The Falcons say they’ll ‘figure it out.’ We ask: ‘OK, when?’
This man is a fine football coach, but he's got some figuring to do. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
Matt Ryan’s final pass had smacked off Roddy White’s hands and into the arms of Green Bay’s Jarrett Bush, and the galling game was finally gone. The man in the three-piece suit on the 40-yard-line, the man who foots the bills, stood with hands on hips and stared, and surely a part of Arthur Blank was thinking, “I’m paying for this?”
The 2011 Falcons have worked five games and lost as many as in the entire 2010 regular season. Matt Ryan, the quarterback, sought to brush this off by saying, “It’s early,” but the calendar insists that it’s October. This team should be playing well, or at least well enough to make us believe in its potential. Through five games, the Falcons have done their darnedest to foster doubt.
They have too much talent to be 2-3. The rule of thumb in all sports is: If you’ve got the players and you’re not winning, it must be the coaching. Yes, the mere notion arrives with a jolt. For three seasons Mike Smith and Co. wrung close to the maximum from their men, but now the talent is top-shelf and the results are substandard, and how else do you square this circle?
Sunday night showed us how good the Falcons can be when properly deployed. For two possessions this offense was strong and swift and crisp, all conspicuous resources being brought to bear by coordinator Mike Mularkey. Double M, as he’s known in-house, dialed up reverses and fake reverses and quick passes and body-slamming runs, and after two possessions this observer was saying, “This is the team I’ve waited to see.”
Then that team took a hike. The Falcons had 145 yards and 14 points on those first two drives; they managed 106 yards and zero points on the remaining seven possessions. And here we note: Green Bay entered ranked 28th in total defense, 31st in passing defense. The Falcons had their way for two possessions. Then, for reasons unclear, they lost the plot.
No, the coordinator didn’t instruct the high-priced tackle Tyson Clabo to kill two drives with penalties. Nor did the offense wither because Mularkey, as the convenient criticism goes, Got Too Conservative: Of those seven pointless drives, four began with pass plays. (And it didn’t help that Ryan, who usually has tepid first halves and flying finishes, did it the other way around this time.) It was stranger than that: Everything worked, and then nothing worked.
Asked afterward if he felt a need to re-evaluate the way his offense is being called, Mike Smith bristled and said: “No, I don’t think so. We’ve got to execute better. It’s my responsibility to see that the plays going in give our players the best chance to succeed — I take full responsibility for that, and no one else.”
That manful response tells us, not for the first time, that this head coach is a first-rate boss. But Smitty is a defensive man by trade, and he leaves it to Mularkey to run the offense. Sometimes Double M does it so well — again, those first two drives were objects of art — that you couldn’t imagine such a man running out of ideas, but seldom does even a pedestrian NFL offense go as bankrupt as the Falcons did Sunday.
Brian VanGorder, the defensive coordinator, moved heaven and earth to keep Aaron Rodgers on the back foot. Without John Abraham, BVG put lesser pass rushers in position to overrun the Packers’ pressed-into-service backup tackles, and if the offense had done anything after those first 18 minutes the Falcons would have won. As it was, VanGorder’s defenders held Green Bay without a touchdown for 41 minutes, which was stirring stuff. Just not enough on a night when his team swore off scoring after its second drive.
Speaking Monday, general manager Thomas Dimitroff mentioned the need to play fundamental football, never an issue before. (In the first three seasons under this regime, the Falcons ranked fourth, fourth and first in fewest penalties. They’re 18th now.) Late Sunday night, the owner had struck the same chord.
“We’re 2-3,” Blank said. “I’m not happy about being 2-3. We’ve had a lot more penalties.”
Then, smiling the slightest of smiles: “I have full confidence we’re going to get it figured it out.”
Smith uses that phrase after every loss, and the losses are coming faster. From Sept. 13, 2010, through the day after Christmas, the Falcons played 13 games and won 12. They’ve since lost five of eight. There’s still time to get this right, but with every false dawn the brave talk sounds thinner.
Figure faster, Falcons. A season is in peril.
By Mark Bradley
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255 comments Add your comment
PMC
October 10th, 2011
3:42 pm
Yeah, they don’t have the players. Both lines of scrimmage are average at best Mark.
Thomas Dimitroff should be taking a ton of the credit for the failings of this franchise.
These are his players.
Vince Lombardi
October 10th, 2011
3:48 pm
Forget “when”… it starts with “what” because this group either doesn’t know what the problem is or knows and continues to gloss over it.
Not even I, as head coach, could help this sorry bunch.
Sons of Tom Pridemore
October 10th, 2011
3:48 pm
The Jets are 2-3, the Eagles 1-4, it’s a tough league. Pre-season hype and last year’s W-L means squaddoosh. That’s why we watch.
losersville
October 10th, 2011
3:50 pm
Getting about too late to figure it out.They are digging a hole for themselves that they are not going to be able to climb out of.
Hypocrite Hunter
October 10th, 2011
3:50 pm
Hard to blame this one on just Bosher, the absence of Abraham. and the loss of Dahl. The sideline drop was tough but there were plenty of errors to go around. Green Bay made the plays when they had to, we didn’t.
Who Me?
October 10th, 2011
3:51 pm
Really? As others have pointed out, Mike Smith is starting to sound a whole lot like Freddi Gonzalez of the Braves. One more lame a** excuse today that he should have pretty well down by now. I’ll say this, if I were still a season ticket holder I’d be demanding answers. As it is, I think we’re all at a loss to understand how we’re going backwards?? Aren’t great teams built to grow better year over year? Guess what, we’d have to run the table from here on in to break even with last years record. Raise your hands if you think that’s going to happen…
At a minimum, Baker is a project not a starter on the O-Line. How big a disappointment has our D-line been? Ray Edwards, how’d you grade out last night my friend? Roddy – what, are you so afraid of footsteps now you can’t catch a cold?
The loss last night was disgusting, and we’re fed up with it. This team has far too much talent too be delivering this product, when’s it going to end Dimitroff and Smith??? Arthur, quit hiding and field some questions about your investment, let’s hear you speak up about YOUR team. Are you happy??
honest_abe
October 10th, 2011
3:51 pm
pmc: that’s what i’ve been screaming for the last 3 months! at least big bust ray got his first sack on a busted play. the talent evaluation at flowery branch needs a major upgrade.
Really?
October 10th, 2011
3:52 pm
Figure it out? Really? What about our punter? We have all figured him out? As noted directly above, although the D-line played better, it’s no where close. What about Jerry.. what about the now (finally) departed Jamal Anderson? What about the big offseason acquisition Ray Edwards? What about the acquisition of Robinson a year or so ago? What about letting Harvey Dahl and Koenen (sp) go? Yes, Dimitroff is not the genius we had hoped. No GM is, but the O and D line moves have not been great to say the least. We have no punter.. just admit it was a mistake and hold tryouts. But he can’t. That’s why we had so many seasons of Jamal Anderson (the lineman of course). When other teams were out getting big names we lagged behind, either not getting the deals done or not doing them at all until, well, panic seemed to strike and we get Robinson and Edwards. It’s not that different from the Braves panic in getting pitching after the best were gone (read Kawakami and Lowe here). This is the best we can do? Really?
Mike Tomlin
October 10th, 2011
3:53 pm
You need real linemen on both sides and a real coach to whip em into shape. Dimitroff has been a failure in that regard.
Who Me?
October 10th, 2011
3:54 pm
I like it when they don’t even post your comments for you, its so Big Brother-ish. Just another reason this newspaper sucks. too bad its the only rag in town….
Matt from MN
October 10th, 2011
3:55 pm
Stop TALKING about it and DO it!!!!! Man, I’m so sick and tired of the same platitudes and cliches coming out the Coaches and Players mouths after yet another substandard performance
The Miz
October 10th, 2011
3:55 pm
The team looks soft as baby doo on both sides, folks.
I’m The Miz…. and I’m….. AWWWEEESSSOME!
Adam "My patience is wearing thin" Camp
October 10th, 2011
3:56 pm
Makes me sick that we have to abandon the run because Turner continues to rush for a gain of zero or a loss on first down. As falcons fans, too many of us look at the runs that he reels of 15-20 yards and think, “he is an elite back.” The fact is that on those runs, an athletic back would take it to the house and not gain just 15-20 yards. He isn’t capable of gashing a small hole – it has to be so open my grandma could run through it. Also, what is up him running out of bounds when he gets to the outside? Freaking kills me….
Who Me?
October 10th, 2011
3:57 pm
Is it just me or is Mike Smith starting to get eerily close to Freddi Gonzalez’ post-game comments?? Two franchises that should be over delivering and yet are under performing…
Lee Corso
October 10th, 2011
3:57 pm
DURRRRRRRRRRRR FALCONS
Adam "My patience is wearing thin" Camp
October 10th, 2011
4:00 pm
Please give Gatrell Johnson or Antone Smith a shot. These 2nd and 3rd and longs make it tough on our averaged arm QB.
gabugman
October 10th, 2011
4:01 pm
“is Mike Smith starting to get eerily close to Freddi Gonzalez’ post-game comments??”
I’ve been likening him lately to some of Mark Right’s crazy post game presser answers from last year…
AlanFalcon
October 10th, 2011
4:06 pm
3 sucessful and seasons and they’ve got to figue it out, that’s a real joke.
The Falcons have for some reason regressed to the point that they are back at the M. Vick and Bobby Petrino era.
Mike, you need to take control as it seems you have put to much faith in your coaching staff and/ or your players. This team from Matt Ryan(included) to the last roster spot has become a joke and will be lucky not to end up at the bottom of the NFC South.
PATHETIC !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
78Dawg
October 10th, 2011
4:10 pm
This all falls on Tom D. He let Dahl get away, Would the Pats do that? P.Jerry is a fat bust. Chris Owens..Dunta Robinson,,,Reynolds…ARE YOU SERIOUS? Ryan can’t pass on the ground or on the run.!!!! No draft next year? No hope..stop the excuses and open your eyes A. Blank…
Mayhem Is Coming
October 10th, 2011
4:10 pm
Boring. Different season same rhetoric. You would think that the Falcons would be way up for this game after being humiliated by the Packers, 48-21 last season. So much for pride. I’m sick of ‘em, sick of the excuses, sick of the basic break downs with nothing to look forward to, no Hawks (boring too), no hockey, long gone in a cloud of dust thanks to off the scale stupid former team owners. Braves just put the capital “L” on Atlanta’s sports. Welcome to Loserville.
Complacent
October 10th, 2011
4:11 pm
It’s all coaching !!!!
– Neither side of the ball hasn’t been able to play 4 quarter football for at least a couple years now.
- Costly penalties
- Failure to make adjustments on both sides of the ball for at least a couple years now.
- Inconsistent / ill-advised play calling
- Inefficient resource optimization (using wrong players at wrong times)
- Horrible tackling / Ineffective QB blitzes
- Culture of mental lethargy
Fish Bisch
October 10th, 2011
4:11 pm
First!?
Really?
October 10th, 2011
4:15 pm
And from my comment above…. how in the world could I forget the Sam Baker pick? Reall!
M Fender
October 10th, 2011
4:20 pm
gabugman got it right. Imaginative, wide-open play calling on the first two possesisons that
worked. Mularkey looked as if he knew what to do with the personnel on the field.
After the lead, Mularky instituted the same old boring, hum-drum, predictable loser game plan.
We have the players. Dimitroff(and Blank supplying the funds)have done their part. There is no excuse for our
mediocore offense. Ryan is fine.
BTW, Harry Douglas caught that pass. I do not know what the NFL wants revceivers to do.
Maybe the NFL should create a “jump down, turn around, pick a bale of cotton” rule so we know unequivocally
the receiver caught the ball.
The defense played fairly well, other than the big plays. Failing to answer GB’s big plays is what
killed us. A couple of Roger’s sacks were great. A much better performance than last year’s playoff game.
