Key question: Do the Falcons still know what they’re doing?
It has gotten this bad: Even the Bucs are mocking the Dirty Birds now. (AP photo)
Tampa – The Falcons are too good to be playing this way. They’ve trailed by double figures in all three games. They look great when they finally get serious, but by then their margin for error has been reduced to the nub, and any more wobbles — a dropped pass, a sack that shouldn’t have been taken, a lurch offside with the game literally on the line — can result in a good-looking team taking a big ugly L.
Asked Sunday night if he has been seeing the team he thought he’d see, coach Mike Smith said: “No, I’m not seeing that team … We’re making way too many mistakes.”
The same question was posed to center Todd McClure, who said: “No. We’ve got a great group of players, but we haven’t put it all together.”
Then this: “I feel like we’re holding ourselves back. We’re not making the plays that are there to be made.”
The obvious next questions: Why not? Why is a team fancied as a Super Bowl winner darn fortunate to be 1-2? Why do the Falcons start so slowly? Why has their devotion to details — a Smith staple — gone missing? Why must the long-promised “explosive” plays be saved for the desperate hours?
Nobody seems to know. The Falcons spent three quarters letting an OK Tampa Bay team get ahead and stay there, and it wasn’t as if the Bucs seized every moment. They netted three points from two sacks-and-recovered-fumbles inside the Falcons’ 20. They had a chance to pull ahead by three scores but threw an interception on the first play of the fourth quarter, whereupon a mystery guest appeared.
A team wearing the Falcons’ uniforms drove inside the Tampa Bay 5, then got the ball back and scored in two plays, then got the ball again and surged to the 5 again. At that moment you’d have sworn this team would seize the lead and win the game and talent would have finally been served, but at the same time you wondered: Where had this team been for 2 1/2 hours?
Let’s not fault the defense. It held the Bucs under 300 yards. Let’s turn instead to the high-priced offense, which has in two road games managed one touchdown. Asked if the Falcons aren’t a better team when three wide receivers are deployed and the no-huddle offense is implemented, Matt Ryan said: “I think we’re a good football team regardless of our personnel.”
For the first time in the four years of their partnership, it’s possible to wonder if Smith and general manager Thomas Dimitroff are as like-minded as we’d come to believe. Dimitroff traded 21 spots upward to land the hugely gifted Julio Jones, and through three quarters Sunday the receiver had one catch. He had five — for 97 yards — in the fourth. How hard is it to pull a Keyshawn Johnson and say: “Get that guy the darn ball”?
But it cuts deeper than tactics. There’s a weird air about this team. On the one hand, the Falcons seem careless. (Three turnovers and five penalties in this first half.) On the other hand, they seem scared to cut loose until circumstances render cutting loose a last resort. Former Falcons punter Michael Koenen, now a Buc, told the Tampa Tribune: “Up there, it’s a lot tighter. There’s a lot more nervous energy.”
There’s pressure on this team, yes. Dimitroff didn’t make big moves for Jones and Ray Edwards because he thought the Falcons might win a Super Bowl sometime in the next 30 years, and Arthur Blank — he of the not-exactly-relaxing late-game sideline appearances — has made it clear his only goal is to win a ring. But is a 53-man roster that includes only two Super Bowl winners capable of knowing what it takes without having ever come close?
The Falcons’ stated position is a reasonable one: They have enough talent to do whatever needs doing and enough time to correct the errors. Said John Abraham, the defensive end: “We’ve got to be back to playing Falcons football.”
For three seasons we thought we knew what that entailed — power football, focused football, precision football. Today we see a team that can’t handle the small stuff and seems, big-picture-wise, not to know what it’s trying to do. It’s as if the Falcons keep falling behind because falling behind is the only way they get to play the way they play best. It’s as if this grand design has lost all coordination.
By Mark Bradley
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598 comments Add your comment
RB340
September 26th, 2011
10:44 am
beginning with the packer game till now 1-7. It is time to count pre season.
Popeye
September 26th, 2011
10:45 am
Reality Check-
After 3 games into the season Mike Smith has yet to fix what’s wrong with these Birds.
