One Falcon To Watch: Tony Gonzalez

by Dave Choate on Oct 9, 2011 7:30 AM EDT in Falcons News

I received a lot of great suggestions for the player to watch this week, and there are a lot of worthy candidates. You could pick Kelvin Hayden, because he'll be matched up against Jordy Nelson. You could pick Matt Ryan, because he has the potential to light up the secondary.

I can't imagine a guy more likely to have a big game than Tony Gonzalez, though. The Packers have struggled to cover tight ends this season, and there are few better than Gonzalez. Sure, he's getting older, but he remains a sharp route runner, a physical presence and a sure-handed red zone target. The Packers don't have a dude capable of doing more than slowing Gonzo.

With Ryan poised to have a big day, someone's going to get a lot of targets. Julio Jones and Roddy White will benefit, but they have much tougher matchups than Gonzalez, who has enjoyed a revival season thus far in 2011. I see him wreaking havoc on the Packers' secondary, which will open things up for everyone else.

The Falcons would be smart to get him involved on short and medium routes throughout the game, exploiting every bad matchup the Packers throw out there. There should be plenty.

What are your thoughts on the player to watch?

Tweet Comment 35 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

MAKE OR BREAK DAY for Ray Edwards

Agreed on Gonzalez as the Offensive PTW. A lot of match-up factors pint toward big game potential for TG.

On the Defensive side of the ball I cast a PTW vote for Ray Edwards. Packer starting RT Bulaga is out with an injury. So we have this year’s "big splash" UFA acquisition up against a back up. If Edwards wins this match up (as he darn well should) resulting in sacks/hits/pressures on Rodgers then the Birds have a chance to win. On the other hand, if a back-up RT renders Edwards a non-factor, then (A) Rodgers picks apart the secondary, (B) Falcons lose in a shoot out, and © Edwards is not worth his salt (or million$).

Today is MAKE OR BREAK DAY for Ray Edwards.

by LifeLongBirdFan on Oct 9, 2011 8:48 AM EDT reply actions

Abe is playing against a banged up Clifton

and Babs is back. I fully expect to see a great performance from our D-line, even if the stats don’t reflect it. Number of QB scrambles will be a stat to keep an eye on today.

Be sure to check out this week's Best Case/Worst Case article here.

Follow me on Twitter! @HarrisonN17

by Turner_The_Burner on Oct 9, 2011 9:23 AM EDT up reply actions

Clifton

Got kicked in the shin. He has bruise, not any more banged up than any other player this time of year.

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on Oct 9, 2011 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions

Abe is banged up too. No?

A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones that need the advice.

by FrozenFinger on Oct 9, 2011 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions

I read he was questionable

by randomaxe on Oct 9, 2011 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions

I refuse

to expect that our D-line can have a big day against that suddenly (and supposedly) vulnerable O-line, although I still hope we find a way to win this game, even if we have to use our mental energy to force Rogers go mad and run into his own endzone for a safety every time he possesses the ball.

ALL of the teams we played so far had suspect o-lines, and we only managed to get some pressure in Game 1, and even that effort was futile.

Atlanta Falcons fan in Moscow, Russia

by Gemini-RU on Oct 9, 2011 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Football is always about blocking and tackling. Yes I know, Captain Obvious that’s me, the point is if Matt is once again on his back due to poor O-line play, we lose. Matt is the player to watch.If he’s running for his life/ on the sidelines seeing stars/ in the hospital nothing else matters. At the same time, good O-line play automatically helps Turner. The key is Matt staying upright.

Comin` on like a herd of turtles.

by wierd flunky on Oct 9, 2011 9:18 AM EDT reply actions

But the Defense has to step up also

BVG has to stop calling all those soft zone plays and let the Defense loose! Stop letting teams back into games. Dunta Robinson and Brent are great in Man and Bump n Run – let them play that! Pleeeeeaaaaaassssssseeeeee. I know I’m begging and wishing on a star – but maybe if I wish really really hard – it will come true.

by Antonio Grimes on Oct 9, 2011 9:48 AM EDT up reply actions

You've got it bad

and that ain’t good. Year four, really think he’s going to change now? Accept him for who he is as I do. Then hate him.

A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones that need the advice.

by FrozenFinger on Oct 9, 2011 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions

Forget player to watch

The COACH to watch is BVG simply MAN UP DUDE!!!!! but if you want a player to watch I say William Moore to impose his will lighting up some receivers, I also choose Sean Witherspoon to against Jerimicheal Finley we are going to need Sean to force the ball elsewhere.

by falcons101 on Oct 9, 2011 10:09 AM EDT via iPhone app reply actions

Got a quick question for you

If the Falcons Defensive keep getting burned for chunks of yardage even though Atlanta has a winning season – do you think they would or should replace BVG?

by Antonio Grimes on Oct 9, 2011 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions

The "Process"

That would seem a logical next step in the "process." If TD believes personnel/talent are in place but game planning/play calling don’t not realize the inherent potential then it only makes sense to fix the part that is broken. (And since TD is directly responsible for personnel/talent, he would seem unlikely to accept that as the broken part.)

by LifeLongBirdFan on Oct 9, 2011 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions

Yes..

Because if we want to win the superbowl or even get there we will need better defensive playcalling, we have the talent already

by falcons101 on Oct 9, 2011 10:42 AM EDT via iPhone app reply actions

I think tonight will be a defining moment for BVG

This game to BVG should be a game that he says to himself, ’ I need to show everybody something that they have never seen before and unleash my defense on these guys.’

by Antonio Grimes on Oct 9, 2011 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions

I hope so

Winning a game like this aggressively will help his stock rise.

by falcons101 on Oct 9, 2011 11:11 AM EDT via iPhone app up reply actions

His Defense is a Tampa 2 zone coverage D.

