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
sid
September 11th, 2011
2:03 pm
let’s see…..up to the bye week…..they should beat Seattle on the road and Carolina at home…..2-5 start. should win most remaining home games and at Carolina….maybe…..8-8 finish.
Bonez
September 11th, 2011
2:03 pm
More like Snake Hands Decoud
DHunt
September 11th, 2011
2:03 pm
I really expected more from the offense. I guess two turnovers will make you look bad. So far, we aren’t looking like we improved much on the offensive side. But only down by 10 and the defense is holding up except for one missed tackle by Spoon. Still think we can pull this out and handle da Bears.
Ditka
September 11th, 2011
2:03 pm
WOW -yuse guys are really good!
JSS
September 11th, 2011
2:04 pm
Don’t play the Lotto Buzz!
WitStream
September 11th, 2011
2:04 pm
Another impression:
The Falcons are on a pace to have 12 sacks today, and they think they’re a Super Bowl contender??
Mr Charlie
September 11th, 2011
2:04 pm
Ryan is just setting them up, lol.
DHunt
September 11th, 2011
2:05 pm
Spread em out and knock em down
JSS
September 11th, 2011
2:05 pm
Sure is washed up, try blocking
bigdave
September 11th, 2011
2:05 pm
good recognition Matt.. get into that run
Jeff Schultz
September 11th, 2011
2:05 pm
I know it’s instinct by Jones shouldn’t have caught that.
J.J.M.
September 11th, 2011
2:05 pm
julio should have knocked the ball down
mmgtfan
September 11th, 2011
2:05 pm
Dump play by Julio
oldfart
September 11th, 2011
2:05 pm
Turner catch and run for a 1st down called a nice job by the Chicago secondary? Is the color man a Chicago homer?
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
September 11th, 2011
2:05 pm
MR. CHARLIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
SUPERBOWL BOUNDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
Pathetic
September 11th, 2011
2:05 pm
Jones only catch is a deflected pass. Rookie mistake catching it
mountain_jim
September 11th, 2011
2:06 pm
play calls killing this drive
Pathetic
September 11th, 2011
2:06 pm
Yah second and 16 and lets run it for 3 yards!
mmgtfan
September 11th, 2011
2:06 pm
WHYYYYYYYYYY!!?!?!!??!!?!?
Mr Charlie
September 11th, 2011
2:06 pm
it is a marathon Choke, not a sprint.
J.J.M.
September 11th, 2011
2:06 pm
smh we got nothing on offense…
TylerThe Creator
September 11th, 2011
2:06 pm
):
Jeff Schultz
September 11th, 2011
2:06 pm
Catchable ball. White should’ve had it for first down.
Pathetic
September 11th, 2011
2:07 pm
Again throw the ball DOWNFIELD. NO MORE 5-8 yard slants. JEESH
Ditka
September 11th, 2011
2:07 pm
WOW- I mean yuse guys are really ggod… for a girls team!
mmgtfan
September 11th, 2011
2:07 pm
Bosher is terrible. Why did we draft a punter?!?!
WitStream
September 11th, 2011
2:07 pm
Another impression:
Roddy White should’ve caught that…and you call Matt Ryan a good QB??
oldfart
September 11th, 2011
2:07 pm
I guess the ball going straight through Roddy’s hands was Ryan’s fault as well as Mularkey’s.
Matt from MN
September 11th, 2011
2:07 pm
Seriously, FIRE Mularkey now, before he ruins this offense beyond all repair. I’ve seen enough over the last two seasons and he needs to go. No rhythm at all.
Bonez
September 11th, 2011
2:08 pm
Mularkey:ma·lar·key/məˈlärkē/
Noun: Meaningless talk; nonsense
Mike Mularkey
DHunt
September 11th, 2011
2:08 pm
pathetic that you missed the lay out catch over the middle by Julio. If defense wins games we need some takeaways.
Athens Dawg
September 11th, 2011
2:08 pm
Offense not looking good and not staying on the field long enough. Our defense will get tired if we’re not careful. We’re getting after Cutler but the more tired you get, the less of a pass rush there is. Offense has got to step it up and put some points on the board. We’re not the Steelers or Ravens where we can rely on defense to win games for us. We’re more of a Colt-like defense. Smaller, but faster.
Jeff Schultz
September 11th, 2011
2:08 pm
Falcons with two punts and two turnovers since opening field goal drive.
Mr Charlie
September 11th, 2011
2:08 pm
Nor did I ever say the Falcons would make the superbowl, you have made it clear that a single playoff win is the ultimate achievement. Again, I am going by your bar of that “greatness” is.
Falconanvickfan
September 11th, 2011
2:08 pm
We need some momentum
JSS
September 11th, 2011
2:08 pm
Execution is killing your drive…
groundfog
September 11th, 2011
2:09 pm
This team is showing nothing.Dimitroff has not rebuilt this defense in year 4, and the offense is still doing absolutely nothing. This coaching staff better start feeling some heat soon.
Pathetic
September 11th, 2011
2:09 pm
Here are the facts.
Ryan passing for 94 yards
Cutler 175 yards. But I thought we had the better receivers???? Their players get open on 15-30 yard pass plays while we can’t even get open on 5-10.
sid
September 11th, 2011
2:09 pm
With the Saints, Packers and Eagles in the NFC was Peter King at S.I. smoking something when he made that prediction?
Jeff Schultz
September 11th, 2011
2:09 pm
Ryan 11 for 13 but for only 94 yards. Dink and dunk day.
bigdave
September 11th, 2011
2:09 pm
need a hold here defense..
we get ball at half.
Mr Charlie
September 11th, 2011
2:09 pm
8 minutes left 2nd quarter, Chicago has put it on the ground 2 times, and both Grimes and Decloud have dropped picks. Momentum will change.
oldbird
September 11th, 2011
2:09 pm
Glad we traded two drafts for this explosive offense.
Pathetic
September 11th, 2011
2:09 pm
3 points in a half! Boy that offense sure is powerful and scary!
drmaryb .(*_*).
September 11th, 2011
2:09 pm
O – Line?
welikebaseball2
September 11th, 2011
2:09 pm
Predictable…runs on 1st downs & slants. Okay, I know it’s early, but I’m seeing nothing “explosive” in this offense. At least attempt some “explosive” plays. If you miss, you miss, but you’ve got to at least give it a shot.
JimBob
September 11th, 2011
2:10 pm
@ Witstream “Honestly, if you can’t implement an “ignore user” function on this blog, it’s really pointless for any thoughtful, intelligent fan to hang out here. This is an embarrassment.”
You must be new to the internet.
Welcome
J.J.M.
September 11th, 2011
2:10 pm
our run d is great though
bigdave
September 11th, 2011
2:10 pm
pre season teams couldnt run on us.. looks like that was no fluke.
groundfog
September 11th, 2011
2:10 pm
Abraham is still a beast