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Atlanta Falcons Head Coach Mike Smith had one message for his rookies on Monday at the team’s first rookie minicamp practice:
Relax.
For the players gathered at Flowery Branch on Monday, their primary objective was to continue to learn the Falcons way of doing things.
“I think that’s the biggest thing, when they left here a week ago [...]

Rookies the center of attention »

Inactives: Bryant Active; Two Linemen Out

By John Manasso | Published: January 3, 2010

Some interesting names are on the inactive list today for the Falcons in the season finale: place kicker Steve Hauschka and defensive linemen Jamaal Anderson (chest) and Thomas Johnson (knee).

That means that Matt Bryant, the former Tampa Bay kicker, likely will be well enough to kick against his former team despite the hamstring injury he suffered while punting last week in place of Michael Koenen, who was out with a head injury at the time.

On the defensive line, I believe it’s the first time this season that the Falcons have two starters out.

Chauncey Davis, who had that big blocked field goal against the Jets and the forced fumble that resulted in Lawrence Sidbury’s defensive score in last week’s win over Buffalo, earns the start for Anderson and rookie Vance Walker, the team’s seventh-round draft pick out of Georgia Tech in 2009, earns his first NFL start.

What a journey for Walker.

He has gone from inactive for the season’s first six games to rising past others on the depth chart, helped along by injuries to Peria Jerry and now Johnson, to starting. He has earned it. He has played the team’s last 10 games and has 12 tackles, including 11 solo. He also has defended two passes — meaning he knocked them down at the line of scrimmage.

In previous weeks, the following sentence would have been the first one of this post: Matt Ryan (injured toe) will start at quarterback and Michael Turner (sprained ankle) will be inactive. However, at this juncture, it’s not much of surprise that Turner will miss his second-straight game and Ryan will start his third straight after missing most of three games.

Since He was injured on Nov. 15 against Carolina, Turner has played in only two of the teams final seven games, having carried the ball only 13 times for 40 yards and re-injuring himself in each of those games in which he appeared. It’s sort of a sad commentary on the way the season went, but not at all surprising that the Falcons were not so successful down the stretch, considering they were mostly without the services of a player who rushed for 1,699 yards last season and finished third in the MVP balloting. Jerious Norwood will start in Turner’s place.

The other inactives are: John Parker Wilson (third quarterback), wide receiver Troy Bergeron, fullback Verron Haynes and safety Charlie Peprah.

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Third Quarter: The Rout Is On

By John Manasso | Published: December 27, 2009

news-defense122709With two touchdowns in the third quarter, the Falcons appear to have put this one away.

They lead 24-3 entering the fourth. That will likely set up next week as a chance to finish the season with three straight victories and a winning season — which would give the franchise its first back-to-back winning seasons in its history.

But now back to the third quarter.

It was a bizarre period with both punter Michael Koenen (head) and place kicker Matt Bryant (hamstring) hurt and unable to perform at times. Koenen also serves as the holder on field goals and his absence appeared to be the reason why the Falcons elected to go for it on fourth-and-12 from Buffalo’s 29 instead of attempting a 47-yard field goal — in retrospect, Bryant’s injury probably also had something to do with that. The Falcons converted with a 14-yard pass to Roddy White, who has five catches for 112 yards and a touchdown today. Three plays later, Ryan hit Marty Booker for a 12-yard touchdown pass, Booker’s first scoring reception of the season.

On Buffalo’s ensuing possession, Chauncey Davis forced a fumble by the Bills’ Fred Jackson at the Bills’ 12 and rookie defensive end Lawrence Sidbury returned it 11 yards for a touchdown, making the score 24-0. It was Sidbury’s first career touchdown.

Bryant came on for the extra point, but the 260-pound Biermann took his second straight kickoff.

Later, Buffalo made a field goal to break the shut out, but they have only 168 yards offense through three quarters. They have only scored 24 points or more in a game three times this season and only once in the last 12 games.

Thus far, it hasn’t always been pretty, but for the most part it’s been a thoroughly dominating performance by the Falcons.

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Breaking News: Bryant’s Return Questionable

By John Manasso | Published: December 27, 2009

If you thought you just saw defensive end Kroy Biermann taking that last kickoff, it’s because you did. Place kicker Matt Bryant has a hamstring injury and his return is listed as questionable.

So the Falcons are currently without both their punter (who also is the holder on field goals and extra points) and their place kicker. Good thing they have a sizable lead.

Bryant did, however, kick an extra point after Lawrence Sibury’s fumble return for a touchdown. Chris Redman has been designated to do the punting duties, as Michael Koenen has now been ruled out.

