Short takes: 3 thoughts on Falcons’ win over Chiefs
Caption.
(I’ll be back with the game column shortly, which will focus on the Falcons’ offense. Until then, here are three quick thoughts’ on the Falcons after their opening game against Kansas City. This is a new feature in the AJC.)
1. Julio Jones is Falcons’ No. 1 weapon: Every receiver can be stopped by some defense or cornerback at some point. But opponents are going to struggle to contain Jones this season, particularly in an offense that has so many options and with a coordinator (Dirk Koetter) who is far less predictable in play-calling than Mike Mularkey. Jones had three receptions and a touchdown before the seats at Arrowhead Stadium got warm. He had six catches for 108 yards and two touchdowns by halftime.
2. Jacquizz Rodgers is no longer MIA: The running back, seldom used in his rookie season, had a 77-yard kickoff return and had eight “touches” on offense (34 combined rushing and receiving yards). Rodgers doesn’t yet show the ability to be an every-down back, but he’ll clearly be in the rotation with Michael Turner and he gives defenses something else to think about.
3. Defense remains an early concern: The Falcons had significant defensive problems in the first half and seldom pressured Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel, who picked apart a soft zone defense. It looked disturbingly similar to last season. Things got better in the second half, but that might have been more the product of the Chiefs self destructing. Cassel threw two interceptions (William Moore and Stephen Nicholas). However, John Abraham registered a sack and forced a fumble that the Falcons converted into a touchdown drive. Bottom line: The defense will need to create a better pass rush.
– Jeff Schultz
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
86 comments Add your comment
Suckerfreehaterblog
September 9th, 2012
6:04 pm
First and second on second page……..does that count?
RG3
September 9th, 2012
6:06 pm
“Didn’t take the GREAT Mike Vick to reach the age of 27+ to win a playoff game……”
And yet he and his fans can only live off what happened almost a decade ago, because he hasn’t won anything since then. “Great” you say? LMAO. Yall gonna trade stories about high school achievements next?
JK
September 9th, 2012
6:09 pm
Been following the Falcons since 2003. Best first game for this team during that period. One game though. Need to solidify the defense. Gonna be tough when we play better teams if the defense plays like they did in first half.
Post-it
September 9th, 2012
6:15 pm
@JSS. “Settled it like adults”. What a joke. You’re just like all the other anonymous agitators on here. Lots of talk from the safety of your keyboard.
Haskall Stanback
September 9th, 2012
6:15 pm
Is Chippa gone retire this year?
FALCONS2012
September 9th, 2012
6:25 pm
BIRDS picked up the win, on the road, first game…GREAT JOB! Some holes on the D side, hopefully they’ll adjust after watching film. Good start to the 2012 season…GO FALCONS!
Ivan
September 9th, 2012
6:30 pm
Ryan looked AWESOME today!
dawgnation1
September 9th, 2012
6:31 pm
Love the win!!! If the d doesn’t play better, peyton is going to absolutely eat us alive.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
September 9th, 2012
6:31 pm
TrishaDishaWarEagle
September 9th, 2012
5:31 pm
@choke..i mean p-funk , don’t you have a post game pitbull fight to go to or something?
___________________________________________
I can do more than 1.5 things at one time
dawgnation1
September 9th, 2012
6:32 pm
Hey Jeff, when are you going to do the co-hosting thing on the radio again?
Dan
September 9th, 2012
6:35 pm
The Falcons must get a consistant pressure DEFENSE and a decent running game or they will continue to be a one and done in the playoffs.
DawgNole
September 9th, 2012
6:38 pm
JSS
September 9th, 2012
5:54 pm
DawgNole, we can agree to disagree… I’ve seen the “real” racial side (right Jeff Schultz), there’s a line… Some folks “really” don’t get it… MCR will tell you, we’ve had blog words… But here’s the difference, we settled it like adults (even for a forum like this) and moved on…
I’m telling you to like or respect him… But it is his opinion, and he’s never shied away from it…
JSS
September 9th, 2012
6:01 pm
Sorry DawgNole left out some words because I dictating in my “parked car.”
“Not” telling you to “like him” that is
____________________
Glad you clarified that. Had me worried there for a minute.
His remains an opinion stoked by hatred, innuendo, and liess. That’s not a worthwhile opinion.
JSS
September 9th, 2012
6:40 pm
Post-it
September 9th, 2012
6:15 pm
“You’re just like all the other anonymous agitators on here. Lots of talk from the safety of your keyboard.”
Ha ha, you’re out of mind, but hey like a certain crazy blogger says: “Whatever floats your boat!” I hope you have good sealant, that is a leaky precep!
JSS
September 9th, 2012
6:42 pm
Thank goodness I don’t use a keyboard!
Esquire
September 9th, 2012
6:43 pm
I thought Cassell injured himself on that long scramble early in the 3rd.
DawgNole
September 9th, 2012
6:44 pm
Jeff Schultz
September 9th, 2012
5:50 pm
I need to get back to column. But if ANYBODY points out a comment that they believe is over the line, race-baiting, etc., I’ll be happy to look at it and take appropriate action. My email is jschultz@ajc.com.
