SB Nation - Peria Jerry

Falcons And Patriots Recap: When Good Games Go Bad

Dave the Falconer — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:00:29 -0000

More photos » by Winslow Townson - AP

Sadly, Falcons fans didn't see nearly enough of this on Sunday. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

On paper, this was about as exciting a matchup as you can draw up. A young team fresh off a miracle season, starting out 2-0 and with a potent offense matching up against the struggling dinosaur of a squad that has been the NFL's most successful over the last decade. The drama was there, the talent was there, and we seemed destined for a shootout.

Unfortunately, we spent a lot more time watching the Falcons and Patriots shooting themselves in the foot than charging down the field with guns blazing. This loss exemplified everything the Falcons do not do well as a football team, and it introduced some uncomfortable subplots which we could be talking about in the weeks ahead.

Part of me understands that this was a game nobody expected us to win regardless, but that in and of itself doesn't make the loss any easier to swallow. As we go into a much needed bye week, there's still plenty of reasons to feel optimism about the season, and none of us should believe the worst based on one week. Let's balance reality with our hopes and dreams.

Follow the trail of wreckage after the jump.

HIGHLIGHTS

Despite the invisibility cloak thrown over Tony Gonzalez and a pretty decent pass rush, Matt Ryan looked about as composed as ever. There were a couple of times where he simply couldn't find an open man and elected to hit the sidelines, a cautious move but one that was probably warranted. His numbers don't jump off the page at you, but he played a solid game of football. On Sunday, that was enough to make you take notice.
Michael Jenkins did some very good things. He was sure-handed and his penalty, which I'll acknowledge was a killer, was not egregious. He just wanted the damn football, and he was going to make sure he got it. On afternoon where not much went right offensively, it was comforting to see Jenkins making things happen as our third option in the passing game.
The defense lacked big plays, so our nod today goes to the guy who seemed to be in on every stop: Curtis Lofton. You'll be hard pressed to find a guy who pursues as well he does. Of course, if the entire front seven had done their job properly, he wouldn't have had to do that. So that's a bit of a mixed bag, I guess.
Credit goes to the secondary. Brady overthrew a few receivers and there were drops, but Brian Williams leapt in front of a sure touchdown and Thomas DeCoud prevented a couple of long plays (and almost picked two passes) with a mix of athleticism and good instincts. He's living up to his billing as a pass-defending safety.
Finally, let's give props to Eric Weems. He looked explosive and tough to bring down on returns, and if he's got any sort of hands at all he really should be mixed into the passing game. I was very impressed with what I saw from him on Sunday.

LOWLIGHTS

The offensive playcalling has to go first. We were maddeningly conservative today when we really should have been attacking a Patriots defense that had a couple of holes. They played us pretty well all day, but I reached my absolute boiling point when we were down by double digits and the Falcons were punting the ball away on fourth and short yardage. The absolute worst thing this team can do is go timid and give the impression that they're giving up. I'm not accusing them of doing that, but it's hard for fans, the media and the other team not to think so when you're not expressing enough faith in your high octane offense to try to convert a fourth down in a game you're probably going to lose anyways. Playing an aggressive game of football to save some dignity or go for the miracle win is never a bad idea. That was unquestionably my biggest disappointment of the day.
It wasn't Michael Turner's fault that on that fateful jarring hit, a helmet popped the ball right out of his arms. You have to get props to the defender on that one. It is getting more than a little worrying that Turner can't seem to go off on opposing defense and help us control the clock, and it's time for a serious appraisal of whether it's the burly running back or the even burlier dudes blocking for him that are causing the problem. If the run is stopped, it's pretty clear that Ryan & Co. can step up in a big way a lot of the time. If the passing game is completely shut down, however, it's not clear the ground game can rescue us at this point. That's enough to worry the calmest Falcon fan.
I dearly love Roddy White. He has been an enormous bright spot for the Falcons over the last two season, and no one can deny his talent. You ever notice how people say nice things to soften the blow of a really cruel thing? Well, I'm doing that right now. Because Roddy White had two terrible drops and has not been the 1A or 1B option in the passing game we all expected him to be. I don't understand exactly what's going on here, but hopefully it's nothing a bye week can't fix.
The normally infalliable Michael Koenen had a terrible punt. While this is likely an exception to the steadfast rule, it's a noteworthy addition to the litany of evil spirits that possessed our players yesterday. Ye gods!
We've got to get a better performance out of the front seven. It would be simplifying things to the nth degree to suggest that the loss of Peria Jerry is killing our rush defense, but the numbers don't lie: The Patriots put up over 150 yards on the ground with a running back corps comprising guys who are either considered to be role players or guys past their prime. There's talent there, yes, but 150 yards worth of talent? Not against a good defense. Again, the bye week should give us the time we need to determine whether this is a personnel question or a question of putting players in the position to make plays, because there were times where the entire defense might as well have been in my living room watching the game with me.
Did I mention I hate the fact that we were punting that late in the game? Because I really, really hated it.

