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November 2008
Who’s renewing for the “09 Game Plan”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
SAN DIEGO — Just checking my e-mail before heading over to Qualcomm Stadium for today’s game and had several e-mails from fans wanting to discuss the Falcons season ticket renewal letter.
The fans don’t like that they have a December 30th deadline in these hard economic times. They also don’t like the increases if the elect not to renew.
What are you planning on doing? Renew? Let the tickets go?
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Falcons keeping receivers intact
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
By extending the contract of wide receiver Michael Jenkins, the Falcons have a chance to keep their passing game intact for years to come.
With Jenkins secure for four more years, along with Roddy White and Harry Douglas, the Falcons have a solid triple-threat receiving corps for the foreseeable future.
White is already first in line for next year’s extension. White has a base salary of $805,000 this year and $780,000 next year. He would be eligible to become a free agent in 2010, but these two moves - DT Jonathan Babineaux was also extended — show that the Falcons plan to “lock down” players who fit THE PROCESS.
After what should be two 1,000-yard seasons, White certainly fits.
Jenkins is finally being used correctly as a vertical receiver and he’s blocking like Hines Ward. He should turn in his second consecutive 50-catch season. He’s also doing enough on his side of the field to keep White for seeing unadulterated double-teams.
With quarterback Matt Ryan, Jenkins and Douglas on board, the Falcons have a chance to develop some cohesiveness in the passing game. White has earned a new deal and one should be forthcoming. They don’t want him to hit the free agent market. Knowing that they’ll be together, Ryan and the top three receivers can work on their timing, route running and route adjustments over the offseason.
They are doing great for being together basically since last April. They will only get in more sync over time and have a shot at becoming one of the league’s top passing attacks.
Brian Finneran is also doing a great job this year and has to be a Comeback Player of the Year candidate. Wide receiver Laurent Robinson is also a talent, but can’t seem to stay healthy. Eric Weems has pro moves and quickness, too.
Also, Babineaux has been toiling away inside at defensive tackle this season. He’s been a downright disruptive force at times. The team must like his upside and think he can get even better.
So do you like the Falcons trying to keep in the receiving corps together? Should the Jenkins and White duo —- with HDTV in the slot — strike fear into the rest of the NFC South? Should Ryan and the receivers do like Peyton Manning and his receivers and hook up over the offseason to precision tune their routes?
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Impressed with “The Process?”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Richmond, Va. - Been scrambling since the Falcons stunning victory over the Carolina Panthers. It was a true old fashioned “Smackdown” by WWF standards.
Had to get to Virginia for Michael Vick’s state trial plea hearing. His state case should be over in the next 24 hours.
Seems like Coach Mike Smith really, really, really likes to talk about “The Process.”
So let’s talk about “The Process”
The Falcons are sitting at 7-4 and right in the thick of the NFC playoff race.
If we hear Smithy correctly, then it’s all about “The Process.”
The Process of building a team correctly.
The Process of winning with a rookie quarterback, when no other rebuilding team has been able to do so.
The Process of giving up a ton of passing yards, but not enough touchdowns to keep you from winning.
The Process of Harry Douglas showing everybody what a punt returner and slot receiver looks like.
The Process of not throwing a fade route on the 1-yard line.
Well, are you happy with The Process? Will The Process lead to a playoff berth? The hard luck San Diego Super Chargers have dropped four games in the final 24 seconds this year, will The Process keep them down?
One thing is certain, it’s all about The Process.
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Time for Falcons to call for “REDOUT”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
What have the Falcons been waiting for?
University of Georgia did the blackout thing.
Georgia Tech is going for the whiteout tonight.
Why haven’t the Falcons called for a “REDOUT” for Sunday’s big NFC South matchup with the Carolina Panthers? (They could go blackout and wear the all black uniforms, but I agree with the Alabama people. who pointed out that you normally only wear black to a funeral.)
It’s no secret that the Dome hasn’t been rocking, despite the 4-1 home record. Folks get inside the Dome after to kickoff and seem to spend first quarter finding their seats or sitting on their hands.
It will be interesting to see if the crowd can make it inside time for Sunday’s big game since kickoff has been pushed back to 4:15 p.m.
How can the fan gets more lively? Why is the crowd so late to the games? Ready for the Redout? Blackout? Whiteout? No out at all?
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Falcons didn’t bring their hammer
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In this little space last week, we shared the football parable about the hammer and the nail.
We advised that if the Falcons got the chance they had better keep the hammer down on Denver quarterback Jay Cutler. He’s budding little Elway. Taking back victories from the jaws of defeat. He’d just did it to Cleveland with a stirring fourth quarter rally.
