Entries Tagged 'Consider This' ↓

By: T. Love

Apparently the wheels have fallen off quicker than anyone expected and as the Falcons head into their Monday night game versus the New York Giants, the days of old have returned.

Need tickets to a highly anticipated Monday night game? Check on Ticketmaster because no one cares to see the Falcons get beat down again this week.

For the first time since 2002, an Atlanta home game is not sold out and the franchise is in danger of being blacked out in the local market. Not to mention, the embarrassment of the Georgia Dome being filled with fans dressed earlier in their Halloween gear as “empty seats” in front of a national audience.

Not really sure if this was the vision that King Arthur had when he took over the team in 2001, but a lot of this situation is his own doing. No one could possibly predict the fact that the franchise QB would get into the mess that he did; however, when that same QB went down in 2003 and the Falcons were absolutely pathetic without him, changes should have been made.

Sure, Blank fired Dan Reeves, which I was all for, but you do not replace a Hall of Fame coach with a first-year punk whose only credentials is his father’s famous “playoffs” rant.

The team gets a new coach, but does not make a lot of moves to get better players. Plenty of free agent busts in Peerless Price, Jason Webster, Ed Hartwell, Lewis Sanders and Dez White. Not to mention the worthless draft picks of Michael Jenkins, Jordan Beck and Deandra Cobb. And lets not forget about the fact that there was a $130 million QB and a $50 offensive line (For the record, the offensive line was “upgraded” this off season and Harrington is on his back within two seconds on every snap).

Michael Vick’s $130 million extension was the only signing worth a damn by Blank. This ensured that his cash cow would be around forever and mediocre results were o.k. because everyone loved Michael.

Art’s dream of milking everything he could out of Vick is over and now football decisions have to be made. Unfortunately, there are not too many football people in that front office and many more games will be blacked out in the near future with a lot of “empty seats”.

By: T. Love

Despite all the turmoil and bad play that Atlanta fans have had to witness, it looks like the team is not a lock for the No. 1 pick in the 2008 draft. After reaching the NFC Championship game and having tons of expectations for the 2007 season, the New Orleans Saints are back to reality after getting beat down by the Tennessee Titans, 31-14, to fall to 0-3 on the season.

The Saints and the Falcons are two-of-three winless teams in the NFC, but to make it even better we are in the same division. Somebody is going to have to win the Sunday afternoon pillow fight between these two squads on Oct. 21 and I bet Goodell Castro is kicking himself for putting together a Monday Night contest on Dec. 10.

Maybe both can turn it around, which would be great. The problems for each seems to be defense as Atlanta ranks 17th in total D, while New Orleans comes in at 24th. Both teams also have trouble running the ball, currently listed at 24th and 27th, respectively.

To make matters worse for the Saints, running back Deuce McAllister has just been sent to the shelf for the rest of the season with a torn ACL.

As hilarious as it is to see the Saints lose and misery loves company, this could ruin the Darren McFadden sweepstakes. Of the five winless teams in the NFL (and the early frontrunners for Darren) three-of-five are set at running back.

Buffalo just selected Marshawn Lynch, Miami has Ronnie Brown, St. Louis has Steven Jackson.

What if New Orleans doesn’t feel Reggie Bush is an every down back? Deuce is 28 now and coming off the ACL could take time. Would the Saints be so wild and draft McFadden?

Only time will tell, but this race is heating up!

By: T. Love

For all the hate and criticism that he receives, it is time to give some credit where credit is due. Roddy White caught four balls for 81 yards with a long of 35 versus the Jacksonville Jaguars last Sunday. Now that he has once again proved that the physical ability (which nobody has ever denied) is there, lets work on the consistency.

So far, good start to the season considering all the other shortcomings of the offense. The third-year man out of UAB snagged four catches in the season opener for 29 yards. Not really impressive and Petrino is wearing out the curl route, but at least he is involved with the offense.

Since being selected 27th overall in the 2005 NFL draft, White has yet to live up to his first-round billing. In his rookie season, he caught 29 balls for 446 yards and three touchdowns. He shattered those marks his second year with 30 catches for 506 yards and no touches. Currently, No. 84 is on pace to catch 64 balls and rack up 880 yards.

Those numbers aren’t great, but in an offense that features four- and five-wide sets (that has only been witnessed in the preseason) these numbers would make for a solid contribution and might put my buddy Robert’s conspiracy theories to rest.

