Falcons’ flaws aren’t worse than any other NFL team
Mike Smith and Thomas Dimitroff will take their team's 8-1 record, flaws and all. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
FLOWERY BRANCH – This is the way the season has gone for the Falcons. They win games, and people find flaws. They finally lose a game, and people scream, “Aha!”
As if the struggles of the running game, or the instability of the run defense, or the fact that Ray Edwards too often seemed more passionate about conquering the art of modeling than the art of a tackle should come as any surprise.
The Falcons have flaws, but so does every team, and they’re not going away. This is the NFL. Rosters don’t morph significantly during the season. The league has a salary cap. There is little roster flexibility. Unlike baseball, there aren’t pyrotechnics at the trade deadline. Once a season starts, the best a team can hope for is that a backup evolves and contributes more than expected, or a player released by another team can fill a void, or that drop-kicking a high-profile veteran like Edwards gets everybody’s attention.
But from September to January (playoffs included), strengths, weaknesses and perceptions generally don’t change much. In the Falcons’ case, perceptions are that they’re not an overly physical team, they can’t even convert third-and-1’s, and therefore they’re not going to be a great team down the stretch or in the postseason.
So much for basking in 8-1.
“If the NFL had rankings like college football, we’d be last,” safety William Moore mused. “Because we don’t get the love. We can win a million games, but we’d be like Boise State. Maybe they’d give us a decent bowl game. … I like Shreveport.”
With their options limited, credit the Falcons for cutting Edwards. It was a bold decision, even if it meant admitting they goofed by signing him. It says a lot about the player (in terms of how far Edwards had fallen) and the team’s mindset (believing releasing him was addition by subtraction). There is no financial benefit to cutting Edwards now. He’ll still get his $11 million guaranteed. The Falcons merely came to the realization that he was dragging them down, whether in performance, attitude or both.
The damning analysis from coach Mike Smith: “We did it to make our football team better today and in the future.”
This about a player that the organization was going gaga over seemingly five minutes ago.
Edwards couldn’t rush the passer. He couldn’t defend the run. He wasn’t nearly as versatile or athletic as one might think for a guy who so proudly showed off his abs in his 2012 modeling calendar (12 months, 12 poses). Younger, cheaper, hungrier players with a pulse were better options.
Everybody realized the Falcons would not be a great power-running team this season, despite the team’s continuous, “We will be a power-running team” declarations. Michael Turner showed signs of slowing down last season. He’s not running behind an overly physical offensive line. The new offensive scheme clearly would maximize the team’s main talents.
At some point, one would think the Falcons will be able to figure out how to convert a third-and-1.
Offensive tackle Tyson Clabo said, “I still think we have a chance to be a good short-yardage team. It’s not that we aren’t blocking well, we’re just not blocking the right people.”
As flaws go, that would seem to be a correctable one.
Everybody has issues. New England ranks 29th in pass defense, and it lost at home to Arizona. Pittsburgh lost to Oakland and Tennessee. Also, Ben Roethlisberger feels like a piano just fell on him. Chicago has one of the worst offenses in the league (28th), punctuated by one of the worst passing attacks (30th). The mean, nasty, rip-your-head-off Baltimore Ravens? They rank 27th in total defense.
In Green Bay, Aaron Rodgers has been sacked more times (29) than any other quarterback. San Francisco’s offense is led by … Alex Smith. And they lost to Minnesota. Houston: Solid overall but not a great passing attack. Eli Manning has 11 interceptions — right between Cam Newton (10) and Brandon Weeden (12) — and has lost to three teams with losing records (Philadelphia, Dallas, Cincinnati).
None of this makes the Falcons better, it just illustrates that every team has to overcome something. We know the Falcons’ flaws. But 8-1 and flawed isn’t a bad place to be.
By Jeff Schultz
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195 comments Add your comment
JSS
November 14th, 2012
6:01 pm
But here’s the difference Jeff Schultz, all of the teams that you mentioned do not have the Falcons psyche of doubt! Even Baltimore and San Francisco can call on a little thing called: “we’ve won in the playoffs before.”
JSS
November 14th, 2012
6:06 pm
Being realistic, their only hope is that they run into a team like Arizona which has absolutely no running game or a team like the Cowboys which just lacks an identity… Do that, and then possibly win your 1st playoff game, that will please the opium takers…
True Falcon Fan
November 14th, 2012
6:13 pm
Foresure you’ve got one statement right “You being ONE that knows all about opium”!
“Goofy” again at it’s best!
Go back to SF or was it LA — jus go away!
Go Falcons — Cardinals next
True Falcon Fan
November 14th, 2012
6:15 pm
Hey Jeff, very good commentary! Thanks
okeetee
November 14th, 2012
6:16 pm
….not only is EVERY team flawed……but every team has SERIOUS flaws! I mean so serious as to be exploitable by sub .500 teams! Yes, we are flawed. But in a passing league that caters to the passing game…..we are in very good shape! Plus, with our remaining schedule and with no serious injuries……whatever flaws we have will have to be exploited on our turf! Sometimes flaws can be masked and even overcome…..when your playing at home!
JSS
November 14th, 2012
6:18 pm
Ah, the idiot who calls out people when they are on vacation rears his head over the railing of his booster seat…
Tell the attendant to wipe your face, you’re drooling on the keyboard…
True Falcon Fan
November 14th, 2012
6:24 pm
Hell your buddies said you died went to hell and meant your maker…..My guess is you escaped and now on the run!
Bills fan
November 14th, 2012
6:26 pm
Sometimes “who wants it more” is what it comes down to with parity being what it is.
Some good points about having won a playoff game, but then some greats like Elway and Manning took awhile befoer winning the SB.
Somehow these Falcons have learned how to win most games. Let’s give them credit. Some teams never learn what it takes to win. As long as there are vets like Gonzales and McClure and Abraham this team is not going to get soft in that dept. This has been a good ride so far. Some cities have that “12th man” homefield advantage. Let’s get behind these Falcons and root them on past their shortcomings instead of picking them apart. It can be the difference maker.
Falcon Mania
November 14th, 2012
6:27 pm
15-1
True Falcon Fan
November 14th, 2012
6:28 pm
Re: drooling, that’s foresure something that you know more about than me! How’s momma, she still care of you????
UGA ECONOMICS MAJOR
November 14th, 2012
6:31 pm
falcons are still a good team //i just hate however of all teams to lose to the lost to the most hated team in atlanta history…those NEW ORLEANS CAINTS….I HATE THEM WITH A DEEP PASSION
old fart
November 14th, 2012
6:32 pm
Come on. Give it a rest. The Falcons will go 13-3 for the season.
Falcon Mania
November 14th, 2012
6:33 pm
The the best team in the NFC, period.
Falcon Mania
November 14th, 2012
6:34 pm
I agree with Roddy.
Falcons RiseUp
November 14th, 2012
6:37 pm
We need to start our upcoming players like Antone Smith as RB using Rodgers on play action & bootlegs use Snelling on goal line & short yardage but start Turner
True Falcon Fan
November 14th, 2012
6:41 pm
I was driving my BIG rig thru Canton, Ga in fact stopped by the pawn shop ole Ben stated he hadn’t seen you yet? But he sure has been look for you…..
Justin
November 14th, 2012
7:08 pm
Run Antoine Smith at RB. Let’s see what he’s got. He can’t be any worse than Turner. Let Jason Snelling tote the rock if we want a bigger, phyiscal bac. Snelling is 244 lbs himself.
Tell it like it is.
November 14th, 2012
7:10 pm
Falcon Mania–make that 14-2 we still have to play the Saints again!
