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2024 Atlanta Falcons Thread - The family reunion is here as the Cousins has arrived (1 Viewer)

Faust

MVP
Kicking off the Falcons 2012 season thread for all things relating to the Dirty Birds !!!!
 
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Atlanta Falcons offered 'Hard Knocks' spot, according to report

HBO has asked the Atlanta Falcons to star in the next installment of "Hard Knocks," ESPN reported Wednesday.

ESPN cited multiple sources in reporting the offer, though HBO declined to comment.

Produced by NFL Films and HBO, "Hard Knocks" is a weekly series that follows one NFL team through training camp and the preseason.

FoxSports.com reported earlier Wednesday that HBO wanted the New York Jets to be featured on this year's show, but coach Rex Ryan is against the idea. The Jets were featured on the show in 2010.

A spokesman for the Jacksonville Jaguars confirmed to " the Florida Times-Union that the Jaguars are interested in appearing on the show, but added, "we don’t know what HBO's plans are."

"Hard Knocks" didn't air in 2011 because of the NFL lockout.
 
Draft team needs: Atlanta Falcons

Friday March 23, 2012 - 1:34 PM

By Pete Prisco | CBSSports.com Senior NFL Columnist

The Atlanta Falcons have won more games the past four seasons than any other NFC team.

They also haven't won a playoff game.

That leads to the questions about how they can get past that huge hurdle. A change of coordinators might be just what this team needs.

Offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey, who came under a lot of scrutiny in his four seasons with the Falcons, is now the head coach in Jacksonville, while defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder left for Auburn, replaced by highly respected Mike Nolan.

Look for the Falcons to be much more aggressive down the field under new offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter. That should be good news for quarterback Matt Ryan.

Since coming into the league in 2008, the same year coach Mike Smith took over in Atlanta, Ryan and Smith have had great success, but the playoff failures, going 0-3, hang over their heads.

This is a team that needs to be better on both lines if it wants to truly be a Super Bowl team.

This draft should be about improving those areas, even if the Falcons don't have a first-round pick because of last year's trade to get Julio Jones.

QB: The Falcons are set with Ryan, although it's certainly time for him to win a playoff game. Ryan will be given more chances to throw this season on early downs with Koetter as offensive coordinator, which will help his improvement to the next level. Chris Redman is a capable backup, although if he were forced to play for a long period of time the Falcons would be in trouble. John Parker Wilson is the No. 3 guy, a player the Falcons like but hope never plays.

RB: Michael Turner is still capable, but he has had a lot of carries and it's starting to show. Turner isn't explosive, so look for second-year player Jacquizz Rodgers to be more involved in the offense. Turner had 301 carries last season, so that has to be cut down some. Rodgers had only 57. They need to get Rodgers more involved in the passing game. Jason Snelling is a quality backup. Ovie Mughelli and Mike Cox are the fullbacks. They missed Mughelli when he got hurt last season.

WR: This is a team strong point. Roddy White led the Falcons in catches with 100, but his yards-per-catch average was down to 13.5. He also had some trouble with drops. Julio Jones missed three games with injuries, but had 54 catches and averaged 17.4 per catch to show off his big-play ability. Harry Douglas is a nice No. 3 who should be used more in the new offense. There isn't much after those three.

TE: Tony Gonzalez doesn't run like he used to, but he's still an effective player in the middle of the field. He had 80 catches last season, but he averaged just 10.9 yards per catch. He did have seven touchdown catches. Michael Palmer is the backup and he is more of a blocker. They could use some help here.

OL: This was an area that disappointed in 2011 and should see some change. Veteran center Todd McClure is a free agent who remains unsigned. If he isn't back, it would mean Joe Hawley, who started at guard some last season, would move to center, his more natural position. The guard play wasn't as good as expected last season. That's why Vince Manuwai was signed. He should push Garrett Reynolds. The Falcons still hope San Baker can turn his career around after being a first-round pick four years ago. Injuries have really hampered his progress at left tackle. Right tackle Tyson Clabo is a mauler, but his play dropped off some in 2011 after he signed a big contract to stay. Will Svitek is a backup who started some for Baker last season. Mike Johnson is a backup guard. They could use some improvement here.

DL: This was supposed to be a strong point in 2011, but it wasn't. It's hard to find many players who played to expectations. Injuries hurt, but they have to improve here if they are to become a Super Bowl contender. They did re-sign ends John Abraham and Kroy Biermann, two free agents. Abraham needs to be better in division games after getting just one sack in six games against NFC South teams. Ray Edwards was a disappointment after signing as a free agent last season. He is decent against the run, but doesn't provide much in terms of pass rush from the other end spot. Lawrence Sidbury had four sacks as a reserve. Corey Peters did play well for the Falcons. Jonathan Babineaux had a subpar season and need to be better inside. Peria Jerry has never recovered completely from knee troubles.

LB: The Falcons could have a new look in 2012. Middle linebacker Curtis Lofton remains a free agent but still could be brought back. If not, look for Akeem Dent, who led the team in special-teams tackles last season, to get first crack at the middle linebacker spot. Veteran Lofa Tatupu is also in the mix if Lofton doesn't return. Sean Weatherspoon is the team's best linebacker. He is an explosive athlete who came into his own in his second season in 2012. He is on the verge of being a Pro Bowl player. Stephen Nicholas is solid at the other outside spot. Depth is needed.

DB: The Falcons put the franchise tag on corner Brent Grimes, which means he's back. That was key. He is their best secondary player. Dunta Robinson on the other corner has been a disappointment since coming over as a top-dollar free agent in 2010. He has to play better. The nickel corner is up for grabs. The Falcons re-signed Thomas DeCoud to continue to start on the back end. In DeCoud and William Moore, the Falcons have a nice safety tandem. They need to improve the depth at both corner and safety.
 
NFC South draft needs

Atlanta Falcons Excerpt:

Overview: With no first-round pick and only two picks in the first four rounds, the Falcons don’t figure to be major players early in the draft. GM Thomas Dimitroff isn’t shy about making bold moves, but there are no indications that the team is preparing to pull off another blockbuster trade to move back into the first round. Atlanta’s first- and fourth-round picks in 2012 were sent to the Browns as part of the trade to move up and select WR Julio Jones last year. The Falcons have six picks — a second-rounder (No. 55), third-rounder (No. 84), fifth-rounder, sixth-rounder and two seventh-rounders.

Need No. 1: Offensive left tackle

It appears likely that Sam Baker, a first-round pick in 2008, will head into camp as the starting left tackle, and that doesn’t seem to sit well with a significant segment of the team’s fan base. While some of the fans have lost faith in Baker, the Falcons are counting on him to bounce back from a disappointing, injury-riddled season in which he was moved to guard. Plus, the team knows it has a solid backup in Will Svitek, who started 10 games at left tackle in 2011. Both Baker and Svitek are in the final year of their deals, however, and the team should be looking for a player with the potential to protect QB Matt Ryan’s blind side.

Need No. 2: Defensive line

The Falcons re-signed DEs John Abraham and Kroy Biermann and are hoping for stronger seasons from DE Ray Edwards, who was a disappointment after signing as a high-priced free agent last year, and DTs Jonathan Babineaux and Peria Jerry. They would be wise to continue looking for help at the DE and DT spots to ramp up a middling pass rush. Abraham has been their best pass rusher, but he turns 34 in May and Atlanta needs to get more speed and disruption from the front four.

Need No. 3: Tight end

Atlanta has not drafted a tight end since trading for Tony Gonzalez, but the Falcons have been looking at potential replacements for him in recent years and might be as tempted as ever to address the position with Gonzalez playing on a one-year deal and suggesting that the 2012 season could be his last. Gonzalez is still very effective, even at 36 years old, and QB Matt Ryan already has a good collection of weapons, but he certainly won’t complain if the team adds another dynamic receiving threat to its arsenal.
 
Matt Ryan ...

“Heading into each offseason, I try and take two or three areas to really improve on,’’ Ryan said. "This year, it was getting a little bit stronger in the weight rooms. So I’ve been working out pretty hard this offseason to try and put on a little bit of weight to get a little bit stronger and I think that’ll help me out on the field. Also, I think we need to be more effective with some of our throws down the field and that’s something that I’ve certainly worked on early this offseason. And I think a combination of those two things will help our success.’’

Julio Jones +

 
Atlanta Falcons pass on HBO's 'Hard Knocks' to focus on game

By Albert Breer

Reporter, NFL.com and NFL Network

The Atlanta Falcons will not appear on the next season of HBO's Hard Knocks, league sources said Saturday.

The decision was made by, among others, owner Arthur Blank, general manager Thomas Dimitroff and head coach Mike Smith. They were in agreement that the focus should be on football over the summer, and they didn't want anything to distract from that.

The Falcons were among a number of teams considered for the show, but they were never formally offered, according to a source close to the situation.

The Falcons reportedly were the network's first choice once the New York Jets appeared to be disinterested in doing the show again, and Dimitroff was non-committal on the subject when asked by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Thursday.

"Right now, I have nothing to offer on that," Dimitroff said. "Like all of us, we've watched it over the years and there have been some highlights," Dimitroff said. "There have been some highlights, no questions about that. It's interesting TV."
Smart decision IMO

 
'bigmarc27 said:
'Master of Past and Present said:
Falcons in trade talks for Asante Samuel

Anyone reporting what the potential price would be?
I just saw later round pick - would love this for the Falcons. Grimes, dunta, and Asante would be a nice rotation.
What type of coverage do the Falcons employ? Samuel is a zone guy. Good in that coverage and has great instincts. He doesn't play press and he can't tackle.
New DC Mike Nolan will use the Big Nickel - replace a linebacker- three safeties and 2 corners - requires a little tighter coverage than the zones the Falcons played last season...http://www.opposingviews.com/i/sports/nfl/nfl-analysis-mike-nolans-interesting-vision-atlanta-falcons

.

 
Draft fallout: Can Falcons keep Matt Ryan upright?

By Marc Sessler NFL.com

Writer

Did Falcons find enough protection for Ryan

The Atlanta Falcons' ongoing quest to make a dent in the NFC playoffs is directly tied to the play of Matt Ryan. The team used the draft to bolster a line charged with keeping its young quarterback upright.

"We need to make sure we have the right people protecting 'Deuce,' (Ryan) as well as helping in short-yardage runs," general manager Thomas Dimitroff told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Dimitroff isn't afraid to use Atlanta's draft to plug needs, even when that means bypassing the best value on the board. Without a pick in the first round after last year's blockbuster Julio Jones trade, Atlanta used its second-rounder on guard/center Peter Konz and a third-round pick on offensive tackle Lamar Holmes. At first blush, value wasn't sacrificed here, especially in the case of Konz.

