SB Nation User Blog: MentallyMIA

researching TB RBs

MentallyMIA — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:02:49 -0000

Hey, I'm collecting information for an article I am going to write for the Falcoholic and I was hoping you all would be willing to help out.

I'm going to be comparing the RB tandems of the NFC South and you all currently have a slew of RBs and it's pretty obvious your coaching staff is trying to create a run-first team. I was wondering who you all think your RB tandem is going to be and to what effect are they going to be used. Any chance you all will be utilizing the skill-sets of more than 2 RBs on a consistant basis?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Predicting the NFC South, It is never too early to start

MentallyMIA — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:50:48 -0000

It is never too early to start making predictions. What better place to start predicting than within our own division?
Here are some quick facts:

The NFC South had a combined 40 wins last season. That was the most wins out of any Division in the NFL last season
In 2008, our division competed against the NFC North who had a combined win total of 25
In 2009, our division will be facing the NFC East who had the second best division win record in the NFL last season (go figure) with a total of 38 wins and tie.

Join me after the jump where I'll be breaking down the schedules of every team in the division. This is an excellent opportunity to discuss how well you think the other teams in the NFC South will fair against their schedules. How many wins you think it will take to win the division? Who is our biggest rival going to be this season?

Some quick notes before we hit my lists to explain my predictions. In my opinion, Atlanta has made the most significant offensive improvements this offseason but our defensive changes are what make the team a gamble. Carolina just flat out hasn't changed much but unfortunately for them, their schedule has. New Orleans has made some significant defensive improvements with a solid offense that hasn't changed. Tampa Bay is definitely in the huge gambling stage on both sides of the ball... where I think they are going to surprise some teams, they are going to get dominated by others. Oh... and all these predictions are assuming all these teams are going to remain healthy for the entirety of the season (which is unlikely, but for predictions sake, it's how they are going to stay).

aaaaaand, here we go
* = won their division in '08

ATLANTA FALCONS

Prediction 10-6

Week	Game	'08 Record	My Prediction	Explanation
1	MIA	*11-5	W	This game is really going to test our new defense while the Dolphins come out with their new style of offense. I think our offense is going to be able to put up bigger numbers by the time the game is said and done with though.
2	CAR	*12-4	W	Carolina couldn't beat us in the GA Dome last season and they aren't going to be able to start doing so this season. The Falcons should be able to put up points early and force the Panthers to rely on their passing game. Steve Smith will be their biggest playmaker, but I don't think he'll be enough to score them the win.
3	@NE	11-5	L	As much as I would love a win here... I just don't see it happening. Tom Brady is going to look as good as he did in 2007. Belichick makes that team and he still hasn't gone anywhere. I bet both teams scores are at least in the high 30s though.
4	Bye
5	@SF	7-9	W	Depending on Crabtree's development, he's going to really try our questionable secondary but our pass rush should be solid enough to assure us a W against their questionable QB situation.
6	CHI	9-7	L	We beat them by the grit of our teeth in the Georgia Dome last season, but their improving run game and now franchise QB are probably going to be too much for our developing secondary.
7	@DAL	9-7	W	Dallas defense hasn't improved much this offseason and their offense didn't do much better. Tony Romo is pretty 'hit or miss' as a QB. I'm predicting he'll be a 'miss' in this game.
8	@NO	8-8	L	The Saints are going to look good this year and in the Superdome, they probably won't have much trouble exploiting the weaknesses in our young defense.
9	WAS	8-8	W	Albert Haynseworth isn't going to be enough to make this team much better than they were last season. If the Falcons can control their running game, we should be able to seal a win through the air.
10	@CAR	*12-4	W	Carolina beat us early last season because our offense was still very much developing. I don't forsee the same problems and if our team stays healthy to this point, I am presuming they are going to have developed enough to be more than solid.
11	@NYG	*12-4	L	The Giants are a very solid football team even without Plaxico. Eli Manning is another QB that I think is very capable of exploiting the question marks on our defense even with a mean pass rush.
12	TB	9-7	W	I don't think the Bucs will win many games next season. Especially not this one.
13	PHI	9-6-1	L	I am already predicting the Eagles are going to win the NFC East next season. They are a solid team with a very solid defense.
14	NO	8-8	W	They may beat us in the Superdome but they won't beat us in our Dome.
15	@NYJ	9-7	W	Mark Sanchez should be labeled a bust by this point. If he isn't, he still won't be good enough to match up against the Falcon's pass rush.
16	BUF	7-9	L	Here is our surprise loss of the season. In this scenario, Terrell Owens finally has found a home and out of nowhere Edwards has become a successful QB and the Bills somehow manage to best the Falcons on their home turf.
17	@TB	9-7	W	Tampa Bay's team is still loaded with question marks and they still can't find a way to beat the Falcons. At least they'll get to pick early in the draft.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

