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
AlternateReality
September 28th, 2009
1:20 pm
Question… Why haven’t the Falcons thrown deep this year? (I know what VS would say)
Ryan’s arm is too weak?
The receivers can’t get open?
The game plans have emphasized short passes and ball control?
Ryan is dumping the ball off too quickly to avoid the rush?
Lack of a running game is allowing the opponent to put more pressure on Ryan?
Thoughts?
Vick Supporter
September 28th, 2009
1:21 pm
Gritblitzer: “No VS, but Ryan was the least of the Falcons problems yesterday.”
Like I’ve always said on here…it will never be Ryan’s fault on anything for alot of folks in this town. If you don’t stretch the filed, it leaves 8 in the box to stop the run. If Turner doesn’t get going, the Falcons lose. Its pretty simple. Roddy has all of a sudden turned into a posession WR now, Jenkins still can’t get open, and they will double Tony from now on. Matt has to throw deep passes down the field. I hate to say it, but Ryan will become the “Checkdown King”
ERich42
September 28th, 2009
1:33 pm
These people on this blog who thinks Ryan is all that please think again. Teams will continue to put 8 in the box because Ryan can not throw the deep ball. Let’s face it people he is a good boy but soft.
Chris
September 28th, 2009
1:34 pm
The falcons are the only team in the league to NEVER throw a deep ball.
ERich42
September 28th, 2009
1:35 pm
The Great White Hope is about to come back to reality. Our next 4 games are against 49er’s,Bears,Cowboys and Saints. Let’s see how the Golden Boy does agianst those defenses.
Nativebird
September 28th, 2009
1:41 pm
Yes the birds did not play their best yesterday, but the coaching was even worse. This team is not good enough to overcome bad play calling and game decision making. THAT has to be perfect, AND the team must play fairly well. Oh, and to those who believe Ryan can’t throw deep and accurate; Falcons v Bears at Home, last year, 8 seconds remaining on the clock. Nuff said. It AINT the quarterback my friends.
SHOULD HAVE DRAFTED FLACCO
September 28th, 2009
1:58 pm
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.
I told you people he has a weak arm and Flacco already has 2 300 yard games (308 & 342) and 5 passes of more than 50 yards. ESPN already says Flacco is a pro bowler this season.
Ryan is a back up at best. Drafted the wrong guy and wasted 72 million dollars. Keep the ROY give me playoff wins!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MATT WOULD WET HIS PANTS WITHOUT TURNER
September 28th, 2009
2:06 pm
Told you “STOP TURNER STOP THE FALCONS”!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHAT!!!
September 28th, 2009
2:07 pm
Mark how dare you say Matt can’t stretch the field and hasn’t thrown a pass over 27 yards?
He just doesn’t want to hurt his arm!!!!!!!!!!!
BRAD
September 28th, 2009
2:08 pm
The Falcons weren’t going 16-0, actually no team will, so 1 loss is not that big a deal. There are some concerns though. 1.) No pass rush. Why the Falcons never blitz?!? The Jets constantly blitzed Brady and it worked, duh!?! 2.) Turner looks very slow getting the hole. He did last year too, but seems even slower now. He has great speed, but tip toes to the line of scrimmage. 3.) Open up the offense. If the Falcons are as talented as everyone says they are, then let the talent loose.
Hillbilly Deluxe
September 28th, 2009
2:16 pm
While not claiming to be a football expert, it seems to me they have to figure out some way to improve the defensive line. I could have sworn I saw Tom Brady eating a sandwich yesterday while waiting for a receiver to come open. Granted the Falcons don’t have the world’s greatest secondary but nobody can cover a receiver if the quarterback has all day to throw.
Pepper Dine
September 28th, 2009
2:23 pm
Some of the commments made by Coach and GM leading up to the game had me concerned about the collective mindset of the Falcons heading into Foxboro. Almost a self-fullfilling prophecy, as they pointed out they fully expected to get the Pats’ best effort after the Jets shut them down in Week 2. It made me wonder if the team approached the game expecting to lose…
Gritblitzer
September 28th, 2009
2:24 pm
Really sad but telling at the same time that so many people on here seem to hate on Ryan because he isn’t Vick. It’s an insult to all of us Falcon fans who wholeheartedly supported Vick when he was the starting quarterback and now support Ryan.
