Falcons

By Bird of Prey

November 30, 2006 05:00 PM | Link to this

It’s time to either catch the ball,or go home. I hope we get it together Sunday. I’m tired of the same plays being called. Can we please mix it up. Can we please spread the field. Can we please tackle someone.Tackle coach Mora if he keeps calling those silly high school plays.

By athens rotgut

November 30, 2006 05:08 PM | Link to this

i went to the first preseason game of the year and

KEVIN YOUNGBLOOD

wait let me repeat

KEVIN YOUNGBLOOD

look fantastic!!!

He made a behind the back grab on a fastball by Vick to set up the go ahead field goal to win the game against the Pats if im not mistaken!

Start HIM!!

I am tired of seeing Rowdy ROddy White make $$$ and not do s!h!i!t! on the field!

He was terrible on Sunday.

By BirdDawg

November 30, 2006 05:28 PM | Link to this

Steve,

You won’t ever hearing me say that about you. You’ve always been fair in whom and what you cover (maybe too fair, more on that later). Now, Carter Strickland over on the UGA Blog… that’s another matter.

But really, Steve, you and I both know that no matter if we have Jerry Rice and Lynn Swann in their primes out there, nothing matters if the O-line continues to suck.

And odds are, unless the can scrap the semi-cheating cut blocking they do and get a bunch of guys with actual skill, then on Sunday, Vick will be running for his life. You know it, and I know it.

And as for you being too fair. You’ve been way to fair to Greg Knapp on these blogs. I’ve been waiting for it all year, Steve, and I know I’m not the only one. Maybe you don’t want to dump on a dead man walking, but come on! This is a REAL story here. An offensive coordinator who is that unimaginative and plain out retarded in his playcalling? An offensive coordinator who doesn’t let his QBs audible at the line of freaking scrimage?!!!

And you’re not doing ANYTHING to get that out on the papers and out to the national media to help take that bullseye off of Vick?

That’s not right, Steve. How can Vick or any QB really flourish under Knapp?

There is a reason why everyone, including players, in San Francisco were happy to see that petulant child, Jimmy Mora, take his BFF Greg Knapp with him to Atlanta.

There is a reason why nobody shed a tear to see either of those guys leave.

And you keep giving Knapp a pass, and I don’t get it.

Vick gets killed in the national media, but no one is talking about Knapp. Maybe it’s because the hometown media is keeping this loser out the limelight, when his absolute failures need to be exposed for all to see.

Here’s hoping for a Knapp expose’, Steve, where you finally explain to us why Knapp doesn’t let his QBs audible at the line of scrimage to give the offense its best chance to suceed.

I won’t be holding my breath.

By Jeff D

November 30, 2006 05:29 PM | Link to this

I don’t why they don’e activate Yougblood. He can’t be any worse than White.

If Mora had the guts of a Parcells, WHite would have been cut or benched a long time ago (see Vanderjagt).

By Bird of Prey

November 30, 2006 05:30 PM | Link to this

If the Falcons lose Sunday, Arthur Blank needs to do whats needed, give out the pink slips. Lets give some of the other young players a chance so that we can find out what we really have on the bench.

By Dear McKay

November 30, 2006 05:32 PM | Link to this

Please do not try to trade up for Calvin Johnson in April’s draft. Drafting a WR in Round 1 is almost always a mistake… as the Lions, Cardinals, Vikings, Browns, Texans, and Falcons can attest to. I realize you’re a genius and you probably won’t make this mistake, but I wanted to pass along that most logical fans like myself realize an early WR ain’t the answer. Thanks.

By Bird of Prey

November 30, 2006 05:44 PM | Link to this

I think that BirdDawg is right on the money with his comments..Good job.

By Paul in J-ville

November 30, 2006 05:46 PM | Link to this

Jeff is correct, Mora be a man and cut these bumbs…or is that an impossibility for such a butt sniffer who can’t quit going horizontal with Knappy head. You guys suck and should all be fired. I know Arthur is going to let you go at the end of the season, but I wish he would make a statement right now as this season is DONE. Roddy White you can’t catch a cold and you are the biggest joke of all the receivers. Don’t want you to get inhjured but I hope you get busted hard for all of the alligator arm approach you have, you should at least take a few hits you p***. Jenkins, get your a* going, at least you have the god given talent. Quit being so invisible and quitting on your routes ones MV7 starts moving around. One of you idiot receivers get in sync with MV7 and know where each other is….there is no feel whatsoever. Arthur, you have been duped big time by a slick talking snake oil salesman and you really blew it by not going after Lovie and many others. I know you are “stuck” right now, just please hire someone other than a pathetic hothead who carrys around a bunch of secret books in his duffle bag. I’ve been a Falcon fan for over 40 years and am sick of this joke of a coaching staff once again.

By War Eagle

November 30, 2006 05:57 PM | Link to this

It irrates me and alot of other football fans to view Mike Vicks antics. First, it was herpes lawsuit, settled out court, loose tongue and finger with fans and now ajc prints headlines Mike Vick Gives to Charties. Vick can`t walk the foot steps of Warren Dunn who is an extra ordinary person who shows compassinate, while Vick does it when he has to smooth his blunders and image …it really is sicken, trade him, he is not a winner

By ReasonableDawg

November 30, 2006 06:01 PM | Link to this

Joe Horn said it best. The Falcon WR’s “better wake up and smell the coffee”. Maybe working a real job would motivate those guys. They have a golden opportunity to play football FOR MONEY in the NFL, and they are letting opportunity slip through their fingers. Literally and Figuratively. And Pun is intended. When they find themselves w/o a team, or an offer, they will realize what they messed up.

By JeffD

November 30, 2006 06:02 PM | Link to this

Steve,

A blog providing the veracity of rumors such as this would be interesting.

The following “rumor” was posted at

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/scorecard/11/30/truth.rumors.nfl/index.html

Here’s something to picture as you look ahead to the offseason: Michael Vick in a Raiders jersey. The Falcons, who have given Vick every possible chance, will be willing to part with their quarterback and would gladly take draft picks.

— Charlotte Observer

By Phat Phalcon

November 30, 2006 06:04 PM | Link to this

I dunno about that philosophy on round 1 WRs. Among the teams that Dear McKay lists above you have Randy Moss, Larry Fitzgerald, Roy Williams, and Andre Johnson. Kellen Winslow is more of a receiver than a TE. Jerry Rice and Michael Irvin were first rounders as were Torry Holt, Terry Glenn, Keyshawn and Marvin Harrison. I think Chad was as well (he may have been a no. 2) If you research it, the first WR taken isn’t typically a bust. Reaching for the 4th or 5th best wideout at the end of the 1st as the Falcons have done isn’t nearly the same as landing a Johnson or Jarrett in the top 10. Which of the above mentioned would you NOT want on this team right now?

