LIVE: Falcons look to improve (and top Chipper bobbleheads)
Chipper, the Bobblehead
Julio, the Falcon
A.J., the Bengal
Of all the dilemmas facing Atlanta sports fans in the past, I can’t imagine anything equals this one: What should command more attention — Chipper Jones Bobblehead Night at Turner Field or a meeting of the NFL’s two great young receivers, Julio Jones and A.J. Green, at the Georgia Dome?
Let’s break this down:
• Bobbleheads: OK, it would be a cool memory from Jones’ final season, at least until your kid knocks it off the desk and breaks it. But after the giveaway, it’s really only a game against the Padres. On a scale of 1 to 10, I’ll score it an 8.5.
• Falcons’ Julio Jones vs. Cincinnati’s A.J. Green: Tonight’s game is a mere NFL exhibition. The real impact is zero (barring injuries). The entertainment value drops off when the starters leave (which tonight will be early second quarter). But Jones was dazzling last week against Baltimore: 6 receptions, 109 yards, a touchdown. Green, the former Georgia star, is coming off a season in which he had 65 catches for 1,057 yards and became the first rookie receiver to make the Pro Bowl since 2003. Score: 7.
I’m at the Dome. I figured it would be easier to write a column off a game than a bobblehead.
There’s actually a few things I’m looking forward to watching tonight (besides Jones and Green):
• 1) The Falcons’ defense: This could the topic of tonight’s column. The backups collapsed last week against Baltimore (31-17 loss after a 17-7 lead). Yes, these are only practice games, nobody schemes opponents and statistics don’t matter. That said, it’s not easy to make Curtis Painter (three second-half touchdown passes) look like Y.A. Tittle. Starters are expected to play longer tonight than in the Baltimore game.
• 2) The backup quarterbacks: It was a little surprised the Falcons didn’t bring in somebody new to compete for the backup job with Chris Redman and John Parker Wilson. There’s a good chance Dominique Davis will stick as the No. 3 on the practice squad, unless somebody else pops free when teams start making roster cuts.
• 3) Kickoff and punt returns: Actually, I’m not really going to watch that closely. I just wanted an excuse to stir the pot and ask: Why don’t the Falcons go after Olympic sprinter Jeff Demps? The former Florida receiver is expected to sign with an NFL team soon and could be a dynamic addition on special teams (and as a fourth receiver). But I don’t expect it to happen.
OK, that’s it for now. I’ll take any of your questions on the game and bobbleheads. The cyber-venting lines are open.
By Jeff Schultz
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550 comments Add your comment
Big Crimson 75
August 16th, 2012
9:07 pm
Samuels is the 3rd corner on this Team anyway……hopefully.
Dr J
August 16th, 2012
9:08 pm
Matt Ryan is at his best in no huddle. Why can’t he just do it all the time like Peyton Manning?
ATL Teams = Choke
August 16th, 2012
9:08 pm
Passing game looks great. Running game not so much.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
August 16th, 2012
9:08 pm
kerryb
August 16th, 2012
9:06 pm
Choke, you are such a pathetic moron.
______________________________________
And you are marveloussssssssssssssssssss ha ha
Falcon Jim
August 16th, 2012
9:08 pm
Hey Choke………..here’s a chicken bone
Dr J
August 16th, 2012
9:08 pm
Don’t worry about “Choke”. Ignore him and he’ll fade away. T.I. told me that.
SirReal
August 16th, 2012
9:08 pm
Johnny B- Nope, just passionate.
JSS
August 16th, 2012
9:09 pm
Purfitt was was hurt on the play before, should have taken himself out…
falCANS
August 16th, 2012
9:09 pm
Why isnt Grimes on the left!! Aaaarrrgghh !!! He isnt CLEARLY the best CB on our team. Ima lovin Daunte@ nickel tho.
Dr J
August 16th, 2012
9:09 pm
In 1st Qtrs in two preseason games, Matt Ryan is 18-22 for 221 yards w/1 TD and a scorching 81.8% completion percentage.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
August 16th, 2012
9:09 pm
How many years must the city be EMBARRASSED by CHOKE?….HA HA
Big Crimson 75
August 16th, 2012
9:10 pm
Matt Ryan looks good.
Where’s Julio!!
Jimmy Crack
August 16th, 2012
9:10 pm
Nobody’s perfitt.
FALKONS
August 16th, 2012
9:10 pm
I do like what the Atlanta offense will look like this year, nut that defense I am not so sure about. That first game against KC at KC is going to be a tough game for the birds. KC is getting all of their injured players back from last year and their defense is really good. This Falcons D better get their shi* together.
JSS
August 16th, 2012
9:10 pm
TI is in prison, why you listen to him? Chad Johnson school of role models?
Manny
August 16th, 2012
9:10 pm
Hey, All! Last time I was on here, it was Falcons v. Giants.
OK, I’m nervous. It’s preseason, though. And I love the screens.
But I also saw that pass from Dalton and would like to see Matt Ryan trust his receivers like that. I think we check down too much.
And Asante Samuel was burnt. He got abused.
But keep working that screen because I think that’s a dangerous move that can open up some stuff on the outside, too.
