5 reasons I’m (slightly) disappointed in these 4-2 Falcons
This isn't to say there haven't been high points. This was the apogee. (AP photo)
1. Matt Ryan hasn’t yet had the breakthrough season many projected. He’s tied for 17th among in NFL quarterbacks in passing efficiency. He’s tied for 22nd in yards per attempt. He’s tied for 20th in completion percentage. He was very good against the Cardinals and Saints, so-so against everybody else. He’s excellent on third down — he’s not known as Matty Ice for nothing — but as an every-down quarterback he isn’t significantly better than he was as a rookie. (Granted, he was great as a rookie.)
2. Michael Turner is sleeker than he was a year ago but no more effective. Last season Turner showed up heavy and only started to rumble in midseason, whereupon he hurt his ankle. This time Turner reported leaner and presumably meaner, but his numbers don’t reflect the upgrade in conditioning. He averaged 4.9 yards per carry and 79.2 yards per game in 2009; he’s averaging 4.3 and 77.7 now. He scored 17 touchdowns in 2008, 10 more last season. He has scored once in 2010.
3. The Falcons are better at gaining yards than scoring points. They’re ninth in the league in total offense, which reflects yardage, but tied for 11th in points. According to TeamRankings.com, their red-zone offense is tied for 21st among 32 NFL clubs. (And this with Tony Gonzalez, the ultimate red-zone weapon.)
4. They kick too many field goals. Again referring to TeamRankings.com, the Falcons are tied for second in the NFL with 2.7 FG attempts per game. (They’re tied for 17th in touchdowns per game.) This tells us they’re moving the ball — just not far enough.
5. The defense is better but still not Super Bowl caliber. The Falcons ranked 24th in total defense in 2008, 21st in 2009. They’re 18th now — those 474 yards amassed by the Eagles dropped the Falcons seven spots — and their pass efficiency defense is tied for 25th . Opponents have completed 68.6 percent of their passes, which means the quarterbacks who have played against the Falcons (Dennis Dixon, Derek Anderson, Max Hall, Drew Brees, Alex Smith, Seneca Wallace, Jake Delhomme and Kevin Kolb) have been more accurate than Ryan has against their respective defenses. Which shouldn’t be the case.
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179 comments Add your comment
JTH
October 19th, 2010
12:40 pm
UGABugKiller you are a fool. That is all.
MississipiDawgFalconFan
October 19th, 2010
12:43 pm
Two road losses to two playoff caliber teams…we have definitely raised the bar. The is the NFL and Good Teams can look great one week and horrible the next (ala Giants, Patriots, Colts) or they can be just horrible ( Dallas, Arizona, Carolina). Did anyone think we had a Super Bowl caliber team after week 6 of our Super Bowl year? The key is that we get better and start to build some momentum – we have the talent and the coach to get us there. For the record, Matt Ryan is the first and ONLY QB to lead this team to Two Winning seasons in a row…this year he will make it 3 straight years…this cannot be disputed. No other QB in 44 years of franchise history (including the “Best Athlete Ever”) accomplised this.
UGABugKiller
October 19th, 2010
12:53 pm
Notice how JTH, because he cannot refute a single FACT I say, instead calls me a fool.
JTH is one of those morons who call Ryan a noodle arm, all FACTS TO THE CONTRARY.
Hey, some people would rather believe an easy lie than do a little digging to find the truth.
These people are called IGNORANT.
Singletary
October 19th, 2010
12:54 pm
I agree that we need to stretch the field more. To allow those longer plays to develop, Baker needs to give MR2 some time in the pocket… not running for his life. Ironically, I thought having Jenkins back made QB a little more relaxed. One of the patterns was the same as his first pass in the league. Unfortunately, Eagles read it after a decent gain, but it didn’t result in a TD.
I’m not sure WHAT we are going to do against TOcho without Dunta & ‘Spoon. Maybe Grimes can pick off a few Palmer wobblies?
