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
BoBo The Football Guru
September 25th, 2011
7:34 pm
4 FALCONS TICKETS….4 HOT DOGS…..4 COKES…1 RODDY WHITE JERSEY….1 FALCONS PROGRAM $25.00!!!!!
hiramsaint
September 25th, 2011
7:34 pm
sittin’ on their sofas in jan. …again
HA HA HA HA HA HA
September 25th, 2011
7:34 pm
love tweaking the Falclowns fans…what a bunch of homers and bandwagon idiots…..as i have always said….your team has no identity, no spirit, bad coaching and NO CHANCE EVER OF WINNING A SB….who dat, we dat….sorry, it is the truth….stay classy rednecks….
dean
September 25th, 2011
7:35 pm
I’d kick your ass Why. And I’m not black
Jim in Augusta
September 25th, 2011
7:35 pm
These Falcons are a real bunch of honeys, aren[t they? They are one play from being 0-3; they are going nowhere this season. What a goofy way to lose in Tampa…Atlanta always finds a way to embarrass itself, but I gotta say: they way they cheer Vick they deserve any misery Blank can put on them.
PMC
September 25th, 2011
7:35 pm
10 out of 12 quarters, horrible unacceptable football.
Someone needs to lose their job immediately.
hiramsaint
September 25th, 2011
7:35 pm
get a coach losers
Dan
September 25th, 2011
7:35 pm
And the 1-5 start continues.
Matt Ryan = pu$$y who cant hold on to the football and take a hit
Roddy White = pu$$y who cant catch the football
Mike Smith = pu$$y coach who wont even make a call to give his team a chance
Falcons = pu$$y football
LLUGA
September 25th, 2011
7:35 pm
My 10 year old wants to know why every team in Atlanta sucks.
randy
September 25th, 2011
7:35 pm
You can’t coach stupid. That comes naturally to the pigeons.
Cedrick
September 25th, 2011
7:35 pm
Well, this team are really pissy!!! We were supposed to be the Bears (oh its out on real grass) but nope we got throttled. We were supposed to lose to Philly (Good thing Vick got hurt) and now were were supposed to beat Tampa (DAYUM its out on real grass again)…….. smh Its there a problem with Ryan not throwing the ball to Julio Jones in the red zone??? Ryan seems to lock in on Gonzalez and thats it!!! Just a stupid loss!!!
bigdave
September 25th, 2011
7:36 pm
DawgNole ..
try San Diego.
#7
September 25th, 2011
7:36 pm
The falcons should have kept Vick and not given all those millions to the choker matt ryan—he’ll never win big games in atlanta. he couldn’t even beat the lowly tampa bucs!
Loserville USA
September 25th, 2011
7:36 pm
Blame one play all you want.
Body of work lost this game. 40+ passes per game = DISASTER.
SeenThisB4
September 25th, 2011
7:36 pm
I guess pre-season records sometimes do mean something.
Kenneth, can you give us an analysis?
take it from me.
September 25th, 2011
7:36 pm
WE got beat up in this game,the falcons need to play a little tougher,they beat our butts!
tu87
September 25th, 2011
7:36 pm
They will be 3-3 after 6 weeks and then crunch time begins.
keepinitreal
September 25th, 2011
7:36 pm
This feels a lot like the year after we went to the Super Bowl, doesn’t it? We look totally unprepared for the season, that nice fourth quarter (near) comeback notwithstanding.
Explosive!
September 25th, 2011
7:36 pm
“I absolutely guarantee this team will not go to the Super Bowl”
and I absolutely guarantee the sun will rise tomorrow, tell us something we don’t know. They scored 1 TD and were faked by Tampa to lose …. you don’t have to guarantee anything, this team isn’t beating the best teams in the NFL to make the Super Bowl
stendek
September 25th, 2011
7:36 pm
I always thought Mark Wretch dumbest coach in football! Mike Smith giving him a good/bad run for that dubious recognition.
hiramsaint
September 25th, 2011
7:36 pm
tb&no leading the pack like i predicted
PMC
September 25th, 2011
7:36 pm
For the love of God, don’t let your children grow up Falcons fans.
ls1z28chris
September 25th, 2011
7:37 pm
@lowdownjj
At least you admit the Failcan’ts are losers. “RISE UP!” What a joke. I simply enjoy watching the Falcons fall apart, especially with all the hype from last season, which started in week five, and all the hype leading up to this season. Last week proved the point. Falcons barely scrape out a victory because the opposing team’s starting QB is out to injury. Next thing you know Failcan’ts fans are pretending Ryan is the real deal. Three quarters this week of miserable play from Ryan, and with one big pass everyone is ready to declare “WHERE ARE YOU NOW HATERS!” The hype is back again. And then you lose the game.
Enjoy fighting the Panthers for third place in the NFC South.
