All-Football Friday! The questions facing the Falcons
Curtis Lofton in charge: The new leader of a rebuilt defense. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
From 2007, the saddest season on record, to 2008, among the happiest seasons ever: Was it really that easy? Just hire a new general manager and a new coach and sign a new tailback and draft a new quarterback and go from 4-12 to 11-5? This fall is when we find out. This fall we’ll learn if the Falcons are — borrowing a book title from the noted author Arthur M. Blank — built to last or just another one-year wonder. Other questions along that line:
• Is Matt Ryan really that good? So good he’s impervious to a sophomore jinx? So good he can make full use of all the accessories now at his disposal? Did his arm get tired near the end of last season, or did he reach the limit of his capacity?
• Will Michael Turner carry the ball fewer times with the addition of Tony Gonzalez? Will Mike Mularkey be tempted to run it less and throw it more? Given the rebuilding ongoing with the Falcons’ defense, shouldn’t the Falcons run it even more to keep their D off the field? Will Falcons ever make Jerious Norwood more than a curio?
• Will Roddy White’s contractual issues become more than a talking point? Will White gripe if he sees the ball less because Gonzalez is aboard? Will Gonzalez, as tight ends often do, become Ryan’s default receiver? Will Harry Douglas supplant Michael Jenkins as the No. 2 wideout?
• Is Sam Baker, who looked solid at left tackle before getting hurt last season, really an NFL-caliber left tackle? Is the offensive line as effective as Turner made it seem? Is Paul Boudreau, who coaches the O-line, the smartest guy on a staff laden with smart guys?
• Can John Abraham stay healthy? (Will we ever stop asking if John Abraham can stay healthy?) Who rushes the passer besides Abraham? Isn’t this the put-up or shut-up season for Jamaal Anderson? Is Chauncey Davis ready? Will rookie Lawrence Sidbury become the team’s second-best pass rusher? Can Peria Jerry fill the considerable breach left by Grady Jackson’s departure?
• Can Curtis Lofton make every tackle? Will Curtis Lofton have to make every tackle? Does Mike Peterson have anything left, or is he the new Ed Hartwell? Should the Falcons have drafted a linebacker higher than in Round 6?
Loading ...• Is second-year man Chevis Jackson a starting cornerback? Is rookie William Moore a starting safety? Is Von Hutchins, injured last season, more than a nickel back? Will Thomas Dimitroff again need to find defensive patches during training camp, as happened last season with Domonique Foxworth and Jamaal Fudge last season? Of the five defensive starters who left, will Foxworth be missed most?
• Is Mike Smith the next great NFL coach? Was his just a case of beginner’s luck? Didn’t Jim Mora also look savvy for a year? Will Smitty find it tougher to manage higher expectations? Will he be able to right his team if it doesn’t get off to a flying start?
• Will the toughened schedule undo the Falcons? Won’t it be rather different not playing Detroit in Week 1 and Kansas City in Week 3 this time? Given the team’s heightened profile, won’t every loss be magnified in a way that no loss in 2008 was?
• The question of questions: After 43 years in business, is this franchise finally going to post consecutive winning seasons?
Bradley says: The Falcons will go 10-6 — yes, that would constitute a second consecutive winning season — and win the NFC South.
(For your reading pleasure — or perhaps displeasure — the other two installments of my All-Football Friday are available online. Here are the questions facing Georgia Tech, and here are those facing Georgia.)
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180 comments Add your comment
Alex H.
July 24th, 2009
2:44 pm
I like Mark’s predictions. Abraham must stay healthy. I think Lawrence Sidbury is going to be the next great Falcons DE.
wxwax
July 24th, 2009
2:45 pm
Story tips
‘Scuse me, pardon me, socccer crowd coming through
Visiting Premier League glamor boys Chelsea come to the United States to play friendlies, meaningless pre-season games. In Seattle, they sold out Safeco, 64,000 people. In Los Angeles, they and Inter Milan drew 81,000 people. In Baltimore tonight, the game is sold out. Who says the US isn’t soccer-friendly? Is this an aberration, or a sign that under the right circumstances Americans actually *gasp* enjoy soccer?
A Rose by any other name would stink as foul.
The vast majority of college football fans want a playoff. The vast majority of college football players want a playoff. Even some conference commissioners want a playoff. So why isn’t there a playoff? Money, of course. And who’s the grittiest defenders of the status quo? Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany.. Why? Because of the Rose Bowl. Why hasn’t anyone made a big deal out of the fact that the Rose Bowl is the single biggest obstacle to a playoff? Why haven’t they been portrayed as the heavy in the ongoing game of money muscle that’s determining the future of college football?
