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penstotheend · 4 years ago

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For your fun post. Bennguin goes to Australia for an adventure trip. Keeping in mind Tyler has to hold Jamie’s fear of flying for 16+ hours from Dallas. Picturing horseback riding, long tourist train journey in the outback, etc.

have you been talking to my muse??? it’s not bennguin, per se, but i had started this a while ago for her... maybe i should finish it...

“If you could take the Cup anywhere in the world to promote hockey, where would you take it?”

Jamie sat back in the chair, thinking. Where would he go?

“You should come to Australia sometime, Mate.”

“Why?” Jamie questioned.

“They love hockey down under. Our league is small, but the boys have a good time. Really. Can’t get enough of the NHL stuff.”

Jamie remembered the conversation well. It had been six years ago when he’d done an NHL promotion with Nathan Walker. Nathan had gone on and on about how much Australia loved hockey and how it was such a great place. And, of course, how Jamie and Sid should come visit.

Jamie had done some research, mapping out a trip. Unfortunately, they had not been able to make it there, yet. It seemed like something always came up that prevented a trip to Australia. Now, however, Jamie was being asked where he’d like to take the Cup. Anywhere.

“Australia.”

“What? Why would you want to go there?” Dan Freesman, the new NHL Commissioner, seemed completely surprised.

“Well,” Jamie leaned forward, his arms resting on the conference table. “We’ve played exhibition games in China, South Korea, Sweden, and England. And, let me see, only Sweden is really hockey country. Australia has a league. A pretty good league. They’ve had a couple of players in our league. Yet, we barely show any interest down there.”

“We have an annual Canada versus US showcase every year, featuring North American players.”

“Big names? League stars?” Jamie questioned.

“Well, no. Not per se. But big names for them.” Freesman said. “We can’t afford the liability risk to take, say, McDavid, or Matthews, or you. If you got hurt in what was essentially a pick-up game. ��Jesus. The teams would revolt from letting players do any promotions outside the season.”

“I’ll cover the liability insurance.”

“You couldn’t afford…” Freesman started. He paused when Jamie gave him an ‘are you serious?’ look.

“I’d like to take the Cup there for the showcase. Make a tour with it. It’ll be my two days and then I was hoping I could snag another. All in the name of promoting hockey around the world.” Jamie smiled. “Of course.”

He had a trump card in his pocket. Brian had agreed to use his day for the third day if needed. Freesman didn’t need to know that at this point, however.

“I think it’s an excellent idea.” Stewart Packard, the current head keeper of the Cup, chimed in. “The Cups been there, but not with such a big entourage as would likely be with Jamie.”

Freesman looked confused.

“Oh, yeah. Um, McDavid, Larkin, Matthews, Strome, Debrincat, Jack and Quinn Hughes, and some of the Pens would like to go with me. We’re gonna make it an all-star showcase this year. Featuring Lord Stanley.”

That’s how it started.

This improbable journey with the Stanley Cup.

The plane resonated with laughter. There were about 60 people in this half of this entourage of Jamie’s. Players, family, friends. All taking the opportunity for a weeklong trip to Australia during the off-season.

Jamie hadn’t needed to cover all the liability on his own. The guys had all gone to their teams ands pitched the idea of the all-star showcase. All the teams had bought into it. Because it was Jamie who asked.

Seems Sid wasn’t the only Crosby with clout.

So here they were, on one long-ass flight half-way around the world. This was one of two charters needed to accommodate everyone once word of Jamie’s plan had spread around the league. He’d expected only a few of the guys to come. Friends. The under 23 club. Olympic teammates. Penguins. But it had grown, and grown quickly.

The list was a who’s who of current NHL players, along with a few retired guys who’d wanted to come. It truly was going to be an all-star showcase. If you’re gonna do something, do it right, they said.

“K” Jame prompted.

“Kylie the kangaroo went out for a hop about. On the way she stopped to see her friends. Walla the Koala sat in the eucalyptus tree, munching on a twig. The kookaburra laughed like it was the funniest thing.” Kylie sang as she played.

“Y”

“Nellie the yellow-footed antechinus ran across her path, followed by Kylie’s distant cousin. ‘Why Wilbur the rock wallaby, why are you chasing Nellie. Cause she’s small, and wee, and yellow-footed just like me.”

Jamie chuckled. By now, Kylie’s song had caught the attention of those sitting around them. Everyone had stopped to listen.

“Okay, L.” Jamie said.

“Livia the Lyrebird sat on a log, watching this strange site. Kylie shook her head when she mocked them all, mimicking the laughing kookaburra’s call.”

“I.”

“Kibus the ibis was looking mighty grand. Kylie asked him what was up and he said he was playing with the band. White and black and all decked out, the boys found their stage. Kylie stayed and listened in as they began to play.” Kylie sang.

“E.” Jamie smiled.

“Edison the Emu was the last friend Kylie saw. He was playing catch with his friend, Edna the Echidna. Kylie waved and keep on-going on her hop about.”

“Very nice.” Jamie said, starting to applaud.

“Not done yet,” Kylie said, looking around at everyone.

“On her hop, Kylie thought of all the friends she’d missed. The bandicoot, the bilby, and the crazy dingo. Joanna the goanna, who was never at home. Of course there’s that platypus, Polly is her name. Kylie’s sure that God had fun, coming up with her to name. And that’s the end of my song. I hope you have enjoyed, learning with me the names of some Aussie animals.”

Kylie stood up and took a deep bow. The plane broke out in applause and chorus’ of ‘bravo, bravo’. Jamie beamed proudly.

“She came up with that all on her own?” Sid asked.

“Yep. Well, the words. I helped with the music part.”

“She’s amazing.” Sid said proudly.

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flauntpage · 7 years ago

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Your Wednesday Morning Roundup

With the Flyers off and the Sixers overseas in London, we might as well discuss more about the Eagles. This question was brought up earlier in the day while I was interning at WIP for Big Daddy Graham.

Other than Nick Foles, which Eagle will be most important for the team’s success?

Answers given out were Brandon Graham and Jay Ajayi, before Halapoulivaati Vaitai came up.

