Ray Edwards finally coming around for Falcons
Ray Edwards had this sack of Cam Newton two weeks ago but has only 3.5 this season. (AP photo)
FLOWERY BRANCH – The first time Ray Edwards made big news as a Falcon came when the team announced he would not play in the team’s first exhibition game because of what coach Mike Smith somewhat comically referred to as “a minor procedure.”
That “minor procedure” turned out to be slightly worse than an ear-wax removal. It was knee surgery – disclosed to the public two weeks after the Falcons’ signed him as a free agent. The injury limited Edwards in offseason workouts. It kept him sidelined for the first two preseason games. Most importantly, it generally rendered him as a nothing-special player in a season when he was supposed to be a something-special difference-maker for a team trying to win a playoff game.
“Yeah, it bothered me, because I know how hard I train and how hard I play, and I was not getting the numbers I wanted to get,” Edwards said Tuesday.
We can debate whether the Falcons should have thought twice about pursuing a player they knew had knee surgery – the specifics of which Edwards still won’t get into – and whether they were fully aware of how long this rehabilitation process might take. Even Edwards acknowledges, “As far as exploding off of it, I’m still not 100 percent. I don’t think I will be until [the offseason] when I go back to Minnesota to train and get back my strength in my legs that was lost in the surgery.”
But 14 games into the season, the Falcons are staring to get something out of their investment. Edwards has been in on two sacks in the last two games against Carolina and Jacksonville. That coincides with when he started to feel stronger. “I feel like I’m getting my legs back underneath me,” he said.
December is a good time for an NFL defense to get a boost. If the Falcons’ pass rush continues to improve, it makes their chance for success against New Orleans on Monday night and later in the playoffs significantly better. An effective Edwards and John Abraham up front, along with a rising Sean Weatherspoon and a healthy Brent Grimes, give this defense play-making potential that it has lacked.
Now, Edwards (and coaches) will tell you that he has been effective against the run all season. (Quoting: “I don’t think anybody at my position is as good at stopping the run as me.”)
But when a team signs a player to a $30 million free agent contract, there’s an expectation that you won’t have to go looking for him. He’s supposed to be a 100-watt bulb, not a tea light.
Edwards has 3½ sacks, 5 “quarterback hits” and 5½ “hurries” this season. Last year in Minnesota, he had 8 sacks, 13½ knockdowns and 14½ hurries.
When asked about the criticism, Edwards laughed. “Y’all are very cut-throat,” he said. “But I’m not worried about it. You don’t pay my bills or cause me any grief or unhappiness. It is what it is. That’s your job.”
If we haven’t seen the Edwards that had 16½ sacks the last two years in Minnesota, there are two good reasons: 1) The knee injury, which he said came from “the usual wear and tear.” (He denied it had anything to do with his boxing exhibition during the lockout); 2) His transition to the Falcons’ scheme, which he termed “totally different” from the Vikings’.
Edwards rarely missed a defensive snap in Minnesota. He is used in a three-man, defensive-end rotation with the Falcons. The Vikings’ defensive scheme, he said, was more “straight forward.” The Falcons tend to use more stunts up front.
Abraham said, “Everyone’s still learning how to play with each other.”
He also referenced the after-effects of a knee injury, as did linebacker Mike Peterson. “I could just tell from being around ballplayers and watching him that he wasn’t 100 percent,” Peterson said. “He was hurt. He’d make one play, but then he’d favor the knee. But you can see he’s getting better.”
It follows that the Falcons’ defense is getting better. In December, that means something.
By Jeff Schultz
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157 comments Add your comment
True Falcon Fan
December 21st, 2011
6:07 am
SAINTS > FAILCANTS
December 21st, 2011
5:59 am
Nope your wrong again – you’ll see……….
Go Falcons – Ain’ts Next
FL dawg
December 21st, 2011
6:23 am
It’s imperative that ATL puts pressure on Brees from Abraham and Edwards. The inside guys are the ones who really have to step up, Bierman, Lofton, Weatherspoon: to get sacks on Brees’s darting around and stepping up in the pocket.
P B Orr
December 21st, 2011
6:29 am
You know some of us actually like to BS about our football team on this blog. The presence of Choke and his retinue makes it impossible to enjoy this thing the way it was designed. I would hope that the writers here would make some effort to get rid of this punk, so the rest of us who are sane can have fun here.
Joe Tess Fish House
December 21st, 2011
6:52 am
Ray Edmunds is a joke Flacons should of never of had of sighed him.