Most of us Falcon fans just want this team to win games. I guess the rest of you “fans” have a different agenda.
Gritblitzer
September 28th, 2009
2:29 pm
Mark how dare you say Matt can’t stretch the field and hasn’t thrown a pass over 27 yards?
He just doesn’t want to hurt his arm!!!!!!!!!!!
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.
I told you people he has a weak arm and Flacco already has 2 300 yard games (308 & 342) and 5 passes of more than 50 yards. ESPN already says Flacco is a pro bowler this season.
Ryan is a back up at best. Drafted the wrong guy and wasted 72 million dollars. Keep the ROY give me playoff wins!!!!!!!!!!!!!
See, comments like the above are really sad and show how low the football intelligence quotient is in some quarters. Also, I thought only teenage girls ended any post with multiple exclamation points.
jam
September 28th, 2009
2:41 pm
It’s truly amazing that now the same people that praised the GM, praised Ryan, Praised the coach now have a change of heart about them. Truly amazing LOL
Eman
September 28th, 2009
2:42 pm
AZ Jacket LISTEN THE OFFENCE DID NOT HELP OUT THE DEFENCE AT ALL. THEY DID NOT SUSTAINED DRIVES AT ALL. YEAH, THE DEFENCE DID NOT COMPLETELY STOP THE PATS BUT THE PATS HAD ONE TD AND A BUNCH OF FIELD GOALS. WHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT A YOUNG DEFENCE TO DO HUH? STOP KISSING MIKE SMITH ASS!!!!!!!!!!! HE F UP YESTERDAY!!!
FalcFan
September 28th, 2009
2:54 pm
First, Mark kudos for you to keeping up with and responding to blog posts. I agree that Sid has to factor in somewhere, and the same goes for Hill. Personally, I want to see Hill and Williams starting, and Houston or Chevis Jackson on the slot. The Falcons have to reduce what they are asking Houston to do. He is supremely athletic but continues to play at an average level. I think if they moved him to nickel they could use his athleticism to blitz and then he could bump the slot receivers enough to disrupt their routes. Williams and DeCoud are playing some good football, but thats about the only moderately impressive play I saw from the defense Sunday. If you get a chance Mark- ask Brian Van Gorder about adjustments. I kept thinking I would see some, but I didn’t see anything. The mark of a great defense is not always stopping someone right out of the gate, but making necessary adjustments to stop them in the 2nd half/4th quarter. I just haven’t/didn’t see the adjustments. Add to that the complete lack of blitz pressure and you get an offense that has twice the time of possession your offense does.
MV77777
September 28th, 2009
3:02 pm
PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MATT RYAN SUCKS……………………
WE NEED MICHAEL VICK!!!!!!!
YOU WATCH!!!! AUTHUR BLANK WILL GET HIS MAN BACK..THIS MAKES THIS TOWN ROCK….PEOPLE SPEND MONEY!!!!! VICK HAS THE ARM WE NEED…..
(THE ICE MAN)HAHA… LOL… CANT PASS THE DEEP BALL…..
AND FOR THE PETA PEOPLE!!! IF YOU DONT LIKE HOMEDEPOT SHOP AT LOWES!!!!!
FalconPhil
September 28th, 2009
3:03 pm
The falcons have no field stretcher—-they way overpaid for Roddy White, who doesn’t deserve all that money–he’s no threat. Plus, the O-line looked bad against NE. It could be a long year.
Birdy
September 28th, 2009
3:07 pm
I wonder if Coach Smith will be able to bring that fabled “risk-free championship” here to Atlanta? He sure seems to be going after it with zero guns blazing. Can’t wait to see it.
MV77777
September 28th, 2009
3:11 pm
I AGREE!!!STOP TURNER STOP THE FALCONS.
MV77777
September 28th, 2009
3:13 pm
I AGREE STOP TURNER STOP THE FALCONS…..
