Short takes: Newton and Panthers’ line dominate Falcons
Cam Newton blasts off for a 72-yard touchdown run, giving Panthers a 23-0 lead. (AP photo)
I’ll be back shortly with my column off of the Falcons’ game against Carolina today. Until then here are my three short takes on the game.
1. Defensive front dominated: The Falcons saw Carolina score on its first five possessions of the game (taking a 23-0 lead) and were just fortunate that the Panthers converted only two of those drives into touchdowns. Cam Newton was efficient and the Panthers ran the ball effectively. But the biggest reason for the early success was that the Falcons’ defensive front got dominated by Carolina’s offensive line. It didn’t help that defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux left in the second quarter with what was announced as a ribs injury. But it wasn’t all about Babineaux. This game belonged to the Panthers’ line, as well as … (see No. 2).
2. Cam Newton shows his upside: For all the criticism from “anonymous players” and “unnamed sources” about his maturity issues, Newton’s physical talents were on full display. He completed his first eight pass attempts. He threw for 178 yards in the first half on 17-of-25 passing. He had a 21-yard scramble in which he spun the Falcons’ Corey Peters in a 360 and a 72-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. It’s like he was back at Auburn again. For the game, Newton finished with 235 yards passing and two touchdowns and he rushed for another 118 yards and a touchdown. So that should quiet everybody for a while.
3. No running game… again: It’s not the only reason they lost the game. But the Falcons again failed to establish a running game, which is an increasingly bad sign in the first week of December. Jacquizz Rodgers (4 for 21) and Michael Turner (7 for 14) combined for only 35 yards rushing. When that happens, it allows opposing defensive linemen to ignore defending the run and enables them to tee off on the quarterback. Matt was sacked only twice but often pressured.
By Jeff Schultz
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219 comments Add your comment
sheepdawg
December 9th, 2012
5:31 pm
uh oh, is see a bad times ahead for this team. no pass rush on d, o line is sub par for the nfl. good chance playoff drought will continue. right now, this team would not be a safe even bet vs. the packers or seahawks
Answer This
December 9th, 2012
5:31 pm
Let the cockroach dude put it in his mouth! Lol.
I'm a Georgia fan. It's a license to be stupid.
December 9th, 2012
5:33 pm
ugly and exposed for the frauds they are…ladies and gentlemen, your Atlanta Falcons…America’s favorite NFL one and done playoff franchise…
Answer This
December 9th, 2012
5:33 pm
I be luvin the Falcons my hole lyfe? Choo on dat you cockeroach!
Escaped from Email Purgatory
December 9th, 2012
5:34 pm
It’s December, and this year’s Birds are beginning to look a lot like the Falcons of 2011 and 2010.
JSS
December 9th, 2012
5:34 pm
“Today was a showup and get by day to try and minimize injuries and give a couple of D starters a rest.”
How did that workout?
rm
December 9th, 2012
5:36 pm
Roaches…whats your team?
Answer This
December 9th, 2012
5:37 pm
I b liking you also fake Answer This! Lol. You otay wib me! Ripe us…i meanz riSe up! Hey cockroach boy….why would u b looking for roaches in the Georgia Dome? U b hungry?
5150 UOAD
December 9th, 2012
5:38 pm
rm
December 9th, 2012
5:36 pm
Roaches…whats your team?
=============================
He cheers for the Dung Beatles. You know they are tuff.
Answer This
December 9th, 2012
5:40 pm
@5150
Go Yellow Jackets…only bowl team with a losing record.
mock1
December 9th, 2012
5:41 pm
O-line cant run block,D-line cant pass rush and a fat,slow,washed-up Turner does not help either! Secondary needs to man-up sometimes and get out of that soft azz zone!!! Houston we have a problem !
rm
December 9th, 2012
5:41 pm
They are in the canadian league right 5150? I hear their offense is quite pungent…stings the nostrils
Answer This
December 9th, 2012
5:42 pm
^^^^^^^^^^^^^_
NOT ME…….JUST SAYING…got an imposter in the house.
Answer This
December 9th, 2012
5:43 pm
Lol dung……you stink Roaches…..that dung on your breath?
