Falcons Announce Starters At Three Key Positions
by Dave Choate on Sep 8, 2010 8:00 AM EDT
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PrintSometimes who wins these starting jobs seems downright inevitable. Sometimes they still manage to surprise you.
Kroy Biermann and Sean Weatherspoon will start. Since the draft, I firmly believed that Kroy Biermann was locked in as the starter. Obviously it was harder to predict Weatherspoon, but there was reason to believe his pure talent would win out. I don't agree that Weatherspoon is more of an upgrade over Stephen Nicholas than he is over Mike Peterson, but that's a debate that has to be settled on the field. Biermann is clearly the best choice to start opposite John Abraham.
In both cases, you'll see enough of a rotation that all this starter talk may be rendered moot. Nicholas will certainly get on the field—he remains my choice to shadow Dennis Dixon this weekend—and Mike Peterson will probably need a nap and fluids twice a game. On the line, you can bet that Jamaal Anderson will get some time against the run, and good ol' Chauncey Davis will take his share of snaps there too.
Am I forgetting something? Oh yeah. Brent Grimes is starting.
Because I am a card-carrying member of the Chris Owens Fan Club, you might think that I'd be vehemently opposed to that. The truth is, though, I'm not. It's very difficult to argue that Grimey doesn't deserve a starting job. It's just surprising to me.
Given the way Grimes struggled with injury issues in the pre-season, coupled with the quality of Owens' play in limited snaps, I fully expected Owens to be out there opposite Dunta Robinson. He's definitely the more physical corner of the tow, and we could debate who is better in coverage for the better part of the week.
What Grimes does offer is ballhawking ability that Owens simply can't match. Anyone who watched the games that Grimes started last year remembers him skying to grab a few nice picks and get his hands on a few more, and that's an absolutely game-changing ability to have. Owens will, I believe, eventually be the more polished and consistent corner. In the here and now, there's a reasonable argument to be made that Grimes offers a better complement to Dunta, because while he will hopefully lock down teams' opposing top receivers, he's not going to come up with many interceptions. Teams will be leery of throwing to Grimey.
If Owens gets beat out for the nickel job by Brian Williams, though, we're going to have a major problem.
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I think all of these positions sound correct
I kinda miss brooking(tear). If our Defense isnt at least tenth in the league this year i will be shocked. We have talent everywhere and none of the players suck. Also i made a bet with my brother that if the Falcons win it all this year i got to get a Falcons tattoo so im scared some. because im scared of needls
by LORD91 on Sep 8, 2010 8:18 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
Love the optimism
And it’ll be worth the needles if they win it!
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So, what happens if they don’t win?
"Check out this bitchin' homemade tesla coil!"
by bwellnjonesco on Sep 8, 2010 9:22 AM EDT up reply actions
I get four hundred dollars
If they win it will be worth it though. I didnt tell him im going to put letters and stuff around it
by LORD91 on Sep 8, 2010 10:36 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
why do you get $400 if we don't
you bet against us?
Feeding the Monster since 1984
Addition by NOT subtracting.
Feeding the Monster since 1984
I didnt bet against us
It was just a really messed up bet. As for duff man you win the pride and bragging rights. I t was a spur of the moment bet. I dont mind getting either
by LORD91 on Sep 8, 2010 6:09 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Grimes over Owens
Seems smart to me, not only because of his excellent year last year but also because he is a pick machine. Even if we start him for this game only, which I doubt, I naturally think he’ll be the starter all year unless something goes drastically wrong, even if we start him for this game only will be a win for us because Dixon is guaranteed to through a few picks anyway.
by Turner_The_Burner on Sep 8, 2010 8:40 AM EDT reply actions
With the strength of our pass rush this year, the ballhawking ability that Grimes brings is probably more valuable than Owens’ superior coverage skills. He could have a big year and become a pretty scary guy to have to throw against if his man doesn’t have all day to get open.
This
Is agreeable and digestable.
Feeding the Monster since 1984
Grimes starting at LCB is not a good idea IMO
He proved last year that he was best on the right side. Remember when we had him on the left side he was getting torched in preseason and regular season games. Once we put him on the right he was a phenom. However that one pick that he had against New Orleans was on the left side. so maybe I’m wrong. I still prefer Owens starting and Grimes at Nickel.
