Sports Columnists

By Phat Phalcon

November 13, 2006 09:30 PM | Link to this

Best blog all year. It should be playoffs or fired.

By mayhew

November 13, 2006 09:31 PM | Link to this

couldn’t agree more. this team has no identity. i don’t think it’s time to completely overreact and say this team will never win with Vick and Mora, but it certainly looks that way. just like we don’t know what the falcons are, do we know what vick is? is he simply put in a poor offensive scheme, or is he a college qb that can occasionally do the amazing, but more often than not just look lost. you certainly can’t call him a leader. leaders cant continually turn the ball over in key situations. the guy has no clue about ball security. i defend him every chance i get, but i just don’t know anymore. what is he? anyways, i’m still hopeful they can get it together, but i guess we’ll just have to wait and see..

By Phat Phalcon

November 13, 2006 09:39 PM | Link to this

Sorry Mark. I know it’s a column not a blog.

By Falcon-X

November 13, 2006 09:46 PM | Link to this

I don’t like how Blank and McKay get a free pass either. I wonder who the next high profile, injury prone free agent will rob Falcons ticket holders next year. And as big a fan as I am, I am tired of Vick blaming everyone and taking no responsibility. Even when he puts the blame on himself (like this week) he still qualifies it by saying the holding penalty on his 10 yd scamper at the end of the game kept him from being able to win the game. Pathetic.

By Reasonable Dawg

November 13, 2006 09:48 PM | Link to this

Earlier today, I thought about that whole Lovie Smith issue also. Hard not to look at that situation and say, “what if”.

By Steve T

November 13, 2006 09:52 PM | Link to this

Let us face it, it is the coaches. Knapp need to be a better OC. Does anyone noticed how good the DBs play our WRs. They know what we want to do. For example, the defense knows when Vick runs the boot, he will be looking for Crumpler on the crossing pattern. Now, if you knew this, would you do something else. As strong as Vick arm is, he should be able to throw the throw-back pass.

The best plays we have in the passing game is when Vick is scrambling and the WRs have to find an open spot. Do you recall the TD pass to Jenkins?

What happened to our running game? Dunn was 21 for 73 for 3.5 yards a carry. Folks that will not get it done. What about when we got the ball on the 2 yard line and could punch it in. What about the pass that hit Lelie in the hands and he dropped the pass.

By terrell

November 13, 2006 09:53 PM | Link to this

Thanks for writing this article.The falcon are my team and i want more fans to write and tell their opinion so our birds could make it to that big dances.Majority of the fans know whats the problem and we got to get them jokers out of there. This falcon team got some good players but no good qualify coaches to coached team.I still beleieve thatthese birds can get this thing changed around. GO FALCONS!

By Fansince73

November 13, 2006 10:01 PM | Link to this

Great article. I have been a Falcons fan for 33 years and have seen this scene played out may times before. Get the fork, these birds are done. They may have a surprise win or two between now and the end of the season, but it will be a fluke. Mora and Vick better get use to the boo birds, they will be out in force for the next home game…….

By Steve T

November 13, 2006 10:03 PM | Link to this

Let me finish talking about the Coaches. Why are we paying a 300 pounder to be just a blocking TE? Why not do like NE and use him as many ways as possible? For example, when we had the ball on the 2, let us put the 300 pounder at FB and Justin or Jackson at TB. We are getting ready to punch the ball in the end zone and the defense better bring it. It was be hard for any LB to take on a 300 pound blocker and then tackle a 240 pound TB.

Tell Jim to step aside and let me make the personnel moves. I will have Knapp open up the offense and tell the DC to mix it up on the defense. I will want to bring the Blitz more. If you can play on an Island, you can not play for me and bye bye Jason Webster.

By GordonR.

November 13, 2006 10:05 PM | Link to this

You know what Mark, I am sick of the AJC ripping the Cleveland Browns. “One of the worst teams in the NFL” Unreal. Yes they are 3-6, but look who they lost to. N.O-Having a great season and already tore the Falcons up. Denver-great team. Cincinnati-decent, Falcons barely beat them, Baltimore-very good team. San Diego-great team. Carolina- very good team. Not one loss to a bad team. Dont get me started on Falcons fans, we all know the city is the biggest fair weather city in America. Terrible pro fans. Not once did any of you stop to think that maybe the Falcons are not that great. Nobody covering sports for your newspaper has any idea what they are talking about.

By Evan

November 13, 2006 10:16 PM | Link to this

Arthur Blank is the last person I blame. He’s done everything he can to make this team a winner and bring in fans. Also, he will make things happen if the Falcons don’t turn this season around. All he can do is put the pieces together.

The Falcons have been unlucky with free agent acquisitions. All teams go through similar experiences.

By e.b.

November 13, 2006 10:18 PM | Link to this

Mark, as usual….your blog is the best. I thought the very same thing today. Lately, the falcons have been stopping the run. Most of the time (on Webster’s side of the field), they can’t stop the pass. Two weeks in a row, Vick looks great passing, then turns it over a bunch of times against two teams they should’ve killed. I couldn’t agree more, and I’m glad you said it. This one’s on the coaches. PERIOD.

By TOMMY

November 13, 2006 10:21 PM | Link to this

Mora should shoulder alot of the blame. He should take off his rose colored glasses. Do not get me wrong I like Mora but,I think he is to worried about hurting coaches and players feelings. Its time he hurt Greg Knapps feelings. On three different drives on 3rd and short he play actioned and threw deep. Thats is where we lost the game. His too cute for you play calling. I like Vick but Knapp keeps putting him in bad situations. It was obivious Vick was tired on the last play he fumbled (not making and excuse).I think the laid back I wanna be liked attitude Mora has with players has back fired. Does anyone hear think he gets in Vicks face after he continues to carry the football like a loaf of bread. What would Parcells do? What would Norm Van Brocklen do? He needs to tell Hall to have some class and grow up.

By not a genius

November 13, 2006 10:25 PM | Link to this

Mayhew,

With all do respect, what the heck do you mean by “is Vick just a ‘college’ quarterback”. I mean seriously, what he heck does that mean? Just because he’s not a conventional, doesn’t negate the fact that he’s a quarterback. The “quarterback” is the facilitator of the offense - by any means necessary (passing or running). Name 10 starting quarterbacks in the league that you would rather have than Vick. Keep in mind there are 32 NFL teams. Also, if Vick isn’t a leader because he turns the ball over, then I guess neither are the following QB’s (all who have more picks than Vick):

Tom Brady Rex Grossman Eli Manning Ben Roethlisberger

By Dave

November 13, 2006 10:25 PM | Link to this

Blank should hop on a plane and do WHATEVER it takes to get Jimmy Johnson and give him total control. Mora and staff is way over his head. Falcons have too much talent across the board to look this PATHETIC!

By We Need Experience

November 13, 2006 10:26 PM | Link to this

Blank took a risk with this young inexperienced coaching staff and it has backfired. I kind of wonder if they were selected because of their youth so Arthur & Rich could maintain control while molding them to the Falcon specifications. Whatever the reason, Mora and his band of outcasted coordinators are proving they are not up to the challenge when the tough times hit.

It amazes me how slow these guys are to implement changes. Bloggers here will question for weeks why certain plays or formations are not used and then mysteriously they will show up on the field months later. How can we see what is needed so much sooner than the coaches? In addition, Mora and his staff have had ample opportunity to coach Vick to his potential yet 4 years later Vick is more inconsistent than when Mora took over. I also question Mora’s conditioning practices as injuries to major players seem to crop up weekly under his watch.

Bottom line is Mora is not the guy to lead this team to the Superbowl. If you question this, just listen to his press conference where he sounds like a guy who took too many ecstasy pills. His team let him down two weeks in a row and he should be dropping the hammer not scratching their backs. This team needs a swift kick to the backside and if Mora is not man enough to do that, then his job should be given to someone who will.

By nativefacon

November 13, 2006 10:30 PM | Link to this

Thank you Mark, best one of the year.

By Garcia

November 13, 2006 10:36 PM | Link to this

I don’t know if Vick will ever be a great QB but I do know that this coaching staff has made him worse. If Vick’s career ended tomorrow, his highlight reel would feature mostly plays from 3-4 years ago and hardly any from the last few years. This coaching staff has hindered Vick and this team from moving forward. I am remiss to think that the lackluster play of late could stem from players simply being frustrated with the inept coaches and gameplans. This team looks defeated before they even take the field.

By keeping it REAL !

November 13, 2006 10:42 PM | Link to this

Vick had a bad game . But the core problem is Greg Knapp and Jim Mora. This there design. Oh yea our E D Ed Donatell weak defense.Vick is to be blame some but our coaches are what wrong with this team. look how they do thing every week . Passes droped the way Vick hold the ball when he runs the Db’s get burned on deep passes. Let me prove my point . If MR. Blank told Mora and crew if you don’t get to the play off you are gone . I bet thing would change . Un till then thing will stay the same!

By a falcon fan

November 13, 2006 10:44 PM | Link to this

Yeah, Vick is okay. Mora is okay, but he is feeling pressure and reverting to days of old where his best response was to get down in the trenches. He needs to calm down and regroup and remain a leader. Knapp does need to go. Every good leader needs to realize if someone is bringing him down and throw him off the ship if he’s causing it to sink. Knapp is causing it to sink. Send him somewhere else. He may be great with another situation, but I don’t think he’s the right guy for a Mike Vick led offense…

By nativefacon

November 13, 2006 10:48 PM | Link to this

little add on, Mora pretty much used Dan Reeves team in 2004, then in 2005, his draft picks, and they ripped the defense out from 2004, and 2006 they got another draft and this is Jim Moras team. And its a dysfunctional Wreck, from the coaches to the QBs all the way down. This team might better yet need psychritist, because it UNDER Mora is about a schizophrenic team. You don’t know which one is going to come out. I blame it all on Jim Mora. I feel sorry for the players that are trying, and getting hurt like kearny, then you see the million dollar QB and the coach who has no HEART.

At least with Reeves there was stability. Mr. Blank you made a mistake. :(

By LJ

November 13, 2006 10:50 PM | Link to this

not a genius: I would take Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Tom Brady, Philip Rivers, Marc Bulger, Drew Brees, Rex Grossman, Matt Hasselback, Donovan McNabb, Carson Palmer, Steve McNair, and Matt Leinhert over Vick. Given that Vick is the 2nd highest paid player in the NFL, he doesn’t come close to measuring up to what is expected. Based upon performance, he should be making top 15 QB money. Vick is far from the 2nd best player in the NFL.

By Ken Whisenhunt

November 13, 2006 10:53 PM | Link to this

Hey Arthur,

I’m waiting on that call, baby! I’m from Atlanta, I played for the Falcons, and I know how to call plays. I was a TE, so Alge will love me.

It’s on you, dawg. Don’t make another Lovie mistake.

By nativefacon

November 13, 2006 10:54 PM | Link to this

little add on, Mora pretty much used Dan Reeves team in 2004, then in 2005, his draft picks, and they ripped the defense out from 2004, and 2006 they got another draft and this is Jim Moras team. And its a dysfunctional Wreck, from the coaches to the QBs all the way down. This team might better yet need psychritist, because it UNDER Mora is about a schizophrenic team. You don’t know which one is going to come out. I blame it all on Jim Mora. I feel sorry for the players that are trying, and getting hurt like kearny, then you see the million dollar QB and the coach who has no HEART.

At least with Reeves there was stability. Mr. Blank you made a mistake. :(

By Cedrick

November 13, 2006 11:14 PM | Link to this

Excellent blog. Finally someone is paying attention. If we miss the playoffs. I say fire Mora and tell him to take his BUDDY Knapp with him. Just think we could have had Lovie Smith as a head coach. WOW!!! bet no one saw that coming.

By Najeh Davenpoop

November 13, 2006 11:15 PM | Link to this

Very good article, Mark Bradley you are right on. I have been suspicious of Mora since the day he got here when he said he was going to make Vick a west-coast QB — I believe that decision alone set Vick’s development back a couple of years, trying to pigeonhole him into an offense that didn’t fit him at all. Consistently Mora and his staff have shown an inability to adjust, both in-game and between games. It took Mora until this year to address the size issue on the defensive line, even though it was apparent since the time he got here that the light front seven couldn’t hold up against bigger offensive lines. The coaching staff is consistently unable to change their defenses and play-calling during a game depending on the other team’s play-calling — look at the Giants game, when the Giants ran the same counter play 8 or 9 times and Tiki Barber picked up over 5 yards each time. And when your team tries to put it in cruise control when they face teams with worse records, that is the hallmark of a coach who can’t get through to his players. And the coaching staff has also been inconsistent in developing players they drafted — 2 first-round WRs still have major issues catching the ball, the top pick from this year isn’t even good enough to get on the field, and although McKay is able to find talent deep in drafts (Boley, C. Davis, Norwood) most of these players haven’t shown significant improvement over the course of Mora’s coaching regime, with the possible exceptions of DeAngelo Hall and Michael Boley. In fact, really other than Hall, Boley, and Dunn, I can’t think of any Falcons player who has significantly improved under Mora — and Dunn’s improvement is probably more because of the shift to the zone-blocking running scheme, since he is the one guy whose strengths are brought out by Mora’s offensive schemes. Arthur Blank and Rich McKay have accumulated more than enough talent on this team to go deep in the playoffs. This team needs changes in both scheme and motivation; this coaching staff is not getting it done.

And this is where losing Patrick Kerney for the season is going to hurt doubly — when your coaching staff doesn’t know how to motivate the players and keep them focused, veteran leaders like Kerney step in and help fill that role. In losing Kerney the Falcons not only lose arguably their best defensive lineman, they also lose an intense leader on the field, and it’s going to put more pressure on Brooking, Coleman, Hall, and Milloy to help fill that leadership void.

By Darrin "The Vent King"

November 13, 2006 11:16 PM | Link to this

No one in this orginization should get a “pass” in this FUBAR of a situation. Their should be no question what the issue is here when you see this type of confusion and inconsistency from this amount of physical talent. I honestly have supported and like the guy’s fire, but I have for a short while now wondered quietly if Mora is the guy for this job. It doesn’t stop there either. As much as I appreciate what Blank has done for this franchise, mainly because I’ve lived here and been a fan of the Falcon’s borderline miserable exsistence since the 70’s, I wonder about owners involvement in “football” decisions. I’m not just talking our owner either. I remember distinctly that the previous owner was WAY worse, may he rest in peace (no joke there on the R.I.P. either- nothing but respect for the Smith family outside that). It is his team, but maybe Blank should take the Ted Turner approach and let in this case “football” guys make those decisions. Yeah, Mora’s FATHER was a head coach and young Mora was involved in football AS A COACH his whole life, but he doesn’t seemed to command the authority these young Birds need right now that would come from warriors that have been there- guy’s with history IN the game and has had sucess, not BRAND new to the head coaching job installing one of THE most notoriously difficult passing offense in the league with a QB who had just finished barely getting a grip on the last one AND who’s best attribute is DIRECTLY related to inconsistency- improvisation . That goes back to consistency again (I’m sorry about being anal over this), which they have NONE of right now or in the past with this coaching staff. I agree, Dan Reeves play-calling wasn’t my favorite, but their was “consistency” at what they were trying to do with Vick back in 2002. There was “consistency” back even before that with Reeves and even before we had Vick in ‘98 when we “consistently” ran the rock over and over and over and over and over with Jamal Anderson. Get my drift?Nearly every team I see in the NFL (okay maybe THE Raiders is the one exception to this rule, but dam do you want to be the RAIDERS right now?), bad or good, winning or losing, do it trying to perfect their “ideal gameplan indentity”. What is this team’s? Vick has publicly claimed he doesn’t know. I don’t know what to trust coming from Mora anymore. McKay keeps spending money on FA busts. Busts everyone else seemed to be acutely aware of I might add too. Now an already jaded fanbase from years, upon years, upon years, of every single franchise in this city doing this EXACT same thing (yet people across the country can’t seemed to understand why Atlanta fans are the way they are after WITNESSING for themselves Atlanta teams self-destructing year after year), is left wondering which team which show up next week? The “shotgun option run it to dam death!” team, the “drop-drop-drop drop it like it’s hot!” receiving team, the “couldn’t block traffic with a stalled Marta bus” offensive line team, the “couldn’t stop a parked car from moving” rush defensive team or the “couldn’t cover a 26 cent bet” secondary team? Then just when you almost forget the one thing they are consistently good at with THE NUMBER ONE rushing team in the league which happens to be….yup, you guess it!RUNNING! What do we go and do on 4th down, in the 4th quarter of game we are LOSING with time working against us and everything in the world associated with our hopes making the playoffs and overcoming a similarily disgusting defeat the previous week at the hands of the @#$% Lions AND a 6’2 256 lb runningback we brought up from the practice squad for reasons I will NEVER know now? We throw. We throw. “I can’t believe they threw the @#$% #$%&*^%$ ball.”, has been playing over and over in my head since I left the GA Dome yesterday. I think I was drifting off in space the rest of the game, I was so diliriously exasperated with that one play. I may have punched somebody, I can’t remember. I can’t hardly even remember the fumble Vick had after that or was it before that? Hell, I can’t even remember that. To say we have no identity is an enormous understatement. You remember that man in “X-Men 3 The Last Stand” that Professor X was explaining to the kids who was born with perfectly working body functions, but has no conscience or identity to speak of? THAT’S the Atlanta Falcons right now. Laying in a hospitable bed in one of those “Laura” from General Hospital twelve year like comas. What are the Falcons? Who are the Falcons? Unfortunately this coaching staff AND F.O. is providing more questions, than answers.