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Breaking News: Gonzalez Out, Koenen Questionable

By John Manasso | Published: December 27, 2009

Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez has an injured calf and will not return, it was just announced in the press box.

Gonzalez, a 13-year veteran, entered the game leading the Falcons in receptions with 78. He has played in all 15 games this season and leads the NFL in Pro-Bowl voting.

In addition, punter Michael Koenen was ruled to have a head injury and his return was listed as questionable. Matt Bryant punted on the Falcons’ first possession of the second half.

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Pregame: Random Thoughts

By John Manasso | Published: December 27, 2009

With the exception of the Falcons’  shooting for a winning record, today’s game doesn’t have a lot of big themes or potentially surprising news stories in the way that the last few weeks have. Last Sunday, Matt Ryan and Michael Turner returned to the lineup (albeit briefly for Turner) and Falcons Head Coach Mike Smith had worked under and with his Jets counterpart Rex Ryan for several years.

So today’s approach will be more scatter-shot for the pregame blog post.

The first theme that comes to mind is the job that an interim coach can make. In the NFL, it’s not often that an interim coach takes over and makes a huge difference, although Mike Singletary with the San Francisco 49ers of last season comes to mind. And that’s because the systems that football coaches bring with them are so complex that coaches don’t have time to make drastic changes in midseason. The changes, then, are mostly about tone and the coach’s approach to teaching and dealing with players.

To that end, here are some of the things that were said this week about Buffalo Interim Head Coach Perry Fewell, who has the Bills 2-3 since taking over. (They were 3-6 under Dick Jauron.)

“He’s more of a loud, in-your-face type of guy,” running back Fred Jackson said. “Coach Jauron wasn’t like that. He was quiet and soft-spoken. Coach Fewell is high-energy, bouncing around on the sideline. In the huddle, he’s cracking jokes. He’s bouncing in the field house doing things like that. A lot of guys feed off his energy.”

For his part, Fewell, the team’s former defensive coordinator, said he has had “a ball.”

“This has really been fun for me,” he said. “It’s a great experience as a head coach, interacting with all the players – offense, defense and special teams-wise. This is what you want to do.”

Fewell also had a few other curious things to say, such as his views on wide receiver Terrell Owens’ leadership qualities.

“T.O. is a guy that — he’s a competitor,” Fewell said. “He wants to get it done the right way. He believes that if the ball is his hands, he can score and he can help us win. The thing about him is you want a guy like that on your football team because he wants it on his shoulders. And so we haven’t been able to do that with him this year but he’s man enough and he’s playing enough… He’s a heck of a person. What people really don’t know about him is he’s a great leader, too. He’s got great leadership qualities. I’ve enjoyed having him on our football team.”

I wonder if Tony Romo and Jason Witten and Donovan McNabb and Andy Reid would say the same thing.

Here’s what Falcons receiver Roddy White had to say in admiration of Owens’ skills:

“He’s big, strong and fast. It’s hard when you can run by people when they bump you at the line. He gets away from the jam and runs by you. He catches deep balls and turns them into touchdowns. He’s hard to tackle, too.”

Here’s another interesting item. Former Falcon Chris Draft, a member of the team that went to the 2004 NFC Championship Game, signed on with the Bills after getting cut by St. Louis earlier this season. The 11-year veteran has filled in at linebacker, as the Bills have had to put three linebackers on injured reserve, ending their seasons.

“He has been good,” Fewell said. “I’m glad that we picked up Chris Draft. Both of our starting linebackers were injured and he had to be smart and savvy to pick up where those guys left off. He’s been really, really good for us. Any time you have a guy who’s played 10 years, a Stanford guy, that only helps you.”

I also find it interesting when guys have played with each other. That brings a unique perspective. Here’s what Falcons linebacker Mike Peterson said about Bills’ defensive tackle Marcus Stroud, the former University of Georgia player.

“I played with him for four or five years and the job he do, he’s probably not even aware of it,” Peterson said. “…You got a big guy, a big body. A lot of time you’re taking up space and linebackers are able to make more plays. He’s making plays and helping the defense out and he probably never know it.”

Well, that’s about it. Enjoy the game.

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Third Quarter: Jets Winning War of Attrition

By John Manasso | Published: December 20, 2009

If you’re a lover of defensive football, this is the game for you. However, as an exhibition of offensive football, this game through three quarters has been a little rough on the eyes, as the Jets lead 7-3.

The score has not changed since the first quarter.