Prediction 11-5

Week	Game	'08 Record	My Prediction	Explanation
1	DET	0-16	W	By some miracle, Detroit may have managed to create a football team in one offseason, but that team is still going to take some time to develop and it isn't going to have happened by this point. At least the Lions will look darn flashy in their new uniforms when the Saints start working on their ungodly high passing numbers.
2	@PHI	9-6-1	L	The Eagles are looking really great for 2009 and they are going to look even better on their own turf. The Saints aren't going to be able to bring in a win in Philly.
3	@BUF	7-9	W	Edwards is going to make Malcom Jenkins Pepsi's Defensive Rookie of the Week in this game.
4	NYJ	9-7	W	Everyone in NY might still have faith that Sanchez might still be able to develop into a franchise QB but he won't show it in this game.
5	Bye
6	NYG	*12-4	L	The NYG are going to be continuing to prove that with their solid run game and an ever-improving Manning brother, they don't need Plaxico to be a championship caliber team.
7	@MIA	*11-5	L	Miami lost to the last NFC South team they played, but they aren't going to let themselves lose in Miami. They are going to surprise the league with a win here.
8	ATL	11-5	W	Atlanta is going to put up a fight and the score is going to be through the roof for both teams, but the Saints are going to score their W in their own Dome.
9	CAR	*12-4	W	Carolina swept the Saints last season, but it isn't going to happen again this season.
10	@STL	2-14	W	I actually envy the Saints for getting this easy of a schedule. The Rams aren't going to get their upset. Another W for the Saints.
11	@TB	9-7	W	TB can't even manage to beat a Division opponent in Tampa. Poor guys...
12	NE	11-5	L	Tom Brady will exploit the Saints questionable secondary and make Malcom Jenkins look like a rookie like no other QB had managed to do up to this point of his phenomenal rookie season.
13	@WAS	8-8	W	Haynesworth may be able to hold the Saints running game to negative yards, but Drew Brees will answer with over 400 passing yards and a W.
14	@ATL	11-5	L	Come on Saints fans. You don't really think you'll be beating us in the Dome this year do you?
15	DAL	9-7	W	Dallas has imploded by this point of the season yet again. After realizing they aren't going to be able to make a run for the playoffs, fits are going to be thrown and the team is going to continue to progressively decline.
16	TB	9-7	W	Poor Tampa Bay. They never stood a chance.
17	@CAR	*12-4	W	Carolina makes quite the ball game out of this one and with New Orleans' hopes of still being able to win the division it is going to be a monster shootout and the Saints are going to score the W by the grit of their teeth.

CAROLINA PANTHERS

Prediction 8-8

Week	Game	'08 Record	My Prediction	Explanation
1	PHI	9-6-1	L	The Eagles exotic pass rush and ever-improving defense is going to be too much for even the Panther's run game.
2	@ATL	11-5	L	Peria will get his first professional sack on Jake Delhomme and Trey Lewis is going to prove himself as an elite run-stopper. After the score starts to stack on the Panthers, they are going to try to answer through the air, but it won't be enough to bring them close to a W.
3	@DAL	9-7	L	Morale will be low for Carolina and Dallas is still going to look sharp in their new stadium. The game will be close, but Dallas is going to come up with the win.
4	Bye
5	WAS	8-8	W	Washington is going to be in the market for new management by the end of the season. They'll already be talking about it at this point, Carolina scores their first win.
6	@TB	9-7	W	Poor Tampa Bay just can't manage to beat anyone in this division.
7	BUF	7-9	W	Buffalo isn't going to have what it takes to beat Carolina in their own stadium.
8	@ARI	*9-7	W	Arizona was lucky to make a run for the superbowl last season, but their defense won't be able to answer Carolina's powerful run game.
9	@NO	8-8	L	New Orleans is going to be a good team this season, even better in the Superdome.
10	ATL	11-5	L	This will be a close game and make Falcons fans question our run defense, but in the end, the Falcons will prevail.
11	MIA	*11-5	W	Miami's offense is going to be running out of tricks and Carolina's dominant run game is going to be more than enough to secure them a W
12	@NYJ	9-7	W	Carolina's aging QB proves to still be more valuable than the Jets rookie who should probably be getting benched by this point of the season.
13	TB	9-7	W	Tampa Bay isn't going to get any surprise upsets in the division this season.
14	@NE	11-5	L	New England is still looking incredibly solid at this point in the season and the Panthers are just outmatched.
15	MIN	*10-6	W	In this prediction, Minnesota was able to get Brett Favre and 3 interceptions later, Carolina scores a W.
16	@NYG	*12-4	L	Another NFC East team that is just too much for the NFC South.
17	NO	8-8	L	The Saints are too solid at this point of the season and have too much at stake to let Carolina steal a win from them here.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Prediction 2-14
Disclaimer for Bucs fans: I promise you I am not trying to be biased against the Bucs... I just don't forsee them being much of contenders this season, they are very much rebuilding and I think their record will show it

