trophy!
Pile Jumper = Non Factor
October 26th, 2009
8:18 am
LMAO! Other than talking trash, the Pile Jumper was a TOTAL non-factor in the game! Don’t break your arm patting yourself on the back, Pile Jumper. Celebrate the win with your teammates, because they’re the folks responsible for it . . . NOT YOU!
Peadawg
October 26th, 2009
8:19 am
I should win my fantasy matchup b/c I got Brees and Colston in my lineup. Go Falcons though.
geno
October 26th, 2009
8:21 am
Im sorry guys, but Mike Smith is not head coaching championship material….Shanahan, Gruden, Cowher are available….Hey Dimitroff, heres a quick lesson on how to win a ring…….Wide recievers win championships( rice, ward, buress, swan, moss, irvin, etc ), yet you go and get a TE.??……Linebackers, corners and safteys win championships ( palamalou, sanders, bob and deon, ray lewis, teddy bruski, champ bailey, ronnie lott, rod woodson etc.) yet you draft a DL.? …..thanks….for nothing!
S.D. Lucke
October 26th, 2009
8:23 am
We fans of the 5 time Super Bowl Champion Dallas Cowboys, want to thank Thomas Dimitroff, Mike Smith and the rest of the overrated Atlanta Falcons for cutting our newest favorite linebacker Keith Brooking. 11 years in Atlanta, and you idiots STILL did’nt know what you had. A hard nosed player, sure tackler, emotional leader and player of great character. The Falcons have been an overhyped, pumped up team, with a qb who in nearly 1.5 seasons was made out to be the next coming of Johnny Unitas. What he and the Falcons fan base found out yesterday is that he’s not special. He’s not the next Unitas. More importantly that this Falcons team IS NOT better then the Cowboys! They got their collective butts kicked in all three phases of the game. Mike Smith defensive genius? I think not. Roddy White and Michael Jenkins top ranked receiving duo in the league? Are you serious? Tony Gonzalez the best TE in football? Was he even on the field yesterday? The Cowboys Offense shredded the “Dirty Turds” yesterday with an undrafted qb (Romo) and an undrafted wr (Miles Austin). Add in a castoff linebacker (Keith Brooking), a guy who was out of football the last 3 years until this season (Junior Siavii) and the most dominating defensive player on the field (Demarcus Ware) and you have the makings of a Super Bowl Contender. Keith Brooking was tremendous yesterday. You whining wimps want to say he showed no class? Look, this is the NFL. Trash talking happens, it’s a part of the game. However, it aint trash talking if you can back it up! You clowns are mad because Broooking and ‘The Boys, backed it up.You’re mad because you were sipping the Falcon Fool-Aid, thinking your team was better than they are. You’re mad because you actually thought that the “Dirty Turds” we’re gonna go into the greatest stadium on the planet and beat the Dallas Cowboys. You’re mad because Keith Brooking showed your team and your linebackers what being an NFL linebacker and a leader is. Face it Falcon fools, you’re not good. You’re qb is not special. You’re defense has more holes in it than a spaghetti strainer, and your offense is just ordinary. Now you can get ready to get your butts whipped by the Saints. You can live with the knowledge that the Cowboys started your 2009 demise. I am loving every moment over your hurt and dismay. Ok I’m done. Let the Falcon bitchfest continue! We now return you back to the ledge, where the Falcons fans prepare to jump off!
BLUE
October 26th, 2009
8:23 am
how has this blog gone this long without nobody calling out JOHN ABRAHAM has not made a play in 3 weeks looks very weak
Peadawg
October 26th, 2009
8:23 am
geno we lost one game, chill out. We should still go atleast 10-6 and make the playoffs.
Nite Owl
October 26th, 2009
8:26 am
Obviously lots of things went wrong for the Falcons yesterday, so we probably would’ve lost no matter what. Let me say that up front. It was a total team loss.
But the killer for me was that TD by Romo right before the half.
If we sack him, they have no timeouts and probably can’t get the FG unit out there in time. Only 10-7.
