Falcons

By Greg

October 29, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this

Im worried about Bakers durability. He’s done fantastic when he’s played, but he is missing more game time. Just hope its not a chronic thing, because the OL is better with him playing.

By TechMan91

October 29, 2008 2:04 PM | Link to this

But pickles don’t mean pickles when they ain’t in the brine. You know what I mean?

Baker’s durability is an issue. He never really had a history of injuries, other than a bit his senior year. This is troubling.

By The Grinch

October 29, 2008 2:36 PM | Link to this

I’m glad Gandy’s back from a personal standpoint; he does seem like a nice guy and he’s certainly a veteran. It looked to me though that he’d lost a step before the knee injury and he certainly didn’t get younger. Depth is never a bad thing though, and would someone tell me who would spend a 2nd round pick on Ojinaka? Oh yeah, McKay…thank god Dimitroff’s here now. Every new draft will distance us from the recent horror.

Does the signing of a DT yesterday indicate Gravy’s agent might be wrong about the pending suspension?

By mikejones

October 29, 2008 3:12 PM | Link to this

Baker is just like all the rest of those USC players who come into the NFL and can’t handle the hitting because they play in that powder puff conference the PAC-10.

See- Reggie Bush, Carson Palmer, Keith Rivers, Sedrick Ellis, Lofa Tatupu, and Matt Leinhart

If you played in the powder puff PAC-10 last year would you be ready for a full 16 game NFL schedule??

By TechMan91

October 29, 2008 3:18 PM | Link to this

Grinch, Ojinaka was a fifth rounder, you fool.

Pickle on this here glass bottle. Pickle. Pickle. You know what I mean?

By facon fan

October 29, 2008 3:22 PM | Link to this

Gandy was a total zero last year. I have never seen a OT get run over and by so much. Falcons should have kept shopping. Also, why do the Falcons keep Jennings? He has muffed more punts than my German Shepard.

By clay17

October 29, 2008 4:07 PM | Link to this

Can he return punts?

If not, then we didn’t fix one of our biggest weaknesses.

By Dogbyte

October 29, 2008 4:07 PM | Link to this

Despite “Falcon fan’s” assessment, Wayne has given us some good minutes in the past. And right now anyone or anything that will give us some depth at the tackle position is welcome.

By gdg73

October 29, 2008 4:16 PM | Link to this

To Mr. Ledbetter, I wrote in a blog last week that the Eagles staff would exploit Brooking using Westbrook and they did. Our defensive coaching staff did nothing to neutralize Westbrook. Please explain to me and the thousands of other Falcons fans why Keith Brooking is still starting over Stephan Nicholas. This guy has no mobility and no pop left. He didn’t have much to begin with. All I heard during the off-season was that once he moved back to his old position of WLB, he would revert back to Pro Bowl form. Anybody that knows football knew that that was wishful thinking. Is the Atlanta print media afraid of criticizing this guy? Is the coaching staff afraid to sit him down? This guy is the obvious weak link on defense. The organization had no problem showing Jessie Tuggle the door. Its time for Brooking to exit stage left. He is doing more harm than good right now. And I don’t want to hear that “veteran leader” crap. Lawyer Milloy and John Abraham are the true veteran leaders of this defense. And they play like it as well. Stop writing articles talking about Deangelo. Hall and write something about Keith Brooking playing like a washed up, overpaid veteran thats stealing playing time from Nicholas and money from the team.

By TheManMike

October 29, 2008 4:38 PM | Link to this

I’m praying Mr. Gandy turns out to be another one of those powerful blockbuster movies 15 years from now. Hold your insults, i am merely resorting to superstition. Kinda like my sweat-green socks with the big toe missing,… patience.

But my main concern is shared by clay17. We need some punt return action, hardcore like. Wonder if Brent Grimes could turn on some speed - WE know Scarious Jerious can run it. OR how about the smartest choice of them all - Harry Douglas.

Let us pray our coaches, players - Our Falcons….Make it happen.

Amen-

By TheManMike

October 29, 2008 4:45 PM | Link to this

gdg73-

AMEN! Stephen Nicolas is smacking helmets and making tackles left and right on special teams. Hes earning…EARNED this WLB spot, by his play. IF theres a senority issue, at LEAST bring him in as a tandem to rest Brooking - Who does have somthing left in him, we just need young Nicolas NOW as well.