Eric C.
September 28th, 2009
3:32 pm
1) Agree
2) Agree
3) Agree
4) Matt’s arm strength is an issue…seemed he underthrew the ball in Miami
5) Putting JA at tackle and starting Sidbury as you suggest could help this issue
Eric C.
September 28th, 2009
3:32 pm
against Miami…not it
Bob from Winder
September 28th, 2009
3:33 pm
What a sorry fan base. the falcons lost to a perennially great team, nothing to be ashamed about. the pats know how to win even when they play bad.
Matt Ryan is no Tom Brady or Peyton Manning. He is not Jay Cutler or Drew Brees either. the difference is those guys have personality and heart. Ryan is a cornball. How could he live in Boston 4 years during the Tom Brady era and never meet Tom. what a dork, most guys of matts caliber would be glad to meet Brady.. Matt is boring and has no heart. I would take kyle orton over him
Eric C.
September 28th, 2009
3:33 pm
in not it
IF YOU WANT A NOODLE ARM GO EAT A CAN OF CAMPBELLS!!!!!!!!!
September 28th, 2009
3:34 pm
NOODLE ARM couldn’t stretch the field if it was made out of spandex!!!!!!!!!!
Big Ray, Ken Strictland, Bug Killer, Sarah B, What....Role Call..........
September 28th, 2009
3:38 pm
Come on out guys…..last week you were filling up the blogs, now that the ole NOODLE ARM has been exposed, you are nowhere to be seen
NOODLE ARM HAS BEEN EXPOSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 28th, 2009
3:44 pm
No passes over 27 yards? Boy I didn’t see that one coming
Joe Flacco should have been drafted like I have been saying all along!
The Falcons spent 72 million for a 5 year college loser when they could have drafted Joe Flacco for a bargain 30 million.
Art needs to stop thinking with his little head and think with the big one……….
Dimitroff——-Can’t win with New England rejects
Smith—–Can’t make miracles out of a career assistant coach
Ryan—–Can’t get Peyton Manning from a 5 year loser
Art, you screwed up big time. Time to end the experiment………
IT FAILED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MV77777
September 28th, 2009
4:29 pm
Ryan Didn’t Win or Lose HE SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Seen Better Days IN FLAG FOOTBALL LOL……………
garcia
September 28th, 2009
4:30 pm
Random points:
1 When a level-headed coach decides to go for it on fourth down at his own 25 yard line, your interior defense is not respected. That has to change. I am not sure that Anderson is the answer, but something must be tried. I have heard that Henderson is not happy in Jax.
2 Thomas DeCoud was at the right place at the right time. That is the sign of a promising young talent. He may have dropped two interceptions, but I feel very optimistic about him and his future.
3 I know that Harvey Dahl has a nasty reputation. I just wish that he would actually put it to use. He did not do much for our running game. Isn’t the RG supposed to be the best run blocker on the line? If a run-oriented offense can not reliably get four yards on the ground, something is wrong. My next point will tie into this one.
4 Tony Gonzalez is the most feared and respected offensive player on this team. He was double-teamed consistently. The Pats could not put 8 in the box to stop the run. So, why were we not able to run the ball effectively? See #3.
5 Complaints about defensive schemes are unwarranted. Our DC calls a vanilla defense because he can not trust our CB’s in man-to-man coverage. In order to get fancy and throw confusing blitz packages, the CB’s must be able to cover their man. We may have coverage CB’s on the roster, but it is clear that they have not been seen on the field yet.
I think that we will see changes at the CB position. My gut feeling is that Hill and Williams will be our starting corners after the bye. If we don’t get better play from our CB’s, we will continue to suffer long yardage conversions.
6 All is not lost. We have an excellent coaching staff and the foundations for a very good team. A little patience will go a long way.
Fancy Leotard
September 28th, 2009
4:45 pm
FALCONS SORRY Im your father. I fed you lead paint. Im sorry.