Hilarity
December 21st, 2011
7:06 am
JSS is a typical internet ninja troll. Loves to see his words in print because his voice sounds like something from Revenge of the Nerds. Idiot alert.
CHOKE’s team is 9-5. What’s MV7 “I can’t stay on the field because I have brittle bones” record? 6-8, right?
Between idiots and Aints fans this forum is hopeless for falcon fans.
Michael
December 21st, 2011
7:19 am
There is nothing wrong with supporting your team and having optimistic expectations. My problem is with the fans that see this team consistently lose to upper tier teams, but then make outrageous proclamations when the Falcons beat up on lesser opponents like the Jags. Of course I want the team and Matt Ryan do well, even “Choke” would admit that even though I know he has issues with Ryan, but to come on here and act like the Falcons are primed for a SB run when they haven’t proven they can beat a real contender is a little misguided in my opinion.
True Falcon Fan
December 21st, 2011
7:55 am
Hey Michael, who in last 5 posts has said anything about the Falcons & SB in the same sentence?
Go Falcons – Ain’ts next
That Dude Devin
December 21st, 2011
7:58 am
Win against the Saints on MNF for sure. Put your bets down on that money line…too tempting. But in the playoffs….maybe a first round victory (we aint winning the division).
Falcon Hardy
December 21st, 2011
8:03 am
Ray Edwards is a WORTHLESS INVESTMENT along with D.Robinson. I have watched a lott of games these pass 2 weeks and I see all this defensive Talent that TD passed on and sign Plugs like Edwards, Jerry, and I could go on and on and on…………………………….
Michael M.
December 21st, 2011
8:05 am
Falcons fixing to get the brooms out. You know what that means boys n girls ? Sweeping Teams !
Michael M.
December 21st, 2011
8:07 am
bet that brings some lewd comments……………..lol
Matt "CHOKE " Ryan
December 21st, 2011
8:30 am
UWEjvv sfdöosfo kddssdf ssfdsefe…
…oops , sorry, had some stuff in my mouth…was just visiting my pal Mike Vick….he was showing me all the stuff he learned in prison
trademark
December 21st, 2011
8:40 am
…exactly. LOL
trademark
December 21st, 2011
8:40 am
On a more serious note….I thought the most interesting thing about the column was the description by Edwards of the “plain” approach the Vikings used on their D-Line, and the amount of stunting the Falcons do….
I remember when Abraham said at the half of the Carolina game that the D went “vanilla” and then *click-click-BOOM*, they were all lights out for the next 5 quarters.
Is BVG out-thinking himself here? I know the Falcons are mid-to-smallish size-wise on the D-Line, but is all of the stunting necessary? The Predator is a c=ck-strong SOB, and can bull rush even the most powerful left tackles in the game, and when Edwards is healthy, he is fast and powerful as well. Is the stunting slowing down the rush? It takes a few extra steps, which may translate into a few extra seconds, and that’s all a competent NFL Quarterback needs to pick you apart. Interesting.
Shultz sez
December 21st, 2011
8:40 am
Quoting Mike Tanier, “The Eagles are a cautionary tale, or an Oprah-worthy redemption narrative, or the raving manifesto of a lunatic in a tinfoil pirate hat, or all three.”
Matt "CHOKE " Ryan
December 21st, 2011
8:52 am
Hey, if the blogs won’t ban me, then at least I can speak the TRUTH finally!
I LOVE MIKE VICK!
I WANT TO HAVE HIS BABY! 
….
ah hell, just found out the Ryan had a black grand-auntie-
I LOVE MATT RYAN!
I TAKE BACK EVERYTHING I EVER SAID BAD ABOUT HIM! 
Decatur Falcons
December 21st, 2011
8:52 am
Let stop this madness. Ray Edwards have to step up big against the New Orlean Saints. I hope this man is studying film, because what I saw the Saints do against the Vikings on offense was cruel. Look for the screen pass and if Drew Brees run for the first down hit him hard. I love the way Drew Brees plays the quarterback position with passion, and the Falcons have to play with that same passion by getting Drew Brees on the ground. Ray Edward has to use his tall frame hit the ball or intercept those balls that create the screen pass that the Saints love to do on offense. It will be a close game. I feel good about this game. GO FALCONS!!!!!!
Double Zero Eight
December 21st, 2011
8:57 am
Let’s hope Edwards is getting into form.
We will know for sure once we play the Saints.
Without pressure from Abraham and Edwards, Brees
will pick us apart, and the secondary will be “toast”.
