SB Nation - Brian Finneran

Atlanta Falcons vs. Philadelphia Eagles Open Thread

Dave the Falconer — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 16:00:16 -0000

by John Amis - AP

Jerious Norwood figures to be a big factor Sunday with numerous offensive stars out of the game. (AP Photo/John Amis)

The door hinges on this one like a season. Wait, I got that wrong.

For those of you who want nothing more than to see the Falcons get to nine wins this season, this is an important game. For those of you who have your hearts set on a playoff berth, this is critical. Either way, a win against the Eagles would go a long way toward achieving the goal you hold most dear.

It'll be an uphill challenge, as we've noted repeatedly this week. Teams missing their top quarterback and running back, potentially their second best receiver and a couple o' offensive linemen don't regularly win games in this league. Let's hope the Falcons buck that trend.

Onward and upward, then!

Who? Atlanta Falcons vs. Philadelphia Eagles, 1 p.m. EST

Where? Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

Weather? It's snowing up here in New Hampshire as I type this, but somehow I don't think you'll get much weather at all at the stadium. Call me crazy.

Injuries? Matt Ryan is out and Michael Turner is questionable, despite the fact that he's virtually a lock not to play. Sam Baker and Harvey Dahl are both questionable, but Dahl didn't practice Friday and who knows with Baker. Roddy White, Curtis Lofton and Brian Finneran are all expected to play, but Michael Jenkins is questionable in the truest sense of the word. If he doesn't play, the Falcons have once again brought Troy Bergeron back onto the active roster.

The Iggles are missing WR DeSean Jackson, RB Brian Westbrook, WR Kevin Curtis, and LB Akeem Jordan, and have a host of probables and questionables. Those are some serious weapons, as well, so their offense doesn't figure to be quite as potent as usual.

Odds? Philly over Atlanta 5.5, O/U 43.5

Foe? Go visit our friends over at Bleeding Green Nation for all things Eagles.

GO FALCONS! Let's pluck these Eagles!

Saturday News And Notes: Tackling The New York Giants

Dave the Falconer — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:15:12 -0000

Biggest game of the year? Biggest game of the year.

It's gotten to this point thanks to our up and down season, but a loss to the Giants here would deal a blow to our bid for a winning season and would make it an uphill battle for a playoff spot. A win here, which would leave us at 6-4, would keep us in the thick of the wildcard race and would leave us with only three wins for that elusive 9-7 season and such impressive opponents as the Tampa Bay Bucs and Buffalo Bills still on the slate. A lot hinges on this game.

With that in mind, let's take a crack at a few storylines leading up to the game and, just maybe, a couple that have nothing to do with anything.

Aaron Ross is coming back. After missing the entire season to this point with an injury, the Giants will get back one of their better cornerbacks just in time to play us. It doesn't sound like he's going to be at full capacity or anything, but adding another obstacle for a shaky Matt Ryan to overcome isn't something I welcome.
Linebacker Antonio Pierce, however, is out for the rest of the season. Ain't that just like the NFL?
I don't know about road confidence, but a better performance on the road in the Meadowlands would be huge. Teams that can't win on the road don't got to the playoffs, generally speaking.
Michael Turner's doubtful. As in, no chance in hell he's playing. As in, something all of us knew before the end of the Panthers game. Coaches have gotten really secretive about their injuries, haven't they? Brian Finneran isn't getting quite the same treatment, as he's definitely out. Might be a good chance for us to re-discover Marty Booker and Eric Weems.
The Falcons and Giants both kind of did this to themselves, what with the headfirst dives into empty concrete pools. How they got there, though, i is a little similar.
At least Tom Coughlin has a sense of humor.

Talking Saints With Canal Street Chronicles, Part One

Dave the Falconer — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:00:33 -0000

by Bill Haber - AP

How dare you point at me! (AP Photo/Bill Haber)

View full size photo »

Now, we've done the question and answer thing before. We've cross-FanPosted before. That's good stuff, but it's not new stuff. New stuff is good, so here's a new feature!

