ESPN has the Falcons 8th-best in the NFL, which sounds low
One of these two is thinking the Falcons could go 16-0. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
The Falcons open camp Friday. As noted earlier, more than a few people are high on this team’s chances. We add to this growing list the folks who compile ESPN’s power rankings, the latest edition of which has the Falcons …
Ranked No. 8 in the 32-team NFL.
Given that the same ESPN had the Falcons 15th at the end of the 2009 regular season and 10th in the post-draft ranking, we’re witnessing a rising tide. But ESPN’s survey still doesn’t quite reflect the feeling I have for this team.
I think these Falcons will wind up being better than the eighth-best team in a 32-team league. I think they’ll be in the top five. (To be fair, John Clayton — one of ESPN’s four panelists — has the Falcons ranked fifth.) I think they’ll go 12-4, win the NFC South and play Dallas for the conference championship.
For the record, here are ESPN’s top seven teams: Indianapolis, New Orleans, Minnesota, Dallas, Baltimore, Green Bay and the Jets. Four of those, you’ll note, play in the NFC. But it does have the Falcons ahead of New England and San Diego, which is saying something. And it does slot Carolina, which some observers fancy for no reason I can discern, at No. 22.
And here’s a telling stat: All four of ESPN’s voters — the others are Mike Sando, James Walker and Paul Kuharsky — have the Falcons rated No. 9 or better. That’s something approaching a consensus, I’d say.
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128 comments Add your comment
POAD
July 27th, 2010
11:47 am
first
POAD
July 27th, 2010
11:48 am
I guess the Falcons are just going to have a few years of a winning record before they will get any respect.
Reid Adair
July 27th, 2010
11:54 am
Let the self-proclaimed experts predict whatever they want. I don’t care if it averages out to eighth, 15th or 32nd. I’m confident the team will produce on the field, and that’s really all that matters.
Mark Bradley
July 27th, 2010
11:56 am
Kudos, POAD. And thanks for playing nice.
Don
July 27th, 2010
11:58 am
Sounds about right to me.
12-4. You’re crazy. But when are you ever right? 1/10 times.
Stephen D
July 27th, 2010
12:01 pm
Can’t wait to see the falcs suit up…Matt Ryan will have his best season yet, just wait
Asheville Dawg
July 27th, 2010
12:03 pm
Falcons go 10-6, make playoffs. Isn’t that all that matters? Saints win the division again.
joe
July 27th, 2010
12:05 pm
8th is about right…the obvious error is the Steelers at 19…way too big of a number, even without Big Ben for the first 4 or so games. They will win their division and challenge for the AFC title. I can also see an Atlanta vs Dallas NFC title game.
Mike Jay
July 27th, 2010
12:13 pm
Mark,
I don’t get the Carolina love either. I thought you had to have a quality QB to wo win in this league. Can anyone name Carolina’s startign QB?
Falcons will win 11-12 games and 1-2 playoff games. Superbowl victory in 2012.
Yurtle_the_Turtle
July 27th, 2010
12:15 pm
Who cares what ESPN has us ranked? I get tickled when I see fans (UGA, Falcon fans in particular) cry and moan about getting “respect” and such because some prognosticator somewhere has them ranked “x” or so. Who cares? Just pull for your team and get on with life. The Falcons will be fine, regardless where folks have them ranked.
nes
July 27th, 2010
12:15 pm
It’s all about what happened last year and any changes in personnel this year and the draft. The bottom line is producing wins on the field and not in the press. 12-4 not impossible with better play calling from Mularky–leaving Ryan in predictable blizes to be pounded around is not good. Also, Coach Smith can quit trying to get 3 points at the end of the first half which basically cost us two games last year when the other team ended up scoring in those two very close scoring games. Plus player improvement and better secondary points to a playoff team.
Ryder
July 27th, 2010
12:16 pm
Atlanta is still in the growing process, and with the veterans like Turner, Gonzalez, and Abraham leading, it will be imperative that their talented yet still-recovering younger role players (Jerry, Douglas, and Moore) stay on the field and be productive.
Don’t really care about ESPN rankings, all I want to see is Atlanta give the Saints their comeuppance.
Dr. Warren
July 27th, 2010
12:17 pm
Rarely, rarely, rarely do preseason predictions amount to anything. Half the teams they think will be great will be mediocre or stink and vice versa. I’ve made a habit of revisiting those predictions after the Super Bowl every year for my own amusement. Injuries rule the day in today’s NFL. Anything can happen.
Mark Bradley
July 27th, 2010
12:17 pm
I really think the Falcons will finish ahead of the Saints, Ryder. For what little that is worth.
Tweets that mention ESPN has the Falcons 8th-best in the NFL, which sounds low | Mark Bradley -- Topsy.com
July 27th, 2010
12:20 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Mark Bradley, ajc sports editor, ReidAdair, Alicia, Sara and others. Sara said: Way 2 low! RT @MarkBradleyAJC: ESPN has the #Falcons No. 8 in the NFL. Sounds a bit low to me. Not that anyone asked. http://bit.ly/boCXWr [...]
Chris
July 27th, 2010
12:20 pm
These blogs crack me up Mark. I mean really, do people actually think you don’t like THEIR team because you picked Tech third in their division or GA to only win nine?
