The Miracle On Ice Wouldn't Have Happened 9/10 Times

by FrankyWren on Jan 8, 2009 11:29 PM EST

So what you say? Well ... it's an analogy. Ya know, like when you compare two things. You might even go further and call it a simile. The '08 Falcons are like '80 USA Hockey Team!

The Good Comrade has a great eye for talent, but our team really played above and beyond their ability this year. Look at our offensive line; Dahl was undrafted, Clabo was undrafted, McClure is 31 years old/was originally drafted in the 7th round and Blaylock and Baker have been legally drinking for less than two years. As for the rest, Weiner's knees are more fragile than my 93-yr-old grandmother's dentures, Gandy gave us absolutely nothing (not that anyone expected anything from a geriatric) ... I could go on, but suffice it to say that Michael Butterworth, while a mammoth of a man and a likely descendant/heir apparent of the finest syrup in the land, isn't going to contribute much in the foreseeable future.

Now I am just playing devil's advocate here, but how sure are you all that we'll have success next year? I mean, Dimitroff/Smitty put together a good run this year, but how repeatable is our success w/ so many glaring holes remaining on our roster.

Don't get me wrong, we have some great emerging talent. Jackson, Matty Ice, Blaylock/Baker, Decoud, Lofton, Norwood ... a growing list. But that's just it. The list is growing. The list is far from complete.

We have: an overmatched right side of the line, a below-average secondary, one true "every down" back, a below average/depleted LB corps, one DE who can be counted on and an exceptionally bad run defense. These things can be fixed, but I'm not convinced we'll be Super Bowl ready come this time next year.

Just trying to spur some discussion. Let's hear some thoughts.

This FanPost was written by one of The Falcoholic's talented readers. It does not necessarily reflect the views of The Falcoholic.

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Yikes

I should have proofread. My bad y’all.

"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
- Bobby Cox (talking about Boyer)

by FrankyWren on Jan 8, 2009 11:31 PM EST reply actions

Edit buttons are life savers!

And we aren’t SB quality this year, even if we have a tremendously productive draft class (hard to beat last year’s). But we’ll win XLV. My words, mark em.

"The nice thing about supporting a bedraggled-cum-decent team? Watching all those analysts eat their words."

by Adam Schultz on Jan 9, 2009 12:20 AM EST up reply actions

Here's a question that doesn't get asked here enough:

WHY?

"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
- Bobby Cox (talking about Boyer)

by FrankyWren on Jan 9, 2009 2:46 AM EST up reply actions

because we have a team you can believe in

Look at our team

Matt Ryan (though he fell out after hitting that rookie wall he had us all convinced he was immune to – he’ll be back next year looking stronger and more fantastic than this year)

I could go into inscruciating detail about the rest of the players but I lost my will to commit… we have a great coaching staff and regardless of what the floating heads say about our team, they actually are a damn good team with a very strong desire to win

by MentallyMIA on Jan 9, 2009 2:15 PM EST up reply actions

One major reason why:

This is a truly unified TEAM. Every player gives his best (even if his best might not be good enough). They want to win and they believe in themselves and their coach and their GM. With a couple more draft classes, we’re going to be seeing some truly amazing players come into their own. Ryan, Turner, Lofton, and Jackson (Chevis) will be joined by many new names that will solidify every position on this team. We will have weapons at every key position and there will be hardly a team that can stop us. Remember the first Pats team that won the SB? That’ll be the Falcons in 2010. They’ll coast into XLV and win it.

"The nice thing about supporting a bedraggled-cum-decent team? Watching all those analysts eat their words."

by Adam Schultz on Jan 9, 2009 11:58 PM EST up reply actions

First BRADY Pats team to win a SB

"The nice thing about supporting a bedraggled-cum-decent team? Watching all those analysts eat their words."

by Adam Schultz on Jan 10, 2009 12:00 AM EST up reply actions

Players give their best? Show me an NFL player who doesn’t give his best.
Want to win? Ditto.
Believe in our coach/GM? Didn’t Vick/Dunn/Crumpler believe in Mora/McKay?