Man this is a good problem to have!!! Instead of the old “how can we trade to get a CB here”
this is a VERY good problem to have
i think our pass D finishes around 9-12 and our run D finishes between 6-8..so we’ve got a potential top 10 defense..i dont think an atlanta falcon fan has been able to say that in a while, lets just hoope it comes true…..
New Orleans Saints: Established 2010
by dirtybirds233 on Sep 8, 2010 4:46 PM EDT up reply actions
with the limited knowledge I have
I thought that in determining where a CB gets to play (left or right) the actual side of the field is irrelevant but actually who is on the opposing WR. and assuming that the opposing QB is right-handed (and that right-handed QB prefer to throw the ball to the left side of the field, and that’s why the top WR is usually to the left of the QB), I thought that the LCB is there to cover the #2 WR of the opposing team (obviously Dunta covers the top receiver).
My question is – in this logic who will Grimes be covering – Hines Ward or Santonio Holmes? based on the 2009 stats these two guys seem to be even.
Atlanta Falcons fan in Moscow, Russia
Santonio Holmes is gone
Mike Wallace is the new starter opposite Ward. Frankly, Grimes is a much better matchup for him, because he’s a smaller, faster, more athletic receiver.
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yes, just found out that Holmes is out...
it looks like our success in this game will depend largely on how our D is able to shut down their QB who seems to resemble Michael Vick. Great test for that new D.
Atlanta Falcons fan in Moscow, Russia
Maybe I'm remembering wrong
But I thought most Right Handed QB’s threw more often to the Right side of the field…
"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein
Yep
It’s one of the basic principles of Walsh’s WCO to never throw across your body, which gives right handed QBs a tendency to throw right. I guess it’s one of the elements of WCO that can be found in almost every passing offense nowadays.
by wiesengrund on Sep 10, 2010 12:02 AM EDT up reply actions
I approve of everything, everywhere....
Biermann is a beast, possibly my favorite Falcon. However, heavy rotation makes this irrelevant.
Grimes is way underrated, also possibly my favorite Falcon (definitely my favorite Twitterer, with tweets such as “I’m about to crush this bowl of Captain Crunch…LOL”).
Throw Spoon into the fire. He may not yet be better than Nicholas or Peterson, but I think he has more upside and the sooner he starts learning the better.
"It's called Thanksgiving for a reason. If I can give and people thank me for it, that's kind of the thing that makes me feel great inside." - Dunta
I would like to see
St. Nick (Nicholas), The police (Lofton), and Spoon as the starting 3. I’m not saying Peterson doesn’t have it anymore but have you seen the swagger of the other 3 lately? Those boys are ready to hit! By mid-season I believe that’s who we’ll see on the field.
And let’s not forget about William “Please don’t hit me no” Moore. I’m really excited to see this young man this year. I think we’re all going to sound like Rick Flair this year when players get a hit….all together now…. wooooooooooooo!!
by Fear Me on Sep 8, 2010 9:40 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Is that as Notorious B.I.G. reference I spy?
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New Nickname:
William “Kick in the door, wave in the 4-4, all ya heard was Papa don’t hit me no” Moore
"It's called Thanksgiving for a reason. If I can give and people thank me for it, that's kind of the thing that makes me feel great inside." - Dunta
Wow.
I didnt know you even listened to rap. And you think you know a guy lol
by LORD91 on Sep 8, 2010 11:18 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Oh yeah
Those were some lonely days in Maine, I’ll tell you.
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I had a glance at his myspace page
months ago.
That’s what made me think he might be black.
Feeding the Monster since 1984
I don't have a MySpace....that I remember
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Oops
I put in your email address listed on your sbnation profile, and I saw something come up on Myspace, at that time.
Was I hallucinating?
Feeding the Monster since 1984
Who remembers if they have a myspace anymore
Its all facebook now. I check my myspace every now and then to see whats going on.
by LORD91 on Sep 8, 2010 11:47 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Damn Facebook and Twitter
I’m off of both now.
Maybe by 2013 a new site will over take Facetwit.
In the 80’s it was Kmart. Nearly the last 20 years was Walmart, and maybe for 5 more years. What’s going to happen after 2015 when Walmart get’s taken over?
