(Welcome all! With the NFL becoming more of a passing league, the “Cover 9@9” blog will become all of the rage. You can read it here every Wednesday at 9 a.m. throughout the season. We’ll try to get to everything about the Atlanta Falcons from the Hometown Huddle to how the Falcons are going to try to defend Saints quarterback Drew Brees. -– D. Orlando Ledbetter)
1. BRYANT WINS TEAM'S PAYTON AWARD: FLOWERY BRANCH – Falcons place kicker Matt Bryant was named the team's Walter Payton Man of the Year at the Falcons Community Honors Dinner held at Ray's on the River on Monday.
Bryant regularly gives of his time in the community and was the team’s December Community All-Star.
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
He attended the Dazzle & Dine event in honor of five breast cancer survivors and served as a celebrity waiter during the team’s annual Huddle Up for Miracles hosted by head coach Mike Smith and the Children’s Miracle Network.
Bryant had several other community endeavors including serving a special Thanksgiving meal to 300 women and children at the Atlanta Mission along with punter Matt Bosher and long snapper Josh Harris.
“It’s an honor to be recognized for stuff that you like to do,” Bryant said. “The bad stories about people in the league are out there. There are so many good people in the league. That’s the whole goal, is to be, no matter what you do in general, is to be as good as you can.”
Bryant said he likes to see the smiles on people’s faces when he’s doing his volunteer work.
“Sometimes you get into a situation where you tend to bond with somebody,” Bryant said. “You see the sparkle in their eyes. No matter how much they are going through, they feel so much better that day, so you know that you’ve helped somebody tremendously.”
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Cornerback Robert McClain, fullback Patrick DiMarco and Harris were the other finalists.
Overall, the Falcons have made over 780 players appearances in the community this season.
“I’ve been with a couple of other organizations, but nobody does it to the extent that they do here in Atlanta,” Bryant said. “Guys are doing it on their own. It’s not like they have to. It’s not required. Guys are going out and doing it on their own and I think that’s huge.”
The Walter Payton Man of the Year Award recognizes a player's off-the-field community engagement. Each team in the NFL nominates one player from its organization as the man of the year. The winner will be considered in the final selection of the Walter Payton NFL man of the year award announced during halftime of Super Bowl XLIX.
2. THE RECORD BOOK: After making field goal kicks of 22 and 28 yards against the Steelers, Bryant has now made 36 straight field goals from inside 50 yards dating back to 2013. Bryant scored eight points in the game. He now has 652 points with the team since 2009. He has the second-highest total in franchise history behind Morten Andersen (806).
3. TOUGHNESS CAMPAIGN: The Falcons toughness campaign has been an utter failure on the field.
After spending major resources, time, money, and draft picks on becoming a tougher (more physical if you’re in the Coach Mike Smith camp) the Falcons failed all eight of their tests against teams from the rugged AFC North and NFC North (the old Black and Blue smash-mouth Central division.)
The Falcons were swept by both divisions while they gave away games to Detroit and Cleveland, they were beaten by Green Bay, Chicago and Minnesota of the NFC North and by Cincinnati, Baltimore and Pittsburgh of the AFC North.
The Falcons return to the site of the genesis of the campaign. It was in the Superdome where Saints safety Kenny Vaccaro leveled Matt Ryan and no one came to his aid.
That ticked off owner Arthur Blank.
4. ACT LIKE YOU'VE BEEN THERE BEFORE: Falcons wide receiver Devin Hester did
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
some whack dance after scoring against Pittsburgh with the team trailing 13-7.
It seemed out of place. Why are you dancing when you’re losing?
“Again, scoring touchdowns in the NFL, they’re hard to come by,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “Again, that’s an individual’s choice, in terms of what they want to do after they score a touchdown.”
I know that Smith has more important things on his plate right down, but Cover9@9 would support a "no dancing when you're losing" rule. We like how Julio Jones just flips the ball to the refs after his catches. He let's his play do his talking.
(Oh no, I'm the old grumpy guy. When did this happen?)
5. MERRY CHRISTMAS: I wasn't in the Christmas spirit until yesterday.
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
After watching quarterback Matt and Sarah Ryan and several of the rookies, including left tackle Jake Matthews and center James Stone, take 40 kids from the Atlanta Action Ministries Christmas shopping at Dick's Sporting Goods, I'm now ready.