1. OL play is so awful you can’t consider the Falcons a play off caliber team.
2. DUMB Penalties and mistakes make this team an awful watch.
3. OC does not know how to deploy the weapons on his team. Let him go!
4. DC schemes don’t work. Simple case of “Wrong man for the job.”
5. MR is not an elite QB. This OL also exposed his lack of athletic ability.
6. The poorest tackling team in the league. Expected 5 yds loss turns into 8 yds gains.
7. The kicking game is absolutely atrocious.
8. Dunta Robinson, Matt Boscher, and Sam Baker are all BUST!!!
9. We played down to the Bucs level that’s why they kicked our butts.
10. Too much talent on this team to look this bad. Poor coaching!!!
The Falcons have become an anemic offense that can’t protect the QB, a Defense that can’t tackle, and special teams with no kicking game. Sprinkle penalties and mistakes on top of bland offensive plays and soft cheese defense and you have the recipe for a disastrous season. Who want to see another post season beat down any way. These Birds are can’t fly. It time for TD to call Mike Smith out, this team has play makers, WHY CAN’T THEY PLAY? We are not decimated by injuries nor can we blame the referee for bad calls, or bad weather. Just look in the mirror. You can’t fix all these problems just by playing Seattle next week. Even Seattle will make a game of it. Prediction: Falcons struggle (again) Seattle will look good against the Birds and keeps it close until late in the 4th qtr.
Jase
September 26th, 2011
10:48 am
Our O-line is the key!!!!!!!!!!!! (Sam baker)
TIM DA DAWG GONE IT THATS ENOUGH falcoln
September 26th, 2011
10:49 am
ANY WAY JUST GOT DISAPOINTED AND DESERVE BETTER…….. LESS TALK AND GLAMOR ….MORE SUPPORT MORE POISE AND GREASTER URGENCY ACCROSS BOTH AND ALL PHASE OF THE GAME.GET REAL OR STAY HM DIRTY BIRDS……….!
extremus
September 26th, 2011
10:51 am
I still can’t help but wonder why all the penalties and stupid mistakes against the Falcons so far this season; they seemed to run a tighter ship than this the past couple of years. And no question, penalties cost them the game yesterday; seemed every blasted time a flag got thrown it was against Atlanta.
TIM DA DAWG GONE IT THATS ENOUGH falcoln
September 26th, 2011
10:51 am
DON’T CRY WOO WOO WOO IF YOU CAN’T PRODUCE W’S IN THE VICTORY SIDE OF THE HOUSE IN THIS LEAGUE… GROW THE …. UP PREMADONIAS…..1
Stevereeno
September 26th, 2011
10:52 am
I;m sorry,….these are far too important games to be losing.
gman
September 26th, 2011
10:54 am
I have been a loyal supporter throughout the years but if they are not going to put forth a good effort for the fans then I will no longer put any effort into my support.
Tom G
September 26th, 2011
10:54 am
Just a couple thoughts – Our O-Line is playing terrible this year. No RB or QB can perform well without them doing their jobs. Call the Rams and tell them we want Harvey Dahl back and give them whatever they want for him. Either he’s the best OL in football or he is responsible for the lost chemistry. Correct me if I’m wrong, wasn’t he very aggressive and mean and played to the whistle and even after it sometimes? Secondly, why are we keeping that punter and kick-off rookie(Bosher) who kicks like he is in middle-school? His average is around 32yds per kick and most of his KO’s don’t even reach the end-zone? Hell, HS kickers out here in Gwinnett, kick to end end-zone and put around 40yds per kick!
ueeediot
September 26th, 2011
10:55 am
Is anyone in the NFL interested in fixing the officiating in this league?
I didnt know it was acceptable to let a WR grab the facemask of a DB and shove him down the field 20 yards.
They dont call holding, period. (Either way)
They dont call Pass Interference (last offensive play of the first half should not have been a pick, that was PI all day long)
Also, someone needs to teach Mike Smith how to count. The 4th down call showed me he is not in control of his emotions on the sideline. Ive had that feeling about his challenges also, but yesterdays call to go for it on 4th down was absolutely dumb and purely emotional.
Has Corey Peters been cut yet? Did he actually make it to the team charter? Him and Sam Baker should carpool on the way to the unemployment office.
ueeediot
September 26th, 2011
10:56 am
comments keep being deleted….how irritating
ueeediot
September 26th, 2011
10:58 am
anyone think the NFL officiating sucks?
As a WR you are now allowed to grab a DB by the facemask and shove him 20 yds down field and the official will make sure the DB is not allowed to fight back.
As a RB you are also allowed to lead with your helmet, but Duanta is a terrible person for leading with his shoulder.
Cujo Bendi
September 26th, 2011
11:01 am
Sports in GA = Huge letdown EVERY. SINGLE. YEAR! Braves choke, Falcons are chokING, Hawks stink, Thrasher left, UGA has a moron for a coach, etc…..