THE WRAPUP

Game MVP: I'm tempted to revoke the Game MVP entirely, but we'll let Matt Ryan, Michael Jenkins and Thomas DeCoud split it three ways and take it home for the week. Can't do much else with it.

Game Theme Song: The mournful sighs of Falcons fans set to something that implies an upcoming ass kicking against the San Fransisco 49ers. Something like the Contra theme.

One Thing To Take Away: The defense is not a finished product and the Falcons are not perfect. Forgive me for my blasphemy.

Next Week: The bye week. We'll still have some great content for you and the usual litany of bizarre ramblings, so make sure you stick around.

Final Word: Oof.

Five Questions For Three Patriots Blogger

Dave the Falconer — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:00:27 -0000

More photos » by Stephan Savoia - AP

Bill Belicheck flinches at the thought of Patriots fans answering questions in an honest and straightforward manner. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

Browse more photos »

No longer satisfied with the answers of a single blogger, I filled my pack with provisions and headed out into the foothills of Massachusetts. When I emerged, hours later, I had bagged three bloggers, all of them able to answer my arcane questions about the very nature of the New England Patriots.

I want to give a shout out to the fine folks at Pats Pulpit, NE Patriots Draft and Patriots Daily. It was great corresponding with everyone, and getting a variety of answers should generate a little more debate amongst you, the readers of the ~~best~~ most Falcons blog on the net. Check out all the answers after the jump.

Dave the Falconer: Have Tom Brady's struggles thus far been related to rust coming off an injury, or is there something else going on there?

MaPatsFan, Pats Pulpit: I think rust is a legitimate concern for us Patriots fans. Brady has said that he feels his mechanics are not quite what they used to be. I've also read, from Brady and his receivers, that they're still working on their connection. It's especially hard for Joey Galloway, our #3. It's easier with Randy Moss and Wes Welker considering the 2007 streak, but there's still a year's worth of stuff to make up.

NE Patriots Draft: I think it is rust, but more because of the lack of timing. Brady has looked a bit tentative at times, presumably due to the injury, but quick routes and dump-offs are being missed. That leads me to believe that after a few more games, the timing will click back in.

Patriots Daily: Rust is definitely a factor. However, he's still adjusting to the knee, and because of that, his footwork isn't what it needs to be. He's been throwing off the back foot more, and it has impacted his accuracy. He was also flattened by Albert Haynesworth in the preseason and injured his shoulder a little bit. It hasn't been mentioned too much as a problem, but you've got to think that the rust, the knee and the shoulder all are conspiring against him right now. I fear it may be a few more weeks before we see him back to his old self. A comparison often made around here is Peyton Manning last year. He struggled, and the Colts struggled in the early going because of his knee surgery, but he eventually put it together. We're hoping for similar results here.

DtF: I've had the chance to watch your running game quite a bit over the last couple of years, and I have to ask....is Laurence Maroney ever going to get it going? Do you guys need a true feature back, or does the committee approach work well?

PP: We've been hoping, for many years, that Laurence would breakout as that workhorse back we've all been looking for. At this stage, and given what I've seen, I don't see it happening. I think the backfield by committee approach is here to stay in New England. In 2008, we were #1 in the AFC East and #6 in the NFL; it seems to work for us.

NPD: I think Maroney is running very hard this year. He is taking a yard gain this year, where before he would dance and end up losing ground. He has had a few negative plays, but those were mainly the fault of our left tackle.

PD: Maroney has had injury problems, and some question his toughness. However down the stretch in 2007 and in the first two playoff games that season, he was everything you want in a running back. Last year he missed most of the season after injuring his shoulder. The Patriots seem to favor the committee approach just to try and limit the wear and tear on their backs. Fred Taylor looked good last week against the Jets, and I can see him getting an increased role this week. Sammy Morris had been their best back in the first half of the last two seasons, but wore down as the season went on. I think the Patriots are trying to keep them all fresh, while at the same time allowing them to play enough to stay sharp. It's a tough balance to achieve, especially when you're throwing the ball so much. I'm hoping you'll see a bigger commitment to the run until Brady can get his issues settled down.

DtF: If you were the Falcons, how would you defend against Randy Moss?

PP: Force him away from his sideline routes. He's a gazelle, not a jackrabbit. While he's learning to be the latter, he's much happier on routes that take a bit of time to get up to speed. Once he IS up to that speed, he's hard to catch. Turn him inside or under 10-15 yards and he struggles.

