‘Explosive’ Falcons just opened season with a dud
What do they say about a picture telling a story? This one of Matt Ryan explains Falcons' day.
CHICAGO – When the Falcons said they wanted to get more explosive this season, did they mean like Wile E. Coyote explosive?
They said the intent was to open up the offense. Stretch defenses. They said they wanted to get more aggressive on defense. Pressure opposing quarterbacks. Let it fly, baby. Light the fuse. Problem is, when you don’t follow your own directions, it’s easy to inadvertently wire your big toe to the ACME dynamite kit. Then when you push the plunger on the season opener . . .
Boom!
The Falcons opened the season Sunday. Three hours later, all the remained was a pile of ashes.
Chicago Bears 30, Falcons 12. How’s that for your potential Super Bowl team? Instead of giving you a reason to forget their 48-21 playoff loss to Green Bay last January, the Falcons succeeded only in extending the hangover. They have been outscored in their last two games by 45 points.
And about that 0-4 record in the preseason. Maybe it’s not so meaningless after all.
“Stunned is an understatement,” linebacker Mike Peterson said.
“This isn’t what we planned on — it was awful,” Roddy White said.
It was worse than that. It was inexcusable.
Was all that talk about explosiveness just lip service? This was a season opener. This game followed months of hearing coaches, players and the front office talking about the need for wows and pyrotechnics on both sides of the ball. The Falcons traded a blur of draft picks so they could move up to draft wide receiver Julio Jones. They snagged defensive end Ray Edwards in free agency. They talked a big game.
But when the gates open, they pressed the trigger and a flag saying, “Bang!” popped out. The Bears didn’t play dead.
Many Falcons players chose to credit Chicago’s defense for playing a strong game and taking away the deep threat. But quarterback Matt Ryan and offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey seldom left the impression they were in attack mode. Ryan never threw deep. Never. He says he thought about it several times but there was nothing there. Ryan also committed two horrific mistakes — an interception by Brian Urlacher, which led to a second-quarter touchdown when the game was still 3-3, and fumbling in the third quarter, leading to an Urlacher return for another score.
Ryan also was hoping to leave his Green Bay playoff performance behind him. This didn’t help. He has five turnovers and one touchdown pass in his last two games.
The Falcons didn’t just look bad. They self-destructed. They did things that good teams, let alone Super Bowl contenders, never should do. The defense missed tackles, took bad angles on plays and blew coverages. They turned Jay Cutler (312 yards, two touchdowns) into Sid Luckman. They introduced Roy Williams, who got drop-kicked out of Dallas, to relevancy.
They were beat physically. Chicago defense may be good but it’s hardly Monsters, redux. This isn’t 1941 or 1985.
Offensively, the Falcons looked and played timid. They lined up White on one side, Jones on the other, and Tony Gonzalez and Harry Douglas between the two, as advertised. Then they cowered. Chicago often dropped eight players into coverage and taking away the deep ball. But don’t great players and great coaches adjust? They make plays. Instead, we were subjected to four quarters of check-downs.
Coach Mike Smith acknowledged the poor performance but he tried to temper concerns with, “Let’s not say the sky is falling.”
Gonzalez also sought to calm the masses.
“People outside the organization are going to push the panic button,” he said. “They’re going to think, ‘Oh my God. Overhyped. Over this. Over that. You know what? They’re full of it. If you want to think that, go ahead. Maybe it sells papers. Maybe it gives people something to talk about. But it’s one game. We’ve got the players to do something special. We just have to go out next week and play better. And we will next week, I guarantee it.”
Nobody should doubt the Falcons can still be a great team. But opening performances like this tend to alter perspectives, especially with Michael Vick and Philadelphia coming to the Georgia Dome next week.
Overhyped? It’s probably too early for such proclamations. But it would at least be nice to see the Falcons attempt what they advertised.
