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
JSS
August 16th, 2012
9:42 pm
Please end this insanity!!!
DawgNole
August 16th, 2012
9:43 pm
Dr J
August 16th, 2012
9:32 pm
@DawgNole, please remind me when the Falcons haven’t won or had a winning season? Thank you come again.
___________________
A week ago.
falconsrus
August 16th, 2012
9:43 pm
Kris Medlen CG shutout 104 pitches
Bravos 6 runs
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
August 16th, 2012
9:43 pm
Those “manyly” socalled plays by Julio will get him on IR. Meanwhile A.J. scores touchdowns untouched and will enjoy a long career
kerryb
August 16th, 2012
9:46 pm
Choke, you are just an antagonizing idiot. That is all you are. It doesn’t matter who the Falcons play you are going to talk up the other teams players whether you care about them or not. You are just a completely moronic dirt bag.
JSS
August 16th, 2012
9:47 pm
This is straight stealing!!! How much is the new TV contract going to be? Sorry, the NFL is a sweat shop mentality on the refs…
Dr J
August 16th, 2012
9:48 pm
@DawgNole, when is the last time the Falcons had a losing season? Thank you.
kerryb
August 16th, 2012
9:49 pm
Dr J, I believe it was when Chokes guy went to prison.
dirty south
August 16th, 2012
9:49 pm
Enough with the fat, slow, no burst, plodding, cant break a tackle Turner!! Give the rock to Rogers and lets roll with the new offensive strategy!!
evil empire
August 16th, 2012
9:50 pm
in baseball related news, sports talk radio in toronto reports the blue jays have had enough of the ex-brave ss escobar…say he’s gone after this season…too much diva/hot dog in that kid…
JSS
August 16th, 2012
9:52 pm
Here come the tag team name callers… Halftime is going to interesting
Dr J
August 16th, 2012
9:54 pm
Seems like Koetter’s offenses work better for shorter, smaller backs. Maurice Jones Drew isn’t the biggest guy but was the NFL’s leading rusher last year. No reason why Rodgers can’t be great. Turner is done in my book.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
August 16th, 2012
9:55 pm
kerryb
August 16th, 2012
9:46 pm
Choke, you are just an antagonizing idiot
________________________________________
And you are marveloussssssssssssssssssss…..ha ha
JSS
August 16th, 2012
9:56 pm
Goodness, why torment those kids with that UGA/Bama gear (sorry Crimson75)?
JSS
August 16th, 2012
9:57 pm
Dr J, There’s gonna come a day when you need Turner… Worry more about that line…
Falcon's 4 life
August 16th, 2012
9:58 pm
That o line better get tweaked
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
August 16th, 2012
10:00 pm
Did Mr. Charlie pass away?
JSS
August 16th, 2012
10:00 pm
Joe Hawley killed his special teams
JSS
August 16th, 2012
10:02 pm
Check the D3 blog
JSS
August 16th, 2012
10:02 pm
Ha ha, Curtis Painter, TJ yates, Dennis Dixon
JSS
August 16th, 2012
10:08 pm
J-Rooooooooooood-rod!!!
DawgNole
August 16th, 2012
10:08 pm
Dr J
August 16th, 2012
9:48 pm
@DawgNole, when is the last time the Falcons had a losing season? Thank you.
________________
Dr. J, when is the last time the Falcons won a playoff game? Won a Super Bowl? Thank you.
JSS
August 16th, 2012
10:12 pm
You gotta be kidding me?
JSS
August 16th, 2012
10:13 pm
DImitroff has the Midas Muffler touch… His whole draft is gonna be on IR!!!
Jimmy Crack
August 16th, 2012
10:16 pm
Svitek must be ill. He is not looking good.
Johhny B Bad
August 16th, 2012
10:18 pm
The Goose Cam is absolutely pointless
JSS
August 16th, 2012
10:22 pm
He’s not ill, he’s the same as last year…
JSS
August 16th, 2012
10:23 pm
What’s the word on Konz?
Jeff Schultz
August 16th, 2012
10:25 pm
Hi. I’m back. Just wrote an early print column in which I focused on the first-team defense (Peria Jerry and Jonathan Babineaux good, almost everything else shaky). Agree or disagree? I’ll be posting it after the game.
Jeff Schultz
August 16th, 2012
10:29 pm
Wow. Redman. That was awful. Drew Davis was open.
Jimmy Crack
August 16th, 2012
10:30 pm
10 years as a backup NFL quarterback?? THIEF!!! Term limits!
JSS
August 16th, 2012
10:30 pm
Jerry was OK, Babs was strong, but they still have the same problem, can’t put people on the ground when needed…
Falcons: Play 60
August 16th, 2012
10:30 pm
these televised scrimmage games are so boring
Jeff Schultz
August 16th, 2012
10:31 pm
JSS — Konz get hurt? He’s sitting on bench with rest of OLs. Seems fine.
JSS
August 16th, 2012
10:31 pm
This team can’t play man on any level
Jeff Schultz
August 16th, 2012
10:32 pm
JSS — yes. had guys wrapped up. Alluded to that.
JSS
August 16th, 2012
10:33 pm
He went down, but he must have shook it off…
Falcon Jim
August 16th, 2012
10:35 pm
Hey Fox, there is a game going on. Thought that was what was supposed to be covered. When will these bozos realize we don’t care to hear interviews and chit-chat bs DURING the game?
coacht
August 16th, 2012
10:36 pm
Konz hope he’s ok
Hope he’s as good as Kunz.
Remember him?
J.J.M.
August 16th, 2012
10:37 pm
What will it take for chris redman to be cut?
JSS
August 16th, 2012
10:37 pm
What’s the deal with #90? Is the light going to come on every play or not?
JSS
August 16th, 2012
10:38 pm
George Kunz and Mike Kenn were each great tackles
JSS
August 16th, 2012
10:39 pm
Somebody is going to be cut soon…
chichi
August 16th, 2012
10:40 pm
Travian R. is having another solid game
BIGDAWGFAN
August 16th, 2012
10:40 pm
AMEN Falcon jim
Disgusted
August 16th, 2012
10:41 pm
Chris Redman sucks. Pity the Falcons if Ryan has to go down for any length of time,
This has the look of a losing season, nothing going right in pre season to date.
And the replacemment refs suck.
JSS
August 16th, 2012
10:41 pm
Jeff Schultz, what happened to your boy POAD?
JSS
August 16th, 2012
10:42 pm
Geez, throw it away
Disgusted
August 16th, 2012
10:43 pm
“Hey Fox, there is a game going on. Thought that was what was supposed to be covered. When will these bozos realize we don’t care to hear interviews and chit-chat bs DURING the game?”
Agreed, very annoying coverage tonight, none of em doing a good job.
J.J.M.
August 16th, 2012
10:43 pm
Put in dominique davis