Atlanta has not had a 1,000 yard receiver since… when did Terrence Mathis leave? And has not had a 100-yard game since… still trying to figure out when Terrence left. Obviously the team has not had a lot of luck with receivers lately, but maybe this could be Roddy’s breakout year.

It’s only two games, but at this time last year Roddy only had two receptions and he did not catch his eighth pass until Week 5.

Last week, the Carolina defense gave up 227 yards through the air while failing to register a sack. Sounds like a good week for Roddy to work on consistency.

Make it happen, 84.

By: T. Love

In Atlanta’s season opener versus the Minnesota Vikings, fourth-year man Demorrio Williams got the start, but rookie Stephen Nicholas played the entire second half, setting the stage for a fierce battle for the starting spot at weakside linebacker.

Bobby Petrino has yet to announce the starter for Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Williams (6-0, 232), who signed a one-year tender offer through the 2007-08 season, tore a pectoral muscle during offseason workouts which prompted the team to draft Nicholas. Williams has been a steady player throughout his career and makes plenty of plays using his speed. However, when teams lineup in double tight formations or pull a blocker around to take on Williams, he is quickly engulfed and taken out of the play.

Nicholas (6-3, 225) had five total tackles (three solo) in his NFL debut playing only a half, while Williams picked up two. The former South Florida standout is a bit slower than Williams, but is more stout against the run. He has only played one game in the league, so lets see how he fairs as the season moves forward.

My guess is that the team is going to try and work Nicholas into the full-time starter and allow Williams to walk after this season. As much as I would hate to see D. Mo depart, the NFL is a business and with the Falcons’ salary cap in flux this is strictly a business decision.

Jacksonville will try to run the ball down Atlanta’s throat with Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew so it will be critical for both of these players to bring their “A” game.

As a fan, this is what we have to look forward to this season. Position battles and how it sets up the team for next year. Wow, I still wonder if Bobby P. is kicking himself.

May the best man win… and hopefully there will be a shakeup at middle linebacker soon.

By: T. Love

Since Tim Ruskell bolted from the Atlanta Falcons’ front office to take the General Manager job for the Seattle Seahawks prior to the 2005-06 season, two things became painfully apparent. Ruskell was the brains behind the personnel decisions and Rich McKay is terrible at best.

I will still refrain from devoting an entire post to ripping Mr. McKay, so instead I will offer up some assistance as an armchair GM.

BYRON LEFTWICH IS STILL AVAIABLE!!

Despite his slow release, incredible lack of mobility and his questionable durability, Leftwich needs to be picked up by the Falcons in order to give Bobby Petrino more to work with than just Joey Harrington and Chris Redman.

It has been only one game, but Joey was the same old Joey. Held on to the ball too long, no shots downfield, did nothing to help his team win and did everything to make them lose. There is absolutely no way that the team can go through the entire season with Harrington under center.

Leftwich has a career completion percentage of 58.7 and has thrown 51 touchdowns to just 36 interceptions. These are not “franchise QB” stats, which the former Marshall standout was selected seventh overall in the 2003 draft to be. But, he would at least make for a decent pillow fight between he and Harrington all season long for the starting job. Competition brings out the best in everyone.

Neither of these guys are the answer and Brian Brohm or the dude from Kentucky look more and more like the future of the Falcons (for the record, I refuse to buy into this guy from Kentucky after their last “highly touted” quarterback). However, there at least needs to be an effort by Mr. McKay to fix this QB situation.

The guy that was used to hide all of this team’s deficiencies is gone. This is the elephant in the room and you have got to do something, Rich.

By: T. Love

Last Friday was the beginning of the final chapters. Joey Harrington, on his third team in three seasons, led the Atlanta Falcons onto to the field for their preseason opener versus the New York Jets. Garnering the unlucky 13, a visibly nervous Harrington led the Falcons through the tunnel and onto to the field at the Meadowlands. That is when I started to realize that I wasn’t waking up from this nightmare, the Michael Vick Experience is over, Michael Vick is no longer the quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons.

Despite the events of Friday night, the numerous reports by the talking heads on BSPN, lame protests by PETA, continuous hate by friends, family members and coworkers; I continued to keep my spirits high.

That was until last night, the kung-fu kick to the face that pretty much delivered the final blow.

EA Sports rehashed and released its latest version of Madden Football on Tuesday, so naturally I was itching to play. I went by my buddy Robert’s to get on the sticks and as we waited for the bootlegged copy to start up, the trouble began.