So, good point guy.

Go Birds!

By DavidB

October 29, 2008 5:43 PM | Link to this

I agree about Keith Brooking’s best days being behind him. I do believe that within the next couple of weeks the staff will make a change to Stephen Nicholas. Gandy? He’s old and doesn’t have much pop in the run game. The only reason I think they signed him was for his possible craftiness in pass protection. Also, leave Dominique Foxworth as a started and bring in Brent Grimes as an extra db. Sam Baker is young and will recover to be an effective left tackle; the question is how long before he gets back. Go Falcons!

By Dave

October 29, 2008 7:33 PM | Link to this

The Falcons worked out both Gandy and former Panthers left tackle Todd Steussie and they picked Gandy who should probably be a back up for Weiner. Interesting that a hip problem requires back surgury though. Does he have multiple problems?Let’s hope Baker isn’t out long and is not prone to injury. He has been a pleasant surprise and Ryan needs that blind side protection. Hope we win Sunday against Meangelo.

By D. Orlando Ledbetter

October 29, 2008 8:13 PM | Link to this

For all of the D. Hall lovers and haters, my interview with him is up. The media guys love D. Hall cause he gives up the talk straight up, no chaser. He’s takes credit for teaching Roddy White, planning to continue to live in the ATL, how Eddie Royal worked him out on National TV and he recently talked to Michael Vick and said he’s not playing football on the prison team.

By The Grinch

October 29, 2008 8:39 PM | Link to this

Oops, I got Ojinaka’s status confused with Babineaux’s for some reason (who was also picked too high). But thanks for pointing it out in such a classy way.

Wow, sure seems like Brooking’s worn his welcome out, huh? Sure he’s lost a step; he’s 33. But he’s still effective in my opinion. He’s always gotten crap for not being a sack master but that’s not the only job of a linebacker.

By Birdy

October 29, 2008 8:44 PM | Link to this

Good read about DHall, Orlando. However, it seems you have (wisely) sidestepped the pressing questions about keith Brooking and his woeful effort. And I do mean effort because he obviously does things to avoid contact and then runs to jump on piles to get credited with 1/2 tackles to pad stats.

Folks, Matt Winklejohn ran afoul of the Falcons for failing to tow the line about sacred cows. He was banished from the beat. Steve Wyche kept his mouth shut and played along. Now he has a sweet gig at NFL Network. Orlando, we understand if you won’t touch the Brooking fraud.

Keep the cash coming in. But don’t blow your credibility by trying to laud him.

Anyway, I think the Birds crush Oakland.

By gdg73

October 29, 2008 10:51 PM | Link to this

As predicted in my previous entry, an article about Deangelo Hall. What a surprise!!! I know the AJC like a book. Stop stirring the pot, trying to drum up the “DHall Hate” with your “baited” articles. Like Birdy said, don’t blow your credibility with true fans by sticking your head in the sand when it comes to exposing Wonderboy Brooking. It does seem like some players are “sacred” in the eyes of the AJC and are above criticism. The AJC, however, has no problem in making some players the whippin boy.

By This Gets Old

October 29, 2008 11:19 PM | Link to this

DLed, no diss brother but I just don’t give a rat’s what DHall has to say. He blew up talking the talk but forgot to walk the walk. Don’t know what he taught Roddy but he probably taught Jimmy W. the way out of the league.

This is going to be a tough game for the Falcons. By not using the TE the Falcons give up the middle of the field. Seven games, six receptions for the position. DHall won’t be on Roddy Sunday. Nnamdi is going to be on White and they’ll use Gibril to double him. Troubling thing on Sunday (besides the savages at the Link) was the evidence that Ryan is forcing the ball to White.

Steven Jackson has more receptions than Norwood, Turner and Snelling combined and he’s third in the conference among RB in catches.

The offense just doesn’t have enough targets for Ryan or we’re just not using them enough. I know you asked Smith about continuing to run Turner and he said that “there were some opportunities there”

Not smacking him but he must be wearing some of those X-ray glasses they used to sell in comic books. Jerious Norwood has 52 touches (from scrimmage for 400 yrds.) about 7.5 yrds per touch. Slightly LOWER than the previous two seasons.