Educated
October 19th, 2010
12:54 pm
@ Playmakers Needed
No, I don’t think they were born that way! I completely agree with you that they are products of their environment. However, Just because they don’t feel THEY can attain success is no excuse to just give in and break the law!! They are not responsible for where they are born or raised, but they know, as we all learn at a much younger age than we like to admit, right from wrong. Ok, so a young kid, regardless of race, born in a single parent low income household will definitely have it harder. HOWEVER, that is no excuse to just give in and join the thugs on the street, steal from others, drop out of school, etc. These kids KNOW right from wrong, in fact ( they also know they can get away with it as long as they are considered juveniles). I am not just blaming the kids! I also blame the mothers who take advantage of the public housing, food stamps, and don’t try to get a job, they don’t try and discipline their own kids. I had several of them tell me, “why bother” I get free housing, free food” why work? They had no desire to get themselves and their children out of the hood. Oh and by the way, I live in a decent neighborhood, nothing special, townhomes under 150k. A family (race not important) removed from the hood, and GIVEN a house in our neighborhood. What did they do, did they even try and take advantage of the situation? No, Kids are still selling drugs, father shot his gun in the air when a neighbor asked him NOT to drive on the grass! So you can take them out of the hood, give them a new life and opportunity, yet they continue to act like thugs?? And don’t tell me they don’t know any better!!
DJ Sniper
October 19th, 2010
1:00 pm
BugKiller, I’m with you on the “noodle arm” comments. Granted, Ryan’s arm may not be the cannon that QB’s like Aaron Rogers or Joe Flacco have, but to suggest that he can’t get the ball downfield at all is ridiculous. I can tell that he’s improved his arm strength since he came into the league, and most of the deep throws I’ve seen him attempt this season have looked pretty good. The Falcons may have some problems, byt Matt Ryan’s arm strength is not one of them.
Also, can we please stop with the gloom and doom predictions? Yes, we looked pretty bad in the Eagles game, but some of you need to stop thinking that we are headed for a freefall or something.
FFFalcon
October 19th, 2010
1:11 pm
@educated….you’re wasting your time……
DawgDad
October 19th, 2010
1:19 pm
Many people are falling victim to very unrealistic expectations. On paper, this is a 10-6 football team and they’re playing like one. This is NOT an elite football team (have to earn that distinction). It is a team that can be expected to compete to get into the playoffs and possibly win its Division.
1. O-line is not playing as well as it has and needs to.
2. Ryan has been timid and has happy feet at times.
3. Outside of Roddy White the team lacks explosive separation speed at wideout and in the backfield. This limits the number of big plays and makes it difficult to take advantage of teams blitzing and stacking the box to stop the run.
4. The defense is very young and inexperienced and learning on the job.
5. Outlet dumpoff passing options have generally been substandard, and for whatever reason the hot reads aren’t apparent much of the time.
6. Turner dances a bit too much.
It may be that Ryan never will be an elite quarterback, but the game plan has a lot to do with that I think. Watching Dallas and Minnesota, there were two gunslinging go-for-broke quarterbacks and offensive approaches. Not going to see Ryan and the Falcons doing that very much, nor are we going to see a Manning style west coast passing attack.
Educated
October 19th, 2010
1:19 pm
@FFFalcon
I know, but I don’t have much else to do today. And I love debates! We can all learn from eachother
Joe Tess Fish House
October 19th, 2010
1:25 pm
I just notice that Duntas last name begis with Rob…..He robed the Falcons of money. Hes a dirty player and injruy prone.
Falcn'nVa
October 19th, 2010
1:47 pm
Some good points here. I have watched every game this year and this one was probably the worst on both sides of the ball. The defensive front got absolutely no pressure on the QB. Kevin Kolb just sat back in the pocket all day and killed us. Any decent QB would be able to find a receiver when a play has an average of 5-10 seconds to develop. Chek the film.. Every play I was yelling at the TV, where’s the pressure???? Bam, 25 yards…Boom, 83 yards… The only time they got pressure was when they gave it to Jackson out of the backfield and when they got there, he was gone. Amazing!!!
Offense, what can I say.. Receivers cant get open.. O line not blocking good enough.. too many three and outs… No passion!!! We are very lucky to be 4-2 right now but every good season has some luck involved. With that said, luck is not gonna get us far in the playoffs. Time to RISE UP!!!!
