Posted in General on August 28th, 2010 at 12:07 PM
Curtis forces Miami Dolphins quarterback Chad Henne (7) to throw an incomplete pass during first quarter NFL preseason football action in Miami, Friday, Aug. 27, 2010. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
While that's still a strange sentence to write for a long-suffering Falcons fan, everything points to a brighter tomorrow for the Dirty Birds. For the first time in recent memory, the team has a long-term plan, effective players in the here and now and the coaching staff to pull it all together. It's a great thing.
As nice as a plan for the future is, the Falcons still have to go out and make a name for themselves in 2010. I predict they'll do it. Let me tell you why.
Significant Offseason Additions/Subtractions
The Falcons did a little addition by subtraction early on by jettisoning Tye Hill, he of the first round bust pedigree. From there, it was all uphill.
The big splash this off-season was the signing of Dunta Robinson, the former Houston Texans cornerback. The Falcons will be gambling that he can be effective as the undisputed top cornerback on the team. While his interception numbers took a nosedive after his rookie season, he's clearly a coverage upgrade for the young secondary and should make a difference immediately.
Other than that, the Falcons chiefly built through the draft. Sean Weatherspoon is an extremely talented young linebacker who really only needs a coat of polish before he has an impact. Mike Johnson and Joe Hawley are future starters along the offensive line. The biggest loss so far has been promising rookie receiver Kerry Meier, who was slated for a reserve and special teams role because of his versatility and sure hands, but will now miss the season after tearing ligaments in his knees.
Overall, it's a low key kind of off-season, one aimed at bolstering our existing strengths. Speaking of which....
Offense
Matt Ryan. Michael Turner. Roddy White. Tony Gonzalez. Those are formidable offensive weapons, and it just so happens the Falcons have all of ‘em.
Don't let last year fool you. The Falcons are a very strong team offensively, but it starts and ends with Michael Turner. A workhorse back like Turner, who missed significant time last year with ankle injuries, sets up everything else the team does on offense. He looks lean, mean and healthy for 2010, which means the team should catapult into the Top 10 offenses.
Offensive Coordinator Mike Mularkey is an unusually conservative guy at times, but there's no denying the short passing game is difficult to stop with Gonzalez in the mix. White and newly healthy slot receiver Harry Douglas form a dangerous deep duo. The team should offer an extremely balanced attack, one that's going to give opposing defenses fits all year long.
Of course, the offensive line doesn't appear as strong as we'd like. There's a lot of hope that what we've seen in the pre-season thus far-poor blocking, lack of mobility, bad decision-making- is a fluke.
Defense
The real question mark for this team coming into this season remains the defense. It's a unit that has been improved, and a lot of holdovers have another year of experience under their belt and should play better. The Falcons still aren't a defensive juggernaut.
Up front, there's a lot of promise. Kroy Biermann is turning heads in the pre-season with his ability to get into the backfield and blow up the quarterback, and he seems poised to start opposite perennial sackster John Abraham. Our depth at defensive tackle is very good.
Linebacker is another potential strength. As mentioned, Weatherspoon seems to have the skillset necessary to be a very good outside linebacker in the Falcons' system, and middle linebacker Curtis Lofton is a perennial Pro Bowl candidate up the middle.
Original Article
By GEORGE HENRY Associated Press
Published: 8/4/2010 2:21 AM
Last Modified: 8/4/2010 5:57 AM
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Middle linebacker Curtis Lofton takes it personally when the Atlanta Falcons make mental mistakes.
Those 110 defensive penalties last season, fourth-most in the NFL?
Lofton is still disgusted. As he sees it, the miscues were unacceptable.
"Yes, they were," Lofton said. "As the middle linebacker and the leader, you get everybody in place and you get everybody lined up. We want to be an elite defense."
Lofton, who is entering his third season, has been the undisputed heart of the Atlanta defense since Keith Brooking signed as a free agent with Dallas in March 2009.
A second-round draft pick from Oklahoma in '08, Lofton ranked sixth in the NFL last season with 105 solo tackles and 113 combined stops.
"I mean it's all right, but that's not what I want," Lofton said.
Foremost is limiting unforced mistakes. Atlanta will soon host league officials for a couple of days in training camp, but coach Mike Smith doesn't want to wait.
Smith is putting renewed emphasis on eliminating penalties in each session on the field and in the film room. To make that happen, he needs Lofton and other leading veterans to be vigilant.
As a head coach and a former defensive coordinator, Smith focuses on personnel, play-calling, shifts and alignments. Worrying about penalties makes his job harder.
"Some of the young guys still believe they're in college and they can contact receivers down the
field, but in the NFL you have an opportunity to get one shot in the first 5 yards," Smith said.
With Brooking gone, Lofton takes charge of the huddle and stays on the field for most third-down plays. He's also responsible for making sure the front seven is correctly positioned before the snap.
Several problems, however, made his job difficult last year. Knee injuries ended the season early for tackle Peria Jerry and starting cornerback Brian Williams.
The signing of cornerback Dunta Robinson gave the Falcons a proven perimeter presence who should take pressure off young cornerbacks Brent Grimes, Christopher Owens, Chevis Jackson and rookie Dominique Franks out of Oklahoma, a fifth-round pick.
Three days into camp, the defense appears relatively healthy.
"We've got the pieces here, but it's my job and everyone else's job to make sure we work as a unit and accomplish our goals as one," Lofton said.
Original Print Headline: Atlanta defense on Lofton's shoulders
Read more from this Tulsa World article at http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/article.aspx?subjectid=223&articleid=20100804_223_B6_Former817584
Below is a link to pictures and a video from the event I hosted last week with the Rally Foundation, it's a really great cause that I was happy to be a part of and the turnout was awesome! Thanks again to all who came out and supported The Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer research. The event was called Fashion Funds the Cure it was here in Atlanta on March 30th, 2010 at Saks 5th Ave., Phipps Plaza. Thanks to my Atlanta Falcons teammates for being great escorts, the beautiful Rally Kid Models and all of the supporters!
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Those 110 defensive penalties last season, fourth-most in the NFL?