Matty ICE
July 24th, 2009
2:46 pm
first
hwy, wxwax...
July 24th, 2009
2:53 pm
…they have made a big deal of the Rose Bowl keeping the whole system down – under what rock have you been living? And, what’s that got to do with the topic at hand?
BigTimeTECHFan
July 24th, 2009
2:57 pm
Ryan will be steady QB
TG will help but Turner will be MVP type player because TG opens up field a lot.
White very good, Jenkins will step up.
but
DB / DL / LB – who knows, to many questions
If good Falcons 11-4
If Bad Falcons 8-8
BigTimeTECHFan
July 24th, 2009
2:57 pm
correction 12-4
DawgFan
July 24th, 2009
2:58 pm
One of the most difficult schedules in the NFL will surely bring the Falcons down a bit. I think 10-6 is very realistic. The most important thing will be keeping the carries limited on Michael Turner. We don’t want the Burner burning out in late October. So long as Mike Smith is judicious with the play calling, and MattyIce avoid the sophomore slump, you should see a 10-win season.
Marcus
July 24th, 2009
3:01 pm
question overload. My eyes were spinning just reading the blog.
FreeMikeVick
July 24th, 2009
3:01 pm
Falcons fail this year with Ryan at QB. He was a fluke that got help form the NFL in an effort to make Falcons fans forget about the injustice served to Vick.
mountain_jim
July 24th, 2009
3:04 pm
Key to making it to 10-6 is no injuries to Ryan and Turner and few injuries on the OL, where depth is extremely thin.
wxwax
July 24th, 2009
3:05 pm
Jim Devany gets his share of criticism. And the Rose Bowl may be cited as an example of a sacrosanct bowl. But I can’t say I’ve ever seen it criticized for its activism in stymieing a playoff.
uga_b
July 24th, 2009
3:05 pm
Answers Facing the Falcons:
Loaded at offensive skill positions. LOADED. Think about this, you have possibly the best TE and FB in the NFL, a Top 5 RB, a Top 5 QB, a Top 5 WR, and potential Top 5 Number 3 WR in Harry Douglas. Pair that with a solid number 2 WR with good speed and you may have the most talent of any team in the league. Oh, and Norwood is lightning fast.
Culture. The Falcons have done a great job of creating a winning atmosphere where people want to come to work. This attracts not only Free Agents, but has let us keep people in house.
The NFL Draft. You draft the best DT and possibly the best Safety in the draft and are still able to fill needs and get a potential super star rush end, you have done well.
Coaching Staff. Look at their resumes. 2 guys with headcoaching experience and another Van Gorder who may get a look one day. Every year we keep these guys together is a blessing.
Defensive Speed and “Meanness”. Not sure meanness is a word, but I think these dudes are going to be mean. The overall speed on this team is much better, hopefully giving us a chance to run more stuff down and cause some turnovers.
Kicking Game. Best Punter in the league. One of the best field goal kickers of all time.
Whats not to like?
Powder Springs Jacket
July 24th, 2009
3:06 pm
I’m surprised Sonny Clusters didn’t go to school with Matt Ryan.
uga_b
July 24th, 2009
3:07 pm
RE: Matt Ryan; The kid was making his 4th read as a ROOKIE. Mike Vick wasn’t making his 2nd read as a 5-year Pro Bowl veteran.
Kenneth Klosowski
July 24th, 2009
3:08 pm
We’ll if they go all the way to the Super Bowl, they’ll properly face the Pittsburgh Steelers and dethrone them.
CamaroDave
July 24th, 2009
3:08 pm
HEY BRADY HOW COME U NEVER TLAK ABOUT DA DAWGS? I THING U R A HATER
bigeasy830
July 24th, 2009
3:09 pm
Matt Ryan’s performance in the last 4 regular season games and the play-offs is the type of performance you will see all season this season. Those last 4 regular season games plus the play-off game he threw 5 TDs and 7 INTs and his passer rating plummeted. His arm did not get tired, his armstrength was never that good, early in the season the opposing defenses blitz him alot leaving wide recievers wide open, but in the last 3 games the defenses played back and just cover the WRs. The window that Matt Ryan had to throw the ball in shrinked and he did not have the armstrngth to get the ball in that tight space. Lastly, Matt Ryan’s performance in Dec was just horrible. The Falcons won those games in December and made it to the play-off because of Michael Turner and in spite of Matt Ryan. Falcons record for 2009 4-12.
