Falcons are winning because they’re following Mike Smith
Mike Smith has coached only 43 games and he already ranks fourth on the Falcons' win list.
They are winning because the owner cares and spends money.
They are winning because the general manager has made moves that look smart today and project well for tomorrow.
They are winning because they have a quarterback who seems to have discovered the road map to Canton and a wide receiver who just busted through that door that reads: “Superstar.”
But mostly the Falcons are winning because of their coach. It doesn’t work without Mike Smith. The money, the structure, the decisions, the athletic wonder of Matt Ryan and Roddy White – none of that translates into a 9-2 record this season and 29-14 over two and a half years if everybody isn’t following the head coach.
“We can all have grandiose visions,” general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. “But if the head coach is not carrying the torch, it’s all for naught.”
To this point, Smith is the NFL’s coach of the year. This week’s counterpart, Raheem Morris of Tampa Bay, is getting justifiable praise. So should Rex Ryan (New York Jets), Andy Reid (Michael Vick/Philadelphia) and maybe that guy in New England again (Bill Belichick).
But the Falcons have won a lot of games in a lot of different ways. They have beaten Baltimore and Green Bay and are tied with the Patriots and Jets for the NFL’s best record. They are getting better by the week.
In the 42 years before Smith’s arrival, this franchise had never managed consecutive winning seasons. They’re already assured of their third straight winning season under him. That’s not all talent and chemistry, it’s leadership. Smith ranks only ninth in Falcons games coached (43) but already fourth in wins (29). There’s a consistency in confidence and expectation level now that never has existed before.
Thomas Dimitroff (left) worked with one of the best in New England, Bill Belichick (right), and he believes Smith now ranks among the best.
Smith won big in his first season but so did Jim Mora. He differentiated himself in year two. Players played hard late in the season even when injuries contributed to a 6-7 start. They won their final three games. Then came this offseason’s self-analysis. Smith knew the potential perils of year three.
“Sometimes familiarity is not a good thing,” he said. “It’s natural for a staff and players to get into a routine and become comfortable with one another. It was important that we looked at all levels, starting with me, and we held ourselves to higher expectations.”
We’ve seen so many cartoons on the sideline here. From Marion Campbell to Jerry Glanville, from Mora to Bobby Petrino. How did the Falcons finally get it so right?
When Dimitroff was hired, he knew his coaching candidates were “accomplished” so he decided to focus less on Xs and Os than personality. He valued the coach-general manager relationship and wanted someone who shared the same vision on how to build a team. He had grown up in the NFL and saw how egos could fracture an organization.
“I wanted someone who would not only talk but listen,” Dimitroff said.
He interviewed Smith, Rex Ryan, Leslie Frazier, Jim Schwartz and Jason Garrett. Garrett had already decided to stay in Dallas. Dimitroff offered the job to Smith over the others.
When asked why Smith has been so successful, Dimitroff said: “He has a unique combination of levity and football street smarts. He has the ability to know when things need to be light and when to turn it on and off. He knows his players and is cognizant of the different personalities in the locker room.”
Notice how there’s nothing in there about plays or schemes?
Smith said he never wondered if he would be a good head coach. It follows that he never doubted himself.
Ask him who has had the greatest influence on him and he’ll name four coaches: Former Baltimore head coach Brian Billick “is the most organized guy I’ve ever been around.” Cincinnati coach and former Ravens’ defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis “had a knack for making everybody feel like they were a part of the game plan.” Another former Ravens assistant, Mike Nolan, had a defensive background but coached wide receivers one year in Baltimore. “We would talk in a defensive vernacular about what offensive guys were trying to do,” he said.
Finally there was Jack Del Rio, then a young Baltimore assistant and later Jacksonville’s head coach. Smith talked to him about the players’ mindset. Quoting: “I’d ask Jack, ‘What are they thinking at this time of the season? How about in March? Are they concerned about this?’”
And you wonder why Smith relates so well to players?
His keys to success are not great secrets: communication, character, team work. But getting players to buy in and watching them follow the coach — that’s a rare sight around here.
♦
Falcons head coaches ranked by wins Coach (seasons) Games W-L-T Dan Reeves (1997-03) 109 49-59-1 Leeman Bennett (1977-82) 87 46-41 Norm Van Brocklin (1968-74) 89 37-49-3 Mike Smith (2008-) 43 29-14 Jerry Glanville (1990-93) 64 27-37 Jim Mora (2004-06) 48 26-22 Dan Henning (1983-86) 64 22-41-1 June Jones (1994-96) 48 19-29 Marion Campbell (1974-76; 87-89) 68 17-51 Norb Hecker (1966-68) 31 4-26-1 Pat Peppler (1976) 9 3-6* Bobby Petrino (2007) 13 3-10 Wade Phillips (2003) 3 2-1* Emmitt Thomas (2007) 3 1-2* Jim Hanifan (1989) 4 0-4* (*Interim coach)♦
Recent episodes . . .
♦ Surprise! Spurrier proves South Carolina can be a player in SEC
♦ Alabama staffer fired for mocking Cam Newton with songs
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250 comments Add your comment
mmgtfan
November 30th, 2010
3:38 pm
First
TomK
November 30th, 2010
3:38 pm
Falcons fan from upstate NY…FIRST!!!!!!!
spotman
November 30th, 2010
3:38 pm
third
Break the Curse
November 30th, 2010
3:45 pm
Can Mike and Thomas bring the mojo and break the Falcons curse? Stay tuned….
TG
November 30th, 2010
3:45 pm
Fourth…Go Falcons!!!!
Not an allstar cast
November 30th, 2010
3:48 pm
The list of coaches past makes me want to vomit!
jerry
November 30th, 2010
3:49 pm
“We can all have grandiose visions,” general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. “But if the head coach is not carrying the torch, it’s all for naught.”
Are you listening, Mr. Richt?
Go Birds!!!!!!!
waynester
November 30th, 2010
3:55 pm
Until Mike Smith even our winningest coaches had records barely above .500–is it any wonder we love and appreciate the guy so much? Right now only Belichick has a higher “coaches’ approval rating” and deservedly so. I’ve never had this kind of confidence in our team’s leadership–NEVER–and I’ve been a Falcon from the very beginning. Now, let’s win out and win our 1st Championship!!! Thanks Smitty!!!!
jg
November 30th, 2010
4:03 pm
so true–the falcons teams under smith are so different than any falcon teams in history. as a fan since the early 70’s i always seem to say “here we go again,” or “watch right here–they’ll score put this one in overtime and we’ll lose the toss and rodgers will drive down for the winning fg.” that’s not happening with smith’s teams. they have a toughness, character and brain. they don’t make stupid mistakes, they never give up and they seem to be well rounded in life as well.
i really like following these guys–there not doing it with any kind of gadget such as the run and shoot (which i loved) or the gritz blitz (ditto)–but they are winning games in practice, playing fundamental football and capitalizing on their opponents mistakes. i hope this style continues–these teams are much easier and more fun to watch.
i’ll always love the falcons no matter what kind of team is here–but this one is just a whole lot better to root for.
SimpleDawg
November 30th, 2010
4:04 pm
Can Smitty coach 2 teams at the same time?
It’s not that far to Athens.
Supes
November 30th, 2010
4:07 pm
The Falcons need to extend Coach Mike Smith soon and lock him up long term. He’s a proven winner and the man that is going to lead us in the future. It’s great to be an Atlanta Falcons fan right now!
JASon
November 30th, 2010
4:09 pm
Jeff, you failed to mention Smith’s greatest contribution to this year’s team: discipline. This team does not turn the ball over or commit penalties. This aspect single-handedly wins games.
The Grinch
November 30th, 2010
4:09 pm
Ditto, jg; you took the words right out of my mouth. There really isn’t anything NOT to like about this current regime, and that sure is a change of pace.
PaulieOldschool
November 30th, 2010
4:11 pm
I really feel like it’s just a matter of time for the Falcons now. We are moving forward, things are going our way, yeah, lots of hard work and all that. Some luck, too. We’ve been real lucky with few injuries this year (knock me some big wood here). But no matter what, I feel like we’re moving and will keep moving in the right direction. And keep trying. That’s all true fans want. They want to know that their team cares as much as they do, and tries hard, and asks only for a fair chance. And I’m still not too cynical to believe that that will eventually get you a championship. I hope it’s this year, but, if not, it’ll be soon.
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
November 30th, 2010
4:13 pm
We’ve had some stinkers, but the worst I’ve EVER felt Falcons-coach-wise was when Marion Campbell was brought back for an encore..
REAL TALKER
November 30th, 2010
4:15 pm
we had sum bums coaching us all these years no wonder we never had back to back winning seasons
Reality
November 30th, 2010
4:24 pm
The Falcons have had brief stretches of success before, but they were always interrupted by a combination of bad luck and incompetence. When Smith lifted the curse of back-to-back winning seasons last year, it’s like all of that went out the window. We no longer expect the other shoe to drop. We expect the team to keep playing smart and efficiently and get better every year.
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November 30th, 2010
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Bobby Alexander
November 30th, 2010
4:43 pm
JASon, you got the main thing right. Discipline! Also I would like to throw in Class. Anyone noticed how the when a good play is made, the player doesn’t go running down the field pounding his chest or doing some other “Look at me, I did my job” type celebration? I absolutely love that about the Falcons. I noticed it the first year Mike Smith was here and it is still the same. Can’t help but think that is something brought to the Falcons by Mike Smith. We win as a team and celebrate as a team. Thats CLASS!
Greg Mendel
November 30th, 2010
4:48 pm
That list of Falcons coaches and their records is painful. But it clearly illustrates what I keep harping on — that getting the team out of the clutches of the Rankin Smith family and into the hands of Arthur Blank was crucial. Dan Reeves was a good coach, but was caught in the transition. Leeman Bennett wasn’t that bad, which automatically required the Smiths to can him. The whole tawdry conga line of Campbell, Glanville, Jones, Peppler, etc. is evidence of utter incompetence. Blank was blindsided by Vick and Petrino, but unlike the Smiths, he was never completely clueless and asleep-at-the-wheel.
Peter
November 30th, 2010
4:49 pm
Please babies all of ‘ya. I’ve watched every Falcon season. I twitch and contort my body on nearly every play so.much that once while watching a game an MD asked if I had a history of seizures.
Nativebird
November 30th, 2010
4:53 pm
You forgot to mention “They are winning because the owner cares and spends money….and gave up control and got out of the coaching game”. Thank YOU Michael Vick! best thing that ever happened to this franchise.
RLM
November 30th, 2010
4:56 pm
The key is The Penalties and Turnovers. That is where you make the other team work harder. His leadership has brought discipline and structure(both on and off the field) to this team. No matter what happens you know that character is the first thing that this regime is looking for when the draft or sign a player and that is really important. The chemistry in the locker room has to be perfect and that starts with the Head Coach.
Thanks A. Blank for bringing in these 2 fine gentlemen to lead the Falcons from the ashes to a future title and a hopeful Dynasty that other organizations pattern themselves after.
GO FALCONS!!!!!!!
DamYankee
November 30th, 2010
4:56 pm
The folks that made the Falcons of old such a joke were a different kind of Smith – Rankin Sr., Rankin Jr. & Tony.
Sid
November 30th, 2010
5:01 pm
It took a long time to get it right at the top starting with ownership working your way down. Rankin Smith………an entertainment venture, Arthur Blank, a smart businessman who wants to WIN.
dean
November 30th, 2010
5:03 pm
I want to see how the Falcons do Sunday against TB. I know, I know. It’s TB. But they almost beat us in ATL and you just know the folks in TB are down there planning every trick in the book.
