Falcons

By vick_is_sick

December 5, 2006 04:08 PM | Link to this

i don’t know how any of us fans can make a judgement on jimmy yet. he hasn’t gotten much PT to really tell. but, even before the injury, the reluctance to replace webster with him tells me he’s got a long way to go. webster is as bad a corner as there is in this league, and if jimmy can’t take that guys place, then he’s gonna be selling cars in a few years.

hopefully jimmy will show us that he does deserve to be in there. it can’t be any worse than webster. but, his size screams saftey…i don’t know how fast he is, but saftey on the surface looks like a better fit.

GO FALCONS….hey steve, any discussion of using more wr screens and rb screens to take the blitz pressure off of vick?

By This Bird Will FLY! ATL/UGA

December 5, 2006 04:12 PM | Link to this

Put him in. Who cares how he will play. We play 30 deep zone every play anyway. He can’t get burnt anymore than Webster or Rossum. The thing that Williams has that the others don’t is the physical part. He is big and strong. He could jam the WRs at the line. PUT J. WILLIAMS IN!!!!

By Ryan Chambers

December 5, 2006 04:14 PM | Link to this

But I thought Jimmy wasn’t going to play safety? Someone needs to inform Jimmy of this possibility.

As far as Chris Crocker showing more tendencies of being a strong safety, yeah, thats the nicer way of putting it.

Ugh.

By Jeff D

December 5, 2006 04:27 PM | Link to this

I’m not so sure about Rossum. Cleveland seemed to do a good job putting Rossum in unfavorable situations (like matching him up with Winslow). But, I guess he’s our best option.

It should also be noted that in the Washington game, Rossum was facing an inexperienced QB. He’ll get the same this week, but Clayton could give Rossum fits. Also, I would not be comfortable with Rossum starting against Dallas. I’d much rather have Webster.

Playing the inexperienced Williams could lead to a long day against the Cowboys’ Terry Glenn and Terrell Owens.

I guess we can forget about getting info on Gregg Knapp! It just aint gonna happen.

By Casey

December 5, 2006 04:37 PM | Link to this

I’d take Jimmy’s size over Rossum’s any day.

By mo

December 5, 2006 04:48 PM | Link to this

If Jimmy Williams is to play, let him play more reps against Tampa. I don’t see him starting, but let him at least platoon with Rossum, to give Rossum a rest before he returns punts.

I think Jimmy can play because I think that our front four will be in the Bucs’ backfield a lot. I think we can apply some pressure and frazzle Gradkowski. Plus, there WRs aren’t holding on to the ball.

This will give us a look at how JW will handle disrupting routes and how his overall play.

(On a completely different note… have you noticed how completely at ease and relaxed Bill Parcells is lately? It’s like he’s having the most fun he’s ever had as a coach. I’ve seen him smile and laugh more as the head coach of the Cowboys than any other time in his career.)

By ctom

December 5, 2006 04:57 PM | Link to this

How long does Rhonde Barber have on his contract? I would love to see him in a Falcons uniform. DeAngelo on one corner, Rhonde on the other. J.Williams seems more of a safety. Even Chris Crocker seems more like a corner than a safety anyway.

By Rell

December 5, 2006 05:05 PM | Link to this

You know what!!! Ive been telling all my friends for the past few weeks that we had two strong safetys out there in the secondary, but I thought I was the only one that noticed that. Because Crocker plays just like a strong safety. Hes better at coming down and stopping the run than he is at staying home and helping in the pass game. He doesnt seem to play the ball well. I think Jimmy should consider playing free next year even though I know he said he wanted to play corner. Having a free safety thats a ball hawk like Jimmy would really make our secondary better….. And I was mad about Allen playing corner at first but I have notice that he has been playing pretty well over there, but hes just small.

By stat man

December 5, 2006 05:19 PM | Link to this

Jimmy Williams can play! He will at least hit you hard like Jack Tatum. We need all the help we can get because DeAngela is killing us this year getting beat deep and on slant routes. Allen Rossum, god bless him for trying but he is not a corner back but I want bash him because he tries. 21 get your act together, NO PRO BOWL this year, you been beat all year.

By billy g

December 5, 2006 06:15 PM | Link to this

Jim Williams has always looked like a FS to me. I was shocked to hear Jr. say that he was definitely a CB.

Hopefully, the coaching staff will quickly realize that Williams is a FS and could turn out to be a star at the position. And if they don’t see the immense potential, then maybe the coaches won’t figure into the long range plans of the team.

