Atlanta Falcons reporter @929TheGame | Founder, Cohost @FiveStripeFinal
Atlanta, GA
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Bryce Young is 7-26 as an NFL starting quarterback and 3-1 vs the Falcons. Good morning.
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Desmond Ridder being a funny guy after drawing an encroachment with the hard count
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The moment Miguel Almiron arrived in Atlanta #ATLUTD
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Bijan Robinson on Falcons defense: “At least I know I wasn’t trippin’ over the summer, because I wasn’t getting anything off against them.”
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Falcons QB Michael Penix: "I gotta throw the ball to the wide open receivers when they're open."
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#Falcons RB Bijan Robinson just walked through the door muttering “Georgia sucks” under his breath as he headed to the podium. 😂
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Today I was tipped that Braves closer Mark Melancon operates a turf company. Like, he takes phone calls with clients by day and pitches on nights and weekends.
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Was mad about the game, but then I remembered the Braves bought an office building.
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Bijan Robinson: "At halftime [Zac Robinson] was like 'bro, I should've always been on the sideline.' And I was like, man I agree!"
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Bijan Robinson said he recently blasted some Tame Impala in the locker room and thought it got a relatively good reception from the guys.
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Bijan Robinson said the time he spent with Christian McCafferey this summer extended well beyond just workouts. They'd particpate in Bible study together and Bijan generally learned how he lived and took care of himself day to day.
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#ATLUTD fans ready and waiting for the arrival of Miguel Almiron at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport.
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To recap the Falcons in today’s game:
-Can’t get play calls in timely
-Can’t run effectively against two high safeties
-Can’t complete a downfield pass
-Cant make a kick
-Can’t catch kickoffs
-Can’t rush the passer
-Use timeouts inefficiently
-Had a 23-yard punt
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Brian Snitker admits “we” (the Braves as an organization) have contributed to some of Kyle Wright’s previous struggles in the majors. Said it was important for him to pitch in one place for an entire season and amass innings and success.
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Freddie Freeman may very well land in LA or New York or somewhere else, but it’s worth remembering one thing while we’re waiting:
Anthopolous’ front office doesn’t leak. Braves fans are unlikely to hear any positive reports until he signs, wherever that is.
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Falcons K Parker Romo said his wife and young kids moved into town with him this week, relocating from Arkansas. Sounds like he’s got plans to stick around for the foreseeable future.
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Michael Penix Jr. is the only NFL QB who has played two full games and has yet to commit a turnover worthy play, per Pro Football Focus charting.
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Talked to Younghoe Koo today about the evolution of his kicking technique and approach angle. Koo, who plays a lot of golf and uses the golf analogies as it relates to kicking, likened his current approach to swinging a wedge vs. the more traditional way being like a 3 wood.
The "traditional" run-up allows kickers to create more rotational force and thus more power into the ball, just like a golf club that is longer and swung from a shallower angle. But Koo found his directional distribution to be much tighter with a straighter run-up, which he admits is probably the most extreme in the league. He also said he sacrifices some power by doing this, but figures that a 60-yard range (indoors) is good enough for what the team needs.
And to add to Sam's point, Koo does indeed work with Carney a bit during offseasons. But he said this re-working was self-taught, and came down to him reverse engineering from the point of contact and finding a way to make that 12-18 inch motion through the ball as consistent as possible.
I did wonder this recently.
I assume it's a John Carney thing, but Carney himself didn;t kick this straight-on iirc.
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Mercedes-Benz Stadium is ROCKING at the final whistle after Atlanta United beats Inter Miami 2-1. #ATLUTD
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Holy cow, 42,263 here at Truist tonight, which is not just more than Opening Day -- it's the largest attendance ever for a regular season game in this ballpark.
For a replica ring.
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The most impressive run of Bijan’s professional career imo. Shows a jump cut, contact balance and a burst of speed.
Atlanta Falcons
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Asked Jeff Ulbrich about Greg Olsen’s commentary below. Interesting comments about the strategy and player profiles.
Greg Olsen explains 3-WR run plays and 2-TE pass plays from the best play callers.
If he was a DC, he'd match down-distance tendencies rather than match with personnel.
piped.video/watch?v=6exWUGCz…
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The Falcons somehow beat the Packers and Texans, while losing to every team it played that is drafting ahead of them:
Chicago (and Carolina)
Washington
Arizona
Tennessee
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Falcons continually are getting set at the line of scrimmage with under 10 seconds on the play clock. Then put players in motion with the snap coming near :00 almost every play. A young quarterback barely has time to look at the defense. Zero chance to can plays.
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Josef on if @MLS has sent him a nameplate yet for his golden boot last year: "The UPS Store must be closed because MLS never sent me shit."
