Lofton on the Falcons’ D: “We’ve upgraded at every position”
OK, so this wasn't the defense's finest hour. It'll get better soon enough. (Detroit News photo)
Flowery Branch — The first question to Curtis Lofton: Should Falcons fans be worried about this defense?
Let the record reflect that his one-word answer is prefaced by a one-beat pause and a glare that could shatter plate glass. The one-word answer: “No.”
Curtis Lofton is the new leader of a remade defense. To be kind, there were moments in Detroit on Saturday when the D appeared less than fully formed. The Falcons yielded 454 yards against a team that finished 0-for-2008. Lofton’s take: “I’ve never seen a preseason game that counted.”
And that would, under different circumstances, be the operative reaction. To shrug. To say, “Hey, it’s preseason.” But when you’ve changed starters at five positions, shrugging comes a bit harder.
Thomas Dimitroff, architect of this reconfiguration, actually does shrug when asked about the exhibition opener. And then the general manager says: “We gave up 128 yards in the first half. Our subs were kind of running around after that.”
The Falcons will not be as good defensively in Week 1 of the regular season as they figure to be in Week 12. Dimitroff: “With time and reps, we’ll get to the point where we’re in lockstep. That just comes with being together longer.”
Lofton: “As a defense, you always want to peak at the end. You don’t want to peak in the first game.”
That won’t happen. That shouldn’t happen. But the schedule is so front-loaded — first three opponents: Miami, Carolina, New England — that a defense still finding its feet might well be knocked off its feet. But the Falcons knew that going in. Dimitroff and Mike Smith did their clearance on aging guys with 2009 in mind, yes, but also with 2010 and beyond.
As the Falcons exited Phoenix after their playoff loss, Dimitroff had one word in mind. “Urgency,” he says now. (Indeed, “urgency” is to 2009 as “process” was to 2008 in Falconville.) “We want opportunistic players who are going to fall on the football when it rolls out.”
Lofton recalls having an even more specific thought. “The No. 1 thing we needed to upgrade?” he says. “The pass rush. [Rookie Lawrence] Sidbury is going to help. [Rookie Peria] Jerry is going to help.”
The aim was to get faster across the board. Has that happened? “We’ve definitely gotten faster,” Lofton says. “Mike Peterson is more athletic and faster than our linebackers [Keith Brooking and Michael Boley] last year. Our defensive tackles are faster. We’ve upgraded at every position.”
Dimitroff: “Even in the dog days of August and training camp, these guys are showing that urgency.”
Cohesion will take a bit longer. But that’s to be expected. This is still — buzzword alert! — a process. This defense didn’t finish 24th among 32 NFL teams in 2008 by being a finished product. It needed an overhaul. Dimitroff did the redo. And the Detroit game?
Lofton: “Everybody’s got to start somewhere.”
And it isn’t as if new guys know it all the first time out. Lofton was a rookie last season. He recalls his first preseason game in Jacksonville: “I was so nervous. I was messing up calls in the huddle. I ended up just running to the ball.”
He turned out OK. Started 15 games, was second among all rookies in tackles, is now so entrenched at middle linebacker he’s considered a cornerstone.
And if worst comes to worst, Curtis Lofton will put guys in the right spot himself. One glare should do the trick.
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90 comments Add your comment
Bama Aaron
August 18th, 2009
2:40 pm
Mark is just zipping right along on the blogs today…gonna get writer’s cramp like that!
Why does that picture...
August 18th, 2009
2:48 pm
…at the top of this blog look so familiar – oh yeah, it’s the Falcons DB running BEHIND a receiver as the receiver crosses the goal line – duh!
D Money
August 18th, 2009
2:48 pm
My worry comes if the defense looks the same on the 4th pre-season game.
Falcons Sorry (impression)
August 18th, 2009
2:55 pm
CURTIS LOFTON! YOU KNOW YOU CAN’T HANDLE ANY OF THE NFL OFFENSESE BECAUSE THAT WHITE DEVIL ARTHUR BLANK WON’T GIVE ANY MONEY TO THE REAL BACKBONE OF THE TEAM. WHEN #7 COMES TO TOWN IN DECEMBER WE GONNA SEE WHAT THE REAL FALCONS TEAM IS MA
I’m sorry – I can’t do any more.
BravesFan79
August 18th, 2009
3:00 pm
You know whats just as important on Defense as speed?? Brains and Leadership! And i just dont see how we improved in that area in the offseason. Brooking will be missed.
