Falcons

By diamond dave in LA

September 18, 2007 6:24 PM | Link to this

steve,

i can see the big picture better from afar than some the ATL folks. Has there ever been a team in the NFL that lost all three QB’s from one year to the next? I cant remember that ever happening in the NFL. this is a serious matter for the falcons, and i have to admit fans are remembering that joey was brought in to be a backup. atl fans forget that.

he is better than doug johnson, kurt kittner, steve deberg, tony graziani but, what the heck dude, the guy is afraid to throw the ball.

prater was terrible. he couldnt figure out why he missed. i saw it on tv, his form is flawed, inconsistent. blame the coaches on that one(petrino). hi head came up, his hips werent square to the ball when he hit it. kinda like a golf swing. i will say the first miss in JAX, the snap was bad(too high and to the right of the holders shoulder. maybe it was the snapper. hmmmm.

the season is not all lost, the defense seems to be strong against the run for 3 quarters, but stink in the fourth. we playued minnesota even for 53 minutes, and blew it in the final 7.5.

too many negative plays that ruin momentum on offense, and not enough pressure on opposing QB’s are the faults of this team.

hang in there dirtybirds, petrino will right the ship.

By inthehuddle

September 18, 2007 6:34 PM | Link to this

Why does Petrino seem so concerned about Harrington’s mental state. hE KEEPS HANGING ON TO THAT hARRINGTON IS NO.1 and Redmon no#2. These are grown men in the fish bowl of pro sports who are compensated very well I say let the chips fall where they may-including that coaching staff-its too much at stake!

By Larry

September 18, 2007 6:42 PM | Link to this

“Atlanta could have brought in Leftwich three weeks ago but opted to wait until it is two games into the hole before getting the process started.”

Yet another example of McKay’s incompetence.

By Matt Yoder

September 18, 2007 6:43 PM | Link to this

I don’t know why all the fuss is about Harrington not being good enough to lead this team.Anyone that watched the game last Sunday should be able to see that he clearly put the Falcons in a position to win.Sure,he’s not perfect but he completed the majority of his passes and NO interceptions. If Morten would have been here then, we would have won the game.If Leftwich is brought in as a backup,GREAT. But I firmly believe that Harrington has looked good enough that he does not need to be looking over his shoulder worrying about his job.This team has it’s flaws but I believe the QB position should be the least of our worries. GO FALCONS!

By supporter

September 18, 2007 6:44 PM | Link to this

they are gonna start him soon and he will lead them to some wins

By Kristin

September 18, 2007 6:52 PM | Link to this

Does it really matter who the QB is? It does not change the fact that the Falcons offensive line is terrible. How can any QB be successful when his offensive line can’t pass block? Especially a pocket passer like Leftwich. Vick always took a lot of heat for running the ball, but I think he ran so much because he had to, not because he wanted to. And Joey Harrington getting sacked 7 times on Sunday is not entirely his fault. Changes in the o-line will be much more effective in the short term than a change at QB.

By morris

September 18, 2007 6:59 PM | Link to this

Typical rich mcKay free agent move. Bring in another injury prone player, give him millions and watch him stand on the sidelines in street clothes the next two years and collect a check. These two moves today smell of a GM on the hot seat trying desperately to save his job. I never thought vick was a complete QB but he damn sure made the falcons look better using his athleticism. This roster is being exposed as very weak without vick to cover up the shortcomings. Blank is getting a peak at just how bad a job rich mcKay has done the last few years drafting players. Look at what philly was able to do last year when their QB went down. They still had a good enough team to hold down the fort and make the playoffs. This team has no talent at all at several key positions. Same old falcons!

By Kristin

September 18, 2007 7:16 PM | Link to this

Does it really matter who the QB is? It doesn’t change the fact that the Falcons offensive line is terrible. This is the main issue-the Falcons o-line can’t pass block. Vick took a lot of heat for running so much, but it was because he had to, not because he wanted to. And there is no way that Byron Leftwich, a pure pocket passer, can make any positive impact for the Falcons with the current offensive line. Joey Harrington getting sacked 7 times on Sunday was not entirely his fault. In the short term, a change in personnel at the offensive line will be more effective than a change at the quarterback position.

By billy g

September 18, 2007 7:54 PM | Link to this

Harrington did not put this team in a position to win. That is ridiculous.

Joey could not handle the blitzes……simple as that. He behaved like a rookie QB. Jason Campbell is an example of how a QB should respond to a blitz. Matt Schaub handled pressure very well. Why can’t Joey?….because he is shell-shocked or simply a coward in the pocket.

We signed Leftwich because Joey can not lead this offense. Petrino gave Joey every chance to succeed. Joey failed. If Joey were a rookie, things would be different.

In a few weeks we will give Leftwich the reins. Then, we will know whether we need to draft a QB in the first round.

By david

September 18, 2007 7:58 PM | Link to this

i sure hope leftwich is the answer because i cant take another lossing season i love the falcon but its hard to keep loving them when all my freinds are making fun of me.Man i wish mike vick did not do what he did

By reddawg

September 18, 2007 8:09 PM | Link to this

Give Shockley a chance. He can’t be any worse than 0 - 2

By Dirty Sanchez

September 18, 2007 8:12 PM | Link to this

This move while I am definitely glad that it was made, definitely was made a couple of weeks too late…..Same can be said for Mort being brought back…

McKay’s incompetence is really starting to show on this team….