Gman 84
November 14th, 2012
7:18 pm
Couldn’t agree more. Every team scrapes a few out against lesser foes. The ones that survive are the one’s there at the end.
Loved it a few weeks back when the Bears barely got by Carolina and the media narrative centered on their “great” defense. Give me a break.
BTW the short yardage failures vs the Saints were well documented but I found it amazing that they almost pulled it out with 16 seconds left. The pass to White was there had he untangled himself.
Gman 84
November 14th, 2012
7:18 pm
Couldn’t agree more. Every team scrapes a few out against lesser foes. The ones that survive are the one’s there at the end.
Loved it a few weeks back when the Bears barely got by Carolina and the media narrative centered on their “great” defense. Give me a break.
BTW the short yardage failures vs the Saints were well documented but I found it amazing that they almost pulled it out with 16 seconds left. The pass to White was there had he untangled himself.
JSS
November 14th, 2012
7:20 pm
TFF, seriously how is it to be the most geographically illiterate blogger in the history of AJC blogs?
The only CDL you have is the one that comes with a Hot Wheels set…
I thought about at about 11:35P on November 6th, I could do is smile… Oh wait, then came Sunday, what a welcome back present… Friendly reminder, K-M-B-A just as I promised!
Athens Tider
November 14th, 2012
7:22 pm
The Falcons have won in the playoffs before, just not in the last three years. The Falcons have won 0 Super Bowls and the Saints have won 1. It’s amazing that this difference of 1 game in 46 years somehow makes the Saints winners and the Falcons losers.
Also, regular season games count. Whose team would you rather have – Houston, who’s never won a Super Bowl, or Dallas, who’s won several but not 1 this century?
Fan since 66
November 14th, 2012
7:24 pm
Very good observations Jeff. I think everyone is just jaded by the past post season busts. I find it humorous that you can tell the real, long-time fans by their reaction to the team this year. Yes, we have had some terrible, and I mean terrible, showings in the Playoffs. Even I turned off the game last year against the Giants and went for a walk at the lake with the dogs. But the true fan is able to see the maturation of this team from year to year under the leadership of Dimitroff and CMS. I sense a cool, calm confidence in the players this year that I don’t recall ever seeing. I found it funny also that the national sports media went almost gaga after the loss to the “Aints”. You woulda thought we lost by 30 points. All things considered, I remember the horrendous record of the Braves in the MLB playoffs prior to the 90’s. Makes me think that some things can change! Guess time will tell. Go Falcons!
atlfalconsfan0125
November 14th, 2012
7:25 pm
Hey look a familiar sight, our friend is back. How was your hiatus?
JSS
November 14th, 2012
7:26 pm
Oh let me clean this up before Malibu Trailer Park Ken has a stroke…
“TFF, seriously how is it to be the most geographically illiterate blogger in the history of AJC blogs? Yep correct…
The only CDL you have is the one that comes with a Hot Wheels set…
Yep correct..
I thought about (you) at about 11:35P on November 6th, (and all) I could do is smile… Oh wait, then came Sunday, what a welcome back present… (Here’s a ) Friendly reminder (for you), K-M-B-A just as I promised!”
JSS
November 14th, 2012
7:28 pm
Mexico was great, the wife-to-be is great, and the future is bright!
atlfalconsfan0125
November 14th, 2012
7:31 pm
The Falcons will be alright. One loss isnt the end of the world. No team has been perfect since 72. Im not gonna push the panic button just yet. The loss on Sunday just added a 1 in the L column, everything else remained the same. Still first in the NFCS and the NFC. We will make the playoffs and thats where everything needs to come together, till then every week is just a practice for the playoffs.
JSS
November 14th, 2012
7:33 pm
Pssst, sorry but the Texans have won a playoff game (recently)… Nobody wants to be the Cowboys right now except for possibly Detroit or the Eagles… Let’s see what they look like if Murray gets back and if he stays healthy…
Fan since 66
November 14th, 2012
7:35 pm
Even though I shouldn’t do this…JSS, you are obviously in need of a real life. I come on this blog because, most of all, I love my Falcons. Jeff is a talented, very knowledgeable sports writer and I respect his insight. You, on the other hand, are either someone who is paid by Jeff to rile up the readership, or someone who is just pathetic. You can’t respond to anyone in a civil, intelligent manner. You just slam anyone who disagrees with your opinion, usually with a baseless, demeaning attitude. I respect anyone’s right to not like the Falcons, to think they are the worst team in the history of the NFL, and to expect them to lose every playoff game for eternity. However, I don’t think that gives you the right to downright disrespect people. How about it? Give it a break. If you can’t be civil…go somewhere else.
Go Falcons!
atlfalconsfan0125
November 14th, 2012
7:35 pm
Mexico huh? Sounds good. I have yet to grace Mexico with my presence, but I will soon. I went to see our friends north of the border over the summer and things are much calmer over there. I enjoyed it. Canada is my preferred choice if the USA doesn’t work out.
Falcons Chic
November 14th, 2012
7:39 pm
Things would look a lot different right now if MR2 had happend to see Tony G open in the right side of the end zone before he tried to force that pass to Roddy White at the back of the endzone.
JSS
November 14th, 2012
7:40 pm
Be careful, Clusters might pop up and remind y’all that the Braves haven’t advanced since 2001 out of the opening round… You may want to tie your horse somewhere else!
JSS
November 14th, 2012
7:43 pm
Canada is fantastic, but they have socialized healthcare and actually pay income taxes… Why you running there?
Try Owens Sound, Ontario, it is a gem!
atlfalconsfan0125
November 14th, 2012
7:43 pm
I dont understand this obsession with playoff wins only. Jim Kelly and his boys had plenty of playoff wins in the 90s but none of them are beating their chest over them. Playoff wins mean nothing without Superbowl wins, but no one seems to stress that around here. Only one QB has been close to a SB win for the Falcons, Chris Chandler. None of the others have. I believe Ryan gives us the best chance since Chandler to get to and win the big dance.
atlfalconsfan0125
November 14th, 2012
7:44 pm
Socialism is the least of my concerns. Its the other side the scares me..
atlfalconsfan0125
November 14th, 2012
7:46 pm
@Falcons chic,
Ryan had no time on that 4th and goal play. He barely got the pass out to Roddy
JSS
November 14th, 2012
7:47 pm
66, you need to take your “civil” comment and try it on yourself and that idiot pretending to have some insight into my outside life…
And just so “you” know, I had 25 days of a “real life” and never did I lose a moment of realization or relaxation worrying about your ilk!
Enjoy!!! Now go elsewhere!
Fan since 66
November 14th, 2012
7:49 pm
Dude, you miss the point entirely… makes me think that you aren’t paid by Jeff, but just downright dense. The point was that the Braves had a history of losing any playoffs they happened to get into prior to the 90’s. But after that, they regularly advanced past the first round. I’m just saying that maybe you shouldn’t “tie your horse” on the past record of the Falcons. Believe it or not, things sometimes change…unlike your incessant posts slamming everyone who disagrees with you. Get a life man!
Go Falcons!
PHL Falcons Fan
November 14th, 2012
7:50 pm
I know it’s a stretch, but isn’t there somebody on the street or a practice squad we could pick up who is better than Turner?
JSS
November 14th, 2012
7:51 pm
Well you’ll love Canada, beautiful folks and country…
JSS
November 14th, 2012
7:53 pm
I never said the Falcons are the “worst team” in history… That is your agenda talking, they’ll be playing that team on Sunday…
Fan since 66
November 14th, 2012
7:58 pm
@PHL Falcons Fan I think we already have a couple of good prospects. Antone Smith and Jason Snelling couldn’t do any worse. I agree that the line didn’t provide much of a hole for Turner on Sunday, but it appears that he is hesitating more and more at the line. You just can’t do that with his (lack of) speed. He’s more suited for late in the game after the d line is worn out. Then we could pound him in. Just my observations.
