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
Newbomb Turk
February 4th, 2011
11:21 am
first
Newbomb Turk
February 4th, 2011
11:21 am
woot woot
Mark Bradley
February 4th, 2011
11:21 am
Kudos once more, Newbomb.
j
February 4th, 2011
11:28 am
he is injury prone, no?
DARNELL
February 4th, 2011
11:29 am
I CANNOT WAIT UNTIL SUNDAY NIGHT WHEN THE BEST PRESIDENT USA EVER HAD CALL UP COACH MIKE TOMLYN TO CONGRATULATE HIM ON BEING THE BEST NFL COACH IN HISTORY!
YOU KNOW THE ONLY THING THAT COULD MAKE THE SUPER BOWL VICKTORY PARTY ANY BETTER IS IF THEM STEALERS HAVE A PRESS CONFERENCE RIGHT AFTER THE GAME TO ANNOUNCE THEY SIGN MIKE VICK HIMSELF!
DON’T HATE CELEBRATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Newbomb Turk
February 4th, 2011
11:29 am
Nice assessment, MB….but Stevie Wonder could see that the Falcons really lacked veteran leadership. I do, however, like the thought of Seymour on the D-Line. With the core group of young players we have, we are only going to keep, ahem, Rising Up…..we need to continue to draft well, and add a couple of the right veteran pieces to the mix.
Larry
February 4th, 2011
11:32 am
Mark,
I think Seymour is a great idea for the reasons you mentioned plus that little extra edge in him wanting to prove to the team that trading him, New England, that he can still lead a defense to a title–and how special would be against the Patriots?
This team needs to pour every available penny into the defense. It is not by coincidence that the two teams playing the best defense in the playoffs for their respective conferences are paying Sunday night.
Touché on this topic!
Fish Bisch
February 4th, 2011
11:32 am
Sixth
Marcus
February 4th, 2011
11:34 am
Interesting. MB, I see your point, but also you have to determine if it also matches a position of need. We have youth and talent at DT, even with a still-developing Peria Jerry and splitting Jamal Anderson between DT and DE.
If there is a vet OL w/Super Bowl experience …..
Larry
February 4th, 2011
11:34 am
Plus, shame on Dimitroff for not addressing this obvious and glaring need by pursuing Peppers last season!
AlphaDwag
February 4th, 2011
11:34 am
No veteran leadership is needed. With the QBs we face in the NFC, we need another DE to help contain them. We can get that in the 1st round of the draft (Heyward/Houston). This draft is full of RB/WR, we can add one in the mid rounds(Quizz Rodgers / the do it guy from Kentucky) and then OL and OLB depth in later rounds.
If we could get Champ to come home for his final few years it would a pleasant surprise, but its not needed.
Rickster
February 4th, 2011
11:35 am
At least I’m in the top 10!
PMC
February 4th, 2011
11:35 am
Dear Santa Claus, we’ve been very good this year. Please bring us a playmaking outside linebacker (or 2)
Would love to have Woodley or Harris.
JohnBRAVES
February 4th, 2011
11:35 am
Yes, I completely agree. Even though we beat many talented teams this year, we never really established ourselves as one of the best teams in the NFL. We didn’t act like it. We don’t just need one guy to help with veteran leadership, we need about 3 or 4.
Rickster
February 4th, 2011
11:36 am
But I still hope you pick the Steelers.
AlphaDwag
February 4th, 2011
11:37 am
If Heyward drops to us, we have to get him. he completely dominated a really good Offensive line in the ARK game.
krishatl
February 4th, 2011
11:46 am
Seymour is likely to be franchise tagged…Oak is not gonna let him go that easily. but i agree, we need someone else on the D line. We have one end who is possibly a year away from dipping down (J.Abraham) and another one who is too busy with some Housewives (K.Bierrman). we at least need to stock up a little bit more. i frankly don’t see us changing our secondary: we spent a ton on Dunta and Grimes just got played in the Pro bowl. William Moore is going to be there along with DeCoud as well. that leaves a hole maybe at OLB, even though Peterson performed well. Not entirely sure about Spoon, but he’ll be given another shot, esp after being fully healed. What we really need: a HYBRID OLB/DE. but i’m sure that’s easier said than done…not many of them around, who can make an impact right away out of the draft, and not sure what FAs fill that need.
Deep South Falcon
February 4th, 2011
11:46 am
Mark,
I agree with your sentiment, but I don’t agree with Seymour as the veteran you get…Seymour is a 3-4 DE, he would not fit in to our D-line unless you put him at DT (which we are stacked at). I agree with your premise, but we need to find a good Left DE that can contribute 8-10 sacks a year. I have no suggestion as to what other potential free agents that are out there, I have honsetly not see a list yet…but I do agree you have to have experience…See the Steelers for an example of that…..and I believe the Steelers win on Sunday because of that experience.
SOUTH GA DAWG FAN
February 4th, 2011
11:46 am
And that vet needs to bo on the D side of the ball
PMC
February 4th, 2011
11:46 am
Seriously Mark? You look at this defense and don’t see an issue with talent anywhere????
You look at the offense and think… oh yeah they are just as good?
NO they aren’t. The Saints have better overall receivers, a better offensive line, and a better QB.
The Steelers have an unbelievable defense and an unsackable QB with blazing speed at WR and very good quality otherwise.
The Packers have even with old Chad Clifton, a better more talented OL… better QB, (when healthy VASTLY better recievers and probably a better running back because he’s got more skills)
The Eagles, have blazing speed at WR and QB… one of the greatest atheletes on earth at QB, solid TE…a terriffic RB and a more inventive offensive coach. They also have more talent on the DL and in the secondary.
Every team they lost too has A TON more talent than the Falcons. Faster, Bigger, Stronger. Working hard only takes you so far.
PMC
February 4th, 2011
11:48 am
Our best receiver not named Roddy White in the divisional game was old as methusla Brian Finneran.
Love B Finn, I’m glad he’s still around…. but that’s unfreakingacceptable. and I don’t care if that’s not a word.
C'Mon Man
February 4th, 2011
11:49 am
I don’t want anyone who has been a Raider the last 5 years…
C'Mon Man
February 4th, 2011
11:50 am
If you look back at the Green Bay film the reason Aaron Rodgers picked us apart was because our linebackers could not keep up with their recievers…
PMC
February 4th, 2011
11:53 am
Our starting RB scratched out more than 1300 yards. 3 yards at a time. Woody Hayes would have been proud. I think he caught maybe 10 passes out of the backfield. That helped the defense stay fresh some times and it also made the Falcons have to convert boatloads of 3rd downs.
They could improve this team at almost every single position. You can take your pick really. QB is in, WR 1 is in FB is in LDE is solid for next season…. other than that….they can probably improve.
PMC
February 4th, 2011
11:54 am
Seymour is getting franchised anyway.
SawThat1nce
February 4th, 2011
11:55 am
Would having someone with a SB ring really have helped the Falcons from being crushed by the Packers?
The Sham
February 4th, 2011
11:58 am
What? No FIRE THE HEAD COACH assertions? This is Mark Bradley’s blog isn’t it?
I guess the 3 year extension this week cut his “hook” off…
Veteran playmaker or not (btw – who is Tony G if he doesn’t fit that role?), this team overachieved. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the ride as a Falcons fan, but we all knew the season wasn’t going to end in Dallas for us. If you thought so, kudos for your blind faith, but it wasn’t going to happen. This team is a few playmakers (at least 1 more needed on each side of the ball) and some more depth, before we go to the BIG GAME.
I trust the leadership to get us there, it just wasn’t to be this year. But thanks for keeping it exciting!
Apples II Oranges
February 4th, 2011
11:59 am
In the NFL adding a “James Posey” is not as easy as it seems. Many time we have seen a McGinest,Brown or many other Super Bowl pieces leave via FA never to be heard from again. That is certainly a fine line and one that TD saw happen often as veterans left NE in search of big paydays in FA years.
SawThat1nce
February 4th, 2011
12:03 pm
In the Steelers and the last Saints game, I think the loses had to do more with poor coaching decisions, by the Falcon’s HC.