By Glass Half Full (GHF)

September 18, 2007 8:16 PM | Link to this

What are the odds of a Petrino/Brian Brohm reunion in 2008?

By Will

September 18, 2007 8:31 PM | Link to this

McKay did not make Vick do what he did. He was counting on Vick to be the quarterback this year. Put the blame where it truly needs to be. Squarely on Vick’s shoulders. He let the team and ATL down and did it at a time when things couldn’t be righted quickly. Hang in there people. Be fans not only fans in winning times. Anyone can be that type of fan. Petrino is heading in right direction now. Sure he made a quick decision with Prater but he honestly felt Prater would adjust and be the long kicking threat that was needed to score points in a weak offense that needs time to adjust to the full offensive scheme. Stop being crybabies.

By Mark

September 18, 2007 8:32 PM | Link to this

I say give Bryan Leftwich a chance we can’t possibly do any worse. Michael Vick was my boy, but we have to move on, get off Rick McKay and Mr. Blank I think they possible to put this team in a winning situtation, they can’t help the team was a VICKtim of circumstance.

By Quint

September 18, 2007 8:58 PM | Link to this

Uh, reddawg, Shockley’s out for the season with a shredded knee. Were you just being facetious?

By Rod

September 18, 2007 8:58 PM | Link to this

I think Patrino would rather have a healthy DJ Shockley. I think Patrino came to love Shockley after he got to know the person DJ just like Coach Richt did. I think Patrino is going to give Shockley every opportunity next season to be the starter regardless of what some talk show host think. I hope we can get Darrin McFadden in the draft. Can you imagine the plays we could run if we got him. McFadden can be lined up at wide receiver, tailback and run a linebacker or safety over like a mack truck, he can line up under center and take the direct snap, hell he can even throw the ball. One player like McFadden can turn a zero into a hero. Lets draft him Coach Patrino and Mr Blank and Mr Mckay!

By bobby jackson

September 18, 2007 9:08 PM | Link to this

go ajc

By bobby jackson

September 18, 2007 9:17 PM | Link to this

lets be patient boys,have been a falcon fan for 41 yrs.

By Long Term Fanatic

September 18, 2007 9:20 PM | Link to this

Once we heard that Vick would not be playing and DJ got hurt in preseason the Falcons should have been looking to sign a QB. Harrington has always had problems and definitely not a scrambler. To play with this Atlanta OF you got to be able to get out of the pocket. Leftwich should have been picked up as soon as he was available.

By Hofersaker

September 18, 2007 9:23 PM | Link to this

I think that the signing of Leftwich is a good one…provided the Falcons work him out of the shotgun. I know that we cannot place all of the blame on the O-line and shouldn’t, but let’s be bluntly honest folks (like Patrino); IT ALL STARTS WITH THE LINE. Sure Joey holds on to the ball too long & the receivers dropping balls doesn’t help, but it all starts with the line. Assuming Leftwich sees playing time soon (I am betting he will), they need to create space for him. Shotgun is the best way to do that considering he can’t move. His leadership, arm strength, and accuracy is without question. SHOTGUN…shoot ‘em fo you run!!!

By Navigator

September 18, 2007 9:56 PM | Link to this

I read for most of two years that Matt Schaub hadn’t won anything, but don’t say it now. Houston saw what Atlanta couldn’t, and now they sign a guy that was cut free by his last team. Then they pay him $6,000,00, which is bad considering nobody else would give him anything. He sat for a few weeks, but Atlanta felt that other teams would eventually get around to Brian. I don’t have any negative feelings to Leftwich, as he’s a really nice guy when being interview. We once had a slow footed quarterback named Bartkouski, and he was successful, so maybe Brian will make the team better. However, I doubt he’ll have any impact until 2008.

By Tony.H

September 18, 2007 10:02 PM | Link to this

I guess I can start watching the Falcons again now that they have a QB that has a winning record as a starter and has played a playoff game thanks Mc Kay better late than never

By What Next?

September 18, 2007 10:30 PM | Link to this

I am pleased that the Falcons now see what most of us saw the day Harrington was signed. Leftwitch should be an improvement to our patchwork quilt of a team. Even before the Vick debaucle, I got the feeling that McKay & Co were operating a few steps behind what the average fan could see. As I look at their body of work, I see a team built around rookies and average players. We have no standouts or superior players in my eyes. We are in rebuilding mode no matter how you look at things. I hope that Blank sees the need for a new GM today to build our future and not 2 years from now after McKay has further hamstrung this team.

By Ken

September 18, 2007 10:40 PM | Link to this

…accuracy is without question.GET REAL.In 5 years he has never been accurate(60% 79-80 qb rating)very slow delivery, holds the ball longer than Harrington and cant avoid the rush as good as him. Good LUCK!

By Dennis

September 18, 2007 10:51 PM | Link to this

Personally, I’d rather have seen Jake the Snake brought on board, but they didn’t ask for my opinion. I don’t know his career stats, but I’m not going to swoon over Leftwich’s 24-20, 80.8 passer ratings any time soon.

By falcon4tru

September 19, 2007 6:08 PM | Link to this

Joey “Leftwich” building?

By Jay Black

September 21, 2007 3:35 PM | Link to this

His name is Byron.

By Dana

September 21, 2007 5:01 PM | Link to this

I don’t know how good the falcons wide receivers are, Leftwich’s problem in Jacksonville was dropped passes (worsed in the league). Hopefully they can latch on the ball here. Good luck Falcons