SHORT TAKES: Gonzalez, Bryant, no RG3 key Falcons’ win
Robert Griffin III left the game in the third quarter with a concussion after a hit by Sean Weatherspoon. (AP photo)
(I’ll be back shortly with the game column. Until then, here are my three short takes on the Falcons’ 24-17 win over the Washington Redskins.)
1. Plan B always works: The Redskins’ defense effectively shut down the Falcons’ deep threat of Roddy White and Julio Jones for most of the game. But as we’ve seen this season, the offense always has a backup plan. In this case, it was tight end Tony Gonzalez, who had 13 catches (one short of his career high) for 123 yards and a touchdown. Not bad for a 36-year-old who plans on retiring after this season. Maybe he can be talked out of it.
2. RG3 injury benefits defense: You’ll never hear anybody on the Falcons admit this but it obviously helped their cause when quarterback Robert Griffin III left the game with a mild concussion. Yes, rookie backup Kirk Cousins threw a 77-yard touchdown pass to Santana Moss. But that largely was the result of a blown coverage by the Falcons — the deep safety broke off the route — and Cousins’ game inexperience showed thereafter with two interceptions. He was 4 for 8 for 34 yards on his other attempts.
3. Whatever Matt Bryant is getting paid, it’s not enough: The Falcons’ kicker has been money all season, and this game was no exception. With the Falcons trailing 17-14 in the fourth quarter but driving, Matt Ryan was sacked for a 7-yard loss back at the Redskins’ 35. That eventually forced Bryant to attempt a 53-yard field goal, which he made anyway — easily. He is now 10-for-10 this season.
– By Jeff Schultz
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71 comments Add your comment
Larry Nalls
October 7th, 2012
5:27 pm
I am Larry Nalls and I Endorse the Matt Bryant statement.
Mike
October 7th, 2012
5:28 pm
Jim Corbett @ByJimCorbett RGIII didn’t know what quarter it was or the score when he was knocked out in 3rd qtr He’ll have to pass league’s protocol to play sunday
WELP
October 7th, 2012
5:29 pm
5-0. Get mad.
Larry Nalls
October 7th, 2012
5:31 pm
and……We should start a campaign to “Talk Gonzalez out of his Retirement Plans”….please???
Gritz Blitz
October 7th, 2012
5:34 pm
Falcons made history today — 5-0! Proud of this team. Rise Up!
ATLFalcons86
October 7th, 2012
5:41 pm
Dirty Birds 5-0 1st time ever!!! They’ve salvaged what couldve been the worst ATL sports weekend ever! Thank You!! Matty Ice and Matt (ice?) Bryant (he needs a nickname!) and Tony G Came through big time!! Let’s keep it rollin!!
Larry Nalls
October 7th, 2012
5:42 pm
I hope Ryan doesn’t have a sub-conscious thought in his head about wanting to be behind in the 4th Quarter in order to break a come from behind victory record. Matty, it’s exciting, but I’m old and you’re going to give me a heart attack..ha.
TrishaDishawareagle
October 7th, 2012
5:48 pm
5-0 and the rest of the NFC south looks like the crumpled mess of destroyed sheet metal at the end of talladangdega today. Gotta love the Falcons!!!!
JSS
October 7th, 2012
5:49 pm
You know Gonzalez wants to be able to walk and talk with some clarity… Let him go No Cal is style, comfort, and good health…
Get Real
October 7th, 2012
5:52 pm
Arthur Blank should get Matt Bryant his own alligator he can whisper to, some alligator shoes, and a crocodile leisure suit!
This Gets Old
October 7th, 2012
5:55 pm
The defense benefited because the concussion was a result of their play. Maybe we can start giving the team a little credit. It’s not like RGIII was moving the ball up and down the field on us.
Sports Facts » Griffin knocked woozy; Falcons remain unbeaten – USA TODAY
October 7th, 2012
5:55 pm
[...] suffers concussion as Redskins lose to Falcons 24-7Washington PostESPN -Chicago Tribune -Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)all 1,276 news [...]
JSS
October 7th, 2012
5:57 pm
At the time of his injury inside the 10 he was…
DawgNole
October 7th, 2012
5:58 pm
Certainly with you on your assessment of Bryant. If he keeps this up, he’ll be a serious contender for team MVP.
real fan
October 7th, 2012
6:00 pm
Hey Jeff u were right u might get your prediction 6-0
Hillbilly D
October 7th, 2012
6:03 pm
Only saw part of the game but the RG III injury looked like a mighty big factor, to me.
Larry Nalls
October 7th, 2012
6:04 pm
but, JSS, we need Gonzalez, we haven’t a good back-up plan.
