Falcons to bus to Charlotte

By D. Orlando Ledbetter

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

FLOWERY BRANCH -- The Falcons are going to ride buses to their game in Charlotte on Sunday.

"We will get there quicker by taking a bus," Falcons coach Mike Smith said.

The bus trip will take about three hours up Interstate 85 from the team's facilities in Hall County.

"Our support staff has done this for years, and they have always beat us to the hotel and always beat us back," Smith said. "We felt like to take the wear and tear off of our bodies, we wanted to get there the quickest way as possible."

The bus trip wasn't a big hit at first.

"Everybody started laughing, but when Coach told us we were going to get there a little quicker, then everybody was like ‘oh yeah, that's the better route to go," wide receiver Roddy White said.

While an assistant coach in Baltimore, Smith said the Ravens would take a bus to games in Philadelphia and take the train to games in New York.

Mid-term grades

Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan was not ready to play professor and pull out the grade book for mid-term grades.

The Falcons are 5-3, sitting at the same spot as last season after playing a much more difficult schedule.

"I'm not sure you can put a letter [grade] on it," Ryan said. "We've done a pretty good job, but we have a lot of improving to do, myself included."

Ryan has thrown 10 interceptions through eight games after throwing 11 last season. Part of the reason is that the Falcons are asking the second-year player to do more.

One good sign for Ryan and the offense is that the running game has come around over the past two games.

"Our receivers are doing a great job of downfield of blocking; that's opened some things up in the secondary," Ryan said. "[Michael Turner] is making some plays, too. The line is opening up some holes, but he's making some guys miss and running some people over. When you have a back like that, it gives you a chance every week in the running game."

Playoff picture

With New Orleans (eight wins), Minnesota (seven) and Dallas (six) off to rocket starts in the NFC, the Falcons at 5-3 are not sure how many games they'll need to make the playoffs. They are three games behind the undefeated Saints with eight to play.

"I think we have to just keep winning at home," White said. "That's the big thing. If you can get all eight at home and squeak out two road games, which it is hard to win on the road in this league, if you can get that done, then most likely you can make the playoffs. That's what we are trying to get done. We have to go out on the road and get a ‘W' this Sunday."

Gonzalez settling in

Tight end Tony Gonzalez is happy how his first season with the Falcons is shaping up.

"I wish we had won some more games, but we are going in the right direction," Gonzalez said. "We have started to hit our stride. The running game has definitely opened up some of the things we want to do on the offensive side of the ball."

Gonzalez is quick to note that he won two games with Kansas City last season.

"It's a lot more fun when you win," Gonzalez said.