One reason for back-to-back O-line picks: Ryan was sacked 26 times in 2011, but it was the 84 hits on the quarterback -- seventh most in the league -- that has the organization concerned.

The addition of Konz -- widely considered the top center in the draft -- provides the Falcons with versatility. Dimitroff pounded home the fact that Konz is seen as potential guard material in Atlanta. The young lineman pulled and trapped from the center spot at Wisconsin and will be plugged in early where needed with the Falcons.

Holmes is another versatile addition, having logged time at left and right tackle at Southern Mississippi. Throw fullback Bradie Ewing into the mix -- he'll replaced the released Ovie Mughelli -- and Atlanta accomplished its goal of gaining strength up front.
 
Draft fallout: Can Falcons keep Matt Ryan upright?

By Marc Sessler NFL.com

Writer

Did Falcons find enough protection for Ryan

The Atlanta Falcons' ongoing quest to make a dent in the NFC playoffs is directly tied to the play of Matt Ryan. The team used the draft to bolster a line charged with keeping its young quarterback upright.

"We need to make sure we have the right people protecting 'Deuce,' (Ryan) as well as helping in short-yardage runs," general manager Thomas Dimitroff told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Dimitroff isn't afraid to use Atlanta's draft to plug needs, even when that means bypassing the best value on the board. Without a pick in the first round after last year's blockbuster Julio Jones trade, Atlanta used its second-rounder on guard/center Peter Konz and a third-round pick on offensive tackle Lamar Holmes. At first blush, value wasn't sacrificed here, especially in the case of Konz.

One reason for back-to-back O-line picks: Ryan was sacked 26 times in 2011, but it was the 84 hits on the quarterback -- seventh most in the league -- that has the organization concerned.

The addition of Konz -- widely considered the top center in the draft -- provides the Falcons with versatility. Dimitroff pounded home the fact that Konz is seen as potential guard material in Atlanta. The young lineman pulled and trapped from the center spot at Wisconsin and will be plugged in early where needed with the Falcons.

Holmes is another versatile addition, having logged time at left and right tackle at Southern Mississippi. Throw fullback Bradie Ewing into the mix -- he'll replaced the released Ovie Mughelli -- and Atlanta accomplished its goal of gaining strength up front.
Curious on where that nickname came from....
 
Draft fallout: Can Falcons keep Matt Ryan upright?

By Marc Sessler NFL.com

Writer

Did Falcons find enough protection for Ryan

The Atlanta Falcons' ongoing quest to make a dent in the NFC playoffs is directly tied to the play of Matt Ryan. The team used the draft to bolster a line charged with keeping its young quarterback upright.

"We need to make sure we have the right people protecting 'Deuce,' (Ryan) as well as helping in short-yardage runs," general manager Thomas Dimitroff told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Dimitroff isn't afraid to use Atlanta's draft to plug needs, even when that means bypassing the best value on the board. Without a pick in the first round after last year's blockbuster Julio Jones trade, Atlanta used its second-rounder on guard/center Peter Konz and a third-round pick on offensive tackle Lamar Holmes. At first blush, value wasn't sacrificed here, especially in the case of Konz.

One reason for back-to-back O-line picks: Ryan was sacked 26 times in 2011, but it was the 84 hits on the quarterback -- seventh most in the league -- that has the organization concerned.

The addition of Konz -- widely considered the top center in the draft -- provides the Falcons with versatility. Dimitroff pounded home the fact that Konz is seen as potential guard material in Atlanta. The young lineman pulled and trapped from the center spot at Wisconsin and will be plugged in early where needed with the Falcons.

Holmes is another versatile addition, having logged time at left and right tackle at Southern Mississippi. Throw fullback Bradie Ewing into the mix -- he'll replaced the released Ovie Mughelli -- and Atlanta accomplished its goal of gaining strength up front.
Curious on where that nickname came from....
jersey
 
Matt Ryan bulking up to lead Atlanta Falcons deep into January

The NFL has become a quarterback-driven league and next season the Atlanta Falcons will follow suit with a greater emphasis on vertical passing. For quarterback Matt Ryan that means hitting the gym early, and often.

"I've been working hard on that and getting with (director of athletic performance) Jeff Fish now that we're back to make sure that I'm ready to go," Ryan told the Atlanta Journal Constitution. "(I'm) ready to be strong in December and January. I want to be able to play my best football at that time. That's one of the things I've tried to figure out and analyze myself; how do I get myself to be playing my very best, when your very best is needed. I'm still working on getting there."

Falcons coach Mike Smith, who has emphasized a run-first mentality in Atlanta, will now be leaning on former Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter's knowledge and understanding of the vertical passing game after the team brought Koetter to run the offense.

Smith and Koetter worked together for one season when the Falcons coach was serving as the defensive coordinator for the Jaguars in 2007.

Ryan has more than enough targets to throw the ball to between wide receivers in Julio Jones, Harry Douglas, Roddy White and tight end Tony Gonzalez. Not to mention his running back Michael Turner who rushed for 11 touchdowns and 1,340 yards as well as catching 17 passes for 168 yards.

"It's weight training, getting in there and training with weights," Ryan said. "It's learning to condition myself in the way that we play football and in a way that is productive to how we are playing football."

Ryan threw a franchise-record 4,177 yards last season for 29 touchdowns. He's passed for more than 3,000 yards in three of his four seasons in the league -- in 2009 he only threw for 2,916 yards, but missed two games because of a turf toe injury.

"It's making a bigger commitment to it and taking care of your body in a better way than I have in the past," Ryan said. "That is something that is important to me."
 
Cosell Talks: Michael Vick / Matt Ryan

by Greg Cosell

Excerpt:

Let’s turn our attention to Ryan. By the numbers, Ryan has been excellent, showing meaningful improvement each of his four seasons since Atlanta selected him with the third overall pick in the 2008 draft, ostensibly to replace the departed Vick. Ryan has won 69% of his regular season starts. It’s very difficult to find fault with that level of success. Of course, the Falcon faithful point to his 0-3 playoff record as the more meaningful measuring stick of his performance.

Few would argue that Ryan is a quality NFL starter. In 2011, his overall game took another step forward, one example being the Falcons more expansive utilization of the up-tempo, no-huddle offense. That required Ryan to control the game at the line of scrimmage before the snap. The ability to do that is now necessary in order to reach elite status at the quarterback position in the NFL. Ryan, time and again, showed both his comfort level, and his total command of many pre-snap variables. There may have been no better example of his growth and maturity in this area than the victory over the Titans on the 11th Sunday of the season.

One trait Ryan has always possessed, going back to his days at Boston College, is the willingness to pull the trigger, to make tight throws into small openings. He’s an excellent anticipation passer, delivering the ball before the receiver comes out of his break. He threw a touchdown pass to Julio Jones against the New Orleans Saints late in the season that was truly special, made more so by the fact that it was on the fringe of the red zone, an area of the field where space is compressed and the windows are squeezed. The overall point is this: there’s no question Ryan has many of the attributes needed to play the position at a consistently high level in the NFL.

Yet, there’s one element of Ryan’s game in which he struggles, and he will need to improve in order to play with greater consistency in the more important games, against the better defenses. Ryan is primarily a pocket passer. Certainly he can roll out by design at times, but he’s at his best sitting in a comfortable cradle with his feet balanced, striding into his throws with functional space. That’s the ideal scenario: a secure pocket with room to deliver. Unfortunately, that does not happen as often as you might expect.

In the NFL, quarterbacks must be able to function effectively in a “muddied” pocket, with bodies around them, in what we call the “eye of the storm”. Quarterbacks who are predominantly pocket passers must also have the ancillary attribute of pocket movement. Think of a boxing ring, and its self contained area. Pocket movement is best portrayed as the ability to move within the tightly constricted confines of that compressed area to avoid pass rush pressure, and find, relatively speaking, the quietest area with which to deliver the football. Two corollaries to pocket movement: It is imperative to keep your focus downfield, and never look at the rush, and secondly, you must have the ability to maintain your fundamental throwing motion in the face of intense pressure. It is, without question, the most important type of mobility needed to succeed consistently in the NFL.

Ryan is not there yet. It’s the single most important trait that he must master to reach that next step in his development. Without it, he will remain inconsistent, and uncertain and tentative against defenses that can sustain pressure throughout the course of games. As is the case with Michael Vick, Ryan must continue to refine his game in order to make the most of the natural talents that have gotten him this far. For both players who still have much still to prove, 2012 will be another pivotal year in their NFL journey.
 
Finding the Fits: Falcons' pass rush boosted with Jonathan Massaquoi

By Rob Rang | The Sports Xchange/CBSSports.com

Over the next several weeks, NFLDraftScout.com will be reviewing some of the more intriguing picks made during the 2012 NFL Draft through a series called "Finding the Fits." The goal of the series is to identify one relatively unheralded player per team who appears to be a good schematic fit and therefore more likely to be a surprise contributor early in his pro career.

The Cleveland Browns selected Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden with the No. 22 overall pick of the 2012 draft, but the selection originally belonged to the Atlanta Falcons, who sent it to Cleveland as part of the aggressive move up to land Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones a year ago. Considering that Jones looked like a future Pro Bowler as a rookie, catching 54 passes for 959 yards and eight scores, the Falcons' general manager Thomas Dimitroff and coach Mike Smith are presumably happy with the deal. Weeden, not to mention Trent Richardson and potential starting right tackle Mitchell Schwartz, appear to be good "Fits" for the Browns, as well.

While Jones added a dynamic option to the Falcons' already strong offense, 2011 was clearly a disappointing season in Atlanta as a whole. A year after leading the NFC with a 13-3 record, the Falcons dropped to 10-6 and were humbled by the New York Giants in a 24-2 loss after making the playoffs as a wildcard.

Despite the disappointing campaign, optimism remains high in Atlanta. Quarterback Matt Ryan and wide receiver Roddy White are stars. Jones appears to be on track to join them. Tight end Tony Gonzalez and running back Michael Turner, while aging, remain effective. And the Falcons may have addressed their biggest concern on the offensive side of the ball with their only two picks before the fifth round: linemen Peter Konz (Wisconsin) and Lamar Holmes (Southern Mississippi).

The highly celebrated Konz left the Badgers after his junior season and had earned first round buzz early in the pre-draft process. Concerns about his durability and strength -- especially after a disappointing combine performance -- ultimately led to his slipping into the mid-second round. While the 6-5, 314-pound Konz starred at center with the Badgers, he projects well outside at guard as well. His versatility was cited by Dimitroff following the draft and for good reason. Konz spent most of his first minicamp with the Falcons practicing at right guard and is in the mix to start as a rookie.

