AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2006 > December > 17 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USBlame this loss on coaching
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
And here we thought the run-up — rumors of Michael Vick playing running back, Jim Mora having to apologize for identifying his Dream Job as one other than his current (if tenuous) position — was weird. Who knew the game itself would be crazier still?
Who knew T.O. would roast D-Hall so roundly? Who knew the running back of a quarterback would throw three touchdown passes — five if you count two overruled by penalty, six if you count the one he threw to the other team — in a half? Who knew this careening version of Saturday Night live would trump anything “Saturday Night Live” has aired since Bill Murray was playing Nick the Lounge Singer?
And who knew the Falcons, having done their usual thing of falling behind 14-nil at home, would rouse themselves, as opposed to quitting on the season and letting Mora pursue other vocational opportunities, and author their finest 15 minutes of 2006? And then, after all that good work, who knew they’d turn a seven-point lead into a crushing 10-point loss?
Their effort cannot be faulted. The Falcons played as hard as they’ve ever played, and for those parts of two quarters they looked like the team Arthur Blank and Rich McKay envisioned when they made all their offseason hires. Vick threw the ball beautifully, and Roddy White and Michael Jenkins — stop the presses! — caught it the way first-round receivers should. The defense clearly rattled Touchdown Tony Romo in that wild first half, and for the longest time it seemed the hand of Rod — Coleman, the fearsome defensive tackle — had actually saved Jimbo’s job.
With the Falcons down 14-0 in the second quarter and the Cowboys positioned to throw a hammerlock on the game, Coleman bore in on Romo and swatted a pass upward, thereby turning a bullet into a balloon. Michael Boley took the gift interception to the Dallas 12, and over the next 15 minutes the Falcons would outscore the high-profile visitors 28-7. But there, for reasons unknown, the excellence stopped. The Falcons had taken a grip on a slippery game, and then it was gone. And maybe a season, and maybe even a head coach, with it.
If you’re looking for the story of 2006 (to date, anyway), it can be found in those moments after the Falcons seized the lead. Dallas scored on three of its next four possessions. The Falcons went three-and-out, then failed on fourth-and-1 from the Dallas 37 when Vick’s rollout pass — another of those strange Greg Knapp-ian calls we’ve all come to know and bemoan — to Ashley Lelie was thwarted by Anthony Henry. Then a five-and-out, and that was that. A mighty opportunity had been lost because, for all their skill and all their will, the Falcons still cannot close out games against a big-time opponent.
Some of that has to do with playing, sure, but more of it has to do with coaching. Contrast the Falcons’ inefficiency at the end after doing so much right in the preceding minutes. Contrast the way the Cowboys allowed Romo to work his way back into the game — throwing to his tight ends, hitting quick outs — with the way the Falcons asked Vick to make more difficult throws. Dallas doesn’t have any more talent than the Falcons do, but Dallas is coached by Bill Parcells.
Afterward a conspicuously subdued Mora praised his men, saying, “We fought hard – I’m proud of the effort and determination.” Were this high school football, that would be enough to satisfy a constituency. But this is the NFL, where there are no moral victories, where players and coaches are paid to win, where the Falcons are 9-13 since the midpoint of last season.
They might still make the playoffs, but a team that cannot win such a pressurized December game at home isn’t apt to linger long in the postseason even if it lands there. Blank said over the summer – and reiterated last month — that anything short of a playoff berth is tantamount to failure. Jim Mora might soon be free to apply for all the jobs he wants.
Permalink | Comments (227) | Post your comment | Categories: Falcons / NFL, Mark Bradley
Comments
By Famuan
December 17, 2006 12:19 AM | Link to this
I’m trying, but I can’t think of any reason to disagree with this column.
By Ignatius
December 17, 2006 12:20 AM | Link to this
I’ll give him a good reference. Goodbye to bad rubbish. Time to ditch an unknown commodity. He didn’t want to be here anyway. Bye to little Jim and his parasites.
By mj
December 17, 2006 12:31 AM | Link to this
Arthur Blanks claims the importance to the ” stakeholders ” when talking about the players and the team. I think if you look at the ” outside looking in theory “, the stakeholders have alot to worry about. It would be like holding alot of Delta stock at $25.00 a share and hoping to cash in for the full amount. We just seem to be letting the class, character of our organization fall way below the expected level. Its time to make a solid decision and let the stupidity of our team go. Mr. Mora needs to be available to any offers that would make him happy. Merry Christmas Jimmy Jr!
By BirdDawg
December 17, 2006 12:33 AM | Link to this
Yet again, Greg Knapp packs it in the middle of the 3rd quarter with a lead and starts calling “Martyball like plays.”
No wonder Ed Donnatel wanted to punch him out earlier in the year. Knapp makes Donnatel’s job 10 times harder, and Eddie boy sucks as it is already.
Yet again, the Falcons come out in the second half and but for one brief awesome drive, cannot get it done.
And I watched Vick on Sportscenter. His groin was messed up.
How can any of you redneck idiots be calling for Vick’s head after seeing what happened to Abraham for trying to tough out a groin injury? If he stayed in the game and hurt it worse (out for the last two games) then you same morons would be calling him selfish.
Idiots. He did the right thing. Nice to see Matt Fraud throw the pick, though.
I honestly think that there is a very good chance that when we wake up tomorrow, Jim Mora and Greg Knapp will be fired, Eddie will be the interim and Musgrave the OC.
We can only pray.
By D
December 17, 2006 12:34 AM | Link to this
Great comments, No Discipline and this goes straight back to the coach. They probably had 100+ yards in penalties.
By Best
December 17, 2006 12:35 AM | Link to this
Falcons did well to hang in early but failed to put it away when they got the lead. It all boils down to coaching. Goodbye Jim and Greg. You guys are not NFL material and have no business in Atlanta. Time for a PROVEN coaching staff that knows how to close the deal.
By Jeff D
December 17, 2006 12:37 AM | Link to this
Good column.
I take issue with Donatell. The COwboys converted too many 3rd and longs. What will it take for Donatell to realize that the soft zone crap doesn’t work? Isn’t he the same guy that was fired from Green Bay for giving up a 4th and 20 play to Philly during the playoffs?
