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
Just another troglodyte
October 26th, 2009
9:06 am
One of the keys to winning is to make the quarterback human. Look at what VT did to Harris. Any NFL QB with a modicum of talent can look like a hero if he is given the time to find his recivers. Just look at Tony Romo. Dallas simply won the game at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. The Falcons OL has, so far, done only one thing well and that is protect the QB, and Sunday they didn’t even do that. The Falcons DL, the few times it got to Romo, couldn’t tackle him. If you have a weak secondary, you have to have a pass rush. Offense is all about execution, but defense is about intensity, and Dallas had the intensity. No doubt, the off week helped a cowboys team that was already under the gun because of Jerry Jones and the pregame hype.
As for Brooking, I’ve always been a fan, but he really acted like a jerk Sunday. A total lack of class.
As for all the Vick fans, Michael Vick was one of the most exciting players ever to don a Falcons’ uniform, but he was not a great QB, just a great athlete. A career passer rating of 75.6 doesn’t exactly qualify for the Hall of Fame. The Falcons had too much money invested in Vick to sit him, but they would have been better off playing, and keeping, Matt Schaub.
T
October 26th, 2009
9:08 am
I lost a lot of respect for Brooking for the way he acted yesterday. I thought he had class but I guess I was wrong. Even with the emotional part of it, he could’ve won with class and dignity but he chose to go the other way! I’m glad he’s gone!
T.C
October 26th, 2009
9:08 am
Ooops here comes the lame excuses from your fellow falcon fans.They are who we thought they where.All these falcon fans with there hopes up when i told yall they have not done nothing or prooved nothing since 1966.Last week i observed all the bragging about these worthless birds.Oh well,get ready for part two of the beat down in neworleans.Lets seee,they still gotta play the giants,jets,philly,and n.o again.Im sorry sorry falcons LOLOLOLOLOL……
lamac66
October 26th, 2009
9:08 am
Tuner is a JOKE,
I called it last year as he was racking up yards against hapless opponents, with holes that I could run through.
Okay, so where are those holes this year. With you logic, that should be an indictment of the offensive line right? So would you admit that the offensive line is not opening up the same holes this year.
Just asking.
Josh
October 26th, 2009
9:11 am
This is absolutely ridiculous! Why do we have to put up with the race baters on this blog, who is monitoring this? First of all who cares or for that matter what does it matter the color of skin a player has. The real question is can he play, right? For that matter what the hell has Mr. Vick done for Philly? The answer to that is …NOTHING! For all those fair weather fans please remember the agony that MV7 gave us with his, at best, sporadic play. Remember that we are only 1 1/2 season removed from the train wreck 2007 season. Building a team takes time and growing pains. Now top that off with the injuries that the team has sustained on the already suspect defense and you get what we all saw on Sunday. I believe that we are heading in the right direction we just need to work on the depth of the team. The Falcons don’t have the plug-n-play depth that alot of the better teams have. It will take time. The preseason should have showed everyone that Brent Grimes is way outa his league. They went out and signed Brian Williams and traded for Tye Hill (which we have yet to see in action) those were good moves until Williams got hurt now our secondary has more holes than swiss cheese. There’s no push in the middle since Jerry got hurt I’ll say that Anderson is giving it his best but he’s undersized for the interior of the line. If theres no push in the middle then the ends get doubled. As for the offense the line has no excuse they are all healthy and have worked together for 2 seasons however Snellings seemed to find some room to move. Norwood is hurt so there is really no change of pace. In Ryans defense it’s kinda hard to throw when your on your back most f the game but he is experiencing a bit of a sophmore slump. The bottom line is people we can’t win them all, be patient, lets hope Demitrof and Smitty will get it fixed and we still have 10 games left so don’t throw in the towel yet. Oh, by the way all you fair weather fans go ahead don’t come to the games anymore and leave your season tickets at the door I’ll take them from ya!
SOUTH GA BIRD FAN
October 26th, 2009
9:12 am
playoffs ? playoffs ? PLAYOFFS ?!!!!!! did someone say playoffs , I am wishing for 9-7 thats all and believe me its going to be tough, although 9-7 might make the playoffs New orleans, Green bay, giants, and the vikings are better teams and they don’t have to play everyone of their opponents coming off a bye week.
GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!
Marie
October 26th, 2009
9:12 am
The bottom line is this — you will never be a great team in the NFL if you cannot come from behind and win a game. And so far the Falcons with Matt Ryan has not been able to do that. It is a fact that if the Falcons are leading at half time they will win the game and if they are trailing they have lost every game.
Great QBs have the ability to bring their team back and give them a chance to win the game or actually do win the game (like Drew Brees did yesterday). But when the Falcons are down by 2 scores you can hang it up b/c they are not going to win the game. And until Matt Ryan begins to do that all these comparisons to Tom Brady, Peyton Manning or other elite QBs is over the top. He is simply not there yet.
T.C
October 26th, 2009
9:13 am
Now turner gets the blame instead of sorry ryan.They both get the blame.I told you when the falcons under perform and they often do,they fans will turn on you faster than a bear before hybernating.Such two faced sorry fans.
Turner is a JOKE
October 26th, 2009
9:13 am
I am saying that it was the O line that opened up holes for him last year that my grandma could run through. They also stayed on their blocks longer last year which allowed Turner to hit holes at his snail’s pace. This year, the O line is not getting the push and more importantly their not able to sustain blocks as well as they did last year. Most RB’s could adjust by hitting the holes quicker instead of taking the time to let the play develop. Turner obviously cannot. I can’t recall another NFL RB who hit the hole as slowly as Turner does. He tiptoes around too much and you could read War and Peace before he hits the gap. Overrated and overpaid.
im4ball
October 26th, 2009
9:14 am
To me it seemed like the offensive line broke down much more than in past games. Weather it was the cowboy;s personel or some scheme they were running, Ryan had much less time to makes reads. For whatever reason, it took the offensive cooridinator much of the game to figure out the plays to beat the rush. I blame the play calling to much of the inabiilty to hadle the rush and thus score.
It does seem that Turner has problems running this year but, some of the can be accredited to the fact that teams are keying on him and also, it seems that runs for Turner are typically outside the tackles. Turner just does not have the speed to be going outside the tackles. They need to run more inside the tackles with Turner and let him wear down the defense.
We all know that the Falcons corners are short and just not very good and we can add to that the fact that they can not tackle very well in the open field. Just how many tackles did Brent Grimes wimp on?
lamac66
October 26th, 2009
9:15 am
Any NFL QB with a modicum of talent can look like a hero if he is given the time to find his recivers.
Just curious since you mention Vick. How would you assess the OL pass blocking when Vick was here? Like you say the OL didn’t protect the passer yesterday and that is the reason your QB was not effective right?
Turner is a JOKE
October 26th, 2009
9:16 am
By the way, nobody can blame Brooking for playing with passion and having a chip on his shoulder yesterday. How quickly you forget all of the Brooking bashing that went on last year. And if a Falcon’s coach did indeed tell him “its a young man’s game,” then the Falcon’s coaches got what they deserved as well.
I didn’t like to see his antics, but my god people, are you REALLY surprised?
Turner is a JOKE
October 26th, 2009
9:18 am
lame act, you are a joke. Questioning Matt Ryan? Really? Are you really that stupid?
lamac66
October 26th, 2009
9:20 am
Amazing! RB, DL, play calling..gets the blame. Everybody and their mama except QB. Too funny!!
falcon
October 26th, 2009
9:21 am
Very disappointing performance yesterday. We got whipped in every aspect of the game, including coaching. I can’t figure this O-Line out. Same coach and same personnel as last year, but no holes? Turner does not look like the same player. Terrible play calling. Another week where we don’t even try to throw it deep. Matt Ryan throwing into double coverage trying to hit Gonzalez time after time.
Our problem on defense is simple. We just don’t have the horses. We are 6 players short (sorry BG) of where we need to be. DE, DT, LB, CB’s and S. Since defense wins championships, the playoffs are looking like a stretch at this point.
As far as the comments regarding DJ being the answer…..if he was all that, why hasn’t another team picked him up?
