Sports Columnists

By HB Ando

October 20, 2005 04:43 PM | Link to this

Ah, just what the doctor ordered for Mr. Bradley, after a healthy dose of much warranted reader revolt: a puff piece. Nice. Fargo in the winter isn’t too appetizing, is it?

On another issue, have you thought about going back to the mustache and ‘fro you used to wear? That look was you. Seriously.

By jeffery jones

October 20, 2005 05:12 PM | Link to this

MR. MARK, WHY DON’T YOU DRESS OUT WITH THE FALCONS AND TALK YOUR NOISE TO THEM!!!! YA!!! GET THE BALL AND TRY TO RUN ON THERE DEFENSE. I ADMIT THAT THE FALCONS COULD DO BETTER ON “D” AND THEY WILL. YES, I AM A VERY BIG FAN OF THE ATLANTA FALCONS AND THEY WILL BE THERE AT THE END. AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE THE SEASON STARTED THAT MY FALCONS WOULD OR SHOULD BE 12 AND 4 OR 11 AND 5 AND HEADED TO THE SUPER BOWL…THE FALCONS REALLY SOULD BE AT THIS POINT 6 AND 0. THAT’S RIGHT MR. MARK “THE SUPER BOWL” 2006. GO ATLANTA FALCONS DO WHAT I KNOW YOU ALL CAN DO. WIN THE SOUTH,THE NFC, AND THEN THE SUPER BOWL!!!!!!!

GO FALCONS!!!! YOUR # 1, BIGGEST, AND TRUE FAN!!! GO ATL FALCONS

By tyyosh

October 20, 2005 05:21 PM | Link to this

Uh, Just briefly looking at Dallas’ defensive numbers in the past two weeks, they DO look scary. If I recall Philly had something like 9 first downs. They took down the high-powered Giants next. Plus the Parcells factor - he’s done it all.

By todd

October 20, 2005 05:22 PM | Link to this

My concern over this Falcons team is this.It is one thing for us to go out and play competitive football games and say a win is a win no matter how ugly we played,but its how we are winning and losing games.If you cannot stop the run from pee-wee to h.s./ft.ball and beyond no matter how well your other aspects of the team are eventually you will fail.I remember all of the bad falcon teams in the past from the 70’s-till now and it does not take a brain surg. to understand what our major def. is.Injuries sure,missed assignments o.k.,being over aggressive in purs.and not breaking down proper technique we can fix.Do we have the proper d-line personnel to achieve our ultimate goal”detroit” or bust??Last year it seemed as though we had the perfect d-line rotation w/keeping guys fresh”we rush the q-back in the 4th quar”the falcons d-line motto.It just goes to show you how easy it is to take the older guys for granted that we had.Jasper,Hall,-d-line and m.stewart and c.draft l-backers.This might shine a little light that even though we say that there is no substitute for speed obviously experience may win this race.Technique and positioning proper gap discipline does not get timed in the 40.Hopefully sooner than later lav.,bab.,davis,will.,bol.,will start to have the chemistry it takes to be a dominating front 7. The secondary has their own issues.Hall has all the talent in the world,but the Eagles game is over.Quit flopping the gums and use that extra energy covering someone.Do not get me wrong this guys potential is off the charts,I know he has 3 ints.but between him and scott they do not seem to be near as aggressive in their run support as they were last year.Same goes for carp and web as well.Hopefully we have the personnel lets see if its just a fraction off as coach mora says,because vick does not play defense.

By Gumbo

October 20, 2005 09:54 PM | Link to this

Thanks Mark - Despite the Phillistines who occupy this blog, it’s a good piece. Optimistic? Yes. I think we will get to be a middle of the pack run defense (best we can hope for given our size) - what scares me is our safeties. I watch a lot of football and B. Scott is marginal and Keion has been non-existent.

That, and we have to throw for 200 yds/game otherwise defenses will just load up. Currently, they have no fear of our passing game other than Algie, and they handle that with the free safety.

By For Real

October 21, 2005 12:35 AM | Link to this

Well stated Mark B. The Falcons will get better week to week as will some of the other contenders. The safety play is a huge question mark, I do not think either guy is healthy. B. Scott in particular. (Remember he is coming off shoulder surgery). Keions while a great vocal leader, does not bring the physical skills nor the cover skills of a coveted big league strong safety. If the Falcons are to make a serious run they will have to address this. Webster is purely a Mora guy who never was a started with the 49ers, why we brought him here who knows but Mora. If he is honest and fair, Webster should meet the same fate as Dez White. demotion!!

