Mularkey on Falcons’ offense: Do what we do, only better

What are Tony Gonzalez's strengths? Only everything, Mike Mularkey says. (AP photo)

What are Tony Gonzalez's strengths? Only everything, Mike Mularkey says. (AP photo)

Flowery Branch – We know what can happen when we assume, but here’s a case study. Outside consensus holds that the Falcons’ offense will be both expanded and expansive in 2009, what with Matt Ryan being an established pro and Michael Turner being a money back and Tony Gonzalez being aboard. Lots more plays! Lots more looks!

Said Mike Mularkey, the offensive coordinator: “We’ve taken out about 30 pages of the playbook. Last year we didn’t know who we had and what we had, so we put everything in. This year, from OTAs [organized team activities] on, we’ve said, ‘We don’t have to expand anything. We just have to do it better.’ And that’s we what want to do: Just do what we do good, and do it better.”

Those concerned that the addition of the All-Pro Gonzalez might induce Mularkey to overpass don’t know Mularkey. (And shouldn’t that be the title of the Falcons’ pruned playbook? “A Bunch of Mularkey”?) He wants to run the ball. “That’s always been my philosophy,” he said. But his guiding principle is even more pragmatic.

“We want to score every time we touch the football. There are no boards, no sheets, no objectives [posted in the offense's meeting room]. We don’t say, ‘We’re going to get 20 first downs and eight explosive plays [20-plus yards] or have 35 percent of something. If you score every time, every goal you’d shoot for is going to accumulate.”

Against every expectation, the 2008 Falcons mustered a first-rate offense from a rookie quarterback, a career backup tailback and an offensive line regarded in preseason as the NFL’s worst. They finished 10th in scoring, sixth in yardage, 14th in passing, second in rushing. The team that we figured — well, I sure figured — would need to win every game 17-14 wound up scoring 20-plus points 12 times in 16 regular-season games.

The 2009 offense should be better still, for many reasons. Chief among them: Gonzalez. “I know what his strengths are,” Mularkey said.

What are they? “Everything. He doesn’t get enough credit for his blocking. He’s one of the best blockers I’ve ever graded coming out of college. We’re not going to create a whole new offense for him, but we can move him around.”

Another misconception: The Falcons simplified their offense a year ago owing to their rookie quarterback. Mularkey: “The easy answer would be to say, ‘Yes,’ but I look back and we had more checks [audibles] going into the Detroit [season opener] than in any game I’ve ever been part of. I must have had confidence in him.”

The Falcons averaged 24.4 points last season. What will they average in 2009?

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Ryan’s potential? How high is up? “He grows from everything he does,” Mularkey said. “Even if it’s something he does well, he wants to expand it. He’s never going to get comfortable. He’s not settling for normalcy.”

Given that we on the periphery were so wrong about everything regarding the 2008 offense, are we right to expect bigger and better? “Teams are going to be a little bit better prepared for us,” Mularkey said. “But the thing I don’t know is if they can prepare for how hard we play. People ask how Michael can do what he does. He can do it because the rest of the team is running downfield knocking defenders off him. That’s hard to prepare for. I’ve never seen it anywhere else I’ve been.”

And here we pause to note: Mularkey worked for the Pittsburgh Steelers under Bill Cowher. That team had a defense to complement its O. These Falcons figure to need to score in bunches to prop up a fledgling D. But that’s another assumption, and we know all about those.

188 comments Add your comment

FALCONS SORRY AWESOME

August 24th, 2009
9:08 pm

Good Article, MB and yes, FALCONS SORRY ARE AWESOME. Those of you that buy into FALCONS SORRY being what you think he is are falling into his trap and making yourself look like the dumbarse he wants you to believe he is. He and his snow white buddies chuckle at the trouble that can be stirred with each calculated sentence and then hang on their seats for the incensed responders. Andy Kaufman and Sasha Barron Cohen has made careers out of this. Don’t act like rednecks and respond and his fun will be lost. (…of course, my spectator fun will be partially lost as well but I don’t come to this blog to be humored by masquerading shipdits or homicidal rednecks, I come for FALCON EFFING FOOTBALL!!!!!!!)
btw – my guess is FALCON SORRY will refute my outting him – of course – but you cant bs a bs’er.