I agree with the latter of the choices.

It’s not good that Jason Peters is done for the season, but Big V has done an okay job at times protecting the left side. But when you replace Carson Wentz with Nick Foles, his role becomes much more vital to the success of the team.

He’s going to go up against some good defensive ends in Brooks Reed (4.0 sacks), Adrian Clayborn (9.5 sacks), and rookie Takkarist McKinley (6.0 sacks). Clayborn’s sack numbers are a career-high, but almost 2/3s of his season total came against Dallas, where he had six sacks against two of Dallas’ backup left tackles.

They weren’t good, and that scares me a little bit when the game is three days away. At least Stefen Wisniewski will be at or close to 100% come gametime, which stabilizes the line a little bit.

But if the Eagles win on Saturday, Big V might have to face either Danielle Hunter from Minnesota or Cameron Jordan of New Orleans. Give us some hope.

The Roundup:

Before we get started, TOMORROW. Live pod at Carlino’s Market in Ardmore! Damn good food! Damn good sports talk! Be there!

Plus, a new edition of the Crossing Broadcast is up. #LookAtChu!

—

Sticking with the Eagles, the team practiced yesterday without linebacker Dannell Ellerbe. But he should be fine for Saturday’s game.

Lane Johnson isn’t enjoying the negative press and how some have been counting the Eagles out when Wentz tore his ACL:

“I think everybody perceives us as being the weakest and that is fine. I think that is good. I think if teams want to overlook us, that is good. We’ll just see about Saturday. … We’re excited. We know what people are saying.”

The bandwagon had some jumpers when Wentz suffered a knee injury last month in a win over the Los Angeles Rams.

It wasn’t long after that when Johnson took offense and declared a media boycott that ultimately didn’t last long.

“What bothered me was we were 12-2 [at the time] and treated like we were the Browns,” Johnson said. “It happens, but I think although we don’t like it, it’s a good motivator to have people not write good things. I think it’s the best motivator there is and you can go and change it.”

Nick Foles explains what Doug Pederson meant when he told him to “go be Nick”:

“It’s just going out there and playing and staying in the zone and trusting my instincts,” Foles said. “I’ve played this game a long time. There’s a reason I’ve been able to do what I’ve been able to do. …When I play my best and I’m most comfortable, I just go out there and play. That’s the big message.”

Foles had all of last week to reflect. He has this week to prepare.

Text messages and phone calls are going unreturned. He’s aware of the pessimism about how he’s played and the skepticism about the Eagles’ chances of reaching the Super Bowl with Foles at quarterback. He’s trying to remain unaffected by both.

Injured Eagles safety and special teams ace Chris Maragos understands Dan Quinn and what he brings to the table for the Falcons:

“Coach Quinn, the thing about him is, he’s just so personable. He’s got a lot of energy, a lot of excitement,” Maragos said Tuesday. “Really optimistic guy, really detail-oriented. Great person, great human being.”

This week’s referee: Bill Vinovich. He doesn’t call a ton of penalties, but with a different crew, that might change.

The Eagles signed center Jon Toth to a reserve/futures contract.

I love Dave Fipp even more:

Yes Dave Fipp. http://pic.twitter.com/sAhCE3WT3p

— Chris Jastrzembski (@CFJastrzembski) January 9, 2018

He’s jamming to “Black & Chinese” by HUNCHO JACK, Travis Scott, and Quavo.

—

With the team in London, it’s a great time for the team to build their brand internationally:

Dario Saric, Robert Covington, T.J. McConnell and Trevor Booker headed over to CitySport to teach basketball fundamentals to 60 kids at a Jr. NBA Clinic from 3:15 to 4 p.m. They were joined by players from the Crystal Palace soccer team, which Sixers owners Josh Harris and David Blitzer also own. Thirty minutes later, the four Sixers joined their teammates for a media availability, where for about a half-hour they talked about everything imaginable to reporters from all over Europe. Then after warming up, the Sixers had their closed practice.

Covington and Markelle Fultz also participated in a meet-and-greet with United Kingdom fans, sponsored by Tissot watches.

“We are going to treat this in a way that will produce a real enjoyable experience, with the bottom line we are coming here to win a game,” Brown said. “So somewhere out there, there’s a little bit of a juggling act.”

An interesting quote from Celtics point guard Terry Rozier:

“We have a great history and not knocking the 76ers because they’re a great team, but I think the fans are going to find out why they should support us over the 76ers come when we play them in London.”

Kevin writes how the turnover issue isn’t that bad.

Tim is thankful the Sixers didn’t draft Lonzo Ball, particularly because of LaVar Ball. And everybody is talking about LaVar, including The Athletic, even though they have a “no LaVar Ball” policy despite posting two previous stories before deleting them:

The Athletic pretended to have a "No LaVar Ball" policy bc SERIOUS JOURNALISM, got called out and then tried to delete their archives to cover their tracks

Links are cache'd versions of the deleted articles.

1) https://t.co/fde2IgrJPf

2) https://t.co/wTXB84mgfq http://pic.twitter.com/7UOXL2dApm

— Tyler Conway (@jtylerconway) January 9, 2018

—

The Phillies appear to still be in a war with blogs.

Carlos Santana was seen hitting balls in the Dominican Republic (h/t Mike Mullin):

Incredible experience getting to see newly minted Phillie Carlos Santana mash balls at BP in the Dominican Estadio Azteca @CSeidmanNBCS @CFJastrzembski http://pic.twitter.com/csw5FlNAd7

— Mike Mullin (@MULLINitover27) January 9, 2018

—

With the Flyers off until Saturday night against the Devils, Sam Donnellon caught up with goaltending prospect Carter Hart fresh off his gold medal in the World Junior Championships in Buffalo for Team Canada:

During a preliminary-round game against the U.S., played outdoors in the Bills’ stadium in a blizzard, the foam in the back of his helmet froze, icing the back of his head. No problem. Reaching for his water bottle after a series of saves, that too had frozen.

“There was so much snow, it was insane,” he said. “They were taking wheelbarrows of snow off the ice. It was crazy. But fun.”

