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Preseason Game Recap: ATL vs KC

Roddy doin his thing. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

So how about those Falcons, huh? A swarming, hard hitting, opportunistic D and an offense that takes advantage of turnovers and field position. Oh and we won. That usually helps too, even if it doesn't count. 

The Good

  • Turner looks ready to go. He's fast, breaking tackles, and running all over the place. Oh, and he caught a screen!
  • There's a new nickname in town. The Rushin' Russian Dimitri Nance. Number 30 accounted for the only TDs the Falcons scored tonight. While he only had six yards in six rushes, he had two TDs and made a big impression on just about everyone. And then there was that 30 yard screen pass he took to the house that was called back on a hold.
  • Kerry Meier made a couple of clutch first down grabs, much like...
  • Tony Gonzalez, who looks even hungrier for yards than he did last year.
  • The Defense. As a whole. There's a fire there. A hunger. Determination. They swarm to the ball. They apply mountainous pressure. They get good penetration.
  • Dominique Franks hits HARD.
  • Shann Schillinger picked a pass out of the air and ran with it. Another Grizzly makes good.
  • Kroy Biermann forced a fumble. Surprised? Thought not.
  • Chevis Jackson looks hungry for a spot on the secondary. He accounted for the other INT of the night, a beautiful jump-the-route snag-and-go. Smooth as silk.
  • Jamaal Anderson... did his job well. That took a lot out of me to say, fyi.
  • OL rooks Johnson and Hawley looked good and stout when protecting JPW.
  • Snelling. Smith. Nance. All great backs. All fighting for position behind Turner and Norwood. Gosh it feels good to say that.
The Bad:
  • The O-Line is having trouble protecting pass plays, especially the side Sam Baker squats on.
  • The D-Line had trouble containing quarterbacks after the inital rush was over.
  • Ryan looked, at times, anemic out there, showing some of the happy-feet he had mid-season last year. Granted, his OL kinda collapsed a lot, but still...
  • Do not throw screens to Roddy. Please.
  • Our outside edge running plays are lacking in a trait I like to call "ability to succeed." We need HD back on that field.
  • Matt Bryant missed a field goal within thirty five yards. Steve Hauschka missed a 53 yarder. Matt Bryant missed a chip shot. When will our kicking woes end?
The Ugly:
  • Bear Wood's hair. It just looks...dirty. And long. Even though he donates five pounds of those tendrils to charity so that cancer patients can have wigs during Chemo (I'm not making this up), it's...kinda icky.

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There are some UFA kickers looking for work this time of year. Wouldn’t it be wise to bring one of those young kickers in to compete?

by JoshuaG on Aug 13, 2010 11:53 PM EDT reply actions  

We have a young kicker competing

And he only missed a 53 yard field goal. I don’t know too many regular NFL kickers who make those on a regular basis.

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by Dave Choate on Aug 14, 2010 12:11 AM EDT up reply actions  

Yea

Steve House Car wasn’t all bad I mean if he makes that 53 yarder he’s pretty much our kicker for the year.

Australian Atlanta Falcons Fan EST 2003

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Falcons are my soul,
I watch them through all the strife,
Until they get that Superbowl.

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by Grayson on Aug 14, 2010 6:36 AM EDT up reply actions  

I stand corrected

However, Hauschka was cut by the Ravens last year for missing some key field goals.

And Bryant doesn’t really have the big leg for longer attempts.

I know this is how it goes with kickers, but I am just concerned considering our kicking problems from last season.

by JoshuaG on Aug 14, 2010 9:06 AM EDT up reply actions  

I said it before and I'll say it again

With the way our defense is playing, let’s go for it on 4th down EVERYTIME like in Tecmo.
Missing field goals is like giving up a big return on the ensuing kick off but without scoring.
4th down conversions are actually high for us. We can save a few roster spots for more key players.
Punting or in this case Field Goal kickers aren’t really football players.

Sorry Dave, I mean Steve.