Go Falcons!
atlfalconsfan0125
November 14th, 2012
7:58 pm
So many starting QB’s went down last week. Im glad the injury bug didn’t hit the Falcons too hard this year.
JSS
November 14th, 2012
7:59 pm
The Braves had a history of losing in Atlanta post 1974… They were self-inflicted bad… When you give up Dusty Baker, Andre Thornton, Darrell Evans, and countless MLB prospects for folks like Frank Tepidino you deserve to be bad…
Mora less Petrino
November 14th, 2012
8:03 pm
Every team has issues. It’s easy to see your team’s shortcomings, but you mostly just see the highlights of other teams. There are 30 teams that would like to have the Falcons record right now.
Simply my opinion, but the only teams with a real shot to win the NFC are Atlanta, Chicago, Green Bay, San Francisco, NY Giants, and Tampa is looking good of late. All of those teams have shortcomings, but one will go to the Super Bowl.
Good article!
JSS
November 14th, 2012
8:03 pm
@ Jeff Schultz…
Where’s my direct deposit? You’ve been holding out on me… Wayne Brady don’t like that!
atlfalconsfan0125
November 14th, 2012
8:05 pm
Whatever happend to MCR? I miss his/her daily drivel.
JSS
November 14th, 2012
8:07 pm
Never gets old… Won’t make it past the filters
atlfalconsfan0125
November 14th, 2012
8:08 pm
@ moral less pertino
The Saints are beginning to sniff the postseason too. We cant let them get hot. We have to beat them in 2 weeks.
atlfalconsfan0125
November 14th, 2012
8:10 pm
The finally got MCR…I figured it was about time. It was still a comic relief.
JSS
November 14th, 2012
8:17 pm
Nah, he’ll do like he always does and save it for the playoff game…
OldTimer
November 14th, 2012
8:18 pm
The Saints sux.
atlfalconsfan0125
November 14th, 2012
8:21 pm
Nah, he’ll do like he always does and save it for the playoff game…
____
I hope you are being sarcastic!
DawgNole
November 14th, 2012
8:22 pm
JSS
November 14th, 2012
6:01 pm
But here’s the difference Jeff Schultz, all of the teams that you mentioned do not have the Falcons psyche of doubt! Even Baltimore and San Francisco can call on a little thing called: “we’ve won in the playoffs before.”
JSS
November 14th, 2012
6:06 pm
Being realistic, their only hope is that they run into a team like Arizona which has absolutely no running game or a team like the Cowboys which just lacks an identity… Do that, and then possibly win your 1st playoff game, that will please the opium takers…
______________________
How long you been following this team? They’ve won in the playoffs before. It’s just been a few years.
burger brian
November 14th, 2012
8:24 pm
I think it peculiar that Clybo would say that “we are blocking people but not blocking the right people”. WHAT? That sounds like political speak to me. Isn’t blocking the right people “part and parcel” to blocking? Period? Its time for the Organization to stop making excuses for a under performing
O-Line. We WILL NOT win in the playoffs when you can’t gain one yard on third and fourth situations. Let’s face it – this is serious problem and Clybo and his pals need to “Man up” and take responsibility for their shortcomings. That is what those of us in business do (in the real world) in order to compete.
He claims that the O-Line studs are not the only ones that should be blamed for the inability to gain one yard on a run. Really? Waaaaaaaaahhhhh. Waaaaaaaaaahhhh. Someone please wipe his snotty nose and change his diaper. Man Up MOFO!!!
atlfalconsfan0125
November 14th, 2012
8:25 pm
Wait, let me get get the popcorn
JSS
November 14th, 2012
8:26 pm
Nope, he really didn’t post much last year until the week of the Giants game… But that is MCR… He’s been way more active this year…
That is why I laugh at 66, I haven’t been on a AJC blog between October 13 till last Friday when I got back from Mexico and working the election… But, I’m “incessant” of course!
JSS
November 14th, 2012
8:29 pm
DawgNole…
Sssssh, that is pre-Smith…
Mike "CHOKE" Dogs To Death
November 14th, 2012
8:30 pm
I think Matt “CHOKE” Ryan is actually Mike Vick himself.
He probably hasn’t blogged this week because his head is still ringing and he’s seeing double vision.
HA HA
Mora less Petrino
November 14th, 2012
8:30 pm
The Saints D is really bad! The Birds played flat most of the day Sunday and could have and should have won. Even if NO were to make the playoffs, they would open on the road. The team with the lily flower on their helmets has never won a playoff game on the road in their history.
The Saints ain’t going to the Super Bowl.
(J)ust (S)ome (S)ucka is a Troll
November 14th, 2012
8:30 pm
Wow…
… he hasn’t been around in awhile, but all it did was one loss for the Local Blog Troll to come out of hiding.
Seriously, isn’t everyone else happy to have The Blog Troll back to tell us how much better he is than us, how much smarter he is than us, how much more he knows about everything, and just how right he always is?
What kind of terrible failures create the kind of meaningless ego The Blog Troll vomits on the ‘net?
What kind of person must come here as he does, and do everything he can to try to bring everyone and anyone down, to harsh everyone’s buzz?
Seriously… The Blog Troll is a sad, pitiful waste of carbon.
JSS
November 14th, 2012
8:32 pm
“Few years?” It’s been nearly a decade!
atlfalconsfan0125
November 14th, 2012
8:32 pm
I saw MCR make an appearance at least once a week. But then it just stopped a few weeks ago. I figured he got banned.
D man
November 14th, 2012
8:33 pm
Flaws are on every team. I like our teams chances to win it all this year. The odds are certainly in our favor.
gg
November 14th, 2012
8:34 pm
The pundits couldn’t wait for us to lose but let me tell you the bias media is so quick to pick us apart. WE HAVE NOT WON A PLAYOFF YET WITH THIS GROUP. Once we win a couple of playoff games, we start to earn the respect. Right now, 8-1 means nothing. 9-0 would have meant nothing. That’s why there is a not a whole lot of picking apart of the struggling Giants,BECAUSE THEY WIN WHEN IT COUNTS!!!
JSS
November 14th, 2012
8:34 pm
Hiding?
Sorry, I posted on Friday, don’t let the Julian Calendar get in the way of you displaying all of that “civility!”
DawgNole
November 14th, 2012
8:35 pm
Athens Tider
November 14th, 2012
7:22 pm
The Falcons have won in the playoffs before, just not in the last three years. The Falcons have won 0 Super Bowls and the Saints have won 1. It’s amazing that this difference of 1 game in 46 years somehow makes the Saints winners and the Falcons losers.
___________________
It’s been considerably longer than three years, unfortunately.
JSS
November 14th, 2012
8:37 pm
Funny, where’s 66 to tell me I’m being cruel?
Call me Pappy
November 14th, 2012
8:39 pm
Fan since 66 – Me too! Remember when we cheered 1st downs; serously – not wins… First downs! Cannonball Butler… the year Dave Hampton went over 1000 yards, only to lose on his next (last) carry of the Season. Ah yes, the bags-over-the-heads Saints fans… hope to live see that trend again… We have a LOT to cheer about with this regime (Blank, Dimitroff and Coach Smith). Classy.
