5 things the Falcons must do before they play again
Matty Ice needs to fling some longer snowballs. (AP photo)
1. Move Jamaal Anderson to defensive tackle. Again, he has supplied next to nothing in the way of a pass rush. (Except for a roughing call against Tom Brady on Sunday, which was kind of funny when you think about it. Jamaal? Roughing somebody?) But he’s pretty good against the run; if he weren’t, he wouldn’t still have a job. The center of the Falcons’ line was pushed backward in Foxborough, suggesting Thomas Johnson and Trey Lewis aren’t the answer in Peria Jerry’s absence. Could J.A. be?
2. Play Lawrence Sidbury at defensive end. This is a bye week, which means the Falcons’ coaches have time to tinker. Sidbury came hailed as the steal of the draft. Time to put him to work. The defensive line hasn’t had a sack in two games.
3. Find a role for Jerious Norwood. Michael Turner managed only 56 yards against New England and fumbled for the second time in two weeks. He’s still a big-time player, but Norwood can be big-time, too. Two weeks should give him time to heal from the head injury suffered on the opening kickoff against Carolina. This is the third different coaching staff that has paid lip service to Norwood’s talent. It’s time to Mike Mularkey and Co. to find a more frequent application.
4. Resolve to stretch the field. Matt Ryan has completed 60 passes in three games. His longest gain is 27 yards. The Falcons must find a receiver who can get downfield, and Ryan has to find him when he does.
5. Resolve to get urgent. “Urgency” is the watchword for 2009, and it could stand some sharpening. The Falcons forced four turnovers against Miami in Week 1, two against Carolina in Week 2, none on Sunday. Safety Thomas DeCoud could have intercepted a Brady pass in the end zone but didn’t. John Abraham had a hand on Brady before the quarterback stepped forward and found Chris Baker for the clinching touchdown. Too many plays went unmade. The Falcons need to make them.
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160 comments Add your comment
William
September 28th, 2009
10:11 am
You know how you can tell winners from losers? Winners do not go by the book! You know like its 4th down and one so the BOOK says we punt. A winner usually goes for it. I mean you have to keep the ball to score. Yeah, I know its better to LOSE BY 3 than 23 right? Yeah, and if the previous opponents threw for hundreds of yards, that means you must establish the running game. I know the “book for losers” says.
The Patriots knew they were going to win! Did you have any doubt? The referees knew and Smith knew. It was just a matter of playing out the game. Dont you love that play where you throw the ball five yards behind the line of scrimmage with no blockers–a great losers play. If you do not play by the book then the analysts would be totally lost.
Traver
September 28th, 2009
10:13 am
MB – couldn’t agree more on the assessment. Losing Perry was a huge blow to the run defense and maybe a change to the inside for Andersen would finally get us an ROI on his pick and give someone else a chance to help Abraham with the pass rush. Regardless, we have to stop the run first. And, while the final outcome may not have changed no matter what happened, the game yesterday was much more about missed opportunities and our own mistakes than anything else. The Patriots demonstrated that even when you aren’t at your best you can still win if you capitalize on the other teams mistakes. In the Falcons I hope I am seeing a team that will recognize that, learn from it, and get better. In my idiot opinion, that is what it has to be about with a team that is still more potential than result at this point. A vertical passing game wouldn’t hurt either. We have the signal caller for it.
JT
September 28th, 2009
10:14 am
Falcon Sorry. Where were you when the Falcons won the first 2 games. You only show up when they lose. You do not have any guts. You like to dish it but can’t take it. Now I know why your name is Falcon SORRY. SORRY A$$ PANSY.
Joseph
September 28th, 2009
10:15 am
I am only sad about yesterday as ATL could have and should have beat NE. While the reffing was “f’ing” bad against ATL, their D kept them in the game. A few made passes down field would have made the difference and brought ATL a win. I agree with eric that Smith was too conservative too.
SWAMI
September 28th, 2009
10:20 am
Bad news FalconNation.
Doyou think that NE had extra mptivation because of their loss to the Jets?
Just wait till you feel the wrath of Singletary after that loss to Favre.
We will see if Mike Smith can coach em up. You had better believe that San Fran will be ready.
JT
September 28th, 2009
10:29 am
FALCON SORRY. Can you give me a play by play on how well the best qb in the history of the NFL did yesterday against KC? I missed Vicks performance and need your guidance.
JSS
September 28th, 2009
10:30 am
Falcons better hope Frank Gore is still on the IR in two weeks… And I among a few other posters have been screaming to move Anderson inside on 2nd and 3rd downs. He’s not a bust, he’s just mistyped… They were out-schemed, outplayed, and out coached… Mike Smith, put that little red flag away!