George C
August 18th, 2009
3:02 pm
I found something even more exciting then conjugal visit sex……..
FUGITIVE SEX!!!
gdg73
August 18th, 2009
3:04 pm
Keep in mind that the Lions were 4-0 during the pre-season last year. I’ve never seen the Super Bowl trophy being awarded in August. The defense looked ok for the first dress rehearsal. I really like Johnson at DT. He played well with the first team. Kinda reminded me of ole Rod Coleman with that penetration. By mid-season, I believe our DT rotation will be the strength of our defense, if not the team. Huge upgrade over last year in my opinion. Games are won up front. We have the makings of two soild, young lines, on both sides of the ball.
George C
August 18th, 2009
3:04 pm
It was suppose to be the summer of George.
The Grinch
August 18th, 2009
3:06 pm
The pass rush certainly couldn’t get much worse than in the Detroit game, so there’s that. Look at it half full.
George C
August 18th, 2009
3:11 pm
I’M A BOOT LEGGER!!
George C
August 18th, 2009
3:13 pm
PULP CAN MOVE BABY!
George C
August 18th, 2009
3:14 pm
This is like discovering plutonium……by accident!
George C
August 18th, 2009
3:18 pm
It’s Gore-tex!
George C
August 18th, 2009
3:23 pm
You don’t abandon someone in the middle of an airport pickup! It’s a binding social contract.
Mark Bradley
August 18th, 2009
3:35 pm
Most times they hand out the Lombardi Trophy in February. Used to be January, but you know how everything gets pushed back for TV.
GeoffDawg
August 18th, 2009
3:36 pm
Mark – top ten LBs of all time:
Lawrence Taylor
Ray Lewis
Jack Lambert
Brian Urlacher
Mike Singletary
Dick Butkus
Junior Seau
Derrick Thomas
Jack Ham
Bill Romanowski – Most intense man I’ve ever seen. Even if it was fueled by roids.
Dennis
August 18th, 2009
3:38 pm
If he thinks Grimes is an upgrade over Foxworth, then he needs to be drug tested.
I wonder how many games the Falcons will lose before they sit Grimes down.
Grimes has all the heart in the world. He’s just not a starting quality NFL CB.
Mac
August 18th, 2009
3:38 pm
Did you guys know that Mike Peterson is the brother of Adrian Peterson? Chicao Bear, Adrian Peterson, that is. Just a little trivia to brighten your day.
Mark Bradley
August 18th, 2009
3:41 pm
No Nitschke? No Sam Huff? No Tommy Nobis?
I should tell you, Geoff, that Jack Ham is about my favorite player ever.
GeoffDawg
August 18th, 2009
3:46 pm
What can I say? I’m a generation X’er. Tommy Nobis is the local favorite but top ten all time? If I was old enough to see them all play in person, maybe my list would be different.
uga_b
August 18th, 2009
3:47 pm
Mark, I have not been able to read your Krystal story all day. Could you have someone fix that blog? I am sure it nothing revolutionary but it will occupy me at work for a few minutes. Plus, I am hoping it has to do with what my friends and I term “the Krystal hangover” which is how you feel the next day. It is on par with the cheap champagne and tobacco hangover. Or so I have been told.
uga_b
August 18th, 2009
3:48 pm
I think you need Derrick Brooks in there as well. Ballhawker.
Mark Bradley
August 18th, 2009
3:50 pm
I will, Uga B. Thanks for letting me know. And I should tell you it’s a flaw in Wordpress — that’s the blog template we use — that sometimes fails to display the post in Internet Explorer. (I use Firefox, so I’m the last to know.)
1eyedJack
August 18th, 2009
3:51 pm
Nitschke definitely was one of the ugliest. Ever see that smile?
Mark Bradley
August 18th, 2009
3:58 pm
Butkus, Nobis and Nitschke were considered the class of ’60s NFL linebackers. (Although Willie Lanier and Bobby Bell of Kansas City in the old AFL were pretty darn good.)
