At This Point In The Season, Has the Flacco/Ryan Debate Been Answered?

[arnie_uk]

[quote name='Finally' timestamp='1352320553' post='1212889']


No. I won't win. I am dealing with a person who plays the ifs game. This if and that if didn't happen. The ball was caught. You see a bad play from a safety, I see a smart QB for taking advantage of him. You see an underthrown ball, I see a QB that might have been more interested in letting White make a play rather than risking a sack (he was sacked 7 times, remember?) that would have ended the game. I also see a QB that up until recently hasn't been given that many opportunities to fling it down field.

But I can play the if game too. If the pass was incomplete Ryan would have won the game some other way. If it was intercepted White would have forced the fumble (he has done it before).

Let's just agree to disagree. Neither of us can re-write history.
[/quote]im not playing any ifs. It's all fact, Naka mis judged the flight, fact, he was backpedalling for ages, which shows he thought the ball was dropping sooner. Fact white was wide open and had to slow down. Fact it was underthrown.

How does making a better throw, ie out in front of white, ie having a better arm, ie not a weak arm, give a greater risk of a sack? To be perfectly honest your completely blinded by your fandom of the falcons.. I've gave Ryan due, if said it was a good read, I praised white who I hate for a great route and play etc and you just ignore all that, get sarky and ignore my argument.

How was that ball not underthrown? Answer me that? Then answer this, is a clearly underthrown pass a good one? No... It was complete, yes, but lucky from Ryan's point of view, great play by white.

[Finally]

[quote name='arnie_uk' timestamp='1352316780' post='1212851']
well then as you keep saying, you clearly know nothing about us. There's bad OCs, then there's cam in a league of his own.
[/quote]

No. I don't know you that well. I don't get many opportunities to see Ravens games. I wish I did.

Cam may be worse, I can't say one way or the other. If you compare fan hatred then both are pretty close.

So what makes Cam worse? Let's compare notes.

Mularkey has no clue how to manage a passing game. YAC, what's YAC? Hook route central.
When Mularkey made adjustments in losing games it usually made things worse.
The only screen plays he had lost us yardage because they were poorly conceived.
Mularkey put little to no priority on converting 1st or 2nd downs.
Mularkey called plays on percentages (that better coaches figured out) instead of just calling what works.
No emphasis on deep threats.
No emphasis on quick strike scoring.
Slow offense, I mean snail pace.
Playoff caliber talent but not a playoff ready offense.

His upsides were that as a great rushing mind he helped Ryan settle in as a young QB. His slow marches also helped us win games by playing keep away defense.

So help me out here. As you guys might have mentioned to me a couple of times, you guys have won PO games. Care to explain how a worse coordinator gets better success? I am not trying to debate, I really do want to know.

[ravens rule]

I'd say Ryan probably is a little bit better than Flacco because of his accuracy in general and even on the deep ball. He also has that charisma I like. Anyways ... he has way better weapons and OC it's hard to compare right now. If Ryan doesn't win a playoff game then there is no argument.

[Finally]

[quote name='arnie_uk' timestamp='1352321592' post='1212900']
im not playing any ifs. It's all fact, Naka mis judged the flight, fact, he was backpedalling for ages, which shows he thought the ball was dropping sooner. Fact white was wide open and had to slow down. Fact it was underthrown.

How does making a better throw, ie out in front of white, ie having a better arm, ie not a weak arm, give a greater risk of a sack? To be perfectly honest your completely blinded by your fandom of the falcons.. I've gave Ryan due, if said it was a good read, I praised white who I hate for a great route and play etc and you just ignore all that, get sarky and ignore my argument.

How was that ball not underthrown? Answer me that? Then answer this, is a clearly underthrown pass a good one? No... It was complete, yes, but lucky from Ryan's point of view, great play by white.
[/quote]

Good grief, give it a rest already. It was a catchable pass and it had to be high risk at that moment in the game. I have seen it get high praise from everyone but you so, no, it isn't just my fandom.

[arnie_uk]

There we have it

[arnie_uk]

[quote name='Finally' timestamp='1352321962' post='1212910']


No. I don't know you that well. I don't get many opportunities to see Ravens games. I wish I did.

Cam may be worse, I can't say one way or the other. If you compare fan hatred then both are pretty close.

So what makes Cam worse? Let's compare notes.