By Bean Ball

December 5, 2006 07:25 PM | Link to this

I thought Jimmy Williams used to coach the Braves.

By Greg

December 5, 2006 07:26 PM | Link to this

On a different note, has their been any fallout from Vick saying he made up a play in the huddle because “some times you need to overcome coaching”?

By BirdDawg

December 5, 2006 08:06 PM | Link to this

Steve,

You can’t keep on dodging this. All of us serious fans at one point or another have requested a column on Knapp, and why he doesn’t allow his QBs to audible at the line of scrimage. A column which gets to the bottom of a lot of serious questions.

Like how, in today’s NFL, he can possibly think that not allowing his QBs to audible at the line gives this team its best chance to win.

Or the fact that his QB is fed up with his tired, predictable playcalls, that he is changing the play anyway, and it results in an awesome TD.

Or how about the fact that Jon Gruden, a Super Bowl winning offensive guru, has said on more than one occassion that if he were to have Michael Vick, he’d scrap everything he’s every known and design the Michael Vick offense, yet Greg Knapp still wants to chain Vick to his way of doing things.

About the fact that Vick had much better, and more consistant success under Dan Reeves and not him.

How about how Greg Knapp refuses to take advantage of Michael Vick’s strengths and use the play action to open up down the field routes?

Or how about how he refuses to use the running backs and full backs in the passing game to lessen the constant pressure Vick is always under?

Steve, how come I, and we, are the one’s asking these kind of questions, and no one else is? Greg Knapp isn’t going to answer us, but if YOU ask him those questions, he’ll answer you!

Come on man, I really dig what you do, and trust you more than just about any writer on this rag not named Furman Bisher. But you really are dodging the Greg Knapp Problem. And it is a problem that is killing this team on a consistant basis.

You know, Steve, I’d love to see once, just ONCE, a journalist at this paper really corner an underperforming coach, and not just a player, with some pointed questions.

You see the guys at this paper ask tough questions about players all the time, but the coaches, from Bobby Cox, to Jim Mora, to Greg Knapp, to Mark Richt, never really have to answer really, really tough New York Style questions.

Every once in awhile, one of the columnists will throw a coach under the bus, like Bradley did with Gailey this week. But no one will corner a coach and make him squirm.

And I just don’t get that.

Maybe your under orders from your editors, and if that’s the case, then they should be fired for giving us a watered-down, fluff-piece product which is an embarrassment to real sports journalism.

If that’s the case, then I apologie for getting on your case.

But if it’s not the case, then come on Steve, help us out! As fans of this team, we expect our coaches as well as our players to be accountable. Y’all do a great job in holding the players accountable for us, but y’all aren’t doing so with the coaches.

We demand that Knapp be held accountable! We want Knapp to answer to tough questions we’ve posed. We’re tired of seeing Knapp get a free pass in the Atlanta news media.

We want Greg Knapp!!!

By TD

December 5, 2006 08:42 PM | Link to this

If Webster is that much better than Williams at the corner, heck he could have slipped to the 7th round! Webster has been beaten repeatedly and Crocker hasn’t impressed me except he did get an INT the other day, so maybe he could take R. White’s place as a wideout since he does have one catch. I second the motion on addressing Knapp. Mora said they were friends and friendship has no place on a coaching staff, as Billick and Fassel proved. Knapp should be held accountable for those drives failing inside the 10!

By The Grinch

December 5, 2006 08:46 PM | Link to this

I agree Knapp needs to go (and how he ever got an OC job anywhere besides high school is beyond me). Good news for Falcons and Williams, though; Clayton is out for the rest of the season. That should make it a bit easier.

By Larry

December 5, 2006 09:05 PM | Link to this

I agree with BirdDawg and would really like to see a column on Knapp’s ineptness. But I don’t think the Atlanta media has the nerve to ask the tough questions. Chris Domino questions Mora every Monday morning on 790theZone. However, he always seems to skate around asking the tough questions. Not once have I heard him ask Mora about the poor play calling in the red zone or the players lack of confidence in Knapp.

The only AJC writer that has made an effort to ask challenging questions is Schultz. As a result, Mora doesn’t like him. But maybe that’s it. Maybe the Atlanta media is afraid that if they challenge the coaches, they will lose access.

Regardless, I just don’t understand how the AJC doesn’t ask Mora about Knapp. It is clear the the play-calling in the red zone is dubious at best. The national media, from ESPN to HBO, has often stated as much and has criticized Knapp’s offensive schemes. It only makes sense that the local paper would expound on such issues. Why the AJC refuses to do so makes no sense.