Weatherspoon looked awesome in the first half until he banged his head. Why players lead
with their head is a mystery to me.
When Turner is good he is good. But if he is not moving the sticks we have other RB’s. Rogers shows promise.
Smith (#35) looked great in pre-season. Where is he? Snelling was huge last year. He’s almost non-existent this year.
Why? The screen to Snelling last night worked. Run the big man Mughelli. I do not get it.
Penalties, dropped passes and an inopportune sack sunk us.
The O-line played fairly well considering McClure(and of course Dahl’s absence) was missing and Reynolds(?) went down.
All teams have some personnel issues. The successful teams find a way to make it work.
We are not doing that. we have the players to be sucessful. Do we have the coaches to be successful?
Cybo
October 10th, 2011
4:23 pm
Complacent you are 100% right. As a lifetime falcon fan you see the same thing game after game. Whats up with our draft picks. And tell me if i am wrong. Maurlarkey ( hope I spelled it right ).had this same problem in Buffalo. No adjustments. I knew the offense played all its cards on the first two drives. I think we peaked as an organization
dan
October 10th, 2011
4:26 pm
Victory was there to be had last night. The Birds had the Pack on their heels the entire first half and most of third and then went completely comatose. Its almost like they want to be 8-8. I just don’t understand it.
I’m getting really tired of all these half a$$ Georgia sports teams. Maybe I should just be a bandwagon fan, like all of those so-called “lifelong” Packers fans in the Dome last night. At least I would be happy.
Billy Rykman's Hands
October 10th, 2011
4:26 pm
Key issue is the strategic blunders in play calling. More 1st down passes and sprinkle a little more Tony G and keep throwing to Julio Jones (too bad he’s hurt). If Roddy makes catches and not drops, we probably win last night. Tucker is fine as long as there is an honest threat that we’re going to throw on 1st down. Lastly, the O line needs to get bigger. If we have to hold Tony G in to block we lose one of our best weapons/advantages.
Falcons 73
October 10th, 2011
4:29 pm
This really is no surprise to those of us who have been watching closely. The fact that the Falcons won 13 games a year ago was a bit of good luck (very few injuries), time of possession, and very few penalties. Let’s not forget how close many of those games were last year (and that they were able to pull out wins). I believe that the win total last year has set us fans up for some false expectations and it may be bit more rebuilding that at first glance.
Another HUGE component is the philosophy of the coaching staff on both sides of the ball is terribly conservative and out dated. The league has changed considerably and the old model of running to set up the pass, is really a thing of the past. The most recent Super Bowl winners (Green Bay, New England, & New Orleans) take full advantage of the rule changes and have implemented additional wide receiver sets that spread defenses out (while not allowing db’s to touch receivers). Our offensive philosophy looks to be a work in progress and the current identity is either in transition or not yet defined. They clearly have the talent to put constant pressure on the opposition, but for some strange reason are stuck in the old methodology of grinding out the clock. I believe it will be time to severe ties with MM and the end of this season and find an OC on the “cutting edge” that will utilize this teams talent.
The overall coaching style and approach by Smith, Mularkey, and Van Gorder is completely crippling this team with a reactionary approach that only serves to impede this team. I can’t fathom that Green Bay, New England, and New Orleans sit back and allow the opposition to dictate their style or approach. On the contrary, they impose their will and dare you to stop them…wish I could say the same about the Falcons.
Sam Bakers Arms
October 10th, 2011
4:32 pm
Enter your comments here
chasjons
October 10th, 2011
4:35 pm
I hate to say it , but I think we need to lower our expectations. Never get too excited or unrealistic as an Atlanta fan…you will get burned. The Falcons in my opinion were not as good as their record indicated last year and I think we are a fringe wildcard team this year. I don’t follow football as closely as many of you may, but as they say you win and lose the game at the line of scrimmage and I think our lines are average at best. So there we have it…average lines with some exciting offensive players. To me that computes to as little as 7 wins or (if lucky) maybe an 11 win season. I need to lower my expectations as well. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
Paddy O
October 10th, 2011
4:38 pm
Mayhem – it is loserville due to fans just like YOU.
Cybo
October 10th, 2011
4:39 pm
I hope Abraham doesnt have one of those seasons
Are you kidding me, 'Who me?'...
October 10th, 2011
4:42 pm
…”I’ll say this, if I were still a season ticket holder I’d be demanding answers” – obviously you have less of a clue than the Falcons coaching staff – no one cares what the ticket holder thinks, nor do the ticket holders…this is a cash game and the only way to show displeasure is to NOT buy tickets – but, they are already sold, so the next thing is to not show up – and in a couple of weeks, after losses to Carolina at home and then to New Orleans, the fans will not show up and then the Falcons start over with very few draft choices thanks to the price paid for #11, to whom they will not throw the ball
Same old, same old, 44 years of frustration, with one good year being blown by a “Man of the Year” looking for a BJ on South Beach – soooooo typical of the Falcons…oh well……
Alex
October 10th, 2011
4:47 pm
There is something wrong with this team. Obviously.
Mark Bradley, you are right on.
How can you look so good in the 1st quarter then look so PATHETIC in the second half?
That has got to be coaching. There is no other explanation.
So….. WHO is no doing their job????
Falcon 73, you are so right...
October 10th, 2011
4:48 pm
…did you see how Brees and N.O. just imposed their will on the Panthers at the end yesterday – they just knew they were going to win and went out an did it – compare that to the Falcons and their haphazard way and you hit the nail on the head with your comments about the coaching staff and the way the league has changed – and most everyone is keeping up, too, just look at Tampa Bay, SF, Buffalo, heck even Seattle, while the Falcons just PLOD along with absolutely no direction or even thoughts of direction, which even the most unsophisticated fan can see -
Good job with your comments 73…
Pauls Johnson
October 10th, 2011
4:49 pm
Paddy O,,, no, its loserville cause we always figure out a way to lose,,, sorry,, i’ve been here from the beginning and its like a broken record. One step forward and two steps back,, Thats been the history of Atlanta pro sports,,, Except for the 95 Braves. Its been futility on parade. Not saying it cant change,, wish it would,, its getting old…..
Harpie
October 10th, 2011
4:50 pm
To be a fan of Atlanta pro sports is to live in a state of constant disappointment. And, of course, this team, at the present time, stinks to high heaven!
Harpie
October 10th, 2011
4:52 pm
This team stinks!
Supes
October 10th, 2011
4:52 pm
If they don’t “figure this out” quickly even a 10-6 mark may not be good enough to get into the NFC playoffs as a wild card since we’ll be losing out on some key tie breakers!
at least we’re not Philly fans…those guys have REAL problems…try being 1-4 with the blowhards on ESPN focusing on everything that “went wrong”.
Thankfully with the Uglies collapsing, and the Jets “drama”, Falcons being 2-3 staying off the national media spot light.
cb795
October 10th, 2011
4:52 pm
The Falcons won’t get this fixed this season. Under Smith his team deficiencies from the preseason always carry over into the season. Matt hasn’t learn to time his throws deep and Turner runs with his head down and on first contact is down very quickly. Maybe getting Jones wasn’t the right call if our QB can’t throw accurately over ten yards. Maybe shot gun formation will give him the three seconds to pick the currect receiver. Then again Matt does stress alot when pressured. Before the season started I had them finishing 6-10. I need to change that to 5-11, heck the Panthers should beat them at home.
Lee
October 10th, 2011
4:57 pm
“Falcons 73″ has said it perfectly. Well put. In addition, I would say the only ray of hope shining on my disgust of this organization this year is that at least we have an owner who wants to win. (I think Blank has done as good a job as any owner given the time he has been one.) When the Smiths were in charge, there was truly no hope.
Uhh......I am Tony Gonzalez, Univ. of Cal.?
October 10th, 2011
4:58 pm
Figure this! Julio will be a stud, Edwards not so much, he looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane! Dunta is high priced bust, Peria Jerry #1 pick bust, Abraham always hurt, only keepers on D are Babineau, Lofton, Spoon, Moore, & Grimes the rest are expendable.
Pauls Johnson
October 10th, 2011
5:00 pm
We’re done this year. The MoJo we had last year is just not there. And the Honeymoon is over. Coaching changes are the only thing thats gonna fix this problem.
Complacent
October 10th, 2011
5:05 pm
Cybo,
Exactly!!
The Falcons make me look like Nostrodamus because i can predict how a game is going to unfold due to their broken record nature of play.
Again, they have the players, but NOT the coaching !!!
Van Gorder and Mularkey need be GONE – They are WINGING IT !!!!!!!!
T-Bone
October 10th, 2011
5:06 pm
fire DD . . . hire Ralph Friedgen
Not a Falcon fan
October 10th, 2011
5:10 pm
What am I hearing ? Last year the Falcons were the greatest team ever. Then Green Bay beat them in the playoffs. Now this year they are losing, and fans are trashing them. It’s the same old Falcons. They will NEVER figure it out. Get off the bandwagon and go back in hiding. The Falcons will never “Rise Up”.. The fans will rise up and leave the dome, just like last night.
Pauls Johnson
October 10th, 2011
5:10 pm
Been a Fan since the mid 70’s. A Falcons Superbowl victory is on my bucket list. I just hope I get to see it….
Mike Malaurkey
October 10th, 2011
5:15 pm
If each player would do there assignment, the plays would work
SimpleDawg
October 10th, 2011
5:18 pm
The Falcons are an enigma, wrapped in a riddle. Back-sliding into the old Falcons.
Roddy got paid, and has reverted back to the butter-fingered Shoddy Roddy.
Dunta got paid….waaaay too much money for what he brings to the defense.
Matty Ice looks more like Matty Spice.
Looks like a disappointing season unfolding with each new loss. Too bad, I thought we were on to something.
Joey
October 10th, 2011
5:21 pm
It’s like one coaching staff makes adjustments, the other hopes what they’ve been doing, starts working again.
Which one describes the Falcons staff?
Peter
October 10th, 2011
5:21 pm
Mark ….I don’t agree with this statement……
1. They have too much talent to be 2-3.
They have very little talent on Defense and on the O line. Duckett, I mean Turner look to be one in the same.
They are now seemingly lost from a discipline point of view….. This looks like a Mora Jr team.
They never figured it out in the pre-season….and so why would anyone think they will in the season ?
Also the punter is horrible……really a 37 yard average ? That is good by high school standards I guess.
atltiger15
October 10th, 2011
5:23 pm
Dont look now, but the Carolina panthers and Cam Newton are coming to town..I think Falcons start out slow off emotional loss and Carolina runs falcons secondary out the dome..
DAN
October 10th, 2011
5:23 pm
Turner is done but we don’t have an heir apparent. Ryan is a game manager, nothing more. Baker is guard, at best. Abraham and and Babineaux are the only starting quality NFL DL’s on the roster. LB’s include zero playmakers. Grimes is the only DB who can play a lick, and he’s probably best-suited to nickel.
Add that all up and I think you’ve got a talent procurement issue in Flowery Branch. This team is AVERAGE.
Wricky Wrong
October 10th, 2011
5:25 pm
looks to me that our QB can’t make all the throws. should we be looking at Andrew Luck.
atltiger15
October 10th, 2011
5:28 pm
i bet whoever we traded picks with to get julio is loving life. next years 1st round pick looks to be top 10 to 15 as opposed to late 20’s
Cytbo
October 10th, 2011
5:31 pm
I remember going to sleep super bowl eve of 98 before the big game. I was 30 years old . It was like a kid experiencing his first cristmas or the first day of highschool. Then it get the phone call at 3 in the morning from my girlfriend telling me the news. The joy in her voice helped show that she enjoyed misery. Of course we arent together. I saw what Danny White did to us in the playoffs in the 80’s. So for those who dont understand, Falcon fans have a right to feel the way they do
Chubbyboy
October 10th, 2011
5:35 pm
Either win the next two games or put a fork in the Falcons; they are done and Thanksgiving will come early for everyone!!!