Go Falcons

By the jury

November 13, 2006 11:18 PM | Link to this

I’ve read through these blogs and I’ve heard lots of opinions as to why this team is underachieving. Is it Mora, McKay, Blank, Vick? After hearing all sides, I must say that the evidence points most heavily on Vick. I have been extremely supportive of Vick thus far, but I’m through. I love watching him play, and at times, he looks unstoppable. But that’s just it, he only looks good AT TIMES. An NFL QB must be, among other things, consistent. Vick is just way too inconsistent for the long regualr season and the playoffs. Too short too! I know this will never happen, but I’d love to see Schaub get a crack at standing in the pocket and moving the ball around to the playmakers: Dunn, Norwood, Crumpler, Jenkins and VICK! That’s right, make Vick a WR/RB w/ Schaub at QB and I think you’ve got a pretty scary offense. It’s a shame that pride, stubborness, and fear will never let this happen. What do you guys think?

By bronson

November 13, 2006 11:23 PM | Link to this

Couldn’t have said it any better myself. All you have to do is read the blogs to realized that fans are fed up with this. I am almost rooting for us to lose so Mora gets his a$$ out of town. Arthur is hopefully smart enough to make the right decision. E.B. I read that transcript of mora’s press conference and was completely dumbfounded that he could follow up yesterday’s horrendous comments with a bunch of statements that made him look even worse than he already did. I haven’t liked the guy since we hired him, but was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. It seems like he has rehearsed a reaction to each type of win or loss that his team may have and that is seemingly what we always hear from him. I just wish the falcons could make the right hire or decision for once. I am still a huge fan but at some point it just gets disappointing and you feel like you’re wasting your time with them.

By Dawg Man

November 13, 2006 11:28 PM | Link to this

The Falcons need to wake up, make the tough move and trade an overrated mick vick, who can’t win big games in this league. Draft or trade for a big time, drop back QB who knows how to make tough throws. Now is the time—-vick’s value is still high in the trade market. But, knowing the falcons, they will blow it again and keep vick.

By Russ

November 13, 2006 11:30 PM | Link to this

How is it that Coach Coughlin corrects Tiki Barbers fumbling whoes and he seems to fumble now few and far between. However it seems like nobody on the coaching staff gives a da** that Vick lays it on the carpet at an alarming rate? This can be fixed by coaching. I like Mora’s fire and passion but I am a Falcons fan first and foremost. If he does not get this team to the playoffs this year Blank should think long and hard. This season has been very frustrating as a fan. It is not like we lack talent, we have boatloads of it.

By Najeh Davenpoop

November 13, 2006 11:34 PM | Link to this

And I gotta agree with Ken Whisenhunt, he would be the PERFECT candidate to coach an offense designed around Vick. That man knows how to call the right plays at the right time. In Pittsburgh he implements an offense that features a speedy, shifty RB, a strong-armed mobile passer (not as mobile as Vick, but then again who is?), a versatile pass-catching TE (not as skilled as Crumpler, but then again not many are), and he has been successful in integrating young, inexperienced WRs into his attack and making them productive players (Antwaan Randle El, Cedrick Wilson, Santonio Holmes, Nate Washington). I should point out that the Steelers place a lot of emphasis on spending high picks and big dollars on offensive linemen, which the Falcons have failed to do — this is a major reason why the Steelers have a consistent offense whereas the Falcons don’t. And if Whisenhunt brings an innovative defensive coordinator with him who will implement some of the more aggressive defensive strategies the Steelers usually have, that makes it so much better. I am all for firing Mora and hiring Whisenhunt at the end of the season, in fact I think the Falcons would have been better off doing this at the end of last season.

And the funny thing about Vick is, in his first year as a starter Dan Reeves used him more or less as a conventional QB — Vick responded with a respectable 81.6 QB rating, and most of his rushing yards came on plays when he improvised on his own. Maybe the offense wasn’t tailored to take advantage of his running ability, but he definitely looked on his way to progressing into a consistent passer. Under Knapp’s offense, which Vick never fit to begin with, Vick has been used more like a college option QB, as Knapp runs more gimmick plays than perhaps any other offensive coordinator in the league. Moving pockets, naked bootlegs, designed runs, and shotgun draws are effective when used sparingly, but not when you design your offense around them. As a result of this, Vick hasn’t really got the chance to progress as a traditional passer under this coaching staff. The few times when the coaching staff has given Vick the opportunity to stand in the pocket and throw, Vick has been pretty reliable, assuming his WRs are holding on to the ball (the Steelers and Bengals games for example, or the Dolphins game last year, or even the 4th quarter of the Lions game). But its hard to get into a passing rhythm during a game when you don’t get a chance to stand in the pocket and throw passes consistently. I’m not making an excuse for his performance against the Browns, which was poor to say the least. But a lot of his poorer performances can be chalked up to poor play-calling and poor coaching on the offensive side of the ball. This coaching staff has definitely hurt Vick’s progression by trying to pigeonhole him into an offense that doesn’t fit him.

By Dawgs2006

November 13, 2006 11:35 PM | Link to this

Any talk of moving Vick to another postion and you are a racist. But the White quarterback is smarter than the black quarterback. Vick came out early in 2001 because there was NO WAY he could stay in school and complete a degree there. Schaub on the other hand copleted four years at Virgina, which is a very tough school. HHHHMMMMMM

By kenny d

November 13, 2006 11:45 PM | Link to this

how come when they are computing the so-called passer efficiency rating, they never include the fact that certain QBs like MV7 can run? if you think about all of these so-called accurate QBs in the nfl, they really are not all that great or accurate. for example, is drew brees really all that accurate or has he merely made a living off of dumping little screen passes to bush, deuce, and tomlinson (don’t you ever dare to call him LT, there was only one LT - the greatest LB of all time).

If you think about vick’s scrambles, they are nothing more than screen passes he is throwing to himself. if you add up his passing attempts and his rushing attempts and then take his passing yards and add that to his rushing yards, you will realize that vick is about as effective as most QBs in the NFL.

if you count his rush attempts as screen pass completions during the course of his career and add that to his pass completions, you will see that MV7 essentially completes 65% of his passes. if you add the rushing attempts to the passing attempts of other nfl qbs during the course of their career, you will see this: culpepper = 69%; big ben=68%; pennington, kurt warner = 67%; carson, peyton, bulger=66%; mcnair, brees, mv7=65%; brunell, brady, hasselback, favre, brad johnson=64%; mcnabb=63%; leftwich=62%; delhomme=61%; bledose=59%; eli=56%. those number speak alot.

if you add their combined rushing yards to their passing yards, you see that MV7 averages 234 yards per game during his career. if you do the same for all of the other QBs during the course of their career, you get this average yardage per game: culpepper (281); warner (279); bulger (277); peyton (266); mcnabb (255); brett (250); hasselback (242); carson (236); bledsoe, brady (235); MV7 (234); pennington (233); delhomme, mcnair (230); brunell (229); brees (226); big ben, eli (219); leftwich (214). again those stats tell you alot.

take every nfl qb during the course of their entire career, add their pass attempts to their rush attempts and then take the total turnovers committed by adding fumbles lost to ints and you will find the following: every time they touch the ball, the following players commit turnovers at the following rates: mcnabb = 2.8% of the time; brunell = 2.6% of the time; hasselback - 2.9% of the time; peyton - 3%; mcnair, pennington, leftwich, brad johnson = 3.1 %; brady, brees = 3.2%; MV7, carson palmer = 3.6%; bulger, eli, bledsoe = 3.7%; harrington, favre, culpepper = 3.8%; delhomme, big ben, kurt warner = 4.2%

i have not yet had the time to go look at winning % and playoff victories and conference championship appearances for all of those QBs.

take what you want from those stats. a few of you are too simple minded and too filled with hate to let these types of stats sink in for you at all

By kenny d

November 13, 2006 11:53 PM | Link to this

DAWGS 2006, I AM SO SICK AND TIRED OF ARGUING ABOUT RACIST CRAP BUT YOU ARE CLEARLY A RACIST IDIOT. I CERTAINLY HOPE YOU ARE NOT GRADUATING FROM UGA ANYTIME SOON BECAUSE YOU ARE A DISGRACE TO SUCH A FINE SCHOOL. DON’T POST THE NAME OF THE SCHOOL NEXT TO ANY RACIST COMMENTS BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE AT UGA DO NOT SHARE YOUR RACIST VIEWPOINTS.

DAWGS2006, YOU CLEARLY ARE A NITWIT. SCHAUB HAD TO STAY AT SCHOOL FOR FOUR YEARS BECAUSE HE REALLY WAS NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO COME OUT. AFTER FIVE YEARS IN COLLEGE ALL SCHAUB COULD MUSTER WAS A THIRD ROUND PICK FOR HIMSELF. VICK ON THE OTHER HAND PLAYED IN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME AS FRESHMAN AND WAS THE FIRST OVERALL PICK IN THE DRAFT WHEN HE CAME OUT AS A SOPHOMORE. HE DID NOT STAY IN SCHOOL BECAUSE HE DID NOT HAVE TO STAY IN SCHOOL LIKE THE UNDERPERFORMING SCHAUB HAD TO IN COLLEGE. MV7 WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ABSOLUTE FOOL TO STAY IN SCHOOL WHEN HE WAS GOING TO BE #1 OVERALL.

FOR THE LAST TIME, SCHAUB HAS NOT COMPLETED 50% OF HIS PASSES IN THE NFL DESPITE BEING A SO-CALLED WCO PROTEGE FOR ALMOST 8 YEARS NOW. GIVE IT A REST ALREADY WITH SCHAUB

By Greg

November 14, 2006 12:06 AM | Link to this

Well, clearly at the end of this year (which looks like a losing campaign), either Vick is gone, or Mora is, or both. Blank has spent too much coin to see his team go from the Championship game to 8-8 to (I’m guessing) 7-9.

It would be interesting to see if teams are interested in Vick. Wouldn’t Miami like a shot at him? Oakland?

Vick didn’t lose the Lions game, but he sure lost this last one. Another game like that one and change might be inevitable. I hope it’s the coaching staff though.

By Robert mcmiller

November 14, 2006 12:12 AM | Link to this

THE PLAY CALLING SUCKS 4TH AND 1 WHAT WE DO , PASS ,COME ON NOW LET VICK CALL HIS OWN PLAYS WITH SIDE LINE HELP..

By FrustratedFalconsFan

November 14, 2006 12:15 AM | Link to this

Great article Mark. It must have been difficult to print this piece. It has become painfully obvious that the problem lies with the coaching. I am surprised it has taken everyone so long to figure it out. The coach has the ultimate authority to implement whatever changes are necessary to mold his team into a winner. Unfortunately, Jim Mora has demonstrated, to this point, that he IS NOT ready for a head coaching position in the NFL. He is stuck in a philosophical quandry of being loyal to his coaches and players versus making some very hard decisions about them. Sadly, he is choosing to side with his emotions and NOT lay accountibility at the feet of those whom he has invested his loyalty.

The most unfortunately part of all this is that the fans have to endure another half of a season watching the painfully pathetic play that has become Falcons football. Not to mention that players careers will be ended (or significantly hindered) by being labled a bust or meeting an untimely injury as a result of not having the right personnel in place. Because the coaching for the Falcons is not where it needs to be for a championship run, how can we realistically label any player a bust. You have to give them the benefit of the doubt. Remember, the Hawks traded away Boris Diaw who was labeled a looser and we see what happened to him in a winning environment. And if my memory serves me correctly, weren’t the Falcons the team that traded Hall of Fame QB Bret Farve? I thought so.

I am amazed at how many Vick haters there are out there, and it appears, there are just as many Vick loyalist. Vick has some very good qualities and even those who don’t want him to play QB for the Falcons cannot deny that. However, he also has some problem areas that has cost the Falcons some games. The fact that he continues to repeat those problems goes back to the coaches who refuse to bench him. We have two other capable QB’s who could hold things together until he gets his head on straight. Joe Montana was once quoted as saying that “his motivation was that he played like his job was always in jeapordy”. If MV7 is not improving, perhaps he does not fear ever being benched by the current coaching staff.

Now some players are obviously not suited to play in the NFL, for example Jason Webster. But, it is the coach’s decision to recognize that and get the right personnel who can. Jim Mora had repeatedly stood by this guy since he brought him here from SF. Heck, we can’t even blame Webster because he is only doing what he has been allowed to do. It goes back to the coaches.

We can blog about this from now until never, but it will not change until Mr. Blank decides he has had enough. If the Falcons continue to play as they have played lately, changes WILL come sooner than later.

By mcmiller

November 14, 2006 12:19 AM | Link to this

ALL I NEED TO SAY IS 4TH AND 1 GIVE ME SOMEONE WHO KNOWS GO WITH YOUR BEST.

justin099@bellsouth.net

By Bob from Acworth

November 14, 2006 12:23 AM | Link to this

Best column in quite a while,Mark.You hit the nail on the head. It falls on the shoulders of Jim Mora and his coaching staff. As for me,SCREW THE FALCONS! As a fan that has followed this franchise since it’s inception in 1966,I am tired of the fowl stench from the Ga. Dome. I have better things to do than waste my time suporting this tired troupe of sorry birds! Call me when they make it to the Super Bowl.(If they ever do again!)Until then,I’ll catch the Hawks and Thrashers and the Braves when they resume next Spring. You might want to do something soon,Artie. Your fan base is leaving you! And if you don’t ride Jimmy Mora and Company out on a rail at season’s end,you’ll wind up seeing a lot of people coming to the Dome next year disguised as empty seats! Go Tech! Go Georgia. GO TO HELL,FALCONS!

By MTurner

November 14, 2006 12:30 AM | Link to this

The Falcons will NEVER win a championship with Michael Vick at Quarterback!! NEVER! Mora, Knapp, and Vick all need go. Especially Knapp. I want everyone to realize that we could have LaDainian Tomlinson at RB and J. Peppers at DE!!!

By MTurner

November 14, 2006 12:43 AM | Link to this

And another thing it is not “RACIST” to say the black quarterback must go! I am a black guy I am saying it out loud. Football is colorless, but consistently poor quarterback is in 360 DEGREE HDTV!

By Falcon40Fan

November 14, 2006 01:23 AM | Link to this

Everyone has to realize this, the Falcons are stuck with MV7 no matter what his record or performance is. AB priced him out of any trade with the OUTRAGEOUS long-term contract. We are stuck with him. Don’t know if Schaub would do better, but if he doesn’t play, we’ll never know. Remember, MV7 is one hit away from retirement, just ask Joe Theismann. The Falcons have only had 2 QBs worthy of praise, Steve Bartowski and Chris Chandler. Take out the four really good years they had and you’re left with 36 years of mediocre performance by 38 QBs. Even blind squirrels find acorns more often than that!

By Vick

November 14, 2006 01:31 AM | Link to this

There are a lot of fake fans on this blog who makes logical discussions fade away. Vick is the most successful QB the Falcons have ever had. Before he got here, other than the Dirty Bird year the Falcons couldn’t even think about being a contender. Now because of him, yes because of him they have a legitimate shot every year. The Falcons just simply gave a guy a chance Mora, and it is failing miserably. Mora would probaly make a hell of a pitch man or salesman at at fortune 500 company, hell he duped a billionaire into giving him control of his most prized possession. Unfortunately for Vick, and really for Dunn, Brooking and Kerney, guys in their prime, they’ve been stuck with a leader who can’t lead. Establishes personal relationships with coach’s and players that are destructive to the overall success of the team. If the past two defeats didn’t cause panic, not sure what will. Now they have to face a top-notch defense in Baltimore with an already identity crisis offense. An unaggressive defense that looks fragile as hell. Dang, its a dissapointment because of the steady regression that has happen here over the last few years. I would pay for a ticket increase to have Dan Reeves. He seems like a freaking genius right about now, and would hold Vick and anybody else including his coordinators accountable for lack luster performance. Blank, right a wrong, be the bigger man and go get him back! Bring hope back to Atlanta. We promise not to complain about Reeves offense ever again. This Mora thing seems like a freaking joke, I think we all thought Blank was all about winning. Turns out he is a PR guy, in this thing for the money. Say what you want about Jerry Jones, Mark Cuban, the Yanks owner but those guys are about winning. They hold professionals accountable, will spend money, cut their losses mid stream if necessary and do whatever it takes to bring a winner home. Blank and McKay lay silent, until we get that darn letter explaining why they are increasing our freaking tickets by 20% again. Hell we wouldn’t mind if its to watch a freaking world champion. Why can’t we have a new wave owner who’ll shake up this dormant a* sportstown!!

By kenny d

November 14, 2006 01:36 AM | Link to this

once again, tomlinson, dwight, and brees never played in a playoff game for the chargers. vick has won 2 playoff games and played in the conference championship

By Jay

November 14, 2006 01:38 AM | Link to this

This is what happens when you hire the second person you interview for a coach. This is what happens when you hire a “defensive coach” whose teams have never had a standout defense. He never takes responsibility. He wont fire Knapp or Donatell, or bench Webster.

I always thought Blank overreacted in firing Reeves. That team went 3-1 when Vick played, 2-10 when he didnt. Now we have an up-and-down team, a qb who regresses and progresses every week, and a talented team who loses to awful teams. Whats the saying…good teams win the games theyre supposed to win? By that logic, we are not a good team. And with the talent we have on both sides of the ball, its easy to place the blame…coaching.

