Comments on: More kudos for the Falcons: Is it all too much too soon?

By: JTiger

JTiger — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:53:41 +0000

Everyone needs to chill out. The Flacons are going to kick some butt this year. And who gives a crap about MV? HE’S GONE, GET OVER IT! I bet the guys who constantly write about him and his deal with ATL stalk their ex-girlfriends. HELLO! IT”S OVER!!!! CAN WE MOVE ON PLEASE!?!?! MV will be in Miami soon. Meanwhile the Falcons will be going deep into the playoffs while Miami loses a wildcard game.

By: WheresMyFalcons

WheresMyFalcons — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:57:57 +0000

Yawn!!!!! New Day….Same Story.
Please close the AJC and open a a news magazine where sports writers actually write.

By: mars

mars — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:31:40 +0000

Why have my comments disappeared? Does support for Matt Ryan merit being editted out? Very nice!

By: mars

mars — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:27:15 +0000

Are the fellows at Athlon and Beckett considered to be “paid” analyst? Surely they’re not in a league with that “Hall of Famer” Trent Green. Got to be the final word there!

By: mars

mars — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:23:29 +0000

Too bad our young QB can’t get any attention. No one pays any heed to the poor boy, what with all the fuss over Turner-Norwood, White and Gonzalez. Not to mention the former QB. I wonder who will be the feature QB on Athlon Pro Football Mag and Beckett Pro Football Mag. Surely not our little fledgling. Do VS and/or VS2 have any updates on that? Yep, our new “face of the team” gets no respect. What a shame.

By: What!!!

What!!! — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:18:47 +0000

LIST OF 2009 PROJECTED 4,000 YARD PASSERS:

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/06/29/trent-green-says-at-least-ten-will-throw-for-more-than-4000-yards/

Apparently, even the addition of a hall of fame tight end won’t get “the new” face in the “elite” list.

I guess that 3,400 rookie season was a fluke, based on the “paid” analysts say he can’t get another 600 yards from last season.

He has been figured out I guess

By: V Tuck

V Tuck — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:12:59 +0000

It will indeed be interesting. NFC South is no easy division theses days, and our schedule has been ramped up. Something tells me that if we can keep that same excitement and team energy that surrounded the Birds last season it’s going to be good. We spent needed focus on the D this offseason – which hopefully will payoff. We hemorrhaged yards last year – which will be more exploited by a tougher schedule if things were to be equal. A young D is certainly less reliable, but the releases / acquisitions we’ve made seem right to me. Go Birds!

By: Coach D

Coach D — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:27:20 +0000

Well the Falcons certainly won’t be under the radar like they were last year, but I think they have the tools in place to make a run at a winning season. And unlike in past years where the back ups have been terrible: Redman, Norwood, Jenkins, can get the job done.

On paper the schedule looks tough, but it’s hard to really gauge any NFL schedule because there is so much parity. The Patriots while loaded, are still waiting to see how Brady will perform after surgery. The Cowboys have question marks and a loss of playmakers. The Giants got to prove the can get the job done without Plaxico. The Dolphins got to prove they’re no one season wonder themselves. The Saints, Panthers, and Buccaneers all have weaknesses as well. So I don’t feel the Falcons have anything more to prove than anyone else they play.

By: WheresMyFalcons

WheresMyFalcons — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:57:29 +0000

Ok, already. Have visited this same OLD article for the past few days and there is NOTHING new to write about??????? Are you guys on vacation from your dwindling industry.
You’re giving me more and more reason to stay strictly with ESPN and give you up completely.

By: What!!!

What!!! — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 22:08:38 +0000

The 49ers come into Week 5 looking to finish strong before their bye week. They will host the Atlanta Falcons, an upstart team that made the playoffs last year with an explosive offense. In charge of the offense is Rookie of the Year Matt Ryan and running back Michael Turner.

The Falcons are in the running to win their division, so the 49ers will have a huge task at hand.

Let’s break down the 2009 Falcons.

2008 Record: 11-5 (2nd NFC South)
Last meeting: 11/4/0 @ Atlanta (Falcons win 20-16)
2009 schedule: Week 2 @ San Francisco, Week 13 @ Seattle

Top 3 best players: RB Michael Turner, TE Tony Gonzalez, DE John Abraham
Notable draft picks: DT Peria Jerry, CB Christopher Owens
Notable new acquisitions: TE Tony Gonzalez, C Jeremy Newberry, LB MIke Peterson,
Notable losses: LB Michael Boley, LB Keith Brooking, CB Dominique Foxworth, DT Grady Jackson

After starting the season with three division opponents in the first four games, the 49ers look to test their skills against some new faces. The Falcons are a whole different team since the 49ers played them in 2007. Obviously the biggest name on the team is quarterback Matt Ryan. As the team tries to move on from the Michael Vick era, the Falcons will be asking a lot more from Ryan this year.

The Falcons will ask Ryan to do a lot more passing to relieve the workload of running back Michael Turner. Turner rushed a league-high 336 times last year. Granted that Turner has turned into a pretty good running back, but such a workload can take a toll on a body. With a new plan to get more passes out, the 49ers will have to focus on containing Michael Jenking and Roddy White at the wide receiver position.

Both these receivers are fast and lengthy. If the 49ers can hold them down, they still need to find a way to contain the Falcons’ biggest acquisition this off-season. Former Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez’s desire to be with a playoff team was enough to send him to Atlanta.

And Gonzalez’s game opens up the field. The former Cal tight end averages nearly 12 yards per reception in his career. You can imagine the assignments that the 49ers linebackers will have. Gonzalez might be the most dangerous in the red zone. His size and speed will definitely cause tough matchups for the 49ers.

On defense, the Falcons are doing some shifting. At cornerback, it looks like Von Hutchins and Chris Houston should end as the starters. But it looks like an open competition where any of the other cornerbacks (Brent Grimes, Chevis Jackson and Christpher Owens) could very easily take the starting spot.

The pressure on the 49ers quarterback will rely on the pass rush. Defensive end John Abraham has collected 26.5 sacks over the past two seasons and remains as a major threat to the 49ers’ offensive line. The Falcons also signed veteran linebacker Mike Peterson from the Jaguars. Peterson has a great nose for the ball, which might make the running game for the 49ers very tough.

The key for the 49ers to win this game will come on the hands of the passing game. With a Falcons cornerback crew that isn’t all too impressive, the 49ers have to take advantage of their passing opportunities. But if the 49ers defense cannot contain the running of Michael Turner and what looks to be a potentially more explosive passing game, the 49ers won’t be able to w