5 reasons not to panic over the Falcons just yet

[nativefalcon]

1. There are still six wins on the schedule. To enumerate: Two against Tampa Bay, one more against Carolina, home victories over Washington and Buffalo and a road victory over the Jets. That would make 10, and 10 generally gets you into the playoffs. And the Philadelphia game here — maybe you’ve heard some discussion about it — on Dec. 6 is a tossup. That would make 11, which would make the Falcons a postseason lock.

2. There’s room for growth everywhere. This is a polite way of saying the Falcons aren’t tearing it up in any single category. They’re 19th in the NFL in total offense, and they should be in the top 10. They’re 25th in total defense, which is one spot down from last season, which was to be expected with the changes made on D. Given the losses of Peria Jerry and Brian Williams, it will be hard for this defense to improve much this season. But the offense should have some breakout games in it, which would give the Falcons a puncher’s chance against anybody.

3. Jason Snelling looked good against Dallas. And that’s a major consideration, seeing that Jerious Norwood is still hurting (hip flexor this time) and Michael Turner is beginning to resemble a one-year wonder. Turner is averaging 3.4 yards per carry, down a full yard off last season’s yield. Put simply, that yard is the difference between second-and-four and second-and-five. Either the Burner gets it going or Snelling gets a longer look.

4. This staff is not Jim Mora’s staff. Mora and Co. were fine so long as nothing went wrong but clueless when something inevitably did. There are fine coaches working in Flowery Branch now — Mike Smith, Mike Mularkey, Brian VanGorder, Sugar Bear Hamilton, Paul Boudreau — and they’ll fix as much as coaches possibly can. And then, if that isn’t enough, Thomas Dimitroff will go to work come February 2010.

5. Remember when we kept saying this might be a better team with a worse record? It still might. The aggregate record of the Falcons’ six opponents is 19-18. Their first six opponents last season were 14-20. There haven’t been any Detroits or Kansas Citys on this schedule, but things will get easier in December. The Falcons are going to lose more games — they’ll lose Monday night in the Superdome — but they’ll manage that breakthrough winning season and they’ll make the playoffs. Keep the faith.

http://blogs.ajc.com/mark-bradley-blog/2009/10/27/5-reasons-not-to-panic-over-the-falcons-just-yet/?cxntfid=blogs_mark_bradley_blog

[SLICK NICK]

Ah, much better than a lot of the post the past few days. Thanks so much for posting.

[CraigSmackDaddy]

That's actually a decent article from the AJC... has **** frozen over? Pigs flying?

I still WILL NOT concede a win to the Aints before the game starts. They were almost beat by a team we beat up on... I know almost means nothing but they were getting spanked and the Dolphins should have beat them. The Aints are beatable... I don't care if the Pope said we were going to lose I would still believe we could win.

[falcon_ace]

I agree we will LOSE more games .....Some idiots on this board think we should win it all.

It is NFL.

With our defense & injuries ...it will be tough but we can win 10 games this season.

[The Don™]

I agree we will LOSE more games .....Some idiots on this board think we should win it all.

It is NFL.

With our defense & injuries ...it will be tough but we can win 10 games this season.

FalconACE?! Where ya been man? I havent seen you in forever!

[Lowcountry Falcon]

great post.....from the AJC.......wtf is going on?

finalllllyyyy

[Rhodaric]

Actually Mark Bradley is the only one of at the AJC that's been writing good Falcons articles.

He's the only one that doesn't go all kneejerk reaction that the falcons stink.

[hog85]

If the staff is so great.... why isn't the O clicking? Its all on Mularkey.....he hasn't done his job.

[SWIFT HITTER]

1. There are still six wins on the schedule. To enumerate: Two against Tampa Bay, one more against Carolina, home victories over Washington and Buffalo and a road victory over the Jets. That would make 10, and 10 generally gets you into the playoffs. And the Philadelphia game here — maybe you've heard some discussion about it — on Dec. 6 is a tossup. That would make 11, which would make the Falcons a postseason lock.