EJ
October 10th, 2011
5:37 pm
Am I the only one who thinks Ryan would have made that first down if he hadn’t started his slide 5 yards before he reached the sticks? Is he that afraid of getting hit?
Turtsnap
October 10th, 2011
5:37 pm
I’ve figured it out, 3 out of our first 5 opponents have figured it out… actually all 5 have, we just got lucky with 2. The Falcons DO NOT adjust like other teams do….. Case in point, we looked invincible those first 2 drives last night. Then the Packers D adjusted, and we made no adjustments. On the other side of the ball, our defense was holding the Packers down, but the Packers adjusted, we didn’t, and they scored 25 unanswered!
Kyle
October 10th, 2011
5:38 pm
If the Carolina team I saw yesterday shows up this Sunday against this team we’ve seen every week since January of this year then 2-4 awaits and Detroit is a loss just as sure as Green Bay was so there will be no surprise if the record is 2-5 at the bye.
Whopper Dawg
October 10th, 2011
5:38 pm
Strangely enough, it is now the offense.
In yet another big game, Ryan had another subpar game, not bad, but certainly not good enough to win vs top shelf competition.
Sid
October 10th, 2011
5:40 pm
after a while easy schedules and a little luck run out. Back to reality in the ATL.
Antique Roadshow
October 10th, 2011
5:42 pm
Someone said it earlier…Ryan has a noodle arm
Cytbo
October 10th, 2011
5:43 pm
Sorry just had an emotional moment.
Antique Roadshow
October 10th, 2011
5:44 pm
If we could put up Jeff George’s arm with Matty Iced’s brain we may have a winner.
bowebb
October 10th, 2011
5:48 pm
Ryan has a weak arm, and the ball sails high, when he does throw deep. That’s why so many
short passes, the other teams have caught up to this. The defense plays a soft zone, need
more man to man. Robinson, was a free agent cover corner and he is playing zone.
db
October 10th, 2011
5:49 pm
Why not call up the Green Bay coaches and ask them what they changed?
Just sayin’
that guy
October 10th, 2011
5:52 pm
I have seen mutliple people that suggest trading Ryan and Roddy White? Are you people who think this insane? It’s crazy how fast people will turn on players when they get off to slow starts…
mark
October 10th, 2011
5:52 pm
last year was our year when peppers was a FA they didnt want to pay the big bucks for a FHOF and we en up getting a fat DE and the worst CB in football come on man! even in madden you dont do those moves!
Mo-Towner.
October 10th, 2011
5:54 pm
I’m from Detroit, moved here recently, i like to see ATL teams do well especially against my long time hated rivals. Last night i saw two different Falcon teams, i liked the one that showed up for two successful drive not the other.
If you picked them to finish 10-6 I’m telling you now kiss the playoff playoff good bye, teams expected to make the wild card race are Chi, Tampa and either Dallas or Eagles once they right their ship as for right now and they already hold the tie breaker. I know most don’t wanna hear this but the truth is the season is over for the Birds, start working towards next season and blame the lock out.
mark
October 10th, 2011
5:54 pm
and ryan! pathetic dosent have the arm to play in the nfl can you imagine what a rod woudl be doing with our offense having a guy like julio roddy or tony and ryan cant score 1 pt in 3 qtrs come onnnnn
that guy
October 10th, 2011
5:55 pm
All they gotta do is change their defensive scheme to help out the players, and the O-line has to get better. Ryan also needs to work on his deep ball. If this team can get a LT, and new coordinators (or different schemes), they will be in great shape for next year.
Mister Obvious
October 10th, 2011
5:55 pm
Is it just me or does Matt Ryan look like he is scared to death? And Weatherspoon. Can he just stifle the theatrics and play the game? Roddy White. How about catching the passes. Dropped TD against Tampa Bay, dropped passes vs Green Bay. Then 15 yard penalty for no apparent reason. Also did Atlanta really draft this punter? You could probably hold tryouts off the street and find a dozen punters better than him.
Mo-Towner
October 10th, 2011
5:57 pm
Really -you ate my posting; just because i said the no playoff!!!!!
mark
October 10th, 2011
5:57 pm
in never want it to admit it im alwasys on the bandwagon but come on ryan dosent have the arm! you didnt see rodgers in 1 sq foot he throws 70 yrds bombs he moves the pocket excellent ryan just like a sitting duck waiting to be hit and come onnn you dont start sliding 4 yards before the 1st down
Joey
October 10th, 2011
6:01 pm
Cytbo, what news did the girlfriend call you with at 3 in the morning on Super Bowl eve?
Reality
October 10th, 2011
6:02 pm
Mark, I beg to differ with you. “Top shelf talent”? Your must be kidding! Is there a position on the team we played last night that you would not swap the talent? Look around the league. Matty is a second tier QB and the O Line is piece-meal at best. We have no speed we are willing to use in the backfield. handoffs to Turner are a joke on every first down. He is not a game breaker. He should be playing FB with speedy back behind him.
Our WR’s are Ok but only if they have a QB and O Line that can get them the ball. Matty’s arm is weak and his feet are slow.
Our D Line played better but is not up to the standard of the league. We have over paid for the CB from Athens and Edwards at DE.
Our coaching is decent but not able to make in game adjustments. Would you trade our coaching staff man for man with GBay? YES, YES, YES!
Jones may be worth the draft choices but time will tell. We had better be willing to enter the free agent market after the season or else be willing to accept that we are an average team at best now and in the immediate future.
Who Me?
October 10th, 2011
6:04 pm
I’ve been in this city my entire life, and the only winning professional program we’ve ever had here is the Braves for one shining season in 1995. Came close in 98 with the Dirty Birds but thanks to mr. robinson (you thought we’d forget you didn’t you?) the team exploded in the locker room and never showed up for the game.
That’s what is so frustrating, too damn many years of being almost good. Liberty Media is never going to get us another World Series Championship, the Hawks? …… right, We’ve topped out with every other franchise, had 2 hockey teams pack up and head out of town, and here – the Falcons took us to 13 – 3 last season before blowing up on national TV.
Yeah, I’d say we’re due. We need that Lombardi Trophy Mr. Blank.
Elmer
October 10th, 2011
6:05 pm
Can’t be fixed by coaching. There’s a need for an elite quarterback. With one that’s very good but not great – and that’s what we have – you can win a lot of games but will never be a New England or a team of that ilk. It’s painfully simple and there’s no way to arrange defenses and offenses to make that go away.
saints#1
October 10th, 2011
6:07 pm
the Falcons have figured out how to lose… lol they will never win a Super Bowl like the great New Orleans Saints.
the hot seat.....
October 10th, 2011
6:09 pm
Hey Mark, is Richt on the “hot seat” because the Falcons lost?
Ted M
October 10th, 2011
6:09 pm
The Falcons should go after Durant Brooks. He was a great punter at GT. I think he’s available.
old fart
October 10th, 2011
6:10 pm
The Braves choke. The Falcons flop. Come on boys, I ain’t gettin any younger.
kurula
October 10th, 2011
6:11 pm
the falcons tanking like they have could not come at a worse time for atlanta sports fans. on the heels of the monumentally epic collapse by the braves, we needed something to to look forward to. so far the falcons aren’t helping in the least and all the vitriol and anger that fans felt from the braves is starting to turn into something much worse: indifference. when the falcons surrendered the lead and the game last night, me and my friend, both life-long fans, weren’t shocked or angry or disappointed. we both just kinda nodded and said ‘there it is.’
the hot seat.....
October 10th, 2011
6:12 pm
Ted M
October 10th, 2011
6:09 pm
Yeah, we’d be undefeated if he were on the team.
Joey
October 10th, 2011
6:13 pm
Elmer, is Alex Smith an elite QB? Well don’t look now, but Jim Harbaugh has him looking like Brady. The 49ers are 4-1, incidently, and stomped the Bucs yesterday.
Smith and the 49ers were a mess last season.
Things CAN be fixed by coaching . . .
PTC DAWG
October 10th, 2011
6:14 pm
Where did folks think this team would be after 5 games?
I thought they would be 3-2….they are 1 game off that pace. time to pick up the pace, not panic.
Ted M
October 10th, 2011
6:14 pm
I am predicting a Falcons win over Carolina on Sunday. But just barely and I won’t be surprised if they lose.
Ted M
October 10th, 2011
6:15 pm
the hot seat….. LOL
dawg4u
October 10th, 2011
6:17 pm
Ray Guy lives in Thomson, Ga about 2 1/2 hours from Atlanta and I hear he may be looking for work after having sold his super bowl rings. He is 61 years old now but I hear he boomed one in the yard about 50 yards the other day. It would have to be better than what we’re seeing now. Well MB for your preseason prediction on the Falcon record to come true, they would have to go 10-1 the rest of the season which I doubt but stranger things have happened.
y2m
October 10th, 2011
6:19 pm
Last night was a disaster in the second half, but this organization has been moving in the right direction for three years. I say don’t panic yet. I believe the the offseason has affected the team more than they are letting on. Next week should be a win… hopefully everything will start to come together for four quarters.
Green Bay Fan
October 10th, 2011
6:20 pm
As a Packers’ fan who was at the game last night and has nothing against the Falcons, I see the Falcs problem as inconsistency. Last night they can be forgiven because they were playing one of the best teams in the country, but look at the last two games…..Tampa: they let the Bucs dominate them until the 4th quarter when they finally started playing well and probably would have won the game had there been another quarter. Seattle: The team leads 27-7 in the 4th quarter and barely holds on by its fingernails to win 30-28? The Falcons need to play consistently for all four quarters and be prepared to make adjustments when necessary. It seems that whenever things start going wrong, the whole team stalls. The Falcons have a lot of talent and do have the potential to be great. Good luck the rest of the season, guys.
jamie
October 10th, 2011
6:21 pm
Get rid of the drum line it’s a buzzkill
Ted M
October 10th, 2011
6:22 pm
I’m looking at Mark’s recent posts “Don’t listen to the Falcons: They’re looking to smack the Pack”
LOL… maybe we should’ve listen to them!
Cytbo
October 10th, 2011
6:23 pm
Joey
My girl called with the news about Eugene Robinson.
The joy in her voice showed me what an evil person she was.
Great Falconi
October 10th, 2011
6:24 pm
Then, for reasons unclear, they lost the plot.
Again with the British-style phrasing, Bradley.
The team are struggling right now. Mightn’t Smitty get the sack?
(STILL)2-10 against ranked teams
October 10th, 2011
6:27 pm
Mike Smith = Mark Richt
Man, I wish we waited another year and drafted the other Matt (Stafford…that is)
juss me
October 10th, 2011
6:28 pm
i feel horrible about last night. penalties, inept paly calling after our 14 point lead, mularkey shot his load and early and had know answers after the 1st half. D played pretty well, bierman is too hollywood now, decoud is a pile of crap, spoon needs to play a complete game, the punk had rodgers on that blizt but i beleive he was more interested in his stupid spoon feeding celebration he does than slowing down and zeroing in on rodgers for the sack than whiffing him like he did, im still pissed that he missed that forte tackle form the bears game that went for alongg score-bustar. i cannot forget bout dunta, my dear old dunta, you punk a** punk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! u have been a complete waste of money. you have given up at least 8 tds this year and last year combined and i cant even count how many tackles u have missed even the one last night when u had a kill shot and missed and he ran around u all the way to the end zone. dunta u are a thief!!!! u are stealing money form atl. with the recession the way it is and all the money u are staeling we fans should be angry at him for the way he plays. dunta u are a complete turd and u should be released from the team. roddy, what the heck is yur problem? u have gone form all pro to all poop. those drops u have been having are cpmpletel;y unresponsiblle by u and are not warrented form a player as yourself. that penalty u had last night was absurd and falcon fans lets be honets bout that incident, how come when he did that not one coach or player said nothing to him regarding it? if i were a coach or even a player i would have gottne his face and told how idiotic that was to do and i believe that was the final error that killed us for the rest of the game. ask yourselfs, would ray lewis have put up with that? be real bout it roddy needs to be slapped for that error.. ryan, my dear boy rayn, u looked like matty ice on those frist two possesions, after that u looked liked mathew rayn, a scared little boy who happedn to play football from boston college, grow some nuts and lead this team, kits your 4th year man. even though we are absolute crap tight now, i truly beleive we can right this ship if some personal changes are made we can turn this around real quick, if we lose to carolina this weekend, cash it in, the season is done, period!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 dunta u are pure dog dung, i dont like u at all
Cybo
October 10th, 2011
6:30 pm
Michael Turner is done. That first year with the Falcons did him in.
