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This is a bad week for the Falcons. A real, real bad week. We thought it couldn’t get worse than Keanu Neal gone for the season, then Deion Jones went to IR for at least half the season.
We are just picking up the pieces.
We asked how the hell can the Falcons replace a player like Deion Jones? The top option was Duke Riley, and as it turns out, that was correct. Riley is manning the middle of the defense, and we hope his crazy game speed can start to replace Jones.
Are we optimistic?
Not really, but it could turn out OK.
As it turns out, the Falcons are moving Ricardo Allen down to strong safety, with Damontae Kazee covering deep. It’s not preferable, but should be better than the linebacker situation.
#Falcons are going to play Ricardo Allen at SS and Kazee at FS. We've the smoke and come to the real information. Kazee said he played Free in the game and didn't flip flop to strong safety. Manuel said Rico will be in the box. Said Brain Dawkins was a small box safety.
— D. Orlando Ledbetter (@DOrlandoAJC) September 12, 2018
Despite the injuries and the loss to the Eagles, the national media has the Falcons ranked somewhere between 6th and 11th. Respectable enough with all things considered. Atlanta will definitely need a win to maintain their spots in the power rankings.
Did you know the Falcoholic has a podcast? You should because we post about it all the time. Well our midweek and post-game podcast will be a part of something called Vox Media Podcast Network. What does that even mean? It’s a mystery to everyone, but we are available on some additional platforms.
To say the game vs the Eagles was physical almost seems like an understatement. #Falcons head coach Dan Quinn says the team will hold Devonta Freeman out of practice today after he left Thursday’s opener sore. pic.twitter.com/OBBxuPOfGQ
— Anthony Amey (@AnthonyAmeyWSB) September 12, 2018
Oh yeah, Devonta Freeman is “sore” and didn’t practice. If this is like all the other injuries that are nothing under Dan Quinn, Freeman may have a leg amputated. Far from a guarantee he plays against the Carolina Panthers.
#Falcons QB Matt Ryan hadn’t heard about the Kurt Warner criticism of the red zone offense. pic.twitter.com/Gs8pGxPmSp
— D. Orlando Ledbetter (@DOrlandoAJC) September 12, 2018
Wow, Matt Ryan needs to read more Falcoholic. Kurt Warner slammed Steve Sarkisian’s offense for lacking attention to detail and not playing to his players’ strengths.
The Falcons already needed to bounce back from the injuries, but can they bounce back from this weak offense? We find out Sunday.