Falcons 4-12 in 2009
“Back To Life, Back To Reality”
JB
July 24th, 2009
3:09 pm
Here mike, here’s 80 million dollars, enjoy the best America has offer………no, I think I’ll go kill dogs and hang with my homies……………..people make their own decisions and live by them. He got off light.
JB
July 24th, 2009
3:10 pm
bigeasy……you are so wrong………..
Robert Barron
July 24th, 2009
3:12 pm
Why do the Falcons play so many team this year after their opponent’s week off.
Conspiracy anyone?
Robert Barron
July 24th, 2009
3:13 pm
Most of us wish Mike Vick well but want to move on.
FreeMikeVick
July 24th, 2009
3:14 pm
Bigeasy is right. The NFL secretly helped Ryan accell with the Falcons just to make Vick look even worse so they could justify turning their backs on him. Blank was behind this and with his money, he had no problems paying off the NFL. Now that last year is over, don’t expect Ryan to do anything but cry like the wittle baby he is!
Robert Barron
July 24th, 2009
3:15 pm
Big easy, spoken like a true Saints’ fan but u got your numbers backwards.
Robert Barron
July 24th, 2009
3:16 pm
And I thought my conspircay was a little nutty.
Cameron
July 24th, 2009
3:17 pm
More questions, still no answers.
NCFalconFan
July 24th, 2009
3:19 pm
I just hope you are right Bradley!!!….
Jfreak
July 24th, 2009
3:20 pm
I think this team is built for the long haul. I seem them being a consistant winner for many years to come for one reason. They are a team! They have good parts that work together. Ryan is a question mark to some degree because we have all seen players fall off in their second year, but I’d guess he will continue to improve because there are good players around him. 10 – 6 seems reasonable and maybe a little better if we get a little lucky.
Good owner, Good coach, Good qb, Good rb, Good wr, Good te …. Defesne well that’s the million dollar question??
Robert Barron
July 24th, 2009
3:21 pm
Maybe MB is worn out blogging with the two arch rivals rabid fans.
Jfreak
July 24th, 2009
3:22 pm
FREEMIKEVICK, are you really that stupid or just full of hate? By the way Vick is free in case you haven’t noticed?? Idiot!
Robert Barron
July 24th, 2009
3:22 pm
The offense will be better but I’m worried the defense will be worse.
Robert Barron
July 24th, 2009
3:24 pm
Peta, by the way, objected to Obama killing the fly. You really have to wonder about folks that extreme.
Mac
July 24th, 2009
3:26 pm
You nailed it MB. Is Jerry going to be a holdout?
FreeMikeVick
July 24th, 2009
3:26 pm
Hate? I was not the one to put an innocent man in jail.
Robert Barron
July 24th, 2009
3:26 pm
I am wondering if TD didn’t clean house just a bit too much with the defense.
Mark Bradley
July 24th, 2009
3:27 pm
The defense, I’m guessing, will be worse at the start but better at the end. Which is the way you’d want it, I’d imagine.
bigeasy830
July 24th, 2009
3:27 pm
Robert Barron, I am not a Saints fan. I was born and raised in South GA. I use to be a Falcons fan, but have always been partial to the Steelers since they were the dominant team back when I first feel in love with football. But, I do believe that the Saints will give Carolina a run for their money in the South this year. If Greg Williams can influence that defense and the Saints D rank 14 or 15 out of 32 teams, then the Saints will win the South. The Falcons are “done son”, stick a fork in them. Monty Kiffin exposed Matt Ryan in the last Tampa Game. This is a copy cat league, after that the rest of the teams did the same. Matt Ryan needed to spend time improving his armstrength, watching film can’t help him improve that, and that is his weakness. Matt Ryan will play and be a bust like Danny Wuerffel if he did not improve that armstrength.
Sapan A.
July 24th, 2009
3:29 pm
Totally agree with uga_b….Falcon’s offense is LOADED!! But their defense is suspect. If they can find a way to step up….it should be a great season!! In any scenario I think Falcons have enough talent to win AT LEAST 9 games…..
Mac
July 24th, 2009
3:30 pm
By the way, I think quarterback Matt “Red” Ryan will not suffer a sophomore slump.
bigeasy830
July 24th, 2009
3:32 pm
I am glad you all are bringing up the Falcons defense. their biggest mistake was not paying Foxworth. he was a steal for the Ravens for 5 or 6 mil. Foxworth was close to being a shut down corner for you all. What are you all dependeing on Grimes or Houston to step up. I doubt if they can, both was burned like toast during last season.
