Opening night: A passing grade for the Falcons’ passing game
Julio Jones makes his touchdown snag. Impressive, eh? (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
We cannot know in August what will happen, or not happen, in January. We can’t even know if the Falcons be playing then. Being human, we still look for clues. And what we saw Thursday night was most encouraging. The Falcons met the Baltimore Ravens, who played for the AFC title last season, and looked much the better side when both sets of starters were deployed.
The only number worth a second glance in an exhibition game is the score when the first starting quarterback exits. Here it was 14-7, and it was only that close because the Ravens’ Joe Flacco stayed in and led a touchdown drive against the Falcons’ second-string D.
The Falcons’ No. 1 offense had the ball four times and scored two touchdowns. Matt Ryan, who bulked up over the offseason, looked a little stronger and perhaps a bit quicker. He threw 13 passes, completing nine, for 155 yards. He hoisted a lovely fade to Julio Jones, who pulled it down in the end zone, but also threw a misread of an interception.
In all, Ryan looked good. Jones looked, not to put too fine a point on it, great. Beyond the touchdown, he made a leaping catch over the middle and a tough grab down the sideline, and he even turned a screen pass into a 19-yard gain, at which point every Falcons fan exclaimed, “At last a screen! Dirk Koetter is a genius!”
Jones’ numbers: Seven passes thrown his way, six caught for 109 yards and six points. That’ll do.
“They were very effective, very efficient,” said Mike Smith, speaking of the starters. “I thought we threw the ball very well.”
And now you’re asking: What about the offensive line? It looked pretty good. Ryan wasn’t sacked. (He was pressured a couple of times.) The Falcons’ first four possessions yielded 36 rushing yards and 193 yards all told. Nothing wrong with that.
Then again, Ray Lewis didn’t play for the Ravens, and Ed Reed worked only one series. And that’s why we can’t get too worked up over anything we see in August. Preseason yields no conclusions; it only offers hints. The Falcons had to be encouraged that their first-teamers didn’t allow even a Baltimore first down, but the sight of Akeem Dent, who’s vying to start at middle linebacker, getting knocked out covering a second-quarter punt had to curb any enthusiasm.
If you wanted to see Ryan throwing the ball to Jones, you got your wish. If you wanted to see the Falcons look sharp for the first quarter, you got that, too. But nobody’s going to be thinking about this game in January, or even September. This was a nice start for a team that needs to have a big season. The season itself doesn’t begin for another month.
“It was a start,” Ryan said. “It was a good start.”
The final three quarters were less salubrious. The Falcons scored only three points after Ryan and the starters departed, and Baltimore won 31-17 after trailing 14-zip. Not that it mattered. If the season comes down to John Parker Wilson or Chris Redman having to move the Falcons 80 yards, the season’s lost. If Ryan stays upright and the offense plays anywhere close to its potential, this season could last into February.
By Mark Bradley
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88 comments Add your comment
Rupricht
August 10th, 2012
9:14 am
…and Redman gets paid $825k for 2012. Amazing. Tony Graziani played better (did I say that out loud?)
DP
August 10th, 2012
9:18 am
Mark Bradley’s casual assertion in yesterday’s column that the Falcons would have won the Super Bowl in 2011 had they beaten the Packers in their first round game, instead of getting pummeled 48-21, should disqualify him from writing about pro football.
Maxwell the chihuahua hunter
August 10th, 2012
9:26 am
meanwhile, back at the ranch, Curtis Lofton is having a heck of a pre-season down in NOLA…
wes
August 10th, 2012
9:30 am
That’s what you get for relying on a dog. Akeem Dent? Puh-lease. smh
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
August 10th, 2012
9:50 am
0-4
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
August 10th, 2012
9:53 am
I like what they said on the NFL Network yesterday. CHOKE has weapons at every skill position on offense.
Yet they still got shutout vs Giants in a playoff game.
Next excuse?