The teams were set, Falcons vs. Eagles. Eagles win the toss and defer to the second half. The ball is kicked and Allen Rossum returns to the Falcons 30. The offense takes the field… and I push “start”. It had to be done. Vick was pulled from the game and Harrington was sent in as the starter. It was absolutely devastating. It all came full circle.

No longer will Michael Vick throw that 1,2,3 uppercut combo leading the team out of the Georgia Dome tunnel with flames and fireworks going off to T.I.’s (or TIP, whichever you prefer) Bring Em Out, no longer will No. 7 juke and jive to make a play out of nothing and give this fragile fan base something to cheer about. Extinct is the deep ball that causes a collective gasp in the Dome. No more sellouts, hello blackouts. The end of tapping R1 to escape a jam, a quick flick on the juke stick, three steps in the pocket and hitting square to bomb the ball 50 yards down the sideline on a go route. It is all over.

No. 7 probably will be juking and jiving in cell block 8 for the next year or so… Oh well, back to the Playstation matchup.

On the first play from scrimmage, Harrington failed to recognize the corner blitz and Lito Sheppard destroyed the QB knocking him out of the game. I hope this isn’t the way the team’s season is going to play out, but the positive coming out of the destruction of Harrington was D.J. Shockley going under center.

Shock had a modest day throwing the ball, but he did not complete the game after it was stopped following his fifth touchdown pass. I think he was around 350 passing yards as well.

Watching Shockley and Harrington take snaps was difficult. We have been watching Vick handle those duties for the past six years. No more.

The silver lining?

Watching Shockley dominate helped me remember, winning cures everything. Without Vick, the Falcons must win football games to rejuvenate the fan base. Morale is low, but that is nothing winning can’t cure.

Following my excitement and watching the only game the Falcons will probably dominate this season, I was quickly slapped back to reality after being annihilated in three-straight games of cricket on the dartboard.

The Falcons need to start winning now. Friday would be good even it is preseason.

All of this from a video game, maybe these things are getting better than I thought.

By: T. Love

Since signing a contract extension with the Atlanta Falcons in March of 2005 following a career year in which he had a combined 1,707 return yards, including a punt return to put the game out of reach just before halftime of the team’s 47-17 win in the NFC Divisional playoffs against the St. Louis Rams, Allen Rossum has not done shit for this team.

Marred by injuries and terrible decisions on when to return the ball or call a fair catch, Rossum managed 847 return yards in 2005 and 1,370 yards in 2006. The 2005 NFL’s fastest man, Rossum is also a liability in pass coverage and can’t tackle all too well.

In Atlanta’s first preseason game, Rossum had one return for 26 yards while second-year player Adam Jennings averaged 29 yards per return on three attempts with a 40 yard long. Two of Jenning’s returns would have been longer if not for penalties.

Jenning’s proved that he can be a decent return man for the Falcons and he is finding his way onto to field in offensive packages.

On Sunday, the Falcons signed wide receiver Otis Amey who played with the San Francisco 49ers a season ago.

Jennings will probably have an opportunity again this Friday when the Falcons head to Buffalo took take on the Bill to show his stuff. If he can impress the coaching staff again and Amey proves to be a viable return man in his own right, Rossum may be handed a pink slip in the next few days.

Since he is listed a defensive back, Rossum eats up a roster space on D that is not necessary and the extra space could be used on the defensive line or a wide receiver since Petrino likes to incorporate four- and five-wide sets.

The return battle just got more interesting this week and will start shaping up these next two weeks.

Good luck to Rossum, but the odds aren’t looking in his favor at this time.

By: T. Love

When NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell banished Michael Vick from training camp on July 24, I had mixed emotions about the entire situation. It was obvious that he buckled under the pressure of the 48 and 50 people protests staged by PETA (nevermind the 200 put together by New Order in support of Vick); however, I felt his decision was in the best interest of the Atlanta Falcons simply because Flowery Branch would have been a three-ring circus. Not that it wasn’t already with that clown Jim Mora.

I want to know what the NFL Commissioner, Mr. King Ding-A-Ling Roger Goodell, plans to do with No. 7.

When the Falcons held a press conference to discuss the federal indictment brought against Vick, team owner Arthur Blank stated that as an organization, they planned to give Vick the maximum penalty which would have been four games. Goodell stepped in and told Blank to hold off on any suspension until the league completes its review of the situation.