Answer This
December 9th, 2012
5:43 pm
Git yo own name cockroach!!!
tmc
December 9th, 2012
5:45 pm
Every week i hear Mike Smith talk about “mistakes that were made and how they are going to fix those and get better next week…” (even when they win).
But, i see this team REGRESSING and getting worse, not better.
I know injuries play a part, but it’s time for CMS to stop being so soft in interviews and start demanding more from his players.
LakeDawg
December 9th, 2012
5:46 pm
The Falcons have some injuries and this was a trap game. However, a team looking to make some noise in the playoffs doesn’t get dominated like this. The Falcons record is a product of an easy schedule, reinvigoration from the coaching shakeup, opponents needing time to scout the new D and O, and some luck and grittiness. The Falcon coaches have done a great job and that includes the coaches that left. The players give their all and often play over their head, but the Falcons have too many holes. Dimitroff (sp?) has performed poorly in talent evaluation. Instead of admitting he is not a genius, he got rid of the coordinators. Implying it was their fault the team can’t win a playoff game. WRONG. It is his fault. The Falcons don’t have the talent need at DL, DB, and OL. Period. If they played in the 1st round this year, they might get a win. Its more likely they will get a bye into the 2nd round and they will lose.
Answer This
December 9th, 2012
5:47 pm
Wow a fake Answer This…..dont know if i should be honored or scared? Hmmmmmm. I do believe Jeff will be booting you very soon fake Answer This @5:43……just when I thought you were half cool….lol.
clem
December 9th, 2012
5:47 pm
mike smith pretty good coach, but team is vastly overrated. no running threat (including matty), moderate arm qb, & sporadic defense. don’t know how they got to 11-1 before this rout.
rm
December 9th, 2012
5:50 pm
There are 2 “Answer This” comments at 5:43.
Steve From Dalton
December 9th, 2012
5:52 pm
Give the Panthers their due. They kicked the Falcons butt up and down the field.
Answer This
December 9th, 2012
5:54 pm
2nd one at 5:43….the get your own name one…..
I'm a Georgia fan. It's a license to be stupid.
December 9th, 2012
5:55 pm
how come we don’t celebrate a loss like the Bulldawgs? they seem to be ok with losing…maybe saving the loss celebration for our first playoff game/loss/same thing…
playmeortrademe
December 9th, 2012
5:55 pm
Until the major college and pro football teams in this state learn that you win by running the ball, stopping the run, protecting your QB and pressuring the other teams QB with your offensive and defensive lines, there will never be another major football championship in this state. Football is not as hard a sport as it is made out to be, its been the formula for champions since modern football began.
air of mendacity
December 9th, 2012
5:58 pm
We were due for really crappy game – that being said, we appear to have some glaring weaknesses that will rear their ugly head during playoffs. They are the same problems that have been present all year. Dont think the problems can be fixed this year, but we will see. The good test will come next week at home against Giants. If we are blown out or dominated – Oh oh – deep trouble.
Georgia Dome has roaches AND losers...
December 9th, 2012
5:59 pm
Tony Gonzalez is retiring at the end of the Falcons season (January) which means that the Falcons won’t even win 5 games next year!
Robert Dallas
December 9th, 2012
6:04 pm
I am no football expert, but it has been obvious even to me for several seasons that they don’t have a running game. How is it possible to run a major football franchise and not be able to see this?!?
MTSeats
December 9th, 2012
6:04 pm
Next Sunday, NYG v. Falcons. Contender or Pretender. All will know. Might even score more than 2 pts.
USMC DAWG
December 9th, 2012
6:07 pm
I am glad Jeff brought up the Falcons’ atrocious offensive line.
Two Frauds= Sam Baker and Michael Turner
TomDawg
December 9th, 2012
6:07 pm
Who the hell were the announcers today? If they had sCam up there butts any deeper they would have had to call the local fire department to bring out the Jaws of Life to remove him. Pitiful performance by the Falcons, but hopefully they will learn from this loss. Carolina, not near as good as we made them look. BTW, that first TD Carolina had…..he never got 2 feet in bounds, look at it. 2 pt. conversion should have been over turned. A better play should have been called on 4th down interception. Watch the Falcons look like a completely different team against the Giants next week. They will bring there “A” game.