Although Knapp may have called his best game as a Falcon, the 3rd and 1, and 4th and 1 calls were pathetic. At what point will he realize that he should run Griffith?
I’m ready for a change.
By Dman
December 17, 2006 12:37 AM | Link to this
This coaching is terrible. I truely believe he took Dan Reeves team to the playoffs and when it became his team, his true coaching abilities shined. My question is “did the Niners have a good team with those 2 goofballs running the defense and offense?”.
By Peter
December 17, 2006 12:44 AM | Link to this
In a way those 15 minutes doomed Mora and Knapp. Coming out finally throwing to backs out of the backfield, moving the ball against a Cowboys team that had to be reeling in light of last week.
Of course good coaching staffs make adjustments and the good staff did. Our staff tried the college option play. Vick does need to go because he’d be something to see with a team that gave him the ball on the opposition side of the field with more regularity.
Or one with a coaching staff that knew how to win. Wonder what Blank will remember about his interview with Lovie as he’s signing off on Mora’s settlement?
By Whopper Dawg
December 17, 2006 12:54 AM | Link to this
Yep, time to go. BUT both the coaching staff and GM!! I can pick’em better than he does.
The Whopper
By FOWLDAWG
December 17, 2006 12:57 AM | Link to this
PATHETIC REFEREEING & IT FALLS ON THE FALCON ORGANIZATION.WHO’S GOING TO GET THE CALL,THE LONE STARS OR THE DUMMIES?WHEN YOU HAVE IMPLODED YOU WILL BE TREATED ACCORDINGLY WITHOUT VERY LITTLE EMPATHY.THE FALCONS HAVE BEEN PLAYING ON AN UNLEVEL PLAYING FIELD SINCE 1966 TO 2006,& IT WANT CHANGE UNTIL WE GET A SLAP HAPPY STUD AT THE TOP.JIMMY JOHNSON WOULD WHIP THIS QUAGMIRE INTO A CHAMPION OR BUST SOME AZZ TRYING.
By Destiny is a stripper who doesn't work in Atlanta
December 17, 2006 01:00 AM | Link to this
A rare big game in Falcons history—it’s only been 40 years, after all—and another not-so-rare loss. Who really thought the Birds would rise to the occasion when it was prime time? It’s Groundhog’s day here in Atlanta. Again. What is wrong with this city’s sport’s teams? Not to go all Sports Illustrated on you, but what do we have for franchises here? When was the last big win for the Falcons? Playoffs, St. Louis, 2004? Before that? 1998? Before that? 1991? Shall we wait for 2009 before another big win? I have three overriding impressions from this week: 1) Mora is a nice guy who will probably be unemployed come Jan. 1. Can’t blame anyone else but his brain and his mouth and that’s too bad. The silver lining, he and Knapp can have a fierce Pac-10 rivalry going soon. 2) Michael Vick has never been the problem here in Atlanta. Really, build an offensive line that can pass block. It’ll help. I promise. 3) Atlanta was cursed when it was burned down in the Civil War. The Thrashers are now the closest city team to a championship. I almost swallowed my tongue saying those words. The Braves in big games? I get jokes. The Hawks? Reggie Theus’ jheri curl is to blame. The Falcons? Eugene Robinson lost money for bail but made it back with his bet on Denver. This can only mean that we may no longer be ‘Loserville,’ as we were in the 80s, but we very well may get re-incorporated soon.
By mrworf
December 17, 2006 01:16 AM | Link to this
When the season started, I said the Falcons would be 9-7. It seems as if I was wrong. They may just lose their next two games. I can’t say I understand how Falcon fans feel about the last 40 years. As a Cowboys fan, I’ve seen my team go through several low points, but the Falcons are a complete mess! At least the Smith boys got you to a Superbowl, it was the players’ choice to foul it up. As the armpit of the NFL, they will never be respected until they hoist the Lombardi trophy in February.
By ABOUT MATT SCHAUB
December 17, 2006 01:16 AM | Link to this
He was doing what he could at the end of the game.
Not to mention the OBVIOUS non-call of pass interference on the Cowboys on that interception…they didn’t call it because the refs knew if they did there’d be a race riot in Atlanta if Schaub won the game for Atlanta and Vick was relegated to waterboy, where the boy belongs.
By REAL BIRD FAN
December 17, 2006 01:44 AM | Link to this
Vick played great. Rod Coleman did too. Hartwell stinks, Crocker stinks, Was Milloy on the field? Where do I began? Penalties killed us! DHall please show up on the field! Allen Rosem on Terry Glenn?! Wow! Yeah we should have gotten the 3rd and 1 but why not take the field goal? There was still MUCH time in the 4th! Honestly I gave Mora a shot because I felt he was just struggling a bit. But bye Jimbo, bye Knappy and most of all bye Eddy! It wasn’t there fault they just didn’t know how to fix the sinking ship! Ok Art its your turn I have faith in you lets go get us a leader Go Falcons!!!
By Najeh Davenpoop
December 17, 2006 01:46 AM | Link to this
Very good column. Sums up the season perfectly, and also sums up Jim Mora’s career. I still think Vick made two crucial errors that cost the team the game, despite his overall good performance. But looking at the season as a whole, 90% of the errors and mistakes can be blamed on coaching.
And no, there was no pass interference on that last play. Schaub threw a pick, plain and simple, into obvious double coverage. I don’t think that’s a representation of his talent or what he can do, because it’s hard for a backup to come in and play well immediately. But Vick proved today that he is the best QB on the Falcons, and when given time to throw is one of the better QBs in the league. It’s about time people canned the talk about replacing him with Schaub.
By Malted Falcon
December 17, 2006 01:48 AM | Link to this
The Falcons let up in the third quarter after they scored. We all saw them on the sideline, laughing it up, congratulating themselves on a good quarter and a half. I loved the emotion and I loved the crowd. Ike Reese should get a medal and maybe some more playing time? I still believe we can win the next two and get into the playoffs but it won’t matter unless the coaches and players can hold off with all the wild celebrations and back slapping and get serious about the next play. Some nice catches to build on but four quarters of effort is what it’s gonna take. The few Cowboy fans in the dome sounded like steam escaping.