Then our opening TD drive in the 2nd half gets us a four-point lead, instead of us playing catch-up the rest of the game.
Say what you want, but when we’ve played with a lead in the second half, we’re a different team.
Like I said, maybe it wouldn’t have mattered, but it was really the turning point right there.
Oh, and I hope Keith Brooking wakes up today and realizes how many supporters he lost. Count me among them.
LoveMyFalcons
October 26th, 2009
8:26 am
Manny @6:45 and others…thanks for the intelligent responses. I had trouble wading through all the garbage to get to these last few comments from people that actually talked about the game. Love to read the stories and comments, but really would appreciate a moderator to dump the junk.
Tim
October 26th, 2009
8:28 am
Falcons have problems on defense, which most people anticipated going into the season. Secondary is poor and worse now with Williams out. Turner’s performance can’t really be explained. Pass rush was ineffective and tackling was horrible all day long. The team will be 4-3 after the Saints game. From there, it’s a question as to where the team will end up. The hope going into the season was that the offensive weapons would allow the team to overcome its obvious weaknesses on defense. The absence of a running game calls that into question now. Unless the running game picks up, the 2009 edition of the Falcons may not break .500. Stay tuned.
Ashamed
October 26th, 2009
8:35 am
Can we move the team to another city so they don’t continue to embarrass this town anymore. Blank, take this CRAP and move to Gwinnett and call them the Duluth Falcons. Please seperate yourself from this city!!!!!! Your an embarrassment!
Laughing at the pidgeons
October 26th, 2009
8:39 am
Oh stop crying about Brooking. To the winners go the spoils. “He’s classless!” LOL! Haters! He got kicked off the team and then was able to whoop those same people. Get over it! The Falcons lost! Now go and try and beat the Saints!!
littlebird
October 26th, 2009
8:42 am
VICK SUPPORTER, you are so stupid. Move to Philadelphia so you can watch the LORD of your race sit on the bench. If he was so great, why isn’t he the Eagles starter instead of McNabb? You have no football knowledge at all and just like to see your FAMOUS NAME in print . . . blog on A$$ h!
All I'm Saying Is...
October 26th, 2009
8:42 am
Schultz:
Offensive line was the issue. Whether it was the Cowboys pass rush or the lack of running room for Turner, the issue is the O-Line.
Blaming the quarterback or the running back is the easy, no-research answer.
Zero running lanes is not the fault of Michael Turner.
Lack of time to throw is not the fault of Matt Ryan.
Play calling was abysmal on the offensive series following our score and that’s on the coaches—they, I guess, outsmarted themselves by going with the no huddle and proceeding to have us go backwards 34 yards after our defense got us the ball near mid-field. That whole sequence changed the momentum of the game.
lamac66
October 26th, 2009
8:44 am
GTJackets, your comment is funny to me. On one hand you bring up Vick and you opinion the team was built around him right? Okay.
Then in the same vain you say this current team is not built around one player right? Then why is everyone placing blame everywhere else but Ryan? This week Turner is the goat. Why?
I thought this was a team not dependent on one player. Ryan had a bad game. He responded like most QB’s who don’t get protected from the offensive line. He locked in on one receiver(Gonzalaz) and he threw interceptions.
Since you mentioned Vick, he never had consistent offensive line pass protection. But the press here would never factor that into his performance whether good or bad. The AJC here is so afraid to say Ryan had a bad game. Sorry!
Zoomie
October 26th, 2009
8:46 am
Six games into the season and I think we’ve seen enough to know exactly where we stand. This is an old story in football: the team that wins in the trenches wins the game. We’ve been extraordinarily lucky so far this season with the performance of the offensive and defensive lines, but playing against teams that have strong lines has exposed the Falcon’s most glaring weaknesses: mediocre, at best, performance from the offensive and defensive lines.
Nobody can argue that Turner has quickness. We saw that last year. The difference from last year is that last year he had holes to hit. This year, the offensive line is being handled and Turner is having to dance behind the line. This spells death for the Falcons’ running game. In addition, you can’t expect outstanding performance from a second-year quarterback when he’s always under duress.