By Jeff Schultz
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750 comments Add your comment
WHO DAT BLACK
September 12th, 2011
8:44 am
The greatest show on purp!!! 6 points??? No TDs. You traded up and got Julio Jones to run underneath routes?? That’s just hilarious. If you have Roddy White and Julio Jones, throw it up and let them go get it. You think you had trouble against da Bears, wait until you try and throw on Nnamdi and the dream team. Just watch next week and we’ll show you how it’s done!! Who Dat!!!
pmc
September 12th, 2011
8:45 am
This team is incapable of playing attractive football. It’s hideous on it’s best day.
Ryan hasn’t regressed, the offensive line was abysmal. Ovie was out so they had no help. Look at the INT’s Ryan was throwing off his back foot. He doesn’t have good arm strength with a good foundation it was only going to be terrible with him throwing off his back foot. He is what he is, and he’s not a guy who is going to be able to go down field with an OL that can’t pass block AT ALL.
JeanE
September 12th, 2011
8:45 am
The Beerman, Abe, Tony G, and our money kicker showed up to play. Sure glad we had that primo wide receiver,,,,NOT. We needed defensive help, I didn’t hear Ray Edward’s name called once all day. Overpaid D Robinson and horrible safeties. Disgusting.
Peggyjoe
September 12th, 2011
8:45 am
Is it the City of Atlanta that jinxes teams? Matt was terrible – no protection – defense went on a holiday -or was it that cutesy Ford ad that Coach Smith made – you know the one – his handicap is his swing and then as if we believe that ANY golfer carries his clubs to the locker he trails off carrying his clubs behind his back. I admit it is cute – but the Falcons WEREN’T! Braves falter – lose Thrashers – Hawks pretend – I want 1995 back when at least the Braves were winners. Jep – it must be Atlanta.
Ron Hartley
September 12th, 2011
8:46 am
Didn’t the Falcons draft a wide receiver from Alabama by the name of Julio Jones???? Number one draft pick and he wasn’t used!!! What is up with that Mike Smith and his ridiculous coaching staff. Especially the offensive co-ordinator which apparently was absent during the game. If you’re so scared to throw it down field—-why in the world do you fatten up the outside receiver positions???? Mike Smith needs to get his head out and get plays called that involves the big money receivers—PERIOD!!!!
Fish Bisch
September 12th, 2011
8:48 am
Silver Lining:
Falcons 0-1
Saints 0-1
Panthers 0-1
Buccaneers 0-1
Chris
September 12th, 2011
8:51 am
The Falcons’ problems can be boiled down to one thing: an unlovable, cluck of an owner. By now, even the dumbest Falcon knows Blank. Anyone else notice the morph of Mike Smith after the honeymoon was over? It takes more than $ and talent to win in the NFL. Blank is poison to the team.
DC
September 12th, 2011
8:56 am
Chris you are an idiot..
Jeff Schultz
September 12th, 2011
8:57 am
JSS – Most were using multiple names — hence the differential between those banned (10-15) and total comments (200).
Jeff Schultz
September 12th, 2011
8:59 am
Fish Bisch — This was the second-worst regular season loss under Mike Smith. The only worse one was the Philly game, but Matt Ryan didn’t play in that game.
AlpharettaGuy
September 12th, 2011
9:00 am
Matt Ryan is going to be an above average NFL QB but I don’t see him ever rising to elite status (Brees, Rogers) or borderline elite (Vick). He’s a QB that needs protection & he may not get it this year. He’s a ‘by the book’ guy but a great QB has to improvise & find receivers down the field when he’s out of the pocket. He’s not bad but he’s not great & that could mean Falcons squeak in playoffs as wild card & lose in week one. Hope I’m wrong but that’s way I see it.
welikebaseball2
September 12th, 2011
9:01 am
Good for you with the banning Jeff! It’s bad enough that we have to deal with desperate/delusional Aint’s trolls, but I’d rather deal with them than the folks that use this blog to push their not-so-hidden agendas. Kudos to you sir!
