Cover 9 @ 9: Levitre has no hard feelings toward Titans

1. THANK YOU NOTE: Falcons left guard Andy Levitre may want to send the Titans a "Thank You" note for trading him to the Falcons before the start of the season.

Instead of riding the bench on a 1-4 team, he’s starting for a 5-1 team.

The Titans, who have been hit with a rash of injuries, probably wish they’d kept Levitre at this point.

With the Falcons set to face the Titans on Sunday, Levitre had no hard feeling about his former team.

“This has worked out great for me,” Levitre said. “I’m glad to be here. It’s a great group of guys. I’m excited to continue to work with them.”

Really? No hard feelings, at all.

“No, it’s business and I understand that,” Levitre said.

Levitre doesn’t plan to get too fired about the Titans.

“The same way that I’ve dealt with every game, prepare the same way that I would,” Levitre said when asked if he was looking forward to facing the Titans. “It comes down to getting that work in at practice and doing what we can do to best of our ability.”

Levitre and the play of the offensive line has been one of the keys to the Falcons’ fast start.

“It’s just kind of spending that time together,” Levitre said. “Being in the meeting rooms together. Communicating on and off the field. Just kind of developing relationships so that when we get on the field, it becomes natural.”

2 . PASS RUSH OPP: The Falcons should have a chance to get some pressure and sacks against the Titans, who have given up 20 sacks this season.

3. OFFENSIVE PLAN: Left tackle Jake Matthews, who's off to a strong start this season, believes the offense can get back on track against the Titans.

“When we get opportunities, we have to make sure that we get points out of those,” Matthews said. “We can definitely move the ball, but the game obviously comes down to points. We had opportunities in this last game, but it didn’t work out.

“I’m excited for the opportunity this week to go out and proving that.”

Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter

Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter

4. QUINN ON EVEN KEEL: A lot of folks were wonder how first-year head coach Dan Quinn would handle his first lost in the NFL.

The players haven’t noticed a difference.

“Not really at all,” Matthews said. “He’s the same as he’s always been. That’s good.”

5. TURNOVERS: Quinn was not pleased that Falcons did not create a turnover against the Saints.

“We definitely have to get the ball,” Cornerback Desmond Trufant said. “That’s one of the keys to our success in our wins. We’ve been getting the ball and scoring on defense. We definitely have to get back to it.”

Trufant believe the pass rush has led to some turnovers.

“It definitely makes it easy for us when the quarterback is under pressure,” Trufant said. “When you get the quarterback off the spot, their percentages drop. That’s a known fact around the league. We’ve been doing a great job, we just have to put it all together.

6. U.S.S. BABINEAUX: Falcons defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux shared his thoughts on the pass rush:

“We just have to get back in the rhythm," Babineaux said. "Continue to work on the small things, the detailed things. All of the things that we do in practice and transition them to the game. If we just continue to work on them, I think we’ll be all right."

If time permits, the Falcons defensive linemen have to used their counter moves.

“Just having a different move," Babineaux said. "If one move doesn’t work, you have to have next move to back it up in order to be effective in the pass rush. I think we all know how to do it. It’s just a matter of reacting and doing it."

Credit: Asif Lakhani

Credit: Asif Lakhani

7. BEASLEY HAPPY FOR JARRETT: Falcons first-round pick Vic Beasley is happy for fifth-round pick Grady Jarrett, who's getting his playing time increased.

“I’m definitely looking forward to Grady getting out on the field more,” Beasley said. “He’s definitely been wrecking havoc in the plays that he is out there.”

8. JARRETT ON THE PASS RUSH: Jarrett had his thoughts on the Falcons pass rush, too.

“Just go back to work,” Jarrett said. “We are always trying to improve. We want to improve our pass rush and get more tackles for losses. We’ve got the guys to do it. We are just going back to work every day. We are excited for that challenge. We know that we can get it done. That’s why we have the confidence, we do as a defensive line and as a front-seven of the unit."

9. OFFICIAL DEPTH CHART:  Center Mike Person appears ready to return to the lineup. Linebacker Justin Durant is also close.

Wide receiver Justin Hardy , who's been inactive for all six games, is coming along fine and is ready to play. The Falcons are just loaded at wide receiver. They'll also have to make a decision when Devin Hester returns for Week 13.

