Needed by the Falcons: A veteran to point the way to a title
"Super Bowl's over here, guys," says the Packers' A.J. Hawk. (AJC photo by Jason Getz)
The Falcons’ season began and ended against the teams that will meet in Super Bowl XLV. In between there were 13 victories, but the failure to reach the ice-encrusted Dallas area — guess we’re not the only big-event-hosting city that can suffer lousy weather, huh? — has forced us to ask: Why the Packers and Steelers but not the Birds?
Well, both Green Bay and Pittsburgh play better defense, though the Falcons’ D looked OK until the night of Jan. 15. And Aaron Rodgers and Ben Roethlisberger rank among the NFL’s half-dozen best quarterbacks, whereas Matt Ryan would be in the top 10. But a talent deficit isn’t what barred the Falcons from the game so big we needed the snooty Romans to number it.
When you send nine men to the Pro Bowl, you’re talented enough. In those 13 victories we saw the Falcons’ best players make winning plays. Indeed, seven of those 13 games were won by seven or fewer points. Note, however, that the six games the Falcons won big all came against teams that finished under .500. For all their winning, the Falcons never once played such a complete game against a brand-name opponent that you stood back and said, “Whoa — these guys are good.”
The Falcons were good, but it was never clear if they believed they belonged among the upper crust. (Believing isn’t the same as wishing and hoping.) Go back to the opener in Pittsburgh: The Steelers were coming off a non-playoff season and were without the suspended Roethlisberger, but they played with a fury. They played to prove they could win behind any quarterback. They played to prove they were still the Steelers.
The Falcons took the ball with 1:45 remaining in regulation and the game tied, but their first play became one of those hurtling Troy Polamalu interceptions. That should have been it, but Jeff Reed missed his field goal. Much relieved, the Falcons won the coin toss for overtime. They managed one first down. The Steelers handed the ball to Rashard Mendenhall and went home winners. Put simply, the Steelers were not going to lose that day no matter how many times they had to win it.
We saw the Saints similarly refuse to surrender here two nights after Christmas. In October we saw the Eagles, working behind backup quarterback Kevin Kolb, dominate from the kickoff. And finally we saw the Packers enter the Georgia Dome and score 42 points in 25 minutes.
Yes, the Falcons beat the Saints in the Superdome in September, and yes, they had beaten Baltimore and Green Bay here in November. It wasn’t as if they couldn’t compete against the big boys. But you could see in those four losses a palpable difference: The teams that beat the Falcons played faster and hit harder. They weren’t any more gifted, but they acted — apologies for the cliche — as if they wanted it more.
Which sounds silly. Why would a team good enough to win 13 games not want to win a 14th, a 15th, a 16th? But the commodity still lacking in the Falcons is the veteran of championship portfolio — in the NBA, that player is known as “a James Posey,” in reference to the sub who has won with Miami and Boston — who can show his mates how it’s done.
Asked if he feels compelled to add such a player, general manager Thomas Dimitroff responded via e-mail: “It would be nice to have [that] as an influence, but [it] won’t be the driving force if we feel the talent is better with somebody who hasn’t won one.”
Then this: “It surely is on our mind.”
It needs to be more than a thought; it needs to be the priority. Of those nine Pro Bowlers, not one has a Super Bowl ring. (Mike Smith does, but a coach can only say so much.) It’s time for the Falcons to start carrying themselves like the champions they can be. It’s time for Dimitroff to find his James Posey.
OK, and now you’re asking: Who’s out there? Well, the Oakland defensive lineman Richard Seymour is scheduled to become a free agent. (This assumes the coming lockout ever ends.) He played at Georgia. He won three Super Bowls as a Patriot. He’d do.
