Bandwagon alert! Lots of folks really like the 2010 Falcons
A substantive reason to be cheerful: New man Dunta Robinson (AJC photo by Jason Getz)
Lots of folks were saying lots of nice things about the Falcons this time a year ago, and that was understandable. The Falcons were coming off an improbable playoff season and were a feel-good story. Today the Falcons are coming off a 9-7 season in which they were eliminated from postseason consideration with three games to go … and lots of folks are still saying lots of nice things about their chances in 2010.
From Michael Kun of the Washington Post’s NFL blog The League: “I’ll give you a non-playoff team [from 2009] that’s going to go all the way to the NFC Championship game, barring a major injury. The Atlanta Falcons.”
From Andy Benoit, writing for the New York Times’ NFL blog The Fifth Down:
Let’s see: Modest success the previous year; no burden of high expectations; distinct offensive and defensive identity; star quarterback; and improvements in most key areas of weakness. Sounds pretty good. And we haven’t even mentioned the stability at the top (another trait the Saints, Steelers and Giants all shared, by the way). Owner Arthur Blank and GM Thomas Dimitroff run their program with great chemistry. Perhaps even Super Bowl caliber chemistry.
Let the record reflect that Benoit still tabs the Falcons to finish second in the NFC South and suggests they “may still be a player or two short of Super Bowl caliber.” The greater point is that enthusiasm for this team coming off a (slightly) disappointing season seems every bit as great in many circles as it did for one that had seen everything break right in 2008.
Browsing the magazine rack at Kroger yesterday, I noted that the Sporting News Pro Football yearbook picks the Falcons to win the NFC South, which is the home of the reigning Super Bowl titlist. And I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that these glowing forecasts mesh with my own. Last month I picked the Falcons to go 12-4, win their division and play Dallas for the NFC title.
I am, as we’re all too aware, thick as a brick. But even a goofball feels encouraged when more clever folks are seeing the same thing he is. At least this goofball does.
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193 comments Add your comment
Just sayin....
July 21st, 2010
5:00 pm
Sometimes a Great Offense can overcome a weak defense. The saints didn’t have a great defense by no means and they won it all.
Just sayin....
July 21st, 2010
5:01 pm
you are forgiven!
hiramsaint
July 21st, 2010
5:10 pm
just sayin….- your not sayin you have a great O are you?
Just sayin....
July 21st, 2010
5:12 pm
Potentially we do… Why?
Connor14
July 21st, 2010
5:19 pm
Hey “FALCONS SORRY”, my brother Jaybo Shaw is better than Michael Vick.
hiramsaint
July 21st, 2010
5:26 pm
what is “potentially” ? either you do or you do not. if you do think so please explain without a bunch of hypothetical “if ’s
Just sayin....
July 21st, 2010
5:30 pm
(with a possibility of becoming actual; “he is potentially dangerous”; “potentially useful”) just like the Saints have the potential to be better on defense! …. Gotta Go Guys!
hiramsaint
July 21st, 2010
5:50 pm
later just sayin….
florida falcon
July 21st, 2010
6:15 pm
Vick Supporter and Falcons Sorry must be out on furloughs. I hope they didn’t forget to register when they got out! Not to mention, I hope their stay in protective custody was a comfortable one.
hiramsaint
July 21st, 2010
6:24 pm
i hope so too but i’ll bet it was a pain in the butt
donny ballgame
July 21st, 2010
6:35 pm
Oh my….If it’s in the New York Times it must be true?
Philip Rivers: Super Bowl MVP. Mark it down.
hiramsaint
July 21st, 2010
6:40 pm
now thats funny donny!
SweetT
July 21st, 2010
6:46 pm
I am a HUGE Falcons Fan…I am sure I spend more for seats per season that just about anybody on this blog…..but after years of getting my heart ripped out, trampled on, and then left for dead, I, too, am cautiously optimistic. One thing I will warn about, though, is reading too much into what the “experts” have to say…..
Mark, you said that the Sporting News likes our chances….is this the same Sporting News that said that the Falcons would go 1-15 in 2008? See predictions are easy to make….but actually owning up to them later is harder.
Last year I predicted that we would be an improved ball team over 2008 and still not make the playoffs due to the tough schedule…..this year, I think our powder puff schedule makes it nearly impossible for us NOT to make the playoffs. What we do once we get there will be up to how well the front office has players in place, and the coaching staff has them ready, and ultimately, how much the team members want it.
–T
Timothy Justice
July 21st, 2010
7:09 pm
Been ridin’ this wagon a LONG time. I guess I’ll die a Falcons fan. GO TEAM!
ryan
July 21st, 2010
7:35 pm
The Falcons are much improved but they still do need a verry good DE witch they did not address in the draft they could use another deep threat WR like a Vincent Jackson.
tell it like it is
July 21st, 2010
7:41 pm
Let me give you a little tip,don’t bet on the Falcons.