Gabe
September 12th, 2011
9:03 am
Good teams dont get beat like Falcons did yesterday. Maybe we need to realize the truth, Falcons are just a soft football team, horrible defensively, and medicore on offense. Loss of Harvey on OL, and picking up Ray Edwards is not going to cut it. Neither is counting on a rookie to make your offense explosive
A-DOG
September 12th, 2011
9:04 am
PLEASE TAKE IT EASY ON US ON SUNDAY NIGHT MR. VICK! GOD PLEASE HELP US!
DeportMuLarky
September 12th, 2011
9:06 am
It’s Mularky. With Roddy-Julio-Douglas-Gonzo MuLarky calls for 5 yard passes?
The Falcons have the most predictable offense in the NFL. Don’t fire him-deport him.
Fish Bisch
September 12th, 2011
9:07 am
Also, at least I have hope that the Falcons can turn it around. The colts on the other hand look like they’re staring at 0-8.
JeanE
September 12th, 2011
9:09 am
Knew we’d miss our fab punter, Koenen, too. Also, we suck In Prime time and next week, yup, going to stink it up in prime time.
Matty "Ice" Ryan
September 12th, 2011
9:10 am
The Falcons played so bad Sunday that maybe even the Georgia Bulldogs could beat us. On second thought, naaaaaaaah. They are 0-2 and at least we are just 0-1. Dogs lose to Coastal Carolina next Saturday. You heard it here first.
True Falcon Fan
September 12th, 2011
9:10 am
When the Con-Vick & Eaglettes come to ATL – My bet is we will see a totally different Falcons team. You read it – Coach Smith stated it loud and clear “We will Fix IT”!!! I’m holden you Coach to your word!!! Yesterdays loss to the Bears was a perfect game to set the stage for next Sunday 18th. Hey Coaches, now work your magic”You better have this team ready for the DOG meat comin to town” —
We shall see, bring in the “CON-Vick” – Eaglettes next
Go Falcons
TruthSeeker
September 12th, 2011
9:10 am
Remember the Falcons team that went 5-11 the year after going to the Super Bowl? I had visions of that season yesterday. There might be something to this idea of us still having a hangover from the Packers game. It also might have had something to do with the lockout. But, regardless of what the cause was, I’ve never seen the Falcons look so unprepared to play under Mike Smith. We didn’t just make mistakes – we made silly mistakes. It literally looked like the first day of training camp.
Chris
September 12th, 2011
9:10 am
DC, son, you may be too young (or a transplant) to know about the Falcons of yesteryear. The team had the same problem when owned by the Smith family all those years. Money and talent was never a problem. Highly regarded players would come, play with the Falcons a while, and either fizzle out or move on to another team and win games. The Smiths were nearly equally on par with Blank in the unlikeable department, just in a different way. Look at the perennial winners in the NFL. Nearly all have great organizations, including great owners.
Jimmy Crack
September 12th, 2011
9:14 am
Fish, everybody has some issues with the D Coordinator, but the announcers called at least 3 times that our DBs were wandering off from their zone responsibilities. They mentioned frigging Owens TWICE, saying they can’t figure out what Owens was thinking when he wandered off. Also, coaches don’t tackle and don’t bite on every play fake they see!
King Arthur Blank
September 12th, 2011
9:15 am
Well, as you all know, my 3rd wife is divorcing me and I expect her to clean my clock. With that being said, I am putting the Falcons up for sale. The asking price is $1 Meeeelyon dollars. Plus if anyone knows a young hot girl looking for a Sugar Daddy, have her give me a call.
rward
September 12th, 2011
9:15 am
It’s hard to pass when you’re on your back..The O line sucks..Should have kept Dahl. BTW when will Meriweather and Jerry show up? Ray Edwards? The continuing sage of a horrible secondary..Our running game? They should have stayed on the plane and forfieted….
falconfirstfan
September 12th, 2011
9:24 am
I can’t believe it.
