AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2006 > September > 04 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USTalented roster puts heat on Mora
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
Jim Mora took the Falcons to the NFC championship game in his first season and hasn’t yet finished with a losing record. That right there would seem to stamp him as one of the three best coaches in the history of this mostly forlorn franchise. But the belief here is that Mora needs to win big this fall or he might not be working for this franchise next year.
The Falcons are among the league’s 10 most talented teams. To the six Pro Bowl veterans already under contract, Rich McKay added John Abraham, Lawyer Milloy, Ashley Lelie, Chris Crocker, Jimmy Williams, Jerious Norwood and Grady Jackson. That’s the sort of bountiful offseason that comes along once in a generation. We can quibble about the youth of the starting wideouts and an offensive line that still doesn’t seem first-rate, but the cold truth is that this roster has as few personnel holes as any in the salary-capped NFL.
If you’re the coach, that’s a good thing. It becomes a bad thing only if you don’t win 10 games. “We have a sense of urgency to do better now,” Arthur Blank said before training camp convened. “We’re ready to make that move.”
The chief reason Blank hired Mora — over, say, Lovie Smith, who was the NFL’s coach of the year in 2005 — was that Mora knew exactly what he wanted to do and whom he wanted to hire as coordinators. Two years on, it’s possible to wonder if Greg Knapp and Ed Donatell are the right fits for a franchise that (a.) employs Michael Vick and (b.) is based in the hard-running NFC South. Is Knapp’s West Coast offense a proper allocation of Vick’s singular skills? Is a light-but-mobile defense apt to stop DeShaun Foster and Cadillac Williams and Mike Alstott and Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush?
The Falcons have moved to get bigger on defense — nobody comes much bigger than the two-ton Jackson — but the matter of Vick and the WCO remains no more settled than the day Knapp was hired. (A purely geometric concern voiced by a former NFL defensive coach: The short drops required by this system don’t work as well with a smallish quarterback, Joe Montana apparently notwithstanding.) Given that Vick is without precedent, there might not be an ideal coach for him. But is Knapp even close to the optimum?
Blank was clearly frustrated with the disintegration of his beloved team last fall, and he has moved heaven and Earth to prevent a similar collapse this time. Speaking of McKay and Mora in the AJC’s preview section, Blank said: “I’ve given them the resources.” Translation: “Better win now.”
Of the two, Blank seems more comfortable with McKay than Mora, and for good reason. McKay keeps finding talent at a dizzying rate; it’s time now for Mora to make this assemblage win. He did it two seasons ago, but his inability to arrest last season’s slide made you wonder if 2004 was beginner’s luck. And certainly his tantrums and his word games — we witnessed another in the starter-less final exhibition last week — don’t fit the image Blank wants his franchise to project.
But here’s the thing: Win 10 games and the tantrums and the semantics, if not fully forgotten, will be forgiven. Bill Belichick is the antithesis of a charmer, but he’s the NFL’s best coach because he gets the maximum from his players. Mora has enough talent to be in the playoffs come January; anything less would be taken as an indication he isn’t up to the job.
Yes, Blank just extended Mora’s contract through 2009, but this owner has the means to buy out a contract extended through 2099 if he chooses. It didn’t take long for Blank to sour on Dan Reeves — one broken leg and one lost season — and Mora, for all his cleverness, hasn’t done half the things his predecessor did in the NFL. If he wants his tenure here to last into 2007 and beyond, he’d better win 10 games in 2006. Otherwise the boss could throw a tantrum of his own.
Permalink | Comments (70) | Post your comment | Categories: Falcons / NFL, Mark Bradley
Comments
By TonyG
September 4, 2006 07:47 PM | Link to this
DAMN STRAIGHT
By lee sunset
September 4, 2006 07:52 PM | Link to this
Failure is not an option
By Dirty Birdie
September 4, 2006 07:59 PM | Link to this
thank you bradley for the following: It didn’t take long for Blank to sour on Dan Reeves — one broken leg and one lost season — and Mora, for all his cleverness, hasn’t done half the things his predecessor did in the NFL. whenever dan reeves had a good QB, he won. with elway, he won. with simms his first year with the giants, he won. with chandler very serviceable and healthy in 1998, he won. when vick was healthy, he won. if reeves was still the coach, MV7 would already have played in a super bowl and he would not have to hear all this latent racist stuff where he is constantly criticized despite all he has done for this franchise. The coach who brought this historically pitiful franchise to the super bowl and who fought like hell to bring the greatest player in the history of the franchise to the team deserved a hell of alot more leeway than King Arthur provided him. Instead he hires an emotional basketcase whose father was an emotional basketcase as well. And the funniest thing is we were all told that the biggest reason we brought mora in was because knapp was part of the package deal. Ridiculous. Give a QB who does not fit into the west coast style a bunch of west coast morons. Give a QB who everyone claims is not the brightest a new complex system to learn after he had already spent 3 years learning another system much more suited to his style and which provided playoff victories on the frozen tundra when he was healthy for his coach who was a true believer in his star QB and who, despite his conservative ways, adapted his style to meet the skills of his unique QB. Mora should have been fired last year. If you say that was unfair because he went to the conference championship game the year before, then maybe you are right. But then at the very least the dufus knapp should have been booted out of town. i always thought TO was a nut for the way he went off on Knapp back in the day on the sidelines but I have to admire MV7 for maintaining his composure and not going off on Knapp himself.