Do you honestly think he should put his players into man coverage and force them to do something they aren’t really equipped to do since they play and practice zone coverage all the time? Its not only going against his philosophy (to thine own self be true), but its going against what he has had his players practicing all year.

I hate zone D’s too, but you really can’t expect him to change his philosophy just for the Packers. Chicago plays the same Tampa 2 and have given the Packers fits w/ it at times.

I hope you do play press coverage… Packers have the players to beat it, especially against zone CB’s. Neither Dunta or Grimes would fare well if singled against Jennings, Nelson or Finley. And Whetherspoon is a very good player, he can’t hang w/ JMike. Rodgers and Finley would be licking his chops at that matchup all nite long.

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on Oct 9, 2011 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions

Stroh's is gone now isn't it midwesterner?

You don’t have two former Pro – Bowl guys back there and never play some press coverage.

A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones that need the advice.

by FrozenFinger on Oct 9, 2011 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions

Its a nickname w/ nothing to do w/ the beer.

We’re w/o Collins, Tramon is playing, so is Woodson, tho both are playing thru injuries. We play mostly press coverage, and rarely zone. Tho w/ Tramon and Wood banged up, last week Capers had to play alot more zone than usual.

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on Oct 9, 2011 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions

Yes, obviously it's a nickname

I assume your parents didn’t say “Let’s name him after a beer” even though as you confess you were born in Green Bay. Sorry couldn’t resist, too many years spent in Minnesota.

A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones that need the advice.

by FrozenFinger on Oct 9, 2011 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions

BTW I live in AZ now.

Tho I was born and lived in GB till 15 yrs ago.

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on Oct 9, 2011 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions

Great but I was talking Falcon football

not what kind of defense the Pack should play. Way to wimp out and move to AZ. When I left the Twin Cities to open my company in SoCal everybody kept asking me “Don’t you miss the change of seasons?” Nobody ever asks if I miss sliding through stop signs.

A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones that need the advice.

by FrozenFinger on Oct 9, 2011 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions

Moved for career purposes.

I don’t think dealing w/ 110+ degree weather is any easier then dealing w/ -10 degree weather. Completely opposite but both are extremes don’t you think?

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on Oct 9, 2011 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions

Get 110 + out there on a regular basis

with earthquakes, mudslides and total societal dis – intergration thrown in as a bonus. Woo hoo!

A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones that need the advice.

by FrozenFinger on Oct 9, 2011 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions

Please use reply function

by Dave Choate on Oct 9, 2011 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions

Replying as requested

The player(s) to watch will be whoever is covering the GB slot receivers. I’m looking at you CO21!

by BlueFender on Oct 9, 2011 11:05 AM EDT via iPhone app up reply actions

I passed over this ten times

at least and kept wondering what the replay function was. Jesus I really am an old man. Next is driving for twenty miles with my blinker on.

A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones that need the advice.

by FrozenFinger on Oct 9, 2011 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions

That's when you know you've arrived

by Dave Choate on Oct 9, 2011 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Btw congrats on the Cardinals

looks like they’re on one of those rolls that gets a WS championship.

A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones that need the advice.

by FrozenFinger on Oct 9, 2011 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes.

TG was restricted to one catch in the playoff game, He was the leading receiver in the regular season win against Packers. Very important that he has a good game, he is needed more if Turner doesn’t get going.

It's all about Process...

by Vishnu_falcon on Oct 9, 2011 10:50 AM EDT reply actions

He's gonna see a rugular dose of Woodson covering him.

Thats probably why he only had one catch in the playoff game. Capers uses Woodson to cover top TE all the time. Don’t look for Gonzo to do much today. White and Julio are the better options… Tramon has a bad shoulder and can’t press very well and Shields can be beat. Gonna be a fun game, but if its a shootout, Rodgers should beat Ryan. You need an early turnover or 2 and a big game from Turner to win. Get a lead and keep the game closeand low scoring into the 4th qt.

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on Oct 9, 2011 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions

Falcons have won last two regular

season games so they know how to beat the Pack. Think though that the playoff game was a mental beating that the Falcons haven’t seen themselves recover from. They haven’t looked like the same team so that’s the big obstacle tonight.

A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones that need the advice.

by FrozenFinger on Oct 9, 2011 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Tru enough.

You have won the past 2 regular season games. And you have the ability to beat the Pack. Create a turnover or 2 and run Turner down our throats and you stand a great chance of winning. If it comes down to Rodgers or Ryan, it won’t go your way.

Great point about the mental thing. I hadn’t thought of that angle… Probably cuz I’m on the other side. Haven’t seen them play much this year, so I can really only judge by record.

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on Oct 9, 2011 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions

TG is good for the redzone, endzone, and slots

But we also need to get Roddy White and Julio Jones IN THE ENDZONE! Think how much this kid’s confidence will be boosted if he get his first TD.

by Antonio Grimes on Oct 9, 2011 11:17 AM EDT reply actions

I'm watching my idiot Packer fan brother-in-law

whom I’ve brought to the South for the first time. He’s one of those Iowa born guys so no cheesehead in his luggage which prevented me from burning it.

A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones that need the advice.

by FrozenFinger on Oct 9, 2011 11:45 AM EDT reply actions