The FOX broadcast posted a statistic that the Jets have gone 30 straight possessions without yielding a touchdown. The way things are going, the Falcons are going to have a tough time snapping that. Jason Snelling was  stopped on third-and-1 at the Atlanta 32 early in the quarter.

And that running game will go without the services of Michael Turner. Laura Okmin reported from the Falcons’ sideline that Turner will not return after rolling on the ankle that has plagued him for weeks in the first quarter.

FOX broadcaster Dick Stockton put it simply, “The Jets defense has dominated this game.” He also called the performance “spectacular.” The Falcons are on a pace for their lowest offensive output of the season with their three points. They have only 124 yards total offense in the game.

Matt Ryan has completed 7 of 20 passes (35 percent) for 64 yards for a 44.6 rating. The fewest completions he has thrown in his career are nine, in his debut last season, but he only had 13 attempts. His lowest quarterback rating came in his second game, 29.6. And his lowest completion percentage also came in that game, 39.4 (13 of 33). This year, his fewest completions are 17.

But they only need one play — as the Jets proved — to win.

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Halftime: One Play Is Difference

By John Manasso | Published: December 20, 2009

news-jsnelling122009At halftime with the Jets leading the Falcons by 7-3, the difference is one play: Braylon Edwards‘ 65-yard touchdown reception from Mark Sanchez in the first quarter.

The Falcons have ranked among the bottom of NFL teams in allowing plays of 20 yards or longer and that weakness has hurt them again halfway through this one.

Otherwise, the Falcons have made a few plays and are getting some breaks.

They are making some plays in the form of two first-half interceptions: one in the first quarter by Thomas DeCoud and one in the second by Brent Grimes. They are getting some breaks in that the Jets have lined up for two field goals and come away with zero points on those.

On the first one, Jets” back-up quarterback Kellen Clemens could not handle the snap and Grimes tackled him at the Falcons’ 13-yard line where the Falcons took over, giving Grimes two nice plays in the quarter. On the second try, a 38-yarder as time expired, former Falcons kicker Jay Feeley, a member of the team that went to the 2004 NFC Championship Game, missed wide right amid The Meadowlands’ swirling winds.

While the defense has made some big plays, the offense has struggled to move the ball against the Jets’ top-ranked defense and could not turn Grimes’ interception into points. At one point, Matt Ryan, who missed the last two games with a turf toe injury, was 3 of 13 (23 percent) for 40 yards for a 39.9 rating. He finished the half 5-of-17 (29 percent) for 52 yards and a 39.8 rating. Between Ryan’s rust from being out, the weather and the Jets’ pass defense (No. 1 in the NFL), it could be a long day for Ryan and the passing attack.

Despite his two interceptions, Jets’ rookie Sanchez is having a better day statistically than Ryan. Sanchez has completed 10 of 16 passes (62 percent) for 156 yards and a touchdown. Sanchez has been sacked twice while Ryan has not.

In total yards, the Jets have nearly double what the Falcons do, 195 to 98. One somewhat bright spot is the running game, as the Falcons have 46 yards and that, along with the turnovers, has helped them to win the time of possession battle (15:28 to 14:32). But leading rusher Jason Snelling is averaging 2.5 yards per carry (25 yards on 10 carries) and Michael Turner has not taken a carry since he ran for seven yards on the game’s first play from scrimmage.

Another bright spot is that the Falcons are plus-2 in the turnover column today.

So, it looks like the offense will have to overcome the problems it has faced in the first half, otherwise, the Falcons’ hopes for a winning season will end today.

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First Quarter: Trading a Field Goal for a TD

By John Manasso | Published: December 20, 2009

Looks like the Jets are going to live and die by their rookie quarterback as they have all season.

Mark Sanchez, whose former USC teammate, Falcons left tackle Sam Baker, described as having a great passion for the game and someone with extraordinary confidence, entered the game with 11 touchdowns and 17 touchdowns.

Sanchez continued with his rookie form, throwing an early interception, which was made by Falcons safety Thomas DeCoud and turned into three points by the Falcons. But then Sanchez fell back on that confidence and threw a 65-yard touchdown pass to Braylon Edwards that victimized Falcons’ rookie cornerback Christopher Owens.

So that brings me back to a relative difficulty the Falcons have experienced with Michael Turner out of the lineup (we’ll get to that more in a second). Watching the Falcons get to the Jets’ 1-yard line and then have to kick a field goal reminded me of the goal-line stand that the Eagles’  made in their 34-7 win over the Falcons that made a huge impact on that game.

