Don’t listen to the Falcons: They’re looking to smack the Pack

GoldieMember

By Mark Bradley

At Flowery Branch the other day, I was struck to hear one Falcon after another say the Green Bay playoff loss doesn’t affect their thinking as the Packers come to town yet again. “That was last year,” they’d say, and they’d all but scoff at the notion that payback was on their minds.

This made me think that the men expressing such sentiments are either liars or fools. And I’m pretty sure they aren’t fools.

That one loss hurt the Atlanta Falcons every which way. Sure, it kept them from winning the Super Bowl, but it cut deeper than that. It made us wonder if the 13-3 team of 2010 was as good as its record — a 48-21 home thrashing at the hands of an opponent you’d already beaten will do that — and it impelled more than a few folks who live in this city to adopt an I’ll-believe-it-when-I-see-it approach toward the local NFL franchise.

In August, a guy wondered why the buzz regarding the 2011 Falcons — who’d drafted Julio Jones and signed Ray Edwards and who were, after all, coming off 13-3 — wasn’t louder. Respondents tended to point first to the Green Bay loss. Had the Packers come to the Dome in January and absconded with a last-gasp victory, that would have been one thing. To watch the visitor win in such comprehensive fashion caused us to question everything about the Falcons: The defense, the coaching, the talent, even Matt Ryan.

http://blogs.ajc.com/mark-brad...gs_mark_bradley_blog

10/9/119:01 AM

Original Post

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YATittleMember

If we are careful with the ball, I just don't think the Falcons can do it...

10/9/119:07 AM

Rusty42 inch pythons brother!

quote:
Brian VanChildMolester and his matching mustache will be sending 3 and hoping our DB’s can cover for, oh, 10+ seconds.

Mark Bradley looks like Mark Summers from Nickelodeon’s Double Dare(TM). That makes my wife and I moist. Thank you for that.

10/9/119:07 AM

TschmackMember

How can ATL not think the Packers are in their heads?

They absolutely embarassed them in their house and won the Superbowl. Sure, the Falcons beat GB earlier in the year, but GB could have won that game too.

10/9/119:15 AM

The GBP RulesMember

The fumble by Rodgers on the goal line and the controversial TD call on Gonzalez' 'touchdown' was the difference in that first game.

I just don't see how ATL can stop GB. I don't think the Packers ever punted that last game. Only times they were stopped was on Jennings fumble and when Crosby missed the field goal. In 3 games against them Rodgers has thrown for 1023 yards, 7 TDs, 1 int and 300 yards every game.

10/9/119:32 AM

JJSDSitzpinkler Schadenfreude

GB is most definitely in ATL's head. Just the way they've been running their yaps - again - this week answers that question. Just like last year, it'll come down to the pass rush. If GB can keep AR clean and AR can step around blitzers like he did in January, GB will hang a 50-burger on them. I was half surprised they didn't do that last week when Fox kept calling TO's and going for 2.

If AR is getting beat up, GB will lose. Simple as that. GB's offense is so good, it almost doesn't matter what Matty Choke does. They can't score with GB, so they have to hope their D can keep GB from going crazy.

10/9/119:37 AM

BorisPerson Man Camera Dildo Shop - NFLFU®

http://m.youtube.com/index?des.../watch?v=qkAsQQJ1mRM

10/9/119:54 AM

PakrzFREEZE!

It sure would be nice if this was the week Capers and the defense put it all together and shut Atlanta down. It's frustrating because the personnel, for the most part, is in place to dominate.

10/9/1110:26 AM

artisMember

They drafted Julio Jones, and most likely mortgaged a chunk of their future, to supposedly keep up with the Packers. But what have they done on the other side of the ball to address the 41 given up by that defense last year?

10/9/1110:47 AM

mr21mr21Member

don't let Matty Ice get comfortable in the pocket - look at what the bears did to him

10/9/1110:48 AM

PackLandVAMember

quote:
Originally posted by artis:
But what have they done on the other side of the ball to address the 41 given up by that defense last year?

They signed Ray Edwards to line up opposite of John Abraham. While I don't know that Edwards will be the savior of the franchise, he is a pretty respectable DE. And he'll be going up against Newhouse, not Bulaga.

10/9/1111:15 AM

PakrzFREEZE!

Newhouse is a quality OT. If GB can minimize the False Starts they will be fine.

10/9/1111:19 AM

NJWISMember

quote:
Originally posted by PackLandVA:
quote:
Originally posted by artis:
But what have they done on the other side of the ball to address the 41 given up by that defense last year?

They signed Ray Edwards to line up opposite of John Abraham. While I don't know that Edwards will be the savior of the franchise, he is a pretty respectable DE. And he'll be going up against Newhouse, not Bulaga.

edwards has done zero this year.

10/9/1111:22 AM

michiganjoeMember

Edwards- 9 tackles and zero sacks

Jarius Wynn- 10 tackles and three sacks

10/9/1111:24 AM

PackLandVAMember

Newhouse may play fine, but he's only started a couple of games and has limited experience. He'll be going up against a veteran on the road in a dome.

If the Packers can keep Abraham and Edwards away from Rodgers, I think the game will rest in the hands of the Packer's defense.