Mularkey has no clue how to manage a passing game. YAC, what's YAC? Hook route central.
When Mularkey made adjustments in losing games it usually made things worse.
The only screen plays he had lost us yardage because they were poorly conceived.
Mularkey put little to no priority on converting 1st or 2nd downs.
Mularkey called plays on percentages (that better coaches figured out) instead of just calling what works.
No emphasis on deep threats.
No emphasis on quick strike scoring.
Slow offense, I mean snail pace.
Playoff caliber talent but not a playoff ready offense.

His upsides were that as a great rushing mind he helped Ryan settle in as a young QB. His slow marches also helped us win games by playing keep away defense.

So help me out here. As you guys might have mentioned to me a couple of times, you guys have won PO games. Care to explain how a worse coordinator gets better success? I am not trying to debate, I really do want to know.
[/quote]because we have, well had a defence to keep us in games.

We'd be here all day criticising cam. The jist of it is his system the AC is all about deep passing, slow long developing routes, which our oline isn't good enough to hold up for the majority of the time. He believes his guys should win all them one on one match ups and doesn't develop routes to help the receivers, who can't beat man coverage.

Very little rub routes bunches etc to create that yard of space for the, to be open, 90 percent of the passes, whether complete or incomplete, a defender is draped over our wide receivers.

We throw about 2 at most passes a game over the middle, yet boldin was born to do that. We rarely throw short easy completion passes to slow down a pass rush, and help out or oline.

We either run far to much ignoring the pass, or pass to much ignoring the run, balance is hard to come by for cam. When something works, such as a play action rollout, we will never see it again.

The majority of our runs are the same and defences know where it's going, mind you we seen a couple of tosses on Sunday there, and guess what they worked.

I think I might just have covered everything there. His play book is outdated period, it just doesn't work, and he doesn't even try to set the long ball up, he just expects it work from play one even when teams are defending against it. He's to stubborn to change permanently, every now and then he will call great games, great plays and then go back into his shell.

[Finally]

[quote name='arnie_uk' timestamp='1352324344' post='1212937']
because we have, well had a defence to keep us in games.

We'd be here all day criticising cam. The jist of it is his system the AC is all about deep passing, slow long developing routes, which our oline isn't good enough to hold up for the majority of the time. He believes his guys should win all them one on one match ups and doesn't develop routes to help the receivers, who can't beat man coverage.

Very little rub routes bunches etc to create that yard of space for the, to be open, 90 percent of the passes, whether complete or incomplete, a defender is draped over our wide receivers.

We throw about 2 at most passes a game over the middle, yet boldin was born to do that. We rarely throw short easy completion passes to slow down a pass rush, and help out or oline.

We either run far to much ignoring the pass, or pass to much ignoring the run, balance is hard to come by for cam. When something works, such as a play action rollout, we will never see it again.

The majority of our runs are the same and defences know where it's going, mind you we seen a couple of tosses on Sunday there, and guess what they worked.

I think I might just have covered everything there. His play book is outdated period, it just doesn't work, and he doesn't even try to set the long ball up, he just expects it work from play one even when teams are defending against it. He's to stubborn to change permanently, every now and then he will call great games, great plays and then go back into his shell.
[/quote]

Honestly, I think because they are your problems is why you think Cam is so much worse.

You are not using your receivers properly, we weren't either.

You have too much deep ball, we have had practically none. Neither extreme works well longterm.

The better defenses predicted our moves. Teams that had extra time to prepare predicted our moves.

Our play action rollout hardly ever worked. It usually ended with the ball being thrown away. But it was still called regardless as was other plays that never worked.

After the no-huddle that Ryan ran as a rookie resurfaced after taking a year off (still not sure why that happened) our balance issues were handled by Ryan. If you recall when you met us in 2010 you were expecting to see loads of Turner and instead you got a pass happy team.

Mularkey's playbook was written in stone which our offense had to drag down the field.

As I said, he was good for helping Ryan develop, good at designing runs, and good at chewing up the clock. This year has made it perfectly clear that the lack of a proper screen game was criminal. He said we didn't have the talent. What he should have said is that he had no idea how to design those plays.

He probably won't keep his job in JAX, I hope you don't have the opportunity to do a direct comparison.

