TD alt

So the PFF angle is turning out to look pretty damned good.

Different situation and context. To be clear, in general the Falcons were expected to compete for the division, and, to put it bluntly, we were not. The Falcons roster was generally thought to be ready to compete for a deep run when he took Raheem Morris took the job. Moreover, Morris and GM Terry Fontenot made the decision to take Penix Jr., notwithstanding all that money Kirk Cousins was paid, and the decision backfired big time. The comment was a one-liner that doesn't pass muster when analyzing the two situations. As for David Tepper, I would think that it's pretty obvious that he has taken a backseat since Dan Morgan has been a GM. For those that don't want to give him credit for adjusting his modus operandi, I guess you'll continue to berate him into perpetuity because it's easy and "fun," I guess. Admittedly, has made what turned out to be boneheaded decisions in retrospect based upon what I'll refer to as "billionaire bravado," pre-Morgan, but it is what it is. Tepper was a bit of a control freak, and probably still is (they probably all are), but at least now he is letting football guys run the show. Now I'm not one that says the owner should never get involved, especially when things are going badly, but that should largely be to swing the axe, and signing off on major changes. Tepper wants to win, and he's trying to make it happen, and I can appreciate the improvement. As for Morgan, and by extension Canales, we'll see. They're still relatively new at their positions (as is Tepper, relatively). They aren't going to be perfect, and are still figuring things out. I think that the improvement from the 2024 draft to the 2025 draft is stark, but you have to realize that the prior draft was hamstrung due to the residual effects of the king's ramson for Bryce Young, and it was this admin's first draft. And, of course, it must never be forgotten that they came into the situation hamstrung by Bryce Young, who was not their choice (especially DC's), and is a ways away from the prototypical franchise QB. In light of all that, I would be surprised if either is fired after the season. Although I am skeptical and critical of Canales, and don't necessarily think that he has made improvements coaching---situational play calling in particulatlr---I still can't fully say he can't coach as long as he has Bryce as a QB. In one sense, I can say that it's amazing that he has improved in spite of Bryce's shortcomings, but in another sense I can say that we're not going to go anywhere fast, or anywhere at all, if this duo is allowed to go on, as Dave is coaching to Bryce's shortcomings (so to speak), because that's all that he can do if the team has any opportunity to eek out some wins. In other words, I still don't know how this is going to go, but I do pretty much know that we improved, if only incrementally, and that Tepper's change is obvious, Dan's change from year one to year two is a little less obvious, though still stark, Canales may or may not have improved as he's tied down, and Bryce hasn't really improved at all. Admittedly, I don't think Bryce is the long term answer, so my opinion of him may be highly subjective, but I just don't see it. We don't know what the fug we're going to get week to week, and I see the same mistakes though Canales may be trying to mitigate them.

Not gonna happen

There were worse teams, even maybe one of our own.

That may be, but I ain't rooting for the Saints. The refs were as much as the Bucs victory as anything.

I told y'all that he was done a long time ago and that he wasn't our best back, but then got blowback. I double down on what I said. Unless we do something stupid, he'll be gone anyway.

Moving the ball down field and getting close to scoring position, and you do a trick play, on a wet field no less. My, oh my.

The refs need to be fined or fired for making terrible calls

I understand, but bringing someone in who will actually improve the situation is no guarantee. They're all damaged goods in some sense. Could we get marked improvement? Maybe. We surely would hope so, but it's still not guaranteed. And as for the draft, honestly we'd probably have to have a lot of luck involved, provided that we don't spend round 1 and/or 2 draft capital. Do we really want to do that notwithstanding other needs that are wanting? That's a discussion. I don't see it as guaranteeing him two more years of being the starter, especially how he plays. Unless the light switch comes on and we see something totally different than what we've seen for the last three seasons, I don't know that Bryce lasts even another full season. Even the Tepper's have to have come-to-Jesus moments, and I just can't see Dan And Dave testing the pliability of their job strings by continuing to let Bryce continue to hot and cold. I see the option, if they exercise it, as a going through the motions---a cost-effective one last gasp at trying to save a sunk cost.

I mean, you wanna go cold turkey...Enter a QB abyss? I seriously doubt that a move like that will be sanctioned (and that's probably the most realistic way to fix the problem). Brett Rypien, anyone?

Not exactly what he said. He expects it. Perhaps Kimes expects it, but they're just reading the tea leaves like everyone else. Hell, I expect it ( considering our FO). But there is nothing definitive as of yet.

It's a national broadcast per Google AI. There's always a way to watch BTW, or so I've been told.