By Local Yokel
September 4, 2006 08:02 PM | Link to this
Mark, I agree with you on this one. To put it bluntly, it is time for Mr. Jim Mora to put up or shut up.
By dirrtybird
September 4, 2006 08:15 PM | Link to this
Dirtie Birdie,
Almost a cool name. Give up on Dan Reeves already. He isn’t coming back. Even if Mora gets fired, Dan Reeves isn’t coming back! If he was so great, why wasn’t there depth at the QB position? Everyone except Dan Reeves knew that Vick’s style of play is dangerous.
Great article otherwise. The Falcons have the personnel and the pressure is clearly on Mora to produce immediately. This was a great offseason, and the fans who paid more for their tickets are expecting wins. . right now. The clock is ticking Mora(Knapp, Donatell)… .
By Larry
September 4, 2006 08:47 PM | Link to this
Mark,
Shame on you!
This column has “triggered” Mora into an ammonia sniffing relapse.
Cruel! Very, very cruel!
By Skydawg
September 4, 2006 08:52 PM | Link to this
Mark, I agree in essence to the urgency that Mr Blank has professed. However I still believe that Blank believes in Mora, as do I. Now as far as the coordinators go, that’s a whole different. If the Falcons do not win atleast 10 games this year, then I thing heads will roll with the coordinators and Ed D. better be sweating it the most. I mean we can sit hear and complain about Knapp all we want, but folks, you don’t win the NFL rushing crown 2 years in a row and not be doing something right. And it takes any QB a minimum of 2-3 yrs to start feeling comfy with the WCO. Once again I think the O will be okay. Now Mr Donatell better start sweating a little. He now has weapons all over the place on top of possibly the most decorated DL in terms of Pro Bowlers and total sacks. The LB are strong and the secondary has been vastly improved. Now it boils down to a question of scheme. Doesnt matter how good the talent level is, if you are putting them in good position to be successful. I continue to get sick at my stomach when I see one of the best cover CBs in the league lining up 8-10 yds off a receiver as teams continue to pick the Falcons off underneath. MY GAWD Donatell, you have a stud DL, quick LBs..lets run a little man D and press some dagum receivers this year. Malloy and Crocker are seasoned safeties and are good enough to see breakdowns in man coverage and to anticipate checks by the opposing QB. If we do not see a “no holds barred” defense this year and bring everything but the kitchen sink, then I’ll be highly disappointed. No obviously you can’t blitz all the time, but come on Donatell, be a little more agressive. You have the weapons now utilize it to the talent’s advantage. That will be your test this if you would like to remain employed by the Falcons. Mora I think can survive this year. But failures by either Knapp or Donatell could find them looking for jobs come January.
By "D" in Houston
September 4, 2006 09:27 PM | Link to this
Dan Reeves, was fired because, our catalyst, got hurt. Tough break(no pun intended), and even tougher when he was a really good coach! But point Blank(there I go again) Mora needs to the ship going in the right direction now! We have the most talented defense on paper we have ever had…..ever. We have never had a front 4, so absolutely scary…..again on paper……So with that, I’m Dunn!(sorry, couldn’t pass it up)
By Jay
September 4, 2006 09:28 PM | Link to this
Take-a-Knapp’s offense doesnt fit Vick. How do you turn the most exciting player in football into a boring product? How do you have a qb with the strongest arm in the league and three fast wr’s and never go deep? Leave it to take-a-Knapp. I can describe his offense in a word: AWFUL.
And he isnt going anywhere with Mora here. Tell Mora to fire Knapp and when he doesnt have the stones to do it, fire them both. Two birds with one stone.
By Jeff
September 4, 2006 09:50 PM | Link to this
The worst part of this all is the affect Knapp will have on Vick. Vick could have been the most dynamic QB in the NFL. He was certainly building such a legacy under Reeves. Knapp, thus far, has only hindered Vick’s development. All offseason, we’ve heard that Vick is going to be more mobile this year. Maybe that means that Knapp has adapted to Vick’s abilities. I guess we will see come Sunday.
Skydawg, I agree with you in regards to Donatell. That “bend don’t break” mess has to go. If he isn’t more aggressive this year, he and Mora have to be fired.
By chi chi
September 4, 2006 09:52 PM | Link to this
I think the d will be better last year donatello didnt have much to work with and had to use schemes to atleast hide some of our weaknesses
By Dirtie Birdie
September 4, 2006 09:56 PM | Link to this
donatell ain’t great but his defense was pretty good 2 years ago. the problem with the defense last year really was there were injuries and mckay made some hasty decisions to let some key veterans go a year or so too early and the D simply did not have the personnel to stop getting shoved all over the field. I understand what mckay was doing though because I think he had the long term in sight but it did cause the D to suffer last year and that was not really donatell’s fault. that fault laid with mckay and probably with mora as well for advising mckay on some of those personnel decisions
By Cairo
September 4, 2006 10:00 PM | Link to this
Nice column. Probably one of the BEST this year concerning the Falcons. Ed Donatell had better have our defense ranked in the top 10 this year. I agree SkyDawg Mora preached an agressive defense when he first got here and I have yet to see come to pass. It kills me as well to witness D. Hall playing a soft coverage when he is hands down the one of the best corners in the game. With ALL the additions and resources Mr. Blank has provided for this team it ALL boils down to our defense. I have no problem with the offense except the number of times we go deep. There is are NO more excuses this year. It is truly put up or shut up for Ed Donatell.