In the time being, THANK YOU ATLANTA FALCONS for transferring the monkey of being the laughing stock of the NFL to somewhere else.
Ueeediot
November 30th, 2010
5:04 pm
Amen to that Yankee…..
I was at the game at the Ga Dome the day they retired Mike Kenn and raised his banner…..
You couldnt hear much over the booing for Rankin Jr….deservedly so.
One free agent in the 80s was quoted as saying he signed with Dallas because when he came to Atlanta the weight room was on a dirt floor in Suwanee. Now that we have an owner who cares, Im about to be priced out of my seat…
Dejay
November 30th, 2010
5:13 pm
Someone beat me to it with the knock on wood comment concerning injuries or any off the field stuff affecting the team. But any longtime fan will agree that this is a breath of fresh air. There were many a fall when the Falcons were as done as the leftover turkey in your fridge by Columbus Day. And yes, it feels good to know that the Smiths are no longer involved with this franchise and someone who wants to win as much as we do is in charge and puts his $$$ where his mouth is each and every time. When was the last time you heard that a guy the Falcons’ brass REALLY wanted couldn’t get here because Blank refused to cut that big a check?
I feel like longtime Steeler fans from 40+ years ago. Before the mid-70s, they were us; mediocre, crappy, and all the other adjectives you could think of. Then they bring in Chuck Noll, they draft Bradshaw, Greene, Harris, Swann, et al and the rest is history. It’s our time now…
Kane337
November 30th, 2010
5:20 pm
Falcons on top, Falcons gonna win. Never givin’ up, Never givin’ in.
senior falcon
November 30th, 2010
5:22 pm
I, too, have been a Falcon fan from game one and isn’t it wonderful to wake up on Sunday morning with the Falcons playing a meaningful game with expectations to WIN it? Thank you Smitty, Thomas and Mr. Blank and those wonderful guys giving their all on the field. Y’all have made an old man proud!
MatthewH
November 30th, 2010
5:25 pm
So who won that staring contest between Belichek and Smith?
FrontRow
November 30th, 2010
5:25 pm
The effect of CMS is extremely deep on this team.
Here’s an example – how many times this year have you seen #84 or #12 or #88 or #33 jump up after a big first down and showboat?
The answer is none – the team is disciplined in it’s basic approach to the game. Another tell – Sunday’s game was huge and won in the last seconds. Afterward, the descriptions coming from the journalists in the locker room included words like “subdued” and “calm”.
These guys are looking to celebrate in February.
PlusSizeModel
November 30th, 2010
5:27 pm
Actually mostly they’re winning because they’ve avoided key injuries more than anything. Love Smith and the organization though, don’t get me wrong.
RonFalconFan
November 30th, 2010
5:28 pm
For years I watched as the “Smiths” tried to create a footbal team and knew it would never happen. Never would have thought it woudl take a coach with the same last name to turn it around. Love this team, love the mojo…let’s get it all !!!!
Ted Striker
November 30th, 2010
5:29 pm
When I hear Dimitroff talk about Smith, it almost makes me think of John Schuerholz discussing Bobby Cox.
Paddy
November 30th, 2010
5:37 pm
Dejay…love your reference to Chuck Noll. Outstanding coach. From Div II, University of Dayton to the Steelers and then the Hall of Fame. Does anyone think a Div II coach will ever be considered for a head job in the NFL in their life time.? Another unusual fact ; Don Donaher went from an assiistant HS coach to the head coach at the University of Dayton and on to the Hall of Fame. In his second year at Dayton his team played UCLA for the National Championship! Those days my friends are long over! No more Noll and Donaher stories. What a shame!
Greg Mendel
November 30th, 2010
5:40 pm
I know lots of folks don’t like Arthur Blank appearing on the sidelines near the end of games, but I don’t have a problem with it. In fact, I kinda like it. If he showed up only when the Falcons were about to finish a blowout, it would different. He’s there win or lose. (Yeah, I know it’’s hard to predict at the Two Minute Warning lately.) Sure, he owns the team, but he’s part of it. And he acts like a fan, not an a$$.
suwaneefalcon
November 30th, 2010
5:44 pm
The bottomline here is the front office and head coach do NOT accept mediocraty and want their players to have that mind set. You will never see a player like a Randy Moss playing for this team. I also think you have to thank GOD for an owner that knows his role and is not a Jerry Jones making decisions on players and game plan. Even if this team does not make it to the big show this year, you know they will retool in the offseason to get it done in the soon future.
GO FALCONS!!!
Kane337
November 30th, 2010
6:01 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkAsQQJ1mRM
nauti-dawgs
November 30th, 2010
6:02 pm
A Falcons fan since day one, but many years ago I dropped them and vowed never to watch another game until the Clampett’s (Smith family) sold the team. I cautiously climbed back on board with Blank. I am happy to say we have one of the best and smartest owners in the league – for the ATL fans karma finally pays off (- makes the Jerry Jones look like a goofball). Thanks Author.
Jan Edwards
November 30th, 2010
6:03 pm
As I have said before, this team has heart and can go all the way to the Super Bowl. Thank you,Coach Smith, the Falcon organization, and the terrific team. I repeat: This is our year! Go Falcons!
Seen My BHind
November 30th, 2010
6:05 pm
Mike Smith? Mike Smith couldn’t carry Drew Brees’ laundry. Tampon Bay is gonna stretch Choke-Boy into a NOODLE!!!!* When the Faints get in the Dome, they’ll stomp him so far down, he’ll be looking up at my mom’s basement!** Geau*** Faints!!!
* only food mom feeds me
** where I live
*** “Allez” in actual French
[Sorry. I was bored. -- Greg Mendel]
Mr. Phil
November 30th, 2010
6:05 pm
Everything that seems to be so proffessionally done with this team. No matter the situation, they just go about their business with such confidence. It feels different than the last Superbowl team. As a 30 year falcon fan and Atlanta native, I really don’t know how to properly enjoy this.
"Chef" Tim Dix
November 30th, 2010
6:18 pm
I see alot of Leeman Bennett in Mike Smith.
I wonder what may have happened had his reign not been cut short.
ilovepetrino
November 30th, 2010
6:19 pm
I still think that Petrino would have been a good coach if the Federal Government under George Bush did not prosecute our beloved qb, Michael Vick.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
November 30th, 2010
6:25 pm
So when the Falcons cut Mike Vick, they had no idea that his destiny would lead right back to the Georgia Dome for the championship game.
Do the fans chant “Matty Ice”….. or
Do the fans repeat the reception that he received last season?
All the talk shows are talking about. They are listing the possible Eagles vs Falcons as the showdown that America wants to see.
So CHOKE has a home record of 19-1 – guess who that 1 loss was against?
Anybody?
Guess who was the last qb to beat the Eagles?
Anybody?
So if this thing plays out like America wants it, wouldnt this be the sweetest Christmas gift Mike Vick could ever dream of…………..
Ending the Falcons season…………
Sticking it to Arthur Blank and all his critics while in Atlanta….
Going to the Superbowl at the expense of the Falcons.
This is going to be so sweet. I mean if the Eagles could EMBARRASS
the Falcons with their backup, just imagine what Vick 2.0 will do.
Larry
November 30th, 2010
6:25 pm
Mr. Schultz,
Nice work!
Larry
November 30th, 2010
6:28 pm
“When I hear Dimitroff talk about Smith, it almost makes me think of John Schuerholz discussing Bobby Cox.”
Oh dear Lord…let’s hope not! I hope coach Smith doesn’t end the playoffs with a loss in 15 of 16 opportunities like Cox!
Smith has the courage and willingness to make the changes in a do ro die game to win it–Cox never had either!
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
November 30th, 2010
6:28 pm
What is the difference between Mike Smith and John Harbaugh?
Answer: About 2 playoff wins, 1 division title and 1 championship game.
Image is nothing, thirst is everything
Larry
November 30th, 2010
6:32 pm
Matt “CHOKE” Ryan,
The more you type, the more ignorant you look..and with each passing game Matt Ryan enforces everyone’s image of you as an utter, unabashed idiot!
You need some new material!
waynester
November 30th, 2010
6:33 pm
Dejay
Had a great point about the Steelers. The same is true with the 49ers before Walsh and the Pats before Belichick. A great coach brings out the greatness of his team and it looks like that’s what Smitty is bringing to the ATL. Hats off to Blank(Happy Chanukah, Artie!) and Dimitroff for changing the culture!
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
November 30th, 2010
6:42 pm
Mike Smith vs Jim Mora, Jr.
Eventhough Mike Smith has all those “Regular season” wins, Jim Mora Jr., has 2 things he will never have in Atlanta……………..
Playoff wins and a championship game appearance.
So you guys can build up Smitty all you like but the bottom line is he hasn’t won anything yet.
Who cares about his record in the regular season – the only stat that matters is the one in the playoffs.
John Harbaugh has done it…………………
Rex Ryan has done it……………..
That’s why Andy Reid OWNS the Falcons
Sorry guys, I know you are angry with me, but if you can point out anything I have said that is not fact, please let me know.
Go Falcons!
Brian Hunt
November 30th, 2010
6:54 pm
Frontrow nailed it.
Keith
November 30th, 2010
7:10 pm
I started to write that this sounds like a LOT like that other ATL manager…albeit former manager, Bobby Cox.
But I think Smith is even better in the tactical part of the game…
What Smith excels in so did Bobby.
Food for thought, Jeff. What say you?
Ivan
November 30th, 2010
7:18 pm
“So CHOKE has a home record of 19-1 – guess who that 1 loss was against?”
Andy Reid and Kevin Kolb
“Guess who was the last qb to beat the Eagles?”
Jay Cutler. He threw 4 TD passes and no INTs while the *elite* QB you were waiting for threw 1 INT and had 4 fumbles.
My turn. Guess who’s sitting on top of the NFC?
Guess who’s looking up at them?
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
November 30th, 2010
7:24 pm
@Ivan
You are funny
CHOKE only loss at home was vs Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb
Falcons last win vs Eagles 2005 Mike Vick
The bottomline is:
CHOKE can finish 14-2 he still C H O K E S vs the Eagles, because the top rated qb in the NFL is Mike Vick…………ouch I know it hurts…………..
Jeff Schultz
November 30th, 2010
7:26 pm
JASon — Yep, and I think Falcons have gone 4 or 5 straight without a turnover. Also 8-0 in games when they win turnover battle.
FrontRow
November 30th, 2010
7:26 pm
@Ivan you are patently incorrect. The only loss Ryan had at the GA Dome was against Denver.
FYI Roddy White dropped the go ahead TD in the endzone or Mr. Ryan would be undefeated in the Dome.
Are you and idiot of just confused by facts?
Jeff Schultz
November 30th, 2010
7:27 pm
MatthewH — Belichick won the stare contest. But it turns out he had taped a previous Falcons practice and saw Smitty’s staring techniques, so he was prepared.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
November 30th, 2010
7:27 pm
CHOKE…………..Z E R O Division titles
CHOKE………….Z E R O Playoff wins
CHOKE………….Z E R O Pro Bowls
CHOKE………….Z E R O Championship game appearances
Jeff Schultz
November 30th, 2010
7:30 pm
“Chef” — I know a lot of people liked Leeman Bennett but he was somewhat trending downward. His records with the Falcons: 7-7, 9-7, 6-10, 12-4, 7-9, 5-4 … Then in 2 years in Tampa: 2-14, 2-14.
