2008 Woodie Awards
Falcons are fading fast
Atlanta Falcons
Blake Trent 924172067@gsc.edu
Issue date: 11/15/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
After suffering a loss to the Saints the Falcons have done absolutely nothing to give fans a reason to hope for a decent season. The Falcons are 1-6 and look to be on their way towards next years first overall pick in the NFL draft.
Atlanta has struggled the first half of the season trying to find a new identity. Under former Head Coach Jim Mora Jr. the Falcons led the league in rushing for three straight years. Now they are struggling to become a more balanced offense.
Many fans figured after leading the league in rushing the past three years that this year the team would be okay running the football.
Fans like me figured that all the Falcons would need to improve on is their passing game.
The fans were wrong.
The Falcons rank 23rd in the league in rushing yards per game and 30th in scoring. And for some mind blowing reason new Head Coach Bobby Petrino has used big play running back Jerious Norwood sparingly throughout the first half of the season. The second year man from Mississippi State has 47 carries for 272 yards and one touchdown. By the way that one touchdown was scored on a 67 yard break away. Starting and well aged running back Warrick Dunn, has had more than double the carries as Norwood with 95 and has only 20 more yards to show for those extra 48 attempts.
On the other hand the passing game seems to be blossoming for Atlanta. Third year wideout Roddy White has emerged as a potential big play receiver. In seven games White has 33 receptions for 530 yards and two touchdowns. If White stays on track he could be the first Falcons receiver to reach 1,000 yards receiving in a long time.
Here is some good news. The Falcons are looking like a lock for next years first overall pick, which if history repeats itself would be a great thing and at the same time it could be a horrible thing. The last time the Atlanta Falcons picked number one overall the Falcons were transformed into a winning team, they selected quarterback Michael Vick. On the other hand the team selected Michael Vick. They drafted a man who has killed his reputation, his endorsement deals and a not to mention a handful of helpless dogs. Vick's career is probably over and because of that the Falcons are suffering. Atlanta was a team that lived and died by Vick and now that he is gone they are dying.
With the second half of the season still reaming the Falcons have a tough road ahead of them. With any luck Atlanta will be able to salvage a season that to date has been a miserable one or they can keep heading toward that illusive first overall pick next year. The Falcons face the San Francisco 49ers Nov. 4 at the Georgia Dome.
Atlanta has struggled the first half of the season trying to find a new identity. Under former Head Coach Jim Mora Jr. the Falcons led the league in rushing for three straight years. Now they are struggling to become a more balanced offense.
Many fans figured after leading the league in rushing the past three years that this year the team would be okay running the football.
Fans like me figured that all the Falcons would need to improve on is their passing game.
The fans were wrong.
The Falcons rank 23rd in the league in rushing yards per game and 30th in scoring. And for some mind blowing reason new Head Coach Bobby Petrino has used big play running back Jerious Norwood sparingly throughout the first half of the season. The second year man from Mississippi State has 47 carries for 272 yards and one touchdown. By the way that one touchdown was scored on a 67 yard break away. Starting and well aged running back Warrick Dunn, has had more than double the carries as Norwood with 95 and has only 20 more yards to show for those extra 48 attempts.
On the other hand the passing game seems to be blossoming for Atlanta. Third year wideout Roddy White has emerged as a potential big play receiver. In seven games White has 33 receptions for 530 yards and two touchdowns. If White stays on track he could be the first Falcons receiver to reach 1,000 yards receiving in a long time.
Here is some good news. The Falcons are looking like a lock for next years first overall pick, which if history repeats itself would be a great thing and at the same time it could be a horrible thing. The last time the Atlanta Falcons picked number one overall the Falcons were transformed into a winning team, they selected quarterback Michael Vick. On the other hand the team selected Michael Vick. They drafted a man who has killed his reputation, his endorsement deals and a not to mention a handful of helpless dogs. Vick's career is probably over and because of that the Falcons are suffering. Atlanta was a team that lived and died by Vick and now that he is gone they are dying.
With the second half of the season still reaming the Falcons have a tough road ahead of them. With any luck Atlanta will be able to salvage a season that to date has been a miserable one or they can keep heading toward that illusive first overall pick next year. The Falcons face the San Francisco 49ers Nov. 4 at the Georgia Dome.
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