[jaege]

[quote name='Finally' timestamp='1352310982' post='1212796']

LOL at the notion we got mysteriously bad. It goes to prove my point that you guys are talking about things you don't understand. We have never gotten mysteriously bad. We have been upstaged in regular season games to a humiliating degree as well.

[/quote]


I was suggesting the mystery since I have yet to receive another explanation how it is your vaunted Mattie cannot plays so wonderfully during the regular season and blows the post season. You are avoiding the question. What is the reason that Mattie is such a stud but cannot win a post season game?

[Finally]

[quote name='jaege' timestamp='1352330905' post='1213032']
I was suggesting the mystery since I have yet to receive another explanation how it is your vaunted Mattie cannot plays so wonderfully during the regular season and blows the post season. You are avoiding the question. What is the reason that Mattie is such a stud but cannot win a post season game?
[/quote]



I did answer you are just too fixated on one thing to get it. You see it is a mystery if we went 16-0 and lost the playoff games. It is not a mystery if we have our rears handed to us in similiar fashion at other points of the season. I have also provided many detailed posts about our defense and the way our offense has been handled which apparently you skipped to keep asking me the same question. I have done the exact opposite of avoiding your question.

However, if you need a quick answer it is simple. We have not been a playoff caliber team yet. Our defense couldn't handle playing full game, our offense was not schemed for playoffs or other big games, and our coordinators were easy to out-coach.

With that said, it is not impossible to think that we could have won one but as luck would have it every team that hung a PO loss on us at least went on to appear in a SB and the 2 that kicked our rears the hardest won the SBs. Some fans find some comfort in that, I don't.

So tell me, how good does it feel to win PO games but watch someone else hoist the Lombardi? I'd be curious to see outside of this dumb debate how much stock a fan puts into failing closer to the goal recently At this point you have to realize that when you fail to go the distance everything resets and nothing is guaranteed the following year. You can't build off of a playoff win and you can't assume that you will win any this year. You are back in the dark again with the rest of us. In 34 years of watching us make the occasional splash and even making a SB one year... coming in second place or being eliminated before the playoffs begin all ends with the same punch in the gut. Another blown season and another blown opportunity.

[jaege]

[quote name='Finally' timestamp='1352337460' post='1213076']
I did answer you are just too fixated on one thing to get it. You see it is a mystery if we went 16-0 and lost the playoff games. It is not a mystery if we have our rears handed to us in similiar fashion at other points of the season. I have also provided many detailed posts about our defense and the way our offense has been handled which apparently you skipped to keep asking me the same question. I have done the exact opposite of avoiding your question.

However, if you need a quick answer it is simple. We have not been a playoff caliber team yet. Our defense couldn't handle playing full game, our offense was not schemed for playoffs or other big games, and our coordinators were easy to out-coach.

With that said, it is not impossible to think that we could have won one but as luck would have it every team that hung a PO loss on us at least went on to appear in a SB and the 2 that kicked our rears the hardest won the SBs. Some fans find some comfort in that, I don't.

So tell me, how good does it feel to win PO games but watch someone else hoist the Lombardi? I'd be curious to see outside of this dumb debate how much stock a fan puts into failing closer to the goal recently At this point you have to realize that when you fail to go the distance everything resets and nothing is guaranteed the following year. You can't build off of a playoff win and you can't assume that you will win any this year. You are back in the dark again with the rest of us. In 34 years of watching us make the occasional splash and even making a SB one year... coming in second place or being eliminated before the playoffs begin all ends with the same punch in the gut. Another blown season and another blown opportunity.
[/quote]

So you are saying that the reason that the Falcons do so poorly in the playoffs, is because they get blown out in a couple regular season games? That is the explanation? Ravens got their bottoms handed to them several times over the last couple of years and yet are always in the hunt, so has every other team that has won playoffs games. I only remember a team going 16-0 on two occasions, so that is a pretty flimsy excuse.

As far as the SB I don't know. Is second place better than third? Is fifth better then 9th? If your team does not win the SB you would just as soon lose all 16 regular season games? You tell me. Myself, sure I would rather get to the dance [i]and[/i] take the prom queen home, but just getting to the dance is really nice.

You are correct. The Falcons have not been a playoff caliber team (must have hurt to admit that), but you failed to admit that Ryan has not been a playoff caliber QB. Admittedly, yet. That will likely change and maybe this year.

