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Sunday, November 20, 2005
Sky isn’t falling yet, but it’s getting dark
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
Oh, it was brutal for the Falcons on Sunday at the Georgia Dome.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers began their game-winning drive after Michael Vick ruined his otherwise stellar day with his fourth fumble in two games. In fact, when he struggled earlier in the afternoon, a large and loud chunk of the crowd nearly cheered itself hoarse after he left the field due to an injury and was replaced briefly by backup quarterback Matt Schaub.
There were the Falcons’ 11 penalties, including the always silly one for too many men on the field. Their receivers kept dropping the easiest of passes, and their defenders kept chasing the backs of Tampa Bay runners.
Worse, the Falcons kept losing during the most crucial part of their schedule filled with NFC South foes, and suddenly, their first back-to-back winning seasons after 40 years has gone from a likelihood to only a possibility.
Guess you can say that the sun, the moon and the stars are spiraling at the speed of light toward the Falcons’ portion of the earth. Even so, after his team spent a second consecutive week looking more vulnerable than venerable, Falcons coach Jim Mora suggested that such doomsday talk is ridiculous.
“No one is going to cut their wrists,� he said, before adding, “No one’s going to jump off a high building or walk around like the sky is falling.�
Yeah, well. The sky is falling around the Falcons, especially since they self-destructed in the beginning and at the end against the Buccaneers after an embarrassing home loss to the pitiful Green Bay Packers. Not only that, the Falcons play on Thursday in Detroit, where the usually wretched Lions are obsessed each Thanksgiving Day with turning their visitors into turkeys. Plus, four of the Falcons’ next five games are on the road. That means their decent 6-4 record could become something wretched quicker than another drop by a Falcons receiver.
Something needs to be said. Actually, part of it already was by a fuming Alge Crumpler on the Falcons’ sideline after the Buccaneers surged to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter. There, with the Falcons offensive line sitting on the bench and looking rather spooked by the traditionally ruthless defenders for the Buccaneers, Crumpler ranted and raged at the bunch.
Good. The Falcons need more of that, especially from Crumpler, a five-year veteran who has seen more than a few Falcons teams turn these little slumps into much worse in a hurry.
“I’m not even thinking along those lines, because I just don’t see that ‘old’ any more, and because there is such a new mind-set around here right now,â€? said Crumpler, referring to the second year of Mora’s regime. Plus, the Falcons have the NFL’s youngest group of starters. Added Crumpler, “The expectations are high, and the young guys are playing extremely well. They’re just looking for somebody to show them the way.â€?
Enter a fuming Crumpler. According to Falcons offensive guard Kynan Forney, he and his linemates already were angry with themselves.
“We were just so [fired] up, you know, trying to hit [the Buccaneers] first before they hit us, that we just needed to calm down and play,� Forney said.
Then came a fuming Crumpler.
Said a calmer Crumpler later, recalling what he told the offensive linemen, though his tongue lashing was appropriate for all of the Falcons: “The things that came out of my mouth may not have been necessarily right, but I felt like we were letting the bully come into our place and push us around, and for us to have the week [of practice] that we had, it was unacceptable.�
After Crumpler’s tirade, the Buccaneers added a field goal, but the Falcons responded with 17 straight points. The rally was punctuated by Vick firing a 4-yard touchdown pass to Crumpler in the third quarter. From there, the game was a see-saw affair until the Buccaneers surged ahead on a field goal after Vick’s fumble. Then again, Michael Koenen missed a field-goal attempt of 55 yards that would have sent the game into overtime at 30-30.
Woulda, shoulda, coulda.
This is definite: If not Chicken Littles, the Falcons will become a bunch of Turkey Lurkeys on Thursday against the Lions if they don’t stop gobbling.
Permalink | Comments (75) | Categories: Falcons / NFL, Terence Moore
Tech channels chaos into surprise win
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
Miami — So is this what it takes? Get slapped upside the head with probation. Have a head coach’s approval rating dip to presidential proportions. Take so many blows from the public that you’re punch drunk before you even go to the airport for the team flight?
Is that all it takes for Georgia Tech to put together one of the most inspirational performances in recent — and not-so-recent — history?
“Not one of you thought this would happen!” Chan Gailey said Saturday. “Not one of you!”
That would be correct, sir.
Georgia Tech won a football game Saturday night, 14-10, over Miami.
Right. If it only was that simple.
Gailey suffered a heart attack in March, underwent an angioplasty and made a full recovery to coach this season.
This doesn’t compare to that.
It just finishes ahead of everything else.
This was supposed to be an off week. But the Oct. 22 game against Miami was postponed because of a hurricane and suddenly the potential off week became a week in Hades.
The thought occurred that if ever a weeklong therapy session was needed, this was the time. Consider this four-punch combination: Gailey, having played to mixed reviews with the fan base, got a new five-year contract; athletics director Dave Braine, in coming to Gailey’s defense, was just a little too honest about his modest expectations for the program; Reuben Houston, suspended because he’s facing felony drug charges, was forced back onto the team by a misguided Fulton County judge, who seems to forget that playing college sports is not a right but a privilege. And then there was probation, the first in school history.
My kingdom for a Seconal.
Saturday’s meeting with Miami didn’t seem to be set up as a game as much as a sacrifice. But the Jackets didn’t get the memo.
“We’re the only ones who thought this could happen,” defensive end Eric Henderson said. “But we’re the only ones who had to think this could happen.”
They beat the No. 3 team in the nation. That’s all.
Their offense scored on its first possession against the No. 1 defense in the country. That’s all.
Their defense registered seven sacks, held the Hurricanes to 237 yards in total offense and to 1-of-14 on third-down conversions. That’s all.
Through nine games, it didn’t seem to most that Gailey had provided the clear improvement Braine wanted. Gailey got the new deal anyway. Then came Saturday’s upset. These things don’t always happen in order.
How emotional was this for the maligned Gailey?
“It’s up there,” he said. “I don’t know if it [ranks] one or two or three or six. But it’s definitely up there.”
Time after time, Tech’s defense came up big. Miami was stuffed on five consecutive possessions after Reggie Ball’s 16-yard touchdown run gave the Jackets the lead in the third quarter. With eight minutes left in the game, Miami had a third-and-1 at the Jackets’ 12. But running back Charlie Jones was stuffed for consecutive losses.
The ‘Canes got the ball back again with 2:37 left. They drove the ball from their own 11 to the Tech 27. But then Dennis Davis intercepted a Kyle Wright pass at the Jackets’ 3.
Um. What just happened?
This was not a Miami team devoid of incentive. It had lingering national title hopes. It had an eight-game winning streak since a season-opening loss to Florida State. One more victory and the rematch with the Seminoles in the ACC title game would be set. Now Miami is hoping North Carolina can knock off Virginia Tech.
I would say that can’t possibly happen, but …
“We heard the stuff all week,” said running back Tashard Choice.
“We knew what everybody was saying. We just didn’t pay attention to it. We got ready to play a football game. We believe.”
Miami will look for excuses. Maybe the ‘Canes were just numb from their own problems. A 2-year-old raunchy rap video surfaced this week, featuring several former and current players.
But that just doesn’t compare to the week on The Flats, and this game didn’t compare to anything in recent memory.
This team can take a punch.
Permalink | Comments (128) | Categories: Jeff Schultz, Tech / ACC