By Chris McAndrew

November 14, 2006 02:14 AM | Link to this

not a genius Good title for you b/c a genius you are not. I would take about half the quarterbacks in the league over Vick, and I would love to see Vick switched to a running back or receiver and bring in one of our backup quarterbacks. Why do you want people to name TEN better than him anyway when he is one of the highest paid players at any position in the league. Based on his salary we should be asked to just name one qb we would rather have since he is paid more than all the rest in the entire NFL.

By greg

November 14, 2006 02:42 AM | Link to this

Its one thing to lose on the road, but to lose in consecutive weeks to bad teams and play with almost no emotion or urgency is unacceptable. The coaches must take more responsiblity for having this team mentally and emotionally ready to play on Sundays. Its fairly safe to say that the love affair between Atlanta and Mike Vick is over. I have to agree with most of the comments here. Vick will never be the conventional quaterback that drops back and throws. The coaches continue to fail to put Vick in a position where he can be successful. Vick is the most dangerous player in the NFL. He causes the biggest headaches for teams thinking about what he might do. YOu have to be creative and always designing ways to get Vick the ball. Also would it be so bad to use 2 quaterbacks? I know people will say rotating quaterbacks isnt ideal, but maybe it would be worth a try. When I saw Schaub warming up to come into the game, a part of me was happy because I wanted to see what he could do. And was disappointed when I saw Vick running back on the field.

By kent

November 14, 2006 03:38 AM | Link to this

i agree with kenny d that dawg 2006 is a racist idiot but i also agree that you too, kenny d, are a idiot. how many game did shaub played? ae you going to judge a qb base on one or two game that he played in a four years that he was here at a back up with not much time to practice with the first team offense? vick, however , was the stater for all of his times here. he got all the reps and all the attention from the coaches and look at how he is progressing. the last series in the cleveland game was a joke. did you see him lined up behind the guard in the shot gun formation? i did and so was the center who had to motion to vick to get behind him. vick was dazed and confused and that contributed to his fumble that cost us a chance to win the game. a true leader rises to the occation, matter of fact, they live for that moment. they do not act like a do-not-have-a-clue-rookie. and one thing more, i am a falcon fan first and for most, i do not care what color skin mr vick has and why should i when mine is also non white??? what i care and long for is a winning team. i have written this on this blog before about how the qb possition got all the glories when the team wins and all the blames when the team loses. this is unfair since this is a game play by more than fifty men but it is what it is. if you can’t stand the heat, stay out of the kichen. twenty years as a falcon fan, i have the right to ask for winner. after all the miseries in the past , i deserve as much. so put off all your criticisms and/or accolates on micheal vick because of his skin color. let all judge him on his performance. i thank vick for giving us many exciting moments in foot ball history in general and falcon’s history in particular but until he can do what the lead footed christ chandler did in the only superbown ran that we have . base in no small part from his past two performance and his years as stater, i dare say : let give shaub a chance to see what he can do. dalas did, they took the job away from the ineffective drew bledshoe and give it to a unproven qb. drastic time call for drastic measure. let see how bad shaub can play so we can all finaly give this unspoken quarter back controversy a rest once and for all.

By JC

November 14, 2006 05:14 AM | Link to this

I am not a falcons’ fan. I did cover the Arizona cardinals for 7 years, so I know a little something about fan frustration, and you guys are entitled to it. My opinion is that Vick is just not “the guy”. He is a great talent, but when the chips are down he does not always make plays. When he doesn’t make plays, he makes excuses. The great players, in all sports, take full responsibility for what goes on out there. The ones who are looking for reasons to rationalize their failures will always find them. (bad refs, bad coaches, bad playcalling, bad teammates). These are the ones who rack up stats and highlights, make a lot of Pro Bowls, but don’t play deep into January. Favre, Aikman, Brady, Montana, Bradshaw — all won multiple Super Bowls and they fit this mold. None had Vick’s physical gifts, but they had the ablility to focus, and their teammates were better because they believed in them.

Jim Mora and Greg Knapp will be coaching in this league long after Micheal Vick is a pleasant memory. Knapp will be a head coach within the next five years. You had better believe, however, that the next time they take on a new project, they’re going to make sure they have a gutty, mentally tough, less mercurial QB to work with.

By JC

November 14, 2006 05:14 AM | Link to this

I am not a falcons’ fan. I did cover the Arizona cardinals for 7 years, so I know a little something about fan frustration, and you guys are entitled to it. My opinion is that Vick is just not “the guy”. He is a great talent, but when the chips are down he does not always make plays. When he doesn’t make plays, he makes excuses. The great players, in all sports, take full responsibility for what goes on out there. The ones who are looking for reasons to rationalize their failures will always find them. (bad refs, bad coaches, bad playcalling, bad teammates). These are the ones who rack up stats and highlights, make a lot of Pro Bowls, but don’t play deep into January. Favre, Aikman, Brady, Montana, Bradshaw — all won multiple Super Bowls and they fit this mold. None had Vick’s physical gifts, but they had the ablility to focus, and their teammates were better because they believed in them.

Jim Mora and Greg Knapp will be coaching in this league long after Micheal Vick is a pleasant memory. Knapp will be a head coach within the next five years. You had better believe, however, that the next time they take on a new project, they’re going to make sure they have a gutty, mentally tough, less mercurial QB to work with.

By Vikingsouth

November 14, 2006 05:59 AM | Link to this

Good column, Mark. Have to agree. While, as the saying goes, there’s always enough blame to go around (receivers dropping passes, Vick fumbling, McKay drafting said receivers), you have to look at the inconsistent play. The Falcons ARE dysfuncional. When the smoke and mirrors are taken away, the truth is that they can’t move the ball when they have to. teams have figured out how to stop the option, and they know the Falcons can’t throw consistently. So what are you left with? Reeves was a great X and Os man. His problem was as a GM. Mora obviously is in over his head. He loves this, losing? He’s probably, unfortunately going to get more of it until he gets canned..

By drew

November 14, 2006 06:18 AM | Link to this

OK, I’m done with Falcons. And surprisingly, it wasn’t the laughable performances these last two weeks that did it…it was there joke of a coach that push me over the edge.

One thing Mora said at his post-game press conference told me everything I need to know about his leadership abilities. Mora said it would be “ridiculous” for him to criticize Vick for his late game fumble. No, Mr. Mora, what’s ridiculous is that your leader has twice in the last two weeks fumbled without being touched by another player, because he either refuses to or has not been told to protect the ball. If it’s the former, his butt should be benched until he learns what most football players learned before they hit puberty. If it’s the latter, then some coaches need to go. Either way, it’s on the coaches to correct, to teach, to lead, to improve their players. This head coach is either too stupid or too weak to perform his job.

How am I supposed to believe that Mora and company can fix the Falcons multitude of problems, when the head coach and the entire staff cannot even teach their million dollar QB how to carry a football. Oh wait, it’s not that they “can’t” correct it, it just that it would be “ridiculous” to do so.

Pathetic. I’ve been a Falcons fan for 35 years, but I’m done with this bunch. Not because of the inconsistent play, but because Mora has made it perfectly clear to me that he is NOT a leader. I’m hoping for a 5-12 season so Blank will do what must be done. If we go even .500 we can look forward to more years of the same.

By John

November 14, 2006 06:37 AM | Link to this

The Falcons have been and will continue to be the most overated NFL team around. Bad coaching or not, good Mike Vick passes or not. They have no talent.

By Kudzu

November 14, 2006 06:49 AM | Link to this

When Vick doesn’t execute a play properly, it’s always the coaches fault, or the OL, or a receiver running a bad route, etc. But NO COACH or coaching will ever make “loverboy” any better than he is or wants to be, or God forbid…HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE. He sings his own tune cause he’s God’s other son.

He plays tired, confused, ignorant, then points blame, saying “I guess I probably should have done more.” The day of walking out on the field and juking and running around is past. Mature QB’s take the time to prepare and don’t presume.

Yeah, “how about staying at home without your party and posse and resting and studying and preparing yourself for the game.

I’m not in love with Mora or his staff, but #7 has had plenty of opportunities to excell, and lead this team, but he’s not a leader, he’s the “chosen one” and we’ve put him there, and now we (Mora) mistakenly credit him with the role of leadership, anoint him, acknowledge his birthright, and when he fails or just flat out sucks and plays inconsistently, no one can do a dang thing about it…cause he’s who he is.

Many will “see the door” before he’s shown the way out. Someone else will be the fall guy in this sad tangled up mess.

By D

November 14, 2006 06:56 AM | Link to this

to lose to two bad teams in a row, and lose in a way that shows players aren’t trying hard, is a clear indication of poor coaching. it’s important to fear your coach, this team does not fear this coach, as their performances show, and the coordinators are even worse. but Vick is a large problem, too. he is too inconsistent and has shown after several years in the league that he doesn’t have to improve with simple things like ball handling, the primadonna mentality. this team will be in a holding pattern until we get a real QB, and one that concentrates on football. if Schaub is allowed to leave and not make it or fail here, that will be another Favre situation. this is pathetic and I’m tired of a team I keep trying tolove constantly spin their wheels, and to perform so porrly, when friends I know seem to have better coaching skills than anyone in the organization. get rid of Vick and Mora asap!

By Jim_h6

November 14, 2006 07:08 AM | Link to this

hey, the DEFENSE actually stepped up and played well enough to win against Cleveland, EVEN with their injuries. Yes you’re right about dysfunctional coaching, and it starts with GREG KNAPP, and the lack, after 3 years, of executing a strategy that fits our franchise player and accompanying FIRST ROUNDERS. and to the extent JIM MORA adores Mr. Knapp, he’s at fault as well. I still don’t understand the hype that accompanyed this supposed “offensive genius” from San Fransisco? the 49ers were not even that good when he was there?

By jerry

November 14, 2006 07:12 AM | Link to this

Bradley is all wrong. One cannot expect this proud organization to stoop to the point of making an effort against the likes of trash like the Lions or Browns anymore than one could question a George Armstrong Custer decision.

By Falcon

November 14, 2006 07:24 AM | Link to this

I don’t believe Lovie Smith is going anywhere. However, Ken Whisenhunt, Offensive Coordinator for Pittsburgh, is buying his time, and waiting patiently to come back to Atlanta. It seems like Mora jumps on his guys when they get aggressive and push the other team around and get a penalty. However, when pass protection fails, he turns the other cheek!

By Falcon

November 14, 2006 07:24 AM | Link to this

I don’t believe Lovie Smith is going anywhere. However, Ken Whisenhunt, Offensive Coordinator for Pittsburgh, is buying his time, and waiting patiently to come back to Atlanta. It seems like Mora jumps on his guys when they get aggressive and push the other team around and get a penalty. However, when pass protection fails, he turns the other cheek!

By dj

November 14, 2006 07:25 AM | Link to this

Does the owner, GM, Falcons coaches or players actually read these blogs? All that is said and written about the Falcons seem to be true. The only people who can do anything about the current sitution continues to put up with mediocrity. To much loyalty to certain players and not enough productivity from coaches or players. Put a fork in the birds until changes are made.

By Bonsaw

November 14, 2006 07:42 AM | Link to this

Lets see. The last time I looked, Greg Knapp wasn’t fumbling the game away, Jim Mora wasnt thowing 3 interceptions a game, and Author Blank wasnt getting smoked by wide receivers. These guys out on the field make more money in a week than some people do in a life time, when do we hold them accountable for their performance. If I performed my job as inconsistantly as these guys I would be looking for work somewhere else. It doesnt seem to matter what scheme we put into a game, the running attack with the option or a game plan where Mike can be the super hero and thow the ball, we get the same results-inconsistant play from guys that don’t take the responcibiltiy for letting their fans down again.

By JB

November 14, 2006 07:50 AM | Link to this

I love to look at how Bradley keeps bringing up Dan Reeves, A guy The AJC couldn’t wait to help get fired. Guess what, in 5 years he’ll be bringing up all the virtues of Mora. You guys kill me.

By MAFalconFan

November 14, 2006 07:56 AM | Link to this

* fire mora asap * let mckay hire a new coach who is interested in winning games and not being buddy buddy with the players. * mora and knapp suck * vick, crump, dunn and young wrs and a solid d (which we are very close to having) can win the division and go deep in the playoffs if we have a coach who has a clue and a * oc * who can use vick the right way.

By die hard falcons fan

November 14, 2006 07:59 AM | Link to this

Yall forgetting that Mora and his boys are product of the fortywhyners… we are gonna be the laughing stock of the league.. and i already heard many folks arent going to renew their season tickets next season unless they get that cat from GA Tech.

Mr. Blank need to fire the strength and conditioning coach. I cant believe we got more wounds than a MASH unit!

By Birdy

November 14, 2006 08:01 AM | Link to this

Very nice article. And great comments by all, especially We need Experience.

Blank took a chance on an under-qualified, inexperienced guy. It certainly has not panned out. And despite McKay’s urging to stay the course, it is time to cut our losses and move on to someone with real playing experience and/or head coaching experience. Jeff Fisher or Ken Whisenhunt are my preferences since the ultimate blunder of passing on Smith for a spinmaster was made back in 2004.

Time to right the ship.

By William

November 14, 2006 08:06 AM | Link to this

I agree with what everyone is saying, the Falcons are being out coached on every single level. This is Mora’s team, his staff, and alot of the players he has brought in. If they don’t make the playoffs, Mora should be fired. The Falcons need a change of direction and philosophy. They need to bring in someone who’ll hold every single player accountable for poor performance, especially Vick. I’m not the biggest fan of number 7, and I still believe that the franchise would be better off without him, but in his defense how can he mature as a quarterback if you keep putting him on a pedalstool instead of ripping him when he makes mistakes. Vick should have been benched a few times for his performance this year. He’s the leader, so he needs to be held more accountable for his actions on the field. Ultimately, the falcons need an old school football coach to fix this problem. A coach who’ll understand the talent he has and will develop a system that will allow his players to succeed, someone who believes in the old adage that defense wins championships, and a coach who has an eye for talent and will see past all the hype of college and free agent players. The Atlanta Fan deserves no less.

By the birdman

November 14, 2006 08:11 AM | Link to this

Mr. Blank,

I know you’ve spent a lot of money on the Falcons, and I’m sure your intentions were good. However, your decision to hire Jim Mora was a bad decision. Also, your decision to pay Michael Vick that unbelievable amount of money was not wise. Michael Vick will never be a winning NFL Quarterback, primarily because he will not listen to anyone as his ego is bigger than one of your Home Depots. And he will NOT protect the ball!

In my humble opinion, the only solution is to fire Jim Mora NOW, and either move Vick to another position or trade him.

The Birdman

By greg

November 14, 2006 08:25 AM | Link to this

just as i said 5 weeks ago,,,,,,jimbo put a rope around his neck by begging art and rich to go after big name defensive names to help offset his bad coaching. now the “atl” is just under the cap,,,,no signs of life, and OUT of it for the year. is mckay still on a drunk stooper after not getting the comish job??? why havent we heard from him???? i’ll tell yah why.:::: i can hear him now, telling art, no art, we dont need to spend any more money,, we need to see what jimbo can do with what he’s got,,, he dans team to the playoffs in 04,,,kissed his sister in 05,,,,lets let him build a foundation, not a 1 year wonder. (and art said:): jimbo said all he needs is a d-end and some safties,,,,,,,,,,,,,rich said noooo art,,,,stop acting like the smith family, and let a football mind help build this team. art said, sit down and shut up,,,,,hear jimbo,,,heres 70 million,,go pay ed nohartwell his cut,,and go get a gimpy d-end, and while your out there go get us a over the hill and a 2nd rate safty,, OH,,,,,,JIMBO,,,,,grab me a grape slush puppy too. then art turned to rich and said:: jimbo’s a realy good boy,,,,,,,,,,,now you sit there and dont say another word till he brings me a ring,,,,,,,,,,,,and my slush puppy. “RICH!!!!!!” grow yah a pair, start looking NOW, and dont hide it. send a clear message,,,,,,,,,,,the next staff will win,,,,,,,,or they’ll be up at at the 7-11 saying;,,,,art likes those straws with the spoones in the ends; do you have any of those?? oh yah,, do yall have safties.

By Gene

November 14, 2006 08:27 AM | Link to this

There is no question that Reeves was a better coach than Mora. The Falcons and Mike Vick need discipline. Arthur Blank’s behavior is beginning to remind me of Ted Turner when he insisted of fraternizing with the Braves during baseball games. Turner was drunk, though. The Falcons need a coach who will not stop to chat with the owner during play. Vick is a super athlete, but his play reminds me of touch football games when I was a kid where the best athlete could make it up as he went along, and no one could touch him. That won’t work when all of the players are super athletes. As a native of Atlanta, I am embarrassed when I see the owner sucking up to the players on the sideline and essentially interfering with the game.

By Kudzu

November 14, 2006 08:27 AM | Link to this

Ken Whisenhunt will probably be the new Steelers coach next year…

By scott

November 14, 2006 08:47 AM | Link to this

i think that mike vick is doing to much party hopping on fridaya and sat. because he can’t seem to show up for work on sunday . vick look like he was totally out of the game agaisnt the brown linning up wrong i think he doing some drugs weed or somthing because his mind is not in the game maybe the owners need to look into what in the hell vick is doing on his off time

By not a genius

November 14, 2006 09:08 AM | Link to this

Chris McAndrew -

I’m might not be a genius, but based on your comments you obviously lack some common sense. Just because Vick is not performing to your standards doesn’t mean he should be moved to running back. If that’s the case then every Quarterback in the league NOT named Brady should switch positions. He’s the only one besides Rothlesburger who’s one a championship in the past five years. People keep saying the Falcons will never win a championship with Vick, and that they’d rather have all these other QB’s besides him. Who are these great QB’s, and where are their championships????? Vick earned his money by putting butts in the seats. He generates revenue!!! He can’t win it by himself. There are 10 other guys on the field that have to contribute. Don’t hate!!!