Jeff Schultz
November 30th, 2010
7:30 pm
IlovePetrino — Go away and don’t ever come back.
Jeff Schultz
November 30th, 2010
7:31 pm
Thanks Larry.
getbuzzed
November 30th, 2010
7:31 pm
the person known as Matt “choke” Ryan…………….no girlfriend
the person known as Matt “choke” Ryan…………….no friends
the person known as Matt “choke” Ryan…………….no life
the person known as Matt “choke” Ryan…………….no clue
The Nature Boy
November 30th, 2010
7:32 pm
@ Matt choke…you are correct the Falcons don’t match-up well with Philly….but I’m still excited about the Falcons…and loved the blog….news flash…Philly may not even make the playoffs…(I for one hope they don’t)
Jeff Schultz
November 30th, 2010
7:35 pm
Ivan and “Choke” — Actually, Matt Ryan’s only home loss came to Denver in 2008. He didn’t play in the Philly game in the Georgia Dome last year.
Jeff Schultz
November 30th, 2010
7:36 pm
FrontRow — Dang! You beat me to the punch.
FrontRow
November 30th, 2010
7:52 pm
Sorry Jeff I gotta call out the folks when they start re-inventing history.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
November 30th, 2010
7:54 pm
FrontRow
November 30th, 2010
7:52 pm
Sorry Jeff I gotta call out the folks when they start re-inventing history.
——————————————–
I stand corrected – well done!
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
November 30th, 2010
7:56 pm
Since CHOKE has a losing record on the road, the next 3 games should be interesting…………..
They are all under dogs so there should be no excuses.
FrontRow
November 30th, 2010
8:05 pm
Yeah Choke and when the road trip is over Mr. Ryan will no longer be under .500 on the road. Just one more rung on the ladder up to elite.
FYI it’s 3-2 this year so far. Not bad for a 3rd year QB.
"Chef" Tim Dix
November 30th, 2010
8:09 pm
Jeff, Leeman got the short end of the stick for the Clampetts’ flavor of the day: Dan .
VP Dick Chaney
November 30th, 2010
8:27 pm
Attention Mularkey: Keep the offensive play calling unpredictable and MAKE SURE TO LET MATTY ICE CHANGE PLAYS AT THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE BECAUSE YOU GET GREAT RESULTS ABOUT 70% OF THE TIME.
DLineman were winded on that last TD toss from A Rodgers, but otherwise near perfect game planning from Mike Smith over the past several weeks. Smitty seems to have his mind made up about what to do about every situation BEFORE they happen. Smitty is to Mora as Ryan is to Vick.
Furman Bitcher
November 30th, 2010
8:38 pm
Matt “Choke” Ryan??? Huh? did I fall aslep and miss something? That is the dumbest thing I had heard on here in a while and Mark Bradley is on here daily.
russ
November 30th, 2010
8:48 pm
Choke…the loss came against Denver and Jay Cutler…not Vick. Ryan didn’t play in the Eagles’ game. Thought you’d like to know.
Ed
November 30th, 2010
8:48 pm
Mike Smith and Thomas Dimitroff are the John Schuerholtz and Bobby Cox of the Atlanta Falcons. I think a Super Bowl championship is in the near future especially with the leadership on the roster coupled with the continuity among the coaches and players.
russ
November 30th, 2010
8:50 pm
oops too late!
Greg Mendel
November 30th, 2010
8:53 pm
“They are all under dogs so there should be no excuses.”
Rise up!
Joe Tess Fish House
November 30th, 2010
8:59 pm
SO if mike SMith is so good, why does he have so many fist round busts on his team? Jamaal Anderson, Sean Witherspoon, Perrier Jerry, Sam Baker…..
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
November 30th, 2010
8:59 pm
@FrontRow
To be even in the “ELITE” conversation I think it would be a good idea to have a few of these:
- Division Titles
- Playoff Wins
- Conference Championships
- Pro Bowls
- QB Rating over 100
Otherwise you are just a game manager.
Mike
November 30th, 2010
9:04 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkAsQQJ1mRM
This will get you pumped up and ready for Sunday…Go Birds
Smiling Jack
November 30th, 2010
9:12 pm
Aman to that Larry! What a stupid message delivered by “choke” and it’s the same over and over. Go Falcons!!!!!!!!!!
Mr Charlie
November 30th, 2010
9:16 pm
Ok, Choke, I will give you your due, he has not playoff wins, or league titles. After 2 years, who does? Oh that right, Flactuanco does, but, wait, did’nt Ice just spank him and Ray Lewis? Vick? did’nt he just get spanked by the ultimate crybaby Cutler? Hmm, your arguments are wearing quite thin.
Freshmaker
November 30th, 2010
9:20 pm
Choke’s comments were pretty funny last year, but this year he’s just tired. Probably not even the same guy I’d wager.
Ivan
November 30th, 2010
9:25 pm
Ah! The Broncos! Correcting me debunks Choke’s fallacy anyway. Thanks for the heads up folks.
Though, I believe I was still correct on the Falcons being on top of the NFC.
@FrontRow
“Are you and idiot of just confused by facts?”
Try forming a coherent sentence before calling someone an idiot, OK?
extremus
November 30th, 2010
9:29 pm
I think this team’s turnaround actually started with Arthur blank coming on as the owner of the Falcons. There were certainly misfires (Bobby Petrino) and unforeseen disasters (Michael Vick) that made us wonder if the franchise was indeed cursed somehow. But Blank had a genuine passion for this team and exactly the caliber of management and personnel he wanted.
Thomas Dimitroff has had a few misfires (Peria Jerry) but also plenty of huge personnel additions (Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, and Tony Gonzalez, among others). He also hired Mike Smith, who along with Dimitroff is beginning to give the franchise a look of professionalism and stability not seen since Scheurholz and Cox and the Braves of the last two decades.
Chemistry is key; other teams have players of enormous talent who unfortunately are cancers for their teams outside the lines. You never seem to hear about such issues with the Atlanta Falcons over the past few years, because since the departure of Michael Vick there has been such a focus not only on athletic prowess and skill but also personality and character.
Mr. Schultz hit it on the head; there’s one (and only one) leader of this team on the field: Mike Smith. No prima donnas, no ridiculous “all about me” tweets or endzone celebrations, no selfishness, nobody trying to usurp the coach or undermine the team. Just a football TEAM that has been gelling and getting better and better before our eyes, guys who play hard and work together toward a common goal: a Superbowl trophy for the city of Atlanta.
From ownership to the players, there are plenty of reasons to root for and love this team. They’re not perfect, but they’re beginning to show signs of great things. Here’s hoping those things include at least one Superbowl championship, hopefully starting this year.
GO FALCONS!!!!
bobby's Cox
November 30th, 2010
9:30 pm
Its official, Choke is gay man in denial that he has huge crush on Matt Ryan
extremus
November 30th, 2010
9:35 pm
Mr. Schultz,
Did my last post get blocked for some reason? I know it was a bit lengthy but I believe it was well within acceptable parameters. Just checking.
Arno
November 30th, 2010
9:39 pm
Blank’s other two head coaches, Mora and Petrino, had 29 wins total. Smith now has 29 wins total. Compare his losses (14) to theirs (32). We are happy in Atlanta.
Falcon Jim
November 30th, 2010
9:51 pm
Glancing at the win – loss list, it looks like MS has by far the best winning percentage.
Choke on this!
November 30th, 2010
9:56 pm
The word on the street is “choke” was Vick’s cellmate, now you know the rest of the story….
Bobby Petrino
November 30th, 2010
9:59 pm
hmmm hmmm … I wish I coulda been his cellmate. I obviously do not mind bending over
NoCoach Blewitt
November 30th, 2010
10:02 pm
Gotta say that Mike Smith has without a doubt surpassed all my expectations. A man that walked into the biggest mess of a franchise in sports at the time (due to the aforementioned moron and Vicklicious) has completely turned the team around. Made the playoffs his first year. Should have made the playoffs last year if not for Elam. And this year we are at the top of the NFL with 5 games to go.
DrJ
November 30th, 2010
10:07 pm
Good read! Interesting to note that Dimitroff does not like egos…so I guess we can write off any hot-shot free agents who fall into this category, no matter how good they are.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
November 30th, 2010
10:08 pm
Mr Charlie
November 30th, 2010
9:16 pm
Ok, Choke, I will give you your due, he has not playoff wins, or league titles. After 2 years, who does? Oh that right, Flactuanco does, but, wait, did’nt Ice just spank him and Ray Lewis? Vick? did’nt he just get spanked by the ultimate crybaby Cutler? Hmm, your arguments are wearing quite thin.
————————————————————
Do you really want to go there?
2009 Eagles 34 Falcons 7
2010 Eagles 31 Falcons 17
2010 Vick 2 players of the week (back-to-back)/1 player of the month
2010 CHOKE Z E R O player of the week/Z E R O player of the month
Vick top rated passer in the league
Vick 13 to 1 touchdown to interception ratio
Face it, CHOKE is a game manager, nothing more. He is just riding the Michael Turner/Roddy White express
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
November 30th, 2010
10:12 pm
Arno
November 30th, 2010
9:39 pm
Blank’s other two head coaches, Mora and Petrino, had 29 wins total. Smith now has 29 wins total. Compare his losses (14) to theirs (32). We are happy in Atlanta.
—————————————————–
But Mora did in 1 year what Smitty will never do in Atlanta……….
Win the division
Win a playofff game
Reach the championship game
Lets see……hmmmm……I believe that trumps any regular season meaningless record
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
November 30th, 2010
10:14 pm
WE WANT VICK
WE WANT VICK
WE WANT VICK
WE WANT VICK
-Another classic moment in the dome
Falcon Fan in DeLand
November 30th, 2010
10:22 pm
Mike Smith’s Dad is my next door neighbor, His Dad is John Wayne-like, big, all man, straight as an arrow and as Southern as grits and gravy. He’s so proud of Mike. What you may not know is that a lot of Mike’s family lives in and around Atlanta. There’s family tailgating before every game. They are all people you’d love to have a beer with and hang with. The success Mike is having is the result of a lifetime of hard work and a true love of the game of football. Seeing Mike’s success and watching his Dad beam makes being a Falcon fan a true joy.
Sick & Tired Of Being Sick & Tiredi
November 30th, 2010
10:24 pm
I totally agree with those who have stated that the biggest problem throughout all those years was the Rankin Smith family who did not have a clue. Rankin Jr. was worst (yes it was possible) than his father. Thank goodness they decided to sell the team to Arthur Blank.
It is amazing what competent leadership from the top – down can do for an organization. This team is being groomed to be competitive for years to come. Finally the ATL has a legitimate PROFESSIONAL football team that the city can embrace…..it is not solely based on one or two spoiled marquee players but A TEAM concept that has the potential to go all the way in the playoffs and make it to Dallas. Hopefully Mike Smith will be here for a long time as the Falcons’ coach.
extremus
November 30th, 2010
10:34 pm
Mike Smith and Steve Spurrier: two great coaches with ties to Johnson City, Tennessee where I hail from. Spurrier was a high school standout at Science Hill high school before going on to bigger and better things, and has established himself among college coaching’s elite. Mike Smith is an East Tennessee State Alumni (so was I) who went on to what he has become: one of the best coaches in the NFL. Not too shabby for a little city of about 80,000, I guess. Small world.
Sick & Tired Of Being Sick & Tiredi
November 30th, 2010
10:43 pm
I’ll tell you what I’m SICK & TIRED OF…..CHOKE (Michael Vick & Playoff wins) AND JOE FISH HOUSE (Players who are busts) ….making the same comments blog after blog. We get it…you don’t like the Falcons…but why spend so much time on the AJC Falcons blog being a hater….must be some existence if that is the highlight of your daily life.