It also made me think of how they had to settle for field goals three times last week in the first half, which also ultimately spelled defeat in a 26-23 loss to the Saints.

The Jets own the NFL’s best defense. The game could be low-scoring, so making the most of their scoring opportunities is of paramount importance for the Falcons.

On to the running backs. Fox sideline reporter Laura Okmin reported that the Falcons’ Jerious Norwood banged up his knee and does not appear to be functioning at 100 percent. In addition, she said, Michael Turner, who has been working through an ankle sprain for five weeks now, rolled on his ankle and is trying to get back into the game and “testing it out.” Turner was last seen on the broadcast wearing a cape to keep himself warm.

A few other notes:

  • According to the Web site of the Weather Channel, the temperature on the field is 32 degrees but feels like 21. But according to Falcons director of new media Dan Levak’s Tweet, there are 24 mph gusts on the field. That’s some frigid, difficult playing conditions.
  • The referee is named Ron Winter. As FOX broadcaster Dick Stockton said, how appropriate.
  • DeCoud’s interception was his team-leading third interception and first since he had two against Chicago on Oct. 18.
  • The Falcons broke the Jets’ streak of stopping opponents from converting on 25 straight third-down tries. Impressive.
  • Looks like Jets Pro Bowl cornerback Darrelle Revis is getting the best of the match-up so far with Falcons’ Pro-Bowl receiver Roddy White. White was called for an offensive pass interference penalty against Revis and then Revis had a pass defended against White. Earlier this week, Jets head coach Rex Ryan said of Revis that he “dominates” against Pro-Bowl-type talent.
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Pregame: Unusual Paths to the NFL

By John Manasso | Published: December 20, 2009

To say that the New York Jets have some coaches on their staff with unusual resumes might be an understatement, but maybe that’s just more of a commentary on the mercurial path followed by many an NFL assistant.

Eight years ago, Doug Plank, the Jets’ assistant secondary coach and the former head coach of the Arena Football League’s Georgia Force, owned 20 Burger King franchises and worked as a radio broadcaster for the AFL team in Phoenix. At the same time, Jets’ defensive coordinator Mike Pettine was coaching North Penn High School in Lansdale, Pa. Former Falcons defensive lineman Chuck Smith was out of the NFL and soon to begin a radio career.

That’s when life began taking all of them back towards the NFL. Plank was given the opportunity by former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Danny White, head coach of the Phoenix AFL team, to join his coaching staff and Plank accepted. In 2005, Plank came to Atlanta as head coach of the Georgia Force where he was the league’s coach of the year in 2005 and his team posted the best record in the league in 2007. Last season, he worked as the Falcons’ seasonal assistant coach in Mike Smith’s first season. Plank had nothing but praise for Smith.

“I really give Coach Smith a lot of respect because when he was first hired he immediately came to my office and introduced himself and just said, ‘Doug if there’s anything I can do for you, please let me know,’ ” Plank said via phone on Friday. “Shortly after that I talked to him about being part of his staff and he was in complete agreement that there was something I could do, as far as the football team was concerned, and really gave me total freedom to get involved any aspect of his team.”

Plank, 56, played eight seasons in the NFL from 1975 to 1982 as a defensive back known for his hitting and that’s where he forged a bond with legendary Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan. Ryan was constantly experimenting with defenses and he’d name them after players. Plank wore No. 46 and so Ryan named his famed “46” defense after Plank. Ryan joined the Bears in 1978, which is when Plank first met Ryan’s son Rex, then age 15, and now the Jets’ first-year head coach.

Because of the strong personal bond that Plank has with the Ryan family – he got back into football because he happened to be in Phoenix when Buddy Ryan was introduced as the Cardinals’ head coach and general manager in 1994 and was offered a radio position on the team’s broadcasts on the spot after stopping by team offices to congratulate his former coach – Plank asked Smith if he could explore a position on Rex Ryan’s staff as soon as the Jets hired Ryan.

“Obviously, I was hoping when the season ended that because of the relationship I had with Rex’s father and family and that I had with Rex, if he were chosen to be the head coach, he is a person and that is a system I wanted to be a part of,” Plank said. “When he was hired I immediately contacted and expressed my interest in being part of the staff. Fortunately I was able to do that. It’s exactly what I anticipated. He’s really been a pleasure to coach for. The manner in which he runs the organization from a football perspective, there were no surprises. Rex had the history of being successful coordinator [with the Baltimore Ravens] that would translate and I certainly thought that would happen.”

