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
Mark Bradley
September 25th, 2011
4:59 pm
Bucs misplayed pass to Roddy. Falcons to the 12.
J.J.M.
September 25th, 2011
4:59 pm
preaseaon this is the regular season!
Jimmy
September 25th, 2011
5:00 pm
Man…our run game seems to be struggling
Mark Bradley
September 25th, 2011
5:00 pm
Ryan misses Gonzalez.
Thomas Dimitroff is a moron
September 25th, 2011
5:00 pm
Wide Open — Ryan misses him
Bonez
September 25th, 2011
5:00 pm
Great throw duckface
NOT
J.J.M.
September 25th, 2011
5:00 pm
wait whos hurt?
Mark Bradley
September 25th, 2011
5:01 pm
Falcons take a TO. Third and eight from the 12.
Mr Charlie
September 25th, 2011
5:01 pm
Time for Quizz
Rozeman13
September 25th, 2011
5:02 pm
I think our oc must have a concussion too, thinks hes calling a pee wee game
J.J.M.
September 25th, 2011
5:02 pm
damn the dream is blowing the fever out
Thomas Dimitroff is a moron
September 25th, 2011
5:02 pm
Ryan is accurate on these short throws. Time to look for Roddy
Mark Bradley
September 25th, 2011
5:02 pm
Total yards in first quarter: 83 — for both sides combined
Jimmy
September 25th, 2011
5:02 pm
Radio ads are just too ridiculous
M10
September 25th, 2011
5:03 pm
What’s the point of drafting a guy if you don’t throw him the ball.Finally!Also when Ryan throws it seems like it hangs forever.The offence can only go as far as your Qb can throw so they protect him alot that’s why it’s not explosive.
st richt
September 25th, 2011
5:03 pm
Mularkey lives for 3rd downs… must have a bonus strcture that pays for 3rd down conversions. This is boring football. Turner most overrated RB on the last 20 years.
Thomas Dimitroff is a moron
September 25th, 2011
5:03 pm
Dink n Dunk
Mark Bradley
September 25th, 2011
5:03 pm
Field goal. Threw short to Douglas. Wasted chance
scfalcon
September 25th, 2011
5:03 pm
Can’t we get a picture other than Koenen every time we refresh this page?
J.J.M.
September 25th, 2011
5:03 pm
ryan had quizz open on the left side
FalconFan
September 25th, 2011
5:03 pm
Another pass PRIOR to the first down marker. Why don’t we ever take shots to the end zone? We’re good, but we’re just not elite quite yet.
ijonathan
September 25th, 2011
5:03 pm
J.J.M….if your point is Ryan can’t throw the deep ball, preseason vs. regular season doesn’t matter. If your point is Ryan DOESN’T throw the deep ball (which is different) than yes, I would say I’m still waiting for that as well.
Rozeman13
September 25th, 2011
5:04 pm
3rd and 8 throw a 4 yard pass
Bonez
September 25th, 2011
5:04 pm
How predictable
How about we change names from the Falcons to the Atlanta Predictables
Mark Bradley
September 25th, 2011
5:04 pm
Tied at 3. So not exactly a wasted chance. But I don’t like a third-down pass that doesn’t go far enough to get the first down.
Thomas Dimitroff is a moron
September 25th, 2011
5:04 pm
Forget NFL network reloading this one
Mr C
September 25th, 2011
5:04 pm
Our offense is explosive!!! Hey Bradley, one of these days u will stop drinking Dimitroff’ kool aid.
Jimmy
September 25th, 2011
5:04 pm
I hope we get it together soon.
Need to start looking for some O linemen. Dahl was the heart of that line. It’s a shame we couldn’t hold on to him.
FalconFan
September 25th, 2011
5:04 pm
I really believe our play calling is holding us back. I really do.
Mr Charlie
September 25th, 2011
5:04 pm
FalconFan. Agreed, but nobody is Elite right now.
J.J.M.
September 25th, 2011
5:05 pm
looks like the falcons HAVE to run no huddle from now on to get something going
Bonez
September 25th, 2011
5:05 pm
For Matty’s next trick he’s gonna throw an amazing 8 yd pass and his fans will csll him a Hall of Famer
Mr Charlie
September 25th, 2011
5:05 pm
Yes, I would have like to see Ryan try and force it in the endzone, like the Bucs did in the 1st quarter.
O'Brien
September 25th, 2011
5:06 pm
I don’t understand why the Falcons don’t run the no huddle more.
Bonez
September 25th, 2011
5:06 pm
*call
FalconFan
September 25th, 2011
5:06 pm
We are just boring. No juice.
chickenman
September 25th, 2011
5:06 pm
yea its fun in tampa but when is the last time TAMPA WENT TO THE PLAYOFFS.. hmmm fun or results… ill take 13-3 anyday have fun sitting at home come January
J.J.M.
September 25th, 2011
5:06 pm
I cant wait till we play the lions
ijonathan
September 25th, 2011
5:06 pm
O’brien…because Mularkey would be admitting he isn’t adding anything to their success, and in fact is detracting from it. Job security.
FalconFan
September 25th, 2011
5:07 pm
At least it’s 3-3 and we’re not losing. Atlanta and Tampa always have good, hard fought games. Nothing new here. But we’re definitely a better team at home.
Jimmy
September 25th, 2011
5:07 pm
We are a DB, a pair of tackles, a running back, a linebacker, safety and a solid punter away from even THINKING about elite.
FalconFan
September 25th, 2011
5:07 pm
All I want is to be 2-1 at the end of the day. Style points do you no good in the NFL. Just win. That’s all it takes.
Thomas Dimitroff is a moron
September 25th, 2011
5:08 pm
Yeah, it’s tough to say Ryan can’t throw the deep ball…
Because Ryan WON’T throw the deep ball.
On that drive, Ryan’s pass to Roddy went 14-yards; pass to Julio went 5 yards; next pass to Roddy went 15-yards should have been picked off
yo Vince
September 25th, 2011
5:08 pm
Dear God… Please let Matty run the offence from the no huddle and bring world peace
Mr Charlie
September 25th, 2011
5:08 pm
Bonez, we don’t call him a HOFer because he throws 8 yard passes, we call him a HOFer because he took a joke of a franchise coming off is worst emotional year in history and gone 33-15 in 3 seasons. There is not shame in winning ugly.
Rozeman13
September 25th, 2011
5:08 pm
The problem chickenman we may be sitting too
st richt
September 25th, 2011
5:08 pm
Nice call mularkey!
Mr Charlie
September 25th, 2011
5:09 pm
Freeman has looked no better than Ryan….As a matter of fact, he has looked worse.
Braves are toast!
September 25th, 2011
5:09 pm
I think they play calling has a lot to do with the O-lines shortcomings. This team is simply not the same team this year.
bigdave
September 25th, 2011
5:10 pm
Vance Walker is a stud against the run..