And Brooking, real nice dude! 2 tackles and you’re all mouth. You weren’t so cocky after you cost the Falcons the game last year in Arizona. I hope the Falcon’s fans and organization remember your behavior when the talk turns to retiring you as a Falcon. You can keep your a$$ in Dallas.
CAN U SAY OVERATED IS A FOOL
October 26th, 2009
9:22 am
….We do know however that DJ Shockley was the best QB on this roster since 2007
ROTFLMAO…
CAN U SAY OVERATED is a fool.
Matt
October 26th, 2009
9:22 am
Brooking needs to grow up! He was lucky to get drafted by the Falcons and never have to leave his home town. Does not every one wish to be so lucky? He needs to realize the NFL is a business and he was not part of the plan. He gets payed to play football, get over it! To all the people saying Ryan sucks, why does every football person you hear rave about him? Vick never accomplished anything in Atlanta, hell he cant even get on the field in Philly! Vick was a baby in a mans world, period. The Falcons treated him like a baby and he acted like it. Any true Falcons fan is glad to be rid of such a pain in the a** QB. He was worthless a player and a human being!
T.C
October 26th, 2009
9:23 am
And then jeff got a nerve to rank the falcons above dallas in the nfc.G.b and even the bears even tho they got beat down sunday is better than the falcons.7th or 8th at best.
Turner is a JOKE
October 26th, 2009
9:24 am
Lame Act, you can’t hide stupid.
lamac66 is a racist
October 26th, 2009
9:24 am
nuff said.
So We Lost 1
October 26th, 2009
9:26 am
Schultz…..You are correct. Pressure on Matt(or any other QB) can and did cause problems. Yep, Turner I believe is still the same running back we saw last year. He just doesn’t have the lanes this year. So the old NFL rule goes like this: If you can’t establish your running game then you won’t be able to open up your passing game.
~~So we’ll be fine. We are still a playoff team.~~ GO FALCONS!!!
midtowncowboy
October 26th, 2009
9:30 am
Turner is not moving as quick as he did last year. Some holes were there yesterday as shown by Snelling popping several big runs. Norwood would have taken those runs to the house. My critisim of Ryan is he should throw the long ball more…But hard to too when your getting pressure every pass and the D is only rushing 4 or 5….Falcons miss Todd McClure…
Once "Recent" Reader
October 26th, 2009
9:31 am
Totally agree with the poster mentioning the game is won/lost in the trenches. O line clearly could not hold off the Cowboy rush . . . and D line could not get to Romo. As some may know I’m a Pats fan who has always also liked Falcs since Gritz Blitz. Even more so now as a BC alum cheering on Matt Ryan. I don’t expect Ryan or any QB to be perfect . . . .and remembering the Giants-Pats Superbowl . . .we all know what a great pass rush does to even one of the acknowledged best QBs (Brady) in the game!!!! Every week won’t be like that San Fran game!! As for next week, well the Saints D shows it can give up points . . . . . .but that O is something special. Gotta figure out a way to get some deceptive rushes on Brees that doesn’t leave the Secondary with 1-on-1s too long. Hey, I know many folks don’t like this Falcs secondary, especially after a loss!!! But Romo just had way too much time yesterday and could probably have picked apart any secondary. I haven’t seen Falcs play 2 down games this year in a row . . . and hope that pattern continues next week!! Keep the faith all . . . and maybe we should think about cutting some slack with the Team we have . . .or at least having some pragmatic expectations!!!
robert
October 26th, 2009
9:32 am
- Mularkey’s play calling has not impressed me at all. 1st down run, 2nd & 3rd down little dink and dunk passes. Mix it up, stretch the feild. I could understand this play calling if you had average players. Look at the Patriots, Saints, Colts, etc. they always go deep multiple times in a game. I don’t remember the last time we tried it?
- Smith’s 4th down decisions, SCARRED!! and no confidence in his offense. they don’t go for it on 4th and 2 while they still have a chance to stay in the game. Your quarterback is on the field wanting to go for it and you pull the offense off the field, Why? so your great defense can get a 3 and out? It hasn’t happened all day!!!! The punt is returned for a touchdown and the game is out of reach.
- DB’s (I won’t even go there) Our corners should have starred in the Wizard of Oz.
