LIVE: It’s time for Falcons to show that ‘explosiveness’
Do the Falcons have their game faces on? I can't tell from here.
CHICAGO — Hey, anybody else realize the Falcons open the season today?
It has been a strange offseason, what with the NFL lockout, postponed free agency, and relatively limited practice time. The Falcons have been somewhat lost on the Atlanta sports landscape, particularly with college football starting last week.
But today, we begin to find out what this team is: a Super Bowl contender (as it seemed to show during a 13-3 regular season last year), or a team that’s not quite at that elite level yet (as it showed in the lopsided home playoff loss to Green Bay last January).
Sports Illustrated has tabbed linebacker Curtis Lofton and the Falcons to win the Super Bowl this season.
All we heard from general manager Thomas Dimitroff and coach Mike Smith following the loss to the Packers was how this team needed more explosiveness, and they seem to have added that on both sides of the ball. Wide receiver Julio Jones is a game-breaker. If he doesn’t steer some of the defensive attention away from Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez in the passing game, that means he is being left one-on-one. That would be fine with quarterback Matt Ryan, as he, Smith and offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey spent much of training camp and exhibitions trying to quickly implement Jones into the offense.
Edwards also should have an impact. The Falcons were shredded by Aaron Rodgers in the playoffs. The fact the Packers went on to win the Super Bowl and made New Orleans’ defense look silly Thursday night might soften the blow a bit. But the fact remains that the
It's not always this nice in Chicago.
team needed to improve its pass rush.
Edwards is not a sack machine. But he is a terrific all-round end who should fit well into the Falcons’ scheme and take some of the onus off of John Abraham. The Bears finished 30th in the NFL in offense last season but should be improved in the second season under coordinator Mike Martz.
Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler can be a knucklehead, but he’s a talented knucklehead. If the Falcons don’t get pressure on him and let him get into a rhythm, they the Bears will move the ball.
One final thing: The weather is absolutely gorgeous — about 70 degrees and sunny with a breeze. If this game was being held in December during a typically miserable Chicago winter, it would play more to the defense. So the Falcons, with more offensive weapons, should have an advantage.
That’s it for now. What are your thoughts on the Falcons today and this season. If you missed it, Sports Illustrated’s Peter King has tabbed them as Super Bowl champions. Falcons owner Arthur Blank wouldn’t have a problem with that.
By Jeff Schultz
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1,926 comments Add your comment
mountain_jim
September 11th, 2011
12:38 pm
Too many pickers picking us makes me nervous.
Runner-
September 11th, 2011
12:39 pm
Easy win, you all will see!!!
Runner-
September 11th, 2011
12:41 pm
mountain jim – its a falcons blog, what do you expect
Athens Dawg
September 11th, 2011
12:44 pm
Won’t be an easy win, but we win nonetheless.
Lake Shore Drive
September 11th, 2011
12:45 pm
Explode Da Bears Today.
Mr Charlie
September 11th, 2011
12:45 pm
Really, my biggest concern is JJ’s hands. Plus receivers take a few years to mature.
Jeff Schultz
September 11th, 2011
12:46 pm
The weather is just ridiculous here. Swear I’ve never been in Chicago when it was like this. Announced current temp at 74 degrees.
Falconanvickfan
September 11th, 2011
12:47 pm
If u are any other team in the NFL other than Atlanta, they would pick Vick over Matt 9 times out of 10. Matt Ryan will be a modern day Dan Marino. Vick will win superbowl before he does. I love my atlanta falcons! He’ll I’m a Grady baby! Matt Ryan just doesn’t have that heart nor arm strength to win in the playoffs.
Athens Dawg
September 11th, 2011
12:48 pm
Julio seems mature beyond his years and I’m not just saying that. He really seems level headed and he works hard. Really no matter what year your in, your going to be successful if you work hard. That’s all there is to it. Rookie or a 13 year vet, hard work = success. Go Julio! Go Falcons!
Mr Charlie
September 11th, 2011
12:48 pm
Jeff, Chicago in September is awesome.
Jeff Schultz
September 11th, 2011
12:48 pm
Mountain_Jim — I can assure you I am not Choke and Choke is not I. I wish I had that kind of free time.
Athens Dawg
September 11th, 2011
12:51 pm
I’m tired of hearing about Ryan’s arm strength, and he has no heart?! Are you serious? Answer me this, who has more 4th quarter comebacks by leading their teams to victories? Ryan or Vick? Go look at some of Ryan’s highlights and tell me he doesn’t have arm strength. People need to stop hating on Ryan and sit back and enjoy the show.
Falconanvickfan
September 11th, 2011
12:54 pm
In the words of mr waka flocka ” Oh les do it, yeeeeeeaah!”
Falconanvickfan
September 11th, 2011
12:58 pm
Get real dude. Check his interceptions! Whenever he goes deep he throws picks! however he seems to have a stronger arm this preseason. Dan Marino clone. Yeah he has led to some comebacks. However it takes a special pedigree to win in playoffs.