By Mark Bradley
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230 comments Add your comment
Keith Mercer
February 4th, 2011
1:55 pm
In the Steeler Nation the HC, OC, DC, assistant coaches, and players have all come and gone and the they keep winning super bowls. Yea, blowouts happen but this team is pathetic, when they did not kick the snot out of NO in the GD the season was over. They looked great against teams with losing records but when it came time to kick in, where were the Falcons. They never should have signed Turner or Gonzalez as both are burned out, if they would have singed a stud RB they would not havea as good a record but they might be ready to take the next step. They still need new coaches and a ton of new players. Also, I think in the last few years no team has won the NFC South 2 years in a row. This team is pathetic, shameless.
El Bravo
February 4th, 2011
2:01 pm
He knew how to win so well that he played for a marginal school at a second-rate conference. I forgot that the GMAC Bowl was a national championship. I guess by that logic Matt Ryan “knows how to win” since he won 3 college Bowl games and a NFC South division title. Funny, Tom Brady most have forgotten how to win this year. After all, they lost to the Jets (and the Jets definitely don’t know how to win since they haven’t been to the SB in 40 years). The best part of the Brady story is that he actually “learned how to win” by holding a clipboard while Brian Griese was busy wining a national title at Michigan back in 1997 (I guess he took really good notes). If only USC could have won it all in 2005 maybe Mark Sanchez would have been able to right the magic recipe on his clipboard… darn you Vince Young!!!
RON CHOKE MEXICO
February 4th, 2011
2:06 pm
Seriously Keith mercer, Turner burned out! when the falcons signed him, he had always been a backup. here are the stats
2008 1699 yds 17 TD – yeah that’s bunred out RB
2009 871yds 10 TD – ankle injury
2010 1371yds 12 TD hey but don’t let the facts stand in your way, keep spouting your opinion, as wrong as it is.
MaxxFalcon
February 4th, 2011
2:07 pm
From ESPN.com Rumors -
The Oakland Raiders applied the franchise tag to defensive lineman Richard Seymour for the 2010 season, which meant they had to pay him $12.398 million for his services this past season. According to Jerry McDonald of the Bay Area News Group, they may be earmarking even more for him in 2011.
McDonald writes that “it’s looking like the Raiders have every intention” of applying the tag to Seymour again. Since he’s being tagged in successive years, he’ll either get 120 percent of last season’s wages or the new franchise number, whichever is higher.
There has been some dispute over whether teams will be able to use franchise tags this offseason, but if they can, it appears we should expect to see Seymour’s name amongst the tagged.
GABred
February 4th, 2011
2:07 pm
We have players on the defensive side of the ball that have championship talent, what we don’t have is defensive schemes nor philosophy that is innovative enough for the modern day nfl. We play prevent defense all game long and it says to the players that they aren’t trusted and it translate into a passive, nervous, cross your finger personality; that will continue to come up short when it really counts.
dan
February 4th, 2011
2:10 pm
@Keith Mercer
It’s easy to lose prospective at a time like this, but you have to realize what this organization has overcome in the last 3 years. After the Mike Vick and Bobby Petrino debacle, many thought it would take YEARS for this organization to recover, like what the Detroit Lions are going through right now. No organization except for the Lions have had to overcome the kind of adversity that the Falcons have had to overcome. Not even close. So for this team to have 3 consecutive winning seasons,their first in team history; is nothing short of remarkable. At worst, this organization is a continual playoff team, and there are plenty of teams that would be more than willing to trade places with us.
Also your assessment about the Falcons only beating bad teams isn’t entirely accurate. They beat the Saints, Ravens, Bucs, and Packers. But you’re right in that they need to develop more of a killer instinct and elevate their game. Unfortunately, that sometimes doesn’t happen over night. Sometimes you have to get beat up and taste your own blood a little bit before you learn how to get better. The Packers had two early exits in the playoffs in 2007 and 2009 before they figured it out this year. Also, there were a lot of good football teams that underachieved in the playoffs this year: Saints, Patriots, Colts, Falcons, Eagles. It doesn’t mean their pathetic and shamless..but it does mean that they got some work to do in the offseason if they want to get better.
