Jim Mora allusions aside, J Adams posted a very interesting interview today. Normally I'd just fanpost something like this, but I think a lot of what Smitty had to say warrants consideration.

Here are some of the juicier tidbits:

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But did any of y'all see D-Led's interview re: the Falcons on EPSN?

I hate to say it, but despite his best efforts, he still doesn't come off as the most knowledgeable beat writer in history.

I mean, he took the completely generic route during his interview, playing up Matty's need to "take the next step," Abe's need "to return to form," and Turner's "new/improved" approach. The man has clearly never heard of pass rushing efficiency.

Thoughts?

Given that Michael Gerard Jenkins (hereinafter Jenks) averaged 17.6 yards/catch at Ohio State, Richy McKay probably gave himself a well-deserved pat-on-the-back after Jenks averaged 17 yards/catch in his debut campaign ('04).

I know Jenks frustrates the fersnickities (I made that up) out of some of you. But is that anger justified? Is he really such a bad #2 receiver? Will FrankyWren ever go away?

My crappy mediocre attempt at convincing everyone to believe in Buttafingas after the jump ...

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Guys ... the time has come: I'm jumping ship!

TD has clearly lost his mind, and it's not like our team is that good anyways. Matty "Ice" is a hack (more like Matty "Sometimes-Hot-But-Usually-Cold" if you ask me). For the life of me, I'll never understand why they didn't draft Tebow, and the Peters pick alone should earn The Comrade a pink slip.

Roddy is joke, our entire offensive line is gonna retire next year, and Buttafingas Jenkins dropped like 50 balls last season!

TD and company clearly overshot on all of our picks this year. Just check out how the experts ranked our picks, and they're the experts! I hear some of them might be line for a GM position if one opens up in the coming year. 

Heck, we should have just traded all our picks for the number one overall pick, drafted Suh, then signed half the guys we drafted in free agency! Beer Man is a freaking joke, Abe might have a heart attack if BVG drops him into coverage one more time, and Dunta is clearly a no-talent hack.

DeCoud and Moore ought to be playing in the CFL and let's be honest, Burner's rating in Madden '10 was waaaaaaay too high.

I can't believe I've invested all this time and effort with this poor excuse for a franchise. There's one decent player on this team, and I sincerely hope he leaves via free agency as soon as possible. Love Live Jason Snelling! 

It is that time folks. Yes ... time for another Rant Fest.  Four games of Falcons football left (unless -- by some Vishnu-willed miracle -- this team makes the playoffs), then it'll be a long 8 months without meaningful Sundays.  Use this space to (literally) rant your face off (see below).

What is a rant?

Etymology: obsolete Dutch ranten, randen

Date: 1601

intransitive verb

1 : to talk in a noisy, excited, or declamatory manner

2 : to scold vehemently

So come one, come all ... rant to your heart is content. Feel free to describe in detail whatever it is that irks you these days, and while I'm sure we all have our opinions re: health care reform, Taco Bell's cheesy gordita (sp?) crunch, and Smitty's eyebrows of fury, let's keep it strictly Falcons here, mmkay?

The idea behind this thread is to provide a forum where one can opine about whatever it is you feel like opining about. But remember, since this thread is specifically for ranting (even irrational ranting), don't hate on what other people have to say ... if you agree, feel free to note that, but keep the criticism of what people post to a minimum, if possible.

Please do rec this, such that we may keep the other threads free from ranting in the coming weeks. Thanks y'all and get to ranting!

Kanye says "I'm really happy for you, and I'm gonna let you finish ... but the Falcons are the most rant-worthy team in NFL history!"

KDC made an excellent point in a different thread in response to a comment re: overreaction on this site.  It got me thinking: MAYBE everyone really deserves a place to vent.  I am not saying you can only vent here, but I think it might be a good idea to have a place where one can vent absent sarcastic responses, accusations of haterdome, and retributive malevolence.