Falcons 4-12 in 2009
“Back To Life, Back To Reality”
ATL. FALCON 101
July 24th, 2009
3:32 pm
First, get off of Vick”s jock. Second, he is no longer a Falcon and will never be back. Third, if you guys think the Falcons are going to be 4-12 then let me tell you they have free rehab for that kind of a problem. Falcons 11-5.
Robert Barron
July 24th, 2009
3:34 pm
Big easy, if the Falcons were stayed the same, you might be right. Gonzo might be just the extra weapon Matt needs.
Robert Barron
July 24th, 2009
3:36 pm
Big easy. You were a Falcons fan first? Sure sounds like a nasty divorce.
Sheriff Lobo
July 24th, 2009
3:36 pm
QUESTION # 6 FACING THE FALCONS:
How many players can stay out of jail this season?
dawes
July 24th, 2009
3:37 pm
the falcons will go 14 and 2 and win the nfc south and the super bowl
bigeasy830
July 24th, 2009
3:37 pm
You need your WR to have 96 catches not the TE. Gonzo as you called him had a great season for a 4-12 team last year. If he has over 80 catches this year, he will have a great season for a 4-12 team this year as well.
Falcons 4-12 in 2009
“Back To Life, Back To Reality”
DawgFan
July 24th, 2009
3:38 pm
“The NFL secretly helped Ryan accell(sic) with the Falcons just to make Vick look even worse so they could justify turning their backs on him. Blank was behind this and with his money, he had no problems paying off the NFL. Now that last year is over, don’t expect Ryan to do anything but cry like the wittle baby he is!”
Right. Just like they planeted evidence at Vick’s home to get him into even more trouble. Because we all know that the NFL hates it when people make money for them. Michael Vick actually got less than he deserved. Anyone who forces dogs to fight each other should be thrown to those very same dogs.
Robert Barron
July 24th, 2009
3:38 pm
Sherriff Lobo, these ain’t the Bengals.
uga_b
July 24th, 2009
3:40 pm
Speaking of reality, is there really a Saints fan acting knowledgeable about winning? 8-8! We are great!
NCFalconFan
July 24th, 2009
3:40 pm
BIGEASY830, you have no idea what you are talking about……As fas as Foxworth it was not the money. He grew up in Baltimore and played college ball in Maryland. He wanted to be in Baltimore (look it up). I would rather have accuracy over arm strenght any day. I don’t care how big Favre’s arm, I am confident to say that he wish he could take back half of those 22 INT’s he threw last year, which lead the league.
Robert Barron
July 24th, 2009
3:41 pm
You’re a broken record dude. How about we talk midseason and see who has it right.
Nostradamus
July 24th, 2009
3:41 pm
I predict that Michael Vick will sign with San Francisco where he can have his formal & official “Coming Out” party.
While he is there, he might even perform well on the football field to get everyone to notice, too.
chixluvthebraves2
July 24th, 2009
3:42 pm
Why do people come on boards just to say stuff that dont even make sense with the obvious intention of saying something negative just to try and get a reaction? but i digress……
what i have a problem with is reading columnist and local sports guys asking if Roddy is going to cause a problem regarding his contract. Why do you guys bring up something that has never remotely been an issue with a player? Roddy has never been anything but professional and (to my knowledge) has given no indication of ever being a problem. Just to randomly wonder something with no basis makes no sense.
Do you wonder if Turner will complain if he gets less touches? Why throw Roddy out there like that just to see if it sticks?
bigeasy830
July 24th, 2009
3:45 pm
NCFalconfan
You must have forgotten that Favre had arm problems at the end of last season, but anyway, Favre has seen his best days and I bet you he do not regret winning that Super Bowl even though he is the NFL all time leader in INTs. Favre INTs are due to him taking risk. Matt Ryan INTs are due to him throwing weak passes that flutter. Stiil who wiil play CB for the team.
Falcons 4-12 in 2009
“Back To Life, Back To Reality”
Greg
July 24th, 2009
3:45 pm
Mark, I can’t think of an important Falcon question you don’t ask here. One answer pops out: please remember that Ryan wasn’t the quarterback in the last third of the season that he was in the first two-thirds. He made more mistakes, and missed more throws. Let’s temper our expectations a bit, and be pleasantly surprised.
uga_b
July 24th, 2009
3:47 pm
Contract disputes are a risk even among the nicest, classiest, professional players. It’s not specific to Roddy White the person.