NPD: I would bump him at the line, and roll a safety over to his side all day. The Patriots haven't shown that they can stretch the field across from Moss, and the Jets used this tactic to perfection.

PD: Either a straight double-team, or a tight man-to-man coverage with safety help over the top. That seems to be the most effective, though Moss has made some adjustments by going over the middle more this preseason and regular season - more than I've ever seen him do. The Jets had success with Darelle Revis last week, but I'm sure it also helped that Wes Welker wasn't playing. If Welker is in the game, it's going to be tough for any defense to completely shut off Moss.

DtF: With Richard Seymour traded and Jerod Mayo hurt, how is your front seven looking thus far?

PP: As a 4-3, I'd say they're ok. I'm still waiting for a strong pass rusher to emerge; I thought Derrick Burgess would be that guy, but I haven't seen it yet. As a 3-4, I'm concerned with the back 4. We're really struggling to fill the ranks at ILB with Tedy Bruschi retired and Jerod Mayo out for 5 more weeks. I'm worried at this point.

NDP: After looking silly against the Bills and Fred Jackson, the front seven looked much improved against the Jets. Gary Guyton, filling in for Jerod Mayo, is the key to stopping the run this week.

PD: It's been decent. Mayo's injury hurt a lot more than the trade of Seymour. Mayo was to be the centerpiece of the defense, and a big reason why they were doing more 4-3 formations. The idea was that Mayo would be freed up to make plays all over the field. Gary Guyton has replaced Mayo for the time being, and though he led the team in tackles against the Jets, he had some struggles out there. Adalius Thomas was pretty much invisible last week, and that just can't happen. The run defense has been solid overall, with Vince Wilfork and Ty Warren still in place up front. The problem has been getting pressure on the quarterback, and that is where they need improvement. Mike Wright and Jarvis Green have been the primary replacements for Seymour, and need to get to the QB for the defense to be more well-rounded.

DtF: What's your prediction for the game on Sunday?

PP: My sense is this is the game Brady will come out. I've been listening to his pressers enough to know he's aggravated by his performance and will be working hard to make an impact this coming Sunday. However, the Falcons have a lot to play for, specifically dominance of the NFC South or, at the very least, stay tied with the Saints. I think this game could go either way, but it'll be very close: 24-21.

NDP: 27-24 Patriots in overtime. The Falcons are a great team, but I feel like they don't have the secondary to stay with the Patriot receivers. If they are able to get to Brady early though, Atlanta has the ability to win by double-digits.

PD: I really hate predictions, probably because I'm so awful at them. I don't see Brady solving all his problems in one week, so that's a plus for the Falcons. I hope there is a bigger focus on the running game, especially since the Falcons have lost Peria Jerry. Matt Ryan should have success throwing to Tony Gonzalez whenever he wants, but I think the Patriots defense will make a big play or two this week. The home field will mean a lot to the Patriots in terms of comfort especially for Brady and the offense. I see a pretty tight game here, maybe 24-17 Patriots.

Thanks again to everyone who participated! Here's to a great game on Sunday.

Thomas Johnson To Start In DT Peria Jerry's Place?

Dave the Falconer — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 17:21:28 -0000

Straight from Mike Smith's mouth comes the news that Thomas Johnson is set to assume the starting role left by Peria Jerry's season-ending injury.

Because Smitty also committed to a rotation at defensive tackle, it's not like Johnson's going to be out there for every snap of a game. The Falcons also have Trey Lewis, rookie Vance Walker and defensive ends Jamaal Anderson and Chauncey Davis, either of whom could move inside in a pinch. It's a rotation that should be able to approximate or exceed Jerry's production, but there's nobody there that figures to be as helpful in pass rushing situations, a major concern against the New England Patriots this week.

For his part, the more traditional run stopper knows he's bringing a little something different to bear than Jerry:

"It’s a blow ‘cause Peria brings something different than I bring to the team," he said. "He brings quickness and pass rush ability and speed. I’m more of a kind of power guy. It’s going to hurt us but we have other guys who can fill in and take over."

My best guess is that Johnson will alternate with either Davis or Anderson, depending on the situation. I think Lewis should get a shot because he still has intriguing talent, but he's never been healthy and I'm not sure where the coaching staff stands on the guy. Walker should get a few snaps in the rotation and could benefit hugely if he can play well, but he's buried for the moment and will have to work his way up.

The gist here, I think, is that while losing Jerry hurts quite a bit, it's not as doom and gloom as my initial reaction had it being. There's still depth here and Johnson could step up in a big way, so let's lend him our support and hope for the best. I'm still concerned about generating any kind of pass rush from that spot, though. Your thoughts?

