The Falcons Tonight...

[AlphaKilo470]

Did anyone watch the Thanksgiving day game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Indianapolis Colts? The Falcons were doing absolutely awesome and even scored two touchdowns in the first quarter but suddenly, they just started to slack off. First off, I would like to mention that usually, when I go to a football game, it's exciting and everyones moving around and there's just a feeling you can't get from simply watching on TV but that just wasn't here. The players were somewhat noodly and it looked like they were avoiding the ball almost as if they were scared of it and/or hoping somebody else would do their job. Also, coverage: where was it? As a result, the Colts easily took the lead and eventually won the game 31 to 13. It also didn't help that the ref was making calls that even had the radio announcers asking "WTF," the clock was stopped way too much and the team was bugging the ref about a play a couple of plays too late. Between the unqualified ref, the total lack of effort from the team, the game was something of a disappointment. At the half time show, my friend suggested we leave so I got my car keys ready and we left and spent the next hour at Waffle House. However, the game wasn't totally unworthy of notes as Warrick Dunn hit his 10,000th yard. Best of wishes to him.

Anyways, to my point, what exactly was up with tonight's Falcons game? The way they got off to a great start then suddenly fell behind without recovery as if they weren't even trying almost makes me think the final score was planned. Vick is gone and the players need to learn that they don't have a magical player who can come in and play the game for them now. [/rant]

[skitty4gzus]

well you got a couple problems down there in ATL. first off you lost Vick, than you replaced him with joey harrington and/or byron leftwich......... there's a reason why detroit got rid of harrington.... oh and game coverage, nfl network? pretty sad for a thanksgiving day game i would say. its kinda like how they stuck the #1 team in NCAA football(buckeyes of course) on ESPNU, hardly anybody even has that channel and the #1 team gets saturday afternoon coverage on it. questionable at best.

[AlphaKilo470]

I really dislike this Vick mentality that he's everything. The reason the Falcons are in such a drag is because Vick did all their work. Any time he got injured or for whatever reason couldn't play they did horrible. Anytime he did play, he's all we heard about. The Falcons worked too hard on having him win the game and too little on making good players out of the rest of the team.

The Falcons didn't do bad directly as a result of Vick being gone. They do bad because Vick received focus while the rest of the team was neglected.

As for coverage, no, I wasn't reffering one bit to TV or radio; I wasn't concerned by that. By coverage, I meant players. They were spread out and the guy with the ball was always open to get tackled.

[goofyGAguy]

A lot of it is simply bad coaching. Granted, he doesn't really have a lot to work with, but Bobby Petrino is an average college coach at best.

[skitty4gzus]

i dont always lean towards coaching as the problem. in this instance i would say it is 50/50. the players are used to leaning on Vick to bail them out and make miraculous plays, now he aint there to do that. People aren't stepping up yet, but who knows, maybe they will or then again maybe they wont. We waited for over 10 years in Cincy for them to put together a squad. We were beyond excited when they went 8 and 8, just look at the ticket sales. Now look what we got to work with down there, a bunch of cry babies and folks that keep themselves out of jail.

[goofyGAguy]

bye-bye Bobby...


http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sport ... _1212.html

[goofyGAguy]

Lord have mercy these guys are pathetic. I guess it doesn't really matter who the coach is.

[tylerwylie]

I'm glad I don't have to be associated with Atlanta sports teams after moving away.

(Lived in Atlanta for 15 years before moving here)

[goofyGAguy]

I'm glad I don't have to be associated with Atlanta sports teams after moving away.

(Lived in Atlanta for 15 years before moving here)

Lucky you!

[Phazer]

IMHO this is a prime example of why the "spread" or West-Coast offense dosen't work in the Pros. It's not as hard to get 2-3 QB's that are good enough at the college level. But very few are able to cut it at the Pro level, and if they can, they'll be mince-meat within a couple of years because of the pounding they will take. Then add the extra burden of having 1-2 back-ups that are capable, (or not), and all of a sudden you have no one that can run the offense if the starter gets hurt. Or.....you have to learn 2-3 different offenses' in case starters then back-ups get hurt.