Todd McClure, Jonathan Babineaux Declared Out For Sunday's Game

by Dave Choate on Sep 16, 2011 5:17 PM EDT in Falcons News

The good news is that most of the injury report for this week features guys who are probable for the game.

The bad news is that Todd McClure is out, again. That means Joe Hawley and Garrett Reynolds will continue to be two-thirds of the interior offensive line. Neither is terrible, but both are inexperienced and the Eagles can bring some heat from the defensive line. Not exactly an ideal situation.

As we already knew, Jonathan Babineaux is out for this game. The good news is that Corey Peters is probable and will almost certainly start alongside Peria Jerry. If the Falcons had to roll without Babs and Peters, it would have been less than ideal. As it is, the Falcons can put two quality starters out there and rotate in Vance Walker. That's not bad at all.

The only other item of note here is that Chris Owens was only able to go through a limited practice Friday, and is considered questionable for the game. Without Owens, the Falcons would lean on either Kelvin Hayden or Dominique Franks, depending on whether Hayden is up to speed on the team's defense at this point. My money's on Hayden.

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Just found out the Old Man got us tix to the game

so there are two more Falcons diehards that won’t be cheering Vick.

Reax:

Glad that Harry looks like he’s going to play this game, but I really hope that Matt knows not to lead him out into any big hits. Matt’s never been one to do that, but I’d hate to see HD get another concussion, that’s bad business.

I’m glad that Peters is back, and I’d expect for him to be the contain DT while they let PJ rush hard up the gut.

by KMarch on Sep 16, 2011 5:32 PM EDT reply actions

Kmarch do you play madden?

I just played someone with the same exact name. Just curious…

by FalconsFansincePrimetime on Sep 16, 2011 10:15 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

only occasionally

and not online.

by KMarch on Sep 16, 2011 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions

just curious

Does anyone know which play HD was concussed on. I can’t seem to recall when he even got hit.

by sifu on Sep 17, 2011 1:58 PM EDT via iPhone app up reply actions

Owens is always questionable.

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 Sep 16, 2011 5:45 PM EDT reply actions

His health or his coverage?

by FLA_Falcon on Sep 16, 2011 5:52 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Both?

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 Sep 16, 2011 6:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Works for me

by FLA_Falcon on Sep 16, 2011 6:31 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

As for Chris Owens

Can anybody tell me why Atlanta Falcons hasn’t released him yet? He gets burned on long passes almost every time. Its like the other team sees Chris Owens and say if I throw it his way I know my guy will beat him for 20 or 30 yards. Please someone explain it to me.

by Antonio Grimes on Sep 16, 2011 11:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Beat Vick and get this game over with.

I’m sick and tired of hearing Vick’s “Messianic” return to Atlanta where he heals babies and takes over the Dome. And it’s ONLY Friday! You know what’s more intriguing to me? The way the Eagles are going to deal with our running game. How we are going to match up with their cornerbacks, and more importantly the impact of Kelvin Hayden and James Sanders on the game. If I hear/watch another thing about Vick’s return I swear I’m going punch someone in the ear.

Ranting over, I think it’s surprising that Harry Douglas hasn’t been held out, but it’s good to know we have our entire group intact. The player that could change the outlook of the game is Joe Hawley. He’ll have to deal with Cullen Jenkins and that’s a whole other problem in itself. Definitely a more bigger problem than what he faced against the Bears.

Ron Artest = Ron (sm)Artest - He Is The Most Interesting Man In The World

by JoshChildressAfroIsCure4Cancer on Sep 16, 2011 5:51 PM EDT reply actions

Ear punches hurt!

by FLA_Falcon on Sep 16, 2011 6:30 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Ear punches for everyone!

Dont cloud the issue with facts!

by muuzilla on Sep 16, 2011 7:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Have you ever been hit in the ear with a snowball?

That crap hurts.

