The over/under for the Falcons is 8 wins.  The Falcons are currently 30-1 to win the Super Bowl, and 15-1 to win the NFC.

My suggestion would be to take the under.  The Falcons have a tough schedule this season, and it will show in their record.

Falcons middle linebacker and main run stopper Ed Hartwell is out yet again.  After playing only five games last season before rupturing his achilles tendon, Hartwell has undergone artheroscopic surgery on both knees.  He is expected to miss 2-4 weeks and is doubtful for the season opener. 

I really hope this is not going to be a recurring thing with Hartwell.  The Falcons need him on the field.  Without him last year, the Falcons defense was absolutely horrid against the run.  Well come to think of it the defense was pretty horrid all around, but especially against the run.  Atlanta needs a healthy Hartwell if they have any intentions of making a playoff run this season.

They say that game #3 of the pre-season is the dress rehearsal for the regular season.  If that is true, the Falcons will be a running team on offense……LOL!  In essence, even a regular season game against the Titans would have a practice type feel to it, because the Falcons second team defense is probably as good as the Titans first team.

Michael Vick completed 7 of 14 passes for 48 yards and a TD.  Vick also ran the ball 3 times for 34 yards.  Matt Schaub completed 4 of 8 passes for 25 yards.

Jerious Norwood looked awesome.  Norwood ran the ball 9 times for 104 yards (11.6 ypc) and a TD.  Back-up running back Marlion Jackson, who’s battling for a roster spot, rushed 18 times for 95 yards (5.3 ypc) and helped his cause.

The Falcons defense bottled up the Titans running backs, holding them to 54 yards on 19 carries (2.8 ypc).  The Titans completed 63.6% of their passes for a net of 220 yards passing.

As everyone knows by now, the Falcons acquired Ashley Lelie from the Broncos in a three team deal a day or two ago.  I’m not real sure what to think about this trade.  Let me preface this by saying I really hope this deal turns out well.

Lelie, who will be a free agent at the end of the season, wanted out of Denver because he wanted to be the #1 receiver, and that wasn’t going to happen behind Rod Smith and the newly acquired Javon Walker.  So the big solution to that problem is to bring him to Atlanta to play behind Michael Jenkins and Roddy White.  Wait, what?  Am I the only one that finds a small problem with that line of thinking?  He may be happy with the Falcons for a little while as #3, but how long will that last?

The biggest question I have is that should Lelie outplay Jenkins or White, will Mora move him up the depth chart?  The conviction with which Coach Mora states that White and Jenkins are his #1 and #2 receivers is borderline stubbornness.  I understand being loyal to your players, but sometimes common sense and good judgement have to join the equation.

My greatest fear is that Coach Mora will leave Lelie at #3, regardless of his production, and then Lelie will bolt for another team in the offseason.  So essentially, the Falcons will have traded a solid running back in TJ Duckett for a one year lease on a #3 receiver.  Now understand that I’m not a NFL general manager, so I could be wrong, but that doesn’t seem like a wise business move to me.

I sure hope my bleak outlook on this deal is way off base.  I suppose we’ll find out before too long!!!

The Falcons are looking good on offense.  The Falcons are really running the ball well in the pre-season.  The Falcons are averaging 153.5 yards rushing per game and 5.2 yards per carry!  The passing game is a little behind the running game so far.  The Falcons are averaging 180.5 yards passing per game and completing 53.3% of their passes.

The Falcons defense has been horrid so far in the pre-season.  The Falcons are allowing an astounding 144.0 yards rushing per game and a 4.7 average yards per carry!  The pass defense hasn’t been much better, allowing 237.5 yards passing and allowing 60.3% of the opposition’s attempts to be completed.