While it was the Falcons' offense that sputtered in their playoff loss, the greater concerns in Atlanta have been the defense.

The Falcons finished a respectable 12th in the NFL a season ago in total defense. They were stingy in run defense, ranking as the sixth stoutest unit in the league in 2011 in allowing just 97 yards a game on the ground. An inconsistent pass rush, however, exposed a leaky secondary that ranked 20th in the league.

The addition of Mike Nolan at defensive coordinator could, in itself, help this unit improve. Nolan is perhaps best known for his work with 3-4 defenses (Baltimore, San Francisco, Miami), but he'd coached the 4-3 alignment earlier in his career as the defensive coordinator of the Giants (1993-1996) and Washington Redskins (1997-1999). The Falcons have publicly stated that they'll be sticking with the 4-3 alignment in 2012 -- a move that best complements the talent already on the roster.

The talent level in Atlanta's secondary received a significant boost with the trade for veteran ballhawk Asante Samuel. Samuel wore out his welcome in Philadelphia,but there is no denying his instincts and ball skills. The former Central Florida product has 45 interceptions in his nine NFL seasons, and his 38 since 2006 are a league-high. He should be able to keep up his playmaking ways starting opposite Dunta Robinson. Veterans Brent Grimes and Christopher Owens should improve in 2012 playing primarily on the inside, where their lack of ideal size is less of a concern.

For the Falcons' secondary to improve, however, the pass rush in front of them will have to do the same, which is where fifth-round pick Jonathan Massaquoi enters the equation.

The Falcons had hoped that their pass-rush woes were a thing of the past when signing former Minnesota Viking defensive end Ray Edwards to a big free-agent deal. Edwards provided steady play against the run but registered just 3.5 sacks in his first season in Atlanta. The Falcons, yet again, were essentially a one-trick pony when it came to the pass rush. Either John Abraham got to the quarterback (as he did 9.5 times in 2011) or no one did. Linebacker Sean Weatherspoon and reserve Lawrence Sidbury tied for second on the team in sacks behind the 34-year old Abraham with four each.

The 6-2, 261-pound Massaquoi has the speed off the edge to help the Falcons early in his career. He played at this weight as a sophomore and led the Sun Belt with 13.5 sacks in 2010. He bulked up to 275 a year ago in an attempt to impress scouts and, frankly, lost a step. Considered a potential top 75 pick entering the 2011 season, Massaquoi posted just six sacks and, not surprisingly, his stock slipped. Despite the disappointing campaign, Massaquoi elected to leave Troy with a season of eligibility remaining (which further alarmed scouts) dropping him all the way into the fifth round, where the Falcons nabbed him at No. 164 overall.

Playoff teams are, like every other club, looking for potential superstars in the late rounds. The teams that consistently make the playoffs, however, are also looking for role players. Massaquoi was unfairly compared to former Troy standouts Demarcus Ware and Osi Umenyiora throughout his collegiate career and because of that, some will have unrealistic expectations of him in the NFL. Frankly, Massaquoi does not possess the size nor the explosiveness to mimic either Ware or Umenyiora's pro success. Massaquoi does, however, have the burst to beat tackles as a third-down pass rusher -- a role Atlanta needed to improve in to have any hopes of gaining Smith his first playoff victory as a head coach.

The rest of the Falcons' picks:

2nd Round - No. 55 overall - Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

3rd Round - No. 91 overall - Lamar Holmes, OT, Southern Miss

5th Round - No. 157 overall - Brady Ewing, FB, Wisconsin

5th Round - No. 164 overall - Jonathan Massaquoi, OLB, Troy

6th Round - No. 192 overall - Charles Mitchell, S, Mississippi State

7th Round - No. 249 overall - Travian Robertson, DT, South Carolina
 
Asante Samuel brings welcome swagger to Atlanta Falcons

By Aditi Kinkhabwala NFL Network

Reporter

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Somewhere on the Atlanta Falcons' practice field, between where Asante Samuel pounded his chest and yelled "Deuce! Deuce!" and where Sean Weatherspoon yelled back "How you doing?", Matt Ryan looked at the ground. And tamped down a teeny, tiny smile.

No, Ryan was not happy about getting picked off in the final 15 minutes of Atlanta's first full-team offseason practice. And yes, Ryan has heard Weatherspoon, the Falcons' third-year linebacker, jaw it up before. But this was Samuel. This was "oomph." This is just the kind of swagger the Falcons want.

"Asante got lucky today," Ryan said later, openly grinning this time, following the Falcons' first OTA session.

These Falcons are coming off as disappointing a 10-win season as a 10-win season can be. Ryan has yet to win a playoff game, the 10 wins were three less than the year before and somehow, Atlanta is flying under the radar in the NFC South. Enter Samuel, who may have come out of the womb confident. He's loud, his mouth is constantly moving, he's a ceaseless whirl of energy and everything he does is competitive.

"He's fun to be around," Ryan said.

"We definitely need his confidence," Weatherspoon said.

"You can see the first day: It's going to be a lot of fun," said cornerback Dunta Robinson, who ostensibly is competing with Samuel for playing time.

The specifics of who plays where (and when) have yet to be hammered out. Coach Mike Smith was purposefully vague Tuesday, noting that Samuel played at left corner and right corner before adding that he allows Atlanta "a lot of flexibility."

Samuel, of course, was operating under no such rules of diplomacy. So when he was asked, point blank, if he had a preference, he said, "You know I have a preference. I'm a left corner." It's a right-handed league, that's the quarterback's favorite side, and Samuel wants to be "where the ball is coming."

In all fairness, though, before he said any of that, he promised, "I'll do anything to help my team."

Samuel is here, and not in Philadelphia, because he, Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie made for one too many Eagles corners. The Falcons have two incumbent corners too, in Robinson and Brent Grimes. Still, this is a better fit, Samuel said, and not in the least because the Falcons expect to play sub packages (like a nickel with three corners) more often than their base defense. Robinson has said he'd like to play the slot corner, inside, and after Samuel's two-interception first day (his second pick was against John Parker Wilson), Robinson said, "I think having three corners, three very good corners, is a good problem to have."

Problems are not dwelled on in May. It's the month of freshness and new pages -- a time when a player like Samuel says things like, "I'm loving it." Thing is, the Falcons, so far, are loving him back. They laughed when he struck poses, they hooted when he demanded Ryan throw the ball his way and give him some action and they joined in when he tried harassing the offense.

"Yeah, yeah, I've heard that for four years," Ryan said, with mock annoyance, referring to the times that he faced Samuel as an Eagle and a foe. "It's not new."

And yet, there is a sense of renewed vigor at the Falcons' facility, from the two new coordinators (Dirk Koetter on offense, Mike Nolan on defense) to the new coat of paint upstairs. Samuel and his energy are certainly part of that, and part of keeping this team from getting tight. Sure, Samuel's one player, but he's one with a big personality. Weatherspoon glowingly looked at him Tuesday and said, "He'll probably wear the yellow jacket one day."

Nine years and 45 interceptions into his career, the 31-year-old Samuel isn't thinking about retirement anytime soon. He definitely wanted out of Philadelphia. And there's definitely still a smidgen of bitterness, one he didn't bother hiding when he said, "They say the Eagles, they can run more defenses without me there, whatever that means." But he also, very seriously, said no, being traded for a mere seventh-round pick (translation: an Atlanta thievery) will not be a chip for him to wear on his shoulder. And he repeatedly talked about how the Falcons have embraced him and appreciate him.

"I'm over here to run however many defenses they need me to run and make the plays they need me to make," he said. "I'm happy."

So are his teammates. Including Ryan. Or, maybe, especially Ryan. After all, he doesn't have to face Samuel outside the practice field anymore.
 
Atlanta class of 2008 at career crossroads

By Pat Yasinskas | ESPN.com

There’s an old saying in NFL circles that you should never judge a draft class until two or three years down the road.

Atlanta general manager Thomas Dimitroff might want to borrow a ploy from the New Orleans Saints and get some special arbitrator to convert that saying into law. Heck, in the case of Atlanta’s 2008 draft class, Dimitroff might be better off with keeping the statute of limitations on judging results to just one year.

As Atlanta’s class of 2008 gets ready for its fifth season, there’s still hope for greatness, but this class isn’t looking quite as good as it did a couple years ago. And it certainly isn’t looking as brilliant as it did in 2008, when some rookie from Dimitroff’s first draft class seemed to step up and make a big play every week.

Quarterback Matt Ryan and middle linebacker Curtis Lofton were stars from Day One and Sam Baker looked like he might be the guy to protect Ryan’s blindside for a decade. That wasn’t a total shock because Ryan and Baker came in the first round and Lofton in the second. What was shocking in those days as the Falcons recovered faster than anyone expected from the Bobby Petrino era was the production from the rest of the draft class.

The Falcons had three third-round picks -- cornerback Chevis Jackson, receiver Harry Douglas and safety Thomas DeCoud. At various times, each of them made key plays and showed all sorts of promise for the future. Even fifth-round draft pick Kroy Biermann got involved.

With the rookie class playing a big role and guys like Roddy White, Michael Turner and John Abraham providing veteran leadership, the Falcons stunned everyone by going 10-6 and making the playoffs in coach Mike Smith's first season. Dimitroff was named Executive of the Year by The Sporting News, called a genius by many (including myself) and the common assumption was that Atlanta’s Class of 2008 had a chance to go down as one of the best in NFL history.

In the years that immediately followed that class continued to look like it could be an all-time classic.

But, five years into the process, this class suddenly looks like one big question mark. It’s far from a disaster, but it’s far from great. Gee, that’s kind of become the unofficial motto for the Falcons the last couple of years.

That’s no coincidence because the fate of Dimitroff’s first rookie class is tied directly to the Falcons’ fate. With Atlanta facing a crucial season, the class of 2008 is at a career crossroads. If this group finally steps all the way up, the Falcons can win a playoff game for the first time in the tenure of Dimitroff and Smith. If it disappoints or stays status quo, the Falcons again can be just another pretty good team. But that may no longer be good enough.

If the Falcons don’t get a playoff win this season, Smith and Dimitroff move closer to the hot seat. But the class of 2008 already is there. Lofton and Jackson already are gone. The Falcons wanted to keep Lofton, but not at the price tag he wanted at the start of free agency. He settled for a deal with the rival Saints. Jackson’s luster wore off much more quickly. He was gone from the Falcons by 2010 and is trying to earn a roster spot with the Carolina Panthers.

But Ryan, Baker, Douglas, DeCoud and Biermann remain with the Falcons and each of them is facing the biggest season of his career. Let’s start with Ryan.