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I remember watching some of it in the middle of the night in college on Fox Soccer Channel and remember thinking to myself it was the most insane version of the sport I’d ever seen in my life — in an incredibly fun way.
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Bijan Robinson said he’s preparing for a fine for getting caught from behind on his long catch and run… Tyler Allgeier has confirmed to us the fine will be incoming.
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In the Falcons last four losses, they lost leads with:
34 seconds left vs MIN
2 second left vs AZ
36 seconds left vs TB
1 second left vs CAR
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Unsurprisingly, Matthew Bergeron said he likes it when things get chippy at practice.
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Regarding his contract status, Matt Judon said "The Atlanta Falcons don't know me as a football player. They know my history. So I can't demand something I haven't worked for."
Said he's just working to put his best foot forward at this point. Doesn't appear to be a sticking point.
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Imagine this with a competent defense…
Ian Hartitz
The Falcons are putting all the pieces in place to be one of the great turnaround sexy teams in the NFL over the next few seasons.
A lot of weapons, they are fixing the pass rush, easy division, fans ready to blow up Mercedes Benz this year.
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#Falcons S Jessie Bates III is now wearing No. 3 after Mykal Walker’s departure.
You get exactly one guess as to why he switched.
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Alex Anthopoulos told us he had a soft serve ice cream machine installed in the Braves clubhouse in June at the request of Freddie Freeman. He added that if they won the division, he'd send one to his house.
"I just told him, we can get it delivered tomorrow."
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Josef Martinez: "The affection I receive from the fans here is something that can't be bought." #ATLUTD
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You cannot have an offsetting penalty because an offensive lineman holds an edge who jumps offside and will destroy the quarterback if not impeded. Bad officiating.
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Ruke Orhorhoro has generated a pressure rate of 19.6%, the highest mark among defensive tackles with at least 40 pass rushes this season, per NFL Next Gen stats.
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#Falcons RG Chris Lindstrom on a long-term extension: "I want to be a Falcon for my whole career. The team definitely knows I want to be here, my agent knows I want to be here, so I'm gonna let them do their thing and earn their money."
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Josef Martinez with another classic: "I was happy, especially on that second [goal]. I was just walking and the ball found me. It was like a glass of rum I didn’t have to order, it was just there."
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Kyle Wright just said “I didn’t really have my best stuff at any point.” 😳
New year, new Kyle.
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Source tells me George Bello and Atlanta United have agreed to terms with Bundesliga side Arminia Bielefeld, whose interest was first reported by @GrantWahl.
He is currently on a plane to Germany to finalize paperwork. Bello has had positive talks with AB manager Frank Kramer.
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I didn’t realize that the reason the clock was running was because the Falcons put the ball in play by legally snapping it and then just waiting it out.
Crunch Time Sports
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Adam Duvall has come to Atlanta and hit like he’s playing against the Braves every day. You love to see it.
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Some startling Falcons splits through three weeks per @PFF:
- Only one pass attempt from under center
- 93% pass rate out of shotgun formation
- Over 70% run rate out of pistsol formation
- 4th lowest play action pass rate in NFL
- lowest deep pass rate in NFL (4%)
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Good stuff from James Pearce Jr. speaking about the togetherness that’s formed on defense, especially among his rookie classmates. (Questions from @JoshTheAthletic).
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Raheem Morris deserves credit for correcting a mistake on Falcons defensive staff. The correction was not *just* firing Jimmy Lake, but understanding WHY Lake didn’t work and finding different coaches who would bring what the team and its roster needed. Which was Ulbrich AND Nate Ollie AND Mike Rutenberg.
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Falcons fans screaming for years to trade Matt Ryan also mad the Falcons have traded Matt Ryan 🎯
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James Pearce Jr. said he’s been compared to Falcons EDGE Leonard Floyd since college. Now they’re teammates.
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Franco absolutely beaming with pride watching Acuna do this national TV interview in English.
Rewriting the record books on the way to winning NL MVP 💪
@Braves phenom @ronaldacunajr24 joins the show to talk about the honor of being #1 on the #Top100RightNow!
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NEWS: Darren Eales writes in a letter to season ticket holders: “as a brand-new benefit and for the first time ever, Atlanta United will provide free tickets for members travelling to away MLS matches in 2023.” 👀
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Josef Martinez: In Venezuela, they think everyone needs to play at Real Madrid. Well, this is my Real Madrid or my Barcelona. #ATLUTD
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Zac Robinson confirmed today: Unintentional direct snap.
Bijan steps up to pick up the A gap blitzer and decides to just take the wayward snap and go. Incredible physical and mental reaction.
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So far the Falcons big trade up results in:
Falcons receive:
EDGE James Pearce Jr.
