AJC > Sports > Falcons > Blog > Archives > 2007 > September > 12 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USHorn: Offense making fixes
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Flowery Branch - Claiming the offensive players were [ticked] off at their performance in last weekend’s season-opening loss at Minnesota, Falcons wide receiver Joe Horn said members of the unit were dialed in at practice Wednesday to fix what went wrong.
Horn said intensity, focus and cohesion led to shortcomings during the game, in which the offense moved the ball but failed to score a touchdown or venture into the red zone until the next to last play of the game.
As good as the players’ approach to practice was, coach Bobby Petrino said it won’t mean anything unless it translates into a victory Sunday at Jacksonville.
In other news, safety Chris Crocker (bone bruise, knee) did not practice again and Jimmy Williams appears to be on track to make his second start at free safety.
Offensively, Petrino said the Falcons have not closed the door on possibly bringing in a quarterback to compete with Casey Bramlet for the No. 3 job. The Falcons do not appear poised to make a trade for a player at this point and could wait to see if someone like Oakland’s Andrew Walter gets cut in the near future.
The Raiders figure to release one of their three quarterbacks within the next few weeks with the signing of first-round pick Jamarcus Russell.
Comments
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By BigMan
September 12, 2007 4:40 PM | Link to this
The defence needs more improving! Joe, ya’ll just need to put Norwoopd in there and lets roll!
By SC_Bird
September 12, 2007 4:44 PM | Link to this
Wait and See? Leftwich is there for the taking. What is there to wait and see?
By Poor McKay
September 12, 2007 5:03 PM | Link to this
Sad state of affairs when we’re waiting for the worse team in football last year to release a QB to strengthen our team. And Joe needs to shut-up and ball. We hired him to play and mentor, not be the team spokesman. And when your QB gets sacked 6 times and your running game looks soft between the tackles, don’t you have to start to wonder about the highest paid fullback in the NFL? Might be time to learn the lesson about paying big bucks to free agents from the Ravens.
By gdg73
September 12, 2007 5:04 PM | Link to this
How about bringing in someone to compete with Joey Harrington. This guy is terrible. He has the track record to prove it. Everyone cried for the traditional QB in the mold of a drop back passer. You hoped it would be Schaub, but we lost Vick and got Joey. The guy Ron Jaworski called “a championship caliber QB”. Yeah, he said it on Monday night three weeks ago in Atlanta. Yeah, Ol’ Joey completed over 70% of his passes for right under 200 yards. Those are the type numbers ya’ll wanted right. Boy he looked good in the pocket. Just like Chris Miller and Hugh Millen (remember him) from yester year. Ah, the Falcon glory days. Oh how I miss them.
And why on earth would the Falcons bring in Andrew “the Statue” Walter. Oh I get it, he fits the current job description: Wanted 6’4 QB with strong arm; pocket awareness a plus but not required; NFL talent not a requirement as long as you have a career completion percentage over 65%; can’t be mobile; fan base, for some odd reason, requires QB to make plays strictly from the pocket.
By Rod
September 12, 2007 5:05 PM | Link to this
I think the falcons need to acqurie the Byron leftwich to put some pressure on Ol Joey Boy and also the defense has palyed great we need to put the ball in the air and us norwood more on screens.
By Gumby
September 12, 2007 5:08 PM | Link to this
I dont think anybody on the Falcons was upset with last Sundays performance against the Vikings. The players make a ton of money and they dont care if they win or lose. When Mike Vick was here he had the same attitude on Sunday. I remember a couple of years ago when the Falcons lost against the Carolina Panthers 44-10 on the last game of the season and Mike Vick admitted that his effort was horrendous. The quarterback problem should have been solved if Matt Shaub were still here. Currently, Matt Schaub has the highest completion percentage in the NFL this season. Additionally, I told the Falcon fans emphatically when BOTH Michael Vick AND Matt Schaub were here that the Falcons should have traded Vick and kept Schaub because I felt that Schaub would become a hall-of famer like Brett Farve did when the Falcons made the mistake of letting Brett Farve get away years ago and I felt at the time that history was about to repeat itself with Schaub. Everybody kept laughing at my BLOGS and continued to criticize me but I kept writing them because I KNOW HOW TO EVALUATE NFL TALENT AND MY EYES DID NOT DECEIVE ME IN THAT REGARD. I saw clearly that Schaub was the far superior marksman than Vick and the stats have proved that out in the pre-season and into the regular season. Schaub will be second statistically in passing to Peyton Manning this year. No one can supplant Peyton Manning as the best qb in the league because Peyton Manning is the best or greatest qb ever. But Schaub is second in talent level to Peyton Manning and Schaub is possibly the second greatest qb of all times, and will certainly prove that out by the time the season is over this year. Matt Schaub will throw 50 touchdown passes this year and the Falcons management are FOOLS for letting Schaub get away. Schaub was once our property the same as Brett Farve and Schaub and Schaub will go on to become the second greatest qb of all times behind Peyton Manning.