(STILL) 2-10 against ranked teams
October 10th, 2011
6:32 pm
Old fart, “the Braves choke, the Falcons flop”
and not to mention my dawgs……they “underperform” year after year….
I’m younger than you (in my forties)…..but I don’t think I’ll see any championships either in my lifetime…at least not in this town which has become THE sports franchise purgatory…..
Michael Turner
October 10th, 2011
6:34 pm
The Butt shots have affected my vision and speed
Felix
October 10th, 2011
6:35 pm
They are just following in the Braves footsteps and choking their way out of the playoffs. That’s is what Atlanta’s pro teams do best.
what da what!!!!!!!!!!
October 10th, 2011
6:35 pm
Why does everything that Matt Ryan does seem so complicated, its football you are not Peyton Manning….Please run the plays that are called and practiced …..we need to get back to the basics and stop tryin to be something were not….
Jackets/Packers
October 10th, 2011
6:38 pm
@Cytbo.
I can relate.
Nothing wrong with baring your soul if u r up to it.
A girl friend happy at the wrong moments is a telling clue.
BravesFan79
October 10th, 2011
6:41 pm
What happened to Kory Beerman? Did we replace him with a over-hyped Ray Edwards?? Bring back the BeeerrrrMan!
Cybo
October 10th, 2011
6:41 pm
Just sitting here thinking about Matt Ryan’s first NFL pass. Has he thrown anything like that since? You know RAC yards. Help me bloggers
Cybo
October 10th, 2011
6:45 pm
Is it ok to run a reverse or a trick play.
Authur Blank
October 10th, 2011
6:48 pm
As soon as I deal with this divorce, I will get refocused. I really want that stadium.
bobwhite
October 10th, 2011
6:49 pm
Lame ass franchise from the top to the bottom..Rich McKay sold A.B. a bill of goods..A.B. hires a G.M. wanna be bike rider via internet video..Then they hire a wanna be head coach whom was a lifelong assistant coach..after many noteable head coach’s had turned the job down!!
All in all..when you consider the dire circumstance this franchise was in at the time..We are very fortunate to be playing ball at all..It looked like, for the longest of times, that we would not be able to find ANYBODY that wanted the job!!
So, lets be thankful that we have one Mike Smith-Thomas D.-Rich McKay-and Arthur Blank with the blank looks on their faces and with them all repeating in unison “its early yet, we still have time to turn this thing around”!! This from the mouth’s of babe’s who have had 2 W’s since December of last year, through the pre-season and the first 5 games of the current season!!!!! Give me a break!
As I look deep into my crystal ball, here’s what I see..I see Cam Newton and friends coming into town with a swagger that is completely undeniable,,I see him setting a new mark for rookie QB’s And TORCHING our weak defense to the tune of almost 500 yards!!! I see many penalties on the part of the falcons and one of the chief culprits is R.W…several others against the defense and the offense..I see coach smitty slamming his headset on the ground with the most god awful look on his face that you could possibly imagine..possibly foaming at the mouth!
Look folks..there’s no way this team is any better than 7-9 IF they are that good!! All this jabber about playoff’s and super bowl hype..well that’s all it is B/S/hype..we have collectively been sold a bill of goods!!!!
Jim 70
October 10th, 2011
6:51 pm
Tired of players celebrating after tackles/sacks/etc, only to have them miss tackles and play poorly on a majority of plays.
CANDICECANDY
October 10th, 2011
6:52 pm
OHHH WOW: YALL BANDWAGONS SURE DO JUMP FAST HUH? WHAT HAPPENED TO THE “FALCONS CANT LOSE AT HOME” BS OR RISE UP BS…LMFAO @ALL YALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CANDICECANDY
October 10th, 2011
6:53 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH……MATTYMELT DID WHAT HE DOES BEST!!!!!!!!!
WHODATNATION
October 10th, 2011
6:55 pm
U mean to tell me the FALCONS lost last night AT HOME???? Really???? As much crap as they talk???????WOW..IM SHOCKED!!!!!!!!
Ivan
October 10th, 2011
6:56 pm
Mark
Thank you for being one of the very few voices of reason on the Falcons.
LMAO@FALCANTS
October 10th, 2011
6:57 pm
Wait a minute..u mean to tell me the FALCONS LOST??? AND AT HOME???REALLY//////As much crap and the fans talk and Roddy BIGMOUTH White???? They lost for real???????
LMAO@FALCANTS
October 10th, 2011
6:59 pm
Where is #1FalconFan::: HOW’s THAT RISEUP THING WORKING FOR YOU????///Falcons are doing a great job..Keep up the good work!!!.WHODAT!!!!!!!!
LMAO@FALCANTS
October 10th, 2011
7:02 pm
Maybe yall should hire the mascot,,,Samuel L Jackson!!..LOL
Gregory Moundine
October 10th, 2011
7:02 pm
I am still a fan. I traveled 5.5 hours to attend the Falcons game. I am a season ticket holder. I served in the military 22 years, but no one, I say no one comes to your house and beat you twice.
Listen to me media, Atlanta Falcons coaches, staff and Falcons fans the only way we can feel better is by 1. making the playoffs and 2. by beating GB to advance further in the playoff or to make it further than GB in the playoff.
If you remember, in this league it takes a lot a skills and a little luck to make it to the playoffs or Super Bowl. Remember GB would not have made the playoffs if it was not for Desean Jackson running that punt return back to beat the NY Giants.
Listen I am hurt from this lost and will have to deal with a lot of GB fans tomorrow at work. This one will be a hard one to swollow, but we have to now look to the Carolina Panthers game. The Falcons, Panthers, Bucs, Eagles, Cowboys and Giants all do not have good records at this point. The Wild Card is going to be wide open. We have to forget the GB game and move on. I know it’s easier said than done, but we must prepare for Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers! Go Falcons. Keep your heads up!
Gregory Moundine
October 10th, 2011
7:08 pm
Let’s prepare for Carolina. The Wild card will be wide Open in the NFC. Go Falcons!
Titletown
October 10th, 2011
7:11 pm
Enter your comments here
garcia
October 10th, 2011
7:12 pm
Mr Bradley,
You are quick to point to the deficiencies of this franchise. Every fan sees them for themselves. We don’t need your help to state the obvious. Here is a question: Why are you not doing your job? Why do you, and rest of the AJC hacks, loft soft balls at our coaches. Atlanta is supposed to be a big city; why doesn’t our newspaper act like it?
Ask Mr Smith why Sam Baker can not protect his QB’s back side. Ask him why his QB forces passes to JJ instead of completing passes to an open HD. This is a big boy game and it needs to be covered by big boy reporters. The AJC writers seem to lack the confidence to ask the tough questions.
Stand up and grow a pair. Save the feminine snide comments and tangential comments. Get to the crux of the matter. In short, act like a journalist. Get us some answers.
Michael Turner
October 10th, 2011
7:15 pm
I reallty didnt expect to carry the ball this much
cybo
October 10th, 2011
7:17 pm
Garcia
Yes lets start the revolt
tmc
October 10th, 2011
7:19 pm
This team aint winning anything with that defense.
They are horrible.
(STILL) 2-10 against ranked teams
October 10th, 2011
7:20 pm
Instead of the slogan “Rise Up”…..
it should be…..”WISE UP”
(STILL) 2-10 against ranked teams
October 10th, 2011
7:22 pm
You know in all seriousness…..you could have a run first, play action, run-first, deliberate offense (ala Pittsburg or Baltimore, Baltimore at its Super Bowl days)….if and it’s a big IF, you have a dominating defense like those teams that I mentioned.
Our defense led by the porno-mustached BVG are FAAAAARRRRRR from dominant……
Delbert D.
October 10th, 2011
7:26 pm
Sam Baker is a turnstile.
Gregory Moundine
October 10th, 2011
7:28 pm
I do not know how many times I have to say it, go get T.O. Yes Julio is good but he’s not a Veteran and does not have the experience as a T.O. or a Randy Moss. The Falcons need attitude on its team.
steven A.
October 10th, 2011
7:30 pm
At the beginning of free agency I envisioned the Falcons using the wildcat formation and thought that a guy like Brad Smith would be a perfect complement to Matt Ryan(see Buffalo Bills). All can clearly see
Matt Ryan will never be a playmaker like the upper tier Quarterbacks.
steven A.
October 10th, 2011
7:32 pm
T. O. would be a horrible pick-up for his team. Randy Moss would be a better fit.
NOBODYYOUKNOW
October 10th, 2011
7:34 pm
They just ant that good yet fans.
steven A.
October 10th, 2011
7:34 pm
I stated last season that Ryan is inaccurate and needs tall receivers to lob the ball up to. Where is
Harold Carmichael when you need him?
Titletown
October 10th, 2011
7:34 pm
Having lived through a 30 year drought before the Pack even achieved respectable, I am not here to dance on Falcon fan pain. After reading all the posts about dumping Matt Ryan, I will share this tip. look at the history of Packer back up QBs and you will see a long list of starters for other teams who made the play offs I won’t bore you all with the names as my purpose is to say Mr. Blank should realized that the guy behind Aaron Rogers, Matt Flynn contract is up this year……the guy who filled in last year when Rogers had a concussion and played very well against the Patriots.
Don’t screw it up like the Bears always do and take a guy coming out of organization that knows how to deft and develop QBs
For what its worth…..I was worried as the Falcons looked great for while and played well on D….it’s just hard to contain that many weapons for 4 quarters and the D kept it close. You just need more consistent playmakers on offense
see ya all in the post season…..just maybe not this year. Sorry, I couldn’t resist
fla dawg
October 10th, 2011
7:34 pm
out of all of this mess it has become glaringly apparent that Matt Ryan is not even in the same universe with the other top tier qb’s in the league. the best qb’s get it done with or without great protection, with or without great receivers, and with or without decent running games. we have hitched our wagons to the matt ryan horse and we will be on this ride for what will seem like an eternity.
black bee
October 10th, 2011
7:36 pm
Talent not there on OL never should have let DAHL go, must look at a FA. DL just average kinda 2-3 ish then SUPER BOWL no one could take them to SUPER BOWL. At least Walker hustles. We need one more real WR to make this complete. We should have re-negiotiated JENKINS contract and kept him, he would have stayed. He was just not a 1st option WR but he was durable and with what we have at WR and Gonzalas would have put more pressure on offenses. Trades or a few FA signings right away will put us over the top. TD just has to stop being so enamored with some of his picks and get to work before it is too late!
