Week Eight Review-Falcons Find It Tough In The Big Easy

Anyone that watched this game Monday night must admit it was exciting until the end. Both teams came in and played a physical, hard fought game.

The Falcons struck first on the opening possession culminating with a Michael Turner 13 yard touchdown scamper. Turner showed surprising speed to get to the edge for the score.

The Falcons kicked off to the Saints and five and a half minutes later, running back Pierre Thomas scampered in the end zone from 22 yards out. Game tied, the shootout began.

The next Falcons possession they stalled and ended up punting. They downed the ball inside the Saints ten yard line. Two plays later, Falcons safety Thomas DeCoud came in on a delayed blitz rocking Brees and forcing a fumble. The ball was recovered in the end zone by defensive end Kroy Biermann. For the second time in the first quarter, the Falcons took the lead.

The Saints got the ball back and methodically drove downfield, ending their series with an 18 yard touchdown to Marques Colston. The game was tied at 14 with eleven minutes still remaining in the second quarter.

This was the rivalry I expected and wrote about in my pre-game column. These games typically turn into physical battles and this was no disappointment.

On the next possession Turner broke loose a 37 run yard run and put the Falcons into field goal position to take a 17-14 lead. Kicker Jason Elam came out and hit the upright, no good. This is where it became obvious the Falcons were in trouble. They hadn’t really stopped Drew Brees and the Saints offense so far so the only way to stay in this game was to produce another big play from the defense.

Ask and ye shall receive.

After Saints running back Pierre Thomas did his best Turner impression and broke loose for 30 yards, Drew Brees took a shot down-field to Devery Henderson. Corner back Brent Grimes, who is 5’8″ in stacked shoes, had to vertically leap three feet off the ground to bring in the pass and the big play the Falcons required to stay in control.

With four minutes left in the half, the Falcons went three and out and that was the last time they threatened the Saints in the half. The Saints got the ball back and abused the weak secondary of the Falcons. Drew Brees needed only four passes to go 76 yards down-field and setup a one yard Reggie Bush run.

Up 21-14 with one minute remaining in the half, the Saints were looking forward to going into the half with a touchdown lead. That’s when Matt Ryan made one of his mistakes.

Ryan dropped back and tried to force a pass into receiver Roddy White that corner Jabari Greer read perfectly. He stepped in front of White and returned the pass 48 yards putting the Saints up by two scores.

After being tied with four minutes remaining to being down by 14 points going into halftime, it appeared the game was all but won. Wrong…

In the third quarter, the Saints received the kickoff and the Falcons defense forced a three and out. Once the Falcons got the ball, they wasted no time getting back into the game. Ryan aired the ball out to White down-field and Roddy turned it into a 68 yard touchdown.

Suddenly as that, the Falcons were back in the game.

The rest of the third quarter was pretty uneventful. Neither team really gaining any further ground on the other. It was more defensive than the previous two quarters.

The fourth quarter started off with the Falcons marching down field and scoring the game tieing touchdown to Roddy White with 11:36 left in the game. Or did they?

Coach Sean Payton challenged the play and replay showed White allowed the ball the hit the turf. The Falcons had to settle for a field goal and a four point hole. It appeared on the replay White was hit well before the pass reached him but officials didn’t throw any flags so it must have been clean. Officials don’t make mistakes.

On the ensuing possession, Saints running back Pierre Thomas fumbled after being hit by safety Eric Coleman and the Falcons had the ball right back. Down by four, ten minutes left in the game. This was the momentum the Falcons needed to take the game away from the Saints.

That’s why they play the game.

On the third play of the drive, Ryan tossed a ball at Tony Gonzalez from the Saints 11 yard line that was tipped by linebacker Jonathan Vilma resulting in a second interception for Jabari Greer.

With ball in hand, the Saints marched downfield and milked the clock down to three minutes before scoring on a one yard touchdown by Pierre Thomas. That effectively put the Saints up by two scores and the game too far out of reach for the Falcons.

Once again, that’s why they play the game.

The Falcons couldn’t manage anything on the next series. They turned the ball over on downs with less than two minutes to play. But the Saints realized the Falcons had a time out left so they couldn’t just kneel the ball to kill the clock. They rushed Thomas to drain as much of the clock as possible.

On third and ten back-up running back Mike Bell met a wall at the line of scrimmage and reserve linebacker Coy Wire stripped him and gave the Falcons life again. Down by eleven, the Falcons needed two scores with no time outs remaining.

The Falcons drove the ball quickly down-field to the Saints 22 yard line and kicked a field goal leaving 31 seconds on the clock. Out came the on-sides kick unit and the Falcons rolled the dice. After a possession saving time out by Sean Payton the Falcons lined up a second time and recovered the kick.

With 28 seconds remaining, Matt Ryan tossed a quick out to receiver Michael Jenkins for 14 yards putting the Falcons back into Saints territory.

This is where it got strange. Ryan clocked the ball with 11 seconds remaining giving him two sure attempts in the end zone. He dropped back to pass and feeling the three man pressure brought by the Saints, tossed a lame duck to the Saints 12 yard line that was promptly brought in by safety Darren Sharper to end the game.

What makes this play strange is Ryan looked as though he couldn’t throw the ball 50 yards. Some say he was pressured and rushed the throw. Even still, that was a terrible throw. The other factor is there were five Saint jerseys to one Falcons (White) standing at the ten yard line. Ryan effectively cut the field in half by rolling to the right, although it appeared his receivers went left with the exception of White. Very strange play call for a simple hail mary pass.

The Saints won the game but they should be thrilled to escape that one. It was definately a great game to watch if you weren’t a Falcons fan.

 

INTERESTING STATS

The Saints only managed seven points in the second half of the game. They had previously out-scored opponents 75-9 which all accounted for victories.

Linebacker Curtis Lofton now leads the NFL in tackles. He has 76 on the season, five ahead of second place. Of those 76 tackles, 58 of them are solo which also leads the league.

Matt Ryan has thrown two or more interceptions in three straight games.

Darren Sharper picked off his league leading seventh interception. Granted, it was a garbage pick on a Hail Mary but it just pads the stats of an amazing season put in by the safety.

Michael Turner scored his eighth touchdown of the season placing him third in the NFL behind Jones-Drew and Adrian Peterson.

This was also the first loss for the Falcons where Turner rushed for over 150 yards.

 

QUESTION OF THE DAY

Why is stud linebacker Curtis Lofton running down field on kickoffs? Someone get back with me on that one because I honestly do not understand the logic there. That’s like having Matt Ryan returning kickoffs. You don’t have your defensive leader risking injury and fatigue before opponents offensive series.

 

FALCONS GAME BALL

There were several candidates for this honor. Even in a loss, the Falcons didn’t play terrible. It would be easy to give Brent Grimes credit due to that beautiful interception. But, he was abused on several plays leading to scores.

Also Coy Wire had a great game with the forced fumble at the end to give the Falcons hope. Without that play there likely wouldn’t have been enough time for the Falcons to beat the Vegas odds with a last second field goal.

The game ball goes to difference makers and I can think of none that deserve it more than Michael Turner. He showed Falcons fans he’s still a force to be reckoned with on Sundays.

 

GOAT OF THE WEEK

This honor goes to someone I have tried to praise for weeks now. I felt he was never given enough credit and the past few weeks he’s been a complete non-factor. This weeks award goes to receiver Michael Jenkins.

Jenkins missed catches cost us a couple of drives and forced punts in situations where the offense could have taken the lead. He was an unsung hero last season but at some points your number two receiver needs to score. It’s been 14 games since he last entered the oppositions end zone.

 

FINAL TAKE

There were several positives the Falcons can take from this game. The running game was resurrected, the secondary played fairly well for being so depleted and no one left the game with a concerning injury.

The Saints escaped this game to remain undefeated. But they face the Falcons again at the Georgia Dome on December 13th, 2009. That home dome advantage should be enough to sway the odds back into the Falcons favor.

That said, the Panthers have started to come back to life and sit one game behind the Falcons in the division. The Falcons need the Saints to remain undefeated after this Sunday to keep the Panthers out of the wild card chase.

