KATE HARDY -- With so many players injured and or out for the season, why aren't there plays being called for Matt Ryan to run the ball? This is the NFL and not Flag Football! As a fan I see this over and over again where as Matt Ryan will NOT run for even 1 yard. He will stand back there and run backwards trying to throw a pass for 1 yard when ALL of the players are covered by the opposing team!!! It happens over and over and as a FAN I am sick of watching it!!! This NOT what I expected to see in my home team this season!!! LOSING games they should have WON!!!! Well I guess Arthur Blanks is getting what he PAID for!!!! NO DEFENSE!!!!
LEDBETTER – I don’t think you really want Matt running the ball.
TONY ¬-- When will the falcons address coaching issues? This has gone on too long. Poor
substitutions, Horrible play calling, Poor decisions (passing up points early in the game).
LEDBETTER – Coach Smith has said that coaching has been a problem this season. He hasn’t dodged any responsibility for this 1-4 start.
KT -- "When will Steven Jackson produce?
So, far it has been a total waste of salary.
My friends and I are starting to question his commitment to actually contribute to Falcons. I never thought I would say it but we may have been better off with Turner."
LEDBETTER – Steven is a professional and I believe deserves the courtesy of your respect. He wants to be 100 percent healthy when he returns. It’s not like he doesn’t want to play. Now, I love Turner, too. I thought he could still help in the red zone, but you just can’t keep a red-zone only back anymore.
SOUTHSIDE LADY -- DLed, Is it possible that all of the injuries to the Falcons this year has something to do with the Conditioning coach? Not trying to point any fingers here, but it seems as though the number of injuries are extremely high on our team and I am just wondering if the guys are not being conditioned properly. Thanks
LEDBETTER – Hey there Southside Lady! I did a story on the change in training. Team said most of the injuries are football related. They went from functional motion movement training to more power lifting, which should have made them stronger.
BIG PLAY RAY – How come the GM is giving injury updates on his radio show? Thought only Smitty spoke to that?
LEDBETTER – I think Smitty fined him that, flattend the tires on his bike and kicked him out of practice (except for the league-mandated 30 minutes).
PHILLIP NORWOOD -- As a season ticket holder, I'm a bit disappointed to say the least about this season yet still optimistic. Looking back and presently we haven't addressed the same issues that have plagued us each season. Protecting Matt Ryan and pressuring the opposing QB. Why haven't the Falcons addressed these needs whether FA or in the Draft. Our 2 greatest needs on offense and defense, and we only look for mediocre players in the 3-7 round in the draft. Our FA signings at DE usually work, but they come with no help or support. It doesn't appear that coaching up those young players is working. When will the organization make the tough decisions to bring in better coaching or better players that require less coaching? We have to make those tough decisions if we plan to be successful or else this will be the same team the Smith family put on the field years ago. I don't think Blank/TD/MS are in the business to be good enough to fill the stadium people. As a fan we need a Championship. We're tired of the same old disappointment and excuses. We want to say we have a ring. We want to speak with confidence and pride about our team without any doubt of the common goal which is to WIN!!! That is all. Thank you for taking my question.
LEDBETTER – They have attempted to address both lines in the recent drafts (Johnson, Holmes, Konz Matthews, Maponga, Massaquoi, Goodman et al) and in free agency (Ray Edwards, Osi Umenyiora). They are still growing together, according GM Thomas Dimitroff. I think you’re off base on coaching. This one of the best staffs in the league with 5 or 6 HC.
Sounds like you’ve forgotten about those glorious pre-2008 years.
JON -- At what point do the Falcons start trading people to get better draft picks down the road?
LEDBETTER – I think never. That’s not a sound strategy to give all of your talent away for untested college players who may or may not be very good.
KEN GILBERT -- Question...when there are two guys in front of Gonzales. Why don't they put him in motion to help combat that?
LEDBETTER – They will follow him? But I will ask Dirk about that. They could hide him in the backfield, too.
CONCERNED FEMALE FAN -- "Why want our $100 million quarterback run with the football? Is he scared or what. If I paid someone a $100 million the person was have to be tough and do everything. Man up Matt Ryan. Most young and older quarterbacks are running. Peyton Manning ran one the ball for touchdown.
Why is it that the Falcons passing game is better than their running game?
Stop being so predictable Falcons, I'm a woman and I call better plays then the coaches. Do some unpredictable plays. Please pull some tricks out the bags. You know a lot people are saying the Falcons are curse."
LEDBETTER – He’s a passing quarterback. Not a running quarterback. You can’t win with those guys over the long haul. Also, he’d get killed because he’s not very fast.
They are a passing team and not a running team. Running teams are a thing of the past.
All fans think they can call plays. Ridiculous. All of the plays are designed to work, sometimes even when the team knows they are coming. The players have to win their battled.
I don’t believe in curses. That’s foolishness.
ZEKE -- why are josh vaughn and antone smith not being given a shot at ALL since our running game is beyond horrible?
