Changes in Atlanta?

[Randall]

National Football League News Wire

 

ATLANTA -- After watching the Atlanta Falcons lose their

fourth straight game, owner Arthur Blank grabbed a front-row seat

in the interview room to listen in on what Jim Mora and Michael

Vick had to say.

 

Blank also pored over a stat sheet, whispering some thoughts to

his top lieutenant while trying to figure out how another season

that began with such promise has totally unraveled heading into the

final month.

 

This owner demands immediate results. If things don't turn

around over the next five weeks, the Falcons are certainly headed

for big changes -- starting with several members of Mora's staff and

maybe extending all the way to the head coach himself.

 

"Ever since I've been here, we've had high expectations,"

Blank said. "We did not build this team to be .500. We thought

this team was capable of making a playoff run. Anytime you fall

short of that, it's disappointing."

 

Technically, Atlanta (5-6) still has time to turns things around

in the mediocre NFC, where 6-5 would be good enough for the wild

card if the season ended today.

 

But after going 0-for-November, the Falcons are below .500 for

the first time in Mora's three-year tenure and giving off few signs

of being a team that can pull out of its slide before it's too

late.

 

Three of the losses during past month were by double-figure

margins -- the only exception being an inexcusable 17-13 home loss

to woeful Cleveland (3-8). The Falcons were blown out 30-14 at

Detroit, one of only two games the Lions have won this season. Last

Sunday, Atlanta was all but eliminated from the NFC West race by a

31-13 loss to the Saints, who essentially have a three-game lead on

the Falcons when the tiebreaker is factored in.

 

What makes this all the more troubling is just how familiar it

seems.

 

A year ago, coming off a giddy run to the NFC championship game

in Mora's rookie season as a head coach, the Falcons started 6-2

and were thinking Super Bowl. They wound up losing six of their

last eight, extending the 40-year-old franchise's inglorious streak

of never having back-to-back winning seasons.

 

Now, it's happening all over again. In one short month, the

Falcons have gone from being 5-2 and angling for home-field

advantage in the playoffs to showing all the telltale signs of a

team in disarray.

 

Early last week, Mora's father -- the longtime NFL coach of the

same name -- criticized Vick's passing skills and agreed that he's a

"coach killer." As the quarterback headed toward the locker room

after the loss to the Saints, he was heckled by some fans and

responded with an obscene gesture.

 

As the face of the franchise, everything starts with Vick. But

the blame for this downfall extends beyond No. 7.

 

The offense is a mess, an incompatible juxtaposition of

coordinator Greg Knapp's West Coast-style passing schemes and the

zone-blocking tactics used by the guys up front, who answer to de

facto line coach Alex Gibbs.

 

Vick has never taken to Knapp's philosophy, which relies on

short drops and quick reads that seem ill-suited for a 6-foot

quarterback who has trouble seeing over his linemen and is more

effective when he ad-libs. Vick is the 25th-rated quarterback in

the NFL and, most stunning, has never put up better numbers playing

in Knapp's offense than he did in his one full season working with

former coach Dan Reeves.

 

Meanwhile, the shadowy Gibbs -- who's technically a

"consultant" -- prefers smaller, quicker linemen who'll carry out

his controversial blocking tactics in the running game but are

leakier than a colander when it comes to pass blocking. Vick may be

the best running quarterback in NFL history, but he's still managed

to get sacked 29 times playing behind a no-name group that has zero

Pro Bowls on its collective resume.

 

When Vick does get off a pass, tight end Alge Crumpler is about

the only reliable receiver on the team. Former first-round picks

Michael Jenkins and Roddy White have been major disappointments.

Ashley Lelie hasn't had the impact everyone expected when he came

to the Falcons in a trade for T.J. Duckett.

 

Last week, Vick's receivers dropped five passes, the most

damaging of those coming early in the fourth quarter when a

wide-open White let the ball slip from his hands at the New Orleans

10 after the defender fell down. That snuffed the life out of the

Falcons, who were down 21-13 at the time but totally fell apart the

rest of the way.

