In a season ending game that meant nothing except playing for pride…the Falcons played with a lot of it.  They managed to come back from a deficit of 10 points right off the bat (an easy spot to quit) not only to come back to keep up with the Seahawks but played well enough to go ahead 2 touchdowns and eventually win the game 44-41, a total not reached since 1998.

Not only did they play with pride but I have a feeling that they made their fans proud too.  I know I felt proud to be a Falcons fan after the game.  It was painfully obvious to me that the reason that they were playing poorly was because of coach PUtrino.  I know they played without a clue against the Bucs (that’s to be understood after the hangover that PUtrino created) but last week, they played the Cardinals to an overtime game and they scored more points than the previous 10 years this week in their victory against the Seahawks.

I realize that the Seahawks pulled some of their veterans at the half but we were keeping up with the Seahawks and actually led by 4 points before the half and was tied at the half.  One of the most important things about this game was the play of the quarterback, Redman.  He threw for 4 touchdowns…I can’t remember when the last time that happened.  His numbers weren’t great, 17-17 for 260 yards (or so) but he made touchdowns!  That’s something that has alluded this team all year!  I think he feels less comfortable answering questions after the game than he does on the field.  He acts cool as a cucumber out there.  It was really nice to see a balanced offense for a change…running AND PASSING!  It’s been since the Vick era that that has happened.

Of course, one of the concerns around here is the effect on their draft number status after winning the last game.  Actually, it didn’t hurt us too bad.  Once all the tie-breakers are figured into the mix…we only dropped one place, from #2 to #3.  So, we get the best of both worlds…a great win that will carry through to next year, adding pride amongst the players and still a good draft choice.  Not bad!

There is also a little light shead on the quarterback situation.  They should keep Redman and release Leftwich and maybe make Harrington #2 behind Redman.  Redman can only get better, especially with the off season training and being more a part of the first stringers as well as most of the reps next year.  It should take some of the pressure off having to find the “prodigal son” of a quarterback to save this team.

As far as a new coach…I was watching films of the players after the game and the one thing that they talked about is how they respect Emmitt Thomas as a coach and that they wanted to win the game for him more than anything.  They talked about how well the relate to all of the coaches and that they wished that they could keep playing for them.  It sounds a lot to me that PUtrino was the real problem on this team.  He was why they weren’t winning.  Heck, I think he tried to really kill this team, with the release of Allen Rossum (which came back to bite us on the ass over and over again) and defensive tackle Grady Jackson (#1 in tackles behind the line of scrimmage) the most prolific tackler in the NFL.  Among other bone-head moves like those, PUtrino helped to ruin the possibilities of this team not only this last year, but down the road as well.  Signing Leftwich wasn’t terrible but naming him the started after Harrington had won two consecutive games was a disaster that lessened the respect for PUtrino among the players.  This guy had to be smoking some wacky weed!

Anyway, this was a good ending to a horrible season.  There is something positive to build on next year. Hopefully, the GM and coach issues are resolved and let’s pray that we take advantage of our draft position and help fill the right holes with the right players. 

Like I said in my first blog of the season…

TO NEXT YEAR!  GO FALCONS!

Looking like the worst team in the league last week against the Bucs,  the Falcons came out this week and proved something to them selves as well the league.  They are talented and are not quitters. 

 I was really proud how they came back from 10 points down against the Cards and tied the game.  They forced an overtime, only to go down in defeat 30-27.  I’m sure that the Cards are scratching their heads..how could these guys be 3-12. 

Chris Redman (my man) passed for over 300 yards with a 65% completion rate against a retched 0.0 rating from last weeks dismal play against the Bucs.  Roddy White passed the 1000 yard mark and is finally looking like the 1st round draft pick that he was drafted as a couple of years ago.  They looked good.  This had to be the second best game of the year.  Like I said…I was really proud of them.

One thing that I liked…they used the spread offense (5 wide outs) that PUtrino introduced, and it worked like a charm for almost a full quarter.  They seemed to pass at will on the Cards.  Believe me, that was really nice to see for a change.  I always thought that they have had success when they use that formation.  It forces the defense to play man defense…where flaws in the defense are exposed.  There is always someone open.  I don’t know why they don’t run that a good percentage of the time.  After today, maybe they will.