Rule #1: Double tap.

by Ball Hawk on Sep 16, 2011 7:35 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Double whammy

It’s a punch in the ear AND it’s freezing cold

"He has lived up to the legendary billing... And the legend is born in Calvin Johnson!" -Wes Durham

by sportsfan4life2012 on Sep 16, 2011 7:41 PM EDT up reply actions

No but I can imagine

by FLA_Falcon on Sep 16, 2011 7:43 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

If anyone wakes up with a ruptured ear canal

you know why

Ron Artest = Ron (sm)Artest - He Is The Most Interesting Man In The World

by JoshChildressAfroIsCure4Cancer on Sep 16, 2011 9:41 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm not liking how things are starting off for Atlanta.

I’m willing to bet the Saints beat the hell out of Chicago, like Atlanta was supposed to do.

by dirtybirdy84 on Sep 16, 2011 6:46 PM EDT reply actions

not so fast

I know Brees when pressured plays better than Ryan, but the defense that stopped us and, more importantly, GB offense last year can do a lot of damage to the Saints offense. Brees will still put up a lot of points, so it will be up to Cutler to play catch up. chance are 50:50

Atlanta Falcons fan in Moscow, Russia

by Gemini-RU on Sep 17, 2011 7:39 AM EDT up reply actions

Nice post Dave but ...

I gotta disagree with you on one thing, Garrett Reynolds is terrible at this stage in his limited career. Hawley is not so terrible but Reynolds owns terrible.

by Kushion on Sep 16, 2011 7:00 PM EDT reply actions

They're both terrible.

The Eagles will probably have numerous mini-parties in the Falcons’ backfield Sunday night.

by dirtybirdy84 on Sep 16, 2011 7:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Garrett Reynolds

would not start on any other team in the NFL unless the starter was either lost in free agency and the team refused to address the vacancy (ATL) or the starter got hurt period

by Kushion on Sep 16, 2011 7:03 PM EDT reply actions

Does anyone have Prozac, Xanax or a gun?

Rule #1: Double tap.

by Ball Hawk on Sep 16, 2011 7:34 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

I can't put into words

what it would mean to me for us to beat the Eagles. And if the Bears would beat the Saints too that would make Sunday the most perfect of days.

by LuvGems on Sep 16, 2011 8:10 PM EDT reply actions

Here are my Keys to the game for the Atlanta Falcons to win

DEFENSE:
1) Keeping Michael Vick honest. Everybody knows that when he can’t find an open receiver – he loves to make magic happen with his feet. Have Curtis Lofton spy Mike Vick in the middle so he can’t run up the field for extra yardage. This will also stop any slant routes and Lesean McCoy running up the middle. He will have to be very discipline and not get sucked into going down field or running up field leaving the middle open.
2) Explode thru the gaps in the Eagles offensive. That means Peria Jerry and Corey Peters might have to expose the Eagles gap offense and then Ray Edwards and John Abraham can harass Mike Vick in the backfield.
3) Jamming makes perfect. Jam the Eagles receivers at the line and throw them off their routes.
4) WRAP UP ON TACKLES!!! DON’T JUST HIT SOMEONE WRAP THEM UP ALSO!!!

OFFENSE:
1) Open up holes to get the running game started. A combination of Michael Turner and Jacquizz Rodgers in screen passes and running can wear down the Eagles Defense. This will make the Eagles defense have to play the whole field and that’s not what they are built for.
2) Since the Eagles are built for speed use it against them by using screens, slants, and shots down field. Use Jacquizz Rodgers and Julio Jones and screen passes then Roddy and Julio down field.
3) Spread the ball around and take some shots down field. Use your weapons Roddy White, Tony Gonzalez, Julio Jones, and Harry Douglas to open up the middle of field for the running game and vice versa.

by Antonio Grimes on Sep 16, 2011 8:17 PM EDT reply actions

Sounds good, but

you are not going to see our corners jamming receivers. They are just not that type of corner and BVG doesn’t know how to use man coverage. I think we can all agree that it would be nice if the Falcons could play man coverage occasionally alongside some blitzing, but they just don’t do it much. In my opinion, the offense and defense are way to conservative. However, I am also aware that I am a fan, not an NFL coach which means there are many subtleties that we are not considering.

