(03-09-2011 07:00 PM)Gritblitzer Wrote:  A-freaking-men.

Like many on here I have him on ignore so I only see his tripe when someone quotes him.....

but you knocked that shit out of the park.....

Quote:Being a lifelong fan of the Atlanta Falcons isn't for sissies.

This franchise has a way of laying an egg, or several eggs, just when the national spotlight finds itself focused on the team.

The latest evidence of that is the embarrassing 48-21 defeat put upon the No. 1-seeded Falcons by the Green Bay Packers on January 15, 2011 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

Perhaps a better name for this team would be "The Not Ready for Prime Time Players."

The Falcons did, quite admirably, compile a 13-3 record and win the competitive NFC South. In doing so they dispatched both the defending champion New Orleans Saints and the up-and-coming Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

However, in several key games against quality opponents during the year the Falcons proved that they are indeed still a work in progress. An opening game loss against a Ben Roethlisberger-less Steelers team at Heinz Field wasn't exactly ominous considering the quality of the opponent. It was disconcerting to see the much-ballyhooed Falcon offensive unit stuck in reverse or idle for much of the day.

An absolute blowout several weeks later against a Michael Vick-less Eagles team in Philadelphia was much more disturbing and did set off several warning alarms for me. Postgame comments by Falcons defensive end John Abraham claiming that the Eagles offense did several things not expected or seen on film led me to question some of our coaching preparation.

Very close and last-minute wins against teams like the 49ers and Browns did little to deep down make me believe that the Falcons were a powerhouse NFL squad. I felt like this team was whistling past the graveyard.

A three-game winning road trip near the end of the regular season made me feel like perhaps this team was rounding into good shape for the inevitable playoffs. Winning three on the road in the NFL is impressive regardless of the quality of opponent.

A home loss on Monday Night Football against the hated rival Saints dispelled a couple of notions in my mind that were starting to take shape:

First, that the Falcons were near invincible at the Georgia Dome.

Second, that after beating the Baltimore Ravens on a nationally televised and highlighted game in November on the NFL Network, the Falcons were indeed ready for prime time.

So after Saturday night's debacle against the Green Bay Packers, what am I or any of the rest of us to make of this Atlanta Falcons team? What does their immediate future look like? How can Thomas Dimitroff and Mike Smith improve this team?

This is a good team, not a great one. They benefited in the 2010 season by having very few injuries and several good things happen for them late in games. Their grind-it-out style of offense wore down several inferior teams but didn't have the quick-strike ability to hang with the truly high-powered offenses in the NFL.

The Atlanta Falcons defense still needs a pass rusher to bookend and complement John Abraham. One consistent problem this current edition of the Falcons has had is a lack of a pass rush. Kroy Biermann is a nice high-motor rotational end but doesn't look to be a long-term starting answer.

A better pass rush would make the corner play even better. Brent Grimes and Dunta Robinson played well enough this year. One could easily make the argument that the lower-paid and less hyped Grimes clearly outshone Robinson.

On offense the Falcons need a playmaker or two. Whether it's a speed back who can take the place of the fragile Jerious Norwood or a fleet-footed wide receiver to complement Roddy White, there seems to be little explosiveness with the Falcon offense. They only had one play over 50 yards for the entire season. That's remarkable for a team that had a 13-3 record.

The "process" that both Thomas Dimitroff and Mike Smith talk about ad infinitum will continue. They have truly done a good job turning this franchise around. I worry, though, that the work that Dimitroff and Smith do might not be good enough to get the Falcons to that next level. Why not bring in a longtime NFL legend like former Cowboy front office guru Gil Brandt and let him take a look at the nuts and bolts of how the Falcons are conducting business?

Let's put the "process" through some review. The results might make the Falcons ready for prime time.

(03-09-2011 07:28 PM)mdrake34 Wrote:  Who we didn't draft is EXACTLY WHAT THIS THREAD IS ABOUT. You started out about the coaches talking about getting explosive, and immediately mention that we passed over your boy Dez. You wanted another chance to throw TD under the bus for not drafting a total bum, albeit a talented one. Awesome.

(03-09-2011 06:55 PM)Swift Is a Die Hard Wrote:  i dont even think this dude BEEF read my reply ..lol he might be so caught up with my posting he should actually take a time out and read. lol That post has nothing to do with being a PHYSIC or hate on one of TD picks..lol this dud is really caught up with me just responds...get a kick out of that LOLLLL

he will come back with some response probably attacking me but this poster has already been banned a week here and mods have warned him for his outburst when other posters here argued there points RESPECTIVELY this dude above goes on verbal attack like that makes him more a man or something be real dude lol

this guy cant put together post like takeitdown or even g dawg .....

(03-09-2011 07:41 PM)Beef Wrote:  I clearly addressed your comments & you know it. This is just your attempt to ignore what I said because you don't have a good reply.

You said that TD is suddenly claiming we need explosive players... I clearly explained that this is a process that starts with a QB & the trenches then works it's way out from there while filling the gaping holes as needed inbetween (ie. Turner, TG, Peterson, Robinson).

You don't start rebuilding a 3-13 team by drafting explosive weapons. And you don't draft explosive weapons when you need protection for your #3 picked franchise QB & while your defense is in complete disarray.

TD didn't have to say "we need explosive weapons" 1, 2, or 3 years ago because he KNOWS WTF HE'S DOING. You, only the other hand, absolutely unequivocally do not.

(03-09-2011 07:41 PM)Beef Wrote:  You don't start rebuilding a 3-13 team by drafting explosive weapons. And you don't draft explosive weapons when you need protection for your #3 picked franchise QB & while your defense is in complete disarray.

(03-09-2011 07:36 PM)Swift Is a Die Hard Wrote:  No this really isnt about Dez im just using that as a example ..Its about feeding us one line then coming from another direction ..This team hasnt been built for 3 years to be explosive its been built to be a consistent winner and game control make smart decisions ...WE GET BLOWN OUT in a playoff game TD comes out with " WE NEED EXPLOSIVE PLAYERS " well what if we would have won the Packers game and more would we come out and say that or we would have stood on same path we are now with our philosophy ..GET IT

(03-09-2011 07:56 PM)Beef Wrote:  You know what's funny about this whole rant of yours? Everybody, except you of course, knows that what TD is saying is correct. We are now to the point we need explosive weapons.

And, these types of players don't usually come from beyond the 3rd, maybe even after the 2nd round. So again, TD's had 3 drafts & only 5 picks in the top 2 rounds in that time. 5 mid-to-late picks in the 1st two rounds to get top talent to help rebuild this team from a 3-13 horrible situation.

Yes, only NOW do we finally have the luxury of going after bona fide "explosive weapons", because going after them enmass prior to this year would have been dumb. We already had horribly bad luck with HD, so hopefully this time we have better luck with no injuries.

(03-09-2011 07:53 PM)Swift Is a Die Hard Wrote:  is our defense not in disarray > did you watch that last playoff game ?

was that the marking of a rebuilt defense ? 3 years into the process

just asking

(03-09-2011 08:03 PM)Swift Is a Die Hard Wrote:  lol @ right now we have the luxury to go after play makers .. what kind of nonsense is that ? did you ever possibly think that maybe TD came to the realization after this season and getting DEMOLISHED in playoff game at home maybe the way he was building the team wasnt the right way and maybe he said to himself well this depth/ball control philosophy is not getting us wins when they count so LET ME feed them well we need to get more explosive..

Every team looks for explosive players if you have a explosive offense philosophy ..WE ARE NOT that buddy we were built to run ball ...