Leaders

It's great to be a Falcons fans, because the orginization has leaders now, than ever before. From top to bottom. Say what you will about a business man owning a football franchise, I think any business man that does what good business people do (leveraging other folks talent and master delegation) can do the same thing with a Franchise.

When you think about it, how is football different than any other business. Coach Mike Smith:

Q. Did you do anything different to get Jonathan Babineaux free today?
A. “Jonathan was a man playing on a mission today. He had 10 tackles[sales] from the defensive tackle position. I thought Brain (VanGorder) and his staff, Ray Hamilton the Defensive Line Coach, continue to evaluate our guys and what their strengths are, and try to put them in situations where they can be successful. Babs just had one heck of a game today. We did some things different, just like each week. When we put our game plan together, our game plan is based on trying to put our guys in the most advantageous positions.”

What I love about this is that is what good business owners, coaches, and football people do, they put people in a position to make plays or succeed. I wouldn't take the top salesperson from a company and put him in a administrative position.

I just love the Falcons orginization now, and I think the way it is being run will keep fans for a long time. I love that we have a great business minded quarterback too!

Q: What is your opinion on the 5-3 record thus far in the season?
A: The important thing is that we’re in the mix. Now it is going to come down to how we play in November and December. These last two months are crucially important to our football team and we’re excited to take the challenge head on. Our goal is to make sure we win as many games as possible down the stretch.”

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Playoffs!!!!! Falcons Defeat The Vikings

In what is possibly the second worst performance of the year by young Matt Ryan, he showed why he has that special "it" factor. He didn't fill up the stat sheet. He didn't do anything spectacular. No, he just was a MAN and lead a team. He also didn't make any mistakes. He played as if the game was just a game.

Compare that to the opposing team and you're getting an opposite response. I'm so excited we're in the playoffs that instead of finishing this post, I'm going to point out a few things I really liked about the broadcast.

• Brian Billick does a great job! I didn't like him as a coach, but as a commentator he's excellent. The next John Madden... shhh, don't tell anyone.
• Matt Ryan is the Alternate for the NFC - WOOT! I didn't know.
  
• Falcons are 4th overall in 3rd down conversions.
• Coming into the game the Falcons were giving the ball up way too much. I think we're in the plus column now.
  
• Playoffs!? - So much for rebuilding. Too bad a certain tight end isn't still here. Here's hoping we get to meet him early next year. Wink, Wink!
  

Lawyer Malloy is playing like a stud and had a great argument for Matt Ryan to be MVP! I may write about it this week.

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Atlanta Falcons Need To Tackle One of Two

Really, I just wanted an excuse to post this ultra cool playoff scenario machine from Yahoo! It shows you that with a Falcons win against Tampa or Minnesota and we should be in, but if we lose both of those games then we're out. Defeating Tampa this weekend is paramount - otherwise based on winning percentage and the schedule, Tampa might be a #2 seed. I'd rather have Chicago beat up on them.

It's playoff time and I'm excited, but we have to learn how to tackle!

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Tampa Here We Come... Well Not Yet.

As a Falcons fan how could you not be excited about what you saw on the field on Sunday!   Let's go over the good and not so good. 

GOOD

• Michael Turner looked great.  Reminded me of a certain other Atlanta Falcon that used to run right over people.  At one point there were Lions players bouncing off of them.  
• Matt Ryan looked poised.  Nothing special in terms of what he did, but throwing your first ever official NFL pass for a TD was great.  Again, he didn't "Wow" me from any standpoint other than the leadership aspect. 
• The O-line looked very good.
• John Abraham is still a beast.
• Milloy looks to have another GREAT season.  He played a heck of a game.
• Lofton looks like a great addition. 

BAD

There's not a lot considering we won! 

• Defense looking pretty weak right now.  Some great plays, but nothing special.  Looks like the Lions did a lot of that stuff to themselves.
• Don't get too excited, the Lions Defense looks like the worst in the NFL.  I doubt Turner will run over EVERYONE.
• Will people stop calling him "BURNER."  Michael Turner is not fast, he's not going to outrun anyone.  He may run OVER most people, he broke several tackles, but the dude is not winning any SPEED competition.
• Jerious Norwood looks better with a bad o-line. 

The biggest thing that I was excited about is that the Falcons finally have a COACH! Two regimes of dimwitted or cowardly coaching and we finally have a TEAM.  Half time adjustments were made, and there was direction and purpose to the calls.  I didn't see any bone head calls.  

One down, 15 more to go.  Go Falcons! 

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Optimism Prevails For Everyone But Local Media

The number one story out of Atlanta is a complete non-story. When was the last time you read a "news" story about the non-mention of someone? I can think of a few times, but why on Earth would an organization bring up anything about a season so "unlucky" that it has to be one of the worst series of events known to an NFL Franchise ... EVER (or as we say in the South, Eva).

So on all the local papers on Sunday, the day after the first day of practice, the first day full of energy and optimism and discussions of WINNING FOOTBALL even if it means we are scratching and fighting for extra wins, it means we are winning, a day after Mike Smith, Thomas Dimitroff and the rest of the entire Atlanta Falcons are breathing a collective sigh of relief that the process is working, the Associated Press releases an article about there being no mention of a certain someone as if it is news.

Well this fan is excited and I'm not looking back and some coward who's signed 20 years of contracts in the past 4 or a kid who never was smart enough to get out of the thug life. What am I excited about?

MIKE SMITH.

How great is it that we have this guy? Well, let me tell you from my perspective that last season was a huge blessing. As my Grandma would say, it's a backward blessing. Mainly, we now can appreciate having a real MAN as a coach for this team, one that is stern yet friendly, one that understands the process and although he might not know where to stand on the field, he knows how to put players in position to win. This guy does not look like he will run with the pigs, or freak out if one of his players makes some bad choices.

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