Also…a fake punt had to be one of the best plays of the game.  It wasn’t perfect, but it worked and it is a beautifully drawn up play.  On this day, it worked for 40 yards and eventually, a touchdown.  Balls!

The defense was tough, and the team made adjustments for the second half…this I liked a lot!  What I didn’t like was he soft defense on the last possession of the game for the Cards.  Had the Falcons played the same defense that they had been playing all game, I believe that the game never would have gone into overtime.  Hopefully, they learned from this game.  I believe that this game, no matter what happens next week, can give them a lot of hope for ext year.  They may even feel that they have a decent quarterback in Redman (as I do) and go into the draft looking for a great running back…which they need desperately.  Not that Norwood isn’t excellent…they need a running back that is powerful.  Norwood is excellent…not powerful.

I believe that next year we will see a cleaning of some veterans that are on the team now.  Dunn, Crumpler and a few others will probably be traded for high draft picks and the team will start rebuilding room there.  We have a good group of young players that can become a nice nucleus along with some good draft picks…running back, quarterback, offensive line, etc.

We’ll see what next week brings…hopefully the game will sell out here after the good showing this week.  If not, I may not get to see the game…only hear it.  This game is a good note to end the season with.  Let’s hope that it carries through till next week.

GO FALCONS! 

What can I say…in the 40 years that I have watched the Falcons play, I would have to say that the game against the Bucs had to be the worst if not the second worst game I have ever seen. It was totally uneventful and unimaginative.  Not to mention plain boring.  If this team were a horse, it’d be shot!

The stats (which I think I have already blocked from my mind) were the absolute worst!  No third down conversions, I think Redman had 3 completed passes for 30 something yards, the running game was held to under 50 yards (things are getting blurry), need I say more.  You could have gone into the audience and picked 11 guys to play better than the offense played.  I think, from now on…if you don’t win, you don’t get a pay check!  After all…most of these guys really could care less if the win or not (I’m tired of hearing the old “for pride” crap.  After all…most of them are on their way to being millionaires and have no hunger to excel at anything anymore except for wearing “bling” and driving expensive cars and having women all over them.  After all, that’s probably the main reason that they PLAY football, and I do mean PLAY.  Nothing serious mind you.

These guys have partied so much that when they do make a play, some ignorant player (that has been playing this game for the better part of is life) still can’t remember to BLOCK INFRONT of the defensive guy or not to HOLD someone…after all…it’s better for your guy to tackle the ball carrier THERE INSTEAD OF ADDING 10 MORE YARDS!  Not to mention…RUNNING INTO THE PILE OF PLAYERS LONG AFTER THE PLAY IS OVER FOR NO APPARENT REASON other than your a dumb ass and you’re MAD! What do you have to be mad at?  You have more money than you can ever spend,  and you’re just a football player!  GET OVER IT!!!

OK, I feel better.  Sometimes I just have to go with the flow and vent. Honestly, this season turned out so differently than I thought that it would.  I was so excited at the beginning of the year.  Like I have said…the best time of the year for a Falcon’s fan is BEFORE any games have been played.  That’s when all things are possible.

Not to beat a dead horse but I have to take one more swing at it.  There was a time in the Bucs game where the Bucs were on the goal line and had run two plays up the middle.  I remember saying to myself, OK, this is when hey fake the run up the middle again and throw it to the tight end in the end zone.  Their offensive players came out of the huddle, a couple of new players came i and lined up…I looked at #88 that had come in at the tight end position and said OUTLOUD to myself…that guy is going to catch the ball (all alone) for a touchdown.  The play started, they played the run up the middle, of course, sucking the entire Falcon defense to the play and preceded to throw the ball to #88 all alone in the end zone.  The idiot defense acted like the had never seen that play before although, the Bucs run that exact play every time they play the Falcons, for a touch down.  It’s good thee guys are making their money playing sports because if they had to get a job where they actually had to THINK for a living, they’d be sleeping under a bridge!