I think our defensive secondary is playing as well as can be expected given their youth and experience, but when the opposing quarterback has all day to find an open receiver, he will find that receiver. There is no pressure coming from the defensive front. (Does John Abraham still play for the Falcons?) The only pressure we’re getting on opposing quarterbacks is from the occasional stellar play of Bierman and from blitz packages. Of course, a blitz just puts more pressure on a young, inexperienced secondary.
I still think we can pull out a winning season, laying the “back-to-back” ghost to rest, but the Falcons are not a playoff team.
It’s disappointing that the Falcons weaknesses are not where we expected them to be. They have no running game and a weak defensive line. Atlanta will get by teams that have the same, or worse, problems, but will consistently get beat by the better NFL teams as long as our lines get handled.
Oh well, I didn’t expect the Birds to go to the superbowl this year. Still holding out for that winning season, though . . .
lamac66
October 26th, 2009
8:50 am
Lack of time to throw is not the fault of Matt Ryan.
Why not? For three years I watched a Falcons with a pourous pass blocking offensive line but it was never an issue as it is now. Why?
Why can’t people understand that NFL teams take away one thing you do well when they’ve had a chance to study you.
The Falcons took everybody by suprise last year. Get used to it not taking teams by suprise this year. Especially the better teams that have better than .500 records. Watch.
SeenThisB4
October 26th, 2009
8:53 am
The set-up on this blog is really poor. I’ve been to a number of sports blogs at newspapers all around the country, and this by far, is the worst for user and reader friendliness. But, what would you expect from an Atlanta based paper. Saints 54 – dirtybirds 0.
Turner is a JOKE
October 26th, 2009
8:56 am
I called it last year as he was racking up yards against hapless opponents, with holes that I could run through. But just to reiterate, Turner is the most overrated running back in the league right now and the most overpaid by a mile. His nickname should be “Twinkle Toes” instead of Burner. This guy can’t hit a hole to save his life. For such a big guy, he runs like a complete wuss. He is soft as baby doo. We need to play the other running backs and then try to bring Tashard Choice back to Atlanta in the offseason.
If I see Turner tip toe through the tulips any more I think I’m going to vomit.
Twinkle Toes Turner
October 26th, 2009
8:57 am
Yeah, its all about the blocking. And it was last year, too.
FalconPrincessWarrior
October 26th, 2009
8:59 am
Well, it didn’t take Jerry Jones long to turn Brooking into a classless jerk. I know he is upset at the way the Falcons released him, so was I, but he never acted like that in ATL. He blew it with a lot of supporters – including me. His antics were over-the-top. One day – maybe as soon as today, he will certainly look back on his behavior with embarrassment.
Last week, our defense stepped up and carried us to that win but sooner or later the offense needs to take some pressure off the D. The O-line completely broke down and you can’t expect much from the QB, RBs and WRs when that happens. They’ve got an extra day to work things out before facing NO on the national stage Monday night. So get to work boys!
Chef menteur
October 26th, 2009
9:00 am
SAINTS 53 Falcons 10. Maybe not even that close! GO SAINTS!!!
lamac66
October 26th, 2009
9:00 am
In addition, you can’t expect outstanding performance from a second-year quarterback when he’s always under duress.
Why not?!! He’s already been annointed the next Peyton Manning. Come on folks you want it both ways. Then get annoyed when it’s called out. No excuses right? Ryan has to overcome being under duress. He has to get better despite his offensive line.
M Anthony
October 26th, 2009
9:03 am
Dang you birdheads have blamed the loss on Brookings, Vick, and everyone else. The birds just got beat by a better team that showed up. And it is only going to get worse.
lamac66
October 26th, 2009
9:04 am
So now Brookings is Falcon Fans enememy #1. You folk amuse me..lol
KD
October 26th, 2009
9:06 am
Ditto “Michael in Dunwoody”.