Nativebird
December 21st, 2011
8:58 am
The way injuries are flat out hidden, dened and deflected in the NFL, especially by head coaches, is quite disturbing and frankly, deceitful and disrepectful to the fans, (the ones who actually pay for all of this). One would think that letting the public know the truth about an injury that could affect performance would be to the team’s advantage, possibly causing an opponent to prepare differently expecting a missing player.
trademark
December 21st, 2011
9:03 am
Nativebird, while I agree that it wold be nice for the paying fans to know who’s going to be there and who isn’t, the injury report is really just a device for the Vegas gambling, it really doesn’t serve any other purpose. It actually makes it more competitive if the teams just have to stick to their game plans, instead of knowing flat out if someone is going to be healthy or not. It also prevents the jacka$%es from making plans to dive at player’s ankles in unison.
j
December 21st, 2011
9:16 am
No play Ray and Dunta “Toast” Robinson are up for my Worst of 2011 defenders award.
j
December 21st, 2011
9:19 am
He also doesn’t have Jarred Allen to take the attention any more
Cowbell Hell
December 21st, 2011
9:22 am
You can look at a turning point for the defense at halftime of the carolina kitties game when we brought William Moore back in for good and he immediately started layin folks out. The second play he’s in he hit J Stewart so hard it hurt me throught the TV! I counted 4 huge shots against JAX, he is shutting down the running game and bringing fear to all WRs coming thru the middle. Along with Ray Ray getting it going and getting Optimus G back I love our defense going into the playoffs
Frazier
December 21st, 2011
9:25 am
“Y’all are very cut-throat,” he said. “But I’m not worried about it. You don’t pay my bills or cause me any grief or unhappiness. It is what it is. That’s your job.”– -Season Ticket Holders DO pay your bills
and you SHOULD be worried about 3 1/2 sacks… but I guess you already cashed the check so why should it cause you any grief
Score Prediction
December 21st, 2011
9:25 am
New Orleans Saints 42, Atlanta FalCANTS 9.
PMC
December 21st, 2011
9:26 am
I think the Falcons went out and got him because at that point, the price was good and lets face it, they were desperate. They have John Abraham who generally stays dinged up, but when he’s healthy he’s amazing. Other than that, every pass rusher on the team was an NFL backup at best. They needed a starter. They planned on Edwards all along so they made the deal.
You can’t spend 4 draft picks plus the one they used on Julio and not try to plug one of the most glaring weaknesses on the team from the previous year.
Frazier
December 21st, 2011
9:27 am
Nevertheless, If he shows up Monday all is forgiven.
PMC
December 21st, 2011
9:32 am
All in all it’s been a slightly disapointing season from Edwards but he’s a good NFL caliber defensive end. Deal’s aren’t made for a single season alone and there’s still time for him to make an impact. At 30M he’s still a bargain compared to others, and how much was spent on freaking Anderson?
It would be nice going forward if they could draft another pass rusher early and somewhat proven. No more projects please.
MWC
December 21st, 2011
9:41 am
…joe tess/jss/choke… go play in the yard….
DJ Sniper
December 21st, 2011
9:45 am
Christ on a stick, who let Choke and his mental instabilities back in this blog? This fool keeps going on and on and on about how much better Vick is than Ryan, yet it’s the Eagles who need all kinds of help to get into the postseason. This dude is worse than a broken record.
Anyway, back to the topic: I didn’t mind the Ray Edwards signing. The knee surgery was a bit of a red flag, but I don’t expect it to be a long term issue. I think he will work out just fine in the long run.
D man
December 21st, 2011
10:17 am
Defense is getting healthy at the right time. We are peaking now and that is the best thing that can happen to any team going into the playoffs. I’m ready for this Monday night game. Time for some payback…
Matt "CHOKE " Ryan
December 21st, 2011
10:25 am
I like NOODLES!
That’s why I keep saying that word all the time!
I like ALL KINDS OF NOODLES! Big NOODLES, fat NOODLES, Long NOODLES-especially Mike Vick’s NOODLE, he has the fastest, strongest NOODLE int the whole world!
mmmmmmmmmmm!
Sid
December 21st, 2011
10:34 am
Lest we digress. Jeff, I appreciate this read. I don’t know how I missed hearing about Edwards “minor” surgery but I swear up until the last couple of weeks my thinking had been
what did the Falcons brass see in this guy. It seemed to me he was taking some plays off and not playing to the whistle. But just as you say in your article I noticed his game stepping up and have seen him playing with much more velocity. To friends and forums, I was wrong. The jury is in and Welcome to Atlanta Ray Edwards.
Take it from me.