Dawgdad (The Original)
September 26th, 2011
11:02 am
They have not recovered mentally from the whipping Green Bay put on them last year. They know they are closer to that team than the 12-4, that you MB, predicted for them. I’d say 8=8 at this point, if they are lucky. Bucs have little offense, so don’t get too excited about the Def yet.
Murphy
September 26th, 2011
11:02 am
I read both Bradleys articles and he does not mention the REAL PROBLEM with this team right now-THE OFFENSIVE LINE IS PITIFUL. But that dont suprise me based on the past crap he has written.
Dawgdad (The Original)
September 26th, 2011
11:03 am
I think their Def would be better if those thugs in the backfield tried to make tackles rather than use their helmets to hurt the opponents.
???
September 26th, 2011
11:11 am
Who put together this offense. I don’t watch often, but even I know their plays. They don’t seem to have plays that match their personnel and the play calling sucks.
LET MATT CALL THE PLAYS. Time for 2nd cup of coffee.
Still Has Faith
September 26th, 2011
11:13 am
In response to BIGG E’s question,
“FALCONS WILL NEVER WIN A SUPER BOWL WITH MATT RYAN DO I NEED TO REPEAT THIS OVER AND OVER”
No, but you need to go back to elementary school and learn what periods and question marks are. (Also called punctuation but I thought that might be too big of a word for you.)
jcatl
September 26th, 2011
11:17 am
It begins and ends with a porous offensive line. Michael Turner held to 30 yards by the Bucs? Matt Ryan hurried or plain pancaked in the backfield how many times yesterday?
The offensive line is just that, offensive, and as long as that is the case this team’s “high powered” (or at least “high dollar”) offense will continue to fizzle and move backwards down the field. I don’t see Matt Ryan staying healthy through this season.
Not2oldnfat
September 26th, 2011
11:17 am
You are just as good as your record…The Falcons are 1-2, and by any objective standard, an eye lash away from 0 – 3. Stop believing the pre-season hype about how talented this team is supposed to be.
Section 121
September 26th, 2011
11:19 am
Why are all these Non- Falcons fan on a Falcons blog? Go blog on your teams website!
It appears that Kroy is getting the same amount of snaps as Ray, is Ray not performing @ practice.
I also noticed that when Sidburry is in on passing situation he gets to the quarterback, I said he should be getting more playing time 2 years ago why is he being held back?
The season is not over there are still 13 games to be played, RISE UP falcons Fans!
PMC
September 26th, 2011
11:19 am
Hey guys, Georgia Tech is having a great year!!!!!!!!!!
Greg Moundine
September 26th, 2011
11:23 am
It’s reported historically that 5 teams that made playoff last year will not make it the following year…Kansas City, Seattle…
Atlanta do not fall into this statistic.
Greg Moundine
September 26th, 2011
11:30 am
Atlanta Falcons you all need to read all these comments, there are some great motivational comments out here!!
By the way, who is going to “Man up” and call an all players only meeting!
In the military we have leadership. Definition: the process of influencing others to accomplish the mission by providing purpose, direction, and motivation. Someone need to bring the team together.
Saints > Falclowns
September 26th, 2011
11:35 am
FALCLOWNS are NOT TOO GOOD…their record is reflective of the quality of their team….fact…they can’t win big games, they can’t finish and do not have a winning spirit or identity…hurts, huh?
Saints > Falclowns
September 26th, 2011
11:36 am
And, your coaching staff and GM are frauds…wanna-be’s….they have NO idea what they are doing…it is so enjoyable to watch the implosion and meltdown….
stendek
September 26th, 2011
11:36 am
Still not happy bird watcher Mark. Fairweather fans fail to recognize trends. I have been a Falcon follower since the opening kickoff of their inaugrial contest in the 1960s. I have seen all the good, bad and ugly. Mostly ugly. I was alerted from within after Packer debacle in playoffs that this squad has serious chemistry problems. I felt like it was important to get back into W column. Even in meaningless preseason game. Did not happen. Disaster in Dome followed by four practice losses. Fans who do not know any better continued to smell roses and believe all fantasy press releases about how good Falcons are and will be for decades to come. I was definitely not buying any of this baloney. Matt Ryan has regressed tremendously since his rookie season. Michael Turner has lost two steps plus his will to hit the line with desire. Still do not know where our damn punter went. Defense is not perfect but will hold up its end in most battles. Hard not to surrender points when offense is doing Santa Claus impression all the time. Yes Matt, I am talking to you. Roddy White has regressed back into dropper of critical passes. Where the Hell is Brian Finneran? So the loss streak went to five. Delusional fans said the real Falcons would show up for regular season. Not to worry. Then the apparently real Falcons gave up in Illinois for a sixth straight setback. The Eagle home win could easily have been a loss. The Buc debacle could easily have been a victory but Falcons would have none of it. What it boils down to is that the defending NFC South champions have lost seven of the last eight times they have suited up. Not a trend? Interested in some prime swampland? Real cheap! Fans who have been with team since Rankin Smith days know what I say is true!