- Turner looks like he spends more time thinking about where he is going istead of exploding through the line and creating holes like he did last year.
- BVG if your corners are getting burned every other play when you are only rushing the front four, why not go ahead and send the house. What is the worse thing that could happen? Your corners get burned? That happend all day long.
I am a die hard Falcons fan and season ticket holder, I love my team, but it pains me to see a team with so much potential get out schemed, coached and played. Total team loss today, starting with the coaching.
lamac66
October 26th, 2009
9:32 am
Scott, you say:
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.
Funny how I NEVER heard this from the AJC and critics until now!
Get The Puck Out
October 26th, 2009
9:33 am
The Falcons yesterday looked just like the Falcons when Steve Bartkowski was the QB. They couldn’t block, the CB’s couldn’t cover, and the defensive line couldn’t put any pressure on the QB. The reason i say they look like the old team is Bartkowski had career ending knees because of all the abuse he faced from the opposing defensive line. Watch out Mattie Ice.
T.C
October 26th, 2009
9:33 am
Aww,why don’t yall get off brooking.Dont get mad because he’s with a real team now.At first yall took up for him,but now yall saying he have no class.See what i mean about falcon fans? They turn on you K.B They just turned on turner but at first they said he was a beast.Get out of there turner and go to dallas.I betcha they won’t blame ryan tho,you let them tell it he’s the best thing since sliced bread and he have not done nothing or prooved nothing either.You can bring up regular season stats but show me playoff and superbowl stats since he’s sliced bread.Give him time? o.k thats fare enough,lets see what happens.Ill give him 2015.
Hawkers2
October 26th, 2009
9:35 am
Until Grimes is benched or released we will continue to struggle against the pass. He is our biggest liabilty back there and we anyone on the roster could close their eyes and cover a receiver better. As for Turner he doesn’thave the drive to run the ball this yesr. He looks to be running scared. Last year he punished defenders and it seems he is weary of hitting the hole. Bench him until the desire comes back, and give sneeling who is running with a purpose.
After watching very closely this year so far, this is going to be a disaster if some personell changes aren’t made soon.
lamac66
October 26th, 2009
9:36 am
For the individual that took the time to invoke my username as being a racist is not only a coward but someone who can’t take the truth. That is what cowards do, they hide behind things.
Mel
October 26th, 2009
9:36 am
Funny thing is Keith was never that hyped up/emotional when he played here. I remember him getting blown up many many times.
SirReal
October 26th, 2009
9:37 am
Ok. I think we can still have a 10 win season with what we have down the stretch. BUT I wanna say a few things about both the offense and defense. OFFENSE: We have to start holding Ryan more accountable for his actions. He’s a human like everyone else. The game hinges on his shoulders b/c he is the QB. 2) I dont know what is going on with Turner…..maybe he did have too many carries last year b/c he’s lost a step. Snelling looked like Turner is supposed to look yesterday. 3) Our line needs to step up a little more as far as run blocking. DEFENSE: We are right back where we started in terms of the secondary and it showed yesterday. Where’s this Tye Hill guy? Is he ready? He needs to be. We also have to stop letting IMMOBILE QBs run for 15+ yards a pop! 2) Overall I liked the LBs play. 3) WHERE IS THE TACKLING and PRESSURE?!! We left like 3-4 sacks on the field b/c we didnt WRAP UP!! We still have time but I think we get torched by N.O. and win 2-3 straight. By week 10 we should be no less than 6-3.
PMC
October 26th, 2009
9:38 am
Defend the Dome get 3 on the road 11-5 laugh as the cowgirls once again lose in the first round of the playoffs. Put up a billboard in Senoia welcoming Mr 2 tackles home early and enjoy working with the front running cowboys fans.
The Great White Hope
October 26th, 2009
9:40 am
What you see is what you get w/Ryan. He will not get any better or worse. This kid threw like this in college…just as many Interceptions as TDs.
If the Falcons don’t go out and get a superb running game or Defense to hide Ryans ineptness at winning games with his arm, then we are going to be in trouble. As you can see, Ryan does not have the tools to carry this team on his shoulders to the SB or Playoffs. And his issues didn’t start yesterday, it began the latter part of 2008.
