Falcons-Saints Coverage

Friday, Oct. 19

Thursday, Oct. 18

Wednesday, Oct. 3

• NEWS: Leftwich to start at quarterback Sunday
• FALCONCAST: Recapping the quarterback change
• VIDEO: Head Coach Bobby Petrino
• TRANSCRIPT: Head Coach Bobby Petrino
• VIDEO: Quarterback Byron Leftwich
• TRANSCRIPT:Quarterback Byron Leftwich
• VIDEO: Wide receiver Michael Jenkins
• VIDEO: Wide receiver Joe Horn
• VIDEO: Guard Kynan Forney

 

J. Mike's Missives

From the Bayou to the Bye Week

Just walked past quarterback Byron Leftwich. He was on crutches after the game as a result of his ankle injury... Check on the web site tomorrow for more information. No more word on rookie left tackle Renardo Foster, who went down late in the fourth quarter after the Saints took a 22-16 lead that would prove to be the final.

It's a quiet bus.

President and General Manager Rich McKay said once that the greatest thing about the NFL is the fact that every game is the biggest game of the season. When you have a 16-game regular season anything can happen. I like that line because, win or lose, you always have another Sunday to look forward to.

We saw some big plays in this game and we saw some plays I'm sure the Falcons will want to have back. That's the case each and every week.

It's a little harder this time because Atlanta goes into a bye week -- a chance to rest and stew over anything that may have been left on the field. It will likely be a short week at Flowery Branch and players will get a chance to find their favorite vacation spot.

But they won't forget about football.

How can they when the greatest game of the year may be just around the corner?

Sunday, Oct 21., 3:43 p.m. CDT
J. Michael Moore

Fourth Quarter Notes

13:02 -- The Falcons line up second-and-17 from the Saints 48 after an illegal formation penalty wiped a first down off the board.

11:59 -- Wide receiver Roddy White and quarterback Joey Harrington get the team out of a jam with a 32-yard completion down the far sideline. The play sets up first-and-goal at the Saints 7 yard line.

10:22 -- On third-and-goal at the 3, Harrington's pass for Joe Horn flies high out of the back of the end zone. That brings in Morten Andersen for a 21-yard field goal attempt. It's good. 16-14 Falcons.

10:13 -- After the kick off, the Saints have the ball first-and-10 at their own 31. Wish I could help you follow the action longer, but, like an onion, there's several layers to this managing editor. I'm off to get post game coverage ready. Take care and look for me after the game.

Sunday, Oct 21., 2:45 p.m. CDT
J. Michael Moore

Third Quarter Notes

12:43 -- There may still be questions about how Saints running back Reggie Bush can handle the load as a full-time starter. But he just blew away any questions I may have had about his athleticism by leaping over a Falcons defender who laid out to try to make a stop on the near side. The Heisman Trophy winner launched himself into the air, landed on one foot and seemed to lose no speed as he dove forward toward the first-down marker. He appears short, though, and the Saints will think about going for it on fourth-and-1 at the Falcons 48.

12:35 -- Good play call by the Saints on fourth-and-short as quarterback Drew Brees takes the ball on a naked boot leg down to the Falcons 39.

10:15 -- The Saints are on the board as rookie running back Pierre Thomas runs 24-yards through traffic for a touchdown. The extra point gives the Saints their first lead since early in the first quarter -- 14-13.

10:15 -- This crowd is in a frenzy as the Falcons take the ball for the first time in the second half.

9:45 -- A deep pass for Joe Horn fell incomplete, but there may be a bigger issue at hand. Byron Leftwich got twisted up on the play and spent several minutes on the turf as trainers worked on his right ankle. Joey Harrington enters the game on third-and-13 and throws incomplete.

7:03 -- The Falcons defense picked up a stop after Leftwich's injury, giving the ball back to the offense. So far, the team has picked up one first down with a catch, move and dive by rookie tight end Martrez Milner.

5:49 -- Harrington gets some more help in the passing game as rookie Laurent Robinson makes a leaping, acrobatic catch over a saints defender for a 25-yard gain.

4:21 -- Announcement on the press box PA, Leftwich's return is questionable.

3:44 -- A 16-yard loss on an errant snap brings up third-and 29 from the Falcons 48. It seemed as if the ball was snapped too early as Harrington was looking to make a few adjustments down the line.

Sunday, Oct 21., 2:20 p.m. CDT
J. Michael Moore

Second Quarter Notes

12:35 -- Warrick Dunn just got a first down with pure heart. Well, it seemed that way as the 11-year veteran lowered his head on third-and-2 and ducked under a tackle. Dunn picked up a blitz on the next play to free quarterback Byron Leftwich to complete a 23-yard pass to rookie Laurent Robinson into Saints territory.