By Najeh Davenpoop
December 17, 2006 01:52 AM | Link to this
Birddawg, be careful what you wish for. Musgrave was fired from Jacksonville because he was absolutely terrible as an offensive coordinator. I’d keep him exactly where he is for now, and fire the entire coaching staff after the season is over. Changing coaches with 2 games left and still having a legit shot at the playoffs won’t be anything other than a distraction.
By redddawg
December 17, 2006 02:33 AM | Link to this
why is everyone down on the coaches ………… you can’t coach stupid; and stupid is what the Falcons have at QB and DB ………. only a punk quits no matter how bathe situation gets ……… thx Mike, you showed your true colors.
By e.b.
December 17, 2006 02:43 AM | Link to this
Vick was the reason this game was as close as it was. He passing was incredible, yet you still disgrace him by calling him a ‘running back”? Boy Mark, I thought you were better than that. You sound more like Terence Moore than your usual self. I think the gimick plays using Schaub were far too much, and the 3rd & 1, than 4th &1 in the 4th Quarter proves to me that this coaching staff is to blame. greg Knapp didn’t call a brilliant game. he’s the pits, and so are you stinken “so called” fans, who continuously bash Vick for trying to win games.
By e.b.
December 17, 2006 02:48 AM | Link to this
Dman, Mora & Knapp wre let go when Mariucci was let go. They had a couple of good years, but not nearly enough to keep them around. They truly are the reason for the demise of this team. They have no clue, case in point Mora, jr putting his foot in his mouth once again.
By Real Bird Fan
December 17, 2006 02:53 AM | Link to this
I’m sure there’s a racist blog on here somewhere but this one is for Falcons fans. I’m positive that some people who really have played sports understand that a groin pull is difficult to play with, if not ask Abraham. I like Schaub but lay of the crystal meth for a minute dummies, the best QB is starting end of story! Agin I say its all on you Art! Go Art!!!
By e.b.
December 17, 2006 03:18 AM | Link to this
Malted falcon, I agree with you. I have posted this question on more than 1 occasion. Does anyone know why Ike Reese only plays on Special Teams? I mean, they paid him good $$$ to come over from the Eagles, where he played on the “D” on a regular basis.
By Jim
December 17, 2006 03:47 AM | Link to this
I hope Vick becomes a quote unquote “coach killer” and kill these coaches….he is a great QB, his jersey sells prove it. ATL is Vick…Jim who? We need a experienced coach, if Arizonia let go of Dennis Green, then we need a proven winner, How about trying to get Jimmy Johnson out of retirement? Mike Martz will make our offense awesome, we just need better coaches and the rest will fall into place.
By William Kitchens
December 17, 2006 03:54 AM | Link to this
Malted Falcon is right and that is why Mora and company need to go. All this rah rah on the sidelines with a ton of game left to play is a sign of poor coaching.
Has anyone even got a photograph of Mora actually getting mad at a player?
I don’t think I saw a single smile on Parcells face the entire game?
By jdw
December 17, 2006 04:00 AM | Link to this
our defense has been pretty bad for the most part, I like the front 7 but the secondary might as well stay on the bench they either give up big plays or big penalties. I wouldnt mind seeing reese or even beck playing middle linebacker… i seen hartwell tackle NOTHING way too many times this game it was pitiful
By midniterider
December 17, 2006 04:07 AM | Link to this
as i said yesterday there was no way the falcons were going to win this game nor will they win another this year there just not a good team.When the game is on the line they fold every time.And Vick will never be a bigtime qb no matter who the coach is and its time for Dunn to retire 1 and 2 yards a carry dont cut it Justin Griffith would have done a better job running the ball.And all the money they spent on Abe and Hartwell what a joke and it would be nice if D Hall was as good as he thought he was
By yankee
December 17, 2006 05:07 AM | Link to this
The difference between winning and losing starts with an attitude. It’s nice to see records fall, but the greater goal is to win the game. As Derek Jeter always says, “No matter how much I accomplish personally, if we lose as a team them our season was a failure.” Maybe Mike Vick should give Jeter a call so he can figure out what it means to be a winner.
By Brandyman
December 17, 2006 05:29 AM | Link to this
This game boiled down to a lousy defense. DeAngelo Hall is another “Big Play” (for the opponent)Ray Buchanen. DeAngelo needs to purchase a gallon of sun block for all the times he’s been burned this year. He’s all show and no go. T.O. took DeAngelo to the wood shed.
We also need to fire the defensive coordinator for the lousy defensive schemes as well as Knapp for the outrageous calls on 3rd and short. Let’s clean house and start anew.
By Ron Roberts
December 17, 2006 05:42 AM | Link to this
The thing I keep coming back to is….
…this guy was a defensive coordinator for San Francisco, a team headed downward with a porous defense when we hired him.
You’d have thought that with his background as a defensive coach and the additions of Milloy and Abraham (two names I never heard the announcers call out) to go with Kearney, Brooking, D.Hall… that our defense would have, oh, I don’t know, IMPROVED!
The offense did its’ part; Vick had a terrific game, save for the naked bootleg. But when the defense needs to make stops, they just can’t do it. How many 3rd and forevers has this team given up this season? Somebody look it up; it has to be some kind of record; ‘cause they always get burned on 3rd and long. And not just by great plays, but with wide open receivers. It’s damning.
The guy was a defensive coordinator before he became Jim Mora, head coach of the Atlanta Falcons.
Suffice to say, there’s nothing to gain by firing him and his staff now, so see where this manure-for-a-staff takes this assemblage the last two games…my guess is 0-2 and out of work.
But come next time, Arthur Blank doesn’t need to be dazzled by a sales pitch; he needs to be dazzled by a resume with actual results.
Defemsive coordinator, the guy was.
By PoliticalMan
December 17, 2006 06:26 AM | Link to this
Jim Mora is not head coaching material. He cannot manage himself let alone fifty something other guys and direct an astute, coherent effort to accomplish a goal(s). Maybe Blank could evaluate lumber, but he missed the boat with Mora. The first thing that a new coach of any fortitude will do is ban Blank from the sidelines - that is not his domain.
