We all know the defense sucks but what's going on with the offense!? Ever since that Thursday night game vs Tampa Bay, we have been struggling to put points on the boards. It's been going down each week. 28 to 20 to 13 to 7. WTF is up!? Is the offensive line that bad?
****************************************** Falcons, Braves, Bulldogs and Hawks
11. "There's no reason to do that at all" In response to Reply # 2
All we need is to draft another starting tackle and pick up a guard for depth. If anything we need a strength and conditioning coach. Holmes, Carimi, Stone and Gunn are good depth but we need to replace Baker and Blalock. Roddy has 11 drops this season ELEVEN!! we have only played 2 games with the same line so there's gonna be communication issues until we settle in on a unit from here on out. On defense we need a DE stat. Mass has shown he can get pressure on the QB but they too busy dropping him into coverage. Weatherspoon would have been a beast behind our DTs but our LBs are to green. We got the perfect DTs to run a 3-4 but we ain't got the LBs. All we need is to draft an OT, an OG and get pass rushers.
14. "It will take multiple years to do all of that" In response to Reply # 11
And with their history of draft picks/free agent choices it will take even longer.
If they sign Julio for anything close to what he will get offered elsewhere, they will be limited in being able to sign anyone for any substantial amount and not have to depend on the UDFA/draft picks to fill out the rest of the roster - which is part of the problem now.
if the Falcons didn't have any injuries on the O-line we wouldn't be having this discussion. at the beginning of the season Matt had all kinds of time and we were getting 5 yards a carry. matter of fact it was in the second half of the Tampa Bay game we had our first negative run. we simply need LBs to run a true 3-4. TBH we missing Weatherspoon more than we think and we got rid of Stephen Nicolas a year too soon. with Paul Soliai, Tyson Jackson, & Corey Peters we should be running a true 3-4 but we don't have the LBs so we got 3-4 DTs playing in a 4-3. we need a replacement for Justin Blalock who has a bad back.
I guess I am not as high on the o-line guys as you are.
I throw out the Saints and Bucs game since both of those teams have proven to have terrible defenses.
I agree that the linebackers are terrible, but I don't know what their plan is. Spoon is hurt, but otherwise this was their plan going into the season - Worrilow and Bartu are backups at best (I personally hate Worrilow as a player with a passion).
They signed linemen for a 3-4 and I guess they thought Shembo would be further along (he's been hurt a bit)? Dropping Bierman and Mass into coverage never seemed like a good idea.
I just can't tell which parts of this mess are injury-related (the O-line) and what was going to a disaster from the beginning (the LB core).
4. "RE: Is the offensive line that bad?" In response to Reply # 0
Yes, without question...YES.
3 starting lineman (Baker, Hawley, Holmes)done for the year and now a backup turned starter done for the year.
Not to mention Blalock has been battling a back injury.
The whole offense has changed as a result.
Lots of bullshit boom or bust screen plays (that have been mostly busts) and quick short routes bc Matt routinely has less than 3 secs to throw.
Defensively, we're not good enough to bend but not break for long stretches of droughts and 3 & outs on offense.
We lack talent in some pretty key positions (DE and OLB notably) and the 2 players that were the vocal leaders and heart of our defense are done for the year (Spoon and Willy Mo). I doubt Spoon gets resigned too.
Lastly, I tried to stay down but its clear that its time for a coaching change. Smitty just doesnt move these dudes anymore. He even looks like he's lost the fire and confidence he's had in years past.
2 straight losing campaigns will do that to you.
Hate to say it, but its time to destroy and rebuild shit.
And damn near ANYBODY on the coaching staff can get the ax. Shit, maybe even TD.
It hurts to watch this team.
The writing is on the wall and has been for a while. We were just in denial.
decaturpsalm Member since Apr 24th 2005 19268 posts
Mon Oct-20-14 11:13 AM
7. "if you cant make stops you cant win shit" In response to Reply # 0
ive never played a down of nfl football but i know what talent looks like and we have zip zero on defense like not even any bright spots thats 100% management...they need better talent evaluators it wouldnt hurt me at all to see them go and I love seeing Blank on the sidelines cuz he knows niggas is not showing up to our new spaceship stadium with that kind of talent on the field
_______________________________________ touched like midas these bitch ass niggas they study and bite us.
I cannot name one player on that defense that has a prowess for consistency, play making or lights out hard hitting (Ishmael hits damn hard but this label shouldnt be with the safety only).