Does anyone on here know that you really don’t have a dog in these fights? I’ve noticed when writing about KY basketball, you’re not even particularly biased one way or the other. Any of you people try picking games in Vegas against the line? It ain’t easy folks.
For my money, your opinions and predictions are usually pretty balanced and fair/based on facts and in line with national writers for the most part. I personally think they’re still a year away and winning 10 or 11 is more realistic and gets them into the playoffs.
Time Out
July 27th, 2010
12:25 pm
Vick would have this team Top 5 easily.
bigstack19
July 27th, 2010
12:30 pm
Falcons go 12-4 and beat Green Bay on their way to a Super Bowl showdown with the New England Patriots.
NATE DAWG
July 27th, 2010
12:31 pm
It’s about time we finally get our credit for our improvements in the NFL… I cant wait until this season finallly starts. I agree that the Falcons will be at least 12-4 and also will be in the NFC Championship Game but I can’t see Dallas being our opponent… Maybe Green Bay or Minnesota, I am predicting us to win this division and the NFC Championship… We are coming along way beyond our years… I will not eliminate us from the Super Bowl race.
Great Falconi
July 27th, 2010
12:31 pm
Twelve teams make the playoffs. Let’s be one of them.
RA
July 27th, 2010
12:36 pm
I think that all that the Falcons needed to beat the Saints at least once last year was a better pass rush…or perhaps a decent call on that Brent Grimes interception.
rekingball
July 27th, 2010
12:39 pm
I really don’t care about ANYTHING, that ESPN has to say. They are a hack network.
I think that the Falcons will finish at 12-4, at least, could easily finish better than that.
I look for the saints to take a big fall this year. The saints will not have the same advantages this year, that they had in 2009. And if their QB can not play, for any reason, the saints will not even have a chance for a winning season.
I also, believe that the Falcons will win the NFC South, and play for the NFC Championship.
RichT
July 27th, 2010
12:40 pm
Outside of a few analysts I would like regardless of their affiliation, ESPN as a whole has become unwatchable, and their collective opinions mean little to me. ESPN stopped being credible and important years ago.
timeworncliche'
July 27th, 2010
12:44 pm
It ain’t where you start…it’s where you finish…..
rekingball
July 27th, 2010
12:45 pm
I think ESPN put the final nail in their coffin, with Lebron swinging the hammer, a couple of weeks ago.
FalconUGAFan
July 27th, 2010
12:46 pm
At the beginning of 2009, the New Orleans Saints were ranked 19th in the ESPN power rankings.
FalconUGAFan
July 27th, 2010
12:50 pm
Just noticed the Falcons were rated 8th in 2009 also…
DawgDad
July 27th, 2010
1:04 pm
Seems about right to me. The offense is pretty easy to grade based on their production over the past couple of years. The defense has to get on the field and prove itself; defense plus injuries are the wild cards in this equation. No way should the Falcons be tabbed as a potential Super Bowl team until the defense establishes itself. That said, Arizona’s do happen from time to time.
Clearly, the best days for the Falcons appear to lie BEYOND this season as the young defenders mature and new weapons are added on offense. With the potential in-hand for this season, well, times are good for Falcons fans.
Dan
July 27th, 2010
1:08 pm
That low ESPN ranking could be a real problem in the BCS rankings for NFL teams later this season
Power rankings are yet another device to drive page hits – the only sport where perception is as important as on the field performance is when the best teams do not get the opportunity to decide the championship through playoffs – since the Falcons are not a major college football team pre-season rankings are irrelevant
FWIW Don Banks of SI.com rates the Falcons 9th, which makes Mr. Bradley the outlier when it comes to current expectations
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/don_banks/07/27/precamp.1/index.html?eref=sihp
Maybe the Falcons should do something like actually win the division or a playoff gamne before the local media continues to swoon over Matty Ice and the Birds not getting sufficient respect
kerryb
July 27th, 2010
1:10 pm
They put the two teams in the Super Bowl at the top. I believe the Falcons are every bit as good as the Saints. Both of those games last year were close and could have gone either way. The Falcons should have beaten them in the second game with backups. Media loves Bret Favre and the Cowboys. Northeast media loves the Jets. Ravens good blue collar team that I think are no better than the Falcons. I don’t see anything special about the Packers. I think the Falcons are 3 behind Colts, and maybe Dallas. If Favre does’nt come back the Vikings are average without a QB.
Bruce Mac
July 27th, 2010
1:10 pm
Say it ain’t so, are you going to give us eight reasons the Falcons win their division also. So now that you have jinxed two of our teams, what’s next?!!!!
Mark Bradley
July 27th, 2010
1:11 pm
Did Dan just call me an out-and-out liar?
(Oh, sorry. An “outlier.”)
Mark Bradley
July 27th, 2010
1:14 pm
Thanks, Chris. And, since you asked, I don’t bet. I’d be broke otherwise.
Wildebeast
July 27th, 2010
1:14 pm
Where can I get one of those cool hats like Mike Smith wears??
Mark Bradley
July 27th, 2010
1:15 pm
At Smitty’s Hat Kiosk, Wildebeast.
Coming soon to a Home Depot near you.
Baloney
July 27th, 2010
1:19 pm
How soon after the season starts will people start wanting to know why Gilbert Renfroe isn’t starting? Or D.J. Shockley, or why we didn’t trade for Jason Campbell? Just wondering.