By Falcon
December 17, 2006 06:29 AM | Link to this
This one’s for you “About Matt Schaub”, your Golden Boy has what kind of passer rating compared to Vick’s 121 in this game? You obviously don’t know anything about football. Schaub hasn’t completed a pass this season except to the opposing team. Why do you make excuses for him. If your Golden Boy is so golden, someone needs to shine him up. He obviously is not shining in practice to be replacing Vick. You deserve a “dirty bird” and a spit in the face for your racial inuendos, PUNK! By the way, I’m a white female who knows more about football than you,and your redneck momma and daddy! I imagine you’re not too hard to spot in the Dome with your white pointy hat and sheet over your head, COWARD!
By Greg
December 17, 2006 06:39 AM | Link to this
Memo to Arthur: Question No. 1 to applicants next month for Mora’s job should be, “Do you think it is the most important thing to love your players, kiss and hug them, be their friends?” A line goes through the names of any who answer, “Yes.”
By jerry
December 17, 2006 06:51 AM | Link to this
Eighteen consecutive losses when trailing after three quarters. The longest streak in the NFL.
By Ron
December 17, 2006 07:00 AM | Link to this
LOL. Coaching? How about blaming this on having a worthless defense that can’t stop the run and can’t stop the pass?
By ShadyGrady
December 17, 2006 07:03 AM | Link to this
To “About Matt Schaub” You are blinded by an insiduous psychological disease that has also diminished your cognitive abilities. Mike Vick,”boy”? “Water boy?” The man is a stud. Do you fear that? You sound like a gay, racist that wants to bow down and recieve a golden shower from your poster boy Matt Schaub. I have nothing against Matt Schaub. I think that he could develop into a fine quaterback someday. But why must you damn Mike Vick to sick this guy Matt Schaub’s duck? Mike Vick proved on Sunday that he is the unquestioned leader of this offense. Everyone needs to understand that this guy can not very well block for himself, throw to himself, and play cornerback on defense. He is dynamic. But not that damn dynamic. Recognize the apparent you imbecile.
By YGT
December 17, 2006 07:04 AM | Link to this
If we fail to make the playoffs please get rid of these 3 midgets and coaches. Webster, Rossum and Dunn…Mora, Knapp and Zonatell.
By Iceberg33
December 17, 2006 07:08 AM | Link to this
No one can certainly fault Mike Vick for the 2nd half debacle!! While he might line up at tailback on occasion, he doesn’t play defense.
Who annointed DeAngelo Hall as a “Premier” or a “Shut Down” corner, line up to be shot immediately!!! He couldn’t shut down a grandma from a punchbowl at Sunday Tea!!! TO ate his lunch before breakfast was over!!!
On coaching, who is stupid enough to give TO a clean release off the line of scrimmage??? At least make some effort to jam him. Applicants, for the Defensive Coordinator position, please submit your resumes to Mr. Blank immediately!!!
Roddy White, can yu play like this every week?? Please????
It’s safe to say that we’ll see a new coaching staff next year and possibly a new GM too. Rich McKay is not free of sin in this mess!!!!
By nono
December 17, 2006 07:14 AM | Link to this
I quit Its just too painful to watch—-I’m a damn homer and it hurts to be so average when I know with better coaching we could beat the teams we are told we can beat. If I hear playoffs one more time, I’ll puke. Yeah, just like the choking Braves & Bobby Cox who should have been put out to pasture a long time ago, but the falcons, they are selling tickets, tv and merchandise. Believe me thats what our owner hears—-money. Only when we stop writing, tailagting, and going to the games will Blankberger make a change. 8-8, I should be used to it. I look forward to beating up on 8 teams next year and anguishing all over again. I should be used to it, after all I went to Ga Tech!
By Glenn Henderson
December 17, 2006 07:43 AM | Link to this
Mr.Blank two things: 1)call Dan Reeves. 2)Get off the sidelines unless your going to coach(probably not a bad idea).
By Sean
December 17, 2006 08:07 AM | Link to this
Vick had 4 TDs not 3. I really don’t think Mora is the problem. His only fault has been his “loyalty” to his players and coaches. Knapp should be gone. No question about that. Donatell should be gone. Mora needs to get that fire back. Remember when he was using smelling salts on the sideline. He was pumped up. I think Blank took that fire away from him. So what if he said he wanted to go back to Washington. With everyone being critical of him, of every move that is made, I would want to leave too. Vick isn’t the problem either. Plus you can’t put $100 million player on the bench. Notice that when he has time, as in the line actually blocks, he makes good acurate passes. He recievers have dropped alot of passes this year. Mostly not Vicks fault. Now back to Knapp. On 3rd and 1, why do you give the ball to Dunn. At least run him to the outside. Griffith should have been in on that play. Then 4th and 1, he calls the same play they had already run successfully 3 times before. You can only go to the well a few times. This also goes back to the Cleveland game when it was 4th and inches. You have Vick, Dunn, Griffith, and Norwood in the back field. He calls a 30 yard pass. Makes no sense. Like I said before, Mora’s only problem, beside the occassional foot in mouth problem, is his loyalty to Knapp and Donatell.
By William
December 17, 2006 08:08 AM | Link to this
I totally agree with Jeff D., Donatell needs to be run out of town on a rail along with Mora and Knapp. No pass rush + only token blitzing = 38 points. If you’re going to get beat, at least do it aggressively and bring the house. Romo had all day, particularly in the second half, to pick the secondary apart. Allen Rossum, God love him, may be a great return guy, but is too small to jam anybody, is no help on run support and couldn’t cover my mother with a butterfly net. If the Falcons aren’t even going to give Jimmy Williams a chance at corner, why did they draft him? He couldn’t have done any worse than Rossum getting schooled by Terry Glenn over and over. As for the offense, good job in the first half, but once again, opposing teams adjust in the second half and shut the Falcons down. Putting Vick at tailback and Schaub at wide receiver was fun to watch, but the lack of adjustment to what Dallas’ defense took away in the second half is all too familiar. Knapp is in way over his head and hopefully will bring his singular brand of mediocrity to that fine program at Stanford next year. Or maybe he can join Jim Mora and his dad on their own radio show - Moe, Larry and Curly Talk Football.
By WallStBro
December 17, 2006 08:11 AM | Link to this
Davenpoop is right. With only two games left, we don’t want to rock what little boat we have left. However, as soon as the last game is played, when the players are receiving their game checks, the coaches should be receiving severance checks. Offensively, we played a pretty good game, but KEEP VICK OUT OF THE BACKFIELD!!!. Each time they tried to run Vick out of the backfield, he took vicious hits. That alone, is justification for the staff firings.