TrishaDishawareagle
October 7th, 2012
6:05 pm
Thats 3 outdoor road wins for the Falcons and Matty ice!
Larry Nalls
October 7th, 2012
6:06 pm
Passing to the eligible Lineman didn’t exactly work out well…ha.
Larry Nalls
October 7th, 2012
6:08 pm
true dat, Hillbilly D, but the back-up dude did come in and make a huge play, but fizzled after that, so I definitely agree with your assessment.
Big Crimson 75
October 7th, 2012
6:09 pm
Pedestrian effort by RGIII today.
10 for 15 — 91 yards. 7 yards rushing.
No TD drives & his RB gained over 100 yards.
Cousins threw for more yards in 1+ quarters.
….and yes, Our Defense deserves credit for knocking him out.
Big Crimson 75
October 7th, 2012
6:13 pm
Denver just got flagged for 12 men on the Field — I guess Fox has too much respect for Belicheck to delay the Game for 30 mins arguing!
Mike "CHOKE" Dogs To Death
October 7th, 2012
6:13 pm
4. The Falcons have a quarterback who is smart, has a solid work ethic, and actually watches game film in order to improve his game!
HA HA
Larry Nalls
October 7th, 2012
6:18 pm
Refreshing change, ain’t it Mike “CHOKE” Dogs To Death?
Matty Bicep
October 7th, 2012
6:18 pm
Wow, so not Ryan is 5-0 against Cam, Vick and RG3…Maybe it is Ice who is gonna revolutionize the QB position.
JSS
October 7th, 2012
6:19 pm
“but, JSS, we need Gonzalez, we haven’t a good back-up plan.”
Not Gonzalez’s problem, talk to the boy genius…
TrishaDishawareagle
October 7th, 2012
6:19 pm
In 3 weeks when Matty Ice and Co defeat the eggles it will rid the blog of a certain element, like it did last year when we beat them.
TrishaDishawareagle
October 7th, 2012
6:21 pm
Tony G wants a Lombardi trophy. I say lets get it this year then retire! Seems like the best plan all the way around.. I leave the details to coach smith.
ijonathan
October 7th, 2012
6:22 pm
JSS
October 7th, 2012
5:57 pm
At the time of his injury inside the 10 he was…
===
At that point in the game he was 10/15 for 91 yards, and 1 rush for 7 yards. Not exactly lighting it up.
And on that drive?? They started at the ATL 39 after a punt from deep in ATL territory. That was also the drive of the fumble/catch/incomplete pass ruling.
It was a drive, but not much of one.
Matty Bicep
October 7th, 2012
6:23 pm
Actually, when you toss Freeman in there, Ice is 10-1 against the QBs who were “the qbs of the future”….Now I know why Ryan keeps losing in the playoffs, he keeps playing against the wrong QBs.
Matty Bicep
October 7th, 2012
6:23 pm
Actually, when you toss Freeman in there, Ice is 10-1 against the QBs who were “the qbs of the future”….Now I know why Ryan keeps losing in the playoffs, he keeps playing against the wrong QBs.
Hillbilly D
October 7th, 2012
6:23 pm
Gonzalez is a grown man. If he wants to retire, then he should retire. It’s him taking the hits, not me.
JSS
October 7th, 2012
6:29 pm
You never use that excuse in the KC, Denver, or SD games when your teams was converting short fields to gather points… Oh, that’s more of the famed moving the line… He didn’t turn the ball over… And minus that mind boggling 2 and goal direct snap, he did fine… And the Falcons completely abandoned having to respect play action of any sort once he went… Laughing at that one, whatever floats your boat… Just like that cheap “cue” comment…
falconfan58
October 7th, 2012
6:33 pm
JSS – What a sad sad individual.
Larry Nalls
October 7th, 2012
6:34 pm
“boy genious” ? speaking of Dimitroff?
JSS
October 7th, 2012
6:37 pm
He’s the GM…
Ivan
October 7th, 2012
6:37 pm
I saw highlights of the post game conference for the redskins.
Coach said RG3 DIDNT KNOW THE SCORE OR EVEN WHAT QUARTER IT WAS!! HE GOT KNOCKED OUT!! THATS FOOTBALL!!! NOT AN EXCUSE!!!
Matty Bicep
October 7th, 2012
6:37 pm
IJ, it was also not much of a drive, it was that exact play where the drive stalled because it was 3rd down.
So they got the ball on the 39 and settled for a FG. So RGS leads an impressive 26 yard drive that stalled on the play he got kocked out of the game…and that was his highlight.
Larry Nalls
October 7th, 2012
6:38 pm
a few parting thoughts: John Abraham continues to amaze. We’re not criticizing Baker this year. Asante Samuel is solid.