Dan
July 27th, 2010
1:22 pm
No intent to call out anyone on matters of opinion such as NFL pre-season rankings – I only diss Mr. Bradley personally during college basketball season when reasons for the appeal of the Duke Blue Devils continue to be a source of mystery to Mark
Reality Check
July 27th, 2010
1:24 pm
Mark, the Falcons do have a couple of Defensive Additions coming back, but this team was a mediocre 9-7 last year. The QB play was not great even before Michael Turners injury and the Defense was iffy at times. At least the Saints have one side of the ball on offense where you say they are head and shoulders above most of the NFL. The Falcons appear to be just around average or better on both sides of the ball. Do you see significant improvement in the passsing game, defense or both that would lead to 12-4 type record?
Just a thought, maybe the chemistry thing would be worth more this year.
kerryb
July 27th, 2010
1:27 pm
Reality Check, I think a 9-7 record against the 4th toughest schedule in the league while missing 1 or 2 of your main starters for a lot of the season is not mediocre.
Sgt. Pepper
July 27th, 2010
1:28 pm
I say we lose to the Packers but still win the division then play them again (and win) for the NFC. Then we play the Vikings in the Super Bowl where Farve has a great game, but Matt Ryan leads a last minute drive to win the game. Farve retires as being beaten by his first team, but goes out on a high note.
Mark Bradley
July 27th, 2010
1:33 pm
I see improvement on offense and defense, Reality Check.
Wildebeast
July 27th, 2010
1:35 pm
That was a very pithy response, Mark!
Mark Bradley
July 27th, 2010
1:39 pm
I laughed, Wildebeast. Fair play to you.
Sanity
July 27th, 2010
1:40 pm
Mark,
Can you really not see why people would like Carolina, or is it just a Falcons hate division rival Panthers sort of thing? The reason people like them is how they finished last year under Matt Moore.
Coop
July 27th, 2010
1:41 pm
Mark – Falcons win 12 or 13, play Dallas in NFC Chamionship and win. Then play the SB in Dallas while the ‘Boyz sit at home and watch. Sweet justice for a lifelong fan now living in Texas. Suck on it Keith Brooking.
skyrock714
July 27th, 2010
1:42 pm
Look at the schedule for this year, The Falcons only play a couple of so called elite QB’s. Most of the road games are against weaker teams in my opinion. Strength of schedule does make a difference. I think the Falcons toughest games will be against the Saints & Ravens. We will all find out soon enough. GO FALCONS!!
Glory Glory
July 27th, 2010
1:42 pm
NFL in the South?????
WHO CARES!?!?!?
Where I come from, football is played on Saturdays and Sundays are for talkin’ smack about the footballplayed on Saturdays.
Leave the NFL to those Yankee-folk!!!
Coop
July 27th, 2010
1:43 pm
As for the rankings, I can see it at this point. Agree will finish better, but based on what we’ve shown and the additions we’ve made, I see us behind the top 7 teams.
ormewood
July 27th, 2010
1:46 pm
All seven of the teams ahead of the Falcons in this particular power poll have accomplished far more than the Falcons. They’ve won divisions, playoff games, or more in the last two years. The Falcons haven’t done any of that stuff. I think being picked around eight or so is pretty good in my book, at least until the games start.
Wildebeast
July 27th, 2010
1:48 pm
It would be cool to organize about 100 guys to wear Coach’s black jeans, black tee-shirt and khaki pith helmet to the home opener. Walk around Falcons Landing carrying a clipboard and whistle. Except the pith helmets would probably turn into Frisbees after half-time and a couple zillion beers. We don’t want Disco Night at Comiskee Park to break out!
FalconUGAFan
July 27th, 2010
1:51 pm
Reality Check-Call me crazy but thats one thing I like about TD and Smitty; they make incremental changes to personnel and allowed people to develop over time. We had some key injuries and still performed ok. We picked up a few pieces in the off season and some folks came back from injuries, but what do I know…I work on computers….
cheshire
July 27th, 2010
1:53 pm
It’s hard to put a lot of stock in preseason predictions with the 2010 Falcons because this team just has soooo many variables. I want to be positive and say we’re going to win 12 or 13 games (which we very well could), but this is Atlanta, and i’m used to my pre-season hopes being crushed in every sport. But i think there are very good reasons to optimistic about this team this year and for years to come. They are definitely in good hands.
The questions: Does Matt Ryan break out? Does Michael Turner return to form? Does Harry Douglas come back and have a big impact? Is the O-line effective at opening up holes? Does the pass rush improve? Does Jerry play injury free this year? What does Sean Weatherspoon give us this year? Will William Moore start, and if so, will he be a solid safety? Does Dunta have a big impact on the secondary? Who plays opposite Dunta (Williams/Grimes/Owens) and how effective are they? Does the kicking game improve from last year’s Elam-induced disaster?
That’s a lot of questions. If most of those work out in our favor, we go deep into the playoffs and no reason we can’t be a Superbowl contender. If we miss on a lot of them, we’re lucky to make it to .500. The only thing i can say for sure about this team right now is that Tony Gonzalez will be solid again. Past that I have no idea – i just hope for the best and trust in our coaches to set the players up for success.