By beef

November 14, 2006 09:16 AM | Link to this

philly fan here: for what its worth you need to dump vick. He is the allen iverson of football: a one dimensional player who can’t lead. Start Shaub now and the falcons will make the playoffs

By Dannotdan

November 14, 2006 09:20 AM | Link to this

Apparently Arthur Blank’s list of his most fascinating people in history published on page F2 in Sundays AJC was incomplete. In addition to Kurt Hahn, John Kennedy, Jackie Robinson, Winston Churchill and David Glass, Coach Blank was very upset that the AJC omitted the following fascinating people.

Michael Vick my close personal friend and the bestest quarterback ever. Sure I paid him more than Brady and Manning combined but he is worth it. You would be just as good as those other QB’s if you were 6-5 and could actually see beyond your offensive line. I would have drafted a NFL quarterback but you make me feel so tall when on on the sideline interfering with Coach Mora.

Television Michael, he was so dreamy on HBO. When I heard that he wanted to pass the ball on first and second down I called that Mora fellow faster than an irate AAU parent who’s kid is not getting enough playing time and told him to knock off that league leading rushing attack and let Mikey pass it.

Ron Mexico, he is almost as handsome as Mike. When he is hitting the Blacksburg Bong and his eyes are glazed over, he reminds me of Mikey when he is looking at a defense shift as the play clock winds down.

Xbox Mike, he is so good on Xbox when I control things directly he is the best player in the world. It’s so inefficient calling plays with that puppet Mora, he actually broke my arm bending over after another interception while my arm was up his a$$..

By Jim

November 14, 2006 09:26 AM | Link to this

I think Blank should look at Ken Whisenhunt as a receivers coach. Knapp needs to go also and bring in someone who can adapt and overcome. The coaching is bad, very bad! It can be seen on the plays that are called on both offense abd defense. There needs to be some changes, wholesale changes made in our coaching staff. Mr. Blank needs to sack Mora and send ALL his coaches with him. If Jimmy Johnson or Lovie Smith were available, just someone of that caliber, we would not have Vick. He is not the QB everyone thinks he is. He is not a leader and will never be a winner in Atlanta. Sorry folks, but that is the truth whether you want to beleive it or not. Maybe time to put Schaub in and line Vick up as a receiver. He sure is no QB…Mr. Blank, make some changes now…

By scribe

November 14, 2006 09:31 AM | Link to this

This team has underacheived… However, with all the defensive injuries, you can’t fire the head coach because the backups have been ineffective on defense. The offense however… Boy i wish we had Tomlinson instead of Vick… is pathetic

By JIM CHUMLEY

November 14, 2006 09:33 AM | Link to this

I live and die with every falcon game,but lets face it:when you play “not to lose” rather than play “to win”, guess what, you’re doomed to defeat.My twelve year old son thinks I am a genius because on just about red zone opportunity I tell him what the falcons are going to run.Guess what I am correct on over 90 per cent of not only the play that is called but also the result of that play!!! Of course I am not a genius but the falcon co-ordinators make geniuses of us all including falcon’s opponent each sunday (or monday or thursday,etc). Seventy five percent (being conservative) of the times that the falcons are in the red zone the play called is a Vick drop back pass in which results in a blitz from the opponent resulting in a 10 to 20 yard loss, don’t you think a sprint out or even a draw would be a better play in light of the fact that the drop back pass results in a sack on every occasion.I have many more of these goodies MR. BLANK if intrested please contact.

By HATinGA

November 14, 2006 09:34 AM | Link to this

I dont care for Mora that much because he seems unwilling to even let people know were the team stands because he never says anything, its all just keep fighting, I dont like to talk about individuals just the team,so he never really say anything,I dont like the fact he is unwilling to say to Vick either you are going to take care of the ball or I will play somone who will.In the NFL its fairly simple, the team who wins turnovers wins!period.So if your not going to COACH the player who has the ball every play to hold the ball RIGHT! your doomed to fail!But I think he was doomed when he was hired because he has a QB that is not the same player every game.You hear thay are not using him right, how do you Know how to use him when he is different every game.One he runs next he throws,I keep hearing he is a different animal and he is,every game he is different. I have a hard time beleiving Vick can ajust, he has been in the NFL now 5 years and he still holds the ball like a rookie right out of college.And this is were the coach says hey either get the ball in tight or SIT!

By Stan Roberts

November 14, 2006 09:35 AM | Link to this

Mr. Bradley you only write about the Falcons being bad when they are down and out. But Terence Moore saw through all of this during weeks 1 and 2. When will you guys stop being fans and finally start being REAL journalists that tell it like it is ALL the time not when it’s safe. Terence is the only one on the AJC staff that has the foresight to tell the truth. This team is hugely FLAWED and you want to finally say something now. But, kudos to you on stating the obvious! Yes, we know the Falcons need help and Lovey should have been hired. (another past Moore article)

By Chris Brown

November 14, 2006 09:41 AM | Link to this

Bradley you only write about the Falcons being bad when they are down and out. But Terence Moore saw through all of this during weeks 1 and 2. When will you guys stop being fans and finally start being REAL journalists that tell it like it is ALL the time not when it’s safe. Terence is the only one on the AJC staff that has the foresight to tell the truth. This team is hugely FLAWED and you want to finally say something now. But, kudos to you on stating the obvious! Yes, we know the Falcons need help and Lovey should have been hired. (another past Moore article)

By JSC

November 14, 2006 09:46 AM | Link to this

Mora took the team to the play-offs his first year - with DAN REEVES players and Vick sure played better under DAN REEVES. Heck, Reeves even got more yardage out of those off-tackle runs on first and second down that Knapp seems hellbent on running. As a longtime season ticket holder I just can’t justify paying the increase I know we’ll get again this year to watch this.

By CAQ

November 14, 2006 09:47 AM | Link to this

As ususal the blog turns to a Mike Vick insult blog. This blog is about the coaching and the bad job they are doing with the talent thats on the team.

If you fans want to put the losses all on Mike Vick then you no nothing about the game of football.

The problem is on offense is that the running game has gone away. Teams do not fall for play action pass anymore because we are not picking up big yards on the ground. that allows the defense to double Crumpler.

The coaching staff has a problem with staying with the same plays too long. This is the NFL, teams watch game films every day sothe offense has to change from week to week but I do not see the Falcons making changes.

Also, not allowing your QB to call an audible is the worst thing I have ever heard. How is a QB supposed to react to a defense if he cant make a change on the line of scrimmage.

The coaching on defense has to have the same aggressive style as it does in the 2nd half of games. Our defense always starts off playing zones, then when the Falcons fall behind the coaches finally figure out we need to blitz. Thats not good coaching.

By scribe

November 14, 2006 09:57 AM | Link to this

dear CAQ:

16 of 40 with 2 picks is not a problem with coaching…its a problem with execution and the mental capability to execute of the entire offense.

By Bill Parcells

November 14, 2006 09:57 AM | Link to this

If my team had played like the Falcons at home on Sunday, my press conference would have been something like:

“I’m disgusted. We should refund every dollar that our fans paid to get into this mess.

Starting now, Mike Vick is on the bench and Matt Schaub is our QB until Mike learns to tuck the ball. This isn’t a difficult decision; I would make the same call in Pee Wee ball with 7-year olds running around.”

By Peter

November 14, 2006 09:57 AM | Link to this

Dan Reeves assembled a winning team for ATL and he would get in Vicks’face when he messed up - Vick didn’t like that so Blank fired Reeves. Blank should have let Dan develop/mature Vick Blank could have hired Lovie Smith but he picked Mora -second real bad move. Mora won with Dan Reeves team. Now Mora won’t confront Vick - that’s bad for Vick & Falcons

By Randy

November 14, 2006 10:01 AM | Link to this

I have been a season ticket holder for 5 years and I have to say this year may very well be the last. I don’t even like going to the games anymore. The Falcons stink up the field more often than not and usually it seems as though they don’t even show up to the game.

I can tell after the first offensive possesion what type of game it is going to be for the Falcons. It is pathetic. The Falcons look the same every time they lose. They seem unprepared and lack motivation.

The problems are everywhere. Vick is erratic and inconsistent, the WR’s can’t catch, the o-line doesn’t block. The defense is not agressive enough, and the secondary gives up to many big plays. From play-calling to game preparation the coaching is horrible. Every time I hear Mora speak I want to strangle that little prick. Does he think we are idiots?

Anyone still holding out hope that the Falcons can make the playoff’s are delusional. They are at best a 7-9 team.

By CAQ

November 14, 2006 10:21 AM | Link to this

Scribe,

How many QB’s would put up better numbers with the receivers and play calling that the Falcons have. Its hard to be 30 of 40 when your receivers do not get seperation from the defensive backs and the coach is calling plays everyone in the stadium knows is about to happen.

You can’t be a great passer with poor receivers. That has nothing to do with mental capacity.

By gizmox

November 14, 2006 10:23 AM | Link to this

Will a 8-8 record save the coaching staff for another year? I don’t think so. As Rankin Smith once said, “We have reached a plateau and it is time to make changes”. McKay needs to provide more talent for position depth, and the coaching staff needs to be changed if this downslide continues. We are looking at the same mistakes as last year. Personally I believe Wade Phillips should have been given a better chance. He has done a great job in San Diego. Just my opinion for now.

By honest_abe

November 14, 2006 10:24 AM | Link to this

another putrid column mark… wow you’re on a roll! you just might be the flakiest writer in america… how convenient to play to the emotions of most fair weather fans in america.

before everyone decides to fire mora.. kind of like how everyone was calling for a certain dan reeve’s head 3 years ago… there are certain things that are out of a coaches control.. ie mike vick getting injured in that brutal season reeves got fired. blank listened to idiot atlanta fans and incompetent writers such as mark bradley and decided it would be in the best interest of the falcons to get rid of reeves. now 3 years later.. everyone wants back, who? reeves? LOL .. all of you idiot fans and mark bradley should be shipped off to cleveland to cheer on the hapless browns..

it’s not mora’s fault he doesn’t have his best pass rusher, his 2nd pass rusher has been banged up, his best d tackle is banged up, the star middle linebacker that they signed for a big contract is injured and has barely played, the 2ndary is directly affected by the lack of pass rush.. and since your stars aren’t on the d line.. you have to bring up your safeties to help against the run which leaves your 2ndary vulnerable against the pass..

the offense has been missing two of their starting guards.. and as much flack as you give those guys lehr and forney are what made our run game tick! the receivers, including vicks fav target crump have been extremely inconsistent in catching the ball. mike with a patchwork offensive line ran for his life all day against the browns and the fatigue showed late in the 4th………

there are 16 games in the regular season….. is it really necessary to write a piece calling for someone’s head at this point in the season? how about letting the season play out first? if nfl owners followed mark bradley’s logic then jack del rio should be fired, john fox should be canned, bill parcells should get the boot.. yip unless you are the colts or bears..YOU SUCK AND EVERY HEAD COACH SHOULD BE FIRED! mark let me suggest something… please retire, resign, move to another city… your articles are boring, predictable and for the most part classless…

By SK

November 14, 2006 10:28 AM | Link to this

Why didn’t we go for 2 point conversion after the TD. What’s Jim Mora’s explaination?

By Rutuger

November 14, 2006 10:29 AM | Link to this

FYI to those concerened, people don’t read posts that are

A) in all caps, and/or B) novella-length.

By Max

November 14, 2006 10:30 AM | Link to this

when will Vick and Knapp realize that Crumpler is not the same pass receiver as he was once. However, he is pretty big guy, so may be we can plug him in the same situation as T.J.D was in the past.

By Frank Smith

November 14, 2006 10:34 AM | Link to this

My take on the falcons might be a little different from most people. I think that one of the biggest pluses and one of the biggest drawbacks for the falcons is the owner, Arthur Blank. How many coaches in the NFL have the owner on the sideline talking to them during the game? He is going the same route that Turner did with the Braves when he first bought them. When Blank learns( as Turner did) to turn the football operations over to the people he hired and stay in the background, then the team will begin to be more consistent.

By honest_abe

November 14, 2006 10:35 AM | Link to this

rutuger.. for those of you that have a hard time reading posts that are longer than two sentences… or have more substance than “mora sucks”.. i’m sorry. maybe going out and learning how to read might help?

By honest_abe

November 14, 2006 10:38 AM | Link to this

rutuger… oh yes before i forget let me congratulate you on becoming the official spokesperson for all bloggers… lol

what a t**.

By CJ2

November 14, 2006 10:39 AM | Link to this

Great Article. I would like to pile on.

Jim Mora. He is emotionally immature and he carries himself in a juvenial, insecure manner. Is it any wonder why this team is inconsistent? He is an ex-defensive backs coach and ex-defensive coordinator. Why can’t he atleast add value to that side of the ball.

Mike Vick. He is an entertaining circus act. Great one week, average the next, good the next, terrible the next. Is it any wonder why this team is inconsistent? Something else to consider- he is going to be 27 next year-that 4.3 40 will become a 4.5 40. Unless he learns to throw consistently he will be out of the NFL before he is 30.

Front office. A. Blank needs to be on McKay’s arse. Why did we draft a freaking 280 pd. defensive tackle 2 yrs. ago in the 2nd round when lack of physicality on both sides of the line has been a problem? How many rosters could Roddy White make right now in the NFL? Not many.Is it any wonder why this team is inconsistent?

By Dawgs n' Birds

November 14, 2006 10:46 AM | Link to this

For all you Vick Haters, I don’t think it was Vick calling for pass plays down the field on 3rd and 1 three different times and I don’t think it was Vick who called for another running play after he just ran 13 yards and the play was called back. And let me tell you something else, If any other Qb in the league had the skills Vick does or ran as many times in a season mostly for his life, they would have way more fumbles. Vick had no time once again to throw sun. I think Knapp is setting Vick up to fail and sabotage his career. Vick says he wants to throw more so knapp says okay heres what you want throw it 40 times. He did not need to call that many pass plays against the team that ranks 29 in rush D. Knapp SUX. Bring in Mack Brown or any collegiate coach and he will do better than mora @ Co.

By Boots

November 14, 2006 10:46 AM | Link to this

I agree with those who, while not especially pleased with the coaching staff, place the blame on the players and their inability to “execute” the plays the way they were designed.

A prime example is the ineffectual pass patterns the receivers run. One would think that by the time a player reaches this level he’d be able to run an effective pass route.

As far Vick, he’s fun to watch as he jukes and jives, but he is not an NFL quarterback and the coaches are “pulling on a duck’s neck trying to make a swan” out of him.

I said during preseason, that the Falcons had collected an array of talent —- many who were rejects from other teams —- and that the big job would be bringing these misfits together to form a team. And, that seems to be the problem. The Birds are not playing as a team and Vick is not a Field General pulling them together for a common purpose.

By CAQ

November 14, 2006 10:46 AM | Link to this

I wouldthink the Falcons would be useing Crumpler as more of a decoy by now. Teams double him on every play but the coaching staff can’t seem to take advantage of it.

By Lowcountry Bulldawgs

November 14, 2006 10:46 AM | Link to this

JC,

Favre, Aikman, Brady, Montana, Bradshaw — all won multiple Super Bowls—

1) Farve—1 Title

2) Except for Farve and Brady the others where pre free agency win teams stockpiled talent.Extremely hard to compare those era’s. I do understand your point thou.

Hire Kirk Ferentz who is a Belichick guy!

By Romeo

November 14, 2006 10:49 AM | Link to this

the problem with the falcons is they do not know how to make adjustments and or gameplan. the whole coaching staff should be revamped. greg knapp is pathetic. there is a reason san fran let him go. what has he done for the falcons? take away vick and the falcons might might have two victories this year. knapp mhas no idea how to make the proper adjustments at halftime nor formulate a coaching plan. cleveland has a pedestrian type run defense yet the falcons throw more than they ever did. the defense how can you fault them with all the injuries they have sustained they still turned in a good performance. mora should be held accountable for what can only be deemed as a pathetic effort by an nfl team. if the falcons keep going they way they are they are looking at yet another losing season. cut your losses now fire mora and fire knapp and look to next season. And atlnata fans ask yourself this who would you rather have LT or VICK. the trade looks very one sided now and not in the falcons favor.

By Jeff D

November 14, 2006 10:54 AM | Link to this

honest_abe

Injuries are part of the game. The Bears, Colts, Eagles and Panthers - to name a few - have lost starters to injury. A good coach knows how to overcome those injuries.

Moreover, the Falcons’ significant injuries are with defensive players. Most fans, however, are upset with the Falcons’ performance on offense. The Falcons have one of the highest paid players in the league in Vick. Vick has not shown any signs of development since Mora took over. In fact, Vick has regressed. That is a product of poor coaching.

Additionally, the team is inconsistent, lacks an identity, often plays flat and often plays without effort. That is a reflection of the coach.

Mark has placed the blame exactly where it should be - on the head coach.

By Larry

November 14, 2006 10:59 AM | Link to this

Hey Romeo — how many playoff games has LT played in? How many has he won? Now ask those same questions of Vick.

Idiot.