The Falcons defense had a chance to close Cutler out a couple of times. Protecting a 20-17 fourth quarter lead, the Falcons needed a stop. Cutler’s 47-yard strike to Brandon Marshall converted a third-and-7. Chris Houston’s coverage was tight, but he wasn’t able to dig the ball out.
On the 9-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Graham, Cutler was flushed out of the pocket and it looked like defensive end Jamaal Anderson would have a shot for a sack. With the game on the line in the fourth quarter, you can’t let the opposition drive 83 yards. Also, it was a bit troubling that four of the top five tacklers were defensive backs.
You have to give Roddy White credit for stepping up to talk about his dropped touchdown pass. It would have been a difficult and magical catch. But White didn’t hide in the locker room or slip out back the door of the Georgia Dome. He came out and talked about the play.
You get the feeling White’s maturation process has come full cycle.
We’ll have to see if the Falcons bring their hammer for Carolina on Sunday. Remember it’s a 4:15 p.m. start.
No matter what they say this week, this is a “must win” game if the Falcons have any aspirations of winning the NFC South. They are 1-2. They can’t drop to 1-3. Then the best they could finish is 3-3. I’m sure it’s happened before, but there aren’t many teams to win their division with a .500 record.
How troubling was the 83-yard drive for you? Do you think White will bounce back and continue his march to the Pro Bowl? Do you buy the theory that Carolina is ripe for the taking after meek performances against Oakland and Detroit the last two weeks?
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Falcons to salute Alumni, NFC Champs
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Falcons have two celebrations going on this weekend.
The Alumni Tailgate gathering before the game at Georgia World Congress Center and they will honor the 10th Anniversary of winning the NFC Championship and making the franchise’s only trip to the Super Bowl.
Some of the franchise top players, from Tommy Nobis to Tony Martin will be on hand for the events.
1998 NFC CHAMPIONSHIP 10TH ANNIVERSARY - Players and coaches slated to attend include: Morten Andersen, Lester Archambeau, Cornelius Bennett, Ronnie Bradford, Ray Buchanan, Jack Burns (Coach), John Burrough, Chris Chandler, Bob Christian, Calvin Collins Henri Crockett, Gary Downs, Shane Dronett, Antonio Edwards, Randy Fuller, Travis Hall, Ruffin Hamilton, Ronnie Harris, Tim Jorgensen (Coach), Brian Kozlowski, Tony Martin, Terance Mathis, Rod Monroe, Ken Oxendine, Dan Reeves (head coach), O.J. Santiago, Adam Schreiber, Art Shell (coach), Chuck Smith, Dan Stryzinski, Shawn Swayda, Rob Tobeck, Jessie Tuggle, Ed West (player/coach), Bob Whitfield, Gene Williams, Brian Xanders (Coach).
FALCONS ALUMNI — Former players schedule to attend include: Gary Barnes, Dan Benish, Eric Beverly, David Brandon, James Britt, Shannon Brown, Keion Carpenter, Sonny Collins, Buddy Curry, Antone Davis, Mitch Davis, Tony Daykin, Edgar Fields, Bill Fralic, Ted Fritsch, Mike Gann, Ralph Giacomarro, Bob Glazebrook, Don Hansen, Dennis Havig, Michael Haynes, Ralph Heck, Drew Hill, Floyd Hodge, Claude Humphrey, Larron Jackson, Jeff Jackson, Alfred Jackson, Bill Johnson, Bob Jones, Jerome King, Lou Kirouac, Fulton Kuykendall, Ron Mabra, Dewey McClain, Greg McCray, Eddie Meyers, Russ Mikeska, Tommy Nobis, Nate Odomes, Ricky Patton, Tom Pridemore, James Primus, Joe Profit, Andrew Provence, Ken Reaves, Frank Reed, Michael Reid, Bob Richards, Al Richardson, Mike Ruether, Paul Ryczek, Dave Scott, John Small, Jeff Stanciel, Harmon Wages, Dan Wagoner, Dez White, Joel Williams and John Zook.
Who’s your favorite Falcon of all-time? Other than Eugene Robinson’s arrest before the Super Bowl, what else do you remember about the Falcons trip to the Super Bowl?
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Weigh in on ESPN, Big Grady and ICE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Covering the NFL, Wednesdays and Thursdays are always a delight.
Did a little short segment on ESPN2’s First Take show yesterday. The topic was first-year quarterbacks and first-year coaches and how Atlanta and Baltimore have been able to win this season.
It went pretty good with Jay Crawford (a proud Bowling Green State University Falcon alum). My advisors - my dad Al Led, Kenny the Cameraman at Channel 11 and my brother-in-law Spencer - all told me to loosen up and not be so stiff like I was on my last NFL Network appearance. You’re talking sports, not politics or about some serious legal issue, they all said. So I was much more relaxed and even tried to smile a little. Didn’t rock the trademark bow tie, either.