One real positive though – if you look at this team top to bottom, there aren’t many holes anymore (assuming health of course). Compare that to the start of 2008 when there was nothing BUT holes. That says a lot about Dimitroff/Smith’s overhaul of this team. They are doing such a great job building this team and it has to excite you moving forward. It’s made the offseasons almost as fun as the actual seasons.
Southside Lady
July 27th, 2010
1:53 pm
I believe that the Falcons will go at least 11-5 this year and still win the NFC Championship!
Mark – Any w?ord on when we can expect the Falcons to sign Sean Weatherspoon
MalibuGT
July 27th, 2010
1:58 pm
I think the falcons will do better with lower expectations. this isn’t college football where people’s opinion influence where you finish your season. I think the schedule is easier, the offense and defense should be improved.
I figure we can win about 10 more games than Vick Supporter predicts for the falcons.
And I can’t see the Saints avoiding the post super bowl hangover. I think it will be one of epic proportions.
Wildebeast
July 27th, 2010
1:58 pm
Can anyone wait to see what John Abraham is going to do to Steelers quarterback Byron Leftwich, the human pigeon roost. Abe’s gonna be a “Fever Dream” to BL!
All I'm Saying Is...
July 27th, 2010
2:06 pm
First of all, thankfully at the pro level, the best team is determined on the field and pre-season ‘rankings’ don’t mean jack as no polls exist to pre-determine who might end up in the Super Bowl.
Second, I’m still celebrating Falcons getting that lack of consecutive winning seasons monkey off their back.
Third, occasionally you get a team that starts strong and then drops like a stone (see Broncos from last year) but typically one knows by the end of the first four games what a team’s prospects are for the season so let’s just see where we are at that point. Biggest thing is we need to take advantage of a Steeler team without Bathroom Ben and get a win and go from there.
LET’S GO FALCONS!
Dean
July 27th, 2010
2:19 pm
Didn’t ESPN just pick last year playoff teams minus Arizona? Typical, front running, thoughtlesness from the worst sports channel on TV. Minnesota doesn’t even know if their starting QB will be returning to the team.
Ted M
July 27th, 2010
2:20 pm
The Falcons have holes at defensive end.
cheshire
July 27th, 2010
2:21 pm
MalibuGT, totally agree about the Saints. Their fanbase is starting to play this “no one respects us” card, which is ridiculous. I think everyone respects them, but everyone is also aware how difficult it is to repeat.
One of the reasons it’s difficult to repeat is because while no one likes to admit it, football has a lot of luck involved. All Superbowl winning teams have to have things bounce their way which, like it or not, they don’t have a lot of control over. Injuries, when/where you play certain times, when you catch a team in the playoffs, etc.
The Saints were VERY fortunate last year in almost all those categories. They had injuries, but not to any positions where they couldn’t afford them… they started to lose their luster, but not until it was too late in the season for it to hurt them (everyone forgets they lost their last 3 games)… and they played teams who just had epic meltdowns in the playoffs that weren’t really induced by the Saints. Hats off to the Saints for taking advantage of mistakes, but both Indy and Minnesota should have beaten them. Instead, each team beat themselves.
I think the Saints are a great team and they deserved every bit of that Superbowl win, but let’s not kid ourselves into thinking there wasn’t some luck involved. That’s true of any Superbowl winner, and it was especially true for them. That’s the kind of luck that rarely comes around twice.
ROLL TIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 27th, 2010
2:26 pm
Seriously, the Falcons wouldn’t even rank as the 8th-Best football team in the SEC.
Falcon Phil
July 27th, 2010
2:34 pm
That’s an insult—the falcons will use this for motivation to make the playoffs—revenge will be their goal.
Raybud
July 27th, 2010
2:46 pm
I think that the offense will be superb this year….it’s the defense that worries me. Granted, they got younger and faster, but the thing that I and most fans want to know is can they hold their own. The more time the offense can take off the clock, the better the defense will be.
D.W.
July 27th, 2010
2:50 pm
Time Out. You must have fallen and hit your head!!!
Bill W.
July 27th, 2010
2:58 pm
The Falcons are NOT going to win the South.
ON THE DOWN LOW 4 MV7
July 27th, 2010
2:59 pm
Forget about ESPN The Magazine!
When does that “MIke Vick” edition of PLAYGIRL due out at newstandz? Not THAT is what I am talking about! You all know what I am saying!
Delbert D.
July 27th, 2010
3:00 pm
In the NY Times preseason preview series of articles, Andy Benoit has the Jets 3rd in the AFC East.
chris
July 27th, 2010
3:12 pm
New Orleans we face twice and that will determine if we win the South. Minnesota is only a threat if Farve returns. Green Bay….That’s the team that scares me. Until Romo proves he can win big win it counts, I can’t give the Cowboys the benefit of the doubt. I think Green Bay is the team that can keep the Falcons out of the Super Bowl.
Media bias in sports look at the QB
July 27th, 2010
3:17 pm
AJC give the hype but can Ryan take a hit? I here those foot step ah coming?