By BIGG DADDY DOGG

November 30, 2006 06:12 PM | Link to this

FALCONS PLEASE FIND SOME RECEIVERS WHO WANT TO CATCH THE BALL!!!!!! AND WHO WANT TO EARN THEIR MONEY AND NOT ROB THE FANS AND THEIR TEAM$$$$$$$$MONEY!! START K. YOUNGBLOOD PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

By long time falcon

November 30, 2006 06:13 PM | Link to this

Birddawg, why not just go ahead and profess your homoesexaul love for michael vick. GEEZ! No one is saying knapp is an NFL worthy offensive coordinator, but to blame him for all of vick’s shortcomings as a QB is asinine. You have got to be the president of the mike vick apologist fan club. I watched the game against the saints, and while our offensive line is certainly not top notch, they did a decent job in pass protection. Many of the sacks vick takes is because he doesn’t read the defense quickly and get rid of the ball. I once thought vick was going to be great, a faster steve young, but I like most other rational people have finally seen the light. Wake up birddawg.

By JeffD

November 30, 2006 06:15 PM | Link to this

Steve,

A blog providing the veracity of rumors such as this would be interesting.

The following “rumor” was posted at

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/scorecard/11/30/truth.rumors.nfl/index.html

Here’s something to picture as you look ahead to the offseason: Michael Vick in a Raiders jersey. The Falcons, who have given Vick every possible chance, will be willing to part with their quarterback and would gladly take draft picks.

— Charlotte Observer

By Jeff D

November 30, 2006 06:20 PM | Link to this

Yeah, long time falcon, you tell him.

What is Birddawg thinking? Two seconds to complete a seven-step drop is more than enough time for a QB to go through his reads.

But still doesn’t explain the WR’s failure to get any separation in one-on-one coverage. If you can’t do that, you don’t need to be in the league. In case you haven’t notice, the Falcons’ WR’s can’t do that.

By Jeff D.

November 30, 2006 06:27 PM | Link to this

Yeah, long time falcon, you tell him.

What is Birddawg thinking? Two seconds is more than enough time for a QB to complete a seven-step drop and go through his reads.

That still doesn’t explain the WR’s failure to get any separation in one-on-one coverage. Any WR that can’t do that doesn’t belong in the NFL. In case you haven’t noticed, the Falcons WR’s can’t do that.

By Southeast Jerome from DC

November 30, 2006 06:38 PM | Link to this

When are you Falcon fans gonna get a grip?! When Vick was taking you the playoffs, you were all on his nutz! And keep in mind, he did it with NO receivers then! How long do you think he’s suppose to keep doing that.? You need to put some receivers around him. Not no draft picks either. He needs experienced receivers. The Falcons need to do their home work on whose a free agent and start knocking on their door. The Falcons distruction is NOT all on Vick. You have injuries, a weak azz offensive line and receivers that couldn’t catch the ball if you velcroed it to them. Stop complaining about the ONLY player you have on your team. You could be a Redskin fan (4-7)!

By War Eagle

November 30, 2006 06:39 PM | Link to this

Birddawg, I have always like your aggressiveness, but you are WRONG about Vick, he is a SOLID loser and wealthy punk, just like his brother….”the apple does not fall too far from the tree”.

By Great Falconi

November 30, 2006 06:43 PM | Link to this

The O-line, the receivers and Vick combine for a terribly inconsistent passing game. It’s easy to jump on the receivers when they drop the few catchable balls Vick throws in a game, but what about all those weeks where Vick’s flinging fastballs up and away over the heads of these guys? What about the times that Vick takes huge losses in key situations because he won’t get rid of the damn ball? What about the times the O-line gives him no time to pass? What about the times the…

Look. The whole passing game is a joke. Everyone is to blame. At the very least, Knapp will get the axe at the end of this year. In my opinion, barring some inexplicable upturn in play from the Falcons, the whole coaching staff should go. Whether Vick stays or not will depend on whether the Falcons can move him after June 1st or not and get good value for him. I personally think that Vick has to step it up the rest of this season. If he doesn’t, all many fans will remember will be him giving a double-barreled dirty bird salute to the people who pay his salary. In that case, he’ll have to go.

By Birdy

November 30, 2006 06:52 PM | Link to this

“Coach Jim Mora said not to exclude the possibility of players losing their positions if the failures continue…”

Wooooooo! So if the receivers keep dropping passes in the next two — no make that 3, err — make that 4 games, then Jimmy is gonna… Jimmy is gonna, well he gonna THINK real hard about doing SOMETHING!!!!!! Woooeee! I’m betting Jenkins and Roddy are shaking in their boots about this one!!

Riiiight. These coaches are so slow to react, they’ll blow their entire season playing incompetent players without even thinking of demoting them.

Newsflash Mora: Demoting a player for a string of poor plays does not have to be a permanent situation. You can just do it to give the understudy a chance and to give the starter a chance to re-evaluate things. You can (and should) always bring them back later to see if they’ve “repented their losing ways.”

This team needs new coaches.

By Jay

November 30, 2006 06:57 PM | Link to this

For those morons who dont know recent history, not every 1st-round wr fails. Fitzgerald has been great, so has Roy Williams, Andre Johnson has done well. The majority of them tend to flop, but not all. Unfortunately for the Falcons, we are in the majority. But what do you expect when you draft a skill postion from uab(!) in the 1st round??????

By Logical

November 30, 2006 06:59 PM | Link to this

If this team trades Vick, its over. No pocket passer can survive behind our line, our receviers wont magically start catching balls, and we can kiss home field advantage goodbye because we’ll start having 10,000 no shows a game.

By Ron Mexico

November 30, 2006 07:39 PM | Link to this

A paltry $5,000 fo’ da brutha. Dat’s all I can spare rite now.

By Ron Mexico

November 30, 2006 07:47 PM | Link to this

Eyes need a new co-nader. So manys smart people likes birddag says so. Birddag, yous picks hims out fo’ me. Dens I only needs about 3 mo’ years to be learnin’ da’ plays again.

Back to muh xbox. FU Falscon fans!

By larry w.

November 30, 2006 07:50 PM | Link to this

Mike Vick isn’t going anywhere. This coaching staff will get the boot long before Vick. Most of you wanting to see Vick traded have never accepted him from day one. The fact is that Mike Vick gives this team the best chance to be successful. I have watched and rooted for them all, from Randy Johnson in 1966 to Vick today and NO ONE prior to Vick has generated this type of buzz about this team. Love him or hate him, no one can deny his mass appeal and drawing power. Before Vick, the Falcons were not even on the NFL map with the exception of a season here or there where they managed to make it to the playoffs. So you may not like Vick, but “wishing” him to be traded will not make it happen.

By War Eagle

November 30, 2006 07:53 PM | Link to this

Logical, you are correct, trade Vick take that money ad get a more productive OL. Vick`s money holds up other needed positions, VICK NEEDS TO GO

By long time falcon

November 30, 2006 08:00 PM | Link to this

You folks need to learn that in the era of free agency no team has a great offensive line. Seattle did for a year or two but lost hutchinson this year to minnesota. Offensive lines like the cowboys had in the early nineties are a thing of the past because it usually takes a few years for them to gel. By the time they become a cohesive unit nowadays they are leaving for the riches of free agency. I’m not at all saying the falcons line is good, there not, but many teams in the league right now, suffer from spotty line play. The offensive line, offensive coaches, receivers, parking lot attendant, etc, are responsible for vick sucking as a pocket passer I guess. What excuses will we here next year? His herpes has flared up for most of the season. This cat is going to be exposed when a new offensive staff is brought in next season and he can’t pass the damn football. One day the blind apologist will run out of excuses and see the light.