This week, Arthur Blank almost hired Bill Parcells as a GM of sorts, except that Parcells decided to go to Miami instead.  Too bad…this team needs a huge shake up.  Maybe Blank can make something else, like that kind of move, before next year.  We need a total readjustment!  We need to bring football back to this city!  QUALITY FOOTBALL!

GO FALCONS!  In 2008!

Up until today I was a PUtrino fan but now…I think he is nothing but a back-stabbing snake!  Not only is he a crappy football coach but he is also a loser and a coward!  Not to mention a quitter!

For those of you who don’t know what has happened…PUtrino quit on the Falcons today!  13 games into the season.  This is a first in the history of the NFL.  At this point, all I can say is GET THE HELL OUT!!!  I used to pull for this guy but he just didn’t have what it takes to be a real coach.  After all, I never really did see anything that would show me hat he knew what he was doing.  For instance, I was going to let him have it about 2 things after the Falcons-Saints game.  One, terrible play calling AGAIN!  I can call a better game than he did and Two, how about throwing a pass on the first down side of the yellow line for a change!  How do you ever expect to make first downs when you constantly throw under the first down markers!  What an IDIOT!

I guess I should be glad this happened…after all,  this does overshadow the fact that I predicted a win and that Redman would end our quarterback woes.  What was I thinking?  Oh yeah, I could say, give Redman another chance…after all, it was his first NFL start since the millennium.  At this point, WHO KNOWS!  Maybe now we can hire a real NFL coach…not a want-a-be.

The bright spot…the game was close in the first quarter at 7-7 and Redman threw some beautiful passes…passes that we have not seen from Falcons quarterbacks this season.  Like  I said…it looked good for about a quarter.  For a Falcon’s fan, I guess that’s our “cookie” for the game.  Damn.

GO FALCONS!

I apologize for the delay on my blog.  I was so busy that I couldn’t get to it.  After all, due to the performance of the Falcons against the Rams…I wasn’t in a hurry to comment about the game.  However, there is usually at least one thing that is worth mentioning.  This one thing is the replacement of Joey Harrington with our third string quarterback, Chris Redman. 

I haven’t reflected this in my blogs too much, but I have stood by the belief that the coach should give Redman a chance FROM HE BEGINNING.  Through training camp on, I felt that he was the better QB because of his understanding of Petrino’s system and that the coaches said that through training camp, he was the best passing QB in the camp.  Apparently, he throws the most catchable pass than anyone. 

The one time he did come in for an ailing Harrington, he drove the team down to a field goal when they needed it the most.  Last week, he came in to the 4th quarter and took the team on 2 touchdown drives (not to have been done previously this year) and got the Falcons on the verge of winning a game to with they were 21 points down.

Folks…this is not rocket scientry.  I know, because I know a real rocket scientist and this is not it!  PUT REDMAN IN!!!

Anyway,  Redman is starting this week (Monday Night) against the Saints and I predict a win against the Saints.  It helps that Bush will not play because of injury, but still, I think the Falcons will win and there will bw a quarterback controversy not only for the rest of the year but as to whether they draft a quarterback in the draft or let Redman be the new quarterback next year.

This game is very pivotal in the making of this team.  From the beginning, I’ve wanted to see what Chris Redman could do on the field…this weekend, we’ll find out!  Film at 11:00.

GO FALCONS!

By the end of the first period, no one would have known who the two teams on the field were.  Here were the lowly Falcons with a 10-0 lead on the Super Bowl champions and there was the Colts playing like the Falcons. 

We’ve all heard the saying…one play can be the turning point?  Well, that one play was the roughing the kicker call that turned everything around.  That one play stopped the Falcon’s momentum and gave it right to the Colts.  From there, the Colts became the team we all know them to be.  They went on to decimate the Falcons.

To that point, the Falcons looked like a playoff team.  The offense was running on most of their cylinders and their defense was stuffing the great Peyton Manning.  After that, everything reversed and reality set in again for the Falcons.  As a Falcon’s fan though, that first quarter was very satisfying!  The game was still close going into the half but like usual, the other team made the necessary adjustments to win the game and the Falcons didn’t, or at least, they didn’t work because there was no more scoring, well there was 3 points, and the Colts started their methodical drives ending in points each time.