Panthers Back in the Hunt for a DT

Jaxon — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:09:14 -0000

More photos » by John Amis - AP

2 months ago: FILE -- This is a Sept. 20, 2009, file photo showing Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Louis Leonard (94) coming off the field injured during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, in Atlanta. Leonard broke his left ankle on the final defensive play of the game. Coach John Fox on Monday, Sept. 21, 2009, wouldn't say for sure that Leonard will be placed on injured reserve, but the Panthers will almost certainly have to sign another defensive tackle. (AP Photo/John Amis, File)

Browse more photos »

The Panthers are going through defensive tackles like my family goes through gallons of milk. "Hi honey I'm on my way home from work. Do I need to stop and get anything? Well yes, stop and get another 320 lb defensive tackle please, they are going quick this week".

So two weeks into the season and we will have 3 DT's on IR and another hobbling about with a bum toe. Don't fear Panther fans there are plenty of no-name DT's out there ready to jump into our starting line-up:

daringantt#Panthers working out some widebodies today, including DT Antwon Burton. When they sign their guy, chances are you won't recognize the name.

Well hey, the store brand milk is just as good as the name brand! It comes from the same place and it's cheaper. Besides, with that million dollar a game DE we need to pinch some pennies somewhere.

Seriously now, does anyone know anything about this Burton guy? More after the jump...

Surely we would all prefer a veteran to fill the void and there are some known names out there:

They kept George Hypolite on the practice squad, but would prefer someone with more size. Multiple sources said they're focusing on finding someone 325 pounds or more.

That's a group that would include veterans such as Terdell Sands, Kenderick Allen and Sam Adams, but the Panthers have tried to avoid going too old (and too expensive) this offseason. One league source said the team might have no choice but make another trade, since the market's so thin.

Yet the Panthers could stand firm if Nick Hayden can be ready by Monday Night. Here's why:

"Well, we'll evaluate that," Fox said of future moves. "We do have Nick Hayden, who wasn't active for the game due to an injury; we'll wait and see how his progress comes. Typically we only go into a game with three (active). We'll evaluate who's available and what our best move will be."

Yeah but those three on have 5 good big toes between them. Yet even with two good toes I'm not exciting about going into Dallas with Lewis, Hayden and Harris as our rotation. I guess we really have little choice otherwise so let's see if Meeks and Baker can coach em up!

We are not the only ones crying the IR blues. The Falcons also lost a DT for the season is the game:

There was a spot after first-rounder Peria Jerry was lost for the year with a knee injury.

At least our latest DT loss will cost a lot less.

Oh and I can never let a classic Fox favorite quote go by without mention. He dropped an oldie but a goodie in response to a question about special teams play:

Asked if it was a matter of new personnel (though only three members of the kickoff coverage team are new here this season), Fox shrugged.

“It is what it is,” he said. “I'm not going to sit here and try to make excuses, but the reality is yes.”

Yes it is John and thank you for that wonderful Fox moment!

Report: Peria Jerry Out For The Year With A Knee Injury

Dave the Falconer — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:27:23 -0000

More photos » by Rogelio V. Solis - AP

Peria Jerry can't believe it either. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Browse more photos »

Bad news, everyone. Peria Jerry is out for the year.

This news comes from ESPN's Adam Schefter, the only reporter from that particular organization that I'd trust with my life. It's a huge blow to the Falcons' front line, as Jerry was playing very well against the run and is clearly better as a pass rusher than either Trey Lewis or Thomas Johnson, who will likely be rotating into his spot. Expect Vance Walker to be re-signed to the team immediately to take his spot, unless the Falcons would like a more veteran presence. Here's hoping Jerry's healthy as fast as possible and that the team is able to cobble together a potent defense without him.

Damn, this really stinks. React?

UPDATE: Another Twitter report indicates that the Falcons have just re-signed Vance Walker to the team. Called that one. He may have value for us sooner than later.

Poll

How badly does the loss of Peria Jerry hurt this defense?

Very, very badly

147 votes

Not that badly

80 votes

Everybody hurts....sometimes

94 votes

321 votes | Poll has closed

The Falcons Must Key On The Run To Stop The Panthers

Dave the Falconer — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:00:29 -0000

More photos » by Chuck Burton - AP

If you're going to be concerned about one Panther, make it the one these two guys are gawking at. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Browse more photos »

Unsurprisingly for a team named after a giant cat and inexplicably adorned with teal-and-silver trappings, the Carolina Panthers are going to try to run all over our beloved Falcons this weekend.

"Let them!" you cry, your jowls quivering with righteous indignation. "Box this unseemly lot about the ears!" But no, sir, that would be a mistake. Taking the Panthers too lightly could well be our undoing.

Let's start with quarterback, where Jake Delhomme has been doing his best Jim Hardy impression since collapsing in on himself and forming point of awfulness so dense that not even mediocrity can escape it in the 2008 playoffs. Admittedly it's only two games, but he's looked bad enough that the Carolina coaching staff isn't likely to let him throw all day long. With the passing game somewhat muted, that really leaves the running game to carry that load. That could be very bad news.