Perhaps, I must go through Hell to get to Heaven......................if there is one.

by brotherbrown on Aug 15, 2010 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions  

Two words for you

Uncle Morty.

In a way, each of us has an El Guapo to face.

by runningback on Aug 14, 2010 3:35 AM EDT up reply actions  

The O-line issues

scare me. The last thing we need is for Matt Ryan to be derailed by lack of a decent O line. Too many QBs show promise only to have it snuffed out from getting zero help up front. Hard to win games if your QB has no time to throw so everyone stacks the box to kill the running game.

by Falcons Fan in WA on Aug 14, 2010 12:28 AM EDT reply actions  

Don't get too uptight just yet.

First game back after a long offseason. We should start to see improvement next week. After all, the starters didn’t play too much.

"Ryan, under center. Single receiver set, to either side. Ryan, gonna throw. First professional pass.....CAUGHT!! Jenkins! 30! 25! 20! 15! 10! 5! He lives in Atlanta!!!" -Wes Durham

by Zippo729 on Aug 14, 2010 12:41 AM EDT up reply actions  

It's preseason people

Let’s not catch a knot in our drawers just yet. This is when coaches identify what needs to be worked on and corrected. It can take a while for those big offensive lineman to get in the groove.

by mwalex on Aug 14, 2010 4:05 AM EDT up reply actions  

I know it is preseason but

This is an issue that goes back to the middle of last year which was well before preseason. What concerns me is the lack of improvement over the last 9 months or so. I really didn’t see any effort to improve the O line and it is showing to still have issues. I hope they can get this straightened out over the next 3 games because if not 2010 may look alot like 2009 meaning looking at the playoffs from the outside.

by Falcons Fan in WA on Aug 15, 2010 3:47 AM EDT up reply actions  

What do you mean no attempts to improve?

ATL drafted two rookies for the OL. Healthy running backs will help the OL because it will slow down an aggressive pass rush. Getting true #2 and/or #3 WR in the line up will help because Ryan will not have to hold onto the ball as long. Throwing to the RB’s will reduce the ball-in-pocket time. There is much more to good blocking than a OL pushing a DL backward.

by mwalex on Aug 15, 2010 6:17 PM EDT up reply actions  

What was worse?

Our O-Line or the Steelers?
Coincidently we play each other in a few weeks.
With both defenses, that could be a nasty game.
Especially if it’s raining and windy that day.

Perhaps, I must go through Hell to get to Heaven......................if there is one.

by brotherbrown on Aug 15, 2010 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions  

Woods hair might be ugly

but he played a really good game against KC. He was all over the field and had some good hits.

by mwalex on Aug 14, 2010 4:07 AM EDT reply actions  

Ditto

For Hair and name alone, Woods should make this team.

by Mnemonic on Aug 15, 2010 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions  

Game Center

"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein

by orang3b on Aug 16, 2010 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions  

misc.

If Sam Baker doesn’t work out, will it be Svitek or Jose Valdez who takes his job? … Matt Ryan didn’t look impressive at all. I don’t care about the O-line not doing well … Who were the CBs that were in when Brodie Croyle led KC on their 19-play drive? I think it was Owens, Chevis and Franks, but I really don’t remember. I don’t remember seeing Grimes on the field all night. … I’ve got a feeling that Wolfe/Harvey are going to be cut, although they’ve still got a longshot chance to make the Practice Squad. … Michael Palmer looked pretty good. … In two-thirds of one game, we’ve seen about 1,000 times more out of Shann Schillinger than we have seen out of William Moore for the entire time Moore has been on our roster. … Bear Woods seemed to be the captain of the defense when he was out there. How can a rookie UFA already be in that position?

by Nick Mike-Mayer on Aug 14, 2010 9:40 AM EDT reply actions  

Easy answer for Woods

The kid is a baller and should make the team if the he players like that the rest of the preseason. Also, keep in mind he was the captain of the 3rd stringers.

