Lying with the Enemy: 49ers @ Atlanta Falcons - Sunday, October 3
by David Fucillo on May 22, 2010 2:00 PM PDT
in 49ers Opponents
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We're back for our second Q&A with an SB Nation blogger. Earlier this week we learned a bit more about the New Orleans Saints, courtesy of Dave Cariello and Canal Street Chronicles. This time around we sit down with Dave Choate from The Falcoholic (yes that's back to back Dave's. Throw in Dave Halprin of our Cowboys blog and Dave's are dominating SB Nation!). The 49ers travel to Atlanta for week 4 of the NFL season. Last season the Falcons took the 49ers behind the woodshed at Candlestick, laying a 45-10 beatdown on the 49ers. Although it took midway through the subsequent game at Houston for Alex Smith to be inserted into the starting lineup, one could argue this game was really the beginning of the end of the Shaun Hill era. Of course, it didn't help that the normally solid defense got absolutely wrecked. Let's hope the 49ers can get a dose of revenge this season at the Georgia Dome.
Fooch: What would you say has been the biggest acquisition and biggest loss in free agency (or trades) for the Falcons this offseason?
Falcoholic: The biggest acquisition is probably cornerback Dunta Robinson, but he carries quite a bit of risk as a guy who has seen his numbers decline over the last couple of years. Still, he's a veteran with a track record on a team that has one of the youngest cornerbacking corps in the NFL.
The Falcons didn't really lose anyone critically important this year, instead letting go of organizational depth. I'm pleased we've been able to maintain a strong nucleus, though veteran cornerback Brian Williams and veteran wide receiver Brian Finneran could be on the chopping block if the rookie class comes on strong.
After the jump Dave discusses the Falcons draft, the Falcons 2009 regression, and a prediction for the game...
Fooch: Can you give a recap of your draft as far as players that you expect to make an impact in 2010, whether it be starting or in terms of adding depth. Even though it's a fairly early game in the season (October 3), who do you think the 49ers will have to keep an eye on in this game?
Falcoholic: The 49ers will definitely want to watch out for Sean Weatherspoon. Our first round pick is tough as nails and as loud as a jackhammer, which has made a fan favorite already. He'll be starting Week 1 and should be a factor all day long when we play you guys.
Defensive tackle Corey Peters will likely be in the rotation at that point, as well, and Dominique Franks is an electric athlete who could factor in on kick returns. Everyone else from the draft is either going to be riding the pine or relegated to special teams that early in the season, I would think.
Fooch: Matt Ryan and Michael Turner both seemed to struggle last season (not that it mattered against the 49ers). What do you think was the cause for each, and what kind of follow-up season can we expect from them?
Falcoholic: With Matt Ryan, I think it was a simple case of defenses making adjustments and errant throws. He felt more pressure in 2009 than his rookie campaign thanks to injuries and bouts of ineffectiveness along the offensive line. He also was without an effective Michael Turner for most of the season, and he played like he felt he had to win every game himself. As Brett Favre can tell you, you'll lose a few games that way.
Turner's a different story. He came into last year out of shape by his own admission, and he got off to a slow start. By the time he started to come around, he got hurt. When he tried to return to the field early, he got hurt again. And so on. He's supposedly in better shape, so I just have to cross my fingers that he's healthy again. If he is, he ought to be one of the best runners in the NFL again in 2010.
Fooch: The Falcons seemed to regress a bit in 2010. They've made some moves to fill weaknesses, but at this point in the offseason what holes do you still see in the Falcons?
Falcoholic: Accuse me of being overly optimistic if you will, but I don't see any glaring holes on this football team.
Ryan's going to get better. Turner's healthy again (I hope). The offensive line is deeper, as is the defense. Our most glaring holes on defense were at cornerback and the outside linebacker spot occupied by Mike Peterson, and we've made moves to address both. I don't know our starters are the most talented in the league across the board, but we're a deeper and better team than a year or even two years ago. Considering we've gone a respectable 20-12 in those last two years, that should be plenty scary for the rest of you.
So be scared. I guess that's what I'm saying.
Fooch: Although it's still incredibly early, could you make a prediction on the 49ers-Falcons game? Given that most teams haven't even conducted OTAs yet, we certainly won't hold you to it come October.
Falcoholic: I'm going to go Falcons 28, 49ers 24. Two up-and-coming young teams with awesome coaches is going to be a close game, but whether by homerism or divine inspiration I still have to pick my team to win it all. I'll expect merciless taunts if I'm wrong.