2. There's room for growth everywhere. This is a polite way of saying the Falcons aren't tearing it up in any single category. They're 19th in the NFL in total offense, and they should be in the top 10. They're 25th in total defense, which is one spot down from last season, which was to be expected with the changes made on D. Given the losses of Peria Jerry and Brian Williams, it will be hard for this defense to improve much this season. But the offense should have some breakout games in it, which would give the Falcons a puncher's chance against anybody.

3. Jason Snelling looked good against Dallas. And that's a major consideration, seeing that Jerious Norwood is still hurting (hip flexor this time) and Michael Turner is beginning to resemble a one-year wonder. Turner is averaging 3.4 yards per carry, down a full yard off last season's yield. Put simply, that yard is the difference between second-and-four and second-and-five. Either the Burner gets it going or Snelling gets a longer look.

4. This staff is not Jim Mora's staff. Mora and Co. were fine so long as nothing went wrong but clueless when something inevitably did. There are fine coaches working in Flowery Branch now — Mike Smith, Mike Mularkey, Brian VanGorder, Sugar Bear Hamilton, Paul Boudreau — and they'll fix as much as coaches possibly can. And then, if that isn't enough, Thomas Dimitroff will go to work come February 2010.

5. Remember when we kept saying this might be a better team with a worse record? It still might. The aggregate record of the Falcons' six opponents is 19-18. Their first six opponents last season were 14-20. There haven't been any Detroits or Kansas Citys on this schedule, but things will get easier in December. The Falcons are going to lose more games — they'll lose Monday night in the Superdome — but they'll manage that breakthrough winning season and they'll make the playoffs. Keep the faith.

http://blogs.ajc.com...rk_bradley_blog

good post

[hog85]

Why should the O be in the top ten? They've done nothing to prove that they're worthy. Potential gets you nothing....prove it.

Ryan looks scared....... look at the Dallas game. He looks like a dear in the headlights.

[savage_of_the_deadly_skies]

1. There are still six wins on the schedule. To enumerate: Two against Tampa Bay, one more against Carolina, home victories over Washington and Buffalo and a road victory over the Jets. That would make 10, and 10 generally gets you into the playoffs. And the Philadelphia game here — maybe you’ve heard some discussion about it — on Dec. 6 is a tossup. That would make 11, which would make the Falcons a postseason lock.

2. There’s room for growth everywhere. This is a polite way of saying the Falcons aren’t tearing it up in any single category. They’re 19th in the NFL in total offense, and they should be in the top 10. They’re 25th in total defense, which is one spot down from last season, which was to be expected with the changes made on D. Given the losses of Peria Jerry and Brian Williams, it will be hard for this defense to improve much this season. But the offense should have some breakout games in it, which would give the Falcons a puncher’s chance against anybody.

3. Jason Snelling looked good against Dallas. And that’s a major consideration, seeing that Jerious Norwood is still hurting (hip flexor this time) and Michael Turner is beginning to resemble a one-year wonder. Turner is averaging 3.4 yards per carry, down a full yard off last season’s yield. Put simply, that yard is the difference between second-and-four and second-and-five. Either the Burner gets it going or Snelling gets a longer look.

4. This staff is not Jim Mora’s staff. Mora and Co. were fine so long as nothing went wrong but clueless when something inevitably did. There are fine coaches working in Flowery Branch now — Mike Smith, Mike Mularkey, Brian VanGorder, Sugar Bear Hamilton, Paul Boudreau — and they’ll fix as much as coaches possibly can. And then, if that isn’t enough, Thomas Dimitroff will go to work come February 2010.

