Comments on: Preseason Power Rankings No. 12: Atlanta Falcons

By: dirtybirds233

dirtybirds233 — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 03:52:05 +0000

Uh here’s one for the doubters…we have 11/12 starters from last year, added Asante Samuel and Lofa Tatupu, and added a great coordinator in Mike Nolan….oh yeah and those 11/12 starters returning, have never had a losing season. Keep on hating.

By: phreakin

phreakin — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 18:57:14 +0000

As someone who watch Koetter DESTROY ASU, good luck on thinking he will do anyone in the NFL good. he hasn’t for some time.

By: ahostiletakeover

ahostiletakeover — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 18:43:02 +0000

Offense should be better but if I were a Falcon fan I would be a bit worried about the defensive transition. It is way too late in his career to start asking John Abraham to stand up and occassionally cover a back or tight end as a “hybrid” type OLB-DE that the 3-4 defense thrives on. Edwards has never been a 5 technique DE either on the other side, both guys are used to having two big pluggers in the middle beside them, something that is a rare look in a 3-4. I think Nolan is a solid coordinator, but does he have the right personnel for this scheme?

By: ebrownwareagle

ebrownwareagle — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 17:23:10 +0000

Every team that has beaten the Falcons in the playoffs have went to the Super Bowl. And 2 of the teams won ie. Green Bay NY. A loss is still a loss however, if I did or do loose in the playoffs it is to a Super Bowl team. So I guess you can say road to the Super Bowl in the NFC goes thru ATL!

By: londonfletcher

londonfletcher — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 16:55:06 +0000

I’m not a fan of either team by any means, but how are they ranked above the Lions?

By: trefkennedy

trefkennedy — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 16:48:18 +0000

I don’t get how they can’t win a playoff game yet everyone won’t speak it, but somehow everyone rides Team Cowboys for our playoffs struggle

By: mannyicey

mannyicey — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 16:45:01 +0000

As a Falcons fan since 1990, I have always thought that Matt Ryan was a little above average prospect that became a little above average NFL quarterback.

But this year is a make-or-break year for the Falcons. Making the playoffs shouldn’t be that hard this year because the team is good enough to beat enough teams to make it, but the last time the Falcons won a playoff game, Mike Vick was halfway playing around while making sure his dogfighting enterprise was making a profit.

But they won playoff games with him. And a bad, undersized line. And older WRs. And with an offensive scheme so bad that the opposing defenses used to call out the plays to Vick and the line. And Vick not studying the playbook so much that the playbook never left the backseat of his car!

So with all the Falcons have now, if we don’t win one playoff game, Arthur Blank needs to blow the team up.

By: medtxpack

medtxpack — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 16:29:07 +0000

@hardh3ad says:

settle down on the lol’s bro….not my team.
i was coming from the standpoint of for a preseason ranking going into this year, i would have the Lions ahead of the Falcons. …lol…

By: raideralex99

raideralex99 — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 15:48:34 +0000

When these power rating are done … do they check the schedule?
Atlanta has an easy schedule … only 4 Quality opponents (9+ wins) … as long as Smith does not make bone head decsions it should be an easy 10+ wins season for the Falcons.

By: wludford

wludford — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 15:31:41 +0000

Falcons should battle with the Bucs for the division. I like the Bucs to win it, though. Atlanta, New Orleans and Carolina could all finish a close second.

By: hardh3ad

hardh3ad — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 14:50:41 +0000

“I dont get how this team is better than the Lions right now”

Lol well lets see…ur qb drops back and throws jump balls to Calvin and people feel that makes him a great qb? Lol! This team played your lions last year in your house and won w/o Julio jones.W/o their starting fullback blocking for turner. W/o 3 starting lineman vs suh, Avril, and the others, and with Matt Ryan getting hurt in the game.

Yet you question how their better? Lol!

By: falcnfan

falcnfan — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 14:46:07 +0000

They have to get it done this year, i realize they’ve been beat by the superbowl champs these past few years but thats no excuse. There’s no doubt they have the talent but they have to be able to execute. I think Matty Ice needs a new name bc its making him cold in the Playoffs, and thats coming from a long time Falcon Fan..Get it done MATT!

By: drobstad

drobstad — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 14:27:38 +0000

I don’t like Mike Smith because I question his ability to make solid in-game decisions but I think people in this comment section are jumping the gun damning the falcons all ready. They are in a very winnable division this season more than ever & Julio Jones is looking like he could be a break out star. You have to figure Roddie White will feel like he has something to prove and Tony Gonzalez shows no signs of slowing down in the passing game. Not saying they are going to win the super bowl or anything but I wouldn’t be surprised to see them win that division this year.

By: ramofsteel

ramofsteel — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 14:22:28 +0000

I personally think this team can get to the Super Bowl. A guy to watch is Jacquizz Rodgers. Samuel, Grimes, Robinson has the best CBs in the division, Kroy Bierrman, Abraham, and Edwards a good trio of DEs, and Sean Weatherspoon is a beast.

By: flaccotoboldin

flaccotoboldin — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 14:11:37 +0000

How does the weaknesses not mention that Matt Ryan is, essentially, a choker who wilts under the pressure 3 years straight?

By: chuckyd317

chuckyd317 — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 14:10:46 +0000

Regular season pre ranking.. 12…
Post Season pre ranking.. 32…

The Notre Dame of the NFL.. fans always think its their year only to be disappointed late in the season…

By: jacobslatter

jacobslatter — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 14:06:08 +0000

Mike Smith isn’t going anywhere, he re-upped a while ago and will be given leeway this year with 2 new coordinators.

Also to add to the above piece is that Dirk Koetter has added a screen game, Matt Ryan only gained @ 61 yards on screen passes last year, it was a one-liner topic a few weeks ago. The O-line really missed Harvey Dahl the RG who went to the Rams but Vince Manuwai or Peter Konz should do a bang up job. The defensive line though does need more than a pass rush than John Abraham, but the Ray Edwards 3.5 sacks is a lot better than former DE Jamaal Anderson, so all things are relative.

By: jkjdawg1

jkjdawg1 — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 14:03:43 +0000

as a long-time Falcons fan, i think this is a pretty great analysis. Going to the playoffs for a fourth time and ending up 0-4, is just not acceptable. Mike Smith clearly has raised the bar for a perpetually losing franchise though, where fan hopes have gone from more wins than losses, to getting a playoff win. that’s pretty huge in my opinion, after enduring many years of 3 to 7 win seasons. i really hope they do it this year, even just one playoff win, if only so Matt Ryan can finally get the praise he deserves as one of the best Falcon QB’s of all-time.

By: medtxpack

medtxpack — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 14:01:56 +0000

I dont get how this team is better than the Lions right now.

By: SeenThisB4

SeenThisB4 — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 13:52:31 +0000

#12 is too high for this team, they should have been at or below #17.
The logic for their prospects is flawed, if they truely believe they have a shot at the division championship, then why is there still one team in the division not yet profiled?

By: Buttsnake

Buttsnake — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 13:51:03 +0000

I really don’t see the Falcons winning more than 7 games. Their time has come and gone

By: mdd913

mdd913 — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 13:42:02 +0000

I can’t recall the last time the Falcons had even a halfway decent offensive line. And Ryan is overrated. This team is a paper tiger every single year.

By: shackdelrio

shackdelrio — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 13:11:33 +0000

Every year, there is a playoff team that slips back. I think this year it will be the Falcons.

I wouldn’t be surprised if this is Smith’s last year and Blank goes after a big name coach like Cowher.