DaddyIce
November 14th, 2012
8:39 pm
None of this noise matters. Winning the NFC South doesn’t matter. Winning a playoff game would be nice. Winning the NFC would be nicer. Winning the Super Bowl is all that matters.
DawgNole
November 14th, 2012
8:39 pm
JSS
November 14th, 2012
8:32 pm
“Few years?” It’s been nearly a decade!
____________________
It’s all relative. Compared to 46 years, “nearly a decade” is in fact “a few years.” Although, granted, it feels like a century.
atlfalconsfan0125
November 14th, 2012
8:43 pm
I hope these Falcons win in the postseason, so we can finally erase Vick as the last playoff winner.
D man
November 14th, 2012
8:46 pm
There are 32 teams in the NFL, out of the 32, only 16 advance to the playoffs where 4 of them will lose in the first round. Every year, 1 or two of the 4 teams with a first round bye loses in the second round without a playoff win, so what is my point? Only 10 or 11 teams actually win a playoff game every year and 22 teams don’t win a playoff game every year.
I don’t base my happiness on playoff wins. Instead, I enjoy each and every game by celebrating wins and mourning loses. if we win in the playoffs, even better but it certainly doesn’t mean the season was a failure. I’ve seen horrible losing seasons and I will take this great season over all of them…
D man
November 14th, 2012
8:47 pm
My bad, only 12 advance in the playoffs…
BravesFan79
November 14th, 2012
8:50 pm
If we only loose 1 more game for the season were in great shape! #1 playoff seed in NFC. Even with 3 losses we should be #1.
atlfalconsfan0125
November 14th, 2012
8:50 pm
@ D man after 4 going on 5 straight winning seasons in a row, you want to see some sort of advancement to the championship….
D man
November 14th, 2012
8:54 pm
Sure I would like to se advancement but if they don’t after finishing first in the South, I’ll celebrate the fact that we won the South and the Saints didn’t. There will always be next year if we dont win it all this year. I’ll never give up hope for the Superbowl but I won’t put all of my happiness on whether that happens or not.
atlfalconsfan0125
November 14th, 2012
9:00 pm
@ D man
You dont think its a failure when team of this talent level fails to win in the postseason after the 4th try?
JSS
November 14th, 2012
9:11 pm
“Only 10 or 11 teams actually win a playoff game every year and 22 teams don’t win a playoff game every year.”
And since Smith, it has been a recurring theme: “22 teams don’t win a playoff game every year (see Falcons).”
Fan since 66
November 14th, 2012
9:13 pm
Pappy…yeah, most people can’t appreciate the dedication it took to be a Falcon fan over the years. I remember almost crying all the way home after the ‘80 Danny White debacle to knock us out of the playoffs. Yes…we lost the first round game that year too. Maybe there is something to this no playoff win jinx! lol! However, I do seem to remember beating the ‘Aints 60 something to 3 or 7, in the early ’80’s also. That almost makes up for the loss to the Cowgirls. I’m amazed at the fans nowadays who flip and flop week to week based on the ‘Birds performance that week. They don’t realize how good we Falcon Fans have it nowadays.
btw, JSS…done with cha! I’ll just enjoy your posts from now on as something humorous to read between the postings of true football fans.
Go Falcons!
Answer This
November 14th, 2012
9:20 pm
Wow……got to say I did not miss someone……but roaches never die they have been around since gosh knows when! Anyway good article JS. Spot on about EVERY team has issues in the NFL….regardless if they have “won in the playoffs before”…..how did they work out for Green Bay last year @ 15-1….they had won before and lost at home with home field advantage. My point is that some just blurt stuff out because they think it sounds good…just like you called out these people who waited for 9 weeks for us to lose…if we had won we beat another bad team….Every year is different and in 9 more weeks we will see how things play out! Is Mexico still open by chance did they close the border? We will win in the playoffs this year and win more than one game…..bet on it.
Answer This
November 14th, 2012
9:20 pm
Wow……got to say I did not miss someone……but roaches never die they have been around since gosh knows when! Anyway good article JS. Spot on about EVERY team has issues in the NFL….regardless if they have “won in the playoffs before”…..how did they work out for Green Bay last year @ 15-1….they had won before and lost at home with home field advantage. My point is that some just blurt stuff out because they think it sounds good…just like you called out these people who waited for 9 weeks for us to lose…if we had won we beat another bad team….Every year is different and in 9 more weeks we will see how things play out! Is Mexico still open by chance did they close the border? We will win in the playoffs this year and win more than one game…..bet on it.
Answer This
November 14th, 2012
9:20 pm
Wow……got to say I did not miss someone……but roaches never die they have been around since gosh knows when! Anyway good article JS. Spot on about EVERY team has issues in the NFL….regardless if they have “won in the playoffs before”…..how did they work out for Green Bay last year @ 15-1….they had won before and lost at home with home field advantage. My point is that some just blurt stuff out because they think it sounds good…just like you called out these people who waited for 9 weeks for us to lose…if we had won we beat another bad team….Every year is different and in 9 more weeks we will see how things play out! Is Mexico still open by chance did they close the border? We will win in the playoffs this year and win more than one game…..bet on it.
Answer This
November 14th, 2012
9:21 pm
Wow……got to say I did not miss someone……but roaches never die they have been around since gosh knows when! Anyway good article JS. Spot on about EVERY team has issues in the NFL….regardless if they have “won in the playoffs before”…..how did they work out for Green Bay last year @ 15-1….they had won before and lost at home with home field advantage…guess they could not call on that theory?. My point is that some just blurt stuff out because they think it sounds good…just like you called out these people who waited for 9 weeks for us to lose…if we had won we beat another bad team….Every year is different and in 9 more weeks we will see how things play out! Is Mexico still open by chance did they close the border? We will win in the playoffs this year and win more than one game…..bet on it.
Answer This
November 14th, 2012
9:24 pm
Apologies for the duplicate post…dont know how that happened?
DawgNole
November 14th, 2012
9:26 pm
Answer This
November 14th, 2012
9:21 pm
Wow……got to say I did not miss someone……but roaches never die they have been around since gosh knows when!
_____________________
Wow…….got to say four indentical posts is a little much.
JSS
November 14th, 2012
9:29 pm
“but roaches never die they have been around since gosh knows when! (?)”
How did you forget? You were there, the identical biological missing link has been found! Who knew?
I didn’t miss your Zombie posting either…
bigbobbles
November 14th, 2012
9:29 pm
JSS is MCR’s Boyfriend…Yes? Or the same ??????
JSS
November 14th, 2012
9:35 pm
Always laugh when folks bring up Green Bay (2011 version)… When was the last time Coughlin lost to GB in the post-season? Coughlin and Gilbride have been Packers and Patriots kryptonite, but somehow you missed that trend? Pssst, if they see you once in the regular season, they generally adjust… Ask the Pats, ask the Niners, and you don’t have to ask the Packers…
JSS
November 14th, 2012
9:38 pm
More of that genius “civility,” and “boyfriend” jokes too! Don’t let the White House petition page close while you’re coming up with such witty stuff!
Matty Bicep
November 14th, 2012
9:44 pm
Pssst, sorry but the Texans have won a playoff game (recently)…Yea, they beat the perennial losers Cincinnati and HOF bound Dalton. If we were in the AFC, we would have been to a few Super Bowls by now. The Ravens and Joe Flatulence, LOL, what a weak little team, we handled them with ease.
JASon
November 14th, 2012
9:44 pm
“They finally lose a game, and people scream, “Aha!””
Jeff, you are responding to national media criticisms of our team. Unfortunately, there is no public stage in which the media can be criticized.