The defensive pressure  that shook Manning ended as well.  Did the coaches notice that that was working?  Why did they stop?  You can’t give Manning any time back in the pocket or he’ll skewer you.  Which he did.

Hopefully, they can take that feeling from the first quarter and build off of it for the next game.  I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a look of accomplishment and excitment on any body’s face like I did on Harrington’s after his touchdown in the first quarter. 

At this point, most fans are looking towards the draft and another rebuilding year.  Here we go again!

By the way…someone has hacked into my blog.  They left a synopsis (copied my words) with basically the same title (almost) and threw in one of their own comments…which had nothing to do with the Falcon’s game OR the Green Bay game (the hacker mentions Brett Favre’s 2 touchdown passes).  He had no clue as to what he was talking about anyway.  The Falcons didn’t play the Packers and the Packers won their game.  I don’t understand the motives for such actions but hopefully, we’ve taken care of that idiot!  I guess I should take it as a compliment.  After all, he did plagiarize me.  I’ve never been plagiarized before!

GO FALCONS!

Holy smokes!  This game was a complete mess, it was a team mess. They seemed to be the bright spots, they can only spend just so much time on the field until they get burned out, which they did, It was a laughter across the board. The game wasn’t out of hand until the 3rd quarter. The game was probably over about the time DeAngelo was faked out of his shoes on the first Buc’s score in the first period. The score was still close until the 3rd quarter. Brett Favre got two touch downs which did nothing really for the team.

Holy smokes!  This game was a complete mess.  At least, it was a team mess…except for Norwood and Harrington.  They seemed to be the bright spots.  The defense also played very good to a point.  After all, they can only spend just so much time on the field until they get burned out, which they did.  I don’t know where to start.  It was a laugher across the board.

Actually, the game wasn’t out of hand until the 3rd quarter.  I take that back.  The game was probably over about the time DeAngelo was faked out of his shoes on the first Buc’s score in the first period.  It seemed to go downhill after that.  The score was still close until the 3rd quarter (if you call 14-0 close).

The Leftwich experiment was a disaster…not that his receivers helped (8 drops at crucial times).  Then again, with this ball club, when ISN’T a crucial time?  Joey, in my opinion, actually played better than Leftwich.  Heck, next to Leftwich, he’s a mobile quarterback,  and a lot more accurate, even though his passes are shorter.

Nothing seemed to go right except a kick off return with Norwood for a touchdown…only to be called back for a dumb holding call…OF COURSE!  Either these guys are really uncoachable, dumb or the coach is nowhere close to being a coach.  Maybe all three, but other teams seem to get smart players, why don’t we?

There really are too many issues about this team to get into it.  You name them…they’re obvious.  The quarterback, O-line, running back issues, receiver problems, coach problems, defensive back problems, penalties, injuries…the list is endless.

I hate to say it BUT…thank god for the off season and the draft!  Like I said in my first blog…THAT’S the best time for a Falcons fan.  BEFORE any games are played!  God, I hate this crap.  Atlanta has a hex on it…I’m convinced!   I think that all Falcons fans have a certain Karmic debt to pay…that’s why they come here instead of some other city.  We are paying for it!

GO FALCONS!

This could be an interesting game this weekend.  It’s a division game, which is always more important than others, so these teams always play harder and more intense.  The team that has the less distractions usually do well in this game.  The Bucs have had a bye week so they are probably more rested…the Falcons have won 2 games in a row so they are feeling pretty good about themselves.  The Bucs feel that the Falcons are going to lay down and let them beat the snot out of them…the Falcons are better than the Bucs think!

Sure, our offense is not as prolific as it should be, but they are feeling a certain excitement about the fact that they have come back in the 4th quarter and won their last 2 games.  Their defense has been stellar!  They have given up 1 offensive touchdown in 2 weeks.  They will need that when they play the Bucs because the Bucs offense is more productive (I believe) than the Falcons. 

Jeff Garcia is an excellent quarterback and he will either win it or lose it for the Bucs.  Our defense has to be on their game, stopping the run and stopping the pass or Tampa may make this a long day for the Falcons.  On the Falcons side of the ball…by putting Byron Leftwich in the game instead of Harrington, the chemistry that the team has built in the last 2 games will be different.  That being said…I think that the Falcon players play different when Leftwich is the QB spot than Harrington.  I think that they feel they have a better chance of winning with Leftwich in there. 

