Something in Falcons’ season has gone horribly wrong
The look on Matt Ryan's face speaks volumes about his toe injury -- and the Falcons' season. (AP photo)
FLOWERY BRANCH – Mike Smith admits he doesn’t play poker. So when the Falcons’ coach said Monday, “You have to deal with the hand that you’re dealt,” he chose not to expand on that thought with, “Do I have to ante twice for new cards, or is this where I bluff?”
The Falcons went 11-5 last season. What went wrong? They added Tony Gonzalez and Mike Peterson and Peria Jerry to a team that went to the playoffs with a rookie quarterback who only figured to get better in season two. What happened? Are twos, fours and sixes wild? Because if so, they’ll be fine.
The Philadelphia Eagles and a well-known second-string quarterback come to the Georgia Dome Sunday. This game conceivably could determine the Falcons’ playoff fate. But they will be missing their starting quarterback (Matt Ryan) and almost certainly their starting running back (Michael Turner) and maybe a few others, because that’s how this season has unraveled.
Referring to Chris Redman, Ryan’s replacement, Smith said, “I don’t anticipate there’s going to be a significant dropoff in the effectiveness of our offense.”
And then he rode off on his Unicorn.
There are two ways to spin the Falcons’ season: 1) They’re 6-5 with five games left, three against losing teams, and therefore still in the thick of the NFC wild card race; or 2) They required a last-second touchdown to defeat arguably the worst team in football, the 1-10 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and they played their first home game in three weeks Sunday before over 15,000 empty seats in the Georgia Dome.
In other words, they’re average, they’re desperate and the bandwagon still has plenty of room to stretch out and recline.
Were we so wrong about the possibilities with this team? Or did injuries simply wreck the season before things could get going?
Harry Douglas, the No. 3 receiver, punt returner and speed burner, suffered a torn knee ligament in the first week of training camp. There also have been season-ending injuries to the No. 1 pick (defensive tackle Peria Jerry), the No. 2 pick (safety William Moore) and the replacement veteran cornerback (Brian Williams). Running backs Turner (one and a half games) and Jerious Norwood (six games) also have missed time, making Jason Snelling relevant, which was neither the plan nor the desire.
John Abraham is invisible. Jason Elam may soon be.
This season was supposed to be special. It’s not. The Falcons’ playoff fortunes now rest on the arm of a guy who was selling insurance three years ago and the legs of the 244th pick in the NFL draft. Not Matt Ryan, who is out at least this week with turf toe. Not Michael Turner, who aggravated a high ankle sprain. Neither chose quick-healing injuries.
Last season, nobody expected much. But after a 4-3 start, the Falcons won consecutive games against Oakland and New Orleans and blasted off. They went 7-2 down the stretch and made the playoffs. It was a needed, post-Michael Vick, post-Bobby Petrino franchise cleansing.
But they’ve never really gotten into a rhythm this season. Even the 4-1 start included hiccups by Ryan and Turner, and certainly the defense. Then came the beat down in Dallas and the loss in New Orleans. The Falcons could’ve survived that. But losing to a mediocre team at Carolina two weeks later left little room for error.
Big problem: They have errors.
When asked about the way things have unfolded, Smith said only: “The big thing is you have to be able to improvise and adjust because the dynamics are changing all the time in this league.”
Dynamics: I believe they call that a euphemism. This hand is dangerously close to over.
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233 comments Add your comment
RODRJ32
December 1st, 2009
11:44 am
Hey Jeff why haven’t we signed Shockley yet. We need him asap. With Redman and Wilson we could easily have a fatality sunday. The Eagles blitz on every down. We will, mark my words have trouble with that defense on sunday. We need to get Shockley back into the fold quickly and oh yeah by the way, we need a kicker badly!!!
