‘08 Preview: Falcons won’t fly this year

[birdz4i]

By D. Orlando Ledbetter, Sporting News Jul 17, 9:17 pm EDT

Seems like the Falcons have been rebuilding in perpetuity. The latest version – the Dimitroff & Smith Master plan – hits the field in 2008.

After plucking new general manager Thomas Dimitroff off the New England Patriots’ tree and pairing him with affable Mike Smith, the Falcons blew up the roster left over from the McKay/Mora/Petrino era.

Smith became the fourth head coach in Arthur Blank’s six-year ownership tenure after Bobby Petrino bolted back to the college ranks after a 13-game pro stint.

The Falcons are hoping their new front-office tandem works out somewhat like the Bill Belichick-Scott Pioli partnership has for New England. They would take the franchise’s first back-to-back winning seasons as a start.

Dimitroff and Smith decided to rebuild from scratch. The plan calls for the Falcons to begin with the middle of both units.

Offense

Offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey will implement his “exotic smash-mouth” attack that is centered around a power running game. The vertical passing game will flow off of play-action fakes with a healthy mix of well-timed gadget plays.

Before things get rolling and the unit is set to establish an identity, the Falcons must rebuild the offensive line under the guidance of longtime NFL assistant coach Paul Boudreau. In addition to revamping the line, the Falcons must find a few tight ends/H-backs who can execute in the run game.

Defense

Defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder gets his big shot in the NFL after bouncing between the college game and the league over the last four seasons. He was the Falcons’ linebackers coach last season after serving a year as Georgia Southern’s head coach. He coached linebackers with Smith at Jacksonville the year before that and was at the University of Georgia before going to Jacksonville.

VanGorder had a reputation for playing an attacking 4-3 defense while defensive coordinator at Georgia. The Falcons spent heavily on the secondary in the draft and free agency, signaling that major changes are on the way. They are preparing to play a myriad of zone coverages and allow VanGorder to pick his spots with a creative blitz package.

The book on: Jerious Norwood

A rival sizes up the Falcons’ running back:

“The Falcons have to find a way to get Jerious Norwood 15 to 20 touches a game. His sheer speed puts an incredible amount of stress on the defense. Norwood may not be ideal to run between the tackles, but that’s what they signed Michael Turner to do. He’s had to wait his turn behind Warrick Dunn and now must split carries with Turner. They have to come up with some schemes to get both of them on the field and resist labeling Norwood as a third-down back.

“I’m sure (offensive coordinator) Mike Mularkey can find a way to mix in his touches on first and second down; then the offense will be less predictable on third downs when he’s on the field.

“Norwood has the potential to hit the home run at any time. Once he gets into the secondary, he’s in a foot race that he’s going to win.”

Bottom line

You just can’t change the general manager, hire a new coach, watch the quarterback go off to jail, get rid of most of your former Pro Bowlers and think that the shipwrecked boat is just going to sail right along.

The under-construction sign will remain on this massive undertaking for this season at the very least. There is just too much going on for the Falcons to have any semblance of unity and continuity after the Vick era.

The Dimitroff-Smith Plan needs some time to take hold. Anything close to 8-8, and Smith should be nominated for coach of the year.

SN projection: 1-15, fourth in NFC South.

boy all the 1-15 0-16 predictions. this is an older story, i wonder if he has changed his mind since pre-season started. i think we will catch some people napping this year. i do agree with 1 thing, we go 8-8 and coach smith has gotta be in line for coach of the year.

[rugger8]

Fortunately, we've gained some credibility since July 17.

[Jedi-Falcon]

That's an old article.

How can anyone predict a 1 Win season for any NFL team? This team already beat 2 top AFC teams in pre-season, and I think that will carry on into the regular season. We are not that bad, by a long shot.

[Jedi-Falcon]

Our 1st String Defense has not allowed a Touchdown in 3 Pre-season games. That says something.

[durrdbyrd]

Oh wow...Jedi I didn't know Don Lafontaine died. That sucks. His voice was awesome. A lot of great people are dying this summer.

[dirtybirdz91]

He'll eat his words by a couple of Sundays from now.

Because then we'll have won two games!!

8-8, give or take a W.

[Josh Affonso]

I hope that all of this optimism that we have here on these boards is not premature. I wan't to get really excited about this season's team but I am trying hard to take the "wait and see apporach".

[Rockford]

By D. Orlando Ledbetter, Sporting News Jul 17, 9:17 pm EDT

Seems like the Falcons have been rebuilding in perpetuity. The latest version – the Dimitroff & Smith Master plan – hits the field in 2008.

After plucking new general manager Thomas Dimitroff off the New England Patriots’ tree and pairing him with affable Mike Smith, the Falcons blew up the roster left over from the McKay/Mora/Petrino era.

Smith became the fourth head coach in Arthur Blank’s six-year ownership tenure after Bobby Petrino bolted back to the college ranks after a 13-game pro stint.

The Falcons are hoping their new front-office tandem works out somewhat like the Bill Belichick-Scott Pioli partnership has for New England. They would take the franchise’s first back-to-back winning seasons as a start.