Nobody’s ready to declare the quarterback a bust. In fact, he’s coming off his best statistical season. But Ryan’s development seems to have paused after his thunderous entrance into the NFL. Some of that can be blamed on his supporting cast and maybe even his coaching. But the Falcons have invested a lot into improving the talent at the other skill positions and have brought in new offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter.

If Ryan doesn’t take the step from good to great and doesn’t win a playoff game, questions will start flying about whether he’s the guy for the long term. Those questions are especially relative these days because Ryan’s rookie contract ends after the 2013 season. If he doesn’t progress, he might not get a new deal. If he does, a huge extension is sure to follow.

There are lots of people out there that already have declared Baker a bust. His inability to stop the pass rush might be one reason why Ryan has been unable to develop the deep passing game the Falcons want. Baker ended up losing his starting job to journeyman Will Svitek last season. But Baker still is around and it sounds like the Falcons are going to give him one final chance to show he can be a quality left tackle.

The Falcons have made a lot of noise about how they still believe in Baker and have pointed to injury problems as reasons why he has struggled. But Baker’s heading into the last year of his contract. Unless Baker beats out Svitek and plays better than ever, it’s hard to imagine the Falcons giving him another contract.

The Falcons already gave Douglas a new four-year, $12.5 million contract in March. The Falcons aren’t asking Douglas to be a superstar because they already have White and Julio Jones as their starting receivers. But Douglas is the one member of the 2008 class that might be the furthest from having realized his full potential. There were a few glimpses in 2008, but Douglas missed 2009 with an injury. The Falcons have wanted to use him as their slot receiver the past few years and that’s still the plan.

But Douglas never has been truly explosive in that role. Part of that is because injuries to others have forced him to play outside at times. When he has been in the slot, Douglas hasn’t been much of a deep threat. Blame that on the offensive line if you want, but the fact is Douglas has only three receiving touchdowns in his career.

There’s really no reason Douglas shouldn’t have more than three touchdown catches in a season, if he’s truly allowed to work out of the slot and the offensive line is protecting Ryan.

The Falcons also committed to DeCoud in March, giving him a five-year, $17.5 million deal. Although DeCoud has started 47 of 48 games the past three seasons, he’s not much different than the rest of his classmates. He’s been good at times, ordinary at others. But DeCoud is coming off a season in which he had a career-high four interceptions. If he can add a few more to that total, DeCoud starts entering Pro Bowl conversations and gets a shot at full validation.

Biermann, who got a three-year contract worth $9.15 million in March, is in pretty much the same territory as Douglas and DeCoud -- decent, but several steps from great. There’s a reason why the Falcons kept Biermann around. They feel he still has some upside as a pass-rusher. But there’s some evidence suggesting Biermann might have hit his peak in 2009 when he had five sacks. He had just 2.5 last season and three in 2010. Abraham is aging and Ray Edwards didn’t do much last year. The Falcons have to hope they can generate some pass rush from somewhere else and Biermann remains the best hope.

It’s really the same story for Ryan, Baker, Douglas, DeCoud and Biermann. The most important grade on the class of 2008 will come in 2012.
 
Don't be fooled by Matt Ryan's lack of postseason success

By Pete Prisco | Senior NFL Columnist

Regular-season king. Can't cut it in the playoffs. He's oh-for-three as a playoff quarterback.

They said those things once about Peyton Manning.

They're saying them now about Matt Ryan.

Manning proved his skeptics wrong in a big way.

Ryan will, as well.

Manning went on to win a Super Bowl and four MVPs, but as Ryan readies for his fifth season as the starting quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons, you would be hard-pressed to find many who would dare mention him in the same sentence with Manning.

Postseason failure is to his regular-season canvas like a big handful of mud thrown at a fancy painting.

It takes away the pretty.

In his four seasons with the Falcons, Ryan has amassed a 43-19 record, led the Falcons to three playoff berths and thrown 95 touchdown passes against 46 interceptions. But he's 0-3 in the playoffs, and in those games he has three touchdown passes, four interceptions and didn't throw for 200 yards in any of those losses.

That has earned him the wise-### nickname of "Mr. Regular Season."

"I don't think about it too much," Ryan said this week when I asked him about the playoff failures. "My focus is to try to become a better player, doing the things I need to do. It's not about winning playoff games. It's about winning championships."

When a quarterback doesn't get it done in the playoffs, it's on him. That's the nature of the beast. Forget everything else that goes wrong. And when it does happen, it often becomes something that gets blown out of proportion. Don't you remember what they said about Manning after losing his first three playoff games?

"It's the NFL," Ryan said. "They make too much of everything."

It's hard not to when your offense fails to score a point in a postseason loss, which is the lasting image of the Falcons' 2011 season. The Giants beat them 24-2 and then went on to win the Super Bowl. It was the second successive season the Falcons lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion, losing at home to the Packers after the 2010 season. Losing to the eventual champion doesn't make the pain any less for Ryan.

"There's no consolation," he said. "One team has success, and 31 others have failure. That's the way it is in this league."

Only five quarterbacks threw more touchdown passes than Ryan in 2011 when he threw 29. He also threw for a career-best 4,177 yards, but none of that mattered after his third playoff failure.

So what to do about it?

For starters, the Falcons will have a new offense. Coordinator Mike Mularkey left to become head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, and his replacement is former Jaguars coordinator Dirk Koetter.

The Jaguars were known as a run-heavy team under Koetter, but that was because that's the way then-coach Jack Del Rio wanted it. The Falcons are expected to be more vertical with Ryan throwing to Julio Jones and Roddy White on the outside.

I recently spent 18 holes on a golf course in the same cart with Koetter and, aside from our shanking shots here and there to ruin any chance of winning the tournament, we spent a lot of time talking about Ryan.

Koetter raved about him.

The feeling is mutual.

"He's a great teacher," Ryan said. "There are some different concepts from what we did in the past, but we just have to focus on getting better every day. We did some good things last year, but we didn't do anything great."

Ryan has always been a gym rat, the kind of quarterback who lives at the facility and works out like players at other positions. That's a lot like Manning, whom he has been compared to in the past.

To help prepare for this season, Ryan changed the way he trained. He said he dropped four or five percentage points of body fat while adding five-six pounds of weight.

"It's good, solid weight," Ryan said. "I feel strong in practice. It will help with the no-huddle when we go to it."

That no-huddle offense seemed to be when the Falcons shined in 2011. Koetter plans to use more of it, and Ryan likes that idea. It puts more on his plate, calling plays at the line of scrimmage, but it also gives the Falcons a chance to dictate tempo. With Jones and White outside, why not let it fly?

"I love it," Ryan said. "It's something we've had success here with the past four years."

With the new move to open things up some, and Ryan now in his fifth season, with Jones and White and Tony Gonzalez, expect Ryan to bounce back from his latest playoff failure to put up his best numbers yet.

That won't be good enough to get the doubters off his back. Quarterbacks are defined by playoff success, and Ryan knows that as well as anyone. He's just not going to be consumed by it.

But the idea that he isn't any good because of the playoff frustration is just stupidity.

They said the same things about Peyton Manning. How did that turn out?
 
Matt Ryan needs to deliver for Falcons in playoffs

By Brian McIntyre NFL.com

Around the League will examine one key figure under pressure on each team heading into the 2012 season. Next up: The Atlanta Falcons

Under Pressure: Matt Ryan

Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan has played at an elite level over the last two seasons, completing just under 62 percent of passes with 57 touchdowns against 21 interceptions for a passer rating of 91.6. During that span, the Falcons are 23-9 and won the NFC South in 2010, the same season Ryan went to his one and only Pro Bowl. Ryan's offensive output could increase even more as the Falcons are moving to a more vertical passing attack under new offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter.

After four seasons, however, the one blemish on Ryan's resume is a lack of personal and team success in the postseason.

In his playoff debut, Ryan completed 26 of 40 pass attempts for 199 yards and two touchdowns in a 30-24 loss to the Arizona Cardinals to cap off his rookie season. Ryan was also intercepted twice and took a fourth-quarter safety that gave the Cardinals an 11-point lead. Against the eventual Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers in 2010, Ryan was 20 of 29 for 186 yards and a touchdown, but was intercepted twice by Tramon Williams in the final 2:30 of the first half, with Williams returning the second interception 70 yards for a touchdown. This past January, Ryan was 24 of 41 for 199 yards in Atlanta's 24-2 loss to the Super Bowl champion New York Giants.

Overall, Ryan has completed a high percentage of his passes (63.6), but has averaged just 5.3 yards per attempt and has more interceptions (4) than touchdowns (3), dropping his passer rating to a paltry 71.2.

The Falcons are 0-3 in the playoffs over Ryan's four seasons in Atlanta. Football remains the ultimate team sport, so it would be silly to suggest that Ryan, and Ryan alone, is the reason why the Falcons haven't won a post-season game in the Mike Smith era. Pinning it all on Ryan would also add insult to injury, as Ryan has missed out on $1.5 million in performance bonuses tied to "playoff wins" over the last three seasons.

There's no question, though, that as good as the No. 3 overall pick of the 2008 NFL Draft has been during the regular season, he has not performed as well as in the playoffs. For the Falcons to enjoy any playoff success, they'll need better play from Ryan.
 
Lofa Tatupu eyes starting spot with Falcons

By Brian McIntyre NFL.com

After a year out of football, a physically and mentally refreshed Lofa Tatupu is prepared to fight 2011 third-round pick Akeem Dent for the Atlanta Falcons' starting middle linebacker job.

A three-time Pro Bowler with the Seattle Seahawks, Tatupu had 549 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 10 interceptions, 35 passes defensed and forced seven fumbles in his 84-game career in the Pacific Northwest. Tatupu was released last summer after refusing to accommodate the Seahawks' request to reduce his $4.35 million base salary.

The Oakland Raiders and Washington Redskins expressed interest in Tatupu, but he spent the season out of football.

"It wasn’t my choice," Tatupu said of his season as a spectator, according to Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I think that’s kind of what happened to veterans across the league. ... But it wasn’t anything to do with concussions or lingering injuries. I was ready to play last season. I got released, like a lot of people did, and I just didn’t catch on with anybody."

Tatupu worked out for the New Orleans Saints and Tennessee Titans before the Falcons signed him to a two-year, $3.6 million contract that is light on guarantees ($600,000), but includes up to $1.25 million playing-time escalators for 2013, as insurance in case Curtis Lofton departed via free agency. Lofton, the Falcons' leader in tackles the last three seasons, signed a five-year, $27.5 million contract with the New Orleans Saints.

Tatupu is not as athletic as Lofton or Dent, but is an instinctual player who is very good in pass coverage. In that department, he'll be an upgrade over Lofton and could play in nickel situations if Dent beats him out for the starting job.
 