Reid Adair
September 28th, 2009
10:33 am
I can’t help but think how things might have been different on that last drive by the Falcons in the second quarter. They were in Patriots’ territory – and fumbled. If they score there, maybe everything changes. Instead, New England goes down, kicks the field goal and takes a 13-10 lead into halftime.
It was just one game, but it was disappointing.
Chris
September 28th, 2009
10:34 am
Just going to reiterate what’s already been said, because I’m so frustrated by it. The Jets gave you the blueprint last week on how to beat, or at least frustrate the Pats, looked like BVG didn’t watch any tape of that game. I know that’s not the type of defense we play, but if you want to win….Everyone keeps talking about NE sense of urgency etc, it’s the NFL, where was the Falcons sense of urgency? Where’s Sidbury? All that being said, still believe in these guys, good luck in SF.
Go Falcons
Kris P. Cream
September 28th, 2009
10:37 am
I knew not not keeping BIG Grady Jackson was a BIG mistake.
JSS
September 28th, 2009
10:37 am
And Mr. Bradley, if these clowns are going to turn this into another bash Falcon Sorry show, go ahead and shut it down! Nothing better than watching the Ku Klux Klan and the Taliban toss insults at other all day, each day, 24/7 AJC blogs = Fox News Channel, it gets boring like staring into the eyes of a cobra… Nothing good ever comes of it…
Don Kindo Nuts
September 28th, 2009
10:38 am
u r so right Krispy.
FALCONS SORRY
September 28th, 2009
10:42 am
NEW ENGLAND PATROTS! CONGRATUALTIONS TO YOU ALL ON POINTING OUT THE OBVIOUS THAT MATTY HOPELESS CHOKE LIKE A DOG ON A BONE WHEN IT COME TO BIG GAMES! THE REAL QB THAT USED TO PLAY HERE IN ATL HAD HIS TEAM WIN YESTERDAY! TURNER BURNER WOULD HAVE HAD A BETTER DAY BUT HE IS TIRED AND BROKE DOWN FROM HAVING TO CARRY THIS WHOLE SORRY FRANCHISE ON HIS BACK! TORE UP FROM THE FLOOR UP NORWOOD IS GOING TO HAVE TO HELP HIM SINCE THAT LOW DOWN CHEAP SKATE AUTHUR BLANK WONT PAY TO GET ANY GOOD TALENT AROUND HIM TO HELP HIM OUT! IF THE SORRY FALCONS KEEP PLAYING LIKE THIS COACH SMITTY IS GOING TO GET EVEN MORE GRAY HARE! TONY GONZOLEEZ IS PROBABLY NOW RELIZING WHAT A MISTAKE IS WAS TO COME HERE INSTEAD OF GOING SOMEWHERE HE COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE LIKE PHILY OR INDY OR NEW YORK! BLANK DECIDED TO GO CHEAP ON THE D THIS YEAR TOO! HOW IS THAT PENNY PINCHING WORKING OUT FOR YOU BLANK! BETTER GET YOUR TRADING CAP ON DIMITROF IF YOU WANT TO GET CATCH UP TO THE EAGELS EXPRESS ON ITS WAY TO MIAMI IN JANUARY! CHOO! CHOO!
jg
September 28th, 2009
10:44 am
why is it that when the falcons are down two scores (26-10) the game seems over? but when we’re up two scores to anybody (last example carolina two weeks ago) those teams find a way to get back in the game and have chances to win it.
i love this team a lot and think they are very capable of going deep in the playoffs–but they’ve got to be able to not only put teams away but when they’re behind keep the fight. 7 minutes to go and only down two scores is not impossible. yet we go three and out two more times and don’t even consider going for it on fourth down. meanwhile the patriots are confident enough to go for it on fourth down in their own territory in the third quarter. please mike smith do down with your best weapon–yesterday it WAS your offense–the defense wasn’t stopping anyone–forcing fg’s are great but when they get five–enough is enough. let the offense win it or lose–it was obvious yesterday the defense wasn’t going to win it.
and by the way–i thought the pass int. penalty against m. jenkins was very iffy as well as the roughing the qb on jamal–the same two plays happend on the other side of the ball as well–decoud was interfered with on the long pass by brady that decoud should have picked and just after the roughing the passer on us–ryan was hit even later and harder by a patriot defensive lineman and what a shock no call…
they were the better team yesterday–a couple of calls here and there and turner holds onto the ball–could have been different–falcons were right there for a little more than three quarters on the road–show some urgency it’s the nfl–you can get back into the game if you just keep pressing.