By Bruce
September 4, 2006 10:27 PM | Link to this
Unbelievable! Utterly unbelievable. We haven’t played ONE game yet and almost all of the previous comments are about what we CAN’T or HAVEN’T done with this team. People give it a rest!!
By Doc Hill
September 4, 2006 10:31 PM | Link to this
Yes, its that time. I’m thinking, in hindsight, that Lovie Smith was a better move. AT LEAST, we would have a defense with an AGGRESSIVE ATTITUDE to go along with our athletes on offense.
Mark, its really not about specific players. Its about the system they play under. I’m afraid that our defensive mind set is to be fast and light…and lit up.
We’ll know by the end of the first defensive series in Carolina if we can stop the run. That will tell you if 10 games will be won by these Birds.
By e.b.
September 4, 2006 10:45 PM | Link to this
skydawg, i agree with you. Two seasons ago, the Falcons led the league in sacks. This year they’re healthy (jury still out on if Hartwell is both healthy or a good fit), and they should be fired up. It would give me great pleasure, to witness 5 sacks and a victory over Carolina in the opener.
By e.b.
September 4, 2006 10:47 PM | Link to this
skydawg, i agree with you. Two seasons ago, the Falcons led the league in sacks. This year they’re healthy (jury still out on if Hartwell is both healthy or a good fit), and they should be fired up. It would give me great pleasure, to witness 5 sacks and a victory over Carolina in the opener.
By richfalcon
September 4, 2006 11:26 PM | Link to this
Dirty Birdie, Of course, we cannot cry over spilled milk, but I do agree w/ you that Coach Reeves definitely deserved better. At the least, he should have been given 1 more year seeing how ‘01-Vick basically observed & learned, ‘02-1st yr as starter & put himself & Falcons on map, ‘03-Vick injured & team meltdown. However, I do believe Coach Mora has what he needs to get the job done, and will get it done. The Falcons will SHOCK THE WORLD this season in contrast to the pre-season outcomes the experts have predicted. No surprise here, though.
By thedream
September 4, 2006 11:35 PM | Link to this
this is a great column, and hit it right on the head. good job mark!
By jeff
September 5, 2006 12:02 AM | Link to this
As far as I’m concerned…Mora should be the coach for the next 10 years. He has the passion it takes to lead a team. He can’t control the injuries or play calling or tackling. He has the same mentality as Cowher and Gruden, which should serve the Falcons well for this season.
By Steve
September 5, 2006 06:25 AM | Link to this
Blank firing Dan Reeves was a huge mistake! Yes, Mora won his first season and went to the NFC title game. He had a Dan Reeves team. Even he couldn’t mess it up. Not only was loosing Reeves bad for the team it was worse for Mike Vick! We have not see a screen pass since Dan left town. What ever happend to a safety valve in the back field for him to dump off to? Playing VIck in this offense is not playing your strategy to your teams strong points. But more than that is the defensive problems with this bent and mostly broke scheme of Ed Donetell. Playing corners 15 yards off the recievers on every play to give them what’s in front of them is rediculous. There is a reason he was fired in Green Bay!
I agree the Falcons need to win now because like the rest of the season ticket fan base, I’m tired of my ticket prices doubling again for another loosing season.
By Dirtie Birdie
September 5, 2006 06:43 AM | Link to this
how come they never do screen passes? you would think that short passes to the RB are a big part of the West Coast Offense. I seem to recall Roger Craig, Ricky Waters, etc., etc. catching a ton of passes out of the backfield which, of course, as great as montana and young were, did inflate the accuracy % rates of young and montana. You would think these WCO coaches would do the same for MV7. You would think Warrick Dunn would be the perfect RB to throw lots of screens and lots of other WCO RB dumpoffs. Norwood definitely looks like he would be great at that as well. But, for some reason, we only seem to do passes to the FB, who is good but not as suited as DUNN to catch passes and rack up the YAC. That has always bothered me. I just do not think these coaches have any faith in MV7. And, i know I am annoying alot of people by crying over spilled milk, but reeves absolutely believed in his unique QB.
By boots
September 5, 2006 07:13 AM | Link to this
The fate that befell Dan Reeves —- having Vick go down —- is the risk taken when you let Vick be Vick. And, the results will be disasterous now as they were in the past for Reeves. Unless you have a cadre of quarterbacks, utilizing the same scheme and with the same capacities as Vick, you take the chance of a disasterous outcome when Vick does what Vick does.
By Steve
September 5, 2006 07:22 AM | Link to this
Who cares? It’s college football season, and the NFL is just filler on Sunday anyway. Go Dawgs!
By BUSTER CHERRY
September 5, 2006 07:33 AM | Link to this
Reeves never won a SuperBowl. Bellichik was fired from several teams before he landed in NE, and Vick looks bad more than he looks good. If they finish below 10 wins, look for Knapp & Donatell to be fired, and Mora to be run off if they don’t go deep into the play-offs next year.
By BUSTER CHERRY
September 5, 2006 07:34 AM | Link to this
Reeves never won a SuperBowl. Bellichik was fired from several teams before he landed in NE, and Vick looks bad more than he looks good. If they finish below 10 wins, look for Knapp & Donatell to be fired, and Mora to be run off if they don’t go deep into the play-offs next year.
By ROCKBUSTER
September 5, 2006 07:39 AM | Link to this
I’M SO EXCITED. WE’RE GOING TO HAVE A GREAT SEASON.GO FALCONS.