This is the first half of a discussion with Saintsational, the head blogger over at Canal Street Chronicles. We spent about an hour the other night talking about the Falcons, the Saints and Chinese food, and I'm sure you'll learn a lot from this compelling dialogue. Batteries not included. Participation void where prohibited. Check it out after the jump.

Saintsational: Alright, let's start off with Tony Gonzalez. Pretty nice off-season pickup. Is he benefiting from having Matt Ryan as his quarterback?

Dave the Falconer: Well, it's a hell of a lot better than Matt Cassel, wouldn't you say? I think he's benefitted more from having Roddy White to take some of the attention off of him, really.

Saintsational: What does Roddy White do that benefits Gonzalez?

Dave the Falconer: He's just good enough to draw attention away from Gonzalez. With the Chiefs, he was far and away the best option on the field, so defenses always went out of their way to account for him. In Atlanta, he's option 1B. or maybe even 2, which gives him a little more flexibility..

Saintsational: Give us a quick little breakdown of Atlanta's other notable receivers other than Gonzalez.

Dave the Falconer: Well, everyone probably knows a little about Roddy White by now. Still plagued by the occasional drop, but he's got elite separation skills and really makes things happen after the catch.

Dave the Falconer: Then there's Michael Jenkins, who is a big target and our best blocking wide receiver. I expect he won't break the game open or anything.

Dave the Falconer: And from there it's Brian Finneran (who is decent), Marty Booker (who is decent) and Eric Weems (who has mostly been used as a kick and punt returner).

Saintsational: Last year I never would have thought I would be asking this question, but is there any fear about the Saints secondary being so good?

Dave the Falconer: I think it's a concern, but because White and Gonzalez are so good, I'm more concerned about what's happening with Matt Ryan.

Dave the Falconer: If your pass rush is any good, you could make life really difficult for us.

Dave the Falconer: Do you foresee the Saints using the ground game early, or is going to be all Drew Brees in the beginning?

Saintsational: The Saints just seem to be a pass first team. As long as it's working, I'm okay with that. You always hear about teams using the run to set up the pass. I think the Saints do the opposite. I think they pass to set up the run later in the game. The nice part is that with Pierre Thomas and Mike Bell, they can always get fresh legs in the game. We're loving it right now here in New Orleans.

Saintsational: Options, baby!

Dave the Falconer: We'll see about that!

Dave the Falconer: Alright. Now tell us about the guys who are catching those passes from Brees? Are they any good? Not that I care.

Saintsational: Wait, before I answer your question, what will the Falcons do to try and stop the Saints running game and who will be a big part in that?

Dave the Falconer: I expect we'll bring help to the edges to counter Bush and Thomas. For the more up the middle runs, say hello to Jamaal Anderson. Dude's been a monster against the run since we converted him from his bust-tastic position of defensive end on in to defensive tackle.

Saintsational: The Falcons are currently ranked 23rd in the league against the run, giving up 117 yards a game. I'm not that scared.

Dave the Falconer: Well...

Dave the Falconer: :-(

Saintsational: But let's, for a minute, assume the Falcons do manage to stop the run. The Saints still have the best wide receiving corp in the league. Allow me to answer your previous question by telling you a little bit about them.

Dave the Falconer: Please do!

Dave the Falconer: If it's taking this long for you to type it, chances are I'm not going to like your answer.

Saintsational: Marques Colston has been a man on fire lately. Still the Saints number one guy and still Drew's favorite target. Next is Devery Henderson, the speedy deep threat. Now that he's cured his stone hands, he's a dangerous weapon. Shockey needs no introduction and played a big part in the Saints comeback on Sunday. Lance Moore has continued to be great when he gets involved. Robert Meachem makes an appearance whenever he's needed.

Dave the Falconer: That's solid top to bottom. But I really fear Colston.

Saintsational: As you should. Hofstra has an elite program.

Saintsational: Who will the Falcons have covering all that talent? It's got to create some mismatches.

Dave the Falconer: That would our cornerbacking corps.

Dave the Falconer: Chris Houston, who has performed above expectations but still has a knack for at least one excruciating play a game. Brent Grimes, who has played very well but whose height (or lack thereof) creates some mismatches.