We must have the worst………FANS in the league. You are ready to give up on the basis of one game. You are upset because YOU were denied the opportunity to high five (or whatever) your buddies like YOU accomplished something. I am as sick at the loss as anybody except our coaches and players. Suck it up. Tighten your jock strap if you need one, but get behind the guys. We finally have a class owner, coach, and organization. We have expectations of winning every game. That won’t happen to any team ANYWHERE. That is why the NFL is so exciting. If you have no tolerance for the possibility of a loss, then you are no fan, just a whiny butt kid.
SeenThisB4
September 12th, 2011
9:25 am
Checking to see if I was banned or deleted, I didn’t think I was overtly offensive.
SeenThisB4
September 12th, 2011
9:25 am
Guess I’m still here. GEAUX SAINTS! I’m out,…….. for now.
TD has no clue!
September 12th, 2011
9:26 am
Will you idiots wake up. The Falcons don’t have a first round draft pick next year. We traded it away for that great wide receiver from Ala. We should have drafted their running back instead.
Jimmy Crack
September 12th, 2011
9:27 am
One more positive and my tank is empty on this game….At least we are tied for 1st place.
True Falcon Fan
September 12th, 2011
9:31 am
Hey folks, anybody watch the Cowboys & Jets last night?? Tony blew it at the last few minutes, ask yourselves what are those Cowboy fans saying today. My point is – “How do you want to loss”?? Last nights game was a very good game up till Tony’s il-fated pass attempt to Dez Bryant, “That was ugly”!
The Bears were ready, we were NOT ready. The coach says “We will fix it”!
Relax, set back and let’s see if this Coach or Coaches can work thier magic. This is a “Passing Point” for Mike Smith & his staff. Hey 33-16 is a very impressive record. Now we will see if he really knows how to back-up his words???
“I’m bettin’ on the Coach” he will back-up what he stated & more!!!!
Go Falcons
Maestro
September 12th, 2011
9:32 am
Two things. First, watching Philip Rivers play is a thing of beauty. He KNOWS how to go downfield with the football. It isn’t always about what’s OPEN downfield, it is getting the defense to respect that you intend to go downfield no matter what. You have two fast physical wideouts in RW and JJ and you don’t even give them a chance to make a play!?? That’s criiminal. It’s like having a loaded gun and still let the burglar rob your house. If you are going automatically check down because nothing is OPEN, it is going to be a long season. Second, Van Gorder, teach your defenders how to tackle and put Decoud on a short leash and Cris Owens on an even shorter one and get Kelvin Hayden and James Sanders up to speed and into the starting lineup.
Eyes Wide Open
September 12th, 2011
9:36 am
Ok, OK,Ok……. For real ….what happened????
Space Mountain
September 12th, 2011
9:38 am
6 straight loses dating back to the Green Bay playoff loss. Something is very wrong with the Falcons and it starts with NO DEFENSE.
Barry
September 12th, 2011
9:38 am
Game was squarely on Matt Ryan. His mistakes, interception on a called roll out not a scramble so don’t blame the OL for that one, and a fumble that he just laid an egg with because he is not very athletic led directly to 14 Bears points. Can’t have your star QB making rookie mistakes againt a good team. Ryan is more like Romo than Manning, Romo made the same two dumb mistakes Ryan made and cost his team the game too.
Fish Bisch
September 12th, 2011
9:38 am
Yes Jimmy Crack, I did see Owens chasing butterflies out on the field yesterday. I used to wonder why he is still on the team let alone on the playing field, but I’m afraid we are stuck with him.
Herman Edwards
September 12th, 2011
9:40 am
The Falcons ARE who I thought THEY were…..7-9 team this season! Maybe!
Gatorzone
September 12th, 2011
9:40 am
I am starting to question the whole Matty “ice” thing… He seems to be making no progress in taking the next step. Way too timid. Afraid to go deep. And what is with all the wide open receivers chicago had yesterday?
