2006 Season Thread [Archive]

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ATLFalcons

09-10-2006, 02:47 PM

The Falcons opened up the 2006 season with a 20-6 win over the Carolina Panthers. The defense came up with a strong showing and John Abraham showed why he was the Falcons top offseason acquisition. Michael Koenen did well handling all three kicking duties going 2-4 on field goals and punting for a 41.8 yard average. The Falcons look ready to make the run to the Super Bowl!!

cbenson5

09-10-2006, 06:29 PM

I didn't get to watch the game today, but I listened to most of it on the radio. It sounds like we have a great defensive team this year. I heard that Abraham was injured near the end of the game. I have never heard of him before. Where did we get what seems like such an excellent player? Hopefully his injury is nothing serious. Another question, what is Jim Mora's background? It looks like we have a really good team this year.

ATLFalcons

09-10-2006, 07:39 PM

I'm glad your interested in the Falcons and are asking these great questions! John Abraham is a 7th year defensive end out of South Carolina who was acquired from the New York Jets in the offseason. He is a 3 time Pro Bowler and one of the top speed rushers in the NFL. He's a great player and has made my Fantasy team #1 so far.

John Abraham's bio: http://www.atlantafalcons.com/team/playerBio.jsp?id=11419

Now to Jim Mora. Jim Mora was an Offensive Coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers before he came to Atlanta. In my opinion he is a good coach who doesn't worry about his team's numbers, he doesn't mind going for the fake punt on 4th and 5 or running the ball on 3rd and 7. I can see Mora in Atlanta for years to come.

Jim Mora's bio: http://www.atlantafalcons.com/team/coachbio.jsp?id=85

cbenson5

09-14-2006, 05:04 PM

Good stuff. I seem to remember Abraham at South Carolina after reading his biography, but I haven't followed football as much in the last few years. I didn't realize Mora was only 44. Hopefully he will be the first coach to consistently win with the Falcons. Alabama has me nervous, but it looks like the Falcons have a good team. Since the Braves are done, I guess it is time to get into football mode.

mordeci

09-14-2006, 05:10 PM

Abraham was super human on Sunday, but he missed most of last year with the same groin injury. Hope he's ok, with him and Vick the Falcons are a lot of fun to watch.

“When you get in the endzone, act like you've been there before.”
-Bear Bryant
I think that's a Paul Brown line, said to Bob Trumpy after he scored the Bengals' first ever TD.

ATLFalcons

09-16-2006, 07:23 AM

It looks like John Abraham is not likely to play Sunday.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/5042/news

cbenson5

09-16-2006, 01:28 PM

I think that's a Paul Brown line, said to Bob Trumpy after he scored the Bengals' first ever TD.

Quite a number of people have borrowed lines from the Master, but he was winning national championships long before there were Cincinnati Benngals.

ATLFalcons

09-17-2006, 03:45 PM

The Falcons took today's game 14-3 over division rival Tampa Bay. The rushing attack proved to be the Falcons strong point as Mike Vick, Warrick Dunn, and Jerious Norwood combined for 306 yards. Joey Galloway led the Bucs with 9 receptions for 161 yards. The Falcons defense held Cadillac Williams to only 37 rushing yards and kept Chris Simms on his back all game. One thing I saw that may need to be corrected is Michael Koenen at kicker. He missed all 4 field goal attempts and is 2-8 on the season.

cbenson5

09-17-2006, 05:30 PM

It looks like the we have a good group of boys this year. Our running game is next to unstoppabble. Keith Brooking is as good as always, and we played without our two starting defense ends today. That young cornerback we have also looks good. Like you said, our only weakness seems to be our field goal kicker. It might just be a confidence issue right now.

ATLFalcons

09-17-2006, 05:43 PM

If he would have made those four kicks the score would have been, 26-3, in other words a blowout. Jimmy Williams is a solid cornerback, the Falcons got lucky that he slid down to the second round because he was supposed to be a surefire 1st round pick. He played at Virginia Tech with my cousin and Williams has always a good player, but his attitude always seemed to get the best of him, most notably in the Gator Bowl against Louisville.