Forgive me Joey, but by watching that change in confidence when Byron is on the field, whether he IS better than you, I must say…I think that the Falcons have a better chance of winning the game with Byron.  Mainly because whether or not he is a better football player or better person…he does thing differently (maneuvering in the pocket, for instance) and throws a faster and longer ball for the development of different types of plays, etc.

I feel for Joey though.  He is a hard worker…an intelligent, proud and honorable person who wants to make himself better and to be “that guy” that makes thing right.  He has put everything on the field and has done anything and everything possible to make this team successful.  For that, I give him thumbs up!  He is all heart!  Bringing Leftwich in hear and giving him the job when Joey has been so dedicated to the team has got to mess with the emotions of Joey and the team.  Apparently, Joey found out that Byron would be the starter “if healthy” at a press conference rather than from the coach.  That’s gotta hurt!  Coach Petrino needs a heart transplant if that’s the way he does business.  After all, football is a game of emotion and what kind of emotion does that type of behavior support?  It kills good emotion in many.

Enough said…this game will be a hard fought battle.  I hope the Falcons prevail and humble the overly inflated egotisticle Busa and their patronage.  I think the main reasons I dislike certain teams are because of their fans.  Sometimes because of their players, but mostly because of their fans.  They usually display themselves as egotisticle a-holes and have lost all compassion for humans and gracious competition.  That’s the reason that I’m gad that SanFran is doing so badly.  Not for the team but to all of their a-hole, egotisticle fans.  I’m glad to see them hurt.  They deserve it! 

We will know the outcome around 4 o’clock tomorrow.

GO FALCONS!

That’s appropriate!  Veteran’s day…not the war heroes but the football veterans.  With as much talk in the Falcons locker room about eliminating or phasing out the veterans…who won this game?  THE VETERANS!  Warrick Dunn, Algae Crumpler, Harrington, Lawyer Milloy, Brooking and the rest.  I hope that Petrino takes note of this because he needs to. 

This is not to say that the rookies aren’t doing a good job because they are.  Roddy White keeps stepping up,  Robinson, dispite his fumble, played well, Chris Houston is going to be great, and the rest of them show an incredible up-side.  Coach Petrino just needs to keep his respect for the veterans that have been there and have won games for this team the last few years.  We have a lot of pro bowlers on this team!

The veterans on this team, as well as every other team wins games and you need to get the ball into their hands as much as possible.  They have been proven!

For example, I was watching the game at a friends house and right before Crumpler’s touchdown, we were complaining about the fact that except for one play, in which Harrington was out and Redman was in.  for a crucial 3rd and 1 which was completed by Crumpler, he had been ignored all game. 

That 4th quarter play made a statement!  Get the ball to Crumpler…he’s a hell of a good player!  Not to mention, he’s a load to bring down.  Hell, if they don’t want to throw to him, give him the ball in the backfield…he’d fill that “big back” void that we have! 

The whole team played good and the defense didn’t allow an offensive touchdown all game.  There were a lot of good things that happened on the field but…the play calling was about as predictable as it could be.  If Petrino ever decides to actually have an inventive offensive game plan, this team could have won many of the games that they lost.  If he doesn’t, it could be a long second half of the season and competition for the top draft pick.

What does he have to loose!  Step outside of that box and get creative!  Stop running Dunn up the middle on first and second down and please, can we figure out how to easily get 3rd and ones without having a coranary?  How about Crumpler?  By the way…have you ever heard of “play action pass”?  It really works, especially when you have someone like Dunn running like he was.  I have a great idea on 3rd and one’s…how about play action…then throw to Algae? 

Like I’ve said before, this is not rocket science!  Just about any Falcon’s fan has watched enough failure to know what works.  Just let me call a game…I dare ya’.  The coach would be out of a job!

Anyway, this game was a good team win for the Falcons.  A lot went right although there are still some questions in my mind about the play calling.  We play Tampa this week.  Hopefully with the first winning streak of the year, we can keep some momentum and win a third game.

GO FALCONS!