And when it ended with another shootout loss to the U.S.? Hart shrugged it off, and ran off a string of stellar – and more meaningful — performances from there. “I’ve never seen a goalie that’s just so calm back there,” said Team Canada defenseman Cale Makar after the 3-1 gold-medal victory over Sweden. “Even when we’re down or have a few lapses, he’s able to pull us back together.”

—

Four local college hoops games tonight: St. Joe’s visits George Mason, and La Salle takes on UMass in A-10 conference matchups at 7 PM. Top-ranked Villanova hosts No. 10 Xavier at 8 PM at the Wells Fargo Center on FS1. And Temple looks to get back to .500 on the year with a road game against SMU at 9 PM on CBS Sports Network.

—

In other sports news, Jon Gruden was formally introduced as the next head coach of the Oakland Raiders. There were some crazy moments as well.

Cole Beasley released a rap single. Haven’t listened to it and it probably sucks, but Howard Eskin liked it (I guess) and suggests he continues to go that route:

So now @Bease11 is a rapper. Do have to admit Cole you are better rapper than receiver. That’s because not very good receiver any longer. New career is good idea. @SportsRadioWIP https://t.co/xOAd5O5mml

— Howard Eskin (@howardeskin) January 9, 2018

Over in Lithuania, LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball made their professional debuts in the Big Baller Brand Challenge Games for Vytautas in a 90-80 win. LiAngelo finished with 19 points and three rebounds, and LaMelo added 10 points and nine assists, but committed six turnovers.

More LaVar:

That spin tho. http://pic.twitter.com/6Mg3UWUEqS

— J.E. Skeets (@jeskeets) January 9, 2018

Former Cleveland Browns and North Penn head coach Mike Pettine is expected to replace Dom Capers as the Packers’ defensive coordinator.

Buffalo Bills GM Brandon Beane said there was a “misunderstanding” of what Richie Incognito said during Sunday’s loss to the Jaguars.

Georgia quarterback Jacob Eason, the guy that was replaced by Jake Fromm earlier this season, will probably transfer to Washington.

—

In the news, James Kauffman, the husband of former New Jersey radio host April Kauffman, was accused of having his wife killed in order to protect an alleged drug ring. Crazy.

Steve Bannon is leaving Breitbart News, again.

A magnitude 7.6 earthquake hit the sea north of Honduras. Not a lot of damage happened.

Kodak, which is somehow still a business, announced their own cryptocurrency called KodakCoin.

Your Wednesday Morning Roundup published first on http://ift.tt/2pLTmlv

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mystlnewsonline · 7 years ago

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New Post has been published on https://www.stl.news/patriots-are-rested-recharged-rankled/63214/

The Patriots are rested, recharged and rankled

/January 7, 2018 (AP)(STL.News) —

Recharged and rankled are the New England Patriots, who await a visit from the Tennessee Titans in the AFC divisional playoffs next weekend.

The Titans (10-7) are coming off their first playoff win in 14 seasons, a 22-21 thriller at Kansas City in the wild-card round Saturday that left the Chiefs winless at Arrowhead in the postseason since 1994.

The Patriots (13-3) are fresh off their eighth consecutive first-round bye as they seek their third title in four years.

They’re not only refreshed but fired up after a report suggesting a fractured relationship that could break up the franchise’s three most important pieces in QB Tom Brady, coach Bill Belichick and owner Robert Kraft.

Jacksonville (11-6), coming off its first playoff win in a decade, a 10-3 snoozer over Buffalo on Sunday, visits Pittsburgh (13-3) in the other AFC divisional playoff game (1:05 p.m. ET Sunday on CBS).

The Steelers are hoping the weekend off helps Antonio Brown return from a torn calf he sustained on Dec. 17 against New England.

The NFC’s top seed, Philadelphia (13-3), hosts the defending conference champion Atlanta Falcons (11-6) on Saturday (4:35 p.m. ET on NBC) and the Minnesota Vikings (13-3) host the New Orleans Saints (4:40 p.m. ET Sunday on FOX).

The Saints (12-5) edged Carolina 31-26 Sunday night in the wild-card weekend finale.

The Falcons throttled the upstart Los Angeles Rams 26-13 Saturday night, sending the league’s best comeback story of 2017 to a premature end.

The Patriots have won 11 of 12 after stumbling to a 2-2 start but the buzz around Boston isn’t about their usual dominance but whether that excellence could be coming to an end soon.

Brady, Belichick and Kraft released a joint statement this weekend dismissing as “flat-out inaccurate” an ESPN report detailing an array of tension in New England between the triumphant triumvirate responsible for decorating team headquarters with five championship trophies.

One of the many things the Patriots are good at is navigating negativity.

Last year they overcame the loss of tight end Rob Gronkowski to win it all and they’re trying to do the same this year without receiver Julian Edelman and linebacker Dont’a Hightower, two of their biggest stars.

The Titans came back from a 21-3 halftime deficit Saturday at Kansas City and in the process probably saved coach Mike Mularkey’s job .

Team owner Amy Adams Strunk on Sunday said her coach isn’t going anywhere after helping change the Titans’ culture and leading them to their first playoff victory in 14 years.

The Titans opened as 13-point underdogs to the Patriots (8:15 p.m. ET on CBS).

“This is a good test for our football team,” Mularkey said, “but these are the type of games you have to win.”

Or go home.

The Titans needed an amazing comeback to get their latest win, which tied for the second-largest rally by a road team in the playoffs. Dallas also overcame an 18-point deficit in 1972 in the divisional round to beat San Francisco.

Only Detroit’s rally from 20 points down in 1957 to beat the 49ers in the divisional round was bigger than Tennessee’s comeback.

The other AFC game is a rematch of Week 5, when the Jaguars beat Pittsburgh 30-9 . Ben Roethlisberger, who threw five interceptions in that game, has led Pittsburgh to 10 wins in 11 games since then with the lone loss coming against the Patriots, 24-21 last month when Brown got hurt and missed most of the showdown in Pittsburgh.

In Blake Bortles, the Steelers will face a quarterback who ran for more yards (88) than he threw for (87) Sunday and who put together one decent drive all day.