By TMac
December 17, 2006 08:17 AM | Link to this
Is it possible to buy out Lovie Smiths contract from the Bears and find an Offensive and Defensive Co-ordinator that aren’t friends with the head coach? We should also get rid of Roddy White, (no tackling) Ed Hartwell and (although I love him dearly) Warrick Dunn. I only include Dunn because of the age factor and we need a stronger more durable back with hunger in his eyes and his play.
By steve berrier
December 17, 2006 08:31 AM | Link to this
come on the falcons can’t win against the stronger teams in the nfl. the coach does need help in many ways but vick is it for the falcons he needs help next year they will play a weaker schedule & then maybe all you falcons fans will be happy since the stronger teams will be replaced by weaker teams wake up they aren’t that good yet
By Dano
December 17, 2006 08:35 AM | Link to this
Get REAL PEOPLE……The Falcons were beat by a TEAM that was coached better and played better……better personnel?????? I don’t think so…. The Falcons have the talent, just not the coaching or the mental toughness (a Head Coach problem!!!!)
By Alex
December 17, 2006 08:37 AM | Link to this
Once again the defense lets the team down in the 4th quarter!
MeAngelo Hall, maybe you are just not that good Mr. Hawaii, Pro Bowl, whatever. When was the last time you shut down a premiere receiver? Made a critical pick to seal or turn a game around?
Chris Crocker, now I see why the sorry a** Browns let you go. You can’t give help over the top, the NFL is a copycat league and they found out early on and you’ve been exposed as a weak player against the deep ball!
Ed Hartwell…you should wear a fraking ski mask when you get your paychecks! Has the guy made one play that stands out since he has been here! He had a pick 2 years ago, that’s about all I can recall. Yes I know…all the injuries, but if you are going to play that way I don’t care if you are a good man who just happened to be hurt, this isn’t about that. It’s about putting on the best team that can help you win. If someone like an Ike Reese, or D. Williams can play better at LB then you switch! Put that overpayed, washed up Hartwell on the bench where he belongs! Can’t believe the Falcons have such bad luck, to pay him the money that they did and he’s done absolutely nothing, nothing I tell you! They have to waive him if his contract is up, he’s not earned a spot on this team. Give me Jordan Beck, anyone else can’t be worse. Plus he gets the bone headed penalty and didn’t even get in a good shot! Hartwell, you are finished. DONE. Nobody has called you out, at least not in the local media b/c you’ve been injured so much, but it’s time. If you aren’t healthy by now, you will never be healthy enough. You are middle LB. Make a play! Tackle for a loss? Sack? Fumble? Anything? No, you rather look stupid on TV making Marion Barber look like the next coming of Walter Payton!
Allen Rossum…why is he playing cover corner? He got owned all night, people threw his direction on short and intermediate routes it didn’t matter. Is Jimmy Williams that bad? I guarantee he is not worst than Rossum. He can’t be. When you have your punt/kick off return specialist playing corner, over a guy you drafted in the early 2nd round to play CB…something is terribly wrong. Let Jimmy Williams play! If he gets burned, at least we know what we have, at least the guy is getting some experience.
Where was John Abraham when we needed a big play last night? The team needed him to sack, or get hits on the QB and nothing.
About the only defensive players trying were Grady, Coleman, Brooking b/c if he doesn’t make a tackle and resque Ed Hartwell’s a&& the score is even bigger than what it was, Boley and the guys subbing in on the D-Line.
The defense should be all ashamed to watch that game film. No adjustments…by Ed I must play soft zone Donatell.
Knapp…what the hell is the matter with you. Even the all pro’s in the booth…Deion and Marshall were wondering why do the playcalling that you did in those critical short yardage situations? Justin Griffith anyone? Run the fastest QB on a designed sweep? The freaking play gained 8yrs the first time you ran it…you need less than 2, what do you do? Oh, yeah, you throw a very hard route to a covered Ashley Leile….That is the kind of playcalling that will your a&& fired and you can take that pac 10 job at Standford, where you can ruin their playcalling and face off against your pal Jimmy Mora Jr, who will be the Huskies water boy next year!
A game that the Falcons should have won. They were outcoached, and outplayed on defense!
If they finish 9-7 it will be a miracle.
By zoy
December 17, 2006 08:40 AM | Link to this
WOW! Coaching is EVERYTHING! Mora should loose his job for the Washington comments alone. I’m a Patriot’s fan and a long distance observer since the ‘cell phone’ incident. I’ve got to tell you Patriot history was a disaster until we got legit coaching, ie. Parcells/ Carroll/ Belichek. the difference is night and day. Coaching is what’s grounding the Falcons.
By Tim
December 17, 2006 08:45 AM | Link to this
The fact is, the Falcons are a bad organization - top to bottom. That includes the owner, who hired this coach and GM. Neither the coach nor the GM are doing the job. Look at the performance of our top draft picks and off-season acquisitions. How does Rich Mackay get a pass. Blank talks about wanting players with a certain moral character, and we wind up with punks like Deangleo Hall.
Michael Vick is clearly the best player we have and he’s one of the best players in the league. His talents are being wasted in Atlanta, where the players play - but generally lose, year after year after year after year. A case could be made that we should trade Vick to a better team to give him a chance to reach his potential. It won’t happen here - this is Atlanta folks. Face it. We suck in professional sports, but the climate’s nice.
I’m ready for the Falcons to STF up and go away for a few months. I’m ready for Mackay and Mora to go away and not come back.
By thoughtibafalconfan
December 17, 2006 08:50 AM | Link to this
Man watching these guys kinda makes you wonder if leman bennett and dan reeves were that bad. was ray buchannon wearing #21 last night?
By p
December 17, 2006 08:50 AM | Link to this
No defense, bad drafts, terrible free agent signings.
Arthur Blank is the type of owner that Red Aurbach used to take to the cleaners. Running a store and running an NFL team are worlds apart and those stupid business slogans don’t apply there.
