Feeds for November 12th, 2008

Wouldn’t it be nice to see…

In a fight to the death.

And somehow, both men are able to strike lethal blows; causing them both to die.

These guys are terrible at life. Ledbetter was so far up D. Hall’s arse in those articles he kept writing; and well, Terrance Moore is probably the most hated journalist in Atlanta.

I feel sorry for those who rely on the AJC as their source for sports news.
Source >> Atlanta Falcons Blogs

Quotable: Head Coach Mike Smith

Head Coach Mike Smith talked about the Falcons upcoming game against the Broncos when he met with the media following Wednesday’s practice.
Source >> Atlanta Falcons

Elam happy in Atlanta; Prater good fit with Broncos

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Source >> Topix

Birds look for opportunity to run football

The Broncos allow more than 146 rushing yards a game on the season. The Falcons have the league’s second-best running game. But the Birds know it will take a little work for success on Sunday.
Source >> Atlanta Falcons

Vick vs Ryan

Whose Better: Matt ryan or Mike vick.

Vick lead us to the 2004 NFC Championship that we lost 27-10 to Philly Eagles. Vick was the most mobile QB in league and most exciting player in franchise history. Career high 20td in one season. Only QB to run for a 1000yds and throw for a 1000yds in a single season. Drafted 1st overall. Got 23 months in jail for dogfighting.

Ryan as well as Mike Smith has turned the franchise from the worst team in league to the top 15 teams in the NFL. Ryan 11td only 5int and a 6-3 record in 9 games. Star in college at Boston College and star rookie year in nfl for ATL Falcons. Drafted 3rd overall. Fans gace him a C overall grade at draft.

No.7 Virginia Tech vs No.2 Boston College

Source >> Atlanta Falcons Blogs

This Team Has Something alot Of Teams Don’t Have…

well part of it… tongue.gif Click Me Comradarie. They get along so well. They play as a TEAM! I’m not sure if you guys have seen this video yet but its the team at a charity bowling event. Also, its good to see Abe so happy with “Maphew!” laugh.gif (as he calls him)
The guys look very happy and I’m glad Matt decided to bowl with his left arm..we can’t afford the right one to give out! wink.gif

anyway, just decided to post the video link up in case some haven’t dropped by the media lounge yet. I love this team!

Go Falcons!
Source >> Atlanta Falcons Blogs

Falcons getting more favorable news media coverage than Obama

Prisco - Falcons for Real/Power Rankings

Power Rankings: For the record, Falcons are for real
By Pete Prisco
CBSSports.com Senior Writer
Tell Pete your opinion!

Updated Nov. 11

For weeks we’ve been waiting for the right time to say it, hesitant because it just didn’t seem right to say the Atlanta Falcons were a real playoff threat. Is it because we expected them to take the young-team fall we anticipated from a group that came into the season in rebuilding mode?

That hasn’t happened, so it’s time to let it rip:

The Falcons are a real playoff threat.

There’s no denying it any more. The way they handled the New Orleans Saints on Sunday is the all the proof we need.

The Atlanta defense was the last remaining question for this team, but shutting down Drew Brees the way it did says that unit has improved enough to call it a playoff defense.

The story of the Falcons is the best of this season in a league full of great ones. It’s so shocking that many inside the building are even surprised, even if they won’t admit it.

This was to be a rebuilding season with an eye on 2010 as the playoff year. It was a three-year plan to turn the Falcons around. First-year coach Mike Smith and general manager Thomas Dimitroff won’t admit it now, but they had to be realistic and a three-year plan to turn the Falcons around made sense.

Now that timetable is off. This team is good.

They can run it. They can throw it with Matt Ryan and the defense is growing up under a rising coaching star, defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder.

If the Falcons make the playoffs and Smith isn’t the coach of the year, then the award should be eliminated.

The Falcons started out in the CBSSports.com Power Rankings at No. 31, which means one away from last. Now they’re in the top 10. That’s hard to believe.

After the Michael Vick fiasco, the Bobby Petrino mess and the feeling of disconnect from Atlanta fans, the Falcons are a great story. The best thing for their chances to win the division is that Tampa Bay and Carolina — the two teams ahead of them in the NFC South — both have to come to Atlanta.

Poll
Who will win the NFC South?
Saints
Falcons
Panthers
Buccaneers

The amazing thing about the Atlanta start is that most thought the two lines would be problem areas. The coaching staff said they were the worry spots before the season. They’ve been the opposite of that.

The offensive line plays with a nasty streak, making up for some athletic limitations, and the defensive line has overachieved, especially inside. Defensive end John Abraham is having a huge season rushing the passer, but the rest of the defense isn’t exactly star-studded.

Atlanta also starts four rookies if you count the nickel back (Chevis Jackson), the third receiver (Henry Douglas) and injured left tackle Sam Baker, who is expected back in a few weeks. The best of the first-year players is Ryan. Without him, this wouldn’t be happening. He’s the best rookie quarterback since Peyton Manning.

He sees the field. He plays with a swagger. He works his butt off doing the little things. He’s cut from the Manning-Tom Brady cloth.

The Falcons did the right thing starting him on opening day, thinking that this would be a building year for the future. But Ryan’s play has accelerated the timetable.

So go ahead and say it: The Falcons are for real.

