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To All our Fans Who Just Want to Complain about our Team - Tandy - 10-11-2010 09:39 AM
We can't always get the LeBron James of basketball type player or the Darrelle Revis of corners because they are at the top of their game for a reason - they are unique. There aren't 32 of those guys out there so that each team can have one.
Starting with Defense.
What we can do is take the best guy available that FITS our team chemistry and scheme and try to improve our defense in the process. Have we done that?
In 2007, we were ranked 23rd against the pass, 17th in interceptions, 29th in scoring, 26th in rushing and 29st overall in defense.
In 2008, we were ranked 21st against the pass, 27th in interceptions, 11th in scoring, 25th in rushing and 24th overall in defense.
In 2009, we were ranked 28th against the pass, 16th in interceptions, 14th in scoring, 10th in rushing and 21st overall in defense.
So far this year, we are 19th against the pass, 1st in interceptions, 5th in scoring, 8th in rushing and 11th overall in defense.
We have improved every year in almost every category.
From last year, we have improved our ranking by 9 spots in Pass Defense, 16 spots in Interceptions, 9 spots in Scoring, 2 spots in Rushing and 10 spots in Overall Defense.
Up in every category.
On to Offense.
What we are is a run first team. We are a team that is built for the run. This means our QB is not going to put up gaudy numbers. Unfortunately, this also means our line is built for the ability to pull and move down the field with the run. They are not built to hold a pocket. They are not those huge, pocket holding, line of scrimmage pushing guys that they have in San Diego, New Orleans or Indy. This means when we play those 3-4 defenses, with the huge nose tackles and defensive lines, we are going to be manhandled. This means our QB is playing under extreme duress during those games. Yet, he has managed to come out winning regardless of the extremely small amount of time he has to make reads and get the ball out.
In 2007, we were ranked 18th in passing, 29th in scoring, 26th in rushing, 28th in touchdowns and 29th overall in offense.
2008 - facing a 3-4 defense only 1 game and 4 games against top 10 defenses (2-2)
In 2008, we were ranked 14th in passing, 10th in scoring, 2nd in rushing, 10th in touchdowns and 6th overall in offense.
(2009 - facing a 3-4 defense 6 games and 6 games against top 10 defenses (3-3) and riddled with injuries (starting QB 3 games, starting RB equiv 8 games) plus playing 4 teams off a bye week in our sched from hell)
In 2009, we were ranked 14th in passing, 13th in scoring, 15th in rushing, 12th in touchdowns and 16th overall in offense.
2010 - faced a 3-4 defense 4 games and 2 games against top 10 defenses (1-1)
So far this year, we are 16th in passing, 9th in scoring, 2nd in rushing, 11th in touchdowns and 7th overall in offense.
From last year, we have improved our ranking by -2 spots in Passing, 4 spots in Scoring, 13 spots in Rushing, 1 spots in Touchdowns and 9 spots in Overall Offense.
Up in every category except passing yards - which can easily be understood considering that we've faced 4 of those 3-4 defenses so far and Ryan has been given sub-par time in the pocket for passing.
Not only that, we won the game yesterday. Won. Came home with a 4-1 record. Won on the road. Won against another 3-4 defense.
Some of you guys should be TV analysts, because even with all these facts, you have managed to find something to complain about our team and the choices we have made in players regardless of the fact that our defense and offense have both shown improvement and instead of celebrating our victory yesterday, this is what you choose to create a thread about.
I know this is probably how you view the NFL, but reality is this. There are 32 teams out there. Every one of those 32 teams have talent. There is no magical Madden grab this guy or that guy and suddenly you dominate in every category and play flawless football. This is reality. The other teams have guys who get paid to do the same thing our guys are paid to do.
The fact is that we are flawed just as they are. But, we are winning. We have improved substantially in almost every category of defense and offense.
Couldn't you just wait until Wednesday to start being negative after a win and let us enjoy some football this season? It's so nice to be on the winning side of the scoreboard - especially after 2007, which was only a couple of years ago. I know that being a Falcon fan for so long can poison your view of success from this team. I've been a fan long enough to realize that.
But relax a little and enjoy our victory. Wins in the NFL are not easy. There are no cakewalks. It's ok to smile about a W and actually enjoy this ride a little.