I also predicted the score pretty closely for this match-up. I’m surprised I finally got one right! That puts me at 5-2 on the season and my expectations are high that I will be sitting at 6-2 after the game Sunday against the Redskins.

That preview coming soon!

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Monday Night Countdown: Falcons at Saints

Tonight, the Atlanta Falcons have another chance to prove they are a playoff contending team on prime time television. Their first go at it was Sunday night against the Chicago Bears.

Most people believe the Bears lost that game. The Falcons didn’t actually win it. Well, going to New Orleans against an undefeated Saints team should give the Falcons some respect.

Personally, if the Falcons come out of this game the victor, I expect the media to spend more time talking about the Saints being exposed.

Regardless, this rivalry is one the country knows little about. Both teams have been in shadows for so much of their existence that it took a hurricane and dog fighting before people paid attention.

“It’s definitely a rivalry,” said former Saint now Falcon Aaron Stecker. “Every time we play Atlanta it’s always an extra emphasis on the little things. At the beginning of the week we always talk about It’s the Atlanta Falcons.”

Both teams had to rebuild. One a city and a stadium, the other a franchise from the top to bottom. Both look to be stronger than ever before and ready to show the rest of the country the NFC South is ready to rise.

This game in particular has special meaning to me. Growing up in Louisiana, most of my friends are Saints fans. We debate, argue, and treat this game each season like our own little Super Bowl. Tonight is special;the world is forced to watch it!

The best thing about this deal is, both teams are good; they are very good in fact.

New Orleans will be defending their dome. Last season when these two met in the dome, both teams had exactly 414 total yards. Rookie Matt Ryan tossed for over 300 yards in the loss that went down to the final drive. The Saints converted a fourth down that resulted in a Pierre Thomas touchdown.

And in what’s become a trend for Mike Smith and the Falcons of late they punt down by four points with three minutes left in the game; they never got the ball back.

Being one of the only remaining undefeated teams in the NFL, the Saints will be very motivated to put on a show for their home town. The Falcons need this win to keep pace in the division and keep that wild card spot open in case the Saints finish as strong as they have started.

This game will feature two of the best quarterbacks in the league in Drew Brees and Matt Ryan. For franchises that boasted the likes of Billy Joe Hobert, Joey Harrington, Billy Joe Tolliver, and Tony Graziani, this is an unprecedented time for both. No offense, to the likes of Michael Vick, Aaron Brooks, Chris Chandler or the Cajun cannon Bobby Hebert, but this is special.

Last season, Brees challenged Dan Marino’s passing record and fell short on an under-thrown route down the middle intended for Lance Moore. He is playing football about as well as any quarterback in the league.

What makes this Saints team more complete is the balance they have this season. They actually run the ball more often than pass. The play-action they get from the running game gives Brees an advantage he hasn’t had since his days in San Diego. The combination of Pierre Thomas, Mike Bell, and Reggie Bush give defenses too much to defend.

The Saints also hired defensive guru Gregg Williams to solidify that always suspect secondary and had the signing of the year when they got a retread player from the NFC North named Darren Sharper. That guy should win defensive player of the year if he even plays half as well the rest of the season. He has picked off six pass and returned three of them for scores. He is a nightmare in the secondary.

The Falcons has not been playing up to their potential so far this season. Their offense on paper would make any defensive coordinator stay up late worrying about who to defend. Besides second-year phenom Ryan, you have Michael Turner, Tony Gonzalez, Roddy White, and Jerious Norwood. The fact that Ryan can distribute the ball to each of these weapons effectively is trouble for any defense.

But the wheels on the bus aren’t going round and round. The offensive line has had trouble run blocking, the receivers aren’t testing teams down-field much and the alignments the Falcons use allows for the opposing teams’ defense to stay bunched up at the line of scrimmage;there just isn’t any explosion on offense.

 

IN THE WORDS OF CHUCKY

In a recent interview with NOLA (Saints Local Paper) former Tampa Bay coach turned commentator Jon Gruden gave his thoughts on the upcoming game.

“I think you have two high-powered offenses,  two outstanding quarterbacks,  and I really think you have two tremendous defensive minds,(Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams) and Falcons coach Mike Smith) that are going to go head to head,  and it’s going to be exciting.”

 

INJURY BUG IN FULL EFFECT

Injuries have mounted on the Falcons and it’s become a glaring issue. The secondary lost Brian Williams for the season. After being signed from Jacksonville this season, he quickly took over the void left by Dominique Foxworth. First round draft choice Peria Jerry only played in six quarters, but the play of the line has shown it was counting on  him to be there for the season.

His replacement, Thomas Johnson, hasn’t played terrible, but the Falcons run defense is not the same. Slot receiver Harry Douglas was the Falcons sparkplug before he was lost before the season began.

Both Jerious Norwood and fullback Ovie Mughelli have missed games this season from random battle wounds. Their status for tonight is questionable. As are second year defensive end and starter Kroy Biermann and stud end John Abraham.

Injuries define teams; someone has to step up or this could be a very long night for the visitors.

 

MATCH UPS

There are so many good ones to watch tonight with so much talent on the field. It’s hard to point them all out, but I will try and point the ones I believe will make a difference in the outcome tonight.

The Saints running game vs. Curtis Lofton

Lofton may be the most under-rated middle linebackers in the NFL. He is a tackling machine. He is currently ranked eighth in the NFL in tackles. He needs nine tonight to tie Redskins linebacker London Fletcher for the lead. He’s going against a team ranked sixth in rushing average. All three backs have different styles and Sean Payton will stick with them the entire game. How will Lofton fill the holes will determine how well this game will end.

Darren Sharper vs. Tony Gonzalez

At some point, I expect this match-up to be big. Whoever wins this match-up, could be the proverbial nail in the coffin for the opposing team.

Drew Brees vs. The Falcons Secondary

This is a mis-match in the truest sense of the word. The Falcons go into the game without Brian Williams, who was their best corner. They will start ‘Crisp’ Houston and coach Mike Smith hasn’t determined if ‘Burnt’ Grimes or Tye Hill will start opposite. Former LSU corner Chevis Jackson will man the nickel slot. Brees should have his pick of match-ups in the Falcons zone cover schemes.

Roddy White vs. Jabari Greer

White has had one great game this season and the rest have been average. He’s a risk to break out at any moment so Greer will have his hands full. Much of the safety help will be used to shadow future Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez. Greer has played outstanding thus far and tonight gets a chance on national television to be noticed. He will be guarding one of the NFL’s top receivers tonight.

VEGAS HAS IT AT 11 1/2 POINTS

According to the odds posted this morning, the Saints are a huge favorite to win at home. I’m not sure if Vegas takes into account the rivalry aspect of this game. I suppose if you look at the averages both teams put up offensively, it makes sense, but that’s why they play the game.

INTERESTING STATS OF THE NIGHT

The Matt Ryan led Falcons have never lost back to back games since the turnover last season under GM Thomas Dimitroff and Coach Mike Smith.

The New Orleans Saints have only once in their 43 year existence started the season 7-0.

The Saints offense is averaging over 40 points a game in 2009.

The Falcons lead the division rivalry 45-35 going into tonight’s game.

SO WHO WILL WIN

Unless the Falcons can come out scoring and get the crowd out of the game, I believe it will be a long night for the Falcons. Especially that depleted secondary. I expect the Falcons to hang in there until the fourth quarter. Both teams can score at will, so don’t count either one out until the end.

Saints 37, Falcons 27

I expect a second half shoot-out and the Saints defense is better prepared for that than the Falcons.

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Cowboys-Falcons: Playing Dallas at Home after a Bye Week Isn’t Much Fun

On Sunday, the Falcons left Dallas hammered and beaten. To be precise, it was a 37-21 beating. Not a stellar day for any Falcons faithful expecting to see the franchise continue its path to back-to-back winning seasons.

“We did some very uncharacteristic things on Sunday,” said coach Mike Smith. “In most games if you turn the ball over three times, have your quarterback get sacked four times, give them two explosive touchdowns and have a punt returned…”

“You’re not going to get positive results.”