By Dirtie Birdie
September 5, 2006 07:39 AM | Link to this
WHO CARES? as much as I love the dawgs, the falcons have a better chance of winning the super bowl than the dawgs do of winning the BCS championship. the falcons were closer to the great prize 2 years ago than the dawgs have been in 25 years. THAT IS WHY YOU CARE FOOL!! maybe falcons fans need to readjust their sights like the unfortunate majority of the dawgs fans do and just set their sights on winning the NFC South and parade around like that was good enough. Silly Dawgs!
By Larry
September 5, 2006 07:53 AM | Link to this
The Birds have all the tools necessary this year, including 2 capable backup quarterbacks (which Coach Reeves didn’t have), so there should be no excuses from the current staff. I’m afraid I still don’t have confidence in this staff, however. Steve was correct in saying that Mora won in his first year with a Dan Reeves team. He started winning last year but was completely lost as to how to right the ship in the second half. Reeves lost arguably the most important player on his team during his collapse while Mora lost a player who could easily be replaced, based on that player’s tenure with the Birds.
By Jeff F.
September 5, 2006 08:25 AM | Link to this
I agree that the Falcons are as talented as ever. However, the problem this year is that the top three NFC teams reside in the same division.
By Kudzu
September 5, 2006 08:42 AM | Link to this
Mora and Vick…so damn cozy it makes me want to gag…I don’t get it…and I don’t have a good feeling about Mora…won’t last, and the Birds will tank this year…great upheavel in Flowery Branch.
Otherwise, I’m all excited about game day but find myself already looking for excuses…
By Nikki
September 5, 2006 08:49 AM | Link to this
Coach Mora is the guy for this team. He is learning on the job and I think he’s learned from his mistakes. I think Vick has learned from his mistakes as well. There will be an attitude change in the clubhouse thanks to guys like Wayne Gandy and Lawyer Milloy. No more “whoa is me” attitude for the falcons.
By Connie Lingous
September 5, 2006 09:14 AM | Link to this
Good read Mark - Mora’s anger management issues and semantical cuteness have him on very thin ice, in my opinion. (By the way, Mark, your hair looked better poofy - any chance we’ll see that look from you again?)
By S.Beck
September 5, 2006 09:20 AM | Link to this
Mora is not the man for the job. He won’t last long. It’s just a matter of time. Michael Vick is really not the quarterback that “Folks” think he is. A great athlete,probably. A great quarterback, nope. It will be a long season! Just wait and see
By irving johansen
September 5, 2006 09:25 AM | Link to this
“Awthah” is a corporate guy. He’ll do what looks good to the public. What do you think he’s going to do…..go against the grain? No, he’s going with the popular view and at the time, it was to fire Dan Reeves. Falcon Nation and the media wanted Reeves gone and by golly, “Awthah” folded and fired.
Thank God Uncle Bernie had the vision and charisma to start a company that had Orange as the main color! WAR EAGLE!!!!!
By Jack
September 5, 2006 09:28 AM | Link to this
A great coach could not win with Vick at QB. Mora is not a great coach(not even a good one) Vick is a running back playing out of position. Dump Mora and Vick and watch the wins go up.
By Dirtie Birdie
September 5, 2006 10:08 AM | Link to this
A GREAT COACH COULD NOT WIN WITH VICK AT QB?!?!?!?! jack, does your last name start with a and end with a double S. you do realize vick played in the national championship game as a freshman in college. you do realize that he has been in the playoffs two of the three years he started in the NFL and that he won playoff games both of those years. you do realize that he has a pretty good winning percentage in the NFL as a starter. you do realize that he led his team to the NFC conference championship game in his second year as a starter. you do realize that he put Va. Tech on the map and brought them to heights they had never seen before and never seen since. you do realize that they should have beaten the eagles that first year in the playoffs if the refs did not pull that b.s. call and call back that touchdown that would have won the game and that he then would have led his team to a second conference championship game or maybe even more that year. if you do not realize these things, then you do not know JACK, jack dump vick, huh. why so we can never have the winning seasons and playoff games to watch? why, so we can half a dome that is only a third full? why, so we can have the games blacked out because no one goes to the games and therefore we can not even watch on television? why, so everyone in this country will go back to forgetting that the falcons exist except when they need a good cheap laugh. you say he is just a running back playing out of position. then the NFL must really be a terrible league because he seems have accomplished alot during his tenure as the starting QB. i guess according to your warped (probably racist) logic (being generous calling it logic because you don’t seem to have any) the lions really screwed up all those years because they should have just had barry sanders line up at QB and maybe barry would have won one playoff game during his entire career. Hey guys imagine how many super bowls the cowboys would have won if emmitt smith was the QB instead of aikman. Get a clue dude. He’s not just a glorified RB. He is a unique QB who has accomplished far more and won more than the great majority of the prototypical stiffs you probably think should be the QB.
By Realistic Ricky
September 5, 2006 10:26 AM | Link to this
I agree that Mora is under the gun and should be. What I do not understand is how all of the criticism about this team is centered around the offense. Granted, the WCO and Vick have not been a roaring success to date. However, there were at least three games last season when the offense scored 25 or more points and the defense blew the game in the fourth quarter. To be fair, they have brought in some talent to try and shore up this unimpressive unit. Still, I have not seen enough defensive improvement during preseason games to convince me the Falcons will make the playoffs this season. I hope Abraham, Milloy, Crocker and Jackson will prove me wrong, starting Sunday with Carolina. Go Falcons!