I think the Birds may have been reading their own press clippings too much and came back to earth yesterday.
By and large, I thought Atlanta could have been in complete control with their start, but the INT followed by the Weatherspoon OLE, really changed the game.
Nice Tackle Sean!
True Falcon Fan
September 12th, 2011
9:43 am
@Barry – Ryan kept hearing a DE named Peppers comin, that’s a big difference
Romo is more like — you remember “Danny White” —- Mr. 70%
JSS
September 12th, 2011
9:45 am
Wow, I guess somebody didn’t get the message? Man, say this for AJC Bloggers, dense is a word that can be spread like Peanut Butter and Jelly on most of them! See 9:39AM for the latest example!
Falcons > Eagles
September 12th, 2011
9:45 am
The eagles are overrated. An angry bunch of falcons will come out on fire! Falcons 27 Eagle 23–bet the house!
Gatorman
September 12th, 2011
9:50 am
Preparation was lacking in every phase of the Falcons team. To pick out one point however, starting two rookies on the offensive line was the kiss of death. The Falcons have to dedicate themselves to giving 100% next week or get beaten just as badly. This is no home game for them either, as half the people attending will be cheering for Michael Vick, and the other half will be Falcon fans. Life is what it is and you have to deal with that.
AlpharettaGuy
September 12th, 2011
9:51 am
Matty gonna have to step up, show that his draft status ahead of Flacco was warranted. He’s just not a super-athletic or mobile guy & with his o-line this year he’s gonna need that. It’ll be a tough road to take Eagles down, even at home. Falcons may have overachieved last year…we shall see.
True Falcon Fan
September 12th, 2011
9:52 am
JSS – You jealous
NATIVEBIRD
September 12th, 2011
9:54 am
I agree Gumbo, please get CHRIS OWENS off of the field! He is lost everytime he gets on the field.
pmc
September 12th, 2011
9:54 am
In the last several years we have drafted OL “depth” and gone heavy on defense.
ARE ANY OF THOSE PLAYERS EVER GOING TO MAKE A PLAY???? This is Matt Millen territory folks.
Sick & Tired Of Being Sick & Tired
September 12th, 2011
9:55 am
I have two comments….(1) Sam Baker needs to go and soon. He was pathetic all day long against their defensive line and (2) Chris Owens needs to be a reserve when no one else is available…….
Why does the defense play so much zone? The CBs never bump the other teams receivers coming off the line of scrimmage to disrupt their pass routes. It just simply does not make sense to be paying Robinson all of that money and not expect him to be able to play tight man-to-man coverage. It’s obvious that Grimes can so why not Robinson? Does the offensive or defensive coordinators understand the meaning of many adjustments at half-time? Why try to run Rogers up the middle? Why not try screen passes to slow the pass rush?? Things that appear to be so-o-o-o-o obvious that make you go WTF!!!!!!!!
JSS
September 12th, 2011
9:57 am
Hawley and Anderson are no rookies, it is time for some of Thomas Dimitroff’s draft picks to start carrying their weight! Other teams including the Bears who started a true rookie at right tackle can do it, why can’t the Falcons?
JSS
September 12th, 2011
9:58 am
Ha ha, nothing like watching a fool commit “blog suicide to get the day off on the right foot!
Bob Berry to Cannonball Butler
September 12th, 2011
10:00 am
Secondary, Secondary, Secondary –
the worst secondary in the history of the NFL.
Why am I typing this every day?
And we traded our future away.
No- you traded your future away – I’m done.
And I’ve been with you since ‘66
NATIVEBIRD
September 12th, 2011
10:00 am
Matt looks weak and frail. Looks like he did NO work in the gym this summer. ALL elite QB’s are strong enough to withstand some pressure and still deliver the ball. Not Matt. It’s great to have a football mind and know your plays, but you have to be able to come out and perform. To be athletic and aggressive. We were neither of those on Offense and a lot of the problem is Matt, the rest is MM fault of course…