Week	Game	'08 Record	My Prediction	Explanation
1	DAL	9-7	L	Even if the Bucs do manage to see surprise success, they are still going to be outmatched by the Cowboys early in the season.
2	@BUF	7-9	L	This game is going to give Bucs fans everywhere hope, but it won't be enough to bring in a W.
3	NYG	*12-4	L	The Bucs might manage to surprise people, but again, another team here where they are outmatched.
4	@WAS	8-8	L	Haynesworth is going to be enough to strike fear in the eyes of whichever of their 5 QBs wins the starting spot.
5	@PHI	9-6-1	L	Thoroughly outmatched away from their home stadium. The Eagles get an easy W.
6	CAR	*12-4	L	A close game in Tampa, but Carolina comes out on top.
7	NE	11-5	L	Do I really need to say it again? Yeah... it's fun to say... outmatched.
8	Bye
9	GB	6-10	W	Two young teams face off. Tampa finally gets a win at home.
10	@MIA	*11-5	L	Tampa puts up a strong fight, but they still lose another one.
11	NO	8-8	L	As hard as the Bucs try to score a win against a division rival, it still won't happen.
12	@ATL	11-5	L	No win for the Bucs in the Georgia Dome this season.
13	@CAR	*12-4	L	Another division loss for the Bucs.
14	NYJ	9-7	W	Two young teams face off and it almost looks like a ball game. The Bucs are able to drag in another W and now they have to pick 2nd overall in the draft instead of 1st.
15	@SEA	4-12	L	Houshmanzadeh and a healthy Hasselbeck prove to be quite the formidable combination and they continue their run for the playoffs.
16	@NO	8-8	L	No winning in a Dome this season for the Bucs.
17	ATL	11-5	L	As hard as the Bucs try for an upset, it doesn't happen here.

Well, there are my predictions, go ahead and use the lists as a reference and predict away. If you would rather just tell me how much of an incompetent idiot I am for my predictions, that is also acceptable.

Poll

Who is going to win the NFC South this coming season?

Public Mini-Camp Afternoon Practice Report

MentallyMIA — Mon, 11 May 2009 16:38:13 -0000

hey tlozwarlock, I'm borrowing your format for my report... hope you don't mind.

The afternoon practice didn't reveal too much different than the morning practice did, but the fans did get to enjoy Tony G suiting up and showing off some new plays on our offense that Matt has become instantly familiar with (including some plays that put the TE out wide).

The team came out in the afternoon much more fired up than they had in the morning. Perhaps is was because they didn't feel the need to conserve any energy and didn't have to hold back (or Tony G's presence is just that contagious). You could hear the defensive linemen crashing into the offensive lineman - the afternoon practice was much more aggressive.

Roddy White mysteriously was cured of his morning dose of the dropsies, which was really fun to watch.
Aaron Kelly is a QB favorite along the sidelines and in the corner of the endzone. He made some spectacular catches that required him to pin his toes before falling out of bounds. There was one catch he got over Grimes' head and another over Houston's
The Falcons are trying out all the CBs on first squad. They rotated out everyone from Owens, to Grimes, to Middleton with Houston being the only constant.
Lewis looked strong out there with first squad and he seems to be a comfortable backup to Jerry. Hopefully his injuries are a thing of the past.
Tony Gonzalez decided to grace us with his presence and is a definite favorite target for Matt Ryan. Their instant chemistry is remarkable. Matt Ryan got the ball to him about 1 out of 3 times during the scrimmages. I think he enjoys diving and falling on the ground for dramatic effect...
Moore is a maniac and neck-breaking fast... his brakes don't work too well. There was one play where he didn't slow down after Gonzo was about to make a catch and he wound up pushing Tony high and knocking him to the ground (and Tony still made the catch).
Dahl has some serious anger management issues. He was about to squish Jamaal Anderson into a smoldering pile of first round pick bust goo but was withheld by fellow teammates. When McClure and Clabo came over to the sidelines a fan asked, "who started the fight" and McClure responded, "Dahl, as always"
Matt Ryan's confidence is very reassuring. Towards the end of practice a fan hollered for him to come over and do signatures and he responded, "you all are going to have to get louder than that!"