By **Amanda H**

November 14, 2006 11:05 AM | Link to this

*Gordon R. you are brilliant! I think no matter what anyone says the Browns are the best team in the NFL. The AJC writers are just Georgia Tech loving nerds. You sound great… let’s get married and have lots of babies! *

By honest_abe

November 14, 2006 11:07 AM | Link to this

jeffd…. so by week 11 … if a team is 1 game above .500 the coach should be canned… ya… hmm i guess i’m just not following your logic. injuries are a part of the game.. but when 3 of your d lineman are out and you guys like paul carrington and josh mallard getting playing time.. along with tommy jackson and darrel shropshire.. who is to blame?? the head coach? how about the gm? how about tying up all the money in skill positions and not investing along line depth on either side.. how about reaching for two 1st round picks who have been to say it nicely BUSTS! how about those upgrades at safety? i guess all those personnel moves are jim mora’s fault as well.. yes your right jeff. mora is at fault for EVERYTHING!

the team is inconsistent….alot of good teams are trying to find their identity right now… my only point is wait until this whole thing plays out before you start suggesting coaching changes… as if the falcons roll off 3 wins in a row… you guys will all be thinkin mora is genius again.. which will only make you look like more of a** than how you already look..

seriously though.. name calling aside.. st.louis, jacksonville, new england, pitt, cincy, dallas, philly, miami, minn, carolina are all teams that have been inconsistent, have no identity, often play flat and for the most part without emotion…….so based on your argument… linehan, del rio, belichek, lewis, cowher, parcells, reid, saban, fox … ya pretty much every single nfl coach and let me remind some of them are pretty darn good… SHOULD ALL BE FIRED! NOW! LOL fickle, fickle, fickle…

By Romeo

November 14, 2006 11:12 AM | Link to this

hey larry how many touchdowns does LT have this year and how many does VICK have. One other question what conference does vick play in oh yeah the NFC. the weak side of the NFL. the chargers play in a much tougher division and conference. vick would not even come close to making a pro bowl if he was in the AFC. vick is the most overrated player next to T.O. it has been shown over and over if vick cant run or the falcons cant run they lose. who is more valuable to their team vick or lt. LT means more to the chargers than vick ever will to the falcons. Larry you cannot honestly say you would rather have vick than lt. keep on losin falcons thats what you are LOSERS

By honest_abe

November 14, 2006 11:19 AM | Link to this

larry if you have a half a brain you would avoid arguing with that nimb wit who obviously knows nothing about football..

By Romeo

November 14, 2006 11:23 AM | Link to this

oh honest abe i know enough to knwo the falcons have never had back to back winning seasons. and i know enough that atlantas biggest problem is the fact they have two lousy wide receivers in white and lelie. have a horrible offensive coordinator in greg knapp and have a coach who is over his head in jim mora.

By mo

November 14, 2006 11:25 AM | Link to this

My take is simply this:

What happened to the Running Game? Simple… NO OPEN HOLES TO RUN THROUGH!

See, without the O-line getting some holes, Dunn is stopped. There will be no running game if the blockers don’t block.

Also, Vick is frazzled in the backfield due to the constant harrassment by the opponent’s DEs. It’s pathetic to see this guy have to run for his life every Sunday. See, the trick to Vick is setting his feet. When he can set his feet, he will be accurate. If he’s rushing, he throws accurately, but with no touch. He always guns the ball. It’s called “Adrenaline.” It’s a killer.

In short, the offense looks predictable. We all know that when Vick is harrassed (mostly on his backside), he will run left and look for Crumpler coming across or Jenkins going long on that side. He will not look across his body because the DE will be breathing down his neck. So, if you seal Vick’s running lanes and bring your secondary to cut off his two passing options, you’ve stopped the Falcons offense 70+% of the time. And you know for sure that the offense WILL breakdown, due to the receivers not being open.

So the secret to beating Vick and the Falcons is the receivers, period. If you want to stop the bleeding, do it there. If the receivers are open, it opens up the entire offense and the play will not break down. Vick can set his feet and throw and that will stop some of the LBs from spying on Vick.

But if the receivers are not open, it kills the entire offense and Vick will be left trying to win it all with his feet.

And the most telling throw that proves my point wasn’t even a throw from Vick, but that one, singletary throw from Matt Schaub. Remember? Matt Schaub throwing that ball practically out of bounds and seemingly totally missing his mark? I see it more like this: Matt Schaub threw that ball in a place where only the receiver could have made a play. That receiver didn’t break on the ball and it made Matt look foolish. And that’s the failure of this team: receivers who make the entire offense look foolish.

By honest_abe

November 14, 2006 11:27 AM | Link to this

thank you for making my argument… maybe now you know why vick is struggling :)

By Romeo

November 14, 2006 11:29 AM | Link to this

one more thing honest abe can you honestly say vick has been a better player in his time in the league than lt. no you cant. vick has had one signature win in g.b. thats it. if you switch vick and lt the falcons would have played in one super bowl by now and the chargers would be where the falcons are now.

By Doc Dawg

November 14, 2006 11:37 AM | Link to this

The basic philosophy on offense is the problem. The undersize o-line zone and cut block has worked ONCE in its history and then just barely. You must be able to pass protect in this league, even with as mobile a QB as Vick. The drafted receiving corps has been horrid. Even super free agent Lelie dropped an easy TD.

The Defensive philosophy you can’t really argue too much about. They vastly upgraded ends and safeties. Linebacking has never been a problem. The personnel (barring all the injuries) has been there.

By mo

November 14, 2006 11:39 AM | Link to this

FOR ALL YOU TICKET HOLDERS WHO ARE SICK OF THE FALCONS!

I’m not. If you have 4 side-by-side tickets, let me know! I’ll pay up to $25 per ticket. It’s cash money for a team you don’t care for, with a QB that sucks, right?

If you pass them on, at least you can recoup some money and don’t have to suffer the indignity of going to another Falcons game to watch Vick and the boys screw up again.

Just let me know on this blog!

By Boots

November 14, 2006 11:40 AM | Link to this

* Everybody on the board wants changes to be made —- whether with the coaching staff or players. Yet, people continue to support the team with their hard-earned money and time. So, what’s the motivation for management to make changes? You have a choice —- you either go to Home Depot or Lowes —- you either spend your disposable income encouraging the Birds or you don’t. It’s up to you guys, but change comes hard and it takes a strong kick in the butt to convince Blank, with his enormous ego, that he made some bad decisions and needs to revamp the team.*

By funny thing is

November 14, 2006 11:40 AM | Link to this

People keep saying Vick wont take the blame for the losses but I heard him during the press confrence say it was his fault that he should have did more. If that isn’t taking responsibility then I don’t know what is. They even posted that comment about him saying he should have did more and he took full responsibility for the offensive failures in the paper. Do you people read or just want to blame the guy for everything?

By CAQ

November 14, 2006 11:41 AM | Link to this

You can tell so called fans who know nothing about football because those are the ones that think the Falcons are losing just because of Vick. Vick has played bad the last 2 weeks but he is not alone by far. the Falcons average at least 7 drop passes per game.

By Luv everything ATL

November 14, 2006 11:41 AM | Link to this

In my opinion Mora should take a play out of the Baltimore and Cleveland playbook and fire the Offensive Coordinator to save his own job. But Mora’s too loyal for that (ie Jason Webster) and what is wrong with Jimmy Williams because I don’t know why Allen Rossum started over him.

By fatz

November 14, 2006 11:46 AM | Link to this

don’t give Arthur Blank a free pass on this- he hired jim mora. he should have realized what a gamble it was. ubersuccessful types outsmart themselves all the time, particularly when they reach beyond their field of expertise. Mora’s main job is managing his coaches, managing the game plan, managing critical decision points during a game. i couldn’t tell you how he’s done on point 3, but he seems to be lost on the first two points. you would have thought he would have sent his receivers coach packing, or to a different part of the field, if for no other reason than to let his team know change was necessary. you get the impression the inmates are running the asylum with this team. vick gets an interview, something gets done. don’t let him coach the team, he’s got enough issues on the field to deal with.

By Jeff D

November 14, 2006 11:48 AM | Link to this

honest_abe

Are we discussing the same team? The team I’m referring to - the Falcons - had one starting defensive lineman out (until Sunday). How you came up with 3, I don’t know. Talk about a dumb a**….

Anyway, we are inserting guys like Tommy Jackson and Shropshire because the head coach decided we were better off without guys like Ed Jasper. Moreover, as I said before, the problem is with the offense.

Of the teams you listed, each of them have a palpable identity. They may not succeed on a weekly basis, but you know exactly what they are. The Falcons, however, lack such an identity. Indeed, the offensive players often look as if they don’t have a clue. Vick indicated as much in his HBO interview. That my friend, is a product of poor coaching.

By Falconator

November 14, 2006 11:50 AM | Link to this

I think it was Ditka on ESPN who said it best after watching tape of Mora’s “fight on” press conference: “If he’s going to fight, he’d better get some fighters”.

By Charlie

November 14, 2006 11:50 AM | Link to this

Mora says he won’t force Vick to tuck the ball…that it limits his ability to surprise everyone with a throw at the last minute. That is almost the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard a coach say. The QB needs to protect the ball at all times. Most situations when Vick is running with the ball dangling he is beyond the point where he could pass it anyway. Tuck it, protect it, or lose!

Mora also says if he’s sees a guy not “fighting to the bitter end” he “might not” play him. This is an example of the lack of leadership and discipline Mora shows us. He should have a policy and stick to it. Things cannot be any worse than the last two weeks and now is the time to assert his authority over the team and let these guys have it…and promise them if they don’t put out, they will be out. After all Jim, your job is on the line isn’t it? Why shouldn’t that extend to the players?

Last but not least, I heard on a local talk show this morning that Mora does indeed give his players a thrashing in the locker room when appropriate. If that is the case, then he needs to show a little of that to the fans so we know he is doing it. Otherwise, we are forming opinions of him that may be unfair to him, but cannot be changed easily. And groundswell of opinion has cost more jobs of more people in the world than actual performance, unfortunately.

Jim, I like ya, and we generally know that you’re a great guy. But you yourself have got to step up. If you don’t how can you expect it of your players. You’re the head coach right? Thrash em’ all until you get em’ in line. Or it will cost you your job…and your friends jobs.

By CAQ

November 14, 2006 11:57 AM | Link to this

Mo,

Im with you, anyone wants to sell their tickets to the Saturday night game against Dallas or the Saints game for $25 let me know. No need for you to just blow money at least get something out of the deal

By Chris

November 14, 2006 12:03 PM | Link to this

Give me a break!!! If you think this is all Mora’s doing you’re all idiots! And where were all you Lovie “believers” years ago when they both interviewed for the job? Everyone down here at that time was saying, “You know Lovie is pretty good, but we clearly got the better guy!” You all absolutely kill me!?!?!

Look, I do believe the buck starts and stops with the head coach but this is not all Mora’s doing. I still contend Vick’s play has an effect on this team…positively and negatively. I’ve never denied his talent, but this team has no true leader and that starts with Vick IMO. All this guy has done his entire time in the league is be an enigmatic player that everyone including himself defend by saying, “well if guys caught the ball?? If we had an offense that fit my style?? Blah, Blah, Blah.

Its great to be the human highlight reel lead in on Sportscenter, but at some point you have play consistently and Mike Vick has never, in his six year professional career played QB consistently. This being the most important single position on the field when it comes to determining the teams fate. It would be one thing if he were putting up exceptional stats and the team was losing. But other than rushing, he has never caught on with how to be consistently productive at the QB position. He makes too many mental mistakes and continually plays reckless. I really believe this takes a toll on the team which is why you see the inconsistent results.

If you’re going to make Mora walk the plank shouldering the blame, then I believe others hould also….and it starts with Blank for hiring a first time head coach he new would be a yes man and also giving Vick that ridiculous contract before he had ever done anything in the league. Funny thing about that, he still hasn’t done anything in the league!

By scribe

November 14, 2006 12:04 PM | Link to this

CAQ-

I agree our receivers do not get separation. However, Vick goes 2 progressions deep before he bails (just watch his head). All the great ones, went 3-4 deep- for example. Joe montana- limited wheels- he went 3-4 progressions. But also, Steve young- who could run, still went 3-4 progressions… so that is where the mental capacity to read 3-4 patterns comes from before bailing on a play. it’s what i coach and it’s obvious, he still doesn’t know how to do it…

By Larry

November 14, 2006 12:12 PM | Link to this

Er…um, Chris — Vick has gone to a conference championship game. How many QB’s with six years, or less, experience have done that? Heck, Peyton Manning didn’t do it until last year - his 10th year in the league.

Give me a break.

By Doc Dawg

November 14, 2006 12:14 PM | Link to this

Scribe-

He’s running for his life long before he gets to the 3rd receiver. Unless its Crumpler, he’s not open anyway.

By honest_abe

November 14, 2006 12:21 PM | Link to this

throw me into that group… of guys willing to buy tickets.. if you aren’t going to go to the game might as well sell them to guys that will support the team through the good and bad.

By Rev. Dudley Doright

November 14, 2006 12:22 PM | Link to this

Brethren: The problem is too vexing. The only way the Birds will get out of this mess is by Divine Intervention —- the Almighty will have to come down and intercede on behalf of the Mighty Birds!The Lord CAN put “the spirit of sticky” on Marvelous Michaels hands and the hands of those hapless receivers and wings on the feet of the Defensive Backs and muscle into the O Line and plays in the empty head of the OC and judgement for Mora.
Do it Lord! Amen and Amen! P.S. * And, Lord, please show Michael where to stand behind the center.*

By Charles Smith

November 14, 2006 12:23 PM | Link to this

LOVEY SMITH should be the coach. Terence Moore said this last YEAR! Bradley stop stating the OBVIOUS!

By BigJohn

November 14, 2006 12:24 PM | Link to this

Bad play calling.

Vick got down and a GOOD QB would never allow his team to see him hang his head.

By Chris

November 14, 2006 12:28 PM | Link to this

Er…um, Larry - Here you go.

Ben Roethlisberger - 3 years

And Larry, at this point in both their careers and even though Roethlisberger has had a bad season thus far. Who would you rather have?

By BigJohn

November 14, 2006 12:32 PM | Link to this

When’s spring training start???

By Stuck in Kentucky

November 14, 2006 12:36 PM | Link to this

I really believe that Mr. Blank wants the Falcons to be a winner. I also think Lil Mora is a good coach, just in over his head. The league has caught up with his tendancies. Just like a rookie pitcher usually struggles in the 2nd half of a season. That is why letting Dan Reeves go seems to be bitting Mr. Blank in the caboose. Mr. Blank was just waiting to jump on the first chance to let Reeves go and now he is paying the price. Mr. Blank traded in a coach who coached CHRIS CHANDLER to the Super Bowl for one who has only Super Bowl attendace would require a ticket. Not saying that Mora can’t get there by winning, but you let a lot of experience go when firing Coach Reeves. Mr. Blank also never let Coach Reeves fully show how he could lead MV7 to greatness especially after learning from his mistakes with another great one in John Elway. I am sure Coach Reeves would have done a couple of things differently with Elway if he had the chance. In Vick he had that chance and we could only imagine what might have been. Mr. Blank the “dirty birds” are coming home to roost. It seems that Mr. Blank wanted to change for change’s sake. It’s not that selecting Mora was the wrong choice just maybe the wrong generation.

By Rev. Dudley Doright

November 14, 2006 12:40 PM | Link to this

* Forget it brethren: I talked to the Almighty —- and He said that even He couldn’t straighten out this mess!*

I don’t want to use the word “hopeless”, but that’s what comes to mind.

By Larry

November 14, 2006 12:41 PM | Link to this

Chris,

If that’s all you have, then you’ve proven my point.

By toad4612

November 14, 2006 12:48 PM | Link to this

hello all. im from Denver and we would take Vick in a heartbeat.The rah-rah approach your head coach uses never works in the NFL.We have an average team here but we still win. Why? Coaching.Shanahan will bench anyone who does not perform in the game or practice.Trade Vick to Denver and we will make an Elway out of him.

By ATL

November 14, 2006 12:58 PM | Link to this

WHERE IS THE LOYALTY WE BURN WITH OUR BOYS WE WIN WITH OUR BOYS IF ANY OF YOU ARE TRUE ATLIEN YOU WILL STOP YOUR SELFISNISH AND SUPPORT OUR GUYS WHEN WE ARE DOWN WE GIVE THEM ENERGY TO EXPLODE YOU CAN KEEP YOURSELVE IN A SORROW PIT OUR GUYS NEED THE SUPPORT AND LET GIVE IT TO THEM AS A TEAM A CITY TEAM I LOVE MY BIRDZ WIN OR LOSE LET WHOOP DALLAS AND WHO EVER IS NEXT

By Jim Rome

November 14, 2006 01:01 PM | Link to this

OK Mayhew , Here are the 10 QB’s I would like the ATL to have as their starter besides Ron Mexico: Peyton Manning Eli Manning Tom Brady Carson Palmer Drew Brees Donovan McNabb Brett Favre Philip Rivers Ben Roethlisberger Matt Hasselbeck Jake Delhomme Trent Green David Garrard Even poor ol Matt Schaub

I think that’s more than 10 — I could go on if you feel it’s necessary……

out.

By Nope

November 14, 2006 01:03 PM | Link to this

People please, if I hear one more “We should have drafted LT instead of Vick” I am going to scream!! People Reeves was going to draft Kenyatta Walker of the Buccaneers if we didnt trade up to get Vick. So which would you rather have had? Kenyatta Walker or Mike Vick.

Fire Mora, Knapp and Donatell!

Shout out to JediFalcon on AFMB!!!

By Dawg Man

November 14, 2006 01:16 PM | Link to this

Hopefully, Blank dumps Vick, Mora and the rest of that worthless coaching staff at year end and brings in a real QB who can make tough throws and doesn’t fumble all the time.