Dimitroff and Smith decided to rebuild from scratch. The plan calls for the Falcons to begin with the middle of both units.

Offense

Offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey will implement his “exotic smash-mouth” attack that is centered around a power running game. The vertical passing game will flow off of play-action fakes with a healthy mix of well-timed gadget plays.

Before things get rolling and the unit is set to establish an identity, the Falcons must rebuild the offensive line under the guidance of longtime NFL assistant coach Paul Boudreau. In addition to revamping the line, the Falcons must find a few tight ends/H-backs who can execute in the run game.

Defense

Defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder gets his big shot in the NFL after bouncing between the college game and the league over the last four seasons. He was the Falcons’ linebackers coach last season after serving a year as Georgia Southern’s head coach. He coached linebackers with Smith at Jacksonville the year before that and was at the University of Georgia before going to Jacksonville.

VanGorder had a reputation for playing an attacking 4-3 defense while defensive coordinator at Georgia. The Falcons spent heavily on the secondary in the draft and free agency, signaling that major changes are on the way. They are preparing to play a myriad of zone coverages and allow VanGorder to pick his spots with a creative blitz package.

The book on: Jerious Norwood

A rival sizes up the Falcons’ running back:

“The Falcons have to find a way to get Jerious Norwood 15 to 20 touches a game. His sheer speed puts an incredible amount of stress on the defense. Norwood may not be ideal to run between the tackles, but that’s what they signed Michael Turner to do. He’s had to wait his turn behind Warrick Dunn and now must split carries with Turner. They have to come up with some schemes to get both of them on the field and resist labeling Norwood as a third-down back.

“I’m sure (offensive coordinator) Mike Mularkey can find a way to mix in his touches on first and second down; then the offense will be less predictable on third downs when he’s on the field.

“Norwood has the potential to hit the home run at any time. Once he gets into the secondary, he’s in a foot race that he’s going to win.”

Bottom line

You just can’t change the general manager, hire a new coach, watch the quarterback go off to jail, get rid of most of your former Pro Bowlers and think that the shipwrecked boat is just going to sail right along.

The under-construction sign will remain on this massive undertaking for this season at the very least. There is just too much going on for the Falcons to have any semblance of unity and continuity after the Vick era.

The Dimitroff-Smith Plan needs some time to take hold. Anything close to 8-8, and Smith should be nominated for coach of the year.

SN projection: 1-15, fourth in NFC South.

boy all the 1-15 0-16 predictions. this is an older story, i wonder if he has changed his mind since pre-season started. i think we will catch some people napping this year. i do agree with 1 thing, we go 8-8 and coach smith has gotta be in line for coach of the year.

The thing is. . many of those probowlers were either no longer brobowlers or NOT playing olast year.. .

[Jigga Donkey]

Fortunately, we've gained some credibility since July 17.

Really? Did the regular season start already?

Huh, it must have because anyone who thinks an NFL team gains anything in the preseason must be smoking some good crack.

[REV.2000]

By D. Orlando Ledbetter, Sporting News Jul 17, 9:17 pm EDT

Seems like the Falcons have been rebuilding in perpetuity. The latest version – the Dimitroff & Smith Master plan – hits the field in 2008.

LET ME GIVE YOU A BIT OD ADVICE. STOP BELIEVING EVERYTHING THAT YOU READ ABOUT FOOTBALL. START WATCHING

FOR YOURSELF. IT IS EVIDENT THAT THIS LEDBETTER GUY DOESN'T WATCH MUCH EITHER. NEVER USE SOMETHING THIS OLD

AS CREDIBILITY. YOU DIDN'T WATCH ANYTHING DURING PRE-SEASON FOOTBALL. BECAUSE IF YOU DID, YOU NEVER COULD

HAVE THREADED THIS. THE SEASON IS ABOUT TO START, SINCE YOU LIKE TO READ ..... READ MY LIPS. WATCH ..... SOME .....

FOOTBALL ....... GAMES ....... MAKE ..... YOUR .... OWN .....OBSERVATIONS ......... OK?

[falconfanjason]

In 42 years of football the Falcons have only had a one win season once and that was in its first year of existence. These so-called sports writers are a joke.

[FalconFanForLife]

Yeah it's not really fair to hold Ledbetter to this prediction made 6 weeks ago. But it wasn't a smart pick anyways to only have us winning one game. I don't know how many we are gonna win, but it will definitely be more than one.

He is correct though that this team is in a massive rebuilding mode, so we should all be prepared for a bumpy season. The team has looked very good in preseason, but the preseason is a joke compared to a real game.

But I am still more optimistic now than I was before preseason.

[bird]

Yeah it's not really fair to hold Ledbetter to this prediction made 6 weeks ago. But it wasn't a smart pick anyways to only have us winning one game. I don't know how many we are gonna win, but it will definitely be more than one.

He is correct though that this team is in a massive rebuilding mode, so we should all be prepared for a bumpy season. The team has looked very good in preseason, but the preseason is a joke compared to a real game.

But I am still more optimistic now than I was before preseason.

I agree. We've seen a whole lot more since then to be excited about. I think we are flying under the radar, and that's a good thing. It's nice to be surprised.