Turner and the CBs are another story all together, but Ryan is a glaring weakness on this team with his inability to stretch the field and interceptions.
Once "Recent" Reader
October 26th, 2009
9:41 am
SirReal – good analysis and prognosis! I didn’t look too hard at the Falcons schedule until I heard announcers talking about it yesterday. It definitely is a beast the next several weeks. If they come out 6-3 any Falcons fan has to be really pleased!!!
PMC
October 26th, 2009
9:42 am
It’s the NFL. Some weekends you are going to get beat. The Falcons still have only really played one solid game on offense. This team has great coaches and hard working players… they will find a way to get better from this.
Once "Recent" Reader
October 26th, 2009
9:46 am
GW Hope . . . . gotta disagree with you there. Where were you with the interception talks before this week. Ryan just like any other QB . . bad, good, and great . . . will throw Int’s. Just part of the game. However, unlike you (my assumption) I did watch every game Matt Ryan played in college as a BC alum. He continued to improve. As I had mentioned in early posts on AJC after Ryan was drafted . . . .a lot of his Int’s came from tips that should have been caught by mediocre/average receivers at BC, and yes – some were from forcing things in there because he had to make a play to keep a team with average O talent in the game. (I say average O talent as the D had better than usual players when he was at BC.) I’ll also admit . . ..some Int’s . . . but far fewer . . . were from bad decisions . . .or if you like – Bonehead play!! However – he will get better just as he did at BC. You really much not have watched BC too closely as you would have seen how much more commanding his presence became as a Junior and then Senior.
Vick Supporter
October 26th, 2009
9:50 am
Wow!!!! By reading these posts, people should see why I talk so much noise about the Falcon “fans”. Last year, Turner was “The Man” for the Falcons, and now you’ve turned your backs on him ALREADY….what a bunch of loser fans you people are,lol. Where’s the blame for Matt “Ice,lol” Ryan? These are the same issues that happened when Vick was our QB, and you people blamed Vick.
You people are putting Ryan on a pedestal that he hasn’t earned yet…and you just may get hit in the mouth for doing so….Ryan lokked very “Joey Harrington-ish” to me.
Like I’ve been saying…enjoy Trent Edwards 2.0
RODRJ32
October 26th, 2009
9:51 am
I don”t know if anyone has noticed or not, but Matt Ryan is not the second coming. He is definitely not as good as people thinks he is. He’s proving it this year. I was not sold on him last year. I am also not sold on the Falcons. I have been a fan since 1966. They have dissapointed me time after time. They lost to a Dallas team yesterday that probably wont even make the playoffs. The Falcons made sorry ass Romo look like Peyton Manning. If we don”t do something drastic about our secondary we could easily miss the playoffs ourselves. Can you imagine next Monday night? Damnit!!!! Grimes is too damn short to cover anyone. By the way i’m happy Brooking is gone. He was the king of letting backs get 6-10 yards and then tackling them. The Cowboys can have him. Turner is a non-factor. He looks to me like he’s lost it. Snelling looks better. Still no pass rush. All they do is run up field to make it look good if they blitz at all. Face it we are not that good!!!!
Hatfield Geoff
October 26th, 2009
9:53 am
I am concerned about the offense. Snelling is getting yards but not Turner so I don’t think its the line blocking. I think play calling is also part of the problem, do the Falcons have a screen pass in the playbook? Dallas pressured all day and we never ran a screen and I think we ran one or two draw plays. What’s with that? How about a crossing pattern so White can use his speed to get separation from DBs. How many times did we run on 1st down to set up 2nd and 9 or 10 or 12. At some point you got to realize you ain’t getting it done and try something else. Tyson Clabo was getting blow off the line every other play. And the pass blocking in general was terrible. Constant pressure on Ryan made him throw early. The Defense is what it is, it has a lot of holes, is very young and short on talent. Most of the talent is marginal. The play at the end of the half on which Dallas scored was terrible. Falcons have a sack (guy is on his back)but they let Romo get away. That is the difference between great players and average players, great players finish. Babineau (sp?) is average.
Falc. exec.