And Nitschke’s smile was indeed evil. But he had a very pleasant voice. (Really.)
observor
August 18th, 2009
4:09 pm
Bradley, Krystal is nothing but a knock off and cheap imitation of White Castle. Krystal isn’t even in the same ball park as White Castle. I can definitely destroy some white castles. I may have to drive up to Nashville now just to satisfy that fix.
uga_b
August 18th, 2009
4:12 pm
Mark, I hate to give you new blog ideas, but how about Mark Bradley’s Keys to the FILL IN THE BLANK. It can’t be worse then football keys to the game during the broadcasts, which I can recreate here: Score more than 19 points; Allow less than 17 points; win the turnover battle; control the line of scrimmage; cut down on big plays; and convert 3rd downs. My assumption is you could have a ready-to-go copy and paste blog.
Hillbilly Deluxe
August 18th, 2009
4:25 pm
Butkus, Nobis and Nitschke were considered the class of ’60s NFL linebackers. (Although Willie Lanier and Bobby Bell of Kansas City in the old AFL were pretty darn good.)
Butkus played on some bad teams and Nobis played on some pretty horrid teams. Nitschke stood out on a Green Bay defense that had several Hall of Famers on it. Lanier and Bell were top of the line too.
There were some truly great players in the NFL before the 80’s but so many now never got to see them play. And the game was different then. How many younger people know now that there was no 5 yard contact rule then? If a receiver was running a route and the ball wasn’t in the air he was fair game. Then there were the clotheslines and head slaps (signature move of Deacon Jones). Offensive lineman couldn’t use their hands. Things have really changed.
Gravy Train
August 18th, 2009
4:28 pm
Where are all of the haters wanting to run BVG out on a rail for the 24th rated defense in the league last year? No to mention allowing the worst franchise in the NFL to make his calls look silly? Is it that pro fans are more in tune with a footbal IQ?
Why does Coach Martinez not get the same treatment? Because as DC in Athens, Willy didn’t have the benefit of riding the coat tails of Pollack and Co. BVG had the luxury of trotting a plethora [sic?] of future NFL starters. Not to mention the fact that media wise BVG seems to be coated in teflon. It doesn’t matter that he lied to everyone in Bulldog Nation when he said he had no interest in head coaching or being anywhere but UGA.
Woz
August 18th, 2009
4:39 pm
Krystal is a cheap knockoff of White Castle? Please… Krystal is so much better than White Castle – they’re not even in the same league.
And as for Nobis, you have to believe that if he wasn’t stuck on some truly horrible Falcon teams he’d be mentioned much more frequently with those other guys. It’s a crime he’s not in the HoF.
Mark Bradley
August 18th, 2009
4:42 pm
You know, uga b, my eyes glaze over whenever I hear someone say, “Turnovers are going to be big.” Duh.
Mark Bradley
August 18th, 2009
4:45 pm
And White Castle is indeed a Bradley family destination when in Northern Ky.
Sage of Bluesland
August 18th, 2009
4:46 pm
Finally getting rid of the Hometown Hero (Keith Brooking) is addition-by-subtraction…His brand of “leadership” was nothing but a laughable fraud!
uga_b
August 18th, 2009
4:51 pm
The most important thing is that the defense limits the offense to less than 10 first downs… I think we have upgraded the athletecism at every position. There will be growing pains trying to get them to learn the system and play as a unit. Next year’s draft should be fun because we may not have to draft as much need.
As an aside, Foxworth was the only one we wanted to keep. Not playing Jamaal Anderson may be the biggest upgrade we could ever have.
observor
August 18th, 2009
5:09 pm
Krystal is better then White Castle if you are a redneck.
Paddy
August 18th, 2009
5:13 pm
If they were setting side by side, Crystals would be out of business in 3 mons. But it is our only choice since you have to go to Miami or Ky to find a White Castle. Please tell me I am wrong and there is one close by. By close by I mean within 3 states.
I don’t buy J Anderson is getting better. But I sure hope he does.
YUP!!
August 18th, 2009
5:22 pm
Let’s not be to quick to judge this defense after ONE FREAKIN PRE-SEASON GAME!!! GET REAL!! IT’S PRE-SEASON….nothing more than a glorified practice.
Hillbilly Deluxe
August 18th, 2009
5:24 pm
With humble apologies to the Temptations
Sunshine, Brett Favre, please go away.
Go find another job, just go away.
With you we have no future, our life is filled with gloom.
So day after day, stay locked up in your room.
I know to you it might sound strange.
But I wish you would refrain. (Oh how I wish you would refrain)
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Oh, please refrain
Refrain, refrain, refrain. (Oh how I wish you would refrain)
Oh baby. Please refrain.
(Please refrain) Oh yeah, please refrain.