HIGHER education
September 28th, 2009
10:48 am
FALCONS SORRY needs to shake off that Clayton County education and learn to read and write.
Grady Jackson
September 28th, 2009
10:50 am
FALCONS SORRY is a sissy with lace on his drawers.
William
September 28th, 2009
10:50 am
JSS
September 28th, 2009
10:37 am
Go feed your socialist ideology somewhere else….these are rugged Americans and I guess you are not!
Nfl Week 3 Results
September 28th, 2009
10:51 am
[...] with that approach yielding results last week against young Matthew Stafford and the … 5 things the Falcons must do before they play againIf you play "not to lose" and to keep it close against the elite teams in the NFL you will lose [...]
Eman
September 28th, 2009
10:52 am
Coach Smith is the only one to be blame for this performance!! He coach scared thus the players played scared. This is not how you coach in big games!! I hate to say this but I feel that he will cause us allot of big games with his coaching style remember New Orleans and The Eagles games last year!! We have to be aggressive with our team just like the pats did to us. I would had went for it on every down after the pats did that!!! The defence was tired and they was on the field for several pays this Sunday. Well there are reasons why the falcons have not one a super bowl and this seems to be the reason!!!
FAKE Falcons Sorry @ 9:00 am
September 28th, 2009
10:57 am
FAKE “Falcons Sorry” Post –> FALCONS SORRY on September 28th, 2009 @ 9:00 am
========================
We all know the REAL Falcons Sorry when we see it/him/her, and the post at 9:00am is NOT the genuine article.
That imposter is just racist loser is his mother’s basement making fun of the real deal.
Falcons Hero Zero
September 28th, 2009
10:59 am
The Falcons saw The Patriots and must’ve become tense…lolol
They saw the staium and freaked..
They were probably ready for their bye-week vacations before the gam even started…lololol
Falcons Hero Zero
September 28th, 2009
11:00 am
The Falcons saw The Patriots, and became tense…lolol
They saw the stadium and freaked..
They were probably ready for their “bye-week vacations” before the game even started…lololol!
C-Rock
September 28th, 2009
11:01 am
C-Rock has been a little busy today so my remarks might seem a little behind times, BUT, I haven’t seen so much grabbing and holding on to different body parts since the last Def-Jam concert. Todd Light was on the sideline laughing about what he was getting away with. Jamals roughing the passer was the lightest contact on a roughing call I have ever seen. The penalties were way one-sided. That being said, a second fumble inside the red zone, two dropped interceptions at critical times in the game. We need to tighten up in the middle of the defensive line, we made Taylor look like the re-incarnation of Walter Payton. Bye week off to straighten things up, but if refs let the other team hold like the Pats did, any quarterback given that much time will find an open reciever.
Chris
September 28th, 2009
11:15 am
They play way too conservative. So many times against the pats yesterday they would play a 3 or 4 man front. Brady, arguably the best QB in the league, had 6-10 seconds to throw the ball. The teams that have beat the pats the last couple of years, jets/giants, put him on his butt. If you look at the upcoming schedule it is brutal. The only easy teams coming up are the 2 games vs the bucs, a game against washington, and a game towards the end of the season with buffalo. The falcons have some brutal games coming up: jets, giants, 2 against the saints, bears, philly, and dallas. There’s also the next game against the 49ers which now look like they’re legit. I dont see the falcons having a winning season honestly. Michael Turner hurt us BIG again yesterday. He fumbles at the worst times. Last season in the playoffs against the cardinals, last week, and yesterday. He’s just not a big time running back. He only plays well against mediocre defenses.
Ouch, that game hurt!
September 28th, 2009
11:15 am
The coaching of this game really bothered me. Kicking a field goal on our first big drive instead of going for a TD. Challenging that “fumble” that was obviously not. Trying to make short passes for TDs instead of running it. It was embarassing to be a Falcon fan Sunday. Our coach looked like a little kid all excited, running and jumping around the sidelines. The Patriots have one of their worst games ever and we play even worse. The one positive for me is at least we don’t have dumbarse Michael Vick on our team any more.
SWAMI
September 28th, 2009
11:21 am
No one could have held onto the ball that Turner fumbled. The defender put his helmet right on the ball, HARD and from the side/rear. Just sayin, some fumbles can’t be avoided.
Joe Johnson
September 28th, 2009
11:24 am
Maybe Michael Turnover is……tired?
Falcons Hero Zero
September 28th, 2009
11:25 am
Sidbury: Probably, The Falcons will give-up more running yards with him at LDE because he really is John Abrahams back-up and replacement at RDE.
