Live from Tampa: Former punter says Falcons weren’t fun
Michael Koenen as a Falcon, here kicking a Georgia peach. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
Tampa — Michael Koenen used to punt for the Falcons. Now he works for Tampa Bay. Anwar Richardson of the Tampa Tribune asked Koenen to compare and contrast cities. In shocking revelations, Koenen declared that he prefers Florida oranges to Georgia peaches and that Atlanta has worse traffic.
Asked about Mike Smith, who coaches the Falcons, and Raheem Morris, who coaches the Buccaneers, Koenen said: “The atmosphere is way different … Up there, it’s a lot tighter. There is a little more nervous energy, but here it’s light-hearted and just fun energy.”
Wow. Who knew the coach who bears a passing resemblance to the comic/actor/author/musician Steve Martin wouldn’t be a wild and crazy guy?
Then again, Koenen can afford to crow — a bit. By way of a different comparison, he seems the greatest punter in 21st Century Falcons annals. Koenen left as a free agent and was lavished with a $19.5 million contract by the Bucs. Through two games, Koenen is seventh among NFL booters in yards per punt and third in net punting.
The Falcons, meanwhile, have deployed Matt Bosher, who enlivened last week’s festivities by punting out of bounds on his own 20.20-yard-line. (The Eagles would score to take a 10-point lead.) Bosher’s numbers: Next-to-last in yards per punt, 26th in net punting.
And now you’re asking: Do I, keen analyst, believe this game will be decided by punting, net or otherwise? No. I like the Falcons to win for a rather basic reason: They’re the better team. That said …
It has been raining for the past hour and the field is so wet nobody has ventured out to warm up. (Not even the punters.) This could be one of those slick-ball turnover-rich extravaganzas, which means: Don’t even bother trying to handicap it.
So I won’t. I’ll turn it over to you instead. I’ll be here all game, and I welcome your input. (Oh, and here’s an actual bit of pregame news: Falcons linebacker Stephen Nicholas is inactive; Mike Peterson starts in his place.) Join me, won’t you? See which punter walks off with bragging rights!
By Mark Bradley
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1,825 comments Add your comment
ijonathan
September 25th, 2011
6:11 pm
Seems like the opponents know they can get a first down whenever they want, and simply are trying some other plays to extend the drive and work on some things.
J.J.M.
September 25th, 2011
6:11 pm
falcons bout to turn into a “passing” team because of them being down by so many points and we know ryan cant do nothig without a run game
Jamie
September 25th, 2011
6:11 pm
That playoff loss HAS affected this team
Thomas Dimitroff is a moron
September 25th, 2011
6:11 pm
Yeah, Mr Charlie– Bucs are boring too
Mr Charlie
September 25th, 2011
6:12 pm
Rex Grossman >>>>> Vick
KJ
September 25th, 2011
6:12 pm
All day to throw. So much for ray and john getting a pash rush. we love getting washed up players and making them rich
We Are Terrible!
September 25th, 2011
6:12 pm
Serous ass-whooping going on on both sides of the ball.
Sid
September 25th, 2011
6:12 pm
another great sports weekend in this sad city.
Bonez
September 25th, 2011
6:12 pm
Finally people are seeing it
LOL at anybody who thinks Ryan is better than Freeman
Like Eazy E said he woulda gotten sacked
Peter
September 25th, 2011
6:12 pm
Holding
ijonathan
September 25th, 2011
6:12 pm
Do you decline that hold, or accept it and give them another chance to convert?
Mark Bradley
September 25th, 2011
6:12 pm
Hold on third down. Field goal.
Jamie
September 25th, 2011
6:12 pm
Finally! Damn
M10
September 25th, 2011
6:12 pm
Its seems like this year every Qb we go against seems to play better than M.Ryan.How odd is that.
dawgs01
September 25th, 2011
6:12 pm
GREAT wide outs, great tight end, decent running backs, horrible line and average QB who has lost all confidence in himself which makes him a below average QB. Matt Ryan has looked absolutely horrilbe this yr he has done nothing great someone tell me something great he did
Explosive!
September 25th, 2011
6:12 pm
2-5 going into the BYE isn’t so bad
Sensei John Kreese
September 25th, 2011
6:12 pm
This all goes back to the draft. The other teams in our division addressed their needs. We addressed wants. There was no attention given to the defense or offensive line. If you’re not going to re-sign Harvey Dahl, then you have to make moves to reinforce your line. Nothing against Julio Jones, but we really didn’t have a need for a wide receiver. Our defense, on the other hand, clearly needs a ton of help, both on the line and in the secondary. Unfortunately, we’re handcuffed for a couple of years. They’re gonna be long ones.
bigdave
September 25th, 2011
6:12 pm
bucs not trying to be explosive..
they draft to play big boy football.
ramblinwreck80
September 25th, 2011
6:13 pm
FINALLY…a holding call on TB!!!