By George
September 5, 2006 10:27 AM | Link to this
Bleh to some of you. Vick is a fine quarterback who is only going to get even better. Mora, despite his oddities, is a good Head Coach who also is only going to get better. Vick wins. That’s all that matters. So he isn’t a typical “pocket passer”. That is exactly why he is the most feared man in football. And that isn’t merely my opinion. It’s the opinion if the defensive players who have to try and stop him on Sundays. They say so whenever a microphone is shoved in their facees. I saw enough in this pre-season to be excited for this team. While many of you are already making excuses as to why we won’t win this year and listing why, I’m already wondering how far into the Playoffs we WILL go and who we might face in a possible Super Bowl. Make no mistake… if we released Vick or Mora, the amount of teams falling over themselves trying to snag them would be incredible. Most of us appreciate your efforts, Mora and Vick. Most just don’t post on blogs such as this. Go Falcons!
By George
September 5, 2006 10:29 AM | Link to this
Bleh to some of you. Vick is a fine quarterback who is only going to get even better. Mora, despite his oddities, is a good Head Coach who also is only going to get better. Vick wins. That’s all that matters. So he isn’t a typical “pocket passer”. That is exactly why he is the most feared man in football. And that isn’t merely my opinion. It’s the opinion if the defensive players who have to try and stop him on Sundays. They say so whenever a microphone is shoved in their facees. I saw enough in this pre-season to be excited for this team. While many of you are already making excuses as to why we won’t win this year and listing why, I’m already wondering how far into the Playoffs we WILL go and who we might face in a possible Super Bowl. Make no mistake… if we released Vick or Mora, the amount of teams falling over themselves trying to snag them would be incredible. Most of us appreciate your efforts, Mora and Vick. Most just don’t post on blogs such as this. Go Falcons!
By mo
September 5, 2006 10:35 AM | Link to this
LOL @ Jack saying that a great coach can’t win with Vick at QB!
Whew! That’s funny! (Let me diffuse this real quick, OK? Reeves won. Mora won. I rest.)
Now, as far as the article, it was good. There is a sense of urgency out there for the Falcons to win now. This week. Right now. Against Carolina. And win at least 10 games. True words.
Now, say if we don’t make the playoffs this year… will Blank pull the trigger? I think so. And the whole coaching staff (except the special teams coach) will be gone. I, for one, would not want to see that happen.
By mo
September 5, 2006 10:38 AM | Link to this
LOL @ Jack saying that a great coach can’t win with Vick at QB!
Whew! That’s funny! (Let me diffuse this real quick, OK? Reeves won. Mora won. I rest.)
Now, as far as the article, it was good. There is a sense of urgency out there for the Falcons to win now. This week. Right now. Against Carolina. And win at least 10 games. True words.
Now, say if we don’t make the playoffs this year… will Blank pull the trigger? I think so. And the whole coaching staff (except the special teams coach) will be gone. I, for one, would not want to see that happen.
By Gargameld
September 5, 2006 10:57 AM | Link to this
Why is it if you think Vick is better suited for another position, your a racist? Why is it, if you think Shaub is a good your still a racist? And, why is it if you think Vick is a great QB your a reverse racist? The only colors that matter for this team are Red and Black! If your in the other catagory go jump in Lake Lanier!
By calvin green
September 5, 2006 11:19 AM | Link to this
As far as coaching hires goes, the choice should have been Charlie Weis since he was available @ the time(& not the lame excuse of him being in the playoffs not being able to interview)! Don’t we won’t a coach who helped his team win a Super Bowl & not one who just came off a 2-14 season? As I’ve said in a previous blog, please don’t expect much with what we have as an offensive coordinator….after looking @ this schedule we will be lucky to be 9-7
By maria
September 5, 2006 11:26 AM | Link to this
I checked on Vicks new coach and this guy Musgrave seems to be an important part of the puzzle. He has been successful in other teams and if you want Vick in a West Coast game who better than a guy who was there?
By maria
September 5, 2006 11:29 AM | Link to this
I checked on Vicks new coach and this guy Musgrave seems to be an important part of the puzzle. He has been successful in other teams and if you want Vick in a West Coast game who better than a guy who was there?
By Akennas
September 5, 2006 11:29 AM | Link to this
Arthur Blank is not Jerry Jones or George Steinbrenner: Jim Mora is in it for the long haul - get used to it. This is only his third season (where would Dallas have been if Clint Murchison had given up on Tom Landry after two or three years?) Yes, Mora is passionate, but thank goodness for that! Besides, barring major injuries (the main reason the Birds faltered last year were key defensive injuries), Atlanta will be right in the thick of it this year. The Blank/McKay/Mora troika is just about to hit a higher gear after grinding the gears a bit last year. I for one am willing to be patient and enjoy the ride.