Still, it’s better than allowing Brees to torch them in The GA Dome and The Superdome (but, it’s still likely)
Norwood:
Norwood is the best WR on this squad as a RB!
The Falcons need “homerun-ability at WR”. The Falcons traded their former WR Laurent Robinson who was the fastest WR, and a “quick-score/deep threat WR for Matt Ryan (who can actually hold-on to the ball). The Falcons do not have “speed threats” at WR, but good blockers! Size at WR is good if they can actually get-away from the opposing CBs, Safeties, and LBs.
O-Line: Teams are focusing on that O-Line (The Falcons did not add any upgrades or challengers for positions during the offseason).
[***Again..Atlanta Organizations are too content, and complacent--especially in good times (because they have never been great or dominant). That is why the players on their teams and their fan-base act the same way.***]
I don’t know what The Falcons were thinking when they did not re-sign RB Thomas Brown to their Practice Squad..
Turner may be tapped-out for this season… Over-sized RBs cannot change direction when their O-Line is beat. He is a one gap runner, and that won’t change until he loses some weight, and re-gains some of the speed and adility he lost. It’s similar to what happened to Jamal Anderson-besides the unfortunate knee injuries..
LBs: The Falcon LBs are being beat on screens because they are all the same size, and don’t have very much speed or range. A team needs some variety. A slightly smaller OLB/WOLB who can run faster than the MLB and DEs, can cover the RBs. All of their LBs look like MLBs, or their scheme is flawed for the talent that they have on their roster..
Maybe, it is time for them to promote from within the roster. Replace some starters, and add more speed.
AZ Jacket
September 28th, 2009
11:28 am
Hey Eman, the only reason the defense was on the field so long was because they could not stop the Patriots. It is very simple…if the defense stops the opposing offense then they can rest. What do you idiots think should be done about Coach Smith, fire him. Hell, he is only bad when they don’t win and when they win he is great. 90% of the Falcon fans suck and would not know a good coach if he bit them on the A$$. 50% of that 90% are in love with a felon who should never been allowed to set foot on the field. The Falcon fans sound just like UGA fans, if I win we have the best coaches and the best players and we don’t win fire the bunch of them. What a joke? You don’t deserve a pro team. If Blank wanted true support he would move the team out of this town.
AZ Jacket
September 28th, 2009
11:30 am
Hero Zero, you have all figured out. Why don’t you apply for a job with the Falcons…oh..those are just opinions. Right.
AZ Jacket
September 28th, 2009
11:33 am
They lost…would of , could of, should of does not work on the Monday after. It is a lot different when you have to make the call right then and there.
Nativebird
September 28th, 2009
11:41 am
6. Remind your Head Coach that he is not a rookie any longer; You go for it on 4th down in the 4th quarter with the ball on their 39, your 2 scores behind, and the realization your defense cannot get their offense off the field on 3rd downs…and…you do NOT challenge fumble calls just because you’re emotion at the time and haven’t seen the replay!
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
September 28th, 2009
11:42 am
Biggest problem is DT and I don’t think JA is going to solve that area. DT’s don’t need another areas demotions. We can’t stop the run even against a team that can’t run. It would be like some drug dealer, pimp trying to stop Chuck Norris from giving him a round house kick to the head. There is no stopping it.
SWAMI
September 28th, 2009
11:42 am
AZ Jacket – You seem to want to paint everything with a very broad stroke like:
All Tech fans/grads are nerds; or, allpeople who live in AZ live in trailors and cook meth; or that all tech grads/fans who live in AZ are nerds who cook meth in their trailors.
See. Mouth moving, brain not in gear.
ERich42
September 28th, 2009
11:42 am
Matt Ryan can not throw the deep ball and is given way to much credit for the two wins against winless teams and not enough blame for the lost yesterday. The defense kept it close but we were only able to put up 10 pts and that goes directly to the QB
Sonny Clusters
September 28th, 2009
11:44 am
We was reading Mark’s blog about knife sharpening and there was a class at Clemson on that but it was an elective. We was out early this morning looking for the Best Cupcake in Atlanta for the AJC but so far the cupcakes have all been disappointing- like the Falcons yesterday. We was watching the same game as everybody else and thought the Falcons was in it pretty much all the way. Mark is right that a couple plays could have turned the game.