By Steve T

December 5, 2006 09:21 PM | Link to this

I have an idea. If Vick can call plays and make up plays that score TDs, how about fired Knapp and let Vick run the offense. Since Lawyer was on a Super bowl winning team. he may need to take over the defense.

By paul

December 5, 2006 09:32 PM | Link to this

Birddawg, for once in your life, just shut the F up already!!! you are seriously one of the most annoying people i have ever heard, read, or seen. seriously, man, you are really annoying. who cares? what do you think knapp is going to tell Steve? oh yeah, I’m an idiot, Steve. you got me. you ain’t gonna get your desired You can’t handle the truth moment, so get over it already.

By dirrtybird

December 5, 2006 09:55 PM | Link to this

Interview Greg Knapp

Interview Greg Knapp

Interview Greg Knapp

Interview Greg Knapp

Interview Greg Knapp

Interview Greg Knapp

Interview Greg Knapp

Interview Greg Knapp

Interview Greg Knapp

Interview Greg Knapp

By vick_is_sick

December 5, 2006 09:57 PM | Link to this

birdawg and others calling for knapp’s head…i agree that the playcalling is average and predictable. however, i think the offensive personnel on the o-line has knapp handcuffed in the redzone. the o-line is not built to truly run block. they are built to cut block and when there is a short field in the red zone, the o-line can’t do things like pull guards and seal blocks etc…they are undersized…look at justin grifith and compare him to lorenzo neal.

i’m not dogging grifith, i think he’s a good fullback, but he’s undersized. this lack of size has knapp handcuffed in the redzone. he still sucks, but it isn’t all his fault

By Larry

December 5, 2006 10:42 PM | Link to this

Vick is sick,

Have you heard of Fred McCrary? He’s a 10 year veteran. I’d trust him around the goaline. Also, Griffith weighs 235lbs. That’s at least 50 lbs more than Dunn. Give the FB’s the damn ball!!

By The Grinch

December 5, 2006 10:53 PM | Link to this

What about Marlion Anderson (once again)? The dude’s 250lbs and hits the hole hard. He was the 4th leading rusher in the NFL during the pre-season. He’s a stud power back with fresh legs. WHY IS HE JUST STANDING THERE? Also, Knapp sucks.

By BirdDawg

December 5, 2006 11:24 PM | Link to this

Paul, at the moment, you seem to be quite alone in your sentiment.

The fact of the matter is, no one in the Atlanta sports media ever asks the hometown coaches any tough questions.

No one every questions the fact that Bobby Cox is biggest postseason choke artist in the history of professional sports. They don’t ask him tough questions, because he has an irrate temper about him and he’ll not hesitate to throw any media member which gets on his bad side out of the clubhouse and bar them for life.

No one questions Jim Mora or Greg Knapp about the fact that Vick was a better QB under Reeves, why was everyone in San Fran happy to see Knapp pack his playbook and leave, why does Knapp always call the same predictable crap, and why, WHY, WHY doesn’t Greg Knapp let his QBs audible at the line of scrimage?!!!

One guy in the Atlanta media has the journalistic gumption to ask Mora tough questions last year, and look where it got him. Poor Matt Winklejohn has to cover the Bugs for God’s sake!

Maybe that’s why Steve is ducking us on the Knapp Problem. He doesn’t want to p** off Mora and get sent to cover the Bugs next year.

The fact of the matter is, whether Knapp will answer these questions or not, these questions should have been asked a long, long time ago. The audible question is the most pressing. And why we’ve not gotten a real explanation, or why that question has not been asked of Knapp so he has the opportunity to explain himself is beyond me.

The New York media doesn’t care. They have no problem asking the tough questions. They don’t care if they p** the coaches off. They wouldn’t kiss Bobby Cox’s @$$, and they certainly wouldn’t bow to Jim Mora an Greg Knapp.

Why does the Atlanta sports media do this?

It’s a shame for us, the fans, it really is. We’re being deprived of these guys being held accountable to public scutiny like their players are. So it’s doubly not fair. Not fair to the players that their coaches never have to account for their blunders, and it’s not fair to us that Greg Knapp isn’t made to explain why his QBs cannot audible at the line of scrimage.

By Jeff D

December 5, 2006 11:30 PM | Link to this

Er…um…Marlion Jackson is on IR.

By Najeh Davenpoop

December 5, 2006 11:43 PM | Link to this

I’d like to be the 8 millionth person on this blog to call for a Knapp interview. I really would like to know why a guy who seriously is no better of a play-caller than I am still has a job and doesn’t seem to be in any jeopardy of losing it.