By Harold
December 17, 2006 08:51 AM | Link to this
how could anyone bash vick after this game? that’s ridiculous. he played great. as najeh said above: he made two costly mistakes. but he played very well.
these coaches are just horrible.
DHALL is the reason we lost this game. TO whipped and burnt DHALL all over the field. Then DHALL has to be an idiot with his bumping and woofing and screaming and hollering. JUST SHUT UP DHALL! JUST COVER SOMEONE FOR ONCE DHALL! YOU ARE NOT THE NEXT PRIMETIME DHALL!!! YOU ARE NOT EVEN THE NEXT BIG PLAY RAY BUCHANAN DHALL!!! YOU SUCK DHALL!!!!
there are many fans who say we have a ton of talent on this team but we really do not. i think most fans who say we have all this talent sound more and more like fantasy geeks every day. we have an undersized D-Line that has its moments but gets smacked around any time the other team decides to end the game by shoving it down our throats. we have undersized linebacks who are wicked fast but who also seem to get dragged 5 yards on every play. and then we have a bunch of useless DBs who could not cover my big fat slow behind.
The coaches are brutal. Donatell seems to have learned absolutely nothing from the 4th and 26 play back when he was the DC for the Packers when he let Donovan and Freddie Mitchell beat him. How many third and longs were converted by the cowgirls last night? How often did that occur because of some stupid zone nonsense where the rule seems to be that Donatell will not let any Falcons DB be within 10 yards of any receiver until the receiver catches the ball.
Can not complain at all today about the wideouts. Norwood needs to man up. Dunn is a real man. Mike, I know you were hurt and everything but you looked like a quitter. Dunn did not practice all week and he still somehow found a way to get out there and play the whole game. I love Dunn. I wish everyone on the team had his heart, toughness, and fire and desire. Crump played well.
Vick was great except for the ugly interception and that play where crump was so wide open, it was ridiculous. When is Knapp going to realize that the whole league knows that Mike only goes to his left. Absurd. And when is Mike going to read defenses and realize that the everyone knows he goes left every time and therefore at least once in a while peak over to the right and maybe see himself a wide open alge? BUT Mike was very good in that game
AS much as I love DUNN, rb needs to be addressed. They need another tough runner who can pound. WHy was griffith not used to pound at the end of the game? Knapp, were you watching them mix and match barber and jones and then use barber to pound us the same way tiki barber pounded us a few weeks ago? This is a joke. Blank and McKay decided to get rid of Duckett so that Arthur could avenge a 2002 draft day grudge match he had with Reeves where Reeeves wanted Duckett and Arthur and his boys wanted Lelie. Now we do not have a 4th quarter pounder, red zone pounder, short yardage pounder. I think if Duckett was here, we may have won this game.
Vick, stop being a wuss. Great game.. I love you. Hope you are here for the next 10 years but you have got to get butt out there until the bitter end and not make spoiled brat faces before you sit down and quit like a spoiled brat. BUT great game MIke.
Norwood, your failure to get out there tells me all I need to know about you. Dunn did not practice all week and he found a way to get out there. Why couldn’t you get out there norwood? As Mora told Vermeil, it is because you Norwood do not yet know the difference between being injured and being hurt. You are not the RB of the future of this team. YOu will always be a cute complimentary change of pace guy. You have shown me that we will need to get ourselves a pounder 16 game a year to pair up with your ice cream soft character.
Knapp, why is it that 4th and 1, we are passing again? McKay and Blank, you are the personnel guys and the geniuses who thought it was such a good idea to trade TJ Duckett so that Arthur could avenge a grudge he had with Reeves in the 2002 draft, well, why did you do that? Arthur and McKay, do you now see that in the 4th quarter, in short yardage, and in the red zone we do not have a pounder? Thus, drives end before they are supposed to and we can not run out the clocks and we do not score enough touchdowns in the red zone? And, thus on 4th and 1, we are forced to throw a stupid pass because DUnn is too tiny to move the pile.
Mora, I am actually quite angry that I woke up this morning and learned that you had not yet been fired. FIRE JIM MORA!! FIRE DONATELL!! FIRE KNAPP!!! FIRE MCKAY!! START OVER FROM SCRATCH KING ARTHUR!!!! YOU SCREWED UP BY HIRING BOTH MCKAY AND MORA!!!! GO STANFORD!! GO HUSKIES!!!!
By TMac
December 17, 2006 08:51 AM | Link to this
BRING ON THE DRAFT! PICK # 15 JUST LIKE LAST YEAR. O -NO FALCONS TOOK ANOTHER RECEIVER.
By Mike Falcon
December 17, 2006 08:55 AM | Link to this
The Falcons are just not that good. We are a middle of the pack team with middle of the pack players and coaches. We need to upgrade the coaches and the front office. McCay may have won a super bowl in Tampa but was it his design or Dungies? I think Blank should start here and start over. We need to keep the great ones when we get them ie Deion and Brett. We better wake up before Matt is gone. He may or may not be a great one but he is certainly worth a look. Vick is a great athlete but he is no NFL caliber quarterback for gosh sakes. Use him a little like Bush in New Orleans and let him run short pass routes. This guy cannot keep his mental approach at a high level long enough to think clearly and play the position. Not his fault he is just mis-placed. This is not college football guys and Vick is the ultimate college quarterback.
By Bill H
December 17, 2006 08:58 AM | Link to this
little bitty men can’t defend NFL receivers. Rossum and Hall average about 5’5” and can’t cover their Mothers. They get faked out of their little bitty jock straps every week. The great Falcon effort couldn’t cover up the weak secondary with our little bitty players.
By DOM
December 17, 2006 08:58 AM | Link to this
FIRE RICH McKAY TOO! HE HAS BEEN LUCKY FOR AWHILE UP UNTIL NOW. HE WAS RIDING THE GOOD OLE BOY NETWORK, GOOD MEDIA AND LUCK TO THE TOP. HE HAS BEEN EXPOSED!!!!
By Joe
December 17, 2006 09:05 AM | Link to this
WHAT DO I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS? I ONLY PRAY THAT MORA AND KNAPP WILL BE GONE AT THE END OF THE SEASON. BRING ON BILL KOWHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
By james
December 17, 2006 09:08 AM | Link to this
You bunch of Dumb nuts????
Don’t blame the coaches you blame the players because the players is the one that have to run the plays not the coaches.