The Power Rankings through Week 10:

Power Rankings
Current Team Previous
1 Titans · Trends 1
If Kerry Collins plays like he did against the Bears, they will be a Super Bowl team. It’s that simple. The passing game is the one area of this team that worried some.
2 Giants · Trends 2
They run it better than anybody, which controls the football. And when they get a lead they have a pass rush that can get after it. They’re the best team, even if they are in the second spot here.
3 Panthers · Trends 3
Can I really put a team that had a quarterback throw for 72 yards and get picked four times in the third spot? At 7-2, you have to do it.
4 Buccaneers · Trends 6
Jon Gruden has to be thrilled with his 6-3 start and the way Jeff Garcia has played. We know the defense will be good.
5 Redskins · Trends 7
They come off the bye with a huge game against the Cowboys at home. They need to win it to try to keep pace with the Giants in the division — or they will be taking the wild-card route.
6 Patriots · Trends 10
As Matt Cassel grows, they will only get better. They have two huge games in the next two weeks against the Jets at home and at Miami. Win them, and they will win the division.
7 Jets · Trends 8
They’ve done what they’ve been asked to do, which is beat up on a weak schedule. We’ll know if they’re any good Thursday after they play the Patriots.
8 Cardinals · Trends 9
They’re going to the playoffs. Barring a late-season collapse of epic proportions, even by Cardinals standards, they will win the division. That means we’ll get the treat of watching that offense more in the postseason.
9 Cowboys · Trends 11
The most important question in Dallas since Who shot JR is this: How’s the pinkie? That’s Tony Romo’s pinkie.
10 Falcons · Trends 12
Matt Ryan isn’t playing like a rookie, that’s for sure. But the most impressive thing is how well the defense is playing. Brian VanGorder is doing a nice job with that unit.

Source >> Atlanta Falcons Blogs

The Lions Sign Adam Jennings

The Lions Sign Adam Jennings

Because when you want your return game to get better, you get Adam Jennings.

Source >> Falcoholic

A Reminder To Ask Our Broncos Blogger

If you take a gander over at the right side of this blog, you’ll note that TheSportsGuru of the critically acclaimed blockbuster Mile High Report is soliciting questions. If you have anything you need to know regarding the Broncos, make sure you ask before the game.

That is all!

Source >> Falcoholic

A Probing Probe Into The Atlanta Falcons Schedule

This is the kind of hard-hitting journalism that will win me a Nobel Prize.

After looking over your responses to my discussion post yesterday, it’s become apparent that most of you think we’re going to be 10-6 at the minimum. If you had told me that a group of diehard Falcon fans would predict that outcome this season, I would’ve backed away from you slowly while armed men put you in a straitjacket.

I really can’t stop marveling at how crazy this season really has been. No matter how many wins we muster from here on out, I’m going to consider this season a success. The greedy bastard in me wants us to roll to 13-3, but I’ve gotta be semi-realistic.

For my investigative reporting into the schedule, check after the jump.

 

W, Denver Broncos: Maybe I’m just being a ridiculous homer here, but I think this one is extremely winnable. The Broncos can’t stop a decent offense with a police blockade and spike traps, so the team should roll up the yardage against them. The real question is whether the Falcons will be able to stop one of the best passing games in the league. If they play coverage-heavy and force the Broncos to turn to their injury-decimated running backs, I think they could make this one look like the Saints game all over again.

L, Carolina Panthers: I’m sorry, but I just can’t pick the Falcons in this one. I know how horrible Delhombre and the team in general looked against the Raiders, but I think they were looking past that team in a major way. They’re unlikely to do the same with us. The Panthers have a good secondary, a very good pass rush and a potent enough offense to make this a win. I think it’ll be close, but I still think the Falcons will come up short here.

W, San Diego Chargers: I’m baffled by the number of people who think the Chargers are going to eat us for breakfast. The same Chargers who have a suddenly ancient LaDanian Tomlinson? The same ones who have one of the league’s most putrid secondaries? I don’t think so. There’s always the possibility that the Chargers will pull their act together, but their record is a pretty good reflection of their level of play and I think the Falcons will handle their business.

W, New Orleans Saints: I know it’s a home game for the Saints, but I think even the guys at Canal Street Chronicles will be surprised if they’re not a pile of flaming wreckage at that point. The Saints have proved they can get it done on offense, but I don’t see their defense improving and the Falcons will come up with some new looks on D. Should be a closer game, but I’d still expect a win.

L, Tampa Bay Bucs: This one is downright offensive to my senses. I can’t shake the fact that the Bucs–those sneaky, no good, offensively challenged nitwits–will somehow do just enough to conquer the Falcons. Their defense is still very good, but the real story here is the maddening way they manage to put just enough points on the board. Cadillac Williams may also be back and at full strength, which is very bad news for the Falcons’ D. No matter what anyone tells you, the Caddy is better than Earnest Graham and Warrick Dunn.

L, Minnesota Vikings: Between Adrian Peterson and one of the league’s best run defenses, I can see this actually being the most difficult game the Falcons face. They’re no slouches in coverage, which means that if Turner does his classic disappearing act against their potent front seven, Ryan will be called upon to lift a very heavy burden. Add in a somehow competent passing attack led by noted mountain goat Gus Frerotte and you’ve got a recipe for a very tough contest.

W, St. Louis Rams: The Rams have Steven Jackson at running back and Donnie Avery at wide receiver. Beyond that, they have such a huge collection of scrubs that you’d swear you were watching a medical drama play out on the field. The Falcons can’t afford to look past anybody, but the Rams are truly atrocious.

Predicted Record: 10-6

Final Thoughts: Looks like we’re all ending up in pretty much the same place, eh? If the Falcons can get to 10-6, the imploding NFC East may give them a chance to grab a wildcard even if Tampa Bay holds out for second place in the division. I’m not guaranteeing a playoff berth, but right now things look pretty good for our beloved Dirty Birds.

Oh, and GO FALCONS!


Poll

How many wins will the Falcons end up with this season?





  324 votes | Results


Source >> Falcoholic