Baker isn’t going anywhere and will improve over preseason, remember this was the first game. Ryan is fine, once again first game and as protection improves he’ll get better. Also Roddy dropped as pass or two from Ryan.

Grimes played a good bit.

by mwalex on Aug 14, 2010 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions  

Watched Ryan's series again on NFL Network

and I really don’t understand where all the negative sentiment is coming from. I believe he was 3/6? 1 of those was a throw-away. 2 of those were drops by White. I guess he didn’t throw any bombs, and maybe he was overly conservative, but I think he did as well as he could have considering the playcalling. We were rolling towards a TD until that pitch call…

by orion12 on Aug 14, 2010 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions  

he's looked better to me than Redman

and seems like he may have a bigger arm. Obviously Redman was playing against a higher level of talent, so grains of salt should be taken.

by orion12 on Aug 14, 2010 6:04 PM EDT up reply actions  

JPW threw bolts of lightning

He really loked composed out there. He wil get the Falcons a few extra few extra draft picks pretty soon.

by Mnemonic on Aug 15, 2010 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions  

A co-worker at my job

Was saying JPW looked better than Redman…looking down field, good throws under pressure, not many mistakes. He might take the backup job from Redman.

Perhaps, I must go through Hell to get to Heaven......................if there is one.

by brotherbrown on Aug 15, 2010 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions  

ease up on the whiteboy 'locks

i had them for 14 years, and they were clean.
never saw any side of a phish concert / dirty hippie fest, either. ;)

thanks to denial, i'm immortal

by thetennesseethumper on Aug 14, 2010 10:33 AM EDT reply actions  

Thank you for your resident 'dreds expertise, my friend

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by Dave Choate on Aug 14, 2010 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions  

I Agree...

I had them for a while. A lot of people don’t realize that they make special soap for them. Geez. They can be clean Dave. Gosh.

by XBEARDX on Aug 14, 2010 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions  

I also thought JPW gets out of trouble better than Ryan. Wneed a left tackle.

by old cuss on Aug 14, 2010 10:48 AM EDT reply actions  

O Line

Is everything. In 08 we had one of the best on the league. If those guys get my QB hurt I’m whooping some arse. O Line dictates both run and pass.

Rule #1: Double tap.

by Ball Hawk on Aug 14, 2010 10:56 AM EDT via mobile reply actions  

Bear Woods!!!

I went to Troy with Bear. Knew the guy was a stud. Yall should go back through the fanposts and see the picture I posted for yall with all the snakes in his hair. Craziness.

Moisture is the essence of wetness.

by troy145 on Aug 14, 2010 11:31 AM EDT reply actions  

Keep the Bear!

The Bear looked killer out there last night.Sorry he scares some of you but you’ll have to just get over it.JPW looked very good.Its the first pre game so lets have fun.

by JT131 on Aug 14, 2010 1:27 PM EDT reply actions  

If a bear growls in the woods, does anyone hear it ?

He’s always open. He catches a lot of balls. He’s un-guardable, no matter how old he is

by WarWolf on Aug 14, 2010 4:03 PM EDT reply actions  

i think you forgot to say

…and no one’s in his forest….

Perhaps, I must go through Hell to get to Heaven......................if there is one.

by brotherbrown on Aug 15, 2010 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions  

My observations

Defense looked very good against the run, looked like a very fast defense too.
 Spoon looked pretty good for his first ever NFL game!!
Turner is going to be a beast this year!!!
 Ryan has happy feet a little bit, but accuracy is fine.
o-line needs to block better on passing downs, they do really good when we run it, but not so much when we pass the ball.
BUT, it is only the first preseason game. I don’t put much stock in the first game, it’s the second game and mostly the 3rd game that really shows your starters abilities. Next week against NE we’ll see how good we run the ball, and if we can improve our passing game.

WARNING!!
Talking $h!+ about the Atlanta Falcons may result in an A$$ whooping you'll never forget!! (Avatar sign)

by ATLsince1972 on Aug 14, 2010 5:21 PM EDT reply actions  

Execution!