It has been more than two weeks and nothing has come from this. Goodell has not suspended Vick or said that he can report. Vick just sits in limbo while Goodell hides under his desk and waits for all the bad to go away.

Well Mr. Goodell, you have set quite a precedent for yourself since taking over for Paul Tagliabue. You wanted to clean up the image of the league and discipline anyone that didn’t walk the line. You suspended Pacman Jones for the season following a string of incidents, but no convictions. Chris Henry was suspended for eight games after four arrests in a 14-month span and Tank Johnson for the same amount of time after spending 60 days in jail.

You were quick and stern with your punishment. You let the players, fans and sponsors know that the league was going to clean up its act. Now you are in a bind, once one of the leagues most marketable players and you have yet to make a decision.

You are doing an injustice to the NFL, the Atlanta Falcons organization, Michael Vick and most importantly the fans. Make your decision, I can imagine that it is a tough one but that is your job as the commissioner.

Here is your chance to really send a message. A superstar suspended. Make the call or are you afraid Vick could walk? You would be in some serious mess if that happened. Do what is best for the league.

Grow a pair and make a decision.

That is what my hard earned money that is pumped into your business pays you to do.

Oh yea, Chris Henry had six grabs for 86 yards and one touchdown last night.

By: T. Love

For the past two seasons, the Atlanta Falcons have started hot and fizzled down the stretch. In 2005-06, the team started 6-2 before completely melting down and going 2-6 over the final eight contest to finish 8-8, miss the playoffs and destroy the franchises first opportunity to have back-to-back winning seasons. Last season, the birds started 5-2 before a 2-7 slide, which included a four-game losing streak to kill the season.

Over those two seasons, many “fans” wanted to place the blame on Michael Vick and pointed to his poor passing numbers as the reason for the team’s demise. Many clamored for the “bar-room brawler” Matt Schaub and believed his preseason expertise proved that he was a better quarterback and a pure pocket passer. Well, Schaub is gone (good luck man, your going to get killed behind that line) and now I am hearing people’s excitement for having a pure passer in Joey Harrington.

Harrington is far less mobile than Vick, but is your prototypical NFL quarterback standing at 6-4. Or is he? Let’s take a look at the numbers… Is Harrington really that much better of a passer than Vick?

We are going to look at the numbers on the season for each quarterback and compare. I will only count the seasons where the quarterback started at least 10 contest. The reason being in Vick’s rookie season, he was not thrust into the fire and only had mop-up duty late in games and in 2003, he missed 11 games with a broken right fibula.

With those factors taken into consideration, Harrington has the early advantage taking into consideration that it is not awesome to be thrown to the wolves. But, he made due.

2002
Michael Vick (2nd Season) – 15 games started, 231-421, 54.9%, 2,936 yards, 16 touchdowns, 8 interceptions.

Joey Harrington (1st Season) – 12 games started, 215-429, 50.1%, 2,294 yards, 12 touchdowns 16 interceptions.

Analysis
In their first seasons as NFL starters, Vick led the way in each statistical category and tacked on 777 rushing yards, while leading the Falcons to a 9-6-1 record in the regular season. The Falcons earned a wildcard birth and became the first team to defeat the Packers at Lambeau Field in the playoffs. Harrington went 3-9 in his rookie campaign and completed 55% of his passes once. In comparison, Vick passed for 55% on seven different occasions and surpassed the 70% plateau twice. Advantage: Vick

2004
Michael Vick (4th Season) – 15 games started, 181-321, 56.4%, 2313 yards, 14 touchdowns, 12 interceptions.

Joey Harrington (3rd Season) – 16 games started, 274-489, 56.0%, 3,047 yards, 19 touchdowns, 12 interceptions.

Analysis
Well, Harrington did pass for more yards and touchdowns, but he attempted 168 more passes. Vick added 902 yards on the ground on 120 attempts. Some were designed runs and some were passing plays that broke down. When unable to make a play through the air, Vick made it happen with his legs all the way to the NFC Championship game. Harrington carried the Lions to a 5-11 finish. Advantage: Vick

2005
Michael Vick (5th Season) – 15 games started, 214-387, 55.3%, 2,412 yards, 15 touchdowns, 13 interceptions

Joey Harrington (4th Season) – 11 games started, 188-330, 57.0%, 2,021 yards, 12 touchdowns, 12 interceptions.

