Falcons

By RA Lester

October 3, 2005 05:32 PM | Link to this

I think Atlanta should be good for the showdown with the superbowl champs provided they don’t get intimedated by the Patriots mystic, a mystic that seems to be wanning…

I think it may actually be a good thing that Vick is learning to play at less than 100% It’s forcing him to make better decisions. It’s all good.

By Bobby

October 3, 2005 06:06 PM | Link to this

One of the things that concerns me is whether the Falcons offense is telegraphing some of it’s plays. Someone at the game said they heard one of the Viking defenders telling the rest of the defense that the Falcons were running weak(side). The play obviously was supposed to go to the weakside, but Dunn cut back when the Vikings filled the gaps. If this is the case, it could pose a real danger to Vick on some of the called bootlegs.

Did anyone else notice this occurring?

By DIRRTYBIRD

October 3, 2005 06:11 PM | Link to this

Everybody in the world knows what the Falcons are running. They run the same damn play all the time. Mix up the play calling knapp!!!

I’m all in favor of protecting Vick but he was ok to play and he should have in the second half. People paid good money to see their superstar. He’s going to develop a reputation as a glass QB if the coaches yank him everytime he gets dinged. This is Football. People play hurt. Vick and all of the other starters should be playing unless he is physically unable too.

By Falcon fanatic

October 3, 2005 06:28 PM | Link to this

Every time Michael Vick gets hit, or cuts, their season is being potentially transformed, and not for the better. That is the main reason why you’d like him to stay in the pocket and execute.

By mountain_jim

October 3, 2005 06:50 PM | Link to this

I disagree DIRRTYBIRD - no way to be sure ‘he was ok to play’ until the MRI results came in.

With that lead, no reason to risk the franchise QB in an already won game - people should want their ‘good money’ to go towards a Super Bowl Season, not a few more Vick highlights at the risk of agravating an injury in an already won game.

Do you care what ‘reputation’ he gets? I don’t. The know-it-all commentators have been giving him hell all year as just a runner who can’t read a defense or pass, so I care little if his clueless doubters find one more name to disparage him with.

Same goes for the rest of the starters. That’s why we drafted (and signed) depth. If you can win with your second string why risk your injured first string players unless the game or season is on the line?

At least until the medical eval is done.

Sell your ticket if you are paying to see Vick, rather than a Falcons TEAM win, I say.

mj

By DIRRTYBIRD

October 3, 2005 06:51 PM | Link to this

The Falcons will start losing the day that Vick stays in the pocket. Never take this man’s game away.

By DIRRTYBIRD

October 3, 2005 06:56 PM | Link to this

Hey Mountain Jim,

I do have an extra ticket to this weekends game that I can sell to you if you can afford it. It’s on the lower level at the 35 yard line, and I expect to see millionares earning their money. Why do you think that the Falcons have sold out 26 straight games? Vick shouldn’t have been in pads on the sideline as a back up if he wasn’t “medically” cleared. The coaching staff is babying every little hit that he takes. I need a healthy Vick just like everyone else, but I also need an experienced one. Vick needs every snap he can get.

By D

October 3, 2005 07:14 PM | Link to this

No doubt Vick is our best player, but we have a lot of speed. Warrick should be utilized more like a westbrook and also give Tj more carries. I also think its time to give the rookie roddy white a chance to prove his skills, i believe he`s a very good receiver given the chance to play…

By injuredplaya

October 3, 2005 07:36 PM | Link to this

Vick making better decision, get real RA Lester. His best decision is to run, dont pass the damn ball. Real danger on bootlegs? Come on Bob, everyone knows when he bootlegs left, it’s a pass and when he bootlegs right, it’s a run. Vick is already labeled a glass QB in my book, Dirrtybird. I agree with you, mix up the calls and add more play action. Vick executing out of the pocket Falcon Fantic, he’s not qualified for that work. Play action, bootlegs and roll puts are best suited for him. I agree with you Jim, Vick should have went for a MRI as soon after he was hurt with a big lead. CAN SOMEBODY RUN OVER ARTHUR BLANK’S BUTT OVER ON THE SIDELINES? Let da birds do their jobs without having somebody looking over their shoulders on every play. And stop babying Vick, I mean Micheal Blank.

By okeetee

October 3, 2005 07:52 PM | Link to this

The big difference in this years Falcons than any other year I can ever remember is that they ACTUALLY have a secondary that can cover people! Most of the sacks they have been getting are coverage sacks not defensive breakthroughs! Usually you can see an opposing teams wide receiver catching a ball with no db within camera range! Not this year! They stick to them like glue!

By Falcon fanatic

October 4, 2005 04:57 AM | Link to this

Greg Knapp needs to take Mike Vick aside and say, ‘Watch Mr McNabb, because this is more how we’d like you to play.’