If Jimmy Williams can play corner, that would be a huge asset to have a corner that big who can run with the league’s best receivers. The only other two teams I can think of who have good corners of comparable size are the Ravens (Chris McAlister) and the Bears (Charles Tillman), and in case you haven’t heard both those defenses are pretty good. The Falcons could desperately use some more physical players, and Jimmy Williams would provide that at the corner position. I would like to see him try CB before they think about moving to safety, and more importantly I would like to see him get significant playing time as soon as he’s available. Rossum’s played well at the #2 corner position (much better than Jason Webster anyway) but Jimmy Williams should definitely get playing time, especially in nickel situations, so that by playoff time he can be a solid contributor. This week would be a great week to work him in the lineup, especially since Tampa is missing #2 WR Michael Clayton and other than Joey Galloway they will be playing a bunch of no-names at WR. Moreover, NFLDraftCountdown.com has 3 safeties going in the first round of next year’s draft; I think if the Falcons kept J. Williams at corner it would be easier for them to find a good free safety in the draft than vice versa.

Of course, none of this matters if Ed Donatell continues to go the entire first half rushing 4 and playing a vanilla zone, letting rookie QBs complete all kinds of passes, until he realizes that he has to blitz to create pressure. We could have the Ravens’ secondary and it wouldn’t matter at that point.

And I don’t think our goal line problems have anything to do with our backfield, it is all about the soft zone-blocking scheme the offensive line runs. If you play all day diving at people’s legs hoping to take them out, you are not going to all of a sudden push people off the line in short-yardage when you need to. And on top of this, our genius offensive coordinator Greg Knapp thinks it’s a great idea to run a QB sneak on 4th-and-short with the smallest starting QB in the NFL behind this puny offensive line — anyone with an ounce of common sense would have been able to guess that Vick would get stuffed on that play, but apparently Greg Knapp didn’t think so. If we had a physical O-line with size like the Saints that could seal off 3 defenders at a time and create wide open lanes for the running back, we could use Dunn as our short-yardage RB and it wouldn’t matter, he would still score. But with our current blocking scheme we wouldn’t score TDs even with Jerome Bettis. The difference between our zone-blocking scheme and Denver’s is that Denver can put a hat on a hat and get movement in short-yardage even if they use zone-blocking in other situations; the Falcons can’t do this, and until they can they won’t have a consistent red-zone offense.

By The Grinch

December 6, 2006 12:03 AM | Link to this

Oops, I didn’t know Jackson was on IR. My bad. Still, this brings up an important point; Knapp sucks.

By dirrtybird

December 6, 2006 12:16 AM | Link to this

Interview Greg Knapp

Interview Greg Knapp

Interview Greg Knapp

Interview Greg Knapp

Interview Greg Knapp

By Najeh Davenpoop

December 6, 2006 04:04 AM | Link to this

Fire Jim Mora

Fire Greg Knapp

Fire Ed Donatell

By Charles

December 6, 2006 07:26 AM | Link to this

Thank you Larry!! Vicksosick are you sick??? Any lineman especialliy the smaller can pull or trap they are normally more agile. Too much PASSING in the redzone. Run the ball.. It is not about the size of the FALCON but the HEART OF THE FALCON.. Remember that because you do not have alot of football knowledge. No disrespect intended. WE ARE A RUNNING TEAM.

DIRT BIRD4LIFE!!! GO FALCONS!!!!

By vickisick

December 6, 2006 08:26 AM | Link to this

how many time have the falcons pulled a guard on a rushing play? none…it’ not about the lineman being agile enough to pull, it’s about the other lineman’s inability to hold their blocks and seal while the play sets up.

this line isn’t built to do that…they can’t hold blocks that long. and as for grifith being 235, that doesn’t matter much for the rusher with the ball. it helps, but the players blocking for the rusher need size. this whole line lacks size to run block in a short field. take away vick’s rushing and this team is not as good a rushing team as it looks.

By Call me Earl

December 6, 2006 08:38 AM | Link to this

* Jon Tenuta for Defensive Coordinator*

Jon Tenuta for Defensive Coordinator

We want Tenuta
We want Tenuta

Great Article Bird Dawg. Add Donatell to the list too.