ReddJonn68
July 27th, 2010
3:18 pm
I’ll take a 10-6 season with Matt becoming the leader, this would be right on scheldule with Peyton’s 3rd season. Matt doesn’t have a ready made team like Brady so time is what this squad needs. We don’t want to pull a San Diego ( Brees ) & give up on a guy then watch him win a ring. Just plain patience will do, just keep putting pieces around him & stand back.
yo mama
July 27th, 2010
3:19 pm
statistics, and preseason polls are for losers! toe meets leatha, lets play some football. i am always leary when the falcons are slotted so high in the preseason. we know they have let us down, more than they have impressed us. i can think of aonly like 4 seasons where the falcons out preformed most in the league. and they always returned the favor by falling flat on their faces. so, stay healthy, and do a better job on first down. cmon!
Heath
July 27th, 2010
3:23 pm
I can’t see into the future because Mike Smith’s hat is blocking my vision.
But the Falcons do have a favorable schedule this year, just like UGA. Should be a pretty good year for both.
ReddJonn68
July 27th, 2010
3:26 pm
Preseason picks & Fantasy football are nothing more than an NFL addict’s quick fix. Don’t forget Everyone had Dallas & New England in the Super Bowl last year, so there your credability for preseason hype . Just kick the ball off please.
atl fan
July 27th, 2010
3:31 pm
Mark Bradley — not being mean or anything but you are such a homer. I love Atlanta sports as much as anyone, and it amazes every time how much unbridled optimism you are able to generate considering our local teams.
The Falcs are definitely a good team, but 8 out of 32 seems pretty fair to me for a team that has never won anything.
Please, temper your optimism with reality!
CTK
July 27th, 2010
4:08 pm
Enter your comments here
WDEnATL
July 27th, 2010
4:08 pm
Does it really matter if they are ranked #1 or #32 at this point? This is why people do not want college rankings until well into the season. When the games are played, the order of success will be revealed.
-
I am not biting on your “controversy” Bradley.
GADAWG88
July 27th, 2010
4:08 pm
time out is nuts. matt ryan beats vick any day
CTK
July 27th, 2010
4:11 pm
I see the Falcons going 10-6 easily, 12-4 if we stay healthy.
NOLA
July 27th, 2010
4:34 pm
Who’s your daddy?
John
July 27th, 2010
5:16 pm
Say it loud, I’m a Falcon and I’m Proud. Being a Falcon fan when they played at old Atlanta Fulton County Stadium it appears to me that WE are going in the right direction. The Falcons need to keep doing things in the right way and the National Media will start and continue to give us our Due.
Mark "Crimson Crier" Ingram
July 27th, 2010
5:34 pm
Falcons just need to slap it on the bulletin board and prove ESPN wrong!
David Granger
July 27th, 2010
5:42 pm
Sounds a bit low to me, too, Mark. But just like in college football, a team always gets the chance to prove they deserve to be ranked higher…and the on-field rating that a team EARNS is always the one that counts. Gonna be a fun season to watch.
falcon
July 27th, 2010
5:58 pm
Pre-season polls don’t amount to a hill of beans. I think the Falcons can beat any team on their schedule, but I’m afraid we might lose one or two that we shouldn’t lose. Who knows? I’m ready for football. I want to see us beat Philadelphia on October 17. They slapped us around at home last year. I guess we’ll see if we’re man enough this time around.
Grady Jackson BarberShop
July 27th, 2010
6:07 pm
Dallas will be lucky if they end up 9-7.
The Vikings smoked em’ 34-3 in the playoffs.
Atlanta beat the big bad Jets in New York last year.
hiramsaint
July 27th, 2010
7:03 pm
the picture looks like jim carey and jeff daniels
tom
July 27th, 2010
7:22 pm
ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?
MCook
July 27th, 2010
7:24 pm
hiramsaint, shows up like a bad penny.
I guess I’d be a bored idiot if I were from hiram, where ever the hell that is….
FALCONS SORRY
July 27th, 2010
7:38 pm
8TH PLACE??? NOODLE ARM WILL ALWAYS BE 1ST PLACE IN MY BOOK!!! HAW HAW HAW HALE NAW!!! THOSE SORRY BERDS ARE JEST STUK ON STUPPID!!! TO BAD TO SAD FATLANTA!!!
hiramsaint
July 27th, 2010
7:42 pm
m cook-i’m from new orleans so you win the idiot honors …LOL LOL
MCook
July 27th, 2010
8:07 pm
hsaint, your not fooling anybody.In any event, ya gotta be a broke d$#@ tool to live on all the Falcon blogs being an aints fan…nuff said.
hiramsaint
July 27th, 2010
8:22 pm
who sais i was tryin’ to fool anyone- falcons fans are fools all by themselves…LOL LOL
Whopper Dawg
July 27th, 2010
8:26 pm
The Falcons are a trendy pick this year, meaning the media trying to pick a sleeper like them a pretty good bit, and for good reason, the pieces appear to be there assuming everyone rebounds to a form once exhibited, everyone heals, the new draftees and I count Jerry and the safety as those and the FAs are sound personnel choices, they could be fantastic.
On the realistic side of the board, there are far too many questions, this team could finish third in the south and well south of NO.
Offense
- Can Ryan rebound?
- Can Turner rebound?
- Can Baker play a whole year and do we care?
- Is Douglas healthy?
- Can Norwood stay healthy and can we figure out how to use him?
- Do we have a second WR?
Defense
- Can Abraham rebound?
- Can anyone else rush the passer?