Just because the falcons are not the cowboys, steelers, giants, eagles, lakers, yankees, or any other team that the media openly and agressively supports, we get scorned. Don’t underestimate the reaches of this just because it is an entertainment industry: this is a crisis in society in which the people of Atlanta are being struck down intellectually by an organization who answers to nobody.
Matty Bicep
November 14th, 2012
9:46 pm
Yep, Green Bay, Giants, 9ers, all NFC teams. Hell, if the Eagles were in the AFC, they might even get into the playoffs with MV7.
Matty Bicep
November 14th, 2012
9:48 pm
What ever happened to the Dream team? They finally figure out they can’t win we a QB how is 224 years old, in dog years.
JSS
November 14th, 2012
9:49 pm
Ha ha, is he cracking on the AFCs version of Matt Ryan? Pssst, that same team (Houston) took you guys to the woodshed too last year… Insert T.J. Yates jokes here… Glass houses everywhere!!!
JSS
November 14th, 2012
9:51 pm
Dennis Dixon…
JSS
November 14th, 2012
9:53 pm
Y’all need to stick to the Jets and or the AFC West, at least Gonzalez would feel at home then… No. 1 seeds sent packing, he knows that one well…
bigbobbles
November 14th, 2012
9:54 pm
This is not a civility blog of the White House page, but rather intelligent comments on how you, JSS, is an intelligent wannabe East Coast Harvard Grad with liberal views helping the world with your insightful thoughts. We are all impressed. We love to follow our team and we make intelligent comments, (most do, not all) about the current Falcons. But you just want to comment on playoff loses. All teams have those. So keep up your bAnal drivel and we will all applaud you. Mommy I juss got an A in falcon blogs being a dikhed. Yippee!!
techmule
November 14th, 2012
9:56 pm
WE are not talking about other teams dummy.were talking (FALCON)football only get it —–good .HEAR WE GO AGAIN< IF THIS PLAY OR THAT PLAY WE WOULD HAVE HAD BETTER CHANCE OF WINNING .IF IF, IF, IF, IF, IF, IF. gIVE US A BREAK MAN.fACE IT MAN YALL JUST DON"T DO YOUR JOB.
Matty Bicep
November 14th, 2012
9:57 pm
JSS, well, every team goes home a loser except 1 each year, going home a loser a week later than the next guy means nothing. There is 1 winner, and 31 losers.
Matty is like every QB not named Brees, Manning, Rogers, Brady, or Rothisburger.
JSS
November 14th, 2012
9:59 pm
“They finally figure out they can’t win we a QB how is 224 years old, in dog years.”
Is there a dictionary for that one? And buy a new calculator…
Matty Bicep
November 14th, 2012
9:59 pm
One and done, super bowl loser means nothing. As the Bills.
JSS
November 14th, 2012
10:03 pm
@ 9:54PM
Hey Stephen Hawking, when did you learn to move your eyes enough to get all that typing done?
JSS
November 14th, 2012
10:04 pm
Roids’ are clouding your typing…
techmule
November 14th, 2012
10:09 pm
you DANG RIGHT YOU GOING TAKE THIS 8 -1 RECORD AND ITS FLAWS STUPID AND YOU DON”T HAVE A CHOICE EITHER.tHATS NOT ALL .YOU GOING TO TAKE ALL BLAME AND THE SECOND HALF OF SEASON 2 .YOU WILL FIND A LOT OF FAULT SOME WHERE OTHER THAN YOUR SELF FOR LOSING AND GOING HOME ONCE AGAIN (MAYBE THEY WILL RELEAVE YOU OF YOUR POSTION) AND DON”T GIVE THE BALL TO TURNER ON 3RD AND NOTHING CAUSE THATS ALL HE IS GOING 2 GET YOU(NOTHING) STUPID, STUPID, STUPID, STUPID.
Matty Bicep
November 14th, 2012
10:09 pm
They used to Say Ryan would not throw the long ball…He is 5th in the NFL in YPA.
They used to say MV7 was a better QB….LOL
They used to say Cam Newton was the future in the NFL. LOL
They still say MR2 has will never win a playoff game….Just a matter of time until that domino falls.
techmule
November 14th, 2012
10:10 pm
sTUPID
techmule
November 14th, 2012
10:11 pm
ssttuuppiidd
JSS
November 14th, 2012
10:13 pm
And he still lost to a now 4-5 team playing with their 2nd stand-in coach! :-0 LOL
JSS
November 14th, 2012
10:15 pm
Somebody’s Tony Eason, Rex Grossman, Craig Morton, and Rich Gannon envy is showing… They won playoff games too!
Answer This
November 14th, 2012
10:16 pm
Really Stephen Hawkings jokes?! Thats the guy we all know….taking shots at those who are physically challenged! What a tool!
JSS
November 14th, 2012
10:16 pm
Dang, I left off Chris Miller
JSS
November 14th, 2012
10:18 pm
Hawking is not “physically challenged” I’m taking a shot at you, you want to be a genius, get with the program…
Answer This
November 14th, 2012
10:19 pm
@dawgnole
Noticed I apologized about the post…..it happenend with the site…..posted once or at least I thought and it turned into 4.
Matty Bicep
November 14th, 2012
10:20 pm
And he still lost to a now 4-5 team playing with their 2nd stand-in coach! :-0 LOL
Yep, a team with a great QB, a QB who we could have drafted, but we were sucked into drafting a real dog of a QB. It has taken us a while to rid ourselves from the fleas of that mangy mutt.
Answer This
November 14th, 2012
10:20 pm
Nope you were not talking to me and yes he is! Dont weasel out of it!
Answer This
November 14th, 2012
10:24 pm
BTW….I turned the lights on…..you can scurry back under your kitchen fridge.
bigbobbles
November 14th, 2012
10:24 pm
I would rather be compared to a physically challenged Mr. Hawkings, as opposed to a spiteful mentally challenged loser with no future like Mr. JSS! But then, JSS blows on flutes for his enlightenment. Good for him.
JSS
November 14th, 2012
10:29 pm
He’s 99% “paralyzed,” that is not a “physical challenge.” Light is on, ain’t nobody running… Is that another one of those “urban legends” you like throwing around and then crowing about like you’ve done something? 15 yard penalty there Asante… Take a better angle next time!
Jeff Schultz
November 14th, 2012
10:32 pm
JSS — I see you’ve checked in to poke the bear. …. Regarding you’re first comment on the “psyche of doubt”: Obviously there’s some external doubt, but I can’t speak to their internal doubt. This much is certain: Until they do it, they haven’t yet done it. (That was almost poetic.)
Jeff Schultz
November 14th, 2012
10:33 pm
True Falcon Fan – Thanks.
JSS
November 14th, 2012
10:34 pm
Here comes Tewt playing his panpipes and trying to gravy-train some attention… Those cheap bobbles must contain lead?
Answer This
November 14th, 2012
10:34 pm
So you taking shots at paralyzed people? Thats much better thanks for clearing that up! And you still a roach……..makes you a BIGGER SCUMBAG….did they close the border behind you? No way we can take a box of dirt instead of you back on the blog?
JSS
November 14th, 2012
10:35 pm
Ha ha, you have been accused of payola Jeff Schultz!
Jeff Schultz
November 14th, 2012
10:37 pm
JASon — Actually the “Aha” reference isn’t just national media. It’s a lot of local fans too.
JSS
November 14th, 2012
10:37 pm
Nope, my visa is still valid, what’s your excuse? Oh, that’s right your razor can only get you to the Rite-Aid!
Jeff Schultz
November 14th, 2012
10:40 pm
JSS — I sent you $1 last week. You owe me 75 cents.