“We weren’t sharp, we made some bad plays and did some stupid stuff, but we found a way to win and that’s all that matters,” said Bortles, whose TD pass to backup tight end Ben Koyack late in the third quarter was his best throw of the game and a gutsy call on fourth-and-goal from the 1.

Although they’re the sixth seed, the Falcons are the only NFC team to make it back to the playoffs this year, and that edge in experience showed Saturday night in the Rams’ first playoff game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum since 1979.

One year after advancing to the Super Bowl, the Falcons are “a battle-tested brotherhood,” suggested coach Dan Quinn, who added Sunday “That kind of experience I thought certainly showed up last night.”

After showing impressive poise against the Rams, it’s on to Philadelphia, which is the NFC’s top seed for the first time since 2004 but is led by backup quarterback Nick Foles following a season-ending knee injury to MVP hopeful Carson Wentz.

So, it’s no surprise the Falcons opened as 2-point favorites on the road.

The Vikings are coming off a first-round playoff bye for the first time since 2000 and they’ll face a Saints team that features Mark Ingram and rookie Alvin Kamara, who combined for 1,852 yards rushing and 26 touchdowns during the regular season but were quiet Sunday, managing just 45 yards on 19 carries but one of them was a 2-yard TD by Kamara.

The Vikings beat the Saints 29-19 on opening weekend when Sam Bradford and not Case Keenum was under center for Minnesota.

___

AP Pro Football Writer Teresa M. Walker contributed.

By ARNIE STAPLETON, AP Pro Football Writer, By Associated Press – published on STL.News by St. Louis Media, LLC (ZS)

___

#Enland Patriots #ESPN #Log Angeles #Recharged #Robert Kraft #San Francisco

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giantsfootball0 · 8 years ago

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Lions gear up for battle of 2-0 teams

After going 2-0 to start the season, the Lions are set to face their toughest opponent yet: The also 2-0 Atlanta Falcons.

Despite starting strong, head coach Jim Caldwell is keeping his same businesslike approach.

“The good thing is, the great majority feel that way,” he said Thursday. “The young guys, you don’t quite know what to expect, but most of the guys who’ve been around here — most of them look at this situation like they do any other ball game.

“It’s the most important game because it’s the next one. Every single week you’re measured against who you play. Everybody’s got talent. I think they look at it like they should look at it.

“Do everything we can. One game at a time. Keep that focus.”

FIGURING OUT THE FALCONS So we know the Falcons are a formidable foe, but what exactly makes them so tough?

In addition to having a talented roster, the team also has resilience. After a devastating loss to the Patriots in Super Bowl LI, the Falcons have looked within themselves to move on, and move on effectively.

“We probably spent the time on it in the offseason,” Falcons head coach Dan Quinn said in a conference call this week. “Even in the break (before camp), I wanted to find out if there was much work to be done or not. I really got our answer about the second day of training camp, when I really felt the speed and intent of the guys going for it.”

For Mike O’Hara’s full scouting report on the Falcons, click here.

ANOTHER WEEK, ANOTHER SPECIAL TEAMS AWARD Rookie cornerback Jamal Agnew stole the show Monday night with an 88-yard punt return touchdown.

The league took notice too, and Agnew was named NFC special teams player of the week for his efforts.

“If I get the ball in my hands, I can do some things with it,” Agnew said. “You have to be smart back there, especially making good decisions. That’s the No. 1 goal about being a punt returner. You have to catch the ball first. Coach always says secure the ball and make good decisions.”

That’s two in a row now for the Lions, as kicker Matt Prater was the Week 1 winner.

FAMILIAR FACE The Lions brought a familiar face back when they signed defensive end George Johnson Wednesday.

Johnson, who had the best statistical season of his career with the Lions in 2014, is happy to be back in Detroit.

“They just want you to go,” he said of Detroit’s scheme. “They don’t care about anything else. They just want you to go. They don’t want you to think. They don’t want you to read. They just want you to attack.”

OTHER NOTEWORTHY ITEMS:

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footballleague0 · 8 years ago

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10 takeaways from Austin & Cooter

Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin and offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter spoke to the media Thursday as they do every week during the regular season.

Here are 10 takeaways from those media sessions:

1. Graham Glasgow had one of the finest games of his young career in New York Monday night. He didn’t allow a sack, hurry or quarterback hit, and was good plowing the way for the run game. Cooter said Glasgow is certainly trending in the right direction, and continues to improve.

2. When asked about the early success we’ve seen from Ziggy Ansah, Austin said Ziggy’s always had the ability to impact a game, but his health has sometimes gotten in the way. He said Ansah is feeling good, and that’s why we’re seeing him play good early on this season.

3. Cooter explained why the play of Eric Ebron and the other tight ends on the roster is important to the overall success of his offense. The tight ends are connected to every facet of the offense in terms of catching the ball, and then being important blockers on the edge in the run game. Cooter said that position usually determines how versatile an offense can be.

4. The best defense Austin has had in his tenure as defensive coordinator with the Lions was in 2014. That year, the Lions led the NFL in rushing defense (69.3 yards per game). He reiterated Thursday that stopping the run is always goal No. 1 for him. Why is Detroit off to a good defensive start in 2017? They’re fourth in the NFL against the run (53.5)

5. Fast. Athletic. Aggressive. Those are the three words Cooter used to describe Atlanta’s defense.

6. It remains to be seen if MIKE linebacker Jarrad Davis (concussion) will be available on Sunday. If he’s not, one player the Lions could use to help fill the void is fellow rookie Jalen Reeves-Maybin. When asked about Reeves-Maybin, Austin was most impressed with his speed. He said he moves like a big defensive back.

7. Atlanta head coach Dan Quinn said Wednesday in a conference call that Detroit’s offense is hard to scheme against because they have a number of different weapons. Cooter admitted his offense can be hard on a defense that likes to utilize double teams because who do they double?

8. The Lions have received a lot of good play from a number of different players upfront the first two weeks of the season. Austin said he doesn’t have a bunch of big-name guys upfront, but he has a bunch of guys that work really hard and are good technicians. So far that’s a good formula for Detroit.