PLEASE OH PLEASE…..come up with something new to say or let it go…..you’ve beat that dead horse to death….come up with something new and original and quit rehashing the same old S#&$
bcinbuford
November 30th, 2010
10:49 pm
Hey choke, remember that what Mora Jr did in his first year, was with a team Built by Dan Reeves. As for Vick’s accomplishments, how many were accomplished as an Eagle…Zero! They were all done while he was being babied by Mora. What is wrong with Ryan being a “game manager”. I always thought that was the job of a Quarterback. Manage the game and put your team in a position to win. It seems like Ryan is doing that very efficiently. Vick does seem to have his head on straight now, but that was all he was asked to do while in Atlanta. It took him having to go to prison and possibly losing the ability of playing to get that though his head. And for anyone who thinks Vick was “wronged” in Atlanta, remember the fact that he CHOSE to lie to the team and fans about the allegations all the way up to his plea bargain!
Eric
November 30th, 2010
11:03 pm
Don’t worry CHOKE, by the end of this season Smith will have a division title, playoff win and NFC Championship. What the hell are you going to say then??? Hmmmmm???
Florida Bird
November 30th, 2010
11:04 pm
“His keys to success are not great secrets: communication, character, team work. But getting players to buy in and watching them follow the coach — that’s a rare sight around here”
Rare sight indeed!! And, as in life, good, consistant comunication is THE key! Go get ‘em CMS!! You’ll be at the top of that list soon!
Choke This
November 30th, 2010
11:09 pm
Jim Mora was a complete jocksniffing bafoon. He proved his incompetence not only here but in Seattle too – I recall him coaching highschool football after getting s-canned by the Seahawks. Choke’s reference to this stiff as the Atlanta gold standard tells you all you need to know.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
November 30th, 2010
11:16 pm
2004 & COUNTING
2004 Last playoff win
2004 Last division title
2004 Last championship game
Come on CHOKE we are waiting
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
November 30th, 2010
11:19 pm
Here is another record CHOKE established:
Since the establishment of the NFL South, CHOKE and the Falcons is the only team in the NFC South that didn’t go “from worst to first”.
That beautiful accomplishment happened in 2008, which followed 2007 where the Falcons finished last.
Way to go Mr. 19-1
Florida Bird
November 30th, 2010
11:20 pm
Where’s my comment!!???
OK here it goes again (more or less)… “His keys to success are not great secrets: communication, character, team work. But getting players to buy in and watching them follow the coach — that’s a rare sight around here.”
Yes, rare sight indeed! And one reason why Coach Mike Smith will soon be at the top of “that” list above…honest, consistant, and continous communication with his players, and all others are the keys to success, in life and the NFL!
Thanks Jack and the Jags…great coach you had!
bgdawg
November 30th, 2010
11:32 pm
the only records that matters is 2010 record 9-2(T-1st)
HOME RECORD 2010 6-0(1st)
MATT ICE RYAN HOME RECORD 19-1 (tied for best home record before getting 2nd loss)
so basically, we win get home field, and we’ll be at the super bowl game in a hurry.
Florida Bird
November 30th, 2010
11:32 pm
“CHOKE” …Youre’ a hopless hater, and worse than that, the REAL hopless LOSER!
Matt "ICE' Ryan
November 30th, 2010
11:51 pm
ROOKIE YEAR: 1st year in the nfl 12 seconds left and matty ice bombs it down the field for MJ and gets us in position to win the game. ICE leads the falcons to the play-offs only to be downed by the eventual NFC CHAMPION CARDS. The loss wasn’t his fault in the first place. many crazy things happened in that game.
SOPHOMORE YEAR: the team gets infected with the injury bug. HD goes down, Brian Will goes down, Burner goes down, Jerry goes down Norwood goes down(again lol) Samantha Baker goes down.half of those guys were starters and all of them were very important to our success in 08′. and don’t forget Jason Elam. he lost us 3 or four games by himself. add to the fact we had one of the hardest schedules in the nfl with 4 teams that played us after byes at that year and 9-7 actually looks like it may have been a whole lot better with out the restrictions above.
3rd Year: RISE of ICE! starts out on a loss to one of the tougher D’s in the nation and holds the O to no TD’s Dominated arizona and came out and shocked the AINTS. converts 2 4th downs on one drive to lead to a TD and then drives down the field and get us a GW FG.
All of our “CHOKE names for ICE are not welcome nor do they even reflect on Matt Ryan as A player whoo Chokes in the final minutes of the game .
bgdawg
November 30th, 2010
11:58 pm
well in response to “choke’s” last comment what about the bucs? they finished last in the division last year! what does that mean about josh freeman? is he a choker as well? he will not get pass the durty birds thats for sure
Atlanta Peach
December 1st, 2010
12:57 am
Why do people on this blog respond to that Fool ?!? That’s all he wants you to do ! If you just don’t respond it will drive him crazy ! Try it next time, Would ya ?!?
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 1st, 2010
1:50 am
bgdawg
November 30th, 2010
11:32 pm
the only records that matters is 2010 record 9-2(T-1st)
HOME RECORD 2010 6-0(1st)
MATT ICE RYAN HOME RECORD 19-1 (tied for best home record before getting 2nd loss)
so basically, we win get home field, and we’ll be at the super bowl game in a hurry.
————————————————–
As long as you don’t play Philly
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 1st, 2010
1:52 am
Atlanta Peach I didn’t know it was payday
Atlanta Peach
December 1st, 2010
2:09 am
Here you go you guys. The Falcons getting nothing but luv, And I like it ! http://www.espn.go.com/nfl/powerrankings/_/year/2010/week/13 AND http://www.msn.foxsports.com/nfl/powerRankings
Atlanta Peach
December 1st, 2010
2:13 am
sorry about one link. Here it is,again… http://www.msn.foxsports.com/nfl/powerrankings
Atlanta Peach
December 1st, 2010
2:21 am
I don’t know whats up with the link ! One more time.. http://www.msn.foxsports.com/nfl/powerRankings
tj
December 1st, 2010
2:27 am
Matt Choke, You really said it….If you don’t win enough regular season games….THERE IS NO PLAYOFF GAMES TO WIN….So don’t say anything about regular season games not mattering…If it had not been for NO being so good last year the Falcons would have been in the playoffs two years in a row. This three winning seasons in a row is amazing…Do not count out Smith until he Won enough regular season games to give them a chance to win a Playoff game….What are you thinking…or are you!!
Atlanta Peach
December 1st, 2010
2:28 am
Wow ! Jim Kelly said he wasn’t a Michael Vick fan live on the NFL Network, Wow, I wonder why ?!? Why Jim ?!?
RTW
December 1st, 2010
2:57 am
Couldn’t agree more. Look at any successful organization, they aspire to be the best from top to bottom. Falcons get it. Yes, they are fortunate with injuries. Most champions are. But look at the categories that they lead or are near the top in the division or league…Takeaways, Time of Possession, 3rd down conversion, lack of penalties, home dominance. Pretty damn impressive. There are no gaurantees, but I like their position now and into the future.
Atlanta Peach
December 1st, 2010
3:03 am
Here another ranking !….www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2010-power-rankings.htm Experts are saying the Falcons are for real !! Much luv !!
Atlanta Peach
December 1st, 2010
3:04 am
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2010-power-rankings.htm
YAD
December 1st, 2010
5:31 am
Hey CHOKE, I wonder if Matt Ryan will ever admit after the season that he quit on his team in a game against Carolina? You know, the way Mike Vick did back in ‘06.
E Dubb
December 1st, 2010
5:59 am
I’ve encountered people like this ‘CHOKE’ guy. They can’t let go of Vick. Truth be told his downfall was the best for both parties. It forced Falcons to build a REAL FOOTBALL TEAM! The team was designed around a selfish,immature,yet talented Michael Vick. Basically another Falcon gimmick offense. The team went as Vick went. factually all those things Vick did were in a single season. Once league figured out blitz this guy he can’t throw, no more of the spectacle. won’t even mention the fumbles. Ask Simeon Rice, his career was made on blitzing Vick. Congrats to him for steppin up after prison. But you see teams startin to dust off old game film and startin to blitz him again, and he still doesn’t audible worth a s@#t. Being lifelong Falcons fan, I’d rather have this TEAM than some other gimmick bs. Oh yeah ‘CHOKE’ you forgot he was first qb to beat pack at home in playoffs, done in same season you keep referring to. Let it go! PLEASE STOP CHOKE-ing ON MIKE VICK D#$K!!!!!!! GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!
F-105 Thunderchief
December 1st, 2010
6:20 am
Dan Henning was a cartoon, too. And, a jackhole.
Samuel
December 1st, 2010
6:46 am
Good coach = detailed players….
Falcon Hardy
December 1st, 2010
7:22 am
I was looking at the NFL sound bites last night. I heard John Aberhams speech. He said if the Coaches ask for 1 hour then give them 1 1/2 hours. That’s the type team work and leadership is on the field and on the sidelines!!!! GO Falcons
Matt “Choke” Ryan needs to go to Philly and be DRUG tested. GET a Life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Buckeye
December 1st, 2010
7:45 am
The Falcons exude class, competance and character……something another uGA program ( and their fans) could take a cue or two from.
dean
December 1st, 2010
7:54 am
Hey Buckeye. After your great leader at the state school bashed on Boise State playing sister of the poor schools, it turns out their strength of schedule was rated TOUGHER than your state school’s!
Ha ha. Love it.
Charles
December 1st, 2010
8:16 am
The Falcons are also winning because they’ve removed the “thugs” from their roster. This team has character and is worthy of fan support. I’ve lived here since 66′ and this was the first time I’ve ever attended a game. I would still attend more games if they were losing. It’s nice to hear stories about the team on the field rather than off the field.
Norb Heckler
December 1st, 2010
8:29 am
One post mentioned the similarity between Smitty and Bobby Cox.
I think the real heart of the matter is the parallel between Mr. Blank and Mr.Turner. In their novice years, these guys wanted to be hands on, putting on the cleats and pushing injured players in wheel chairs. It took several years of stepping on his own toes for Ted to earn a hard lesson and get out of the way of the guys that know what they are doing(Bobby and John). Arthur seemed headed down that same bumpy road, until Mike Vick threw up a big RoadBlock, forcing the owner to re-evalute his direction. Although it was an expensive lesson ( less so if MV pays bak some of his bonus bucks), it may have allowed Mr. Blank to avoid that long, painful journey down Jerry Jones BLVD.
robby
December 1st, 2010
8:42 am
excellent article. I was actually depressed when i got to the bottom because it was such a good read i wanted there to be more.
Falcon For Life
December 1st, 2010
8:46 am
The Falcons franchise is well balanced in both the front office and on the field. Everyone knows their role and everyone is on the same page.
From the owner, to the GM, to the HC, to the coaching staff, offense, defense and special teams everyone is pulling their weight and their egos are in check. Winning as a team is the most important thing, and it’s great to see the consistency on and off the field. Three winning seasons in a row is a huge step for this franchise and there will be many more to come!
dtanner
December 1st, 2010
9:09 am
remember what a joke jerry glanville was, mark bradley used to refer to him as the little man with the big belt buckle
Ted M
December 1st, 2010
9:19 am
Is there a chance that the Falcons could lose Mike Smith to another team, like perhaps the Cowboys?