By vickisick

December 6, 2006 08:50 AM | Link to this

hey charles…don’t acuse someone you don’t know of anything. sit behind your keyboard and run your lips all day…

look at my posts and tell me why you think i know nothing about football. larry and charles you are missing my point…the guys blocking need size not necessarily the rusher…compare neal to griffith…neal is 255 and griffith is 235. that’s 20 lbs of muscle in difference which is a lot. my point wasn’t to call out griffith, my point was to show you bloggers what type of personnel ATL looks for in their blocking scheme. they want faster smaller players…why, speed i guess, but you need size to be successful in short yardage situations. look at the 4th and inches sunday.

neal has blocked for a tailback who has rushed for 1000 yds. for 12 straight years. that’s pretty damn good. it also is an indication of the o-line he blocks with. remember when the falcons got steamrolled by the chiefs. why, because the o-line was big and they pulled guards on every play and we couldn’t stop it.

By Charles

December 6, 2006 08:52 AM | Link to this

Ok, you are right about they have not pulled but you are wrong about holding blocks. I don’t care which scheme you run you have to hold blocks even if it is a cut-block. We have the same line but we upgrade at left tackle. We did not have the same problems the last 2 years. WHY we ran TJ in the redzone. I am not saying HE was the reason. I am saying WE RAN THE BALL. Believe me most lineman prefer to run block than pass block. Vick does make the running game look better but that is part of running.

By Rick

December 6, 2006 08:55 AM | Link to this

The reason vick does not call plays at the line is simple, he cant. Dan reeves had to dumb down the lingo of his offence for Vick. The kid aint the sharpest knife in the drawer. If he were capable of reading the defence and changing it to a better play they would let him. He is a great athlete, and a mentel midget.

By Call me Earl

December 6, 2006 08:55 AM | Link to this

Charles must not watch the games. We need more traps, pulling gaurds, and cutback runs. Our line is designed to trip up defenders not block. Yes we’re a running team, but do you recall what happens when we line up man to man and try to run between tackles. We’ve not been successful. Lack of size and strength are two reasons. We’re a running team becuase the QB get’s at least 70yd/game. The QB opens holes larger than the line, since the Defense is constantly watching the QB. Not the backs. If the Defense clogs the middle, we’re done. If we had dominant linemen, Atlanta Falcons Football would reach new levels. The last time Atlanta had a dominant line we had Jeff Van Note.

By vickisick

December 6, 2006 09:05 AM | Link to this

good point about duckett last year…maybe a healthy forney helped and lehr was better last year at run blocking. i argue that the rusher is only as good as the line up front.

dunn would be fine in the redzone if he was behind the chargers line for example. a tailback should only have to break at most 1 tackle in the backfield. dunn is not given enough credit for his ability to get yds after contact. in the redzone, our line gets knocked back at the snap.

the way to punch it in is to move the line forward. dunn or griffith or mcrary carrying…take your pick a line that can move the def line back wins in short yardage not a line that cuts b/c lb’s will just fill in a split second after the cut. if you had a line that stood their ground they would seal DE’s, DT’s and LB’s all together. the cut blocking takes out individuals while in the redzone a blocking scheme that seals multiple players is necessary. SEE BETT’s first TD sunday.

By vickisick

December 6, 2006 09:11 AM | Link to this

najeh…well said regarding the o-line’s problems…that’s exactlhy what i’m screamin…cut block on 1st and 10 from the 50 if you want, but in short yardage you’ve got to stand your ground and block DE’s, DT’s and LB’s while your standing…not cutting one player at at time

By honest_abe

December 6, 2006 09:16 AM | Link to this

lol….. BIRDDAWG. playing to the crowd.. basically doing the same thing that mark bradley does on a weekly basis and that’s point to a problem that the general public (mostly people with too much time on their hands) continually regurgitate … great job! i mean seriously how long did it take you to copy and paste that from the last blog. you annoying old man. have you for one second thought about where steve works? um ya he works at flowery branch and see’s this team on a daily basis. i wonder what kind of situation steve wyche would be in if he did an article throwing the offensive coordinator under the bus? you knumbskull.. think before you write next time.

in birddawg’s world he’d fire anyone as soon as there was even a hint of a problem. how about some perspective you bitter little prick. the falcons on a national scale weren’t even projected to make the playoffs and here there are with 4 games to go and right in the thick of things. why in the world do you keep askign for an article that would put this team through more turmoil? there’s a time and place for everything. so stop being a broken tape recorder and next time try writing somethign original FOR ONCE!

and seriously you lost all credibility when you call out people as racist.. such as myself and you have no idea who i am.. freaking moron

By BirdDawg

December 6, 2006 09:32 AM | Link to this

Rick, your blatantly racist comments are ridiculous, because as I and Steve, and many others have pointed out, Matt Fraud aKa The Next Doug Johnson, does not have the ability to audible at the line either.