Alan
September 28th, 2009
4:47 pm
Panic is not the answer, we have two weeks to get ready for the next game, the coaching staff has a lot to do to understand their mistakes and to get the players to execute. I would like to see more of an attacking offense and defense, both seemed to be trying to win without taking some chances, any good team will push the envelope from time to time.
F-105 Thunderchief
September 28th, 2009
4:48 pm
Not that I don’t use multiple IDs for comedic reasons, but Mark, are a lot of these similar posts from one user with many handles? Just curious as to whether its an anti-Red Ryan feeding frenzy, or one artists grafitti fest.
Alan
September 28th, 2009
4:51 pm
By the way, how many millions did we spend on M. Vick so he could run a dog fighting ring, SURE WISH THE DOGS COULD HAVE THEIR GO AT HIM !!!!!!
Cannonball Butler
September 28th, 2009
4:55 pm
I believe its “Roll” not “Role” call, there crisco man.
jerry
September 28th, 2009
4:56 pm
It appears to me that they went into Foxboro with their hat in their hand.
BostonBCfan
September 28th, 2009
4:56 pm
For those who are interested Bill Belichick is live on WEEI.com in boston on the Big Show at 5pm.
He usually is much more relaxed and talks a lot more about sundays game than what he usually says to the press after games. might be good to listen to what his take on the game was for sunday. He will usually talk about the game plan and what they felt they had to do to stop the other team. Don’t know if coach Smith spoke today or not but might good to hear the other side from a coach who actually had to gameplan against the falcons instead of most of these fans on here who have no idea what they are talking about.
Some here do know what they are talking about but most don’t as we are all fans and not NFL coaches, RIGHT.
mountainguy
September 28th, 2009
4:57 pm
Enter your comments here played well against one of better clubs in nfl- dont drop 3 interceptions and falcons win!!!!!!!!1
Lance
September 28th, 2009
5:04 pm
I thought your points were dead on in this article Mark.
One point I would add would be for the coaching staff – “Adjust”. I felt like we took things that weren’t working in the first half and just kept right on doing them in the second half as if something was magically going to click. I love our coaching staff, but this is the first Falcons game i’ve watched with this new regime where I felt like we just literally had no gameplan or strategy.
Victor
September 28th, 2009
5:15 pm
The Patriots gave the falcons no respect and they already knew that the game was theirs.Anytime a team go for it at their on 25 yard line in the 3rd quarters and get it then that team have balls.Just to do that to any team and it saying that you are not on our level little weakling lol.The falcons will not beat any teams with a good D or good offense because they don’t have the right coaches in their organization.They need a coach that have balls.I would love for the falcons to get someone like the Jets head coach then I would be a true falcon fan.it is hard to be a fan of a team that never wins and the bottom line because Victor said so.
Dan
September 28th, 2009
5:15 pm
So how many victories (or quarters where the Falcons have the lead) until we can get back to blogging that Ryan-Smith may be the NFL equivalent of Cox-Schuerholz and are one of the top 5 coach-QB combos in the game today?
NOODLE ARM HAS BEEN EXPOSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 28th, 2009
5:25 pm
NOODLE ARM couldn’t win a one legged kicking contest, but he sure is a crowd pleaser at a “NOODLE HOUSE”
PHIL
September 28th, 2009
5:28 pm
I’m a Georgia fan and often post on the UGA blogs on the AJC. I believe the first order of business for the Falcons should be to fire VanGorder because DeCoud dropped two interceptions. That’s how we UGA fans reason things here.