Yeah, I believe that to be accurate. We witnessed it Sunday and it wasn’t a pretty sight.

So what went wrong? What happened? When the game started, the Falcons marched downfield and scored with little effort. Roddy White caught an 11-yard pass from Ryan and the Birds were up 7-0 on their first drive.

What happened to the Falcons after that? In all honesty, they just got physically beaten up.

With five minutes left in the first quarter, Matt Ryan faced a second and 25 thanks to a chop block by center Todd McClure. He was sacked twice after that and the Falcons were forced to punt.

It seemed like from that point on, the Falcons offense went conservative. What happened to the no-huddle?

Starting the second quarter, the Cowboys got on the board with a field goal. That began a turnover battle for the rest of the quarter.

Ryan tossed a pick to Mike Jenkins and two plays later Felix Jones coughed the ball up to Brent Grimes. It was like a chess match to see which defense would control this game.

It became obvious by the fourth quarter who would hold those bragging rights.

Going into the second quarter the “little engine that could” defense had a letdown. The offense wasn’t moving the ball at all. They stayed on the field and tried to contain a Cowboys offense that opened their playbook for Sunday.

The extra week off did wonders for the Cowboys. They had a game plan and enforced it. Play more physical than your opponent. They also took advantage of the Falcons depleted secondary.

After Matt Ryan fumbled the ball to Dallas, Tony Romo found his new stud WR Miles Austin on a slant that went for 59 yards and a touchdown.

“You’re not going to get a lot of sacks against this team,” said defensive end DeMarcus Ware. “But the main thing is that we had to rattle (Ryan) in the pocket and be in his face and I think that we did that today. We rattled him and got two interceptions back there, so it’s not all about the sacks; it’s getting in his face to get pressure.”

That sack of Ryan by DeMarcus Ware changed the entire complexion of the game. If you seek a turning point in the game, look no further. The Cowboys only sacked Ryan one more time the rest of the game, but he “felt” them coming.

That play gave Dallas enough momentum to take over the game. Tony Romo evaded a sure sack by Jonathan Babineaux and tossed a touchdown right at half-time. The wind was taken out of the Falcons’ sails.

“I think pressure affects the passing game, ” said Ryan. “Regardless of who is out there playing. I thought Dallas did a good job of getting some pressure in different situations. Even with them bringing the pressure, I thought we still hung tough back there. We distributed the ball a couple of times with some pressure on. They’ve got some great players up front. They are a tough matchup.”

So the second half was completely one-sided in favor of Dallas? Well, not exactly…

On the opening possession, the Falcons sacked Romo and forced them to punt. On the following drive, running backs Michael Turner and Jason Snelling combined for 64 yards rushing and a two-yard score by Turner. The Falcons were back in it, down 17-14 with a quarter and a half remaining.

The Falcons found life, and their offense. This game wasn’t over!

Well, it was if Romo and Austin had anything to say about it. They connected on 54 yards and a 22-yard touchdown in a matter of three minutes.

Down 27-14, the Falcons faced a fourth and two on their 28-yard line. The way the Falcons defense had been playing, one would consider going for that. Smith elected to punt.

That folks, officially ended the game.

Shunned receiver Patrick Crayton ran the punt back 73 yards and put the final nail in the Falcons’ coffin. Three scores ahead and a defense that is playing stronger now than they had the previous three quarters, the fat lady was singing.

The Falcons tacked on a touchdown pass to Eric Weems but it was too little too late. The damage was done and the game a disappointment.

 

Did Anyone Look Good?

Jamaal Anderson

Actually, yes. I can’t believe I’m saying this but Jamaal Anderson looks like a defensive tackle. The coaching staff may have struck gold with this move. He pressured Romo all day, failing to record an actual sack.

Like Ware said, pressure is more important than sacks in the grand scheme of things. He and Babineaux could form a pretty strong middle for the Falcons.

 

Jason Snelling

You also cannot deny the impact running back Jason Snelling had when he was let loose. He and Turner single-handedly drove down-field and scored in the second half on Sunday.

The coaches need to get the ball in his hands more often. He has fresh legs and appears to charge the holes much faster than Turner has this season.

 

The Brooking Award Goes To…

Well, Brooking. For those unaware, a long-time Falcons message board poster created awards for players that just sucked. The Brooking Awards were born and this week Atlanta’s very own wins his own award.

“The last thing I was told by one of the Atlanta coaches was, ‘It’s a young man’s game,’’’ said Brooking, the Falcons’ long-time defensive leader-turned-Dallas Cowboys linebacker, with a lopsided grin. “I guess that old man can still play.’’

He managed two tackles and talked trash the entire game. For a player that was paid very very well for results he produced, you would think he would kiss owner Arthur Blank’s cheeks and beg for his number to be retired.

He was very classless. He never struck me as that kind of guy. He was always a go-team-go kinda guy. He had zero impact on the game’s outcome Sunday.

“I did enjoy that fourth quarter. I didn’t hold anything back…I’m an emotional player and I was having fun. I will celebrate tonight.’’

I wonder if he will bring his pom poms. Arthur York of Bleacher Report wrote a great article about him. You should check it out.

 

Houston, We Have a Problem

If cornerbacks Tye Hill and Christopher Owens can’t get on the field soon, how bad are they? We have watched “Burnt” Grimes and “Chrisp” Houston get torched for weeks now. When Brian Williams stepped in, the secondary looked decent. Not a strength, but not something to write-off yet.

Losing Williams opened Pandora’s Box and the Falcons need to do something quick. They play Drew Brees on Monday night in New Orleans. Brees will target Houston and get lift-off all day long.

 

Injuries Are Mounting

This season, like every “prior year’s winning season” the injuries have begun stacking up. The Falcons have lost both their first and second rounds picks (Peria Jerry, William Moore) for the season.

Their best cornerback Brian Williams is done. Their spark-plug slot receiver Harry Douglas is out for the season. Third down back Jerious Norwood is battling a concussion and hamstring issues keeping him out of games. Pro-Bowl fullback Ovie Mughelli will be gone for a while which limits a lot in the running game.

They are aren’t excuses, they are facts. Atlanta needs to finish the rest of the season healthy.

 

What Did I Take from This Game?

Well, I learned that playing Dallas at home after a bye week isn’t much fun. I learned the offense cannot produce without the running game working. I learned Jamaal Anderson may become an NFL player. I learned Ovie Mughelli makes the wheels on the bus go round and round. Get well soon, big guy.

But most of all, I learned that playing “what the defense gives you” is a bad ideal. Force the defense to defend you and stop worrying about what they give. When you run the ball against nine man fronts, you’re allowing the defense to dictate you.

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Atlanta Falcons: Maximizing Every Ounce of Potential

I’ve heard it all my life: Give 100 percent and you will be rewarded.

When people discuss championship-winning organizations, they always discuss the process that got them there. The process is Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smiths’s mantra.

“I’m thrilled and excited to be the new head coach of the Atlanta Falcons,” Smith said. “My goal is to build a well-disciplined, hard-nosed football team that will be able to run the football on offense and stop the run on defense. I’ve always believed that’s what makes championship teams.”

Coach Smith said that the day he was announced as the Falcons’ head coach. Since then, he’s begun his “process.”

It started with assembling the best coaching staff in the NFL.

“Getting Mike Mularkey was the first thing on my list,” Smith said. “My background is defense. To have a guy with Mike’s offensive experience and success is a big advantage.”

Mularkey was working as a quarterbacks coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the time he received the offer. He spent the previous season in Miami when the Dolphins went 1-15.

“We (Smith and I) faced each other a couple of times when I was in Pittsburgh and he was in Baltimore, and later when I was in Buffalo and he was in Jacksonville,” Mularkey said. “I know of his work, and he knows of mine. I think there’s mutual respect.”

After creating an offense that incorporated a rookie quarterback, a backup running back, and two under-achieving wide receivers, his offense finished second in the NFL at rushing the ball.

His running back came in second in the MVP voting, his quarterback was voted Rookie of the Year, and his bosses were named Executive and Coach of the Year.

Ask any of them and they will all tell you they owe Mularkey a debt for those accolades. It was all a part of Smith’s process.