5. Remember when we kept saying this might be a better team with a worse record? It still might. The aggregate record of the Falcons’ six opponents is 19-18. Their first six opponents last season were 14-20. There haven’t been any Detroits or Kansas Citys on this schedule, but things will get easier in December. The Falcons are going to lose more games — they’ll lose Monday night in the Superdome — but they’ll manage that breakthrough winning season and they’ll make the playoffs. Keep the faith.

http://blogs.ajc.com/mark-bradley-blog/2009/10/27/5-reasons-not-to-panic-over-the-falcons-just-yet/?cxntfid=blogs_mark_bradley_blog

Winning a game that we've already lost according to those who can tell the future would be a great way to get things rolling again.

[hog85]

Winning a game that we've already lost according to those who can tell the future would be a great way to get things rolling again.

never happen. Too much talent on the other side.

[Arkansas Falcon]

Good post.

I looked at this schedule at the beginning of the season and said that 10 wins is most definitely possible.

[JPA]

never happen. Too much talent on the other side.

We will have to beat the Saints sooner or later to get to the Super Bowl this year. Like I've said, the Falcons are going to play this like it's the NFC Championship. I wouldn't give the Saints the W just yet. We'll see how things look at halftime on Monday.

[rugger8]

Here's what has been getting me: everyone was all huffy and worried about getting 4 teams coming off their bye weeks. Now that one of the better ones socked us in the teeth, people get all freaked out. We- most of us- expected this. Not the Cowboys, perhaps, but I don't think anyone expected to go 4-0 against the teams coming off their bye weeks.

[FalconFanForLife]

Yeah good post.

Some people went too googoogawgaw after last season, and now they are just getting a wakeup call. This is still a VERY young team, and organization still putting pieces together with more work to go.

[Slimm]

thanks

[slick0ne]

Actually Mark Bradley is the only one of at the AJC that's been writing good Falcons articles.

He's the only one that doesn't go all kneejerk reaction that the falcons stink.

Man...who is that in your sig?

[maxatlanta]

...they’ll lose Monday night in the Superdome.

Hasn't Bradley covered the NFL long enough to know better!? There's a reason they play the games.

[IronHead34]

BREATH. Of. FRESH. AIR.

+1 for you. Good article.

[AtlFalc78]

Honestly I like the article but cannot stand it when people "project" wins in this league. I am sure the Eagles had a "win" penciled in against Oakland and Carolina had a "win" penciled in against the Bills.

Lets just take it 1 game at a time.........or the board might explode

[aerosmith67]

Gotta love NFL writers that project W's & L's, who's to say Brees doesn't end up breaking his ankle against the Falcons? On the other hand what happens if Ryan gets hurt? Injuries, fluky plays (see Denver vs. Bengals) and upsets happen every week on every level of football from little league through the NFL. Saying the Falcons WON'T win Monday Night is just as stupid as it is to say the Falcons will beat the Bucs twice in December or that the schedule in December is easy.

[Radiohead]

You are absolutely right. The thing is, Matt Ryan IS the next Peyton Manning. No one disputes that, even -- D-bag Chris Collinsworth agrees. The truth of the matter is Michael Turner was a one year wonder who is now debilitated and slow because we ran him close to 400 times. We need to pass the reigns to Snelling and draft a nice young 1st/2nd round RB next offseason and let Norwood walk and see if we can't sign some decent 3rd down back in Free Agency.

We must keep this year in perspective. We have the 4th hardest schedule in the league and it's Ryan's 2nd year and we are still rebuilding...

Last year was a major tease and built soooo much hype for this season.

[AtlantaFalconPokerPro]

Actually Mark Bradley is the only one of at the AJC that's been writing good Falcons articles.

He's the only one that doesn't go all kneejerk reaction that the falcons stink.

that might be the case, but Mark Bradley is still an idiot!

[RyanFalconMan]

Thats the blog of the year. I needed to read that. It just feels like after one loss, things just come down on you. Feels like an avalanche just hit me and I cant get out. I will have to look over the schedule but yeah there are some winnable games. First and foremost, we have to win all games at home. We are on the right track, just 5 more and we do it. We have to beat the teams that have been losing. You know what **** it, lets go undefeated against Division opponents.