Easy E
September 25th, 2011
6:13 pm
I told you Sean Weatherspoon sucks. Can’t play the run or cover. A bust that is somehow starting !
Mr Charlie
September 25th, 2011
6:13 pm
Career
Ryan 4…Freeman 0
You sure can back up a point Bonz.
Thomas Dimitroff is a moron
September 25th, 2011
6:13 pm
Bucs use up half the quarter
Falcons are pathetic
This is Mularkey
September 25th, 2011
6:13 pm
A lot of the things Vikings fans said about Edwards appear to be true. He’ll get some sacks throughout the course of the season, but he does little to affect the game.
ijonathan
September 25th, 2011
6:13 pm
Using today’s blog logic…
Eli Scrub Manning >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Vick
Mark Bradley
September 25th, 2011
6:13 pm
It’s 16-3. But still winnable.
At 20-3, it would have been over.
Bonez
September 25th, 2011
6:13 pm
Matt Ryan=Worst QB in the division
J.J.M.
September 25th, 2011
6:13 pm
falcons cant score quick enough on offense need a RUN BACK
ERIC
September 25th, 2011
6:13 pm
Ryan’s numbers show he’s better idiot. He doesn’t have the pass protection moron.
bigdave
September 25th, 2011
6:13 pm
teams with an identity win in all sports..
and usually that identity is based on personnel.
81Dawg
September 25th, 2011
6:14 pm
OK Ryan, time to prove your worth. Must answer with a TD now.
dawgs01
September 25th, 2011
6:14 pm
Here comes dinky dunky doo to the rescue
Bonez
September 25th, 2011
6:14 pm
The great Matt Ryan is so good he has 0 playoff Wins
Mr Charlie
September 25th, 2011
6:14 pm
Another 3….hmmm. I am sure everyone would be happy of the Falcons dinked and dunked it down the field and got a 3….
45ACP
September 25th, 2011
6:14 pm
The Falcons will win this game. It starts now, on this drive, with a TD baby!!!
lowdownjj
September 25th, 2011
6:14 pm
I’ll take Matt over Josh any day. Our problem on offense is NOT Ryan but his lack of protection
stendek
September 25th, 2011
6:15 pm
Falcons over Saint? No.
Falcons over Panthers? Probably not.
Falcons over Bucs? Take a gander.
May be 0-6 in division play.
Not beyond realm of possibility.
So very disillusioned.
Not looking good.
September 25th, 2011
6:15 pm
The Falcons are done. Just like the Braves. Why does it suck to be an Atl fan?
Thomas Dimitroff is a moron
September 25th, 2011
6:15 pm
Mr Charles and Matt Ryan: PLEASE make me eat crow and come back to win this game
Cause Ryan and Falcons Offense look like A55
Jamie
September 25th, 2011
6:15 pm
P Manning couldnt do much with this OL! Was Dahl THAT good??
Rozeman13
September 25th, 2011
6:15 pm
AND TO THINK sports Illustrated picked us to win the Super Bowl, bet that guys bagging groceries today.
Bonez
September 25th, 2011
6:15 pm
LOL @ doesn’t have the pass protection
Thats funny becuz when Vick was with the Falcons u guys wouldn’t use that excuse it was always his fault
HYPOCRITES
hiramsaint
September 25th, 2011
6:15 pm
what an explosive O
Eric C.
September 25th, 2011
6:15 pm
With all of the talent at skill positions the Falcons have…the offense is simply pathetic
bigdave
September 25th, 2011
6:15 pm
i think that 3 plus the what.. 8 mins.. is a win for the bucs..
especially when we havent shown that we can strike quickly..
Season Ticketholder
September 25th, 2011
6:16 pm
Tampa looks like the Falcons from last year. Drive the ball down the field and eat up 8 minutes off the clock.
Kissinger
September 25th, 2011
6:16 pm
D is gassed. A 3 and out here and it will be 23-3. Offense better wake up.
Mr Charlie
September 25th, 2011
6:16 pm
What does that have to do with it? Ryan 4, Freeman 0…Ryan 1…Vick 0….Ryan 1 Flacco 0….and how many playoff wins does Freeman have? How many playoff appearances does Freeman have?
Hell, Freeman choked last season at the OPPORTUNITY to get in the playoffs last year.
We Are Terrible!
September 25th, 2011
6:16 pm
Bradley, if we win this game I’ll buy you dinner… it’ll never happen.
Failcants O is scary
September 25th, 2011
6:16 pm
bad…what a joke….and you think you can hang with the Saints….lmao….
stendek
September 25th, 2011
6:17 pm
Is another Matty Lice giveaway imminent?