The Falcons' run defense looked more stout against the Dolphins than it did at many points last year, and it's clear that young Peria Jerry, not-so-young Jonathan Babineaux and the linebacking corps had plenty to do with that. As functional as the tandem of Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams is, however, DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart completely blow them out of the water. Take a quick look at these stat lines from last year:

DeAngelo Williams, 273 carries, 1,515 yards, 18 TDs, 5.5 YPC
Jonathan Stewart, 184 carries, 836 yards, 10 TDs, 4.5 YPC
Michael Turner, 376 carries, 1,699 yards, 17 TDs, 4.5 YPC
Adrian Peterson, 363 carries, 1,760 yards, 10 TDs, 4.8 YPC

What immediately jumps out at me from that list is how unbelievable DeAngelo Williams was last year. In about 100 less carries than both Turner and Peterson, who are widely considered to be two of the best running backs in the league, he piled up almost as many yards, more TDs, and almost a full yard better per carry. Stewart, meanwhile, had numbers that could be roughly doubled and come out about the same as Turner. There's no telling if that actually would've happened, of course, but you get my point.

That point is that this, despite a pretty average first game from Williams, is one of the most potent rushing attacks in the NFL. Given how far the scales are tipping in the direction of this tandem, it's pretty clear that the Falcons will have to aim to shut down the Panthers on the ground and dare Delhomme to beat them, which isn't quite as frightening as it's been in years past. Because they run pretty well in between the tackles, it might be a good time to see what Trey Lewis and Thomas Johnson can do clogging up the middle, or at least try to free up Jerry and Babs to play the run. We absolutely cannot afford to let them run roughshod over our defensive ends, so this may be Jamaal Anderson's time to shine.

This post may be stating the obvious a bit, but I do hope that we don't take the entire team lightly because of what Delhomme's done recently. The Panthers may end up doing poorly this year, but the Falcons really aren't in any position to look past them, especially with that two-headed monster staring us in the face. Here's hoping we shut them down so viciously that we all have high school prom flashbacks.

Leave your strategies for stopping Williams and Stewart.

Poll

What is the top priority for the defense against the Panthers?

Dave's right, it's the running attack

331 votes

Foolish Dave, it's the passing game

21 votes

Hold the palisades!

21 votes

373 votes | Poll has closed

Falcons And Dolphins Recap: Starting The Season Off Right

Dave the Falconer — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:00:46 -0000

More photos » by John Bazemore - AP

Ovie Mughelli was an unstoppable machine on Sunday. Fortunately for the Falcons, he was just one of many. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Browse more photos »

One-and-oh.

The truly wonderful thing about the beginning of a football season is how much lies ahead. It's a fresh slate, and if you mark it with a win, you're undefeated, at least for one week. The Falcons took on another young, up-and-coming team and did what they've been doing consistently since they first set foot on the field against the Detroit Lions in 2008: Exceed expectations. It doesn't matter if Football Outsiders, as great as they are, decide we're due for a regression. It doesn't matter if ESPN's Bill Simmons figures we were just a fluke last year. What matters is the games we play each week. I've found that no amount of rage or righteous indignation can change things, so we must depend on wins to make our case for us.

I'd say this was a good start, wouldn't you?

Now jump, jump after the jump, as we break this down Dave the Falconer style.

HIGHLIGHTS

Our heroes were on defense today, and on the off chance that anyone from the team actually reads this, y'all should know that that was a heartwarming effort. We'll start things off by mentioning the defensive line, which ate Chad Pennington and the Miami offensive line alive today. John Abraham was his usual monstrous self with two sacks, Kroy "The Beerman" Biermann looked unstoppable on his way to two sacks of his own and even perennial whipping boy Jamaal Anderson was active on the front line. That's to say nothing of Jon Babineaux and Peria Jerry, a great combination at defensive tackle if there ever was one. I could go for a while, but I think saying they were very, very good should suffice.
And as good as they were, the linebackers were their equal. Mike Peterson's pick was a sight to behold and he also casually tackled seven people and threw in a forced fumble. You know, just for kicks. Stevie Nickels dropped seven tackles of his own and looked very athletic while doing so, and Curtis Lofton had ten tackles and a forced fumble of his own. These guys were all over the field today, and that's going to be a critical part of our success going forward.
Our secondary wasn't lights out or anything. I'll acknowledge that. Still, can you not give them credit for looking somewhere significantly north of competent against a pretty good offense? I certainly can't. It appears our concerns about the defense, which seemed legitimate during pre-season, need to be laid to bed for the time being.
I know my esteemed colleague tloz~~morlock~~warlock disagrees with me, but I think Matt Ryan looked pretty damn good out there. There was some overthrows and a couple of less than stellar decisions, but on the balance he came out of it very well and should get into a better rhythm as time goes on. The fact that he has a good rapport with Tony Gonzalez right away and spread the ball around well speaks to his chances of having a truly great season.
Speaking of Gonzo...well, what do you say? Dude's an easy first ballot Hall of Famer. I'd no longer be surprised if he plays until he's 50.
Raise your hand if you saw Ovie Mughelli catching a touchdown in this game. Scratch that. If you saw him ever catching a touchdown this season, raise your hand. Scratch that. If you saw a point in spacetime where the will of long dead gods and the whimsical luck of a cold, dark universe converged to allow Ovie Freakin' Mughelli to catch a touchdown, raise your hand. No takers? I thought not.