11:58 -- Some stats from the first quarter... The Falcons average drive start was their own 21. The Saints? Their own 45. Running back Jerious Norwood touched the ball four times on offense for 37 yards. Roddy White led the Falcons in receiving with three catches for 38 yards.

11:25 -- Leftwich scrambles forward close to the first down inside the Saints 10. Not a lot of style on his slide, but it was effective. The Falcons line up for third-and-4 at the 10.

10:25 -- A penalty on Justin Blalock backed the Falcons up another 5 yards, which kept the first down just out of reach. Another field goal attempt from Morten Andersen was good, closing the gap to 7-6 Saints.

10:21 -- Bring out the trickery! The Falcons appear to have recovered an on-side kick and... they have! Michael Koenen dribbled the ball straight ahead off the tee, giving Adam Jennings a chance to recover the ball. He did so at the Atlanta 42.

8:36 -- Here's one for the sweat glands. Leftwich just took a big hit from safety Josh Bullocks on a blitz but got the ball away. It was tipped right into the hands of Norwood who made it back to the line of scrimmage.

7:59 -- The Saints brought the house on the next play, too, forcing Leftwich into another pop-up pass that fell harmlessly incomplete. It did lead to a 33-yard punt by Michael Koenen.

5:31 -- Atlanta has the ball again and are on the move. Leftwich just converted a third-and-15 with a deep pass over the middle for Michael Jenkins. That play sets up first-and-10 at the Saints 29 and allows Warrick Dunn to slice his way up the middle for a first down in the red zone.

3:31 -- White just pulled in a low pass on a slant route for the first touchdown of the game for the Falcons and a welcome reward for several cracks in the red zone that resulted in field goals. Extra point. 13-7 Falcons.

1:53 -- An interception return by DeAngelo Hall inside the Saints 20 gets taken off the board as Rod Coleman is called for jumping off side on a Saints third-down play.

0:36 -- It's looking like the Saints are going to get a chance to get on the board here toward the close of the first half as Drew Brees finds Eric Johnson with a third-down strike to the Falcons 34. It's fourth-and-2 and the Saints are going to go for it... Brees tries a play-action boot leg and his pass is intercepted by Demorrio Williams. Williams laterals the ball back to Hall, who works his way up to the 25. The Falcons then take a knee to get to halftime.

Sunday, Oct 21., 1:27 p.m. CDT
J. Michael Moore

First Quarter Notes

15:00 -- The Southern University marching band is on hand today and their setup in the end zone made for a perfect college style, through-the-band entrance for your Atlanta Falcons.

15:00 -- Joe Horn went out for the coin toss and I'm not going to lie. He's got a swagger. Horn called "heads" and smacked his hand on the turf in glee when the Falcons won the opening flip. Atlanta and Jerious Norwood took the ball...

14:49 -- Byron Leftwich's first pass as the Falcons starter is a dart to the left side that is juggled and caught by Roddy White for a 9-yard gain on the near sideline.

11:52 -- The Falcons have picked up blitzes and two first downs thus far and have even thrown in some empty-backfield shotgun sets. The last one created an opening over the middle for Michael Jenkins, who made the grab but got rocked by safety Roman Harper.

11:20 -- It's third-and-6 at the Falcons 49 now... Leftwich out of the shotgun and the Saints bring the house. Leftwich is taken down by a group of Saints and fumbles. The Falcons recover and get a punt off, but the kick is returned by Lance Moore all the way out to the Atlanta 41.

9:51 -- Jimmy Williams will get some more time in the secondary today and he wasted little time in making his presence known. On third down, Williams tapped a deep ball away from Marques Colston. The Saints elect to keep kicker Olindo Mare on the sideline instead of attempting a 51-yard field goal.

8:54 -- The strategy worked for the Saints, who pinned the Falcons inside the 10 with a punt and forced a three-and-out on defense. Michael Koenen punted from his end zone and, after a return by Moore, New Orleans offense takes over at the Falcons 49.

7:16 -- When given time, Drew Brees can place the ball just about anywhere. The quarterback just hit Devery Henderson with a 37-yard touchdown pass over linebacker Michael Boley and two defensive backs who closed in on the end zone late. 7-0 Saints after Mare's extra point. Henderson was called for taunting on the play and the Saints had to kick from the 15-yard line. Norwood returned the kick 18 yards to his own 33.