So have faith man. This organization, despite the Green Bay set back, is heading in the right direction. We got a young talented football team as well as an Owner/GM/Head Coach who are committed to making this thing a success. A 48-21 playoff loss is hardly the worst adversity this franchise has had to overcome, and if the last 3 years are an indicator, we’ll bounce back from this all the wiser. This Falcon fan will trust the process. Blank & Co. have earned the benefit of the doubt from this ardent cynic.
RON CHOKE MEXICO
February 4th, 2011
2:10 pm
in terms of TG, he’s had 150+ receptions since becoming a falcon, and I don’t think he has missed a game, so that doesn’t look like a burned out TE to me. Oh yeah, and he went to the probowl again.
Dan
February 4th, 2011
2:11 pm
I will hit the nail on the head, as I watched the Falcons all year I had the feeling of having to pray for the Falcons every time they got the ball to get a first down and when we played the good teams Baltimore, Green Bay, Pitt and New Orleans always had the feeling that I knew they were going to get a first down and was just praying and hoping we could stop them
DJ
February 4th, 2011
2:12 pm
Let’s switch back to a 3-4 just like most of the successful playoff teams.
RON CHOKE MEXICO
February 4th, 2011
2:12 pm
Maxxfalcon, too bad, thanks for the info.
RON CHOKE MEXICO
February 4th, 2011
2:13 pm
Dan, your prayer must have worked, because we beat the ravens, saints, and packers at leats once anyway.
dan
February 4th, 2011
2:13 pm
It’s easy to lose prospective at a time like this, but you have to realize what this organization has overcome in the last 3 years. After the Mike Vick and Bobby Petrino debacle, many thought it would take YEARS for this organization to recover, like what the Detroit Lions are going through right now. No organization except for the Lions have had to overcome the kind of adversity that the Falcons have had to overcome. Not even close. So for this team to have 3 consecutive winning seasons,their first in team history; is nothing short of remarkable. At worst, this organization is a continual playoff team, and there are plenty of teams that would be more than willing to trade places with us.
So have faith Falcon fans. This organization, despite the Green Bay set back, is heading in the right direction. We got a young talented football team as well as an Owner/GM/Head Coach who are committed to making this thing a success. A 48-21 playoff loss is hardly the worst adversity this franchise has had to overcome, and if the last 3 years are an indicator, we’ll bounce back from this all the wiser. This Falcon fan will trust the process. Blank & Co. have earned the benefit of the doubt from this ardent cynic.
ATLFAN2
February 4th, 2011
2:14 pm
If you’re an Atlanta/Georgia Sports fan and want to talk with other fans, check out our NEW message board.
http://www.atlsportsnation.com/forum
We have team forums for the Falcons, Bulldogs, Hawks, Braves, Yellow Jackets, Thrashers, etc. Please register and post! Be apart of a huge site in the early days of existence. See ya there!
crackbaby
February 4th, 2011
2:18 pm
Disagree, Mark. You normally don’t subscribe to conventional “sports journalist wisdom” (doesn’t that phrase cause a phlemball to develop in your throat?) but in this case you have. Two seasons ago, the Falcons jettisoned several vets, mostly on defense, including Lawyer Milloy. Subsequently, the D suffered mightily in ‘09 and still isn’t where it needs to be but the Falcons have gotten younger, faster and maybe deeper.
Matty Ice will lead this team. Go back and look at the BC teams. He is an uncompromising winner with a history of leadership. Hopefully, Curtis Lofton or another member of the D will grow into a leadership role on that side of the ball.
Follow the Ted Thompson (Packers GM) model. Draft well and draft often, particularly in the middle rounds. Get smarter, younger, faster and bigger. Coaches need to step up, too.
Look at Pittsburgh’s D. Can you really say there is a single person who is a leader? Plenty of difference makers (Polamalu, Harrison, Farrior, Hampton, Clark, Woodley) but truly a unit that plays together and is greater than the sum of its parts. Take out any of those guys and the Steelers unit suffers from a loss of that person’s playmaking ability but NOT b/c of an absence of leadership.
Just another opinion from the peanut gallery.