Seriously, though. The guy's built like a truck, so passing him the ball from time to time seems like a great move. Eventually he's going to run over everyone on the field, Tecmo Super Bowl-style, and run unobstructed for a long touchdown. I see no downside to this strategy.
Way to bounce back, Jason Elam! Of course, you wouldn't have needed to do that if....wait for it....

LOWLIGHTS

It's one game, yes. The previous misses were in the pre-season. Si. That doesn't mean Elam's performance on Sunday doesn't concern me. The man whiffed on two field goals and an extra point. I'm a firm advocate of practicing patience with kickers, and so I'll advocate it here. If he continues to falter, there are options a phone call away. I'm sure he'll rebound nicely against the Panthers.
If you asked me to sprint down a football field and put a brick wall in front of me, I'd be pretty mad if you chasisted me afterwards for breaking half of the bones in my body trying to go through it. So I really can't be too angry at Michael Turner, who had upwards of fifty people dogging his every step. Still, the Burner didn't make many guys pay today, and he'll need to crank it up a notch or two next week.
The return game wasn't fantastic today, but Eric Weems is going through the learning curve. Here's a free pass, Eric!

THE WRAPUP

Game MVP: This was tougher than you think, but in the end it has to go to Mike Peterson. You could argue that his interception and forced fumble set the tone for the game and potentially altered the course of the contest, and his crack about having "the best hands on the team" shows a great confidence. I gotta give it to the veteran here.

Game Theme Song: Victory!

One Thing To Take Away: We may have severely underestimated this defense. Please let that be true.

Next Week: We'll take on erstwhile divisional rival the Carolina Panthers, who are represented by the fine folks at Cat Scratch Reader. Go pay them a visit while you wait for sweet, glorious football to arrive once more.

Final Word: Awesome.

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)

Browse more photos »

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!

The Atlanta Falcons Enter The Season: Of Cuts And Hope

Dave the Falconer — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 12:00:53 -0000

by Dave Martin - AP

Does this remind anyone else of those old electronic football games? You know, the one where the guys all shook their way violently down the field? It was the All-Hypothermia Team. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

View full size photo »

The cuts have been chronicled, and the travels and travails of those who fell from grace here in Atlanta have been capably discussed by my armored co-blogger. In simpler language, we're done there.

What I want to focus on today is the guys who survived the bloody weekend, the "final" 53 who probably aren't actually all that final. By the time you see this post, I'll be dreaming of playoff berths and the Falcons might take someone else behind the woodshed in favor of Brian Williams. This, instead, will be a look at those who stand to gain from the cuts and those who are in difficult spots, either because of the team's recent transactions or their particular skillset.

As you might imagine, you can find the bulk of this post after the jump. Just don't sprain your ankle on the way over, alright?

OFFENSE

A Winner Is You: John Parker Wilson, who watched D.J. Shockley give the ball to the defense in a thoughtful and heartful gesture, took copious notes, mixed chemicals in a lab and learned not to throw interceptions or fumble, damnit! I stand by my earlier comments that JPW does not have the physical toolset necessary to really climb up a depth chart, but he plays very careful football and will make an excellent backup as long as he does that. If Redman moves on in a year or two and JPW gets better, he might actually take that spot.

Oh Noes! You Lose: Verron Haynes, who survived the initial roster cuts but isn't going to see very many carries buried behind Michael Turner, Jerious Norwood and Jason Snelling. Early indications are that he won the job because he's better at pass blocking than Thomas Brown, which would seem to be less relevant for a fourth running back than specials teams value, but Brown is only a call away. The veteran will have to leverage his strong skills and provide value when he does get the rock to fend off the young guy, a tough proposition in such limited playing time.

Winner Winner: Eric Weems, who won the support of the coaching staff by making a few nice grabs and proving he's pretty decent in returns. To be a fifth or even fourth receiver in this league, you must add special teams value, and Weems has fought his way onto this team fiercely. He won't get many chances to catch passes, but if he does well when the ball leaves the tee he's a mortal lock to finish the year with the Falcons. If there are any injuries, I'm reasonably confident the guy can make things happen in the slot.