By War Eagle
December 17, 2006 09:11 AM | Link to this
It seems to me their is too much Vick Hip. The ajc plasters his name and picture across front pages everyday, he is just not that deserving. A good player, Yes, a great player No. why all the hype about Michael Vick, what are other player thoughts and desires playing beside him? Again, the Falcons need to regroup with ground to zero evaluations, its a mess
By jeff
December 17, 2006 09:13 AM | Link to this
i agree with this article whole-heartedly. how many penalties did we have for lining up incorrectly how many punts did koenen kick 30 yards when we needed a true change of field position. being a falcons fan moral victories are sometimes all we have, but this team was supposed to actually be good, yet somehow they find the same ways to lose as all the other years. Mora needs to go on tour with John Kerry, the only difference is Kerry actually can see what problems exist. Mora’s line is always, “we fought hard”, who cares? Just win already.
By joe
December 17, 2006 09:14 AM | Link to this
“The way the Falcons asked Vick to make more difficult throws.” ???
Shows how little you know about football, Bradley. When a play is called, it is up to the QB, THE QB, to select which receiver he throws to. There are 3 to 5 targets on every pass play, and many of them are simple throws - like the one Vick DID NOT find Crumpler on for an easy TD.
I guess you also think Reggie Ball should have won the Heismann, too.
By dt
December 17, 2006 09:14 AM | Link to this
In response to the blog concerning Hartwell . Demorrio Williams makes more plays than anyone when he’s in the game . In my opinion he should play every down .I’m sick of the defense playing soft coverage especially on 3rd and long .Meet the receivers at the line of scrimmage and bust them in the mouth !
By JerryLovedLSU
December 17, 2006 09:14 AM | Link to this
I never realized that I could tell the extent of a groin injury by seeing a play on TV.
Guess it’s time to pull the trigger and upgrade to HD.
By pj
December 17, 2006 09:17 AM | Link to this
you falcon fans are just foolish…you’re not that talented and any decent coach out there wouldn’t want to work for an overbearing owner like Arthur Blank!!!
PS. The 2 coaches who probably could handle Blank have jobs (Parcells and Gibbs) and the other one Jimmie Johnson obviously has no desire to come here.
By Harry
December 17, 2006 09:18 AM | Link to this
has anyone else noticed that TO admitted that he spit into DHALL’s face? Disgusting. DHALL, you still suck though.
By Connie Lingous
December 17, 2006 09:20 AM | Link to this
Several illegal formation penalties on offense - in key situations?!?! In the 14th game of the regular season?!?!?! That tells me all I need to know about the quality of our coaching staff. Get a professional coaching staff and keep Blank off the sidelines and get to winning. We’ve got - by far - the highest payroll of any team in the league (nobody seems to talk about this but it’s true) and we look like the gang that can’t shoot straight.
And I’ve never seen a team with so many players walking around with bewildered looks on their faces during a game.
By War Eagle
December 17, 2006 09:30 AM | Link to this
Hey Connie see my post at 9:11AM about your “bewildered looks on their faces”
By falconclaws1221
December 17, 2006 09:31 AM | Link to this
There is no urgent time to the Falcons There is no clock management skills exerted by this coaching staff.E.I. 2:00 min in second quarter.with 3 time outs remaining—-no urgent respect of the clock if used effectively with time outs and smart play there was 6 playes the coaches could have used..FIRE ALL COACHES NOW.
By Kenny D
December 17, 2006 09:39 AM | Link to this
the question about vick at this point is whether he is going to be the next michael jordan or merely be remembered as the next human highlight film? he is not the greatest and he does not suck despite the whole debate being fought by the lovers, haters, and apologists.
Look at the first 6 years of Wilkins and the first six years of Jordan. Jordan would go on to the win the championship in his seventh year. Wilkins would not and never would.
But most ATL sports fans moan and complain over and over again about Dominique being traded. Although the Hawks never quite reached the heights we all wanted, don’t we all wish we could have the days of Domininque back? Hell, most ATL fans remember those as the glory days. That is where we are with Vick right now. We are not quite getting the results we all want. Will we take the next step like Jordan and the Bulls did in the seventh year? Or will we merely remember Vick like we do Dominique as an unbelievable talent who gave us alot of fun, excitement, credibility, wins but ultimately came up short when it came to the ultimate success?
most of you though are too biased about Mike Vick either way. the question should be is he going to be the next michael jordan or are we merely going to remember him and these falcons as the modern day version of Dominique and the 1980s Hawks? fun, excitement, highlights, lowlights, great wins, heartbreaking losses, enough wins to keep you in contention and make you somewhat happy, not enough wins to keep you truly happy.
so, watch yourself before you say bench him trade him, or waive him. Are you still made about Nique being traded? Do you think Knicks fans would do anything to get an imperfect star like Patrick Ewing back? Do you think the Sixers resented the fact that they traded Barkley away and then watched him go to the NBA finals the next year? Do you think that the Jazz fans would trade away all the success and failures of the Mailman and Stockton years? Why do you think the Timberwolves are so reluctant to trade Garnett? Aren;t the TWolves better off with their mininal level of success than getting rid of Garnett and losing all that? The Magic did not do themselves any favors by letting Shaq leave. You get the point.
Keep Vick. Appreciate Vick. He ain’t perfect. he may be someday. He may become the next jordan, bird, shaq, magic, hakeem, isiah, montana, marino, brady, bradshaw, aikman, etc. Or he may merely be the next dominique, marino, steve mcnair, ewing, barkley, garnett, mailman, stockton, etc. and the all the other guys who were really good but were fatally flawed in some respects wheter that would be poor coaching, poor surrounding talent or a fatal flaw within their own great talent.
By Kenny D
December 17, 2006 09:43 AM | Link to this
Mike Falcon: You are a fool. I was agreeing with you until you started talking about Schaub and Mike Vick. Are you an idiot? Why do you think Mike Vick is not an NFL QB? 38-26-1, 2 playoff victories. He threw 4 touchdowns. Is the NFL so bad now that any so called RB can go out there and throw 4 touchdowns against a Bill Parcells defense. Get a clue dude. Or at least stop posting until such time you earn your GED
By TMac
December 17, 2006 09:43 AM | Link to this
Coaches call plays based on what they see on the field, film study and personal experience. Until their first year with the falcons Mora, Knapp and Donetell all came from loosing teams. These are college coaches that took a projected superbowl team and made it an underachieving emotionally challenged group, that privately wants a disiplinarian type of coach that will get in the azz of those who don’t perform week after week.