We have faced the toughest part of our schedule where we faced the 3-4 teams. Now, we have only 2 of those 3-4 teams left - Baltimore and Green Bay.
Our biggest critics have said we couldn't win on the road. We have 3 of those games out of the way and won 2 of them and lost 1 in overtime. We are unbeaten at home so far.
Will we lose some games this year? Likely. Very few teams go undefeated, which is why it's such a big deal. Will we make mistakes on defense and for that matter offense? Likely. We are still a young team and mistakes happen. The point though is that we have found a way to overcome those and win the game.
Look at San Francisco. They are 0-5 despite being a heavily talented team which has gone out and played hard every game. What they lack is the ability to close the deal and get the win. That is something we don't lack.
You play the teams on your schedule. Good, Bad, Excellent, Mediocre or Pathetic.
The important thing is to win.
We have played the hardest part of our schedule. The 3-4 teams. We played the Superbowl Champions in New Orleans where we haven't won in 8 years. We lost to the Superbowl Champions from the year before in their house in overtime.
We are 4-1.
Where do we stand in the league?
We are #1 in our Division - the NFC South.
We are #1 in the Conference - NFC.
We are #1 in the League - Overall.
RE: To All our Fans Who Just Want to Complain about our Team - Gritz - 10-11-2010 09:44 AM
Great post as usual.
The good teams find a way to win.
They don't give you extra credit for style points in the NFL.
RE: To All our Fans Who Just Want to Complain about our Team - NCFalconfan - 10-11-2010 09:52 AM
Only thing I can add to that is if as a fan you aren't happy with those numbers, go back to your Madden football game.
RE: To All our Fans Who Just Want to Complain about our Team - papachaz - 10-11-2010 09:53 AM
great post ma'am, another reason i have only the utmost respect for you!
while others try to 'baffle em with bull' you just prove your points with facts!
great post, and +1 from me
RE: To All our Fans Who Just Want to Complain about our Team - Sporkdevil - 10-11-2010 10:00 AM
Our defense played really well. I think some people won't be happy until we play like the 85 Bears. Hillis put up over 100 yards rushing against the Ravens, but they averaged something like 2 yards per carry against us. There's room for improvement (there always is) but I'm loving our defense.
RE: To All our Fans Who Just Want to Complain about our Team - Tandy - 10-11-2010 10:42 AM
Had to add this!
We are 4-1.
Where do we stand in the league?
We are #1 in our Division - the NFC South.
We are #1 in the Conference - NFC.
We are #1 in the League - Overall.
RE: To All our Fans Who Just Want to Complain about our Team - bF™ - 10-11-2010 10:42 AM
Ryan is 24-11 in the regular season. Damn that's a beautiful stat
RE: To All our Fans Who Just Want to Complain about our Team - ATLBound - 10-11-2010 10:47 AM
I'm not going to call people out because that is very disrespectful, but there is one person on this forum that has never had a positive thread since this forum started.
There is currently a thread up focusing on something negative when there is sooooo much positive things going on. When we are winning and finding ways to win, I don't understand the reason to complain. Good post Tandy!
The great thing about this thread is that the same people/person complaining hasn't come into the thread because I think they know they are just trying too hard to find fault.
Now that the Falcons have risen up so far. Some of us fans should as well.
RE: To All our Fans Who Just Want to Complain about our Team - Rogue50 - 10-11-2010 10:56 AM
Once again a great post, Tandy. Lots of facts (read truth) and also very objective. Does being a fan mean you can't criticize your team? No, but the way some of our fans drone on and on and nitpick, especially after winning the freaking game for crying out loud, is just too annoying. Bottom-line is that today's Falcons are young, well-coached, talented and play 60 minutes every single game. If folks can't see how fortunate we are that this is our team to support, they are missing out on the fun. Their loss.
RE: To All our Fans Who Just Want to Complain about our Team - NCFalconfan - 10-11-2010 11:14 AM
I remember the days where I was happy if we just played hard, and didn't embarrass ourselves on the scoreboard. Needless to say, I'm ecstatic on how this team has done since Dimitroff and Smith have taken the helm. This is the tough as nails, never say die team I've been waiting for years. Today, if you play the Atlanta Falcons, you are in for a fight. If you've been watching for as long as I have, that should make you happy.