To Lose, To Suffer: Marty Booker. Even though he's most assuredly ahead of Weems on the depth chart, his chances of surviving the season unscatched aren't nearly as good as his younger counterpart. Booker still has something left as a pass catcher and would be valuable if anybody goes down, but a healthy roster can't carry a guy with negligible special teams value forever in a fourth receiver role. Maybe I'm underestimating the guy and he'll prove to be versatile, but somehow I don't think so.

Winning Ain't Easy: Big ups to Keith Zinger, a man's man if there ever was one. When he didn't make the team after being drafted late in 2008, he went into the Canadian wilderness, slew many bears with his bare hands and made his own shelter out of rocks and discarded Labatt Blue bottles. He emerged a much more complete tight end than the pass-blocking specialist who the Falcons got last year and held on against prototype third tight end Jason Rader. With two very capable pass-catchers in front of him, he won't get much action this year, but he's a promising player who could have an expanded role in the future.

No Rest For The Weary: The offensive line, which absolutely must avoid injuries this year. I like the promise of guys like Will Svitek and Garrett Reynolds, but I wouldn't necessarily bank on them being able to carry the team for a sustained period this year. With a very stout offense that thrives with a little time, the Falcons really can't afford to give up valuable milliseconds that could result in Matt Ryan speculating about the patterns on the Georgia Dome roof. If this line is in great shape, beautiful. If not, it could get ugly.

DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS

The Land Of Pass Rushing: Peria Jerry, come on down! You've been selected to single-handedly lead our flagging pass rush in the year ahead! You'll be tutored by John Abraham, one of the finest to ever wear a Falcon uniform, and Jonathan Babineaux, who is p. Your companions on this once-in-a-lifetime trip will be Chauncey Davis and Jamaal Anderson, both fighting for a job with young whippersnappers like Kroy Biermann and Lawrency Sidbury. Does that sound crowded? No worries--none of the defensive tackles behind are being counted on to pass rush, so this enormous task falls squarely on your giant shoulders. Ready to be a hero? I think so!

The Two-Headed Defensive End: Davis and Anderson, who are in the unenviable position of battling with one another and fending off two young players who made a real push this off-season. Anderson is probably stronger against the run and Davis against the pass, but neither has been a standout during their careers thus far, and Anderson in particular is playing for his job this season. Early struggles could lead to extended stays on the bench for one or both, and chances are very good one of them is going to freefall down the depth chart before Week 17.

Hold The Line(backer): To all three starting linebackers, who saw their most substantial competition for minutes disappear with the cuts. With Jamie Winborn gone, in particular, both Stephen Nicholas and Mike Peterson seem ready to get monster minutes. Coy Wire can do some damage in a pinch but likely won't sniff starter minutes without an injury, and Spencer Adkins isn't even a lock to get on the field on defense this season. Curtis Lofton, as we all know, is a dimension-skipping devourer of time and space who has no competition, even from himself.

Cornered: Chris Houston and Brent Grimes, who are going to be looking over their shoulders off the field to an inordinate degree. While Chris Owens and Chevis Jackson fight for roster spots, both these young corners will be clinging to their starting spots while the coaching staff determines what they have in Tye Hill and Brian Williams. Williams could also rob some time from Thomas DeCoud if he isn't careful, so there's a lot of recently drafted or signed guys who have good reason to be skittish. If nobody steps up in the early going, you could be looking at a Hill and Williams tandem by much earlier than mid-season.

Kicker, Punter, Soldier, Spy: Hard to call either Jason Elam or Michael Koenen winners or losers, honestly, because they're both in the same positions they've always been in. What does benefit both is the likely strength of the special teams unit, which with Koenen's laser-guided punts and Elam's boot should have no problem doing some real damage against enemy returns. Of course, it goes without saying that both are as solid as they come...but will they ever find true happiness in such a lonely profession?

So that's a rough rundown, I guess, of how some of the battles shook out and what is still to come. If you've got suggestions on more positions that need to be covered. If not, I'll soak in your praise and adulation any time you're ready.

Falcons And Ravens Recap: The Pre-Season Is Over

Dave the Falconer — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 12:00:37 -0000

by Dave Martin - AP

John Beck escaping pressure was an all too common sight Thursday night. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

View full size photo »

In all my years here at The Falcoholic, there has never been a game that has made me feel less emotional. It was hard to feel happiness or real anger following this game, probably a combination of it being pre-season action and a pretty thoroughly dull contest.