___________________
Moderation of the hundreds of comments your columns generate is a thankless and likely near-impossible job. The hope is that you apply your censorship fairly–admittedly a highly subjective and challenging exercise.
JSS
September 9th, 2012
6:45 pm
“anonymous agitators” I thought George Wallace or Lester Maddox were dead, that is a classic from the past!
ryesouvie
September 9th, 2012
6:46 pm
You have got to love the ignorant matt ” choke ” Ryan. He throws for almost 300 yds and a win and there are still haters. Clearly, he doesn’t know football. Peyton Manning was 0 – 3 in the playoffs at one point. I loved seeing the saints lose today!!!!! where was bree$$$ offense. its going to be a long season for the cest pool aints!!!!! Juilo is a BEAST!!! Where are all the people crying that we gave up too many picks for him? Silent like HIRAM SAIN AND not seenB4.
JSS
September 9th, 2012
6:47 pm
“Glad you clarified that. Had me worried there for a minute.”
You know I don’t do that thought police thing…
Samuel
September 9th, 2012
6:49 pm
Let’s give some credit to the offensive line for keeping Matt clean. Ray Edwards doesn’t make enough plays, he is not a threat sack wise. Like to see Turner hit the holes faster, sometimes he looks sluggish.
F. Sinkwich
September 9th, 2012
6:54 pm
“Wow the Saints look bad.”
Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Wrong.
Skins and RG3 K’d some A. Skins are good.
Period.
Samuel
September 9th, 2012
6:56 pm
Is Grimes hurt bad?,They’ll need him next week when they take on the Broncos and Peyton Manning.
marty
September 9th, 2012
6:59 pm
It was great to see our coaching staff make the superior halftime adjustments. Bodes well for the season
Bobby
September 9th, 2012
7:01 pm
The Saints finally came alive in the game. A bit late but they will do fine during the season. And most certainly they will beat the pesky Falcons.
GEAUX SAINTS GEAUX!
William
September 9th, 2012
7:12 pm
Where are all the experts who said we gave up too many future mediocre players for JULIO?????
Julio Jones is already the best player on this team!
Go Falcons!
Jeff Schultz
September 9th, 2012
7:12 pm
Game column has been posted if you want to shift commenting over there.
http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2012/09/09/falcons-finally-show-an-offense-worthy-of-their-talent/
BravesFan79
September 9th, 2012
9:24 pm
Great weekend, all my teams won, Falcons, Braves, GT and UGA… who said Atlanta was a sorry sports town?? Go F yourself!
REAL FALCONS FAN
September 9th, 2012
10:23 pm
seen this before is probably trying to find his custom fit paper sack ,no matter it’s nice to not have to try and figure out what the heck seen is trying to say ! an aint’s fan in the atl, on the falcons fan sites COME ON MAN /GO FALCONS, THE DEFENSE WILL CATCH UP ,AND WHEN THEY DO LOOK OUT . RISE UP ,GO MIGHTY FALCONS N DAWGS TOO.
gl
September 9th, 2012
11:16 pm
Very impressive start by Matt Ryan and Company! The Denver game is already looking like a shootout. Hope Grimes is not seriously hurt. Samuel looks better than Robinson.
KQuark
September 10th, 2012
3:43 am
Julio Jones is Larry Fitzgerald with speed. Obviously it’s early in his career but JJ is easily the most talented WR to wear a Falcons uniform by far.
Dr. Warren
September 10th, 2012
5:43 am
Green Bay went 15-1 with a bad defense last year. There’s plenty of hope this season for the Falcons.
True ATL Fan
September 10th, 2012
9:14 am
I f this isn’t what the city needed, then I don’t know what is. We went 5-0 this weekend and played to kill. Finished the drill in the 4th quarter in both games. A sweep in NY! I can remember the Monday aster we got eliminated by the Astros, drug by the Vols, and lost by 40 to the Chiefs. Life can be a cyclical b*itch.
Keith
September 10th, 2012
10:02 am
I’m excited, and hopefully, but one thing last night proven Peyton is still a damn good field general, I think Nolan will be ready for him. Our Offense looked great Matt had all day to check the field (for the most part). Next week will be a real test. What scare me right now is TB, they looked like a reenergized team, things looking up solo Rise up Falcons Fans!
marco
September 10th, 2012
10:44 am
Good game ATLANTA FALCONS nice win and aka for saints fan i aint bashing u on your loss..
but i do want to bring up most saints fans told me in preseason sb saints and nfc winners…
not a great start but cant wait for the game of the year for us falcons vs saints whichever fieldd…
todd
September 10th, 2012
10:54 am
Guys-lets get a dose of reality here. It’s one game so stop calling people out, etc. This is why people in other towns think your horrible sports fans. You win one game and you think you’re going to the superbowl and you lose one game and everyone thinks it’s the end of the world. Our defense was horrible in the first half despite all the focus in the draft and a new coordinator. HORRIBLE. I’m going to give them a couple of games to right the ship but nobody is going to the superbowl or win a playoff game with a defense this bad. So let’s have a little humility and stop calling people out when we could be in the same boat next week…
illustration stock images
September 16th, 2012
3:27 pm
In my opinion it is obvious. I advise to you to try to look in google.com
P.S. Please review our icons for Windows and windows13icons.