Answer This
November 14th, 2012
10:40 pm
I JUST wish we did not have to deal with you again…….it is so SUCKING and deflating to have you back on this blog….we only had to deal with the Aint Trolls but the Troll of Trolls is back to swim like SEMEN once again…..might get banned for this one guys….buy we all know what JSS stands for……just read between the line!
JSS
November 14th, 2012
10:47 pm
I know what it stands for, your 6 year attempts to trivialize it just shows how mentally unequipped you and your ilk to be adult… Rage crazy troll, it fits you…
JSS
November 14th, 2012
10:50 pm
Dang, Jeff Schultz, you know your bank charges .75 to check the balance! Man, I’m telling Wayne Brady!
Answer This
November 14th, 2012
10:50 pm
Because your knees are dirty…thats why you know
JSS
November 14th, 2012
10:54 pm
Wah wah wah, whatever you say there, don’t forget to plug in your battery pack… Did you miss your spray-on tan appointment again?
JSS
November 14th, 2012
10:56 pm
Poor answer, he ‘fraid of them…
Answer This
November 14th, 2012
10:58 pm
And brush of your chin…….you supposed to be getting married correct? I dont think she needs to know. We will keep it on the blog between the Rise Up Nation and you……
Jeff Schultz
November 14th, 2012
11:02 pm
Boys, boys, boys. … I’m going to sleep. Keep it clean or I’ll wave my banning wand in the morning. That is all.
Connor
November 14th, 2012
11:07 pm
If you guys don’t like JSS, just ignore him. He’ll soon go away. Or I would think so, I assume he has more of a life than going on blogs and bashing teams he doesn’t like
JSS
November 14th, 2012
11:08 pm
Nothing as funny as a little boy still stuck in a episode of My Beautiful Launderette for spazs… She knows that your “down low” phobia just reinforces the reason there’s a repressed psycho in your skin…
Answer This
November 14th, 2012
11:08 pm
We have tried that theory Connor….but I hate to say it does not work……but I am out also…..thanks for the warning JS!
JSS
November 14th, 2012
11:11 pm
Connor, mind your own business… And to Little repressed answer, drink some warm milk get that stick literally out of you…
JSS
November 14th, 2012
11:13 pm
Was here before you spaz, and will be here after you repressed fiends are priced out of blogging by digital subscriptions… Nite nite little fiends!!!
What's Important
November 14th, 2012
11:22 pm
Jeff, finally a voice of reason. Thanks for the article.
captguitarman
November 15th, 2012
12:12 am
Really? First and goal at the one yard line with less than two minutes left to win the game. A bona fide 8-0 Super Bowl contender with a great quarterback, one hall of fame receiver and two other destined to the Hal receivers, and tons of talent up and down the line — it knows that this is the time — this is the season to make its statement, to make its bones, to become made men. Let’s imagine for a moment. What would New England, their coach, and Tom Brady have done? What would Indianapolis, their coach and Peyton Manning have done? What would Green Bay and their coach, and Aaron Rogers have done? What would New Orleans, Drew Brees, and their coach have done? What would New York, their coach, and Eli Manning have done? What would San Franciso, their coach, and Joe Montana have done? What would Pittsburgh, their coach, and Rothlinsberger have done? What did the Falcons do? Dumb play calling (sooner or later guys, I’m tellin’ ya, this run right up the middle is gonna work), and lackluster, pedestrian, uncreative, unimaginative, call it in, and what a surprise they did that (not), pass plays. Oh, and also, letting the entire D-line into the backfield about the time Ryan gets the ball or hands it off to Turner. Not exactly what any of the aforementioned teams would have done, not nearly exactly. These guys have the Super Bowl talent. But that is not the question. Do they have the Super Bowl will? That is still a question. And New Orleans is coming again soon. Someone had better start thinking out of the box, and soon.
bassDawg
November 15th, 2012
1:27 am
LOL guitar! Besides SF w Gore they all wouldve passed!
Falcons’ flaws aren’t greater than any other NFL team | football-feed.com
November 15th, 2012
2:25 am
[...] to Original Content From Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog): read more Related Articles Share About Author [...]
Falcons Chic
November 15th, 2012
6:04 am
SI agrees with me.
http://nfl.si.com/2012/11/13/second-read-tony-gonzalez-jimmy-graham-lead-league-wide-te-outburst/?sct=obnetwork
RunninWithTheDawgs
November 15th, 2012
6:10 am
We’ve won too many close games to run the table from here. Even if we lose two or three more games, we will still have a good record and make the playoffs. Losses hurt but this IS the NFL and I’m going to stay optimistic ’till we go one and out in the playoffs then I’m gonna be p!ssed………….again. JS — Good Column. GO FALCONS
RunninWithTheDawgs
November 15th, 2012
6:22 am
Guitar @12:12 — I don’t know what all of the teams you mentioned WOULD have done, but I’m willing to bet that they wouldn’t have done what we did. If they had put Snelling and Quizz in we probably would have won.
JASS
November 15th, 2012
6:26 am
I’ve watched and hated the Falcons since 1966. I loathe everything about Atlanta and everyone who likes anything about Atlanta. I live on AJC blogs, because cracking on other people and pretending I’m smarter than them gives me a reason to live.
JASS
November 15th, 2012
6:28 am
If the wand lands on me Jeff, fine, it was worth it.
RunninWithTheDawgs
November 15th, 2012
6:52 am
Ja$$ — “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind”
Bill
November 15th, 2012
7:23 am
There is a lot of talk about Turner being less effective, but no one seems to mention that this downturn coincided with letting Ovie Mughelli go.
Me Too
November 15th, 2012
7:28 am
Let’s put “not any worse than other teams” to the test. Jeff please go team by team and ask the question:
Would you trade Michael Turner for this team’s running back? For NO alone, there are four running backs better than Michael Turner.
Me Too
November 15th, 2012
7:31 am
Bill, go back to 2010 and look at the three regular season and GB loss. You will see the same kind of negative runs by Turner as you see this year. Ovie did not open the holes for Turner. How many blockers can one man require to get one yard?
KB
November 15th, 2012
7:55 am
Treat 3rd and 1 like it’s 3rd and 5 – spread out the defense and use the skill players that we have. Did we run a single screen play last week?
loel
November 15th, 2012
8:01 am
This article started off taking about eating Edwards salary and shortly turned to Turner,,,,,What a surprise!!!!!! Should tell us something.
4DaBirds
November 15th, 2012
8:23 am
Nice read there Jeff. You put the NFL in proper perspective with this article.
Sis-Boom-Bah Humbug
November 15th, 2012
8:23 am
Regarding the ongoing inflexibility of the Falcons with respect to Turner’s running plays, it comes down to the difference between stubbornness & pigheadedness. Stubbornness denotes obstinacy or resistance to change, while Pigheadedness Is Stubbornness To The Point Of Stupidity.
A stubborn person is susceptible to changing when they at last realize they have been wrong. On the other hand, a pigheaded person will persist in a wrong choice indefinitely, regardless of repeated failure – they simply will not accept reality.
Again this year, the Falcons are committed to mainly running Turner – in the same obvious situations & in the same monotonous ways, despite the typically ineffective outcomes. That kind of compulsion is simply PIGHEADED, and to make matter worse, it is so frustratingly PREDICTABLE.