Cuz

August 24th, 2009
9:11 pm

After reading this column I am more confused than trying to find classes on North Campus when I was a freshman. And I thought the Dawgs blogs got hijacked. Does anyone actually read FALCONS SORRY besides Bradley. Those all caps are painful. I just scroll past. If he or she has something to say that is worthwhile, sorry I missed it. I think I came on here to ask Mark if he thought DJ would make the cut, but after reading the comments I questioned everything. I had to pull out my drivers license to make sure I belonged in this house.

What the heck is the “t” word? Transexual.transfigured, terrific, tortoise-like, terrible, totally-Dude, testosterone, technical, tomorrow, tremendous, tough, tuff, technicolor, Tech, Trek, Techie, Trekie, Talladega, terra-firma, TMI or my favorite of all, the T in TnA.

Mr. Bradley, I would like to buy a clue.

Real Falcons Fan

August 24th, 2009
9:27 pm

Has a real Falcons Fan, through thick & thin, has been tough. It is almost like being a Manic Depressant. But! I sense that these Falcons are different. In all my years of being a Falcons fan, I have never seen the team act so professional and legit… Outside of Roddy’s little hold out, the rest of the team seems to have jelled in a way I have never seen before. We are no longer looking for the one miracle year or building our team around one player (Vick). I own several jersey’s, including Vick’s. He was a great athlete and fun to watch, but what he did, he did to his self, and through the team in chaos.. WE, true Falcon fans had to endure the painful 2007 season.. And we wondered what TD was thinking when he took Matt Ryan over Dorsey?? Then we saw what a true GM and Coach can do to turn around such a crippled and demoralized team. I have never the Falcons do what they did to Chicago last year, I, like most fan’s, thought the games was lost. Went upstairs to vent, then came down and saw the fans going crazy! I thought, noooo way! These are not the Falcons I was use to watching, this was a whole different team, never quit.. The players we lost in the off season were not that great (outside of Foxworth). I think Peterson will be better than Brooking, and Nichols will out shine Boley. Sidbury is going to be a beast, and Lofton will come into his own. I don’t think the schedule will be has difficult than expected.. The Skins and Eagles are over-rated, and the Giants are so tough. The Patriots will be tough, but, we will have to wait and see. No one expected the Bears to have the season they had in 85. I think the winds are changing in Atlanta, 40+ years has been a long wait, we are over-due. GO FALCONS!!!!

Mark Bradley

August 24th, 2009
9:29 pm

The word in question, Cuz, is “thug.”

Charlie

August 24th, 2009
9:31 pm

Matt Jones did a lot more than drink beer on the golf course, but it is not up to me to decide if he gets a chance to play or not. Obviously team feel he bring more baggage than he is worth, and I say that is their right. I am not going to cry about it.

If a team did not want to take a chance on Vick, I would have felt the exact same way, however, the Eagles thought it was worth it. The man did pay a huge price, so I wish him the best.

For the record, I wish Matt the best too.

Michael Irvin, he had a pretty good body of work on the, probably Hall worthy, but, again, if he does not get in, he got what he deserved, if the voters decide to not vote him in due to his off the field issues, so be it, again, I ain’t gonna cry.

crabapplejoe

August 24th, 2009
9:32 pm

Cuz wrote: “What the heck is the “t” word? Transexual.transfigured, terrific, tortoise-like, terrible, totally-Dude, testosterone, technical, tomorrow, tremendous, tough, tuff, technicolor, Tech, Trek, Techie, Trekie, Talladega, terra-firma, TMI or my favorite of all, the T in TnA.”

Now that’s funny….I don’t care who you are.

Cuz

August 24th, 2009
9:32 pm

What does race matter in the way of choosing players for a Pro-football team? Isn’t it all about wins and marketing to make money? So don’t you try to put the best player on the field regardless of color of skin or ancestors origin? Does it not seem that persons of color have a pretty darn high percentage in the NFL. And why would anyone care in the first place? And last but not least, why am I writing all my sentences in questions? Is this a problem?