By chuck

November 14, 2006 01:17 PM | Link to this

Atlanta based fans knew all alone that Lovie Smith was the better pick. Why didn’t he get the job will probably not be known. Jim Mora started out fine, but he has become one of the boys. Just another Mike Vick’s fan and not his coach!!!!! When Dan Reeves was here, Mike was held accountable not praised. Mike all night partying and stuff before game night would have not been acceptable under Reeves.

By Madden King

November 14, 2006 01:35 PM | Link to this

For all you racist Vick haters out there ask me one question, how many quarterbacks out there has taken their team to a conference championship game within their first four years in the league? Not Peyton Manning, Marc Bulger, Jake Delhomme, Daunte Cullpepper, Brett Favre, David Carr, Trent Green, Matt Hasselback etc. Oh and another thing, I was listening to a ESPN radio show and they said there are 2 untouchable players in the league financially and those players are Mike Vick and Peyton Manning. They said with the amount of money Vick is getting and the way his contract is set up, that if he would to get traded or cut this year it would be a 39 MILLION DOLLAR CAP HIT. That means the Falcons would have to cut players such as Crumpler, Kerney, Brooking, Abraham, D.Hall, Dunn, basically all of your starting roster and bench players to get under the cap, and that includes Matt Schaub. The same goes for Peyton Manning. Thats damnear the whole the whole team if you let Vick go White people. So what that is telling me is that Vicks contract is iron clad and he is going no where, he is a Falcon for life. If Vick goes he is taking the whole team with him, good job Vick and Arthur, I love the way yall negotiate. So racist Vick haters, get used to seeing Vick start for a deep south state that promotes the confederate flag for a long time. HOLLA! GO FALCONS! MUCH LOVE VICK, DO THE DAMN THANG!

By derrick

November 14, 2006 01:43 PM | Link to this

Good ole Arthur Blank is probably not going to listen to any of us on this blog board but in case he will, here is the answer to our woes. First, stay off the field. Second, call a meeting of the coaches and the team today and read them the riot act. No more pacifying Vick. No more of Jim Mora acting like a buddy rather than a coach. Tell the whole bunch if there is not improvement this Sunday or if Vick fumbles again holding the ball like he did this past Sunday,, Vick will sit out the game. Deal with the authority issues; get Deangeloo Hall to keep his mouth shut until he earns the right to blab and complain. It is time for a day of reckoning. Don’t let Matt Schaub get away!

By CAQ

November 14, 2006 01:43 PM | Link to this

Im still waiting on the fans that will sell me the tickets to the Cowboy game for $25. Give them up since you are not supporting them.

By honest_abe

November 14, 2006 01:44 PM | Link to this

Mike all night partying and stuff before game night would have not been acceptable under Reeves.

chuck you are a moron and should be banned from any interaction with society…….um.. want to share with everyone else where you found out mike was partyin all night before the game?

By Mark

November 14, 2006 01:55 PM | Link to this

To understand the falcons and their coaches you only have to look at a sport like hockey and a good coach like bob hartley. hockey is all about change and adjustments. kari l has a bad game and he gets benched. the backup goalie comes in and can have a chance to take the #1 job. fowards and defensemen play bad and they get scratched for a few games. When they dont get better minor league players are brought up and the starters sit and think about how to get better and coach hartley dosent lose a bit of sleep about it and has accumulated some big fat championship rings. get the picture her mora?

By ben

November 14, 2006 02:00 PM | Link to this

George W. and Jimmy Mora: Daddy can’t help you now.

By justanotherguy

November 14, 2006 02:00 PM | Link to this

1. Mora needs to be told that he’s gone at the end of the season unless this turns around - as in “makes the playoffs” - and don’t cry to me about injuries, they’re part of the game.

2. Mora needs to tell Knapp he’s gone unless he produces a reliable offense and a reliable quarterback. Same for the QB coach.

3. Start looking for a coaches now. Don’t wait, Mora has about a 5% chance of turning this around, and it’s decreasing every game.

4. Put Schaub in and see what he can do. We’re going to lose him soon anyway, let’s get some use out of him.

5. Vick would not survive as an RB, FL, or WR. Too fragile. Best to just cut him loose and eat the contract.

By monty

November 14, 2006 02:02 PM | Link to this

Mike Vick gets elected to the pro bowl every year,by his peers, (pro football) players. I believe they know a little more about talent than most of us fans. THey have to play against him week in and week out,they understand that he poses problems that other OB’s don’t. Vick might not be the brightest Qb in the league,but I will garauntee you that if he had Indiana’s O-Line and a few of their receivers all of this Vick sucks stuff would disappear in a hurry.

By ironfeet01

November 14, 2006 02:17 PM | Link to this

The Falcons would play like a real TEAM if we had a real COACH.

By justanotherguy

November 14, 2006 02:18 PM | Link to this

How about we deal with reality?

Reality is that Vick has million-dollar legs and a hundred-dollar brain…kind of like Jeff George without the finesse…although Vick is so much more stylish in his hip-hop attire.

Running around like a headless chicken “trying to make a play” is not indicative of anything other than panic.

The line can’t block for him because they never know where he’s going to be. Half or more of his sacks are more due to Vick running INTO a tackle than anything else.

Just face it - he doesn’t read defenses well enough, and he doesn’t go thru his progressions fast enough. When he does catch a glimpse of someone open, he guns it, most of the time inaccurately.

All of this produces a brew where the WRs do not have any confidence in Vick’s ability to get them the ball accurately and ON TIME, unless it’s coming at them at 200 MPH from 10 yards away. Who can catch that?

Can Vick even throw a simple slant? I don’t think so.

Put in Schaub. He reads defenses better, and he has a track record when he’s in there of having receivers make plays. Wonder why that is?

And don’t tell me I’m a racist; just realistically look at the track record….

By Mike

November 14, 2006 02:20 PM | Link to this

Great article. I do not need to add a thing.

By CAQ

November 14, 2006 02:20 PM | Link to this

justanotherguy,

That has got to be the worst thing ever posted on a blog.

i remember when the Falcons got rid of Farve, Fans were calling for him to be gone from Atlanta because of his performance on the field. A few years later in Greenbay Farve becomes a Hall of Famer.

Vick is 26 years old and you want to send him packing already. Un REAL

By justanotherguy

November 14, 2006 02:29 PM | Link to this

You know, this junk about how the players know more than the fans because they voted Vick an All-Pro is garbage.

Vick might do some damage on one or two plays a game, but one or two plays do not a game make. On the other hand, he might have several plays where he does great damage to his own team via fumbles, interceptions, inaccurate passes, etc.

If you want the truth, ask those players that voted for him whether they would trade their quarterback for Vick, and see how many of them go for it!

Even better, ask the other head coaches….

LOL

Vick is a joke in the NFL.

By justanotherguy

November 14, 2006 02:33 PM | Link to this

Hey CAQ

How about commenting on the issues?

If you’ve got something to refute what I said, say it.

By chuck

November 14, 2006 02:34 PM | Link to this

Vick can make a good solid QB, I never doubt that but it is going to take some sincere efforts and disciplines from Vick. Vick just cannot continue his present partying lifestyle and be in effective QB in the NFL. Nobody can not even Peyton or Brady. I bet you will never hear of those two having a night out on the town before game-day. Mike get a clue

By Chris

November 14, 2006 02:38 PM | Link to this

Larry,

What you seemingly are not getting is Vick was the top pick in the draft. He’s the 2nd highest paid player in the league. For a player touted that high and paid that much, his production should equal that…or at least come close to it. Vick has not lived up to his hype and no one can justify rationally that he has.

This guy was touted as someone who could revolutionize the QB position. He has not done that. Is he lightning fast…yes. Can he throw a football a mile…yes. But in 6 years he has not transformed any of that talent into consistent play. He’s still unpredictable. You don’t know if he’s going to give you a good game or an effort you saw on Sunday. That is inexcuseable at this point in his career IMO. When you start talking about great athletes the last 20 years who elevated their play and changed how teams played against them. Guys like Jordan and Bonds. Vick was hyped on this level…as a guy who would change the definition of the QB’s role. Did it take Jordan years before he won his first title, of course. But Jordan dominated the league for years leading up to it. Same for Bonds. Vick does not dominate the league at his position. In fact, you could say he is regressing as defenses are catching up to him and Cleveland is a prime example. Everyone new when he came into the league he was going to have to work on his passing. But its not getting better and at some point the Falcons have to say we need to go in a different direction to get the consistent play we need out of the QB position.

Don’t try to categorize Vick like every other QB out of college the last 6 years. Those guys were not drafted and hyped on any level he was. But as it stands, there are quite a few QB’s in the league who I would take in a heartbeat to run this (or any) offense over him. As one blogger stated, after 6 years he still doesn’t read all his progessions. That means there is a disconnect. And don’t give me this B.S. about not having time in the pocket. Marc Bulger who has no wheels takes 7 step drops in front of patchwork offensive line and is able to make all his reads? And Marc Bulger has made himself a better QB than Mike Vick. Face it, the guy is not progressing in the position.

By chuck

November 14, 2006 02:53 PM | Link to this

honest_abe, you are the nut and moron. It is obvious by your spelling and grammar. DJ’s knew Mike was out during this Hip-hop fiesta weekend in the ATL. Vick threw a party during the weekend!! So you nutty moron!! Get your uneducated self a clue before you start jawjacking. I am not hating on Vick. I am stating the obvious, that is Vick must be more responsible. Get a life dishonest _abe.

By CAQ

November 14, 2006 02:56 PM | Link to this

For all the SO_CALLED FANS that hate VICK and the rest of the team hers a suggestion:

At the next game just show up with bags over your heads since you hate the Falcons players so much.

By Maurice Gullatt

November 14, 2006 03:04 PM | Link to this

Gregg Knapp can you answer this question?I’am a season ticket holder,why can’t Mike Vick call his own plays?

By Maurice Gullatt

November 14, 2006 03:04 PM | Link to this

Gregg Knapp can you answer this question?I’am a season ticket holder,why can’t Mike Vick call his own plays?

By phoennix10

November 14, 2006 03:06 PM | Link to this

That statement alone about Mora (in which he doesn’t even criticize Vick) says it all. Perhaps Vick’s psyche is too fragile for him to be criticize by his coach but when your offensive leader is so careless with the football, turnovers is all we get.

Everybody knows Vick was trying to make a play, but you have to be critical of him for not taking care of the football.

The entire offense revolves around Vick and unfortunately he is NOT getting it done. My problem with Vick is:

* Year after year, he is **NOT** getting any better

* We constantly have to change offensive coordinators/schemes because he doesn't grasp the offense

* Last year, Vick wanted to throw more.  Early this year, he said he wanted to just be "Michael Vick."  Then four games before, he wanted to unchained and throw more.  He is **INCONSISTENT** and does not even know what he wants to be.

* He is slow with his progressions and reads

* He is "Kurt Warner" like in handling the football (too many fumbles)

* **He has a career completion % of 53 percent** (2006 he's regressing to 52%)

* He is **TERRIBLE** on 3rd downs: 48.2 completion percent

* He is **awful** in the redzone: 51.6 completion percent

* **His passing gets worse** in the 4th quarter: 47.8 completion percent

* 32.5% of his incompletions are due to **POOR THROWS** (Stats. Inc)

This offense is revolved around Vick and when he performs this poorly, this is what we get: a 5-4 record.

By justanotherguy

November 14, 2006 03:12 PM | Link to this

CAQ - that’s really weak, man.

You got anything?

By Dannotdan

November 14, 2006 03:27 PM | Link to this

For all of you that think that Vick should go in favor of a real QB remember Coach Blank is in the entertainment and self-gratification business. Vick is the crown jewel on his finger and he will never let him go.

If he wanted to win he would have signed L Smith or similar qualified coach and not the puppet. If he wanted to win he would have listened to the football people that surely told him that with Vicks Wanderlic scores there was a very high degree of certainty that he would never be capable of running a pro offense, and at 5-10 the odds were stacked against him even if he were to smarten up.

CAQ, you ask if other QB’s could succeed with this coaching staff and the plays that are called, the question should be what coaching staff could put together an effective offensive plan with a QB that after 6 years can not grasp the sophistication of the pro game, can not read defenses, and can not process what he see fast enough to make good decisions. Do you really think that the coaches would take away the ability to audible if Vick were in any way capable of recognizing what is going on out there?

This coaching staff was brought in to orchestrate Coach Blanks vision of what he though Vick could be. Reeves knew Vicks limitations and gave him a very limited playbook that a rookie could understand and nothing more. If Reeves were here another year or two the league would have caught up with him and we would be getting the same sorry results.

Until we get a coach that takes control of this team on the field away from Blank, or until Vick gets hurt things will not change.

By honest_abe

November 14, 2006 03:30 PM | Link to this

chuckie the dummy.. unless you personally SAW mike vick out late before a game… your allegations are hearsay..

haha you call me uneducated yet it seems your vast vocabulary consists of only two words nut and moron .. then you get real fancy and put those together…lol

the funniest thing is you act as if you know mike vick… like you hang out with the guy…… i seriously doubt you have ever seen him… so stop acting like you know anything.. you damn booger eater.. heh

By ED FR0M ELLIJAY

November 14, 2006 03:33 PM | Link to this

THE PROBLEM STARTS WITH MIKE VICK!!!!!! THE PROBLEM ENDS WITH MIKE VICK!!!!!!!!!!!! LET SCHAUB PLAY AND WE WILL WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Phil

November 14, 2006 03:38 PM | Link to this

Clown he might night be getting better because of the coaching staff inability to lead this team, Mora and his buddies are an assembly of wanna be coaches he has never deserved a head coaching job in this league. Atlanta will win with Vick but not with Vick and Mora. Football is about Business never personal Jim refuse to fire Knapp after last year melt down and this year melt down so far. Hell I have friends we understand pull your load or get to stepping. Mora want fire his buddies so Fire him and his group of loser coaches. Falcons have enough talent to win eight game every year and with Mora at the Helm that all we will win. SO MR. BLANK PLEASE DO US FALCON FANS THAT STAND BEHIND THE ORGANIZATION, AND ALL THE YEARS OF LOSEING A FAVOR AND GET RID OF THIS MAN AND GET SOMEONE WITH PASSION AND A WILL TO TEACH AND EVALUATE TALENT SO WE CAN HAVE A PARADE DOWN TOWN IN CELEBRATING A WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

By Paul

November 14, 2006 03:49 PM | Link to this

I like Greg comment what’s wrong with using 2 QB’s !!

What about putting Schaub in as QB in some plays and put Vick as one of the runner or receiver. I am pretty sure this will give the Falcons a much better ingredient to be creative on the play. A lot better than that option play that don’t seems to work any more.

ohh …don’t wait until the Falcons is 5 and 10 to figure this out

By Boots

November 14, 2006 03:50 PM | Link to this

If Vick’s contract is ironclad, as MaddeningKing has said, then he is, as I’ve said before an ‘Untouchable.” And, if that’s true and the Birds are stuck with him for the duration of his contract, THEN THE BIRDS ARE TRULY UP SHCREEK WITHOUT A PADDLE. It’ll be interesting to watch as he tries to electrify empty seats with his juking and jiving.**

By Big Al

November 14, 2006 03:54 PM | Link to this

Thank You for finally saying what the other reporters were afraid to say.

Guess you won’t be eating at the team’s buffet table anytime soon.

By CAQ

November 14, 2006 03:59 PM | Link to this

Vick is not a receiver or running back, get over it people. He is the QB of the Atlanta Falcons for many years to come. Im sick of folks saying put Schaub in at QB like he is great. He had chances to play when Vick was hurt and lost the games.

By monty

November 14, 2006 04:03 PM | Link to this

I guess the integrity of the pro-bowl is shot because Mike Vick has been there every year, (I believe.) Does anyone out there sincerely believe Mike Vick couldn’t be up there with Manning or Brady given the protection they get and the superior offensive play calling they have on those teams? If you do, then your just a Vick hater.It’s ok to be a hater,that’s why we live in America. But just admit that your hate is not founded on logic.

By CAQ

November 14, 2006 04:04 PM | Link to this

Also, you people keep insulting Vicks intellegence saying things like he is slow, cant read defenses, unable to learn, thats an insult. If you guys are so smart and intellegent then why dont you have your own fortune 500 company or corporation like Blank.

I guess has the wrong skin color to be able to run in offense in Atlanta. You people will never get over this no matter what Vick does. If the man win a superbowl, the next year he will still get criticised by you people.

By Dannotdan

November 14, 2006 04:05 PM | Link to this

Is there a single person out there that believes that Mora has the authority to pull Vick??

By justanotherguy

November 14, 2006 04:13 PM | Link to this

CAQ - you’re a turkey.

All you Vick apologists out there say out of one side of your mouths “but Vick is still developing” after how many years??

Yet out of the other side of your mouth you say “What has Schaub ever done but lose?”

How many opportunities has Schaub had, turkey?

I say give him a chance. At least the receivers CATCH his passes…

By goosha

November 14, 2006 04:14 PM | Link to this

CAQ - In most of those games that Schaub lost, he was inserted in a very difficult situation where Atlanta was already losing badly. His track record in college was excellent; set the school record for passing yardage, most 200YD and 300YD games, 56 touchdows, 2nd best passing .pct ratio in 2002, only Tim Couch’s record was better in NCAA history. A lot of NFL teams overlooked him in the draft because of a injured shoulder early in 2003. He recovered, though, and went on to a big winning season and defeated a very good Pitt team in a bowl game. He needs a chance; he is savy, can read defenses and is a very accurate passer. It is going to be a very big loss if he goes on to another team and we are left with more of these fumbling and bumbling games this year and next and who knows how long after that. The solution may be to let Mike Vick be a running back and then you get the best of both worlds. You would think Jim Mora could figure that out.