Dave the Falconer: And the pupu platter.

Saintsational: Sounds like Colston and Meachem would do well to match up against Grimes.

Saintsational: I love the pupu platter.

Dave the Falconer: Especially the spare ribs.

Saintsational: Yes!

Saintsational: Mmmmm...pupu.

Saintsational: Anyway, what is the pupu platter?

Dave the Falconer: That'd be second year corner Chevis Jackson. Rookie corner Chris Owens. And fallen first round pick Tye Hill, who has barely seen the field.

Saintsational: : Ahhh, Chevis Jackson. A local product from LSU.

Dave the Falconer: Yeah, he escaped from hell.

Dave the Falconer: I mean, Louisiana.

Saintsational: So which one of them is the spare ribs?

Dave the Falconer: Probably Chevis Jackson.

Dave the Falconer: He's got sweet, tangy coverage skills, but his starting experience isn't very robust thus far.

Saintsational: Haha. Can you give us any more pupu platter metaphors for Owens and/or Hill?

Dave the Falconer: Hmm...

Dave the Falconer: Hill is the golden chicken.

Dave the Falconer: He looks like a cornerback on the outside.

Dave the Falconer: But on the inside.

Dave the Falconer: It's just chicken..

Dave the Falconer: I'm not sure that even works.

Saintsational: It sounds like you're saying Tye Hill is stuffed with chicken. Is that correct?

Dave the Falconer: ....Close enough.

Saintsational: This conversation has taken quite an interesting turn.

It sure has! Stay tuned for the thrilling conclusion later this afternoon!

The Emergence Of Eric Weems

Dave the Falconer — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 12:00:53 -0000

Normally we'd have a Saturday news roundup, but since there's no game we're going to narrow the focus to what would have been a single one of those items. Let no man say I cannot focus, even if ooo shiny.

Eric Weems clawed his way into a roster spot and a special teams return role after Harry Douglas was broken in twain in the pre-season, and it's his play in that role that's beginning to really draw a lot of attention. Special teams does tend to get lost in the shuffle in the face of our talented offense (who underperformed for one week only, one hopes) and our Jekyll and Hyde defense, but as Michael Koenen and Jason Elam proved last year, they can play an absolutely critical role in determining how the team's going to do. Koenen provided a lot of teams with terrible field position in 2008, a perfect fit for a defense that rarely was able to prevent a march most of the way down the field.

Weems brings something a little different to the table. When I watched him against the Patriots last week, I was struck by how explosive he looked returning the ball. It's early yet, but he's averaging 27 yards on kick returns and over 10 yards on punt returns. That's good for sixth in the league in kick return yardage, behind guys like Minnesota's Percy Harvin, who took one from coast to coast last weekend. Compare that to well-known special teams ace Jerious Norwood, who may be playing his last year with the Falcons and carried a 25.7 average per kick return last year, and it's easy to see why Weems is valuable. He's cheap, he plays well and he runs damn hard.

With his value set once the ball's in the air, I'd really love to see what the fast and shifty Weems could do in the receiving game. Teams are going to increasingly aim to take Tony Gonzalez and Roddy White out of games, and when they do, other receivers have to step up. Michael Jenkins, Marty Booker and Brian Finneran all offer excellent hands but not blazing speed, so if Weems can catch a little too he'd add another dimension to the passing game. I do think our offensive lethargy against the Patriots was a fluke, nothing more, but it never hurts to have more options.

What do you expect from Mr. Weems?

Post Game Thread: Falcons Hang On Against Dolphins 19-7

Dave the Falconer — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 20:30:44 -0000

More photos » by John Bazemore - AP

Matt Ryan showed good poise in leading the Falcons to a win over the Dolphins Sunday. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

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There is absolutely nothing quite like starting the season off with a win.

The Falcons compensated for a middling game out of Michael Turner with a balanced passing attack and a very complete defensive effort from the defense. We'll do a more fleshed out recap later, but this is the space to discuss all things Falcons and the still warm glow of the win.