by JoshuaG on Sep 16, 2011 8:34 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Your Wrong. Watch what happens if they don't do this

You don’t have to be an NFL coach to see what works and what doesn’t. If that was the case then we should had won that game in Chicago playing the way the Falcons played – oh wait -they didn’t when now did they?! Also – when the Falcons played Tampa Bay, Cincinnati, and New Orleans in the first game in New Orleans last year they were jamming people at the line, splitting threw gaps, and using Michael Turner in run and screens – Atlanta Falcons won! You can see that by watching the games and using a little common sense. When we got away from that in like they did in Chicago – Falcons lost! And again – these are my opinions, but it seemed to have offended you for some reason.

by Antonio Grimes on Sep 16, 2011 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions

ATL won't play bump and run

unless BVG changes his approach. ATL played very little bump and run over the past three season. To be honest the only DB that could do that effectively would be DR.

Turner on screens? Nope, didn’t happen. It might have been a different RB but ATL runs screens about as often as they play bump and run.

by mwalex on Sep 17, 2011 1:42 AM EDT up reply actions

Jam the Eagles receivers?

When was the last time you’ve seen BVG’s defense have the DB jam receivers? It’s not gonna happen. I’d love to see it, but just not gonna happen. Everyone gives Dunta such a hard time, but jamming the receiver is Dunta’s game (youtube him back when he was a TEXAN and you’ll see), but we play soft coverage which is Grimes’ game. I wished our defense played a mixture of both soft and bump’n’run coverage.

by TheSpectr on Sep 17, 2011 6:42 AM EDT up reply actions

I agree completely

Let DR jam his guy and let Grimes play soft. It’s a shame that escapes BVG.

by mwalex on Sep 17, 2011 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions

Last year, I would say we did fairly well with the injury reports

This year, not so much.

Last year Jenkins was out for a while, and then returned to play good football.

Speaking of him, why’d we get rid of him again? I thought that was a horrible move by the team.

Todd McClure… please get well soon… the offensive line is so crucial to our success over the season.

One day....

by Kashberry on Sep 16, 2011 8:40 PM EDT reply actions

I was hoping Johnson was better than Reynolds.

I was watcing NFL network and they showed how bad Reynolds played.

by Fear Me on Sep 16, 2011 8:49 PM EDT reply actions

Totally derailing topic

Anyone on this blog from or near Orlando area? An Eagles fan needs a little bit of help.

RIP Jim Johnson, best ever.
"To catch theme is my real test, to train them is my cause."

by Imp on Sep 16, 2011 8:54 PM EDT reply actions

Help

Fellow fans! What exactly do you type in the search box on YOUTUBE to find the new video. I gotta send it out to buddies in Missouri. I can’t get it to pop up! Help

by Sbaron55 on Sep 16, 2011 9:14 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

It's hard to find it on Youtube

Here is the link to the New Rise Up 2.0 : http://www.atlantafalcons.com/falconstv/?filter=rise+up

by Antonio Grimes on Sep 16, 2011 9:44 PM EDT up reply actions

"depending on whether Hayden is up to speed on the team's defense at this point"

You mean if he has learned to stand 10 yards of the WR at the line, run to a spot on the field and then stand there and wait for a receiver to come close to him to catch a ball?

I think he can handle it.

by MikeJolly on Sep 16, 2011 10:24 PM EDT reply actions

Lol

Good point

by FalconsFansincePrimetime on Sep 16, 2011 10:29 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I dunno...

it is hard for a decent CD to stand still on the field. Takes a lot of discipline to be that undisciplined…

Dont cloud the issue with facts!

by muuzilla on Sep 17, 2011 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions

ha

mikejolly’s a smart dude. they better both be in, hopefully Decoud can see some benchtime, and Owens can give up #21. i don’t think HD was really concussed, just took a helmet shot under eye. he should be fine

by roblovvorn on Sep 16, 2011 11:37 PM EDT reply actions