 

Mora insists he's not planning any changes on his staff, but

what else do you expect him to say about guys -- several of them

close friends -- who are still on the payroll? Clearly, Knapp and

receivers coach George Stewart are on shaky ground. And the Falcons

wouldn't be able to hire a competent replacement for Knapp as long

as Gibbs is hanging around.

 

If the Falcons do look for someone else to run the offense, the

first priority is getting a coach who can take advantage of Vick's

wondrous talents. This team has too much invested in No. 7 to give

up on him (sorry, all you Atlanta fans who want to give backup Matt

Schaub a chance).

 

A new coordinator would certainly want to upgrade the protectors

up front and the guys who are paid to catch passes, not drop them.

Also, there might be some philosophical changes, such as more deep

passing routes to capitalize on Vick's enormous arm strength

(perhaps the strongest in the league, though his accuracy is

clearly lacking).

 

Mora got a contract extension before the season, but that means

little in the what-have-you-done-for-me-lately NFL. The Falcons

touted their 45-year-old coach as one of the profession's rising

stars after his first season, but Blank -- who prowls the sidelines

during games a la Jerry Jones and takes an active role in personnel

decisions -- shows all the signs of being an impatient boss.

 

"I believe we have the right folks in the building," Blank

said in a tepid show of support for his coach. "They have the

talent and enthusiasm to get it done, but obviously we've got to

execute better and be a little more consistent."

 

In all fairness to Mora and his assistants, the Falcons have

been plagued by injuries. Two starters are out for the year, and

another might be finished. Plus, defensive stalwarts John Abraham

and Ed Hartwell have played only three games apiece.

 

Then again, Atlanta must have known it was taking a chance when

it gave up a first-round pick to sign the injury prone Abraham to a

huge contract.

 

The three-time Pro Bowl end dominated Carolina in Week 1 before

going down in the closing minutes with a groin injury that he's

still trying to overcome. After abdominal surgery, he returned to

face the Saints last week, but didn't even show up on the stat

sheet.

 

If someone doesn't show up soon for the Falcons, this team is

headed for a major shakeup.

[Big Score 1]

Knapp is toast.

[broncosn05]

Knapp is toast.

 

I like Mora but the defense is struggling, his area of specialty. Was rated 22nd in yards given up last year and they’re right there again this year.

[Savage Beatings]

The offense is a mess, an incompatible juxtaposition of

coordinator Greg Knapp's West Coast-style passing schemes and the

zone-blocking tactics used by the guys up front, who answer to de

facto line coach Alex Gibbs.

 

Interesting... this is (one of) the same problems that the Vikings have this season.

 

 

Last week, Vick's receivers dropped five passes,

 

This too.

[johnnyfb]

This is the first time ATL has been under .500 in three seasons, and you'd think doomsday had arrived in Georgia.

 

I've been watching the Falcons play while using my live play-predicting game on my cell phone on Sundays, and they are still a solid team. There are a few problems (read: ball drops and shaky o-line play) but there have also just been a few bad bounces. And, with Carolina and a hot New Orleans team in your division, times are going to be tough.

 

Patience, Georgians, patience.

[Big Score 1]

This is the first time ATL has been under .500 in three seasons, and you'd think doomsday had arrived in Georgia.

 

I've been watching the Falcons play while using my live play-predicting game on my cell phone on Sundays, and they are still a solid team. There are a few problems (read: ball drops and shaky o-line play) but there have also just been a few bad bounces. And, with Carolina and a hot New Orleans team in your division, times are going to be tough.

 

Patience, Georgians, patience.

 

Their D is also for crap, albeit injuries have payed a rather LARGE part.

[muck]

Since what they're doing isn't working that well, what if they had Vick line up out at WR with Schaub tossing the ball?

