pervasive organizational failure

[ayla]

this entire organization is at rock bottom; worse, there is little to embrace with hope for immediate improvement and less hope for the choices and decisions necessary to effect a positive change. i have no idea whether bobby petrino will turn out to be a highly successful, average, or below average nfl coach. only time will tell. however, i do know this about the falcon's organizational choices and decisions under their current owner and general manager: questionable, if not cripling!

in 1997 the falcons hired a proven coach, dan reeves, who had taken three teams to the super bowl. yes, i know he lost all three, but had he been given a terrell davis to compliment john elway, not doubt his teams would have won or least been more competitive in these games. then, this same coach took an entirely different organization to the super bowl in 1998, and after 3 lean years of rebuilding again, took a little know team to green bay and won at lambeau field for the first time ever in the playoffs.

in 2002, his team loses the qb who this team was built around and, despite the success of the 2003 team with reeves' player, in my opinion this team has been slowly spiraling down ever since.

the road to our "rock bottom" today:

1. firing dan reeves after the "broken leg" season.
   
2. hiring jim mora, a man of questionable character (snorting ammonia with his players?)
   
3. awarding an exciting, yet still unproven and arguably flawed (passing mechanics) qb a contract that even today has handcuffed this team financially.
   
4. a team that has failed miserably (and some who admittedly quit) in the last, most critical games of the past two seasons.
   
5. staking the future of the team to a qb who anyone with simple "street sense" could tell was exhibiting some behavior the past few years that was curious, bizarre and suspicious.
   
6. ignoring number 5 above and trading away a qb this year that has as much potential as anyone we could draft this or next year.
   
7. picking a guy, jamal anderson, who hasn't come close to a sack this year, is often dominated by an ol, and today i witnessed completely taking several plays off with minimal effort.
   
8. essentially giving away a potential game changing kick returner (rossum) who has already contributed mightily to now new team, the steelers.
   
9. cutting a proven nfl kicker for a project a costing the team one, perhaps two games early in the season.
   
10. number 8 & 9 above are critical decision blunders! with a team in transition and looking for early momentum, a "money" kicker and the occasional great punt return can make a big difference in close games--critical to a team like the falcons with a fragile psych!
    

i could go on and on with specifics but this could perhaps create too much argument and debate. i do believe that one central theme with this team provides little room for debate or dissention, and that is this team we are looking at is clearly a broken machine and this is the fault of the executives who make decisions for this entire organization.

we have quickly gone from a team with hope and promise to perhaps one of the worst 5 franchises in the nfl today. even more sadly and depressing for me personally, given the recent draft choices, trades and personnel choices by this same organization, i hold little or no hope of this changing for, many, many seasons.

it happened quickly, didn't it?

from a 21 year season ticket holder, atlanta native, and lifetime falcon fan.

[atlantaprodj]

this entire organization is at rock bottom; worse, there is little to embrace with hope for immediate improvement and less hope for the choices and decisions necessary to effect a positive change. i have no idea whether bobby petrino will turn out to be a highly successful, average, or below average nfl coach. only time will tell. however, i do know this about the falcon's organizational choices and decisions under their current owner and general manager: questionable, if not cripling!

in 1997 the falcons hired a proven coach, dan reeves, who had taken three teams to the super bowl. yes, i know he lost all three, but had he been given a terrell davis to compliment john elway, not doubt his teams would have won or least been more competitive in these games. then, this same coach took an entirely different organization to the super bowl in 1998, and after 3 lean years of rebuilding again, took a little know team to green bay and won at lambeau field for the first time ever in the playoffs.

in 2002, his team loses the qb who this team was built around and, despite the success of the 2003 team with reeves' player, in my opinion this team has been slowly spiraling down ever since.

the road to our "rock bottom" today:

1. firing dan reeves after the "broken leg" season.
   
2. hiring jim mora, a man of questionable character (snorting ammonia with his players?)
   
3. awarding an exciting, yet still unproven and arguably flawed (passing mechanics) qb a contract that even today has handcuffed this team financially.
   
4. a team that has failed miserably (and some who admittedly quit) in the last, most critical games of the past two seasons.
   
5. staking the future of the team to a qb who anyone with simple "street sense" could tell was exhibiting some behavior the past few years that was curious, bizarre and suspicious.
   
6. ignoring number 5 above and trading away a qb this year that has as much potential as anyone we could draft this or next year.
   