By Cap

November 14, 2006 04:15 PM | Link to this

The problem is not Vick. My recurring theme for this week is Seneca Wallace. In every way, he is a far inferior version of Vick (he fumbles more than Vick but does have a high yard per rush average). Even for those who are for some reason clamoring for Schaub over Vick would not argue that Wallace is better than Vick. Seneca Wallace is playing on a Seattle team where he is the back-up, the Seahawks got rid of their best offensive lineman in the offseason, they are without their leading rusher who is arguably the best and most indispensable back in the league, and Seattle’s receiving corps has worse hands than the Falcons’. Yet Mike Holmgren has managed to install a successful game plan for Wallace in a few games whereas the Mora camp hasn’t been able to install one for Vick over the past few years. Holmgren has turned moribund college quarterbacks (Favre, Brunell, Brooks, Hasselbeck) into perennial all-stars (yes Aaron Brooks was the second all-time leading passer in Saints history and has led them to their only playoff win in team history against a very good Rams team) and essentially a gimmick quarterback in Wallace into a highly-capable back-up. It is hilarious to read these blogs and hear the musings of these alleged Falcons “fans”. Do you not remember this is Atlanta? Do you not remember that this is the franchise that thought Chris Miller, Hugh Millen, and Billy Joe Tolliver were better than Brett Favre? If you are truly Falcons fans then you know that Vick is the franchise’s all-time offensive MVP? The leading passer in franchise history is Bartowski. Do you remember how horrible of a franchise Atlanta was with him at QB with the exception of like 1980? The franchises leading rushers are also from twenty years ago. The Falcons used to be good about every seven years now Vick has narrowed it down to every other year. But yet you want to run him out of town? Smooth move loyal Falcon “fan”. When Vick is gone why don’t you go ahead and rehire June Jones to be coach.

By Cap

November 14, 2006 04:20 PM | Link to this

Mora has the authority to pull Vick just like Parcells has the authority to pull T.O. Hopefully that would get Mora fired. Sorry Vick haters, you just don’t sit the person who is by far and away the best person on the team because the team isn’t doing well. Just like you can’t sit Favre for throwing 20+ INTs. Funny how the QBs turnovers increase when he has to handle the ball an inordinate number of times because the rest of his team sucks.

By sam24

November 14, 2006 04:28 PM | Link to this

What are we going to do with a 49’er passing game that does’nt work, a denver running game that everyone has figured out, and a 4th and 25 Packers defense that no one respects. Admit it it’s time for a new coaching staff, if any of this does not change and soon, No playoffs equals new coaching staff.

By Cap

November 14, 2006 04:29 PM | Link to this

For those of you who think Vick has not progressed as he should over six years, six years ago did you think that Shawn Jefferson would be the best receiver he would ever play with? I live in Miami now and I hate to break the news to you Atlanta, but the Dolphins actually had successful winning tradition at some point unlike the Falcons. Dan Marino took the Dolphins to a Super Bowl in his 2nd season and they waited 15 years for him to do it again. It never happened. But who the heck were you going to replace Dan Marino with? Falcons, Chris Chandler is the second all-time leading passer in franchise history! Do you think dynamic QBs just grow on trees? Vick is not the answer but MATT SCHAUB is going to save us? The only thing that is going to save us in a GM that can evaluate talent and a coach that can put together a consistent game plan. HIRE HOLMGREN!!!

By Jjackson

November 14, 2006 04:30 PM | Link to this

As an ex-Football Player I can tell you honesty that The Coaching staff isn’t on the field playing. The whole team just stank. When this year was suppose to be all about the DEFENSE……….Well I’m still waiting for them to show up. Our defensive backs are wussies, playing a ZONE! When you reach a certain level known as the NFL. You’re paid a million dollar to defend and I’m sorry but if those guys worked for me pink slips would be in order. CAN WE GET SOME MAN-TO-MAN COVERAGE. Lets seperate the Men from the Boys. Micheal Vick (Pretty Boy)step up be a leader. You got a whole city looking at every move you make. GROW UP and take charge!……….Big Jay DA TRUE FALCON FAN.

By Cap

November 14, 2006 04:35 PM | Link to this

Vick has spoiled this fan base. He brought the franchise back to respectability but now half of the fans want to ship him out of town. Rather than looking towards what the elite teams are doing Atlanta should pay attention to what happened in Arizona. Yeah, Jake Plummer was error prone and quick to run but he did lead the Cardinals to their only playoff victory ever in the freakin modern era. But the fans thought it serendipitous to bash Plummer and run him out of town. So Plummer went to Denver and has re-energized the Broncos team into a perennial division leader (I hate them). Where are the Cardinals now without Plummer?

By justanotherguy

November 14, 2006 04:44 PM | Link to this

Sorry Cap, Vick IS the problem.

And the only way this is going to be proven is when Schaub is given a chance to show what he can do.

And the only way that’s going to happen is if Vick gets injured.

Why? Because pulling Vick would be a tacit admission by Mora and Blank that Vick was (and continues to be) a HUGE mistake.

I bet the other owners thank their GMs daily that they had the good sense to not try to trade up to get Vick.

What a turkey this guy has turned out to be.

All you Vick apologists need to OBJECTIVELY evaluate the situation.

Too bad our owner and coaching staff can’t do that. What a waste of money.

Arthur Blank needs to cut bait on Vick. If he doesn’t he’ll get a rep as the kind of guy that would have ridden the Titanic all the way to the ocean floor.

By justanotherguy

November 14, 2006 04:57 PM | Link to this

Cap - your comments about Plummer are ridiculous. What does that have to do with anything? Plummer’s a decent QB. That’s a big difference. Vick’s a disaster waiting to happen.

If you want to evaluate it, replay the video of the game, and score Vick’s performance. How many plays did he execute properly as opposed to how many did he not? If you do this, you’ll see that Vick does not have the ability to “see” the field after the snap, and in moast cases cannot resist the urge to move after he gets to “three thousand”. I also think that he has no ability (in conjunction with the receivers) to hook-up on option routes, which is pretty much the bread-and-butter of this kind of offense.

I’ll admit he’s exciting - but in sort of a morbid slow-motion train-wreck kind of way. People watch Vick waiting for the guy to get pasted and wasted.

I agree that the people in AZ are stupid to have run Plummer off…but that’s their issue, not ours.

By robert johnson

November 14, 2006 05:00 PM | Link to this

Does Mora or any of his staff read the comments posted on this site. What about Mr. Blank, I wonder if he readis this stuff. I believe Blank wants a winner, he has proven he will do whatever it takes to win, so, with that said, his employees have not stepped up and earned a single paycheck in the last three games. They went into New Orleans, and completly embarrased the fans of Atlanta, the guys have no heart at all, shame on them. Think about this, in the real world, if you do not produce you are warned then released to go find other employment. I think AJC should forward each and every comment to the Atlanta Falcons, owners, players, coaches etc.

By jeff

November 14, 2006 05:33 PM | Link to this

If Dan Reeves was our coach we would be looking a a 1st round bye and Mike Vick would be a much better QB today. What we should do now is trade Vick fire Mora and move on!

By jerry

November 14, 2006 05:38 PM | Link to this

Mora said that he was going to fight to the bitter end. Was he talking about the day he gets run off? Has he already been told that he is out of here?

By DT

November 14, 2006 05:44 PM | Link to this

Hey ween….Just bring in the camera next monday after the Falcon’s lose to Baltimore on Sunday. It was good doing business with you. Tell Adam I said hi!

By sugarlee

November 14, 2006 05:49 PM | Link to this

I’m sorry, it’s just hard for me to abandon this team after all the injuries. one injury to the right person on any team will alter the intire season in most cases. Everyone knows that. Still people call for heads to roll. Now if the same thing was happening with everyone in good health, then maybe. But right right now this bird has had it’s wing clipped. With all the technology build into a 747, let one of the wings get clipped and that baby will spiral. None of the other hundreds of millions spend on the other part of the plane will save it. It might help it land a little smoother but never the less, it’s still going down. Falcons, you’re between a rock and a hard place. But you’re still in it. To hell with all the negative talk. Listen to your coach. He’s on your side. Talk to your injured men and get some motivation from them. I know they wish they could help. So you got to play for them. Like Richard Steel would say to Holyfield and Tyson. “Break and Come Out”

By justanotherguy

November 14, 2006 06:09 PM | Link to this

sugarlee - does the phrase “he who does not learn from the past is doomed to repeat it” mean anything to you?

Just watch, as this team craters, just like they did last year.

Injuries are a part of the game.

Is Vick injured? Does not enough “want to” count as an injury?

Are the WRs injured? Maybe I missed that…

Are you telling me that because we lost Matt Lehr for 4 games the offense imploded?

Wow. I bet Lehr’s agent would like to hear that!

I’m tired of hearing Vick say “It’s on me…I could have made more plays”.

Vick - if you could have made more plays, why didn’t you? Did you not try? Of course you did, so quite with the “I could have made more plays” crap. You just don’t get it done on a regular basis, and that has more to do with a lack of ability than motivation.

By parks

November 14, 2006 06:13 PM | Link to this

Everybody does realize that Schaub’s career comp% & passer rating is lower than Vicks right? maybe Atlanta has a great long tradition of winning with great QB’s right? I mean we have been so used to being in the the playoffs 2 out of 3 years that all are other QB’s have started for us in the past right? I for one am outraged at our lack of success the last 5 years compared to all the Super Bowls we are used to winning here..

For one to not realize that our 0-3 backup with lower PASSING stats than our current starter would not lead us to the Trophy would just have to be considered slow.

Or even Shockly, ( even have heard that numerous times on this board) I mean he played that one great season in the SEC that has to translate to better #’s that Vick doesn’t it?

P.S.. Vick is not going anywhere and he will be our QB… Deal with our continue to give yourselfs heart attacks arguing over it

By TonyG

November 14, 2006 06:17 PM | Link to this

all mora knows how to do is motivate.

he cant make decisions.

coaches need to. we dont need an effing cheerleader!!

we need a COACH!!!

By sugarlee

November 14, 2006 06:26 PM | Link to this

I can feel your frustration Guy but I do understand that there’s 32 teams out there batteling to go to the super bowl. Only two will go and only one will win it. At this point in the season we’re just as deep in the hunt as anyone. At the beggining of the season everyone was saying in here that the schedule was so tuff that the Falcons would go O & 3 to begin. Wrong again. Now they’re saying it’s over,looking at the rest of the season. We have a good team. They p** people off a lot but they play good enough football to make the playoffs. At some point you and everyone else is going to have to give some credit to the teams they play. The worst team in the NFL is good. Haven’t you heard the phrase, “ANY GIVEN SUNDAY” it’s true Guy. It’s bumpy, but we’ll make the play offs. And You Know it>

By justanotherguy

November 14, 2006 06:27 PM | Link to this

As long as Vick is here, the best coach in the world will not save us.

We’d have a better chance running the triple-option than having Vick attempt to operate a hybrid west-coast offense.

Face it, Vick is not capable of running this offense.

Period.

Deal with it.

By T

November 14, 2006 06:28 PM | Link to this

Is it no wonder the team is undiciplined when the head coach spends a press conference talking about fighting. He must have said “we got to fight!… 10 times.

How many 15 yard penalties are we gonna get this sunday for fighting and unneccasary roughness? Great coaching and good example!

By UNKNOWN HINSON

November 14, 2006 06:30 PM | Link to this

I know I know the Braves just can’t catch a break. What is going on with Tim Hudson? I think were still in it though it’s a long season and hopefully we can push toward the playoffs… What?

By Budylite

November 14, 2006 06:39 PM | Link to this

To all who wonder why the QB isn’t allowed to audible: THINK SMART … you have to be able to know what the defense is going to do so you know an audible to call … is that so hard to understand? In other words you have to know ALL the playbook, not just a few plays!!! More time needs to be spent studying game films and playbooks and less time partying … again the coaches fault. Someone has to be a disciplinarian and Jim Mora has proved it’s not going to be him! Next man step up!

By Boots

November 14, 2006 07:01 PM | Link to this

* Maddeningking: As I see it, the only way to satisfy your never-ending fixation on race and racial parity within the NFL is to put history into a reverse gear and go back to segregated sports leagues. Do you want to change the name from the National Football League to the Negro Football League? I don’t think anyone on the board wants that —- DO YOU? IF THAT HAPPENS, SALARIES WILL HAVE TO BE ADJUSTED TO CORRESPOND WITH THE DEMAND AND EVERYONE WILL BE PLAYING FOR PENNIES ON THE DOLLAR! *

By tj

November 14, 2006 07:07 PM | Link to this

To kenny d

You spent a lot of time making up some kind of stats for Vick. Here are some real facts about Matt Schaub, who you came down so hard on. And just FYI the only reason he wasn’t a firdt round pick was because of questions about an injury. there is more at the UVA website if you care to look for yourself.

Height / Weight: 6-5 / 240

Position: QB

Experience: 2L

WORTH NOTING: Heisman Trophy candidate … the leading returning quarterback in the nation … joins Almondo Curry as a team captain this season … blossomed last season and was named ACC Player of the Year … led the ACC in passing efficiency, sixth in the nation … also led the ACC in touchdown passes (28), completion percentage (68.9), completions (288) and tied for the lead in attempts (418) … fourth in the nation with an incredible 4:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio … led the team to four come-from-behind second half wins, including three in the fourth quarter … also guided the Cavaliers to four wins over ranked teams … one of two returning quarterbacks that won his league’s Player of the Year award (along with Colorado State’s Bradlee Van Pelt) … has the highest completion percentage, second in passing efficiency and third in touchdown passes among returning players … set or tied at least 10 UVa single-season records last fall—touchdown passes (28), yards passing (2976), attempts (418), completions (288), completion percentage (68.9), total offense (3071), total plays (488), 200-yard games (8-tie), 300-yard games (3-tie), and consecutive games with a touchdown pass (14) … several of his figures last season are among the best in ACC history, including completions (2nd), completion percentage (3rd), touchdown passes (4th), and attempts and interception avoidance (tied for 10th) … quickly moving up several Virginia career charts … is first in school history in completion percentage (.653), second in completions (435), touchdown passes (38) and 300-yard games (4), third in 200-yard games (11), fourth in yards passing (4550), attempts (666), and total offense (4631) … competing this fall as a graduate student.

By David

November 14, 2006 07:14 PM | Link to this

Vick is a great QB. 1st and goal at the 7 yard line, oops (holding call) now its 1st and 20 at the 22. Vick is not Superman, give him a break. Mora needs to go, and what is with this “this is great, I would not want it any other way” crap. I would love to see what Vick would do if he did not have the presser of having to win every game on his shoulders. Just think, if we had a defense like Chicago. They also need to scrap that cut blocking schem and get real offensive lineman, maybe some that know how to block for thier QB.
I have been a bird fan all my life and the only thing I see positive about this is that Mr. Blank will not put up with this much longer.
I’m outta here.

By Cap

November 14, 2006 07:50 PM | Link to this

TJ, I am glad to see you do your homework. But once again there is a problem with just looking at the statline and the bio. Go to the same place where you got Schaub’s bio and look at the bios for Bryson Spinner and Marques Hagans. Compare them critically and see if it jogs your memory about Schaub. He got beaten out by both of them for the starting job (Spinner beat out Ellis first when Schaub was third string and led UVa to the bowl game victory). Both times Schaub got beaten out the very mobile Spinner and Hagans were ineffectual in games against Maryland and Florida State respectively and Schaub came in to relieve and put up effciency numbers far better than the mobile quarterbacks. And do you know what? UVa got positively blasted by 20 points in both of Schaub’s coming out parties. So even though the entire Cavalier team stunk against superior opponents Schaub was inexplicably allowed to keep the starting job and put up hall of fame numbers against ACC bottom feeders and scheduled patsies. Schaub NEVER had a quality win his entire college career. No exaggeration. He was just remembered for the last thing he did which was three consecutive victories against a reeling Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, and Pitt (in the Continental Tire Bowl – THE Freakin CONTINENTAL TIRE BOWL?!?). So despite Schaub’s great success and Heisman Trophy candicacy UVa has yet to recover from the Groh system of perpetual mediocrity. Does any of this sound familiar? Schaub coming in for Vick putting up great numbers (298 yards passing) and the Falcons blowing it at the end because the quarterback is not a playmaker. If you had read any of my earlier posts I term this the Billy Volek or St. Louis Ram QB syndrome - always a great passer rating, however no correlation whatsoever to the on-field success of the team. Sorry these posts are so long but people tend to look at statlines and believe somehow Schaub or someother dropback passer would lead to success but I’ve got an adulthood of non-mobile state of Virginia QB agony to inform how quickly a team can plunge into perpetual underachievement. I know there is no comparable template in the NFL but that is because despite 5 of the 8 2006 BCS bowl team QBs being mobile and the only loser among them being D.J. Shockley (who of course the Falcons drafted), somehow NFL teams think that dropback passers such as Brady Quinn (who got positively outplayed by Ohio State’s Troy Smith), Drew Weatherford (who as all but lost his job to the mobile Xavier Lee but is destined at some point to make a Schaubian comeback for FSU), and Matt Leinart (who of course got outplayed and outdrafted by Vince Young) are going to lead their teams to the promise land when in fact the best dropback passers outside of the Mannings are increasingly scrapheap ne’er do wells in college such as Brady, Delhomme, Bulger, Romo?, Grossman, and the most decorated dropback passer of our generation, ladies and gentleman mr. KURT WARNER!!!!