By PAPA SMURF
September 5, 2006 11:30 AM | Link to this
Gargameld: The logic behind people who say vick is better suited for another position despite his many accomplishments as a starting QB in the NFL as well as in college just completely beffudles me. I don’t call anyone who thinks schaub is good a racist. based on history, it always raises the eyebrow to be on the lookout for potential racism when you hear someone start saying that a black QB needs to be shoved over to another position. for example, at UGA stafford has an incredible arm just like vick and stafford has shown some good athletic ability, albeit not even close to vick. But I have not yet heard anyone say of stafford that just because he is not yet the starter, that stafford must be stupid or uncoachable but he has good athletic skill so let’s move stafford to tight end or defensive end. that is the kind of absurdity it is when you hear people talk the same way about MV7. and stafford has not accomplished anywhere near what vick has accomplished. and if stafford does not go to the national championship game either this year or next year like vick did as a redshirt freshman than stafford will be behind vick’s accomplishment pace. I do think that it is somewhat inherently racist to say that schaub is better than vick because the track record does not provide anyone a basis for that claim. schaub won absolutely nothing in college. Schaub has not looked better than vick in preseason games. Schaub is not even a 50 % passer in the NFL, despite having six years of grooming in the west coast offense. His completion percentage is 49.3%. For someone who is supposed to be a master pupil of the west coast offense who is allegedly better than a playoff winning Pro Bowl QB, i think it is completely reasonable for us to ask schaub to complete 60% of his passes, never mind 50%, especially when he does not bring any of the other athletic skills and other intangibles MV7 brings to the table. As bad as many make MV7 out to be, MV7 still at leasts completes 54% of his passes during his career, which ain’t great but it is certainly not in the Reggie Ball territory Matt Schaub’s accuracy %% is wallowing in at this point of his career. I remember the whispers a few years ago when people were saying that doug johnson was better than vick. So, when you start to hear these things, and you are aware of the history of black QBs, and you are aware of the lack of evidence to form a basis for some of these illogical and uninformed opinions some people share, and you get increasingly tired of the silly schaub vs. MV7 comparisons, you can not help but start to feel that there is a little racist nonsense going on in those uninformed opinions of people.
By Dave from Chattanooga
September 5, 2006 11:38 AM | Link to this
Whatever happened to Dan Reeves?
By Jason
September 5, 2006 11:42 AM | Link to this
Strange, the teaser on the front page for the column says that Mora is a second-year HC. Then which season never happened: the season with the playoff appearance two years ago or the .500 season last year?
By Edgar
September 5, 2006 12:11 PM | Link to this
I agree with the article Mark. He’s got the resources to take this team into February. It’s no secret either that the 3 year extention for Blank is like a gun to Mora’s head. Just like a baseball GM giving his manager a vote of confidence. It more or less gives him 2 years to find a job if he allows this season to get out of hand like last season. I still can’t be comfotable with this coach until after this season is done. If we go deep in the playoffs or to the Super Bowl then he can stay as long as he wants. It starts this Sunday a few miles up the road and make no mistake about it this game can make or break this season. I know it’s only one game, it’s only the first game and there’s 15 more left but Sunday’s game will set the tone for the season. Say what you want but we need a W and nothing less.
By calvin green
September 5, 2006 12:28 PM | Link to this
When was the last time a “west coast” offense made it to the super bowl anyway? I liken this to the change-up pitcher who’s good in the regular season & wilts in the post-season being outdone by the fastball pitcher. Translation, football is smash-mouth & is about being tough in the trenches on both sides of the ball..not being cute which is what we have remnants of!
By boots
September 5, 2006 12:48 PM | Link to this
Take a deep breath, Dirty Bird. I’m concerned about you, man. I’m afraid you’re gonna have a freakin’ heart attack or stroke before the kick-off on 9/10. Okay, now take a deep breath. All the way in. Now, exhale.
By kellix
September 5, 2006 01:27 PM | Link to this
YOU ARE CORRRECT SIR. :)Heads are going to roll if they don’t do well. 3rd year no more excuses.
By Dirty Birdie
September 5, 2006 01:39 PM | Link to this
Hey boots, LOL!! i do tend to make it sound like the world is going to hell in a handbasket a little too much. now, i am going to take my heart medication that dan reeve’s heart doctor prescribed to me
By shadtiqua leroy mobutu
September 5, 2006 01:43 PM | Link to this
Mora is the right man for the job. As someone above stated we will know after Sunday whether we are MEN or BOYS. It is my fervent hope that we are MEN. Carolina is gonna come out and try to intimidate us and how we react will tell the story of what kind of team we really have. I hope the coaches are making sure our guys are prepared handle it.
By Ronald Millsaps
September 5, 2006 02:12 PM | Link to this
Interesting points, Mr. Bradley. The Falcons do indeed have one of the most talented teams in the game. However, they hurt themselves in their approach to winning. I’ve said it a million times and will again: The West Coast offense is not right for Michael Vick…at all. This offense is designed for immobile quarterbacks with questionable arm strength who have good offensive lines and athletic receivers who can turn short passes into big gains. Obviously, Vick’s the most mobile quarterback with the best arm, and the offensive line DOESN’T GET ADDRESSED by the Blank/Mora regime, and if the duo I just mentioned thinks a continued ignorance of the offensive line plus a talented receiver is going to make a lot of difference, they’re making Ashlie Lelie poised to be the next Peerless Price, although I’m not in any way comparing Lelie’s attitude to Price’s. I love how the Sunday paper noted that Vick’s 2002 season was his best on paper. Yeah, and it’s no coincidence that Dan Reeves, not Mora, was the coach at that time. I think Mora has many good qualities as a coach, but I think he and Blank, to this point, have held Vick back in a major way. I, for one, see Vick has who he is: Someone who could go down as the best ever IF he’s accommodated by the team, and yes, I’m referring to Blank and Mora. By the way, I think I would’ve been very careful about trading away T.J. Duckett.