Stepchild
September 26th, 2011
11:41 am
Everyone said last year that the Bucs only got to ten wins because of their easy schedule. There is a lot of truth to that, but what people don’t talk about is how the Falcons had practically the same schedule as the Bucs. Both teams played the same conferences, the only difference was a few games. Like the Falcons played the Eagles while Bucs played the Redskins.
The Falcons last year were not deserving of their 13-3 record as became painfully clear in the playoffs. They also aren’t deserving of the Super Bowl Contender talk early in this season. The Falcons last year were just a little better than the Bucs and they are closing the gap.
Stepchild
September 26th, 2011
11:42 am
Everyone said last year that the Bucs only got to ten wins because of their easy schedule. There is a lot of truth to that, but what people don’t talk about is how the Falcons had practically the same schedule the Bucs did. Both teams played the same conferences, the only difference was a few games. Like the Falcons played the Eagles while Bucs played the Redskins.
The Falcons last year were not deserving of their 13-3 record as became painfully clear in the playoffs. They also aren’t deserving of the Super Bowl Contender talk early in this season. The Falcons last year were just a little better than the Bucs and they are closing the gap.
Jimbo
September 26th, 2011
11:44 am
Karma is a bit@#. This team is nothing but hype. Great marketing, hoodwinked and bamboozled fans…its funny watching this train wreck unfold yet another year in the ATL!!!!!
Stepchild
September 26th, 2011
11:46 am
Should be 0 – 3. to boot. When will heads roll.?…probably at the end of an underachieving season.
North over South
September 26th, 2011
11:46 am
Atlanta fans are delusional
Stepchild
September 26th, 2011
11:46 am
Everyone said last year that the Bucs only got to ten wins because of their easy schedule. There is a lot of truth to that, but what people don’t talk about is how the Falcons had practically the same schedule the Bucs did. Both teams played the same conferences, the only difference was a few games. Like the Falcons played the Eagles while Bucs played the Redskins.
The Falcons last year were not deserving of their 13-3 record as became painfully clear in the playoffs. They also aren’t deserving of the Super Bowl Contender talk early in this season. The Falcons last year were just a little better than the Bucs and they are closing the gap. 2
Mayday
September 26th, 2011
11:48 am
I am glad The Bucs exposed our WEAK ARM QB Matt Ryan. 2nd they exposed our MLB that refuses to be a leader Curtis Lofton. Last, they exposed our weak offensive coord. and defensive coord. Talking about Super Bowl team. What the hell ever. We will be lucky to make the playoffs with this low power offense.
G-Money
September 26th, 2011
11:49 am
My feelings all along was that the Julio Jones trade was not appropriate for this team at this moment in time. They were not a dynamic receiving prospect away from the Super Bowl. This team needed multiple players on defense, and along the offensive line to continue its climb towards greatness. They do not have an identity right now, they abandon the run too soon, and when defenses are not pressing them because of large leads they are experiencing moderate success against looser coverages.
stendek
September 26th, 2011
12:02 pm
Great receivers (Tony Gonzalez) make average QBs look good. Bad receivers (Roddy White) make average QBs look ridiculous! The INT may have been on White but he cannot be faulted on the two unacceptable Matt Ryan giveaway fumbles! Frozen Ice cannot scramble like Mike Vick but sure does fumble like him.
ejj
September 26th, 2011
12:03 pm
We have a good fundamental team, but we have weak points just like many other teams. Problem is we got too many of them, we got a little lucky last year, and the rest of the league knows it. Don’t get caught up in the hype, I’m a Falcon fan, but real. Our “O” line is not as strong as previous years, hopefully time, will tell, if they get that cohesiveness, others have had. I think Ryan’s confidence has waned abit, with all the Vick comparisons. Winning that game was great, but he has to win in the post season, before many will forget Vick. Still has not seen half the jsutification for Jones being a 1st round pick. Turner is in better shape, losing maye half a step. Our defense is medicore to good. Love Abe to death, he is it as far as superstars. Lofton is a good LB, maybe even Pro bowl , but it seems he does not mtoivate the de. Outside backs are backups on other teams. Secondary , is below average. everyone, myself included, love Grimes, but he is overmatched, Robinson is a waste of money. Our safeties take off on plays. Unfornatuately, the season, is started, so we are stuck with what we have. If our offensive can’t get it going soon, and keep our lame defense off the field, we are in for long season. “We are who we thought they are”. I sa look for a 7-9, or 8-8 season. I would like to be wrong.