LOL at the Aints
October 7th, 2012
6:41 pm
How about that hit by Spoon, that was beautiful.. lets give credit where credit is due,, What time do the Aints kick off, LOL! Actually i’m taking the Aints tonight, I dont think they will go 0 and 16. Or will they. LOL
Matty Bicep
October 7th, 2012
6:42 pm
I am pretty sure if you saw MR2 get knocked out, you would see the same troll trying to downplay RG3s concussion talking about how MR2 is not tough enough.
TrishaDishawareagle
October 7th, 2012
6:43 pm
Matty Ice took control of the game and the D Iced it . It was a team win, and not dependent on whether the Redskins had Percival Pringle III or Cousins under center. 5-0 first time ever another POSITIVE milestone for the Smith/Ryan/Dimitroff regime!
Matty Bicep
October 7th, 2012
6:44 pm
RG3 vs MR2 0-1
MV7 vs MR2 0-1
Scam vs MR2 0-3
I see a trend. Revolution the position, lol.
JSS
October 7th, 2012
6:47 pm
Sorry Bicep assumer… I never take head injuries as matter of joy… Better luck with that “lie” next time, he has to have a life after football no matter what I think of him on a football field…
JSS
October 7th, 2012
6:52 pm
Man, yeah somebody is from Alabama… Percy Pringle reference… What’s going to start calling Hi-top Gumby Fade Bobo Brazil? Still got a Kerry Von Erich poster?
Section 212
October 7th, 2012
6:57 pm
Down goes Scam Newton…No Superman move today!
TrishaDishawareagle
October 7th, 2012
6:57 pm
Heck yeah, signed by Joe pedecino
Matty Bicep
October 7th, 2012
6:58 pm
Have to admit, I had to google Percy, I figured he was some literary character with a sock fettish….I did not expect a rassler.
USMC
October 7th, 2012
6:59 pm
The new look Falcons take a licken and keep on ticken.
They absolutely will not go away. Got to love it!
Go Falcons!
ijonathan
October 7th, 2012
7:00 pm
JSS
October 7th, 2012
6:29 pm
You never use that excuse in the KC, Denver, or SD games when your teams was converting short fields to gather points… Oh, that’s more of the famed moving the line… He didn’t turn the ball over… And minus that mind boggling 2 and goal direct snap, he did fine… And the Falcons completely abandoned having to respect play action of any sort once he went… Laughing at that one, whatever floats your boat… Just like that cheap “cue” comment…
===
Show me where I, or others for that matter, were extolling Ryan’s (or the Falcon offense’s) virtues when converting short drives set up by special teams or the defense. It is what it is.
YOU were the one who cited that “drive” when countering a poster who claimed (rightly) that RGIII wasn’t doing much in the game.
If that is all you can find to prop up RGIII, then your argument is pretty weak.
But what else is new.
TrishaDishawareagle
October 7th, 2012
7:01 pm
Actually my grandpa is friends with Bill Moody(ppIII, paul bearer)..I just get tired of the RGIII moniker so I mix it up a little..plus he is short looking on tv so I even used Sherman Hemsley III earlier.
Hillbilly D
October 7th, 2012
7:02 pm
Percy Pringle reference
Used to be some good shoot interviews with him on Youtube. Some great Jim Cornette rants, also.
ijonathan
October 7th, 2012
7:04 pm
Bask in the glory of the amazing drive RGIII was engineering prior to getting obliterated…
1-10-ATL 39 (9:25) 10-R.Griffin pass deep middle to 88-P.Garcon to ATL 22 for 17 yards (23-D.Robinson). FUMBLES (23-D.Robinson), RECOVERED by ATL-54-S.Nicholas at ATL 23. 54-S.Nicholas to ATL 23 for no gain (15-J.Morgan). The Replay Assistant challenged the runner was down by contact ruling, and the play was REVERSED. 10-R.Griffin pass incomplete deep middle to 88-P.Garcon (23-D.Robinson).
2-10-ATL 39 (9:21) (Shotgun) 10-R.Griffin pass short middle to 83-F.Davis to ATL 29 for 10 yards (25-W.Moore).
1-10-ATL 29 (8:52) 10-R.Griffin scrambles left end pushed ob at ATL 22 for 7 yards (71-K.Biermann).
2-3-ATL 22 (8:23) 46-A.Morris left end to ATL 9 for 13 yards (95-J.Babineaux).
1-9-ATL 9 (7:38) (Shotgun) 10-R.Griffin pass short middle to 88-P.Garcon to ATL 5 for 4 yards (23-D.Robinson).
2-5-ATL 5 (7:03) (Shotgun) Direct snap to 46-A.Morris. 46-A.Morris left guard to ATL 3 for 2 yards (56-S.Weatherspoon; 99-V.Walker).