BugKiller
August 18th, 2009
5:25 pm
Gravy Train, your argument falls apart on many levels.
1) You assume that BVG has NOTHING to do with the fact that those talented football players were molded into great football players and then drafted.
2) You assume the Willie Martinez has been given chopped liver, when in fact he’s had equally talented football players as BVG did, but oops, he sucks, so there’s no molding going on.
3) BVG’s Georgia defenses allowed 30 or more points exactly ONCE in his four years. Martinez in four years? Try ELEVEN times. That’s the most ever in a four year period.
4) A Georgia defense has NEVER given up 40 or more points twice in a season. Martinez managed to coach down his players so much, they did it THREE times last season.
5) Martinez is a predictable play caller who is unable to make in-game adjustments when presented by an unpredictable play-caller (WVU, GT last year, etc.)
6) BVG has succeeded everywhere he’s been except one unfortunate year at GSU. He’s taken chopped liver and made it into t-bones. He’s taken t-bones and made them into filet minon.
7) Martinez has taken t-bones and turned them into chopped liver. He’s taken chopped-liver and made it into horse meat.
9) The only thing Martinez has been successful in was being a great roommate for Mark Richt back at Miami in the early 1980s. Because there is no other logical reason why the worst statistical defensive coordinator in Georgia history not only still has a job, but got a GD pay raise from his best friend head coach after the worst year by a defense in Georgia’s long history.
You’re an idiot, Gravy Train.
Spud Webb
August 18th, 2009
5:28 pm
It will take some time to gel, but this D will be fine. Baltimore way over paid for foxworth, good NO move on the falcons part. J anderson won’t make the team is my guess at this point & letting brookign go was a good thing.
Nite Owl
August 18th, 2009
5:35 pm
Not to interrupt the brewing civil war over tiny hamburgers, but that’s pretty ballsy for Lofton to come out and say what he said.
I love the confidence, and I think he’s right. Our defense is developing a bit of a mean streak, like the O-line. I think they’ve got a nice chip on their coolective shoulder.
And if I hear one more word about Foxworth, I’m going to hurl as if I just ate at White Castle. He’s not irreplaceable, for Krystal’s sake.
Nite Owl
August 18th, 2009
5:38 pm
Erratum:
Collective, not coolective, which is what Harrick, Jr.’s students signed up for.
End of line.
Gravy Train
August 18th, 2009
5:43 pm
Bug Killer- worst DC ever? I guess you weren’t around when Ray Goof was listening to clowns like you and playing musical chairs with the DC position. Marion Campbell? Ring a bell? And if you go back to BVG and his philosophy, then you will see several times where the opposition simply threw over the top of his blitzes or side stepped them all together with misdirections or screens. Name another player he caliber of ole 47 who’s been in Athens since BVG left? Pollack was a one man wrecking ball.
And if BVG is so great wh were the Falcons so low on defense last year? If he can make “chopped liver into steak” or whatever you say, then how was it the Lions torched him last Saturday. If he is such a “developer” as you say, then how is it that any of his players would make mental errors like Brooking did in Arizona last year?
Lastly, if BVG is the pillar of the defensive coaching profession why did he leave Athens to lay a stinky in Statesboro? Delusional people like yourself are what get coaches like Tubbs and Fulmer fired. They were dumb enough to listen to “idiots” and change their philosophies. I’m glad CMR and CWM are smart enough to ignore Playstation All Americans like you.
Falcon 8211
August 18th, 2009
5:47 pm
i just hope that the defense is a lot better than what they showed against detroit if not we may be the detroit of 2009
Flappin' Falcon
August 18th, 2009
5:48 pm
Cagers,
I can’t stand the Favre Frenzy that seems to rear its head each year, but this year I love it because it takes the Eagles back-up QB presseason practice stories off of ESPN every 5 minutes. The reporters can fly over to Minnesota now and drive the Favre story into the ground.
Meanwhile…the Falcons have a football game coming up. I look forward to seeing DJ in 2nd QTR, but I still expect to see a massive whirlwind of rotations on the DEF throughpout the game. Won’t be much stuff to seriously discuss until after game 3.
Mark Bradley
August 18th, 2009
6:14 pm
Great recovery on “coolective,” Nite Owl. I’m in awe of that one.
Bad News
August 18th, 2009
6:29 pm
The Panthers showed why they have more divisional titles in this decade than the Falcons, because they take all games (preseason & regular) serious and professional.
