Atlanta Falcons MAILBAG : Pat Yas / ESPN

[JKH5785]

By Pat Yasinskas We'll start our series of team-by-team mailbags with the Atlanta Falcons.

Jeff in Atlanta writes: Can you ask Coach Mike Smith or especially MIKE MULARKEY when he will call an effective offensive game? I’m sick of watching the check down throws, out routes and curl outs. THROW THE BALL DEEP, Please!!!! Matt Ryan is capable of throwing the ball down the field. In 08 when Michael Turner ran for 1,800yds we threw the ball down the field. It’s like our offense is regressing from 08 when we should be lighting up the score board. What gives?

Pat Yasinskas: You’re preaching to the choir on this one. Last year, there were some limitations on the offense because of the injuries to Turner and Harry Douglas. This year, the Falcons started off healthy, with the exception of receiver Michael Jenkins, but the offense looked more like last year than 2008. Ryan is a very talented quarterback with the ability to go downfield and Roddy White and Douglas are guys who can make plays downfield. I think the Falcons have to do a much better job of playing to Ryan’s strengths.


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Jeff in Charleston, S.C., writes: What do you think Michael Turner's shelf-life is if he continues to struggle (i.e. trip himself, run straight into blockers, run into ground)? I know it was the championship Steelers' defense, and I know he's determined and in better shape, but the guy looked horrible on Sunday. The O-line will take some of the blame, but honestly, when will Thomas Dimitroff draw a line in the sand if Turner's struggles continue?

Pat Yasinskas: I’ve been wondering the same things. Turner did not look good at all against the Steelers. Granted, that’s a great defense and there were times when there were no holes for him. But there were times when there were holes and he was slow getting to them. Remember, Turner started slowly last season, although he later admitted some of that was due to letting himself get out of shape. He’s in great shape this year and what we saw Sunday gives rise to some big concerns. Maybe it was just a bad game and maybe Turner will bounce back. But I’m starting to wonder if the Falcons burned Turner out forever by running him so much in 2008. But let's give him a few more games before drawing any final conclusions.


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FalconsFor6 writes: I think you're running a really thin line between alienating Falcons fans and tooting your own horn because your belief that this Falcons team wasn't ready to challenge the Saints. You know that one game does not a season make. I've enjoyed your blogs and write-ups since the divisional blogs started, and I neither supported nor rejected your opinion of the Falcons challenging the Saints, but if your articles continues along the same tone as "Short List of Positives for Atlanta Falcons" and "Falcons Fall Flat in Pittsburgh", I will have lost any interest in continuing to follow your blog.

Pat Yasinskas: Tooting my own horn? Oh, how I love conspiracy theories. First off, I spent the entire offseason saying, if there was one team capable of challenging the Saints, it was the Falcons. Yes, I’m fully aware it was only one game, but it was a game the Falcons should have won. The players and coaches firmly believe that and I think I was doing my job by being critical of their performance in Pittsburgh. If I had written that they played a wonderful game and didn’t so much lose as run out of time against a team with a third-string quarterback, I wouldn’t have been doing my job. If the Falcons had gone up to Pittsburgh, played well and won the game, I would have been singing their praises. I can only work with what they show on the field.

[Tax-Falcon]

FalconsFor6 was terribly off-base, and got owned badly.

[Ballfan]

I hate the Saints, but Pat is OK by me. He is pretty even handed. Like everyone else, if the Falcons win, he will write positive recaps. After 1 game, there is a lot to fix on the Falcons. Let's see what happens this week.

[Sporkdevil]

Pat's not a bad dude, and at least he sees the shit playcalling too, and it's not just a bunch of whiny fans complaining about nothing.

[Anomaly]

I always like when Pat comes to the Branch and they interview him. Always good insightful information.

[swanlee]

He did pretty much flip out over our loss, total knee jerk reaction.

[Gritz]

I don't really put a lot of stock into what any of these people write, whether it's positive or negative about the Falcons. The only time they are of any value to me is when they get breaking news or inside information about the draft, injuries or possible free agent acquisitions.

If Yas did dump on us a bit after the Pittsburgh game, there is one possible reason I haven't heard anyone mention yet:

These writers are basically regular folks just like the rest of us. If Yas had been promoting and pumping up the Falcons a bit prior to the Steelers game it makes sense that he would possibly feel foolish and/or angry after the loss. It makes him look bad.

Just throwing that out there........

[Dale4Saul2Red0]

(09-17-2010 07:23 PM)Gritblitzer Wrote:  I don't really put a lot of stock into what any of these people write, whether it's positive or negative about the Falcons. The only time they are of any value to me is when they get breaking news or inside information about the draft, injuries or possible free agent acquisitions.

If Yas did dump on us a bit after the Pittsburgh game, there is one possible reason I haven't heard anyone mention yet:

These writers are basically regular folks just like the rest of us. If Yas had been promoting and pumping up the Falcons a bit prior to the Steelers game it makes sense that he would possibly feel foolish and/or angry after the loss. It makes him look bad.

Just throwing that out there........

I agree for the most part but I have trouble listening to a guy who probably never played a down of competitive football in his life. He's a nerd, period and probably knows nothing about the game.

But he is entitled to his opinion. He freaked out about the Falcons week 1 loss. This is why I personally hate Week 1 of football, college and pros. All you see that whole week is overreaction after overreaction from any media source.

[The Falcon Jedi]

I really cant stand Pat Yasinskas. All he ever writes are common knowledge things that everybody already knows. I think he just reads the box-scores and the AJC articles and forms his opinions from that. He doesnt Analayze this team personally.