Titletown
October 10th, 2011
7:38 pm
Oops sorry for the bad typing….just got an iPad and am not used to the virtual keyboard. Go birds…unless they are playing the Pack
Greg
October 10th, 2011
7:41 pm
I hope Blank has read all these comments, as I have just done. We’re being outplayed, out-coached, and out-managed. All of which means, ultimately, that we’re being out-ownered. The knowledgeable football fan (and there are plenty of us here in the South) is fed up with the mediocrity of the Falcons. We’re fed up with the mistakes (”we have a lot of things to fix, and we will fix them”—except they never do); we’re fed up with the missed tackles (just for one example, Dunta Robinson missing an easy tackle right in front of him); we’re fed up with the poor coverage in the secondary (Grimes excepted); we’re fed up with Ryan missing the target on passes when he’s not even under pressure, and often throwing with no touch at all on the ball; we’re fed up with Turner tip-toeing into the line instead of blasting into it; we’re fed up with our left tackle getting plowed over by most DE’s; and most of all we’re fed up with the job Dimitroff has done building this team, wasting huge amounts of money and high draft picks. We were never REALLY a 13-3 team last year (at least three games were handed to us), and lots of us knew it. Hype, hype, hype…that’s all it was. Now we’re seeing the truth.
Gregory Moundine
October 10th, 2011
7:44 pm
@steven A, T.O. will be great. He is a hard workers and players. Answer this question, how many other great receivers have T.O. had on the other side of him on a team, right None. This is why you have seen the frustration in the past on from T.O. Defensive coordinators realized this and then doubled him and then the media showed you his frustration. T.O. can’t be stopped. Roddy White on one side, T.O. on the other and Julio at slot. Pick your poison not to forget Gonzales. I do like Randy also, but it will cost a little more to get him.
(STILL) 2-10 against ranked teams
October 10th, 2011
7:45 pm
thanks for the classy comments Titletown…..Packers are easy to root for …..
the Falcons would be OK…..but they’re just like my Bulldogs…..get enamored with skill player weapons. You’d think with all the money TD, MS, BVG get paid….they’d realize the game of football is still won in the trenches (OL, DL)
(STILL) 2-10 against ranked teams
October 10th, 2011
7:49 pm
Before another one of you lame brained fans type “In Thomas We Trust”….think of all his misses: P. Jerry, W. Moore, Duntae, Sam Baker, Edwards(so far), Chris Owens, and dare I say it……Matt Ryan????
Blank needs to hold him accountable…..
Gregory Moundine
October 10th, 2011
7:50 pm
This has to stop or has to be used at times. The Falcons are not a college team. We are one of few teams that come to the line after the huddle and then hesitate prior to calling the play.
Take Georgia Bulldogs, they come to line, entire team look to side lines and then play is called. It’s ok I feel to do it when you are trying to run time off the clock, but that and hurry up does not mix unless you have a big lead.
JimmyB
October 10th, 2011
7:53 pm
As a GB fan, and not to throw salt in the wound as no one gets more disturbed when the Packers lose than me, the GB defense, whist being up to this point abysmal, is a work in progress, and their play in the second half was an indication that they are indeed improving. Dom Capers had this defense playing at a high level once they got similiar problems sorted in the beginning of last season.
I do think the Falcons are a good team, and I am sure they will get righted and be there in the playoffs. Best of luck to your team.
steven A.
October 10th, 2011
7:55 pm
It’s all about the Quarterback. He is just not an elite football player. However, he did receive elite
“money” because of where he was drafted. Matt Ryan should thank Michael Vick for his huge
contract and the Atlanta Falcons organization reaching for him with the 3rd overall pick. Joe Flacco
out performed him at the combine and went 13 picks later….
steven A.
October 10th, 2011
7:59 pm
Enter your comments here
Duck
October 10th, 2011
8:00 pm
Did Matt Ryan really slide for 9 yards?
steven A.
October 10th, 2011
8:02 pm
Sorry about that last post, finger slipped. Arthur Blank only wants high character guys(mistake)
That is why he passed on Moss several years ago. That is also why they passed on Dez Bryant
in favor of Sean Weatherspoon.
Eric
October 10th, 2011
8:08 pm
After 40+ years does this really surprise any of you Falcons fans? I’ve been in love with these lovable losers since I was 7 years old and they have never failed to let me down; this year is no different. In my mind the streak of never having back-to-back winning seasons is still intact. Sure we went 9-7 in 2009 but nobody could exactly call that season a good one. Every time this team has EVER had a good year they follow it up with a crap one and Mike Smith’s club is no exception. We will almost certainly miss the playoffs this year if, for no other reason, than that this is the most cursed football team in existence.
moboman
October 10th, 2011
8:09 pm
Nothing wrong with Turner that a loss of 15 pounds wouldnt fix. He has turned into a LARD Butt. No burst. Gotta believe that at 235 he might be able to accelerate some. He aint carrying 250 too well.
Titletown
October 10th, 2011
8:14 pm
Steve character guys are mutually exclusive to great play. I have two words that prove that concept wrong. Reggie White!
When O linemen used to curse at Reggie to upset his sensabilities he would come back the next down an just be fire the snap say “here comes Jesus” and the result was usually a 300 plus pound smart mouth being rag dolled and a QB sack. So, back actors and team poison personalities are not the solution
Delbert D.
October 10th, 2011
8:18 pm
“That interception was sort of my fault,” Vick said.
Incredible.
Titletown
October 10th, 2011
8:18 pm
Gotta go…..another one my 30 year droughts is hopefully ending soon, the brewers are on!
GO BIRDS …. KEEP THE FAITH
OldTimer
October 10th, 2011
8:19 pm
Smitty needs to hit the treadmill. Changes come from within.
moboman
October 10th, 2011
8:22 pm
We arent making the key plays.
1. Ryan slides short of the first down when the 30 yardline is clearly marked. Do your job. Play to win.
2. Spoon blizes and has an open shot at Rodgers on 3rd and long and never touches him. Sack him there and its a different ball game. Instead he completes the throw for the first down.
3. Ryan overthrows for an interception. None of his long passes were on the money.
4. Roddy drops key pass again, not that the throw was good.
Make plays or lose, its that simple.
PS. If the ground cant cause a fumble, why can it cause an incompletion? That was a catch, if not the rule is wrong. Once he hits the ground the play is over. How do you have a drop after he touches down out of bounds, after two steps in bounds with the ball secure. BS!
kerryb
October 10th, 2011
8:41 pm
Mike Smith is beginning to sound a lot like Mark Richt when he talks about his O.C. The guy obviously does a great job when he has a week to script his first quarter of plays. After that he makes no in-game adjustments and the offense stalls. You saw a great coordinator and head coach in Mike McCarthy that is great making in-game adjustments.
Derek
October 10th, 2011
8:45 pm
If we win the upcoming Carolina game we’ll be 3-3. In 1980, we were 3-3 after week six then went 9-1 the rest of the way. It can be done so let’s have a little faith.
OPEN YOUR EYES
October 10th, 2011
8:46 pm
FIRE MIKE MULARKEY!!!!!!!!!!
FIRE MIKE MULARKEY!!!!!!!!!!
FIRE MIKE MULARKEY!!!!!!!!!!
FIRE MIKE MULARKEY!!!!!!!!!!
FIRE MIKE MULARKEY!!!!!!!!!!
FIRE MIKE MULARKEY!!!!!!!!!!
FIRE MIKE MULARKEY!!!!!!!!!!
FIRE MIKE MULARKEY!!!!!!!!!!
FIRE MIKE MULARKEY!!!!!!!!!!
FIRE MIKE MULARKEY!!!!!!!!!!
FIRE MIKE MULARKEY!!!!!!!!!!
FIRE MIKE MULARKEY!!!!!!!!!!
FIRE MIKE MULARKEY!!!!!!!!!!
FIRE MIKE MULARKEY!!!!!!!!!!
FIRE MIKE MULARKEY!!!!!!!!!!
Timmy
October 10th, 2011
8:50 pm
Dan, Although every tem has their share of bandwagon fans, I’ll assure you that Atlanta wrote the book when it comes to that.
I’ve watched it happen to every sports franchise that in Atlanta; win some games and all these “lifelong” fans come out of the woodwork, lose a few and they disappear faster than D.B. Cooper. The Thrashers had the 3rd lowest attendance in the NHL last year, yet when the owner was forced to sell, he was reviled as being greedy and heartless. How many playoff games did the Braves sell out AFTER their WS win?
To be fair, the Falcons have the most loyal group of fans, but they still have little football knowledge. Instead of supporting their team, they’re more interested in crucifying Arthur Blank for “getting rid” of Michael Vick. Instead of giving a minute’s thought of the shortcomings of their team last year, they cried about “not getting respect”. Yeah, right.
Atlanta…the city too busy to win.
OrlandoFan
October 10th, 2011
9:11 pm
During their games, the Falcons show they aren’t mentally tough and lack on and off-the-field leadership! Mike Smith is putting too much trust in his coaches, specifically in his OC and DC. Either he will have to make some tough decisions and relieve some coaches of their duties or he is going to have to start holding them more accountable; otherwsie, A. Blank will lose confidence in his leadership skills and question his competency in getting this team to the next level. Its obvious….the team has regressed and is teetering on a major collapse! Offensive play-calling and the defensive schemes deployed do NOTHING to take advantage of the players skills and abilities nor produce a winning formula. Both coaches are being too stubborn and are over-utilizing unproductive plays and ineffective schemes! They are not calling plays that will put the team in the best position to be successful. The players DO NOT believe in the system; but, because of their loyalty to the team, they choose to keep their grieveances within the locker room. I have coached many years and have seen it before…the players do not believe in the strategy nor the message being delivered by the coaches! When players consistently perform poorly, it shows a lack of leadership from the coaching staff….PERIOD!!! Their inconsistent performance and the presence of penalties during crucial times in the game indicates two fundamental issues: 1) how they are being coached and 2) the lack of accountability by the coaching staff!!! If A. Blank wants to right the ship before it is too late, this is the time when he needs to talk directly to the coaches/players and begin demanding better results! Coach Smith needs to make the players understand that complacency will not be tolerated and no one is immune from being benched or removed from the team! Most importantly, someone on the team needs to show some leadership and call a players only meeting immediately!
TD
October 10th, 2011
9:15 pm
Yes I am the village idiot.
A defense in bad need of improvement and I trade away picks from this year and next.
Gatorman
October 10th, 2011
9:26 pm
Since this paper writes negative things about Fox and Friends concerning Hank Williams Jr. negative remarks about our president. I watched that episode live and he does what he’s done along time, and why no show should ever have him on. They cut him off and made the immediate note to the audience that Fox did not support in any way the negative comments he made. Maybe ole Hank needs to just shut up about Fox for his stupidity not there’s.
extremus
October 10th, 2011
9:28 pm
Yeah, it’s bad, and may not get better until some significant personnel and even coaching changes are made.
But hey, it could be worse, too. They could be 1-4 with the burden of expectations the Philadelphia Eagles had on them coming into the year. Ouch. Dream Team and lauded 2011 Superbowl champions or not, there’s a reason they play the games, and the NFL has a tendency toward parity that can at once be refreshing and infuriating just when you think you’ve put together a winner. Not to mention when doing so has taken you three or four years and you suddenly realize you may not be the best team in your own division, but possibly the worst, as the Falcons are facing.
Windows of opportunity may be mirages dashed by a single bad game or a single injury. Trash talk and bandwagoning last about as long as key players stay healthy and everything goes swimmingly…which is exactly why the NFL stands in some folks’ eyes for the “Not For Long” league.
GTBob
October 10th, 2011
9:33 pm
Im not quite ready to go all doom and gloom just yet. Yes, we haven’t played well, but bailing on the team and crying like a little girl less then a third into the season? The beauty of pro football is that you are allowed to get better as the season goes along. Lets see how we do in that regard.
TechRon
October 10th, 2011
9:48 pm
A pitiful performance to go with the other two. They have not looked good in any of the games, even the ones they won. They suck. Awful, ridiculous penalties. A poor job done by all.