cdog
September 28th, 2009
6:08 pm
SURE THE FALCONS LOST TO NEW ENGLAND. THE DEFENSUVE LINE DID NOT PLAY WELL, BUT A LOT HAD TO DO WITH HOW THE GAME WAS OFFICIATED ALSO.THE OFFICIALS DICTATED HOW THE FALCONS PLAYED. CALLS ON THE FALCONS WERE INCONSISTENT.NEW ENGLAND CLIPPED, CORNERBACKS HELD RECIEVERS RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE OFFICIALS AND NOTHING WERE CALLED. MATT RYAN WAS ROUGHED SEVERAL TIMES NOTHING WAS CALLED. THE LITTLE BUMP ON JAMAL ANDERSON SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CALLED BUT IT WAS.THE OFFENSIVE PASS INTERFEROUS AGAINST MICHAEL JENKINS WAS TERRIBLY CALLED. THAT CALLED CHANGED THE WHOLE GAME AROUND. RANDY MOSS DID THE SAME THING ON 4TH DOWN TO THE FALCON CORNERBACK AND IT WAS CALLED AGAINST ATLANTA. IT WAS PLAIN TO SEE THE OFFICIALS HAD IT IN FOR ATLANTA WHEN RYAN’S PASS WAS BATTED CLEARLY DOWN AND THE OFFICIALS STUPIDLY CALLED IT A TOUCHDOWN UNTIL REPLAY REVERSED IT.SOMEONE SHOULD INVESTIGATE THAT CREW IF THEY CALL THE FALCONS GAME AGAIN. THEY WERE CHEATING TERRIBLY.
SirReal
September 28th, 2009
6:13 pm
I think yesterday we beat ourselves. Mental errors that I am not really used to seeing from the birds. Looking at the scope of the last 3 games, the offense has a huge cannon and is settling for shooting BBs and bean bags. (We should have had at least 30 against MIA. CAR was decent. But here at NE only 10! (although it was home field adv. for NE and the refs lost their minds in the midst of the rain I guess–you guys remember that play where the ball was batted down and they said it was a fumble) This week we do need to do a few things. I’m no head coach or GM but here’s my opinion as a fan: Offensively- Maybe Tony was blanketed a bit yesterday. That game showed us that we need to go to him early and often. Roddy is fine guys. Just hasnt had the right things present themselves in terms of ball control, etc. Which brings me to the run game. I REALLY like Turner as our back….but we definitely have to work Norwood in when he’s healthy, maybe it’ll get Turner going because something is up with him or the line right now. ( The line is pass protecting pretty well though) Basically, its time to open it all up when we come back in week 5. No more gimmicks and concepts. Hit Gonzales when we need him. Hit your 3 good wideouts you have. O-Line get nasty again. Turner break loose! We have the tools…lets get ‘er done.
Defense——–excuse me while I go get a glass of wine before I even speak about that D-line situation…..but everyone else isnt exactly off the hook either………I’ll be back.lol
Randolph Scott
September 28th, 2009
6:17 pm
How come when the Falcon receiver pushes a defender off of him, the Falcons are penalized? Randy Moss did it several times. Were the Refs star struck, or paid off more than Atlanta was willing to pay. To run into Tom Brady and immediately see yellow flags, yet the Pats slammed Matt Ryan to the ground and I saw no yellow flags. This occurs all the time in favor of the Pats.
RJ
September 28th, 2009
6:22 pm
1. Refs need to ware their glasses for both teams. 2 penalties in an entire game? Must be great coaching. lol! Can we get some consistency with offensive interference calls instead of if it only occurring with a no-name player on a team that isn’t extremely popular.
2.Stop rolling your QB out on a 3rd and forever. Who are you trying to fool? 1 Dback can guard like 3 receivers that way.
3. Take more chances on D. A couple of the Dline need their pink slips if they don’t step up more. Blitz more to stop the run and the pass if needed.
4. Can someone tell Turner to hit the hole a bit more?
5. Can the wide receivers keep moving when the QB is running for his life instead of taking a play or two or 3 off if it isn’t there right away.
Ryan2atl
September 28th, 2009
6:35 pm
Couln’t read all comments but the game was lost on Turner’s fumble (points definitely lost) and the next drive’s being killed by penalties. Brady took advantage of both miscues and that was basically all she wrote. Energy and momentum gone, defense exhausted. Very tough schedule this year but Falcons will be ok, unsure about “super”.
The Refs Caused NOODLE ARM to not get a pass in the ENDZONE
September 28th, 2009
7:04 pm
BOO HOO HOO!
Stop your whining and take your loss like a MAN!
It wasn’t the refs fault, it was Vick’s fault…..oh wait, can’t use that excuse anymore