SeenThisB4
September 11th, 2011
12:59 pm
I’ll be cheering for the bears today! As if you didn’t know that. GEAUX BEARS!
Mr Charlie
September 11th, 2011
12:59 pm
Falcongvick, Ryan is 7-8 against 10 win teams, Vick is 4-11. Explain that.
Mr Charlie
September 11th, 2011
1:00 pm
Seethis, did you see Aaron Rogers Thursday? Yea, we all saw that before.
Mr Charlie
September 11th, 2011
1:01 pm
Falcon, does Rex Grossman have the special pedegree?
Bellefay1
September 11th, 2011
1:01 pm
Very cool with teams holding the flag.
Mr Charlie
September 11th, 2011
1:02 pm
Dan Marino had the strongest arm in the NFL, Joe Montana might have had the weakest. next topic?
Zamboni Racer
September 11th, 2011
1:02 pm
Rousing rendition of the star spangled banner, just the right thing to start off the reg season. Go Falcons!
SeenThisB4
September 11th, 2011
1:03 pm
Mr. Charlie, yes we all know that you all have seen Rogers before.
lanier
September 11th, 2011
1:04 pm
I tend to agree with Choke on Ryan until he shines in the playoffs. Right now I see Ryan as Matt Schaub and will until he wins a pressure game.
Good but not great
Mr Charlie
September 11th, 2011
1:05 pm
Yep, when I watched Thursday, I thought, seenhatb4. And before you try and take credit for your moral victory in a losing effort, remember you got bounced by a 7-9 team.
mountain_jim
September 11th, 2011
1:05 pm
Yes Jeff – I also wish I had that kind of time to waste as well.
Falconanvickfan
September 11th, 2011
1:05 pm
Dan Marino still won squat just like golden boy Marty ice will be. But hell I still bleed red and black. Let’s go
Mr Charlie
September 11th, 2011
1:06 pm
Yes, Ryan does have to prove himself in the playoffs, it was the same knock on Payton Manning.
SeenThisB4
September 11th, 2011
1:08 pm
Mr. Charlie, You called it a moral victory. Not me.
Mr Charlie
September 11th, 2011
1:09 pm
You don’t go 13-3 if you can’t play the QB position. The fact is, he got beat in his rookie year, AFTER HE GOT A 4-12 TEAM TO THE PLAYOFFS. Then he got bounced last year because he ran into the best team in the league.
Truth is, his worst season was 2009 when he did not get to the playoffs.
Jeff Schultz
September 11th, 2011
1:10 pm
Sorry folks. Lost wifi. I’m back. . .
mmgtfan
September 11th, 2011
1:10 pm
Oh that Atlanta secondary
Mr Charlie
September 11th, 2011
1:10 pm
Roy Williams? might be a long season, lol
Falconanvickfan
September 11th, 2011
1:11 pm
Ugh same ol ish
mmgtfan
September 11th, 2011
1:12 pm
Grimes is a baller though
Mr Charlie
September 11th, 2011
1:12 pm
Shoulda picked that one.
Falconanvickfan
September 11th, 2011
1:13 pm
1st and 2nd down we look great3rd down we suck
WitStream
September 11th, 2011
1:13 pm
Administrator question: Can we get an “ignore user” function on this blog? Sooo many of these people here are the typed version of Chris Berman, i.e. downright unbearable.
Thanks in advance!
DHunt
September 11th, 2011
1:13 pm
Defensive breakdowns on 3rd down again? What is on Van Gorder’s mind?!
Jeff Schultz
September 11th, 2011
1:13 pm
Bears have 2 third down conversions. Some LB should’ve been closer to Forte on that pass play.
ijonathan
September 11th, 2011
1:14 pm
No pressure, no coverage.
PMC
September 11th, 2011
1:14 pm
BVG has got to either adapt or go. This team cannot defend in the zone. They cannot defend screen passes.
This is what the 4th year. Do something BVG or go back to freaking COLLEGE!!!
The Real Falcon
September 11th, 2011
1:14 pm
Exactly that was our problem last year.
3rd and 7 and now 3rd and 10
Jeff Schultz
September 11th, 2011
1:14 pm
Refs missed a hold on that.
PMC
September 11th, 2011
1:14 pm
I’m sick of this pathetic soft zone.
Falconanvickfan
September 11th, 2011
1:15 pm
Spoon beastin
bigdave
September 11th, 2011
1:15 pm
Spoon a tackling machine early.
mmgtfan
September 11th, 2011
1:15 pm
No pass rush
J.J.M.
September 11th, 2011
1:15 pm
wheres the pass rush?
Falconanvickfan
September 11th, 2011
1:16 pm
Love how he is playing behind the Los
DHunt
September 11th, 2011
1:16 pm
And it’s not just the secondary. This is some scheme problems. Weatherspoon is going to be deadly this year. He is all over the place. Defense did a halfway decent job on that first series, held them to a field goal. They must get better because wide open receivers isn’t going to cut it.