A couple of observations for you to chew over, though:

Matt Ryan spread the ball around well, but it's clear that there's the top three options, throws to running backs out of the backfield and not much else. Brian Finneran, Marty Booker and Eric Weems aren't going to see the field much.
Kroy Biermann is making a case to start, or at least play extensive snaps. He joined John Abraham in piling up a pair of sacks, and our run defense and pass rush looks leaps and bounds better than last year.
I hope Peria Jerry's okay after leaving the game. We're going to need him.
Curtis Lofton is so great. He's so great that he went back in time, punched Alexander the Great in the face and stole his title. What a badass.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!

Falcons And Chargers Recap: Getting Defensive About The Defense

Dave the Falconer — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 12:00:22 -0000

More photos » by Dave Martin - AP

"Um, shouldn't we wait to celebrate until after I get across the goal line?" (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

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That was honestly one of the better pre-season games I've ever seen, for what that's worth.

To say that those of you who turned up at the open thread last night were concerned about the defense would be understating it, in the same sense that calling Chris Redman's performance "masterful" would be.

As usual, the offense looked pretty good against the Chargers. With each passing pre-season game, my respect for the strength of the 11 on that side of the ball grows, and even though it's just pre-season action, I can't really imagine a good reason to criticize Mike Mularkey's charges. The O alone is going to be enough to win us a few games this season. What the D does in conjunction with that will, in the end, determine whether we win the rest of them.

One way or the other, though, this was a very fun game to watch, though I only caught half of it. Rarely do you see a pitched battle like this in a pre-season game, and it speaks well to both teams. Because I'm a homer and because they won, I'm going to say the Falcons looked even better than the Chargers, but your mileage may vary.

Follow me into the jump, where we'll break this week's action down.

HIGHLIGHTS

Wow, Chris Redman. I don't think I need to say anything else, but as I'm unusually verbose, I will anyways. Redman proved again why he's one of the best backups in the league, running and gunning the Falcons to victory with the backup offense helping him out. I would hope he never sees the field because of what that would mean for Matt Ryan, but I have the utmost confidence in our backup. Game ball, right there. Matt Ryan was also good, but that's not something I needed to tell you.
The receivers. Roddy White was his generally efficient self, but it was some guys lower on the depth chart that really proved their mettle today. Marty Booker was targeted frequently and wound up with six catches, Brian Finneran proved his reliability very reliably, and Eric Weems sewed up a roster spot by out-running the defensive back covering him and coming up with the game winning touchdown. There's a lot more to this group than originally suspected, and we could have a pretty complete set of quality receivers this season.
While Michael Turner was awfully solid as usual, the back who caught my eye Saturday night was Jason Snelling. His final numbers don't tell the whole story here, as he proved his brick hands on an incomplete pass but otherwise looked fast, explosive and powerful. I'm rooting hard for Thomas Brown to make the roster somehow, but Snelling's done absolutely nothing to relinquish his death grip on the #3 spot.
Michael Koenen continues to impress, booming four punts and landing one inside the 20. The kid's always had the leg and had the results last year, and field position is so critical to this team that he can't help but be a weapon.
For the Falcons, defense is spelled C-U-R-T-I-S-L-O-F-T-O-N. The potent middle linebacker was everywhere, nearly picked a pass late in the game and hit like a train made of concrete. It's fair to say he's already delivering on potential, and I can't wait to see what he does in 2009.
Brent Grimes had a sack, which sort of makes up for the secondary's performance. Sort of.
Credit the coaching staff yet again. The playcalling on offense was spectacular in the second half, and you get the sense that Mike Mularkey will rely less on gimmicky plays this season. That can only be a good thing.