El Bravo
February 4th, 2011
2:20 pm
JSS: “Ben already knew how to win!” He knew how to win so well that he played for a marginal school at a second-rate conference. I forgot that the GMAC Bowl was a national championship. I guess by that logic Matt Ryan “knows how to win” since he won 3 college Bowl games and a NFC South division title. Funny, Tom Brady most have forgotten how to win this year. After all, they lost to the Jets (and the Jets definitely don’t know how to win since they haven’t been to the SB in 40 years). The best part of the Brady story is that he actually “learned how to win” by holding a clipboard while Brian Griese was busy wining a national title at Michigan back in 1997 (I guess he took really good notes). Obviously Griese suffered too many concussions because he forgot how to win at the next level. If only USC could have won it all in 2005 maybe Mark Sanchez would have been able to write the magic recipe on his clipboard… darn you Vince Young!!!
mike
February 4th, 2011
2:25 pm
The three “big wins” mentioned should all have been losses.
1. Hartley misses 29 yd fg in OT
2. White obviously pushed off on game winning TD
3. Rogers doesn’t fumble at the one yard line
This is a 10-6 team at best. Remember, they got to play the NFC West (4-0), and the AFC North (Cleveland and Cincinnati). There are six wins right there. Next year, I promise they won’t beat Tampa Bay twice.
Granted, they are getting better, but need a #2 WR, kinda Wes Welker like to open the field up more for Roddy White. Also need faster LB’s, good at stopping the run, but can’t cover anyone, and a big body in the middle of the D line. Look at this years Super Bowl teams, Hampton and Raji must weigh 700 between the two of them.
As much as I hate to say this, maybe Albert Haynesworth is the answer, but only if Washington cuts him. He’s not worth half the salary he has now, so a trade is not possible, CBA or not!
dshep
February 4th, 2011
2:29 pm
Bradley is a tard!
El Bravo
February 4th, 2011
2:31 pm
What the Falcons really need is a second running back that can get around the edge (Michael Turner is great between the tackles but he no longer has breakaway speed), a topflight defensive end (Abraham can’t do it on his own), a true shutdown corner (Robinson is not it) and a good, fast receiver that can stretch the field (again, Roddy White can’t do it on his own). I don’t care if these four guys have ever sniffed the Superbowl as long as they are young and talented…
Jimmy Crack
February 4th, 2011
2:31 pm
Do it the Belichick way. Draft DEs in both the first and the 3rd round (we need a WR in the second round). Then find a DE who would have normally been drafted high except for an injury and draft him in the later rounds. In other words we load up with DEs and send them all to camp to fight it out. I think reality has set in and we now know that Kroy is a great substitute DE and special teams star, but he is not a full time defensive starter.
RON CHOKE MEXICO
February 4th, 2011
2:33 pm
Uh Mike, they run a 3-4 which requires a really big NT, we run a 4-3, faster LB, isn’t that why they brought in spoon, Haynesworth was arrested for assault today, no way in hell, he becomes a falcon. It’s not a 10-6 team, it’s a 13-3 team, not hypothetical, it actually happened, not in some make believe woulda,coulda,shoulda, it actually happened
mountain_jim
February 4th, 2011
2:34 pm
Compare GB’s recent middle and late round and undrafted picks contributions with TD’s last 3 years. Few of TD’s late-rounders are getting any burn. Don’t know if they are not that good, getting injured, or not getting coached up. GB overcame incredible number of out-for-the-year injuries and still appeared much more talented at most positions. TD needs to step it up. Our OC and DC either need to be replaced or get scheme-transplants, if playoff success is to be achieved.
Capologist
February 4th, 2011
2:36 pm
Veteran leadership?? Abraham, Petersen, White, Turner, Gonzalez, McClure….I could go on and on…..WTH?!?!? Those are veterans. What is Bradley talking about? The Falcons just got BEAT, no need to start pulling these crazy theories out the sky…they got WHUPPED.