Charlie

August 24th, 2009
9:41 pm

The fact is, if a professional athlete chooses to do coke, fight dogs, or break the law in any way, he, nor the “fans” have a right to complain. The players are grown men, and they have been given a privilege, and if they cross the line, they pay the price. No two situations are ever the exact same, no two players are the same. When one looks at the players race and tries to use that as an excuse, it only weakens that race and shows their insecurity.

yo mama

August 24th, 2009
9:44 pm

HEY, FALCONS SORRY LOOK AT MV7′S OFFENSE AKA AS YOUI SPELL IT OFFENCE, AGAINST MATT RYANS. SO, WITH THE SAME AMOUNT OF GAMES PLAYED, MATT RYANS OFFENSE HAD ONLY 11 MORE PLAYS, BUT OUT SCORED THE 2006 MV7 LED OFFENSE BY NEALRY 100 POINTS, AND ABOUT 30 YARDS PER GAME MORE THAN MV7. SEE STATZ FLACONS SORRY. THEY NEVER LIE. HEAD TO HEAD, A MATT RYAN LEAD OFFENE PRODUCED MORE WINS, YARDS RUNNING, PASSING, AND A PLAYOFF BERTH. VICKS ROOKIE YEAR WAS WATCHING HIM LOSE BIG TO THE RAMS, TB, ETC. THE MAN CANT THROW CONSISTENTLY WELL, AND HAS TOO MUCH GOIN ON OFF THE FIELD TO CONSIDERED A PRO. HOW YA LIKE THEM APPLES STUPID!

atl offense stats-2009 without MV7 matt ryan as starter 16 games 24.4 points per game average 391 total points 1,011 total plays from scrimmage 361.2 yards per game average rated 6th in the NFL record 11-5

2006 stats with vick 16 games 18.2 points per game 292 total points 1,000 total plays 331.9 yards per game. 14th in nfl. record 7-9

crabapplejoe

August 24th, 2009
10:08 pm

Cuz wrote: “So don’t you try to put the best player on the field regardless of color of skin or ancestors origin?”

Yep, you’re exactly right…that’s why Wes Welker, who has caught more passes in the NFL over the past two years went undrafted and was cut by the San Diego Chargers…puttin’ the best players on the field regardless of race or skin color. ROTFLMAO. Is the NFL scouting that bad or is there a problem?

Mark Bradley

August 24th, 2009
10:11 pm

Just wondering: Can we ever have a discussion about pro football without it turning into another round of racial back-and-forth? And, given that we’ve pretty much explored that topic from every angle over the past few years, have we really solved anything?

crabapplejoe

August 24th, 2009
10:23 pm

@Mark Bradley….that coming from a writer for the AJC….a publication that can bring race into the “gardening” section of the newspaper…a newspaper that continually prints articles about MV7 just to get the discussion boards going…its Atlanta…its part of who we are…it will be OK.

Cuz

August 24th, 2009
10:28 pm

I have a dream Mark Bradley that one day the sons/daughters of UGA grads or fans, the sons/daughters of Georgia Tech grads or fans and the sons/daughters of Michael Vick or Matt Ryan uh, fans oh and the SPCA can all sit down at that tail gate of brother/sisterhood and have a cold beer and a piece of fried chicken, some cole slaw, Aunt Minnie’s homemade pickles and choclate cake with some vanilla ice cream.

Cue the choir. Freedom. Freedom. Freedom. Sounding good. Why can’t we all be free? If you are talking about my baby it don’t matter if you’re black or white.

Let's just enjoy the games

August 24th, 2009
10:36 pm

Mark, I think some of the labeling, etc. stems from the fact (right or wrong) that so many fans are envious of athletes. They look at the money athletes make and the lifestyle they live and apparent lack of life intelligence that many athletes demonstrate and think “if I was so and so, I’d be set for life. I wouldn’t do all the stupid things they do.”
Fans read about all the player arrests and shennigans. They read Sports Illustrated’s recent report that 78% of former NFL players go bankrupt or are under major $ stress due to joblessness within 2 years after retirement and think “what a bonehead/thug/etc. and think themselves morally superior.
My thought is that given the “just stay eligible” education that a lot of athletes get in high school and college, the legions of hangers-on and synchophants that surround them, and authority figures who excuse every misdeed from the age of 6 because little Johnny was a gifted athlete, we should not be surprised by the ultimate result. I also think that most of us who grew up in middle class families and had to bust our tails to get ahead in school and in our careers wouldn’t be much different than a typical NFL player if we were in their shoes.

crabapplejoe

August 24th, 2009
10:38 pm

Cuz wrote: “can all sit down at that tail gate of brother/sisterhood and have a cold beer and a piece of fried chicken”

Oh man, you’ve done it now….bringing up “fried chicken”…Fuzzy Zoeller did that in a joking manner and got run out of golf…lost his endorsements….and Tiger didn’t say nothin’, only good old Furman Bisher came to his defense…but, dam@ the meal sounded good…I’m in.