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Embarrased
We got embarrassed last year when we played them. Our secondary was not up to par. I doubt they make the same mistake again. They will come ready to play I see this as a low scoring game 14-10 Niners.
I dislike predicting scores..
This early in the year it’s nearly impossible to predict a score that is months away. There may be new aquisitions that could change perspectives people have or their could be injuries or even personal mistakes that lead to suspensions and the magic suspension number lately has been 4 weeks and around there so you never know.
I believe it also depends on the teams philosophy and how each team plans to play.
As Dave mentioned, the Falcons don’t seem to have any glaring holes and the off-season acquisitions they’ve had this year mainly added depth or helped solidify certain positions.
Last year when the Falcons Molly-Wopped us we had a good amount of glaring holes and although I’m a bit unsure how our newly added defensive backs will produce, I am extremely optimistic that the drafting of Davis and Iupati will lead to an overwhelming amount of O-line success compared to last year.
Lastly I will add that this time when we play the Falcons we will most likely have a RB committee, rather than continuously handing Gore the ball to carry the load by himself. The drafting of Dixon may have given us Gore 2.0 and with Coffee gaining 10 good lbs and planning to gain 5 more good lbs suggests that he will likely lay the wood when running with the ball. Oh and here is a fun fact… Gore didn’t play last year against the Falcons and this year he will :).
Maybe everything I just said wasn’t worth much but that’s just how I feel about things :).
The Flacons flourished from our weak offense
Last year the Offense was so stagnant durring that game it was unbearable to watch. Hill was unable to do anything and the O-line was just as inefective opening up holes for Gore. The Falcons are a good team with very little problem areas, but will see a different 49ers team come this year. With a better more physical O-line pass blocking and opening holes for Gore, the Falcons will have their hands full. I see the 49ers take a leap over the Falcons this year as Smith had a better statisicaly better year than Ryan last year, and will only get better this year. Don’t forget that White had an 80 yard play cause of a missed tackle. Those plays don’t happen very often and I don’t expect that it will this year.
49ers 31
Falcons 17
Nice to hear from him.
I believe last year blogging with the Falcoholic was a good time. Good guys over there, but I think the game last season was a big fluke.
And then God created Saturn.. And he liked it, so he put a ring on it.
Eureka 49ers, my Niners blog.
This is a matchup fans, players, and coaches have circled on their schedule.
We have Crabtree, better OL, and Smith with some confidence behind him. We still have the same average DB’s but our offense was the biggest issue. Falcons will have their hands full, as well as the Niners. Backs like Turner and Wells cause issues for our defense. Falcons have the early advantage playing at home and already SPANKIN us last season, but it will be a good game.
Black Sand Ninja!!!
Also
You’re also a “Dave”, right Fooch?
What we've got here is a failure to communicate.
"I'm just like you, but 10 times better"
It should be closer
I just don’t like picking road winners against a playoff level teams. I think the Falcons are a playoff level team but not a team I really like. The Falcons feel a bit stagnant to me. Gonzalez isn’t going to get any better, I don’t see Turner having a better season than 2008 and still a WR corp carried mostly by one receiver. I also didn’t like the Sean Weatherspoon pick. That said if Matt Ryan steps up to be Top 5 QB it’s probably an 11 win team but it’s all on Ryan. The Falcons would need to transition from their max protection formation for Ryan to take the next step.
Ya, the game should be closer. The 49ers didn’t have Smith, Gore or Crabtree in last years game, also add in the beefed up offensive line. The 49ers defense was awful in the Falcon game too. Willis got the green helmet ripped from him because he couldn’t get the calls out to the secondary, which somewhat explains the early 35 point collapse on bone head secondary play.
I think we will be ready
Our defense got busted up pretty good last year and will be out for blood. The key will be our offense. We will have to move the ball on ATL. Running game will have to show up to setup playaction. It should be a statement game for us.
Beat Em To The Punch - Bill Walsh
The 49ers are a totally different team now
O-Line, QB, Crabtree, Gore wasn’t playing in that game, Dre was Dre, Nate wont forget the play that ended his season, Goldson has the green dot, Contract years for several key 49ers, Ahmad Brooks emergence…
This is a game that I can’t pencil in as a W but it wont be a blowout.
"I will speak at times, when it's necessary, but I don't believe in talking just because you can." - P-52
Let's talk on Twitter
and I expect a win
just not a lock
"I will speak at times, when it's necessary, but I don't believe in talking just because you can." - P-52
Let's talk on Twitter
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