At the end of this season, the Falcons staff may lose one or two coordinators to jobs elsewhere. But the mark of a good team is consistency despite the odds. Franchises like New England, the New York Giants, and Pittsburgh embrace that belief.

Coaches like Bill Belichick, Bill Cowher, and Tony Dungy created winning organizations from within, maximizing the most from the players they had on their respective rosters. Smith is a players’ coach. The players want to play well for him.

There are so many teams in the NFL that look great on paper. Take for example the team the Falcons face today in Dallas. Last season, more than 10 players from that team were voted to the Pro Bowl. We all know that’s based on fan bias, but still, it looks good on paper. The Cowboys nonetheless failed to make the playoffs.

As rare as it is to find a true NFL quarterback, it’s even more difficult to find that true NFL head coach.

No one can argue that Smith has maximized the potential of the Falcons. This season, the offense has struggled and Brian Van Gorder’s defense has picked up the slack.

Van Gorder was a member of the Falcons’ dreadful 2007 team. Following that season, Van Gorder had packed his bags and accepted the defensive coordinator position with Steve Sprurrier’s Gamecocks due to the departure of Bobby Petrino.

“My situation was one that I just didn’t have any control of with Bobby leaving,” VanGorder said. “The tough thing for me as a father of my five children, we’ve had to move around, change schools, and my wife’s had to start anew in communities with friendships and those sorts of things.

“Coaching football is coaching football. We can really do that anywhere, but my family—that’s the part that’s been really difficult.”

He stayed in Atlanta as the defensive coordinator.

After a sub-par season in 2008, Van Gorder’s defense is showing a lot more aggression in 2009. Through six weeks the Falcons are second in the NFL in forcing turnovers. Opposing teams chew up yards but they pay for each one they get. At present, they are fourth in the NFL (15.4) in points allowed per game.

“One of the most important things that you have to do as a head coach is pick the best staff that you can,” Smith said. “I really think we’ve done that here. I really do.”

Follow the process. I believe Atlanta has created something special within its organization. It’s hard to deny the results since the hiring of Mike Smith. Will this man be the first to lead the franchise to back-to-back winning seasons?

The process continues today against the Dallas Cowboys. A win puts Smith that much closer to ending one of professional sports’ most ominous statistics.

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Atlanta Falcons: Maximizing Every Ounce of Potential

I’ve heard it all my life: Give 100 percent and you will be rewarded.

When people discuss championship-winning organizations, they always discuss the process that got them there. The process is Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smiths’s mantra.

“I’m thrilled and excited to be the new head coach of the Atlanta Falcons,” Smith said. “My goal is to build a well-disciplined, hard-nosed football team that will be able to run the football on offense and stop the run on defense. I’ve always believed that’s what makes championship teams.”

Coach Smith said that the day he was announced as the Falcons’ head coach. Since then, he’s begun his “process.”

It started with assembling the best coaching staff in the NFL.

“Getting Mike Mularkey was the first thing on my list,” Smith said. “My background is defense. To have a guy with Mike’s offensive experience and success is a big advantage.”

Mularkey was working as a quarterbacks coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the time he received the offer. He spent the previous season in Miami when the Dolphins went 1-15.

“We (Smith and I) faced each other a couple of times when I was in Pittsburgh and he was in Baltimore, and later when I was in Buffalo and he was in Jacksonville,” Mularkey said. “I know of his work, and he knows of mine. I think there’s mutual respect.”

After creating an offense that incorporated a rookie quarterback, a backup running back, and two under-achieving wide receivers, his offense finished second in the NFL at rushing the ball.

His running back came in second in the MVP voting, his quarterback was voted Rookie of the Year, and his bosses were named Executive and Coach of the Year.

Ask any of them and they will all tell you they owe Mularkey a debt for those accolades. It was all a part of Smith’s process.

At the end of this season, the Falcons staff may lose one or two coordinators to jobs elsewhere. But the mark of a good team is consistency despite the odds. Franchises like New England, the New York Giants, and Pittsburgh embrace that belief.

Coaches like Bill Belichick, Bill Cowher, and Tony Dungy created winning organizations from within, maximizing the most from the players they had on their respective rosters. Smith is a players’ coach. The players want to play well for him.

There are so many teams in the NFL that look great on paper. Take for example the team the Falcons face today in Dallas. Last season, more than 10 players from that team were voted to the Pro Bowl. We all know that’s based on fan bias, but still, it looks good on paper. The Cowboys nonetheless failed to make the playoffs.

As rare as it is to find a true NFL quarterback, it’s even more difficult to find that true NFL head coach.

No one can argue that Smith has maximized the potential of the Falcons. This season, the offense has struggled and Brian Van Gorder’s defense has picked up the slack.

Van Gorder was a member of the Falcons’ dreadful 2007 team. Following that season, Van Gorder had packed his bags and accepted the defensive coordinator position with Steve Sprurrier’s Gamecocks due to the departure of Bobby Petrino.

“My situation was one that I just didn’t have any control of with Bobby leaving,” VanGorder said. “The tough thing for me as a father of my five children, we’ve had to move around, change schools, and my wife’s had to start anew in communities with friendships and those sorts of things.

“Coaching football is coaching football. We can really do that anywhere, but my family—that’s the part that’s been really difficult.”

He stayed in Atlanta as the defensive coordinator.

After a sub-par season in 2008, Van Gorder’s defense is showing a lot more aggression in 2009. Through six weeks the Falcons are second in the NFL in forcing turnovers. Opposing teams chew up yards but they pay for each one they get. At present, they are fourth in the NFL (15.4) in points allowed per game.

“One of the most important things that you have to do as a head coach is pick the best staff that you can,” Smith said. “I really think we’ve done that here. I really do.”

Follow the process. I believe Atlanta has created something special within its organization. It’s hard to deny the results since the hiring of Mike Smith. Will this man be the first to lead the franchise to back-to-back winning seasons?

The process continues today against the Dallas Cowboys. A win puts Smith that much closer to ending one of professional sports’ most ominous statistics.

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Atlanta Falcons: Maximizing Every Ounce of Potential

I’ve heard it all my life: Give 100 percent and you will be rewarded.

When people discuss championship-winning organizations, they always discuss the process that got them there. The process is Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smiths’s mantra.

“I’m thrilled and excited to be the new head coach of the Atlanta Falcons,” Smith said. “My goal is to build a well-disciplined, hard-nosed football team that will be able to run the football on offense and stop the run on defense. I’ve always believed that’s what makes championship teams.”

Coach Smith said that the day he was announced as the Falcons’ head coach. Since then, he’s begun his “process.”

It started with assembling the best coaching staff in the NFL.

“Getting Mike Mularkey was the first thing on my list,” Smith said. “My background is defense. To have a guy with Mike’s offensive experience and success is a big advantage.”

Mularkey was working as a quarterbacks coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the time he received the offer. He spent the previous season in Miami when the Dolphins went 1-15.

“We (Smith and I) faced each other a couple of times when I was in Pittsburgh and he was in Baltimore, and later when I was in Buffalo and he was in Jacksonville,” Mularkey said. “I know of his work, and he knows of mine. I think there’s mutual respect.”

After creating an offense that incorporated a rookie quarterback, a backup running back, and two under-achieving wide receivers, his offense finished second in the NFL at rushing the ball.

His running back came in second in the MVP voting, his quarterback was voted Rookie of the Year, and his bosses were named Executive and Coach of the Year.

Ask any of them and they will all tell you they owe Mularkey a debt for those accolades. It was all a part of Smith’s process.

At the end of this season, the Falcons staff may lose one or two coordinators to jobs elsewhere. But the mark of a good team is consistency despite the odds. Franchises like New England, the New York Giants, and Pittsburgh embrace that belief.

Coaches like Bill Belichick, Bill Cowher, and Tony Dungy created winning organizations from within, maximizing the most from the players they had on their respective rosters. Smith is a players’ coach. The players want to play well for him.

There are so many teams in the NFL that look great on paper. Take for example the team the Falcons face today in Dallas. Last season, more than 10 players from that team were voted to the Pro Bowl. We all know that’s based on fan bias, but still, it looks good on paper. The Cowboys nonetheless failed to make the playoffs.