Then it was off to the Branch were the Worldwide Leader took over the media room. ESPN’s Rachel Nichols - (Nice young lady. She kicked it with Steve Wyche, D. Led and the crew in New Orleans a few years back. D. Led had to say hello!) — was there to do something on Matthew ICE that’s going to run on Sunday’s NFL Countdown show. (Matty Ice sounds too corny to me. I like “Matthew ICE”)
I suspect they’re going for the resurrection of the franchise angle in the post Vick/Petrino era.
ICE is also nominated for one of their goofy awards, ESPN The Magazine’s 2009 NEXT athlete. ICE is a finalist with Joey Logano (NASCAR), David Price (Tampa Bay Rays) and Ricky Rubio (Basketball/Spain). Take ICE and the over for the award.
Big Grady spoke for the first time about being in steroid limbo. Not sure how this is going to turn out, but several members of the local media concur that something is wrong if the league suspends Jackson for steroid abuse.
While no one in the local sports media is medical doctor, they all think it’s rather clear that Big Grady is not on any steroid or other performing enhancement drug. This is an instance where the letter of the law - the league policy that holds players strictly liable for the supplements they take - may dish out and injustice.
So how are you feeling about the Denver game? Who’s going to stop Brandon Marshall? Should the Falcon fans start a petition to the league office on Grady’s behalf? The stuff he was talking - papaya and garlic - was penalty enough? Who nominated ICE for the ESPN Magazine award? The editors trying to sell the publication or you the fans of the ATL?
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Keep the hammer down on Cutler
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Falcons took the “bend, but don’t break” defensive philosophy to the extreme in the fourth quarter against the Saints.
Call the 294 yards in one quarter empty yards if you like. Whatever you want to call them, that was way too much bending.
Now just about anybody who’s ever walked on a football field has heard the story about the hammer and the nail. I tell it to my Smyrna Spartans of the North Georgia Youth Football League every year. (One year, I took hammer and piece of wood to practice. I started hammering away at the nails and nearly whack my hand off. Ouch!)
The little football speech goes something like this, “Well, Lil’ Johnny do you want to be the hammer or the nail? Do you want to hit that kid or are you just going to stand there and let him whack you? Now, go out there and be the hammer!” Eventually, they catch on. Nobody likes being the nail for long.
For three quarters, the Falcons were swinging that hammer on the Saints. Driving them into the Georgia Dome turf. They were batting down passes like it was volleyball match. They were racing to quarterback Drew Brees and had him running around for his life.
But when the Falcons got the 27-6 lead, they backed off in coverage.
Against the Broncos on Sunday they’ll need to keep the hammer down on Jay Cutler. The Vanderbilt product just pulled off an improbable fourth quarter comeback, throwing for 204 yards and three touchdowns in the fourth quarter against the Browns.
I know what the coaches are going to tell the Smyrna Spartans 140-pound Division II team, who are set to play in the Instructional League Super Bowl against Achworth on Saturday.
“Keep the hammer down, Spartans. Keep the hammer down for FOUR quarters.”
Foxworth takes over D. Hall’s old spot
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Well, DeAngelo Hall is not welcome back in the ATL by the new regime.
Coach Smith said pursuing DeAngelo Hall was not in the teams plans. That left little wiggle room. That was a no. Not today, not tomorrow and not 10 years from now.
Farewell D. Hall!
So let’s get back to some on the field stuff. Smith also noted that Domonique Foxworth is now the starter at left cornerback. (D. Hall’s old spot that Brent Grimes was filling). Grimes has been slowed by a sprained posterior cruciate ligament and Foxworth has started the last two games.
Foxworth, who came over from Denver in a trade right before the start of the season, has played well.
Foxworth and the rest of the secondary will need a strong game against the Saints and the league’s top rated passing attack on Sunday.
What must the Falcons do to slow down Drew Brees and the Saints passing attack? Like Foxworth? Grimes will play in situations and on specials teams, cool with that? Who’s going to stop the fleet Devery Henderson? Will Lawyer Milloy get a clean hit on Jeremy Shockey and knock him out?
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Should Falcons bring D. Hall back
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
DeAngelo Hall has worn out his welcome in Oakland. Al Davis and Tom Cable hhave given him the Lane Kiffin salute. You know, good bye and we’re not not paying you either!
D. Hall seemed fine all last week. He was talking a good game on a conference call with the AJC. Before the game, he came over and spoke. “Wassup, D.LED!!!,” he said. “I’ll see you after the game,” I told him. “Cool,” he said. He ran back to his drill.