Sam Baker, Falcons left tackle, at career crossroads

By Brian McIntyre NFL.com

Earlier this month, "Around the League" identified quarterback Matt Ryan as the Atlanta Falcons player to be featured for our "Under Pressure" series. The case easily could have been made that Falcons player was under more pressure in 2012 than Sam Baker.

After taking Ryan with the No. 3 pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, the Falcons moved back into the first round to select Baker, a 6-foot-5, 312-pound left tackle from Southern California to protect Ryan's blindside. Baker missed half of his rookie season with a back injury before started 30 games over the 2009 and 2010 seasons. Baker's back issues flared up again last season and he'd finish the season in a reserve role as Will Svitek started at left tackle.

Entering the final year of his rookie contract, Baker's career is at a crossroads, writes D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

"This is an important year for Sam, as we all know,” Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. “I have confidence that Sam is going to come back and be a good left tackle for us.

"He physically looks good. He’s been working hard in the offseason. His focus is to come back and win that left tackle job and continue to help us win games as he has many times over the last four seasons."

Though the Falcons coaching staff and front office has shown its support for Baker, they've also prepared for the future. Atlanta used its third round pick on Southern Mississippi's Lamar Holmes, a nasty blocker with 35-inch arms who could be a long-term option at left tackle. If Baker has another shaky year, particularly with injuryies, the Falcons can let him move on in free agency next offseason and go with Holmes. Baker may have a bit of a reprieve right now, though, as Holmes is out until training camp with a toe injury.
 
Peter King MMQB Excerpt:

Stat of the Week I

Last season, the most startling statistic for the Falcons, quite possibly, was the number of screen passes nifty receiver-out-the-backfield Jacquizz Rodgers caught in his rookie season: one ... out of 256 snaps he played on Atlanta pass plays.

Under new offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter, you can expect two 2011 rookies -- Rodgers and Julio Jones, to have more opportunities to do what they do best. The Falcons drafted Rodgers to be a Darren Sproles-type running back, and time will tell whether that's possible. But there's no way he'll be one if the Falcons don't get him the ball more often in space behind the offensive line. In all, according to ProFootballFocus.com, the Falcons were last in the NFL, including playoff games, with 33 screens in 17 games.

And though Jones averaged 17.8 yards per catch, the Falcons are convinced he should have more chances down the field. When they interviewed Koetter after former offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey took the Jacksonville head-coaching job, Atlanta brass was convinced Koetter would take more chances throwing deep with Jones.

Last season, ProFootballFocus.com had Jones 43rd among the 130 receivers with at least 20 targets in downfield depth; the average Atlanta pass to Jones was 13.1 yards past the line of scrimmage. Nothing wrong with throwing Jones some intermediate stuff he can turn into big plays, but that number has to jump up a few yards, emblematic of Matt Ryan airing out 20 or so more balls to him.

Rodgers short and Jones long. Keep that in mind as you watch the Falcons play in September. If they don't accomplish more of that, Koetter will be in head coach Mike Smith's office explaining why.
 
Peter King MMQB Excerpt:

Stat of the Week I

Last season, the most startling statistic for the Falcons, quite possibly, was the number of screen passes nifty receiver-out-the-backfield Jacquizz Rodgers caught in his rookie season: one ... out of 256 snaps he played on Atlanta pass plays.

Under new offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter, you can expect two 2011 rookies -- Rodgers and Julio Jones, to have more opportunities to do what they do best. The Falcons drafted Rodgers to be a Darren Sproles-type running back, and time will tell whether that's possible. But there's no way he'll be one if the Falcons don't get him the ball more often in space behind the offensive line. In all, according to ProFootballFocus.com, the Falcons were last in the NFL, including playoff games, with 33 screens in 17 games.

And though Jones averaged 17.8 yards per catch, the Falcons are convinced he should have more chances down the field. When they interviewed Koetter after former offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey took the Jacksonville head-coaching job, Atlanta brass was convinced Koetter would take more chances throwing deep with Jones.

Last season, ProFootballFocus.com had Jones 43rd among the 130 receivers with at least 20 targets in downfield depth; the average Atlanta pass to Jones was 13.1 yards past the line of scrimmage. Nothing wrong with throwing Jones some intermediate stuff he can turn into big plays, but that number has to jump up a few yards, emblematic of Matt Ryan airing out 20 or so more balls to him.

Rodgers short and Jones long. Keep that in mind as you watch the Falcons play in September. If they don't accomplish more of that, Koetter will be in head coach Mike Smith's office explaining why.
Mularky finished last in the NFL every season on screen passes- most all Falcon fans were so glad he left. The playbook was so predictable, every average fan could call the next play. Jazz Rodgers will be the benefit of most screens, but Harry Douglas is the wild card in this years offense. The fastest WR on the team based on his combine times on shuttle and 40- he is the guy that could create the most havoc for opposing defenses both short and long coming out of the slot.
 
Michael Turner says he's still in shape for Falcons

By Gregg Rosenthal

Around The League editor

The conversation about Atlanta Falcons running back Michael Turner this offseason has been consistent. The team wants to lighten his load. It looks like it will go to more of a committee approach with Jason Snelling and Jacquizz Rodgers getting more carries this year.

Unbeknownst to us, the conversation in Atlanta about Turner has also been about his weight. A sports talk radio station recently said that Turner was overweight, a claim he denied in an interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Thursday.

“Same as I’ve always been, Nothing's different," Turner said.

The power running back plays at 247 pounds. The team has noted that he's often worn down late in the season. Despite Pete Prisco's love for Turner, the former San Diego Charger is in the downward phase of his career. He beats up on bad teams -- which is great for fantasy owners -- but struggles badly against top defenses.

Look for this to be Turner's first healthy season in Atlanta where he's given fewer than 300 carries, regardless of his weight.
 
Julio Jones can be top-five receiver starting now

By Gregg Rosenthal

Around The League editor

Roddy White knows his role is diminishing. Fantasy leaguers can't draft Julio Jones high enough. The expectations have soared for the Atlanta Falcons' second-year receiver this offseason.

Even the Atlanta Journal-Constitution gave Jones the paper's coveted "Minicamp MVP" award. (No, it's not really coveted. Or meaningful.)

So what is the ceiling for Julio Jones this year?

There is a weird perception that Jones wasn't that great in 2011. As a rookie, 959 receiving yards and eight touchdowns is great, especially considering that he didn't have an offseason to prepare. It doesn't matter what the Atlanta Falcons traded to move up and draft him. If he continues to produce at this pace, he was worth it.

Jones' numbers for yards and touchdowns rank among the top-20 all-time by rookie receivers. The Arizona Cardinals' Larry Fitzgerald, the Detroit Lions' Calvin Johnson and the Houston Texans' Andre Johnson make up the holy trinity of receivers in the league. Jones did better in his rookie year than any of those three did in theirs, with only Andre Johnson coming close.

With new offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter in town, the Falcons are expected to run more no-huddle offense this year. We expect the team to throw the ball more than ever, because it has strength in numbers at receiver and tight end.

Jones can be a top-10 receiver starting now, and we wouldn't rule out him being in the top five. His combination of strength and big-play ability is hard to match.

By next year at this time, the perception about Jones will have changed for good.
 
Four reasons to buy hype on Atlanta Falcons' offense

By Gregg Rosenthal

Around The League editor

We came into OTA season telling you to be wary of overhype. We have kept our guard up for the most part, however, we have to admit that we're falling for one recent theme:

The Atlanta Falcons' passing game is primed to explode.

We aren't saying this because Roddy White believes this is the best Falcons offense he's seen. It's not because Matt Ryan has been lifting weights. There are a lot of tangible reasons to believe Atlanta's passing attack really will take it to another level.

1. Julio Jones: Our thoughts on Jones are well documented. (By well documented, we mean that there was an ATL post on it last week and we're too lazy to repeat the point.)

2. Receiver depth: Roddy White can be the best "No. 2" receiver in football. Harry Douglas, now another year removed from surgery, is one of the most dangerous No. 3 wideouts in the league. Tony Gonzalez remains a big weapon and will get single coverage at tight end.

3. Coordinator change: Mike Mularkey did a nice job developing Matt Ryan. New coordinator Dirk Koetter should bring a needed fresh approach. We're most excited about Koetter's preference for vertical passing game. In general, Koetter should recognize the strength of this offense does not lie with Michael Turner.

4. More no huddle: Look, it's nice that coach Mike Smith says Matt Ryan's arm is stronger. We'll see. The real key to Ryan's game is sitting on his neck.

NFL Films' Greg Cosell pointed out recently that Ryan's best attribute might be his growing comfort in the no huddle. He can win before the snap. The team allowed Ryan to make more decisions last year. Look for him to take the next step as the true orchestrator of this offense.

Between a pass-happy attack and Mike Nolan taking over the defense, this shouldn't be the same old vanilla Falcons team we've grown used to since Ryan arrived.
 
Falcons could lighten RB Michael Turner's workload to keep him fresh

By Ryan Wilson | NFL Blogger

The Falcons have a new offensive coordinator in Dirk Koetter and, hopefully, an offense that better showcases Matt Ryan's skills. There have been rumors of a pass-happy scheme, which makes sense on a roster than features Ryan, Roddy White, Julio Jones and Tony Gonzalez. Such a development would also mean a lightened workload for running back Michael Turner, who averaged 4.5 yards per carry last season, but ranked 39th among all backs in FootballOutsiders.com's value-per-play metric.

Ultimately, it's good news for Turner, 30, who had 301 carries last season.

“Michael has been our workhorse for a few years,” Falcons running backs coach Gerald Brown told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's D. Orlando Ledbetter. “We discussed the possibility of making sure that we monitor his reps so that he can stay strong for us through the season and into December. We feel very good about Jason Snelling and Jacquizz [Rodgers], too."

The plan sounds a lot like the one endorsed by most NFL offenses: a backs-by-committee approach to the rushing attack.

“This year [Rodgers] is going through the offseason and that is going to help him," Brown continued. "Snell is a veteran. He's been there. When Michael is not in there, we feel comfortable with those guys being able to carry the load in both the run and the pass game.”

PFT.com's Darin Gantt points out that in 2011, Turner slowed as the season progressed: He averaged 5.6 yards per carry in September and by December his average dropped to 3.4. Last weekend, in our post on the 10 players likely to take a step back in 2012, here's what we wrote about Turner (who came in at No. 9): Even though he managed 4.5 yards per carry last season, 433 of his 1,340 total rushing yards came in three games against the Panthers, Lions and Bucs, three of the worst run defenses in the league. Against that trio, Turner averaged 6.1 yards per carry. Against the other 13 teams, his YPC fell to 3.9.