I must add. No one will ever beat the Packers unless they get to Rogers. This was a copy of the playoff game last year. No pressure, no sack, no win. You must get to him or just forget it and go home. If you rush three guys then it does not matter how many Dbacks you have, he will beat you.
musicrockinrobin
October 10th, 2011
9:57 pm
Let’s see.” It’s a process”. Giving up a slew of draft picks including 2 #1’s is a reach for any player. That is not Julio Jones’ fault, just a fact. The Falcons won a bunch of games last year on shear luck, which has since run out. They should have stockpiled good solid players, instead they mortgaged their future. There is no commitment to the run. Why are we trying to be the Patriots or the Saints? I like running plays, it gives your offensive line a chance. At some point the formula changed and I am not sure everyone is on the same page. I feel sorry for their defense, they are playing 11 on 22. The Falcons are closer to the cellar than to the Super Bowl.
FIRE MULARKEY!
October 10th, 2011
10:06 pm
Carolina will beat the pathetically coached Atlanta Falcons this week… I’m all over those 5 pts the so called experts are giving Carolina. As long as Mularkey is calling the plays the best Atlanta can hope for is average… It’s really that simple..
They need to fire Mularkey now!
Purple TRain
October 10th, 2011
10:11 pm
Plus you got 2 games versus Saints that are automatic losses.
Purple TRain
October 10th, 2011
10:16 pm
Matt Ryan has to stop taking series off. He needs to play hard all 4 quarters.
FED UP
October 10th, 2011
10:29 pm
FIRE THE COACHING STAFF, GET SOME WITH ATTTITUDE AND KNOW HOW TO GAME PLAN WITH EACH TEAM , NOT THE SOS POOP WE KEEP GETTING
Larry
October 10th, 2011
10:39 pm
It doesn’t matter how well the front of the Defense plays when you have Dumbta Robinson playing two hand touch in the backfield. He cann’t cover the slowest receiver and looks lost all night. What a BUST!!
udahman62
October 10th, 2011
10:41 pm
Why is, all of last year and already this year, the Packers can plug in just about anyone when the starters go down, and still WIN…and the falconettes can’t?
udahman62
October 10th, 2011
10:43 pm
It’s combination of things…not just one coach and not just one player…there’s a n unspoken pervasive attitude from top to bottom that they’re really only a mediocre team at best…they refuse to admit it…but their play – or lack thereof – tells all
udahman62
October 10th, 2011
10:44 pm
It appears people that your QB flat out gave up…on the flip side when the going get’s tough; the tough get going – as RODGERS and the PACKERS did and do repeatedly
udahman62
October 10th, 2011
10:46 pm
What about the pursuer who was chasing Jones on the first towndown by the Packers…Jones isn’t exactly greese lightening…but the pursuer stopped his chase at the 20 yard line…that’s embarASSing and on national TV no less
OPEN YOUR EYES
October 10th, 2011
11:01 pm
THIS IS WHAT GOES ON EVERYDAY IN A TYPICAL HALFTIME BREAK FOR THE ATLANTA FALCONS:
MIKE SMITH: “OK GUYS GREAT GAME, WE WILL NOW GO INTO OUR CONSERVATIVE PACKAGE ON OFFENSE AND DEFENSE”
TONY G: “BUT COACH DON’T YOU WANNA BE AGGRESSIVE AND KEEP THE PEDAL TO THE MEDAL, SO WE CAN WIN THE GAME??”
MIKE MULARKEY: “BE QUITE TONY, WE DON’T NEED YOUR INPUT!!!!!! STICK TO THE GAMEPLAN BOTTOM LINE!!!!”
MIKE SMITH: “YES THIS VANILLA SCHEME (WHICH IS PROBABLY HIS FAVORITE FLAVOR) WILL WORK ALWAYS GUYS. REMEMBER I HAVE A RING!!!!”
RODDY WHITE: “COACH CAN I PLEASE GET A NAPKIN TO WIPE THIS BUTTER OF MY HANDS???”
MIKE SMITH: “HELL NO SON, IT’LL HELP CATCH MORE BALLS!!!”
RODDY WHITE: “OK!! (THEN KEEPS TALKING S**T ON TWITTER)”
JULIO JONES: “WILL YOU PLEASE THROW THE BALL TO ME RYAN!!!??”
MATTY MELT: “IM TRYING THE BEST I CAN JULIO, BUT I JUST DON’T WANNA GET IT INTERCEPTED!!!!”
JULIO JONES: “WHATEVER LOSER (LOL)”
JAQUIZZ RODGERS: “HEY MIKE CAN YOU GIVE ME A SCREEN PASS??? PLEASE????? I PROMISE NOT TO FUMBLE”
MIKE SMITH: “NO SON, I CAN’T RISK THAT PLAY TO MANY MISTAKES WILL COME OUT OF THAT”
MIKE SMITH: “AYE DUNTA WHY DO YOU HAVE SKATES ON??”
DUNTA: “I DON’T KNOW”
MIKE SMITH: “WELL KEEP THEM ON, IT’LL HELP YOU!!!”
DUNTA: “GOTCHA COACH (TWO THUMBS UP)”
MIKE SMITH: “ALRIGHT DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY BEFORE WE BLOW THIS LEAD???”
EVERYBODY: (CRICKETS, CRICKETS, NERVOUS ENERGY, MORE CRICKETS)
MIKE SMITH: “ALRIGHT THEN LETS GUYS!!!!! LETS GO LOSE THIS GAME!!!!! YAYYY!! YAAAYYY!!!
D-BLOCK: YEAHHH!!!!!! LEEEEEGOOOOOOOO!!!!
STFUniversity
October 10th, 2011
11:09 pm
Falcons have a plan. Theyre losing on purpose so that they have a reason to get rid of Mularkey at the end of the season, since TD is too chicken sh it to do it last year…
oldskool
October 10th, 2011
11:20 pm
3 Problems:
1. Turner tip toes to the hole. Need a real running back.
2. Secondary is terrible and soft. Great flag football secondary….not NFL. Soft and no speed.
3. Offensive coordinator. How can you be so creative for 2 series and totally uncreative the rest of the game. Did you lose your script?
T Mills
October 10th, 2011
11:20 pm
Matt Ryan is an average QB, with an average arm. He’s a game manager, and would be a great fit for a Baltimore Ravens team that has a shutdown defense. Ryan probably is the worst QB in the division:
Brees
C. Newton
Freeman
M. Ryan
In that order……
Tommy
October 10th, 2011
11:22 pm
The team doesn’t have an identity. As I wrote last week, the talent has outgrown the system being run by the coordinators. I give Van Gorder some credit for last night; he adapted to last year’s mess, and those final 10 points were due more to the offense not staying on the field than the defense not making plays. The 70-yard pass hurt, but it was a fair swap for the additional pressure we got on Rodgers for the first half. Beats hanging out in a zone waiting to get scored on.
But the offense. . . man. Mularkey comes up with some good plays sometimes, but he simply does not adapt to defensive adjustments made by the other team. And for crying out loud, stop with the 5-step drop handoffs to Turner. In 2008, Ryan was giving the ball to Turner much closer to the line, and he was on top of the defense before they knew what hit them. Now he’s taking an extra 3 or 4 steps before reaching the play. The Falcons are telegraphing their running plays, just like we did during the Mora years.
This team has 10 win talent, but unless the coaches can come up with a consistent plan that is designed for the Falcons of 2011 instead of 2008, they can kiss the playoffs goodbye.
A Packer Fan
October 10th, 2011
11:37 pm
You guys have a decent team but just not at the level of the packers. Thompson is a stud GM and has talent across the board. The packers are battle hardened from barely making it through the season last year and they just don’t get rattled. I really think the Julio Jones pick may come to hurt you in the long run and I fear that Turner is starting to slow down. Hopefully Ryan will continue to improve and the Saints will start going down soon and you’ll own the division. But right now the packers are unreal. Atleast Rodgers is. I thought Brett Favre was good but he never played with the precsision rodgers does. Tough task playing the packers. To be honest, I don’t think its the coaching. It’s idiots like Roddy White saying stupid comments and getting the packers ticked off.
Explosive!
October 10th, 2011
11:43 pm
Doesn’t look like the Lions are going to give up 30 pts to the Bears either, that honor still belongs to the Panthers and Falcons.
It’s funny, had the Seahawks made their long Field Goal attempt and had Vick not gotten hurt (because face it, before he came out of the game he was running/throwing up and down the field on the defense) the Falcons would very easily be WINLESS right now
falconfreak
October 11th, 2011
12:04 am
Detroit…watched another team which would kill the Falcons. We don’t have anything near the line talent they have. We drafted flash, the teams winning drafted beef and meaness. Nice guys finish last.
Creaky
October 11th, 2011
12:19 am
This season is going up in smoke in a hurry because management won’t accept what the real problem is.
Bleed Gold and Gree
October 11th, 2011
1:18 am
Suggest to Smith and Dimitroff that they look at what’s happening after the whistle, and suggest to that the dirty unsportsmanlike conduct cease immediately.
cedrick
October 11th, 2011
2:52 am
Im going to make this simple for the Falcons coaches and players. I want to “SEE A WINNER”!! Fix-it and fix-it fast. We are 1 maybe 2 games away from calling this season over!!
franco
October 11th, 2011
2:59 am
First of all mark, even though we passed more on first down, we did this out of formations with 1 or 2 wide receivers, which is simply not effective when ur not running the ball well. Look at the pats or packers. They come out of 4 to 5 wr sets on first down. The falcons mindset is to gain a couple yards on first, whereas the pats and packers look to get a first down on first down. Sadly, this concept is most likely seen as radical to the falcons. Im sure if u look at the stats, the falcons are one of the worse teams on first down, we are constantly 2nd and 8 or worse. If we had more 2nd and 2 or 3’s, we could be more flexible with our game plan and further afford to take shots down the field. We all talk about how mularkey’s play calling is usually poor and often the reason why the falcons are playing so poorly on offense. And, unfortunately, it’s prob true. We are constantly in these bad positions because the mularkey or at least the coaching staff have a miscontrued view on how to approach 1st down. I honestly think that is the problem of this offense. You put ryan in obvious passing downs because we are constantly 2nd or 3rd and long. We make it much more difficult to get first downs due to our play calling. If you want mark, give some stats on how we do on first downs and when we do poorly, how that negatively affects us. Also, look at how many first downs we get on first down, i’d guess we are below avg at this.
JSS
October 11th, 2011
5:03 am
Told you that Detroit had finally figured it out at home. Man, I thought the first 5 games would be the barometer; but now the best they might get is 3-4. Here’s the scary part, the cake walk that should have been the Indy game is now not looking so much as a sure thing after Jackson ripped them…
Rodney
October 11th, 2011
5:17 am
Unfortunately, there is NO discount for season tickets holders while you try to “figure this out!”
Tired of this Crap
October 11th, 2011
6:42 am
I’m a Falcon season ticket holder for 10 plus years. I have pretty much spent my last hard earn $$$ on this up and down team. I don’t understand WHY the coaching staff can’t see that Chris Owens,Matt no punting no kicking Bosher, Mike don’t know how to hit the hole turner are under performing week after week. Chris Ownen should have been cut after the Green Bay game last year. We are just too loyal to our players. Coach Smith wake up before you be looking for a job. Arthur Blanks will not continue to take less for you your coaches and players. Arthur Blanks set up before the dome become empty again. Sounding off unhappy season ticket holder.
Go Vols
October 11th, 2011
6:49 am
Nice article, straight to the point. Teams usually regress when they make few moves in the offseason and the Falcons made very few (Edwards being the big exception).
Is anyone else not a fan of the owner on the sidelines? I’m from the “seen not heard” school with emphasis on seen in the owner’s box.
Seminole
October 11th, 2011
7:16 am
So Mark do you want to become the coach and general manager.
You know so much, You can handle the Braves, Hawks and the Falcons.
You prove the fact.
O—- are like A——, everyone has one.
We would be where we are without Arthur?
And Pertino was a better coach than Smitty?