LOWLIGHTS

Just one very long lowlight today, I think. While I like to believe you can only learn so much from the pre-season, the defense was consistently not very good on Saturday. The secondary in particular got picked to pieces by the Chargers, who are an excellent offensive team with tall receivers that still should not make our guys look like they belong on a Pop Warner team. I want very much to believe in Chris Houston and Brent Grimes, both of whom are athletic corners who clearly have a ton of physical talent. The results are clearly there in practice. They're just not there on the field, against living, breathing teams, and I think I'm starting to want a closer look at Chevis Jackson and Chris Owens. Are they the answer? Who knows, I say. I just think everyone should be getting a chance to get burnt to toast. The safeties also need to step up their game a bit and help out, and here I am thinking particularly of Thomas DeCoud.

A lot of people are inclined to defend the secondary for this team, and I am certainly one of them. The front seven also looked overmatched at times tonight, and they have to get their share of the blame. I would just hate for us to get into the season and find out our corners are going to be overmatched on a regular basis. Hopefully this will iron itself out in time for the final pre-season game.
Okay, one more. Very unhappy to see Jerious Norwood leave and not return. I hope everything's okay, as we're really going to need him this year.

THE WRAPUP

Game MVP: Gotta be Chris Redman. The dude was quite simply awesome against San Diego.

Game Theme Song: Anything by Redman, just for the heck of it.

One Thing To Take Away: Despite a host of defensive miscues, the Falcons still have what it takes to come back and win a close one. I think that's something we can all feel warm and fuzzy about.

Next Week: We get the improving Baltimore Ravens, who are ably covered by Baltimore Beatdown. Be sure to check them out.

Final Word: Hooray!

Roam the Dome Report

tlozwarlock — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 16:45:09 -0000

Reader TomQ and likely starting safety Thomas DeCoud

Thanks to gritzblitz for wearing the official Falcoholic tee. Kudos for Hardcore Falcon and his son donning Bartkowski's number. And finally, appreciative hat-tip to TomQ for making a great event companion and being the official "Falcoholic Rome the Dome photographer."

Roam the Dome was a unique experience, one that I highly doubt many other teams do for their fans. The no-contact "mock game" may pale in comparison to Friday’s "Friday Night Lights" game or a real season game, but it offered a lot of insight into how the team is shaping up.

The team opened the event with several punt return practices. The returners rotated out and included Eric Weems, Chandler Williams, and Brian Finneran among their number.

Finn didn’t return a single one; instead he just fair caught the balls within the twenty yard line.
Brent Grimes showed some fancy footwork and managed a forty or so yard return.
Chandler Williams was decent, finding about thirty yards of running room on one return.

Just about all receivers got their shot yesterday. Brian Finneran and Michael Jenkins continued to be our starting two while Troy Bergeron worked out in HD’s third slot on the Red team, and the rest of the receivers rotated in and out with the White team (second/third stringers).

The most impressive white jersey wearing receiver was Eric Weems, who seemed to catch just about everything that came his way. Weems would always find yards after the catch. In one situation, when lining up for John Parker Wilson, Chris Houston managed to clap his hands on a ball intended for Weems near the red zone. Weems, having turned to watch this, still made the catch and took the Wilson-led offense to the sixteen yard line.
Troy Bergeron looked very comfortable in the third receiver slot and only lost one pass thrown at him (granted, Ryan threw it a bit high)
Aaron Kelly, while not explosive, did make a few athletic grabs, at one point seeming to use his long arms to, as TomQ put it, "catch the ball out of nowhere."
Michael Jenkins made some very impressive catches. One of them came on a third down situation. Ryan under-threw a pass but Jenkins, ever aware, spun around, caught the ball, and earned the first down, bringing the Red team into the red zone and setting up the best catch of the game.
Speaking of the best catch of the game, Tony G owns it. On first and goal, Ryan rolled out and after bouncing a moment, floated a ball over a double-covered Gonzo. Tony simply reached up with his mile-long arms, grabbed the ball, and voila, Ryan-to-Gonzo in the redzone is born. The crowd erupted.
Brian Finneran was, as usual, golden on third down, but he also found himself catching on first and second down as well. Reliable to a fault, Finn never missed a catch. While he may not be as dynamic or athletic as the newly extended White, you can bet your bottom dollar that Finn won’t drop a crucial ball.
Tony G made one more impressive catch when a Redman ball came to him a bit bobbled. Tony grabbed it, felt it to start to leave his fingers, and then tucked his elbows and hauled the ball into his chest. That’s what experience brings.