December 21st, 2011
10:49 am
I don’t care about anybodys predictions on the game monday night,the players are the ones that play the game,and determines who wins,not the blogers.But i would like to hear from a long time professional on the subject,Mr Crabbapple Joe.Joe you there?
P B Orr
December 21st, 2011
11:24 am
I’ll offer again – I’m between IT contracts and would gladly put in a forum system for the AJC that includes a kill file so that people can filter out the misery represented by CHOKE and everyone like him. Then we could talk about the Falcons without noise. I’d still count the hits for your ad revenue.
DC
December 21st, 2011
11:44 am
I just want to know what is “choke”’s actual screen name..seems he blogs here often so he has to use another name…and I agree with another poster..his posts destroy blogs because you cant have normal conversations with other bloggers..
BipolarDawg
December 21st, 2011
11:48 am
Well this subject is about Ray Edwardo, to all the Edwardo haters, he is right nobody pays bills but Falcons Org. Let them worry about that, this is his first year give him break, i like him he got brilliant years ahead, so we’ll see next year i bet ya he will be the beast like Abram!
rammed saint
December 21st, 2011
12:09 pm
Man o’ man; chokes man love for vickie is immenent; “just can’t get enough of your love, O’ I can’t get enough of you’re love. Posters of my man michael all over my room; man crush!man crush! He comin’right over for ya choke,sit by da phone he’ll call ya soon.
Sid
December 21st, 2011
12:15 pm
I am sorry to offend anyone but it seems to me it is quite possible the ones who lack intelligence are the ones who can’t resist responding to the trolls.
********************************
DON’T FEED THE TROLLS
********************************
panic fan
December 21st, 2011
12:23 pm
just ck past games and current nfl stats we can play with most any team on any sunday if THIS team does not make stupid mistakes (players & coaches) Mr ray
will be fine. everyones finding same page at the correct time to sing the damn song HOPE THE LIGHTS STAY ON
rammed saint
December 21st, 2011
12:42 pm
Maybe the birds can keep pressure on the outside & covering the screen pass boxing them in. William moore,DeCoud,spoon(pressure up the middle),abe,edwards knock down some of those screens; Seems like they used alot of those against minnesota.
JSS
December 21st, 2011
1:13 pm
“Was,” and that is it…
JSS
December 21st, 2011
1:14 pm
and somebody is mad because he doesn’t have a yard…
JSS
December 21st, 2011
1:27 pm
1. It is not a forum…
2. It is not even a Falcons blog (It is a columnist blog on the subject of a Falcons player). That is a big difference…
3. Some of you are just plan damn silly… If I want to see my name in print, I can just go to the library… A “Ninja” is stealth warrior… Nothing stealth about my life, defiantly nothing stealth about “blogging.” I just can’t wait to see in January if the AJC rolls out a new commenting policy as promised just how many of you big talkers about “trolls” are still here?
4. ” I’m between IT contracts and would gladly put in a forum system for the AJC that includes a kill file so that people can filter out the misery represented by CHOKE and everyone like him.” And somehow you think that they won’t deep six your multiple user-name personality disorder comments too? Incredible!!!
JSS
December 21st, 2011
1:37 pm
And you can always tell the difference between “real MCR” and the “phony MCRs” who think hijacking that user-name will somehow get bloggers “banned.” Or in most cases, just to make some plain silly homophobic comments, big brave bloggers! What you don’t need to feed is “Multiple User-name Personality Disorder” sufferers!
JSS
December 21st, 2011
1:39 pm
******************************************************************************
Don’t feed the “Multiple User-name Personality Disorder” sufferers!
******************************************************************************
rammed saint
December 21st, 2011
2:31 pm
If Julio Jones keeps reeling off big catches stayin’ hot even opening up lanes for Roddy, Gonzo,HD, & let Jaquezz catch a shot down field,but to catch em’w/change of pace, but Matt’s gotta keep’em w/ quick releases. Hopefully using the 2-min. offence will allow us to keep tempo.
PlanB
December 21st, 2011
3:09 pm
Sid’s right, DON”T FEED THE TROLLS!!! They are like wolves. The kind that are parasites that get under the skin of squirrels and rabbits to develop. Don’t let them develop. Ignore them and they will die out and we can discuss the good and the bad of our Falcons without interference.
mark
December 21st, 2011
3:59 pm
CHECK THIS A NICE ARTICLE http://espn.go.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/34668/matt-ryan-must-beat-blitz-on-third-down
G-Dawg
December 21st, 2011
4:29 pm
We all know what “Choke” like to choke on..and it may be Scott Case!!! Is AJC have a dont ask, dont tell policy? Terds…both of them!!