Red Panty Dawg
July 21st, 2010
7:55 pm
We still rule this state.
Floyd the Barber
July 21st, 2010
7:57 pm
Uh uh, I don’ t know Andy, has this ever happened before.
Calvin G. Sims, Sr.
July 21st, 2010
8:45 pm
I have 4 more teams open in my family fantasy league. We have never played before and we are excited. It’s just my kids and me. Our draft is Sunday at 1pm.
Go to NFL.COM. The League ID is: 58168 – The Password is: jack (will change when all teams filled).
It’s FREE and it’s fun.
Go Falcons!!!
Jake Stoll
July 21st, 2010
9:00 pm
Okay, I have been reading all the articles and blog posts for the Falcons constantly all summer. Each and every summer I find myself more hyped than ever for the Falcons upcoming season.
Obviously I find the same compelling feeling this summer. HOWEVER,
This season is finally falling into place for the Falcons.
I dont need to reiterate all the points and stats the AJC Sports team have made.
– Essentially two draft classes coming into one season.
– Health (Duh.)
– And everyone growing from last year (K.Biermann,L.Sidburry, B.Grimes, ect)
And then there are points other sites make like ESPN’s Matthew Berry on Fantasy Football.
The # 1 “hate” player and the cover of his article was Matt Ryan. And sure Matt Ryan is not necessarily a Fantasy Football points stud like A.Rodgers (He might be with the pieces in place but yeah) but he has the skills and the talent around him to effectively manage the offense.
Its all fine. I can say it with confidence. Wednesday July 21st, 2010 that the Atlanta Falcons will begin their reign on the NFC. For a long time. Super Bowl in the near future. BOOM!
Be ready Georgia. Be ready… Get on the bandwagon now if you haven’t already because this thing is gonna get packed in the coming months.
HD has a huge season and officially emerges (Hopefully).
John Abraham. He has always been a guy that had has a hot season, then a cold season, then a hot season, then a cold season, then a hot season, then a hot season, then a cold season, then a hot season, then a cold season.. and so after this last cold season, he has a HOT SEASON.. Barring no injury obviously..
M.Turner – Top 3 in @ least 1 rushing Stat.(TDs Yrds)
M. Ryan – Top 7 QB
R. White – Top 5 TDs (WRS)
I know I know… It’s all so BOLD! But It’s happening. So like i said, jump on board!
hiramsaint
July 21st, 2010
9:15 pm
leave your shoes on so you can run when it blows up like it does every year
BigSherm7
July 21st, 2010
11:07 pm
What has John Parker Wilson (sounds like he played on the Waltons) done to unseat D.J. Shockley??? Shock was never given a full chance to show what he can do . . .sounds like another Falcons blunder in the making . . .or is it because the Falcons would have to pay him more than JPW???
t
July 22nd, 2010
2:36 am
Why does Falcon Sorry attack Matt Ryan like the English language?
ASHCAN.
July 22nd, 2010
9:56 am
How can they be so called experts when they be wrong about who win playoff games and who goes to the superbowl? every year there wrong and get labeled experts.So ill say don’t beleive the hype!! you can keep screaming ryan this ryan that if ya want too,without a defence this team will not go far.should have got a proven defensive coordinator in here instead of a rookie who don’t know when to blitz or call basic plays.dink and donk ryan aint all what people hype him up to be then have the nerve to call him matty ice pleeeeeeese.And if you don’t like my comment you can KISS MY ASHCAN!!!!!!!!
FALCONS SORRY
July 22nd, 2010
10:17 am
WERE WILL ALL DA BANDWAGENERS BE AFTER WEAK 6?? AT HOME CRYIN JEST LIKE THE THE FALCANS AFTER WEAK 16!!! HAW HAW HAW YALL LOSERS JEST TO TO SAD!!
ASHCAN.
July 22nd, 2010
10:24 am
Hey CHOKE,come on and join us and bring these bird brains back to reality talking about the turdy birds and matt noodle arm ryan.Falcons got a new logo and it reads,WAIT TIL NEXT YEAR!!!these words have been said for this sorry franchise since the beginning of time.Print that logo in the back of a jersey and the number will be # 0(zero)which stands for how many superbowls they will play in.The falcons? get real!
ASHCAN.
July 22nd, 2010
10:47 am
The falcons franchise is a farm system that sign rookie players to a 3or4 year contract and when those years expire,that player or players go to another club and become all pro’s.Not only that they play in the superbowl.This sorry franchise don’t know how to mix quality vets with rookies and win.They just try to save $$$$ and sucker the dumb divided atlanta fans in getting there hopes up.Then they add fire to the hope by creating feel good blogs such as this one talking about some dumb don’t know what there talking about experts,then fans start saying things such as 12-4 11-5 setting there selves up to get bird dropping in the face.Atlanta have the worst fans in all of sports,so divided and races.