Now, onto QBs!

Chris Redman looked to be locked into the second QB spot. He led the Red team to a touchdown and utilized every offensive weapon we have, including Tony G. He rolled out quickly and kept drives alive on third down.
DJ Shockley saw one drive stall in field goal range and another end with a fumble. To his credit, he only overthrew receivers a couple of times and never once found himself without someone to throw too. His throws were zingers so it’s not a surprise some of the softer-handed receivers couldn’t hold on.
John Parker Wilson was impressive between the end zones, keeping drives alive with well thrown passes and reaching the endzone twice. He even used his own feet to gain the four yards needed on 3rd and 4 when his receivers were well covered. His endzone play was, unfortunately, not as spectacular. When facing the uprights, Wilson seemed to force things, rolling out frantically in order to get away from defensive players. This undoubtedly led to his inability to find a receiver either time he was on the goal line. He did make one good pass to TE Jason Rader in the end zone, but it was easily pawed away by Chris Houston. Wilson did end up being the only QB with an INT, and it came via…

Brent Grimes!

Not only did Brent show off his ability as a possible punt returner, he managed to haul in a John Parker Wilson endzone pass that seemed way too high for any normal human being to catch. Grimes, likely shorter than many of the team’s ball boys, jumped three stories high and made a spectacular interception. So amazing was it that the Dome production crew played the replay twice.
As for the rest of the secondary, they kept the White team QBs honest and broke up a few passes. Their coverage was air-tight at times. Other than that, they really didn’t make many standout plays.

Follow the jump for more pics!

William Moore signs my Falcons helmet.

Chris Redman takes his turn signing the helm.

DeCoud and tlozwarlock

The Dome Field. Makes you feel warm and fuzzy, doesn't it?

The team stretches before the mock game

More pictures to come!

With Injuries, What Roles Will Newly Signed Receivers Fill?

Dave the Falconer — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 12:00:12 -0000

More photos » by John Bazemore - AP

Matt Ryan's options got a little bit thinner this week. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

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I can't possibly do any wailing and gnashing of teeth that will add anything new to the discussion, so I'll just send my well-wishes along to Harry Douglas. Here's hoping he's back on the field in 2010 healthy and ready to make a difference, and I'll be wishing fervently that his recovery goes swiftly.

The impact here, of course, is that we instantly lose a dynamic return man and an up-and-coming wide receiver. Roddy White will get to camp at some point, but replacing Douglas in the slot could be a real challenge for the Falcons. In an effort to address the receiver concerns, the team went out and grabbed veterans Marty Booker and Robert Ferguson.

Here's what you need to know about both of them, in a very condensed form. Neither is a major factor at this point, and the Falcons would be much better off bumping Finneran into the slot and carrying young guys than counting on either to contribute in a meaningful way this year. Ouch, right?

We'll tackle Booker first. He did some real damage as recently as 2007, when he hauled in 50 passes, and in 2006 he hauled in six touchdowns. Last season he started five games for the Chicago Bears and snagged only 14 passes. At 33 years old, he could provide some value as a fourth receiver who can spell Finn in the slot and Jenkins outside if need be. If one of these two guys is going to make the team, let it be Booker, I say. He is, however, a complete non-factor on special teams, which negates his value somewhat.

Next up is Ferguson, whose dossier is not as impressive. In 2007 he grabbed 32 passes, which was off his career high by only six, and the guy has only 13 touchdowns in eight NFL season. As a fifth receiver you could justify carrying him, if not for the fact that we have young receivers like Aaron Kelly or Darren Mougey who have infinitely more potential. Ferguson's true value could be as a returner; he hasn't performed in that role since 2006, but was plenty capable during his time with the Green Bay Packers in that role.