- Is Jerry healthy and can he play football?
- Same for Moore.
- Do we have a quality OLB? Do we have two?
- Is Robinson a shutdown corner, he hasn’t been for three years?
- Do we have another CB assuming Robinson can play? Do we have two if he can’t?
- Do we have a place kicker?
So, there are major or at least significant questions about QB, RB, LT, 2nd WR, 3rd WR, your only pass rusher, pass rushing in general, both OLB spots, one safety spot, and both CBs.
If the answers to all the questions are yeses, then great, chances are thought this team will have significant holes next year, and quite frankly if TD doesn’t get better in the draft, you may start to drift the other way.
POAD
July 27th, 2010
9:10 pm
Who is in charge of the Sports Vent? They don’t work very hard at their job. Sports is a 7/365 job. we want more sports vents too.
Don
July 27th, 2010
9:11 pm
Look what the moron wrote 5 days ago.
8 reasons why these Braves will NOT squander this lead
4:48 pm July 22, 2010, by Mark Bradley
This young man is about to get going again. Just watch. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
They’d suffered a bad loss late Wednesday, and now the Braves had to play an afternoon game against the team with the National League’s best record on a sweltering day. (Heat index: 106.) They won so easily as to make you believe there’s no way the final 10 1/2 weeks of this regular season hold any danger for this dauntless band. The reasons why:
1. They can pitch. It never changes. As long as you can pitch, you can win. The Braves won breezing Thursday — actually, they did some sweating, too — because Tim Hudson never gave the Padres a chance. He worked seven innings and yielded six baserunners, one of whom was erased by a double play. This isn’t a team apt to lose five in a row because the rotation won’t let that happen. Jair Jurrjens looks hale and hearty, and even if Tommy Hanson and Derek Lowe haven’t been dominant they’re fine as Nos. 3 and 4 starters.
2. They’re buoyant. Not 15 hours after a sobering loss, the Braves had taken a lasting lead in the decisive game of a three-game set against an opponent they might well see in October. Said Billy Wagner, who blew a save Wednesday night: “Good teams are resilient. The heat out there today was awful; I guarantee you the Padres had never felt anything like that. We jumped on them early and kept them out there a long time.”
3. They’re daring. The key play of the first inning was the rookie Jason Heyward going first-to-third on Chipper Jones’ single to left field, which isn’t easy to do. (Heyward scored the only run the Braves would need on Troy Glaus’ sacrifice fly.) Said Bobby Cox of Heyward: “His instincts are off the chart, and he’s got some larceny in him. He’s not afraid to take a base.”
4. They’re clever. The 20-year-old right fielder is wise in the ways of older men, and there are a bunch of older guys to backstop him. Back to Heyward taking third: “You’d be surprised how many [left fielders] at this level can’t make that throw,” Jones said. “We’re a smart team. We steal bases at a very high percentage [69.5 percent, to be precise]. We’re very good at taking the extra base.” Then this: “We’ve got ballplayers. We’ve got guys with great instincts.”
5. They have a dependable shortstop. Alex Gonzalez, nicknamed Sea Bass, had four hits Thursday and made another series of deft defensive swoops. Said Cox: “Watching him play shortstop these past few days has really been special.” Jones likened A-Gonz to Ozzie Smith and Omar Vizquel, saying: “It’s that he’s having a great offensive year, but what I want out of a shortstop is defense — to know that 99 percent of the time he gets his mitt on something he’s going to make the play.”
6. They have a healthier Heyward. He was hitting .251 at the All-Star break, but this is in no way a .251 hitter. He carried this team when nobody else could do a thing in April, and he’s capable of more heavy lifting. He hit .321 over the seven-game homestand. He will do even better very soon.
7. They have a working lead but they’re not impressed by it. Said Wagner: “We play as a team. Chipper has said it a million times, but it’s not one person keeping us going. It’s someone new, a new face in the bullpen, helping us win a game. And we worry about one game at a time, and that comes from the manager.”
8. They have it going in a way that makes you believe they’ll keep it going. They didn’t panic when they lost nine consecutive games in April. They didn’t wring their hands over the lost lead Wednesday night. They press on. They’ve won or halved 20 of their past 21 series. Said Gonzalez, on board only a week: “When you watch the way they play ball every day, you think, ‘This is a great team.’ ”
“Great” overstates. This is a good team that has come to maximize every resource. It isn’t without flaws, but after 95 games it holds the best record in its league. Gonzalez again: “We play hard. We do the little things you have to do. We want to put ourselves in position and see what happens at the end of the year.”
What will happen: The Braves will play beyond the 162nd game for the first time since 2005.
Numbers mean nothing
July 27th, 2010
9:41 pm
“ESPN has the Falcons 8th-best in the NFL, which sounds low”
preseason numbers mean absolutely nothing. For a team that has yet to step out on the field, 8th best is to high.
Angela
July 27th, 2010
9:59 pm
Will the uneducated loser and fake with no girlfriend who is fraudulently posting as “Falcons Sorry” @ 7:39 pm please get a life and get off this blog?
Tweets that mention ESPN has the Falcons 8th-best in the NFL, which sounds low | Mark Bradley -- Topsy.com
July 27th, 2010
10:03 pm
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FALCONS SORRY
July 27th, 2010
10:05 pm
UH OH ANGELA SOUNDS CRAMPY!!! OR HER MAN JEST AINT HITTIN IT RITE!! HAW HAW HAW HALE NAW!!!