In Eagles game the Falcons were outcoached as well as outplayed. Also, Kolb is a little bit more of a higher caliber than a backup QB, even if he does play 2nd to MV.
I don’t question the Falcons desire to win, and certainly don’t believe that any other team wants to win more than they do.
steve brown
February 4th, 2011
12:04 pm
A veteran=old. Blank is old and always seems to be on the field. Give the man a uniform, perhaps he is the answer.
JSS
February 4th, 2011
12:05 pm
“Needed by the Falcons: A veteran to point the way to a title”
Well, excuse me for bringing this point up; but wasn’t that Tony Gonzalez was brought here for?
Now you want Richard Seymour to come to town and to channel “Fred Dean and Charles Haley” and transform this defense?
I think the Falcons problems are much deeper than two impact players. Still, it will be interesting to see once the lock ends is what actually gets done…
JSS
February 4th, 2011
12:07 pm
REPOST
“Needed by the Falcons: A veteran to point the way to a title”
Well, excuse me for bringing this point up; but wasn’t that the reason Tony Gonzalez was brought here?”
Sorry
Who Dat Nation
February 4th, 2011
12:09 pm
We already know when the pressure is on, the falcons so called leader Matty Ice or Matty Choke will choke and will crumble under pressure and will never be the quarterback Drew Brees is.
UGA Advocate
February 4th, 2011
12:10 pm
Bradley…be honest….is Newbomb working out of your building or offices down from you. Or has he tapped into your computer…this guy nails the 1st, & rarely the 2nds..lol
Go Falcons…..I really dont know where we could use a another veteran leader…maybe DL, WR, or LB. I personally thought #55 & #88 were our vets on each side. I’ve come to the conclusion that we really really need a flash/scat back….we currently operate in power mode all game…a Chris Johnson type hiding in the draft surely would be a blessing.
UGA Advocate
February 4th, 2011
12:13 pm
….@ Who Dat Nation…..(in Gare Coleman’s voice) “and Drew Brees didnt choke against us in the Dome this year?”
O-me
February 4th, 2011
12:14 pm
Kiss off Sham…………..Mark is fair and balanced. U no like don’t read.
Who Dat Nation
February 4th, 2011
12:16 pm
UGA Advocate
February 4th, 2011
12:13 pm
….@ Who Dat Nation…..(in Gare Coleman’s voice) “and Drew Brees didnt choke against us in the Dome this year
Who won a Superbowl and Who chokes every year in the playoffs?????
El Bravo
February 4th, 2011
12:17 pm
This is absolute rubbish. Should we go get Garrett Hartley (horrible kicker) because he won a ring with the Saints? Can he point the way? The “knowing how to win” line is such ignorant garbage. Big Ben won a Super Bowl as a rookie even though he didn’t win squat in High School or College. Did he learn how to win in one year? We lost to the Packers because we were out-coached and out-played. It had nothing to do with this magical veteran that can play the pipe and lead us to the promise land. I’m a big fan of your writing MB but this is the kind of dumb garbage that gets perpetuated by the established media. It’s the same kind of crap that sabermetrics has been debunking in baseball…
44ty
February 4th, 2011
12:20 pm
the Falcons absolutley showed no HEART in the playoffs! I was ashamed to be a Falcons fan that evening..LOOK, I have been a fan since 1966! Been through some horrible seasons! BUT, I still am a Falcon fan…will continue to be, but, I was disgustedly embarrased by the lack of effort! I really had a bad feeling when the Falcons ran out on the field flapping their arms…..showed me they were all show and no go!!!!!!
JSS
February 4th, 2011
12:24 pm
SawThat1nce
February 4th, 2011
12:03 pm
“In the Steelers and the last Saints game, I think the loses had to do more with poor coaching decisions, by the Falcon’s HC.”
What game were you watching? The Steelers had 7 drives that should have accounted in points in that game out of their 12 possessions. The Falcons only mustered 4 drives the entire game including the OT. They only crossed midfield 4 times out of the 14 times they held the ball that day. The Falcons played admirably that day… That (the Falcons D) and Jeff Reed were the only reason that the Falcons were in that game…
44ty
February 4th, 2011
12:26 pm
Faclons need better players…..stronger, faster, tougher and with guts! NOT a bunch of pretty BOYS showing off their dreds and tats….CB Robinson….how much does he get paid? geezz all show!!!!! trade up for AJ GREEN #1, #33….cant even punish anyone unless he catches them by surprise, need a power back and a scat back too….we need to D end too….Abraham couldnt make the big plays consistently…and the LACK OF TACKLING THE QB IN THE BACK FIELD WE MADE ROGERS LOOK LIKE MICHAEL VICK BACK THERE, HUH, ALL HE DOES WAS SPIN OUT TO HIS LEFT…FALCONS MISSED HIM EVERYTIME! TERRIBBLE TACKLING…BVG..THIS FALLS IN YOUR GENRE!
The Sham
February 4th, 2011
12:27 pm
@O-me – on contrare! I do enjoy his pieces, I read his predictions and bet against them! It’s just the hatchet jobs that get tiresome. BTW – is this the Fox News blog?
Besides, it’s a love-hate relationship. He loves to hate on the coaches and I love to hate on role he plays as the AJC’s rile’em up guy.
Brandon
February 4th, 2011
12:29 pm
CHAMP BAILEY!!!! PLEEEEEEEEEEASE COME HOME!!!!!
SawThat1nce
February 4th, 2011
12:30 pm
I was watching the Falcons vs. Steelers game that the Falcons could have and should have won.
Hankie Aron
February 4th, 2011
12:30 pm
MB- I like your thinking here. Not sure who that player is though
The Sham
February 4th, 2011
12:31 pm
@ O-me – It’s nothing personal and after he’s done crying over my posts, I’m sure he looks himself in the mirror and reminds himself how much of a nice guy he is and that he’s just misunderstood.
Hankie Aron
February 4th, 2011
12:32 pm
Also, could it be that the Falcons just ran into the hottest teams at the end of the season. Arizona to SB in 08, Green Bay in 10
Hankie Aron
February 4th, 2011
12:34 pm
Peppers never won a Super Bowl Larry. Did go to one but came up short
Apples II Oranges
February 4th, 2011
12:34 pm
I think this is the maturation process of a young NFL team. We are entering Ryans 4th season next year. I think we forget that even the great Peyton Manning went 3-13 his rookie year, followed it with a 13-3 campaign and then a 10-6 record. Those where the Colts records the first 3 seasons on Manning. The team in on the ascension. Lets be patient and trust that this Franchise is in the best shape now than it has EVER been.
JSS
February 4th, 2011
12:35 pm
El Bravo
February 4th, 2011
12:17 pm
“This is absolute rubbish. The “knowing how to win” line is such ignorant garbage. Big Ben won a Super Bowl as a rookie even though he didn’t win squat in High School or College. Did he learn how to win in one year?”
Why is that bloggers have to make up things to try to sway people?
“Roethslisberger played college quarterback at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. At Miami, he got a chance to start as a redshirt freshman and started three years of Division I college football despite only a single year experience as a high school quarterback. Roethlisberger holds every major passing record at the school and a number of passing records in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). He played just three years before joining the NFL.
As a redshirt freshman, Roethlisberger threw for over 3,100 yards. In 2002, he threw more than 3,200 yards, and in 2003, he threw more than 4,400 yards. In 2003, Roethlisberger led the Miami RedHawks to an unbeaten record in the MAC, a No. 10 ranking in the Associated Press poll and a 49-28 victory over Louisville in the 2003 GMAC Bowl.”
Tech Fan Since 1950
February 4th, 2011
12:35 pm
Maybe the owner should look at the snow and ice in Dallas today and this weekend and calm down about building an open air stadium in Atlanta with taxpayer money for a targeted Super Bowl. Now that would be veteran leadership.