You have to be able to hit those short passes consistently to win in the NFL.

By Mark

October 4, 2005 07:09 AM | Link to this

Falcon fanatic Vick was in the pocket when he took that hit.

By Ryan

October 4, 2005 07:52 AM | Link to this

It seems everyone has been infectedmby the Joe Montana syndrome and now thinks that it is the ONLY way to win, despite the fact that people were winning games long before the West Coast ‘short pass high completion percentage’ game. Its been further cemented by New England. Folks, that is not the only way to win. New England won because of their talent. They probably could have won with the Run and shoot.

TO be a good quarterback you don’t have to be a Montana clone, and to be a winning team you don’t have to rack up Passing yards but just yards period.

By Kim

October 4, 2005 07:59 AM | Link to this

Vick will be ready for the Pats. When I saw him walk off the field on his own power last Sunday, I knew he would play against the Pats. I, also, like the fact that the WR corp is stepping up and Vick now has more confidence in them. Falcons over Pats.

By Falcon fanatic

October 4, 2005 09:20 AM | Link to this

It’s great to see Brian Finneran the former Barcelona Dragon still proving everyone wrong.

By Steve

October 4, 2005 10:28 AM | Link to this

It’s going to be a big test. The Patriots are coming hungry. They know what they need to fix and they’re going to be focused on stopping the Falcons’ running game. I love misdirection! I think that play action pass to Crump was the best fake I’ve ever seen. Did you see the replay from the linebacker’s point of view? You couldn’t even see the ball. No one on Minnesota’s defense knew where the ball was. That was great! Dunn also had a great cutback run where Vick and everyone else went left and Dunn went right. Misdirection is such a force multiplier! I’m looking fwd to seeing what wrinkles they come up with next.

By Khao$

October 4, 2005 12:25 PM | Link to this

This game could really define the Falcons’ season. However, we can’t expect New England to be an easy target because the Chargers beat them soundly. San Diego’s run AND passing game was effective in exploiting and exposing New England’s weaknesses. Bellichik (sp) is going to show Vick all sorts of exotic looks. We have to have success in the passing game. Otherwise, they are going to key in on the run. If we can exploit some of their deficiencies in their secondary, we can win this game. Also, the defense has to get to Brady. We cannot give him time in the pocket. I believe we SHOULD win this game. The Pats have lost a lot. But, we cannot underestimate the. They are known for having no name guys step up and win games. We have to come in on attack mode.

By eric

October 4, 2005 12:29 PM | Link to this

injuredplaya, go back to the Eagles website. They need u badly. Vick’s da’ man, 3-2 baby!!!

By falcon guy

October 4, 2005 12:29 PM | Link to this

Vick pulled his hammy running downfield. He hurt his knee in the pocket. He broke his leg being tackled by a defensive lineman on a bootleg. The moral is: injuries happen in football and they happen all over the field.

Sure other teams know the Falcons are going to run. But they run anyway. That’s what’s so great about it. It’s very demoralizing to be run on at will. LT gashed the Patriots last week in Foxboro. This game is in the Dome. I see no reason why Atlanta won’t be able to continue to rush for over 200 yards again. Look for Vick to stay in the pocket more and resemble the Buffalo game plan with not as many called QB keepers. The key is Atlanta’s defense. The Chargers are okay, but they aren’t nearly as good as the Falcons at creating pressure. The question is, can the secondary (other than DHall) keep Brady from picking them apart before he gets pressured? They need to score early and prevent Dillon from being a factor.

By BirdDog

October 4, 2005 01:00 PM | Link to this

Everyone keeps saying Vick should stay in the pocket, but I disagree.

Michael is comparatively short so he has a hard time seeing over the lineman. He is much more effective when he rolls out to either side, allowing him to see down the field, and then the defenses must respect the fact that he can run from the rollouts as well.

So forget about pocket passing and continue rollouts for Vick, almost like the “option” plays in college football.

With Michael having the choices of Jenkins running downfield, Finneran going to the sidelines, Crumpler over the middle and Griffith for the safety valve, along with the threat of him running, defenses do not stand a chance.

Concerning New England, they are masters at disguising their coverages, and defensive substitutions, so take those options away from them by running a no huddle offense.

We should just run, run, run, then mix in the Vick rollout-option occasionally, forcing them to keep the same eleven defensive players on the field.

We are at home, New England is struggling, I pick the Falcons by 10.

By Brian Hunt

October 4, 2005 02:25 PM | Link to this

Last year the Falcons basically ran about four running plays. Each play contains multiple options for the running back. Any team that studies film will be able to tell which play is coming, but that doesn’t mean that they will be able to guess how it will be executed. The weak side run can easily turn into a cutback or a bootleg to the other side if you over commit to stop it. Pick your poison and maybe you guess correct, but if you’re wrong……there goes the runner for 20+ yards.