But Turner is only an ancillary part of this offense. Any success the Falcons have will be because of Ryan, who will need to play better in the postseason to quiet his critics.
 
'Faust said:
Falcons could lighten RB Michael Turner's workload to keep him fresh

By Ryan Wilson | NFL Blogger

The Falcons have a new offensive coordinator in Dirk Koetter and, hopefully, an offense that better showcases Matt Ryan's skills. There have been rumors of a pass-happy scheme, which makes sense on a roster than features Ryan, Roddy White, Julio Jones and Tony Gonzalez. Such a development would also mean a lightened workload for running back Michael Turner, who averaged 4.5 yards per carry last season, but ranked 39th among all backs in FootballOutsiders.com's value-per-play metric.

Ultimately, it's good news for Turner, 30, who had 301 carries last season.

“Michael has been our workhorse for a few years,” Falcons running backs coach Gerald Brown told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's D. Orlando Ledbetter. “We discussed the possibility of making sure that we monitor his reps so that he can stay strong for us through the season and into December. We feel very good about Jason Snelling and Jacquizz [Rodgers], too."

The plan sounds a lot like the one endorsed by most NFL offenses: a backs-by-committee approach to the rushing attack.

“This year [Rodgers] is going through the offseason and that is going to help him," Brown continued. "Snell is a veteran. He's been there. When Michael is not in there, we feel comfortable with those guys being able to carry the load in both the run and the pass game.”

PFT.com's Darin Gantt points out that in 2011, Turner slowed as the season progressed: He averaged 5.6 yards per carry in September and by December his average dropped to 3.4. Last weekend, in our post on the 10 players likely to take a step back in 2012, here's what we wrote about Turner (who came in at No. 9): Even though he managed 4.5 yards per carry last season, 433 of his 1,340 total rushing yards came in three games against the Panthers, Lions and Bucs, three of the worst run defenses in the league. Against that trio, Turner averaged 6.1 yards per carry. Against the other 13 teams, his YPC fell to 3.9.

But Turner is only an ancillary part of this offense. Any success the Falcons have will be because of Ryan, who will need to play better in the postseason to quiet his critics.
Interesting choice of words by the RB coach if indeed this is a direct quote. To add fuel to the fire about how many touches Rogers is taking away from Turner this year, it appears on the wording above that Snelling will be used more than we had expected.

Also curious how the NFL Network on tonight's Access (July 3) how much they feel the coordinator changes will improve the team.

.

 
Sean Weatherspoon, Falcons LB, en route to Pro Bowl

By Gregg Rosenthal

Around The League editor

As we count down the days to training camp, Around the League will examine one player from every team set for a breakout campaign in 2012. Next up: the Atlanta Falcons.

Sean Weatherspoon on the brink of making the Pro Bowl

Sean Weatherspoon is the guy who goes the craziest when his teammate makes a good play. He's the guy who pleads for an official to call a safety before it happens, the guy who jumps into a scrum late because he wants to be part of the action. He is always moving, always looking for action. He is a joy to watch.

None of this makes the third-year Falcons linebacker a great player. His speed, smarts and versatility take care of that. When you combine Weatherspoon's natural ability with his effort and attitude, you have a potential difference-maker. You get a leader.

I'm uncomfortable making Weatherspoon my "Making the Leap" pick for the Falcons, because he's already made a sizable jump. He's the leader of this Falcons defense. (Why do you think they let Curtis Lofton walk?) Weatherspoon is already one of the best 4-3 outside linebackers in football. He easily could have made the Pro Bowl last year, but he's not a big enough name yet.

He's listed here because he deserves more attention. Those Pro Bowl nods are often built on reputations gained one or two years after a player truly earns recognition. I'm doing my tiny part to elevate Weatherspoon's reputation now.

Weatherspoon is, in many ways, the prototypical modern player for his position. He covers tight ends -- like he did with the New York Giants' Jake Ballard in the playoffs -- with ease. He breaks on passes before they are thrown. He can rush the passer when asked. He instinctively avoids blocks and finds the football. He's a linebacker in a passing league. His level of effort is unquestioned.

There is no doubt Weatherspoon's aggressiveness sometimes causes problems when he over-pursues. He could be stronger in short-yardage situation.

But these are quibbles. Entering his third year, playing for a creative defensive coordinator in Mike Nolan, Weatherspoon is on his way to being one of the best overall linebackers in football.
 
Atlanta Falcons fixing to boost offensive firepower

By Dan Hanzus

Writer

"NFL Total Access" continues with its "32 teams in 32 days" series. We decided to score some brownie points by writing an accompanying post each night. We'll focus on one goal that each team needs to accomplish before Week 1.

Falcons establishing fresh identity on offense

The Atlanta Falcons scored exactly two points in January's wild-card playoff loss to the New York Giants. It was grim stuff.

Humble pie consumed, Atlanta went into bunker mode with the intent of reworking an offense that was so easily flummoxed by the eventual Super Bowl champions.

We learned last week via offensive assistant Andrew Weidinger that a shift to a more pass-happy attack could come under new offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter. Not surprisingly, veteran receiver Roddy White could barely contain his excitement during minicamp.

“We look real good right now, I’m not going to lie,” White said, according to the Falcons' team site. “The past three or four years, this is the best I’ve been around since I’ve been here and seen the cumulative group on the field.”

There's good reason to buy into the hype building around Atlanta's offense. Last season, quarterback Matt Ryan played like a star for long stretches, White -- drops aside -- put up his usual Pro Bowl production and tight end Tony Gonzalez remained indomitable, while Michael Turner did his job as the workhorse back.

Looking ahead, wide receiver Julio Jones is an obvious candidate to make the leap in his second season, while a healthy Harry Douglas could be one of the league's best third receivers.

But for a Falcons team that has long asked Turner to carry the load, transitioning to a passing offense won't be seamless. This will be Atlanta's greatest challenge as it closes in on a Week 1 matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs.
 
Mike Nolan: Sean Weatherspoon can be 'a lot better'

By Dan Hanzus

Writer

Sean Weatherspoon is coming off a season that signaled the Atlanta Falcons could have a perennial Pro Bowler in their midst.

But Falcons defensive coordinator Mike Nolan believes the versatile third-year linebacker hasn't come close to reaching his ceiling.

"He's a good player now, but he could be a lot better than he is," Nolan told the official team site on Monday. "And he will be. No question, because he loves football and he's exciting to watch and he's a playmaker, for all those reasons. But he's done well, but he can still do a lot better."

As Gregg Rosenthal pointed out in our "Making the Leap" series, Weatherspoon has the ideal skill set for his position in today's NFL. Every team needs their outside linebackers to match run-stopping and QB-rushing ability with coverage skills. Weatherspoon proved during last season's Pro Bowl-level performance that he can do it all.

Nolan -- who was named Atlanta's new defensive coordinator in January -- might be the philosophical match to Weatherspoon's physical prowess. But Nolan cautioned it's a learning process for the 24-year-old.

"Primarily, what I see is a guy who just loves to play, but in the new system, he's still trying to learn the language and things like that, so there's some way to go," he said. "But he'll find it very friendly and I think he already does see, down the road, how exciting it can be in this system, because a lot of guys have benefited from it."

The Falcons were confident enough in Weatherspoon to let Curtis Lofton walk in free agency. Don't be surprised if Weatherspoon rewards his team's faith.
 
Jerry Rice says Julio Jones is 2012 breakout receiver

By Marc Sessler

Writer

Jerry Rice is often asked about today's young receivers. According to the Hall of Fame wideout, the next big thing is playing down in Atlanta.

Rice has a developing man-crush on Julio Jones, and nominated the Atlanta Falcons weapon as his breakout pass-catcher for 2012.

"I love this kid," Rice said on ESPN's SportsCenter, per ProFootballTalk.com. "He's awesome. He's big, he's fast. ... I think he's gonna have a breakout season this coming year."

Rice hasn't exactly stunned anyone with this prediction.

There's never been a better time to enter the league as a wideout. Passing offenses are expanding and the Falcons have spoken this offseason about pulling away from Michael Turner and the run game in favor of an in-your-face air attack under new offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter.

The Falcons paid dearly for Jones in the 2011 draft, but general manager Thomas Dimitroff has said repeatedly that Jones was worth the stockpile of picks they shipped to the Cleveland Browns. He showed versatility as a rookie and will be leaned on heavily in his second season. This hasn't been the league's most exciting team to watch in recent years -- which is sort of mysterious, because they win -- but Jones can help change that.
 
Stephen Nicholas on thin ice with Atlanta Falcons?

By Brian McIntyre

Around the League writer

Around the League is taking a look at each team's salary-cap situation heading into training camp. We continue with the Atlanta Falcons.

Adjusted Cap Number: $125.423 million

Cap Room Remaining: $2.759 million

Best Bargain: A third-round pick out of Kentucky in 2010, defensive tackle Corey Peters stepped in for oft-injured former first-round pick Peria Jerry to start 15 of 16 games. Peters finished his rookie season with 33 tackles and a sack while logging nearly 60 percent of the team's defensive snaps. Peters held onto the starting job last season, playing more than 60 percent of Atlanta's defensive plays and establishing a career-high 3.0 sacks to go along with his first career interception.

Still on his rookie contract, Peters will earn $540,000 in base salary in 2012, the last season he'll be playing for the league minimum. His significant playing time the last two seasons will result in the escalation of his 2013 base salary to nearly double its current value of $615,000.

Potential Camp Casualty: Outside linebacker Stephen Nicholas missed a significant portion of 2011 with a quadriceps injury and picked up just 31 tackles in less than 30 percent of the team's defensive snaps. With the Falcons beefing up their secondary with the trade for Asante Samuel and re-signing of safety Thomas DeCoud, frequent use of nickel packages could result in some trimming at linebacker.

Sean Weatherspoon and the combo of Lofa Tatupu and Akeem Dent are safe, which could put Nicholas and his $1.5 million base salary on the chopping block. Backup defensive tackle Vance Walker is due $1.26 million in base salary on a restricted free agent tender, which may bit too steep for his limited role.

Contract Issue Looming In 2013: The Falcons were unable to reach a multiyear deal with franchised cornerback Brent Grimes, who will play out the season on a $10.281 million tender that will be fully guaranteed once signed and makes him the highest-paid player on the defense.

A Pro Bowl selection in 2010, Grimes battled knee injuries that cost him four games in a 2011 season in which his interception total dropped from five to one. Grimes, who turns 29 on Thursday, is the youngest of the talented group of cornerbacks that general manager Thomas Dimitroff has assembled and will not be able to sign a multiyear deal until after the regular season.

Left tackle Sam Baker will also be an unrestricted free agent in 2013, but he will have to demonstrate that his back issues are a thing of the past to receive a long-term commitment from the club.
 