NOLA
October 19th, 2010
2:00 pm
the falcons are who we thought they were.
smoke and mirrors. they wet the bed 9 out of 10 times we expect them to come through. when y’all frauds gonna rise up and do something big? uh when?
cejay
October 19th, 2010
2:10 pm
we already took you out…..and the other team that beat you. some dynasty….
cejay
October 19th, 2010
2:19 pm
Seenthis, you’re the only aint’s fan that hangs out here, everybody else has moved on. Being that youre on this blog everyday one would think you’d know this, I guess “you’re not as bright as you think you are”
Shinebone
October 19th, 2010
2:46 pm
Matt Ryan is not a franchise QB and never will be the QB Michael Vick was in the ATL. So let’s stop being in denial this fraud of a QB Matt Ryan is.
UGABugKiller
October 19th, 2010
3:18 pm
Shinebone… and what exactly was Mike Vick in Atlanta?
If THAT’S your level of expectation, than Matt Ryan has already EXCEEDED the kind of QB Mike Vick was in Atlanta.
Back to back winning seasons.
Better winning percentage.
Better QB rating.
More TDs per season.
More yards per season.
Better completion percentage.
Works hard, studies film, respected by teammates because of work ethic.
And oh yeah, does spread his STDs to unknowing females, doesn’t have a posse that steals Rolexes, doesn’t smoke pot and try to hide it in a water bottle, doesn’t speak in the third person, and isn’t a sociopath who fights dogs and runs an illegal gambling/dog fighting empire.
Yeah, when compared to Mike Vick, Matt Ryan looks fantastic, ON and off the field.
Ignorant fool.
UGABugKiller
October 19th, 2010
3:20 pm
should be “doesn’t spread his STDs…”
JTH
October 19th, 2010
3:44 pm
I love these fools who think opinion = fact. Also the ones who lack reading comprehension(even though I admit sarcasm and humor is hard to relay online), never suited up for a game at any level in their lives and get mad at someone with differing views. To these people; move out of your parents house, get a job, learn some people skills, grow up. Now, that is all.
ATL Observer
October 19th, 2010
4:10 pm
I could name you at least 20 teams in the NFL right now that would kill to have Turner as their lead back right now. But when EVERYONE AND THEIR CATS know that you’re running up the left hand side and that your mediocre-at-best non-stacked line won’t create a hole there, it’s not hard to minimize him.
Also, this nonsense about Matt Ryan having a weak arm is sad. First of all, the strongest arm QB is not always the best (Joe Montana is the oft-cited example…I’d argue that Tom Brady’s arm is not even in the top five for arm strength but he seems to get by). Second of all, as cited by someone else on this website, how the hell are we supposed to know anyhow when this team hardly goes deep to begin with and picks predictable times to call the deep play when they do?
I do agree though that Ryan is looking down his primary receiver too much. Less telegraphing please.
As I said in another thread, different people have different opinions about different players but I’ve yet to see a single post stating “hey everyone, go easy on Mularkey! He’s an awesome OC!” More shotgun formations, more hurry-up and/or audibles and I think the offense will be OK.
My head hurts
October 19th, 2010
4:10 pm
@Fish B.
Get this straight, DR chose to hit the receiver in the upper chest, neck, head region….is that dirty, don’t know. However I am pretty sure he intended to knock him out. Just didn’t count on being a part of the “10″ count. DR could have put his “lead with the shoulder” into the mid section and accomplished the same thing. He did not. HE chose to attack the most vulnerable area of the receiver…….upper chest, neck and head. Almost forgot, exactly how did they suffer concussions if their heads didn”t meet?
ASHCAN.
October 19th, 2010
4:13 pm
UGABUGKILLER,seems to me you are following vicks every move.What? you must have the news papers handy on this mans every move in his PAST? Noticed the word past is in capital letters.Your one of those people who digs up the PAST and hold a person or persons hostage in your mind.Hope your not married and if you are your wife probably have to listen to what she did in the 8th grade that you won’t let go.
All I'm Saying Is...