Ricky
December 1st, 2009
11:52 am
ATL Observer:
Two completely different QB styles……..the entire offense is coached based on what the team talent can do. I am not sure you can make a comparison based soley on W-L record 27 games in either. I don’t have time to do the research but I am certain there are QB’s enshrined in Canton that didn’t start out with either Vick or Ryan’s record initially. I haven’t heard anyone saying so much that one is better than the other, hell, let’s say Chris Chandler is better than both, he took us to the Super Bowl. The argument is some people are pissed Vick got caught and they want Matt Ryan to pay for it,
Hatfield Geoff
December 1st, 2009
11:54 am
TMAC,
Keith Brooking’s tackles are always downfield and usually he gets in on an assist (counted as a tackle) at the end of a play. Impact players stop backs before they get the first down and get tackles in the backfield. Brooking couldn’t do that in his prime much less now. Peterson is doing both. The Falcons defensive problem are the small sized linemen who cannot get a consistent pass rush and a secondary with limited ability. The last two years the best defensive back on the Falcons was claimed off the heap of cut players a few weeks before the season. What does that say about the level of talent back there?
Raheem Morris
December 1st, 2009
12:21 pm
We’ll trade you Josh Freeman for Matt Ryan and throw in a box of kicking tees?
Manny
December 1st, 2009
12:35 pm
Josh Freeman for Matt Ryan??? That’s a bet! You will take his contract, right?
Seriously, I would take Josh Freeman for Matt Ryan AND Tye Hill! Josh Freeman looks poised and he doesn’t throw many interceptions- not in the NFL nor in college!
Samantha Baker
December 1st, 2009
12:41 pm
Ok Seriously,
Why isn’t the Offensive line getting more heat?
Sam AKA “Samantha” Baker.. How many full games has this guy played? Move him to right Tackle and get a real Left Tackle in here…
Also, I have noticed one thing about Dimotroff. He likes to draft Injury Prone Players.. PERRY, Moore and Baker all had College history’s of being constantly injured.
We need serious OLINE and D line help.. Kroy can’t do it all by himself.
Also, Go spend some money and bring in some Talent we are far from The New England Patriots position and have no depth. YOu can’t do it all by the draft right now, not till you start getting up to par.. By the way we dont have a 2nd round pick next year… So we are in Major trouble..
Open the Pocket book Arthur and Tommy Swallow some pride and bring in soem Veteran Corners! The Patriots did not draft Moss, Welker, etc..
Samantha Baker
December 1st, 2009
12:45 pm
Maybe Arthur can dig deep into his pockets with the Raise in the Ticket Prices he stuck to his fans in a recession and get us a team we should be paying for…
ELVISINTHEHOUSE.
December 1st, 2009
12:47 pm
JT23,Then go back to miami.Nobody cares about the sorry falcons or the sorry dolphins.
Where is the Red Stripe guy?
December 1st, 2009
12:50 pm
Just haven’t heard from the Red Stripe guy.. Just want to make sure your still a fan these days…
Samantha Baker
December 1st, 2009
12:54 pm
Finally,
I can’t decide who is worse JASON ELAM or our Corners? oh yea, your right ELAM is worse! And why is he still on team?
Jason Elam AKA Shankapotamus
December 1st, 2009
12:57 pm
The timing is bad..
The Holder didn’t hold the ball correctly
LACES OUT!!!
falcons fan in ga
December 1st, 2009
12:58 pm
choke shut the hell up you racist fool… and vick supporter get a damn life… i am so tired of this crap from everone… vick is gone… and vick is a convicted felon for christ’s sake… he shouldnt even be playing to begin with… he had his chance to shine and he blew it a number of way’s- whether just being lazy or to busy fighting dog’s… it is amazing how a certain segment of the population could care less that what he did was so heinous and they just want our black quarterback… instead of railing on a quarterback that is a decent human being and can actually play the position why dont you applaud ( and yes vick brought a dimension to the game with speed; but, the guy had no touch at all… ) i think the nfl powers that be recognize talent a little better than you… ryan will be fine today and into the future… just give it a rest with the racist rhetoric…
ELVISINTHEHOUSE.