"Mr. Falcon"
September 28th, 2009
11:45 am
6. Mike Smith has to grow a pair!
Maestro
September 28th, 2009
11:53 am
First off, the most crucial play of the game was the fumble by Turner followed closely by the interference call on Jenkins that negated the touchdown. This clearly is not the Patriot team that went undefeated in 07 and Brady was not the same QB he was that year on yesterday. This team was beatable if a few breaks go our way and the defense mounted some form of consistent pressure on Brady. To their credit the Patriot o-line has played together for years and are good at pass protection. It was the rush defense that disappointed me. They lost Maroney and got the job done with an aging Fred Taylor. Teams in the future will run straight up the gut on us and there is nothing we will be able to do about it.
Benjamin
September 28th, 2009
11:58 am
I’m not even remotely disappointed in yesterday’s game; New England wasn’t losing that one, and we’ve still got some things to learn.
One thing: the Jamal Anderson “roughing the passer” was absolute bunk, as he barely bumped Brady from behind and didn’t even knock him two steps forward. Honestly, it looked like hometown reffing in a few critical moments in yesterday’s game, that one being chief among them. (Another one being when Ryan got manhandled by the defensive lineman at least a full second after throwing a pass and no call was given on the following drive, and another one being the terrible call that forced us to waste a timeout in the first half.)
Falcons Hero Zero
September 28th, 2009
12:01 pm
The refs seem to favor teams with more “notoriety”at times.. That will just continue to happen.
"Mr. Falcon"
September 28th, 2009
12:06 pm
I do not care what anyone says; we just got eliminated from the playoffs.
That was a must win game, and the Falcons did not win.
Their schedule gets extremely tough now.
They will be 8-8 this year.
I am not sold on Norwood ( Class Joe); he reminds me of Chris Chandler.
Something is obviously wrong with Turner; he looks slow this year.
Ryan needs to hit the weight room, so he can throw the deep ball.
However, I am confident that the Falcons will be greatly improved next year, and we will have a much easier schedule.
I think Dimitroff is going to be busy scouting for the rest of this season.
Why does Fox insist on showing Author Blank every game. He is an ego maniac.
Tell it like it is
September 28th, 2009
12:13 pm
The Pat’s are not a Championship team anymore .they have lost a lot of players on the defence.The falcons have an offence that should compete with anybody but did not play up to par in this game.The falcons offence when used right can compete with anybody. the defence has a lot of holes to fill and is not playoff caliber at this time.Smitty and co did a terrable job of preparing this team for this game.Look for the falcons to go 7-9 and keep the string alive of not having back to back winning seasons.
fred dre
September 28th, 2009
12:39 pm
did the falcons watch film or scout the jets patriots game? it was proven in that game,if you hurry brady,harass him,and you don’t have to sack him,he will become frustrated. he is not the kool customer that the media potrays him to be,that was proven yesterday. the falcons need to dial it up on defense. its as if the falcons conceded the game in the third quarter,and thats when i stopped watching.
Vick Supporter
September 28th, 2009
12:48 pm
Enter your comments hereMatt “Ice” Ryan can’t stretch the field, which leads to having 8 men in the box to stop the run, which leads to Ryan having to win the game himself, which is proven he can’t do. Its pretty simple.
Roddy’s got his money now, so you’ll see the drops increase. Jemkins still can’t get open, and they are going to “bracket” Gonzales. Make Ryan beat you with his arm, and the other team wins. See how easy that is?
Gritblitzer
September 28th, 2009
12:55 pm
Vick Supporter-
What an appropriate name since you’re obviously inside his.
Glitchy
September 28th, 2009
12:58 pm
OK, I’ll say it. Something is not right with Michael Turner. He’s slow hitting the hole, and lacks the explosiveness once he gets to the second level that he had last year. Id he is not physically injured, then he is running very tentatively.
Maybe the 470 carries thing is real……….
Vick Supporter
September 28th, 2009
1:07 pm
Gritblitzer-
Is Ryan to high and mighty to recieve criticism?
Gritblitzer
September 28th, 2009
1:11 pm
No VS, but Ryan was the least of the Falcons problems yesterday. Anyone who knows anything about football could see that. His passes were on target, several were dropped, he threw no picks….If anything, Mularkey put the handcuffs on Ryan yesterday with his awful play-calling. It looked like Greg Knapp reincarnated.
Vick Supporter
September 28th, 2009
1:15 pm
“His passes were on target, several were dropped, he threw no picks….If anything, Mularkey put the handcuffs on Ryan yesterday with his awful play-calling. It looked like Greg Knapp reincarnated.”
Man does that sound familiar…….
Mark Bradley
September 28th, 2009
1:19 pm
I would agree: the Falcons played too timidly yesterday. Don’t know why, but they did.