9. Cooter had a pretty good line when asked about some of the creative touchdown celebrations we’ve seen from Lions receivers thus far.

“You know what? I keep missing that meeting,” he said. “I don’t know when or where it occurs, I haven’t been invited.”

10. Austin thinks second-year safety Miles Killebrew is just scratching the surface of being a really good football player. Killebrew’s already shown to be a playmaker, so that’s obviously high praise from Austin to his young safety, who could have a bigger role this week if starting safety Tavon Wilson (shoulder) can’t go.

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buddyrabrahams · 8 years ago

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5 things Falcons need to get back to the Super Bowl

The Atlanta Falcons were minutes away from defeating the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI to bring home the franchise’s very first Lombardi Trophy. They had it in the bag. But then, in what felt like the blink of an eye, the wheels came off and the Falcons were left in shattered pieces on the turf at NRG Stadium.

For the Patriots, it was a historic and legendary comeback. For the Falcons, it was an epic collapse that could potentially linger for many years.

So that begs the question: What do the Falcons need to do to overcome this historic collapse and get back to the Super Bowl? Here are five things the Falcons need to get back to where they were.

5. A short-term memory

The Atlanta Falcons are a well-built, well-coached and well-run franchise. That was evident during their playoff run and nearly three full quarters in Super Bowl LI. Needless to say, they’ll be in prime position to return to the big game with the addition of a few pieces, which we’ll address momentarily, and a short-term memory.

The historic Super Bowl LI collapse could have a lingering impact, but if Atlanta wants to rebound in 2017, they can’t allow it to fester. Instead, as much as it pains them, they’ll need to take a page from Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. After winning the Super Bowl, Belichick lamented that the Pats were already five weeks behind other teams in terms of preparation.

The key will be looking ahead and not backwards, which is a message quarterback Matt Ryan delivered to Falcons fans earlier this week.

We came up short last night and my heart hurts for you Atlanta. Hats off to New England they played a heck of a game. We will adapt, we will over come, we will #RiseUp again.

A photo posted by Matt Ryan (@ryan_matt02) on Feb 6, 2017 at 1:34pm PST

The Falcons will likely never get over their crushing loss, but the reality is, they can not let it define them. 2017 will be a new year and a new opportunity, which is something they’ll have to embrace.

4. Interior offensive line help

The Falcons are absolutely set at tackle with both Jake Matthews and Ryan Schraeder, but they could certainly use and upgrade or two in between them.

Chris Chester and Andy Levitre were adequate at guard, each earning Pro Football Focus grades in the mid-70s, but the same cannot be said for center Mike Person, who was graded out at 54.5. Additionally, despite the relatively solid grades for Chester and Levitre, they did struggle quite a bit in pass protection.

These issues were highlighted at times during Super Bowl LI with Matt Ryan being sacked on five separate occasions and quite a bit of pressure coming from the interior as his pocket collapsed. But even during the regular season, Levitre gave up 41 pressures, which was fourth-most in the NFL, and Chester gave up 34. Levitre also committed the second-most penalties by a guard in the entire league (9).

As great as Matt Ryan was, justifiably winning league MVP, you can imagine how much better he would have been without the constant pressure.

If Atlanta can shore up those issues and Steve Sarkisian’s addition fits well, watch out.

3. Marquand Manuel needs to stay true to Dan Quinn’s defensive philosophy

When Dan Quinn took over as Atlanta’s head coach after his stint with the Seattle Seahawks, he brought with him a similar scheme and philosophy to what was run in Seattle. By all accounts, it worked for Atlanta.

As the 2016 regular season progressed, the young Falcons defense got better and better on a weekly basis. They featured a solid pass rush and were strong in the secondary — an ideal combination for today’s NFL. And while there are still a few pieces needed, one of the larger issues facing them is a change at defensive coordinator.

After their crushing Super Bowl LI loss, the Falcons fired defensive coordinator Richard Smith and subsequently replaced him with Marquand Manuel, who had previously served as the team’s secondary coach/senior defensive assistant.

The good news is that Manuel has familiarity with the system, scheme and players, but like most coordinators, he’ll want to put his own fingerprint on things. And while there’s nothing wrong with that, it boils down to a “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it” scenario.

Quinn’s style of defense works, so both he and the Falcons will need Manuel to continue along those line. But if Manuel opts to begin tinkering around too much, it very well could have a negative impact as players transition to a new coach, a new voice and an altered scheme.

2. A successful edge rusher

The Falcons made waves with a solid pass rush in 2016, which also showed up in the first half against New England in Super Bowl LI. Unfortunately, their lack of depth was evident and as players became exhausted, the pass rush fizzled out.

That’s not a knock on Vic Beasley, Dwight Freeney or anyone else on the Falcons roster, but a very real indictment of the sort of depth and balance today’s defenses require.

If the Falcons can add a talented edge rusher to go along with Beasley, who led the NFL in sacks this past season, it will help propel their constantly improving defense. It will also allow newly hired defensive coordinator Marquand Manuel a little more freedom with his game-planning.

Ideally, Atlanta’s defense would never again see the field for as long as they did in Super Bowl LI, but with an additional pair of fresh legs, it would help limit snaps counts and keep players fresh when they’re needed the most — in the fourth quarter.

1. A seamless transition for offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian

The Falcons offense was easily the best in football under former offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, so there will be justified concern with his departure and the hire of Steve Sarkisian.

The biggest thing that made the Falcons so dangerous in 2016 was their high-powered offensive attack Now they face a potential change under Sarkisian, who considers himself an even more aggressive play caller than Shanahan.

“I’m an aggressive by nature play caller and that’s something Dan believes in,” Sarkisian said during his introductory conference call.

Whether Sarkisian is as aggressive as Shanahan or not, like Marquand Manuel on the defensive side of the ball, he will eventually want to put his own stamp on things. And how quickly Atlanta’s offense adjusts to that stamp will be important.

The last thing the Falcons want or need is an offensive overhaul, so as long as Sarkisian doesn’t get too far ahead of himself and at least emulates some of what Shanahan did, the Falcons should be in good shape.