By BirdDawg

November 30, 2006 08:00 PM | Link to this

War Eagle,

You need to stick to college football, because it is obvious that you know d!ck about the NFL, and Vick in particular.

You come with the same biased crap as all the Vick haters.

Matt Fraud wouldn’t last a second with our O-Line.

Our recievers are crap, not only do they not catch the ball, but they cannot get seperation from the small DBs covering them. Both White and Jenkins are big guys, but play like pu$$ies.

Greg Knapp is the most unimagitive playcaller in the NFL, as well as the most retarded playcaller. He also doesn’t put this offense in the best position to win. To not let your QB audible at the line of scrimage, even when he sees 8 guys coming on a blitz and the OC has called a 5 step drop behind that seive of an O-Line is just retarded!!!

So yeah, War Eagle, it’s all Vick’s fault and he sucks. He also sucks because it’s his fault our secondary sucks and our D-line cannot pressure the QB. And it’s his fault that Keith Brooking is the most overrated LB in the NFL.

So tell me again, War Eagle, tell me how it’s all Vick’s fault and how much he sucks.

He’s only this franchises’ winningest QB.

He’s only the first QB to win a playoff game against Green Bay in Green Bay.

He’s only taken his team exactly as far as Peyton Manning in the playoffs, with a better winning % in the playoffs, I must add.

He only tried to put the whole damn team on his back last Sunday when his O-line decided they didn’t want to block for him, when his recievers decided they didn’t want to catch the ball or get seperation, when his OC decided to call yet another putrid game without giving him the opportunity to change his crappy calls, and when his defense decided to give up a Hail Mary to end the half.

Yeah, War Eagle, it’s all HIS fault.

I tell you what, War Eagle. Go look at Vick’s stats as a first year starter under Dan Reeves and look at Elway’s. See the simularities, and then tell me it’s all Vick’s fault, and not Jim Mora’s fault for bringing Knapp in here to screw up Michael Vick.

You know what, War Eagle, never mind. Don’t bother telling me anything. With your little rant, you proved to me that you really have NO understanding of this situation.

Stick to SEC Football, War Eagle.

Your out of your damn element here.

See, Steve, this is the kind of crap we have to put up with here because you refuse to CALL OUT GREG KNAPP in print. Why, Steve? Why haven’t you or any of the guys here been hammering Knapp when he so richly deserves it?

Y’all keep letting Vick take the shots and the blame, when he (and Matt Fraud) is not allowed to change this piece of crap’s calls at the line no matter what!

What’s it going to take for someone at this paper to have a little testicular fortitude and TAKE DOWN GREG KNAPP?!!!

By dirrtybird

November 30, 2006 08:03 PM | Link to this

The Falcons may not ever win a Super Bowl with Vick, but don’t think for a second that they were going to win one without him.

Hell, Dan Marino can’t even win one. I guess it takes a team and a coach after all.

By Dear McKay

November 30, 2006 08:26 PM | Link to this

Phat Phalcon, just saw your post regarding drafting a WR in round 1. Good points, but my point is that WR isn’t a position that’s going to get you to the SB. Of the past 12 SB teams, only 3 Round 1 WRs that were drafted by their original teams have played (Holt, T. Brown, Hilliard). So while there are 1st round WR studs like Moss, Fitzgerald, A. Johnson, etc., their teams haven’t made it to the big game… and in most cases, the teams are still bottom-feeders. I just don’t want the Falcons to have a knee-jerk reaction to this and make the same mistake the Lions have made… we have too many other needs. A possession-type receiver in Rds 2-4 would be ok, but I think taking one early will be a wasted pick as far as the overall success of the Falcons is concerned.

By Ron Mexico

November 30, 2006 08:36 PM | Link to this

birddag, somes peoples equate the word “retarded” wif da word “nig9er.”

Racist bastard!

By larry w.

November 30, 2006 08:39 PM | Link to this

long time falcon…You may be right. Offensive lines like the Cowboys of the nineties may just be a thing of the past. However, I watch a lot of pro football games, and the Falcons pass blocking is among the worst I have seen. Seattle may not have Hutchinson any more, but they still give their quarterback adequate time to throw the ball on most of their passing plays.

By UNKNOWN HINSON

November 30, 2006 08:41 PM | Link to this

I THINK EVEN IF YOU GIVE THE RECEIVERS AN ALL PRO O-LINE THEY STILL SUCK. IT’S NOT LIKE THEY HAVEN’T HAD BALLS HIT THEM SQUARE IN THE CHEST MULTIPLE TIMES ALL SEASON LONG. REALLY THEY MAKE ME SICK TO MY STOMACH WHEN THEY MAKE DROPS LIKE RODDY DID SUNDAY. THE FRONT OFFICE HAS TRIED TO DRAFT THESE GUYS AND I LIKED WHAT I SAW ON DRAFT DAY BUT MAN THESE GUYS BELONG ON THE PRACTICE SQUAD. IF THIS WEEKEND IS ANYTHING CLOSE TO HOW THEY’VE PLAYED THIS SEASON, THEY NEED TO BE CUT AND LIVING ON THE STREET ASAP. I’D RATHER SEE SHOCKLEY AS A WIDE OUT.

By Phat Phalcon

November 30, 2006 08:43 PM | Link to this

You’re right about 1st rounders in the SB with their own teams…recently. But there have been some serious WRs who were coached up: Branch, Owens, Steve Smith, Hines Ward to name a few. The Falcons are incapable of this type of player development, so yes, trade Schaub and our 1st to move up or trade the 1st for Moss. And no, Vick ain’t going anywhere.

By Jay Black

November 30, 2006 08:48 PM | Link to this

Hey dear mckay….

These receivers are first rounders for some of the teams you mentioned.

Roy Williams-Lions Larry Fitzgerald-Cardinals Andre Johnson-Texans Braylon Edwards-Browns

Are any of these guys busts?

By Nikki

November 30, 2006 08:53 PM | Link to this

Why isn’t Youngblood a likely option?! He looked great in camp and preseason. I thought it was a mistake to leave him off of the roster. Instead, the falcons see logic in putting no tackling overpaid players like Dwayne Blakely on the roster. He can”t even get separation. He can’t block. Why is he eating up a roster spot?! Youngblood should have already been given a shot.

By Steve T

November 30, 2006 09:03 PM | Link to this

I am watching the game tonight and I see what our problem. Who is the WRs coach for cindy? Those guys are playing. Is the QB throwing the ball on the money….NO! The WRs are catching everything insight. Let the PA guy said, these WRS do the little things to get open.