Case & point last night. They battled a superbowl contender while the Falcons got embarrassed by an 0-16 team!
The Panthers looked like they were in mid season form, while the Falcons looked like they couldn’t beat the Bulldogs.
Don’t use that sad excuse “it’s just preseason”, because that only means that the Lions 4 teams are better than the Falcons.
Pathetic & embarrassing!
jerry
August 18th, 2009
6:39 pm
Gravy Train: BVG’s defense did not give up 30 during the regular season and what did he have to work with? And this was against NFL teams. Don’t hold your breath until Willie becomes an NFL DC. The more you say the bigger an idiot you appear to be.
Hillbilly Deluxe
August 18th, 2009
6:59 pm
Marion Campbell didn’t have much success as a Head Coach but as a Defensive Co-ordinator (they were just called Defensive Coaches then though) he was pretty good.
leo
August 18th, 2009
7:07 pm
It is going to be a loooog season!
leo
August 18th, 2009
7:07 pm
that is long season
Whopper Dawg
August 18th, 2009
7:10 pm
I think they will be better long term. First few games could be rough. All in all, I am very happy with the direction of the Falcons, there is an actual plan so that is extremely refreshing. I don’t know if they will make the playoffs are not, but they will have two winning seasons in a row for the first time ever.
Reid Adair
August 18th, 2009
7:28 pm
I hope Curtis Lofton is right. I do believe the talent is better on the defensive side, but it seemed on Saturday they do have some work still to be done. The quarterback containment was poor all day, even with the first unit.
Nite Owl
August 18th, 2009
7:39 pm
Thanks, Mark. I’ve been at my kid’s soccer practice. Did the Krystal/White Castle War get settled? That’s a food fight I’d like to see. Fought by chimps if possible.
Hey, Bad News: “pathetic and embarrassing” would better describe the Panthers’ performance in the playoffs last year. When it counted.
The Panthers should have missed the field goal at the end of the 16th game and let the Falcons have the division and the bye week. We would have done something with it. As is, we almost beat the eventual Super Bowl NFC reps on the road. Panthers, however, looked old and horrible.
Jeez, that was easy.
Gravy Train
August 18th, 2009
7:52 pm
My point is not to say that Van Gorder is not a great coach. My point is that players make a good coach great. If through injuries or lack of execution the defensive numbers are bad, then most of the blame should be put on those factors, not the coach. My example of Brooking last year in Arizona is the perfect illustration: Van Gorder called the correct play but because Brooking bit on the play action and was out of position, the play fell apart. Game over.
Last season Martinez calls the correct plays and they fall apart because the players failed to execute. The toughness of the defense was hampered by injuries limiting practices. Then there is the fact that players who were not ready to play being forced to play by laqck of depth.
Go back and watch some games from the BVG era at UGA. Every season there examples of unexplicable losses. A prime example would be the bowl game versus Perdue. That’s right Perdue. If BVG was as great as you revisionists paint him to be they wouldn’t have lost one game.
And jerry, you’re probably right. Martinez may not be an NFL DC because he is loyal to UGA and CMR, unlike Van Gorder.
Gravy Train
August 18th, 2009
7:54 pm
How in the world is an inferior team like Perdue even able to score six points against UGA with Pollack and Co. and Van Gorder? They damn near beat us that day.
BugKiller
August 18th, 2009
8:12 pm
Mark Richt, stop posting as Gravy Train.
BVG is 100 times the coach that your former roommate and BFF are.
There is nothing you can say that would justify giving your BFF a raise.
And you have said NOTHING that refutes any of the facts I listed off about your BFF, Willie Martinez.
Martinez sucks.
He IS the worst defensive coordinator in Georgia history. Why? Because every year he’s been the DC, the defense has gotten WORSE.
You can graph it. In points per game allowed and yards per game allowed and penalties against, those are three lines that go UP every year.
He’s horrible.
You’re full of crap and can’t argue facts so you do what Soft Willie does and blame the players.
Well, who’s been coaching the damn players the last four years, Willie and Coach Richt???
falcon supporter
August 18th, 2009
8:12 pm
Gravy train, Van Gorder is actually a pretty darn good defensive coordinator. The falcons were 11th in the NFL last year in points allowed per game. That is the true stat that all defenses should be judged on. At the end of the day the game is decided by points and not yardage. BVG in his first season did an excellent job considering he had some over the hill guys and in general didn’t have the type of personnel to run his defense. Coach Smith hired him to be defensive coordinator for a reason don’t you think? And wasn’t the old ball coach up at south carolina chomping at the bit to get Van Gorder to run his defense? When Van Gorder was at UGA they were among the nations top defenses every year. Sorry pal but the evidence in this case points to Van Gorder being pretty good at what he does.
