Coach Mike Smith: Stephen Nicholas Doubtful For Round One

by Dave Choate on Jan 2, 2012 6:04 PM EST in Falcons News

ATLANTA GA - DECEMBER 27: Stephen Nicholas #54 of the Atlanta Falcons walks off the field during the first half of the game against the New Orleans Saints at the Georgia Dome on December 27 2010 in Atlanta Georgia. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

This is obviously a big blow to the team's linebackers.

With Stephen Nicholas doubtful and Mike Peterson on injured reserve, the Falcons will turn to some combination of Spencer Adkins and Robert James to man outside linebacker opposite Sean Weatherspoon. While Adkins was fine against the Buccaneers, that's a huge downgrade from a veteran player with a nice combination of athleticism and football smarts.

My best guess is that Adkins starts again and James will be available should an emergency arise. Akeem Dent may be able to swing outside in case of an emergency, as well, but I think the coaching saw enough out of Adkins to roll with him for now.

The best bet for the team. They may even want to try out a 4-2-5 to give themselves more help in the secondary while maintaining a stout front four, because the Giants are a passing team and that needs to be addressed in the gameplan.

How do you think this will affect the Falcons?

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With an all...

but non-existent runn game from the Giants, a 4-2-5 might work out??

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by Blood_Talon on Jan 2, 2012 6:13 PM EST reply actions

I don't see how their run game is non existent

Bradshaw alone is a force, and when coupled with Brandon Jacobs I don’t see how they haven’t been producing on the ground. It’s the sort of things that with a comprimised LB corps their run game could take off at any time/

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by Turner_The_Burner on Jan 3, 2012 2:36 AM EST up reply actions

This might be a blessing in disguise.

Nicks (our Nicks) is no slouch, but Spoon and Lofton can do it all on their own, and Franks is starting to look the part out there at nickelback. Adkins is super athletic and can come in when we need 3 LBs but I think it won’t be as bad as some might think.

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by Caleb Rutherford on Jan 2, 2012 6:16 PM EST reply actions

Doubt our staff would go that way...

Our staff is way to conservative. I like the idea but its way to creative for us.

by Bigru3 on Jan 2, 2012 7:06 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

stop the run early on

And then we could be seeing a whole lot of the nickel package

by jmpecker on Jan 2, 2012 6:22 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions

What it is with Steven Nicholas anyhow?

This dudes always hurt…anyone know if this happened to him lsst year?

by Bigru3 on Jan 2, 2012 7:07 PM EST via mobile reply actions

He played all year last year, didn't he? Especially when Spoon was out, iirc

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by Caleb Rutherford on Jan 2, 2012 9:19 PM EST up reply actions

6 weeks ago the Giants were forced to make some adjustments to the Oline

since they have averaged over a 100 yds a game. before I think it was like 60 yds.

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Giant LB'zz SUCK!! Mark Herzlich, Jacquian Williams,...Maybe .. Sadly this has been modified.

by Troy O on Jan 2, 2012 7:09 PM EST reply actions

This is off subject,

but you know Brees broke the season passing record and all, but a lot of his yards are garbage yards. His backup saw nearly no action, he has like 5 passing attempts for the year.

by BEZERKO on Jan 2, 2012 7:55 PM EST reply actions

Everyone knows this

Plus he played in pristine condition all year(11 domes only “cold weather” game was @ tenn) Brady would have Smashed the record just as hard given these conditions (3 dome games).

But who cares about the Saints right now

by Hutch11 on Jan 2, 2012 8:12 PM EST up reply actions

all the outdoor games outside of GB

the Saints Struggled.

by brotherbrown on Jan 2, 2012 9:05 PM EST up reply actions

Luckily for drew they only had a couple

by Hutch11 on Jan 2, 2012 9:13 PM EST up reply actions

next year

@ SD, KC, CAR, TB, PHI, WAS
A lot of outside game for us

New Orleans
@oak @den, car, tb, gb, nyg (outside games)

by brotherbrown on Jan 2, 2012 9:29 PM EST up reply actions

I agree...

…a lot of 4-2-5 will be necessary. Might as well get comfortable with it anyway, as we’re going to need more DB’s on the field against NO and/or GB as well should we get by the Giants. Our soft zone 4-3 Cover 2 gets SHREDDED by passing teams, yet we keep rolling it out there anyway… facepalm

by HotLunch4You on Jan 2, 2012 8:24 PM EST reply actions

dont matter

nicholas is good but def are weakest lb , so a combo of fresh legs should be about the same if not better

by R.I.P Bobby Cox on Jan 2, 2012 9:33 PM EST reply actions

big blow. Let's hope Spoon & Lofton stay healthy.

by YokoFalcon on Jan 2, 2012 10:42 PM EST reply actions

Really big blow

Experience matters and the Giants love to attack the edges. However to take a somewhat Eastern philosophical approach the result of Sunday’s game is already written. Falcons better be the S.O.B.s doing the writing. This is a real test of our toughness and attitude. I think this game’s bigger than most do. Fourth season, still looking for our first playoff win. What type of team will we be? An attacking, desperate,confident group of Falcons better show up determined to show the league that the G.B. d and the Monday night Saints games were aberrational in nature. We need to come out and kick their asses.

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by FrozenFinger on Jan 3, 2012 12:59 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

^totally

by YokoFalcon on Jan 3, 2012 2:34 AM EST up reply actions

Given that the Giants have three good receivers (Cruz, Nicks, Manningham)

I bet we see the nickel defense (4-2-5) quite a bit next Sunday. I really hope Franks/Owens can hold up.

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by TurnerTheBurner on Jan 3, 2012 1:16 AM EST reply actions

I'm hoping Ray Edwards show up. We need to have a pass-rush coming from the other side

by Fear Me on Jan 3, 2012 1:23 AM EST up reply actions

4-2-5 all day long...

…and blitz C4 40% of the time from different angles – hell, bring him up the middle on a delay, or cheat Tha Police up the middle, and have Willi Mo take his spot for a play.

Atlanta has PLAYMAKERS on Defense, time to let them shine. Let Franks see some one on one action in coverage, and let DeCoud clean up as a ball hawk.

This, of course, only works if we completely close down their run game (do you hear me, Abes, Edwards, Corey and Babs?).

by Mnemonic on Jan 3, 2012 10:41 AM EST reply actions