So I guess that makes Matt Fraud aKa The Next Doug Johnson a mental midget, too. Or is it becuase his skin is a lighter shade of brown, he doesn’t get classified as such, even though his completion percentage is below 50% and he’s never won a game he’s started.

And honest_abe, the real mental midget on this board, dude, it doesn’t matter where he works or what he does. The New York media has no problem telling the unvarnished truth about those they cover.

So why in Atlanta must the writers always gloss over and supress the truth of the situations?

Abe, you are anything but honest, and as we learned over on the Dawg boards, a complete idiot.

By mo

December 6, 2006 09:56 AM | Link to this

Is it safe to say once and for all that Vick is NOT the problem with the offense???

Can we go ahead and fix that into our minds, so we can deal with the real problems, and not these conjured ones???

By honest_abe

December 6, 2006 10:02 AM | Link to this

i just don’t see the benefits of an article that in no way shape or form would help this current team’s season. but that’s all you keep crying for.

all i know is you don’t post on the dawg board anymore because basically everyone has figured out that you’re nothing more than a 46 year old cry baby. all you do is b*tch and moan about anything and everything. you call people names and build yourself up to be some expert.. give me a break..

explain to me how an article outlining all the points you previously mentioned just might help this football team? are you truly a falcon fan? am i excited with knappy head as an offensive coordinator? no. but we’re in the final stretch drive at a run at the playoffs… and no we wont’ get a new offense or offensive coordinator with 4 games to play. so why cry over spilt milk.

and you keep pointing to the new york media.. if you want to call that media that’s your perogative. i think it’s a bunch of morons like yourself that try to find some controversy just to sell papers. and besides how many markets do you know that’s like new york? ok not many… so shut up.

By Tonya

December 6, 2006 10:26 AM | Link to this

Allen Rossum is not a cornerback. He gets burned constantly. Jimmy Williams has to be BETTER!!

By dirrtybird

December 6, 2006 10:46 AM | Link to this

I want to hear from Greg Knapp’s mouth, why his QB’s are not allowed to audible. I want to hear from Greg Knapp’s mouth his assessment of the offensive play calling this year. I want to hear the story from Greg Knapp and end the speculation. We hear from all the players and Jim Mora. Steve is ignoring our requests for an article on Knapp, probably because he’s off limits. I want to hear from Gregg Knapp’s mouth what his offensive philosophy in the Red Zone is. I want to hear from Gregg Knapp about his experience working with Mike Vick. I want to hear from Gregg Knapp’s Mouth!

By rian

December 6, 2006 10:50 AM | Link to this

I have one concern only: WINNING. I could care less what articles/columns are written in the paper. I could care less what Vick/Mora say at their PCs. I could care less what is wronbg with the ATL media and right with the NY media. I just want to win. If you do not want to talk a/b the Falcons but rather the media go to Rodney Ho’s blog and chat it up. This is a blog for Falcon fans, not a suggestion box for newspaper articles. BTW, BirdDawg, Delta flies to NY. Jump on it and go read that paper.

By Ryan Chammbers

December 6, 2006 10:59 AM | Link to this

Its I could not care less

By rian

December 6, 2006 11:02 AM | Link to this

Thanks alot INSIDE GUY!!! (Giles will be traded in the next 2 days)

Wait is he still a Brave?

By Larry

December 6, 2006 11:14 AM | Link to this

Najeeh Davenpoop and vick is sick,

The blocking scheme is not the only reason we fail in the red zone. Sure, we have an undersized OL, but that’s even more reason to use an oversized RB at the goaline.

We would probably have more success if we gave the ball to 245lb Fred McCrary and/or 235lb Justin Griffith. We had the same blocking scheme last year, and Duckett had no problem scoring in from inside the 5.

Honest_abe,

You say there’s a time and place for everything. So, tell me, when will it be appropriate to criticize Knapp’s play calling?

I agree with BirdDawg. An interview/article regarding Knapp’s failures is long overdue. The point of such critiques is to bring about improvement where improvement is needed. A QB should be allowed to audible. And clearly, Atlanta’s play calling in the red zone needs improvement. Everytime the Falcons break a long play and are tackled inside the 10, the fans are upset that the play didn’t result in a TD. Why? Because the fans know that we can’t put the ball in the end zone when we’re inside the 10. Improvement is needed.

An article criticizing Knapp would not bring about any more “turmoil” than the QB and franchise player saying he changed a play because he had to “overcome coaching.” Surely, the QB making such comments would cause more confusion than an article by a writer from the AJC.