Feeding the Monster since 1984
by brotherbrown on Sep 8, 2010 11:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Who knows in this crazy ass world
All it takes is a celebs support
by LORD91 on Sep 9, 2010 6:25 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Kmart tried
Rosie O Donnell and Ellen Degeneres, but I guess that didn’t work.
Personally I wouldn’t use celebrities, it uses more money than it makes.
Just good honest customer services, variety of custom customer options (customer friendly) and low everyday prices no gimmicks or bulls—-.
Feeding the Monster since 1984
16 Time Champ...
WOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stylin’ and profilin’.
hopefully Owens
Will start at kicker for us then.
by CollegePark4Life on Sep 8, 2010 10:07 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
Grimes starting in this game shouldn't be an issue
as Dixon isn’t a very good passer. He and Owens should rotate as much as possible in case Dunta gets hurt during the season. There is a good possibility that Dunta will be out some this year.
Spoon should not start because it sets the guy up for failure. He should be rotating with Peterson to get him use to game speed and impact.
I hope Kroy and JA98 start at the same time, as DE and DT.
I know preseason is preseason
but Spoon looks like he’s ready for the real thing.
"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
Guess we saw different things
because I think he is ready to play but not ready to start. We’ll see Sunday and I hope he tears the Steelers apart.
On another note...
Happy Birthday to Grimes’ mother and fellow Falcoholic, Debilah! Maybe a day late here…
"It's called Thanksgiving for a reason. If I can give and people thank me for it, that's kind of the thing that makes me feel great inside." - Dunta
To TomQ
Thank you for the Birthday wish and let’s get ready for football and all the trash talk that the fans will have about my son. I live for this time of year. I’m sure you will be reading my replies (LOL)
Happy Birthday!
And hopefully Brent will get you a few interceptions for your birthday!
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How about one for every age?
or is that too personal to request?
Interception Candles!
Feeding the Monster since 1984
by brotherbrown on Sep 8, 2010 11:57 PM EDT up reply actions
I've got your back on Grimey :)
"It's called Thanksgiving for a reason. If I can give and people thank me for it, that's kind of the thing that makes me feel great inside." - Dunta
So much for being coy about 'Spoon's starter status
Makes you wonder what the point was.
by tom slick on Sep 8, 2010 10:54 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
maybe he was talking about Coy Wire
Feeding the Monster since 1984
I'm an eternal Falcon Optimist, so...
…maybe an upgraded DL will equal more errant throws which will equal opportunities for Brent “Ball Hawk” Grimes?
I am a fan of Owens at LCB, and Grimes at nickel, zooming around to gobble up passes in the middle…
And Owens can’t kick – that is Duffburger’s other job.
We are not sold on Nicholas.
I find it interesting that Atkins is backing up Peterson. Athletically, he is the most gifted of the all our LBs. I can see him taking over the starting spot next year. Now that would be one really big, really fast group of LBs…
Football is played with an oblong ball. Take your roundball and GTFO...
That would be fun to watch
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I thought that was odd too
Last year it was Coy at OLB and Atkins at MLB, and their respective sizes (230 and 250 respectively) seemed to reflect that. Not sure if we’ve ever played Coy at the Mike, so I’m wondering if that’s not just a typo or transposition. Either that or we’re planning on running more Tampa-2 deep MLB zones.
by TheAreopagite on Sep 8, 2010 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions
I just think Atkins is Peterson's understudy.
He might be 250, but he moves better than Coy does. SA is a freak…
Football is played with an oblong ball. Take your roundball and GTFO...
My thoughts:
I was pretty sure that Owens would be starting over Grimes because he did look pretty solid in the preseason. Grimes’s size still scares me. He might be a very good ball hawk, but he’s too small to cover a team’s #2 receiver. If they’re anything like Michael Jenkins, which I’m sure they are, they’ll be very tall and could just out reach Grimes.
However, Owens’s position behind Dunta on the depth chart probably means he’ll be the nickel (backup to the best corner would, in my opinion, solidify yourself as the third best DB.)
Though maybe if Grimes just jumps 40 feet in the air like he did against the Saints, we’ll be alright.
Spoon over Nicholas: I don’t like it, but we’ll see. I’m still iffy about Mike Peterson, but this could be a scheme related move rather than a player ability move. They still plan to do a rotation and I believe Nicholas can fly around like any of the starters we have.