December 1st, 2009
12:59 pm
Barry,you sound like charley brown with that one heart beat crap.Truth is the truth,the falcons are SORRY. it is what it is.its like trying to make a apple to be a watermelon,it is what it is.
ELVISINTHEHOUSE.
December 1st, 2009
1:07 pm
Falcon fan in ga,get off vick supporter and chokes nutts.They have a right to comment just like you posted your hatred.Geez whats up with all these insecure people.
Ricky
December 1st, 2009
1:15 pm
Elvis is dead……………I’m all shook up!
PaulieOldSchool
December 1st, 2009
1:21 pm
If you watched the Dallas game at all, especially their defense, you saw their #56 “making” the same kind of plays he made here in the last few years. That is, late pursuit, open lane blitzes, “assisting” with a tackle. This is his first year at Dallas, and he will never again play as well there as he has this year. Simple fact. He got a kick in the pants when Atlanta did not re-sign him. In addition, he is, fortunately for him, surrounded by talent there that he simply did not have here since his early years. I’m glad he’s gone, we’re better off, and I frankly could give a tinker’s damn what anyone in Dallas thought about anything.
tcloud45
December 1st, 2009
1:35 pm
I think 10-6 is very realistic, with the only loss coming to New Orleans. I think they’ll go 15-1, if not undefeated.
These are your daddy's Falcons
December 1st, 2009
1:38 pm
Come on Man….these are the falcons……..legacy losers…………remember william andrews, steve bart…whatever, Jamal Anderson, jeff george…….come on man.
It is difficult to change a culture of losing……..
DMac
December 1st, 2009
1:44 pm
Time to power with Snelling, get to the edge with Norwood and Blitz 90% of the Snaps. We can’t cover more than 3 seconds at a time. Its the Playoffs this Sunday…
RK
December 1st, 2009
1:52 pm
Why has the Washington Post beat the AJC to the story about the new Atlanta Beat stadium and today’s announcement?
Dan
December 1st, 2009
2:10 pm
Is it to early to look forward to next year. Basically if you look at the Saints they drafted alot of offensive players and filled their needs with Free Agents. DE Julius Peppers Carolina Panthers (NORTH CAROLINA), DE Richard Seymour Oakland Raiders( GEORGIA), LB Shawne Merriman San Diego Chargers ( Maryland) and CB Dunta Robinson Houston Texans (South Carolina)…….Personally I would like to see them go after Dunta and Merriman and fill DE need in the draft
Mel in Midtown
December 1st, 2009
2:27 pm
Someone needs to ask some hard questions about Thomas Dimitroff. Yeah, he made a great move with acquiring Tony Gonzalez, but his entire 2009 draft is a bust.
Last night, the NO Saints played two guys (Mike McKenzie and Chris McAllister) at cornerback – both were available as free agents as little as two weeks ago – and they looked “All World” against on of the best passing attacks in the NFL (Tom Brady, Wes Welker, Randy Moss et al). One INT, several “pass defended” and some crucial tackles by the NO corners.
Question: Did Dimitroff ever look at McKenzie and McAlilster given our ongoing problems at corner?? If not, why not?
And, my personal ongoing rant – get the ultimate jock-sniffer Arthur Blank off the f—in’ sidelines!
9-7 at best..and maybe worse???
M Anthony
December 1st, 2009
2:28 pm
How about blaming the falconettes problems on D Hall and Mike Vick. That has always worked in the past.
Stephen
December 1st, 2009
2:34 pm
The falcons have to understand that building a team isnt rocket science its about putting people in the right places on your team and spending money on good free agents that can help a team out. As for the defense you will not stop anybody in this league with a non existent pass defense. Number 1, the falcons need athletic cover corners and superior passrush that comes from the middle of the defense. Secondly, I like Matt Ryan as the quarterback but he needs more developing as the quarterback. With that being said the falcons must draft or pick up free agents on the defensive side of the ball that are willing to tear up concrete and wont think twice about it. Falcons defense doesnt have and attitude or swagger about themselves that can elevate them to another level – see Steelers, Ravens, Saints, and Colts. So So players get you So So results. Go get top notch talent and coach them up so that it reflects on Sundays. Please spend the money on quality players……. Lower level talent gets you lower level results. I want the falcons to be feared when they step on the field. Nobody fears the falcons and I have to say they are scared of themselves.