5:57 -- Everyone up here in the press box is continually impressed with Norwood's speed. The youngster just took an inside hand off on second-and-17 and sprinted to the outside and down the field for a 30 yard gain. That gives the Falcons a first down inside Saints territory -- their first trip there for the afternoon.

4:13 -- The Saints broke their streak of blitzes on third down, this time coming on a delayed rush. Leftwich got enough time to find White on the far side for 16 yards and a first down at the New Orleans 27. White ran a gorgeous route on the play, digging in his cleat and coming back to the ball. The move put a good 5 or 6 yards between him and the nearest defender.

2:26 -- New Orleans blitzed on their next big third-down opportunity and forced a Leftwich incompletion inside the red zone. That brought in Morten Andersen for a 38-yard field goal attempt. The ball split the uprights, making the score 7-3 Saints.

0:00 -- Atlanta's defense came up with another stop on the final play of the first quarter as Brees third-down pass for Henderson was just out of the receivers reach. When we open the second quarter, the Saints will punt from their own 39.

Sunday, Oct 21., 12:46 p.m. CDT
J. Michael Moore

Inactives and Notes

Atlanta will be without the services of Alge Crumpler today.

The Pro Bowl tight end will be inactive today with ankle and knee injuries. Dwayne Blakley will take his place in the starting lineup.

Other inactives for the Falcons include quarterback Chris Redman (third quarterback), fullback Corey McIntyre, linebacker Stephen Nicholas, offensive linemen D'Anthony Batiste, Harvey Dahl and Todd Weiner and defensive tackle Montavious Stanley.

Sunday, Oct 21., 10:52 a.m. CDT
J. Michael Moore

Mid-Morning Musings

Here we are at a cavernous and frigid Superdome. We're told that the AC will be turned off soon (just trying to cool it down before fans enter the stadium). Nevertheless, this is one of those rare occasions where I'm happy to wear a suit and tie on game day.

Speaking of occasions, I'd like to wish my wonderful mother-in-law Jan a happy belated birthday.

Now, back to the upcoming game.

After some more time to ponder this match up between the Falcons and Saints I think fans should look forward to a good game today. These teams are as evenly matched as you'll see in the NFL -- and that goes beyond their similar records.

The defenses are solid and opportunistic with the Falcons featuring one of football's rising stars in outside linebacker Michael Boley. Both teams have had their struggles on offense, but both also have the ability to throw the deep ball as Falcons Head Coach Bobby Petrino talked this week about quarterback Byron Leftwich's arm strength.

You get the feeling this is one of those games that can come down to a turnover. The Falcons have been in several games like that this season, including the last two games where they picked up a total of eight giveaways. Taking advantage of turnovers on offense is a key to this game that I'll talk to Matt Moore about a little later in our program Falconcast).

Another reason why we have an exciting game on our hands? The history.

It's been feast or famine with these two teams when it comes to success as 24 times in the last 37 seasons one team has swept the other.

Sunday, Oct 21., 10:16 a.m. CDT
J. Michael Moore

Big Game Coming in Big Easy

Just got into the hotel room and am pleased to announce that, from what little I've seen, New Orleans is making strides in its recovery from Hurricanes Rita and Katrina.

How can I tell? An elevator ride and a television commercial.

I stepped onto the elevator at the hotel just before Warrick Dunn, a native of Louisiana. A gentleman nodded and spoke softly and politely.

"Hello, Mr. Dunn."

I've been traveling with NFL teams for four seasons and have never heard anyone in an opposing city speak so kindly to a member of the visiting team. When I got to the room I turned on the TV and found a commercial presenting Chris Paul and the NBA's Hornets "bringing the bounce back to New Orleans." In it the star guard said "the people" make the city.

"How true," I thought, moving toward the window and seeing a gaggle of college-age kids partying down the street on the back of a vintage fire engine.

This city has been through a lot. There's no question about that. But don't think for a minute its spirits got washed away in the storm surge.

The Falcons came up on the losing end of an emotionally-charged game here last season as the Saints reopened the Louisiana Superdome. That game is still fresh on the minds of a lot of players wanting to get back on the winning track tomorrow. It's been more than a year ago, but I'm betting there will be more than a few bursts of that same energy tomorrow.

But don't worry Falcons fans, that's a good thing. This game is important and it should be played with passion.

And, no matter the outcome, it's refreshing to know this city will offer a tip of its cap and be ready to welcome the NFL for many years to come.

Saturday, Oct 20., 4:46 p.m. CDT
J. Michael Moore