Wha?????????
August 18th, 2009
8:22 pm
Seau, Roidanowski and Urlacher, yes Urlacher couldn’t carry Nobis’s jock, let alone Nitschke’s. Mike Curtis of the Colts was pretty darn good, also. Those guys played every down, also.
Wha?????????
August 18th, 2009
8:24 pm
Bug Killer…calm down, dude. Willie may not be BVG or Erk. May not ever be, but worst ever? Are you absolutely nuts? Have you only been a ‘fan’ for 5 years? Have you forgotten Kevin Ramsey?
White Kastle.....even the K is the same
August 18th, 2009
8:30 pm
The same as the winner and still champeen!!!!!!!!! Krystal.
So, MB, if Nobis had played for something other than an expansion team, and a lousy one at that, you think he’s in Canton?
Bad News
August 18th, 2009
8:39 pm
“Night Owl” – just for you, in case you slept through it like the rest of America
http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/story?id=09000d5d80ddc5be&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true
BugKiller
August 18th, 2009
8:43 pm
I would take Kevin Ramsey over Soft Willie any day of the week.
Why? Because Kevin Ramsey got fired.
Our head coach does have the guts to fire his BFF former roommate. Instead, he gives him a raise.
Didn’t Elaine do that to the undeserving guy from the mailroom, Eddie (the guy who wore fatigues) in the Seinfeld episode where Kramer and Frank Costanza cooked food for a Jewish Singles Mixer at the local Knights of Columbus? (”The Fatigues”).
Yeah, that’s right, Martinez’s continued employ and ridiculous raise are SO ridiculous, that you can compare it to an episode of Seinfeld.
Mark Bradley
August 18th, 2009
9:13 pm
Yes, I do, White Kastle. Put Nobis on the New York football Giants, say, and he’d be a Hall of Famer.
Mark Bradley
August 18th, 2009
9:15 pm
And it remains a source of amazement how these comments can and do veer off into the side streets, as it were. I write a little something about Curtis Lofton and the Falcons’ defense, and we naturally dive into a discussion of … Willie Martinez!
Nite Owl
August 18th, 2009
9:53 pm
@Bad News:
Yeah, I remember. I just referred to it in my last comment. It’s up there. ^
My point was that we barely lost on the road, while the Panthers had a week off, played at home, and got crushed by the same Cardinals 33-13. What a waste of a bye week. (If I were truly lame, I would say something pithy about it being a “bye-bye” week…)
See, that was my point. I would make the effort to do a link and a bemused emoticon (do they have those?), but I can’t live up to my screen name tonight. Kids are wearing me out since school started!
@Bug Killer and Gravy Train:
Bring back Joe Kines and the 5-2 defense!
Good night to all, and sleep soundly knowing that Curtis Lofton wants to tear the other guy’s head off, just for you.
BugKiller
August 18th, 2009
10:20 pm
Hey, Mark… this time I didn’t start it.
Gravy Train must have been dropping LSD tonight when he decided to go after BVG and defend the indefensible Soft Willie Martinez.
Mark Bradley
August 18th, 2009
10:24 pm
If you needed excusing, BugKiller, you’d be excused. But nobody needs any excuses on here. As all my shrinks say to me, “It’s your hour.”
BugKiller
August 18th, 2009
10:31 pm
LMAO…
… I wonder if therapists are feeling the pinch in this age of blogging.
Because all of us crazy people can vent to the world now, there’s no need to pay someone to listen to our rantings!
UGASlobberknocker
August 18th, 2009
10:44 pm
I wish there was an intelligence test for bloggers..although it would reduce this blog to about 10 people.
I also have the theory that all of the people who angrily post their opinions and spew insults are the same people who are drive like bullies. That is to say aggressive when they dont have to back it up personally. In reality, these pseudo bad boys are actually pencil necked geeks who wouldnt dare speak these same opinions in person publicly due to cowardice and their physical inability to back up their inflammatory words.
Big Ray
August 18th, 2009
11:21 pm
I’m not worrying about this defense. This new Falcons regime is not into building a “this year/next year or bust” kind of team. They’re looking to put together a team that contends every year. Something we Falcon fans wouldn’t know anything about, but will soon be exposed to.
