Some “experts” criticized the Falcons for trading a second round pick last April for future Hall of Fame TE Tony Gonzalez but I wasn’t one of them.  I knew that Gonzalez would give Matt Ryan a safety net on passes over the middle that he had not had before.  Gonzalez has responded by catching 52 passes for 583 yards (11.2 avg) with 5 TD grabs so far this season.  Gonzalez is a gamer too so I think he will play even better than he already has down the stretch for the Falcons this year.

Michael Turner was off to a rough start to the 2009 season but he has exploded the last two weeks for the Falcons.  Against the Saints and Redskins, Turner has carried the ball 38 times for 317 yards (8.3 ypc) with 3 TD runs.  He has also caught 2 passes for 14 yards the last two weeks.  The Falcons’ offense is now really starting to get back to full speed with Turner rocking right now.  His recent surge has really improved his season numbers which looked a little lethargic for him.  He has now carried the ball 156 times for 720 yards (4.6 ypc) with 10 TD runs this season.  He has also caught 5 passes for 35 yards (7.0 avg) so far this year.  Turner gives the Falcons’ offense balance which makes the game easier for QB Matt Ryan so they hope he keeps up the good work the rest of the way.

Curtis Lofton has been a tackling machine this season for the Falcons.  In six games for the Falcons this season he has 62 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 2 forced fumbles and he has defensed 2 passes.  Lofton has 15 more tackles than any other Falcons player and he would be even better if the defensive line kept offensive linemen away from him.  He is a threat to lead the NFL in tackles this season and the Falcons are very glad that he’s on their team.

As a rookie WR in 2008, Weems only caught 1 pass for 4 yards and he returned 1 kickoff for 19 yards.  With Jerious Norwood injured when the season started the Falcons needed someone to step up and Weems has certainly done that.  He has returned 10 kickoffs for 255 yards (25.5 avg) this season and he has also returned 7 punts for 49 yards (7.0 avg).  Weems has seemed to find a home for himself on returns and that has allowed the Falcons to get Jerious Norwood to focus on playing running back which should help the team.

Kroy Biermann and John Abraham were all up in the backfield of the Dolphins all of last Sunday.  Biermann had 5 tackles, 2 sacks and he forced a fumble.  Abraham finished with only 3 tackles but he also had 2 sacks.  The Falcons need Biermann and Abraham to keep up the good work but putting a lot of pressure on opposing QBs.  It really helps the secondary of he Falcons which is not a team strength if the DEs can rattle the QB.