With that being said, the Ravens were and are, a playoff caliber team, and Flacco is and has been a playoff caliber QB. He has the credentials to prove it. Your little diatribe was not about getting to the SB it was about comparing Flacco and Ryan. Now you know why we Ravens fans prefer Flacco.

We like to dance.

[nextgen_RavensFan]

Cannot believe this topic is still active, WOW.

Ryan is having a very good year this year. Might even be his career year but remember we have not seen Joe's best season yet so how can we judge ?

At the end of their careers yes but not at this point.

[kassaiscool]

I commented in this thread before and I think Ryan is just more consistent. Joe plays well for stints and it seems like the offense is turning the corner, but then something happens mid season and we become a running team again. It seems when that happens Joe loses confidence.

[Finally]

[quote name='jaege' timestamp='1352343906' post='1213097']
So you are saying that the reason that the Falcons do so poorly in the playoffs, is because they get blown out in a couple regular season games? That is the explanation? Ravens got their bottoms handed to them several times over the last couple of years and yet are always in the hunt, so has every other team that has won playoffs games. I only remember a team going 16-0 on two occasions, so that is a pretty flimsy excuse.

As far as the SB I don't know. Is second place better than third? Is fifth better then 9th? If your team does not win the SB you would just as soon lose all 16 regular season games? You tell me. Myself, sure I would rather get to the dance [i]and[/i] take the prom queen home, but just getting to the dance is really nice.

You are correct. The Falcons have not been a playoff caliber team (must have hurt to admit that), but you failed to admit that Ryan has not been a playoff caliber QB. Admittedly, yet. That will likely change and maybe this year.

With that being said, the Ravens were and are, a playoff caliber team, and Flacco is and has been a playoff caliber QB. He has the credentials to prove it. Your little diatribe was not about getting to the SB it was about comparing Flacco and Ryan. Now you know why we Ravens fans prefer Flacco.

We like to dance.
[/quote]

Pretty puffed up considering you still failed to go to the promised land. Better teams beat both of us but you are so much better because it happened a little later... right. Change the order and put the eventual AFC champion first and you would be sitting where we are.

I am glad you are happy about your PO wins. I stopped being satisfied by ours about 20 years ago. If you are not going to a SB you are only helping the team that is.

Teams with bad defenses fail all the time which is why they say defense wins championships.

[berad]

[quote name='Finally' timestamp='1352392294' post='1213253']
Pretty puffed up considering you still failed to go to the promised land. Better teams beat both of us but you are so much better because it happened a little later... right. Change the order and put the eventual AFC champion first and you would be sitting where we are.

I am glad you are happy about your PO wins. I stopped being satisfied by ours about 20 years ago. If you are not going to a SB you are only helping the team that is.

Teams with bad defenses fail all the time which is why they say defense wins championships.
[/quote]

You have no clue what you're talking about, the Ravens won their first 4 playoff games on the road, meaning we were lower seeds, we were not a #1 seed that got spanked at home *ahem* - if fact, we beat a #1 seed at their place in 2008.

I bet you Mike Smith would trade playoff records with John Harbaugh in a second - if only to not have that cloud over him anymore.

[allballs]

[quote name='Finally' timestamp='1351810863' post='1207431']
Was there something in that post that made you think I was mad? I did include a "lol". I have seen you on a few other boards, I am on a few, no big deal.

It did sort of look like you might have thought I was a Ravens fan, an easy enough mistake to make. Message boards leave a lot to be desired as a good means of communication.
[/quote]
oh no, didnt mean to project that i was mad (at you), sorry

[allballs]

[quote name='The Raven' timestamp='1351803821' post='1207334']
Oh, not much. Just 4 playoff appearances, and 2 AFCCG appearances, one of which should have been a win. Do some research and you might know



So much wrong in this post! Players do not get paid for what they've done. That's an incorrect assumption. They get paid for what they are expected to do in the future with the past as a basis. I can't believe you put Rice in that post; that really shows how bright you are! I'm starting to think that you really are trolling the board.
[/quote]

wow, flacco hasnt done much in the playoffs, and you admitted that, i commend you. it proves my point, to the fact that joe flacco has cost us in the playoffs as well, i mean game changing-moment swaying-outcome influencing turnovers! i told you do your research first man. i'll help you, pit 09, indy 10, pit 11..., and i still have to fault him in 12 v/s pats, because of the pic he threw to a wide open Takeo Spikes, had we scored on that drive, we would have won the superbowl.... i guarantee you, if joe doesnt TO, we win, idc how bad his numbers get, as longs as the TO column is 0! yeah he had 300+ vs pats(12 playoffs), but the 1 pic really changed the game...

