AJC > Sports > Falcons > Blog > Archives > 2009 > January > 02
Friday, January 2, 2009
Falcons focused in final practice
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Tempe, Ariz. — Just got back to the hotel after watching the Falcons go through their final practice.
The team looked focused, but not too tight.
But we have to give an “AJC game ball” to photographer Curtis Compton. He did the major work this morning.
The Falcons did not want any video or still photos of their final practice, so CC hiked up the mountain behind Arizona State’s Sun Devil Stadium and took his long lens with him.
After hiking up the mountain — he said it took about 20 minutes — CC found out that the pressbox blocks the view of the field. So he got a great view of the Valley, but nothing of the Birds.
So, he gets an A for effort, an “AJC game ball” and he got his cardio workout in for the day.
There are several subplots to wild-card game:
Which quarterback will shine, the wily old veteran Kurt Warner or the rookie Matt Ryan?
How will the Falcons secondary hold up against the Cardinals vaunted passing attack?
Will the Falcons be able to get some pressure on Warner?
Who’s going to slow down Arizona’s Pro Bowl safety Adrian Wilson?
Can Michael Turner get loose on the road? He averages 129 yards at home and just 83 on the road.
Will Jerious Norwood run with some authority like he did last week?
Abraham, Anderson and Milloy are listed as questionable for the game. Abe and Milloy have to play and be near 100 percent for this. Chauncey Davis and Kroy Biermann have been solid while filling in for Anderson.
You’d think that if your team hasn’t hosted a playoff game since 1947 that you wouldn’t have any trouble selling out. But the Phoenix fans were slow to snap up the tickets. One factor is the league comes in and jacks up the price on playoff tickets. The Cards received an extension from the league and soldout before the deadline.
Off the field, offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey, a former head coach, is being sought by the Detroit Lions. Rich McKay is still being connected to a Cleveland front office job, although Scott Pioli appears to be the front-runner.
Although quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave is more than ready to be an offensive coordinator, the Falcons don?t want to lose Mularkey. The MM — Mularkey & Musgrave — tandem needs to stay together just based off the work they’ve done with Ryan this year.
OK, let’s get back to the game.
Send some predictions in. Falcons XX, Cardinals XX. Support your score with some reasoning.
As the objective beat reporter I get to share mind with only close family members and the neighbor’s dog. But my colleague Jeff Schultz should have one in his predictions column. (BTW my neighbor’s dog is a little down today. He belongs to a Georgia Tech family.)
Services »
