5 (or so) reasons the Falcons’ 0-4 preseason doesn’t matter
Ray Edwards is shown working on his horizontal pass rush. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
Reasons the Falcons’ 0-4 preseason doesn’t bother me and shouldn’t bother you:
1. You don’t play at real-game tempo or make real-game adjustments in exhibitions. You’re not trying to win but to evaluate. You want to see how your guys react in certain spots. You’re not looking to game-plan those spots to your advantage. Had the Falcons cared all that much about winning a game that doesn’t count, they’d have inserted Matt Ryan, Roddy White, Michael Turner and Tony Gonzalez at the start of the fourth quarter of the fourth exhibition. But nobody’s that crazy.
2. You don’t set a real tone in exhibitions. Because everyone’s tone gets louder come Week 1 of the real season. If you go 4-0, nobody cares. And the only time someone remembers that you’ve gone 4-0 is when you go 0-16 in the regular season. That happened to the Detroit Lions in 2008. (And guess who just went 4-0 again, thereby making Detroit fans nervous?)
3. If you exit the preseason reasonably healthy, you’ve accomplished your mission. Save for center Todd McClure, the Falcons did that. They’re in great shape.
4. The only Falcon of consequence who required significant work in preseason was Julio Jones. Because he’s a rookie. And he looked very, very good.
4(a). Oh, and maybe Peria Jerry. Because he has been hurt. He looked good, too.
5. The real pros know how much preseason matters. We speak of the folks who attempt to augment their income betting on games. These aren’t fanciful people. They’re pragmatists. And you know how disappointed these dispassionate observers were in the Falcons?
So disappointed the Falcons are a three-point road favorite against a team that won its division and played for the 2010 NFC title. The opening line had Chicago a one-point pick, which means a ton of money has since been placed on the local eleven. That’s not a guarantee of anything, but it’s a powerful indicator. (For the record, the Bears were 2-2 in preseason. To which I say: Nobody cares.)
By Mark Bradley
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121 comments Add your comment
Ryan_Turner _Overdrive
September 9th, 2011
12:49 pm
seen this b4 is just like every other saints fan who dissapered off the face of the earth after the seattle game last year, Falcons will be in 1st after sunday and it will remain that way all year…enjoy the view from behind aints
FrontRow
September 9th, 2011
5:13 pm
Mark – you may find it easier to convice the UGA faithful they won’t be undefeated this year.
I told you last your I couldn’t find 4 losses – I was dead on. With 3 winning seasons in a row and counting, I’m just gonna sit back and enjoy.
The only reason the Bears get any pre-season respect is they played in the NFC final in 2010. Geez they only had to play the Seahawks, (almost) anyone can beat them.
Mack
September 9th, 2011
6:14 pm
Enter your comments here
Mack
September 9th, 2011
6:18 pm
(hmm shouldn’t have hit enter there sorry)
I totally agree that THIS preseason record does not matter.
I watched them all and I saw a coach using pre-season games as an extra practice. Which is pretty damn smart considering all this off season was a mess.
I hope to see the real Falcons come sunday!
nice article.
SeenThisB4
September 10th, 2011
6:42 pm
GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m sorry if I’ve been annoying you Falcon fans for a while but after the beatdown my former team the Saints got Thursday, but I’m here to tell you guys I’m converting to the Falcons. GEAUX FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE DAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
vuduchld
September 10th, 2011
10:49 pm
This is one laughable column. If one looked at the Falcon pre-season objectively it became very clear that this team will feast on the NFL weak and struggle aganist the ones that matter. While this tream will score points, it does not have the grit, grime or fight to go toe to toe aganist teams that matter. I see NOTHING in this team but a “one trick” playoff game pony.
Bradley Curse
September 11th, 2011
3:36 pm
you don’t say, Mark Bradley WRONG again???
that just never happens
Tommy Maddox
September 11th, 2011
3:42 pm
Why are they paying Dunta Robinson to play?
SonofaDawg
September 11th, 2011
4:02 pm
Matt Ryan’s is Lil Dink shawty because he only gon throw to the flats or 7 and 10 yard passes.
SonofaDawg
September 11th, 2011
4:04 pm
I meant Matt Ryan’s new name is Lil Dink Shawty
ab initio
September 11th, 2011
7:36 pm
Mr. Bradley, I can’t tell the preseason from the regular season at the moment…
TCCB
September 11th, 2011
7:36 pm
WHAT THE “_ELL YOU SAY BRADEY?????