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giantsfootball0 · 8 years ago

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10 takeaways from Austin & Cooter

Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin and offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter spoke to the media Thursday as they do every week during the regular season.

Here are 10 takeaways from those media sessions:

5. Fast. Athletic. Aggressive. Those are the three words Cooter used to describe Atlanta’s defense.

9. Cooter had a pretty good line when asked about some of the creative touchdown celebrations we’ve seen from Lions receivers thus far.

“You know what? I keep missing that meeting,” he said. “I don’t know when or where it occurs, I haven’t been invited.”

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footballleague0 · 8 years ago

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Questions about the Lions’ X-factors, Falcons fans and Takk’s possible coming out party

Good morning and welcome to Straight from the ’Beek! We’re just days away from the Falcons-Lions showdown in Motown – and you’ve got questions. Just remember that all opinions you see in this space are mine, unless otherwise noted.

So let’s have at ’em.

Kevin from Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, England

Hi. I came over the pond for the Packers game. Loved the stadium and experience but was frustrated as to how many people left early. I’d be there every minute of every game if I could. Why do people leave so early considering how quickly a game can change and that this could have a detrimental effect on the team’s performance on both sides of the ball? If your team is winning, stay and have a party!!

Matt: Thanks for writing, Kevin. Glad you had a great trip and experience at the new stadium – and that your Falcons won, too. When I got here, they told me that Falcons fans tend to arrive “later” to games. Why? I have no idea. Maybe it’s the traffic? Maybe it’s the tailgating? But you could use that excuse for any fan in any city rooting for any team. And to your question, why so many left early on Sunday night during the Packers game? Maybe they left, or maybe they were walking around the concourse. It’s tough to know for sure, but there definitely were more empty seats. Maybe they thought the game was in hand and wanted to get a jump on the traffic, I dunno. It was late Sunday/early Monday morning and most people have to work on Monday morning, but I get your point. They were there and loud when it counted, so there’s that. It was my first regular-season game here, so I’m withholding judgment.

Robert from Los Angeles, CA

Hey Beek! Love the column. Been reading since day 1. First time contributing. I would like to know who your X-factors, or players to watch, are on offense and defense for the game against the Detroit Lions. I personally think the defensive line can get pressure against a Detroit O-line that’s missing their left tackle from last year to injury. On offense, I think the RBs will have a good day in both the run and pass game. Thanks, Beek, keep doing what you’re doing. The app is my way of keeping up with my Falcons news from Los Angeles.

Matt: Appreciate it, Robert. I think we all know Matthew Stafford is pretty good and the Lions helped him out greatly by investing in the offensive line during the offseason. It’s helped the running game some as well as given him more protection, it appears. As far as X-factors go, I think you have to keep your eyes on receiver Golden Tate and defensive end Ziggy Ansah. Tate is a like a running back in the open field – he can extend plays because of he gets the tough yards after catches. If he doesn’t score, he moves the chains. And Ansah changes the complexion of that defense. He had 30 sacks in his first three years. He was hurt last year, but he looks like his old self – he had three sacks against the Giants on Monday night. If those two are quiet or non-factors Sunday, I really like the Falcons’ chances that much more.

Vince from Clarkston, GA

Beek, no question just a Big Thank You for this Q&A! You really hit the nail on the head for a lot of my thoughts and the questions that are sent in answers the ones I have. Also, thank you “Ryan from Lake in the Hills, IL” lol

Matt: Glad you’re enjoying it, Vince. I’m still waiting to hear back from Ryan.

Rutul from Mount Prospect, IL

Hi Beek. I would like to see Julio get his 1st touchdown of the season. Do you think he will be targeted more this week in red zone? This will be game 3 and Julio does not have a touchdown. I would like to see him leading the league in touchdowns for receivers.

Matt: I think you and most Falcons fans feel the same way, Rutul. I’m anticipating another big year from Julio Jones, so I think you’ll see him targeted plenty. I wouldn’t get caught up in the stats (unless you’re playing fantasy football and you have Jones on your team, of course). I think this team is focused on 2017 – and making that deep postseason run. Just my two cents.

Larry from Las Vegas, NV

Hey Beek, I love the column. My question is, why aren’t the tight ends used more in playmaking like they did with Tony Gonzalez? I think using the tight ends in short situations will free up big plays for our fantastic receivers.

Matt: I think Austin Hooper is a terrific tight end and is only going to get better, but to be fair, he’s no Tony Gonzalez. Not yet, anyway. That said, Larry, I think a lot of times offenses take what the defenses give them – and if Hooper is open, I’m pretty sure Matt Ryan will find him. (See Chicago in Week 1.) Thanks for reading!

John from Buies Creek, NC

What name for Sanu at QB? Just watch the video and let him tell y’all. AGENT 12!!

Matt: I think that name is as good as any for that formation and thanks for the video link, John. And in case some of you Falcons fans missed it, coach Dan Quinn is open to suggestions on what to call it. Check it out. Thanks for writing, John.

Brian from Clarkston, GA

What’s up Beek! Rise Up! Quick question, what does CMB stand for in defensive stats? Thank you, sir!

Matt: That would be combined tackles – tackles plus assists.

Kevin from Sierra Madre, CA

You are right about Dwight Freeney being 37 years of age. I would prefer JT Jones or Nordly Capi from the Giants. Fans only remember Freeney from his past. The present is we don’t need to pay Freeney’s salary. Let’s just hope Vic comes back soon. Let Mr. Freeney become a defensive coach for the Falcons instead.

Matt: To be fair, you have to trust the Falcons on this one, Kevin. They work out the players, do their due diligence and they’re the professional talent evaluators. I think it all depends on the extent of Vic Beasley’s injury and how long they anticipate him being out. All we know right now is that he’ll miss this week. If it’s a month, well, they might move to Plan B, whatever that is.

James from Decatur, GA

It’s been 40 years since I put on the pads, but if DQ needs an outside backer willing to suit up, please forward to right people that I have one good game left in me.

Matt: Sure thing, James.