I.MUS WRITE
July 27th, 2010
10:29 pm
Lets not jump the gun here, We heard the same predictions last year. Im optimistic like everyone else but we have to actually line up and prove it on the field. 11- 5 if we can stay healthy.
BT
July 27th, 2010
10:35 pm
8th seems about right for now.
The only poll that matters is the final one though and it`s settled on the field.
That`s part what makes the NFL better than collage ball.
Kris G
July 28th, 2010
4:13 am
Eighth sounds worse than it is. Seriously, eighth is actually pretty good. As a long time Falcons fan, perhaps I need to raise my level of expectation, but the NFL has no easy wins.
Sports Review
July 28th, 2010
4:20 am
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Jared
July 28th, 2010
6:27 am
I would call 9-7 last year mediocre. We had one of the toughest schedules and with a couple better calls and a break or 2 here and there we would have been at least 11-5. Also, we were the only winning team not to make the playoffs.…
geno
July 28th, 2010
6:28 am
8th best team……no way. the falcons are still a 9-7 team….until we get a GM who knows what hes doing (should have drafted Dez Bryant moron)….until we get an offensive cordinator who can get the most out of Jerious (2nd or 3rd fastest back in the leaque) and stops throwing the ball to the TE (multiple pro bowls 0 superbowls)…..until we get a head coach who KNOWS that defense will only take you so far….until we get a 3-4 defense instead of less effective 4-3…..and whos the kicker?
Jared
July 28th, 2010
6:28 am
I meant would NOT
Birdman
July 28th, 2010
7:38 am
One thing I know is that it is good to see this team in the top 10 for 2 years straight . Something to be said for what they use to be .
If all stay healthy this year then next year they start there rain of being in the top five for years to come .You gotta love it . THANKS MARK !
Manny
July 28th, 2010
7:54 am
I got the Falcons ranked 9th. I got the Patriots ahead of the Falcons. And the reason why I think they’re 9th at the most is because if Michael Turner gets hurt, we can’t win big games against playoff teams. Plus, I have concerns about the D-line.
Andy
July 28th, 2010
8:18 am
Teams like New England, Indianapolis and Pittsburgh have respect by media and fans cause they have won or been to multiple Super Bowls. The Falcons must earn it. I’ve been a fan of Atlanta since 1980. I’ve seen few Falcon teams other than the 1980, 1991, 1998, 2002, and 2004, & 2008 ones that should be respected. If the Falcons can reach the Super Bowl and win it this year and continue a five to six year run beyond 2010, then they WILL get earned respect. I’m excited for their future with Thomas and Smitty with a great worker and leader at QB in RYAN! GO FALCONS!!!
GN
July 28th, 2010
8:23 am
Mike Jay I’ll go with Matt Moore for the block and he’ll be pretty good for Carolina too. He ended the season very well for them and I would expect him to get better.
Birdman
July 28th, 2010
8:37 am
A lot of you all say that this season will be more to the falcons advantage because of a better schedule .This may be true but when you compare there schedule to the Saints and them being the 2009 champs there schedules are really not that much deferent . You would think the Saints would have a much harder schedule than they have been dealt this year ?
With that said I think Birds will have a 11 & 5 season or better if they stay healthy .And the Saints with there good but getting old D will only win 10 games . Falcons take out the no 2 ranked team and win the div.And yet but another climb on the Rankings .
Rfbrid
July 28th, 2010
9:08 am
I think all your predictions are great it’s nice to see all the excitement out there, I think if the falcs can get by Pitt week one they could be in for a great season. I would like to see the Ravens in Alt week 9 both undefeated and knock them off THAT would be a great feeling.
wordy
July 28th, 2010
9:16 am
Enter your comments here
Sports Review
July 28th, 2010
9:21 am
[...] ESPN has the Falcons 8th-best in the NFL, which sounds low – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blo… [...]
wordy
July 28th, 2010
9:23 am
whoops-
they win 10 or more based on an easy schedule compared to last year. That is if they make the expected improvement on D.
Tebo's cousin's (3rd removed) girlfriend's brother
July 28th, 2010
9:44 am
I agree with Mark, barring injuries…should enjoy this season with Falcons…Oh did you see Tebo..is doing panty adds?
Truth-Serum
July 28th, 2010
10:02 am
Not really they are over rated @8th. Ive seen polls that have them as low as 16th with comments that they are weak at the qb position. I notice you picked the poll that had the lame birds rated the highest than the polls(more than one) that has them low. I guess its your job to put a positive spin on things, but damn, lets keep it real
How lame of the falcons to use Samuel Jackson to tried and draw black support, in a Black city….I got a better Idea, Let get the press to apologize for the crucifixion of MV7 and get him back here to lead this team. Lets see if that will draw a stronger fan base.
Truth-Serum
July 28th, 2010
10:03 am
Not really they are over rated @8th. Ive seen polls that have them as low as 16th with comments that they are weak at the qb position. I notice you picked the poll that had the lame birds rated the highest than the polls(more than one) that has them low. I guess its your job to put a positive spin on things, but damn, lets keep it real
How lame of the falcons to use Samuel Jackson to tried and draw black support, in a Black city….I got a better Idea, Let get the press to apologize for the crucifixion of MV7 and get him back here to lead this team. Lets see if that will draw a stronger fan base.