Applying your analysis, Chicago’s media shouldn’t question Lovie Smith about the play of Rex Grossman because doing so would bring about “turmoil” during a playoff run. That’s just ridiculous. The Chicago paper’s are criticizing Rex Grossman and his poor play because they realize that the Bears won’t advance in the playoffs so long as the QB’s performance is inadequate. Unlike Atlanta’s media, they aren’t willing to sit idly by where the home team has a glaring weakness.

We expect the same from the AJC. We want improvement.

By blue tom

December 6, 2006 11:15 AM | Link to this

I have seen Jimmy Williams play and he is just the spark that this team needs. Williams is much like DeAngelo Hall, they are the nicest most self-absorbed players that anyone could hope for, just simply modest and humble individuals. No doubt about it, with both of them in the line up along with Ron Mexico, the falcons will win all 4 of their games and then it is easy sailing to the superbowl. Us falcon fans never had it so good. Pay them more money; that is the answer. The MAIN thing is that we win these games, we don’t care what kind of people are playing on this team, isn’t that rather obvious to all???

By mountain_jim

December 6, 2006 11:29 AM | Link to this

**Well I agree with Birddog, and disagree with honest_abe - the benefits of asking Knapp the tough questions are maybe Blank wakes up and acts and goes against Mora’s wishes for his good buddy and fires Knapp once it becomes clear that he is the number one problem on offense. (With Stewart and Gibbs numbers 2 and 3)

I personally believe the Falcons would have a better chance to win out and do well in the playoffs if Knapp were replaced NOW with Musgrave to finish out the season.

We don’t need a new offense to finish out the season - we need a new leader and playcaller of this offense - Knapp has proven not to have what it takes at this point - Musgrave has plenty of OC experience and could do no worse.

And Birddog is right about something else - the AJC beat writers appear unwilling to court controversy by asking the tough questions - and I suspect the demotion of Matt (who was a great Falcons beat writer) has alot to do with that.

Blank has to much power within the AJC it appears, and if he and Falcons management aren’t happy with a writer he gets reassigned.

That ain’t sports journalism.**

By honest_abe

December 6, 2006 11:48 AM | Link to this

i’m sorry i guess i am just a little naive.

but i think you’re living in a fantasy world if you think the falcons are going to make a change at o-coordinator during the middle of the season. last time i checked they’re in a 4 way tie for the two wildcard spots and have yet to be eliminated from winning their division. so all of you that think that an article throwing knapp under the bus might somehow get him fired need to come back to reality.

and yes all of us message board geeks analyze things way too much. but to automatically think that vick is referring to knapp is stupid. and if vick was talking about knapp then he is an immature little brat. who needs to grow up. the coaching staff has never pointed a finger at a player, so it sets a bad precendence for your team leader to point a finger at a coach.

all of you knapp haters are the same guys that will hate the next offensive coordinator. all of you guys think that the problem with the falcons is simple….. an inept offensive coordinator. i beg to differ. i think the REAL reason has less to do with playcalling and offensive scheme than it has to do with players lack of execution. the real reasons why the falcons have struggled on o.

1. they have the worst wide receivers in the league. period.

2. their offensive line has been banged up all year.

is greg knapp free from fault? absolutely not. my point is this is the same offense that made it to the nfc championship game. vick can’t audible now? well he couldn’t audible in knapp’s first year either.

look it’s easy to place blame on someone and ask for his head on a platter when a team doesn’t live up to YOUR expectations. but have any of you thought that maybe just MAYBE this team isn’t as GREAT as you thought they were. it’s hard to run any kind of offense when guys dont’ catch the ball. whether you run the west coast. the east coast. doesn’t matter…… play calling is something the fans constantly gripe about. last time i checked the more important thing is execution.

the falcons finally end a 4 game losing streak and all you guys can do is continue to ask for an interview with greg knapp. what the hell do you think steve will be able to get out of that interview. i’m just not following you guy’s logic. maybe knapp doens’t wnat to do an interview. either way an article has come up so far. so why not try giving it a break and focus on who this team might actually make it to the playoffs.

let me get this straight… so true journalism is trying to find every little piece of dirt on people. figure out every little fault about a person. and then put it in the paper? magnifying the problem and then eventually getting someone fired.

i look at it this way the results will speak for themselves. we’re in the middle of a season. if the birds dont’ make the playoffs their will be changes.

