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
kerryb
September 25th, 2011
5:30 pm
The Falcons O-Line is garbage. Sam Baker is total garbage and is NOT a left tackle.
80sFalcon
September 25th, 2011
5:30 pm
O-line sucks! Ryan ain’t playing much better.
Loserville USA
September 25th, 2011
5:30 pm
Baker absolutely sucks.
Rozeman13
September 25th, 2011
5:30 pm
What happened was thinking about a chili dog
Disappointed
September 25th, 2011
5:30 pm
our Offensive line is the whole problem of the offense….and the team. They Simply suck dick…
bigdave
September 25th, 2011
5:30 pm
theres your pick Falcons.. if you dont trade up.
81Dawg
September 25th, 2011
5:30 pm
Matt Ryan, you are maddening! I know our line sucks,but you have got to be better.
O'Brien
September 25th, 2011
5:30 pm
Wow. In addition to the sacks, he has been hit 21 times.
Thomas Dimitroff is a moron
September 25th, 2011
5:31 pm
Hey Bradley, quit jinxing us
playmeortrademe
September 25th, 2011
5:31 pm
Sam Baker hates playing football, watch his body language. he is an empty shell and needs to go.
Mark Bradley
September 25th, 2011
5:31 pm
Defense trying to control the damage. Is doing OK after two downs.
Season Ticketholder
September 25th, 2011
5:31 pm
Rise up Defense!
Mr Charlie
September 25th, 2011
5:31 pm
I will say, Ryans success has been because he has gotten good blocking. But this season, that is not the case. I have never a team have any success with a bad offensive line, I don’t care how the QB is.
Kew
September 25th, 2011
5:32 pm
This has got to be the worst offensive line in the NFL.
Jimmy
September 25th, 2011
5:32 pm
It is time to find a new warm body at left tackle.
Will they allow us to play two guys at left tackle?
Maybe combining two guys we’ll get one decent tackle.
Braves are toast!
September 25th, 2011
5:32 pm
This is going to be a long season with this type of play by this O-line.
David
September 25th, 2011
5:32 pm
I know he was a first round selection, and we’ve paid him a good bit of money, but it’s time to look for replacements for Sam Baker. He’s been beaten all year long, and he’s going to get Ryan killed. At least put him at right tackle, where guys won’t be hitting Ryan at his blind side.
Sid
September 25th, 2011
5:32 pm
another great draft pick by this circus….Baker…..in a long list of losers.
Mark Bradley
September 25th, 2011
5:32 pm
Horrible play-calling by the Bucs. But good D by the Falcons.
Kissinger
September 25th, 2011
5:32 pm
No O-line to pass protect. No D-line to pass rush. Not a recipe for success.
PMC
September 25th, 2011
5:32 pm
Thomas Dimitroff would not know a quality offensive lineman if they fell out of the sky on his freaking head.
The talent on this team is freaking disgraceful. They play the ugliest football in the freaking league period.
For the love of GOD when are we going to get coordinators AND TALENT in this town.
The Special Teams coach needs to go too. I assume it’s him who we can blame for this RETARDED 6th round punter.
For the love of GOD find us some freaking talent or get the hell out of town.
Season Ticketholder
September 25th, 2011
5:32 pm
Good stop Falcons
Thomas Dimitroff is a moron
September 25th, 2011
5:32 pm
Here we go again
kerryb
September 25th, 2011
5:33 pm
Dimitroff should have focused on the O-Line and not let Harvey Dahl go. This O-Line is horrible and Sam Baker needs to be moved to RT. He is going to get Matt Ryan killed.
ijonathan
September 25th, 2011
5:33 pm
Look at Freeman, throwing well short of the first down marker. What a stiff. Right? Right?
bigdave
September 25th, 2011
5:33 pm
again d answers the bell..
Jimmy
September 25th, 2011
5:33 pm
Baker probably does hate football…he gets beat too often.
Mark Bradley
September 25th, 2011
5:33 pm
The Ryan fumbles have led to an interception in the end zone and a field goal try. The Bucs have really missed a chance this half.
80sFalcon
September 25th, 2011
5:33 pm
good defensive stand. Keep it close until the offense can get their collective heads out of their A$$e$
Mr Charlie
September 25th, 2011
5:33 pm
If anyone has regressed, it is Baker. He’s never been shutdown, but he has never been this bad. Ryan is showing some toughness.
Mr C
September 25th, 2011
5:34 pm
Hey Dimitroff’, we traded all our picks. Thanks for fixing the o-line. Bradley if do ur homework, Sam Baker was drafted in the 1st round after Dimitroff’ traded 2 2nd round picks and a 4th round pick to take Baker
PMC
September 25th, 2011
5:34 pm
Offensive coordnator needs to realize the falcons offensive line is attrocious and CANNOT pass block.
The defensive coordinator needs to grow a pair and start playing guys tighter.
The talent on this team looks about like an early playoff exit if that.
Dimitroff has been Awful drafting. AWFUL.
Jimmy
September 25th, 2011
5:34 pm
You Ryan haters–take heart! With this line, Ryan will be lucky to make it through the season.
KJ
September 25th, 2011
5:34 pm
Just like the bears game. Crappy offense and shaky defense
Sid
September 25th, 2011
5:34 pm
and if you don’t or won’t establish the run….Mularky.
PMC
September 25th, 2011
5:34 pm
Baker is a never was.
scfalcon
September 25th, 2011
5:34 pm
Can’t we get a RB to help Baker? Especially deep in our own territory.
The Real Falcon
September 25th, 2011
5:34 pm
Our QB has 5 turnovers in 3 games!
mountain_jim
September 25th, 2011
5:34 pm
Put in Svitik at LT. He can’t be any worse!
ijonathan
September 25th, 2011
5:34 pm
Dimitroff trading half the draft to get Julio Jones is a little like buying a grand piano on your credit card while your house is going through foreclosure.
Mr Charlie
September 25th, 2011
5:34 pm
Yea, we should be down 20 pts. We are still in this game, although we have to get some blocking somehow.
kerryb
September 25th, 2011
5:34 pm
80sFalcon
O-line sucks! Ryan ain’t playing much better.
Hard to play much better when your getting no protection and your brains beaten out three games in a row.
dawgs01
September 25th, 2011
5:34 pm
great defensive stand. we are playing very physical on D gotta love that
81Dawg
September 25th, 2011
5:35 pm
The only way we move the ball is from the no-huddle. We may as well face that fact and go to it exclusively.
TD has no clue!
September 25th, 2011
5:35 pm
Well at least we’ll get a high draft pick. Ohhhh wait! Dang!
bigdave
September 25th, 2011
5:35 pm
Ryan has to learn how to step into the pocket, now if rushers are coming from the interior too then good night. however, ive seen too many times were the rush wasnt felt, and a shift in, or left/right wasnt made. he has to get better @ moving around in the pocket.
Rey
September 25th, 2011
5:35 pm
YES, I know BAKER sucks, but didn’t the last pass rush that got Matt sacked come from inside?
Mr Charlie
September 25th, 2011
5:35 pm
KJ, disagree, our D is good. They held here, got a pick in the endzone. Without good D, this game would be over.
Mack
September 25th, 2011
5:35 pm
bucs had no sacks all year till today. Our o-line could make anyone look like the ‘85 bears
Rozeman13
September 25th, 2011
5:35 pm
Bakers thinking about chili dogs too