By Dear McKay

November 30, 2006 09:04 PM | Link to this

Phat Phalcon, I’m not sold on getting rid of Vick yet. I’ve beed a Falcons fan since 1982 so I’ve learned patience. But if we keep him and trade for Moss we WILL have the #1 pick the following year. Moss will be constantly double-teamed since everyone thinks our other receivers suck. He won’t block on Vick’s 10 scrambles each game. He won’t get 1000 yards and he’ll be a cancer on the team just like he was at MN and OAK. If we make that trade, we might as well hire Vince McMahon or Jerry Springer as coach. Maybe the answer is another WRs coach, but I’m not ready to give up on a 2nd-yr and 3rd-yr WR yet. And if we take Calvin Johnson, he will do everything he’s supposed to do but will still only have 600 yards next year (because our current offense isn’t going to yield big yards to WRs) and these blogs will be filled with folks saying he’s a bust. If Vick is the long-term answer, play to his strengths. That doesn’t involve bringing in a Moss or a top-5 WR because they won’t be utilized in this offense.

By roswellpj

November 30, 2006 09:12 PM | Link to this

Unfortunately, when everything is going wrong, we armchair quarterbacks have a tendency to want to throw the baby out with the bath water. Everything wrong with the Falcons cannot honestly or logically be blamed on Mike Vick. He is simply and undeniably the best quarterback the Falcons have ever had- maybe not statistically, but certainly from a win-loss percentage basis. (If you don’t agree, who would you name that was better?) Mike Vick doesn’t catch the ball, he doesn’t defend against the repeated long passes that the secondary gives up, and he doesn’t do the blocking. He doesn’t and cannot prevent the rash of injuries the Falcons have suffered. And he certainly doesn’t call the limiting, unimaginative plays or go against a running philosophy that was working when they were winning. He is simply the highest paid, most visible player the Falcons have, and is therefore taking the heat. I think the coaching staff needs to find some players to support Mike Vick, like the Bulls found some to support Michael Jordan, and they need to find a philosophy and team identity and STICK WITH IT. I think then the Falcons will be winners. In the meantime, Mike Vick DOES need to show some class on and off the field…

By ombdawg

November 30, 2006 09:12 PM | Link to this

I just have one thing to say, let me know what you think…..RANDY MOSS

By Steve T

November 30, 2006 09:21 PM | Link to this

Why would we get Randy Moss when he likes the deep routes? You will need a QB with a cannon. Moss is not a west offense type of guy.

By ombdawg

November 30, 2006 09:29 PM | Link to this

MOSS IS A VERT RUNNER AND WHAT IS VICK…. OH YEAH A VERT ARM… SO WHEN YOU SAY HE IS NOT A FIT DOES NOT MAKE ANY SINCE TO ME. MOSS IS A POISON IN THE OAK BECAUSE HE NEVER WANTED TO GO THE HE WANTED TO BE IN ATLANTA WITH THE BEST ARM THE NFL HAS EVER SEEN

By Bear

November 30, 2006 09:31 PM | Link to this

Steve,

I don’t understand why they are even brothering to play out the string. It is obvious that they have Christmas in Hawaii on the mind and not football in Georgia. This team gave up a month ago, and no one has had the good graces to pronounce last rites over them, yet. Some of these guys will make a lot of money playing for someone else next year, so why force them to do something they don’t want to do. Let me suggest that you send in the forfeit now before somebody gets hurt and messes up his free agent contract for 2007. As Brother Blank has discovered, building a winning football team isn’t easy. It’s nothing like building a winning concept in DIU. You’ve still got a couple of days, Steve, get that forfeit mailed in.

By ombdawg

November 30, 2006 09:32 PM | Link to this

some one smack steve t and wake him up. Vick has no cannon…. is he blind… maybe steve and Ron Mexico should get together it seems that they may be able to understand eachother

By mountain_jim

November 30, 2006 09:35 PM | Link to this

**Another vote for Youngblood!

Why won’t they give him a chance?**

By tim

November 30, 2006 09:43 PM | Link to this

The writers on these Ajc blogs are just like the falcons.They have no balls and scared to write about the major problems with the falcons.Why Mora let Knapp continue to call plays?Why Mora doesn’t wear a headset?I thought a coach should know whats plays are being call on defence and offence.Mora is just in another world.Why can’t the offence audible at the line of scrimage?Why isn’t the defensive coordinator calling for blitzes in the 1st half.The falcons are good against the pass when they blitz.They scruggle when they play that soft s** zone.The falcons rank close to last in passing and stopping the pass.Why the falcon defence isn’t aggressive?I watch other teams play the falcons and they get beat down.what the problem with the offensive line?Why you AJC writers are not writing blogs on Knapp,Ed and all the other coaches?Why?

By 50

November 30, 2006 10:10 PM | Link to this

let the rookies play roddywhite garbage and stop sayin its vick fault its not and call some new plays and fire gregg knapp

By dirrtybird

November 30, 2006 10:13 PM | Link to this

Steve,

The bloggers have spoken. We need an article on Greg Knapp.

By Phat Phalcon

November 30, 2006 10:42 PM | Link to this

Moss is PERFECT for this offense. Knapp loves the straight go. Nobody since Lynn Swann goes up for it like Moss. He’d get 1000 on 35 catches with 10 TDs all over 40 yds.

By Phat Phalcon

November 30, 2006 10:50 PM | Link to this

Oh yeah and he’d turn Vick into the 2003 Culpepper. Look at the difference in that guy with and without Moss. Moss isn’t doing anything now because he knows the team is going nowhere. Being a Falcon would get his blood going guaranteed. He loves to be the hero, number one guy who gets all the credit. Catches the damned ball though.

By Carroll

November 30, 2006 11:10 PM | Link to this

There are several articles suggesting that the Falcons are seriously considering trading Vick. I say trade him to Oakland (which has been mentioned as the ideal spot for him) for Randy Moss and 3 or 4 high draft picks. Schaub-to-Moss would be the most prolific combo in football.

By Ron Mexico

November 30, 2006 11:17 PM | Link to this

FOOLREZ! Eyes da numba won gangsta on dis here team! eyes don be needed Moss trying to be smoking all my reefa! I needs all it to be smart!

By Phat Phalcon

November 30, 2006 11:24 PM | Link to this

I’d be willing to bet these rumors are crap.

By Phat Phalcon

November 30, 2006 11:26 PM | Link to this

Ron Mexico you are horribly unfunny. This will be the last comment I make in your direction and would implore all others to follow suit.

By SC

November 30, 2006 11:58 PM | Link to this

Terence said it best: what a mess. One analyst on TV dissects all the drops - all the receiver’s fault. Another analyst said on local Atlanta radio that he watched game film to form is own opinion. Early in the game on a scripted passing play, Vick ignored the primary receiver who was open, who had separation, and at whom Mike was directly looking! Talk about a lack of trust. What a mess.