By RealFanNotAFake

October 4, 2005 04:56 PM | Link to this

Some of you guys are not real falcon fans. When the team wins you guys complain. When the team lose you guys complain. Can you guys be happy that Vick is able to play the next week. So what he didn’t finish the game. At the pace they were playing he would have been sitting on the sidelines in the 3rd quarter anyway. Be happy our team is winning and we have our starting QB ready to play against the Defending Superbowl champs at home. If they had put him back out there and he snapped his MCL and was out for the season, then you would be blaming the coaching staff. Point is you can’t please everyone all the time that is why you just do what is best for the team and not the so called fans.

By PSack

October 5, 2005 09:36 AM | Link to this

Not a Pocket Passer

Vick is what he is…It is futile to try and make him be what he is not

(1) an accurate passer (2) a pocket passer

We can wish all we want but reality is reality. How bout we just use the skills that he has to attack the other teams defense?? “K”

By Lindsey

October 5, 2005 12:05 PM | Link to this

It is a very good feeling to see the Falcons winning having grown up in GA and wishing and praying they’d win any kind of way possible i.e. on a Steve Bartkowski or Bobby Herbet “Hail Mary” pass. Since I left GA and resided in other states I have remained a Big Falcons fan but to my chagrin it was very little to boast about until Vick arrived. I am a supporter of the Falcons and, especially Vick, because I realize there is a “price one has to pay for Greatness”. Thank goodness for free press because some of your “fan” remarks remind me how hefty that price must be. By the way, over past 30 years of Falcons football, can you remember them having some many consecutive sell-outs, jersey sales, national TV/media exposure, marketing opportunities for Georgia especially Atlanta. I can understand why Mr. Blank was pushing Vick in a wheelchair, as with any businessman the bottom line is “dollars” so maybe he knew he was pushing “green money”. Shut up, Naysayers, and be happy because success can be fleeting. It was for some 30 years! Your Falcon Lifetime Friend,

Lindsey

By Rob

October 5, 2005 02:00 PM | Link to this

The Patriots didn’t look at all like the Patriots last week. It appears the Falcons are in good shape for 2005. Lots can happen between now and the end of the year but as it stands now, you’d be foolish to think NE isn’t going to go to come out Sunday with a whole bunch of intensity. The week after losing to Carolina they beat Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh. There are not a lot of scenario’s that are going to phase the Patriots. All these critical injuries may kill the Patriots long term. IMO, losing Harrison OR Bruschi is surviveable, but not both. Too much production and leadership gone. However, these guys are proven winners and they have a special QB. The Falcons had better bring their A-game Sunday because this is a proud team that was embarassed at home last week.

By Tucker

October 6, 2005 11:33 AM | Link to this

Michael Vick is the best QB ever to play the game. I hope he gets the record for most rushing yards by a QB and most passing yards. People have to start respecting him as a QB. He’s winning games and thats all that matters. He’ll do anything he has to do to lead his team to a Superbowl, and that includes running the ball. Good luck Mike, and God Bless you and your team. From your biggest fan, Tucker Logan von Carlowitz

By Scott

October 6, 2005 07:56 PM | Link to this

Tucker

Vick is the best QB ever. What a joke.

Did you ever see Montana play ? or even Steve Young another leftie QB.

Vick could not carry their jock straps.

What a glass QB with some kind of pycho problems. When they gave him the 50 million he had nothing more to prove. No way he goes down as the best QB ever. He can’t even finish two games in a row. He is a quitter, not a leader, and a numbskull.

Remember when Dan Reeves left the team. He handed Vick a book on leadership. He did that for a reason.

Guess what. Vick never read it. His ego won’t allow for anything but me me me.

By Scott

October 7, 2005 05:52 AM | Link to this

FALCONS REPORT /

Vick misses practice again

By STEVE WYCHE The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 10/07/05 FLOWERY BRANCH � Falcons quarterback Michael Vick said his decision to play against defending Super Bowl champion New England with a sprained right knee Sunday would come down to him feeling secure enough that he would not hurt the team by playing at less than full strength.

“I’ve got to feel good and know that I can give the team 100 percent effort,” Vick said Thursday. “I can’t sit here and say I can go out there at 85 percent if that 85 percent is going to hurt the team. Hopefully I will feel good enough. I’m going to try and give it a shot.”

Vick missed his second consecutive practice Thursday. His participation in drills Friday could factor heavily into his playing status against the Patriots (2-2) at the Georgia Dome. Vick would not say how close to game time he will decide if he can play, in part because he is going through extensive therapy to get back on the field.

“I’m doing everything I can,” said Vick, who is listed as probable on the injury report. ……………………………..

What a joke of a QB. Just play and shut up about it. He knows he aint hurt.