The Truth
August 10th, 2012
10:02 am
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves Falcons fans…the 1st DRIVE was impressive. Ryan’s inability to make anything other than an INT happen when given the short field after a great punt return was pathetic. Same ol’ Ryan, imo.
Double Zero Eight
August 10th, 2012
10:08 am
If Ryan goes down, the season is over.
Even though Shockley was injury prone,
he was a better back up than Redman.
Wilson does not have what it takes to be
a backup QB in the NFL.
markie mark
August 10th, 2012
10:08 am
Mark, do the Falcons ever give DJ Shockley another thought, or is he too far in the rearview mirror? I still think he played better than these backups, and if he hadnt been injured may have caught on as a starter somewhere……
markie mark
August 10th, 2012
10:09 am
@008 – great minds, etc. etc……
Tom Pridemore's love child........
August 10th, 2012
10:11 am
Hmmmmm…….funny how there was no mention on “Wac” Ryan throwing another red zone INT….. Or “Toast” Samuel getting burned on a fly pattern only to be bailed out on an overthrow…… But I guess that is what you get when the fans and the press is still happy about back toback winning seasons…….
P Rose
August 10th, 2012
10:15 am
salubrious |səˈloōbrēəs|
adjective
health-giving; healthy : salubrious weather. See note at sanitary .
• (of a place) pleasant; not run-down.
ATL Fan
August 10th, 2012
10:18 am
Was that a screen pass I saw?!? How about that!!!
Joe "CHOKE" Flacco
August 10th, 2012
10:40 am
That was two sacks you saw on Flacco, how about that!!!
Pitiful Performance.
Juuulio « Tide Bits
August 10th, 2012
10:46 am
[...] Julio showed out last night for the Falcons: In all, Ryan looked good. Jones looked, not to put too fine a point on it, great. Beyond the touchdown, he made a leaping catch over the middle and a tough grab down the sideline, and he even turned a screen pass into a 19-yard gain, at which point every Falcons fan exclaimed, “At last a screen! Dirk Koetter is a genius!” [...]
Tom Pridemore's love child........
August 10th, 2012
10:47 am
“Choke: Ryan,
When you get a second, call my QB…see if he can explain to you what it feels like to win in January
Best wishes,
Ray Lewis
Stiffneck
August 10th, 2012
10:52 am
Agree on the comments regarding Wilson and Redman. Seriously, are these two guys actually the backup QB’s?? Wilson needs to go back to bama and Redman should retire. There has got to be a veteran out there that can still hold his own.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
August 10th, 2012
11:01 am
Double Zero Eight
August 10th, 2012
10:08 am
If Ryan goes down, the season is over.
_________________________________
No if CHOKE goes down, there will finally be some qb competition like on most other teams, but apparently CHOKE’s feelings are a lot more softer than his weak arm
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
August 10th, 2012
11:03 am
CHOKE….The best preseason qb in Falcons history….ha ha
Luscious Lucius
August 10th, 2012
11:30 am
Exactly how I feel Mark. Falcons need a more capable backup qb. Now!
j
August 10th, 2012
11:30 am
If we are relying on Dent to be good, we will be in trouble.
Flacons never learn
August 10th, 2012
11:38 am
All a round this team preformed porly. They will be lucky 2 finnish 4 – 12.
Way 2 go for loosing Lofton.
SirReal
August 10th, 2012
12:28 pm
1) The passing game with the starters looked great for their first showing of the year. We all know Jones is gonna be a force this year. Roddy will get his. I want to see Gonzo more incorporated next week. You dont exclude a Future Hall of Famer from the gameplan even if it is preseason.
2) I dont know if anyone else saw but Baker got straight up ABUSED yet again on more than a few plays. If Baker holds his ground, Ryan never gets flushed out of the pocket and Smitty never has to challenge the WR being out of bounds. If they replay the game, just watch. The guy just doesnt have it in him.