We havent forgot the clear racism.
Truth-Serum
July 28th, 2010
10:07 am
“One thing I know is that it is good to see this team in the top 10 for 2 years straight ”
What did the falcons finish last year? 8/7? top ten? LMAO
I guess nortre dame dame will get 4 nationally televised games be rank top15 but end up out of the picture as they do every year. Nothing like a press booster shot!
Then reality sets in.
Got VICK?
Falcon Fanatic
July 28th, 2010
11:24 am
I would be thrilled with back to back to back winning seasons for the first time in franchise history. A wildcard birth would be great too. Winning one of two against the Saints would be great. If we could go 6-2 at home and 4-4 on the road that would be great. Anything more than these goals would be AWESOME!!!!!!!
GO FALCONS
Truth-Serum
July 28th, 2010
12:54 pm
back to back
9-7/9-7
Gee thanks. keep the change.
Ken Radcliff
July 28th, 2010
1:41 pm
Dear Arthur,
When you bought this team I didn’t know you from Adam’s house cat. Sure, I’ve been to Home Depot, but I still had no idea who you were. When I heard you had paid over 500 million for the Falcons I was pretty sure you were just another eccentric billionaire with a flair for life and needed to find a tax write off suitable for an outlandish lifestyle. Well, I’m not too proud to admit, I was wrong.
I’m 43 years old and I never remember not being a Falcons’ fan. My older brother tried to sway me at an early age but somehow it just seemed wrong to not pull for the Falcons. Afterall, I was born and raised in Georgia. I was laying on the livingroom floor in the same exact spot for Big Ben I and II. When the Falcons lost to the Cowboys in the playoffs I was a 14 year old kid and I cried like someone cancelled Christmas. I’ve stuck to these Falcons through the lean years like hair on soap. My blood runs Falcons’ red.
Shortly after you bought this team you stood in front of a small Georgia Dome crowd and vowed to others and myself that you would not rest until you brought a championship to the city of Atlanta. I’m sure you would be the first to admit that it hasn’t always been an easy road thus far. We have encountered our share of disappointment and anguish. Even though we have yet to reach that pinnacle it pleasures me that you have not quit in your quest. The expectations are high for this team and for good reason. The transformation this franchise has made in just over two years is beyond remarkable. I have never been more excited about an upcoming Falcons’ season.
What these Falcons have become goes well beyond football. You emphasize family and giving back to the community. The work that our players do off the field is a direct reflection of the values that you instill and demand. You evidently have a knack for making people believe that they can make a difference. You make people want to make a difference. Your passion for life and the beauty of sharing that with others is your greatest achievement among many…..even when we do eventually hoist that Lombardi trophy high in the air.
The signature you have left on this team makes me proud to say, “I’m a Falcons’ fan”.
Thanks,
Ken Radcliff
Don't Drink the Coolade
July 28th, 2010
1:51 pm
That’s it M. Bradley – lets raise expectations as high as we can – please stop the madness. You are assuming a lot things before they are even accomplished. I’m tired of hearing oh we are better than the Saints this year – well this is not 2009 – it’s 2010. Who cares where we are ranked and when was the last time a 9-7 team was picked as the prohibitive favorite to win the NFC??? I’ll answer that for you – NEVA!!
Truth-Serum
July 28th, 2010
1:53 pm
MV7 THE LEGEND LIVES ON.
DEAR AUTHOR TRADER AZZZ BLANK FCUK U!
Truth-Serum
July 28th, 2010
1:54 pm
DEAR AUTHOR TRADER AZZZ BLANK FCUK U!
ONE DAY YOU WILL HOIST DEZZ NUTTZ
Carl
July 28th, 2010
2:38 pm
GO FALCONS!! I cried after Danny White’s 4 second half TD’s beat the 80′ team that was the best we’ve had, better than the Super Bowl team. TD is building a team that will rival that one with a few more defensive players in next year’s draft and F.A. mkt.. Get ready for the ride of your life fellow Falcon fans. No more worries about rankings, just Championships!
Carl
July 28th, 2010
2:45 pm
Ken, don’t you work fo rthe Falcons? I have a friend named Ben in Eufuala, AL who told me about you I think ?
Ken Radcliff
July 28th, 2010
2:52 pm
Not me Carl. I live down in Valdosta.
……..just a lifelong fan.
josh
July 28th, 2010
3:39 pm
A catastrophe of major proportions has to occur to prevent the Falcons from making the playoffs. Matty Ice has the experience (whoever said we’d be 5th with Vick should stick to watching the Braves), the players are healthy, got rid of the dead weight (mostly defensive side) and the schedule could not be better for the birds. Even coming off a solid season, we could have been much better. The games we lost could have gone either way including to the Saints.. Regular season should and will be a blowout…. just a question of who will be healthy for the playoffs and how the guys will perform post-season.
The Falcons are getting a lot of love this offseason. Is it deserved? « control+ATL+delete
July 31st, 2010
2:01 pm
[...] Bradley says the ranking is too low. But what if it is too high? Call me a pessimist if you want, but let’s consider the other [...]