S Xavier Watts
Rams receive:
2026 1st Round Pick (~12-24)
TE Terrance Ferguson
7th Round Pick
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#Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. talks about bonding with his teammates.
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David Onyemata and Matthew Bergeron were at the center of a scuffle at #Falcons practice that has caused a halt to the proceedings here. Raheem Morris giving an impromptu speech to the entire team in the field as I type this.
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Still don’t think a lot of national media/fans yet understand what kind of talent Penix is. These highlights aren’t new for any of my followers, but it’s still just amazing to think these are all from the first three games of his career.
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What a performance this has been from Ian Anderson. Nasty weather, first World Series game in Atlanta in 22 years, he’s 23 years old… and shoving
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Josef Martinez is fit and available for selection in game No. 1, per Bocanegra. #ATLUTD
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When’s the last time a Falcons quarterback has broken out a genuine smile speaking about the defensive performance?
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Fabrizio Romano confirms last night’s report with added details. In the end, Bello had the leverage to get the move he wanted — one that will give him a chance to compete for a starting spot every week against Bundesliga opposition ahead of a World Cup. Big year.
USMNT left back George Bello has decided to join Arminia Bielefeld over Cercle Brugge. Atlanta United have accepted fresh proposal for $2m plus significant sell on (25%). 🇺🇸🇩🇪 #MLS #AtlantaUtd
Bello only wanted to join Arminia and the deal is now in place.
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Michael Penix Jr. said "I had no idea" that the #Falcons were going to be the ones to give him the call with the 8th pick.
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Falcons are 2-2 going into the bye, just as most Falcons fans would've hoped for entering the season.
As it turned out, they won both the games that most would've expected as losses, and vice versa.
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Josef Martinez talking about the season opener vs. Orlando: "The father is back." #ATLUTD
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#Falcons WR Drake London on QB Desmond Ridder: "He only had four games last year. People didn't really see all of Dez... Now they get to see him and get see what he does, so I think he'll shut a lot of people up and silence those doubters for sure."
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Images from the Falcons sideline on the CBS broadcast show a frustrated Kirk Cousins pleading with offensive coordinator Zac Robinson after the team's last thee-and-out.
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#Falcons DC Jeff Ulbrich apologizes publicly for his and his son’s role in the Shedeur Sanders prank phone call.
“The Sanders family was amazingly gracious… more than they needed to be.”
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#Falcons safety Justin Simmons on *that* dinner.
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Bijan Robinson said on Tyreek Hill's podcast that the first thing he did upon signing his Falcons contract was -- not buy something (yet) -- but get with his accountant and make sure every year of the money was tithed.
He walks the walk.
piped.video/aiUG3KDIsd0?t=2905
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James Pearce Jr. has generated 10 pressures on 67 pass rushes, resulting in the highest pressure rate among any of the 25 rookies with at least 50 pass rushes this season (14.9%), per NFL Next Gen Stats.
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#Falcons Penix told media he did not meet the Falcons brass at their facility in Flowery Branch during the pre-draft process.
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Important to remember Penix had never thrown to these receivers even in practice until Week 16. Literally had zero reps with starters.
Important context when reading into his accuracy numbers through his three starts.
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The Falcons miss Kaleb McGary.
The #Falcons are 31st in the NFL in run block win rate (68%).
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Darlington Nagbe said he basically has not been in contact with the #USMNT at all recently, even in the lead-up to the Gold Cup. Frank de Boer said he's without a doubt one of the best midfielders in MLS.
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Mohamed Sanu on Calvin Ridley: "He's one of the most talented people I've ever been around. So I'm giving him everything I know about the game to help his game reach even better heights." #Falcons
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Brad and Josef have a special bond that started in Guzan's first ever Atlanta United practice.
Guzan arrived to the team in June 2017 after finishing his season with Middlesbro -- several months into Atlanta's inaugural season. By this time, Josef Martinez had already gotten off to a blistering start in MLS and was quickly making a name for himself. Legend has it, Josef sprinted after a ball into the box and Guzan came out to clear, clattered Josef in the process (perhaps intentionally), and immediately started jawing loudly for everyone on the training pitch to hear. He immediately earned Martinez's respect, and the two remained the team's emotional leaders through some incredible success the next three years.
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Falcons QB room dynamics in a nutshell:
Kirk Cousins requested that rookie Michael Penix supply the suite with trail mix.
Taylor Heinicke requested Zyns.
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I love college football. I love the mess. I love the commitment to this post, highlighted by the detail of the fingers in the drawing of the arm.
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Asked Michael Penix about Falcons Defensive Pass Game Coordinator Mike Rutenberg, who is a character. Penix explains 😂
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