7. picking a guy, jamal anderson, who hasn't come close to a sack this year, is often dominated by an ol, and today i witnessed completely taking several plays off with minimal effort.
   
8. essentially giving away a potential game changing kick returner (rossum) who has already contributed mightily to now new team, the steelers.
   
9. cutting a proven nfl kicker for a project a costing the team one, perhaps two games early in the season.
   
10. number 8 & 9 above are critical decision blunders! with a team in transition and looking for early momentum, a "money" kicker and the occasional great punt return can make a big difference in close games--critical to a team like the falcons with a fragile psych!
    

i could go on and on with specifics but this could perhaps create too much argument and debate. i do believe that one central theme with this team provides little room for debate or dissention, and that is this team we are looking at is clearly a broken machine and this is the fault of the executives who make decisions for this entire organization.

we have quickly gone from a team with hope and promise to perhaps one of the worst 5 franchises in the nfl today. even more sadly and depressing for me personally, given the recent draft choices, trades and personnel choices by this same organization, i hold little or no hope of this changing for, many, many seasons.

it happened quickly, didn't it?

from a 21 year season ticket holder, atlanta native, and lifetime falcon fan.

agreed though i'd give anderson a full season before we discount him.

otherwise you hit the nail on the head.

add to that... petrino for the second time this season has chosen to punt when the clock dictates other wise.

i think blank needs to bring back reeves as gm and let him go get some players and a coaching staff with some skills asap... next season?

[birdfanattick]

yes. from at least the no. 1 reason. dan reeves was the guy who turned us in the right direction. and we threw him aside like a washed up doll. why? idk. but it was crazy. add to that wade phillips went with him and joe decamillis. these were good football coaches. the good news is i think we have recouped from that. patrino and zimmer are good coaches. no one in football could have figured on what has transpired since the end of the o6 season.

vick in jail

shockley injured

leftwitch injured. gandy, forney, weiner, then the backups.

i just hope we start rebuilding this team from the trenches backwards. no more big money skill position players until we have a good o and d line.

[atlantaprodj]

yes. from at least the no. 1 reason. dan reeves was the guy who turned us in the right direction. and we threw him aside like a washed up doll. why? idk. but it was crazy. add to that wade phillips went with him and joe decamillis. these were good football coaches. the good news is i think we have recouped from that. patrino and zimmer are good coaches. no one in football could have figured on what has transpired since the end of the o6 season.

vick in jail

shockley injured

leftwitch injured. gandy, forney, weiner, then the backups.

i just hope we start rebuilding this team from the trenches backwards. no more big money skill position players until we have a good o and d line.

dj shockley was never going to be more than a third string qb if that.

signed... uga fan

[newtone]

this entire organization is at rock bottom; worse, there is little to embrace with hope for immediate improvement and less hope for the choices and decisions necessary to effect a positive change. i have no idea whether bobby petrino will turn out to be a highly successful, average, or below average nfl coach. only time will tell. however, i do know this about the falcon's organizational choices and decisions under their current owner and general manager: questionable, if not cripling!

in 1997 the falcons hired a proven coach, dan reeves, who had taken three teams to the super bowl. yes, i know he lost all three, but had he been given a terrell davis to compliment john elway, not doubt his teams would have won or least been more competitive in these games. then, this same coach took an entirely different organization to the super bowl in 1998, and after 3 lean years of rebuilding again, took a little know team to green bay and won at lambeau field for the first time ever in the playoffs.

in 2002, his team loses the qb who this team was built around and, despite the success of the 2003 team with reeves' player, in my opinion this team has been slowly spiraling down ever since.

the road to our "rock bottom" today:

1. firing dan reeves after the "broken leg" season.
   
2. hiring jim mora, a man of questionable character (snorting ammonia with his players?)
   
3. awarding an exciting, yet still unproven and arguably flawed (passing mechanics) qb a contract that even today has handcuffed this team financially.
   
4. a team that has failed miserably (and some who admittedly quit) in the last, most critical games of the past two seasons.
   
5. staking the future of the team to a qb who anyone with simple "street sense" could tell was exhibiting some behavior the past few years that was curious, bizarre and suspicious.
   
6. ignoring number 5 above and trading away a qb this year that has as much potential as anyone we could draft this or next year.
   