Despite the apathy this game instilled in me, several people sealed their fates Thursday for better or for worse. It's pretty clear how our wide receiver depth chart is going to shake out at this point, I think, and the competition for the third quarterback slot was all but decided by the play on the field. Our defense managed its best Jekyll and Hyde impression, managing to look hideous and wonderful, sometimes in the span of the same play. It was, compared to the nail-biter against San Diego last week, as uninspiring a game as they come. But it did make a difference.

Join me in welcoming the warm glow of the regular season, and then let's break this down.

HIGHLIGHTS

I'm an unapologetic Shockley defender, and I have been since he was drafted. If not for his injury, I firmly believe he would have drawn a few starts following the departure of Michael Vick. Alas, poor Shock is not long for this team, as John Parker Wilson played a solid, average sort of game while Shockley imploded. JPW had one fumble--and he was moving around a lot thanks to the second-team offensive line--but otherwise played a cautious, mistake-free game of football. He doesn't have the physical tools of Shockley, but he's a game manager and could be groomed to be the backup someday. I fully expect him to win the job.
Thomas Brown made a strong case for a roster spot, running pretty well on 11 carries and fielding a pair of kick returns capably. If there's one position where the Falcons are likely to load up, it would be running back, so Brown stands a pretty good chance of surviving the final cuts.
Three receivers made strong cases to stay with the team. Eric Weems had a couple of nice grabs and looked, once again, good in the return game, and he'd make a pretty terrific fifth receiver option because of his special teams value. Chandler Williams looked amazing on kick returns, and special teams is definitely his calling card. Meanwhile, Marty Booker looked good enough again to win a spot low on the depth chart, but offers no special team value. It might not matter much, but I'd prefer keeping Weems and Williams because they're younger and more versatile.
Keith Zinger should be the third tight end. Sorry, Jason Rader, but Zinger looked plenty capable Thursday night while making a couple of grabs and throwing a couple of key blocks.
Remember when I told you Peria Jerry was going to be just fine. Well, just call me the Oracle at Delphi, because I totally nailed that one. With a sack, constant pressure on John Beck and four tackles, Jerry looks to be getting better in a hurry and is a lock to line up with the starters against the Miami Dolphins. With the need for a pass rush still quite pressing, he's going to have value right away.
Speaking of value, Kroy Biermann illustrated his by looking pretty monstrous out there. Honorable mention goes to perpetually unappreciated end Jamaal Anderson, who after a shaky start managed to not look like the total bust many have already written him off as. If Anderson's getting motivated and Biermann can keep that motor running, this pass rush suddenly looks much improved even with Lawrence Sidbury drawing a ton of playing time.
To keep my habit of searching for the positive in the secondary going, Chris Owens did force a fumble. High five, Chris!

LOWLIGHTS

With the starters in, Mike Mularkey's offense isn't going to look that boring, but it's worth mentioning that the Falcons weren't exactly moving at a great clip against the Ravens. Part of that is undoubtably due to their defense, but you can't totally ignore the fact that our playcalling is a little predictable at time. That goes doubly for Brian VanGorder, who can no longer escape notice as the defensive coordinator for a team that has allowed second-and-third string quarterbacks to throw more than ninjas at a shuriken convention. Part of it is personnel, but I would really like to take a critical look at the packages being called and see if our guys are being put in a position to succeed.
The secondary portion of this more or less writes itself. We have got to start seeing more out of this unit. I don't want to judge too much based on pre-season, but it's all I have to go on and I'm starting to get legitimately worried about it. Chris Houston is a nice dude and he's clearly got the talent, but something is going on that is causing him to not be in the right place at the right time, and that could haunt this team something fierce come Week 1. I'll be interested to see whether Mike Smith and Thomas Dimitroff will push the guys hard and stand pat or if there's another signing on the way.
It's one play, but Ferguson's end zone drop of a nice JPW pass probably dropped him below Weems and Booker in the pecking order for a roster spot. The fact that Williams and Weems got all the special team action doesn't say much, either. I wish him well.
I've already mentioned this, but obviously Shockley needed a good game to save his roster spot and wasn't able to deliver. I really hope he gets another shot in this league if he does end up on the cut list.

THE WRAPUP

Game MVP: I've got to hand this one to Peria Jerry. In a game that featured grinding action, Jerry ground more than anybody, and he's a grounded individual. Ground ground ground.

Game Theme Song: The gentle snoring of a fan who has, with a half-full beer in his hand and his Falcons hat tipped down over his forehead, fallen asleep in the wake of that game.

One Thing To Take Away: This team is improving and this team has a much clearer roster picture, but the defense still must improve.

Next Week: We'll be up against the Miami Dolphins in our first regular season game, and it should be a very entertaining contest all the way around, as they're a young team with a few question marks on defense and a pretty talented offense. Check out The Phinsider for more about next week's game.

Final Word: Notwithabangbutawhimper.