Steve, Len Pasquarelli recently wrote that some in the Falcons locker room think that MV is a little too “me first”. Randy Cross was speculating that “something might be going on in that locker room that we don’t know about”. Do you get any hint that there is some out-of-the-ordinary conflict which is part of the team’s slide? I bet this topic is easier for you to discuss in the off-season …

By Najeh Davenpoop

December 1, 2006 01:27 AM | Link to this

The Vick-for-Moss rumor might be the dumbest trade rumor in sports history. Why anyone would trade a 26-year-old QB who has been to the playoffs 2 out of 3 full seasons as a starter for a 29-year-old WR who intentionally drops passes when his team is not playing well is beyond me. Even if Vick is a guaranteed bust (which he’s not), he is not a locker-room cancer like Randy Moss. As much as the Schaub-suckers like to paint Vick as some kind of “team-killer me-first gangsta-rapper ghetto thug punk” or whatever other semi-racist garbage they have come up with now, his teammates have only said positive things about him to the media, so there is no proof to support him being anything but a positive presence in the locker room. Even if Vick never improves as a passer I would still rather have him on my team than Moss. Hell, I would rather have Roddy White starting for me than Moss — at least White tries to catch the ball, Moss doesn’t even do that. If you are going to suggest a trade rumor, at least come up with one that makes some sense. Even if you say something like Vick for Roy Williams or Vick for Javon Walker it would be understandable. But Randy Moss? You gotta be kidding me.

By kent

December 1, 2006 02:57 AM | Link to this

first it was dan reeves’ fault that mike didn’t suceed, then it was the oline that could’t protect, the receivers that couldn’t catch, the oc that couldn’t call plays…6 years had done by and still excuses are being made for mr vick, amazing. if nothing that the falcons can do to accomodate mr vick’s extraordinary skills, perhap he needs to play some where else so that his talent can be realize. it is his destiny to be the greatest quarter back in the history of the game( so i was told) let send him some where else that can help him be just that for the sake of the fans of the game of football. c’mon falcon’s brasses, let not be selfish and waste the god like talent of mr MICHEAL(AKA SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST WHO CAN WALK ON WATER) VICK.

By jerry

December 1, 2006 06:47 AM | Link to this

Wyche is right about the pass to White being a “pop fly”. It was as lousy a pass as was the drop by White. It was way underthrown and don’t anybody try to tell me that it was designed to be. But Blank chose to focus on the drop rather than the pass because Vick sells tickets. It’s strange that all these receivers (including Peerless) caught passes everywhere but for the Falcons.

By fatz

December 1, 2006 07:14 AM | Link to this

if you owned a dept store and your sporting goods section was by far your worst performing area, what would you do?….. would you go to the store’s manager and tell him to find out what the problem is and turn in around? you would expect the genl manager of the store to then call in the sporting goods dept manager, tell him he is underperforming, here his problems, set some goals, and get him cracking. if nothing changed over the next reporting period, you’d probably consider firing the sporting goods dept manager. so……why am i reading an interview this morning with a receivers coach named George Stewart? why hasn’t he been shown the door? you have to start to fix problems with ACTION, and you have to start at the base level. make a decision, if you believe in the coach, then deactivate one of the players and change the mix - just DO SOMETHING.

By jerry

December 1, 2006 07:24 AM | Link to this

Vick will never be a “pocket passer”, not because he is such a great runner, but because he is just to damned short. For example, how does he, from under center, throw a quick slant over the middle. He has to roll out, therefore he is restricted to passing on only one side of the field, therefore 300 yard passing games are practically impossible. This is Knapp’s conundrum-how to use him. But they need to figure it out or quit trying to pass him off as an NFL quarterback.

By fanstlw8ting

December 1, 2006 07:31 AM | Link to this

I have always heard that if it aint broke don’t fix it but what if it is and it is!! Try something,try anything activate Youngblood,sit Roddy white.What color ski mask does he wear when he picks up his checkhe’s stealing money from both the franchise and the fan.Maybe a swift action will wake up the rest of these recievers and they are recievers they recieve a high dollar welfare check every month.

By Hasavior

December 1, 2006 08:20 AM | Link to this

Jerry, let me get this straight so that i am understanding you correctly. You say that Vick is not a pocket passer, but when he played against Pitt and Cinn that is all he did and ran for approx 60 yards each game. No was no where on this blog along with the other bashers of Vick. Nada, no one, I was here! Both of those games he had 3to 4 seconds of time to look down field and pass. He was able to scrabmble out and create more time, etc..

Now there have been 1 out of 4 games that he has played sub par and he can never be a pocket passer? in order for a Qb to be called a pocket passer, you have to have a pocket to be in to pass the ball! Did you see quite frankly last night? i caught part of it. He talked about offensive linemen. Vick had 2 to 2.5 seconds before he was flushed out , sacked , or rushed to scramble or throw the ball.

He can be only as consistent as his Wide recievers and offensive linemen. That goes for any pro or college Qb. Can we agree to that?

By Pleeeeease

December 1, 2006 08:27 AM | Link to this

Hey jerry,

Go play some bridge you homo. Underthrown? So what.

By Al

December 1, 2006 08:34 AM | Link to this

that pass to white was a pop fly. there was absolutely no excuse at all to drop it. there was nothing difficult about catching the ball. white dropped it because he was (1) afraid of getting hit; and (2) (more likely) we all saw him turn his head and eyes towards the end zone as the ball was coming down, and he took his eyes off the ball, and therefore dropped the ball.

yes, the ball was underthrown. BUT idiots if you remember the actual throw. Michael Vick got absolutely hammered on that throw, thus why it was underthrown. It was amazing Vick could get up after that hit. BUT if you want to continue to see it under your vick hating eyes, go right ahead. underthrown or not, there was absolutely no degree of difficulty in white catching that ball.

did anyone see how many underthrown and overthrown balls Carson threw last night and how many times did TJ and CHAD go get it by diving and jumping? AND Carson is a great QB in my opinion. BUT QBs do underthrow and overthrow at times in the NFL. AND it is the job of the receivers to go git ‘em.

By CQ

December 1, 2006 08:37 AM | Link to this

I got a chance to see Youngblood during training camp and he does have great NFL size. Hes very similar to Brian Finneran who Mike Vick misses alot. I would say sit White down for this game so he can get his nerves right.

No matter what receivers we bring in here, we still need to sign at least 2 offensive lineman with size that can do more than chop block. The offensive blocking schem needs to change.

The reason that was a pop fly, was because Vick was get sacked when he threw the ball. You clowns always want to put Vick down when he is clearly not the problem with the Falcons.

Good Blocking = time for receivers to get open and the QB can make better throws.

Poor Blocking = What the Falcons have now.

By SC

December 1, 2006 08:51 AM | Link to this

Youngblood has the hands and the height.

By CQ

December 1, 2006 08:51 AM | Link to this

Al,

I agree, the Bengles receivers make plays even on bad throws. They jump , dive or do whatever it takes to make a catch. How many times have we seen a Falcons receiver make a diving catch this year or a jumping catch, not to mention the 1 handed catch.

I remember receivers like Lynn Swann that went up for passes, made diving catched, the reeivers here don’t play with that intensity.

The receivers here play like they might break a nail or get a scratch on their body.

By vick_is_sick

December 1, 2006 08:53 AM | Link to this

idiot vick bashers have no clue…you can’t even make a judgement about an NFL game by watching it once because the camera angle is always on the pocket. you can’t even see the receivers running routes, you just see the results.

the only way to make fair criticism of an NFL game is to watch film from different angles. intelligent fans that watch the NFL Network that see former players analyzing film can make intelligent criticism.

i have seen consistently all comentators comment on the lack of a receiving corp and a lack of an offensive line. nobody is disputing that. the only criticism mike vick has gotten (from ron jaworski) is that he (on one play) didn’t throw a slant pass that looked available. jaws claimed the reason was he either didn’t have the confidence in the receiver or he wanted to take off too soon to run the ball. either way, vick has watched his recievers drop passes over and over, so can you blame vick for choosing to run on one occassion?

you vick bashers are just ignorant schoolgirls looking to pick a fight. go ahead and stick with your garbage opinions, people that have a football brain know the truth.