By kcr211
September 12, 2007 5:13 PM | Link to this
I think everyone should take a longer view on the Falcons season. Players are surely at different stages of comprehension with regard to the very different system that they were learning in the offseason. Of course practice won’t ever be like the real thing— that seems like a reasonable explanation for why the Falcons looked so bad in Game 1. Accountability is certainly appropriate, fans and coaches should demand the best out of players within all reason. But, as fans (and consider what that really means), I think we should aspire to realistic optimism.
It’s too early to fold on this team. What I think that means is that fans should increase their demands in terms of performance as the season goes along and comprehension of the system increases. It is totally unconstructive, and probably unsatisfying too, to jump ship on this team just because they looked bad in the first game. Appreciate weekly progress with situational victories (not necessarily in the W column) and understand that playoffs this year was not a realistic expectation. If fans accept this philosophy, then they will be happier, as they will not be disappointed when reality comes to pass. If things don’t improve, or if things devolve, then scrutiny should shift to the coaches. Until a greater sample set is available, however, true fans will grant this team a honeymoon period.
By Seth
September 12, 2007 5:13 PM | Link to this
Wanye Gandy better be “dialed in” cause he “sucked”… most of those sacks came from Gandys “look out” blocks… if this keeps up the falcons stickers are coming off my car…
By kcr211
September 12, 2007 5:19 PM | Link to this
Gumby: For crying out loud, it’s “Favre” not “Farve.” Haven’t you ever seen There’s Something About Mary? I think you’re premature in your HoF predictions for Schaub. When the trade went down, all of the analysts I read seemed to think that the Falcons got the better end of the deal (pre-Vick disaster of course). Relax with the grass is greener stuff. Rex Grossman was the next HoFer after five games last year. Schaub has had one.
By Rod
September 12, 2007 5:38 PM | Link to this
Falcons might be dialed in but they better have a running game, ala Dan Reeves. That 5 and 4 wide sets wont cut it in the NFL coach Patreno. NFL is to fast, this aint Louisville. I know Joey is not great but anyone at QB in this offense in this league will get Jacked up. Need mobility at QB in this type of offense in the NFL. I say give DJ Shockley who is smart the job next year and draft the stud out of Arkansas for our running back number one. Darrein McFadden is a can’t miss pick. The QB’s in next years draft will to big a risk and may not improve our team in the end.
By Rell
September 12, 2007 5:40 PM | Link to this
Gumby, Your crazy if you think Matt is going to be second in passing this year and throw 50 TD’S…….
By larry w.
September 12, 2007 6:19 PM | Link to this
Teams have been running 4 WR sets for decades in the NFL. The key is for the QB to get the ball out of his hands quickly. Joey was holding on to the ball way too long. He has got to be more decisive in his reads and look down field more. These are things that can be fixed. Only time will tell if Joey can get it done in this offense, but if he can’t, we really don’t have much of an option behind him at this time. The only viable option out there that I can see at this time is Leftwich. Apparently, he is not even being considered.
By Rod
September 12, 2007 6:23 PM | Link to this
The Rod in the 5:05 pm post is not me its another Rod. Falcons can you guys play at Bobby Dodd stadium so we can enjoy the weather playing in a dome is stupid here in Georgia.
By Gnupe
September 12, 2007 6:26 PM | Link to this
Gumby, you have either forgot to take your medicine today or have been smoking crack. Please take off Schaub’s jock strap which is obviously wrapped around your head.
Ever heard of T. Brady? NE Patriots?
