Not So Dirty

It's been awhile since I've commented on the Atlanta Falcons mainly because I haven't had computer access and partialy because it's hard to write about a team that lacks consistency and effort. Atlanta has looked painfully unprepared during the second half of the season, especially against lower tier NFC teams Cleveland, Detroit, and Carolina. During those games, the offense has either been so one dimensional with the run that teams easily stops us cold or we've been so multi-dimensional that we lack an offensive identity and thus stop ourselves because we don't know what's going on. If that wasn't enough, our defense has looked twice as bad. Teams have run and thrown at will against us. For example, Detroit abused our secondary while Carolina abused our defensive line and both made our coaching staff and players look inept. Atlanta's overall poor play has reinvigorated many of our opponents and sucked any confidence we may have had.

The Falcons are in a free fall and no one is taking responsibility. Instead, the organization is playing the blame game. I believe the entire organization from top to bottom has underachieved. Michael Vick may be correct in that Atlanta has enough talent to be an upper echelon NFL team, but he's dead wrong if he thinks the coaches are the sole blame because the team as a collective whole has underperformed. Vick has shown complete inconsistency - one moment he's a one-man wrecking crew destroying Cincinnati and Pittsburgh with his hands and feet, living up to his potential, and then he's the inaccurate Vick that can't complete a second half pass and hasn't thrown a touchdown in the fourth quarter in 22 games. Regardless of coaching scheme, Vick's been in the NFL for six years and it's time he improves his accuracy and touch and not just rely on his atheltic ability.

Vick can't take all the blame because he's only as good as those he throws to. Michael Jenkins, Roddy White, Ashley Lelie, and Alge Crumpler have dropped way too many catchable balls that hit their hands and numbers. They've been probably touchdowns and definite first downs. Furthermore, they haven't been getting open and they haven't performed like first round draft picks. They've shown some improvement, but it's been too little too late.

Although Jerious Norwood has been fun to watch, the Falcons need a bruising short yardage back. Unfortunately, he and Warrick Dunn can't get it done at the goal line. They're both cut to the outside backs and when you play on a short field, this strategy just doesn't work. To make matters worse for the running backs, the offensive line has been bullied and abused in short yardage situations, so they backs already start from behind the line of scrimmage.

Atlanta's defense has been terrible a times. How do you lose to a Carolina team that functionally doesn't have a quarterback and runs a high school offense? I'm a big DeAngelo Hall fan, but he needs to focus more on playing than running his mouth because he and rest of the secondary have been getting used an abused all season.

Actually, the whole Falcons organization needs to do some soul searching because for two consecutive years the team has fallen apart after midseason. Perhaps egos have gotten too big and players and coaches think they're better than they are, but something has to give. I don't think Arthur Blank should fire the entire coaching staff, but we definitely need to reconsider our defensive strategy and figure out a way to effectively use Michael Vick as a complete quarterback. He doesn't need more running plays, he just needs to improve on the passing plays he has because I truly believe that he's going to reach his potential wearing an Atlanta Falcons jersey and be the best quarterback the NFL has ever seen.