Tailgaiting with Cuz

August 24th, 2009
10:39 pm

Sounds good to me. But instead of fried chicken, I want CHICKEN SALAD.

Burger Brian

August 24th, 2009
10:43 pm

I think that this offense has the potential to be better than any in this Franchise history certainly. This offensive line makes such a difference. Not only does Matty stay clean but they are picking defenders off of Burner downfield. Watch the team’s behaviour, very professional. Clearly Thomas’s “Atlanta Paradigm” is taking shape. I am concerned that they will need to score alot of points. Mark ~ what do you think of the secondary, clearly our obvious achilles!

Cuz

August 24th, 2009
10:46 pm

Where I tail gate, Caucasians and Not-Caucasians eat fried chicken together on that great checkerboard tablecloth of brotherhood. Oh come on. Everybody in the South eats Fried Chicken unless you have a medical condition. Heck it marks us more than sweet tea or grits. Try to find either one in Minnesota where I was for two weeks recently. Come to think of it, they don’t have fried chicken either. What is Brett gonna do? Get a UPS package from Bojangles?

Mark Bradley

August 24th, 2009
10:49 pm

The secondary could stand some work, Burger Brian, but the key to the defense is the pass rush. Average DBs can look pretty good if the quarterback has to throw to his first read every time.

Charlie

August 24th, 2009
10:56 pm

Sid looks like the real deal, if you bookend him with Abe, and if we can get a push off the front, our D will be fine.

I like the fact that Turner has broken open for runs in both games. Once teams start stacking the box to stop him, Matty Ice-Gonzo will make our offence one of the best in the league.

Cuz

August 24th, 2009
10:59 pm

Bradley, I think to solve this race issue for good, we all need to slit our wrists. Then we check the color of the blood. I am betting that all of ours is red. So then it don’t matter what is outside, only what lies within. I have a knife handy I will be the first. Ouch, bleeding okay uhhm, dang, it is green. I am a Klingon. That one Grandparent that went to Tech did me in. I am uh well, tired and uh need a rag or a something or something. I guess I better clean this keyboard before I uh, Ponys I see Ponys.

Supes

August 24th, 2009
11:05 pm

Mark,

I don’t think so. I think the VERY few vocal and ignorant MV fans will always turn this into a race issue at the end. Their own hero worship for this failed individual exposes them for what they are= Racists. When you combine it with their hatred for Matt Ryan, it’s plain and evident.

Cuz's Doctor

August 24th, 2009
11:07 pm

Don’t worry about Cuz. I bandaged his wrists, gave him some stitches, performed a tracheotomy and made sure he never reproduced again. I gave him some anti-septic, anti-biotics, three shots of morphine and two shots of Padron. He is lying as still as a Steve Spurier Gamehen offense. I think I will just leave him here and go a few states away. Bye now.

crabapplejoe

August 24th, 2009
11:18 pm

Cuz’s Doctor wrote: “Don’t worry about Cuz. I bandaged his wrists, gave him some stitches, performed a tracheotomy and made sure he never reproduced again. I gave him some anti-septic, anti-biotics, three shots of morphine and two shots of Padron.”

Dam@, does that mean he ain’t bringin’ the fried chicken to the tailgate party no more….you come on and bring the rest of that Padron and we’ll work it out. LOL

Stereotyping??

August 24th, 2009
11:19 pm

Could it be that mostly black players get labeled as thugs because the percentage of players who are black is much higher than white, and the percentage of fans in the stands is much higher white than black? So, statistically speaking, a player who runs afoul of the law is much likelier to be black than white, and the fan who notices is more likely to realize that the player is of a different race? But thuggish behavior is not about race, it’s about irresponsible, selfish, me-first and everyone else-last, just give me a paycheck, I’m entitled to whatever I want mentalities. Just a thought. But I’m all for eating with Cuz and cheering the Falcons on together if he can find a bandage and doesn’t bleed to death.