7. picking a guy, jamal anderson, who hasn't come close to a sack this year, is often dominated by an ol, and today i witnessed completely taking several plays off with minimal effort.
   
8. essentially giving away a potential game changing kick returner (rossum) who has already contributed mightily to now new team, the steelers.
   
9. cutting a proven nfl kicker for a project a costing the team one, perhaps two games early in the season.
   
10. number 8 & 9 above are critical decision blunders! with a team in transition and looking for early momentum, a "money" kicker and the occasional great punt return can make a big difference in close games--critical to a team like the falcons with a fragile psych!
    

i could go on and on with specifics but this could perhaps create too much argument and debate. i do believe that one central theme with this team provides little room for debate or dissention, and that is this team we are looking at is clearly a broken machine and this is the fault of the executives who make decisions for this entire organization.

we have quickly gone from a team with hope and promise to perhaps one of the worst 5 franchises in the nfl today. even more sadly and depressing for me personally, given the recent draft choices, trades and personnel choices by this same organization, i hold little or no hope of this changing for, many, many seasons.

it happened quickly, didn't it?

from a 21 year season ticket holder, atlanta native, and lifetime falcon fan.

when were we a team of hope and promise.

[archangelreb]

this entire organization is at rock bottom; worse, there is little to embrace with hope for immediate improvement and less hope for the choices and decisions necessary to effect a positive change. i have no idea whether bobby petrino will turn out to be a highly successful, average, or below average nfl coach. only time will tell. however, i do know this about the falcon's organizational choices and decisions under their current owner and general manager: questionable, if not cripling!

in 1997 the falcons hired a proven coach, dan reeves, who had taken three teams to the super bowl. yes, i know he lost all three, but had he been given a terrell davis to compliment john elway, not doubt his teams would have won or least been more competitive in these games. then, this same coach took an entirely different organization to the super bowl in 1998, and after 3 lean years of rebuilding again, took a little know team to green bay and won at lambeau field for the first time ever in the playoffs.

in 2002, his team loses the qb who this team was built around and, despite the success of the 2003 team with reeves' player, in my opinion this team has been slowly spiraling down ever since.

the road to our "rock bottom" today:

1. firing dan reeves after the "broken leg" season.
   
2. hiring jim mora, a man of questionable character (snorting ammonia with his players?)
   
3. awarding an exciting, yet still unproven and arguably flawed (passing mechanics) qb a contract that even today has handcuffed this team financially.
   
4. a team that has failed miserably (and some who admittedly quit) in the last, most critical games of the past two seasons.
   
5. staking the future of the team to a qb who anyone with simple "street sense" could tell was exhibiting some behavior the past few years that was curious, bizarre and suspicious.
   
6. ignoring number 5 above and trading away a qb this year that has as much potential as anyone we could draft this or next year.
   
7. picking a guy, jamal anderson, who hasn't come close to a sack this year, is often dominated by an ol, and today i witnessed completely taking several plays off with minimal effort.
   
8. essentially giving away a potential game changing kick returner (rossum) who has already contributed mightily to now new team, the steelers.
   
9. cutting a proven nfl kicker for a project a costing the team one, perhaps two games early in the season.
   
10. number 8 & 9 above are critical decision blunders! with a team in transition and looking for early momentum, a "money" kicker and the occasional great punt return can make a big difference in close games--critical to a team like the falcons with a fragile psych!
    

i could go on and on with specifics but this could perhaps create too much argument and debate. i do believe that one central theme with this team provides little room for debate or dissention, and that is this team we are looking at is clearly a broken machine and this is the fault of the executives who make decisions for this entire organization.

we have quickly gone from a team with hope and promise to perhaps one of the worst 5 franchises in the nfl today. even more sadly and depressing for me personally, given the recent draft choices, trades and personnel choices by this same organization, i hold little or no hope of this changing for, many, many seasons.

it happened quickly, didn't it?

from a 21 year season ticket holder, atlanta native, and lifetime falcon fan.

i agree with everything. give us a team to believe in. man how i and many other falcon fans want to believe.