Lil' Barry Bailout
December 9th, 2012
6:07 pm
The next game (Giants) will tell us a lot. Giants are a legitimate playoff team, have been there before, and are in the Falcons heads after last years dominating performance in Atlanta’s one-and-done playoff adventurs.
MTSeats
December 9th, 2012
6:09 pm
btw, looked like 5pick got hurt again, is he ok?
DawgNole
December 9th, 2012
6:09 pm
kerryb
December 9th, 2012
4:20 pm
I think we are 11-1 aren’t we? I mean the last time I checked the records we were 11-1 and have already won the NFC South. Am I wrong? Did I miss something somewhere?
_______________________
You’ve definitely missed something if you think the Falcons are 11-1.
5150 UOAD
December 9th, 2012
6:12 pm
Brees with another INT boy he is GREAT and RYAN sucks.
Thomas Brown
December 9th, 2012
6:13 pm
Yeah, that was no fun.
5150 UOAD
December 9th, 2012
6:14 pm
WOW
Tony Gonzalez is retiring
I guess somebody knows something the rest of us including TONY don’t know.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 9th, 2012
6:19 pm
Furman Bitcher
December 9th, 2012
4:55 pm
Ryan 54-21 as a starter.
__________________________________________
Flacco has that PLUS 5 When it counts………….
ha ha
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 9th, 2012
6:21 pm
Giants 1,000
Falcants 2
ha ha
Black Diamond
December 9th, 2012
6:21 pm
The Giants will crush this team one and done in the playoffs the falcons are frauds just like the Braves, Hawks, Mayor Reed, Governor Deal, Clark Howard do I need to go on?
Tom(Independent Viet Vet-USAF)
December 9th, 2012
6:22 pm
I agree, the NY game next week at HOME, should tell us a lot about our team. Can we COMPETE against a good team at HOME? Keep their DL off Matt and I think we will be ok?
Lil' Barry Bailout
December 9th, 2012
6:22 pm
Clark Howard is NOT a fraud!
I can’t argue the others.
MTSeats
December 9th, 2012
6:23 pm
I am so proud of the way these men stepped up for MSmith. I hope he is proud also.
Answer This
December 9th, 2012
6:24 pm
Wow its some angry little people on these blogs…..hard to imagine all of this hate about a team that would appear half of these people dont like? Amazing! Why come here to voice displeasure about a team you dont like? Because you are all real closet fans…….lol. Tough being a fan but trust me….real fans have to stick it out!
Lil' Barry Bailout
December 9th, 2012
6:25 pm
Eli Manning is going to dissect our “secondary” and won’t have to worry too much about our “pass rush”.
dave
December 9th, 2012
6:26 pm
don’t panic we all know falcons would have a game like this. hard to get up for last place team.probly should have saved the gas and time going up there. no energy at all. get it out of the system and get ready for the giants. time to finish strong.
DawgNole
December 9th, 2012
6:26 pm
Furman Bitcher
December 9th, 2012
4:39 pm
And to the panther fan that said his team was better, come on man. Stop being silly. 11-2 is 11-2 and you have to beat the teams on the field.
____________________
Well, they DID beat us on the field–badly. Did you miss the game?
MTSeats
December 9th, 2012
6:27 pm
@Tom, are you a turtle?
TroutFalcon
December 9th, 2012
6:28 pm
No need to panic over the 2nd loss of the season a week after clinching the division just wish our offense hadn’t been a total no show in the 1st half. Carolinas defensive line got way too much pressure on Matt Ryan which resulted in a lot of forced passes. Hopefully Smitty can get these guys refocused before next week against NYG.
Norman Cochran
December 9th, 2012
6:28 pm
Georgia Dome has Roaches, You really talk big when typing on the computer, but I bet you are really a wuss at best. Everyone on this site express their opinions and you want to slam them. If you can’t say anything constructive then keep your Fly Trap SHUT!!!
5150 UOAD
December 9th, 2012
6:30 pm
Lil’ Barry Bailout……….is just mad his Potus didn’t get Georgia to allow him to marry his boyfriend Big Brutus Jailhouse legally yet.