Chop Buster
December 1st, 2010
9:33 am
Choke, I have never seen one fan in my life so FANATICAL over a guy who:
a. Put himself in the position to leave this team
b. Admitted he half-a$$ed everything while he was here
c. One games mostly off of his athlethic ability alone
d. Cannot be compared to a QB in his third year
You are the epitomy of someone with a man-crush on an NFL player. Sounds like you were missing a Daddy in your life and have found him in Vick. He’s your hero, he’s your everything. Do you know how pathetic you sound on this board? No grown man would ever act this way about another man…you MUST be a young child or teenager.
Enough! Now go play somewhere else. These Falcons are on a mission whether you like it or not! Vick made his bed…not Arthur Blank!!! Remember that before you cry how we let him go.
Chris
December 1st, 2010
9:38 am
I didn’t like the hire when it was first announced. After the whole Michael Vick saga and Bobby Petrino skipping town in the middle of the night, I thought a legit, big name coach that had been there before was the only answer. I thought the Falcons needed a Bill Cower individual that was hard nosed and had won a Super Bowl and knew how to get there. I knew Arthur Blank would pay whatever price to get the right guy so I was all for swinging for the fences. So when the name Mike Smith was announced I almost gave up on the Falcons.
I am glad to say I was wrong and hope Mike Smith stays for a very long time.
extremus
December 1st, 2010
9:38 am
I’m very glad we’ve been able to hear less and less from the individuals who trolled these boards to the point they had to repeatedly be shut last season. It’s not just because the Falcons and Matt Ryan are winning; it’s because there’s an air of unselfish professionalism and single-minded effort surrounding the entire organization.
When I see posters who just won’t let this go and who continue to bring up players no longer relevant to the Falcons organization or its goals, and incite nasty, mostly racially charged back-and-forths, it’s pretty easy to see that Atlanta (and our whole country; let’s just be honest here) is fragmented along racial and ethnic lines. Michael Vick would have already been largely forgotten here if he was a white person, even if he accomplished the exact same things as a Falcon.
They say you can’t attack a culture; fine. But I’ll state simple facts. You know the reason Michael Vick is such an idol to young black people regardless of what he did to dogs, regardless of his character? Athletic prowess and material riches. It’s a “bling bling”, hedonistic, “me”-centered culture, from rap stars to NFL wide receivers, and young African-American folks today are INUNDATED with that stuff. The adamant defense of the man and the idea that he was betrayed by the Falcons by posters here comes from the same sense of entitlement that lots of (but fortunately not all) black people have; that the white man is the devil and he owes them an apology for slavery with endless free passes on top of it.
Here’s a liitle helpful advice: GET OVER IT. Each man stands or falls on his own decisions; he can’t decide for another man and he can’t answer for another man’s sins, whether they’re his ancestors or not. You can live out your life filled with bitterness and hate, feeling you’re owed something, or you can admit that you and everyone else is human and need GRACE. You can then forgive, and you can move on and be a person who can look back and say they contributed something positive to this world. Michael Vick appears to have moved on, not only in his career in another city but hopefully with regard to his sense of accountability and his lifestyle. I realy hope so; if that’s the case then THAT is what these kids should be told to focus on about the man and his life.
I can’t stand political correctness because it forces people to TRY to hide their true feelings, right or wrong, and it’s NOT equal ground in America with regard to who can say what without it hurting their career, losing their job, or incurring other punishments. We need to be honest and let people speak their minds; we’re ALL segregated between our ears to some degree even if our conscience tells us not to be. I’ll take segregation WITH equality (which we NEVER had during the 1960s and before) over a skewed notion of “political correctness” where people who really can’t stand each other are forced to try to make nice to the detriment of freedom (or why then are airport inspectors having to pat down little old ladies?), because at least then each race/ethnic group/religion/whatever could go to their own area and put up a fence outside the influence of a Big Brother government and teach their kids what THEY believe, run their own schools, worship their God, and live as they wish to live (Hmm, I think that was originally the intent of the States before the federal government became so big). Let each group stand or fall on its own, without intervention or influence from the others. That’s the only America that will ever truly work now that so many factions have taken hold in our country. Otherwise we can just keep sitting here hating and seething in this “melting pot” until something lights the fuse that finishes all vestiges of what ever made America “America” off. Sad but true; I think Dr. King would say Atlanta might be a good place to start working on changing things.
Now let’s STOP THIS and get back to discussing the Atlanta Falcons (and ONLY the Atlanta Falcons) on this board!
johnboy
December 1st, 2010
9:52 am
Go Leemans deamons
Chop Buster
December 1st, 2010
9:52 am
Oops…meant “Won”
Chop Buster
December 1st, 2010
9:58 am
extremus…well said!!!
Joey
December 1st, 2010
10:05 am
Author Blank truely struck gold twice when he got Dimitroff, then Smith.
travelqueen
December 1st, 2010
10:22 am
Good to know they are winning but the superbowl is something that they got to try. It’s will be tough for them at the Superbowl level, just wait and see. They listen to coach isn’t not on my mind. That is a silly question!! They winning because they fight to do it.
Falcon For Life
December 1st, 2010
10:31 am
extremus,
Nice post. Very well said.
Now GO FALCONS !!!! All the way to the Super Bowl ! (first step: Home Field advantage in the playoffs)
MBRVERSION1
December 1st, 2010
10:34 am
Matty Choke Ryan: You asked someone to point out any statement that was incorrect so here it is: 1st Matt Ryans 19-1 record in the Ga Dome, his one loss was to the Bronco’s on 11-16-2008, you seem to imply it was to Mike Vick,(Eagles)it was’nt. Matt Ryan did’nt start that game(injured) and for that matter niether did Vick. The QB’S for that game were Redmon and Mcnabb.And yes the Eagles did win(handily @ that).Vick played in that game but did not start, for the record Matt Ryan and Michael Vick have never played against each other,(yet).The Eagles are 1 of the three teams that have defeated Mike Smith in the Ga Dome, the other’s being the Saint’s,and the aforementioned Bronco’s. 2.Could you please explain to me in an intelligent manner what the constant villification towards Arthur Blank and the Falcon’s organization about releasing Michael Vick? What choice did he leave them? Did’nt Arthur Blank make him the face of the franchise? Was’nt he given every opportunity to succeed?Was’nt he the highest payed player in the league under Arthur Blank? He openly admitted he did’nt even try. What were the Falcons supposed to do @ that point? You think they wanted Joey Harrington starting for them? Michael Vick chose his own way, and actions have consequences, nobody made him make such choices. He has no one to blame but himself in that ragaurd, certainly not Mr. Blank.(it’s called accountability) 3. What is it with fans of some teams, in this case the Eagles(apparently)that have not won anything themselves, constantly pointing other teams that have’nt either? Last time I checked the mighty Eagles have won the exact same amount of Super Bowls the Falcon’s have.The Eagles are certainly capable of coming in to Atl and winning the NFC, but so are the Falcons. Michael Vick is having a terrific year(so far) but he also has’nt won anything yet.Let’s not count our Chickens before they’re hatched huh?- your turn.
MBRVERSION1
December 1st, 2010
10:38 am
Exactly chop buster
GSU Eagle 91
December 1st, 2010
10:42 am
Been a Falcon fan since 1969…So many disappointments and failures, with a few great seasons thrown in..( 1980 and 1998)
I really like the Blank/Dimitroff/Smith chain of command, and I feel the ATL community starting to appreciate it as well…
Winning does that….
We still have the imbecile on this blog who throws MV at us like fodder because he wants to rile up the Falcon fans who like Matt Ryan…( Like ME!) It will not work as Philly will fade to a 9-7 or 10-6 mark, sending them to the wild card slot.
Falcons and Saints in the Dome on 12/27 is a huge game…Can’t wait!
FrontRow
December 1st, 2010
10:47 am
“Choke” is like that cuz he is sporting lesions (courtesy of Ron Mexico) that ajax won’t wipe off.
sAm
December 1st, 2010
10:50 am
Where is the great Rich Brooks? I believe he is undeafted as the Falcons head coach?
Aziz
December 1st, 2010
10:54 am
JEFF: Bobby Petrino had 3 wins not 13
GIVE ME A BREAK
December 1st, 2010
10:58 am
Finally, Mr. Blank got it right. This is what a world class team looks like. No thugs, no clowns, no egos, this a team of unselfish players. Atlanta can be proud.
jj
December 1st, 2010
10:59 am
go away falcons i like it better when they lose like all the time so idiots like steak on 790 the zone freak out
GIVE ME A BREAK
December 1st, 2010
11:01 am
Petrino coached 13 games.
please
December 1st, 2010
11:02 am
CHoke or stroke – Matt’s one loss at the dome was to denver, He didn’t play last year against Philly
North FLA Falcon
December 1st, 2010
11:03 am
I’m sure others have corrected this for “Choke” but … Ryan’s only loss at home was to the Broncos. When they lost to the Eagles, Chris Redman was the QB. Ryan was out with turf toe.
North FLA Falcon
December 1st, 2010
11:05 am
Many people are talking about our lack of penalties and that is a great thing. Sam Baker for example got flagged several times early in the season but has gotten much better. OTOH we have I believe 5 personal fouls in the last 2 games. We had 3 in the first half vs. GB. This has got to stop! In these tight games one stupid “emotional” penalty can kill it for you … ask GB about that facemask penalty. So block to the whistle, tackle only to the white lines, and walk away from the chippy trash talk. GO FALCONS.
for Cryin out loud Jeffy
December 1st, 2010
11:18 am
You write a pretty darn good article for once in your life and you let some Vick Lover hijack your blog…
You just can’t win.
FrontRow
December 1st, 2010
11:21 am
The facemask penalty did not hurt GB – it more than likely helped. Weems would have gotten another 15 yards on his own and he had blockers. IMO the penalty only delayed the outcome and hurt GB only because the Falcons got the chance to run the clock.
The Falcon’s PF penalties have come at the beginning of the last 2 games and are all about attitude. Roddy White’s PF against the Rams was bogus; that type “penalty” happens on almost every play and Roddy was correct to dis the smack talk.
I don’t mind the team pushing and shoving in order to establish their domain at the beginning of a game. What I don’t want to see is another bogus PF when our secondary lays out a smurf (hello DeSean if you don’t wanna get hit get off the field).
LFP6
December 1st, 2010
11:35 am
160th?…..:)
Naturally, when the players can believe in their head coach, they’ll follow him anywhere.
I think the Falcons should take two of three from this road trip, but I am concerned about TB; with them coming off a rough loss to the Ravens, we may be in a world of hurt entering ‘The New Sombrero’ this coming Sunday. Your thoughts, Jeff?
Saints1Fan
December 1st, 2010
11:38 am
Schultz:
Good article. The one thing that impresses me about the Falcon’s coach is he has the balls to take risks. How many coaches do you know would go for it on 4th down as much as he has? Not many. As a result, his players have bought into his confidence in them. Smith is a good coach because he was around very good coaches and paid attention. He actually reminds me of John Fox with the run oriented, don’t make a mistake, field position types of games. Playing the Saints on a regular basis probably helps too knowing that you can’t keep settling for field goals in this league.
Once again, good story. WHO DAT!!!!!