Supes

August 24th, 2009
11:23 pm

But thuggish behavior is not about race, it’s about irresponsible, selfish, me-first and everyone else-last, just give me a paycheck, I’m entitled to whatever I want mentalities. Just a thought.

*********************

QUOTED FOR TRUTH!

Too bad most can’t put it in perspective.

Cuz's not paid enough secretary

August 24th, 2009
11:24 pm

Mr. Bradley, Cuz wanted to let you know that he scored some big clients with your “Bunch of Malarkey Offense” idea. He told me before his eyes rolled back in his head that he had some big clients that wanted to come on board. He said he had Roto-Rooter and Paulie’s Port A Potties in the bag. He also said he was working on Cow Patty’s homemade Ice Cream sandwiches. Two oreo cookie kind of shells with a vanilla ice cream center. I tried one. They taste like krap.

But anyway, Two Idiots Marketing Group is on a roll. How long before I get a pay raise and quit spending my money on your office supplies and get a real office not this utility room at Cuz’s house. Have you seen the size of these Cockroaches here? I am thinking of finding a jockey and entering one in the Derby.

Let me know something soon, I desperately need a manicure by Kim Chee. She has a great nail place. You should try it if you come to Augusta for the Masters.

Gen Neyland

August 24th, 2009
11:30 pm

Screw the racial thing. Ain’t got time for the little brains. Send Shockley and Parker packing an pick up Ainge. He’s darn near a perfect fit for this offense off the bench even as a 3rd stringer. Shockley ain’t got this offense…Parker needs to fly out to San Diego to continue…D.J to Washington. Bring Ainge to Atlanta. It’s not about race, it’s about WINNING, fools…

Gen Neyland

August 24th, 2009
11:32 pm

Cuz : They’ll never listen to us…

Sidbury is a steal

August 24th, 2009
11:33 pm

Sidbury is going to be one of the biggest steals of the draft. I’m predicting 8 sacks this year and that he’ll be a full-time starter next year and reach double digits. The guy is just so fast off the edge. What a pair of bookends we can have with him and Abraham.

Cuz again

August 24th, 2009
11:37 pm

Okay, awake again. Where did these bandages come from and why is my secretary mad at me. I swore that bounced paycheck was the bank’s fault. But truly, I am inspired by the latest comments on this blog. Race really means nothing. I saw Jim Crow and it was as ugly as a Stephen Garcia Hail Mary. Face it, we have come a long way. But we are still traveling that road. So I will give you a lift, a ride, a hand. a companion or even give you a piggy back ride. We are all in this together. Let us all just talk about these teams and players as if we are all one people. Here is the hint, we are. God love you all.

JEM

August 24th, 2009
11:50 pm

JEM

August 24th, 2009
11:54 pm

I thought “Thugs” worked for the mafia. And “Snow White” was a Disney character. Folks, shut up about race and start typing football. Falcons Football!

Cuz

August 25th, 2009
12:03 am

I think Tony Gonzales is the best Falcons addition since Michael Turner. Whoa, did not have to go far for that. Before the complaints, Matt Ryan was a draft, not an add on. Tough schedule, but with the pride and commitment of this team, no losing record this year, a back to got your back playoff run.

Cuz as TV''s Baretta

August 25th, 2009
12:06 am

What color is Tony? Answer, the Falcons Red and Black baby. And that is the name of dat tune.

pickettboy

August 25th, 2009
3:15 am

Hey everyone check me out, I dont think anyone is a bigger Vick fan than me. But when dec. 6 comes I’m with the home team. Oncw a falcon always a falcon. But my boy vick still a bird, cause he sighned with the eagles, show the man some love and respect, hell you must forgot we have MattyIce , with turner and gonzalez, thats twice as nice.

Alan

August 25th, 2009
7:00 am

I wish all of you Vick lovers would see the man for what he is, a good athelete with a bad history and a future very much like his brother Marcus, remember the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, Dungy has already had to call him out about Vodka, what else is there that we don’t know about.