10/9/1111:25 AM

PackLandVAMember

Stats after four games don't always mean much. That line of thinking means Clay will have 4 sacks for the year and the Packers defense will give up almost 400 points. And I think we all know Clay has been a lot better pressuring the QB than only 1 statistical sack. And Capers D will get a lot better.

Like I said, Ray Edwards in not the "be-all end-all" on defense. But I think he's a pretty decent player. Newhouse shows a lot of promise, but he's still relatively inexperienced. He played well against the Bears, but average against the Broncos.

10/9/1111:37 AM

heywardKaty Perry is bouncy

quote:
Originally posted by michiganjoe:
Edwards- 9 tackles and zero sacks

Jarius Wynn- 10 tackles and three sacks

As we know, sacks can be an overrated stat. Edwards is overpaid, but he's a much better player than Wynn.

10/9/1111:48 AM

PakrzFREEZE!

Why?

10/9/1111:51 AM

ilcuquiTHE F*** WITH FASHION

quote:
If the Packers can keep Abraham and Edwards away from Rodgers~~, I think the game will rest in the hands of the Packer's defense~~ the game is over, period.

10/9/1112:04 PM

HenryYou rang?

quote:
Originally posted by PackLandVA:

If the Packers can keep Abraham and Edwards away from Rodgers, I think the game will rest in the hands of the Packer's defense.

What? Yes if Rodgers completely lights up the Falcons D it will be up to the Packers D to win?

10/9/1112:49 PM

PackLandVAMember

In other words, the Packers offense will roll. Then it will just be up to the defense to keep the Falcons offense in check. If it's a shootout, either team can win.

10/9/1112:55 PM

CoachAt the head of the table

quote:
Originally posted by Henry:
What?

10/9/1112:55 PM

HenryYou rang?

quote:
Originally posted by heyward:
quote:
Originally posted by michiganjoe:
Edwards- 9 tackles and zero sacks

Jarius Wynn- 10 tackles and three sacks

As we know, sacks can be an overrated stat. Edwards is overpaid, but he's a much better player than Wynn.

Edwards played on a line with Jared Allen the Williams sisters and was pretty average for that line. I think you'll be hard pressed to find many Vajeen fans that are upset that Edwards is gone. He got his contract, no need for him to step it up anymore. The guy is Cleditus Hunt.

10/9/1112:57 PM

HenryYou rang?

quote:
Originally posted by PackLandVA:
In other words, the Packers offense will roll. Then it will just be up to the defense to keep the Falcons offense in check. If it's a shootout, either team can win.

I still haven't seen this "shootout potential" from Atlanta this year. The Falcons best chance at winning is stopping the Packers offense and relying on Michael Turner for a good chunk of offensive yardage.

I can tell you right now Ray Edwards isn't going to be the one to stop the Packers offense.

10/9/111:00 PM

CoachAt the head of the table

We're limited deep (Burnett's inexperience and Peprah's lack of speed) so they're definitely going to take their shots.

They're going to try to run Turner and play ball control to protect their defense and then take play action shots over the top.

They're also going to come out like their hair is on fire after last time.

I still think we should be able to outscore them even if their game plan has some success.

10/9/111:03 PM

HenryYou rang?

I have no doubt they will take their shots but I'll bet dollars to donuts a Ryan pick will kill that pretty fast. There is no doubt he's taken a step back from last years incredibly gravy schedule.

10/9/111:26 PM

PackLandVAMember

I guess I look at the Falcons offense as being better on turf. Two games on turf so far, and they scored 30 and 36 respectively. Factor in that they're at home where teams are usually better.

The Packers D, OTOH, has had difficulty generating a consistent pass rush. And the secondary has given up big yards (statistically). I think Ryan is a good enough QB to find his WRs if he's given enough time.

I hope you're right about Edwards being a nonfactor!

10/9/111:27 PM

JJSDSitzpinkler Schadenfreude

GB's offense hasn't played on dome-type turf yet, either. They're also better on that surface.

10/9/111:28 PM

PackLandVAMember

I don't disagree, and don't think I intimated that anywhere.

10/9/111:30 PM

HenryYou rang?

quote:
Originally posted by PackLandVA:
October is "Silent Killer" awareness month
I hope you're right about Edwards being a nonfactor!

I am!

Another point, the Packers offense absolutely explodes on turf and it also helps the defense, particularly Clay. The Packers are a dome team wet dream, which makes what they do at Lambeau all the more impressive.

10/9/111:31 PM

JJSDSitzpinkler Schadenfreude

You did when you set that if it's a shoot-out, either team can win. I disagree. A shoot-out, where both offenses are rolling, IMHO would mean something like 55-34 GB. That's not close.

10/9/111:32 PM

HenryYou rang?

quote:
Originally posted by PackLandVA:
I don't disagree, and don't think I intimated that anywhere.

You did post this:

"He'll be going up against a veteran on the road in a dome."

I don't know how this would work against Newhouse since on of his biggest strengths is his foot movement. This is why he is a natural tackle. This is also why he is the backup at both tackles.

10/9/111:37 PM

PackdogMember

quote:
Originally posted by Pakrz:
Newhouse is a quality OT.

Got a long way to go until that can be said . He does show solid potential though.

I think Atlanta is going to give us their best shot, but the Pack is just so sound in how they game plan. I see Atlanta's only shot being to force a few turnovers. I really like the way the Packers have responded in big games and "prime-time" games under McCarthy/Capers.

10/9/111:38 PM