By Al

December 1, 2006 10:25 AM | Link to this

Does anyone else look at the falcons receivers and notice that the problem may just be that they are too weak and anemic looking? The only one who looks like he has any strength is crump, and he is a TE. Jenkins and Finneran look somewhat sturdy. BUT jenk & Finn both seem to lack explosive power. White just looks and plays like a little weakling. He looks like a little gnat. Lelie just looks like a tall, lean deer who does not have the strenght to be a consistent threat from the begining of the game until the end of the game, from the first minute of the first game of the season until the last minute of the last game of the season.

power and strength are important to wide receivers. i just think they are simply not strong enough to play a very physical position. the bump and run, getting hit after the catch, fighting for a ball that is coming down, maintaining your endurance, strength, and will power as the game and season drag on when you are fighting endless hand to hand combat with DBs and LBs. I just think they are too weak.

I also think a big problem for the wide receivers is that they are not strong enough in the explosive power parts of their bodies like their chest, shoulders, thighs and butt to fight, push, shove, and fight hand to hand combat in order to get themselves open and even when they do manage to get themselves open they are too weak after all of that hand to hand combat to then go get the ball.

look at the best receivers in the game and you will see how explosive and strong the best all look in their shoulders, chest, arms, forerams, hands, fingers, butt, thighs, and calves. i personally do not see that in the falcons wide receivers.

They also look too weak from a calve muscle and buttocks and hip muscle standpoint to have the requisite explosive agility, quickness, and speed to get themselves open and then to rack up the YAC.

AND then i think by looking at them, they are not strong enough in their arms, hands, fingers, forearms, chest, biceps to catch a ball from a QB with a cannon arm.

You see the same problem with UGA. Look at all the UGA receivers. they are all a bunch of pencil necked, long limbed, lean guys who do not seem to have any strength. When they are dealing with a weaker armed QB, they are going to be better able to catch a ball. BUT when Stafford shows up with a cannon, they are not strong enough in their upper bodies to be able to handle those passes. AND everything I said about the falcons receivers above is also applicable to the UGA receivers about how their length of strength affects their ability to get open, to be consistent, to catch the ball when they get open, etc.

Look at MOMASS as the prime example. When you see MOMASS without his pads and helmet on, he looks physically like he is no more than 14 years old. Put MOMASS in the weight room from now until next September and see what the results would be. Otherwise, he is going to end up being the next Fred Gibson. Gibson never put on any muscle or strength or weight during his 4 years and as a result, he never lived up to the unbelievable promise of his freshman year. he was inconsistent, injury prone, did not get open, dropped passes. WHY? lack of weight training. To be on a college campus for 4 years and be in psychotic weight lifting environment and never put on any muscle and never gain any strength is just absolutely ridiculous.

Compare Gibson to Reggie Brown. At the beginning Gibson was the greatest and Brown was a bust of a recruit. BUT Brown worked incredibly hard in the weight room over the years at UGA. He never quite lived up to his promise at UGA but by the end of his junior year and then in his senior year he became a consistent, reliable guy who got open, and did not drop too many passes. AND then Brown became a 2nd round pick because he developed an NFL body whereas the body of Gibson still made him look like a 15 year old. Now Reggie Brown has become a pretty good WR in the pros. All because he worked hard in the gym in order to supplement his unbelievable god given talent. I wish Reggie was playing for the falcons. Where is Gibson now? rumor has it that he is on the taxi squad for the dolphins after being cut last year by the steelers. How does a UGA player get cut by the steelers, pats, or bengals? is that even possible? it seems like if you go to UGA, the steelers, pats, and bengals will find a way to get you on the roster. that tells you alot about gibson and his lack of commitment to becoming a better player. the only reason he is on the taxi squad of the dolphins is because saban watched gibson like we all did for those 4 years and just can’t believe that kid has not done more with his talent.

SO, my advice for the Falcons coaches and UGA coaches, is to get these WRs in the weight room all day and all night. there is no need to fire wide receiver coaches. i think it is merely time to reintroduce the wideouts to the strength training coach. Then watch the dramatic change in performance and more importantly consistency. More guys will get open, more guys will catch the ball when they get open, and more guys will rack up the YAC.

MAYBE i’m crazy but i think this is a big issue with why the receivers on UGA and the Falcons are not very good at all.

By Shaad

December 1, 2006 10:27 AM | Link to this

If we don’t get Randy Moss next year I’m through with this team!!! I can’t take us serious if we don’t do anything to change these results. I say get Dan Reeves and Randy in here next year and you get results.

By Brian Hunt

December 1, 2006 10:46 AM | Link to this

Unless they can get 5 1st round pics for trading Vick, it would be one stupid move too many. If that happens, my days as a Falcon fan would be over until a new front office team arrived.

By brodie

December 1, 2006 10:47 AM | Link to this

they don’t need Randy Moss. they just need a bunch of named, no frills guys who are not over paid overdrafted guys not afraid to lose their jobs. they need people who are afraid that they will be packing your bags at walmart next week so they will run through a brick wall to catch a pass from vick. moss is just another malcontent. can you imagine how bad this situation would be if moss was popping off and being a cancer in the clubouse right now. vick may have given the finger but at least always seems like he cares and tries. moss is a cancer no intelligent fan should ever want on a a team. just get me a bunch of no name dudes like gaylor and finneran and the rest of the guys vick had in 2002 who just go get the darn ball. forget these prima donnas that they think they are entitled to be starters because of their draft status

By brodie

December 1, 2006 11:05 AM | Link to this

vick is only 26 year old in his sixth year in the nfl, in his fourth year as a starter. steve young was like 30 years old when he became a starter and he was in his 8th year as a professional. very similar talents. young did not do much with tampa when not surrounded by talent and became a HOF superstar when surrounded by talent. trade vick. please go ahead. and then clean that egg of your face at the end of every year when he becomes a dominant force for some other team like steve young did. please go ahead.

By CQ

December 1, 2006 11:09 AM | Link to this

I actually like the hard nose receivers like H. Ward of the Steelers. Big name receivers are to much trouble and over priced. The best receivers in the league are either 2nd,3rd,4th, or 5th round picks.

By SouthernJackAss

December 1, 2006 11:40 AM | Link to this

         The problem

is not the receivers. It is our moron QB. Let’s see, Roddy White, who was a standout in college, Jenkins, who was a standout in college, and Lelie who was also a standout before coming here suddenly can’t catch. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Damn, fool me three times, well like I said it’s not the receivers. Vick’s throws are ‘all over the place’ and when one is in the ‘area’ of the receiver it’s thrown with ‘no touch’ but gunned like a rocket. Then should one be thrown ‘on target’ and with proper touch, the receiver’s are so shocked that they nearly pass out, causing the ‘drop’.

