FLOWERY BRANCH – The play of Falcons defensive end John Abraham was one of the few bright spots in Sunday's 18-point loss to the Bears.
Abraham had four tackles, two sacks, four tackles for losses, two quarterback hits and one pass defensed.
He also drew one holding call.
“They only called one so I can only say one,” Abraham said, when asked how many times he was held. “One time [the referee] said I slipped. I said, ‘No, no. I didn’t slip.’ He gave me the call the next time.”
Abraham is taking his role as a leader on the defense seriously. He acknowledged the team’s many missed tackles against the Bears.
“We understand that it’s one game,” Abraham said. “Last year, the Philly game, we got it handed to us and we came back. It’s not something that we can’t come back from.”
He believes a simple attitude adjustment can correct the missed tackles.
“That’s just more of wanting to make that play and not be scared of making the play,” Abraham said. “It was probably just first-game jitters. There was a lot of adrenaline flowing with us playing against Chicago, a playoff team.”
Defensive end Ray Edwards, who was signed to help create pressure with Abraham, had just one tackle.
Kroy Biermann and Lawrence Sidbury had a sack each and the team was credited with a sack.
“I think Ray did good,” Abraham said. “He’s still feeling his way in our system, learning all of the plays and how to be a Falcon. He’s definitely going to help us.”
Abraham couldn’t understand the reaction to the defeat by the fans.
“It was just the first game,” Abraham said. “There’s no need for people to panic and things like that. I was riding in listening to the radio and it was like the season was over. It’s one game. We lost the first game last year.”
McClure on the mend
Falcons center Todd McClure worked out with team trainers on Monday, according to Falcons coach Mike Smith. McClure, who had his consecutive start streak snapped at 144 games, missed Sunday's game after undergoing right knee surgery last month.
Smith was unable to say if McClure will be able to return for Sunday’s game against the Eagles.
“Todd is going to be working outside with our rehabilitation staff,” Smith said. “He started today and we’ll get a chance to see where he is [Tuesday] and Wednesday.”
Smith would not disclose any other injury news regarding the Falcons, including the status of Ovie Mughelli. The fullback injured his right knee early in the game against the Bears.
Receiving threat
Running back Michael Turner caught a career-high 12 passes for 85 yards last season. Against the Bears, he caught three passes for 40 yards, including a 20-yarder.
It was the second-longest pass play of his career. He caught a 30-yarder in 2006 when he was with San Diego.
Sidbury sighting
Sidbury, who was inactive for 10 games last season, played a lot in the second half against the Bears.
In addition to his one sack, he almost had a second and a safety, but Bears quarterback Jay Cutler barely got the pass off.
“I had a good shot at him,” Sidbury said. “It was a good call. I wish he would have held it a little bit longer. That would have been a big play to help the team out. It didn’t happen so I just had to move on.”
Sidbury, who was slowed by an ankle injury during the exhibition season, is hoping to take the snaps in the defensive end rotation that used to go to Chauncey Davis, who was released.
"Coach [Brian] VanGorder and coach [Ray] Hamilton like to keep guys fresh so all of us are going to play," Sidbury said. "When it's my time to go in, I have to make something happen."
Who’s Melton?
Chicago defensive tackle Henry Melton was the most disruptive force against the Falcons. The 6-foot-3, 295-pounder had two sacks and seven quarterback hits.
“He was a running back in college,” said guard Justin Blalock, who played with Melton at Texas. “He was a jumbo running back.”
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