[allballs]

[quote name='berad' timestamp='1351799341' post='1207264']
Answered:

[img]http://img.viame-cdn.com/photos/05240cd0-0689-0130-99ec-123139180156/r600x600.jpg[/img]

[url="http://via.me/-6jxxiao"]http://via.me/-6jxxiao[/url]

Once and for all
[/quote]

what's vanilla ice doing in the locker room? is he putting ice in flacco veins?

[nextgen_RavensFan]

[quote name='allballs' timestamp='1352395105' post='1213289']
wow, flacco hasnt done much in the playoffs, and you admitted that, i commend you. it proves my point, to the fact that joe flacco has cost us in the playoffs as well, i mean game changing-moment swaying-outcome influencing turnovers! i told you do your research first man. i'll help you, pit 09, indy 10, pit 11..., and i still have to fault him in 12 v/s pats, because of the pic he threw to a wide open Takeo Spikes, had we scored on that drive, we would have won the superbowl.... i guarantee you, if joe doesnt TO, we win, idc how bad his numbers get, as longs as the TO column is 0! yeah he had 300+ vs pats(12 playoffs), but the 1 pic really changed the game...
[/quote]

Joe did his Job last year, did he not get the game winning run down field just to have Evans drop the ball or is that joe's fault as well. What a waste of a post. Joe got the job done. It was Cundiff and Evans that failed or am i wrong. We have a Quarterback that may not play well all of the time but he usually is not the reason we lose. So tired of all of the ravens failures falling into Joe's lap. I guess Joe is the Offensive line, the receivers and the Field Goal Kicker right ?

[atljbo]

WOw... This thread is going strong... Im staying out of this one... Ill just say you guys dont know how Horrible Mularkey was once we reached his ceiling ... Again.. The No Huddle... What Ryan runs like Peyton Manning type level... Our head coach had to basically force Mularkey into the No Huddle... Our Head Coach had to get us in and out of no Huddle because according to Roddy White.... Mularkey didnt like the No Huddle..

Look at Mularkey with the Jags ... The Jags beat writers and Fans are saying the same thing we were saying.

This year its totally Matt Ryans offense.

[Finally]

[quote name='berad' timestamp='1352393769' post='1213274']
You have no clue what you're talking about, the Ravens won their first 4 playoff games on the road, meaning we were lower seeds, we were not a #1 seed that got spanked at home *ahem* - if fact, we beat a #1 seed at their place in 2008.

I bet you Mike Smith would trade playoff records with John Harbaugh in a second - if only to not have that cloud over him anymore.
[/quote]

I think I have made it abundantly clear at this point that when it comes to the playoffs nothing short of a SB win impresses me. The Falcons have won PO games on the road in their history too.

We are probably just at different places as fans. I can't be satisfied with moral victories. I wouldn't care if we knocked off 2 undefeated teams on the road in the playoffs if we don't win a SB. Newer Falcons fans may care, fans that still think getting closer is a sign may care, I don't. I have watched us too many times win playoff games and follow it with a losing record the next year. Shoot we went to a SB and followed it with a losing record the next year because we lost a key player.

For now I am just happy not to have to wait several years in between tries. That is a huge improvement.

[nk02442]

[quote name='nextgen_RavensFan' timestamp='1352383734' post='1213189']
Cannot believe this topic is still active, WOW.

Ryan is having a very good year this year. Might even be his career year but remember we have not seen Joe's best season yet so how can we judge ?

At the end of their careers yes but not at this point.
[/quote]

We may have already seen Joes best season.......just saying.

[berad]

[quote name='Finally' timestamp='1352401377' post='1213347']
I think I have made it abundantly clear at this point that when it comes to the playoffs nothing short of a SB win impresses me. The Falcons have won PO games on the road in their history too.

