The Falcons are going to have to piece some things together Sunday at the Georgia Dome.
With a plethora of players on the injury report — including quarterback Matt Ryan, running back Michael Turner and starting right guard Harvey Dahl — it may take some creative placement of reserve players to get the job done against the Eagles.
Such is life in the NFL, especially in a season where some things just haven’t gone according to plan.
In looking for a Friday Pep Talk video I was led to movies (or real life events) where unassuming heroes rose to a challenge when failure wasn’t an option.
The crew of Apollo 13 faced hardships no man had ever faced. Their lives were put in the hands of scientists on the ground who had to find ways to preserve miles of wiring, electronic equipment and — literally and figuratively — place square pegs in round holes.
I’m not looking to directly compare the Falcons to one of the great success stories in American history. But, like the cutting-edge risks of the space program, the Falcons have everything to gain Sunday and must succeed in the face of unforeseen circumstances.
There have been injuries in 2009. There has been unfortunate streaks. There have been tough opponents who left the field victorious and put Atlanta in a spot to play the last five games for its playoff life.
It will take a little tinkering. It will take creativity. It won’t take listening to anyone saying the Falcons have no shot at the playoffs. For the men in the locker room, that’s unacceptable.
Because failure isn’t an option.
O-Line Confidential, NFL.com
Thought about doing something like this with the AF.com crew, but the steakhouse said Matt Moore and I would eat more food than the offensive line.
Falcons thinking Eco-Green and Eagles’ green, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
So a lot of people are picking the Eagles for this weekend’s game. Not trying to be a homer, but Head Coach Mike Smith does have a 12-1 record in the Dome.
Les Bowen: Eagles to attack Falcons’ system first, then fill-ins, Philadelphia Daily News
Smith said the Falcons would tailor this week’s game plan to match Chris Redman’s strengths. That said, not sure anyone fully knows what the team will do offensively against the Eagles.
White forced to create distance with friends, YahooSports.com
More proof the thought that goes into this game doesn’t end on the field or in the draft room. It’s deeper than that. It’s about life.
VanGorder not interested in UGA coordinator job, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
You’re never too far away from college football in the South — even working for a professional sports team.
Battle of the Big Birds, The Canvas
Perfection. Captures simple intensity of a game that, if won by the Falcons, could put the home team in control of its playoff destiny.
NFC South Blogger’s Blitz, ESPN.com”
Some pre-weekend thoughts on the NFC South from blogger — and friend of the program — Pat Yasinskas.
Crunchin’ the Numbers, The Falcoholic
If the Falcons win — and the Giants lose — the “easiest remaining schedule” thing comes into play.
In Atlanta, memories of Vick remain alive, The Philadelphia Inquirer
Interesting approach to a story. I didn’t live in Atlanta during the Vick era, so anything that happens at the Georgia Dome will be new for me. Here are some thoughts from the Atlanta sports perspective.
Finneran’s return beefs up Falcons’ receiving corps, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A healthy Brian Finneran eases any pain if wide receiver Michael Jenkins is unable to play or if the Eagles find a way to contain tight end Tony Gonzalez.
Falcons’ Zelenka ready to long snap, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The relationship between long snapper and punter/holder is an interesting and important one. Falcons fans have seen that first hand in 2009.
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25 Comments
To all you fans who blindly believe the Falcons still have a chance to make the playoffs: Go look at the Falcons drafts for the last 7 years. Out of 56 picks including 2009 we only have six “A” List players, Ryan, Lofton, White, Babineaux, DeCoud, and Nicholas. It should not surprise anyone that we’re not going to beat the better teams in the NFL. By the way does anyone know what teams we have beaten this year that have a winning record? Ah….Guess what? I don’t need any fingers and toes to count to zero.
HEY DAVE THE BRAIN,
You dont need fingers and toes to count the teams with winning records in this league,either!!!!Take a look at what were trying to do around here.Last year we drafted: Ryan,Baker,Lofton. This year our top pick got hurt.Why dont you just go kick rocks with Hall Buddy????
Well Damn…! Me, im looking foward to next years draft. Im actually excited about the guys we picked up.Ones who’ve been silent yet comforts me that they will grow into nice players the next few years. lawrence sidbury, ChrisOwens is putting himself on, dont forget about vance walker. I like what we have to work with. Cant wait to see what we add in Draft 2kTen! This year will play itself out, Good Luck Falcons!
hey dave..why arent you a gm if you know so much about football? go find a new team dumbasas, this site is for the fans of the team.
I don’t care about “A” list players, all that matters to me is how we play the game, Tom Brady was once a back up QB, however i do think that we are suffering from bad play calling on the offensive side of the ball. I love my team, One Fan One Team is a rule i live by,but sometimes I wounder who in the hell is calling some of these plays. They are going to run Mike into the ground,there are teams with three and four RB’s that come in and out of the game, I don’t understand why we don’t give Mike more breaks during the course of a game. I also think Dave is a Dumdass.