In seven games Turner has been shut down in four (three of them losses)

Defenses will catch up. To win against a tough Oakland defense the ball has to be spread around and on some of the first downs they have to take more of a short pass approach. When it comes down to it does it matter HOW you get the four yards on first down?

By the way while a lot of the Brooking critics continue they miss that Westbrook ran over Lawyer on one of the Philly TD’s. It’s a team game.

By Boo Boo

October 30, 2008 12:41 AM | Link to this

The Falcons don’t pass to running backs because if the running back was to give up his block to get open, Ryan would get nailed too many time and be out for the year. Same thing with the tight end. The Falcon o-line is so bad they need 7-8 guys to block 4-5. That means Ryan sometimes has to force passes to White. The real problem now is: Will 1-2 running backs and a tight end be able to pick up the slack created by Baker being out, and having to use a rotation at left tackle to protect him? The answer is to run for 200 yards and pass for a buck fifty; but the Baker thing might make that impossible too.

Sundy might be a good day to try out the “quick kick” offense. Who knows? Maybe the league will call two phantom muffs for the Birds, to make up for the one last week that went against them?

I heard Coach Smith using the “sandy soil” excuse last Sunday. Were the Eagles playing on another field? Guess what? Oakland probably has cold, sandy, wet, wind-blown soil, with loose sod on top of infield dirt that acts like a slick mat on a hardwood floor, waiting for us. I hope the Falcons are practicing on a surface like that, practicing wearing their long cleats with sharp points on the ends. I bet the Raiders are.

By the prickling of my thumbs something wicked west coast comes. Raiders playing so close to Halloweeen should win for the home clowns, maybe even big: 45 - 13. Orlando can then do a follow-up article about how much more Hall loves Atlanta, because its one of the few places on earth he can go and run his mouth over the offseason, because his team beat the Atlanta team.

By TheManMike

October 30, 2008 8:18 AM | Link to this

You people insinuating that Oakland beats ATL this weekend are insane. This weekend will be sack-happy goodness and Jamarcus throws pick after pick.

I think we see somthing new in the Punt Return game - either Jerious or MY MAN HARRY DOUGLAS. We need to get on board for Douglas and get Jennings to SIT!

Also - GoalLine - we WILL see some Burner Action and/or Ovie action. We need those two bruisers to actually Bruise when it counts….like NEAR THE GOALLINE!

GO BIRDS!!!

(I predict Roddy and Hall get into it out there, and Rody answers with some long hauling TDness - As DHall will be of the mindset that he is better, and wont see what hit him….)

PEACE!

By jeanE

October 30, 2008 9:31 AM | Link to this

Baker may be a great rookie but he does seem injury prone in just his 1st year! Time will tell as always. Great move bringing back Gandy, he should be an able fill in alternating with Weiner. I’m expecting a big game from these Falcons this week, lose to the Raiders & you’re toast!

By jeanE

October 30, 2008 9:37 AM | Link to this

One more thing, totally agree with whoever said Ryan is forcing the ball to Roddy, he needs to practice more with other receivers they are very capable! Jenkins & Finn are great veterans who can run over the middle, please work with them on it! Harry Douglas should be returning punts with his hands & speed, Jennings should be cut. Please use the long cleats this weekend, I can’t stand when all of our players are slipping & sliding which has happened alot this year there is no excuse for that. Go Birds!

By ja`e

October 30, 2008 11:28 AM | Link to this

wow! finally some guy’s that get it..while Gandy may be in his latter yeat’s as a force on the run, i will welcome anything over nothing..asfar Keith the “STIFF” Brooking’s im not sure what the coaches are seeing this guy do to leave him in the game, but they are gonna have to do something an i mean something SOON..QUESTION? WHY THE HECK THEY WANT LET THEM BLITZ MORE? AS FAR AS Brint Grimes he need to have punt RE-TURN duties, ADAM THE “WALSH” JENNING NEED TO CATCH UP WITH ALLEN RASSUM, AN GET THE HECK OUT OF TOWN HE ONLY RUN IN FREAKING CIRCLE’S.. THAT GUY HAS KNOW HEART!! WHATEVER HAPPEN TO THE THREE DEEP CROSSING ROUTE? LET’S GO FALCON”S!!!

By miles

November 1, 2008 10:51 PM | Link to this

GO FALCONS BEAT THE OAKLAND BAD BOYS