RunninWithTheDawgs
November 15th, 2012
8:35 am
I’d rather see everybody blaming our running problems on Turner than Smitty. Smitty is the best thing that has happened to the Falcons yet, and anybody who doesn’t know that is too young or hasn’t been a fan long enough to know what a ratty team we had for years and years. I also give equal credit to Mr. Blank for doing what he said he’d do by bringing a winning team to Atlanta. I figure we’ll be playing in a SB in the next year or two, and I think we’ll win it. GO FALCONS !
much ado about nothing
November 15th, 2012
8:42 am
Actually, winning a playoff game dosen’t mean much anyhow,
unless you win the Super Bowl.
Esquire
November 15th, 2012
8:50 am
Jeff, your first responder (lol, not in the police and fire dept sense of the word) and so many others often write in terms of the Falcons playoff participation as if its never happened. This team has been to the Super Bowl and won several playoff games. You don’t accumulate an 8-1 record with what the writer advanced as “psyche of doubt”. What in the world is “psyche of doubt” anyway, is the writer trying to put forth psychology of doubt as part of this teams mental makeup. Theirs nothing like a loss to your most hated rival that you should have won to cure that “psyche of doubt”. According to the supposition teams with a history of losing cannot ever win, the Caints and Bucs being perfect examples. The natural progression doesn’t always produce a perennial powerhouse football team, ie Caints and Bucs, again. I break it down into the Smith era and the Blank era and frankly I’m amazed that a Smith era team ever won anything. And the Blank era almost imploded thru the selfishness of a very gifted athlete and the selfishness of a very narcissistic coach. But here we are, the #1 NFC team with a chance to punch a ticket to the Big Dance. These guys are professionals and aren’t adolescents questioning and searching for their confidence.
RunninWithTheDawgs
November 15th, 2012
9:05 am
Smitty is just not a gambler nosiree. That’s why we see Turner running between the tackles so much. He lets Snelling and Quizz in the game occasionally and they do good and then he goes right back to Turner. Since Antone Smith looks so good in the pre season games you would think he’d get a touch every now and then but it’s not going to happen. Smitty is just not a gambler, but he is a winner and that’s what I love about him.
robert
November 15th, 2012
9:07 am
I just wish they would drop the trash talking. Believe it or not that does create incentives for other teams to beat you. Roddy White your a great receiver. Just shut up and let your playing do your talking.
dean
November 15th, 2012
9:13 am
The first Falcons fan that mentions the word “plateau” gets a backhand slap so hard they will wake up in the cesspool on the gulf that shall be their eternal purgatory.
Have a Great Day!
Sylvester Stamps
November 15th, 2012
9:32 am
Spot on brother! Good blog!
Stinger63
November 15th, 2012
9:33 am
I agree with the initial point made in the article. Every team has flaws, and in a “League of Parity”, we should be very proud of our team being 8-1 at this point. All the critics and “Negativity-Freaks” should take a look at the overall records of the entire league, and see how many teams would LOVE to be at 8-1 right now. New Orleans is a very difficult place to win games, especially when you consider the fierce rivalry that the Falcons have with the Saints. We just need to get fired up and return the favor when they come to our house!
Hotlanta….. Rise-Up!
PMC
November 15th, 2012
9:43 am
Well, for what it’s worth I still like this team a great deal. I think it’s the best overall team the Falcons have ever put together save perhaps 1998 when the defense was star studded, but the offense is equally proportioned this season.
I think this team has what it takes to win a Super Bowl, they just have to go prove it.
monty
November 15th, 2012
9:43 am
Jeff. maybe some are now saying aha, but I’ve been saying for several weeks now that the short yardage run game is in disarray. Anyone can see it with a decent nose for football. I love watching all the wins, I really do. Proud to be a Falcon fan and all of that. But be honest, not many pundits give this team much of a chance because they see what the avg fan doesn’t or won’t see. A team that can’t pick up a yard when it’s needed. It finally came to light for all to see on that critical goal line fiasco last week. Turner never even makes it to the line of scrimmage in those situations and we’re supposed to be world beaters come playoff? Not aha! But Ah-Uh. Weak run game, totally pass dependent offense, bend but don’t break opportunistic defense is not really a good formula for a Super Bowl as much as I would love to see it. In the mean time I’ll just enjoy another 12-4 season and wait till next year.
ideas
November 15th, 2012
9:47 am
Funny how someone mentioned Chris Chandler got us into our one and only Super Bowl. But the next two years the fans were trying to run him out of town on a rail. I actually sat there, season ticket holder, and listened to them. I could not believe it. I for one think the fans are so fickle here that they will be doing the same to Matt when we get there.
dean
November 15th, 2012
9:53 am
ideas,
I would ask the pitchfork bearers how they expected Chris to throw the ball with any accuracy while he was flat on his back or, in best cases, running for his life. Pathetic.
monty
November 15th, 2012
10:01 am
You control the clock and keep the other team off the field by running the ball or at least being able to run the ball with some efficiency. In the playoffs the inabilty of being able at least to some dgree run the ball will only mean that our defense will not get a chance to rest much, especially if the other team is running it well. Gets back to the trenches in post season. Like it or not. The team that runs it can use playaction to their advantage. I shutter to think of facing ,say a NY Giants team, that can run the ball and have Manning pick us apart with their vertical passing attack. It wouldn’t be pretty unless we can get the run game going ourselves and match them with our playaction.
True Falcon Fan
November 15th, 2012
10:14 am
JSS
November 14th, 2012
7:28 pm
Mexico was great, the wife-to-be is great, and the future is bright!
___________________________________________________________________________
“Wow” — firstly who would really consider matrimony with your SORRY ASHES???
Will she/it their blog name be JSS/LaNina-Zero-schmucker???
Really “ZERO” give us ALL a big break, get married move you, your “DROLLY-mouth” momma (I mean the ONE that PAYS ALL the bills) & the wife to be to let’s see —- Tegucigalpa, Honduras — perfect place for you and your sorry ashes!
Go Falcons — Cardinals next
abby normal
November 15th, 2012
10:30 am
OK, so every team has flaws. That doesn’t make me feel any better about ours. Mike Smith is famous for saying “we’ll get that fixed” whenever something goes wrong. Well, the short yardage game has been in the toilet for a long time and it ain’t fixed. How about it, Smitty? Tick Tock. Tick Tock.
GTT
November 15th, 2012
10:36 am
Bill, they couldn’t gain a yard on third down last year when Ovie was playing. Sorry, but that’s not it. And, he was paid waaaay too much money for a fullback. You may note he is still jobless.
Samuel
November 15th, 2012
10:42 am
Well Said………
GregKennesaw
November 15th, 2012
10:56 am
Worse thing about Falcon’s loss? JSS returns.
Nativebird
November 15th, 2012
10:58 am
Wow. what a ringing endorsement. Everybody else sucks as bad as we do. Yet we don’t getting any love. You don’t see the problem with that? The fact is…if you want love In this league, it is HOW you do it that counts. The old “eye test” as they say….and my Falcon friends…..other than Ryan, Julio, Roddy and Tony….our “eye test” suqqs. Look at the Saints. Yes they suqq too….but Breez and his records is all anyone talks about. So much so, they have EsPn knowing they suqq but openly rooting for Breez and his magical show to “please please get better and wins some games so we can talk even more about you.” It’s kinda of like Obama and the press. He obviously suqqs as a Pres, has ruined everything he touches, but it’s irrelevant because to the press corps he’s so dam secksy.
Ryder
November 15th, 2012
11:24 am
JSS has a point, until the Falcons can beat the Saints they will always have an inferiority complex about them, especially when they face high octane offenses such as Green Bay and the always dangerous Eli Manning. We need to face facts and realize that this is a team that needs to step up when they play top level opponents in January, nothing else matters.
oldmike
November 15th, 2012
11:51 am
btw if there was a psyche of doubt with this team we don’t get the ball in line to win twice in the last 3 minutes of the game. what we have is a opportunity to try something different in those short yardage situations. let’s see how this all plays out.