Robert Barron
July 24th, 2009
3:49 pm
Chix, if MB didn’t irritate us, the blog would not keep going for long.
Buster Hymen
July 24th, 2009
3:49 pm
Will the first Falcons player arrested this year after training camp starts be charged with?
A.) Domestic Abuse
B.) DUI
C.) Murder
D.) Illegally Possessing a Firearm
E.) Physical Violating a Caucasian Female
F.) Bashing His Pregnant Girlfriend’s Head Into a Mailbox
G.) Running an Illegal Interstate Gambling Operation
Chargehim40
July 24th, 2009
3:51 pm
The Falcons just need to avoid being the 2008 Jaguars, just pray SI doesn’t have Super Bowl predictions for ATL
10-6 seems right on the money
Robert Barron
July 24th, 2009
3:54 pm
Buster why do you have such a negative take on the Falcons?
The Bengals maybe but this is a better group character-wise than the Falcons have ever had.
Robert Barron
July 24th, 2009
3:56 pm
I don’t think we’ll need to pray concerning that; maybe during the games but not about predictions to the superbowl.
FlyHigh
July 24th, 2009
3:57 pm
BigSleasy, based on your logic of Tampa “exposing” Matt Ryan, Drew Brees threw 3 picks in Nov game against Tampa so I guess then he is even worse than the pitiful Matt Ryan and New Orleans will be 3-13. Any rookie quarterback that wins 11 games, regardless of how good his running game was, did not get “exposed” by anyone. Maybe Ryan doesn’t ever win the MVP, but based on his rookie season plus those in the game that know good quarterbacks, he is good enough to win big in this league. This year will be immensely tougher schedule, so a 9-7 Wildcard team will still be worthy of praise, but I suspect it will be better than that even. And for heaven’s sake can you people not give up the sorry Mike Vick crusade. I understand it might be a racial issue for some, but in the end the guy pleaded guilty to a federal crime and served time for it. I realize this is probably some big joke to get a response about Blank paying the NFL so we could win, if it were true then I applaud his efforts to win at all costs and if you are a Falcons fan and not just a Mike Vick fan then you would also. I can say this, I personally loved Mike Vick when he was here and winning. I hope he gets 2nd chance and he certainly will, but you just make yourself look narrow-minded by continuing to blame the Falcons/NFL for framing one of their best-selling stars into a federal prison sentence. Yea that makes a lot of sense. Wonder why they didn’t also do that to Warren Moon, Doug Williams, Donovan McNabb…. since they are obviously racists.
rebar
July 24th, 2009
3:58 pm
Mark, don’t you think Ryan’s slight decline toward the end of the season could have been due to the fact that he also had to endure the rigors of the Combine and individual workouts in addition to mini camps, training camp, and regular season? The first two have been eliminated, so that drain won’t be a part of the equation. He’ll be even better this year.
Benjamin
July 24th, 2009
3:58 pm
I think I’d offer something in the 9-7/10-6 realm myself. My biggest concerns are all defense — linebacker and the secondary, primarily, but I think we’ve got the best offense in the NFL. It may require some shootouts, but I think we’ve got enough firepower to win more of those than we lose.
Here’s hoping for a season of health from Ryan. (Remember how high we all were on them the year after we went to the NFC Championship vs. the Eagles…)
Robert Barron
July 24th, 2009
3:59 pm
Pretty good Fly though a bit long.
Robert Barron
July 24th, 2009
4:01 pm
Could be Rebar. I don’t see the big deal about Matty’s decline since they kept winning.
Mark Bradley
July 24th, 2009
4:02 pm
I think Matt Ryan will be just fine. But the question needed to be asked. (Or so I thought.)
FlyHigh
July 24th, 2009
4:02 pm
RB, sorry for the encyclopedia. Its Friday and I’d rather talk Falcons than work!
So here’s this, will we sign any more OL for depth now that we lost one?
Robert Barron
July 24th, 2009
4:02 pm
Maybe I’m covered for Mark while he takes a restroom break. Or maybe after a week of blogging, he’s blogged out and ready for the weekend.
chixluvthebraves2
July 24th, 2009
4:03 pm
Quit responding to the obvious trolls and they will stop trolling……………..
I agree that Ryan will be stronger this year. I dont think as a rookie you have any idea exactly what it takes to maintain your conditioning for a full NFL season. Now he knows and I say it will not be an issue this year.
Robert Barron
July 24th, 2009
4:04 pm
All the questions needed to be asked on a blog; otherwise most of us wouldn’t get going on something or another.