Dwayne
July 22nd, 2010
11:42 am
What does Hitler, Napolean and FALCON SORRY have in common???
They each have one testicle.
Batman bin Suparman
July 22nd, 2010
2:15 pm
You left out Sam Bowie.
Eric C.
July 23rd, 2010
6:57 pm
I really appreciate the Falcons having a very good QB like Matt Ryan…I just wish he had a stronger arm. His inability to stretch the field hurts when the running the game gets stuffed like it did at times last year.
Mora less Petrino
July 23rd, 2010
11:34 pm
Falcons Sorry; Better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. In your case, better to be thought a fool than to blog and remove all doubt. I wanted MV to succeed here, but the man made too many bad decisions on and off the field.
FalconMan
July 24th, 2010
12:11 am
Didn’t this “goofball” write the Falcons synopsis for the best Football magazine out there, “Lindy’s Pro Football Preview”, which is available at Kroger, a few years back? Don’t sell yourself short, Mark. You are a real bonafide Sports Journalist, even if you aren’t on “Around The Horn”
coming together as fans
July 24th, 2010
2:08 pm
Togetherness would be great just one thing (hate) and there is a lot of it in Atlanta. winning will help but the player we have now on this falcons team will not bring most fans along. WHY? look how AJC picking a player every year to throw under the bus. Matt Ryan bless his heart will be loved and hated because how the Vick thing went down all the hate that was throw at him. Not Ryan fault . he should have been the QB drafted five year from now then he would be loved. until the city come together it will never be. That mean every body has to give up something and that not going to happen in today’s Atlanta! TO MUCH HATE!!! read the blogs to get a taste of the hate!!
Media bias in sports look at the QB
July 24th, 2010
2:12 pm
Ryan hear foot step and turn into patt melt. QB are house punk? he fears the hit!
Falcon since 78
July 24th, 2010
11:33 pm
Tell Vick Supporter Vick will never take Philly to a Super Bowl and he might not ever play again if he doesn’t stop his stupidity. I don’t understand how Atlanta still loves that idito when he almost tore this team down to threads with what he did. He is a Federally convicted felon, the worst kind. The wrong team won the Super Bowl last year, b/c the NFL hates Atlanta. Look at the calls against us, both New Orleans games….12-4 this year and 2 trips to Dallas!
Phil4Real
July 25th, 2010
1:37 am
Love this team, can’t wait till footbal season begins.
Maddawg
July 25th, 2010
4:22 am
Falcons Sorry is sorry. Glad he dosen’t run the team. I am about tired of hearing how great Mike Vick is. He is so great he can’t even find a team to start at QB.
alan
July 25th, 2010
9:38 am
Has anybody heard from or seen our 1st round DEVA or want to be DEVA. I thought we drafted a quality linebacker that wanted to contribute to the teams sucess instead of being a big head that wants to be one of the last first round picks to sign-NOW THATS A TEAM PLAYER IF EVER I SAW ONE.
I guess the Falcons didn’t see this coming even with the advanced notice. I had hoped that he would come to understand that one man does not make a team, maybe we should go ahead and try to trade him for a 2nd or 3rd round pick that wants to contribute instead of taking the LOOK AT ME ATTITUDE.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Falcons Dude
July 26th, 2010
1:02 pm
I have been a Falcons fanatic since the first game in 1966. Every year I hoped foolishly they would have a great year. Only a couple of times did that actually happen. But, now…hoping for a great year is a LEGITIMATE hope! We have a team to finally be proud of, and can finally watch them compete with anyone. Thank you Arthur Blank and Thomas Dimitroff for putting together a team that can play, and thank you Coach Smith and all the Falcons coaches and players for being a TEAM!
Da Truth
July 26th, 2010
3:42 pm
Is that the Falcons can’t just show up and be the Falcons. They are going to have to play football. Turner is going to have to show me something! Also, Ryan is going to have to develop some arm strength.
Da Truth
July 26th, 2010
3:45 pm
That said, I AM READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MV777##1
July 26th, 2010
7:09 pm
The NFL has completed its investigation into the shooting at Michael Vick’s birthday party last month in Virginia Beach and he has been cleared to play, a league spokesman told the Daily News today.
In an email, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said, “there is no change in his playing status.”
AJC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! REPORT THE GOOD NEWS SOMETIMES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ESPN has the Falcons 8th-best in the NFL, which sounds low | Mark Bradley
July 27th, 2010
11:44 am
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