OFFENSE

WR 11 Julio Jones, 85 Leonard Hankerson, 16 Justin Hardy

LT 70 Jake Matthews, 75 Jake Long

LG 67 Andy Levitre, 62 James Stone

C 68 Mike Person, 66 Gino Gradkowski

RG 65 Chris Chester, 62 James Stone

RT 73 Ryan Schraeder, 72 Bryce Harris

TE 83 Jacob Tamme, 80 Levine Toilolo, 81 Tony Moeaki

WR 84 Roddy White, 14 Eric Weems, 15 Nick Williams

QB 2 Matt Ryan, 12 Sean Renfree

RB 24 Devonta Freeman, 26 Tevin Coleman, 33 Terron Ward

FB 42 Patrick DiMarco

DEFENSE

DE 44 Vic Beasley Jr., 99 Adrian Clayborn, 71 Kroy Biermann

DT 77 Ra’Shede Hageman, 97 Grady Jarrett

NT 96 Paul Soliai, 95 Jonathan Babineaux

DE 94 Tyson Jackson, 93 Malliciah Goodman

LB 52 Justin Durant, 59 Joplo Bartu, Philip Wheeler

LB 55 Paul Worrilow, 53 Allen Bradford, 54 Nate Stupar

LB 50 O’Brien Schofield, 56 Brooks Reed

CB 23 Robert Alford, 32 Jalen Collins

CB 21 Desmond Trufant, 20 Phillip Adams, 22 Dezmen Southward

S 37 Ricardo Allen, 27 Robenson Therezie

S 25 Wiliam Moore, 36 Kemal Ishmael

SPECIALISTS

K 3 Matt Bryant

KO 5 Matt Bosher

P 5 Matt Bosher

KR 14 Eric Weems

PR 14 Eric Weems

LS 47 Josh Harris

H 5 Matt Bosher

How did the Falcons get to 5-1?

Here's a look back at the game stories, news and notes from their loss to the Saints (31-21) and their victories over the Redskins (25-19 in OT), Texans (48-21), Cowboys (39-28), Giants (24-20) and Eagles (26-24).

NEW ORLEANS GAME COVERAGE -- Saints 31, Falcons 21

5 things we learned in the Falcons' 31-21 loss to the Saints

Saints hand Falcons their first loss -- Quarter by Quarter

Matt Ryan: 'It was a tough night'

What the Falcons had to say after their 31-21 loss to the Saints

Why didn't the Falcons feed Freeman? -- Mike Check

Falcons flash some of their ugly past -- Jeff Schultz column

Falcons-Saints by the numbers

WASHINGTON GAME COVERAGE -- Falcons 25, Redskins 19 in OT

Falcons pull out 25-19 victory over Redskins in OT -- Quarter by Quarter

5 things we learned in the Falcons' 25-19 win over the Redskins

What the Falcons had to say after the 25-19 win

Ryan, offense struggle with turnovers

Mark Bradley column: The Frenetic Falcons: Five-and-oh-my!

Roddy White hears support from the crowd

15 comments from Dan Quinn on the Falcons' victory

Roddy White: 'I'll be a Falcons for life'

Tweetcap: Falcons beat Redskins in OT

TEXANS GAME COVERAGE -- Falcons 48, Texans 21

How the Falcons hammered the Texans -- Quarter by Quarter

5 things we learned from the Falcons' 48-21 win over the Texans

Devonta Freeman stars again for the Falcons

What the Falcons had to say after pummeling the Texans

9 comments from Dan Quinn on the Falcons' victory

Jeff Schult'z column: Devonta Freeman, 7 TDs -- who didn't see that coming

Schraeder, Matthews keep Watt in check

Hankerson turns in a 100-yard receiving day (second of his career)

Houston's J.J. Watt tips hat to the Falcons

Former Falcons great Jessie Tuggle honored during Texans game

COWBOYS GAME COVERAGE -- Falcons 39, Cowboys 28

Falcons 39, Cowboys 28 -- Quarter by Quarter

5 things we learned from the Falcons' 39-28 win over the Cowboys

Mark Bradley's short takes: Julio, Freeman and the defense

Devonta Freeman is catalyst for Falcons run game

QUOTEBOARD: What the Falcons had to say after beating Dallas

Julio Jones does it again: 12 catches, 164 yards and two touchdowns

Mark Bradley column: A dominant half shows what he Falcons could be

Offensive line cracked the run-game code

Ryan directed second-half fireworks show

Beasley help lead resurgence on defense

Where's Falcons wide receiver Roddy White?

GIANTS GAME COVERAGE -- Falcons 24, Giants 20

Falcons 24, Giants 20 -- Quarter by Quarter

5 things we learned from Falcons' 24-20 win over the Giants

Mark Bradley column -- Don't stop believin': Dan Quinn's men are 2-0

A record day for Julio Jones: 13 receptions

Kroy Biermann: 'We're a ball-attacking team'

EAGLES GAME COVERAGE -- FALCONS 26, EAGLES 24

5 things we learned from Falcons' upset win over Eagles

Matt Ryan leads Falcons to 26-24 win over the Eagles

Jeff Schultz column: An impressive debut by Quinn's new Falcons

Mark Bradley column: A new year: The Falcons dig deep and hang on

Julio Jones moves into fifth on Falcons' all-time receiving list

Tevin Coleman powers new rushing attack

Ricardo Allen seals victory in first start at free safety

4 questions with Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones after the game

Falcons' revamped offensive line shows positive signs

Falcons quotes after their victory over the Eagles

Falcons-Eagles: By The Numbers