As rare as it is to find a true NFL quarterback, it’s even more difficult to find that true NFL head coach.

No one can argue that Smith has maximized the potential of the Falcons. This season, the offense has struggled and Brian Van Gorder’s defense has picked up the slack.

Van Gorder was a member of the Falcons’ dreadful 2007 team. Following that season, Van Gorder had packed his bags and accepted the defensive coordinator position with Steve Sprurrier’s Gamecocks due to the departure of Bobby Petrino.

“My situation was one that I just didn’t have any control of with Bobby leaving,” VanGorder said. “The tough thing for me as a father of my five children, we’ve had to move around, change schools, and my wife’s had to start anew in communities with friendships and those sorts of things.

“Coaching football is coaching football. We can really do that anywhere, but my family—that’s the part that’s been really difficult.”

He stayed in Atlanta as the defensive coordinator.

After a sub-par season in 2008, Van Gorder’s defense is showing a lot more aggression in 2009. Through six weeks the Falcons are second in the NFL in forcing turnovers. Opposing teams chew up yards but they pay for each one they get. At present, they are fourth in the NFL (15.4) in points allowed per game.

“One of the most important things that you have to do as a head coach is pick the best staff that you can,” Smith said. “I really think we’ve done that here. I really do.”

Follow the process. I believe Atlanta has created something special within its organization. It’s hard to deny the results since the hiring of Mike Smith. Will this man be the first to lead the franchise to back-to-back winning seasons?

The process continues today against the Dallas Cowboys. A win puts Smith that much closer to ending one of professional sports’ most ominous statistics.

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Atlanta Falcons-San Francisco 49ers: Falcons Strike Gold

If you listened to the experts this week, the Atlanta Falcons were assumed to not have enough offense to overcome the top-five Niners defense. It goes to show you, the Falcons cannot be underestimated.

“All week we’ve talked about going out to the west coast and taking care of business.” said Coach Mike Smith. “We feel like we did a lot of things well today. There are some things we need to do better but we came out here and accomplished the things we wanted to accomplish.”

I believe the greatest accomplishment was the statement it made to the NFL. This isn’t the same NFL team football fans are used to seeing. In my pre-game write-up, I stated that I felt like this was a statement game and that 476 total yards and 45 points should do the trick.

“Our quarterback [Matt Ryan], threw the ball extremely well.” Smith continued. “It was nice to see Roddy White [WR] have the kind of game that he had, over 200 yards of reception. I thought that our defense really applied the pressure from the beginning and did a nice job.”

Both Ryan and White had career days. This duo will be a force in the NFL for years to come. On Sirius radio this morning I listened to Adam Schein and Rich Gannon talk with White about Sundays game.

“We came into the game knowing we had to be physical.” said White. “[OC] Mike Mularkey put together a great gameplan and we just executed.”

That you did.

You executed half the 49ers fan-base. Now, they must go into a bye week and watch that game tape over and over to figure out what went wrong. I pity Shaun Hill for the next two weeks.

According to Darryl Johnston, Kenny Albert, and Tony Siragusa, the Niners just didn’t play up to their standards. Little, if any, credit was given to the Falcons offense for the explosion they displayed. It’s almost as if the booth crew spent all their time preparing for a Niners victory rather than a Falcons coming out party.

I spent some time this week discussing the upcoming game with 49ers fans on their official message board. One fan in particular, 9ernation94, helped me break down what to expect with the Niners on Sunday. I promised him a shout out and thanks for the help, man.

He expected a much better day from [QB] Shaun Hill. The Falcons defense sent the house at him all day. It may mark the first time that the Falcons defensive coordinator  Brian Van Gorder blitzed in the fourth quarter rather than going to the old dependable, bend don’t break prevent. The same defense that allowed the Panthers to mount a comeback in Week Two. 

Another unexpected surprise was third year player Jamaal Anderson. The coaching staff has utilized him more as a defensive tackle than end on Sunday. The difference has been his remarkable play. Several times I saw his jersey in the backfield. The staff may have found a place to groom the former first round pick.

The one thing we haven’t covered thus far is the play of Falcons running back Michael Turner. He was three yards short of the 100-yard mark and scored three touchdowns. The offensive line really took its job seriously on Sunday and made a point.

“We knew going in that they were a physical group and they did a lot up front.” said guard Harvey Dahl. “We just game planned and played them physical and that is what you have to do when you play a group like that.”

“You got to try to match their intensity and their physicality and I think that is what we did. I think this is the kind of game that we want to play. I think we made it a physical game and that is the biggest statement. That we played physical.”

Not only did Dahl get in the head of the 49ers defensive line, he got into the head of the coach. Mike Singletary and Dahl exchanged a few words during the game that both reflected back on later.

“I’ll put it this way: I wish I had more coaching etiquette. I don’t,” said Singletary, an emotional coach who was remarkably composed after watching his much-improved team stumble so badly at home. “I love my players and when someone responds about my players in a particular way, I may do some things I shouldn’t do. I have to get better at those things as time goes on. I don’t even want to talk about it anymore.”

Both Dahl and Singletary refuse to say what they said in the altercation, but speculation has been made it involved Singletary wishing Dahl was playing in the 80s. Dahls response gave offensive tackle and partner in crime Tyson Clabo a good laugh.

The play of the game came when cornerback Dre Bly picked off a Ryan pass intended White and took off down the sidelines. On the Niners 30-yard line, Bly started mimicking his idol and buddy Deion Sanders. It didn’t take White long to play catch up and force Bly to fumble the ball back to the Falcons.

“He started show boating five yards in front of me.” said White. “All I was thinking was force the fumble and give our offense a chance to recover the ball.”

A gamble that paid off. Bly didn’t feel he did anything wrong on the play after the game, but on Monday we saw a much more apologetic Bly. Signs that show selfishness will not be tolerated by the Singletary regime.

 

TOUGH-MAN AWARD

There were a lot of hard hits on Sunday. I predicted Dahl would cause drama and he’s always true to form. But no hit stood out more than one Niners running back Glen Coffee at the start of the game.

With 11:08 remaining in the first quarter, Coffee took a handoff and was met at the line of scrimmage. The hit Lofton delivered would knock out your average human being. But Coffee, slow to get up, shrugged it off and went on about his day.

But that hit did set a tempo for the defense that never relented.

 

JAMAAL ANDERSON LIVES

Taking snaps at defensive tackle, Anderson looked comfortable for the first time that I can remember. He was pressuring the QB and just missed out on two sacks. On one he was beaten by stand-out end John Abraham and on the other Shaun Hill managed to get rid of the ball. It was nice to see some life from the player many Falcons fans refer to simply as—Zombie.

 

PLAYER OF THE GAME

The Falcons had many players that stepped up Sunday that it’s really tough to select only one. The defense as a whole played like they wanted the NFL to recognize their a force to be reckoned with with this season. Michael Turner made three trips into the end zone and came within three yards of going over 100 for the game.

Matt Ryan tossed for over 300 yards and two touchdowns while adding a third on the ground. That particular touchdown produced one of the single ugliest football spikes in NFL history. Still not enough to be the player of the game.

The player that most stood out was Roddy White. He deserves a game ball for not only his coming out party, but also breaking a thirty plus year Falcons receiving record. He also caused the fumble after the interception of Ryan that kept the Falcons offense on the field. At the time, the Falcons were up 21-10 and that turnover could have put the 49ers back into the game.

 

PLAY OF THE GAME

It’s hard to look past White contribution on the forced fumble of Bly. It will replay on Sportscenter highlights for the rest of the week. That said, his 90-yard touchdown run stands out above all. Not only was it the third longest reception in Falcons history, but it showed the speed Falcons fans haven’t seen this season.

 

IN SUMMARY

When you whip up on a team 45-10 there isn’t much more you can say. The Falcons turned the ball over three times and still managed to produce the offensive explosion against a quality Niners defense. The 49ers were just out-played, out-coached and physically beaten on Sunday.