LEDBETTER – They are backups. Snelling and Quizz are holding it down. Antone did get a carry in the last game.
KELVIN -- "Is the heat on Thomas Dimitroff, his draft picks over the past few years have been suspect at best, the offensive line is weak and they allowed Tyson Clabo and Harvey Dahl to leave. Dahl played with a nasty streak, this offensive line is weak as wet paper towels. So much promise this year has quickly become a nightmare.
LEDBETTER – No!!!!!. He turned around a moribund franchise and made it relevant for a half of decade. All they’ve done is win, win and win. No, GM is going hit on 100 percent of his moves. In baseball, 30 percent is pretty good. He’s batting way over 80 percent, so ya’ll need to stop all that foolish talk. How many Pro Bowls have Clabo and Harvey Dahl been to? None. They were good guys, but you can’t blame them for trying to upgrade. I agree that the “upgrades” has been suspect thus far.
CHRIS GWIN -- "In your opinion, What is the Falcons' greatest need heading into the draft next year? "
LEDBETTER – Linemen.
SAINTS FAN -- When is everyone going to realize the falcons made a million dollar mistake?
LEDBETTER – On what? Ray Edwards was a multi-million mistake.
HERTON -- Atlanta Falcons Would Be Wise to Trade for Giants WR Hakeem Nicks
LEDBETTER – He would be a rent-a-receiver.
The photo courtesy of Curtis Compton. See y'all next week.
When he's ready to release him.
I don't it. I'm not real high on Josh Freeman.
No, Pat Hill said he still has a real high ceiling. He's basically a rookie.
Hop Head -- I think you're right.
Now, what was the question?
RinnpUaNew -- good points.
MARCUS -"man...I never would have thought WE would have been the annual MNF clunker game.
Are the growing pains of reliance on young OL/DBs (via salary cap casualties), and key injuries too much to overcome this season?"
LEDBETTER – Time will tell.
MATT -- Nothing is wrong with the Falcons, the NFL is a competitive league and game can be decided by 1 or 2 plays. Unfortunately for the Falcons the opponent made the plays and the Falcons did not. I'm confident the Falcons will turn things around and finish on a good note. and don't forget the Falcons losses all were by 1 scores.
LEDBETTER – Good points.
JSSN -- Are they still embargoing information in Flowery Branch panic room?
LEDBETTER – We’re still kicked out of practice, but we can report who’s at the open portion of practice earlier.
LARRY -- Has there been any talk about William Moore playing some linebacker in certain situations because of all the injuries at that position?
LEDBETTER – None whatsoever. He’s a safety.
HOKIEGYRL --Heck Yeah! They're pissin' me off right now, but I bleed red and black!!!
LEDBETTER --- Chill. Hokiegyrl!
STERLING -- Coaching no halftime or in game adjustments.
LEDBETTER – Execution is the counter. Coaches didn’t miss two blocks on walk-in screen play to Julio on first drive last week.
GARNETT EXELBY -- Why are we having such a hard time in the red zone again?
LEDBETTER – blocking.
JOE -- I no what is wrong with tEh the Flacons. It is the GM Tommy Dummytroff. He draft 2 many injruy prone palyers. They just need 2 go a head and loose the rest of the games and draft Jonny Mansell and strat fresh
LEDBETTER – They have a quarterback.
DOUBLE EE "First,I may have been greatly premature with my question to you last week about Tony Gonzalez. I got my answer last Sunday night....his skills are not declining.
Now, personally I am not ready to jump off the bandwagon. I see a little win streak coming up. I think the schedule is favorable for that to happen. This team is also talented enough to go on such a winning streak. I still think a 10 win season is possible.
What are your thoughts D-Led? "
LEDBETTER – No, Tony’s still a beast. Love his spin move at the 11 on that poor linebacker. AWESOME! I think they can win 10. I think most had them going 2-2 to open the season. Folks didn’t see the Miami lost coming.
VIRGIL LEONARD: We're really not playing good football right night. I'm more worried about the defense then the offense. Has coach Nolan said anything about dialing up the pressure on these QB's? Brady could have written a memoir with all the time he had in the pocket. We barely made him step up in the pocket. The offense is troubling as well. If Roddy is still nursing that sore ankle why dont we use Davis as the 2nd WR or move Douglas to the 2 and Davis to slot?
LEDBETTER: I concur on your first point. He has. His pressure are not getting home. Too many misses. He’s forced to play coverage. Dent got some pressure in Miami, but now he’s hurt. I think Davis spooked them in the preseason when he started dropping a bunch of passes. I thought he was ready to play. I also like Kevin Cone. No reason to force Roddy out there. That never works.
KIM ROBINSON: "Why don't the Falcons work on their ""Red Zone"" offense. We lose more games because of us unable to get into end zone. I am a disappointed season ticket holder. - Why aren't season ticket holders given choices to or not to purchase Pre-Season tickets."
LEDBETTER: They are working on the red zone offense. Ditching some plays. Adding others. That's a fair question on the preseason game.