[Big Score 1]

Since what they're doing isn't working that well, what if they had Vick line up out at WR with Schaub tossing the ball?

 

Who knows how Vick's hands are & unless the NFL allows stickum again, it's not going to matter if it's Vick or Schaub hitting the WR's in the hands. White, Jenkins & Lelie (Crump to a lesser extent) will just continue dropping balls & now you've just removed scrambling from the QB position.

 

Besides;

 

Vick's QB rating = 75.1

 

Schaub's QB rating = 68.3 (albeit from a 135 passing attempts)

[kerwin8]

I like Mora but the defense is struggling, his area of specialty. Was rated 22nd in yards given up last year and they’re right there again this year.

 

 

Sure the defense is struggling, but it was also rather dominant early in the year (even with Abraham on the sideline) before injuries hit really hard. They had the same problem last year, too. Any time Allen Rossum is asked to do anything but return kicks, you know the Falcons are having trouble.

 

Knapp is toast.

[kerwin8]

Since what they're doing isn't working that well, what if they had Vick line up out at WR with Schaub tossing the ball?

 

 

Anybody else remember when Doug Johnson was considered a good backup QB? That didn't turn out so well, either.

 

I sincerely hope that Schaub doesn't get much playing time this year so that his stock doesn't drop when other teams come asking about him after the season. And if he does, I hope he musters up some more good numbers.

[WaterMan]

This is the first time ATL has been under .500 in three seasons, and you'd think doomsday had arrived in Georgia.

 

I've been watching the Falcons play while using my live play-predicting game on my cell phone on Sundays, and they are still a solid team. There are a few problems (read: ball drops and shaky o-line play) but there have also just been a few bad bounces. And, with Carolina and a hot New Orleans team in your division, times are going to be tough.

 

Patience, Georgians, patience.

 

 

Wow someone else who actually watches the games instead of making comments off just the stats.

[alexgaddis]

Interesting... this is (one of) the same problems that the Vikings have this season.

This too.

 

So you're saying Brad Johnson is as good as Vick then...

[Big Score 1]

So you're saying Brad Johnson is as good as Vick then...

 

I could be wrong, but I think he's referring to the Vikes WR's in general & Troy Williamson in particular.

[Grits and Shins]

Wow someone else who actually watches the games instead of making comments off just the stats.

 

 

You mean somebody that watchs the game and agrees with you on the wonderful virtues of God's give to the NFL, Michael Vick instead of somebody like Furd or myself that watched the same game you did but not with the eyes of an Atlanta fan or a Vick apologist and as such does not agree with you (or Big Score) on how great the mighty Vick is and that the blame for Vicks ineptness rests on everybody and everything else and not on his lack of ability.

[Big Score 1]

You mean somebody that watchs the game and agrees with you on the wonderful virtues of God's give to the NFL, Michael Vick instead of somebody like Furd or myself that watched the same game you did but not with the eyes of an Atlanta fan or a Vick apologist and as such does not agree with you (or Big Score) on how great the mighty Vick is and that the blame for Vicks ineptness rests on everybody and everything else and not on his lack of ability. who despite what I saw with my own eyes & has been reported by multiple national news services by professional NFL reporters & commented on ad nausea-um & replayed ad nausea-um by multiple professional NFL analysts, still have my blind Vick hate goggles on & cannot except reality even, when it smacks me up the side of my Alzheimer riddled head.

 

Fixored

[BeeR]

Since what they're doing isn't working that well, what if they had Vick line up out at WR with Schaub tossing the ball?

 

LOL - muck the dreamer

 

Because Vicks' massive ego (and the majority of ATL football fans probably) would never stand for it. Blank would probably be labelled a racist to boot. PS I think he'd make a better RB.

 

 

ATLANTA -- After watching the Atlanta Falcons lose their

fourth straight game, owner Arthur Blank grabbed a front-row seat

in the interview room to listen in on what Jim Mora and Michael

Vick had to say.

This was funny too. GB meet up with one of the problems to discuss the problems.