Kit from Canton, GA

Matt, didn’t hear anything about Wes Schweitzer this week, which is a good thing for an offensive lineman. Must have been a huge improvement. Can you comment on him?

Matt: You’re right, Kit. When you’re an offensive lineman and they’re not talking about you after a game, it’s almost always a good sign.

Lisa from Flowery Branch, GA

What’s up Beek. My question is, is there a chance that a podcast could be in the fans’ future? I for one, really enjoyed them. Second, I wish that we could have an option to listen to DQ’s full press conference, instead of just clips. This girl from the Branch like to hear the full story from my favorite team. And my last subject, is this the week we see Takk Attack? I think he will get his first sack in Detroit. Do you agree?

Matt: Lisa, nothing is set in stone regarding a podcast, but it’s on our radar. We’re making a lot of great changes here and whatever we do, we want to do it right. So stay tuned on that front. As far as the full DQ presser goes, you can watch it in a number of places, including Twitter, Periscope and Facebook. Check out the team pages. And to your last question, I think this would be the perfect week for Takkarist McKinley’s coming out party, especially with Vic Beasley sidelined. We shall see.

Jim from Raleigh, NC

Beek, what happened to the injury report? In the past, it’s always been posted on Wed., Thurs., and Fri.

Matt: Check it out here, Jim. We’ve got you covered.

Justin from Waco, GA

Hey Matt, I know it’s early in the season, but do you think the Falcons are the best team in the NFC South? I believe they are even though Tampa Bay looks much improved. I actually believe the Falcons are still the best team in the NFC and until someone proves otherwise we all should believe it.

Matt: I think it’s early, Justin. And I say that because we’re still trying to figure out the identities of all 32 teams – you can only base so much off last year and each week we learn a little more. Obviously, injuries can change all of that in one play, too. That all said, I think the Falcons had one of the most complete rosters coming into the season and Sunday night against the Packers was a good sign to see that offense is clicking again. I do agree with you two games in. They play the 2-0 Lions on the road Sunday and a win in Motown would only reinforce what most analysts, columnists and so-called experts already think about the Falcons.

Joni from Panama City, FL

Hey Beek! My question pertains to Matt Ryan. Is it possible, we fans might see him fake an end-around run and score when close to the goal line? I don’t think defenses would be prepared for that. I’ve wanted to see that many a time throughout his career.

Matt: Joni, I think with this offense – with all of its personnel groups, motion and formations – you should expect to see anything, maybe even a fake end-around run by Matt Ryan. Why not.

Travis from Greenbelt, MD

Who do you HONESTLY think will come out victorious on Sunday? I personally think the Falcons will come out on top but it will be a close one.

Matt: I’m always honest here, Travis. And I think the Falcons will win. I think it’ll be close until the end – and then they’ll pull away.

Kellan from Dayton, OH

Hey Beek, do you believe Freeney is the best available DE and if so, do you see us bringing him back in?

Matt: Really good defensive ends are almost as valuable as quarterbacks in this league, Kellan. If they’re walking the streets, there’s usually a reason. It will all depend on the ling-term prognosis for Vic Beasley. I think the Falcons would like to see some production from the players they have now and if they can get to the bye week (Week 5), my guess is that they’ll make a determination then on what to do. In a perfect world Beasley comes back next week healthy. Stay tuned.

David from Newnan, GA

Hey, Matt. I really like and read this every week. I think you seem to answer the same questions every week and it would be nice if you’d answer some different questions. Like maybe the questions I have asked the last two weeks. Really does not matter because l will continue to read. I promise I will never write to you ever again. Thank you for your time, good luck and goodbye.

Matt: Hey, David. I try to get the best and most interesting questions in every day — but I do not answer every single question submitted. Thanks for the kind words, thanks for reading and keep asking those questions!

HAVE A QUESTION?

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footballleague0 · 8 years ago

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O’HARA’S SCOUTING REPORT: Atlanta Falcons

Whatever hangover the Atlanta Falcons may have suffered from the historic collapse in their loss to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLI, they seem to have the prescription for short-term relief.

Take two wins in the first two weeks of the season – as the Falcons have done in beating the Bears and Packers heading into Sunday’s game against the Lions at Ford Field — and forget about seeing the doctor.

Heal thyself on the playing field is the best medicine.

The emotional pain and suffering were real – and lasting — for the Falcons when a 28-3 lead late in the third quarter melted away and turned into a 34-28 loss to the Patriots.

It was such a shocking loss that MVP quarterback Matt Ryan wrote about the fallout in the Players Tribune before the start of the regular season.

“Under the headline “The Hangover,” Ryan revealed his emotions in his column with these words:

“It was the biggest game of our lives.

“And we blew it.

“And honestly? It sucked. It still does. It probably always will.

“But now the question we’re facing is: How do you come back from that?”

The recovery started in the offseason, much to the satisfaction of head coach Dan Quinn with the spirit the team showed. It has continued in the regular season.

As Quinn said in a conference-call interview with the Detroit media Wednesday, the Falcons steeled themselves for the question they knew was coming but first looked within for the answers.

“We probably spent the time on it in the offseason,” Quinn said. “Even in the break (before camp), I wanted to find out if there was much work to be done or not. I really got our answer about the second day of training camp, when I really felt the speed and intent of the guys going for it.”

Here’s a look at how the Falcons shape up after two weeks:

How the Falcons got to 2-0: It’s been a mixed bag — a shaky performance in a 23-17 road win over the Chicago Bears in the opener, then a dominating effort most of the way in a 34-23 win over the Packers on Sunday Night TV in Week 2.

The opener was a survival test. The Bears had first and goal at the five with 21 seconds left. Three incomplete passes and a fourth-down sack preserved the win.

The turnaround in Game 2 was dramatic, but it came with the help of a Packers lineup shredded by injuries. Two fourth-quarter touchdowns by the Packers made the score look closer than the game actually was.

Falcons offense: They have talent and depth. Ryan and wide receiver Julio Jones are a quarterback-receiver combination with star power and production. Add to that a two-back rotation – two-time Pro Bowler and 1,000-yard rusher Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman – and there’s a reason the Falcons are so potent.