Answer This
November 15th, 2012
12:07 pm
@ Ryder
Please dont throw fuel on the fire! He does not have a point! Lets say we dont beat the Aints this year and still make it to the NFC Championship Game……….what point are you actually allowing him to have? I could use the COULD HAVE phrase (as in could have beat the crap out of the Aints by 3 Touchdowns,but I wont). They won the game last Sunday…………there is no mental block here between the Falcons and the Aints……..especially when you rack up 400 + yards and you have 3 receivers who had 100+ yards. The only problem was that we did not get three yards on three tries……….not rocket science. Who cares what the Defense did (they only gave up 3 points in the 4th quarter and 7 in the third). We get 3 yards and this game is a blow out! SIMPLE! We did not do it and they won. On to Arizona who will pay and the Aints have to see us again while they are on a life support for the playoffs! Not what you want when you have a pack of Angry Birds who know that the score could have gotten out of hand. RISE UP!
Dawgs Eat Tiger Meat
November 15th, 2012
12:20 pm
But teams win with running ball & defense in playoffs. Falcons wont have a running game as long as M. Turner is the ball carrier.
Dawgs Eat Tiger Meat
November 15th, 2012
12:24 pm
So M. Smith & Koetter doesnt think its Turner’s fault? Ok. Then give Quizz 25 carries against Arizona and you will see.
Escaped from Email Purgatory
November 15th, 2012
12:24 pm
“As flaws go, that [converting short yardage situations] would seem to be a correctable one.”
One would think. But this flaw spans multiple seasons and is one very conspicuous reason why we’re not finishing the deal in big games.
You gotta give the organization credit for the 2012 Birds. They’re good or better than last year almost everywhere (save punt and kick off returns). Attribute that to the GM, players and the coaching staff (particularly the new guys).
Hopefully, they’ll all figure a way to advance the ball a short distance when a short distance is all we need.
What’s T.J. Duckett doing these days?
Ivan
November 15th, 2012
12:45 pm
“Actually, winning a playoff game dosen’t mean much anyhow,
unless you win the Super Bowl.”
Exactly. What kind of fan or team is satisfied after going 1-1 in the playoffs? After that the question will be, “Yea the team is good but can they go FAR in the playoffs?”
It’s just a useless ‘carrot on a stick’ stat for the talking heads to keep chasing. Especially when the Falcons were undefeated, because they didn’t have much else to point to when it came to flaws. Now they have the short down yardage stat and playoff stat. Big deal.
Go Birds. Kick the Cards.
Banned by Mark Bradley
November 15th, 2012
1:02 pm
Lets talk about leather.
warfalcon
November 15th, 2012
1:07 pm
Spoken like a Champ.ONE GAME AT A TIME,LETS GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1 Falc
November 15th, 2012
1:15 pm
relax—ATL was just flat and overconfident against that bad saints team. ATL will roll through the rest of the schedule with 2-3 losses and dominate in the playoffs. SF, Chicago or GB don’t match up with ATL. Falcons v. Texans—super bowl–mark it down!
Barry
November 15th, 2012
3:02 pm
MHey Yall:
Great article, Schultz!! We,as local fans, look at our team more intently than we look at other teams around the leaugue. We see our Falcons play every week wherein we have becomenire than familiar with the style and passion that this team plays with in the past and what they are trying to do in the future which is get to the Super Bowl. Currently, as a good team, we are going through growing pains towards being great team. Those growing pains consist of being under the media and fan microscope. M based upon your success and dealing with the accolades and critisms when they come. Great teams have thick skin. They hear but don’t hear and stay focused on the team mission and goal. They
know that their only friend in their road to the Super Bowl are those coaches and teammates in the locker room. They are tied to the hip with each other and have each others back in these weekly footbal battles against teams that are in their path towards winning the Super Bowl. They are joined together in “ONE HEARTBEAT!!”. We are at the halfway point on our journey and this an enjoyable season watching our Falcons develop into a Super team with new offensive.and defensive.philosophy. . I am enjoying.what I am seeing and how our Falcons are playing. Yes, like every team in the? NFL, we have to continually “tweek” things before and after each game .. That’s.football, folks. Get use to it on our journey.,as FANS, to the Super Bowl. FROM WHAT I HAVE WITNESSED WITH OURFALCONS,”THEY WILL MAKE US PROUD!!!” They will do it in ” ONE HEATBEAT!!!”
GO FALCONS!!!!!!
THE ” PROCESS” CONTINUES!!!!! IT CONTINUES TO THE SUPER BOWL!
“FALCONS, RISE UP!!!!” WE”RISE UP!!” IN “ONE HEARTBEAT!!! ”
SSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHH!!!
This is a SECRET from a FALCON FAN!! TELL EVERYBODY!!!
……………,,,”ONE HEARTBEAT,BABY!!!”……
JSS
November 15th, 2012
3:43 pm
All that “civility” is still just oooooooooooooooooooooooooooozing from the usual suspects! Sad, the panpiper takes his shots and his comrade the dolt never wants to face the facts… Maybe mini-me the cheerleader will rip off another of his favorite childhood cereal commercials as he eats some Junior Mints? I just won a lawsuit, crack on, the sucker I destroyed in front of courtroom full of folks is just you pawns, wondering what the heck just ran over her side!!!
Man, this is a great day!!! And you still can’t gain 1 yard!!! Ha ha ha ha!!!
JSS
November 15th, 2012
3:56 pm
Oh yeah, this “franchise” has been to a Super Bowl, not “this team!” Only place they’ve been is the White Castle on NJ Route 120 on the way to Newark Airport and the In and Out Burger in Glendale on the way home for the lockers to be cleaned out the following Monday!
oldmike
November 15th, 2012
4:14 pm
hey JSS how did the Saints do in the playoffs last year?
JSS
November 15th, 2012
5:05 pm
@ Old Mike…
Like Houston they won a game, and then they hit a team with a running game, a hot TE, and a QB who played out of his mind… But what do I care if the Saints win or lose? They have a Lombardi, got that Seattle monkey off their back… Is that enough of an answer for you? Better food choices between the Stick and SFO by the way, ask Jeff Schultz!
Billy Bob
November 15th, 2012
7:32 pm
It is so easy to fall into the trap of wanting all the talking sports heads to swoon over your team. In our case that ain’t going to happen because they only do that for organizations that have won a SB and multiple playoffs. I don’t give a crap what they think and I know how that works. You beat Philly and who do they interview, the loosing coach? Ok, I get it, the teams with the largest markets get all the print and talk. As a 30 + year fan this is best team and organization that I’ve seen and I’m proud of them. Hell I remember Marion Campbell getting the coaching job by default. Those were the years. Old farts like myself have smelled enough crap to recognize a rose when we see one.
gO dEEP
November 15th, 2012
11:33 pm
I say just keep pounding on that door – sooner or later it will open.
You can’t Win or Lose a play-off game if U don’t play it.
JSS
November 16th, 2012
5:41 am
“I say just keep pounding on that door – sooner or later it will open. You can’t Win or Lose a play-off game if U don’t play it.”
My gosh, somebody sounds like a Chiefs or Browns fan…
You want Fries with that order
November 16th, 2012
5:47 am
Hey Jeff schultz if you can read these ever find..if you know how too is question at AJC…..I have a wonderfull that you can start Put Tommy Nobis in the canton Football hall of fame…why hell is not in he the original falcon first Pick you would think some sport writer here would start it…