Anyway,none of the above QB’s are playing for ATL. The Falcons don’t need to bring in QB to compete for 3rd string, WE NEED A QB TO COMPETE PERIOD!! I don’t know if B.Leftwich is the answer, but WE ALL KNOW J. Harrington is the WRONG answer!!
By Larry
September 12, 2007 6:43 PM | Link to this
Gumbo, you’re an idiot. The Texans were playing the Chiefs. I could throw for 200 yds against the Chiefs’ defense.
Schaub never won a game he started as a Falcon. This past Sunday he got the first win of his professional career. Lets see how he does this week against Carolina!!
By Falcon Tradition
September 12, 2007 6:46 PM | Link to this
GUMBY,
If it is so true that you “KNOW HOW TO EVALUATE NFL TALENT” and your “EYES DID NOT DECEIVE ME IN THAT REGARD”…….please get off of this blog and go get an NFL job. But you are probably no where near as good as you think!!!!
By Expert
September 12, 2007 6:52 PM | Link to this
I appears to me that the falcons’ offense only consist of a bunch of backups and aging players such as Gandy and Horn.Lets be real, this team figures only to be 7-9 or 8-8,hopefully.
By Jay Black
September 12, 2007 6:59 PM | Link to this
The grass is greener in Gumby’s bong!
By Dale
September 12, 2007 7:26 PM | Link to this
There is a story to be written about how Tampa is holding on to four quarterbacks to keep Chris Simms away from the Falcons.
And how about whether the Falcons even really want him or not. I think they are dying to get himm and are in the middle of a cat and mouse game with the Bucs.
By paw
September 12, 2007 7:48 PM | Link to this
this team can go 9-7 easily this year if we just fix a few minor errors in play calling and putting the best fitting players on the field. The five top problems are as follows.1 You must take your shots down field and take whatever comes with it, The good and the bad.2 I’ve always been a dunn supporter as far as an over all back but he does not hit the hole go. How many times in the last 2 years has he been caught from behind? Norwood if healthy will be the NFL’s next superstar RB if he starts,and he should be on the field for atleast 75 % of offensive plays!3** you need to man up on the corners and play press coverage, but only if you are willing commit to heavy blitzing and run blitzing! the d-line by it self isn’t getting pressure on the QB and need some help! 4the o line needs to do a better job in pass protection and better play calling by the coach in the in the running game as far as pulling o linemen and more pounding the ball up the gut of the defensive line! 5 Adam Jennings, After you catch the ball on kickoffs and punts, don’t look sooooooooo long take a quick glance and run it down field, if you do that you will rack up some major returns. I think you guys can and will get it together! Good luck!
By Da Analyst
September 12, 2007 8:08 PM | Link to this
The Falcons have the same problems they had 4 years ago.
Weak offensive line, Rich Mckay has never had a great track record of drafting linemen . ( reference Tampa Bay.
WR that can not separate or make big catches. Same problem in TPA. Sorry Joe we needed you 4 years ago against PHL in championship game . We loves you Agie, play the rookie WR Coach Petrino.
A Middle Line Backer -that can stop the run at the point of attack.. not since Jessie Tuggle. Brookins admits his dislike for the middle.
Lastly Mike Vick covered up the offense weak links with running abilities. The guy ran for his life and health… I give coach Petrino credit for stating his most pressing needs back when he was hired. Getting bigger and better offensive linemen, a big possession running back and defensive lineman.
He can do this in 18 months because Vick will be back and so will the excitement in the Dome…see you in 2009 Blanks
By DMac
September 12, 2007 9:08 PM | Link to this
The worse thing we could do is bring in leftwich. He lost his job for a reason. He was to inconsistant which equals Poor passing percentage. This offense is predicated on 60+ percent completions. 1st 4 games crucial, rest of schedule brutal…
By dna
September 12, 2007 9:27 PM | Link to this
Let’s just say it this is a rebuilding team in the first year of the process. We are going to have to replace all of the older players within 2 years, draft a quarterback and hope he turns out to be Manning and not Couch. It is amazing in just one year this team went from deep play off run potential to this. The blame for this has to lay at McKay’s feet. The draft picks and free agent acquisitions were done on his watch. The talent is not here and will not be for years to come. MV7 covered a lot of mistakes over the years and his blanket is not there anymore. I hope this ship get’s righted, forget about free agents pile up as many draft picks as you can. Interesting how Seattle seems to be doing so well right now.