Now lets get serious and talk some real football, GO FALCONS !!!!!

wl webb

August 25th, 2009
7:06 am

who is this idiot talking about pearl harbor

Kerry Fruit Moses

August 25th, 2009
8:15 am

I feel extremely good about the offense; top 5 even, but I am equally nerves about the defense. With that said I think we are doing the right thing by going young. If you are going to be a bottom/middle of the pack D you may as well do it with young guys who can grow rather than a team of veterans. GO FALCONS!!!!!!

falcon fan

August 25th, 2009
8:50 am

uh, the germans didn’t bomb pearl harbor

Jim

August 25th, 2009
9:01 am

Does anybody know status of safety Moore– both physically and how the Falcons view him? A big time playmaking safety can go a long way to improved defense (Pittsburg/Baltimore). Moore seemed to have some special physical abilities–size/speed.

Andy

August 25th, 2009
9:01 am

Excited about Falcons but shcedule looks brutal… 8-8 prediction… With Gonzo & Finn, we should always convert on 3rd down, right? ;)

Sure does look like kickoff returns are going to be a real bore this year with the rule change. I think only the elite returners (Cribbs, Washington) will have a shot at returning them to the house this year. I expect kickoff return TD’s to be down 40%. And punt return TD’s in Dallas, down 75%… ;)

True Falcon Fan

August 25th, 2009
9:22 am

“Falcons Sorry” is a bitter racist. You’re pathetic. Do us all a favor and move to Philadelphia. Wait, those people don’t deserve that. Better yet, move to Alaska where you can be put on ice for 50 years. They can use your worthless cadaver to show school children how not to look and act. While you’re at it you might consider learning the english language. Maybe a 5th grade refresher course. Jeez, what a loser!

Sarah B

August 25th, 2009
10:27 am

Cuz is the only one on here that makes any sense….

regijoli

August 25th, 2009
10:49 am

Why is it every falcons blog has to be tainted with comments for and/or against MV7. HE NO LONGER PLAYS NOR IS HE RELEVANT TO FALCONS FOOTBALL. If you are an anti-supporter of MV7 because of what he was convicted of you probably disliked him all along and if you are a supporter of him, then you probably wanted him to be a falcon for life regardless of what he was convicted of. The bottom line is the falcons have moved on and as fans we need to move on as well. Please let let it go. And for the record I am a Vick fan, Vick the football player. You all are showing ignorance by beating a dead issue. If you want to bash or praise him go to an Eagles blog. Let’s just keep it Falcons here. Please just agree to disagree and let it go. KEEP IT FALCONS TALK.

Wendell

August 25th, 2009
12:15 pm

Vick is a thug.

Jeremy

August 25th, 2009
12:29 pm

Dolphins fan here; and I got one thing to say to you whining babies: Your team has an offense and a QB that 90 PERCENT of the NFL would be thrilled to swap for. While the rest of us envy you, all you do is whine like spoiled kids, not at all appreciating how good you got it.

SO LISTEN UP: YOU FALCON FANS DON’T DESERVE WHAT YOU GOT!!!! I HOPE YOU LOOSE EVERY GAME THIS SEASON (wait… that’d probably make some of you pretty happy. IDIOTS!!!!)

GulagCarpaccio

August 25th, 2009
12:40 pm

Jack G. is a rascist P*G

Joe Flacco

August 25th, 2009
12:49 pm

Did you fools like my DEEP BALL? I was throwing 50 yard lasers all over the field.

I am going to show you idiots who the “TRUE ROY” really was.

I throw lasers because of my arm strength and Ryan throws lobs because his arm is like a noodle.

Did you see how all the announcers were saying there is no other qb in the league that throws the “out pass” & deep ball like me?

That’s ARM STRENGTH BABY!!!!!

Coroner

August 25th, 2009
12:57 pm

Detroit (0-16) & St. Louis (2-14) – are we boasting about our performance against them?

We lost to Detroit and almost lost to the sorry Rams. Did you guys see the Ravens in preseason, playing like it was mid season? They were crunching the qb like he was a stuff doggy toy.

Ryan does not have zip on his ball past 20 yards. Mark Sanchez has great arm strength and the Ravens had 2 pick-6 and almost a third.

When the Ravens come here next week it’s going to get early quick.

They are going to shut down Mike Turner, so there is going to be target practice on Ryan. That’s scary because he is a tall, thin, easy target.

The Ravens defense is going to be HIGHLY motivated, because Flacco didn’t win the “ROY” and they are a close team, so they will be sleeping, eating and licking their chops thinking about ripping into him.

I think we better get the backup ready and lots of body bags.