Andy
February 4th, 2011
12:39 pm
They need a new off coord and a qb with an arm
Really
February 4th, 2011
12:39 pm
Matt Ryan is decent but can’t make all the throws you media types love to rave about in a complete QB. He is good on timing thows that require touch, but improvising and making downfield throws he is not capable, thus will never win a playoff game against top defenses. He will suffice with a good RB and a play action short yardage game and thats where his plus side ends. I honestly think Redman looked better than him last year and has more tools than Ryan in the playmaking department. He plays like a freaking robot, take away his first two reads and he is lost. He is a check down “King”. Could it be Mularky, possible? The defense is fine, Van Gorders scheme sucks! Get a more aggressive attack and Falcons could shine on that side of ball too. So either change Ryan or Mularky or both and get Mike Smith let VanGorder be more aggressive and we will be ok.
papadawg
February 4th, 2011
12:40 pm
The fact that we won so many games this year kind of overshadowed the fact that the Birds are a pretty young football teamm and with age comes leadership
Hankie Aron
February 4th, 2011
12:41 pm
Tony Gonzalez as great as he was and still is never won a Super Bowl.
Jerry
February 4th, 2011
12:42 pm
We need better defense. Improved pass rush on side opposite Abraham. A big push up the middle would be nice. Help for Grimes and Smith in the secondary. Improvement of linebackers. Maybe we could use a little help at the receivers positions, but I also think we can go deep into the playoffs with the receivers we have now. As far as a James Posey, we need someone to be a leader on defense, maybe one we already have will step up.
Hankie Aron
February 4th, 2011
12:43 pm
I can see your point papadawg. For TG it’s this year or never though
That Dude Devin
February 4th, 2011
12:44 pm
The Falcons have enough vets: Tony G, Mike P, Turner, Jenkins, Duanta, shoot the starting O-Line minus Baker is older than 25. How old do you want to go? We need explosive players, young to medium age. We are a well balanced O with no explosion, and the D is only going to get better with age. The team needs to grow relatively together. Any more vets and we will have to do another rebuilding in a couple years and I doubt we would win a SB if that was the case. Thomas Dimitroff has it right: “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.”
TC
February 4th, 2011
12:47 pm
I am so glad Mike Mularkey is a favorite to get the Titans HC job.
Apples II Oranges
February 4th, 2011
12:47 pm
New England and Pittsburgh should be the model franchises for the Falcons. Very boring offseasons when it comes to FA, and build through the draft. Bigtime money should be spent on evaluating talent coming out off college. Super Bowl teams are built in the draft, in rounds 3 thru 6. If Super Bowls where won through FA then Dan Snyder would have at least 1 ring by now.
Mark (another one)
February 4th, 2011
12:47 pm
If your dreaming, how about adding soon to be free agent LaMarr Woodley from the Steelers? He is a major force on the field, still young, and has played for a winning program. Another would be Roman Harper at Safety. A few of the free agents from winning programs on the offensive side are Jared Gaither (BAL), Jermon Bushrod and Carl Nicks (both NO).
I especially like Nicks. He seems to always play on the defense’s side of the ball, and he sometimes appears to intimidate opponents. That’s rare in the NFL.
mike
February 4th, 2011
12:51 pm
I just brought out my violin after reading this jibberish. Maybe the falconettes should draft a doctor. That way he can give this team all the excuses of why they can not make it to the playoffs. The way to make it to the Superbowel folks is to win. Something that is lacking in all the teams of this fair city. Next year it will be something else that causes a shortfall. Hint. Buy your tickets now for next year’s playoff series and that goes for all the Atlanta teams.
MaxxFalcon
February 4th, 2011
12:56 pm
We need Champ bailey, but unfortunately we are stuck with Dunta Robinson who looked EXACTLY like Chris Houston last yr (the dreads, number 23, the Mike Williams play), just older and way more expensive. Dunta should NOT be handed the starting job this yr, he should have to earn it. Franks might be ready to step up and make plays on the right side or in the slot
Pat's Rockett
February 4th, 2011
12:57 pm
Remember in’98? Cornellius Bennent and Clay Mathews ?
How about Richard Seymore and Champ Bailey?
El Bravo
February 4th, 2011
12:59 pm
JSS, you are making my point. Ben Ro is a very talented player that has progressed as you would expect. During his rookie season he had 17 TDs and 11 Ints. He happened to play for a very talented team with a great defense and a great running game. In 2004 he managed not to lose the SB for Pittsburgh the same way that Trent Dilfer managed not to lose it for Baltimore. Right now, Ben Ro is one of the 5 best QBs in the NFL. He wins because of his talent and that of his teammates. If he loses this weekend is not because he suddenly forgot how to win and Rodgers had an epiphany but instead because they were outplayed by a team with better talent and/or coaching. “Knowing how to win” is one of those myths that are so prevalent in sport. Who would you rather have at Power Forward: Karl Malone (no rings but probably the best ever at the position) or Dennis Rodman (very good player, crazy as they come but has a ring for every finger). Center: John Salley (ring for every finger) or Patrick Ewing. PG: Fisher (loads of rings) or Stockton. If you read Dimitrof’s answer it is clear that he would rather have the more talented player than the one that “knows how to win”…
MaxxFalcon
February 4th, 2011
12:59 pm
I’d love to have Richard Seymour replace Jamaal Anderson, but we would need to draft a pass rusher and if Sidbury is ready then let him loose, Abe and Seymour are not getting any younger
Ted M
February 4th, 2011
1:02 pm
Hewitt FAILED his mid-term.
YANKEEGATOR
February 4th, 2011
1:05 pm
The birds just dont have heart none of the name’s mention will help. One playmaker on Off White and one sometimey playmaker in Abraham on D.
Chopper
February 4th, 2011
1:06 pm
Does Mark Bradley work on a see saw? Two years ago the Falcons had veterans like Keith Brooking and people like MB said the Falcons needed to get younger and faster. Which is it?
The Falcons don’t need more veteran leadership. Leadership they got plenty of. What they need is a young explosive pass rusher, a nickel corner who can cover, and a speedy wide receiver who can stretch the field. None of those positions need a veteran in it to push the Falcons farther. They need speed and explosvieness. Those traits are readily found in younger players. So the Falcons need to get younger and faster still, but now they’ve narrowed the need positions to those three as opposed to the whole roster like it was two years ago.
RON CHOKE MEXICO
February 4th, 2011
1:07 pm
who dat nation – talk about choking, you got spanked by a 7-9 team!
Mustafus Hussin
February 4th, 2011
1:09 pm
The Falcons really need to draft well this year! Ryan was a great pick but the team hasn’t made too many other good choices!
RON CHOKE MEXICO
February 4th, 2011
1:10 pm
How about:
Champ Bailey – who says he wants to go to a winner,
Deangelo Williams – who is upset Carolina fired the RB’s coach
And Seymour, although I have heard he wants to stay with the raiders
MaxxFalcon – what’s to say we can’t have dunta and champ
jerry
February 4th, 2011
1:13 pm
RIGHT ON CHOPPER. There are PLENTY of teams with veteren leadership sitting at home. This hogwash is really beneath Bradley but hell, there’s not a lot going on now.
RON CHOKE MEXICO
February 4th, 2011
1:15 pm
Andy and really: this QB you claim isn’t Pro quality, was rookie of the year, Pro Bowl in his 3rd year, won 66% of his games, never had a losing season, hey but ignore the facts, makes your argument better
RON CHOKE MEXICO
February 4th, 2011
1:17 pm
before any one brings up Haynesworth again, he got arrested for assault today, so he’s not going to be a falcon, not like he was going to be anyway.
falCANTS4ever
February 4th, 2011
1:17 pm
veteran leadership…as the ‘dude’ pointed out above…there ARE veterans on this team…i can hear next year’s catch phrase now…..Point the Way….now who’s gonna say it? and whose choir is gonna sing it…maybe Cecil Newton’s church choir….they can do it for free since sCam is gonna legally get paid this year…maybe Matty Melt can get some strength conditioning for his noodle arm during the offseason…falCANTS…
RON CHOKE MEXICO
February 4th, 2011
1:19 pm
Apples||Oranges:
Well put, which is why Blank brought in TD.
falCANTS4ever
February 4th, 2011
1:19 pm
a speedy WR to stretch the field?….who’s Matty Melt gonna flip it to so it can be thrown downfield?
tyger
February 4th, 2011
1:21 pm
Wow! A good idea from Bradley???? We do need Richard Seymour!!!