October 26th, 2009
9:53 am
Guys,
Brooking was not let go by Falcons..He chose to leave. They offered him a contract about as good as what Dallas did. The difference was he was not guaranteed a starter position, he was told he would have to work for it like everyone else…He chose to leave… and he acted like a jerk yesterday…was a big pile jumper just like in ATL.. he had 2 tackles the whole game… but he should have put on one of the Cheerleader uniforms, that would have fit him better yesterday.
Vick Supporter
October 26th, 2009
9:57 am
Trent Edwards > “Ice” Ryan
Falc. exec.
October 26th, 2009
9:57 am
Ryan did not look good but he was no joey harrington…If Turner would just hit the holes harder he would be fine..he gets up there and hesitates/dances around and hole closes… Just hit north and south hard. Snelling was hitting holes very hard. O -line played bad. D-backs did too…we still have some missing pieces…Go Falcons!
TX2Step
October 26th, 2009
9:58 am
When will Atlanta learn it really is the worst sports city in America and give up completely? Go Cowboys!
The Great White Hope
October 26th, 2009
10:00 am
To TX2Step: Atlanta may not be the best sport city in America, but Dallas has the worse crime in America. Have you seen the 1st 48 Hours? you have bigger fish to fry. try winning a playoff game in the 21st century and then talk smack.
RODRJ32
October 26th, 2009
10:01 am
Here we go GT JACKETS. GA PEACH had a good point, so why does he or she have to be a Vick fan. Why the name calling? The way I see it you are living in denial and are uninformed. The boy threw into coverage all day long like an idiot. Cannot run to save his momma’s life. Hell we don’t expect him to run like Vick, but damn at least try to get out of the way. Here’s an idol thought. Maybe step up in the pocket a little. Since you went there with Vick let me go there. We still live in the South and yall want that boy to wear a cape so bad it’s killing you. I got news for you he’s not even close yet.. End of story!!
RODRJ32
October 26th, 2009
10:08 am
Very well put GREAT WHITE HOPE. Remember you are still in the south.
Smart Art
October 26th, 2009
10:08 am
Start Owens & Tye Hill, they can’t be any worse than the pathetic group of corners we displayed yesterday. How many times are they gonna get flagged for pass interference & still allow a catch??? SHEEESH!! We can not start that midget against Colston, PERIOD!! I really am starting to miss Deangelo, (hate to say it) he’s the only one i miss though, cuz i’ll take Peterson & Lofton over Brooking any day. I am encouraged by Anderson’s play inside but that still leaves a void opposite Abraham! I take it back, I miss Kerney too!!!
FalconUGAFan
October 26th, 2009
10:09 am
Vick Supporter, who are you angry at? The people on here don’t do the hiring and firing. We just cheer for our team.
The entire Falcons team had a bad day yesterday, QB, O and D lines, secondary everyone with the exception of Snelling and maybe Weems. Ok you happy. RYAN had a bad day!! Questions about Turner are legitimate. He was THE man last year and he is clearly not up to his calibre this year. True Falcons fans just want to know what is going on with him. Most of us have a great deal of respect for Turner. Are you a true Falcons fan or are you just a hater? No real need to answer. Why don’t you just go to the Pjilly blogs and support your guy and leave us alone?
lamac66
October 26th, 2009
10:10 am
Shadow of Falcons Offense
Quarterback
Matt Ryan had one of the longer days in his young career, spending much of the game looking up at the amazing screen in Cowboys Stadium after being sacked four times, hurried, and beat on by the Cowboys defensive front. Marcus Spears, Demarcus Ware, and Bradie James were in Ryan’s face all day and put the pressure on from the first snap. The horrible play of the offensive line doesn’t excuse Ryan’s poor decisions throughout the game, where he threw into tight coverage and seem rattled, quite unlike his normal persona. Two touchdowns, but a fumble and two picks again, making it four picks in two weeks. Grade – F
FINALLY, an honest assessement of the QB play that went on! I can respect this.
FalconUGAFan
October 26th, 2009
10:14 am
I think its funny when people say Arthur Blank only wants players that look like him. Since when do ANY of his players look look like mopey old Italian guys?
Its a joke…be cool….