And screw that bad luck bird…
Boo Boo
August 18th, 2009
11:54 pm
A good pass rush and fast, aggressive linebackers, who can actually tackle, can make Brent Grimes a good CB in the NFL.
But, then I woke up.
Ken Strickland
August 19th, 2009
12:05 am
How can anyone compile a list of the NFL’s greatest LB’s and not include Oakland’s Ted Hendricks, Chicago’s Mike Singletary, Kansas City’s Willie Lanier, Houston’s Robert Brazile and Dallas’ Lee Roy Jordan.
GEOFFDAWG-you can’t convince me that everyone on your list is decidedly better than the one’s I’ve mentioned.
Timmaaayyyyyy....
August 19th, 2009
12:13 am
Good article Mark but I think Lofton was saying the “right” things. Peterson is about the only upgrade I see, and I actually went to high school with Brooking. We may be faster but we’re definately gonna be 1 and 2 after the first three games. We’re gonna have to score 40 points a game if we expect to make the playoffs with the 4th toughest schedule in the league. With that said… I will be at every game. Go Coons…
Concerned Fan
August 19th, 2009
6:29 am
MB, we’re not hearing much about Peria Jerry (and I missed the Lion’s game). How is he doing on the field? Impact player who can help us in ‘09 or another Jamaal Anderson? And what is it about JA? Everyone believes he has the physical tools. I’ve concluded he can’t catch on to the mental side of the game and that this is the year he falls in the depth chart. Your opinion?
HGN
August 19th, 2009
8:33 am
I think the Falcons are going to be just fine on defense, as long as the injury bug stays away. Our front line players are good, strong and fast. The Falcons problem will be INJURIES and NO DEPTH. Our DL has quickness , but lack the size and experience of a Grady Jackson. The Falcons will not be able to stop the run up the middle. Our LB’s have more speed , but lack quality depth. Our DB’s have speed , but no size to defend the bigger and stronger wide receivers in the league. Special teams again will be good , but won’t set any records. And they too will lack quality depth at every position.
As far as offense. I think we could have something special. I like the addition of Gonzales. Another weapon in the red zone. I like the experience at every position across the OL and in the backfield. Except for the loss of Douglas , we have good wide outs and quality backups.
Booba T Yegg
August 19th, 2009
8:36 am
Falcons D is gonna be like Krane’s D and Da Dawgs D…it will be non-existent. Krane never could stop a man from hitting him hard!!
GeoffDawg
August 19th, 2009
8:41 am
Ken – I’m just throwing those out there for debate. Obviously Romanowski isn’t one of the ten best ever. He’s just a personal favorite because he always looked like he was going to stroke out or burst an artery when he played.
Rex D
August 19th, 2009
9:35 am
Curtis probably bit his tongue holding back what he REALLY wanted to say about the LB upgrade. First off, it was laughable that Brooking replaced him in the middle of the field on passing downs . . . As we saw in the playoffs, the only thing that Brooking played worse in 2008 than the run was the pass . . . So now we have Curtis manning the middle without interruption . . . And replacing Brooking on the weakside, we have a meaner-hitting linebacker with probably the same speed as Brooking (speed was not really Brooking’s problem) who hits and takes down opponents at the line of scrimmage instead of shoestring tackles 6 yards downfied . . . The weakside is where you place your “playmaking” linebacker because he basically is not blocked . . . Yet Brooking had 0 sacks and 0 interceptions in 2008 . . . But he called weakside his “natural” position because he wanted to avoid being taken out by opposing teams TEs . . . Which resulted in a natural weakside LB – Michael Boley – having to play the strongside even though he was the lighter, faster LB (in order words, Brooking had the body to play strongside, but not the inclination) who probably would have made tons of plays . . . So now we subtract Boley and replace him with Stephen Nicholas (and possibly Cory Wire on some running downs), and you again get an upgrade at strongside linebacker . . . The bottom line is that with the subtraction of one player who played every down and the subsequent changes made, we have now enhanced EVERY position in our LB corps, to go along with the strong draft picks made to boost our DL and secondary positions.
Flo-Ri-Duh!
August 19th, 2009
12:58 pm
Krystal Burger was around before White Castle and it started up in the south _ Chattanooga, Tenn. ………White Caslte is YANKEE all the way but may be a decent fast food burger if you like a two bite burger.