The practice ended with a rookie initiation game that I assume they do every year. They would launch a football with a machine from one endzone to the next and the rookies were to attempt to catch it without pads (I felt so bad for those guys... that was scary). McClure made what seemed to be a bet with Clabo that Moore would catch the ball because after Moore made the catch he held his hands up as to say "pay up". Four of the rookies found success including Middleton, Adkins, Moore, and Owens. Guess it isn't too important that Walker and Sidburry couldn't make the catch seeing as they won't be expected to make too many interceptions this season (as awesome as it would be).

After the minicamp, all the players came to the sidelines for signing, including Roddy White, Tony Gonzalez, and Matt Ryan. All the Running Backs could be found over by the venders sitting at a table to hand out their signatures.

Overall, it was a truly entertaining experience and it was fun watching how much our offense can open up the field now. The defense seemed to have slowed down a bit during the afternoon after their surprising performance during the morning practice. Overall though, it is very hard not to find hundreds of reasons to have faith in this team and the moves by our front office.

Falcons Minicamp

MentallyMIA — Sat, 02 May 2009 18:06:31 -0000

Do any Falcoholics plan on attending the first mini-camp that is going to be open to the public?

I know I'm going to be there. The gates open at 9:30 and the first 150 fans to arrive get a free $5 McDonald's gift card (there is actually an add on the blog site that says the first 300 fans now). There is also a contest running on the team's blog site that will give 5 lucky groups the opportunity to have lunch with Falcons coaches and players. The lucky selected winners get to participate with up to 3 of their friends (I'll probably only have one with me, so any Falcoholics that happen to be there will get to be the other 2... assuming the shot in the dark chance that I win). Enter your email address here so you can be entered in the contest.

Falcons 2008 Highlights Film from AF.com

MentallyMIA — Sat, 02 May 2009 00:34:49 -0000

Falcons 2008 Highlights Film from AF.com

If this video doesn't give you chills then you don't have a heart... or you could be a robot zombie, in which case, this is better than Brainzoil.

This is why we picked this guy

MentallyMIA — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 11:13:22 -0000

This is why we picked this guy

"Besides being a physical presence and threat on the field, Jerry was the vocal leader of the entire defense, known for his team-first attitude and speeches."

Sounds like a Falcon if you ask me.

OUR Tony G interviews with J Michael Moore

MentallyMIA — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 23:49:27 -0000

OUR Tony G interviews with J Michael Moore

He uses wonderful terms like "pick your poison when defending us this year"

Possible answer at DT?

MentallyMIA — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 20:42:22 -0000

Possible answer at DT?

Apparently the Falcons have a forgotten DT that tore his ACL in the 2007 season. He's a big guy and a possible answer for depth. Apparently he stayed injured the whole 2008 season and may be too fragile for what we need as a starter, but at least it is a relieving start to a defense that seems to have more holes than one draft can fill.

J. Mike on FalconsLIFE talks more about it

what do you all think?

Brees: ‘I’d love to have (L.T.) in New Orleans’

MentallyMIA — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 02:54:25 -0000

Brees: ‘I’d love to have (L.T.) in New Orleans’

Probably never gonna happen, but if it did... that would really suck.

To still make the Wildcard

MentallyMIA — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 04:35:25 -0000

could the Falcons (8-5) still make the Wildcard if we win our last three games?

Now, as it stands, the Cowboys (8-5) and Carolina (9-3) hold the two Wildcard spots in the NFC with all the other hopeful teams having 7 wins or less. If Tampa Bay were to win in Carolina and Carolina was to lose to the Giants and Atlanta won the last three games this season, wouldn't we win the tie breaker over Carolina with a 3-3 division record?

Is it in any way wrong to still be hopeful of this Falcons team that has soared above and beyond all reasonable expectations?