ATLFalcons

09-23-2006, 06:52 PM

Looks like John Abraham is unlikely to play in Monday's game against the Saints. I hope he can get over this groin injury because he looked like a beast when he was healthy.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/5042/news;_ylt=AhFwjNrK4QbqfAHN2mLgz1L.uLYF

ATLFalcons

09-25-2006, 07:23 PM

Falcons are down 7-3, 1st quarter.

cbenson5

09-25-2006, 08:51 PM

They are down 20 to 3 now at the half. We haven't really been outplayed quite as bad as the score would suggest. Mathis really made a mental era. That penalty was unexcusable. The Saints deserved to get the three points going into halftime. I hope Mr. Mora gets on to him for the lack of discipline. Anyway, if we play well and get a couple of breaks we can get back into it in the second half. I just wish it didn't come on so late. I'll probably have dosed off before the third quarter ends.

ATLFalcons

09-26-2006, 04:26 PM

I talked to Warrick Dunn this morning and he said the Falcons let the Saints win because they had to win for the fans coming back from Katrina. When the Saints come to the Georgia Dome on November 26 it'll be a whole different story. :D

cbenson5

09-27-2006, 04:39 PM

ATLFalcons

09-28-2006, 05:51 PM

Yea, lets go with that. :cool:
It's true!! :)

ATLFalcons

10-01-2006, 06:17 PM

I had a chance to go to the game today and it was PANDEMONIUM!! The Dome was rockin and every defensive 3rd down the crowd was on their feet. I also got to see my cousin on the Arizona Cardinals (even though he didn't play).

cbenson5

10-01-2006, 07:28 PM

I'm glad you got a chance to go to the game. It sounds like you had a good time. I probably won't get to Atlanta this year to see them. I'll go to an Alabama game or two even though it is painful to watch Dixie's football pride now. Anyways, I guess we have an off week coming up. Hopefully Abrahams will be back when we resume play. We played a good game today. We've looked good in every game except for the one in New Orleans. Opening up 3-1 is pretty good. Let's keep it up.

ATLFalcons

10-01-2006, 08:25 PM

I hope Abraham can come back, because with Kerney and Abraham there is no stopping that vaunted front 4.

cbenson5

10-05-2006, 04:59 PM

Hopefully, we will use this week off to get everybody rested and healty. If Abraham is in the lineup we are probably right up there with the Bears for best defense.

ATLFalcons

10-05-2006, 07:07 PM

I agree, Abraham is a major cog in this defense. Plus I need him for my fantasy team! :)

Hawaiin Lion

10-15-2006, 05:39 PM

CAN'T WAIT TILL NEXT WEEK FOR...

http://www.hydroworx.com/files/misc/general_steelers_logo_44529.jpg VS. http://www.varsityshack.com/images/atlanta-falcons-logo.jpg (http://www.varsityshack.com/59325.html)

cause im goin to the game... WOOT!

ATLFalcons

10-15-2006, 06:33 PM

That'll be a good game, I'll definitely tune in.

cbenson5

10-15-2006, 09:29 PM

Today's loss was a tough one. When we went up 14 to 3 I thought we had them, but we didn't do much of anything after that. Warrick Dunn had an excellent day, but he can't do it all by himself. We need to establish some type of passing attack. The defense really struggled in the second half. The Giants were driving the ball down the field at will for most of the third quarter. It seemed like Tiki Barber got 15+ yards every time he touched the ball. Keith Brooking had a good day as usual, and Kearney had a couple of big plays. I was looking forward to watching Abraham, but it didn't seem like he did very much today. Well, I hope we get things straightened out before we play the Steelers next week, especially since we play Cincinnati the following week.