Who Dat Nation
February 4th, 2011
1:21 pm
RON CHOKE MEXICO
February 4th, 2011
1:07 pm
who dat nation – talk about choking, you got spanked by a 7-9 team!
Wow talk about Choking when we lost on the road when the Falcons got blowed out at home loser, that game wasn’t close in the dome loser
StatsMan
February 4th, 2011
1:24 pm
The Falcons failure to advance had absolutely nothing to do with experience. Their won-lost record was helped by favorable luck/turnover margin. By examining stats like yardage differential you can see that this was more of a 9-10 win team, not a 13-win club.
dan
February 4th, 2011
1:24 pm
Mark,
3 things in regards to the Falcons:
1.BLOWOUT LOSSES HAPPEN: Its certainly not fun when it happens to your team especially on a nationally televised stage. But in the NFL where there is so much parity, every team is bound to experience one every now and then. Joe Montana, a winner if there ever was one; got blown out 49-3 vs. Lawrence Taylor & Co. in the Meadowlands in a Divisional Playoff game back in 1986. John Elway lost to the Joe Montana 49ers 55-10 in the 1990 Super Bowl, and he finished his career with two Super Bowl wins. Troy Aikman got pasted by the Detroit Lions 38-6 in his first playoff appearance before winning 3 out of the next 4 Super Bowls. Losses happen in the NFL. Sometimes they’re big and sometimes they’re gargantuan! And how you proceed moving forward will determine what your team is truly made of. This leads to my next point.
2.THE FALCONS ARE A VERY IMMATURE TEAM: One of the drawbacks to having a fairly young team without a lot of playoff experience, is that there isn’t a point of reference in terms of how to handle adversity. There is a difference between getting hit in the mouth and getting your face shattered. The former can usually be shaken off after the first couple of jabs. But when you get your nose broken, the animal instinct of “fight or flight” kicks in. At the NFL level, for the “fight” instinct to kick into gear, it helps to have a battle tested veteran like a Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, or a Ray Lewis on your team who have experienced failures and success at the playoff level, to overcome the shock. Green Bay broke Atlanta’s nose when they went up 35-14 after halftime, and when that happened they desperately needed a veteran to step forward and say ” WHAT THE HELL IS THE MATTER WITH YOU GUYS!!! WE AIN’T GOING OUT LIKE THIS!!”. Of all the great things that Matt Ryan has accomplished up to this point, this is the one glaring area where he must improve. His team needed him to step up and be the man in the Green Bay game when everything was breaking down around him. Instead he looked every bit of the 25 year old green horn that he is. The NFL is a Man’s League. It is no longer up to the coaches to get you mentally ready to play like it is in college. You either produce or you are gone! And that is especially true in the playoffs.
3.THIS FALCONS TEAM WAS MISSING SOMETHING: The Falcons appear to have a great nucleus of talent in place. They have a good owner, who has been through the wringer for his team. They have a good head coach and a good GM. But that’s just it: the 2010 version of the Falcons were good, at times very good; just not great. They would beat teams, but rarely blow them out. They played good defense in the red zone, but gave up a ton of yardage in the process. Their special teams were good, but no overwhelming. But most of all, this team never seemed to have the killer instinct that all great championship teams have in their pursuit to greatness, the kind of killer instinct that the Packers exhibited vs. the Falcons, where if you make a mistake you pay dearly. For this organization to move forward and be a force in the playoffs, they have got to find a way to impose their will onto other teams in a dominant fashion. That is the next step in the evolution process for this franchise.
MaxxFalcon
February 4th, 2011
1:24 pm
Ron “Choke” Mexico- Unfortunately I just don’t see Dimitroff spending the money on Champ when he already has all that money tied up in at Corner in Dunta and the pending resigning of Grimes
mountain_jim
February 4th, 2011
1:26 pm
If we have also paid for Peppers last year we might have beat Green Bay – or at least had a chance.
Well except for the worst OC call of the year – throwing instead of kicking FG from 52 yards out and 8 seconds left before half, thus ending the game effectively. I would fire Mularkey for that call alone, unless Smith called for it – and yes I know Ryan could have thrown it out of bounds.
I’d rather spend the money to get Larry Fitz at WR, if he does opt out and no trade required, than Seymore.
RON CHOKE MEXICO
February 4th, 2011
1:26 pm
that’s your excuse, you lost to a 7-9 team because it was a road game! LMAO
Hey we got spanked by the packers, but at least I’m not so stupid as to be on a saints blog ragging on them about losing to a 7-9 team! hey your game wasn’t close either.
MaxxFalcon
February 4th, 2011
1:29 pm
Dan- Well said! We need speed on Offense, Norwood being out really hurt us. Bilal Powell, Derrick Locke or Noel Devine in the later rounds would provide great value and add the speed we need as a change of pace for Turner. Speaking of Turner, he needs to fight through the trash better and finish his runs, I see him running out of bounds and getting tackled by his shoe laces WAY too much
RON CHOKE MEXICO
February 4th, 2011
1:29 pm
MaxxFalcon, I hear you man, but that look of disgust on Blank’s face after they lost may make him open that check book, plus champ is very popular here in Ga. It would be great to have him with Grimes playing nickle.
MaxxFalcon
February 4th, 2011
1:33 pm
Ron “Choke” Mexico, nothing would make me happier than bringing Champ home. Our DBs would go from being below average to one of the strongest groups in the league. Grimes would be the best nickel corner in the NFL. I hope to God we make that move
RON CHOKE MEXICO
February 4th, 2011
1:36 pm
I’ve heard that nammbi wants to go to either the Jets or the Vikings, so he is probably out, probably would have been too expensive anyway. Champ is older, could probably get him a little cheaper
Pauly
February 4th, 2011
1:36 pm
Did Cornelius Bennett play that role previously?
Looker
February 4th, 2011
1:37 pm
Don’t know if Herchel Walker has a SB ring, but if the man says he wants to return to the NFL, I believe he does, and play for the Falcons I would hope the Falcons will listen. He is in better shape than most players in the NFL and I believe he would be a good RB but a outstanding LB. Falcons don’t miss out this time! Call the man now and see if he is serious!
JSS
February 4th, 2011
1:37 pm
El Bravo
February 4th, 2011
12:59 pm
“JSS, you are making my point.”
No, not at all… Ben already knew how to win! You made asinine statement saying that he did not and had not won anything on the scholastic and collegiate level. My post was to refute that point.
What the Steelers saw that he still had upside. They put into a system intended to let him grow… They did not nurse maid him. Even when they were run heavy in first two years, when needed they let him go except in the Super Bowl, they took the training wheel off. They are flexible (even Cowher). When they won in ‘08, Roethlisberger had been all over the place (17 TDs 15 INTs), but Tomlin let his QB lead his team. Great teams take chances!
Who Dat Nation
February 4th, 2011
1:40 pm
RON CHOKE MEXICO
February 4th, 2011
1:26 pm
that’s your excuse, you lost to a 7-9 team because it was a road game! LMAO
Hey we got spanked by the packers, but at least I’m not so stupid as to be on a saints blog ragging on them about losing to a 7-9 team! hey your game wasn’t close either.
All year people have been saying that the falcons couldn’t be beat at the Georgia Dome, but what happen when them Saints came to town loser, and how about closing your mouth until your so called leader Matty Choke wins a playoff game idiot
RON CHOKE MEXICO
February 4th, 2011
1:48 pm
Hey who dat, I seem to remember we cam to that toilet you call a city and beat you in your house, by the measley 3 points you beat us by, only I’m again not stupid enough to be on some saints blog, bragging about the win
Milburn Drysdale
February 4th, 2011
1:50 pm
Doesn’t John Abrahams fit that bill? Tony Gonzalez? Having veterans is okay, but in reality, anyone with any sense knew all along the Falcons were a good team, not a great one. Lucky to beat San Fran, lucky to beat Tampa (both times), and extremely lucky to beat the Saints in NO. Even St Louis game went to the wire. But please, the Birds had plenty of veterans.