The O’line probably was a lot of the problem but I saw a lack of execution (mostly on the second series), by Ryan and the offense. Hopefully, with more time in the game things would have smoothed out for the starting “O”.

I think there were a lot of “teaching opportunities” for the coaches in the week to come.

It was the first preseason game so who knows?

by Saint's Hater on Aug 14, 2010 7:02 PM EDT reply actions  

I liked what I saw...

The falcons didn’t dig into the playbook but the no huddle offense seems to be something they’re building on. If we stay healthy its going to be a site to see. But I digress, preseason is hardly a warm-up

Atlanta will win a championship....someday

by maxxj3 on Aug 15, 2010 8:17 AM EDT reply actions  

ADAM SHULTZ GET YOUR STATS RIGHT

I am not sure how many reports I read of yours that are wrong or include the wrong stats? Were we at the same game or do you drink alot on gamedays? Please continue to grace us with your football savy words of advice and opinion, but do so after checking all your facts before you write them and post for the fan nation to see. That just makes you look silly . Remember sometimes we rely on you to give us information if we havent seen a game. Thats what reporters do….. THEY REPORT

by falconzfan on Aug 15, 2010 10:27 AM EDT reply actions  

?

I’m not a reporter. I’m a fan just like you. I just happen to be blogging about it.

And what stat/fact is wrong in this article? Do tell.

You have opinions. We all do. Some of yours may have to do with the Falcons. Sign up today and share them.

by Adam Schultz on Aug 15, 2010 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions  

That was weird, lol

I thought it was a good article

by FLA_Falcon on Aug 15, 2010 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions  

I want to add that Sir Sidbury made some plays.

He’s always open. He catches a lot of balls. He’s un-guardable, no matter how old he is

by WarWolf on Aug 15, 2010 1:18 PM EDT reply actions  

Do not throw screens to Roddy. Please.

As bad as that looked, I think we may be overreacting to it just like Turner catching passes. Or Roddy White Playing receiver from 2005-2006.
They need more practice and the right combination.
It can work. It was just one failed play.
Roddy is speedy like Norwood and Nance. Get him in an open field, and he can become a Brandon Marshall.

Perhaps, I must go through Hell to get to Heaven......................if there is one.

by brotherbrown on Aug 15, 2010 2:08 PM EDT reply actions  

I thought it looked like a setup for a good play if Roddy had actually made the catch.

by ArthurDank on Aug 15, 2010 7:00 PM EDT up reply actions  

Bear Woods

I am the mother of Bear’s best friend, Jack….In grade 7, Bear honored me and my battle with cancer by growing his hair and donating it to Locks of Love. He continues to do do this …..caring, compassionate, putting others above himself. "Icky: hair? How dare anyone say that! Dirty hair? I can assure you it is clean!!!!!!
I suggest you think of others less fortunate than yourself before posting ugly comments.
Bear is a good guy who will be a role model for his team and fans!!!!!
P.S. When you go thru chemo, and have a baid head, any hair is appreciated, Why don’t you dare to grow some dreads and support a local cancer organization?! Bear deserves a spot on the team because he is a great player and clean cut guy who has worked hard to get his chance on the field…..

by Dr.S. on Aug 15, 2010 8:22 PM EDT reply actions  

Wow another woman/female member on our blog

Just like HeyJude.
We don’t have many of you gals around here….Welcome

Perhaps, I must go through Hell to get to Heaven......................if there is one.

by brotherbrown on Aug 15, 2010 10:05 PM EDT up reply actions  

Dr. S, I can assure you that Adam's writing that as a joke

We’d all like to see Bear Woods make the team. He’s become a fan favorite around here very quickly, but in the process of that he’s achieved near-legendary status. Sort of a Chuck Norris for this blog.

I’m glad to hear that Bear’s such a high character guy, and I’m glad you’re with us today. Take care.

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by Dave Choate on Aug 16, 2010 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions  

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