It starts with Ryan. A four-time Pro Bowler, he was voted the league’s MVP in 2016 after setting career highs for passing yards (4,944), touchdown passes (38) and passer rating (117.1).

Jones has gone over the 1,000-yard receiving mark four of the last five years, missing it only in 2013 when injuries limited him to five games. Jones has yet to break out. He has nine catches in the first two games, with an average of 19.3 yards per catch.

Freeman has been voted to the Pro Bowl the last two seasons, with rushing totals of 1,056 and 1,079 yards and 11 TDs both years. Coleman chipped in 520 yards and eight rushing TDs last year, and a 13.6-yard average on 31 catches.

Defense: It’s a unit built on speed and man coverage in the secondary.

However, the Falcons will have to play without linebacker Vic Beasley, who’s expected to miss a month because of a hamstring injury sustained against the Packers.

Beasley is an elite pass rusher. He had a league-high 15.5 sacks in 2016 and was on the way to another big season before the injury with a sack in each of the first two games.

Asked what the Falcons will miss with Beasley out, Quinn replied: “That speed. He can really get off the ball. We’re fortunate this year. We had some depth along the defensive line. We feel like we’ve got some rushers.”

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giantsfootball0 · 8 years ago

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O’HARA’S SCOUTING REPORT: Atlanta Falcons

Heal thyself on the playing field is the best medicine.

The emotional pain and suffering were real – and lasting — for the Falcons when a 28-3 lead late in the third quarter melted away and turned into a 34-28 loss to the Patriots.

It was such a shocking loss that MVP quarterback Matt Ryan wrote about the fallout in the Players Tribune before the start of the regular season.

“Under the headline “The Hangover,” Ryan revealed his emotions in his column with these words:

“It was the biggest game of our lives.

“And we blew it.

“And honestly? It sucked. It still does. It probably always will.

“But now the question we’re facing is: How do you come back from that?”

The recovery started in the offseason, much to the satisfaction of head coach Dan Quinn with the spirit the team showed. It has continued in the regular season.

As Quinn said in a conference-call interview with the Detroit media Wednesday, the Falcons steeled themselves for the question they knew was coming but first looked within for the answers.

Here’s a look at how the Falcons shape up after two weeks:

The opener was a survival test. The Bears had first and goal at the five with 21 seconds left. Three incomplete passes and a fourth-down sack preserved the win.

It starts with Ryan. A four-time Pro Bowler, he was voted the league’s MVP in 2016 after setting career highs for passing yards (4,944), touchdown passes (38) and passer rating (117.1).

Defense: It’s a unit built on speed and man coverage in the secondary.

However, the Falcons will have to play without linebacker Vic Beasley, who’s expected to miss a month because of a hamstring injury sustained against the Packers.

Beasley is an elite pass rusher. He had a league-high 15.5 sacks in 2016 and was on the way to another big season before the injury with a sack in each of the first two games.

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giantsfootball0 · 8 years ago

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What the Falcons are saying

Every week during the regular season, the opposing head coach and sometimes a player speak to the Detroit media via conference call. This week it was only Falcons head coach Dan Quinn on the conference call, but we perused atlantafalcons.com to see what else Falcons players were saying about Sunday’s showdown between undefeated teams.

So, what did they have to say about this week’s matchup?

1. When asked what stood out to him about the Lions’ defense on tape, Quinn said it was their ability to rush the passer with their defensive line, and then how fundamentally sharp they are tackling. Detroit has tackled very well these first two weeks, and are credited with a combined 32 quarterback hurries from Pro Football Focus.

2. Falcons cornerback Desmond Trufant said the biggest job for his secondary this week is limiting Detroit’s big plays and “cheap” deep balls. The Falcons have taken notice of Stafford’s ability to scramble in the pocket, keep plays alive and then take shots down the field.

3. Speaking of Stafford’s ability to extend plays, Quinn said that was one of the big differences between “The Matt’s” as he put it, meaning Stafford and his quarterback, Matt Ryan. He said both quarterbacks were talented, experienced and accurate, but that Stafford can probably make more plays with his legs than Ryan can. That’s a part of Stafford’s game that is obviously being noticed around the league.

4. Quinn said one of the difficulties in game planning against the Lions is that on any given week someone different can step up for them in the passing game. The Lions don’t have a true No. 1 receiver like Atlanta does with Julio Jones. We’ve already seen that play out in the first two weeks of the season. Week 1 it was Golden Tate and Kenny Golladay. Week 2 it was Marvin Jones Jr. and Eric Ebron.

5. Atlanta center Alex Mack is expecting a tough game in the trenches Sunday. He thinks Detroit’s defensive tackles do a good job of penetrating, and they “cause a lot of problems.” Watching tape of the Lions’ defense, Mack said Detroit’s linebackers also do a good job playing downhill, and the secondary does a good job covering behind it all.

6. Atlanta will be without talented pass rusher Vic Beasley on Sunday due to injury. Beasley had two sacks in two games, and Quinn says his defense will miss his speed more than anything. He did say, however, that they are more equipped to handle the loss than in years past because of the depth they have along their defensive line behind Beasley with Brooks Reed, Takk McKinley, Adrian Clayborn and Derrick Shelby

7. There aren’t any really big philosophical changes with Steve Sarkisian taking over as offensive coordinator in Atltanta this year. The Falcons had one of the top offenses in the NFL last season, so Quinn said they wanted to stay with what they were doing from a system standpoint. Quinn did say that Sarkisian brought some fresh eyes, and they’ve added some different packages to the offense this season.

8. Mack says the Falcons are planning for an extremely loud atmosphere Sunday at Ford Field.

“We’re certainly concerned about the crowd noise and we’re going to do what we need to do,” he said.

The post What the Falcons are saying appeared first on Daily Star Sports.

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footballleague0 · 8 years ago

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What the Falcons are saying

So, what did they have to say about this week’s matchup?

8. Mack says the Falcons are planning for an extremely loud atmosphere Sunday at Ford Field.

“We’re certainly concerned about the crowd noise and we’re going to do what we need to do,” he said.

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