RON CHOKE MEXICO
February 4th, 2011
1:52 pm
also wouldn’t mind them signing LB Rocky McIntosh from the redskins, he hasn’t done as well in the 3-4, is a southern boy, would probably like to get the hell away from DC, and he would be an excellent backup LB, he can play inside and outside. probably wouldn’t be expensive and add some depth in case of injuries
Pauly
February 4th, 2011
1:52 pm
No Milburn, they haven’t been to a Super Bowl. Cornelius Bennett, I’m thinking, may have played the role Bradley is writing about, on the 1998 Falcons team.
Pauly
February 4th, 2011
1:53 pm
In other words, he’s talking about veterans from teams that kicked some butt in the playoffs, which Gonzalez and Abraham don’t represent.
dan
February 4th, 2011
1:53 pm
Who dat Nation
Seriously dude? Yeah the Falcons loss was really bad. And yes your team won the Super Bowl in 2009. Be that as it may, the Saints were hardly impressive during the 2010 campaign. They lost to a horrible Arizona team on the road, lost to a lousy Browns in New Orleans, and went 1-3 their final 4 games of the season with losses to Baltimore, Tampa Bay( in a game that could have helped them clinch the NFC South), and Seattle( the worst team to EVER make the playoffs). Yeah they beat Atlanta at home, but the Falcons already had a 2 game lead in the division going into that game. The Saints then proceeded to do nothing with that momentum, losing their last 2 games. The Saints are certainly a talented football, just like the Falcons. But both teams layed major eggs in the playoffs and both teams have a LOT of work to do in the offseason.
Southside
February 4th, 2011
1:54 pm
Good article with good points. I love the idea of Richard Seymour in a Falcons uniform. Would definitely complement Abe on the other end.
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!
RON CHOKE MEXICO
February 4th, 2011
3:40 pm
@ TD is overrated, Ryan doesn’t average 1-2 interceptions a game. check his stats
RON CHOKE MEXICO
February 4th, 2011
3:41 pm
There it is folks, “TD is overrated” says you need a top defense to win the superbowl! Duh!
Saints1Fan
February 4th, 2011
3:41 pm
Mark:
Good story. As for Richard Seymour, he plays in 3-4 defense. I’m not sure how he will transition to a 4-3. Also, how old is he? I don’t think the Falcons need to go older on the defensive line when they will be losing Abraham and Seymour at almost simultaneously.
The Falcons need 2 wide receivers, a young threat at TE to groom under Gonzalez, and a change of pace running back. Without those pieces, they will be in a similar position they were this year, just the record won’t be 13-3.
James
February 4th, 2011
3:42 pm
@GT GRAD
Yes the Falcons do need Calvin Johnson even Matt Ryan said at the Pro Bowl he enjoyed throwing to Calvin Johnson and plus he’s a hometown guy but I don’t see Detroit ever trading him they will be crazy to do that.
RON CHOKE MEXICO
February 4th, 2011
3:44 pm
Rod Johnson, the problem is you are trying to use logic and rational thoguth to argue your case, most fo which is lost on “TD is overrated”
RON CHOKE MEXICO
February 4th, 2011
3:52 pm
Let’s also not forget that Smith wasn’t a head coach before he got here and TD wasn’t a GM before he got the job with the falcons which makes what they have accomplished all the more impressive.
Who Dat Nation
February 4th, 2011
4:02 pm
The falcons will get put out the first round regardless who they get in free agency or the draft because they always choke
JSS
February 4th, 2011
4:07 pm
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.”
Man, you mean “the marginal school and second-rate conference” the produced Ara Parseghian, Bo Schembechler, Woody Hayes, and Jim Tressel? The conference that produced Nick Saban and Urban Meyer as well is “second rate?” Go argue that big-time college football mess with someone who cares…
Roethlisberger’s High School coach Cliff Hite said the following: “I’m a nationally known knucklehead.
My son throwing to Ben was a better combination.”
Point, Nobody was going to push Griese off the starting QB spot in ‘96 and ‘97. Anybody who knows about Lloyd Carr knows how stubborn he was to his starter(s). Dude, you can’t remember who Brady was battling up at Michigan! Drew Henson! He was Lloyd’s Chan Gailey moment (think Reggie Ball). Brady competed at Michigan. Brady was the Team Captain his Senior year! He also led Michigan to the Orange Bowl win versus Alabama! He was honorable mention All Big 10 two years running! What are you talking about? Yeah, he saw what it meant to win from the Griese-Woodson led mythical National Champs team… But he saw that too living in the Bay Area watching Joe Montana and Steve Young every NFL Sunday!
SawThat1nce
February 4th, 2011
4:09 pm
Dan@ 1:53………That was an excellent statement,in my opinion.
So good, that I thought that you had ran Who Dat off of the blog.
JONESBORO SLIM
February 4th, 2011
4:09 pm
@Who Dat Nation
Thats a dumb statement to use the word ALWAYS…thats like saying the Saints will always get beat by a 7-9 team…I’m glad you idenify yourself as a Saints fan because thats just stupid….
SawThat1nce
February 4th, 2011
4:18 pm
It looks like Dan made Who Dat start using 3 of it’s other handles, as well.
Who Dat Nation
February 4th, 2011
4:18 pm
JONESBORO SLIM
February 4th, 2011
4:09 pm
@Who Dat Nation
Thats a dumb statement to use the word ALWAYS…thats like saying the Saints will always get beat by a 7-9 team…I’m glad you idenify yourself as a Saints fan because thats just stupid….
Lets look at the past two years the Falcons were in the playoffs
08 vs Arizona L
10 vs Green Bay L
Both were losses but the Saints won the superbowl so your statement is stupid idiot until Matt Ryan can win a playoff game
FreaKinFalCons
February 4th, 2011
4:20 pm
We had a great season! It just seemed like we had no finish off the opponant mantality. We did not put a complete game together all season long. We won the most of the games by being able to run the ball,But we the opponant created a good lead we struggled keeping up having to pass the football.We have talent on the grid iron but we dont have many opposite side threats to complement them. One side we have Roddy the other side we have who was that guy (exactly)! We got Abraham on one side and a whole bunch of folks that cant seem to find the quarterback.If we are going to be a superbowl team we need to correct that PERIOD! I do think we could benifit from Seymour and though he getting up in age Champ Baliey would certainly stablelize our secondary and provide vetran leadership in that part of our team that certainly needs it. Vincent Jackson or Randy Moss are other possible thoughts. We’ll gettem next year!!!!!!!
Hot news about: what time does the superbowl start | autoloanconsolidations.com
February 4th, 2011
4:22 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… [...]
Peter
February 4th, 2011
4:23 pm
Matt Ryan is the issue along with the O coordinator. At the beginning of the season Matt looked bad and eventually at the end the same.
Boring play calling is part of the issue….. slow RBs part of the issue…….Norwood being hurt last two years means we don’t have a change of pace back.
We also can’t pressure or sack the QB regularly, and somehow the blitzers keep missing as in the New Orleans and Green Bay games.
Also what happened to our Shut down corner from Houston ?????
I am nor unhappy in general, so hopefully some new additions we can keep moving forward toward what all want……… A SUPER BOWL VICTORY !
SawThat1nce
February 4th, 2011
4:26 pm
Saints1 @3:41pm………..I sincerely hope that the Falcons will be in a similar position in the standings, in the next season that they play, as they were at the end of the regular season this past year.
StatsMan
February 4th, 2011
4:31 pm
You’re all making this too complicated. Quarterbacks don’t win games. Experience doesn’t win games. TEAMS win games. The Falcons team was not that good in 2010. They out-gained their opponents by 140 yards – about the same differential of a nine-win club. They must improve their talent to be an elite team – their luck from this season (turnover ratio) will not continue.