On the bright side I went to the Alabama Ole Miss game and we pulled out a victory, even thought it was a little too close for comfort.

ATLFalcons

10-16-2006, 07:00 PM

I'm worried about the injuries to the defense, Rod Coleman (turf toe), Patrick Kerney (hamstring), and John Abraham (groin tightness). I'm also not happy about Ed Hartwell only playing 5 games since signing with the Falcons. Hopefully everyone will be back for the Pittsburgh game.

ATLFalcons

11-05-2006, 07:23 PM

cbenson5

11-06-2006, 03:36 PM

I don't understand it either. I didn't watch the Cincinnati game, but Vick sure looked good against the Steelers, and he played just as well against the Bengals from what I've been told. His fumble on our first possession was a big mistake. He didn't even make an effort to tuck the ball in and just flat out dropped it. He had a couple of dropped passses, but he fell into his old problems on a short pass to Algie Crumpler. Crumpler was open for the first down and Vick threw the ball 100 miles per hour and Crumpler couldn't pull it down. That seemed to rattle him a little bit. He's proven he can throw the ball with the best of them. He just needs to prove he can stay in control and settle in as the team leader.

Losing Mathis and Malloy didn't help our secondary. The Mathis injury reminded me of a game about ten years ago when a lineman for the Lions broke his neck. Thankfully, Mathis was moving his arms and legs when they took him off the field.

Hopefully, Coach Mora will figure things out and get us straight for next week. These are the kind of teams we need to beat if we are going to make it to the playoffs.

ATLFalcons

11-06-2006, 08:56 PM

ATLFalcons

11-07-2006, 12:09 PM

Here's more news on Kevin Mathis' injury:
Flowery Branch — Falcons safety Kevin Mathis' season is over after he suffered a possible career-ending injury to his spine in Sunday's loss to the Detroit Lions.

Mathis was placed on injured reserve Monday. In a statement, the Falcons said Mathis is expected to make a full recovery, but because this is his second significant spinal injury in five years, his future playing the violent sport could be in jeopardy.

The Falcons did not disclose the specific injury but did say Mathis would not need surgery. Mathis could have to wear a stabilizing collar or a halo — a metallic brace with screws inserted into the skull — to hold his spine in place and let the injury heal, Falcons coach Jim Mora told the Journal-Constitution.

Mathis, who stayed overnight at Detroit's Henry Ford Hospital and was scheduled to return to Atlanta on Monday night, has no symptoms of paralysis or nerve damage and has full feeling, the team said. Mora said he has spoken to Mathis on the phone and that the nine-year veteran is in good spirits. Teammate Allen Rossum remained with Mathis at the hospital.

Mathis, 32, fractured his spine while playing for the New Orleans Saints in 2001. Though he contemplated retirement then, he was medically cleared to sign with the Falcons in 2002.

"It is a big concern for everyone," Mora said at a Monday morning news conference. "I just know that with our medical staff and the NFL in general, they don't mess around with those things. It is too serious. You don't need to be brave. You don't need to be tough. You don't need to be a hero. You need to be smart. That is how the NFL treats it and how our staff treats it."

Mathis and his agent, Drew Pittman, were unavailable for comment.

"Obviously, losing Kevin is a tough blow for our football team because of the kind of person he is on and off the field," Mora said in a statement. "We will miss his tenacious play and leadership."

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end David Pollack, a former Georgia standout from Snellville, suffered a fractured vertebra this season and wears a halo device.

"I have as much respect for Kevin as I do for anybody in this league," defensive end Patrick Kerney said. "He weighs about 190 pounds and hits as hard as any defensive back or linebacker in this league — and this is after he'd already suffered a broken neck. He's an awesome, fierce competitor. I hate to see this happen to him."

Mathis injured his neck on the game-opening kickoff, when his head bent awkwardly while tackling Lions returner Eddie Drummond. Mathis lay on his back with his arms and legs bent, moving all his extremities and even taking gloves off his hands.