3-3-ATL 3 (6:22) (Shotgun) 10-R.Griffin sacked at ATL 5 for -2 yards (56-S.Weatherspoon). WAS-10-R.Griffin was injured during the play. His return is Questionable.
4-5-ATL 5 (6:00) 5-B.Cundiff 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-J.Snow, Holder-6-S.Rocca.
YouKnowWho is a Troll
October 7th, 2012
7:07 pm
I love how JSS the Troll dismissively calls Thomas Dimitroff the “boy genius.”
JSS the Troll, a complete and utter FAILURE.
JSS the Troll, a waste of human life whose only joy comes from trying to suck the happiness and good feelings from others around him, or even more pathetically, online.
THIS GUY is dismissive of one of the best GM’s in the league, and the best GM the Falcons have every had.
WTF is wrong with you, JSS the Troll? Who do you think you are, you miserable pathetic failure?
JSS
October 7th, 2012
7:14 pm
“It is what is” First true statement you made in a very long time…
“At the time of his injury inside the 10 he was…”
I never assume points, Cundiff missed a field goal after an impressive drive. Like I said, 2nd and goal was a ridiculous call… They hadn’t stopped the straight ahead rush all day, what do they do, run to the strength of Falcons D… “It is what it is…” Schultz was right, you’re just doing what you do…
Matty Bicep
October 7th, 2012
7:14 pm
I see Andrew Luck starting to come onto his own, RG3 gets his bell rung. Chalk another one up to Qbs who are going to revolutionize the position.
ijonathan
October 7th, 2012
7:18 pm
quite a finish shaping up in New England..
ijonathan
October 7th, 2012
7:19 pm
or maybe not
JSS
October 7th, 2012
7:19 pm
“Sherman Hemsley?” Wow, that’s a new one… George Jefferson? That man is 6′3… No words for that one…
JSS
October 7th, 2012
7:22 pm
@ Hillbilly… I saw Jim Cornette in Memphis at function last month…
JSS
October 7th, 2012
7:27 pm
Ijonathan… My response is in the filter… If Schultz releases it, so be it… if not, not losing sleep over it…
beefydolt
October 7th, 2012
7:29 pm
Ryan has to be the winner of the dummy trophy for taking sacks..this after 5 years in the league!?
Does a ‘^^&^&^&” game always follow the accolades? How in hell we won the game is beyond me..I mean a pick 6, a fumble, blown coverage, no running game, no pass rush to speak of, no clue about the running game..BUT a W in the win column is all the counts..Two game in a row where the birds won by the skin of their teeth!! Go Birds!
JSS
October 7th, 2012
7:29 pm
That guy at 7:07 sure gets wound up!
atlfalconsfan0125
October 7th, 2012
7:33 pm
RG3 was ineffective for the most part. He only managed 2 drives that would have potentially resulted in points. They both were field goals, one missed. Their TD’s came from a Matt Ryan gift and a blown coverage pass by Cousins. By the way things were going, I dont think RG3 would have scored on that drive that Cousins did. But we will never know.
atlfalconsfan0125
October 7th, 2012
7:35 pm
@ JSS, if you keep responding to him, he will keep getting wound up.
JSS
October 7th, 2012
7:38 pm
@ 7:35P
I know, ain’t it grand? He’s like the Tasmanian Devil without the credentials or the SAG card
DeCoud
October 7th, 2012
7:40 pm
JSS is a clown.
Cohutta Dawgman
October 7th, 2012
7:41 pm
The Falcons are becoming the bright spot of this season. Dirty Birds!!!!!!!!
atlfalconsfan0125
October 7th, 2012
7:43 pm
@JSS,
as you probably know, this Falcons team is far from perfect and could easily be 3-2 or 2-3. What do you think they need to change to see some post season success? Do you think its even possible for this squad to win in the playoffs? The most glaring problem that I see with this team is the Run D.
Jeff Schultz
October 7th, 2012
7:44 pm
Folks,
The game column is posted.
Here is the link: http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2012/10/07/falcons-are-easy-highlight-in-atlantas-dark-sports-weekend/
Please be so kind as to shift commenting over yonder as I’m closing it here.
Thanks
J
Matty Bicep
October 7th, 2012
7:47 pm
JSS just has sour grapes about the entire Vick saga and feels that the Falcons would have been better off had they waited for vick to get out of prison. lol.
But every year, it just becomes more and more apparent that MR2 was the correct choice. And that is why, when it is obviously apparent that we made the right decision in letting Vick go, he pull up this Flacco comparison, but today we saw Flacco put up 9 against the vaunted Chiefs, lol.