Sly Boarders
August 16th, 2012
9:12 pm
Great catch julio
Big Crimson 75
August 16th, 2012
9:12 pm
and he was held.
SirReal
August 16th, 2012
9:12 pm
We’ll see how all this looks next week with actual game plan in place…still preseason. Not time to hit the panic button.lol We all just wanna see our team do well thats all
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
August 16th, 2012
9:12 pm
So that’s about 4 qtrs and 6 points…..well at least that’s an improvement from the Giants…..ha ha
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
August 16th, 2012
9:12 pm
HA HA…..A.J. doesn’t drop balls……ha ha
Dr J
August 16th, 2012
9:12 pm
KC is going to beat the Falcons. I’m just gonna go ahead and say it. KC has Jamaal Charles, Dwayne Bowe, etc. Their defense is outstanding with Eric Berry, Tamba Hali, Justin Houston, Dontari Poe, etc.
JSS
August 16th, 2012
9:13 pm
There’s your difference
falCANS
August 16th, 2012
9:13 pm
Trade Turner for a LT or RG
Manny
August 16th, 2012
9:13 pm
OK, saw it go downfield by Ryan. Good deep ball and it was Pass interference. I feel much, much better.
ATL Teams = Choke
August 16th, 2012
9:13 pm
Julio Jones needs to catch that.
Nique
August 16th, 2012
9:13 pm
SirReal
I hear ya, trust me i do!!!
& for everyone on Samuel, he’ll make believers out of you by the end of the year, but y’all also have to remember that he’s known for being a gambler, which means he’s gonna get beat like that from time to time as well & yeah he has lost a step, which is why Andy let him go, but he will be soo good for our D watch! he’s gonna aid us alot by allowing Duanta to kick inside, that by itself will be big bc Robinson needs to press wr’s & he can do that on the inside!
Big Crimson 75
August 16th, 2012
9:14 pm
Now We gotta get it in !!
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
August 16th, 2012
9:14 pm
CHOKE is going to get poor Julio killed….ha ha
Sly Boarders
August 16th, 2012
9:14 pm
Enter your comments hereI would definitely take Julio over green
Dr J
August 16th, 2012
9:14 pm
“Choke” did you not see Julio muscle that ball away from 2 defenders?
kerryb
August 16th, 2012
9:14 pm
Take that you New Orleans and Philly losers!!!!
Hot err
August 16th, 2012
9:14 pm
Matty Melt lookin good.
Jeff Schultz
August 16th, 2012
9:14 pm
And the wind cries . . . Lousaka.
SirReal
August 16th, 2012
9:14 pm
Ummm. no they arent Dr J. FINALLY a FINISH!!!
Falcon Jim
August 16th, 2012
9:14 pm
Choke on THAT ! !
ATL Teams = Choke
August 16th, 2012
9:15 pm
Matt Ryan is looking really good this year.
FALKONS
August 16th, 2012
9:15 pm
Despite that last pass to Julio, I cant help but say that Julio is a freaking BEAST! He is simply a BEAST!
JSS
August 16th, 2012
9:15 pm
There are stealing the consumer’s money!!!
Dr J
August 16th, 2012
9:16 pm
Matt Ryan does look really good. My problem isn’t with Matt. It’s with the O-line and if they protect him and give him time, he will SOAR. I mean become elite.
Manny
August 16th, 2012
9:16 pm
Good series! Nice passes downfield! I like how Matt Ryan looked this series. And he trusted the receivers.
Big Crimson 75
August 16th, 2012
9:16 pm
Touchdown
SirReal
August 16th, 2012
9:17 pm
Aj Green= GROWN MAN. Julio Jones= GROWN MAN. Both are gonna be greats in this league. They can both do different things. Green is a speedy wonder who torched our D. Jones is a physical specimen who runs THRU others’ D.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
August 16th, 2012
9:17 pm
Dr J
August 16th, 2012
9:16 pm
Matt Ryan does look really good. My problem isn’t with Matt. It’s with the O-line and if they protect him and give him time, he will SOAR. I mean become elite.
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Because it’s not the 1st round of the playoffs….ha ha
Dr J
August 16th, 2012
9:18 pm
Julio is actually faster than Green. Julio ran a 4.3 with a broken foot.
FALKONS
August 16th, 2012
9:18 pm
You guys can say whatever you want about Matt Ryan, but he is going to be a great QB! He is making all of the throws. He looks comfortable in this offense and I like the game Kutter is calling! Its not conservative, but its not irresponsible. Its a well balanced attack and Ryan is spreading the ball around the field.
JSS
August 16th, 2012
9:18 pm
Jeff schultz, when are you guys going to get on the NFL about these refs?
kerryb
August 16th, 2012
9:18 pm
Jones has 4.3 speed so he’s speedy too.
JSS
August 16th, 2012
9:18 pm
Bolt ran a 3.8…
falCANS
August 16th, 2012
9:18 pm
Ima lovin our defense, great pressure Assante just blew that play but over all is having a good game. Still shoulda have our shutdown CB on the left. Grimes fa president!! You notice he hasnt allowed a catch yet