By mo
September 5, 2006 02:17 PM | Link to this
Man! I am so sick of talking about this season! I want it to start!
All I am reading about on ESPN and CNNSI is how the Falcons are going to lose… how this division is too stacked for the Falcons to win. Are they telling the truth? I mean, I have not read ONE expert that are predicting the Falcons to do anything, but place 3rd in the division.
Oh, and all I have heard from EVERY expert is how the Panthers is going to win this division, hands down.
In other words, most experts believe that the Falcons will probably hit around 8-8 or 9-7 at the most.
If I was a Falcon player, I would have all of these predictions ALL OVER the weight room and locker room right now!
By tyger
September 5, 2006 02:37 PM | Link to this
Finally, some coherence from this guy. The NFC contender Mora inherited was a team of Dan Reeves’ players, from Brooking to Vick. Vick’s injury plagued season led to Reeves’ demise, but to give Mora credit for the next winning season is inaccurate. Reeves’ wouldve won more and lost less if Vick had remained healthy, Mora inherited a good team and the resulting good season.
After a year or so of implementing his system and players, the Falcons miss the playoffs and barely look like the contender of the past. Now, after all the hype and temper tantrums are over, we really get to see what a Jim Mora team can do. Will it be the same high strung emotional exclamation laden “PLAYOFFS!!!” and losses of his father or the sideline rants and raves of a silver spoon we saw last season and more losses.
Or will we see something fast, advanced and exciting that takes advantage of the talent he’s been given. My take is that Mora football is fast and soft, speed is valued over toughness and when the going gets tough the Moras get going. Thats what I’ve seen and thats all I have to go on.
By Donald Igwebuike
September 5, 2006 02:37 PM | Link to this
MORA IS A SPOILED CHILD. THE PLAYERS REALIZE THAT HE TALKS OUT OF BOTH SIDES OF HIS MOUTH. IT’S THE EQUIVALENT OF GIVING THE KEYS OF YOUR NEW CAR TO A 13 YEAR OLD. YOU WOULDN’T DO IT BECAUSE A 13 YEAR OLD IS NOT READY TO DRIVE….MORA IS NOT READY TO COACH…HE LOOKS LOST.
By Donald Igwebuike
September 5, 2006 02:38 PM | Link to this
MORA IS A SPOILED CHILD. THE PLAYERS REALIZE THAT HE TALKS OUT OF BOTH SIDES OF HIS MOUTH. IT’S THE EQUIVALENT OF GIVING THE KEYS OF YOUR NEW CAR TO A 13 YEAR OLD. YOU WOULDN’T DO IT BECAUSE A 13 YEAR OLD IS NOT READY TO DRIVE….MORA IS NOT READY TO COACH…HE LOOKS LOST.
By jroc133
September 5, 2006 02:48 PM | Link to this
Mike Vick is not the reason why this team didn’t make it to the playoffs. The defense was fine from 2 years ago b/c of Chris Draft, Ed Jasper (Grady Jackson but older) and Travis Hall. Jasper was old so they brought in Chad Lavalais and he ended up being a bust. Travis Hall came off of the bench and he was good to serviceable against the run, but he was getting a little grey behind the ears as well. Draft was said to be slow so w/ Ed Hartwell out there in free agency, McKay felt he needed to make a big splash by getting the guy who played next to Ray Lewis.
Here’s the problem - Hartwell came from a 3-4 scheme and he played next to Ray Lewis. Lewis was busting up the plays and Hartwell finished ‘em off b/c of Ray’s dirty work. We also drafted a ton of 2nd string guys for the d-line that just didn’t pan out b/c there was no big undertackle to complement Rod Coleman b/c he’s really a passrushing d-tackle. My point: Changes were made that did not need to be made and the team got exposed first against Buffalo, Miami, and New Orleans. All of those games were victories on the road to subpar teams who weren’t that good to begin with. The wheels came off against Green Bay when the team had Samkon Gado (a reject from KC’s practice squad) looking like Christian Okoye before the Steve Atwater hit that ended his career. Cadillac Williams won offensive rookie of the year alone for his games against the Falcons when the d couldn’t stop him - both games that the offense won but the d couldn’t seal the deal.
They gave Chad Lavalais his chance to save his job during camp and preseason but he just didn’t pan out like they wanted him to so they pulled the trigger on Grady after spending the entire offseason courting him. Now, Ed Hartwell is having surgery on his knees and the supposed starting corps of LB’s has yet to play one game together. On paper the d looks good, but games aren’t played on paper. Their played on the field of battle. Hopefully, Lawyer Milloy will bring attitude and nastiness which what they also lacked w/ Bryan Scott and Keyon Carpenter (but he could’ve saved his job if he would’ve had 5 more int’s instead of passes defensed from drops that were surefire picks). With all of that said, I have never been more excited for a Falcons season than this one. If they don’t win 10 games, then the staff overall (Mora included) will have a boatload to answer for.
If you want to talk about the o - Vick needs a workhorse at the wideout spot. Roddy and Jenkins have to step up ‘cause Crumpler is breaking down after all the years of taking hits that a TE shouldn’t take.
If you want to talk about Matt Schaub, then I got two comparisons for you: AJ Feely and Scott Mitchell… If you don’t know who I’m talking about, then you have no business being a football fan. You don’t throw away a 66% winning percentage for what is considered the prototype of what you need to succeed in the NFL at the qb spot. Like I said, Mike Vick ain’t the problem. Does he need to improve? YES!!! But he’s not the reason for all the hate.