Those kids were adorable. They had a ball taking pictures and getting items for their siblings and themselves. Each had $150 large to spend!
After getting items for their siblings, Ryan told his group that they each had $115 left to spend. One kid wanted to know if that was enough for him to get some football gloves.
"No doubt, let's go find the gloves," Ryan told him.
We'll have more about the trip in a "Falcons Christmas" story that will be published on Saturday. CLICK HERE TO read more about the work of the fine folks at Atlanta Action Ministries and their war on poverty.
6. KEY MATCHUP 1:
Falcons RB Steven Jackson vs. Saints LB Curtis Lofton: Jackson, who has rushed 186 times for 689 yards and six touchdowns this season, is the NFL’s leading active rusher with 11,379 career rushing yards. Lofton, the former Falcons, is fourth in the league in tackles with 130. Lofton also has one forced fumble and one recovered fumbled.
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
7. KEY MATCHUP 2: Falcons CB Robert McClain vs. Saints WR Marques Colston: McClain is a fighter. He's been playing much better outside than in the slot, according to defensive coordinator Mike Nolan. Colston's size presents a mismatch against the scrappy McClain that Drew Brews will try to exploit. Colston has 51 catches for 771 yards and four touchdown grabs.
8. KEY MATCHUP 3: Falcons RT Ryan Schraeder vs. Saints OLB Junior Gallette: Schraeder has stabilized things over at right tackle spot for the Falcons. Gallette was held to one quarterback hit in the Falcons' season-opening 37-34 overtime win over the Saints. He leads the Saints with nine sacks.
9. DEPTH CHART: Here's the official depth chart released by the Falcons for Sunday's game against the Saints.
OFFENSE
WR 84 Roddy White, 83 Harry Douglas, 14 Eric Weems
LT 70 Jake Matthews, 68 Gabe Carimi
LG 63 Justin Blalock, 69 Harland Gunn
C 62 James Stone, 69 Harland Gunn
RG 75 Jon Asamoah, 69 Harland Gunn
RT 73 Ryan Schraeder, 68 Gabe Carimi, 64 Jonathan Scott
TE 80 Levine Toilolo, 86 Bear Pascoe
WR 11 Julio Jones, 17 Devin Hester, 19 Drew Davis
QB 2 Matt Ryan, 13 TJ Yates, 12 Sean Renfree
RB 39 Steven Jackson, 32 Jacquizz Rodgers, 24 Devonta Freeman
FB 42 Patrick DiMarco
DEFENSE
DE 71 Kroy Biermann, 50 Osi Umenyiora, 90 Stansly Maponga
DT 99 Tyson Jackson, 77 Ra’Shede Hageman, 98 Cliff Matthews
DT 96 Paul Soliai, 91 Corey Peters
DE 95 Jonathan Babineaux, 94 Jonathan Massaquoi, 93 Malliciah Goodman, 54 Tyler Starr
LB 55 Paul Worrilow, 52 Nate Stupar, 97 James Anderson
LB 59 Joplo Bartu, 53 Prince Shembo
CB 27 Robert McClain, 28 Javier Arenas, 37 Ricardo Allen
CB 26 Josh Wilson, 28 Javier Arenas
S 25 William Moore, 36 Kemal Ishmael, 30 Charles Godfrey
S 20 Dwight Lowery 41, Dezmen Southward
CB 21 Desmond Trufant, 28 Javier Arenas
SPECIALISTS
K 3 Matt Bryant
KO 5 Matt Bosher
P 5 Matt Bosher
KR 17 Devin Hester, 14 Eric Weems
PR 17 Devin Hester, 14 Eric Weems
LS 47 Josh Harris
H 5 Matt Bosher
FALCONS FAN MAILBAG: We take your questions from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Friday.
ICYMI: In case you missed it
GAME STORY: Steelers knock Falcons out of first place with 27-20 wi n
QUOTEBOARD: What the Falcons had to say after the loss to the Steelers
SIDEBAR: Falcons slow Bell but not Steelers wide receivers
SIDEBAR: A franchise record for Roddy White, but no reason to celebrate
COLUMN: The blame for lose No. 9 falls on Matt Ryan -- Mark Bradley
NOTEBOOK: Jones, Moore held out with injuries
BY THE NUMBERS: Steelers 27, Falcons 20
UP NEXT: The New Orleans Saints at the Superdome where the Falcons are 1-6 under Coach Smith
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