I mean, this year we should've easily been a playoff team in my opinion. We should have easily had two or three more wins--at least one--had not Bryce crapped the bed. But let's be serious about human nature and what we know about our FO. I wouldn't bet the farm that Bryce will be anything but the defacto starter in 2026, because (inconsistent though it was) we have exceeded expectations this year, and some in the FO probably believe, rightly or wrongly, that Bryce is at the center of that. You know, piece of bread seems like a meal if all you've had is a cracker. That being said, Bryce has shown plenty of inconsistency if not a downright pattern of flaws. He's a third year QB, and some, if not most, of his metrics aren't pretty. It could be argued that he should be further along (for me it's not really arguable). So, hopefully the decision makers will acquire a couple of plan Bs. I would hate it and love it if we identified "our guy" in the draft, and that it was somehow achievable to acquire him with a couple of high draft picks or even less. But we already pulled the trigger on Bryce with arguably awful results, so that's got to make the decision makers a little skittish to repeat a mistake that should be still fresh on everyone's mind. That being said, I think that it's more likely that we acquire a player like Mac Jones, Malik Willis or Trey Lance in free agency, and also target a day two or day three developmental pick in the draft with some real upside. That pick for would be Drew Allar who should slide to day three (I'm thinking). I think that this is more realistic than them releasing Bryce from his starter's role from the get-go, or someone just flat out playing themselves definitely into the starter's role by the time the season begins. Now, again, if we can find "our guy" that changes the narrative and is expected to be the starter from day one, I'd be excited, if not downright ecstatic, but I don't think that's a realistic expectation. Getting back to the team in general, If we don't make some improvements, including QB, I wouldn't bet that we'd necessarily be a playoff team next year, because, the rest of the NFCS is likely to improve next year. I don't expect that teams in our division will be necessarily able to "backdoor" themselves into the playoffs next season. So we're going to have to hit on at least a couple of picks, get healthy along the line, and fundamentally change the way we're calling plays because lightning probably isn't striking twice. I'm hoping that we'll have a real breakthrough season by 2028, because this season and next season aren't likely to be it because removing ball-and-chains ain't easy unless you got the key, and It's still gonna take some time to find it.

I am not one to poo your posts, and I actually agree with some of your theses, but all "The View" stuff and "Low T" stuff is over-the-top. We have an imperfect team, and though there's potential there, it isn't all sunshine. And the fact is, men and fans are going to disagree on the regular about the best way for the team to get to where it needs to be. No need for all that, because people could characterize others as "Low-T" for trying to blow sunshine up people's asses and getting nonplussed because they don't agree with you.

This hasn't got a thing to do with X's country leanings and southern drawl (I may be perceived as having one, particularly from Yankees or Midwesterners of which I grew up with), but regarding football IQ he may just be unduly affecting the entire perception of the OP's perception of the team on that front. I could be wrong (let's get that out of the way), but in general, I just think that the team's inconsistency of lack of execution is due to a lack of talent, a lack of coaching--specifically a failure to utilize personnel effectively, and, along that same vein, a lack of scheme fit to maximize players' skills, and/or simply an inability to overcome weak links at pretty important positions on both sides of the ball. It could be some, part, or all of those things. And, the fact is, we just don't appear to be ready for the big time. We need some more pieces and more experience. Only then will we have a team whose IQ is not questioned, and a that wins and is expected to win.

That's somewhat intriguing, but we don't think outside the box, and he probably wants to remain a CB.

He sucks!

See the "participation trophy" thing is not on point. As always, literally, it's all about math. Each team begins the season with the same opportunity and if it comes down to a tiebreaker, that means one team did enough while the other one(s) did not. Win one more game throughout a 17 game season, and you don't have to rely on tiebreakers.

I will probably be thinking that during the offseason, just not in terms of the Saints, but a team a little closer to home.

Willis substituted for Love last season, and he made a very good impression. I didn't see Saturday's game (a loss), but I can tell you that since he's been filling in for Love, he's done OK for himself. He's been on my radar since last season.

This is likely one of the few times you'll ever ever see me root for the Falcons. The Panthers have put fans in a tough and unsavory position of rooting for the Dirty Birds for two consecutive games. It is what it is. We have two ways of getting in, and I'm rooting for both of them. "If the Atlanta Falcons win their final two games, versus the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night and the New Orleans Saints next weekend, they'd finish the campaign at 8-9. That outcome coupled with a Bucs win over the Panthers in their season finale would result in a three-way tie atop the NFC South, with Tampa and Carolina also at 8-9. If that is indeed what occurs, then the Panthers—thanks to the head-to-head tiebreaker—would capture the crown." https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/panthers/2025/12/28/panthers-buccaneers-falcons-week-18-playoff-clinching-scenarios/87937990007/

Corral was simply rated much higher, and that's not revisionist history. Comparing Bryce and Stroud, and even X and Ladd to Corral and Willis seems like more of an apples to oranges comparison in my opinion. That being said, Willis likely would've flopped here, just like Corral did. Hell, Stroud may not be the QB he is either (but that's an interesting aside to ponder). The thing with X and Ladd was we went for upside and RAS over definitive route running...which was stupid IMO, but several teams skipped the smallish, unassuming white guy, notwithstanding his expert route running...

Yep, Bryce is not athletic enough to ascend beyond his own physical limitations. I know that that statement is straight from Mr. Obvious and unnecessary to be said, but damned if some people just don't seem to get it.

The problem is, I just think Bryce is too short to see the field. He can't see the passing lanes because he can't see over the line, and that's why he bails the pocket so quickly on a comparative basis.