Iblameurparents
August 19th, 2009
1:00 pm
Bravesfan79, Brooking has been missed for the last 3 years! If it just required “brains and leadership” of which you allude to none of Brooking’s replacements as having, then we would be watching Doctors and Chemist running around in pads!! Guys that look like Brooking are not the only ones with brains and leadership. I guess that is why you are a “Braves Fan”, they have not sniffed a pennant since they adopted their “lets have al the players look like Brooking” stance.(wink, wink)
Bad News
August 19th, 2009
2:22 pm
Brooking…………Gone
Milloy……………Gone
Foxworth…………..Gone
Boley…………………Gone
Grady……………….Gone
Douglas……………….Injured
Moore………………Injured
Houston…………….Injured
Doom!
Doom!
Doom!
If the team lose to another 2008 basement dweller, will the same comment apply:
It’s just the preseason?
how2fish
August 19th, 2009
2:30 pm
I agree its early and the defense can’t be looked at other than a work in progress…and your forgot Lee Roy Jordan….and the 2nd greatest Falcon linebacker…Jessie “the Hammer” Tuggle.And IMHO Tommy Nobbis should be in the Hall of fame most of the teams he played on just flat out suxed..
Gabron Salome
August 19th, 2009
2:49 pm
Oh my goodness, a gut bomb is just that, Krystal’s, White Castle, both spell extra time to read on the hoop! So our defense is already on the chopping block, you guys kill me with the negativity. When the starters play all four quarters the cream will rise to the top and then we can complain or cheer. Have a real man’s burger(Hardees thick burger) if for no other reason than Padma Lakshmi is hottttt!!!!
Mark Bradley
August 19th, 2009
2:54 pm
Hardee’s wasn’t open, Gabron. And please don’t get me started on Padma Lakshmi.
Barry
August 19th, 2009
2:55 pm
Hey Y’all:
All I have to say is “WHAT NFL TEAM DRAFTED ONLY DEFENSIVE PLAYERS WITH THEIR FIRST 7 DRAFT SELECTIONS?” It was the ATLANTA FALCONS!!!. What they have drafted is the “CREAM OF THE CROP” of defensive players that finished college last year. The scouting teams primary responsibilty was to scout defensive players from every school in the country throughout the year. And during the draft, the Falcons selected the best defensive players they could find in the country. I am telling you we have some Falcon “legends” in this bunch combined with the legends we already have in John Abraham. This is going to be exciting watchin these guy jell into “ONE HEARTBEAT!!” on the field. We still owe teams in this leauge for what they done to us during our down years. I believe the Falcon defense are going to “BRING THE WOOD” to all our opponents this year. There fore, sit back, be patient, and watch the “YOUNG GUNS” become new Falcon legends. The “PROCESS” continues, one game at a time in “ONE HEARTBEAT!!!!!”
GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is a SECRET from a FALCON FAN. TELL EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
…………………………”ONE HEARTBEAT, BABY!!!”……………..
cdog
August 19th, 2009
3:56 pm
MARK, I HAVE QUESTION THAT HAS BEEN UNANSWERED FOR MANY YEARS. SOME OF THE PLAYERS I’VE SEEN GONE INTO THE HALL FAME WERE NOT BETTER THAN TOMMY NOBIS. WHY HAVEN’T TOMMY NOBIS BEEN ELECTED TO THE HALL OF FAME? IT’S A TRAVESTY ALL OF THESE YEARS AND HE HAS NOT BEEN PICKED. I KNOW HE WAS ON SOME BAD FALCON TEAMS AND HE WAS INJURED BUT SO HAVE SOME THAT WERE ELECTED INTO THE HALL OF FAME.
Mark Bradley
August 19th, 2009
4:05 pm
I think Mr. Furman Bisher has lobbied for Mr. Nobis in HOF sessions.
Wray
August 19th, 2009
9:18 pm
Enough about White Castle and Krystal’s, if you’re ever traveling through North Mississippi ask for a slug burger. They even have a slug burger festival every summer. Burger lovers travel for miles to take home a sack full.
Speaking of sacks, a few of these will help all of our DB’S
Go Birds.
STUCK IN SC
August 21st, 2009
6:30 pm
Hey BugKiller, Your my new BFF! (I love the name by the way) I agree Krystal is better than White “Trash” Castle and Martinez should have been fired last year! Sorry Mark, couldnt resist.