We'll here you go.  I declare this (I'm not even sure I have this authority - thus feel free to delete this thread if it is out of line Fearless Leader) Vent Fest '09.  I doubt our collective frustration will be any higher than it is now in the near future (i.e., we're finally realizing this is not a SB team and - more than likely - not a playoff team, depending on how certain people recover).  Accuse Matty Ice of illicit drug use, call for Burner's resignation, question if Smitty's eye brows are simply throwing off the team's mojo ... your comments need not be rationale or based on facts.  In other words, opine to your heart's content!

I only ask that you recommend this, thereby allocating a space where irrational rants can be had until Matty and company turn this ship around next week.  THANK YOU and GOOD DAY!

There has been no shortage of negativity on this site in recent days, much of it completely justified. But I thought now might be a good time to think back about why and how we all became Braves fans in the first place. Granted, there have been posts like this before, and I'd hardly want to come off like I'm being original ... but here's my attempt at "seeing the silver lining," or lack thereof (if you will).

It was only 3 hours and 22 minutes of baseball that forever solidified my status as a Braves fan. It was October 14, 1992. I was in second grade, and while I tried to stay awake during Mrs. Spikler's lesson on place values ... I knew nothing of the evening to come. My father picked me up early from school (he told the secretary I had a dentist appointment), and as we deviated from our normal route home, I realized something was afoot.

"Son, we're going to game 7," he said. I was EXCITED. Granted, I wasn't a huge Braves fan at the time (I was more interested in The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), but I knew the playoffs were significant. At the very least, I figured it might get me out of doing my homework.

We arrived a couple of hours before first pitch. It wasn't my first baseball game, but I can still remember the smell of hot dogs, light beer, roasted peanuts, and cheep perfume (the southern belles were out en masse). The first 8 innings were rather depressing. By the middle of the ninth, the Bravos were down 2-0 and a long off-season was in sight. "It's over, we should get out of here to beat the traffic," my father said. "No dad," I replied, "they still have a chance." He looked at me like I was a naive, 7 year old kid (which I was), but he complied.

Leading off in the bottom of the ninth, TP hit a double off Drabek. Justice reached first after Jose Lind booted a routine grounder. Sid Bream walked, and all of a sudden, the go-ahead run was on first. "See, I told you dad," I said. He again looked at me like I was a naive, 7 year old kid, but I didn't care. I knew something great was going to happen (or so I like to think).

Ronny Gant hits a deep fly ball, a worthwhile sacrifice, and we're suddenly down by only one run. Berryhill walks and Brian Hunter pops out, down 2-1 w/ 2 outs and the bases load. Then, Francisco Cabrera (a seldomly-used bench player) strides to the plate. I'm not sure this actually happened, but I like to think I said a silent prayer at that point. I remember the crack of the bat, and the roar of the crowd. Cabrera singled to left, Justice rounded third, Justice scored, Bream around third, the Barry Bonds throw and .... BRAVES WIN! BRAVES WIN! BRAVES WIN!

The rest, folks, is history. I remember hanging out of my dad's 1986 Honda civic, slapping high fives with the drunken masses who were being DDed home that night (or so I hope). The city of Atlanta was alive that night, and for one shining moment, the Bravos were NL Champions.

I assume most or all of you had similar experiences. That turning, instrumental moment or series of moments that forever converted you to Braves fandom. Yes, they aren't the easiest bunch to support, but they're our bunch. GA's hate for baseball, FYF's inability to take a pitch, Gonzo's ridiculous windup, Bobby's tendency to fall asleep while Blaine Boyer ruins yet another game ... they're our team.

I did not write this post to discourage anyone from ranting and raving about our inadequacies. Rather, I hope we can all reflect, if for only a moment ... on why we chose THIS team in the first place. Write your personal experiences, criticize me for being a sentimental nerd, suggest a delicious beer I should try ... it's up to YOU. But please, DO be gentle.

I'm sorry to post this here, but I figured someone might have some insight. I recently discovered my baseball card collection. When I was a kid, I remember convincing myself that the cards were worth keeping because "I'd sell them and live off the profits one day."