By Ryder

December 1, 2006 12:01 PM | Link to this

Know what’s going to happen? Atlanta will win both this game and next week against Tampa Bay. Guess where the Vick haters will be then? No where on this blog I can guarantee you that!

By CQ

December 1, 2006 12:02 PM | Link to this

Southern, There have been many standout players in college only to make it to the NFL and be a big BUST.

Lelie was not great at Denver he was there with Rod Smith a Hall of Famer that made him look good.

By Ryder

December 1, 2006 12:03 PM | Link to this

Know what’s going to happen? Atlanta will win both this game and next week against Tampa Bay. Guess where the Vick haters will be then? No where on this blog I can guarantee you that!

By Falcon_Boogie

December 1, 2006 12:24 PM | Link to this

SouthernJackAss,

Are you blind? Heck, Steve Wonder can see that our receivers aren’t catching the freakin ball. I don’t care what type of spin you put on it. They’re killing us.

What do you want Vick to do? Pass out stick’em in the huddle, so that they can hold onto the ball.

I can understand your frustrations, but to say that Vick is the problem for the receivers dropping the ball. That’s a bit illogical, if you asked me.

By honest_abe

December 1, 2006 12:30 PM | Link to this

ok here comes my apology for giving up on mike vick too early…. i’ve damn near supported and defended this guy for all six years he’s been in the leage.. so why jump ship now?

yet another must win this sunday! i’ve had a week to get over my frustrations.. and i am expecting a full effort this sunday. hopefully we’ll see a different defensive squad this sunday.. i expect the 2ndary to be bolstered by the return of abe and a better pass rush… as long as the receivers CATCH the ball.. BIRDS WIN! thanks guys for letting me see the light… i almost turned on the single guy that has actually given this franchise some respectability…

positive note: if there’s another group of underperforming, over paid athletes…. playing without fire.. an inept coaching staff and annoying owner.. IT’S WASHINGTON! lol

By dirrtybird

December 1, 2006 12:31 PM | Link to this

southernjackass,

ummm wasnt’ Vick a standout in college? National Championship game as a freshman. Roddy White was a standout in Div II Football, and my final point. College isn’t the NFL. Period. Next…

By honest_abe

December 1, 2006 12:41 PM | Link to this

dirrtybird… i hope you don’t take offense.. but that whole “next” thing you do.. makes you come across as someone who is extremely dorky…. might think about dropping that one..

i only have one wish for xmas this year. and that is that is for bird dawg to disappear.. he might single handedly be the most bitter middle aged man i have ever come across. i’ve yet to read a single positive post.. i’m sorry you were beaten as a kid. i’m sorry you had your lunch money stolen from you on a daily basis. i’m sorry you still don’t have any friends. may this year be better than the previous 46..

By SouthernJackAss

December 1, 2006 12:44 PM | Link to this

Falcon_Boogie—You want logic??? Let’s see, we have three pro receivers who always drop passes. We have one QB who is throwing the passes. Yep, logic says ‘must be the three receivers’. You ever hear the phrase ‘when you think one way, and everybody else, thinks the other way, maybe it’s you, that’s wrong’? CQ Lelie was not known as stone fingers in Denver. He seemed to catch a reasonable amount of the passes thrown his way. While we’re at it, even Alge has dropped a lot ot balls this year. Vick has talent, no doubt, but I think a lot of the passing problems are him.

By CQ

December 1, 2006 12:45 PM | Link to this

If the Falcons win theses next 2 games, all the people who jump ship will be trying to get back on for the Dallas game. That game is on a Sat. night.

By Larry

December 1, 2006 12:47 PM | Link to this

Southernjackass,

Micael Jenkins was not great in college. Indeed, he was not going to be drafted in the first round (until the Falcons reached, of course).

For those of you saying Peerless Price could catch - he benefited from playing opposite Eric Moulds. Look at him now. He was cut from the Cowboys -before they had T.O. - and now, he’s not even starting in Buffalo.

Do sign-and-trades work in the NFL? If so, at seasons end, we could sign Schuab and trade him (and a WR) to the Raiders for Moss.

By Larry

December 1, 2006 12:48 PM | Link to this

…and if Lelie was so good, Denver wouldn’t have let him go so easily.

By kenny

December 1, 2006 12:50 PM | Link to this

abe, i’m proud of you boy. hopefully, we both will not get all angry and confused after another horrible loss this weekend and start fighting with everyone and their mother and blaming everyone and everything. there is so much blame to go around for all of these guys, including vick, although i love the guy and wish he had better talent and coaching around him.

They have to win every game from here on out.

abe, it sounds like you are alot like me even though we had out little fight earlier in the week with each other. we get all pumped up every weekend, and then come sunday night we want to tell the whole world to go screw themselves, we don’t know what to think or what to make of it all. we tell ourselves every sunday night, i’m done, i ain’t watching this, i am so over mike vick, i don’t care how much everyone else sucks, mike should make them better, i’m just done, not gonna watch another game this year. then come thursday, friday, and saturday, we get sucked back in and we start to believe and delude ourselves all over again. Yes, Falcons Fans all know the definition of insanity but yet come every sunday at 1, we can not help but prove how insane we are every week.

even though i was defending vick against you earlier this week, i was actually bashing him last week because of the whole thing he did with laughing and joking it up with the ravens after the game. it is kind of amazing that i was more outraged by a guy laughing and joking with the opponent than i was at a guy who gave the finger to his own fans, albeit a drunken idiot who thinks he can say and do anything without consequences. maybe my values are a little warped. i was more impressed for some reason with vick when he showed misdirected anger after the game rather than when he acted like he could care less.

BTW, i liked your post on sekou’s blog as well.

abe, sorry for the cross words earlier in the week. you’re not such a “nerd” after all.

By William

December 1, 2006 01:03 PM | Link to this

who are all of these people who keep insisting that lelie was so good for the broncos. here are his stats with the broncos:

Catches: 35, 37, 54, 42.

Receiving Yards: 525, 625, 1084, 770

Touchdowns: 2, 2, 7, 1

Ummmmmmm……. So freaking what? The guy was considered a bust when he played for the Broncos. A cute little receiver who could sometimes stretch the field but do little else. That is the bottom line. So, all of you 14 year olds start having an honest opinion

By CQ

December 1, 2006 01:06 PM | Link to this

Any of you Vick bashers want to sell your Dallas tickets for $25. I’ll take them off your hands since you don’t want to see him play because he gave a finger.

By honest_abe

December 1, 2006 01:06 PM | Link to this

kenny: i agree with everthing you just said… i think every single one of us “true” falcon fans are frustrated.. and lately it’s been showing.. but we share the same passion and that’s for our team to win.. hopefully we’ll have alot more positive things to banter about on monday! :)

By Bruthaman

December 1, 2006 01:48 PM | Link to this

Hey Great blog today, at least it hasnt disintegrated into racist banter. My take on the whole situation is this the scheme is the whole problem. This offense doesnt complement a guy who is barely six feet and cant see over the Offensive line. Greg Knapp keeps trying to force a square peg in a round hole. For one he has Vick taking short drops to get rid of the ball, but everybody knows he cant see over the O line, if he takes a 5 or 7 step drop he will have a better view of the field and have more time to throw, seeing as the O line cant pass block. This season is not indicative of what vick can do, with intelligent coaching and better scheming he could be great. Trading him would be a bad move, but not getting the correct scheme and coaching for him would be even more of a waste.