3) I agree with others on the backup QB situation. DISMAL performance from JPW and Redman. Davis was solid and that pick wasnt his fault. Sure his passes could still use a little touch but TEs are supposed to catch fastballs or lobs. Doesnt matter. JPW is garbage and Redman is too old. They MIGHT wanna look at another backup somewhere.
4) Our reserves beyond 2nd team suck. We obviously have depth issues. We need some of these guys to be role players and many looked like they got rolled over.
Starter Grades- QB is B- Only bc Ryan should have LOOKED OFF HIS WR and he wouldnt have had an INT. WRs both get an A Roddy and Julio both looked good TE-Incomplete RBs-B Turner, I love him but he looks worn down. Just doesnt hit the hole hard at all anymore. Quizz on the other hand, LOVED it. He hits the hole so much faster. I thought it might be the O line but I think unfortunately the Burner may be out. I hope he still has some gas left. I just know years past he ran hard even in the preseason. Doesnt look like the same guy anymore.
willdave
August 10th, 2012
12:57 pm
Look, man, I love the Falcons. Always have, always will. But let’s not even mention January right now. Let’s not look ahead at all. Let’s just take it week by week.
Sure, the first-teamers looked great last night. But how will they look next week? Or when the real season begins? Long-time fans know there are no guarantees when it comes to these Falcons. So let’s just see what they do and hope for the best.
Go Falcons!
Brandon Lee
August 10th, 2012
1:13 pm
Julio Jones again displays his exploits as a Prime-Time A grade Receiver. He gives Matt Ryan an excellent Edge to throw to… Good thing is He opens up the running game because the Opposition Defensive Secondary cannot afford to cheat-In on the line of Scrommage, or they get Burnt… Way to go, Julio Jones!
Jean Claude Killy
August 10th, 2012
1:14 pm
Flacons Never Learn (Joe Tess Fish Breath) You Sir are an Idiot and you’re not even funny anymore…
Jean Claude Killy
August 10th, 2012
1:20 pm
You should be “Band” until you learn how to spell Falcons,,, come on,, say it with me F A L C O N S,, not FLACONS you Jack Wagon,,,
mdconner
August 10th, 2012
3:35 pm
If you whiners and Aints fans knew as much about football as you think you do you would be on the flippin’ payroll… but you’re not! Keep your Pop Warner quality coaching skills to yourself and if you don’t like the team, GET OFF THE BOARD AND SUPPORT SOMEBODY ELSE! LOSERS!
AND, in case you missed it, the worst coach and the lowest member of the practice squad is better than your nachos and beer-swilling butt.
mdconner
August 10th, 2012
3:37 pm
Sorry, for all you REAL fans, GO FALCONS!
ATL Observer
August 10th, 2012
4:34 pm
Have to agree with two things here:
1) Backup QB situation = terrible. Is it me or does Redman gets worse every year?
2) Baker = gets beaten like a drum…….seriously, if we could address that, it would improve the offense 50%
Vick Rewind
August 10th, 2012
4:38 pm
Now that we have an African-American quarterback in 4th spot the locals will be calling for him to replace Ryan at the first interception of a real game.
Nervous Nelly
August 10th, 2012
5:49 pm
The Taints are going to suck this year,, bank on it……. and African-American,, I thought he was from North Carolina,,,,
Jim
August 11th, 2012
4:31 am
History shows that preseason games indicate exactly nothing. Don’t even waste your time trying to make something of these games unless it is the injuries. I will be so glad when preseason is cut to fewer games.
Chuck Clausen
August 11th, 2012
4:57 am
I don’t know how good the Falcons will be, but I know when I see a Falcon game seldom will a Mike Smith coached team be out coached.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
August 11th, 2012
4:49 pm
How’s that superbowl prediction going?
crimson 1
August 12th, 2012
12:01 pm
Is John Parker Wilson still playing ball? Lord help us all. He’s good for three interceptions a game. All in the last quarter. A Crimson turd.
Curtis Loften is Fat and Slow
August 12th, 2012
10:56 pm
Enter your comments here
LOL at the Aints
August 12th, 2012
10:57 pm
LOL