Analysis
Harrington missed five games during the 2005 season, but began to fall out of favor with the fans in Detroit. His completion percentage was little about two points higher than Vick. Vick posted an 8-8 record, while Harrington went 4-7 in games started. Tack on the extra 597 rushing yards by No. 7 and you have your winner. Advantage: Vick

2006
Michael Vick (6th Season) – 16 games started, 204-388, 52.6%, 2,474 yards, 20 touchdowns, 13 interceptions.

Joey Harrington (5th Season) – 11 games started, 223-388, 57.5%, 2,236 yards, 12 touchdowns, 15 interceptions.

Analysis
Michael Vick set a career-high for touchdown passes with 20 and became the first quarterback to rush for 1,000 yards in a season (1,039). It is important to note that both quarterbacks threw the same number of passes during the season. Harrington’s completion percentage was about five points higher, but Vick made his completions count which is evidenced by his eight more touchdowns and three less picks. Harrington rushed for 24 yards. Sure the completion is higher, but what did that really do for the team? Advantage: Vick

So what does this mean?

In my opinion and as the numbers show, Vick is a better passer than Harrington. Bobby Petrino’s offense calls for his quarterback to complete 65% of their passes to be successful. Vick has a career completion percentage of 53.8%, while Harrington sits at 55.2. Harrington is closer to that number, so maybe Petrino could make him work. With one more year under his belt, Vick has thrown one less touchdown with 71 compared to Harrington’s 72. But, the interceptions really stand out. Harrington has helped the opposition on 77 different occasions, while Vick has thrown 52. And as far as passer rating, which is some ridiculous formula that does not take into account total play, just passing numbers. The true acumen of a quarterback according to “talent” experts, talking heads on ESPN and fans. Vick has a career 75.7 rating while Harrington falls in at 68.1

The best quarterback on our roster is gone (please don’t start with the Schaub BS) just like Atlanta “fans” wanted. No one wanted to see Vick leave this way, but the truth is that people wanted him gone. We needed a pure passer and the excitement over one has mounted with Joey Harrington now at the helm…

The problem is… Harrington is not a better passer than Vick nor the all-around player. All I hear is “thank god Vick is gone, now we have a real quarterback”. A guy that is going to stand in the pocket and not make anything happen with his feet. A traditional pocket passer in every sense of the word.

It helps to do a little research before getting too excited and tossing out blind claims.

Luckily, this is America and someone else will do the research for you.

By: T. Love

When the Atlanta Falcons pulled off a three-team trade in the 2006 offseason to acquire the services of “sack artist” John Abraham, the front office solidified the defense line by adding the three-time pro bowler along fellow honorees Patrick Kerney and Rod Coleman. That, with the addition of noted run-stuffer, Grady Jackson, gave the Falcons one of the top units heading into the 2006-07 season.

Abraham signed a six-year $45 million contract with Atlanta. The South Carolina graduate has recorded nine or more sacks in four of his seven NFL campaigns, but the overwhelming knock on Abraham is his durability as he has only played in all 16 games three times in his career.

“The Predator” as he is nicknamed and has tattooed on his ankle, gave Atlanta fans plenty to cheer about in his first outing picking up five total tackles (four solo), two sacks, two forced fumbles and one pass defensed. That game was really exciting to watch and the Carolina Panthers had no answer for his speed and strength coming off the edge.

Watching Jake Delhomme slam the ball in frustration was classic.

With less than two minutes remaining in a 20-6 blowout, the unthinkable happened when Abraham went to the ground in pain. He should not have been playing at that point, but we can chalk that up to the circus Jim Mora was running the last three seasons.

Since the injury, Abraham failed to make a significant contribution in another game. He hopes for a healthy 2007-08 season and has conditioned his body well to stay ready for the long haul. (Click to watch Abraham interview)

With the loss of Kerney, the injury to Rod Coleman and conditioning of Jackson, Abraham will need to stay healthy in order for the Falcons’ defensive line to have some success this season.

If Abraham can stay healthy, rookie Jammal Anderson and third-year player Chauncey Davis will see plenty of one-of-one action on the left side. Abraham’s disruptive nature will also benefit the Falcons’ secondary which finished 29th in passing defense.

Atlanta’s last big free-agent defensive signing, Ed Hartwell from Baltimore, was cut this offseason after two injury-riddled campaigns. We’ll see if Mr. Abraham can stay healthy for 16 and help this Atlanta squad that comes into the 2007-08 season that has already found its backs up against the wall.