Mike Smith has his boys ready and it doesn’t get easier this Sunday night against the Chicago Bears. Last season, we all remember that pass with six seconds by Ryan to Michael Jenkins that put the Falcons into field goal range. The rest is history.

More on that to come later in the week with my game preview article.

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Falcons-49ers: Questions Abound as NFC Contenders Meet

After spending two weeks preparing for Sunday’s matchup against the 49ers in Candlestick, the Falcons’ focus was on running the ball.

“We just have to concentrate on the little things,” said Falcons center Todd McClure.

“Whether if it’s footwork or hand placement or helmet placement once you get up to the second level.”

This week isn’t the greatest time coming to that revelation against the 49ers’ No. 3 rushing defense. The offensive line was forced to watch and break down all 81 rushing plays from this season.

Corrections that must be made to follow up the 2008 season, wherein Michael Turner ran for 1699 yards.

“I think we are going to have that breakout game,” McClure said. “I just hope it’s sooner rather than later. We are doing it right. It’s just small breakdowns here and there that’s keeping the offense from having those big runs.”

Those breakdowns will be magnified on the playing field against the likes of Patrick Willis and Manny Lawson.

But right now, the 49ers’ sole focus isn’t on the Falcons. 

First-round draft choice Michael Crabtree signed his rookie deal and will be available for practice as early as today.

It will be three weeks before we will see the once coveted young receiver, but make no mistake, Shaun Hill will be having a party at his house Saturday night!

 

Keys to the Game

Both teams love to run the ball. Stopping the run is the most important factor for both defenses. The 49ers bring a great rush defense to the table. The Falcons—not so much.

Second-year phenom Curtis Lofton has a busy day ahead with both running back Glen Coffee and tight end Vernon Davis lining up opposite him.

Lofton is second in the NFL (after a bye week) in solo tackles and led the NFL going into the Week Four bye. Once again, he will be busy on Sunday.

For the Niners, it’s finding a way to defend Michael Turner and the return of speedster Jerious Norwood. How do you defend against a lion and a cheetah? If anyone will figure out a way, it’s head coach Mike Singletary.

“Coach Singletary, I know that he preaches physicality and I don’t think that those guys have any doubt that they are going to be ready to play and make it a physical football game,” said Falcons head coach Mike Smith.

“They have been very efficient in stopping the run,” Smith said. “One of the teams they played is the Vikings…They have done a very good job through the first few games. It will be a very big challenge for us.”

A challenge, indeed: The Falcons were ranked No. 2 in rushing in the NFL at the end of the 2008 season.

If the running game gets going, it will be up to the guys on the offensive line. This season, they have struggled to open the holes they did just one year ago.

 

Who to Watch

This game presents an array of great matchups, but the two players that stand out are the two players having the best seasons—ironically, these are the tight ends.

Both future Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez and future star Vernon Davis prove that the position is more than just blocking. Both create mismatches in the secondary and draw more attention than defensive coordinators normally gameplan.

Another really good matchup is the 49ers’ offensive line versus John Abraham.

He moves around, so don’t expect one tackle to have full duty on him. He is just as effective from either side and the Falcons staff likes to put him wherever they feel he will have the most success.

Protection hasn’t been a strong suit for San Francisco this season. Shaun Hill is the third most sacked QB in the NFL at present.

 

What Is the Deal with Crabtree?

On Sept. 21, 2009 the Niners filed charges against the NJ Jets for tampering with their No. 10 overall selection.

Then, on Tuesday, Crabtree signed his rookie deal and all is great in the Bay area.

I’m still interested to know what all happened between those two dates. Did the Jets force the Niners’ hands somehow, or perhaps Crabtree’s agent? This will be interesting to watch unfold.

 

Moore to Make Debut

Falcons’ second-round pick William Moore will finally see some action after being hurt in camp.

Because of the injury to Moore, Erik Coleman has been playing out of position at strong safety while second-year player Thomas Decoud moved into the free safety role.

Coleman played free safety last season in the Falcons’ defense with Lawyer Milloy holding down the strong spot.

It’s good timing as the Niners love to run the ball and the Falcons need some help making plays at the line of scrimmage. The debut of Moore is a good sign for the Falcons’ secondary and run stopping woes.

 

Where Is Roddy White?

That’s a great question. Since his holdout ended, he’s been effectively neutered.

Once a Pro Bowl receiver, he’s taken a back seat to both new tight end Gonzalez as well as fellow receiver Michael Jenkins.

Questions still remain about White’s hands and ability to turn the ball upfield.

With a week to study his film, White should take better angles and focus on the catch. Sunday, we will see if he makes himself a factor again in the passing game.

 

Is Hill the Real Deal?

Quarterback Shaun Hill has played great the past two weeks.

He’s ranked in the top 10 in QB ratings after a month of football. His 6.6 yards per reception average isn’t all that great, but his five to one ratio on turnovers is a breath of fresh air for the Niners’ offense.

The Falcons’ secondary hasn’t played great this season, but much of that has to do with the lack of push in the middle and the scheme.

It’s not unlikely to see a corner playing 15 yards off his receiver. This should be a favorable battle for a veteran trying to find his place in the league. He has, however, been sacked 13 times so far this season and will face John Abraham coming from either side. That said, he’s undefeated at home.

 

Who Will Win?

This is a very tough game to call. It’s basically a statement game for both teams. The Niners play well at home and the Falcons had two weeks to prepare for this game. There are many questions for both teams and the answers won’t be resolved this week.

 

Prediction: Atlanta 27, 49ers 23. 

 

This game will go down to the final minutes. In those situations, you go with who you feel will be able to make that final drive. This week, my money is on Matt Ryan.

 

 

 

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Week Four: Atlanta Falcons Take an Early Break

With the bye week here only four weeks into the season it’s as good a time as any to reflect on what we have seen thus far. There is a lot of good, and bad to cover. The Birds are 2-1 after wins at home against both Carolina and Miami and the loss on the road against the New England Patriots.

One thing we can take from this is it appears the team from 2008 is still here. At home, one of the best teams in the NFL and on the road struggling to produce offense. I’m certain most Falcons fans will take the 2008 Falcons any day of the week. Now they just need to have the defense step up and take control of games.

 

QUARTERBACK

Matt Ryan is the face of the franchise for many years to come. The birds follow the lead of this young prodigy. In the first three weeks, he’s played extremely well. Going into the third week of the season, he was ranked the No. 4 QB in the NFL. Currently, he’s the No. 6 rated QB in the league and No. 3 in the NFC.

His short to intermediate throws are very accurate. He reads defenses very well and locates his 1v1 matchups pre-snap. His brain is what makes him a good quarterback, but it’s his accuracy that will make him great.

The one problem is after three weeks, we have little to show for his deep ball game. I don’t know if it’s his match-up choices on the line or the coaches desire to be conservative. Regardless, for Ryan to put this team into the playoffs the Falcons will need to take more shots down-field. That would really loosen things up some for our next subject.

 

RUNNING BACKS

Michael Turner came into the season the 2nd leading rusher in the 2008 season and runner-up for league MVP. Expectations were high this season. Thus far, it’s been pretty pedestrian.

So far, teams have stacked the line with eight or nine man zone blitzing schemes making it tough to get through to the second level. Last season at this time, Turner was the NFL’s leading rusher. This year, he’s No. 11 and averages a poor 3.5 yards per carry.

Some believe Turner is out of shape. He does appear slower hitting the hole but the truth of the matter is, there are no holes. He doesn’t have that 2008 burst yet, but he hasn’t had a lot of help.

Jerious Norwood is a different story. Seems like every time he touches the ball he’s either good for ten yards or minus four. When healthy, he’s a spark plug for the offense. He has great hands and averages just under 10 yards a catch on five catches this season and for his career, averages six yards per carry.

He is used on special teams as a kickoff returner but with the emergence of Eric Weems, he may get more offensive reps and less special teams. He’s just too fragile to risk at this point. The Falcons need his speed to keep defenses honest and him being on the sidelines injured doesn’t accomplish that.

Jason Snelling has been a pleasant surprise. Last season he looked pretty good in the backup role but with Norwoods injuries he’s had to step it up this year. He’s one of the bright spots on the team currently. He averages 5.7 yards per carry on seven carries and 10.6 yards per reception on five catches.

