Live from the Dome: I’m back, and so’s the Burner
Slept fast. Went to Mass. Now I’m back downtown, chatting again. Last night was great fun — fine game, unexpected (at least by me) result, much to discuss. Example: Why did Paul Johnson call four consecutive deep passes with the game on the line? We know his stylized offense doesn’t feature the short or intermediate pass, but what about the ol’ option toss? Did PJ bail out — mixed metaphor alert — on his bread and butter?
I wish I could say I had great hope for another great game here at the Dome, but I don’t. I figure the Falcons beat the Bucs by three touchdowns. I figure the Falcons need to beat the Bucs by three touchdowns just to remind themselves they can still be a playoff-caliber team, recent results notwithstanding.
Four losses in five games will have a chilling effect on a franchise and its fans, and traffic around the Dome seemed unusually light around 11:30. (And I was running late.) Can’t imagine there’ll be a full house today, but I’m bad at predictions. Example: Tech 42, Georgia 27.
Wrongheaded though I am, I hope we can make the most of whatever this day brings. The idea is to talk about the Falcons, but we can certainly accommodate the occasional Tech-UGA submission. So I ask once again: Join me, won’t you?
Oh, and this one actual snippet of news: Michael Turner is in uniform and seems to be moving expeditiously in warmups. He’ll play. And Jerious Norwood is no longer among the inactives. That makes for a full house in the backfield, which isn’t the same thing as a full-house backfield. But it’s a most welcome sign.
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1,228 comments Add your comment
J.J.M.
November 29th, 2009
2:17 pm
late hit
SirReal
November 29th, 2009
2:17 pm
Stick a fork in this team Mark…we do not even begin to resemble a playoff team in any form or fashion.
Mark Bradley
November 29th, 2009
2:17 pm
Josh Freeman is showing me something.
And now a late hit on Lofton. The correct call, I must say.
Matt
November 29th, 2009
2:17 pm
Lofton with a mind-blowing stupid penalty
ubah
November 29th, 2009
2:17 pm
Chef…lmao
J.J.M.
November 29th, 2009
2:17 pm
thats what frustration does 2 you
D.Ellis
November 29th, 2009
2:18 pm
THats a petty call. Straughter was fighting for the marker
BugKiller
November 29th, 2009
2:18 pm
When did the Georgia Defense take over for the Falcon defense?
That was a stupid as hell PF.
GoTech610
November 29th, 2009
2:18 pm
Not sure what the deal is the with the O-line.
But the major problems seem to be:
1. No corner’s
2. No pass rush, where’s Abraham?
3. No O-line
4. Injuries
And a REALLY bad call there. Wow. Has the ref ever heard of finishing off the play? Jeez!
Cedrick
November 29th, 2009
2:18 pm
HAHAHAHA Theses boys gonna lose to a mid-season starting rookie QB. The stupid offensive coordinator may wake up one day this week and have a RB chip on that DE. How many sacks he gonna let them give up before they fix the stupid problem. They should of let “WET” ice fall to the ground he was just going to force another ball into Gonzalez just to be picked off….
Mark Bradley
November 29th, 2009
2:18 pm
You know, it’s hard to imagine TB is 1-9 from the look of this. Doesn’t say much for the Falcons, does it?
Chosen1
November 29th, 2009
2:18 pm
im tired of every QB being able to get their “POISE” back against this falcons secondary
Sid
November 29th, 2009
2:18 pm
I may have been too generous in predicting a 7-9 even if they puke this one out, they MIGHT beat Buffalo in a half-empty dome but lose all their road games and get scorched by Eagles and Saints. Today, another proud chapter in Losersville history
Matt
November 29th, 2009
2:18 pm
Should have picked Larry Johnson up off of waivers. That would just have been the icing on the cake for this season.
Jimmy
November 29th, 2009
2:18 pm
Terrible call by the refs. Apparently the guy wasn’t down because the linesman was marking it a yard past where he was tackled. Yet they call a late hit?
"Chef" Tim Dix
November 29th, 2009
2:18 pm
Hey Falcons, #5, you can knock him down, it’s allowed.
SirReal
November 29th, 2009
2:18 pm
Stick a fork in this team Mark….we dont resemble a playof caliber team in any form or fashion….maybe we’ll go get some actual talent in the secondary in the offseason….and not to mention a valid D-Coord.
6-10
November 29th, 2009
2:18 pm
Heads-up play Lofton, really heads-up.
Mark Bradley
November 29th, 2009
2:19 pm
By the way, Christopher Owens is now in the game. The Falcons are trying everybody.
J.J.M.
November 29th, 2009
2:19 pm
Abraham wants out
lamac66
November 29th, 2009
2:19 pm
I’d like to point out that all of these Matt Ryan Nay-sayer’s should now be able to see that the O-line is a big part of the offense not getting any time to let plays develop
GoTech610,
The only problem with that is the same folks trashing the o-line today probably didn’t make a stink about it prior to this years ago so it is a mute point.
D.Ellis
November 29th, 2009
2:19 pm
Nice job of holding for 3 before the half.
J.J.M.
November 29th, 2009
2:19 pm
Mark keyword “trying”
Barkin'Dog
November 29th, 2009
2:20 pm
This is not the same Tampa Bay tam as earlier in the year. QB is not bad and gaining confidence. They will improve on their miserable record this season, no doubt. Just hope it isn’t today.