He did not try to get up, though, and was tended to by 13 medical and training staff officials from the Falcons, Lions and emergency medical staff at Ford Field. Mathis was immobilized on the field and strapped to a board before being carted off and taken to the hospital.

Mathis was the Falcons' starting nickel back and has 22 tackles this season. He also is one of the most well-liked players on the team. That he is even playing this season has inspired many of his teammates who saw him severely injure his left knee in practice last season.

Mathis tore the anterior cruciate and lateral collateral ligaments and underwent reconstructive surgery, ending his season. His career was thought to be over then, but he returned this season, moving from safety to cornerback because of his diminished lateral mobility.

"That guy is a warrior in every sense of the word," linebacker Keith Brooking said of Mathis. "I have so much respect for him. He plays at such a high level. You miss a guy like that, his talent, his ability. More than anything you miss his heart. I'm getting chills just talking about him."

Mora said that rookie Jimmy Williams, Omare Lowe or Rossum would take Mathis' place in the nickel coverage package. Atlanta is expected to sign a free agent to fill Mathis' roster spot.

ATLFalcons

11-09-2006, 04:50 PM

Falcons sign Schulters, place Mathis, Forney on IR
November 8, 2006

The Atlanta Falcons announced today that they have signed free agent S Lance Schulters in addition to placing G Kynan Forney and S Kevin Mathis on Injured Reserve. The team has also signed RB Marlion Jackson to the active roster from the practice squad and have re-signed FB Kevin Dudley back to the practice squad.

Schulters, 6-2, 202 pounds, enters his ninth season after starting all 16 games at free safety for the Miami Dolphins in 2005 and posting 77 tackles, two sacks, four interceptions, one forced fumble and six passes defensed. From 2002-04, he started 35 straight games for the Tennessee Titans before suffering a foot injury that kept him inactive the final 13 games of the 2004 season. Originally selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round (119 th pick overall) of the 1998 NFL Draft out of Hofstra, Schulters spent four seasons with the 49ers from 1998-2001, where he started 41 of a 56 games played. He was named to a Pro Bowl in 1999 after recording six interceptions for San Francisco. Schulters has posted 383 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 19 interceptions, 49 passes defensed, four forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries in 107 career games.

Forney, 6-3, 307 pounds, is a six-year veteran who has played a major role in helping the Falcons rank first in the NFL in rushing with 205 yards per game. He started seven games this season and was inactive (shoulder) at the Cincinnati Bengals (10/29). In his career, Forney has started 75 of 81 games for the Falcons since being selected by the team out of the University of Hawaii in the seventh round of the 2001 NFL Draft.

Mathis, 5-9, 185 pounds, is a 10-year veteran who has played in 114 games with 55 starts in his career. In last week's game against the Lions, he suffered a neck injury on the opening kickoff. In seven games this season, Mathis recorded 18 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, four passed defensed and three special teams tackles.

Jackson , 6-2, 240 pounds, has been on the Falcons practice squad since the start of the 2006 season after being signed on August 13. He was originally signed by the Chicago Bears out of Saginaw Valley State as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2000 and has spent training camps with the Chicago Bears, New York Jets, Denver Broncos and the Atlanta Falcons. In the 2006 preseason, Jackson ranked fourth in the NFL with 204 rushing yards.

Dudley , 6-0, 238 pounds, rejoins the Falcons after seeing action in the first game of the season this year for Atlanta against the Carolina Panthers. Dudley was placed on the practice squad a week later before being released on September 12. In 2005, he saw action in one game for Atlanta and remained on the practice squad for the remainder of the season. Dudley was originally signed by the Falcons out of Michigan as an undrafted rookie free agent on April 26, 2005.