"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
Does anyone know if we'll have anyone
on the injury report besides Jenkins?
isn't it usually shown
on the left side of the Falcoholic main page?
Feeding the Monster since 1984
I like the way that Peterson hits...
I think he has more pop than Nicholas. Maybe that’s why he won out?
"It's called Thanksgiving for a reason. If I can give and people thank me for it, that's kind of the thing that makes me feel great inside." - Dunta
who is starting at DT???
I like nicholas over peterson and owens over grimes but neither 1 is significantly relevant.
by DEMBIRDZCUZ! on Sep 8, 2010 2:22 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
how does trey lewis look?
I think I like anderson over him
by DEMBIRDZCUZ! on Sep 8, 2010 2:32 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Lewis is big and nasty
He’s perfect against a team like the Steelers.
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I think there are a number of
combinations that could work in the middle.
Lewis and Babs
Lewis and Peters (what I would like to see)
Lewis and JA98
JA98 and Peters
JA98 and Jerry
and so on and so on
With P.J and Trey, They shouldn't be able to run up through the gut much.
If we had a 5 man front, I’d put JA98 in there to stuff the run in the middle while the Predator, Biermann and PJ rush the passer on play action.
Feeding the Monster since 1984
Don't you know? It's because M.Peterson was a Madden Impact player once they added that whole system in there.
So naturally, he’s better! Duh!
"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
Dunta and Grimes
May actually be very similiar
Get burned a lot by big plays, but occasionally negates it with big plays of their own or solid open field tackle/swaps of the ball to jarr it loose.
However we have yet to see Dunta play.
Feeding the Monster since 1984
The BEERman
Greetings from the other side of the atlantic.
As German I am thrilled that young talented player with such a magnificant name as Kroy Biermann made the starters.
Me and my mate as the only Falcons supporters known to us in Germany are sending our regards to you guys in the states and hope for a good start of the season on Sunday evening (as kickoff is 7pm over here)
by GermanFalcon on Sep 8, 2010 4:19 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs
You are more than welcome here
Do you guys have Kroy Biermann jerseys yet? If not, invest!
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listen to this man above me
he speaks the wisest.
Feeding the Monster since 1984
Dave, have I missed
the Falcoholic census this year? just curious to know how many Falcoholics are there to the East off Newfoundland (and I haven’t seen here anyone from the parts of the world East off Moscow).
Atlanta Falcons fan in Moscow, Russia
It actually hasn't been done yet.....
Let me drop a line on Adam.
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by Dave Choate on Sep 14, 2010 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions
grimmmmeeesss
Weatherspoon1stFalconsPick???
by JJWatt1stfalconspick on Sep 8, 2010 5:34 PM EDT reply actions
im
going to get a tony G jersey if the falcons win the SB. imagine that, the year tony got a SB ring while he retires the same year, and it is the year he gets 1000 catches. (hopfully he doesnt retire but it would make the jersey just that much better.
Weatherspoon1stFalconsPick???
by JJWatt1stfalconspick on Sep 8, 2010 5:36 PM EDT reply actions
Beer Man needs to start so he can get his 40 sacks in 2010 !
Dixon is hard to catch though – hope he decides to throw under pressure.
Will be fun to see how Spoon does in his 1st start.
More time for some Nic Cam shots -
I’m sure they will rotate the LBs.
He’s always open. He catches a lot of balls. He’s un-guardable, no matter how old he is
Doesn't matter who starts...
check what coach Mike Smith said…
Really, we’re going to have, in our mind based on the different personnel grouping, we’re going to have 14 or 15 guys that we consider starters on our team. I think it’s very important that everybody understands that they are all starters and they’re all going to be contributing. That it’s not just the first 11 guys that go out there on the field." Coach Mike Smith
My thoughts about Grimes are
That since he’s going to be defending fielding passes from a 3rd string rookie QB, his ball hawking skills are going to be better than Owens out there. I think that Smith is counting on Dixon having accuracy issues when he does stay in the pocket to pass, once the Beer-Man has laid him on the grass a time or two.
You know, I'm thinking about a post regarding rotations
Seems to me like we should explore that in more detail.
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Somebody's gonna have to step up and do the count
Unless DOL happens to do it (not likely). I would, but I doubt I’ll be able to report back in a timely manner.
"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein
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