October 19th, 2010
5:15 pm
Offense stinks. If its not the personnel then we need to fire the Offensive Coordinator at season’s end. He is getting the least out of the most. Between now and then, Mike Smith needs to tell him his job is on the line.
LET’S GO FALCONS!
TrishDishaWarEagle
October 19th, 2010
7:39 pm
Matt Ryan is who he is, and its a shame how many “sports” pundits want to create a new Golden Boy so bad they will flat out lie about his abilities. Its a darn shame.
marcus
October 19th, 2010
9:32 pm
lets not put blame on any one person the team falcons need to step up they need to play with a chip on there shoulder and leave it all on the field from now on or i don’t see them in the playoffs at all teams have they’re number so they need to change up and take the chains off of ryan of he can run the no huddle the way he does he should be able to run the hole show and i’ll say it again the run is not setting up the pass so let the pass set up the run we got jenkins back now so lets open up
Nate
October 20th, 2010
9:39 am
I agree with most of the points that everyone is making but here is my issue with FALCONS FANS…. Yall support this team but ready to trash them after a bad loss and walk away from this team… Then, when they are winning, everybody is screaming RISE UP and GO FALCONS… Me, I am always behind this team no matter what. It’s too many fair-weather fans in this city and another thing, it’s a shame that I got season tickets and every home game I expect to see a full house meaning no seats left in the Dome… Atlanta needs to come out and support this team like other NFL teams do. They are 14-3 over the last 3 seasons at the Dome, the least you can do is come support them.
Tradub
October 20th, 2010
12:03 pm
I wanna address each question individually, yet briefly.
1. Matt Ryan hasn’t yet had the breakthrough season many projected. The reasoning behind this is because he sucks. Matty Ice is too indecisive in his decision making while in the pocket. Play calling doesnt help (hint hint)
2. Michael Turner is sleeker than he was a year ago but no more effective. This is true. I credit this to play calling. There must be a standard “Falcon tradition” to CONSTANTLY run the ball up the middle between the guards and tackles as if no ones expecting it.
3. The Falcons are better at gaining yards than scoring points. This is true as well and can also be credited to play calling. Our OC must be a Republican due to the “conservativeness” of his play calling. Our Red Zone performance has to get better.
4. They kick too many field goals. As my daughter would say….DUH!!!!
In the interest of time, I would even address the last question. Enjoy your day all…
FITZ
October 20th, 2010
4:54 pm
this is very simple the offensive cordinator needs to be let go he is from a pittsburgh system that
features the run1st thats fine if u have a defense like the steelers. he is not creative enough with this offense MATT RYAN needs to be challenged give him more creative plays to work . He has proven he can run an offense he showed us that his rookie year .Lets stop treating him with kids gloves.
BY the way GET A DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR WHO PUTS PREESURE ON THE QB OF OPPOSING TEAMS.THE GM.HAS DONE A GREAT JOB IN GETTING THE RIGHT PERSONNEL.
NOW LETS COACHEM.
rob
October 21st, 2010
11:38 am
Defensively, they hold they on with the game in Phili the exception.
The offense is ineffective when teams do not let them run the ball.
Run on 1st, 2nd, and throw on 3rd down is convenient for opposing defenses.
When the OC was brought in Ryan was a rookie and this “play it safe” mentality worked in with the transition. It might be time to get the offense moving and open it up while we still have TG here.
Lifelong Dawg
October 24th, 2010
11:12 pm
Wow, I’d hate to see the complaints if the Falcons were 2-4 and hadn’t played Pitt to the wire and beaten NO on the road. Jeez, a win is a win in the NFL. I recall when Minnesota had their record-setting offense in ‘98 yet lost to the lowly Falcons (at home) in the NFC championship game. It’s not how you win, its that you win. Lighten up already. That said, I’d like to see Ryan go downfield more often. The weapons are in place, but Atlanta’s offense is too conservative to air it out, it seems. Otherwise, the Falcons are playing good enough football to be mentioned as the class of the NFC. I’ll take that. After all, Dallas and Minnesota were supposed to be a Super Bowl favorite and they’re cellar dwellers. The Falcons are 5-2 and you’d think that that record was reversed reading these comments.