JONESBORO SLIM
February 4th, 2011
4:32 pm
@Who Dat Nation
Your statement…..”Both were losses but the Saints won the superbowl so your statement is stupid idiot until Matt Ryan can win a playoff game”
A statement anyone would find stupid…now heres mine “the Saint will never make another SB bid because they they choked to a 7-9 team..the first time its this has happen in NFL history”
Who Dat Nation
February 4th, 2011
4:39 pm
JONESBORO SLIM
February 4th, 2011
4:32 pm
@Who Dat Nation
Your statement…..”Both were losses but the Saints won the superbowl so your statement is stupid idiot until Matt Ryan can win a playoff game”
A statement anyone would find stupid…now heres mine “the Saint will never make another SB bid because they they choked to a 7-9 team..the first time its this has happen in NFL history”
Here is the truth Matt Ryan hasn’t won a playoff game so he and the Falcons are overrated just like everybody else thinks
SawThat1nce
February 4th, 2011
4:39 pm
Sometimes I wonder, how long is this/these saintsfan/s going to live off of this “we won the 09 SB” thing?
JONESBORO SLIM
February 4th, 2011
4:52 pm
Who Dat Nation
The young man been in the NFL 3 years….Brees was cut by SD and came to NO… 3 years later you won the SB…..I’m with you SawThat1nce…
Tweets that mention Needed by the Falcons: A veteran to point the way to a title | Mark Bradley -- Topsy.com
February 4th, 2011
5:12 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Mark Bradley, Hoss Martin. Hoss Martin said: Needed by the Falcons: A veteran to point the way to a title | Mark Bradley http://t.co/G2MDywM [...]
Last
February 4th, 2011
5:23 pm
Last
Delbert D.
February 4th, 2011
6:04 pm
Seymour is 31. He missed the last 2 games of 2010, and in the last 5 he played, he recorded only 9 total tackles and 1 sack.
Hasni Mubarak
February 4th, 2011
6:11 pm
C’mon guys. Give me just one more chance!
El Bravo
February 4th, 2011
6:12 pm
JSS: “But he saw that too living in the Bay Area watching Joe Montana and Steve Young every NFL Sunday” I guess I missed my call as an NFL QB; after all, I did live in Dallas during the Aikman years. Nothing teaches you “how to win” like seating on section 317, row 12 on Sunday… Imagine how good he could have been had he been able to get Direct TV’s NFL Sunday Ticket!!!
El Bravo
February 4th, 2011
6:27 pm
And think how much better Michigan could have been in 1997 had Carr not been so stubborn sticking with Griese? They could have won it all!!! wait a minute…
Falconsfan13
February 4th, 2011
6:28 pm
I said it a lot during the regular season that we had a good mix of young and veteran guys, but none of our veterans had any real postseason success. Even our best veteran, and one of our best players, Tony G has NO postseason success. I do think that it should be a point of emphasis, but only if the we can find the right guy to do so. Seymour doesn’t fit our system, so he is more than likely out. I would like to see us get a lot bigger and stronger on defense however, and Seymour would definitely help in that aspect. we need help on the D-line. History suggests that Abe is not going to have a good year coming up, and he will probably get hurt. Biermann, simply didn’t produce the way we hoped he would. I think at DE, we should really look at Cal DE Cameron Jordan. The kid is a beast. Unfortunately he looks to be a top 10 pick. But BIGGER and STRONGER is what need to strive for on D!!!!!!!!
El Bravo
February 4th, 2011
6:31 pm
And yes, the MAC is second rate. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t any good players and/or coaches there it just means that the conference is neither top heavy in talent nor deep in talent…
5150 UOAD
February 4th, 2011
7:06 pm
I hear there is a DEAD DAWG in Athens! Big Bad Bruce is Real Big and Fat. Bruce is Bad in the Health department. Well he is B.R.U C.E. HAHAHAHAH DEAD DAWG and he AIN’T No DAMN GOOD DAWG just look at his record. HAHAHAHAHHA. I LOVE DOGS but I hate the INBRED mutts Sonny S call Ugas. He has made a sickly bread and the UGA fans think it is OK, but UGA has a VET school that knows better.
WHAT IS THE GOOD WORD?
To Hell with Georgia.
How bout them Dawgs?
PI$$ on them.
wilhelm
February 4th, 2011
7:44 pm
Get the talent. Leadership/experience will follow.
Singletary
February 4th, 2011
7:45 pm
That sinking feeling in my stomach comes, not from MB’s uninspired article, but by the looming giant elephantisis (or whatever that disease is) of Tampa Bay looming in my rearview mirror. People, Richard Seymour and 18 of his beefy friends could not fix this … and I despise TB.
Indiana Girl
February 4th, 2011
7:50 pm
Will the Falcons’ fans ever be satisfied? I think not. Atlanta should be incredibly proud that we went from a team on the verge of extinction (with a quarterback in jail and a coach that left during the season) to a first class organization with an impressive record. The “fans” here will not be happy with any team that doesn’t win the Superbowl. If those writing articles for the AJC and sitting around watching the games think they can do a better job of coaching and playing, why aren’t they getting paid millions of dollars to do just that – coach and play?
JSS
February 4th, 2011
7:51 pm
El Bravo
February 4th, 2011
6:12 pm
“JSS: “But he saw that too living in the Bay Area watching Joe Montana and Steve Young every NFL Sunday” I guess I missed my call as an NFL QB; after all, I did live in Dallas during the Aikman years. Nothing teaches you “how to win” like seating on section 317, row 12 on Sunday… Imagine how good he could have been had he been able to get Direct TV’s NFL Sunday Ticket!!!”
From a January 25, 2008 article that appeared in the NY Daily News…
Tom Brady’s older sister Maureen (who was an All Bay area/ N. CA athlete in her own right) speaking on how developed into the All-Pro QB:
“I just cannot believe that my brother is going back to his fourth Super Bowl. It just doesn’t connect, the star thing and the brother thing,” says Maureen, who still remembers the young Tommy who used to climb the light pole at the local softball field to get a bird’s-eye view as she pitched. “People are comparing him to Joe Montana and I’m like, ‘Oh, my God, Joe Montana.’ Our family worshiped Joe Montana.”
“Indeed, the Bradys owned 49ers season tickets for 20-plus years. Just last week, Brady reflected on those halcyon days, recalling how he studied his idol through binoculars from the 10th-to-last row atop the old Candlestick Park.”
An observation on Brady’s drive:
Brady fine-tuned his mechanics, improved his agility and wound up starting his junior and senior years. His statistics weren’t jaw-dropping and the team went 6-4 and 5-5, but he still attracted some Division I schools. He wanted the big time.
“If you want to play with the big boys,” Brady wrote in his high-school yearbook, “you’ve got to learn to play in the tall grass.”
Southern Cal offensive coordinator Mike Riley wanted him, but he couldn’t convince head coach John Robinson – a Serra alum, no less – that Brady was worth a full ride. Michigan pounced, and Brady slowly worked his way up the depth chart, battling, even sharing playing time with Brian Griese and Drew Henson.
Who knew? “Before our sophomore year, over the summer, it’s like someone flipped a switch,” says John Kirby, one of Brady’s old high-school receivers. “You could tell he had a chance to be something special.”
In your next incarnation (El Bravo), buy better binoculars…
Historian
February 4th, 2011
7:53 pm
Our team is cursed. Has to be. The curse of Rankin Smith? Perhaps. This team can’t get it done. If any fan watched the regular season, it was obvious we would be “one and gone” regardless of what team we played in the playoffs. What’s wrong? Let’s start at the top. These facts are historical ones as pertain to the Atlanta Falcons. Owner, Arthur Blank. Never won a playoff game. General Manager Thomas Dimittroff. Never won a playoff game Head Coach Mike Smith. Never won a playoff game. Anybody see a pattern forming here? Quarterback Matt Ryan. Never won a playoff game. It’s got to start somewhere people, besides next year’s 3rd round draft pick!
Matt overrated Ryan
February 4th, 2011
7:57 pm
The falcon has had there 15 min. in the sun they are all air!!
Historian
February 4th, 2011
8:10 pm
Perhaps I should continue here. Owner Arthur Blank. No prior NFL experience as the owner of a NFL franchise. General Manager Thomas Dimitroff. No prior experience as the General Manager of a NFL franchise. Head Coach Mike Smith. No prior experience as the Head Coach of a NFL franchise. Do I perceive an utter and complete lack of NFL experience here??