Lofa Tatupu out for Atlanta Falcons' season with injury

By Dan Hanzus

Writer

A worst-case scenario has come to fruition for Atlanta Falcons linebacker Lofa Tatupu.

Falcons coach Mike Smith announced Tuesday that the torn pectoral muscle Tatupu suffered last week will sideline him for the entirety of the 2012 season.

"As you know, Lofa suffered a pectoral injury last week," Smith said, according to the Falcons' official website. "After further testing, it was determined that he would require a procedure to repair the injury and unfortunately he will miss the entire season."

It's a devastating setback for Tatupu, who was out of football last year after being released by the Seattle Seahawks. A three-time Pro Bowl pick, Tatupu's career has been sent off track by a series of injuries, including concussion issues.

Tatupu was expected to vie with Akeem Dent for the Falcons' middle linebacker spot, vacated when Curtis Lofton signed with the New Orleans Saints in March. The Falcons prepared for Tatupu's loss by signing Mike Peterson, a 14-year veteran who turned 36 last month. He started five games for Atlanta, which initially parted ways with the linebacker to get younger at the position.

So much for that.
 
Atlanta Falcons: Passing attack was on point vs. Titans

8:56 pm August 6, 2012, by D. Orlando Ledbetter

There was a little extra pushing, but nothing escalated into a fight.

When the two teams last scrimmaged in 2004, there was a slew of fights and some downright nasty play.

Falcons coach Mike Smith took about the hardest hit of the day, when he got knocked over by Falcons wide receiver Drew Davis while watching another drill.

“You might want to check Andrew Davis and see how he’s feeling,” Smith quipped.

After his spill, Smith popped right back up, adjusted his white cap and continued to watch practice.

“You don’t ever want to stay down, that’s for darn sure,” said Smith, who was a linebacker in college. “You don’t want to take an eight count. We were just on one field with a lot of things going on. I ended up taking one in the back. It’s all good.”

The Falcons offense matched up well against the Titans.

The Falcons ran 50 plays during two periods and the passing was particularly sharp. Matt Ryan completed 16 of 17 passes. Chris Redman competed six of six. Dominique Davis completed four of four. John Parker Wilson completed one of four passes.

The Falcons ran a couple of nice screen plays, too. One was to running back Jacquizz Rodgers in the right flat and another was a wide receiver screen to Julio Jones.

“I really like the way that Matt operated with our wide receivers and tight ends,” Smith said.

Fourteen different receivers caught passes. Jacquizz Rodgers, Roddy White, Kevin Cone and Tony Gonzalez had three catches each.

“I think we got a lot accomplished,” Ryan said. “It was good for us to communicate against a different defense and see some different looks, to really make sure that we are on top of our assignments. It was really productive for us.”

The Falcons’ defense was without cornerbacks Brent Grimes (foot), Christopher Owens (hamstring) and Dunta Robinson (right ankle). Tennessee quarterback Matt Hasselbeck completed a long pass to Nate Washington over Asante Samuel on his first throw.

Samuel, who played left cornerback, rebounded with two interceptions. The Falcons rotated Dominique Franks, Darrin Walls and Robert McClain at right cornerback.

“They’ve got a big [defensive] line,” Hasselbeck said. “When I did my three-step drop, I was trying to find a lane to throw through those guys. They are very big up front.”

In the red-zone period, Falcons linebacker Stephen Nicholas made a nice stop in the backfield of Tennessee running back Chris Johnson.

“Stephen was limited all through the offseason with the procedure that he had during the offseason,” Smith said. “But he hasn’t missed a beat since camp started. We started him slow the first couple of days, but he looks very good so far through camp.”

A few plays later, McClain gave up a touchdown reception to Tennessee wide receiver Damian Williams.

In the only scuffle, Titans guard Leroy Harris and Falcons linebacker Akeem Dent were quickly separated.

“No one is going to make the team because they got into a fight,” Tennessee coach Mike Munchak said. “We can still compete at a high level without fighting, pushing and shoving. Otherwise it’s not worth doing these things.”

Hasselbeck had some kind words for the Falcons’ defense.

“From the start of it, I thought Atlanta’s defense was real professional with the way they handled everything,” Hasselbeck said. “Their coaches are real professional. It’s been my experience that the good teams know how to practice without pads, which means they usually know how to with pads. You can tell Atlanta is a good team. Their mindset is to have a good season and make it to the Super Bowl. They get it. They know how to practice and you could tell today.”

Both sides considered the controlled practice a success.

“I will be in touch with Mike to see if we can do this in the future,” Smith said.

Munchak said, “We’d love it. It serves both of our purposes. … we’d love to try to keep continuing to find a way to get together during training camp.”
 
Peyton Manning's Broncos, Matt Ryan's Falcons face crucial test

By Chad Reuter

Draft analyst

In Super Bowl XXXIII, quarterback John Elway famously led the Denver Broncos to victory over the Atlanta Falcons with an MVP-caliber performance. Elway is now the executive vice president of football operations in Denver, and both teams once again have championship aspirations after making the playoffs in 2011. The winning team on Monday night takes a big step toward proving it has the chops to reach the promised land.

1) It's all about pressure

Both teams managed to get to the opposing quarterback regularly in their respective season openers. Atlanta sacked Matt Cassel three times while routing the Kansas City Chiefs, and Denver somehow brought down Ben Roethlisberger five times in a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Neither Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning nor Falcons signal-caller Matt Ryan is exactly known for being athletic. However, Ryan was sacked just 26 times in 2011 (only the 26th-highest total among qualified passers), and Manning has a legendary ability to avoid pressure by moving within the pocket (he was sacked just 16 times in 2010, his last healthy season). Denver's dynamic pass-rushing duo of Von Miller (who sacked Big Ben twice in Week 1) and Elvis Dumervil must get to Ryan to help the Broncos' secondary (see below) keep Atlanta's big-play tally to a minimum. The Falcons, meanwhile, need defensive end John Abraham, his linemates and their blitzing linebackers to at least make Manning throw more quickly than he wants to; the veteran has already proven he's healthy enough to lead the Broncos' attack with deadly efficiency.

2) Tracy Porter will earn his money

Though he signed just a one-year deal for $4 million, Porter was the Broncos' top defensive free-agent acquisition of the offseason. He made an immediate impact in the win over the Steelers, collecting eight tackles and defending five passes -- including an interception that was returned 43 yards for a touchdown, harkening back to the pick-six that helped Porter and the New Orleans Saints beat Manning and the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV. With erstwhile veteran Champ Bailey on the other side of the field, opponents will challenge Porter throughout 2012 -- and "challenge" is a good word for what the Falcons figure to do with Roddy White and Julio Jones. Porter's certainly not shy about making contact, but his 5-foot-11, 189-pound frame will be tested by Jones (6-3, 220) and White (6-1, 208), whether they're separating at the top of routes or trying to elude or run through Porter after the catch. Keep an eye out for second-year nickel back Chris Harris, who is fighting an ankle injury. If he can't go, the small but feisty Tony Carter and rookie Omar Bolden will have to hold their own against Ryan's favorite slot receiver, Harry Douglas. They also might have to fight future Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez over the middle.

3) The Falcons' secondary must step up

Atlanta lost Brent Grimes, its best pure cover corner, to an Achilles injury in Week 1, news that was certainly not welcomed by Falcons coaches going into a game against Manning. Atlanta has Asante Samuel (acquired via an offseason trade with the Philadelphia Eagles) and Dunta Robinson, but the increasingly important third cornerback spot will have to be manned by Chris Owens or Robert McClain. Manning will be looking for veteran slot man Brandon Stokley in critical situations, so even if Samuel and Robinson do their jobs outside against larger targets Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker, whoever lines up inside must trail Stokley effectively to prevent the kinds of eight-to-12-yard plays that can keep Denver's offense moving.

Prediction

Manning won his last game in Atlanta, leading the Colts to a 31-13 victory in 2007, but that was a lifetime ago in NFL terms -- and the Falcons' quarterback on that day was Joey Harrington. The Ryan Express and tough running back Michael Turner will present a much more difficult challenge for the future Hall of Famer in his return to the Georgia Dome. I suspect Manning and Denver's solid defense will keep things interesting, but the Falcons will pull out a hard-fought -- and highly entertaining -- home victory.

Atlanta Falcons 34, Denver Broncos 27
 
Peyton Manning's Broncos, Matt Ryan's Falcons face crucial test

By Chad Reuter

Draft analyst

In Super Bowl XXXIII, quarterback John Elway famously led the Denver Broncos to victory over the Atlanta Falcons with an MVP-caliber performance. Elway is now the executive vice president of football operations in Denver, and both teams once again have championship aspirations after making the playoffs in 2011. The winning team on Monday night takes a big step toward proving it has the chops to reach the promised land.

1) It's all about pressure

Both teams managed to get to the opposing quarterback regularly in their respective season openers. Atlanta sacked Matt Cassel three times while routing the Kansas City Chiefs, and Denver somehow brought down Ben Roethlisberger five times in a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Neither Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning nor Falcons signal-caller Matt Ryan is exactly known for being athletic. However, Ryan was sacked just 26 times in 2011 (only the 26th-highest total among qualified passers), and Manning has a legendary ability to avoid pressure by moving within the pocket (he was sacked just 16 times in 2010, his last healthy season). Denver's dynamic pass-rushing duo of Von Miller (who sacked Big Ben twice in Week 1) and Elvis Dumervil must get to Ryan to help the Broncos' secondary (see below) keep Atlanta's big-play tally to a minimum. The Falcons, meanwhile, need defensive end John Abraham, his linemates and their blitzing linebackers to at least make Manning throw more quickly than he wants to; the veteran has already proven he's healthy enough to lead the Broncos' attack with deadly efficiency.

2) Tracy Porter will earn his money

Though he signed just a one-year deal for $4 million, Porter was the Broncos' top defensive free-agent acquisition of the offseason. He made an immediate impact in the win over the Steelers, collecting eight tackles and defending five passes -- including an interception that was returned 43 yards for a touchdown, harkening back to the pick-six that helped Porter and the New Orleans Saints beat Manning and the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV. With erstwhile veteran Champ Bailey on the other side of the field, opponents will challenge Porter throughout 2012 -- and "challenge" is a good word for what the Falcons figure to do with Roddy White and Julio Jones. Porter's certainly not shy about making contact, but his 5-foot-11, 189-pound frame will be tested by Jones (6-3, 220) and White (6-1, 208), whether they're separating at the top of routes or trying to elude or run through Porter after the catch. Keep an eye out for second-year nickel back Chris Harris, who is fighting an ankle injury. If he can't go, the small but feisty Tony Carter and rookie Omar Bolden will have to hold their own against Ryan's favorite slot receiver, Harry Douglas. They also might have to fight future Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez over the middle.