I don’t care about “A” list players, all that matters to me is how we play the game, Tom Brady was once a back up QB, however i do think that we are suffering from bad play calling on the offensive side of the ball. I love my team, One Fan One Team is a rule i live by,but sometimes I wounder who in the hell is calling some of these plays. They are going to run Mike into the ground,there are teams with three and four RB’s that come in and out of the game, I don’t understand why we don’t give Mike more breaks during the course of a game. I also think Dave is a Dumbass.
I don’t care about “A” list players, all that matters to me is how we play the game, Tom Brady was once a back up QB, however i do think that we are suffering from bad play calling on the offensive side of the ball. I love my team, One Fan One Team is a rule i live by,but sometimes I wounder who in the hell is calling some of these plays. They are going to run Mike into the ground,there are teams with three and four RB’s that come in and out of the game, I don’t understand why we don’t give Mike more breaks during the course of a game. I also think Dave is a
Dumbass.
The team has done a good job of aggressively rebuilding with possibly the sole exception of cornerbacks. It is pretty easy to pick things apart in hindsight (although playing midget corners should have been easy to see the “shortcomings”). I agree the playcalling and lack of focus and intensity seem to be this teams biggest enemy, other than bad luck on the injury front. I dont care if we lose the rest of our games as long as the team plays “TO WIN” instead of this conservative “not lose” approach. I hate that we lost to the Saints but the team played hard and thats all you can really ask for.
hey dave everyone that knows football also knows its not about who u play but when u play them. The falcons started the season against the dolphins who were coming off an afc east title the panthers in just their second game coming off a loss the patriots at home the 3-1 niners the 3-1 bears off a bye they didnt hav losing records if anything we started all those teams losing streaks so the rest of the nfl should thank us for exploiting those teams weaknesses
If we win this game we would really make a statement. I think our guys believe they can win and that is enough. All these guys are the best at what they do. That’s why they are in the NFL. It’s gonna be about coaching and who makes the least mistakes and capitlolizes from them.
j.falcon good comment. i see your a real falcon fan like myself. it’s good to know other people are able to embrace the future of the team. yea this year we have some transgressions but ultimately we are still in the rebuilding phase with a promising team already at hand. that 2k10 draft will probably put us where we want to be next season so this year we should keep what works and throw out what don’t.
For those of you who think being a “fan” is to overlook all the bad personnel decisions made by this team and hope for the best…..I would love to sell you a freezeer at the North Pole. You’re exactly what team management wants you to be, deaf, dumb and blind. I’ll bet none of you are season ticket holders who pay good money to see a mediocre team. I love Matt Ryan and Curtis Lofton as picks, Sam Baker will be another disaster 1st round pick, who was known to be injury prone. You should be directing your frustration with the team at team management and some of the players who are stealing their paycheck…..Michael Jenkins, Chris Houston, Sam Baker, Jamal Anderson, etc. WAKE UP you idiots!!!! and smell the coffee!!
hey dave no one is sayin we hav the best team on the planet but we love our team. We also understand that most of these picks are from the previous regimes. Our new regime has only had 2 drafts with maybe sum bad luck with injuries but i like the players we did draft. But i agree mj12 ch23 n ja98 r not players im happy with but we cant do nothing now but play n hopefully win with wut we got n in the offseason work on improving on our weaknesses
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Na4K266bGlo
new dirty bird song
is that really mike smith leaving post on here?anyways…we need a #2 reciever or harry douglas back. i say jenkins, anderson and grimes (not sayin grimes is bad) but he has talent some teams may look for and if redman has a goodgame than trade him. if redman wins this game i know alot of teams that would probably give some picks or players for him.. after all he did win that last game for us…very impressed
if we get some 1st an 2nd round draft picks an spend them on defense we should be good next year.
and i would like to see some vance walker an sidbury in the eagles game..dont know why we havent been using them more.. its not like the defense is gettin it done anyways.
as long as we dont lose to the jets this season ill be happy.. i cant stand sanchez so dont make us look bad.i will be highly pissed if sanchez beats us.
what makes me mad is that it feels like noone on the team knows how to compete. yall should be pissed of that some of these teams are beatin yalls ass, i know i would be. i hate losing an if i was out there i would be damn nearin killin someone, i dont care if i was a wide reciever( take a page out of hines wards book). i mean really…i saw jenkins on the sideline a couple of times with some look on his face like “man i cant do this , its to much pressure”screw that noise..get out there and make a play and if the other team is winning an u cant out play them than put some of there tema on the IR an when the d line actually get to the qb than take him out..the ref gets in yalls way than take him out to.