[birdfanattick]

dj shockley was never going to be more than a third string qb if that.

signed... uga fan

well seeing as we have lost 1 2 3 qbs now , think we could use him?

signed....no one likes a smart ars

[cairo91]

next time you go on a decision making tangent please include over paying for free agents and linebackers who currently suck at their job as well. that might help.

this entire organization is at rock bottom; worse, there is little to embrace with hope for immediate improvement and less hope for the choices and decisions necessary to effect a positive change. i have no idea whether bobby petrino will turn out to be a highly successful, average, or below average nfl coach. only time will tell. however, i do know this about the falcon's organizational choices and decisions under their current owner and general manager: questionable, if not cripling!

in 1997 the falcons hired a proven coach, dan reeves, who had taken three teams to the super bowl. yes, i know he lost all three, but had he been given a terrell davis to compliment john elway, not doubt his teams would have won or least been more competitive in these games. then, this same coach took an entirely different organization to the super bowl in 1998, and after 3 lean years of rebuilding again, took a little know team to green bay and won at lambeau field for the first time ever in the playoffs.

in 2002, his team loses the qb who this team was built around and, despite the success of the 2003 team with reeves' player, in my opinion this team has been slowly spiraling down ever since.

the road to our "rock bottom" today:

1. firing dan reeves after the "broken leg" season.
   
2. hiring jim mora, a man of questionable character (snorting ammonia with his players?)
   
3. awarding an exciting, yet still unproven and arguably flawed (passing mechanics) qb a contract that even today has handcuffed this team financially.
   
4. a team that has failed miserably (and some who admittedly quit) in the last, most critical games of the past two seasons.
   
5. staking the future of the team to a qb who anyone with simple "street sense" could tell was exhibiting some behavior the past few years that was curious, bizarre and suspicious.
   
6. ignoring number 5 above and trading away a qb this year that has as much potential as anyone we could draft this or next year.
   
7. picking a guy, jamal anderson, who hasn't come close to a sack this year, is often dominated by an ol, and today i witnessed completely taking several plays off with minimal effort.
   
8. essentially giving away a potential game changing kick returner (rossum) who has already contributed mightily to now new team, the steelers.
   
9. cutting a proven nfl kicker for a project a costing the team one, perhaps two games early in the season.
   
10. number 8 & 9 above are critical decision blunders! with a team in transition and looking for early momentum, a "money" kicker and the occasional great punt return can make a big difference in close games--critical to a team like the falcons with a fragile psych!
    

i could go on and on with specifics but this could perhaps create too much argument and debate. i do believe that one central theme with this team provides little room for debate or dissention, and that is this team we are looking at is clearly a broken machine and this is the fault of the executives who make decisions for this entire organization.

we have quickly gone from a team with hope and promise to perhaps one of the worst 5 franchises in the nfl today. even more sadly and depressing for me personally, given the recent draft choices, trades and personnel choices by this same organization, i hold little or no hope of this changing for, many, many seasons.

it happened quickly, didn't it?

from a 21 year season ticket holder, atlanta native, and lifetime falcon fan.

[ki45toryu]

i completely dont agree with the rossum trade in your eyes, nor the drafting of anderson.

1)rossum was the abosulte worst defender in the national football league, and handicapped us week after week when he forced to play. his kick returning ability was nullified with norwood's use, and he has actually done worse than jennings in punt returns this season...this being on a top 5 nfl team.

2)anderson is a rookie for goodness sake...give him a season or two before you start judging him.

i didnt him getting much help inside from the highly loved on this board babineaux, or the oft-injured probowler rod coleman.

[ayla]

next time you go on a decision making tangent please include over paying for free agents and linebackers who currently suck at their job as well. that might help.

noted and agreed!

i only had so much time!

[ayla]

i completely dont agree with the rossum trade in your eyes, nor the drafting of anderson.

1)rossum was the abosulte worst defender in the national football league, and handicapped us week after week when he forced to play. his kick returning ability was nullified with norwood's use, and he has actually done worse than jennings in punt returns this season...this being on a top 5 nfl team.

2)anderson is a rookie for goodness sake...give him a season or two before you start judging him.

i didnt him getting much help inside from the highly loved on this board babineaux, or the oft-injured probowler rod coleman.

we can disagree!

little things make a difference when your struggling and i doo believe rossum rrreturned a td for the steelers.

as for anderson, i know he's new but you'd like to at least see some near qb sacks and occasional great physical play by a top ten pick, not someone who has been a non factor and physically dominated by all of his competition. i'd heard the rap on him coming out of college is that he has a very week upper body so i'd have hoped the falcons would have parked him with a trainer for about 3 months after the draft to build his strength. the guy is simply not strong enough to play 4 quarters against a 300 lb man!