Of course after the game he bolted and didn’t talk to anyone. I called both of his cell phones and sent text messages. Nothing from D. Hall yet.
Sent my buddy Jason Jones from the Sacramento Bee a text last night. “Has D. Hall surfaced?” Jones shot back, “No and the team might waive him tomorrow.”
It did.
Should the Falcons get near this? They know him best — his baggage and dirty laundry. The pass defense is improving, but he could help if his head is in the right place.
To win football games, you need football players. D. Hall’s a football player when he’s on his game. Does he have too baggage to take back?
They would have to sit down and get an understanding about how he needs to go forward.
I don’t suspect that he fits the rebuilding plans and kind of ticked off management. But you know, if you can get him on the cheap, do you do it? Reminder, this is football and you need football players.
Also, “Boo Boo” asked me to check out an announcer stat. “The announcers gave a stat that was surprising (which D. Ledbetter can double-check). They said that Sean Peyton’s Saints have never had a fourth quarter come from behind victory.”
My man Mike Triplett of the New Orleans Times Picayune came through via e-mail.
“Had to look that up (because) it surprised me too. Technically it’s true — the Saints have not won a game when they were trailing after three quarters. But they’ve won at least four games when they trailed DURING the fourth quarter, including the Week 7 win over Atlanta last year in the Superdome.
“The others that I found were Tampa Bay and Philly at home in 2006 and Tampa Bay in Week 1 this year. I think that’s it but could double check if you need it again.
Interesting stat, though, thanks for pointing it out.
Mike”
Thanks Mike!!!
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Offense is almost shootout-ready
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Was up late watching the Monday Night game. I think the Redskins lost because of those hideous all Burgundy uniforms.
It was good to see former Falcon Byron Leftwich show out. I’ve got a theory that the football Gods are smiling down on the players who went through last season with the Falcons. So good for Leftwich and his rocket arm. He may have resurrected his once-promising career.
Then I flipped over the Falcons game that my daughter had recorded for me. What jumped out in my review of the broadcast tape was that the offense is very close to being shootout-ready.
Offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey is going to great lengths to unleash Jerious Norwood to go along with running back Michael Turner in a Thunder (Turner) and Lightning (Norwood) attack. He used Norwood at quarterback, wide receiver, threw him a swing pass and flipped tackles Tyson Clabo and Todd Weiner on Norwood’s 12-yard touchdown run.
Clabo moved to left tackle and Weiner went to right. They must think that Clabo is more mobile in space as he pulled to lead the way to the endzone. Turner was also the upback at fullback on the play. It was a nice look. The defense flowed with Turner to the right and nobody but a overmatched cornerback whom Clabo was steaming toward was on the backside. Norwood got the toss and zipped on around the corner.
The Falcons haven’t gotten much out of their “Dirty Bird-Wildcat” attack, but it makes teams get ready for something else. When Norwood lined up at receiver he broke off his route, while quarterback Matt Ryan thought he was going deep. If Norwood had kept going, he may have open for a touchdown.
There was another missed opportunities. Brian Finneran beat DeAngelo Hall up the right sideline, but a scrambling Ryan didn’t get enough muster on his throw. That could have been six points, too.
Michael Jenkins got open on both of touchdowns at the line of scrimmage. On the first, he jumped to the outside of Hall and then turned on the burners to beat him up the field. On the second, he got inside of Stanford Routt went straight up the field and then broke to the flag and was wide open.
Tight end Justin Peelle looked good catching the ball.
Harry Douglas didn’t set the world on fire in his first game as the punt returner. On his second return he should have stepped up and made a fair catch at the 30. He let the ball bounce and it rolled all the way to the 12, costing the Falcons 18 yards of field position. Adams Jennings was probably saying, “I could have did that.”
If the Falcons keep feeding Norwood, Jenkins stays on his game and Peelle turns into a catching threat at tight end, they’ll have additional weapons to go with Turner and White. The offense is not far from being shootout-ready. That’s important as they face the Saints this week.
The game on Sunday pits the league’s top passing attack — Saints at 314.4 yards a game - and the league’s top rushing attack - Falcons at 163.4 yards per game. The Saints average 27 points a game (sixth in the league).
Sunday’s game could turn into a shootout if the Falcons don’t bring the pass defense A-game.
Is Mularkey, Ryan and the rest of the offense ready to win a shootout with the dynamic Drew Brees? Can the defense lock down his receivers man-to-man or should they stay in their zone defenses? The Saints get the ball out quickly and have only been sacked seven times so blitzing doesn’t appear to be an option. Got any other ideas on how the Falcons can Defend the Dome and stop this four-game losing streak to the Saints?
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