In Pettine, the Jets’ defensive coordinator, the Jets also have an interesting story. It might not be often that someone who has the job that Pettine does might still be partially in his father’s shadow, but in suburban Philadelphia, Mike Pettine Sr. was a legend. At Central Bucks West High School in Doylestown, Pa., Pettine Sr. was the state’s second-winningest coach in state history with a record of 326-42-4. When he retired in January 2000 at age 59, his teams had won three straight state titles in Pennsylvania’s largest classification and 45 straight games. His teams also posted a 53-game unbeaten streak that began in the late ’80s. In 33 seasons, he had 16 unbeaten seasons.

Rex Ryan and Pettine Jr., who became the Ravens’ quality control coach in 2002 and first met Rex Ryan then, share the bond of growing up under legendary fathers.

“Mike Pettine, I think is going to be a star in this league,” Rex Ryan said. “He’s a defensive coordinator, been with me a long time. He’s a very smart guy. He’s similar to Mike Smith there, a guy that’s way ahead of the game. Mike Smith was the best computer guy I had ever been around, really was terrific in that. And Mike Pettine has taken it even up a notch from where Mike Smith had that and I’m sure Mike Smith would tell you that.

“But he’s really advanced that way and he’s going to be an outstanding coach just like Mike Smith. You knew Mike Smith was going to be a great coach. You feel the same way about Mike Pettine.”

In 1999, Pettine’s North Penn High team was the subject of an ESPN documentary called “The Season.” That team went 11-2 with its only two losses coming to his father’s teams at Central Bucks West. In 2001, Pettine’s final season at North Penn, his father joined his staff.

“The thing you know about Mike Pettine, knowing him in high school, and stuff like that, I watched those series following him and his high school and he was the guy I never wanted my son to play for,” Rex Ryan said, laughing, “but, really, the way he was back then. To be honest with you, it’s not a true reflection of who he is. This guy is a tremendous, tremendous coach. And he really cares about his players, puts his players in a great job to be successful and I really think he’s going to be a star in this league one day.”

So just as the outspoken Ryan is a character out of the usual mold of NFL coaches, so are some of his coaches like former Falcon and 790 The Zone personality Chuck Smith, who is the team’s pass rushing consultant. And while the Jets (7-6) need the victory to keep alive their playoff hopes, it also has more special meaning for Plank.

“Does this game mean something more to me than last week’s game against Tampa? Yes it does,” Plank said. “It’s hard to spend many, many hours with the Falcons and their coaches and not feel some connection. And I want to win. I don’t really want anything bad to happen to anybody. It’s just human nature. You want to compete and do well against individuals that you’ve worked for or played against. This game is important, especially the way the season is unfolding for us. It’s a very pivotal game to have any chance to compete for the playoffs, a very, very important game for me.”

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Ryan Starting; Turner Active, Too

By John Manasso | Published: December 20, 2009

news-mryan122009With the playoffs now an impossibility but the goal of posting a winning season hanging in the balance, Matt Ryan will start at quarterback for the first time in three games when the Falcons take the field today against the New York Jets at Giants Stadium at 1 p.m.

Running back Michael Turner also will be active for the first time in three games. Turner has missed three of the last four games with ankle sprains.

Ryan suffered a turf toe injury on the team’s opening drive on Nov. 29 in a 20-17 victory over Tampa Bay and has not played since. He has been inactive the last two games, losses to Philadelphia and New Orleans that ultimately doomed the Falcons’ playoff hopes, while Chris Redman earned the starts. Redman rallied the team for the last-minute win over the Buccaneers and passed for more than 300 yards in an impressive performance against the Saints while struggling in a two-interception effort against the Eagles.

Ryan did not practice on Wednesday and his participation was limited on Thursday and Friday. However, on Thursday he said at times during his collegiate career at Boston College, he played in weeks without practicing at all. He said he had been staying sharp mentally, focusing on the team’s game plan and studying in meetings.

Turner also went down in that costly victory over the Buccaneers. Turner followed the same week of practice as Ryan: none on Wednesday, limited on Thursday and Friday.

Other inactive starters are right guard Harvey Dahl (ankle), who will miss his third straight game, right cornerback Chris Houston (hamstring), who will his second straight, and defensive end Jamaal Anderson (chest). Inactive reserves are John Parker Wilson (third quarterback), fullback Verron Haynes, tight ends Jason Rader and Keith Zinger and wide receiver Troy Bergeron. Quinn Ojinnaka will get the start again for Dahl, who practiced on Wednesday and Thursday but not Friday; Brent Grimes will start for Houston, who did not practice all week, and Chauncey Davis will start for Anderson, who did not practice at all until Friday and was limited on that lone day.

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