I used to use the monthly Beckett magazines back in the day, but from what I can tell ... they no longer exist. I found the Beckett website, but of course you have to pay to have any of your cards priced.

So here's where y'all come in: Does anyone know of any free pricing guides (preferably online)? If not, what's the best value out there? I'm a student, so I don't have unlimited funds, hence my plea for help.

Obviously, this post has nothing to do w/ the Bravos, so I'm sorry for wasting your time if you have no idea and/or don't care what I'm talking about. But heck, the economy blows, and if I'm sitting on a card worth a bunch of money ... well that'd suck.

An insurance salesman was getting nowhere in his efforts to sell a policy to a
farmer.

“Look at it this way,” he said finally. “How would your wife carry on if you should die?”

“Well ...” drawled the weather-beaten man, “I don't reckon that'd be any
concern of mine - long as she behaves herself while I'm alive.”

Who wasn't proud of our offensive line last year?! "Worst in the League," they said. Hogwash! Our boys helped The Burner rack up 1,700 rushing yards, while surrending only 17 sacks (5 lowest in the league). 

So we're set, right?

Let's go get Grady's heir! Law Dog's heir! Brook's heir! They shall be ours! All will be right in the world! I don't agree. If TD doesn't draft a ridiculously fat/athletic/bruising DT and the next Polomalu, I'll be less-than-content. But that's the life of a Falcons fan. Still, I see OL as a area for concern. But certainly feel free to disagree w/ me. You won't be the first, and hopefully not the last.

Here's why I think we'll draft an O-lineman in the first three rounds/two linemen in the draft:

Yes we need a mammoth DT. Yes we need a bone-crushing, freak-of-nature, rabid SS. Yes we may need an OLB or two (depending on what you think of Nicholas and Peterson). But we really really really NEED O-Line depth in my opinion.

I say a little prayer every night thanking Vishnu that Weiner didn't collapse into a pile of ooze last season. If he hadn't been able to spot Baker during his extended absence, one of Wilkerson, Quinn O, or Adam Stepanovich would have started at OT for multiple games. Not sure how y'all feel about that, but my stomach is turning at the mere thought. 

But FrankyWren, undrafted and unheralded O-Linemen jump on the scene yearly, earning our respect and their keep. Yes, this is true, but Wilkerson and Stepanovich are centers, and neither is known for his versatility from what I've read. Moreover, Stepanovich is an injury-prone dude (it seemed like he was injured all year last year ... although it obviously didn't matter because we didn't need him to play). Wilkerson, from what I've read, is waaaaay below replacement-level and a marginal NFLer at best. Not saying he couldn't do some things, but he isn't the most likely breakout candidate in the world. Quinn O is undersized at T, and he's a born run blocker/downright horrible pass blocker. 

In my eyes, our biggest need comes at the tackle position. We were blessed w/ an overachieving unit last year, and I'd like to see them continue to grow. But I'm not sold on Clabo being a long-term answer at RT. To that effect, if Blaylock and Dahl don't stop committing penalties, I'll have less hair than I have now come next spring.

Don't get me wrong, I like the Romberg signing, but it's only a step in the right direction. Sorry for the absence of statistic proof in this post, but there aren't any stats that objectively measure O-Linemen (aside from pancakes) that I know of.

So what do y'all think? Am I completely off? Keep in mind, I'm only trying to elicit some quality dialogue. If you think I'm off my rocker, be gentle.

We need some upgrades, I think we all agree about that.

I have been a proponent of signing Big Al, but after doing some research, I feel like one face-stomping incident, one chest-kicking incident, a mysterious "traffic incident" that resulted in a warrant being issued for Hayneworth's arrest (all in 6 yrs) ... might be a little much for TD/Blank/Smitty to look past.

We have approximately 20 mill in cap space, and that's before we get rid of Vick, Brooking and Grady. IMO, we have to make a run at a FA d-linemen, whether that's Peppers, Big Al, Berry, Tank Johnson, or Manny Yarbrouh (6'7, 800 lb, college football player turned Sumo wrestler). Even if we can trade up for Raji, there's no guarantee he can contribute right away (see: Dorsey).

