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Atlanta Falcons Column
By:
Shermmicka Ogidan
12/17/08
Where in the world do I start this
week off, let us see. Coming off a 13-10 overtime victory
against Tampa Bay, the Falcons are one of the league’s biggest
surprises in their first season under Mike Smith. Everyone,
Atlanta is now 9-5, could you believe how everyone was expecting
the team to stumble through another year of double-digit losses…
Thanks are to Smith who has never worked as a head coach on any
level of organized football, has done the unthinkable by
delivering a major turnaround.
Our rookie quarterback Matt Ryan,
the third overall draft pick, matured fast enough to run a
no-huddle attack within his first month if everyone recalls.
Then when they visit Minnesota, who is also 9-5, this week we
could have the No- 2 leading receiver in Roddy White and the
league’s third-most productive sacks specialist in John Abraham.
However, with that said we still
have many problems to solve both offensively, and defensively in
our last three games, the offense combined for eight turnovers,
including three against the Buccaneers, and the defense has
created just one takeaway, cornerback Domonique Foxworth’s third
quarter interception Sunday, over the last five games… As if any
one is keeping up with this, but it has to be said. Someone has
to find a way to eliminate fumbles and interceptions if we are
to move forward. However, Ryan is coming off a second difficult
performance against the Bucs, averaging a passer rating of 43.6,
but problems in the red zone is a bigger concern in my
opinion.
Reserve tight end Jason Rader
fumbled away a third quarter touchdown catch that would have
made the win so much better. Atlanta has dropped to 49 % this
year scoring touchdowns inside opponents 20-yard line. So
people do you see what I mean. Lastly, I recall Ryan saying,
“Like great teams do, we had to find ways to win the game even
if it’s ugly, but at the end of the day we will take it”.
Moreover, Smith
does not want to risk leading his team into thinking the
playoffs are a certainly despite Atlanta’s six victories in the
last eight NFC games. A 6-4 conference record that trail Dallas
by two wins and Tampa Bay by one victory would leave the Falcons
out of the race for the NFC’s tow wild-card spots if the season
had ended in Week 14. The next two games with the Minnesota
Vikings on December 21 and the St. Louis Rams on December 28
will both be what will make these boys finally step into the big
league after such a long wait… Given there past success and
failure I predict a win in both; the falcons are hungry and they
must feed!
Until Next Time this is
Shermmicka Ogidan
12/6/08
With wins in six of their last
eight games, the Falcons are an unlikely playoff contender
one year after their 4-12 finish… The Falcons showed strong
balance in the win over San Diego. Former Chargers backup
Michael Turner, making the most of the first year as a
starter, had 120 yards rushing in his return to San Diego.
Rookie quarterbacks Matt Ryan completed 17 of 23 pass for
207 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in the
win… Ryan has 13 touchdown passes with only six
interceptions while completing 61 percent of his passes.
Turner has 1,208 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns. Roddy
White has 1,085 yards receiving and six touchdowns…
The new-look Falcons have
delivered more tough shots than they have received. With
Atlanta’s defense held tow-time defending NFL rushing
champion LaDainian Tomlinson to 24yards on 14 carries, the
second-lowest total of his career, makes the Falcons
transition to a playoff spot look closer then one may have
assumed…
The Falcons cleaned house in the
off-season, trading or releasing such veterans as Alge
Crumpler, Warrick Dunn, Rod Coleman and DeAngelo Hall. The
stated plan from the new management team was to build for
the future.
Well Abraham looks like he will
not return after a mild concussion in last week’s win over
Carolina… Well we all know that Abraham was already battling
injuries to his neck and shoulder when he rushed from the
left side against a Panthers double-team and got knocked
backward and onto the Georgia Dome turf. We can only hope
that none of the other team member falls ill to injury right
at the peak of success…
Until Next Time:
- Shermmicka Ogidan
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