Carl
September 26th, 2011
12:05 pm
After reading some of these posts, it’s easy to understand how Georgia ranks 49th in education.
ARE THE FALCONS STAFF BLIND ??????
September 26th, 2011
12:05 pm
O.K First off who seen that Sam Baker was a bust from the beginning ? A lot of us. They only drafted him because his dady was the coach of the Force. And they both suck. 2. Dunta Robinson, are you just a fluke ? Yes you are. Do you wear a mask and hold a gun when you get your paycheck ? you should. 3. Bosher , need I say more ? Mike Mularky is running scared upstairs and only pulls the brakes off the offense is when he gets desperate. Brian Van Goober , 2 words , Good Bye. The Bucs sat and waited knowing that Matt Ryan was hurt and we still had a chance to win the game and blew it. Playoffs , Super Bowl ???? Fat Chance with this group. The Buffalo Bills or Jacksonville Jaguars have a better chance than the Falcons. They are who we thought they were. I travel all over the world and this team is not taken serious by anybody out there. Good Luck , I will be working on my bike’s instead of watching the birds.
Leeman Bennett
September 26th, 2011
12:06 pm
We saw two non-playoff teams trying their best to lose a divisional game yesterday.
The Falcons would have won that game by two touchdowns last year.
Matt Ryan needs to accept that the O-Line is not what it was last year – who knows why? Maybe it’s the new guy or McClure is rusty? – But Ryan has three games behind him, and if he doesn’t get rid of the ball faster, it’s on him now. And moving in (or out of) the pocket isn’t an option because he simply isn’t mobile. Period. Maybe while Ryan is watching all that film in the off-season, he could do some curls. He had a bigger arm in college than he does now.
Michael Turner can never be the problem – because as soon as you say he is, he comes home and puts up 115 yards in the GA Dome. For whatever reason, he just seems to see the holes and get to them better in the Dome. He struggles on the road, especially outdoors. There were a few times yesterday when he had a clear lane to the outside, but he punded it into the right side of the line for 2 yards or less.
D/C BVG is not the problem. He puts guys into position to make plays. He has gotten a lot of miles out of a 4-cylinder sedan that no one has ever heard of. When we get beat on a big play, which isn’t often, it’s usually because Dunta Robinson missed an assignment. And of course we need a big fat guy in the middle for first and second down. Grady Jackson stole my watch. Most of the rushing yards for Tampa came in the first half yesterday. BVG knows how to make adjustments.
So, what’s next?
Mike Mularkey tweaks the game plan and starts throwing the ball earlier. Earlier in the series and earlier in the game. Take the lead and then pound them with Turner. Roll the dice and trust that your defense will bail you out if it doesn’t work.
I know he wants to beat GB so badly that he has 80% of the playbook sealed awaiting the GB game. So, with that said, win in Seattle with the same old vanilla package. Turner will run for 140 yards and we will get two defensive scores. Then come back to the Dome and beat GB on Sunday night on NBC and it’s a whole new season.
Go Falcons!
DawgFan
September 26th, 2011
12:07 pm
Weren’t the Falcons predicted to win the Super Bowl. How the might have fallen!
skeptomania
September 26th, 2011
12:08 pm
Ryan has gotten by the last few years with a decent running game hiding the fact that he can’t make the long throws. Example is the Jones catch that should have been a touchdown if Ryan could throw it far enough. Roddy White is obviously overrated. Elite players don’t drop those passes especially with the game on the line.
falconfreak
September 26th, 2011
12:14 pm
I didn’t see the game but reading about it tells me the coaches learned nothing from the 2 previous games. Maybe they can’t solve the OL problems because they don’t have the talent. Dahl???
Ok, I haven’t played at the pro level but I’ve been watching for 50 years and what I’ve observed is something I’m sure most coaches would agree with and that is if you give me great talent on the OL and DL that I’ll win ball games even with average skill players. Atlanta has gone the other way, great skill players and average to subaverage OL and DL players. Peyton Manning and Tom Brady look average or worse when blitzers get to the quarterback about the same time the qb gets the ball from center. When a qb gets his head buried in the turf a few times, anyone will tell you there’s a good chance he’s not the same guy for the remainder of the game. Line play will determine whether the birds get to the playoffs. Second to that is how the game is called. The birds are predictable!!!