Truth2
September 11th, 2011
7:46 pm
Let’s not make too much of this loss. It’s just game one. However, it concerns me to think that this offense line can be taken seriously in light of their performance. Losing your center position is much more serious than we thought. I don’t like the way the Ryan reaction in the pocket. Look at Green Bay’s OL, nobody could touch Rogers. Those guys were big beefy hardnose football players. We got our azz kicked in ALL phases of the game period, including coaching.
Dub366
September 11th, 2011
7:55 pm
I told you’ll that the Falcons need a QB BAD
SeenThisB4
September 11th, 2011
8:56 pm
LOL! I’m back! And what a lovely evening it is!
I figure some of the falcan’t diehards will come back to this story.
We scored 34 on the SB champs, you couldn’t score a single offensive TD, LOL! On the bears!!
Are you guys joking me? Carolina was more competitve than your team!!!
Truth2
September 12th, 2011
12:10 am
After looking at the schedule post game interviews: Atlanta will win 3 games in 2011. That’s right their record will be: 3-13 That may be enough to get MM fired and other heads will roll as well. On the flip side-that will get probably a good defensive draft choice, after we let go of some garbage in the secondary.
The Great Saintino504
September 12th, 2011
12:23 am
Sure Mark Delude your readers and ignorant masses into thinking your problems are not their. You have to at somepart TACKLE whats wrong with this team. And trust me these ole Handicap Pigeons losing like that is just the first of many to come. This is a10 win or 9 win team at best. No easy schedule to bump the record like last year. Brees has to be licking his chops at that secondary you. Saints win the Division easily WHO DAT GEAUX SAINTS!!!!!!
The Great Saintino504
September 12th, 2011
12:26 am
SeenthisB4 you see how Cam was so poised in the pocket after throwing those TD’s Ole Ice could never do that cuz he lacks the athletic ability to throw deep. I wouldn’t be surprise Mr.Newton outshines that overrated POS Ryan!!!!!!1
SeenThisB4
September 12th, 2011
8:41 am
Santino504: I didn’t watch the carolina game, but from what I heard, Cam was indeed impressive. That being said, he still lost.
I would venture to say, that it was more of playing a poor defense, instead of Cam’s professional ability. After all, it was Arizona, I think I will wait till after he has played Green Bay and Chicago to make a public assessment.
Heat Check: All hail Georgia Tech, our new shining light! | Mark Bradley
September 12th, 2011
9:43 am
[...] Falcons: Maybe you saw it coming. I didn’t. (Not even after that 0-4 preseason.) The offense didn’t muster a touchdown for the second consecutive season opener. The defense [...]
stendek
September 12th, 2011
10:04 am
LIKE I TOLD ALL THE APOLOGISTS MARK – PRESEASON DID MATTER! As a Falcon follower since game one of the first season I can honestly say it has not been much worse than this! I was so embarrassed after that debacle that I was forced to re-examine the entire season. It was that troublesome! The final score was 30-12 but it seemed more like 60-0. Matthew Ryan transformed into Chris Miller. Michael Turner morphed into Bubba Bean. The defenders could not stay upright long enough to make a tackle even though this gutless effort is far from just a defensive failure. Two dropped interceptions by an untalented bum in the first half who shall remain nameless set the tone for disaster. One of the most nauseating scenes in a day of nauseating scenes took place when Turner broke free but allowed a defender who he had a 15 yard head start on chase him down. Result was no TD. Falcon offense kept Bear EZ virgin. The offense was in the minus points area with two field goals but two Bear TDs. The defense was not that bad. Start with the 30. Subtract six for the defensive score for 24. Subtract 12 more points for the two Bear TDs courtesy of Falcon offense for 12. Should have been 12-12 overtimer. Ryan continues his regression from rookie campaign. Turner better lay off the fast food hamburgers. Defense needs How To Wrap Up When Tackling 101 Primer. OC started out with up tempo offense early. Strange that Falcons slowed things down tremendously offensively after falling behind! Do not think there was an urgency to accomplish anything offensively. Maybe Ryan and company just flat out gave up against the big bad Bear D which the Saints will probably riddle for half a hundred points! Chance to take early division lead wasted. If Falcons fall to 0-2 they will not win South! Best hope at that point will be wild card spot. No certainty there either! Yes. It was that bad!