Historian
February 4th, 2011
8:36 pm
It appears Falcon Fanatics are all out on the town tonight. Has this been going on since our performance against Green Bay?? So, lastly, the drafting of quarterback Matt Ryan. The Anti-Vick!!
The choir boy looking — and perhaps acting — noodle-armed, intellectual, strong charactered QB from Boston College. A few well intentioned pointers. The play is not necessarily over if nothing is open after the 3, 5, or 7 step drop! True, you are not strong enough to shake off would be tacklers. You are not fast enough to effectively scramble for yards. But you can learn to side step the initial onslaught. Seems to work better than “stepping up” into the pocket in most situations. A. Rodgers is the master of this move — as he proved against the Falcons. That’s all. GO FALCONS!!
dirtyo11
February 4th, 2011
8:43 pm
Falcons do need another veteran DE, OLB, & WR (slot/speed) I’m not a big fan of the draft, even though you can get a good player in the draft. Players out of college are not proven but we know what a veteran can do. The Falcons might need to trade their 1st rnd pick for a proven DE, OLB or WR with less than 5 yrs in the league.
WE all have seen a top notch draft come into the league and look like hot garbage….Jamal Anderson(need I say more). Maybe we can get one of the giants DE, they got 3 that can start with any team. Just think if we would of picked up Peppers last yr.
Steve Smith might be available but I don’t think the panthers will deal him to us, we need some speed on the offense and let Norwood go so he can be on another team IR list every year.
Ron Choke Mexico
February 4th, 2011
8:56 pm
Historian,
what’s your point, Sorry I assume you have a point in there somewhere. Is the point, the falcons won’t ever be successful because they have no experience inlcuding the owner, GM, and coach?
dirtyo11
February 4th, 2011
8:56 pm
I’m not hating on Brady but I don’t think he is all that…..I KNOW HE GOT SUPERBOWL RINGS AND MVP. Has anyone beside me noticed that his O line has been one of the top O lines in the league since he been there.
Brady look like an below avg QB when he have to scramble but he look like an Hall Of Fame QB when he get to sit in the pocket without pressure. You never see him scramble to the right or left, fight off tackles or roll out and complete a pass.
I think Brady is in a good system. Casel stepped in and look just as good as Brady did in the games he started when he was in NE.
NO I”M NOT A BRADY HATER, but look at Manning he has a good line too but his happy feet will move in the pocket and then complete a pass. I think Rothlenburger (however you speel it) is a better QB than both of them and I hate the Steelers. He will try to complete the pas even when he falling or with D players hanging all over him. Brady is always falling when he feel the D touch him, he never try to get away. Put Big Ben in NE and see what he would do
Ron Choke Mexico
February 4th, 2011
8:59 pm
Matt Overrated Ryan,
which 15 minutes of fame, the rookie of the year award? winning 66% of your games? going to the probowl, or winning the NFC south?
Ron Choke Mexico
February 4th, 2011
9:11 pm
Historian, So let’s see your point seems to be an inexperienced owner hires an inexperienced GM who hires an inexperienced Head Coach and together they draft an inexperienced QB and because of that nothing good can happen… which may be what happens in your make believe world you live in.. but let’s look at the “historical” facts shall we. 1st year the inexperienced bunch goes 11-5, QB gets rookie of the year, coach gets “coach of the year”, and they make the playoffs. How did they do it? Next year, they go 9-7, don’t make the playoffs but give this hard luck franchise their first back-toback winning seasons. you’ve got to be asking yourself, how did they do it. 3rd year, they go 13-3, third winning season in row since the inexperienced team got together, win the NFC south, send 9 players to the ProBowl, and suffer a terrible loss to the green bay packers. You got to be asking yourself, how did this inexperienced bunch win 66% of their games in the NFL with no experience! we’ll I guess it comes down to is, you’re an idiot
Ron Choke Mexico
February 4th, 2011
9:23 pm
My point is “historian”, for a bunch of inexperienced guys, they sure seem to have done pretty well against all those big, bad experienced owners, GM’s, and coaches. as a matter of fact, only 3 or 4 teams have a better win/loss record over that time span. I think the falcons are tied with the steelers no less, for regular season wins/losses in that time frame. And that Mr. historian is a historical fact. Not bad for a bunch of inexperienced guys wouldn’t you say? Come on, give my falcons some love, and by the way, you’re still an idiot.
TD is Overrated and in over his head
February 4th, 2011
9:29 pm
@Ron “Choke Mexico- how many playoffs have your hero Matt Ryan , Mike Smike and TD won in the last 3 years…1,2 3 or 4? Just taking a wild guess. Remembe we had a WHOLE freakin week off, plus home field advantage and millions watching, not to mention no majors injuries to the offense since September.
ronny dale
February 4th, 2011
9:31 pm
the atlanta falcons will see a super bowl before it is over and done with, mr. blank is very hungry for a championship and with the money that he has he will get the right players to do the job for him, the falcons has never had a hungry owner as they do now, the birds will rise a higher notch next year
BRIAN
February 4th, 2011
9:33 pm
the falcons need a fast running back and a fast wide receiver SPEED!!!!!!!!!
Ron Choke Mexico
February 4th, 2011
9:38 pm
TD is overrated,
I believe they have been in 2 playoff games and lost them both, surely you can count that high. So your whole argument that they Ryan, Smith, and TD are overrated is they have lost those 2 games. Nothing else matters? So why do they play those other games? sure it was a disaster, the packers game, but to say all the accomplishments mean nothing in only 3 years is stupid. We could be like Detroit, how many years have they been struggling? how many top 5 first round picks have they had over the last 10 years? The falcons pick 3rd, 3 years ago, this year they pick 27th. they are improving every year, and all you haters can’t stand it.
Ron Choke Mexico
February 4th, 2011
9:40 pm
Losses like that happen from time to time, just look at the A$$ whooping the seahawks put on the Saints the week before. it happens.
Ron Choke Mexico
February 4th, 2011
9:45 pm
Ryan is overrated… he was rookie of the year, Ryan is overrated….he’s never had a losing season, Ryan is overrated… he was in the Pro Bowl………..Ryan is overrated, he’s won 66% of his games. O yeah, the haters will say he lost both of his playoff games! Well he’s only been in the league 3years and he put his team in playoffs 2 out 3 years. How many teams can actually say they made the playoffs 2 out the last 3 years?
Jake Wolfe
February 4th, 2011
10:43 pm
Man,comon for real?!??!First you talk about that we need youth on D but now your saying we need guys that are about to retire?!?! HIPPOCRATES!!
Jake Wolfe
February 4th, 2011
10:46 pm
It dosent matter whether there young or old…..We need guys that can play and we need to have a good gameplan when facing good teams!!The reason the steelers have been good,is because they have a good game plan PERIOD!!
DrJ
February 4th, 2011
11:03 pm
TD has said repeatedly that he will build the team thru the draft. Has he said something different recently? He did well getting Gonzo. Then panicked when he checked out our secondary, and shelled out big-time on Dunta, who has not lived up to his reputation. Whoever we get, I sure hope they are really big, tall, and fast, and not injury-prone. Regards the Packer game, I think our guys were too busy congratulating each other on making the pro-bowl, and suddenly the game was out of hand. But we’ll learn from mistakes, and keep getting better, just like the last several years.
FalconsFan284
February 4th, 2011
11:25 pm
Darnell—–I’m going to take your first comment, about the retard in the White House, as you being sarcastic. A good President would never seize control of the auto, banking, healthcare and housing industries just because it fits his purpose. No, a good President would look at what has worked throughout History and use that knowledge to lead. Hell, this guy couldn’t figure out what to do with a little oil spill. That is unless turning down 28 countries with experience in cleaning up such skills counts as figurring it out!
As for the article, not bad but a little short on possible veteran free agents that could help this team. I’ve suggested going after Osi Umenyiora and one of the Jets free agent wideouts; possibly Braylon Edwards would come a bit cheaper.
