Gonzalez, Falcons first-team offense shreds Rams

By D. Orlando Ledbetter

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

ST. LOUIS — The Tony Gonzalez experiment is going rather well for the Falcons.

There was little question about Gonzalez’s skill level and ability to catch the ball at age 33. After all, he caught 96 passes last season in Kansas City.

But the key for the Falcons was how they would integrate the 10-time Pro Bowl tight end into their offense without missing a beat, hoping to continue the growth of second-year quarterback Matt Ryan.

The St. Louis Rams got a good glimpse of what the Falcons have been working on, as the Falcons held on for a 20-13 victory Friday night at the Edward Jones Dome. They are 1-1 in the exhibition season.

After two exhibition games, it’s clear that Gonzalez, whom the Falcons acquired from the Kansas City Chiefs for a second-round draft pick on April 23, is going to be a factor on third downs and when the Falcons get within striking distance, such as inside the 20.

“Yeah, it felt good to kind of see all of the stuff that we worked on over the offseason,” Ryan said. “Hopefully, we can continue to build on what we’ve started, and I think we will.”

Ryan and Gonzalez exchanged text messages on the day of the trade.

“I just wanted him to know that I was excited about being on the team,” Gonzalez said. “And that I was excited about working with him. I wanted to get that out right away.”

Gonzalez gives Ryan the credit for getting him involved in the offense so quickly.

“He’s such a great quarterback that he knew right away,” Gonzalez said. “He said, ‘where do you like the ball.’ I said, “I like it up top. Throw it up high.’ He’s been putting it there every since.”

Last season, the first-team offense centered on the running of Michael Turner and a timely passing game that featured wide receiver Roddy White. Most offseason projections had the offense turning into an absolutely potent attack with the addition of Gonzalez. After the showing against the Rams, those forecasts don’t appear to be unwarranted.

The first-team offense shredded the Rams for two touchdowns before most of the unit — except the starting line — retired for the night. The big guys played one more series.

Ryan hopelessly lobbied for a little more action than he saw last week, but after Ryan directed two touchdown drives of differing styles, he sat out the rest.

The offense, with former Ram Brett Romberg starting at center for Todd McClure, flashed all of its major weapons on the first possession.

Ryan threw passes to Gonzalez and White, but the nine-play, 77-yard scoring drive was powered by Turner’s thick legs. He ripped off a 43-yard run and carried four consecutive times inside the 20 before scoring on a one-yard run.

Turner was done for the game after the opening drive, giving way to Jerious Norwood.

The Falcons spent a great deal of time in the offseason working on their passing attack. They put on a mini-aerial show Friday.

Ryan found Gonzalez on a third-and-10 for an 11-yard gain. He completed three more passes of more than 10 yards before tossing a 14-yard touchdown pass to Gonzalez in the corner of the end zone. Ryan was 5-of-6 for 69 yards in the drive.

“The biggest thing for me is to just get a feel for what the guys around me are capable of doing,” Ryan said. “Trying to get them the ball in a position where they can make plays afterwards.”

With the Falcons ahead 14-0, D.J. Shockley got the call at quarterback and played the second quarter and most of the third before John Parker Wilson took over.

But Shockley, the former Georgia standout, struggled. The offense committed two turnovers that the Rams turned into a touchdown and a field goal to make the score 14-10.

Shockley finally got the offense moving and took them downfield for a 34-yard Jason Elam field goal that made the score 17-10.

The Falcons could not celebrate until reserve safety Eric Brock intercepted a pass in the end zone with 43 seconds left in the game.

While the first-team offense appears regular-season ready, the coaches are doing much more probing on defense.

Chevis Jackson started for Chris Houston at right cornerback because of Houston’s hamstring injury. Chauncey Davis started at left defensive end for Jamaal Anderson. Trey Lewis started at nose tackle for Thomas Johnson, with Peria Jerry coming in on the second series.

Davis and Anderson are in a battle for the starting spot. The Falcons want the sack total to increase from that position. Rookie Lawrence Sidbury had two sacks.