Mave2124
February 4th, 2011
2:40 pm
Mark,
Maybe the Falcons need that, but I am not so sure. Look at the make-up of the Super Bowl teams…aside from Charles Woodson, most of the starters are DRAFTED players or UNDRAFTED FREE AGENTS. One mega-bucks player and not a Super Bowl winning player at that. The Draft is where champions are made. TD’s 2008 draft was gold…the past two have been only OK because guys haven’t been healthy. This draft has to be a healthy homerun. We need to find that Sackmaster, Scatback Burner and Deep Threat WR and they must stay healthy. A veteran is nice, but a well stocked team built through the draft is better. Focus on the DRAFT. Grab Seymour if he is cheap, because he would help with the pass rush, but our next star is currently preparing for the draft somewhere.
falCANTS4ever
February 4th, 2011
2:41 pm
dan….the falCANTS went relatively injury free this year…and still couldnt pull it off…do you think Matty Melt could have carried this team without that 1300 yds of rushing?…get real..
Rod Johnson
February 4th, 2011
2:43 pm
It pains me to continue to hear people talk about bringing more high $ FA to Atlanta. Let’s be clear on one thing, the Falcons brass are only enamored with “the process”, which means we will never be big players in FA. Get over it ALREADY. Mark Bradley makes a very valid point…we do need some veteran leadership w/ championship experience. However, we need to make sure that their contracts are cap friendly. Should we go after Richard Seymour (nope…we can use that money elsewhere)? Should we go after Champ Bailey (see above)? Both have been great players, but we have to be conscious of contract amount and value (production) to this team at this point in their career. I think Mike Peterson has been great…but we can clearly see his best days are behind him. If we are going to spend that type of money…why not go after a Larry Fitzgerald whose a “game changer” (who clearly does not fit Arizona’s LT plan)? Yes, we have holes, but I feel like they can be filled with quality FA’s and draft picks with smaller contracts that understand the concept of “TEAM”. When Coach Smith and GM Dimitroff was brought aboard the Falcon Express, they advised us that this would be a “process” and now it seems like everyone has forgotten that conversation and/or phrase they remind us of in every interview. Let’s be patient and realize that we are finally on the right path. We have 3 consecutive WINNING seasons under our belt and it will only get better from here.
Twitter: AtlantaRISE
BirdDaw24
February 4th, 2011
2:44 pm
defense was suspect all year. they had to blitz to cover up for the secondary. the blitz couldnt stop rodgers. the truth of the matter is they are pretty good, but in most of the games they were very lucky.in the packers game they were exposed. be glad they arent playing the steelers this weekend…… it would not be pretty…. if they have a lock-out i will not buy anything to do with the nfl. its time the fans stand up and say we re not gonna sit back and watch this and do nothing.
Mgibby
February 4th, 2011
2:49 pm
To say that Duanta was over-rated this year is a bit of a stretch. He was never targeted( though I will admit that the few times I did see him, he was missing a tackle haha).
I think the playmaker the Falcons need is on the D Line. If we add a Haynesworth, the entire defense would be elite. While I’m not crazy about his potential troubles, his talent and requirement for a double team out-weighs all of that. Hell, Babineaux is our best DT and he’s got his legal trouble.
Hot news about: what time does the superbowl start : 11 News - Your Dose of Daily News at 11 o'clock
February 4th, 2011
2:50 pm
[...] Of those nine Pro Bowlers, not one has a Super Bowl ring. (Mike Smith does, but a coach can only say so much.) It’s time for the Falcons to start carrying themselves like the champions they can be. It’s time for Dimitroff to find his James Posey. read full article… [...]
TD is Overrated and in over his head
February 4th, 2011
2:51 pm
I hope no FA comes in save TD this year because he knew we needed players at these positon 2 years ago when they released Brooking Malloy; however, his arrogoance and ingnorance allowed him to overloook Seymore and Peppers last season. Now everyone is starting to look at his resume and the players he’s brought in to “fix our defensive issues” but none of it has worked out too well.