My point is that we got lucky more than once this season. I’m not trying to bash on our Dirty Birds, so no need to defend them.

I want to hear what you think about our weaknesses … and how our weaknesses might affect our record NEXT YEAR. Know what I’m sayin’?

"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
- Bobby Cox (talking about Boyer)

by FrankyWren on Jan 10, 2009 2:36 PM EST up reply actions

Weakness? Secondary, pass rush, play action biting, no truly “Good Hands” receivers, youth. So, basically, we could barely scrape by with an 8-8 record.

I just prefer optimism :-D

"The nice thing about supporting a bedraggled-cum-decent team? Watching all those analysts eat their words."

by Adam Schultz on Jan 10, 2009 10:04 PM EST up reply actions

Negative Nancy!

re: the proofreading

"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
- Bobby Cox (talking about Boyer)

by FrankyWren on Jan 9, 2009 1:20 AM EST reply actions

Im agreeing on most points.

However that’s why there is this season ;)

Also as Falcoholics often we look at failure before really appreciating what a truely good team we have at the moment. This is not any ordinary Falcons team, this is class with a side of Mike Smith.

by Grayson on Jan 9, 2009 6:59 AM EST reply actions

SUBSTANTIVE ARGUMENTS PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!

"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
- Bobby Cox (talking about Boyer)

by FrankyWren on Jan 10, 2009 2:37 PM EST reply actions

Arguement -

Now granted, I’m not trying to be a negative nancy, and I’ve been a believer in this team when it was really hard to believe in (ala Joey Joe Joe as our best option at QB?) , but next year has me a little nervous. And here is why…

This awesome 2008 Season which has seen the Ice Man Cometh and the Falcons go an amazing 11-5 saw our Dirty Birds Play the woeful AFC West and the struggling NFC North. Lets look at those two divisions for a moment. The AFC West, consisting of San Diego (8-8, D.W.), Denver ( 8-8), Oakland ( 5-11 ), and Kansas City ( 2-14 ) had two teams at .500. Two. The NFC North, with Minnesota ( 10-6 ), Chicago ( 9-7 ), Green Bay ( 6-10 ), and The Worst Team in Football History ( 0-16 ), were equally as woeful down the stretch.

No don’t get me wrong, we pulled out some quality wins that definately built the Character of this team for years to come. Turner’s performance against the Lions set the tone for both Clubs’ seasons. The Shut Out at Oakland proved our Defense has the possibility, maybe, hopefully, to become a stout unit. And of course the last second victory against Da Bears showed that Matt Ryan really is a cyborg and the Football Gods have chosen to favor the Falcons after the ’07. This team has alot to build on. But one thing that was in our Favor this year was the incredibly fast start. Now lets look at next year.

Next year we play the NFC East and the AFC East. So we’ll be playing the New York Football Giants (12-4), The Philidelphia “i swear he muffed the punt ref” Eagles (9-6-1), “America’s Drama Queens” (9-7), and the Washington Redskins (8-8). There is only one team that went 8-8 in that division. Two teams made the playoffs, and one could win it all. Add to that the Miami Dolphins (11-5), New England Patriots (11-5), JETS (9-7), and the Bills (7-9).

Now the major difference that i see between the 2008 season and our 2009 season is pretty obvious. We’re playing a MUCH harder schedule. With only 1 non-division opponent below .500. Now i have as much faith in this team, the Comrade, and Smitty as the next Falcoholic. But i’m not expecting a Super Bowl anytime soon. To look at our problems outside of our schedule and our defense, i’ll pose this question.

What happens to the Falcons if Turner goes down with an injury next year?

Have at its Falcoholics.

If my mother put on a helmet and shoulder pads and a uniform that wasn't the same as the one I was wearing, I'd run over her if she was in my way. And I love my mother.
-Bo Jackson

by Pregame with Pabst on Jan 12, 2009 8:24 AM EST reply actions