 

WIDE RECEIVERS

Roddy White skipped camp to wait on his new contract which made him one of the highest paid receivers in the league. He’s starting to show his rust. In three games, he’s averaging under eight yards a reception and has only seen the end zone once. For the paycheck, the Falcons expected more.

He seems to have problems with keeping his footing. He falls on his face more than Sandra Bullock in a romantic comedy. He’s been targeted 26 times by Ryan this season and has 15 catches for 119 yards.

He has shown a problem turning the ball up field. Last season, he was elusive but this season he seems to welcome the hits. Hopefully, wideout coach Terry Robiske can whip White into shape soon.

Michael Jenkins has been the best receiver on the team after three weeks. He’s caught pretty much every ball thrown in his direction. He is still one of the best third down options on the team. He always gets beyond the first down marker. At 6’4″ he’s a big target and the heir apparent for Brian Finneran.

Speaking of Brian Finneran, he should win the NFL comeback player of the year. He’s blown out both knees but still manages to hang around and catch first down passes. He’s been working the slot in place of injured Falcon Harry Douglas.

Marty Booker won the fourth receiver lottery over veteran Robert Ferguson in the pre-season. He’s been a fairly reliable player for Ryan. He’s kept the chains moving several times and has shown the ability to get down field. I expect to see more of him soon if White continues to show rust.

Eric Weems has become a staple on special teams. He won’t see the field often as a receiver but currently he is the punt returner/ back-up kickoff return man. He’s shown great burst and tackling ability.

 

TIGHT END

Tony Gonzalez is just what the doctor ordered for Matt Ryan. He’s the safety blanket needed to keep the chains moving. When he joined the team in the offseason he made it clear his intentions were to win a championship. He’s matched that attitude with his play on the field.

One day Gonzalez will be a Hall of Famer. All Falcons fans hope he will someday hoist that Lombardi trophy he covets while wearing the red and black. He’s been one of the hardest working players the Falcons have had in their history.

 

OFFENSIVE LINE

The hogs up front have done a really good job keeping Matt Ryans jersey clean but have found a much more difficult time opening lanes for the running backs. The right side, Tyson Clabo and Harvey Dahl have played with their usual intensity garnering a couple of personal foul penalties.

As soft as the line has been in the past, it’s refreshing to see the guys mixing it up with defenses. Had Chicago faced those two in the playoffs of 2006, they would not have said the Falcons had a soft line. So it’s an upgraded line and playing pretty well.

The main concern at present is the center position currently held by veteran Todd McClure. He’s the only leftover from the true zone blocking scheme incorporated by Alex Gibbs and current Raiders coach Tom Cable. He struggles to move the middle and often gets pushed into the backfield on passing plays.

Both tackle Sam Baker and guard Justin Blalock have a lot of potential and have played well in spurts. They will need a few years under their belts to be considered All-Pro but they have a great teacher in Paul Boudreau.

 

DEFENSIVE LINE

Everyone knows left end John Abraham is a stud. When healthy, he’s as fierce as they come. Last week against the Patriots, word had it that he was limping was limited more than usual in his snaps. That’s not good news for Falcon fans.

On the right side, defensive end Jamaal Anderson continues to struggle. He has fewer sacks than seasons played. That’s a pretty sad stat for a guy that has started every game since being drafted No. 8 overall 2007.

The Falcons passed on both DT Omobi Okoye and MLB Patrick Willis to select him. He is being pressured for that job by veteran Chauncey Davis. Davis hasn’t exactly lit up the scene when on the field but is a very capable run stopper.

The speed rusher back-ups are 2nd year player Kroy Biermann of Montana and rookie Lawrence Sidbury. Both are very quick and have great motors. With a mentor like John Abraham, they should both become very good players. Biermann is currently tied with Abraham for the team lead in sacks.

The biggest issue on the line is the injury to rookie first round pick Peria Jerry. Once he left the Carolina game with an injury the Falcons rush defense quickly fell apart. Undrafted veteran Thomas Johnson stepped in to fill the void left by Jerry and rookie Vance Walker was activated to give the line much needed depth.

The under tackle position is secured by veteran Jonathan Babineaux. Babineaux has played well but lining up between future bust Jamaal Anderson and journeyman Johnson doesn’t give him much help. It all but assures he will face double teams every snap.

 

LINEBACKERS

This may be the most upgraded spot on the Falcons roster. They have a lot of team speed and strength at this position. A far cry from the unit they have had in past seasons.

Second year middle linebacker Curtis Lofton, or as I like to refer to him, Thumper, is playing lights out. He’s second in the NFL in tackles and first in solo tackles. Not since the days of Jessie Tuggle have the Falcons had a true seek and destroy linebacker manning the middle of the defense. He, like Ryan, will be a staple on this team for many years to come.

Free Agent acquisition Mike Peterson, who came from Jacksonville, has been the most noticeable change. He brings an intensity unmatched on the team. In his first three games he’s forced three fumbles, intercepted a pass and recovered a blocked punt. He’s playing like a man on a mission and is a great mentor for the young linebackers Curtis Lofton and Stephen Nicholas.

Speaking of Stephen Nicholas, he has been a pleasant surprise. He was inactive most of last season due to family reasons but came into this season penciled in as the starter. He hasn’t disappointed. The way these three backers fly around the field you can certainly tell this is one of the strengths of the team.

 

SECONDARY

Of the defense, the management has shown the most concern with this unit. GM Thomas Dimitroff went out and traded for former first round pick Tye Hill and picked up CB Brian Williams from Jacksonville.

Expectations are that these two will be starting when the Falcons come off their bye week to play the San Francisco 49ers. Which leaves many questions.

What will happen to starting corner Chris Houston? He’s shown a knack for blanketing his opponent but doesn’t put himself in good position to make the play. Until Hill was signed, most expected Houston to hold his spot uncontested.Will Hill eventually take his job or move to the nickel position?

Undrafted free agent Brent Grimes has been called the most athletic player on the Falcons team but his size is a real problem. Randy Moss really exposed that difference which leads me to believe Coach Smith is ready for a change.

Last seasons starting nickel corner Chevis Jackson has disappeared. After helping lead LSU to a National Championship he came to Atlanta and won the starting nickel job. Since then, he’s gradually faded off into the background leaving many to wonder what’s going on with him. What caused him to fall out of favor with management?

The safety position is another mystery as well. The Falcons secondary is anchored by these two but so far production has been limited.

Veteran Erik Coleman moved from free safety to the strong safety spot to make room for up and comer Thomas DeCoud. For what it’s worth, it’s pronounced “Day-Koo” and not “Duh Cowd.” Write that down please FOX.

Coleman has done pretty well considering his work load. He’s expected to back up the run defense which has been pretty badly exposed. He’s very physical and loves to mix it up against opposing running backs. His weakness is down-field coverage. The Falcons often times look lost once the ball is in the air.

DeCoud is playing better than most expected thus far. He’s found himself in position for the play many times but he hasn’t made any big plays. Last weekend, against New England, he dropped two Tom Brady passes that could have changed the momentum of the game. Being in position is great, but you must make the play.

If you research all the greatest defenses in the NFL they all have solid safeties. Look no further than the transition Denver has made this season with their new acquisition Brian Dawkins. The Falcons haven’t had a true All-Pro safety since Eugene Robinson who caused drama in their Super Bowl run and prior to that, Scott Case. That should be a focus going into next season.

 

SPECIAL TEAMS

One of the strengths for the Falcons in their 2008 campaign is playing pretty poor this season.

Kicker Jason Elam has had a less than stellar season thus far. He missed two field goals and an extra point in his first game against Miami. He was listed with a leg injury so hopefully the bye week will be enough time to get him back to 100 percent.

Punter Michael Koenan was a silent MVP last season. He was a main reason the Falcons broke the NFL record for least amount of yards given up on returns. This season, he’s really hurt the Falcons with the field position he’s leaving the opposition. That said, he’s fantastic on kickoffs leaving the opponent to take a knee in the end zone.