Tehbuzz
February 4th, 2011
11:51 pm
Darnell…..keep politics out of sports please and by they way, YOUR President (I didn’t vote for him so I don’t consider him “my” President) is FAR from the best the USA ever had. He couldn’t hold Reagan’s jock strap.
YOUR President has tripled the debt in just 2 years that it took Bush (whom I have no love for either) 8 years to do. He forced a Health care bill down America’s throat we didn’t want, and he apologizes every chance he gets for America which is suites him b/c he hates America anyway.
Anyway…..back to the Birds……
fanATicaL
February 5th, 2011
1:13 am
Me I think that Darren Sproles would be a great change of pace back.High character guy ,who would pass the Falcons lockerroom test.He would also be in our price range.Next move alittle more difficult to make.
I like Mathias Kiwanuka he can play DE and OLB .He is quick enough to sack the QB from either position.Again another character guy and in our price range.Also allows us to let Jamal Anderson go and maybe one of the backend LB’s.Robert James or Spencer Adkins and yes I know he just got a new contract.
Next move is a timing move .Between free agency and the draft.The speedy WR problem.Vincent Jackson would be lovely.But would he pass the character test ? Would he come cheap enough ? probably no on both counts.But If San Diego releases Malcolm Floyd .He could make the team.Steve Smith from the Giants is another slot reciever.That would be a great pick up.
Don
February 5th, 2011
8:40 am
Tony G. has all the credentials of the veteran gamebreaker the Falcons need, but he was not used enough in critical situations, especially in the games they lost. Let’s hope he stays around long enough to take us to the SB.
old man
February 5th, 2011
10:17 am
FalconsFan284 & Tehbuzz:
I doubt I agree with you guys on much of anything outside the Falcons. But the rule about no politics isn’t promoted when you give us a political essay on domestic policy and explain why you disagree with some numbskull who violates the rule. Ninety-nine percent of the posts just IGNORE those who obviously have some kind of agenda.
People on left and right are tempted to respond to the obvious race and political baiting that sometimes pops up. It’s like dealing with a little child who tries to get attention by breaking the rules. If you just ignore and go on, they eventually stop. If you react, they just post another message.
old man
February 5th, 2011
10:20 am
FalconsFan284 & Tehbuzz:
First round pick or trade down and go free agent, I don’t care. But if you had to pick one position, and one only, which do you pick for the impact player we need? Remember, just one.
old man
February 5th, 2011
10:21 am
I say RB, BTW.
old man
February 5th, 2011
10:27 am
MB, as draft day approaches, my query above might make for a good poll:
“Via draft or free agency, which SINGLE position should be the first priority in seeking an immediate impact player?”
chickenman
February 5th, 2011
11:07 am
Simple. Either move up to get a playmaker or go sign Asomouhga in f/a
D man
February 5th, 2011
11:13 am
I think we need a DE, CB and a veteran to kick some tails on the sideline and in the huddle.
D man
February 5th, 2011
11:15 am
Does anyone else care to watch the superbowl tomorrow? I don’t. First time ever I can remember that I don’t care to watch the superbowl.
Raiders’ Seymour A Good Fit For Falcons? | Sports Journey
February 5th, 2011
2:28 pm
[...] Bradley of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution points out strong Georgia ties for the veteran defensive lineman and suggests he could be a good [...]
Jake
February 5th, 2011
3:29 pm
Man,im only a freshman in highschool,not one of those crappy high schools….THE MILL CREEK HIGH SCHOOL,BEST IN GA,and i can write better stuff than this!!!Veterans are good for the team but it dosent matter if they are a veteran or a rookie.Seymore had 5 sacks,48 tackles,and 0 forced fumbles.Robert Quinn UNC,6-5 270,11 sacks,2 Forced fumbles,86 Tackles.READ IT AND WEEP!!!DRAFT ROBERT QUINN!!!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuKdkjZf5uk
SAINTS LSU
February 5th, 2011
9:08 pm
Superbowl Saints 1 Falcons 0 the Saints will another superbowl before the falcons win there first one
JDAWG
February 5th, 2011
10:13 pm
http://isportsweb.com/2011/02/05/atlanta-falcons-2010-season-review-offense-edition/
A-Ville Ranger
February 6th, 2011
2:13 am
We need some kind of homerun threat on offense. As good as White Gonzo and Turner are they’re all possession type players. Iaw something in the Pro Bowl I’ve suspected as well. Ryan doesn’t have the arm to be a deep threat QB.
The only attempt he made over the top was 3 seconds late and 7 yards short. Maybe saying White is a possession receiver is unfair. It could be Malarkey is masking Ryan’s limitations.
If this is the problem we need to find a breakaway back. If Ingram’s still around when we pick I’d snatch him up. That is unless there’s a really explosive pass rusher available.
Call Mr. Fix It!!!
February 6th, 2011
8:55 am
The Falcons lack DOMINANCE!!! We’ve been trying to fix this defense for years now. They have never had a history of drafting defensive guys that can take over a game. They need their own Ray Lewis, Polamalu, James Harrison, had a chance to get Matthews last year but didn’t. In other words, guys that are NASTY and will knock the snot out of you. Well we did have the Hammer, but how long ago was that? Like Warren Sapp said on 790 the zone…”The Falcon’s Defense Doesn’t Scare Anyone.”
MathMan
February 6th, 2011
9:03 am
MB, anyone who has played the game of football knows that there is a rhythm to the game. The single best example is if you look at the history of the Steelers (my hometown team) when Chuck Noll became coach. HIs record was abysmal during the first three seasons, not so with Mike Smith. Terry Bradshaw was being called “dumb” by your peers in the sports press, not so with Matt Ryan. Their were questions like “can they beat the Raiders” and for the Falcons, can they beat the Ravens? Then WHALLA, the Steelers start to beat the hell out of every and anybody. Now scribes such as yourself call the Steelers a “model organization”. What you can’t see is that Dimitroff and Smith are ahead of Noll’s schedule and very few appreciate was has been done and what is in the making. There is going to be a Super Bowl trophy in Atlanta in the next 36 months!!!
FALCON FEVER
February 6th, 2011
9:32 am
We will continue to RISE UP! and the Falcons will make the necessary moves to make that next step, and this will be the song we will be rocking all next year, all the way to the SUPERBOWL! Get yours now on I-TUNES……http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPqx6nRYnpU
FALCON FEVER
February 6th, 2011
9:33 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPqx6nRYnpU
Get it on I-tunes NOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FALCON FEVER
February 6th, 2011
9:34 am
We will continue to RISE UP! and the Falcons will make the necessary moves to make that next step, and this will be the song we will be rocking all next year, all the way to the SUPERBOWL! Get yours now on I-TUNES http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPqx6nRYnpU
drmondo
February 6th, 2011
10:07 am
I see Deion made it into the HOF…as a Cowboy. We put up with his 1/2 a season football- 1/2 baseball while batting less than his weight garbage and he goes in as a Cowboy. Not feeling the love he professed to have for this franchise.
Richard Seymour may land with the Falcons | Pro Football Zone
February 6th, 2011
2:57 pm
[...] Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has a great story on why Seymour would be a good fit for the Falcons. [...]
Ringless in Atlanta
February 6th, 2011
10:50 pm
FAILCANTS need more than a leader…you need identity and a tradition of winning big games…your pathetic franchise has neither…or, nothing more than an above average regular season….in other words, you will always date Jan and never Marsha….but, my Saints will win number 2 before you win your first…if you ever do, which I doubt….
Stay classy,
Your Who Dat friends
hawesg
February 6th, 2011
10:58 pm
Carl Nicks is available as a Free Agent. Beats the desiccated remains of Randy Moss…
joe
February 7th, 2011
6:42 am
watching the super bowl last night it struck me that even though the teams didn’t play very well they both had playmakers on both sides of the ball. That’s something you can’t say about the Falcons.
Martin
February 7th, 2011
7:19 pm
Richard Can’t Seymour. C’mon man……31/32 and not a good fit for Atlanta. Besides the Raiders didn’t win a ring this season. Let sleeping dogs lie