If you disagree (or if you agree), feel free to comment. Let's get some discussion going!

OK ... the deadline for declaring for the draft has come and gone. While declarees (or declarers?) can w/draw their names for a bit (I think 2 days - or it might be a week - speak up if you know), we now have a better idea of what our options are.

The first step for the Comrade/Smitty/Blank will be prioritizing our weaknesses. This is a process that probably already started, I would guess w/in 24 hours of the Cards loss. So what is our most pressing need? Run defense? Pass defense? Pass rush? My list would look like this (in descending order): 

5. Depth at the skill positions: I know Thomas Brown will be back. But I just don't see Snelling as a long-term option and it'd be nice to have a stable of backs, as opposed to having only one true every down back and one scat back that hasn't proven he can survive 25 carries a game. Also, a punt/kick returner with a little moxy would be nice.

4. Depth on the offensive line: Baker and Blaylock will be cornerstones on the left side of the line for a while (thank God). Baker has some catching up to do, but he'll be fine. As for the rest of the line, I'm satisfied, but we could use a little something something ... know what I'm sayin'? Dahl is a stud, he works hard, but hard work doesn't always compensate for lack of natural ability (ask Michael Butterworth). Moreover, anyone who watched the Cards game/cringed in despair everytime Clabo got completely beat and/or committed penalty after penality should be concerned about the Falcons bringing in some talented personnel (see: a really fat, quick, intelligent tackle younger than 25) this offseason. Finally, while I dug the red mohawk and I have mad respect for the guy, McClure is about 87 in center years (not including Mawae and Saturday - those guys are superhuman). I'd be nice to bring in the heir apparent at center this offseason.

3. Pass rush: Abe can't do it all. If we draft a kick ass ILB (I heard there's some dude named James who plays for some school in Ohio that might have a little bit of talent ...), maybe that problem is solved? Or maybe not.

2. Pass defense: Bring in Milloy's heir. Get us another quality corner. Thank you.

1. Run defense: Maybe Arthur will pay for us to put an add in the AJC. It would read something like, "Seeking adult male. Must weigh 350 pounds and run a 4.6 40. Bonus if you aren't on 'roids." Yeah ... that'll do.

What are your top five? Maybe (if you have time) provide a sentence or two or explanation. Or ... if you think I am brilliant and totally agree, well, that probably won't happen.

So what you say? Well ... it's an analogy. Ya know, like when you compare two things. You might even go further and call it a simile. The '08 Falcons are like '80 USA Hockey Team!

The Good Comrade has a great eye for talent, but our team really played above and beyond their ability this year. Look at our offensive line; Dahl was undrafted, Clabo was undrafted, McClure is 31 years old/was originally drafted in the 7th round and Blaylock and Baker have been legally drinking for less than two years. As for the rest, Weiner's knees are more fragile than my 93-yr-old grandmother's dentures, Gandy gave us absolutely nothing (not that anyone expected anything from a geriatric) ... I could go on, but suffice it to say that Michael Butterworth, while a mammoth of a man and a likely descendant/heir apparent of the finest syrup in the land, isn't going to contribute much in the foreseeable future.

Now I am just playing devil's advocate here, but how sure are you all that we'll have success next year? I mean, Dimitroff/Smitty put together a good run this year, but how repeatable is our success w/ so many glaring holes remaining on our roster.

Don't get me wrong, we have some great emerging talent. Jackson, Matty Ice, Blaylock/Baker, Decoud, Lofton, Norwood ... a growing list. But that's just it. The list is growing. The list is far from complete.

We have: an overmatched right side of the line, a below-average secondary, one true "every down" back, a below average/depleted LB corps, one DE who can be counted on and an exceptionally bad run defense. These things can be fixed, but I'm not convinced we'll be Super Bowl ready come this time next year.

Just trying to spur some discussion. Let's hear some thoughts.