Robert Barron
July 24th, 2009
4:04 pm
Enter your comments here
Robert Barron
July 24th, 2009
4:06 pm
By the way Mark, have a good weekend. You do have the weekend off, don’t you or is it a 7 day a week job?
GoTech610
July 24th, 2009
4:08 pm
Last year it was the same song and dance. ‘Matt Ryan’s arm strength is no good.” “He is a bust”. Blah, blah, blah. Then when mid season came around this BIG EASY guy was no where to be found.
Although, I wonder if it’s because several announcer’s at the games Matt Ryan was at, said after a 60 yard strike, “Man for a rookie look at the arm strength”. Dude forget it. It take arm strength to weasel it in between 3 Eagle defenders to hit Roddy in the endzone cutting across the field. It takes arm strength to throw across your body. No rational, knowledgeable person around football questioned Matt Ryan’s arm strength last year.
His rookie of the year award also says a little bit, don’t you think?
CORRECT!!
July 24th, 2009
4:12 pm
Bigeasy830…..Man you make alot of dumb people proud every time you type something.
For a while now I thought by your blog name (bigEASY830) you where a street walker living in New Orleans. Now I’ve come to realize you are really a 12 year old with braces thinking how cool you are by typing obvious stupidity on an AJC web site. Go eat your go-gurt and play with your transformers. Shame on you little kid!!!
Peion Deion
July 24th, 2009
4:13 pm
Let me state what all REAL Falcon fans are thinking, Thank God the MV7 Circus Show is not playing in this town anymore, we now have a REAL QB & Coach & none of the BS, we can just play ball & concentrate on winning, Thanks MV
Robert Barron
July 24th, 2009
4:14 pm
Mark what were your scores for fans agreeing with you today. I see your Falcon score was 64%.
Still my Falcons
July 24th, 2009
4:14 pm
12-4
4-12
No matter what…still my Falcons
hustler71
July 24th, 2009
4:17 pm
Matt Ryan’s arm is not the strongest in the league but I would argue he is among the best with accuracy. Cut the man some slack after all this was his rookie season. All the man did was put up some very respectable numbers during his rookie campaign and he displayed leadership that I have never seen at such a young age. Big Ben did the exact same thing if you can recall during his first season but I guess you called Big Ben out on that one to. Bigeasy I’m sure they are missing you over on the Steeler’s fair weather fans message boards so please take that garbage to the curb.
CORRECT!!
July 24th, 2009
4:18 pm
Mark Bradley…..Vick told me you where and still are “really good.”
midnite
July 24th, 2009
4:21 pm
Why do the Vick lovers hate Matt Ryan, Arthur Blank, and the Falcons? Mike Vick is the only fool, he sealed his own fate. You Vick lovers are showing your true colors.
Robert Barron
July 24th, 2009
4:22 pm
Mark’s other in agreement scores were just 18% for the Dogs and 48% for the Jackets. Mark’s problem is if he goes easy on a team, he’s a homer. If he gets tough, then the fans call him a hater.
Mark Bradley
July 24th, 2009
4:23 pm
Robert, it’s nice to know you’re monitoring my whereabouts. But I had to drive into the office for the first in a series of high-level meetings.
Although no meeting can be deemed high-level if I’m involved.
Mark Bradley
July 24th, 2009
4:25 pm
Those poll numbers aren’t surprising, really. When you pick a team to do well, its fans tend to think you’re a genius. When you don’t, they tend to think otherwise.
And, as we know, I ain’t no genius no matter what I pick.
Robert Barron
July 24th, 2009
4:25 pm
Just trying to help out.
Robert Barron
July 24th, 2009
4:26 pm
I thought these, given the questionmarks, would among your better predictions.
David
July 24th, 2009
4:26 pm
UGA_B… I like your optimism, though your name reflects your knowledge of football. Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, Peyton Manning, Kurt Warner, and Donnovan McNabb are all better than Ryan right now. So that eliminatees him as a Top 5 quarterback. I like Matt Ryan as much as anybody, but to lump a guy into a top 5 category because of one year is a stretch.
Read above about Michael Turner. He seems like he’ll be fine. But will last year’s work load hinder him at all? Will the O-line hold up as well as it did last year, with seemingly no talent but still able to provide results?
BJ Raji was the best DT in the draft. It’s why he was the first taken. I’m not saying he’ll turn out better, but if you could trade Jerry for Raji right now, the Falcons would.
William Moore is said to be an athetic freak. He’s also said to be very mindless at times, often blowing assignments. Jimmy Williams, you’ll remember, was a guy that had the body of an NFL safety. He’s now out of a job.