By blue tom

December 1, 2006 01:52 PM | Link to this

Stop blaming the coaches, O-Line and dropped passes for the falcon demise; receivers haven’t been dropping all of the passes. The simple truth is that we have a QB that is a runner and not a real throwing quarterback. Most of us sit on the edge of our seats and cringe when Vick takes off running, wondering if this is the play that he gets knocked silly. Sure, it is OK to run when you have to but we need a QB that can do the complete job. Someone on this blog compared Vick to Steve Young; big differences. Young was a complete QB; he could run, was a prolific passer, could read defenses, could audible, was not confused all of the time, could fake defenses out on a regular basis and cause much misdirection for the defense. Vick could be here 6 more years and I doubt he will improve much in any of those areas. It doesn’t matter whether a player is black, white, purple, green or whatever; if they can’t do the job they are paid to and get this team on a winning streak, sit them on the bench or trade them. I just hope this team can put something together and beat the skins sunday. The skins are one of the worst teams in the league, probably worse than Cleveland or Detroit, so if we lose to this bunch, it will a sorry day for this team. It is time to give Shockley or Schaub a chance.

By 49er Fan

December 1, 2006 02:09 PM | Link to this

Blue Tom,

When Steve Young came to the 49ers he was cut by the Bucs because of poor play. He even came to the 49ers and did not play until Montanna got knocked out with the back injury. His stay with Tampa Bay was very bad.

As a 49er fan, Vick and Young have alot in common. Young as you remember had great Hall of Fame receivers, Pro Bowl tight end, and a ProBowl running team of Ricky Watters, not to mention a great offensive line and great coaching.

By the way the defense had Dion Sanders, Ken Norton, and Pro Bowl lineman with great coaching.

By 49er Fan

December 1, 2006 02:38 PM | Link to this

Young numbers did not improved until he left a horrible situation the Tampa and moved to good coaching in Tampa. Thats similar to Vick under Reeves and now Mora.

By SOMEONE

December 1, 2006 02:41 PM | Link to this

VICK HAS ALREADY HAD THE BEST GAMES OF HIS CAREER. I ADMIT HE WILL HAVE A FEW DECENT GAMES EACH SEASON, BUT HE WILL NOT PLAY BUT ABOUT 4 MORE SEASONS (TOTAL). HE WILL GET INJURED MORE FREQUENTLY AND THE FALCONS WILL NOT WIN MORE THAN 9 GAMES (PER YEAR) OVER THOSE NEXT FOUR YEARS. MAKE A MOVE SOON, ATLANTA. SCHAUB WILL NOT STAY MUCH LONGER. GO WITH SCHAUB. HE WILL PROVE TO BE THE BETTER QB OVER TIME. NOTHING HAS WORKED TO FIX VICK OVER THESE LAST FEW YEARS. THE MIKE VICK EXPERIENCE IS OVER PEOPLE. HE WAS NEVER GOOD ENOUGH AS A QB. A HECK OF AN ATHLETE, THOUGH. HE’S GOT HEART, AND I FEEL BAD FOR HIM. TIME TO HANG THEM UP, HE WILL NEVER GET ANY BETTER THAN HE IS NOW. ESPECIALLY WHEN THE INJURIES START.

By JeffD

December 1, 2006 02:58 PM | Link to this

Good article:

http://proxy.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=garber_greg&id=2682325

By Najeh Davenpoop

December 1, 2006 02:59 PM | Link to this

Did someone try to say that Lelie was good in Denver?

The Broncos thought so low of Lelie that they traded a 2nd round pick for a guy coming off a serious ACL injury and sent Lelie to the bench. This upset Lelie so much that he was considering holding out.

If the Falcons hadn’t bailed them out, the Broncos would have probably ended up cutting Lelie because of his poor play and his attitude.

Lelie’s been the same since he came into the league — a guy with blazing speed and questionable hands who is not tough enough to go over the middle. Why we traded our best short-yardage runner for him is beyond me. I understand that Duckett wasn’t doing great here, but they could have definitely got more for him than a certifiable bust receiver.

By honest_abe

December 1, 2006 03:07 PM | Link to this

wow just because your defending vick doesn’t mean you have to trash another falcon player….. first of all, the bronco’s traded for javon walker who is one of the premier wr’s in the league…. lelie was a serviceable wr in denver. nothing more, nothing less. he is a legitimate deep threat.. doesnt’ run great patterns, isn’t an explosive receiver… but he has good speed and he can stretch the field.. he’s had some drops over the past few weeks.. but who on this team hasn’t? even crump is dropping balls this year.. like they say drops are contagious.

By dean

December 1, 2006 03:24 PM | Link to this

My sense is that vick is in trouble, because on sspn radio they have been comparing vick and eli manning more and more in an attempt to deflect criticism of vick. My guess is that when atlanta loses to washington thinks will get worse.

By dean

December 1, 2006 03:27 PM | Link to this

sorry, things will get worse when atlanta loses to washington.

By SouthernJackAss

December 1, 2006 04:01 PM | Link to this

I never said Lelie was T.O. or Moss. I said that he was not known as someone who couldn’t catch a cold. I give up. Fans of Vick will have it no other way. He is the 2nd comong. He does no wrong. Unfortunately time will tell.

By Steve T

December 1, 2006 08:49 PM | Link to this

Wyche is right about the pass to White being a “pop fly”. It was as lousy a pass as was the drop by White. It was way underthrown and don’t anybody try to tell me that it was designed to be.

Jerry, first of all, the ball was a soft throw. The pop fly gave White a chance to come back for the ball. Do you recall what happened on the play? The DB hit the turf. The ball was a soft toss and I know 10 years that could have may that catch.

Next, if White would have made the catch, that would have been the ESPN play of the day.

Finally, Blank needs to fire Mora and company and hire a coach from Chicago, Pittsburgh, or Washington. If Mora continue to stay, the falcons will become like the 49ers!

PS Blank you told the NFL that you will be playing in the 2009 Super Bowl. If you want to make it, Please call me!

By dannotdan

December 2, 2006 04:33 PM | Link to this

Is there any common thread that may explain how Lalie, Jenkins, and White after a lifetime of being outstanding receivers all forget how to catch once they arrived Atlanta………………..Oh yeah they now have Vick throwing the ball.

The coach killer is even a better receiver killer

By Mario

December 2, 2006 07:48 PM | Link to this

It’s not hard to see that if you have suspect protection and receivers that can’t catch…your passing game is gonna suffer. I’ve heard rumors that the Falcons lead the league in drops…but are only 31st in pass attempts! That’s crazy! If the Falcons are serious about evaluation than maybe they’ll really get rid of this theory that they can get O-linemen off the street! I don’t know a QB with a great passer rating after 20% of his passes are dropped. Just an observation.