@Dave Well said my brother,i totally agree,i am not at all pleased with the way this Falcons team has played all year,(with the exception of the 49ers game),the lack of effort,the lack of passion to win,the lack of big time players making big time plays when they are called on,hint hint M.Jenkins.Although he has stepped up the last 2 games,but hell were in the 12th week.The only thing this team has done consistantly is play bad football,agree or disagree,its the truth.Yeah imna luv my Falcons win or lose,but i will NEVER be a fan that has the ‘it’s ok to lose attitude’,or great effort,itsa loss if you lose by 3 or 33,great efforts and ok to lose attitudes have never won championships,period.This team is better than that,we jus hafta FINISH games and be HUNGRY for the playoffs,but in the players deffense i will say this,THE PLAY CALLING ON OFFENSE AND DEFFENSE SUX,SUX,SUX…not setup to win many games!!!!…..FLY-HIGH FALCONS
WE SIGN TROY BERGERON FOR LIKE THE 3RD TIME, BUT WE NOT GVING HIM A CHANCE TO DO ANYTHING. PLEASE PLAY BERGERON AND KEEP HIM ON THE ROSTER. THIS GUY MAY EVEN SCORE IF WE PLAY HIM. what is it about bergeron that makes the coaches keep playing the guessing game with him? HE’S THE PERFECT EXTRA TARGET FOR OUR QB. AGAIN WE HAVENT SEEN WHAT HE CAN TRULY DO. HIS SIZE AND SPEED WILL BE A DIFFICULT MATCHUP FOR ANY LB OR CB. IF WE PUT HIM BACK ON THE PRACTICE SQUAD NEXT WEEK,THEN WE WILL NEVER KNOW.
@Born and Raised Down Here
AMEN!!!!!Both Ryan and Redman,could use this guy on SUNDAY’S!!!
To all those meatheads who dissed me when I predicted how poorly we would play against the Eagles and why……OOPs, …….”I told you so”.
After we got beat by the Patriots I looked at our remaining schedule and forecasted an 8-8 season. Now, you idiots, you should be thrilled if we go 8-8. Here are the remaining 4 games and my predictions including the final scores:
NO @ home – Loss (37-14)
NY Jets on road – Loss (23-16)
Buff @ home – Win (19-17)
TB on road – Win (24-21)
And, trust me, the Buffalo and TB games will be very close and we could lose against TB in Tampa. They are playing better and we are playing worse.
What many of you meatheads don’t get is that the “margin for error” in the NFL is very small, indeed. One cornerback who fails to turn his head the right way can lead to 7 points faster than you can say “Chris Houston”. One Defensive End who always comes up one step short in pursuit of a quarterback sack (Hi, Jamal Anderson), puts extra pressure on the safety’s to pick the right receiver to double. Anyone now who doesn’t see that the Falcon’s draft sins in the last 5 years are killing us now that our schedule is tougher, is just a moron! Wishing, hoping and praying for the Falcons to win games by more enthusiastic play does not work!!
If the Falcons don’t address the secondary and the pass rush in both the draft and free agency, we will not get any better. By the way, did Mike Jenkins play yesterday?
@Daves an idiot To all those meatheads who dissed me when I predicted how poorly we would play against the Eagles and why……OOPs, …….”I told you so”.
After we got beat by the Patriots I looked at our remaining schedule and forecasted an 8-8 season. Now, you idiots, you should be thrilled if we go 8-8. Here are the remaining 4 games and my predictions including the final scores:
NO @ home – Loss (37-14)
NY Jets on road – Loss (23-16)
Buff @ home – Win (19-17)
TB on road – Win (24-21)
And, trust me, the Buffalo and TB games will be very close and we could lose against TB in Tampa. They are playing better and we are playing worse.
What many of you meatheads don’t get is that the “margin for error” in the NFL is very small, indeed. One cornerback who fails to turn his head the right way can lead to 7 points faster than you can say “Chris Houston”. One Defensive End who always comes up one step short in pursuit of a quarterback sack (Hi, Jamal Anderson), puts extra pressure on the safety’s to pick the right receiver to double. Anyone now who doesn’t see that the Falcon’s draft sins in the last 5 years are killing us now that our schedule is tougher, is just a moron! Wishing, hoping and praying for the Falcons to win games by more enthusiastic play does not work!!
If the Falcons don’t address the secondary and the pass rush in both the draft and free agency, we will not get any better. By the way, did Mike Jenkins play yesterday?
@daves a dumbass
To all those meatheads who dissed me when I predicted how poorly we would play against the Eagles and why……OOPs, …….”I told you so”.
After we got beat by the Patriots I looked at our remaining schedule and forecasted an 8-8 season. Now, you idiots, you should be thrilled if we go 8-8. Here are the remaining 4 games and my predictions including the final scores:
NO @ home – Loss (37-14)
NY Jets on road – Loss (23-16)
Buff @ home – Win (19-17)
TB on road – Win (24-21)
And, trust me, the Buffalo and TB games will be very close and we could lose against TB in Tampa. They are playing better and we are playing worse.
What many of you meatheads don’t get is that the “margin for error” in the NFL is very small, indeed. One cornerback who fails to turn his head the right way can lead to 7 points faster than you can say “Chris Houston”. One Defensive End who always comes up one step short in pursuit of a quarterback sack (Hi, Jamal Anderson), puts extra pressure on the safety’s to pick the right receiver to double. Anyone now who doesn’t see that the Falcon’s draft sins in the last 5 years are killing us now that our schedule is tougher, is just a moron! Wishing, hoping and praying for the Falcons to win games by more enthusiastic play does not work!!
If the Falcons don’t address the secondary and the pass rush in both the draft and free agency, we will not get any better. By the way, did Mike Jenkins play yesterday?