By theedge56

December 6, 2006 12:02 PM | Link to this

Tony Parrish alert another one of Mora’s San Fran retreads will soon be a Falcon I can feel it. I just hope they cut Roddy White to make room or better yet switch Roddy to corner!

By Larry

December 6, 2006 12:10 PM | Link to this

Honest_abe,

You are right, this offense made it to the NFC Cahmpionship Game a few years ago. But that’s just it. The offense has regressed. During the past two seasons, the offense has not looked good at all.

Yes, the WRs are bad. So why the he11 is Knapp lining us up in the shotgun and running play action pass plays from the two yard line? We lead the league in rushing, and we have Griffith and McCrary at our disposal.

I’m not saying Knapp should be fired. Maybe he has a good explanation. That’s why we want an interview. Even if he was going to be fired, why wait until the end of the season? Sometimes change is needed during the season. Just ask the Baltimore Ravens.

By Andy

December 6, 2006 12:39 PM | Link to this

Could Jimmy Williams cover Steve Smith? If the answer is yes, then he should be a CB. If the answer is no, then he should be a free safety…that easy to me. You have to be able to cover small WRs as well as large ones. You can’t have a CB who plays CB only when playing teams with large TEs and WRs…not too many teams in the league.

By Rick

December 6, 2006 01:31 PM | Link to this

PLease tell me how pointing out that vick would have a hard time reading a Krystals menue much less a shifting defence makes it a racist remark. I have no love for Matt Schaub either. some of you folks are just way to eager to throw out the race thing when there is no need to. Also I do not blame the OC for the failure of the falcons. They players do not make the plays called , it is thier fault. It is about execution.

By Jay

December 6, 2006 01:32 PM | Link to this

Andy, we don’t have ANYONE that can cover Steve Smith. D-Hall better be happy Steve was injured in September!!

By fontanna

December 6, 2006 01:54 PM | Link to this

Greg Knapp is not the problem and no change will happen at this point. He is doing a great job; just look how the falcons played Sunday. You will see mora of the same the next 4 weeks. It is the players, dummy, not the coach. They are not doing the job. Pay them more money and they will do a better job. Mike Vick deserves a billion for his effort, not just 140 million. I can’t wait to see him run circles around the cowboys; I bet Atlanta wins the gam 28-0. The falcons are back; super bowl here we come!!!

By Big Man

December 6, 2006 02:38 PM | Link to this

“By Rick

December 6, 2006 08:55 AM | Link to this

The reason vick does not call plays at the line is simple, he cant. Dan reeves had to dumb down the lingo of his offence for Vick. The kid aint the sharpest knife in the drawer. If he were capable of reading the defence and changing it to a better play they would let him. He is a great athlete, and a mentel midget”

Says the guy who needs to be hit in the head with a Webster’s Dictionary. Learn how to spell before you criticize the intelligence of another man you genius.

By theedge56

December 6, 2006 03:28 PM | Link to this

Offense has an “s” not a “c” Minus two for spelling. And D-Hall is now known as Toast. The title formerly held by a mucho yapping Ray Buchanan.

By hokieman

December 6, 2006 04:06 PM | Link to this

Deangelo Hall couldn’t cover anything; what an overpaid dunce. Hokie-land sent some real duds to the falcons. BUT just maybe they will work out in time to come. Off-season has some work to do, it is all about next year. Stick a fork in the falcons for 2006.

By ALFalcon

December 7, 2006 01:27 PM | Link to this

Maybe they should just throw Jimmy Williams in there. What?…he might give up a big play? Whewwww…that probably doesn’t happen to our corners every game. Let him take the licks, and he may learn and evolve, unlike Webster and Rossum.

By ALFalcon

December 7, 2006 01:34 PM | Link to this

Maybe our coaches can’t teach Vick to call audibles because they CAN’T COACH! Coaches’ jobs are to teach, and if they can’t figure a way to help Vick read defen”S”es and call audibles, then they gotta go. Vick ain’t the brightest, but neither is McNabb, Charlie Frye, Big Ben, Joey Harrington, or even Hasselbeck. But, they do have good coaches. Hmmmm…I see a correlation. Can you actually say Gregg Knapp is in the same class as Reid, Belichick, or Holgrem?

By the way, I think the guy that can’t spell had bad teachers too, or maybe he is a mental midget.

By CQ

December 7, 2006 03:13 PM | Link to this

Man I would let Williams play over Rossum or Webster any day. Webster gets beat every play and Rossum is just to small to play defense.

By Can do it this time

December 7, 2006 07:53 PM | Link to this

Yes he can fit in as long as he does not get beat on the deep pass!