Basically, the best choice for the Falcons would be to combine the two and create a Robert Booker or a Marty Ferguson, a guy who could offer modest pass-catching ability and some special teams value. Because that's simply not going to happen, the team needs to decide whether it's going to miss what Douglas could offer on offense or special teams more, and I have a feeling it's going to lean heavily in favor of special teams. If that's the case, look for Ferguson to win a job and Booker to move on to another team. If Troy Bergeron can offer that special teams value, though, I'd feel much more comfortable with Booker on the depth chart.

Ideally, we would carry these receivers this year:

Roddy White
Michael Jenkins
Brian Finneran
Marty Booker
Aaron Kelly
Troy Bergeron

In a perfect world, that would leave Mougey or another young receiver on the practice squad. That depth chart certainly doesn't look as nice as it would if Douglas was still around, but with Tony Gonzalez on the roster and a strong running game, the Falcons can probably get by with it. I'm not going to say that seeing Finn in the slot doesn't make me a little nervous at this stage of his career.

How about you guys? Who do you think will make the roster, and what do you think of the signings?

A Very Falcoholic Discussion: So, What Now?

tlozwarlock — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 11:00:29 -0000

More photos » by John Bazemore - AP

Douglas played extremely hard the past week of camp and it may have cost him his season.

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Disaster has, it seems, struck the Falcons only a few short days into training camp. Yesterday afternoon, Harry Douglas fell to the ground and did not get back up. Even when helped to his feet by a teammate, it is reported that HD fell back down. That alone made my heart sink, for I knew then it was a serious, possibly season ending injury. Rumors then surfaced via ESPN Analyst Adam Schefter's (@Adam_Schefter) Twitter account that HD is gone for the entire season with a torn ACL. While that rumor has yet to be confirmed, I think Harry's inability to leave the practice field on his own two legs should be evidence enough that we've lost what we all expected to be a key player in this season's receiving and returning corps.

It's definitely not time to break out the black arm bands and begin bemoaning this season a lost cause. I am not, however, about to kid myself that everything is just peachy keen. White continues his holdout for a new contract. I applaud his efforts to get a larger paycheck, but not having him at training camp is disheartening. I'd rather see him preparing for the season than fighting over more money .

With both White and a promising Harry Douglas missing camp, who do the Falcons turn to now? The Atlanta Falcons organization as a whole seems high with an apparently rejuvenated (and bionic-kneed) Brian Finneran. Finn will certainly see a lot more first team drills in the next few days. Michael Jenkins, key ingredient to our last second win over Chicago last year, will also likely be lining up in a different spot in the coming weeks.

Finn and Jenkins give us two solid, experienced receivers for Matty Ice to throw to in camp, but who'll be waiting in the wings for their shots at glory? As reported yesterday, we've let go of WR Dicky Lyons within twenty-four hours of signing him. Aaron Kelly, Eric Weems, Troy Bergeron, Chandler Williams, Darren Moughey, and Bradon Godfrey will all be fighting for a chance to see a first team route or two now that HD is (likely) down. Weems saw a tiny bit of action last year, so that gives him a bit of a feather in his helmet, so to speak.

The question remains: What now? Do we pray for an epiphany with a rookie or peruse the FA market and take a risk on a proven, but one-and-done veteran? Does this loss mean that Tony G will inevitably see more receptions than previously expected? What say you, dear readers?

Poll

Should we be worried now that HD is likely gone?

Yes!

231 votes

No!

98 votes

Spaghettios!

47 votes

376 votes | Poll has closed

Official Falcons/Vikings Injury Reports

Gonzo — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 03:57:39 -0000

Alrighty, folks. . .got back late from our funeral detail today, so I'm just now getting the chance to put these things up here. When my 3-month rotation is done (and before my next 3-month rotation starts), I'll have to do a bit of off-topic work here about the honor guard experience, because it really is something cool.

And, hey, by that time, it'll be March. . .or, as I call it, "we're not quite to the draft so Gonzo is reaching for material" time.

So, since the Falcons are the guests of the Beloved Purple this weekend, we'll start out by taking a look at their injuries first.