Dr. Warren
December 1st, 2010
11:44 am
Well-written, perceptive article. Good to see the Falcons are getting the local attention they deserve in the past week or so.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 1st, 2010
11:44 am
You people remind me of a barking poodle when when a German Shepherd walks by. You are all bark, but in the end you know that Shepherd is going to rip you open
I love the dog examples by the way
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 1st, 2010
11:45 am
2004 & COUNTING
Show me some playoff wins
for Cryin out loud Jeffy
December 1st, 2010
11:45 am
Dude you are a troll and a broken record. Get some new material or shut up already…
Saints1Fan
December 1st, 2010
11:45 am
NorthFla:
Let’s not get too excited about the 19-1 home streak. You have to consider the first year, the Falcons came off a losing record and had a pretty easy schedule. The next year turned out to be basically the same. Yes, he has won two pretty big games this year against GB, and B-More, but I think he received a little help from the home team refs. Lol. In GB, Tony Gonzalez didn’t catch the pass on 4th and 3 which ended up extending a TD drive. In B-More, you had the pass interference on Tony Gonzalez, the “fingertip catch”, and then two non-calls on Roddy pushing off on back to back plays. One was a curl and the other was a TD. If you are going to call it tight like you did with Tony Gonzalez’s defender, you have to call it tight on Roddy too.
Can we get one of our “great blog statisticians” to place the teams that the Falcons beat at home during the 19-1 run, plus what their records were at the end of the season?
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 1st, 2010
11:46 am
Did you know:
Mark Sanchez/Rex Ryan and Joe Flacco/John Harbaugh are the only rookie qb/coach to take their teams to the championship games in the first season.
What happened to the great CHOKE/Mike Smith
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 1st, 2010
11:48 am
@Saints1Fan
I couldn’t have said it better myself
Saints1Fan
December 1st, 2010
11:48 am
Choke:
Those teams also had some hellified defenses before the coach and the qb got there. The Falcons don’t have a very good or consistent defense.
Anixter
December 1st, 2010
11:56 am
Teams will always reflect there personality of their head coach. He is the one that instills the decipline etc for the team. I’ve been a Falcons fan since the beginning and have watched the inconsistant play for years before the new management took over. We have an owner that cares about having a good team and will do what it takes. The Smith’s didn’t do that, for far to long what good players we had left for greener pastures and the drafts were half ass. How many times did they draft players we didn’t need under the mentality of “They were the best player available”! The core is finally set and the mentality is “What do we need to do to improve the team”, something we never really had until now. The new management said they were going to draft to improve the defense and that’s exactly what the did not like years past when saying that they draft players that did not fill the teams need. I applaud the new Falcons owner and management because they not only want a winning team they are building and keeping a core for a winning franchise for years to come. GO FALCONS.
Ryder
December 1st, 2010
12:04 pm
What I enjoy most about having Mike Smith on this team is that he created a calming effect on the culture of this franchise. No egos (which is probably why NFL Network and ESPN hates talking about them) and a go-for-it mentality that losing franchises (Redskins) refuse to employ.
He doesn’t think that any one player is greater than the next, and relies on veterans to lead the huddle.
I think that he has learned from his mistakes in the past and will lead the Falcons to success going forward.
North FLA Falcon
December 1st, 2010
12:04 pm
Saints1Fan let’s talk about the Browns … whom the Falcons smacked up in Clevetown but who BEAT you guys IN YOUR OWN HOUSE. Brees threw 4 picks that day, how many has Ryan thrown lately?? It’s all about winning isn’t it.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 1st, 2010
12:10 pm
CHOKE vs TEAMS IN THE DOME:
2008 SEASON:
vs Detroit (Doormat/No playoffs)
vs Kansas City (Doormat/No playoffs)
vs Bears (Horrible/No playoffs)
vs Saints (No playoffs)
vs Denver (No playoffs)
vs Carolina (Division Winner)
vs Tampa (No playoffs)
vs Rams (Doormat/No playoffs)
2009 SEASON
vs Miami (No playoffs)
vs Carolina (No playoffs)
vs Bears (No playoffs)
vs Redskins (Doormat/No playoffs)
vs Bucs (Horrible/No playoffs)
vs Saints (Division Champion)
vs Buffalo (Doormat/No playoffs)
2010 SEASON
vs Arizona (3-7)
vs San Fran (4-7)
vs Bengals (2-9)
vs Tampa (7-4)
vs Ravens (8-3)
vs Packers (7-4)
So as you can see, that is one of the WEAKEST schedule probably in league history for a 3 year span.
Of the 20 teams they have played against, only 2 of the teams even reached the playoffs and both of them were from the NFC South, so the schedulers couldn’t avoid putting those teams on the schedule.
There you have it folks, so go ahead and send him to the Hall of Fame
Saints1Fan
December 1st, 2010
12:12 pm
North Fla:
I don’t follow your logic. First, you didn’t smack the Browns up and down. You barely won the game. Did you watch the game? Secondly, “if” Brees doesn’t throw two interceptions which were returned for TD’s, the Saints win 17-16. Did you know Brees actually threw 4 INT’s that game and had a fumble.
Let’s go back to Week 1 when the Falcons lost to Pittsburgh with a 4th string quarterback. The Saints blasted them with their starting qb. Let’s go back to Week 3 when the Saints turn the ball over 3 times (2 Ints, 1 Fumble), miss a FG and lose by 3. Do you really think that the Falcons are on the same level as the Saints? If they were, why didn’t they blow them out with all of those turnovers? Remember, the Falcons didn’t have any turnovers.
Saints1Fan
December 1st, 2010
12:13 pm
Choke:
You must have choked on something because the Falcons did not beat the Saints in 2009.
Chick Fil A on a Sunday
December 1st, 2010
12:26 pm
Is Zestos still open?
Chick Fil A on a Sunday
December 1st, 2010
12:28 pm
@ Saints1Fan…..
You’re correct. The Saints and Falcons are not on the same level. The Falcons are ABOVE the Saints by virtue of not only have a better record, but by beating the Saints outright.
North FLA Falcon
December 1st, 2010
12:30 pm
Saints1 do I think they are on the same level? Yes I do. We’ll find out on the 27th. They are actually very evenly matched. ** The Falcons lost to the Saints in 09 but again Redman was the QB. The 18-1 stat is RYAN at home not the Falcons at home.
Saints1Fan
December 1st, 2010
12:35 pm
Chick Fil A:
Lol. You probably need to change your name to Margaritaville since you have obviously been drinking. I understand you are what your records says you are. Too bad it isn’t the end of the season because if it was, you would be able to make that statement. Since its not, you won’t get a chance. Lol.
Saints1Fan
December 1st, 2010
12:40 pm
North Fla:
Where are they evenly matched? I know you said that you are a fan, but do you watch the games or do you read about them in the paper? I’m asking because if you watched the games, you would have seen that the Saints moved up and down the field on your defense at will. Take away the turnovers and the Saints blow out the Falcons. Keep the turnovers and they still lose. Add the missed field goal and the Falcons win by 3.
In the 2008 game in the GA Dome, same thing occurred. I was in the dome and I can promise you that no fan left until the clock had 0’s on the clock. Brees threw for over 300 yards in the 4th quarter alone. They are not on the same level. I think the Falcons are a good team. Mistake free, disciplined team. They are not a great team by any means.
North FLA Falcon
December 1st, 2010
12:40 pm
I agree with Chick. This is the NFL, there are no style points. “Why didn’t they blow them out?” Who cares. They won. We have more wins than you. December is going to be fun.
Saints1Fan
December 1st, 2010
1:00 pm
North Fla:
Yippie for the 1 game lead. I bet you don’t feel comfortable.
Scooter
December 1st, 2010
1:03 pm
Jeff..would you guys at the AJC please start actually showing some moderation so we can talk about the actual blog you wrote instead of it getting hijacked by the same idiots that just want attention? Yes, I understand you think this sort of thing gets you more hits, but I’d be surprised if it really does, and at the expense of running off people that actually want to talk football.
And Saintsfan1, your team lost..at home..to the falcons..and the Falcons have the better record..so any OBJECTIVE person…and there’s tons of them that do it for a living for the sports websites and networks…would say that the Falcons are currently better than the Saints.
Sheesh, I don’t get what it is with you Saints fans, you had a great year last year, won the Super Bowl…but you also had A LOT of breaks go your way. Now it pisses you off that another team is gettting some of those breaks too and you have to try to downgrade the Falcons and call them lucky. I’ve got a news flash for you, you won the Super Bowl last year, you don’t have to act like the proverbial loser anymore that gets offended anytime someone doesn’t bow before your team. Enjoy your Super Bowl win and us Falcons fans will enjoy OUR team’s great season.
Act like you’ve been there before Saints fans…you can actually say good things about another team..it doesn’t take away the Super Bowl trophy. Falcons fans on this blog are happy with our team and coach and haven’t said crap about the Saints until you come on here and start talking about them. If you think the Saints are going to beat the Birds in the next game, then great…but why do you feel the need to try to rain on others’ parade constantly…this ain’t about the aints…it’s about the Falcons.
North FLA Falcon
December 1st, 2010
1:09 pm
Actually I do feel pretty comfortable. The schedule favors us. However I see where guys like Abraham and Snelling are a little beat up. We’ve never had to have this big push before. I think the main thing is the team (and the city) BELIEVES. At Pitt and Philly we didn’t believe. Now we do. Stick to fundamentals, tweak that defense, and keep on keepin on. I respect the Saints, they are a great team, and good for them for winning the Super Bowl. See you on the 27th.
Saints1Fan
December 1st, 2010
1:10 pm
Scooter:
It’s clear that you have not read my earlier posts. If you did, you would see that I said several good things about the Falcons, the coach, and Jeff’s story. We don’t have a problem giving teams credit for what they have accomplished, so don’t be upset when we positively critique them as well. If there is room for improvement, there is room for improvement. I am a realist and I have played college, high school, and rec football. In order to say one team is better than another team, actually means the team. Not better in one game. Head to head, no turnovers, the Saints are light years ahead of the Falcons. Just like the Patriots are light years over the Bills. Does that mean the Bills don’t play teams tough? No, not at all. This is an emotional game and a game of momentum, but at the end of the day is Dallas and Minnesota sorry as their records show? No. Are the Falcons the best team in the league? No.
Scooter
December 1st, 2010
1:11 pm
And Saints1fan…if YOUR beloved Saints had a one game lead and had beaten the Falcons in their home stadium…be it by a missed chipshot field goal or not..you know damn well you’d be on here crowing about it. Again, you won the Super Bowl last year, act like it. You can give credit where credit is due and still support your team.
And you use a game from 2008 to say these teams aren’t evenly matched? Why don’t you tell us, objectively, which team played your beloved Saints the closest last year in your Super Bowl season….ohh..that’s right…the Falcons.
And stop bringing up the missed chip shot field goal in this year’s game…it makes you sound like a really sore loser. Winners win, losers make excuses and all that matters at the end of the game is the score. Real winners can give the other team credit when their team loses, real losers whine constantly. I’d think that a fan of a team that won the Super Bowl last year would want to be a real winner.
Sarah B
December 1st, 2010
1:13 pm
vs Bengals (2-9)
vs Tampa (7-4)
vs Ravens (8-3)
vs Packers (7-4)
All these teams went to the playoffs last year. Choke is only good at leaving things out…
please
December 1st, 2010
1:15 pm
to choke, I am glad Vick has got his life and game back on track, but the Vick we see now is so much better than when he was here. He won a lot while he was here based on his feet, but if the falcons did not run for 200 yds they lost. He was inmature as he has stated, and did not put the work in to be all that he could be. It is not all of his fault, I think maybe if Dan reeves would have stayed a bit longer it might have helped. But Mora, (Inmature) Hall (me first) and others did not help matters. As well as Blank , but when Vick got caught it was the best thing for him and this franchise it forced them to grow up or else. Blank messed up with Petrino , But he got it right with TD & MS they got rid of meangelo before he could destroy Roddy White which almost happened, now he is a star, got Matt Ryan aka ICE and signed TG. The falcons are in better shape now than they have ever been, and so it seems is MV.