We are probably just at different places as fans. I can't be satisfied with moral victories. I wouldn't care if we knocked off 2 undefeated teams on the road in the playoffs if we don't win a SB. Newer Falcons fans may care, fans that still think getting closer is a sign may care, I don't. I have watched us too many times win playoff games and follow it with a losing record the next year. Shoot we went to a SB and followed it with a losing record the next year because we lost a key player.

For now I am just happy not to have to wait several years in between tries. That is a huge improvement.
[/quote]

Moral victories? I'm looking at no victories for Matt Ryan and the Falcons. If nothing other than SBs matter then why were you trumpeting Matt Ryan's 4th quarter comebacks?

If you say you're not disappointed that your team hasn't won (or even been competitive in the last 2) playoff games in the last 4 years then you're lying through your teeth. It reflects on the organization, fairly or not.

[jaege]

[quote name='Finally' timestamp='1352392294' post='1213253']
Pretty puffed up considering you still failed to go to the promised land. Better teams beat both of us but you are so much better because it happened a little later... right. Change the order and put the eventual AFC champion first and you would be sitting where we are.

I am glad you are happy about your PO wins. I stopped being satisfied by ours about 20 years ago. If you are not going to a SB you are only helping the team that is.

Teams with bad defenses fail all the time which is why they say defense wins championships.
[/quote]


Look who is talking about being puffed up. YOU started this conversation by caterwauling about Ryan's supposed greatness. All that skill you keep raving about didn't get the Falcons to the promised land either, did it? Yet you seem pretty impressed by the various stats you keep spouting off.

And yes, I am proud of the Ravens successes. They have made it to and won in the post season for the past four years. Took the division title last year. That is a reason to be happy. It means I get to watch that many more games with the Ravens playing.
So you are not happy with the Falcons success? Are you claiming that making it to the SB but losing is the same as having an 0-16 season? BS!! Every fan wants their team to do the best that they possibly can, to get as far as possible. ANY fan that claims otherwise is lying. Typically because they are trying to downplay another team's success. Sour grapes, Falcons fan.

[Finally]

[quote name='berad' timestamp='1352404633' post='1213393']
Moral victories? I'm looking at no victories for Matt Ryan and the Falcons. If nothing other than SBs matter then why were you trumpeting Matt Ryan's 4th quarter comebacks?

If you say you're not disappointed that your team hasn't won (or even been competitive in the last 2) playoff games in the last 4 years then you're lying through your teeth. It reflects on the organization, fairly or not.
[/quote]

Someone made the point that Ryan is not a clutch QB, I responded. Ryan's current level of greatness is that he has helped change the culture in Atlanta. His comebacks mean we have won games we normally would have lost. While it hasn't translated into PO success yet having a team with a winning attitude is new to Falcons fans. Now we just need a defense to go with it and it can't be based on "bend don't break" because that loses the big games and keeps teams close in others.

Lying through my teeth? No. You lack the ability to see from my point of view. Been a fan since 78, the team was founded in 66. Which is worse? Failing to win a playoff game in the last 4 years or failing to win a SB in 46 years while I watched for 34 of them. A failed year is a failed year. We have had so many black marks on our organization for so long a couple of playoff losses don't even hit the radar. Playoff losses don't even come close to the Vick fiasco and Petrino leaving Atlanta like the city was on fire again. My disappointment cannot be soothed by playoff wins it can only be soothed by a SB win.

[Finally]

[quote name='jaege' timestamp='1352408855' post='1213438']
Look who is talking about being puffed up. YOU started this conversation by caterwauling about Ryan's supposed greatness. All that skill you keep raving about didn't get the Falcons to the promised land either, did it? Yet you seem pretty impressed by the various stats you keep spouting off.

And yes, I am proud of the Ravens successes. They have made it to and won in the post season for the past four years. Took the division title last year. That is a reason to be happy. It means I get to watch that many more games with the Ravens playing.
So you are not happy with the Falcons success? Are you claiming that making it to the SB but losing is the same as having an 0-16 season? BS!! Every fan wants their team to do the best that they possibly can, to get as far as possible. ANY fan that claims otherwise is lying. Typically because they are trying to downplay another team's success. Sour grapes, Falcons fan.
[/quote]

I have already answered the part about defending Ryan's clutch gene in my reply to your mod.

If you are happy with your team and are prepared to keep taking stabs at the post season with all the same coordinators and philosophies... fine. There is nothing major to fix on a team that was in the AFCCG game last year, right? You are content. Celebrate away.