Return specialist Eric Weems is a pleasant surprise. After stepping in for injured punt returner Harry Douglas, he’s looked fantastic. He caught double duty last week after kickoff return ace Jerious Norwood left the game.

He made the best of it by giving the Falcons excellent field position. The return game has been a huge question mark and Weems has solidified himself in that role.

 

COACHING

A lot of mixed reviews here. The Falcons are 2-1 but their two wins came from current 0-3 teams. A win is a win but sometimes you have to consider the source. If the Falcons are to keep the win total up they will need to step outside their comfort zone.

Coach Mike Smith has been the king of challenges so far. Each game that flag has the turf, or official as was the case in one instance. He’s won more than he’s lost but with the officiating done this season expect more of those weekly.

Offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey let Matt Ryan loose last season allowing him to run the no-huddle offense and call his own plays at the line of scrimmage. This season, Ryan almost seems handcuffed by conservatism.

The lack of no-huddle and down-field passing makes one wonder why we aren’t seeing more of what made the Falcons special last season.The running game is suffering as a result since defenses do not have to respect the Falcons ability to go for the big play down-field.

Defensive coordinator Brian Van Gorder is running a cover 2 defense with little to no blitzing. Without the line getting pressure on the opposing quarterback one has to wonder what’s going on there. The front four can’t pressure the QB alone and without blitzing the linebackers can’t get better at it. Practice makes perfect, but why practice something you rarely to never utilize?

It’s still very early in the season but there are several things we need to see from the Falcons this season to call them a contender.

1. More no-huddle offense.

2. More pressure on the quarterback.

3. Open holes in the running game.

4. Capitalize on opportunities such as interceptions, mismatches, etc.

5. Determine who they want at corner and stick with it.

And most important, stop the run. That above all will determine how the rest of the season plays out. The schedule doesn’t get any easier with the NFC East coming up. All but the Philadelphia game will be on the road and most coming after that weeks opponent has a bye week to prepare.

How will the Falcons stack up this season? Only time will tell. The first step would be to remove the stigma of never having back to back winning seasons.

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Week Three Preview: Atlanta Falcons at New England Patriots

When the 2009 NFL schedule came out, you can bet Falcons General Manager Thomas Dimitroff marked this Sundays game on his calendar. This weekend, the Falcons begin a two game road trip. The first stop, Gillette stadium and the New England Patriots. In a recent interview with Jeff Howe, Patriots coach Bill Belichick discussed his former pupil and his progress with the red hot Falcons team.

“He’s gone down to Atlanta and done a great job down there in a pretty short amount of time. [I am] very, very impressed with the team he’s built, put together, the way they play and the way they do things.”

“He did a really good job running our scouting department and adjusted some of the things that we were doing grading-wise—evaluations and things like that we may have overhauled a little bit as the game has changed over the last 10, 15, 20 years, the players and the systems that they play in and the type of things that they’re asked to do. He played a big part in that.”

Make no mistake, all pleasantries will be left behind come kickoff on Sunday. Both bosses mean business and neither expects to come away the loser of their first meeting in a regular season game.

Last weekend, the Patriots were exposed in New York by Rex Ryans Jets team and will be seeking redemption at home.

 

INTERESTING STATS

• The Falcons defense has allowed opponents to convert on almost 50 percent of their 3rd down conversions. The Patriots offense averages around 50 percent in conversions. Not a good sign for the Falcons.
• The Patriots defense has allowed a very low 265 yards per game average. The Falcons offense is averaging 326 with over 100 yards rushing per game.
• Tom Brady is the only quarterback in the NFL with more than 100 passing attempts. Not even Drew Brees (nine TD passes) has eclipsed that mark in two games.
• Falcons defensive end John Abraham is no stranger to Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. He has five career sacks in seven meetings against the future Hall of Famer.
• New England has yet to intercept a pass this season and Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan has thrown only one.
• The Falcons lead the all-time series 6-5 but lost their last meeting with now Texans quarterback Matt Schaub behind center. Schaub almost brought the team back but made a last minute mistake giving the Patriots the victory.The spot he was given on his run looked questionable, killing the Falcons chance to score.
• The Patriots are 15-0 in their last 15 meetings against NFC opponents.

 

MATCHUPS TO WATCH

WR Wes Welker vs. DBs Chevis Jackson, Chris Owens & Brent Grimes

Hard to say who will line up in the slot on Sunday. Welker is still questionable. But with the speed and agility of Welker the Falcons may slide equally athletic cornerback Brent Grimes into coverage. Tom Brady looks to him as his security blanket and 3rd down option. Whoever draws Welker will have their work cut out for them.

LT Matt Light vs. DE John Abraham

This will be a very interesting battle to watch. Abraham was held sackless last week and will be looking for his 6th sack against Brady. Matt Light is a Pro-Bowl tackle and will look to keep that from happening. This could answer the question of which will prevail: The immovable object or the unstoppable force.

DB Leigh Bodden vs. WR Roddy White

White has yet to put up a 100 yard receiving game and this week could be his best chance. Bodden is a solid veteran but no real match against the budding star White. If Ryan has time to follow his reads, expect to see White have a big game.

 

NOT THEM AGAIN

Patriots receiver Joey Galloway left the NFC South only to face the Falcons once again. These two are very familiar with one another. With the possibility of limited play from Welker expect to see him targeted quite often. He’s not quite as fast as he once was but he’s still a very viable deep threat for Tom Brady and his run and gun offense. He will draw newly aquired corner Brian Williams.

 

WHAT TO EXPECT: PATRIOTS OFFENSE

New England will be looking to move the ball through the air. Brady is shaking off the rust from spending last season having babies with models and going through rehab. Hopefully he doesn’t hit stride against the Falcons questionable secondary.

New England loves to screen the ball. The Falcons have the linebacking core to counter this directive. With the zone defense used by the Falcons the quick slants will likely dominate the passing. Expect a heavy dose of RB Kevin Faulk and TE Benjamin Watson.

I also wouldn’t be surprised to see Brady challenging 3rd year corner Chris Houston. He will be matched up against one of the best receivers in the league, Randy Moss. That means the Falcons defensive line must pressure the pocket and force slant passes. That will leave safeties Erik Coleman and Thomas DeCoud to limit big gains. Another week of bend, but don’t break game planning.

 

WHAT TO EXPECT: PATRIOTS DEFENSE

The Falcons will do what they always do… follow the process. That process is a heavy dose of the run mixed with play-action passing. Mike Smith is a firm believer in ball control.

Matt Ryan has taken very few shots downfield this season. He has mainly kept to slant and hook patterns. He chews up yards 10-15 yards down the field. He’s very astute on finding the one on one coverage. Much like Brady, Ryan will have his read targeted before the snap of the ball.

Look for New England to send the house on run blitzes. They will try and rattle the 2nd year quarterback early and often. Linebackers Adalius Thomas and Tully Banta-Cain will be zone blitzing quite yo try and force future Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez to stay in and block. It’s up to the Falcons offensive line to make sure Ryan can finish his read. With time, he is one of the most accurate quarterbacks in the league.

 

QUESTION OF THE WEEK 

What happened to the no-huddle offense for Atlanta. Last season, Ryan looked like the second coming of Jim Kelly moving his troops down the field. This season, they have yet to turn to it. We saw it in the pre-season but in the regular season it’s been non-existent. I asked Sirius radios Rich Gannon about it today and he felt like the Falcons would unleash it this weekend. We will see.

 

SO WHO WILL WIN

This is a really tough game to call. It should be one of the best games of the week. The Falcons catch a break playing New England so early. They are known to be strong finishers in November and December. It’s also preferable to playing in the harsh, winter conditions.

The Falcons are working a two game winning streak and will be going into their bye week. I expect them to let it all hang out this weekend and bring one home for Dimitroff and Ryan in their Boston returns.

 

ATLANTA 31

NEW ENGLAND 27

 

This would be a good week to start Michael Jenkins in Fantasy Football. I like his matchup against the Patriots secondary. They will be forced to account for both Tony Gonzalez and Roddy White. With the losses of Richard Seymour, Rodney Harrison, Mike Vrabel and Teddy Bruschi the Patriots are retooling that defense.

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