By Dave David
December 17, 2006 09:54 AM | Link to this
I don’t blame Coach Mora for his comments. The timing wasn’t right, but look at that despicable picture of Awtha’ on the sidelines with the Coach in the AJC this morning. Who would want a Bosses boss up your colon for every game?? Awtha’ spend time with your grandson and daughter and stay OFF the sideline…Oh that is your son and wife??
If I was Coach Mora, I would have sent my Application, for the Head Coaching position at UW, to the AJC a year ago to be printed!
Keep your head up Coach! Seattle is a much better place to live!
By Jethro Bodene
December 17, 2006 09:57 AM | Link to this
Ed Hartwell, Chris Crocker, and MeAngelo Hall should all wear ski masks when they show up at Flowery Branch on payday. Since they are stealing Blank’s money instead of earning it..a ski mask would be very appropriate! When you get your check, then lend the masks to Mora and Knapp so they can get paid too.
By bravesfanbob
December 17, 2006 09:59 AM | Link to this
I’m sure most of the comments in this blog are right on. However, I can’t comment much as I live in Augusta, and being I was at a Christmas party with cable only, (the resturant cannot put a digital box on every TV), and the NFL network chose to allow only a 50 mile limit outside the Atlanta area to view this game, even when we’ve been watching every Falcons game since the TV contracts started, so I didn’t see the most important game of the season so far! BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO on the money hungry NFL! Sounds like they were outmanned by a better Dallas team and especially a better coaching staff. Knapp is the torn ACL in the coaching knee, and Mora is a bad doctor who dosen’t know how to surgically repair it! At the end of this season, unless we decide to become the Steelers of 2005 from this point on, Authur Blank will pull out the huge knife, and cut them all! Mike Vick is not a coach killer. Saying to the media that you want to leave to coach somewhere else will kill you. Sorry, but you committed suicide, Mora!
By ReasonableDawg
December 17, 2006 10:04 AM | Link to this
This coaching staff is doing less with more. Reeves had us playing far better with far less talent. Mora took a less talented bunch to the NFC title game in 04. But since then time has shown that he is apt to make a good situation worse instead of taking a good situation, and making it great. With the right staff, this would not be happening to our team. That is obvious to even me now.
By peckerhead
December 17, 2006 10:10 AM | Link to this
Hey,say what you want!You can only blame Blank and McKay.If you remember McKay interviewed Mora,hired him on the spot without finishing the rest of the interviews.I’d say that puts them in the same category as guy their about to fire.
By Doo Itt
December 17, 2006 10:10 AM | Link to this
Hire Ty Willingham as head coach. He had such success at Notre Dame. Make the roster 100% black. This will satisfy the majority of the savage constituency that occupies so many seats at the GA Dome. The whoopin’ & hollerin’ there is truly tribal. So, having a blackie at coach and all-nigra players will make the Falc00ns the first absolutely affirmative action team in the NFL. It will put Kansas City, Indianapolis and Arizona to shame.
By Scott
December 17, 2006 10:15 AM | Link to this
Hey Harold, shut up and quit embarassing yourself and repeating your same stupid comments over and over again. If mike Vicks groin came up lame and the game is already over would you rather him be out the next 2 games cause he tried to carry on????? and as far as Vick missin crump wide open obviously you have never played foot ball you can make a 50 yrd pass across the grain when the entire play was going the opposite way,hell even the annoucers said there was no way he could see that. Stay in your chair HAROLD!!!!!!!
By Kirby S. Mith
December 17, 2006 10:23 AM | Link to this
Let’s not entirely blame Mora for this Mess. Blank is such a people pleaser and corporate politico that HE axed Reeves, because that’s what the media and “Falcon Fans” wanted. Then he got “His Team” assembled—young, aggressive, 49er type personnel that have the background of playoffs and a winning tradition. He buried the former ownership and the former coaching personnel with HIS TEAM. Isn’t that typical these days of corporate executives cut staff and build their teams because a Change is needed—“people of action”. BS
McKay, if I were you, watch your backside with your Employer!
5 YEAR PLAN:
Blank, take a 5 year vacation out of the country, leave your checkbook with plenty of checks in it for McKay, and Let McKay build the team and coaching staff! You have shown you know squat about football.
TIP: You let Bernie build Home Depot while you were a behind the scenes bean counter, do the same here and let McKay build the Falcons!!
By Gene
December 17, 2006 10:23 AM | Link to this
Mora is a spoiled child who wants to be one of the boys. In spite of this, team members have no respect for him. He can’t keep his own players out of his face, and Vick just walks off the field to the criticism of Marshal Faulk and Dion Sanders. There is some talent there, but it is sloppy and out of control.
By Cool De
December 17, 2006 10:27 AM | Link to this
** The Falcons whole organization should bare the weight of it’s failures since releasing Dan Reeves for the son of a former head coach! Let’s not forget that Lovie Smith was a canidate for job and we all know what’s he doing in Chicago!
By Edd Anderson
December 17, 2006 10:29 AM | Link to this
I was there. Vick played his heart out. The defense couldn’t stop Dallas on third and long. There were no false starts by Dallas due to crowd noise, that needs to improve as well. The players shouldn’t have to tell the crowd when to yell.The Cowgirls shouldn’t have been able to think . It does help!
By The Voice of Reason
December 17, 2006 10:31 AM | Link to this
You heard it here first: KEN WHISENHUNT is the Falcons’ man. Get some beef on that O-line, and he’ll establish the power running game with Norwood, their back of the future. He’ll also establish a culture of winning because that’s what he comes from. Further, the man is an accomplished tactician (read: something the Falcons are sorely missing right now). Going 15-1 with a rookie QB, then winning the Super Bowl the next year says it all. AND he’s an Atlanta native, Tech grad and former Falcon. He should be Blank’s first interview.
By Reggie
December 17, 2006 10:32 AM | Link to this
Here’s the deal: We will neve