Its football, folks. And it all has to come together. If not, you get Sports Illustrated making chic picks like the Carolina Panthers to win it all when they’re just the new version of the Tennessee Titans from a few years back. And what did they win? Nothing…
By William Kitchens
September 5, 2006 02:49 PM | Link to this
My instinct tells me and mark my words… The winner of the Falcons Panthers game this Sunday will not only win the NFC South, but represent the NFC in Miami for Superbowl XLI.
It’s a long season, but it’s just a hunch. If the Falcons win, I hope I’m right.
If they lose, then I hope I’m wrong.
By Bottom liner
September 5, 2006 03:10 PM | Link to this
Everbody needs to take a chill pill….. OK, here’s what’s going to happen, write this down. The Falcons will win the first game, the second game and the next 5 after that. Then Bradley will write an article about how he was really saying that Mora was a great coach and that all he was saying is that he better produce or he’ll get fired (which is like the weather man saying it’s going to be partly cloudy with a chance of rain).
Then the Falcons will go on a short 2 game slide. They will will four of the next seven to go 11-5 to win the wild card. They’ll beat Phoenix in the first round, then the Panthers, then Dallas. In the Super Bowl I’m thinking it’ll be ATL vs. Pittsburgh, with ATL winning 28-27.
Of course I grew up in ATL and I want ATL to win. Therefore I root for them without question and have no “other” team that clouds my loyalty.
The issue we have in ATL is that so many people come from other cities (lots of Yanks here) that it makes it difficult for people to believe like I do. And Arthur does. And MV does.
That’s how I see it.
By chris
September 5, 2006 03:14 PM | Link to this
As long as the ball is spread around to more than Crumplet the Falcons will be fine. They must find away to get Norwood at least 10-15 touches on the ball, also they have to use Lelie to spead the defense by having him go long. IM SICK OF THE 5 YARDS PASS PLAYS.
By Ronald Millsaps
September 5, 2006 03:36 PM | Link to this
*as
By boots
September 5, 2006 03:57 PM | Link to this
Dirtie Birdie: You the man! You are the penultimate homer! You are the head of the Bird’s PR Department! You are the optimist who can look beyond a pile of horse manure and see a poney somewhere. We need you, man. So, I’ve taken you on as a project. When you start to get out of control, I’m gonna put you in time out. Now, that doesn’t have any racial over-tones even though I’m an ol’ white dude. I’m doing it to keep you from burning out before the season even begins. No sir, we can’t have you going down with a freakin’ heart attack or stroke. We need you, man! Adios.
By Hokiebird
September 5, 2006 04:00 PM | Link to this
When Dan Reeves was fired he said this move would throw Vick 2 years back in his development.
Damn he was a great coach!
By Tha'Hammer
September 5, 2006 09:12 PM | Link to this
Great column Mark. By the way, as for the poster up top, that poofy hair thing went out oh about 1977. So please don’t bring it back. As for some of you other hacks on here, if you don’t have something intelligent to blog about(either pro or con) about the birds then please move along. Those of us who keep up with all things Falcons can know a few things going in to this season. Number one: DO NOT WORRY ABOUT THE OFFENSE. It should be the best we have seen since Vick arrived. No reason to go into detail, cause those who know, know. Number two: This defense is gonna KICK A*. Forget how it looks on paper y’all(which is good), this defense is gonna have people scrambling to come up with the next classic defensive name(grits blitz, purple people eaters,steel curtain, killer b’s, etc.)The coordinators on both sides need to, instead of harnessing these wild things, unleash these beasts to create havoc and strike fear into everyone we face. And it starts Sunday. I have been a fan since Bartkowski was a rookie, and I tell ya I have never been as ashamed of my team as I was for the last Panther game when( contrary to what Mora said in the post game press conference) MY TEAM QUIT. Plain and simple. I watched. I know. Now if there was EVER a payback game to a certain team, it is Sunday. To those that didn’t quit that terrible day, remember how it felt and lick your chops at the revenge that is coming. Can’t wait cause Carolina doesn’t have a clue as to what is in store for them. OK now you naysayers can take your shots at me. Go Falcons.
By la
September 5, 2006 10:59 PM | Link to this
I dont care if Mike V is gold plated, Im not racist, and he will trip over his hair before he wins a super bowl. Worked hard in the off season and pulled a hammy before he could get out of the car at camp, Ha! If he studied film like he studied his bathroom mirror maybe he could hit a receiver downfield with the ball. It wasnt Matt S’ fault Mike got hurt and Matt had to score in the 40’s in those preseason games. Quick get Mike back on the field before Mikes fans call any other fans racist. Gotta play that card. Oh and don’t anybody mention Mikes blunders like carrying the skin like a loafa bread or dumping the ball off 30 yrds into the stands, oops he just overthrew that reciever with that powerful arm. Talent? Sure I can’t deny it. Ability? Sorry Mikes a looser there. Can he make his teamates better? Nope. Change coaches, teammates owners, publicist. Mike will never elevate anyone around him. He just keeps everyone in a state of confusion. Where do I run to get open? Where is he so I can block for him. Punt Mike. Trade him for a whole new team, he seems to be that good they say. 10 players for Mike. I am a Dolphin fan now.