Atlanta Falcons Injuries

Questionable

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
John Abraham	thigh/shoulder	12.19.2008
Sam Baker	hip/back	12.19.2008
Brian Finneran	calf	12.19.2008
Grady Jackson	knee	12.19.2008
Ovie Mughelli	hamstring	12.19.2008
Todd Weiner	knee	12.19.2008

Out (IR / Out / Suspended / Physically unvailable)

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Ben Hartsock	back/toe	11.26.2008
Von Hutchins	foot	7.29.2008
Robert James	head	8.5.2008
Thomas Brown	groin	8.30.2008
David Irons	knee	12.16.2008
Pat McCoy	knee	8.30.2008
Laurent Robinson	hamstring	12.16.2008
Antoine Harris	groin	12.9.2008

Comparing this to the NFL.com injury reports (as I always do), all of the players listed on Atlanta's injury report are shown as having limited participation in Friday's practice. Don't even worry about John Abraham. . .he'll be out on the field. Much like Jared Allen, there's no way Abraham is going to miss a game like this where there's so much on the line.

Sam Baker, the promising young rookie tackle, missed seven straight games before returning last week against Tampa. If he can't go, Quinn Ojinnaka will start in his place. In either case, I'd expect the Falcons to have a lot of help for their LT against big #69. Finneran is way down on the depth chart, so I'm not sure he'll even be active for this one (NFL.com's depth chart for the Falcons shows 5 WR at 2 different spots, and none of them are named Brian Finneran). Grady Jackson hasn't missed a game all year, and with All Day and All Night lining up in the Minnesota backfield, I'd be willing to wager that he won't miss this one, either.

On to the Vikings' injuries:

Minnesota Vikings Injuries

Probable

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Adrian Peterson	ankle	12.19.2008
Brian Robison	knee	12.19.2008

Questionable

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Jared Allen	knee	12.19.2008
Gus Frerotte	back	12.19.2008

Doubtful

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Artis Hicks	elbow	12.19.2008
Darius Reynaud	foot	12.19.2008

Out (IR / Out / Suspended / Physically unvailable)

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
E.J. Henderson	foot/toes	10.6.2008
Heath Farwell	knee	8.11.2008
Kenderick Allen	wrist	8.19.2008
Drew Radovich	shoulder	10.13.2008
Jayme Mitchell	knee	8.11.2008
Michael Boulware	wrist	8.30.2008
Charles Gordon	ankle	11.13.2008

Pat Williams isn't shown on the injury report, but we all know he's out until the post-season, and we've already discussed the injury at length. I think it's a big injury for the Vikings, but it's also something that they can overcome. Anyone that thinks that the Falcons are going to come into the Dome and put up 200+ yards rushing just because big #94 isn't in the middle is in for a bit of a rude awakening, I think.

Hicks and Reynaud didn't participate at all in Friday's practice, and neither of them are going to be "up" on Sunday afternoon. Jared Allen and Adrian Peterson? Yeah, like they're going to miss this game. Robison had full participation in Friday's practice, and it's going to be interesting to see how he gets used this week. He's been coming in for Phat Pat a lot on passing downs thus far as it is, but with Williams being out and the Falcons (likely) throwing the ball a lot on Sunday, I think we're going to see a lot of field time for Robison.

Apparently Gus Frerotte is a bit miffed about losing his starting job, even though he claims to be 100%. First of all, there's no way in hell that Gus is 100% already. He's an almost 40-year old man with a back injury. No way that thing healed up in less than two weeks. Second, I'm not sure if Gus recalls this or not, but he was one half of football away from the Detroit Lions moving from 0-12 to 1-12 at our expense again. Again, let me remind everybody. . .the Lions have 4 interceptions this season through 14 games. Take out Gus Frerotte's contributions, and that number drops from 4 to 1.

Yes, I know that guys aren't supposed to lose their jobs because of injuries and all that. Well, guys also aren't supposed to lose their jobs after a game where they throw four touchdown passes, either. So, I guess it all evens out.

And those are the injuries that could have an effect on this Sunday's game. More on the game tomorrow. . .until then, keep enjoying your weekend, and if your Christmas travels begin over the weekend, stay safe out there, especially in the Upper Midwest where the weather is already turning crappy, by all accounts.