Samuel
September 26th, 2011
12:18 pm
Let’s not panic the Falcons have Seattle next. Now if you can’t beat the Seahawks, well your’e in trouble. Mike Smith and coaching staff are going to have to figure out, how to approach this team moving forward. From play calling to special teams. This is not a diciplined football team. I don’t care what they do to fix the problem. But what I do know is if you don’t go deep in the playoffs. This team has failed.
Tommy
September 26th, 2011
12:19 pm
It’s not how many you win, it’s about getting hot during the playoffs. Last year we coasted into the playoffs and the Packers blindsided us. 1-2 is by no means the end of the world (the schedule is much easier the 2nd half) but even so, it’s already shaping up to be a fight for a playoff spot. 10-6 should do it (and the tiebreaker over the Eagles could be HUGE).
That said, my take is that the talent is getting beyond the capabilities of the coaching staff. Mularkey and Van Gorder are calling the EXACT same game plan they were using in 2008, when they nursed a 8-8 team into a surprise playoff appearance. But now, with a 4th-year quarterback, julio jones instead of michael jenkins, ray edwards instead of jamaal anderson, and sean weatherspoon instead of what was left of keith brooking, they are running the same formations and schemes. This team is too good to run 12 counter-rights a game and cover-2 on 3rd and long.
That said, something must be done on the line. 4 of 5 of them are returning. Other teams watch our game film and are having a field day blitzing. So, what does our offensive coordinator call??
a draw play??? nnope
screen pass?? nnope
a toss play to the long side of the field instead of straight into the sideline? nnope
The team can’t move the ball the first half, and then looks like the ‘85 dolphins in the final 10 minutes. That is poor game planning.
They’ll get it together, as long as they can avoid big injuries. The Saints have deeper structural and personnel problems then we do. Had we played the Texans and Bears at home and the Pack on the road, we’d be 2-1 too.
Falcon Ed
September 26th, 2011
12:20 pm
Lets be honest last year we could have had a much worse record! I know Matt Ryan can do the job but I believe he is afraid to screw up and that won’t go away until he gets so upset at himself that he doesn’t care what happens anymore! Our front O-Line is a major problem and we need to get bigger or Matt won’t live to see the end of this season. We are fast but not big and in this league I believe size is mort important. Yesterdays game is on the coaching staff as again our offense waits untillate in the game to start throwing downfield. We need street sense some thinking outside the box would really help this coaching staff and loosen up the players are playing way too tight for NFL.
mark p
September 26th, 2011
12:22 pm
It seems that the Falcons are like a baseball hitter who is just not getting wood on the fastball and they are a hair slow. What is making them “out of sync” ? Someone needs to tune in the guitar a little….
theight
September 26th, 2011
12:23 pm
“RYAN ISN’T RODGERS”
Will someone tell Mularkey that. I’ve said it over and over since the start of last year. This team wins off of time of possession. Matt Ryan is an ok type of QB. His accuracy is horrible. He rarely throws passes while the receiver is in stride. I agree Turner has lost his edge but the man has to get in a groove also. You can’t have him run the ball 2 plays then not allow him to run anymore until after ryan has thrown the ball 6 to 8 times. This O-line sucks, i don’t know why they continue to stick with these guys. Weems has been playing better and the defense didn’t play all that bad. They just stayed on the field too long.
Mark Lane
September 26th, 2011
12:24 pm
“The Falcons are too good to be playing this way.”
You gotta be kidding me. The FailCaints are a bunch of loozzers. My beloved Saints have played three of the top NFL teams and are winners. Who have the FailCaints played? No team worth mentioning. Last year was a fluke. The Dirt Birds are destined to finish last in the NFC South. Mark my words. WHO DAT!
GT
September 26th, 2011
12:27 pm
No offensive line. It took White two years and a lot of breath holding before he became the receiver he is today. An offensive line would help Jones go deep and would help Turner who has been a no show. Our quarterback is getting killed. They will get better I think. Teams are doing something they saw in the Green Bay playoff game film. They are putting heat on Mattie Ice by driving over Baker. Tampa threw in a safety blitz once they figured out Mattie Ice will not go deep very often. Now we have to adjust to match their adjustments plus make up for the line talent we loss last year.