3) The Falcons' secondary must step up

Atlanta lost Brent Grimes, its best pure cover corner, to an Achilles injury in Week 1, news that was certainly not welcomed by Falcons coaches going into a game against Manning. Atlanta has Asante Samuel (acquired via an offseason trade with the Philadelphia Eagles) and Dunta Robinson, but the increasingly important third cornerback spot will have to be manned by Chris Owens or Robert McClain. Manning will be looking for veteran slot man Brandon Stokley in critical situations, so even if Samuel and Robinson do their jobs outside against larger targets Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker, whoever lines up inside must trail Stokley effectively to prevent the kinds of eight-to-12-yard plays that can keep Denver's offense moving.

Prediction

Manning won his last game in Atlanta, leading the Colts to a 31-13 victory in 2007, but that was a lifetime ago in NFL terms -- and the Falcons' quarterback on that day was Joey Harrington. The Ryan Express and tough running back Michael Turner will present a much more difficult challenge for the future Hall of Famer in his return to the Georgia Dome. I suspect Manning and Denver's solid defense will keep things interesting, but the Falcons will pull out a hard-fought -- and highly entertaining -- home victory.

Atlanta Falcons 34, Denver Broncos 27
Elway can thank safety Eugene Robinson's infamous jail time the night before for that SB MVP. Hopefully no Falcon got suckered into a hooker trap last night.....

 
Atlanta Falcons: Michael Turner was leaving Magic City

by D. Orlando Ledbetter

FLOWERY BRANCH – Falcons running back Michael Turner, who was arrested early Tuesday morning and charged with driving under the influence, apologized and was remorseful for his actions.

It was the second time in five seasons, that a player was arrested in Gwinnett County after leaving a post-game celebration. Lawyer Milloy was arrested in a similar case in September of 2008.

“I’d like to apologize to Mr. Blank, Thomas Dimitroff, Mike Smith and the whole Falcons organization and the fans out there for the situation that I’m in right now,” Turner said. “It was a bad decision on my part. I can’t say too much about it in detail right now. I’m just trying to move forward from here.”

The violation will lead Turner entering the league’s substance abuse program as a first-time offender. If doesn’t have any additional problems and he could eventually be dismissed from the program. If he has another alcohol related arrest, he could be suspended and face fines.

San Francisco linebacker Clark Haggins was suspended for three games for a 2011 DUI arrest after he pleaded guilty. He could have been suspended for up to six games.

Turner is expected to stay in the lineup while he case moves through the legal system.

“Nobody has told me that I’m not playing so, I’m just going to prepare like I am [playing,]” Turner said.

Turner is not sure why he didn’t call a driver or limo service to take him home. The league and team provide that service to players.

“Any time that you’re in a situation like this you don’t want this to happen,” Turner said. “You try to keep a clean slate throughout your whole life like everyone else. Unfortunately, this happened and I just have to move forward.”

Turner spoke with his father and then Falcons coach Mike Smith after the arrest.

“Disappointment,” Turner said was the tone of those talks. “I don’t think that anybody is more disappointed than myself. I just have to man up, talk to everybody and face it.

“I’m just taking it day by day. I’m around the guys right now and they are keeping me encouraged and telling me to keep my head up and take it day by day.”

He realizing that he made a mistake.

“It’s a tough situation,” Turner said. “You don’t want to disappoint anybody, family or friends, co-workers or anybody. It’s always tough.”

Turner doesn’t believe his has a drinking problem.

“I shouldn’t have been in this situation to begin with,” Turner said. “It’s tough.”

Turner rushed for 42 yards on 17 carries against Denver. He contends his play and the arrest were not related.

“I never really thought about it like that,” Turner said. “I’m just going to go out there and play hard. Play hard for my teammates and do everything that I can to help my team win.”
 
So another Falcon arrested. Doesn't seem to be many details but John Abraham arrested and some twitter rumors he was obstructing police and fire personal trying to deal with a woman trying to kill herself?

Anyone in Atlanta have the scoop?

 
Atlanta Falcons' John Abraham rues 'bad timing' of his arrest

Associated Press

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Atlanta Falcons defensive end John Abraham is calling his arrest on obstruction of justice charges a matter of "bad timing."

Abraham was arrested Monday night when Atlanta police and firefighters were trying to calm a woman who was threatening to jump from a midtown building window. He said Thursday that "sometimes you try to do the right thing and it doesn't end up being the right thing."

Atlanta police officer Christopher Blaise said this week that Abraham refused to leave an area that had been taped off by authorities. Blaise added that Abraham smelled of alcohol, was unsteady on his feet and had slurred speech and bloodshot eyes.

The four-time Pro Bowl player was charged with two misdemeanors. He was released from custody Tuesday at 1:24 a.m. on a $7,000 total bond, or $3,500 for each charge, according to Fulton County jail records.

Atlanta police officer K.Y. Jones said the woman did not jump and was taken to Grady Hospital. Her name was not released. Abraham declined to say if he knew the woman or if he made a mistake in judgment.

"I can't say I did or didn't," he said. "I'm just going to keep saying it was bad timing. I can't say exactly -- you can't really judge what happened. We're just going to work our way through it."

Blaise said other residents and guests at Twelve Atlantic Station were "patiently waiting in line" and moved away from the scene when Abraham entered the taped-off area and began to argue that "he lived at the location and that he owned three condos there."

Blaise added that Abraham was arrested after being asked "at least five more times" to move behind the taped-off area.

Abraham, a 13-year veteran and the active NFL sacks leader, gave no further details.

"I think at this moment I don't want to talk about my side," Abraham said. "Once we get everything clarified and get everything going the right way -- because we're still in a legal situation that we need to get cleared out and everything. But, you know, sometimes it's just bad timing. I'm not going to fault anybody at all. It was just that things happen in life."

Abraham practiced with the Falcons on Thursday for the second consecutive day. He said he met with coach Mike Smith to give the team his side of the story. The Falcons play host to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
 
Imperfect Atlanta Falcons remain perfect

By Pat Yasinskas | ESPN.com

LANDOVER, Md. -- Arthur Blank is a cultured man who has experienced plenty of things in his life.

That’s why I’m kind of chuckling at what the owner of the Atlanta Falcons said after his team defeated the Washington Redskins 24-17 on Sunday at FedEx Field.

As he waited to listen to coach Mike Smith’s postgame news conference, Blank walked over to me and sounded like he had a big secret.

"This is the first time this team has been 5-0, and that goes all the way back to 1966," Blank said.

Blank’s tone wasn't celebratory or boastful. In fact, he sounded more amazed than anything. You can’t blame him, especially when you look at the history of the Falcons.

They’d had only two 4-0 starts in their entire existence. Aside from one glorious run to the Super Bowl in 1998, this is a team without much positive history. The Falcons didn’t even have their first back-to-back winning seasons until 2008 and ’09.

Blank wasn’t the only one who seemed stunned that the Falcons are 5-0. Like Blank, veteran center Todd McClure has been around the block. He has the longest tenure of any member of the team, but he sounded almost child-like as he pondered his team’s status.

"You know [linebacker] Mike Peterson came into the league the same year I did," said McClure, who was a seventh-round pick by Atlanta in 1999. "I went up to him after the game and I asked him, 'Have you ever been 5-0?' He couldn’t remember being 5-0."

I double-checked with Peterson, who has played for the Colts, Jaguars and Falcons during his 14-year career.

"Not that I remember," Peterson said. "If I have, it wasn’t sweet enough that I could remember. This is very sweet. It’s big for the city, the franchise and the owner. Everybody’s been pulling for this team to take that next step. You can kind of see it now. We’ve been fighting this thing the last three or four years."

"The thing" Peterson is talking about is the fact that the Falcons have had four straight winning seasons, but they haven’t won a playoff game. They’ve been a good team, but not quite great.

The Falcons can’t do a thing about their playoff jinx until January, but they’re putting themselves in a position where they could have the NFC South wrapped up early. If they keep winning, they could rest some starters at the end of the season, have home-field advantage and, maybe, finally get over that hump.

They might have taken a step in that direction Sunday.

"These are the kind of games that you hate to see, but you want to see," defensive end John Abraham said. "We didn’t play the way we wanted to, but we persevered."

The Falcons weren’t sharp early and fell behind when Ryan Kerrigan intercepted Matt Ryan in the second quarter and returned it for a touchdown. Atlanta hung around, but fell behind again (17-14) early in the fourth quarter when Santana Moss caught a 77-yard touchdown pass from rookie quarterback Kirk Cousins, who entered the game after fellow rookie Robert Griffin III suffered what the Redskins described as a mild concussion in the third quarter.

"We were our own worst enemy in the first half," Smith said.

The Falcons -- and Ryan -- were uncharacteristically sloppy for the better part of three quarters, but they scored 17 points in the fourth quarter. Ryan completed 34 of 52 passes for 345 yards and two touchdowns, and he did that on a day when he didn’t look particularly sharp.

For the second consecutive week, Ryan rallied the Falcons to a come-from-behind victory in the fourth quarter. With the game tied (17-17), Ryan and the Falcons got the ball at their own 31-yard line with 5:40 remaining and promptly went on a touchdown drive.

"That’s what [Ryan] does," Abraham said. "I never thought we were going to lose that game because nothing he does surprises me."

Ryan didn’t have his best day, and neither did the Falcons, but they came away with a win. They did it with solid defense, stopping the Redskins consistently on third downs and coming up with two fourth-quarter interceptions. They also did it because veteran tight end Tony Gonzalez had a huge game, catching 13 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown.

"In terms of showing some resiliency, you are going to have to do that," Smith said. "Games are going to be tight and close in this league, and you are going to have to win those close ones."

That’s the kind of thing you have to do if you’re going to take the next step that Peterson talked about.

"We’ve got a maturity level on this team," Peterson said. "We were down seven, and it could easily have swung the other way and got away from us. We got down, but we have the maturity to get through that. Nobody got down or started pointing fingers. It just shows how this team has grown over the last few years."

And here might be the scariest thing of all.

"We haven’t played our best football yet, but we’re 5-0," McClure said. "This team is much better than the way we’ve played so far. But the nice thing is that it’s easy to make corrections when you’re 5-0. We still have a lot of room for improvement."

They do. But they’re 5-0, and that’s something the Falcons never have been able to say before.
 
As a long time Falcon fan it gets tiresome that the media has to hang some moniker on them every time they accomplish something. It is already the talking head chant of the week. Starting out 5-0 is not all that common to very many NFL squads, but really not even great. It is what it is and a chance to get into the playoffs if they play just average the rest of the way

 
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