[Grits and Shins]

Fixored

 

 

As seen through your rose colored glasses and filtered through your black and white hearing aid

[Big Score 1]

As seen through your rose colored glasses and filtered through your black and white hearing aid

 

Seemingly, the entire professional sports reporting community is using rose colored glasses when reporting on Vick & the Falcons troubles...to you anyway

 

Also it's a black and RED hearing aid you Alzheimer riddled ignoramus.

[Randall]

Seemingly, the entire professional sports reporting community is using rose colored glasses when reporting on Vick & the Falcons troubles...to you anyway

 

Also it's a black and RED hearing aid you Alzheimer riddled ignoramus.

 

 

 

Vick did do better under Reeves. BS do you think he'll make it as a QB and what do they need to do to make him succeed?

[Grits and Shins]

Seemingly, the entire professional sports reporting community is using rose colored glasses when reporting on Vick & the Falcons troubles...to you anyway

 

Also it's a black and RED hearing aid you Alzheimer riddled ignoramus.

 

 

 

Jaws says he wonders which Vick will show up because he certainly has no clue which Vick will come to the game and that he thought Vick was FINALLY getting it but now appears to have regressed AGAIN.

 

Mora calls him a coach killer

 

Yet you say the entire professional sports reporting community is using rose colored glasses

 

[cre8tiff]

Heck, line up Schaub at QB, Vick at tailback.

 

Think of what you could do with a backfield where the RB can option to throw the ball (at least to Crumpler) accurately.

 

Holy smokes.

[kingfish247]

rose colored glasses

 

maybe his receivers have been wearing roses instead of glasses?

[Chavez]

 

The offense is a mess, an incompatible juxtaposition of

coordinator Greg Knapp's West Coast-style passing schemes and the

zone-blocking tactics used by the guys up front, who answer to de

facto line coach Alex Gibbs.

 

 

This is bollocks. The West Coast passing system and Gibbs' zone-block running system have meshed with ZERO problem in Denver, and Houston and Green Bay use the same mix without the apparent troubles Atlanta is having (now, I'm not saying that Hou and GB are anything to write home about, just that the two systems don't appear to be incompatible in THOSE situations).

[keggerz]

Who knows how Vick's hands are & unless the NFL allows stickum again, it's not going to matter if it's Vick or Schaub hitting the WR's in the hands. White, Jenkins & Lelie (Crump to a lesser extent) will just continue dropping balls & now you've just removed scrambling from the QB position.

 

 

 

question about the drops and fwiw I just thought of this as I was reading this thread...

 

because vick runs so much and crumpler has been his favorite recvr by a far margin(i dont have to ck the stats for that do i?)....anyway that the amount of running(& crumpler targets) effects the concentration level of the WRs? Seems like that could be a possible problem with the drops...so if Schaub were the QB and the WRs are aware he wont be running and most likely not keying in on crumpler as much that could help to improve the WRs production because they will be better able to concentrate on catching the ball instead of worrying about blocking cause the QB pulled it down again and took off

 

Couple that with vicks lack of accuracy and you could end up with some pretty disinterested (not exactly the word i was looking for but it will do) WRs

 

I dont know if that theory holds any water but its just a thought

Edited November 30, 2006 by keggerz

[alexgaddis]

question about the drops and fwiw I just thought of this as I was reading this thread...

 

because vick runs so much and crumpler has been his favorite recvr by a far margin(i dont have to ck the stats for that do i?)....anyway that the amount of running(& crumpler targets) effects the concentration level of the WRs? Seems like that could be a possible problem with the drops...so if Schaub were the QB and the WRs are aware he wont be running and most likely not keying in on crumpler as much that could help to improve the WRs production because they will be better able to concentrate on catching the ball instead of worrying about blocking cause the QB pulled it down again and took off

 

I dont know if that theory holds any water but its just a thought

 

Drip, drip, drip, trickle, trickle, GUSH......