Scooter
December 1st, 2010
1:15 pm
Lol. wow Saints1fan..it’s obvious if you’re comparing the Falcons to the Bills and the Saints to the Patriots that you are seriously deluded and not worth trying to reason with. Wow, the Saints fans really need to cut down on those hurricanes on bourbon street. They have a perfect storm season where they play great AND catch a lot of breaks and win the Super Bowl, and now they are the NFC’s version of the Patriots…lol…silly Aints fans…why don’t you go get your paper bags out?
Sarah B
December 1st, 2010
1:19 pm
Oops leaving Tampa in was wrong.
Saints1Fan
December 1st, 2010
1:26 pm
Scooter:
So I guess that the Memphis Grizzlies are better than the Lakers too. You know they beat them last night. Maybe the OKC Thunder, without Durant, is better than the Celtics. They beat them as well.
You and these other fans that keep comparing this year’s Falcons to last year’s Saints are delusional. Out of 19 games, only 7 were decided by less than double digits. You expect divisional games to be played tougher than regular games. North Fla brought up a point earlier about injuries. Last year the Saints led the NFL in players on injured reserves and won the SB. The Falcons haven’t had any significant injuries this year. Reggie Bush and Darren Sharper have missed 8 games and did not play against the Falcons. Shockey has missed 3 games and will miss another one this week. Pierre Thomas has not played since week 3. Scott Shanle missed 4 games. Malcolm Jenkins missed 2 games. Randall Gay, starting nickle back, is on injured reserve. These are starters. Not reserves. The Saints starting running back was the 5th string back in camp and two others (Ladell Betts and Julius Jones) weren’t even in camp. Finally, against Pittsburgh, the Saints started Leigh Torrence, their 5th string cornerback and Malcolm Jenkins(safety) at the other cornerback position. I won’t even go to into the lineman that have missed multiple games. Hands down, they are not on the same level.
@Sarah B:
He didn’t post the playoffs because I asked him about if they made the playoffs that year. This year is not up, and as you can see from the records, many of them will not make it this year.
Scooter
December 1st, 2010
1:36 pm
Again, more excuses and more whining from Saints1fan…it really makes you look deluded and sad…as I said several times already…act like you’ve been there before. You won the Super Bowl last year and having other teams also be good this year doesn’t take that away from you. Noone on this FALCONS blog are saying the Saints suck…yet you feel the need to come on here and make excuses and give backhanded compliments to the team that beat yours this year and is leading the division.
All I see from you is a lot of ifs and buts and whining. Grow up and realize that being a fan of your team doesn’t mean that you have to feel offended anytime fans of other teams are being fans of theirs. I bet you want to bomb the headquarters of ESPN and SI and all of the other websites and networks that have the Falcons ranked higher than the Saints huh? How dare they??
Sad thing is that I was actually pulling for the Saints in the super bowl last year and in a lot of games where they weren’t playing the Falcons..but after seeing how arrogant and whiney that win made Saints fans this year…I’ll be damned if I’ll ever pull for them again in anything.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 1st, 2010
1:44 pm
Alright, guys, alright. Time for the truth of the matter.
I admit that I am a homosexual. I also love living in the past as far as this Falcons franchise. Sigh…I just really miss looking at Vick in his tight football pants.
So, the real reason that I come on here is because I’ve been eating sour grapes about this whole “Matt Ryan” thing. You guys are right about me. I apologize for my ignorant comments.
Now, I’m off to have some personal time with my Michael Vick Bobblehead doll…
RockyMTNFalcon
December 1st, 2010
1:44 pm
Larry,
Matt “Choke” Ryan is not worth your time. He is still Pissed off because the Falcons cut vick. The more he tries to show how bad Ryan is, the more he proves how goot Mattie Ice really is.
Saints1Fan
December 1st, 2010
1:47 pm
LMBO. Scooter, you are sick. I can promise you that Coach Smith is concerned about the Saints game remaining on the schedule. I guess the commentators that said that the Atlanta Hawks weren’t that good of a team when they were 8-0 were delusional too. What’s their record now? Saints Fans critique their team whether we are winning or losing. When we won the early games this year, we let teams hang around and won close ones. We are realist. I guess we can be realist since we have a real trophy. You have to be delusional because you can only dream of one. I’ll call Tom Benson and tell him to send you a picture.
JBFALCON
December 1st, 2010
1:55 pm
This reader is off to better places, ya’ll remind me of my ex wife, just argueing to hear yourself talk.
Scooter
December 1st, 2010
1:58 pm
Poor Saints1fan…he just can’t sleep at night when he thinks about his beloved Aints losing to the Falcons in the superdome. He has nightmares of the division standings with the Falcons in first place. It burns him up so badly that he has to spend time on a FALCONS blog telling all of us deluded Falcons fans that head to head games mean nothing, that division standings and national media opinions mean nothing, that the Saints are the only team with injuries, and that if a kicker misses a gimme field goal that team should just automatically get the win. I hope if he doesn’t get help at Charter, he gets help somewhere…
Scooter
December 1st, 2010
2:01 pm
And Jeff, if it’s just too much trouble for you guys to moderate these blogs could we at least get an ignore or hide user function?
Eric C.
December 1st, 2010
2:16 pm
Obviously, it would be great for the Falcons to win out…but winning 3 of 5 could be enough for #1 seed.
The Falcons “should” beat Carolina twice. If they do that and get a big win against NO, that will be enough to clinch the division regardless of what NO does in it’s other 4 games. Beating TB and Seattle would just be icing on the cake if that happens.
Also, considering they have a two game lead over the Eagles, you have to like the Falcons chances to clinch the #1 seed with a 12-4 record, and I don’t think the Bears will win more than 3 games with their schedule.
Bottom line: The Falcons are firmly in the driver seat based on their record and based on their having two games left with the Panthers. This game at TB is not do or die.
Saints1Fan
December 1st, 2010
2:28 pm
Eric:
The only way the Falcons get the number one seed is to win the rest of their games. They will lose to NO in the Dome. Even with that loss, they win the tie breaker because of common games. The Saints lost to Arizona and Cleveland, the Falcons won those. The Saints beat Pittsburgh, the Falcons lost that one. The Saints have some tough games ahead, including this week @ Cincinnatti and @ Baltimore the week before the Falcons, but I think the Saints win their next 5.
Terrell
December 1st, 2010
2:57 pm
Matt “CHOKE” Ryan
You really are dumb. The last lost for Matt Ryan at home was against the Broncos in his rookie season, and we should’ve won that game.
Jimmy Crack
December 1st, 2010
3:13 pm
Hey “Choke”, is that a nickname you got in your high school bathroom? Sniff my surname and shove off, you punk.
Enkinan
December 1st, 2010
3:28 pm
This is definitely a well coached team that is headed in the right direction, but let’s take it one week at a time with playoff and Super Bowl talk. The Saints are right behind us and don’t look to be going away any time soon. A win down in Tampa against a pissed off and very good team would be a great addition to the season. I honestly hope we get Philly down here in the playoffs, what a better way to get that monkey off of our back and shut up all of these obnoxious Philly/Vick fans.
reality check
December 1st, 2010
4:03 pm
The Falcons do appear to be very well coached but their level of talent isn’t among the league’s top teams. The Falcons are among the league leaders in time of possession which keeps their offense on the field and helps hide their defense. 1st down- Turner for 4 2nd down-Turner for 3 3rd down- short pass complete to White or Gonzalez for the 1st and move the chains. This ball control offense has worked well, but what happens if they eventually fall behind by 10-14 pts in a game? What happens when the Falcons eventually lose the turnover battle? At +11, they have been very fortunate getting more than their fair share of breaks. What happens when an injury or two does occur? To date, the Falcons have been about as healthly as any NFL team. Eventually some adversity will come, and it won’t be that they are just tied or down by 3 late in the game. What happens then? Considering time of possession, lack of injured starters, +11 turnover margin, 2nd fewest offensive penalties per game, and zero fumbles for the season from their primary running backs(Turner and Snelling), why have they had so many close games? The only possible reason: Not anywhere close to elite talent. These coaches are getting the most out of what they have. An elite team loaded with talent with all of the things that I listed that have gone the Falcons way would be 11-0 with 8 blowouts. The Falcons may or may not beat out the Saints this year, but the Saints seem to have a good bit more talent and many more explosive players. If the Falcons had the Saints injuries and turnover margin, they might not be a .500 team. And if the Saints had the Falcons health and TO margin they would be at least 10-1. If the Falcons don’t do something this year with all of the things that have gone their way, they will have wasted one of their best opportunities in team history!
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 1st, 2010
4:03 pm
Sarah B
December 1st, 2010
1:13 pm
vs Bengals (2-9)
vs Tampa (7-4)
vs Ravens (8-3)
vs Packers (7-4)
———————————————————–
The stats are for the games played in the season, just because a team was a playoff team in 2009, the Falcons didn’t play them until 2010.
With your reasoning, you could say the Bears won the superbowl in 1985.
Sorry, that’s not how it works. Season to season. Facts are facts – deal with it.
Only 2 of those teams made the playoffs in the season that the Falcons played against them.
CHOKE is overrated plain and simple.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 1st, 2010
4:11 pm
Sorry guys but that 19-1 record is suspect, plain and simple – YOU DIDN’T PLAY ANYBODY
Hell I can bowl a 200 game in “no tap”, but who cares about either
CHOKE is a CHUMP who just is along for the Turner/White ride…. ha ha.
Don’t shoot the messenger. Until that CHUMP wins a game that matters, like the playoffs or lead the team to a championship game, he is and will be a BUST with meaningless stats.
Scooter
December 1st, 2010
4:12 pm
Another day, another FALCONS blog where people actually try to talk about the FALCONS..and of course it’s full of Mike Vick sycophants and dumbass Saints fans that are crying in their hurricanes and making excuses about being below the Falcons in the standings.
Is there a biggger bunch of one hit wonder arrogant douches than Saints fans this year? Their team was lucky as hell last year in addition to playing well and yet all they can talk about is how the Falcons are lucky this year and the Saints are really better.
Saints fans..your team and franchise’s history is just about as crappy if not more so than the Falcons’…you won the Super Bowl….enjoy it. I promise that they won’t take the trophy away if you actually give credit to some other teams this year. Forgive us lowly Falcons fans for actually think our team is good…we obviously don’t have the storied history of the Saints..lol.
Scooter
December 1st, 2010
4:16 pm
And by the way Saints fans…if the Falcons are so bad and the Saints so obviously superior then why did you lose to them in your home stadium already this year. Why do the Falcons have a better record? Ohh..I forgot..if your team misses a short field goal they should just go ahead and give you the win…
Quit whining, quit making excuses, quit talking crap about other teams on THEIR blogs..and act like the Super Bowl champions. Noone on here said the Saints suck…just because Falcons fans happen to think their team is better doesn’t take away your Super Bowl trophy.
Scooter
December 1st, 2010
4:19 pm
And Matty Choke…we all know you just want attention. I guess your mommy didn’t hold you enough as a kid or something. It’s morons like YOU that make people in this city feel glad that Vick is gone. I like the guy and am happy for him to succeed somewhere else..but if you like him so much then maybe you should read his OWN comments where he admits he let down Blank, the Falcons, and the whole city of Atlanta by being lazy about his job. Those aren’t stats..those are his OWN words.