By crs

October 21, 2005 11:50 AM | Link to this

Name of the game in the first half of the season is staying in the mix. You can’t win a division or a conference in the first half but you can sure fall out of the running. That said the team has many problems, a poor passing game being number one followed a close second by what is becoming a very suspect defense. Scott has not been the same ever since his concussion. He seems to play with some fear of getting hurt now. I originally hoped for a 13-3,12-4 but based on the injuries and play to this point, 10-6 seems to be a good goal, with 9-7 realistic.

By dave

October 21, 2005 12:10 PM | Link to this

I agree with you Mark. The Birds are hanging in there, and with some minor tweaking, the falcons can muster up something they have never produced…..back to back winning seasons.

I guess Atl fans have gotten used to the old “elfoldo” routine where the falcons were out of the playoffs by the end of september.

Now, with the new regime, there is a chance that the birds can do some damage in the nfc. Dallas, will win the east. the pack will come back and win the north at 8 and 8. Seattle will get 10 wins and win the west.

And, Atlanta will post n 11-5 record, win the division, and post back to back winning seasons, and division titles. I guess no one even thought of that one.

Oh yeah, as bad as the falcons have played at time this year, they have lost two games by a total of 6 points.

our lb core has a 8 year vet, and 2nd year guy, a rookie with promise, and uh who, uh what’s that guys name?????? mark lemke……………..uh, what.

hang in there dirty bird fans. the season isn’t half over. with a win monday atl improves to 5-2 at the break. Tb has a tough Nov, and with an unproven commodity at qb. They will be lucky to get a wildcard berth with that qb.

my how my former hometown has forgotten the days of yesteryear, when the falcons were the “bungles” of the nfc, and had a coach named Pat Peppler!

Peace,

Dirty Bird Dave (now living in Los Angeles)

ps…..I tell USC fans everyday, that Notre Dame invented college football(jokingly), and it was prefected in the south!!!!!!!!if only USC would play an SEC schedule

By Greg from Marietta

October 21, 2005 12:47 PM | Link to this

Mark, Your analysis of the NFC being the weak sister of the two conferences seems to be accurate. However, if you use the Patriots as a measuring stick of the AFC then the Falcons looked pretty good with exception of the long ball lapses on the defense. There is the Falcons Achilles heal - the defense. If they can plug the holes in the defense and work through the injuries then I agree with you that they should rise to the top of the NFC. Don’t get me wrong, I am a die-hard Falcons fan, but they just aren’t playing with the same intensity that they were last year. Even if they are fortunate enough to make it to the playoffs and should somehow go to the Super Bowl I don’t think that they could win without regaining that intensity that they had last year.

By Robert Sagoes

October 21, 2005 01:10 PM | Link to this

I want to ask Mr. Blank to please get MV, enrolled into a public speaking class he really need it Mr.Blank. MV, after you talked about the dress code of the NBA, I was glad to see you did dress up. Also when you work for someone you abide by their rules, not yours. Don’t look back unless you plan to go that way.MV, you are not apart of the people you once were, friends yes, apart of them no. You are now in the top 1% with what you earn, now act like it.

By Mike Terrell

October 21, 2005 02:55 PM | Link to this

The Falcons aren’t tackling anyone I mean D. Hall and the rest wrap up the ball carrier. Iam sick of our defense attempting to tackle someone by laying down in front of them. Lets get back to basics. We have to be an aggressive defence and stop playing that prevent crap. Last game we let New Orleans have all day to pass.

By cp

October 22, 2005 12:39 AM | Link to this

What does Mike Vick’s opinion about the NBA dress code have to do with the Falcons…..NOT A DAMN THING.

By dray

October 23, 2005 11:02 PM | Link to this

I am worried about the D-Fense on Monday night. Especially the middle of the field run support. Do we need to go back to a 3-4???? Last week, we seemed to be one LB short in the middle of the field, and the opposition was running wild up the middle. Any ideas to solve this???

By quint

October 24, 2005 11:11 AM | Link to this

Guys, the defense is having problems stuffing the run because of the lack of cornerbacks. When the corners are new, young, inexperienced or whatever, the safeties and linebackers have to play more against the pass. Because they have to focus on the pass, they can not support the run-defense the way they did last year. Because they are playing softer up the middle, the D-line can’t be as aggressive at stopping the run and rushing the Quarterback. So, you see, a large part of the problem goes back to the lack of cornerbacks.