You can do better than both, LOL!
And Having Micheal back would solve all of our problems!
The Falcon fan’s who wear Micheal jersey to the game are not Falcon Fans.
And they need to understand that.
Support the team. and understand what you are seeing.
I am not happy.
Hated the trade, but it did help us.
We need, better defensends, linebacbacker’s. corner’s and safety’s.
Worse of all we need to replace John and Toni.
So how would all of you genuis’s do that.
The core is right, the investment is on course.
We will have our day.
Give me 4 in a row.
truth
October 11th, 2011
7:36 am
MAtt Ryan is the worst 15+ yards passer in teh league.. He has no accuracy.. We are wasting Julios talents
saints#1
October 11th, 2011
7:40 am
the Falcons have been losers since the beginning. they will always be losers. After the Saints won the Super Bowl, the Falcons fans started comparing themselves to the Saints. Falcons fans you will never win the big game. you r losers.
Steveo
October 11th, 2011
7:47 am
Same old Falcons…. why did we get a 14 pont lead and try and sit on it….the play calling was great in the first quarter, then went very conservative….it’s obvious we still have alot of holes to fill (secondary and pass rush) with no draft choices to fill them with…thanks Thomas…Julio is good, but not worth the paying price!!…..so I don’t see anymore playoff games for the Birds in the near future…..and Ray Edwards is just another good run stopping end with no pass rush…..so sad….
Lesa
October 11th, 2011
7:58 am
What can I add here? I’m tired of the lame “we’ll get this corrected” coach-speak. I am growing weary of the ultra-conservative philosophy on offense. Blah, blah, blah.
@ Billy Rykman’s Hands, I love your username. I thought I was the only Falcons fan who remembered #83 “The Little Cajun.” Those teams in the eighties may have lost a lot of games, but they had heart.
juice sourcer
October 11th, 2011
8:02 am
“It’s early”? They are now playing for the last wild card spot. New Orleans wins the south and the 1st wild card goes to either Detroit or Green Bay.
dtanner
October 11th, 2011
8:06 am
this trade for julio jones was insane need all this help o-line etc,trade was as stupid as some of these jon schuerholtz trades that ruined the braves future
Saints Will Kill ATL
October 11th, 2011
8:28 am
Just like somebody said earlier, Falcons could easily be 0-6. If Vick doesn’t get hurt Eagles win. If Seattle throws another short pass to get a closer field goal they beat Atlanta. You know that Carolina will be hard to beat. They’ve barely lost every game they’ve played so far.
I still say that Ray Edwards is a bust (no sacks in 6 games) and Brent Grimes couldn’t cover a scarecrow (3 tds,3 different rec’s Green Bay).
And Matt Ryan doesn’t play hard every series. He takes series off !
Michael Turner does tip-toe thru holes when he needs to be blasting thru them.
Bill
October 11th, 2011
8:39 am
It is all about coaching……especially in the case of the offense. They have the players, all Pro Receiver, all Pro Running Back, all Pro QB, all Pro D-Back, all Pro Tackle, all Pro D-End and all Pro Special Teams. Most teams don’t have this many all pro’s in their lineup. The problems are we can’t make the necessary adjustments at half to keep the momentum going. Look at the GB game, great for one quarter..awful for 3, especially after the half. I am not a MM fan, to basic of a game plan, but I thought he had turned the corner in the lst Qtr. Sun., then it’s back to the same old plan after the half, lost all of the creativeness he generated in the lst Qtr. Turner doesn’t do anything for me anymore, to soft for a 250 lb guy, Snelling runs harder. A little explosion with a bit of Jacquiz would be great as an alternative. As for the D, they are 2nd worst in the NFL in points allowed, the real number that tells the true story. BVG doesn’t have a clue, his players are not as good on that side, but he too cannot make adjustments after the half. Why in the world would you rush 3 in critical situations when you can]t stop anyone with the DB’s you have back there, Thomas DeCoud can not cover or tackle anyone. It is a mess, adequate talent and less than adequate coaching..
Season Ticker Holder
October 11th, 2011
8:46 am
By the end of this season, Matt Ryan maybe the worst QB in the NFC South. Josh Freeman and Cam Newton are quickly gaining on Matt Ryan. Both Freeman and Newton have a stronger arm than Ryan, and they both are mobile enough to extend plays.
Matt Ryan maybe a better game manager. However, playing not to lose a game is not the same as playing to win!! The Falcons problem is that there is no back up QB in Atlanta to challange Ryan for the starting job. Matt Ryan has reached his okay plateau!
Season Ticker Holder
October 11th, 2011
8:50 am
Enter your comments here
Season Ticker Holder
October 11th, 2011
8:50 am
We saw the Falcons explosiveness in the 1st quarter against Green Bay. However, the Falcons were out coached for the remaining 3 quarters. Green Bay made adjustments to stop Turner and to press Atlanta receivers. Atlanta coaching staff did not make the necessary adjustment to counter Green Bay.
rollo lawson
October 11th, 2011
8:57 am
Bump Falcon 73. That dude hit the nail dead on the head. Mark Bradley, get a clue!!
rollo lawson
October 11th, 2011
8:58 am
Van Gorder and Mularkey = Donatell and Knapp. If you don’t see the correlation, you are blind or just plain dumb!
Mike
October 11th, 2011
9:02 am
This Falcons team could easily be 0-5 right now. They haven’t won a game decisively yet and could have easily lost the two they won. I know the fact is they aren’t 0-5 but with the way they have won thus far and with the breakdowns that seem to happen in every game, it isn’t looking too good for the rest of the season.
5 picks!
October 11th, 2011
9:03 am
5 draft picks given up for 1 overrated receiver??? Are you serious? No wonder this organization can never win anything. Blank needs to send mckay and dimitroff packing, ASAP!
The ATL > carolina
October 11th, 2011
9:05 am
Enter your comments here
The ATL > carolina
October 11th, 2011
9:06 am
ATL will beat carolina easily. The ATL D will shut down cam newton.
truth
October 11th, 2011
9:19 am
Julio is very good.. Tough to be successful when your QB underthrows you
where julio?
October 11th, 2011
9:36 am
Julio is very good
—–
He may be “very good” but he’s not worth 5 draft picks, including two #1 picks.
CF-FalconFAn
October 11th, 2011
9:38 am
I learned two things from Sunday nights game: The Falcons are not good. The Packers are not that good either. I don’t think the Pack will repeat. It should be an interesting year.
OPEN YOUR EYES
October 11th, 2011
9:39 am
THESE ARE THE OFFICIAL NICKNAMES FOR EACH DISAPPOINTING FALCON:
1. MIKE “VANILLA” SMITH
2. MATT “CHOKE” RYAN
3. MIKE “PREDICTABLE” MULARKEY
4. RODDY “BUTTERFINGER” WHITE
5. THOMAS “BURNT” DECCOUD
6. DUNTA “SLIP N’ SLIDE” ROBINSON
7. BRIAN “NO-CLUE” VANGORGER
ALRIGHT GUYS THESE ARE THE OFFICIAL NAMES WE WILL BE CALLING THEM BY. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE RESPOND. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
Season Ticker Holder
October 11th, 2011
9:56 am
0 and 4 in the preseason and the Falcons response was “its just the preseason we will figure it out”. Five games into the regular season and the Falcons are still trying to figure it out. Let me help you figure it out.
1. The Falcons are being out coached. If you look over the last two years, the falcons have been out scored in the 3rd quarter. Other teams are making adjustments at half time and the falcon’s coaches are
not countering the adjustments.
2. The Falcons are being out coached. We saw the Falcons explosive offense in the 1st quarter of the Green Bay game. The Green Bay coaching staff made adjustments to stop Turner and to press the Falcons receivers. The Falcons coaching staff did not counter this move.
3. The Falcons are being out coached. In the Green Bay game, the defense had three sacks on Rodgers, all coming off the blitz. Then our smart a$$ coaches went to a 3 man front and no blitz and Rodgers picked the Falcons apart.
4. THE FALCONS ARE BEING OUT COACHED.
just sayin'
October 11th, 2011
10:21 am
getting to the point i don’t have to say much anymore…the homers are beginning to realize what everyone else has been saying…melt doesn’t have IT…whether it’s his weak arm…his happy feet..and don’t get me started on his ‘changing of the plays’ at the line of scrimmage…he seems to be telling the D who should be rushing to get the sack…he is not a Manning or Brees when it comes to his audibles..and white’s inability to ‘walk the walk’ after all the talking he’s doing…and big PAY ray…he celebrates when the QB runs into him….6-10, 7-9 maybe….
BillyBob
October 11th, 2011
10:37 am
Am I the only one who is irritated that all the talking heads in sports focus on how certain supposedly “elite” teams i.e , philly lost instead of how the team that beat them won? The story isn’t who lost it is who won, at least to me.
JeanE
October 11th, 2011
10:41 am
We have the talent but we’re just not very good. Totally undisciplined. That comes from the top. I like Smitty but would this stuff happen on a Belicheck team? No. I thought overall the D played well enough to win and kept GB in check even with the injuries. Although don’t get me started on Dunta R, another CB who can’t tackle or cover at all. Why did we want this guy again? Grimes is worth 100 of him and makes way less. Julio’s out, does it matter? I’ve wanted Harry to get more time anyway, let’s see what he’s got. Last year’s team just clicked, do 3 guys gone make that much difference? Guess so. Have to cut down on stupid dumb a** mistakes and get tougher. We’re not a physical team and we need to be. MM needs to develop a better offensive plan to fit Matt’s talents and he does have some, he can be successful. O-line needs to play better overall.
PMC
October 11th, 2011
11:10 am
It’s about interesting Billy. They are selling commercials, not content.
Gatorzone
October 11th, 2011
11:16 am
Matt Ryan’s slide says it all!!!
The Boy is GUTLESS!!!! Can’t win with a QB who plays scared!
Scared to take a sack
Scared to throw when pressured
scared to get hit when running for first down
Scared to stand in the pocket and find theopen receiver.. From what i saw, on every play it appeared that someone was open but Ryan threw to someone else because he stared them down…
Skeezix
October 11th, 2011
11:24 am
NFL/NBA???—-don’t really care. NCAA basketball can’t come fast enough. I need it to wipe out the ugly memories of the Braves’ September.
Dontavius Supremo
October 11th, 2011
11:26 am
Ha ha! “Rise up and leave the Dome.” I love it.
cdog
October 11th, 2011
11:51 am
LEAVE THE FALCONS ALONE. THEY JUST GOT ROB BY A GROUP OF CROOKED OFFICIALS. THEY WILL WIN AND MAKE THE PLAYOFFS DESPITE CROOKED OFFICIALS.
DW
October 11th, 2011
11:52 am
What talent? A weak arm quarterback, almost washed up running back, sub-par offensive line, suspect defense…….
Lesa
October 11th, 2011
11:52 am
@OpenYourEyes, thanks for the laughs!! Your locker room conversation cracked me up!!!
truth
October 11th, 2011
11:58 am
i am still shocked that Matt Ryan career high in passing yards is 330… You would think with so many weapons, he would have broke 400 yards
Hillbilly D
October 11th, 2011
11:59 am
They have too much talent to be 2-3.
When both lines are weak, that tends to negate the other talent.
TOo Tough44
October 11th, 2011
12:02 pm
For Sure Peria Jerry is a FAT Bust…what a shame a 1st round draft choice is playing back up! Edwards, you suck!
TOo Tough44
October 11th, 2011
12:02 pm
ARTHUR PLEASE HELP US FANS!
Louie Chance
October 11th, 2011
12:02 pm
Halftime is not a players rest time, its a coaches adjustment time. The Falcons staff cannot make adjustements based on first half results. I believe the Falcons have now been outscored 59 to 13 in the third quarter. I can’t think of a beter example. I don’t believe Mularkey can adjust from a pre game plan.