There are so many bad players on that defense that I'm afraid we are stuck with most of them until contracts expire.
>ive never played a down of nfl football >but i know what talent looks like >and we have zip zero on defense >like not even any bright spots >thats 100% management...they need better talent evaluators >it wouldnt hurt me at all to see them go >and I love seeing Blank on the sidelines cuz he knows >niggas is not showing up to our new spaceship stadium >with that kind of talent on the field >
8. "They gave up too much for Julio" In response to Reply # 0
Now injuries are exposing the lack of depth that creates.
Now with a shaky O-line, Ryan is going to have to get better at throwing those screen passes to maximize RAC. Too often they are behind a guy and they have to slow down making them have to make incredible plays to get 3 yards...
Their offense is also too predictable. Ryan locks in on a receiver 3 or 4 times a game and I think teams are starting to catch on. Their margin of error is too small on these five yard outs or hitches with a shaky O-line.
Time to clean house. They would never do this, but they need to trade Julio now and start the rebuild. If they sign him for anywhere near market value, they will be trash for at least 3 years while they get enough picks/free agents to fill out a competitive roster.
10. "hate to keep blaming injuries..." In response to Reply # 0
but it really ain't shit you can do with a third string o-line.
And add in losing your best two (imo) defensive players. At least the most experienced ones.
We shouldn't underestimate the Harry Douglas injury either. He was set to become a leader even if not as talented as Julio or Roddy. (He was probably at the same level as Roddy right now anyway, who's getting up in years).
Stephen Jackson is a liability. Antone Smith and Freeman need to be set free. Possibly, even we can run the ball, keep defenses honest, keep the defense off the field some, and open up the passing game we can do something.
I'm not in the "we gave up too much for Julio" camp. I think we just had some bad luck in key positions. One thing's for sure, I think once we're eliminated we need to sit Ryan so he don't get hurt too.
& the coaches. Well, its hard to judge what they're doing with a pieced together team, but it certainly looks uninspired.
*
"D is for what I serve, I don't be on no curb, she aint no junky neither, I ain't no dope dealer" - 3000
decaturpsalm Member since Apr 24th 2005 19268 posts
Sun Oct-26-14 11:46 AM
22. "you never fucking throw the ball when ur up and the other team has 0 tos" In response to Reply # 20
basic ass pop warner shit it could have been picked or incomplete either one of those scenarios would have stopped the clock and gave the lions a chance they coulda ran for 1 more down and milked it to about 35 secs not a whole fucking 2 minute drill hope they fire everybody this year
_______________________________________ touched like midas these bitch ass niggas they study and bite us.
Also if you can't complete a 1-yd pass behind the line of scrimmage to your best receiver, you deserve to lose anyway.
They called that drive like they do the rest of the game, they don't think they can run the ball.
And I realize the yards were not impressive in the running they did do, but with a 21-pt lead, a run for 0 yds is better than all these incomplete passes or drop-backs in obvious passing situations behind a shaky o-line.
42. "About a minute and a half left in the game..." In response to Reply # 19
it's third and long, clock is ticking. All we have to do is RUN THE BALL and take about 40 seconds off the clock in the process. Now it's 4th down. Take the penalty for delay of game taking more time off the clock and punt the ball leaving the Lions with little time to work with. But nooooo, this is Mike Smith we're discussing. Let's do a silly short pass to Julio that he drops, stopping the clock and giving the Lions with more than a minute to work with.
yo, if I was Blank I would have told Smith and staff to swim back to the states.
38. "Mike Smith is a dead man walking and if the team hadn't heretofore " In response to Reply # 0
quit on him, they definitely have after today - they know they aren't going to make the playoffs and we're not halfway through the season yet - that would demoralize any team w/playoffs/super bowl expectations
The team is soft as baby shit on D
Their running game isn't helping out the passing game none whatsoever
And lastly, Matt Ryan is just NOT that guy to lead a team w/super bowl expectations
but since they've given him that huge contract (like the Bears w/Cutler), they have to stick w/him...for now...so Smith will inevitably be the first head to roll, particularly if it's between him and the QB, but eventually it'll become obvious that their problems aren't just coaching alone...
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