JJ
November 29th, 2009
2:21 pm
Terrible call on the late hit. I rewound the play twice and the whistle didn’t blow until a full second after Lofton hit the guy. The guy that threw the flag was the one that blew the whistle, by the way.
He was down, but these guys are taught to play to the whistle. It is amazing that officiating can be so bad even in the NFL.
Mark Bradley
November 29th, 2009
2:21 pm
OK, here’s the FG to tie. And it is … not attempted. Bucs illegal procedure.
OK, maybe I can see why TB is 1-9. That’s two penalties on kicks.
Kick is good. Tie game.
TMoney
November 29th, 2009
2:21 pm
Tie game.
GoTech610
November 29th, 2009
2:21 pm
I can’t believe the way the Falcons are just crumbling right before our very eyes. Just like Georgia Tech last night.
I guess the Dogs got there national championship, they play like it. It’s good to see beating GT meant so much to them. I guess they’ll get the Liberty bowl instead of the toilet bowl now.
Extremus
November 29th, 2009
2:21 pm
Mr. Bradley, how far do you figure Arthur Blank will be able and willing to reach into his pockets to fill the gaping needs this team obviously still has during the offseason (one would think he and Dimitroff HAVE to already be thinking about it)? We need physicality and attitude on BOTH offensive and defensive lines (which we’re just not getting), we need an ENTIRE new secondary, a new kicker, and probably at least one more sure-handed, athletic receiver. Can that even be done in a single year, with only the draft and free agency to draw from? But that’s what it’s going to take to bring home a Lombardi trophy.
Men vs Boys
November 29th, 2009
2:22 pm
Why does it take us so long to figure out that you need to pressure the QB on a consistent basis? The Quarterback must go down and he must go down HARD! Didn’t Al Davis say that about 35 years ago? Just go ahead and blitz all day. It can’t be any worse than what is happening right now.
Mark Bradley
November 29th, 2009
2:23 pm
It’s not just a question of money. There’s a salary cap in the NFL.
But I can guarantee the Falcons will have a bunch of new DBs next season.
Matt
November 29th, 2009
2:23 pm
Is there a worse, less explosive kick returner than Eric Weems?
Cedrick
November 29th, 2009
2:23 pm
These fools still have Abraham dropping back on to zone coverage instead of rushing the passer. What are they trying to replace Abe like they did Boley??? We see what Boley did to Atlanta last week, he was a one man tackling fool against us. HAHAHAHAHAh
Sid
November 29th, 2009
2:23 pm
thanks Bucs. now I have to change my score. Hard to get 11 to have 21 but Falcons are very capable of giving up a safety so maybe not. Oh well, I will now say Bucs 24, Turkeys 13
Mr Charlie
November 29th, 2009
2:23 pm
Man, the game is tied, you guys are a buch of losers.
Rural Education
November 29th, 2009
2:24 pm
Did I hear boo’s as they left the field? should be able to get great seats by seasons end.
falconsuck3ever
November 29th, 2009
2:24 pm
I guarantee Mike Smith will be fired at the end of this season if they finish at 500 or worse. Then dum dum Blank will try to find another nobody of a coach to try to make a winner out of a bunch of never will be’s, never were’s, those soon to retire and those that should not even put on a uniform
LantaFalcons
November 29th, 2009
2:24 pm
this team is 1-9 for a reason Falcons. You’re over thinking them and playing down to the competition.
GoTech610
November 29th, 2009
2:24 pm
You just can’t give up this many sacks in these games. Need to give them O-line boys a come to Jesus meeting at halftime.
Iceman
November 29th, 2009
2:24 pm
I am guessing Freeman is to stupid to play QB in the NFL.
Mark Bradley
November 29th, 2009
2:24 pm
John Abraham has disappeared before our very eyes.
TMoney
November 29th, 2009
2:24 pm
Dahl limped to the locker room, Ryan still limping, Sam Baker has an injured elbow…maybe we should go ahead and bench Turner before he’s limping around too.
sanantoniofalconsfan
November 29th, 2009
2:25 pm
We’ve had a horrible o-line for years. More focus was on what Vick did when the line broke down than on the line breaking down. However, they had a great year last year and showed a lot of promise. I believed they could be even better this year, but that ain’t happening.
Cedrick
November 29th, 2009
2:25 pm
GoTech610,
GA Tech got exactly what they deserved last night!!!!!!! I am glad the Bulldogs shut they up and proven just how suspect the ACC is compared to the SEC. As a matter of fact oth teams playin for the ACC title lost to subpar SEC teams this past weekend. Kind of like the Falcons. LOL
"Chef" Tim Dix
November 29th, 2009
2:26 pm
LantaFacons: = bullseye
lamac66
November 29th, 2009
2:26 pm
Ryan needs to be back in.
tom
November 29th, 2009
2:26 pm
defense sucks as usual.
50 feet to your left
November 29th, 2009
2:27 pm
Rapping chipmunks at halftime… Oh. Joy.
Sid
November 29th, 2009
2:28 pm
the only way Atlanta sees a Lombardi trophy is if the delivery truck stops at the Varsity for lunch on the way to Miami or even Jacksonville.
Rural Education
November 29th, 2009
2:28 pm
Smith won’t be fired, they will give him at least 4-5 years, but if they don’t get better Blank can forget about his new stadium unless he wants to pay for it by himself.