I'd rather be one and done and keep putting pressure on this organization to fix the problems. In fact, if we are not going to win it all we should just do a repeat of last year. I don't want to get anywhere near the NFCCG and have them thinking we should go offense early in the draft next year. Our best pass rusher was talking about retirement last year and we still haven't found a suitable replacement for the last one we lost in FA after the 2006 season. We got an important Dlineman back after the Bye so the jury is out on our run stopping defense right now. They haven't looked bad this year and they have made some good plays but I am not sure they are playoff ready yet or not. It is too soon with a new coordinator and we haven't been 100 percent healthy in some key areas. All I can do is hope that Nolan can scheme around the problems and help get us to the promise land. If not, next year they should just hand him the checkbook and let him find us the players we need.

ETA: I didn't answer your point on being 0-16. Yeah that would be worse because we have a team of losers. What we have now is a team of winners with the potential to do what hasn't been done before. You have the potential to win it all this year too. Not bad places to be midseason.

[PolishRifle]

I'm glad, I don't spend my time on the Falcons messageboard looking up topics about Joe Flacco. That would be embarrassing.

[berad]

[quote name='Finally' timestamp='1352414574' post='1213496']
Someone made the point that Ryan is not a clutch QB, I responded. Ryan's current level of greatness is that he has helped change the culture in Atlanta. His comebacks mean we have won games we normally would have lost. While it hasn't translated into PO success yet having a team with a winning attitude is new to Falcons fans. Now we just need a defense to go with it and it can't be based on "bend don't break" because that loses the big games and keeps teams close in others.

Lying through my teeth? No. You lack the ability to see from my point of view. Been a fan since 78, the team was founded in 66. Which is worse? Failing to win a playoff game in the last 4 years or failing to win a SB in 46 years while I watched for 34 of them. A failed year is a failed year. We have had so many black marks on our organization for so long a couple of playoff losses don't even hit the radar. Playoff losses don't even come close to the Vick fiasco and Petrino leaving Atlanta like the city was on fire again. My disappointment cannot be soothed by playoff wins it can only be soothed by a SB win.
[/quote]

It wasn't the defense that failed to score any points against the Giants last year...

And, yes, I still think you're being dishonest. Would you trade one of Matt Ryan's beloved 4th quarter comebacks for a playoff win. Or would it still not matter? It's great that the Falcons overcame Petrino and Vick but that was 6 years ago, every franchise has their own trials and tribulations but no one is okay with 0 playoff success - especially in the upper tier of teams.

[ROH522155]

Anyone who says the'd rather lose playoff games than win them is ridiculous and is obviously just trying to justify their team's playoff failures.

[Finally]

[quote name='PolishRifle' timestamp='1352418274' post='1213530']
I'm glad, I don't spend my time on the Falcons messageboard looking up topics about Joe Flacco. That would be embarrassing.
[/quote]

Actually I come here because I like the Ravens and I feel like our teams are connected through Ryan and Flacco. I am often wishing you good luck in upcoming games and I am worried about your defense this year. If we don't win a SB this year I hope you do. I got a little irritated about the clutch thing and I probably should have kept silent... he has faults but that is not one of them.

I have also defended Flacco many times here and at our boards because... I like your team.

[Finally]

[quote name='berad' timestamp='1352418747' post='1213537']
It wasn't the defense that failed to score any points against the Giants last year...

And, yes, I still think you're being dishonest. Would you trade one of Matt Ryan's beloved 4th quarter comebacks for a playoff win. Or would it still not matter? It's great that the Falcons overcame Petrino and Vick but that was 6 years ago, every franchise has their own trials and tribulations but no one is okay with 0 playoff success - especially in the upper tier of teams.
[/quote]

I am not going to keep repeating the issues about our offense before this year. We lucked out and Mularkey was hired away.

I really don't want to keep going down this track because I feel like a Debbie Downer here. In your shoes I wouldn't be happy about the playoff wins I would be angry that they didn't end in a SB appearance and I would be even madder because it is the same tune every year. Don't get me wrong. I am FURIOUS about our playoff losses but winning a couple would not make me less angry. 3 playoff losses equals 3 punches in the gut for whoever fails to get it that it is all about defense. Last year's embarrassment ended the tenure of Mr. VanGorder which gives me hope for this year.