Master Thesis
September 25th, 2011
7:37 pm
Now that the Braves’ and Falcons’ seasons are over, anyone know when the lockout is ending?
juice sourcer
September 25th, 2011
7:37 pm
No you suck “Bradley Blows” and you move out of Atlanta. Mark is damn good…it’s all the teams that are Losersville USA and you of course.
Savannah Fan
September 25th, 2011
7:37 pm
I know he’s the owner -but can’t he stay in his box until after it’s done
Arthur
September 25th, 2011
7:37 pm
The Peter Principle, everyone rises to a level of incompetence (i.e. coaches). Ryan is smarter than Mularkey and I’m concerned about M.Smith.
hiramsaint
September 25th, 2011
7:38 pm
ken will be nowhere to be found untill thurs.
2012 is the Year!
September 25th, 2011
7:38 pm
The falcons are young and have a lot of injured players—in 2012—they will make a super bowl run—count on it!
shane terry
September 25th, 2011
7:38 pm
punters dont lose the games atlantas oc and dc lose games have some balls and fire them sorry azz coaches good lord im i the only one that can see this they suck atl has to much talant call the right plays mike m you and bvg suck
OHIOdirtybird!!!!
September 25th, 2011
7:38 pm
Lot of season left!!
BoBo The Football Guru
September 25th, 2011
7:38 pm
PLENTY FALCONS TICKETS ON STUBHUB….GOING VERY CHEAP!
CHOKE RYAN SUCKSSSS
September 25th, 2011
7:38 pm
Kick a field goal when your team needs a touch down?
That is MEEK not ELITE. Even the coach didn’t believe in the BUST.
What’s up MRS CHARLIEEEEEEE
HA HA HA
Master Thesis
September 25th, 2011
7:38 pm
This team is not going the postseason this year. Schedule is ridiculously brutal.
Who would’ve thought we’d be the underdog against the Texans and Lions?
Offense looks awful. Running game is garbage.
THERE ARE NO EXPLOSIVE PLAYS. First half was trash
Wolverinemark
September 25th, 2011
7:39 pm
#7 – you are an idiot and should be banned from all boards. Keep Mike Vick, while he was Federally incarcerated (that means in prisonm #7)? Really?
dean
September 25th, 2011
7:39 pm
#7. Did u notice what Vick DID NOT do today? Edging idiot
Mack
September 25th, 2011
7:39 pm
Tampa owned vick stupid and he would have been in the locker room after that first sack Matty took
Boo
September 25th, 2011
7:39 pm
I’m an avid Falcons fan. But to be honest, the Birds are 1 (one) Mike Vick concussion from being 0-3 instead of 1-2.
hiramsaint
September 25th, 2011
7:39 pm
let the excuses begin… y’all could win the superbowl in that category
Michael M.
September 25th, 2011
7:39 pm
Falcons just throwed the Game away !
SeenThisB4
September 25th, 2011
7:39 pm
With the first pick of the 2012 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns select…..
LOL!
TEXANS = FALCLOWNS
September 25th, 2011
7:40 pm
AFC twin sister of the FALCLOWNS are the TEXANS…..
FalconFan
September 25th, 2011
7:40 pm
Who thinks we’ll lose to Seattle next week?…me either
7, See ya.
September 25th, 2011
7:40 pm
Falcons: still strong. Hate it the GM whirred on Baker. Love Julio Jones. Forgive Roddy for two uncharacteristic drops. I take Ryan over the dog whisperer any day.
dean
September 25th, 2011
7:40 pm
WHY. Your sister is calling you
Londonman
September 25th, 2011
7:40 pm
OMG! what a diaster! They were never going to snap the ball! Mike Smith and his team have had their chance, They have got to go! This team is poorly coached and are not going to make the playoffs. The lineman who jumped has to be fined or cut! Malarky is a poor offense coordinator and should be fired immediately for his game calling. Ryan is Chris Miller all over again, except Miller had a stronger arm!
Datacus
September 25th, 2011
7:41 pm
I have to admit this is one of the worst coach teams I have ever seen, could it be the fact that they had less practices?
I do believe the Defensive Coordinator should be fired and if Mike Smith cannot pull the trigger then he should be let go.
I saw poor play calling by both coordinators especially the defensive coordinator. He seems to be out coached by every offensive coordinator in the league.
hiramsaint
September 25th, 2011
7:41 pm
great game aye seenthisb4!!!!!! ..both of them!
TrishaDishaWarEagle
September 25th, 2011
7:41 pm
NOT a good game, Falcons, But I love ya still and always will..I just felt we had at least a tie in there ..matty ICE 4th qtr comeback #15..but it wasn’t to be..GOD I hate losing to the stinking Bucs..but regroup and go kick seattles BUTT..
Falcons fan forEVER
gadawgs
September 25th, 2011
7:41 pm
Wow..Cannot believe Peters jumped on that. He cannot be too intelligent (and it has nothing to do with race at all by the way. He apparantly is just not too bright).