Coaching staff… if I do what you tell me and look at their resumes, there isn’t much there. Not for the GM, not the head coach, not the D-coordinator. Mularkey has a history of success. Outside of that, we’re basing this on one year. Right now we say Mike Smith is one of the best coaches in football — how much does your opinion change if he finishes 6-10 this year and Ryan has a sophomore slump? I’m with Bradley on this — we all at one time thought Jim Mora was a great find.
All in all, I hope you’re right. But I think you’re probably a bit overly optimistic with this whole thing. I’ve looked at the schedule and think the Falcons can finish 10-6. But if they finished 8-8 — there’s quite a few tough games on there — I’d be disappointed, but not shocked.
Let’s go, Falcons. Kill that 43 year-old curse, finish with a winning record, and make a run in the playoffs.
Keep in mind: We’re still young, minus a couple of main players (TG and JA).
Whopper Dawg
July 24th, 2009
4:27 pm
- Ryan is that good
- They will run less
- TG will fit in fine, wins cure all
- Baker will be fine
- Corner back is a guess
- Abraham’s health is a guess
- Put up or shut up time is here for Anderson
- Smith is really good, his performance is based on logic vs rah/rah of Mora
10 – 6 is about right.
Robert Barron
July 24th, 2009
4:32 pm
Tell the AJC not to cut the Sports page anymore. Without it, many of us wouldn’t pay.
Lance
July 24th, 2009
4:36 pm
bigeasy, you are a wishful thinker if i’ve ever seen one. for anyone to sit there and act like Matt Ryan went “Ryan Leaf” at the end of the season is ridiculous. I don’t know if you are a Saints fan or not, but for you to defy logic like that and then act like you don’t have an anti-Falcon bias is absolutely hilarious.
let me introduce you a little thing i like to call “statistics”…first off, the Falcons won 3 of those final 4 games, and the one in which they lost, Ryan threw for 315 yards, his highest single game yardage of the season. second, his season QB rating was 72.8, and the average of his final 4 games, his rating was 72.9. so statistically speaking, his production didn’t dip at the end of the year…it actually went up barely. all you are doing is pointing to a couple of statistics while ignoring a larger picture. in terms of the things that matter most in a QB – QB rating and leading the time to wins – you have no argument.
bottom line is, if our QB playing “average” gives us wins 75% of the time, why would I not feel fantastic about that?? oh, and by the way, this was his ROOKIE YEAR, meaning he’d never played more than an 11 or 12 game season. as he adapts to the rigors of an NFL season and gets smarter and more experienced, this will only get better.
there is a reason everyone in the NFL, including unbiased analysts and commentators, are so high on this kid. is it possible he could be a bust? yeah, anything is possible. but you have to point to what you “hope” happens and not what has actually happened if you want to make that argument, because the 2008 season points nowhere but up for Mr. Ryan.
rainman
July 24th, 2009
4:38 pm
Mark, you’re pretty right-on with your questions.
With Abe, JA98, Davis, Sidbury, and Biermann – I think the DE position will be a strength. The DT rotation could be much improved if Lewis, and maybe Walker, show they can be good additions to Babs and Jerry.
We’ll see how TC goes, but I wouldn’t be suprised if TD has his eye out for a quality OLB, CB, or O-lineman if one were to become available.
Unless TBrown, or someone else, can show they are that much better — I
think Norwood should continue to return KO’s and Douglas the PR’s. These are potential big plays throughout the game that the Falcons need to capitalize on.
Robert Barron
July 24th, 2009
4:39 pm
Cards picked up Holiday and 1.5 mil for three prospects, to get off topic.
That’s a deal Wren couldn’t make after JS took that gamble with Teixiera and lost.
Jt
July 24th, 2009
4:41 pm
Mark. He is the REAL DEAL! He obviously has talent. But here is what he also posseses: (1) A strong work ethic (2) A desire to get better (3) he is smart (cannot be overstated) (3) a commitment to excellence (4) a realization that he is the face of a franchise and takes it seriously. There will be NO sophmore jinx- if defenses make adjustments, he will be ahead of the curve. I know that I am a homer (lifelong Falcons fan) but I would take Ryan over ANY qb in the league(ANY- based upon age and learning potential)
David
July 24th, 2009
4:45 pm
Robert,
That deal should seal the World Series for the Phils (the Red Sox might be able to take them — I still like the Rays hitting a second half surge). That said, it’s baseball, so who cares? Come World Series time, college and Pro will have arrived, and USC vs. Arizona State takes precedence over a Game 6 of the World Series (and I even hate the Pac10)
Lance
July 24th, 2009
4:48 pm
Bigeasy, you are hilarious. I don’t know if you are a Saints fan or not, but for you to defy logic the way you did in the above posts and then pretend you don’t have an anti-Falcon bias is amazing.