DeloresVixesen
December 1st, 2009
2:45 pm
This headline is ridiculous. The falcons management are not dumb owls. THEY KNOW WHAT WENT WRONG. We lost two games we should have won (Carolina and Giants). We lost one game we could have won had we given ANY EFFORT AT ALL (Cowboys). Win those three games and your record is 9-2 instead of 6-5. All three of those games should have been won. Now the Falcons are making excuses why their season stinks.
Kelli
December 1st, 2009
3:14 pm
GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!
I BELIEVE IN REDMAN AND NORWOOD!!!!!!!!
—————————————————-
Norwood, yes. Redman, not so much.
Falcons Ugly Win
December 1st, 2009
3:16 pm
Duhhhhh.
The offensive line sucks!
5 sacks in the first half? WTF?
And as for Elam….. That dude better not show up at my restaurant, I’ll spit in his food.
Anthony
December 1st, 2009
4:41 pm
FIRE JASON ELAM!#@(*$()@#*$()@#*()$#*@()$#*@()#*@)(#@
Kuhanluke
December 1st, 2009
5:29 pm
Remember the last game of 07′?Redman threw for 250 yards plus and four touchdowns and upset the seahawks,at one point in that game we scored 3 touchdowns in 90 seconds.Bam!We can do this!mark my words Redman is due.
Steve
December 2nd, 2009
3:24 am
They refused to sign free agents where experience was needed. With the exception of Brian Williams, all of their free agency efforts were not effective at all. New Orleans signed Chris McAlister, New Orleans signed Darren Sharper. We needed both, we signed neither. We also refused to pull the trigger on Elam until it was too late.
Singletary
December 2nd, 2009
5:29 pm
Elam. One word. Elam. Yes, there were other hiccups but counting on your mo=jo means something in game time reality.
jojatek
December 2nd, 2009
11:44 pm
Agree… the season really came unraveled against Carolina after the bye week (that was their opportunity to make a statement and show everyone they had begun to escape their past, but they weren’t quite ready for that stage…). That said, this team (and I have been a fan since ‘74) has never been in a better position to finally build a long-term contender and a solid, highly respected franchise (although you could make an argument for the 1980 team). It will take time, but three of the most critical pieces (coach, GM, and franchise QB) are finally in place, and Dimitroff clearly recognizes that every great team is defined by the play of its offensive and defensive lines…
Patience, everyone… we’ve waited this long… let’s get 9 or 10 wins out of this season, learn a little bit more about this team and how they handle themselves when the chips are down, then turn the page to next season and hope they keep moving this franchise in the right direction…
MV#777
December 7th, 2009
7:20 pm
THE REDEMPTION OF MR.MICHAEL VICK!!!!!!!!
CHECK THIS OUT!!!!!!!
PHIL 34 – ATL -7
VICK SCORED 14-7=7
1)14-7=7
2)3+4= 7 =#7
3)ATL= 7
THE PROBLEM IS THE ATLANTA FALCONS NEED…. MICHAEL VICK #7.
YOU HAVE AN ATHLETE IN MIKE WHO THROWS LIKE JOHN ELWAY, WHO RUNS LIKE BARRY SANDERS, WHO IS AS FAST AS DEION SANDERS, AND WHO IS PLAYING THE QUARTERBACK POSITION. PEOPLE LOVE IT,ALL OVER THE WORLD, I LOVE IT!!!!!! MR.BLANK THINK!! AND THE DOME WILL SELLOUT AGAIN,AGAIN AN AGAIN.
YOU ARE A BUSINESS MAN…. HE’S BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!