Scooter
December 1st, 2010
4:20 pm
And Matty Choke…we all know you just want attention. I guess your mommy didn’t hold you enough as a kid or something. It’s morons like YOU that make people in this city feel glad that Vick is gone. I like the guy and am happy for him to succeed somewhere else..but if you like him so much then maybe you should read his OWN comments where he admits he let down Blank, the Falcons, and the whole city of Atlanta DOWN by being lazy about his job. Those aren’t stats..those are his OWN words.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 1st, 2010
4:37 pm
NO Playoff wins
NO Division titles
NO Championship games
Sounds about right for the Falcons.
No Turner or White and they would be even more irrevelent
As far as the Vick comments. Vick has learned more in 1 season with Andy Reid than the morons in Atlanta could ever do.
I am looking forward to that beat down in the playoffs, that is if CHOKE doesn’t lay another egg in the 1st round
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 1st, 2010
4:40 pm
Which of the following doesn’t belong in this group:
Rex Ryan/Mark Sanchez
John Harbaugh/Joe Flacco
Mike Smith/CHOKE
Here is a hint: They are the only ones not to take their team to the championship game in their rookie seasons, yet their dumb fans think they are elite.
Scooter
December 1st, 2010
4:42 pm
I notice you don’t bring up Andy Reid’s stellar record in the playoffs there Choke..lol.
Scooter
December 1st, 2010
4:52 pm
And if you’re an Eagles fan now that they have Vick…I hate to tell ya Choke..but Andy Reid is possibly the biggest choker in the league now..lol
Atlanta Peach
December 1st, 2010
5:25 pm
Congratulations Our Quarterback, Matt Ryan just named NFL Player of the Month ! Yea !
Atlanta Peach
December 1st, 2010
5:30 pm
Hmm, I wonder why Michael Vick didn’t get player of the month ?!? Did anyone catch Jim Kelly on the NFL Network say he wasn’t a Michael Vick fan ?!? I wonder why he feels that way ?!? (wink)
Gruden to Miami would be manna for starving ACC | Jeff Schultz
December 1st, 2010
8:15 pm
[...] ♦ Falcons are winning because they’re following Mike Smith [...]
Saints1Fan
December 1st, 2010
8:31 pm
Choke:
Scooter is too special to even respond to. No one said what type of fans they were but my name. You didn’t say you were a Saints fan and neither did the other writer who broke down the stats and injuries. For some reason it doesn’t register as calling a spade a spade. He is upset that not only do we know about our teams, but we keep up with other people’s teams as well and probably know more about their games then they do.
Atlanta Peach:
Anyone who can’t be happy for a man who made a bad decision, paid for his crime, and is doing so well can only be someone with a problem.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 1st, 2010
9:57 pm
Atlanta Peach
December 1st, 2010
5:30 pm
Hmm, I wonder why Michael Vick didn’t get player of the month ?!? Did anyone catch Jim Kelly on the NFL Network say he wasn’t a Michael Vick fan ?!? I wonder why he feels that way ?!? (wink)
—————————————————-
Ghetto “Not Fabulous” I believe Vick has already won Player of the month, and 2 player of the weeks, back-to-back weeks.
I do believe he also leads the league in qb rating.
Now crawl back to your hood
Eric C.
December 1st, 2010
10:08 pm
@Saints1Fan, the fact is your Saints have played Carolina twice already and the Falcons haven’t, and that is a huge advantage for the Falcons the rest of the way.
drmondo
December 1st, 2010
10:19 pm
Here’s a suggestion, Jeff. Let us block certain people so we don’t have to wade through pages of garbage to read actual comments about the team. If you can’t do that, then how about blocking anyone who has half the posts on a page back-to-back-to-back.
Saints1, I disagree with 90% of your posts but don’t have a problem with you. I think a lot of the posts against obnoxious Saints fans are really talking about a whole group that started posting on these blogs last winter and never let up. It was never thoughtful, but “Brees is great. Ryan is poopy” level of dialogue. That’s why guys like me who rooted for the Saints in the SB (represent our division) now can’t stand the team. A whole lot of bandwagon fans who never suffered through the paper bag years act as if the Saints are NFL level and everyone else is HS level. That’s why you see the anti-Saints fans comments here. A whole bunch of a-holes ruined it for all of you.
Atlanta Peach
December 1st, 2010
10:37 pm
If you’re happy and you know it, Clap your Hands ! Clap ! Clap !
Atlanta Peach
December 1st, 2010
10:43 pm
If you’re happy and you know it, Clap your Hands, Clap ! Clap ! If you’re Happy and you know it, Clap your Hands, Clap ! Clap ! If you’re Happy and you know it and Vick will surely blow it, If you’re Happy and you know it, Clap your Hands, Clap ! Clap !
Atlanta Peach
December 1st, 2010
10:48 pm
I am so happy and proud of the Falcons and this Orginaztion this year ! Thank you so much Author Blank for all that you do for this City and this team ! So ever Grateful to you. God continue to bless you, the team and this City ! Thank you !
Katrina says...........
December 1st, 2010
11:05 pm
People, just ignore the stupity of the haters on this blog.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 1st, 2010
11:36 pm
Atlanta Peach
December 1st, 2010
10:48 pm
I am so happy and proud of the Falcons and this Orginaztion this year ! Thank you so much Author Blank for all that you do for this City and this team ! So ever Grateful to you. God continue to bless you, the team and this City ! Thank you !
————————————————
You meant “Organization”
You meant “Arthur”
I guess hood rats missed spelling class
Atlanta Peach
December 1st, 2010
11:38 pm
Clap ! Clap !
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 1st, 2010
11:41 pm
Dear Santa:
I know I have been asking you since 2004 to bring us a playoff win,
a division title and a qb that can make a pro bowl, but can you see
it in your heart to grant us that simple wish?
I really do appreciate you sending us 18 doormats for teams to the dome
the past 3 seasons, but we still can’t seem to do what the Saints, Eagles, Ravens, Patriots or even the once horrible Jets seem to do – win a play off game.
I promise to be good – please Santa.
Sincerely,
Delusional Fan Base.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 1st, 2010
11:43 pm
Atlanta Peach
December 1st, 2010
11:38 pm
Clap ! Clap !
————————————–
That’s a matter between you and your doctor
Atlanta Peach
December 1st, 2010
11:48 pm
Ce-le-brate good times, Come on !
Atlanta Peach
December 1st, 2010
11:50 pm
Way to go Matt, Way to go !
Atlanta Peach
December 1st, 2010
11:51 pm
Hey Matt ? Invite me to the wedding !
Atlanta Peach
December 1st, 2010
11:55 pm
#2 is the Bomb !
Atlanta Peach
December 1st, 2010
11:59 pm
#2 has come of age. Thanks Thomas for the first round pick. Couldn’t have chose a nicer gifted person. Way to go !
Atlanta Peach
December 2nd, 2010
12:04 am
It was reported today, That many of the Falcon’s players came in on their off day to hit the weighs. They clearly know what’s at stake. They’re going to do it yall !
Atlanta Peach
December 2nd, 2010
12:07 am
Listen to the guys on NFL Live show. They love the Falcons !
Atlanta Peach
December 2nd, 2010
12:17 am
The staff at usatoday are loving us too ! http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2010-power-rankings.htm Look at who’s ranked 10th ! (wink)
Atlanta Peach
December 2nd, 2010
12:19 am
They lost two spaces in a week. ha ! ha !
Atlanta Peach
December 2nd, 2010
12:31 am
Hey Matt, Make your haters your motivators ! It works !
Atlanta Peach
December 2nd, 2010
12:36 am
Guess I’ll wrap some gifts. Rise up Falcons Nation. Rise up !
Matt "ICE" Ryan
December 2nd, 2010
12:53 pm
yo choke, the kid is tha bomb. he did alot with less last year. now he’s about to RISE UP and take the mvp currently 3rd on espn’s mvp list.
how can someone be a CHOKE if their only behind brady, and rivers? and ahead of ron mexico (aka mike vick)
droopydawg
December 2nd, 2010
2:16 pm
The Falcons have certainly had some horrible coaches in the past. I am a TB fan and think Raheem Morris probably deserves the coach of the year unless the crumble in the last 5 (which is possible with a team this young) and arguably the GM has been more important (look at how many 08, 09, and 10 draft picks are currently starting or giving significant playing time…not just Freeman, Benn, Williams, McCoy, Blount, but half the defense too).
That said, Mike Smith is a close, close second. He has done great things with the Falcons. The NFC South in general is pretty solid overall and particularly in coaching.
droopydawg
December 2nd, 2010
2:17 pm
Saying Matt Ryan chokes is to have no idea about football. They have had a number of 4th quarter comebacks this year. The only choking for ATL all year was the D against Mendenhall.
Saints1Fan
December 2nd, 2010
2:19 pm
Eric C:
Maybe you missed it, but when the Saints played Carolina, their defense was ranked number 4 overall. They were leading the league in sacks, etc and were giving up 14 points per game. That included holding us to 16 points in our first game in the Dome and we scored about 31 in Carolina.
If you think that Carolina is going to be a walk away win for your ball club, you are kidding yourself. They play the same type of football that you do. Normally mistake free, ball control, field positon games. In the games that they lost badly, they didn’t have Steve Smith or their two starting running backs. You would be foolish to sleep on them.
ICE: Ryan is a good quarterback. In no way shape or form is he or should he be considered an elite quarterback at this stage. Will he get there? Yes, I believe so. Is he there now, I would say no. Just like Drew Brees wasn’t there when he was in San Diego. Brees was a good quarterback. Now he is an elite qb. Since 2006 Brees played in 74 regular-season games as the team’s starter, Brees is 46-28 and has thrown 145 touchdown passes. Not to mention he has more passing yards than any quarterback in the league during that time frame.
waynester
December 2nd, 2010
3:56 pm
Jeff Schultz
Off topic but you’re wrong about Cam Newton’s case. The NCAA is bending over backwards to avoid the stigma they inflicted on USC for the same wrongdoing and that is patently unfair to all the other parents and players who abide by the rules and don’t go shopping their services to the highest bidder. It stinks to hell and every game he participated in has the taint of the Newtons’(plural) rule-breaking. Absolutely shameful….
Fred Macmurray
December 2nd, 2010
6:00 pm
MattChokeRyan = NO CLASS TRASH
Matt "ICE Ryan
December 2nd, 2010
10:56 pm
saints fan: i believe matt ryan is elite in his own way. the two guys in front of matt have o do it all on their own when it comes to offense but, matty ice is different . he could throw for 300+ yards if he had to (see vs. ravens) because the run wasn’t working or he could throw for 180 yards and convert those 3rd and longs, and run the offense. he can do it all and has a great football I.Q.
“Great timing can beat any D no matter how great it is
-Matt Ryan
Tom Matthews
December 3rd, 2010
12:06 pm
Wasn’t it Marcellus Wiley on ESPN who, on the day Smith was hired, called him a guy who stood at the front of the room while Jack Del Rio coached the Jacksonville defense, and talked about how the Falcons had to go low on the totem pole to get Smith? Whatever happened to Wiley? Oh, yeah: Still doing analysis for ESPN. (I suppose they had to reach low, too.) Has he ever recanted?
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 3rd, 2010
12:27 pm
Dink & Dunk King
FALCONS LIVE: No Cam Newton here but Ryan's not bad | Jeff Schultz
December 5th, 2010
1:48 pm
[...] I wrote early in the week, Smith (29-14) already ranks fourth in team history in victories despite being only ninth in games coached [...]