Let me introduce you to a little thing I call “statistics”. In the final 4 games of the season, Ryan’s so called “slump”, he won 3 of 4 games. In the one game he lost, he threw for 315 yards, his highest single game passing yardage of the season. His season passer rating was 72.8… over the final 4 games, his passer rating was 72.9. His production not only didn’t dip, it actually went UP slightly. All you are doing is pointing to a couple of select statistics and judging Ryan based on those. But when you look at the big picture, your argument falls apart. In terms of the things people most want desire of their QB – leading the team to wins and good QB ratings – Ryan didn’t have an “end of season” crash.
If my QB is playing “average” and leading his team to wins 75% of the time, then why exactly would I feel bad about that? Oh, and by the way, he’s a rookie who had never played in more than 11 or 12 games in a season. As he adapts to the rigors of the NFL and gets smarter and more experienced, his production will only go up. Is it possible he’ll be a bust? Sure, it’s possible. But if you are going to make that argument, you have to rely on what you “hope” happens, not on what has actually happened, because the 2008 season points nowhere but up for Mr. Ryan. There is a reason the entire league and it’s unbiased analysts and commentators were freaking out over this kid last year, and it’s because everyone sees the same thing in him that you don’t want to believe is there.
DK
July 24th, 2009
4:59 pm
Yes the Falcons have a tough schedule, but I believe they have the best offense in the NFL; you don’t worry about the other team when you’re better than them. The defense is of course the question, but I have more confidence in this coaching staff than I’ve ever had in any previous Falcons coaching staff (sorry Dan – Reeves, not Henning). My biggest concern is the injury bug. If we can keep that bug away we’ll be in the big game this year.
Facts
July 24th, 2009
5:00 pm
I see the Mike Vick supporters are still by far the most stupid people out there. Man, when will those pathetic low life losers let it go and move on?
CORRECT!!
July 24th, 2009
5:01 pm
Lance…..you ’bout brought me to tears. That was beautiful.
Jarvis
July 24th, 2009
5:08 pm
I’m an undying Turk Schonert fan. The franchise never respected his skills, and they will rue the day they cast him off.
Bigeasy830
July 24th, 2009
5:11 pm
One blogger pu it perfectly, “Let’s talk at midseason”. After Brees threw those 3 INTs against Tampa He went on to thorw 10 TDs and 3 INTs in his last 4 games. He also threw for 3 INTs in that first game against the Falcons and none in that second meeting, my point is there was no trend of Brees decline after his 3 INT performance against tampa, but Matt Ryan tanked. Marl Bradley you asked the question “Is Matt Ryan that good?” Now the Matt ryan fan club believe that he is, whoopie for him and them. i on the other hand think he is not. I think he will suck in 2009, not taking anything away from the Falcons accomplishments in 2008. But the NFC as a whole was not very good but luckey to have a very weak schedule, I repeat the entire NFC South. I believe that Carolina is still the most complete team in the NFC South and that New Orleans may be a surprise, but Tampa will suck and the falcons and Matt Ryan”s luck have run out. But as they say, “That’s why they play the games”. And We will not have to wait until midseason to see how bad the falcons are they will suck from the beginning of the season.
Falcons 4-12 in 2009
“Back To Life, Back To Reality”
Lance
July 24th, 2009
5:12 pm
one more point here – everyone keeps saying “yeah, but remember, we thought Mora and the Vick era Falcons were great too, and we see how that turned out”.
there is one MASSIVE difference everyone is overlooking, which is that the Vick era Falcons operated on quite possible the worst football philosophy imaginable, which was “build your entire team around a single player and hope he doesn’t get hurt”. there was no team philosophy, no competent GM, and no real “plan”. it was like they accidentally stumbled upon this unique talent called Michael Vick and tried to patch a team together around him.
the current Falcons organization is completely different. they are implementing a proven strategy that has worked for other teams, they have players in positions that can do their traditional jobs well (like a QB who can throw), they look at the entire team instead of one player, and they are being run by some incredibly gifted football minds.
that doesn’t mean they are going to go 14-2 this year, but it does mean that you can feel very good they are headed in the right direction and are in capable hands.