Falcons Questions

Question 1: It would have to be Abe. He had another down year and he’s not getting any younger. We need to think long term at this position and look for our next guy.

Question 2: Not yet, but he’s very good. I think Elite only comes once you win a playoff game. I do, however, believe he will get there next year.

Question 3: Yes, and I’d trade Roddy before MT – but would consider both. Roddy would still fetch a high draft pick due to his phenomenal run the last four years. We could potentially get a first rounder for him. And with JJ and HD, we have two very good receivers that could fill the gaps. MT would not fetch as much for a trade at this point.

Question 4: Sadly, I think it was all the coaches, including Smitty. The game plan they put together against the Giants was nothing but Fail offensively. It’s also on the head coach to get his players mentally ready to play in big games.

Question 5: We’re on the cusp. We have the talent to be, but we’ve lacked either the mental toughness or scheme to take that final step. I’m hoping the new coordinators bring in that missing edge that will take us over the hump.

Question 6: Seriously? I’ll take Ryan any day. The kid is clutch and a class act. He also makes the players around him better and is a true leader. This one is a no-brainer.

Question 7: I’ll do what I’ve done for 25 years – keep rooting for the Falcons. I’ll be frustrated and curse and do all the things I’ve done in the past, but I’ll keep cheering for them.

Question 8: Hard to say, but Snelling has the most value. He’s got good burst, plays with a chip on his shoulder, is a good blocker and can catch passes.

Question 9: We can get close. We are still missing a few key pieces to be dominant (most importantly, a terrifying DE).

Question 10: I think we can be better. The Saints and Packers showed this weekend that a great passing attack can be shutdown in the big games. However, a balanced attack – like the one that the Giants have been running – can win any game. Before we are either offense though, we need an offensive line that will give Matty more than 2 seconds to throw the ball.

Question 1. Easy. JA55. He’s older and we’d have to replace him in the near future anyway

Question 2. Not elite, not yet anyway. Doesnt escape pressure as well as the best. I dont mean Vick/Rodgers type running. I watched Eli side stepping packers rushers calmly while looking downfield and I realized Matt needs to pick that up if he wants to step up to the big leagues. Plus he needs to lose the fear of getting hit. As long as he has happy feet he isnt going to be elite.

Question 3. Only if you get the right value. If I had to pick one it would be MT coz MT is a 3rd round value right now which we could get. Roddy is worth more than a 1st depending on where that 1st rounder is and I dont think we can get that much for him.

Question 4. Co-ords, Smitty. Ryan. We need either an elite QB or an elite playcaller to win big. I dont think we have that right now.

Question 5. My elite is top 6 and we arent in there but we are just a step below them.

Question 6. Cant decide. Matty feels like he’s topped out but I still dont trust Vick (to stay healthy or to make the right decisions for a full season)

Question 7. Smitty goes out. TD gets one more shot to hire the right HC. Before that though I would get a successful scrambling QB as a coach for Matty Iceballs and a new defensive line coach. For three seasons now we have been getting decent pressure without closing the deal. I think our guys need to be taught how to close the deal better

Question 8. HD

Question 9. No. but we can be as good as the bears the last few years.

Question 10. Again no but I think we can be the Giants this year.

Q1: Again JA, we all know his on the wrong side of 30 as they put it and we could you his Cdraft pick to pickup, a decent not great, but decent hybrid NT/DT

Q2: No and No. Aside from the pocket presence he still has some throwing mechanics I need to seem him work on, particularly his deep ball. I can’t remember on that he chuck for more than 20 yards that has any zip on it. I know arm strength is something you can’t teach and there is certain O line work to be done here but I think that the next QB we bring in along with a veteran QB who could actually push him for the starting position instead of CRedman who knows his role will help him get there.

Q3: Wholeheartly I say No. The offense has the right players in place outside the offensive line, and our defensive personal will hope fair much better now that we out of the bend to break mentality. This draft should be used to pick up quality O/D linemen that this ball club can raise as with the overall scheme of the franchise. And we have the draft picks to do that.

Q4: Coordinators for reason number three. The talent is definitely there but the talent can only grow under the scheme set forth and the schemes we ran were design to make us a winning team, which we have become, but not champions. They were not design to either win championships or playoff games due to every team steps up their game that time of year. I give all props to BV and MM for turning this franchise around and thank them from the bottom of my heart. The simple truth is, and Smitty has a role in this as well, their schemes were design to win in the regular season not the post.

Q5: NO, there are 4 teams playing this weekend which means 8 teams played last weekend and we were not among those 8, simple truth. As stated in Q4, we are a good team that was designed to win games but we don’t have the edge, mentality or personality to differentiate us as elite just yet. To be brutally honest, this team has no swagger. To put another way, if the NFL teams were a group of friends, we’d be that guy everyone likes to have around but no one considers to be a leader of the group. Yeah we’d be the nice guy!!!

Q6: Well I definitely wouldn’t want the Vick from the Falcons days, that be for damn sure. The ex-con Vick has flashes of greatness that if he could stay healthy is a force to be reckon with. That’s why I personally get nervous every time well play the eagles. But I would still go with Ryan, just because I don’t think he’s quite hit a ceiling yet. Like I stated in Q2, I want to see what would happen with the new QB couch and a veteran QB to push him before passing final judgment.

Q7. I would really have to a good long look at the HC and GM. If we can’t win a playoff game with the current talent then that obviously means that we hadn’t upgraded talent in the next two years which means the GM is failing to bring in high performing acquisitions and the HC is not preparing the proper motivation to create a gogetter mentality.

Q8: Snelling, simply because HD and JR were completely under(utilized) in the previous offense.

Q9: I wouldn’t want them too. If you really look at the three teams mentioned, their whole niche is that they’ll play game managing offense with outstanding defensive play. What I would really want which is why I am so excited about the hiring of Mike Nolan is for them to play akin to the 49ers, low yardage allowed defense with a ridiculous turnover ratio, given our offensive talent the ball more times to be and highly explosive juggernaut.

10. Yes, although they’ve only showed brief flashes against the weaker teams out there the potential still remains. What has been holding this team down is two very important things. Scheme and that gogetter attidued. The schemes I am praying will be address with the hiring of Dirk Koetter, though I had to look his name up to remember it is a little disheartening. The second however is the real hill that has to be overcome. And that can’t come from a coach, coordinator, GM, VP or Owner majority/minor, that has to come from a group of guys in that locker room who RISE UP and say "WE ARE THE ATLANTA FALCONS….. RUN!!!!!