Fat Tuesday - The Day After Saints v Falcons

I'm not here to talk about Brees and Co. The simple fact, is that they have play makers on that side of the ball. If you watched the game there were balls thrown to covered players where the player simply made the play. In fact, the whole team was making plays. I'd even go as far to say that the Saints played AWFUL but had spectacular plays to stay in the game and eventually win it. As a side note it was so difficult to watch MNF. I need less Tireco and Brees butt kissing and more actual commentary on the game.

It was a great game to watch and enjoy but I have a few tidbits that I'd like to share. There are no moral victories, so "we played 'em close" just doesn't cut it for me. The game was well within reach and it came down to a handful of plays that should have been made that would have changed the game.

1. Jason Elam - I like the idea of getting veteran kickers that are awesome guys and leaders, but it's time. If he makes one of those kicks, it's a different game.
2. Michael Jenkins - You have to make that catch. It's 3rd down and the ball hits you in the hands. It was the one time I agreed with the announcers! Michael Jenkins has to step up!
3. Matt Ryan - He's awesome and he's young, I like the guy. He was pressured, rushed and made some poor decisions. The pick 6 was bad enough, but I was more upset about the sacks than the INTs. He walked right into those when in at least 2 cases he could have pulled a "Ryan" and thrown it away.

You take away even one of those mistakes and the game might be...

Here's my positive notes...

• Michael Turner looked like the beast again! It's time to give him the rock and ride it out. It almost looked like the Falcons had been saving up plays just for New Orleans... hmm.
• Coy Wire - are you kidding me!? Get this guy in the game more. I love the effort.
• Eric Weems - Why oh why did you let Adam Jennings keep you hidden for all these years?
• Did you see Brian Finneran? The guy is tall, slow but is so much fun to watch him do the little things.

Tuesday Morning Coach

• Why isn't Abraham on the field almost every play?
• Wide Receiver and Running Back - we are surprisingly "shallow." Can Coy Wire play running back?
• Can we tell Matt Ryan that he CAN'T throw to Tony anymore? Seriously, if Matt looks at Tony any harder, I would think he was interested in a serious relationship. Sorry guys.
• I like our Defense actually, it should always be BLITZ and keep the ball in front, our secondary is pitiful.

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A Year Ago...

The Atlanta Falcons have come a long way, but there are some unsung heroes of the team and some stories you might have missed. One year ago (actually some of these go MANY years back)....

• Michael Jenkins was a bust and the Falcons receiving core was a disaster.
  
• The offensive line couldn't block... well, me even. As one analyst says, "they were a turnstile."
• Last Year, the offensive line had Wiener and McClure and a bunch of no-names.
  
• Lawyer Malloy & Keith Brooking were already wondering who stole their food from the retirement home. Their play on the field looked "OLD"
• With no offensive line, Warrick Dunn couldn't make the moves that he had left.
• Our Kicker was older than most of the owners in the NFL
• Every game required the obligatory MV reference.
• It was tough to be a Falcon fan... Falcon Fans got sympathy
  

THIS YEAR...

• The Falcons are near the league leaders in caught balls (or dead last in Dropped passes)
• Roddy is a pro-bowler and Michael Jenkins has turned into an excellent deep threat and possession receiver.
• The offensive line is nasty and frankly almost a strength.
  
• The offensive line has Wiener and McClure and a bunch of no names.
  
• Lawyer Malloy is playing very well and Keith Brooking is not back to probowl form, but definitely making his presence felt.
• Michael Turner doesn't need to juke, he just runs over the defense.
• Our kicker is now only older than everyone on the team
• Every game almost requires MV - P discussions for Michael Turner and Matt Ryan
• It's great to be a Falcon Fan!
  

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Marta For MVP

All weekend leading up to the game, talk of Matt Ryan as an MVP candidate covered the Radio. Even Cowherd briefly mentioned it, which tells me it's more than a "homer" issue. ...

And why not? Matt Ryan has played better than many other QBs in this league. He deserves a ton of credit. I would have had him pass 100 times against New Orleans the way he was playing.

However, I think Turner is this year's MVP. Actually, the OLINE is the MVP, but you can only give it to one player and Michael Turner has sure made the big difference.

I love this NFL breakdown video of his runs against Tampa. Apparently, Michael Turner is more of a bruiser than originally thought.

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Fantasy Falcon Friday!

It's been a while, but I'm still loving the Falcons. This week if you got to sit 'em or start 'em here's my take.

Sit 'em

Michael Jenkins - He's losing favor and dropping passes.

Start 'em

Matt Ryan - With some major QBs on bye weeks Ryan is poised to have a decent game. He's not going to win you a Fantasy Championship yet, but he'll help.

Michael Turner - Fantasy Beast... so far.

Roddy White - Starting to develop consistently. A good no. 2 WR

WILD CAR

Harry Douglas - I think he's going to have a breakout game and given the state of the league, I'd be sure to pick him up off the waiver wire, he may very well be the no. 2 wide out with Larent Robinson injured. Given that he'll also get some rushing yards, he runs at least one reverse a game.

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Falcon Friday

The buzz is back!  Turner running all over the Lions certainly causing a stir.  It certainly didn't hurt to have a solid performance from Ryan.  Listening to the radio, blogs and other outlets... apparently we (Atlanta Falcons) haven't earned ANY respect after last week.  Vegas has under  at 10, up 3 points after Garcia went down.  I guess we have less of a shot to beat them with their "backup."

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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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Yahoo Take on the Falcons

Look at the falcons:

Strengths: RBs Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood provide big-play potential. WR Roddy White enjoyed breakout season in 2007 despite turnover at quarterback. DE John Abraham and LB Michael Boley are solid if healthy.

Weaknesses: Big questions at almost every spot on offensive line. No receiving threat at tight end.

Players to watch: QB Matt Ryan, RB Michael Turner, DT Grady Jackson, LB Curtis Lofton, LT Sam Baker.

Biggest change: With Ryan the starter as rookie, offense goes back to run-first philosophy of Dan Reeves and Jim Mora eras.

Schedule key: Team plays five of its first eight on road and finally plays first home game against division rival on Nov. 9 against New Orleans.

You can read the rest here.

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Saturday Night Recap: Falcons vs Colts

This was a sloppy defensive "struggle" or rather displayed two offenses that couldn't close the deal. Here's some observations:

• Jamaal Anderson - Did he play? I mean, I saw him in the lineup and out on the field but, really? (*cough*BUST*cough)
• Joey Harrington really reminded me of... .well Joey Harrington. He can do the job when given time, but he's not going to pull the game out for anyone. He's going to make a great backup QB one day.... oh, wait...
• Matt Ryan - Still looks like the leader of this team. The INT was a silly mistake and he knows it, which is the good thing.
  
• Chris Redman - Actually reminds me of Matt Ryan. He looks ok, but he's not going to get me excited about the Falcons.
• DJ Shockley - Playing with 3rd stringers is bad enough, but his play on Saturday did nothing to excite me.
  
• Brent Grimes - Where'd he come from? Kripton?
• Adam Jennings - Why is this guy taking up space? Aren't we trying to go "green." That'd be one less jersey to be washed.
  
• Michael Turner - Looked like the real deal there.
  

The Falcons failed to build on the great foundation that was put in Jacksonville.

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