I wouldn’t be surprise if TD goes out again, like last summer with the signing over an overrated player in Duanta Robinson, and start pulling at straws only come up empty like this year
I predict that if the Falcons do not win a playoff game this year Smith or TD will be gone in 2012. It will just depends on who take the blame. I Also see other suitors (owners) come in and mitigate the situation by trying to lure one of them away from the origanization , which will be a welcoming alternative releiving any potential tension and the inevitable (aka Mullarkey)
jarvis
February 4th, 2011
2:52 pm
The “knowing how to win” crap is overrated.
I believe the last Super Bowl Champion to win a MNC was Jim McMahon with the Bears in Super Bowl 20 (25 years and counting).
freeeman
February 4th, 2011
2:52 pm
why does everyone want Ryan to be Manning?
i want Ryan to be Brady or Big Ben
jarvis
February 4th, 2011
2:55 pm
mike, if the queen had balls, she’d be the king.
1. Hartley never should have been kicking the ball. A punt rolled off an up man’s leg that allowed New Orleans to almost steal that game.
2. If every reception in the League was called back because of pushing off, their would be no throwing.
3. Turnovers are part of the game. You can’t pick and choose them. Falcons fumbled inside the 3 twice this year as well. Can we take those back too?
JASon
February 4th, 2011
2:56 pm
A veteran who has been there is not the missing piece that will magically propel this team to that upper level. An intelligent coaching staff would. We use big name offensive playmakers to try to mask major deficiencies at other posts (i.e. coaching). Every sports team in Atlanta wins at home, overachieving during the regular season, then craps the bed in the big games. Mike Woodson. Bobby Cox…and now…Mike Smith…
Coaches Who Coast on Enigmatic Home Field Success for 100, please Alex.
jarvis
February 4th, 2011
2:56 pm
@freeeman, Brady before Pats were caught “filming” or after?
Snoopy
February 4th, 2011
2:59 pm
It’d be nice to add whatever the hell YOU, MB “Thinks” it’d take to be in the SB in the Frozen Tundra…. But the fact of the matter is, we’re still learning HOW to win…
Coach Smith & GM TD have and are still BUIDLING a winning foundation in the ATL!! Until last season, we’d NEVER had back to back winning seasons.. Now we are 3 & counting..
Let’s be sensible here… The Falcons lost 4 games this season.. 2 to the participants in the Suber Bowl.. The other 2 to playoff teams…
You point to winnning 6 games vs sub .500 teams?? WTF is that!! This is the NFL for crying out loud!! Not like we’re playing The Citidel (Apopogies to the military school)…
If the Falcons WON the SB – you’d be telling all “What the Falcons NEED to repeat”…
Give it a rest already!! Or go back to KY (Jelly) where there’s NO ‘good’ football played!!!
Preston
February 4th, 2011
2:59 pm
Go get Seymour!
Zoomie
February 4th, 2011
3:07 pm
Interesting premise, MB. I have noted, on more than one occasion, the Falcons entering a game where the actions and the body language of the players indicated they were “wishing and hoping” they’d win, but they really didn’t believe they could. I doubt the presence of a veteran winner is the medicine that will cure that.
It has more to do with organizational culture. It’s directly on the shoulders of Arthur Blank, Thomas Dimitroff, and Mike Smith to fix it — mostly on HC Mike Smith. Smitty’s untra-conservative, play-not-to-lose approach doesn’t give me a warm fuzzy that he understands the cultural weakness or how to deal with it. As you pointed out, the Steelers beat the Falcons because they are the Steelers, a team with a championship culture, and every member of the organization understands what that means and simply won’t be beat by a team with the historical signifigance of the Atlanta Falcons. Ditto for Green Bay, who branded their message to Atlanta onto Mike Smith’s rearend.