ATLFalcons

11-12-2006, 02:34 PM

What has happened to the Falcons?? The last two weeks Vick supposedly broke out and became a pocket passer. After the loss against the Lions the defense showed that any team with a legit passing game can take out the Falcons. They have Cleveland next week and by the looks of it the Browns could take out the Falcons.
I predicted correctly, the Browns did take out the Falcons by a score of 17-13 and most of the damage was done through the air. The Browns were 2-6 before the game started and the Falcons have shown they can lose to horrible teams.

ATLFalcons

11-13-2006, 05:09 PM

More bad news........Patrick Kerney is out for hte rest of the season with a torn pectoral chest muscle. This season's path looks a lot like last season. I hope it doesn't end like the 2005 season did.

cbenson5

11-13-2006, 09:21 PM

I can't believe we lost Kerney too. That article about Mathis makes me think his career is over. It would be bordering on foolishness for him to try to make a comeback. Best of luck to him. It doesn't look like we have much of a chance of making the playoffs, but hopefully we will take it game by game and keep fighting. I'm mainly just hoping we will be injury free for the rest of the year. It's been a disappointing sporting year for Atlanta teams in baseball and football so far. I'm not a basketball or hockey fan, but I've noticed that both of our Atlanta teams are in first place. Maybe I'll take up watching one of them to while away the time until baseball starts up again.

ATLFalcons

11-14-2006, 01:18 PM

The Falcons haven't got as far behind as our beloved Braves did. We are in tie for 2nd place in the division and with a few wins we'll be back in the mix.

cbenson5

11-15-2006, 09:23 PM

The Falcons haven't got as far behind as our beloved Braves did. We are in tie for 2nd place in the division and with a few wins we'll be back in the mix.

I'm just worried that all of these injuries will be too much to overcome. Plus, it looked like we were in a great position going into the Detroit game, but the last two weeks have been rather depressing. I'm not giving up though. So long as the Falcons field a team, I will be pulling for them.

ATLFalcons

11-16-2006, 09:33 PM

I'm still pulling for the Dirty Birds, but what if we don't make the playoffs? Do the Falcons go for Calvin Johnson in the first round?

ATLFalcons

11-19-2006, 03:48 PM

Another loss and the defense couldn't handle the rushing attack from the Ravens. BJ Sams was awesome on punt and kick returns for the Ravens and they were the better team today.

ATLFalcons

11-26-2006, 02:21 PM

Well, the Falcons just loss 31-13, it was their 4th straight loss. This loss may end the season and the Falcons playoff chances, unless the Falcons can run the table, and I strongly doubt it. I'll reiterate my point again that the Falcons defense cannot defend against a team with a solid passing game. The wide receivers have been dropping passes and when the team gets in the red zone we can't convert. I don't know what else to say.

ATLFalcons

12-03-2006, 03:14 PM

24-14, Falcons win! They got down 14-0 in the 1st quarter, but they came back and got out Washington with a win. The receivers were more consistent today and the secondary didn't slack off this week. This game was only a stepping stone, because from here on out they have to run the table.

cbenson5

12-08-2006, 08:59 PM

It sure was good to see the Falcons win last week. I was looking at the standings in the paper and we control our own destiny. If we can win these last four games we make the playoffs. It is going to be no easy task, because we still have to play Dallas, Carolina, and Philadelphia (despite Tampa Bay's record it seems like they have gotten the better of us more times than not the last few years). We might just pull it off though. We can't afford any more slipups.

ATLFalcons

12-09-2006, 11:18 AM

The Bucs haven't been good at all this year. They are missing some guys on defense, which means we'll run all over them tomorrow. Falcons 35-7 win!

ATLFalcons

12-10-2006, 01:55 PM

The Falcons won 17-6 and got strong performances from their defense and fullback Justin Griffith. Jerious Norwood (knee) and Warrick Dunn (calf) both went down with injuries. Griffith stepped in and rushed for 57 yards and TD on 12 carries. The Falcons are in the lead for the NFC wild card with the win.

Up next:

December 16- Dallas
December 24- Carolina
December 31- @ Philadelphia