Louie Chance
October 11th, 2011
12:12 pm
Halftime is not a players rst tiime, its a coaches adjustment time. The Falcons staff cannot make changes based on first half results. I believe the Falcons have now been outscored 59 to 13 in the third quarter. I can’t tink of a better example. I don’t believe Mularkey can make adjustments from pre game plans.
nathan
October 11th, 2011
12:18 pm
@OPEN YOUR EYES
Keep the laffs comin!!!
To the Falcons Top Brass–GO SIGN SOME FREE AGENTS NOW
dunta know
October 11th, 2011
12:21 pm
dunta liking that $57 million better and better. He promise to make a play sometime before he leave for another team.
Complacent
October 11th, 2011
12:59 pm
Season Ticket Holder – You are so correct !!! When it comes down to it – I really believe the Falcon coaches are just lazy and lack the passion. It’s a culture of mental lethargy, but i’m scratching my head as to why?
Any ideas????
TOo Tough44
October 11th, 2011
1:03 pm
I think the Falcons have a more nasty attitude wearing the red helmets and black jerseys…Im just sayin……
TOo Tough44
October 11th, 2011
1:07 pm
Must-a-forgot Mularkey…oh…geez these plays worked in the first 1/4…oh shoot, the other team must-a-made an adjustment…Dang, Must-a-thought they wouldnt figure my plays out! Arthur HELLLLLLLLLLLLLLPPPPPPPPPPP! This team shouldve turned the corner last season…looks like they have bonked!
TOo Tough44
October 11th, 2011
1:09 pm
Ya know its so sad for us REAL Atlanta fans….The Hit less Braves, The Hitless Falcons, I live 2hours away, and I am a die hard fan of both teams, BUT, I am getting tired of the bleeding!
YoursTruly
October 11th, 2011
1:13 pm
As a lifelong Falcons fan I am very unimpressed with the way the team is playing so far. However, Mike Smith, Thomas Dimitroff, and Arthur Blank have given us something that Falcons fans have never had before and thats three consecutive winning seasons and a reason to make us believe that we have a legitimate shot at the Super Bowl some day soon. Football isn’t like the movies and everything doesn’t get fixed by a 3 minute speech at halftime. It’s a process and it takes time to develop into a championship caliber team.
If you look around the league, fans get angry when their teams lose but they stand behind them.. We have world class leadership and a roster that is primed for greatness. Stop being so fickle. The fact that you people sing praises when they win and are such douche bags when they lose just makes Atlanta sports in general look bad. Not too long ago losing records were expected. Be grateful that we have a team that CAN win and that HAS WON..Atlanta players used to just play for paychecks…now they play for pride and they play for the city…stop being such a**holes and back YOUR team.
warfalcon
October 11th, 2011
1:36 pm
This is second game in a row,that the offense has come out in the first half and played good,then they come out after half and the offense does nothing.It has to be Coach Smith telling Mularkey to change the play calling,Smith looks like he is trying not to lose.We saw in the first half the Mularkey that use to call plays in Pittsburg in the early 90`s. Believe me it is Coach Smith that is holding this offense back,He thinks he has the defense he coached in Baltimore that could hold onto a 14 point lead,sorry we do not have a defense that can hold a 30 point lead.Smith let the offense go,PLEASE.
DawgDad
October 11th, 2011
1:41 pm
Green Bay went 10-6 and did not win their Division last year. Just saying, and no, I don’t believe the Falcons will wind up in the Super Bowl. Falcons have a very tough schedule and losing to TB didn’t help their cause. But it’s a long year. They were not going to beat Green Bay, a clearly better team. Let’s see what they do against Carolina, a VERY explosive but wildly inconsistent bunch. If they get torched by Williams and Newton THEN I’d be ready to say this team has no upside.
houstondawgfan
October 11th, 2011
1:46 pm
I agree about the officiating being suspect on the big plays, that could have extended drives for the Falcons and the non call holding on the Green Bay side on the big plays. It comes down to who the NFL likes right now, don’t forget this is a business. The Falcons will be fine, I see them reeling off 5 or 6 wins in the next games. They match up very well with Detriot, I see them winning that one in a close high scoring game. Its off to the races after that. Its a long season, I don’t make too much about a 2-3 start odds, because some of the Falcons key games left are at home. They end up 11-5 or 10-6, then everyone starts at zero in the playoffs. Its going to be a fun ride, they will fix the offensive line problems. The teams just needs more focus and limit silly mistakes.
trailboss
October 11th, 2011
2:17 pm
I gave up being a season ticket holder when the FALCONS didn’t change the OC and the DC. The coaching is so predictible being a fan since they started on Capital,Ave.This for coach smith if you lose to the Prathers Mr. Blank is not going to have any choice but to start by making a short list of replacement. As head coach you should’ve taken over ourD gave Rogers to much time with the 3-3-5 rush,fush and rush some more untin they get out of that cons, mood we have vo right to even spesk about the playoffs.
Shirley
October 11th, 2011
2:46 pm
It seems like we have adequate talent to do well, maybe not supreme dominance over the league a la Green Bay, but better than we have been doing. Perhaps a coaching staff change or adjustment could help. The play calling often seems suspect. I do think the whole team suffers from lack of confidence and purpose at times (including Ryan). Ryan seemed to rally against Philly & Seattle, but fizzle emotionally against the other teams. Maybe he needs a new psychological approach to regain that confidence.
Shirley
October 11th, 2011
2:47 pm
And as a longtime fan who has been through plenty of AWFUL Falcons seasons, I say, what the heck, let’s just go for it! We seem so tentative when we have a lead.
DawgDad
October 11th, 2011
2:51 pm
“They match up very well with Detriot,”
Grimes on Johnson? I’m looking forward to that – NOT!
Z-Ro
October 11th, 2011
4:56 pm
all i know is this regime HAS NEVER HAD A LOSING SEASON!!! panic not my fairweathered fowls!!!!!!!
REAL DAWG'S N FALCONS FAN
October 11th, 2011
5:51 pm
oh yea of little faith,be careful and don’t break your leg jumping off the bandwagon ! if you can’t take the bad with the good then don’t watch the falcon’s . all of you naysayers will be eating crow later this year. BOTTOM LINE YOU ARE A FALCON FAN OR YOU AREN’T! THE PACKERS WERE 3-3 AFTER 6 GAMES LAST YEAR, THIS TEAM WILL BE JUST FINE WITH OR WITHOUT YOU PEOPLE WHO WANT ANSWERS,COACHES FIRED ALL THE CRAP THAT IDIOT’S WITHOUT A CLUE ASK FOR BECAUSE THEY DON’T HAVE A CLUE WHAT TO DO. SUPPORT YOUR TEAM, THIS NO MINI CAMP HURT THE FALCON’S MORE THAN OTHER TEAM’S FOR UNKNOWN REASON’S .I DO SEE CAUSE TO BE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THIS TEAM ,THEY WILL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE AND WILL PLAY 4-QUARTERS AND WHEN THEY DO WATCH OUT,I KNOW THE ONLY TEAM THAT CAN BEAT THE FALCON’S ARE THE 2011 ATLANTA FALCON’S.WHEN THE MISTAKES STOP THIS WILL BE A TEAM NO ONE WANT’S TO PLAY,AND DON’T BREAK YOUR ARM’S TRYING TO GET BACK ON THE BAND WAGON. GO FALCON’S ! YOUR REAL FAN’S LOVE YOU!
real falcon4
October 11th, 2011
7:11 pm
why is everyone giving matt popcorn ryan a pass. at this point in mike vicks career the media and fans where ready to move him to running back..Matt Ryan is garbage he has a popcorn arm and no guts.. he says the right thing off the field, but never produces on the field. Turner is not the problem until popcorn arm can complete a pass down field other teams are going to continue to put 9 in the box…
painter
October 11th, 2011
8:01 pm
Falcons back to mediocrity. Our old friend.
Doubtful of the HC/OC/DC
October 11th, 2011
8:06 pm
This is the same HC that says the same thing after every loss…”We’ll look at the film and get it fixed”, “There were some things we didn’t do well today, we’ll get it fixed” and now he has Arthur saying “I have full confidence that we’ll get if figured out”. Chicken Little also kept saying “The Sky is Falling” but did it ever fall? Same with Smitty, it’s the same problems from last year that they will get fixed, has it got fixed? H3LL NO!!
overrated
October 11th, 2011
9:21 pm
another ATL sports team built up by the local media, that turns out to be a total flop. Ryan–average arm, not good in the pocket, but the ATL media acts like he’s joe montana! The team is average and they wasted all that money on busts like dunta and julio. Drop the blinders and look at the facts.
bobwhite
October 12th, 2011
1:23 am
I Have Questions..Anyone have the correct answers?
1- Why in the hell are X presidents referred to as Mr.President?? We only have 1 President and he’s in office..
2-Another pet peeve..when these X coaches take a broadcast job..is it in their contract that they be referred to as Coach Bilicheck or whom ever the moron is?
looks like a slap in the face to the current President or Coach!!
Lions still looking up at defending champ Packers (Yahoo! Sports) | E. OVERSTREET SPORTS MANAGEMENT
October 12th, 2011
12:20 pm
[...] Atlanta Falcons: Does Double M’s performance deserve a “two thumbs [...]
ATL Observer
October 12th, 2011
12:42 pm
When you take a 14-0 lead and never score again and lose, you’re missing SOMETHING in adjustments. The coaching staff cannot shrug this off.
But Smith does have a good point that there were also key mistakes that absolutely clobbered this team. You know the road is spiralling downward when you see TG not come down with that pass that became an INT. That’s the type of pass (jump ball up the middle) you throw to him and complete 90% of the time. The mentality of the team is sliding downward.
ANYTIME I hear the dreaded ”We’ll look at the film and get it fixed,” I get worried. I’ve never heard that quote from a team that ends up doing something good right after…
Enkinan
October 12th, 2011
6:15 pm
I don’t have a problem with the majority of the play calls in the game. The problems were due to penalties at the absolute worst time and Matt Ryan playing at a below average level. He flat out is missing receivers. Roddy White dropping the ball that many times certainly didn’t help matters. The thing that was the most frustrating about that game was how spectacular the first two drive looked. They proved that they could do it, and then didn’t continue to.
Falcomania
October 12th, 2011
9:17 pm
We have a poor offensive line, a predictable O. cord., an average at best QB, a slow footed candy a$$ running back,and a defense with no real stars. That equals nothing but an average football team. 9-7 maybe 8-8 at the end of the season.
Preston Thompson
October 13th, 2011
10:44 am
First problem is get Blank off the sideline. He in the he!! can anybody play football if the owner is on the sidelines with his finger up their butts trying to make um feel good? I keep think about him and Vick. What a joke. Next thing is stop treating Matt like he’s part of the second coming. He’s playing like a rookie.I realize he has a lot on his plate with Todd out, but for heavens sake put the ball where a reciever can catch it and good things will happen. Third thing is get some sticky stuff for White to put on his gloves. He’s looking like he did 4 years ago. Drop after drop after drop.
And the last thing is get somebody as a offensive coordinator with some imagination. MM is in a rut and it’s too deep for him to see his way out.I look at the route the Lions were running and think just wow, they make it look so easy and the Falcons just make a mess out it. They still have time to get thing right but they at this time do not look like a well coached, disciplined team. Some them could be drunk. That what they play like. Like the Bosox.
Doubtful of the HC/OC/DC
October 13th, 2011
12:52 pm
YoursTruly, maybe if the Falcons had win a Superbowl or two we wouldn’t be so fickle. The most frustrating thing is to have a team that seems to never be able to do anything consistently. Coaching is a MAJOR issue with this team. I don’t care about consecutive winning seasons that should be the norm for any competent coach in the NFL. That’s what they get paid to do first, and then second try to win a championship each year.