The answer to getting over the post-season hump is a lot more complicated than putting a Super Bowl veteran on the team. Don’t know why you would even write something like this, as I don’t think you really believe it yourself.
ryan
February 4th, 2011
3:09 pm
I hear AJ Hawk could be available and we do need a WR V. Jax or Larry Fitzgerald .
falcon
February 4th, 2011
3:10 pm
I agree with your assessment that the Falcons could use a veteran who sports a Super Bowl ring to provide some leadership.
We must develop some killer instinct on this team. We do not put teams away. We let very marginal teams like the Bengals and 49ers hang around when we should put them away early. We had way too many close games that we either left to the Falcon’s defense to hold on at the end, or a last minute drive by the offense to re-take the lead. We were damn lucky to win 13 games. We can do better at Offensive Coordinator. I’m hoping Coach Mularkey gets hired away before next year.
Real Talk
February 4th, 2011
3:16 pm
I got the answer to where the Falcons need to look on our roster how many players played in big Bowl games. Don’t think any so none of them know what it is like to make it to the big stage when matty ice was at boston college he would start every year good but when it came time to step up to the plate it strike out. Look at all the prime time games we played we only won one and that was against the ravens. Matty ice need a gut check he got to learn how to step up in big time games.
James
February 4th, 2011
3:16 pm
Any one of these 3 DB’s
Nnamdi Asomugha
Antonio Cromartie
Champ Bailey
&
Any one of these guys.
Charles Grant DE
Takeo Spikes ILB
Keyaron Fox ILB
james
February 4th, 2011
3:18 pm
The Falcons defense played with a sort of speed, agility and agressiveness in the opening game at Pittsburgh that didn’t seem to fully resurface in the 16 games after that. Was this a combination of opening day jitters for Pittsburgh coupled with stong motivation and desire from the Falcons D to upset a premiere team? There were flashes of stout defense against Cleveland, Green Bay (regular season), Tampa Bay and Carolina, but never the full defensive effort put forth in Pittsburgh (save the last, game winning play).
gcs
February 4th, 2011
3:21 pm
Mark,
I think we need more than just one suggestion.
.
BobDawg
February 4th, 2011
3:23 pm
I remember the 1980 Phils had all the pieces and then added Pete Rose and they became World Champs… We need the same type of piece here for the Falcons… Our D will be much experienced next year and just some tweaking with a free agent or 2….
El Bravo
February 4th, 2011
3:24 pm
James, it had to do with Ben Rothlisberger being out. When you don’t fear the passing game you can attack the line of scrimmage at will….
TD is Overrated and in over his head
February 4th, 2011
3:33 pm
@ Rod Johnson- r u freakin insane? who are we going to get to play defense? Any extra money should be given to the defense. I bet you are one of those guys that know Ryan will he ted all the help he get to survive in this ofense because he can’t carry the team alone, like the Brady, Roth and Mannings of the world.
Get it of your minds- Matt Ryan will not win a superbowl until we have a top 3 defense in place to offset his 1-2 interceptions per game.
RON CHOKE MEXICO
February 4th, 2011
3:33 pm
jarvis, “mike, if the queen had balls, she’d be the king” Now that’s funny!
GT GRAD
February 4th, 2011
3:35 pm
Atlanta needs CALVIN JOHNSON and atleast one better player for each of the following positions: DE, LB, RB & CB.
If we lose key players on the OL…….I sincerely hope the coaching staff has developed our recent draft choices; otherwise, we need to address this area as well.
We cannot afford to lose punter & kicker (both are free agents)
JONESBORO SLIM
February 4th, 2011
3:36 pm
HERCHEL WALKER pleaszzzzz the man recieving social security and medica care…”comon man” ….the 2011 Falcons will have to make teams “FEAR” them….
RON CHOKE MEXICO
February 4th, 2011
3:38 pm
@TD is overrrated and in over his head
yeah TD is overrated, he only took a 4-12 team and turned it into a team that avg 11 wins over the next 3 seasons through the draft, trades, and FA. yeah he should have been fired long ago, maybe after the first year when his #1 pick got rookie of the year, and his free agent RB rushed for 1700 yards. Blank should have fired him then, what was he thinking!