By Dannotdan

November 14, 2006 07:54 PM | Link to this

Coach Blank has had a man crush on Vick since he traded draft spots to pick him. He built his teams marketing, and put his personal reputation on the line for Vick. He fired a solid experienced coach that would not open up the offense beyond Vicks grasp and replaced him with the puppet.

Mora came here knowing this team is over managed by Blank and over influenced by Vick because Blank loves him much. So you can’t feel sorry for Mora when Coach Blank pulls the strings he, knew what he was getting into and he is being well compensated but don’t expect the guy to be a real coach.

Smile, speak kindly about Vick and keep cashing the checks.

By Talons of Fire

November 14, 2006 07:57 PM | Link to this

You can easily tell on this blog who the TRUE Falcon Fans are. The Ones who haven’t given up with 7 games to go. The Ones who know that Vick can’t win games if the rest of the team is playing like sh!t and the coaches are 2 fries short of a happy meal! As far as these amoeba who spew their racist venom about Vick’s intelligence, he’s laughing all the way to bank at y’all’s stupid azzes! GO FALCONS!!!

By Cap

November 14, 2006 08:01 PM | Link to this

To justanotherguy, your assessment of Plummer being decent but Vick not is endemic of these blog comments. Plummer and Vick have identical career yds. per completion but Plummer’s touchdown to interception ratio is almost one-to-one and of course Vick has a decided edge on rushing yards and touchdowns whereas Plummer has passed for well over twice as many yards as Vick (because of course he’s played in twice as many games). Vick of course is more accomplished in the playoffs than Plummer and has by far a better winning percentage than Plummer. After the Broncos whipped Atlanta in the Super Bowl they plunged into mediocrity (until the mobile Plummer arrived) while Vick brought Atlanta back to respectability in his first year as a full-time starter. But inexplicably you deem Plummer the better quarterback. Gee, I wonder why that is guy? And they say that Atlanta is the “City too busy to hate”.

By Cap

November 14, 2006 08:05 PM | Link to this

Don’t worry Talons of Fire. The know nothings will continue to boo Vick, Blank will cave and trade him to a contender just like Rankin Smith traded Favre, Vick will win a Super Bowl for some other city and Schaub will become the next Steve Bartkowski which is what Atlanta wants. The Falcons will go back to being bottom feeders with the Cardinals, Lions, and Saints but Atlanta will be happy because the starting quarterback is white.

By Cap

November 14, 2006 08:11 PM | Link to this

Atlanta fans are really starting to sound like spoiled brats. Vick takes the Falcons to the playoffs every other year rather than every seven or eight which is how often Atlanta used to go before Vick. Now that the Falcons have a bad coaching staff and worse wide receivers than when Vick started his career, the know nothings inexplicably believe the Falcons are somehow going to win a Super Bowl with Matt Schaub. Remember when Vick practically single-handedly dealt Green Bay their first ever home playoff loss in their franchise’s storied history. Well this Falcons team is actually less talented now than that one. But yeah, let’s go ahead and put in Schaub.

By Grover Cleveland

November 14, 2006 08:13 PM | Link to this

Mike Vick gets voted into the Pro Bowl because 65% of NFL players are black and they want to see a brother in the Pro Bowl—as a QB..

By parks

November 14, 2006 08:19 PM | Link to this

good post Cap least a few of us see the light

By Big Daddy

November 14, 2006 08:23 PM | Link to this

I am just befuddled as to why so many of you think Ken Whisenhunt would be the latest and greatest person to save the Falcons? He runs a very conservative offense for Pittsburgh…they’ve never had an explosive offense in the nine seasons it took them to won a Superbowl. Why in the H*ll would we want another conservative playcalling HC for the Falcons? What we need is someone who knows how to coach for one, gameplan for a team, and make adjustments during the game. More importantly…keep the opponent guessing at what you’re going to do and put your foot in your player’s AZZES when they don’t play up to standard.

By Leslie

November 14, 2006 08:32 PM | Link to this

I could not agree more. It is time for Mora and Knapp to call the right plays for Vick and for Donatel to start being more creative. Why are we not bumping at the line more at cornerback. It is pathetic to see almost each time the cornerback off of the wide receiver. Our guys are better than this. Let them play.

By Mo

November 14, 2006 08:38 PM | Link to this

So, all of you guys that are angry at the Falcons are not willing to give up your tickets, huh? Well, all I can say is this: when the Falcons play, just turn the channel!

See, I don’t like what has happened during this season, either. I don’t like the bad play calling. Or the horrible DB play. Or the drops by the receivers. Or the fumbles by Vick. But I am willing to support this team. I was serious about those tickets.

But to say that “It starts and ends with Vick” proves the lack of football knowledge and ignorance of the game to those who say that mess. Vick looked and played bad. But so did everyone else. The Falcons TEAM is playing horribly.

So it’s dumb to say that Vick is the problem. You are truly displaying how incredibly stupid you are about football, because if you look at the scheme on offense and the failures, the point of failure is not on Vick… it’s the WRs. Let me further elaborate:

Vick can kill you if the defense allows him to set his feet. Once he sets his feet, he has touch. He has good spin. He sees the field better. But the ball must leave his hands in 3-4 seconds.

Now, if the WRs aren’t open, that’s when the play breaks down. The O-Line can’t hold the DE on his blind side, so Vick is in trouble.

Everyone knows Vick’s habits when he gets in trouble. He feels heat from his backside and he starts by eluding that player and runs to his left. At that time, he is looking for two people, Alge Crumpler and Michael Jenkins. (Alge Up and MJ Down.)

So, to defend Vick, you cover Alge and MJ and seal Vick’s running lanes. Then Vick tries to find a way to make a play first, then he looks to throw the ball away.

So, it’s simple: If the receivers make a play and get separation, Vick could set his feet and throw. But without separation the play beaks down, and you are looking for Vick to improvise. And it’s his athletic ability tht gives him the opportunity to improvise.

Now, imagine if, let’s say, a great pocket passer like Tom Brady was a Falcon. Tom Brady would look for a receiver to get open. Since they don’t, the play breaks down. And Brady throws the ball away (because Brady will not force it.) And it’s a big three and out. And they don’t score… again. And they lose.

See, all that Vick’s ability does is lengthen the play. It gives people more time to make a play. But it also brings more focus upon Vick and it diffuses the mistakes on the receivers by placing the ball in Vick’s hands longer.

But if Schaub played, you wouldn’t be confused and dazzled by all of that athletic ability. Schaub doesn’t have that. You would see a guy still running for his life, but also mostly balls thrown away and sacks.

By Cap

November 14, 2006 08:46 PM | Link to this

People keep talking about Vick’s development after 6 years. Where is a quarterback supposed to be after 6 years? One game out of first in the division after 9 games or something? What’s the matter, should Vick be passing for a lot of yards like Peyton Manning? Well, call me in January. Because out of the 30 QBs in league history to pass for 30,000 or more yards in their careers only seven have won Super Bowls. This list of course does not include Tom Brady who has won three and hasn’t reach 30,000 yet but does include Brad Johnson and Johnny Unitas at the end of his career. So there is no magic formula except for the intangible that Aikman, Montana, Favre, Young, and Elway have in common. Stellar coaching.

By Bubba

November 14, 2006 09:12 PM | Link to this

Aikman, Montana, Favre, Young and Elway have something else in common - a different pigmentation and an IQ over 50

By Cap

November 14, 2006 10:12 PM | Link to this

Hey bubba, did you know that John Elway got left back in kindergarten? Don’t believe me? Research it buddy. Some good old fashioned research should keep you spinning on your hamster wheel for awhile. And what kind of free agents do you think Atlanta is going to attract with a fan base like this? Heaven forbid a potential free agent catch wind of comments like “the only reason Vick gets voted to the Pro Bowl is because the NFL is 60% black”

By dirty byrd

November 14, 2006 10:36 PM | Link to this

what made bear bryant top coach? what made jim mora a coach at all? saw bama play so many diffrent players in one game on offense he ran 6 diffrent offenses against nebraska had 14 diffrent receivers in game had 9 diffrent running backs he used 3 qbs each one ran diffrent type offense how do you scout that? you dont yea bama beat the hell out of them thats what makes great coaches knowing which players to use for what schemes not make players change to fit system JIM MORA IS NOT NFL CALIBER COACH!!!! GREG KNAPP NOT NFL CALIBER COACH!!!! DONTELLS DEFENSE GIVES UP PASSING YDS!!! ARTHUR BLANK NEW NFL OWNER!!!!

WOULD BEAR BRYANT PUT UP WITH THIS ? YOU FOLKS FILL IN THE BLANKS!!!!!!!

By Madden King

November 14, 2006 11:12 PM | Link to this

People say Vick has regressed, Vick bashers say that Vick has regressed, Racist Vick haters say that Vick has regressed, they say that because they don’t like him or they don’t like that he is changing the game. Vick is on pace to throw for 3,100 yards and pass for 22 touchdowns and run for 1,200 yards and run for 6 touchdowns. Now I ask you people is that regressing from last year? HELL NAW! Thats actually incredible, because he would be the first to pass for 3,000 and run for 1000 in the same season, thats never been done and those pocket passing QB couldn’t even have a wet dream about doing that, let alone trying to do that and you people want Vick benched. Yall some dumba$$es for even thinking that. L.T. is the best RB in the game but until they got some COACHING, Antonio Gates, some receivers, and a defense the Chargers had the best RB in the game with a sorry team. In 2002 the Chargers went 5-11 while the Falcons went 9-6-1 t to the playoffs, and in 2003 they went 4-12, but I didn’t here any Chargers fans saying get rid of L.T. for a backup. Those are true fans these and fans on this blog are not true Falcons fans, they are just racist and stupid. HOLLA! GO FALCONS! VICK FOR M.V.P.

By monty

November 14, 2006 11:30 PM | Link to this

I seem to remember a very Black Doug Williams(I believe the name is correct)lead the WAshington Redskins to a blowout Super Bowl victory after he was run out of Tampa Bay. They said he didn’t have a high enough I.Q also.

By tj

November 15, 2006 12:29 AM | Link to this

To CAP

Thanks for your reply to my post(which was to kenny d by the way). If you’ll notice I certainly didn’t say any thing about Vick other than kenny d made up stats for him, and then started slamming Schaub, who has nothing to do with how Vick plays. And you are right about me doing my homework. I have been a Falcon fan since they came into the league. You learn a lot in 40 years, about the team and the league as a whole. I don’t beleive any QB with the numbers Schaub put up would be called an underperformer like he called him.As far as quality wins, quarterbacks do not have wins and losses, coaches and teams do. Baseball has rules to determine wins, losses and saves for pitchers. Football does not have that for QBs. It wouldn’t work where you have unlimited substitution. In other words QBs could alternate every down, or every series of downs, then who gets the win or loss. I think that might be something ESPN, which I stopped watching long time ago, started. I guess I got off track a little, but anyway, as for as wins go, I did see in the Schaub info that UVA beat 4 ranked teams in that one year, whether that’s considered quality or not I don’t know. One thing I do know, there are quite a few teams that want him and have tried, for some reason to get him. Whether you, or anybody else likes him, that is a fact. He may be here one more year, possibly two. Then we’ll all find out if he can do the job. And I will throw this in. I haven’t heard of any team beating the doors down to get Vick. Again Cap, thanks for your civil reply. It seems lot’s of people on here can’t have discussions without getting nasty and calling people names. That’s why I mostly read and move on. They take all the fun out of it and don’t prove anything. Anybody can sit behind a keyboard and call people they will never see in their life names. Have a good one.

By Cap

November 15, 2006 01:11 AM | Link to this

From today’s Tuesday Morning Quarterback at ESPN —Sweet Play of the Week No. 2: Under tackle, Vince Young flipped a sweet lateral to tight end Bo Scaife, who ran for the touchdown. Young also ran one in himself on the QB sweep. Quarterback rushes are especially effective at the goal line because when the quarterback runs the offense is playing 11-on-11, versus playing 10-on-11 when the quarterback hands off. TOO BAD EVERYBODY ON EARTH KNOWS THIS EXCEPT FOR VICK HATERS AND THE FALCONS COACHING STAFF

By Cap

November 15, 2006 01:33 AM | Link to this

TJ, I agree with the lack of civility. And being from the state of Virginia I know why the Falcons want Schaub (even though he’s from PA) and other teams covet him. The University of Virginia has always been a passing efficiency factory. Shawn Moore, Matt Blundin, Bobby Goodman, Aaron Brooks, and Matt Schaub have all been NCAA passing efficiency leaders. I believe even Mike Groh and Marques Hagans were relatively high ranked as well. A middle of the road QB like Aaron Brooks came out of UVA and went on to become the second all-time leading passer in Saints history after only a year of Holmgren’s tutelage. Schaub has only a decent arm but is fairly mobile for his size and as a dropback passer I believe he could certainly be better than many NFL quarterbacks with no pedigree. I think he could beat out any of the Jets QBs (I believe they were pretty prominent suitors) or definitely could be a starter for Tampa Bay (that would be a dangerous move for Atlanta but would definitely pick up draft value). As the Falcons starter, Schaub would turn into Billy Volek. I am confident he could put up more 300 yard games like the one he almost had against Seattle but the type of offense that it would take to make Schaub effective (and have the team win) and still keep the defense off of the field would require the front office to blow the team up and start from scratch. Even Leinart with Boldin, Fitzgerald, and James is going to need at least another year to turn that franchise around because they need to retool the O-line and he needs to become “the guy” on that team. The Falcons need a healthier more consistent line and definitely need a more consistent receiving corp. The Falcons with Vick can go to the Super Bowl anytime the coaching staff decides to pick up one of Holmgren’s old playbook or hire Mike away from Seattle outright. Putting in Schaub on our inconsistent personnel offense will kill his confidence and endanger his health and career like it tends to do to 6’5” pocket passers with suspect arm strength a la Chris Redman, Tim Couch, Chad Pennington, Byron Leftwich, Kyle Boller, Patrick Ramsey, Chris Simms, Akili Smith, Joey Harrington, and a few others.

By Cap

November 15, 2006 01:44 AM | Link to this

I actually kinda like Schaub because he is a pretty good reflection of the caliber of Virginia state football but putting him in and have Vick hold a clipboard or play wingback is not the answer. I actually don’t believe Michael Vick is THAT good of an athlete, he is just by far and away the best athlete to ever play QB. Now if the Falcons want to trade Vick to a team that is a QB away from Super Bowl contention to get draft picks or a marquee WR to help Schaub they could do that. The problem is the Falcons would have to wait a few years for Schaub to become “the guy” on the Falcons and the offense to gel. Whereas with Vick, if you all remember his debut as a rookie against the 49ers, an offensive doesn’t have to gel, he has demonstrated since college that he can take a pretty mediocre team to championship contention. If the Falcons traded Vick our fans would be kicking themselves at least two times. Once when Vick wins a Super Bowl for a team that right now is mired in mediocrity like the Falcons and then again when Schaub emerges as a decent QB just in time to have the Falcons drafting 10 through 20 in the first-round the year Tim Tebow comes out. Stick with Vick. Hire Holmgren.

By Cap

November 15, 2006 01:51 AM | Link to this

Also from today’s Tuesday Morning QB —Sour Tactics of the Week No. 1: Against Cleveland, Atlanta rushed 29 times for an average of 5.1 yards per play, and passed 41 times for an average of 4.6 yards per play. Michael Vick’s throwing success of a month ago is a distant memory — but what’s worse is that Falcons’ coaches seem to be operating under the illusion that Vick is suddenly a polished drop-back passer. A month ago when things were working for Atlanta, the Falcons were running a high-school-inspired offense — rush, rush, rush, then play-fake and sprint out. Losing each of the past two weeks, Atlanta coaches have kept Vick standing in the pocket as if he were Peyton Manning, and it’s not working, resulting in both poor passing stats and overlooking the good stats of the Atlanta run game. Trailing 17-13, the Falcons took possession with 5:27 remaining and went incompletion, run for 4 yards, incompletion, punt. Your running game works — so run the ball! Note: was that an optical illusion, or did both Charlie Frye and Kellen Winslow look fabulous?

Vick’s tendency to wave the ball around when scrambling also has gotten out of hand. A careless Vick fumble was a key play in the team’s loss at Detroit last week; Sunday, Vick carelessly fumbled in Cleveland territory just before the two-minute warning. A beginner’s mistake is to “use the ball for balance,” waving the football on one side of your body while you cut the other way. Vick does this far too often, and it’s the kind of fundamental error that should not be tolerated from a Pro Bowl quarterback. ONCE AGAIN EVERYBODY CAN SEE THE PROBLEMS EXCEPT FOR OUR COACHING STAFF. VICK IS IN A POSITION WAY TO MANY TIMES WHERE HE IS COUNTED ON TO IMPROVISE AND MAKE PLAYS. THIS IS INDICATIVE OF ALL OF THOSE NON-PRODUCTIVE QB DRAWS FROM LAST YEAR. COACHES, STOP THE MADNESS.

By Dick

November 15, 2006 01:52 AM | Link to this

Mora is too young, has NO control over his emotions…seeing his lack of control on the sideline sometimes is downright embarrassing, as in he is embarrassing himself and the team. Bottom line: Jim Mora, Jr. is not NFL material.

By chuck

November 15, 2006 03:23 AM | Link to this

I hear Mora interviews well.