The Falcons got pushed around by the Patriots on Thursday Night.  Matt Ryan was so-so in completing 8 of 13 passes for 76 yards.  John Parker Wilson finished up the game by completing 14 of 25 passes for 98 yards with 1 TD pass and 1 INT.  Antone Smith led the way on the ground for the Falcons in this game with 8 carries for 44 yards (5.5 ypc).  He also added 2 grabs for 14 yards (7.0 avg) for the Falcons.  Michael Turner (8 car, 32 yards) and Dimitri Nance (8 car, 21 yards, LF) helped out a bit in the ground game.  TE Justin Peelle (3 rec, 30 yards) and WR Troy Bergeron (2 rec, 28 yards, TD) led the way in the passing game for the Falcons.  The Falcons finished up with 98 yards rushing (3.9 ypc) and 168 yards passing in this game.

The defense didn’t look too sharp.  Safety Erik Coleman led the way for the Falcons in this game with 5 tackles and 1 pass defensed.  DEs Lawrence Sidbury (4 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 QB hit and 1 sack) and Kroy Biermann (3 tackles, 1 sack, 2 tackles for a loss and 1 QB hit) also made a impact on D for the Falcons.  The Patriots finished up with 120 yards rushing (4.0 ypc) and 179 yards passing in this game.

The Falcons looked like they were sleepwalking last night but they were still good enough to beat the Chiefs.  Matt Ryan was so-so in a brief appearance completing 3 of 6 passes for 34 yards.  Chris Redman wasn’t much better completing 4 of 7 passes for 30 yards.  John Parker Wilson finished up the game by completing 8 of 16 passes for 80 yards.  RB Antone Smith led the way on the ground for the Falcons last night with 36 yards rushing on 12 carries (3.0 ypc).  Michael Turner looked sharp rushing for 29 yards on 4 carries (7.3 ypc) last night.  Jason Snelling wasn’t too sharp last night rushing for 24 yards on 11 carries (2.2 ypc).  Dmitri Nance only rushed for 6 yards on 7 carries last night (0.9 ypc) but he rushed for 2 TDs.  Nance also caught 2 passes for 26 yards (13.0 avg).  The Falcons finished up with 100 yards rushing (2.7 ypc) and 144 passing yards last night.

The defense was good against the pass and not too good against the run last night.  Linebacker Spencer Adkins led the way for the Falcons’ D last night with 6 tackles and 1 QB hit.  LB Curtis Lofton was very busy last night too with 5 tackles, 1 sack, 2 tackles for a loss and 1 QB hit.  CB Chevis Jackson had a good game last night with 3 tackles, 2 passes defensed and 1 interception.  The Chiefs finished up with 130 yards rushing (4.6 ypc) and 143 yards passing.

25-year old WR Eric Weems will likely be the Falcons’ player getting most of the action on kickoff returns.  Weems played in 16 games last season with the Falcons and he returned 48 kickoffs for 1,214 yards (25.3 avg).  He has now played in 23 games in his NFL career and he has returned 49 kickoffs for 1,233 yards (25.2 avg).  Weems might be needed more on offense early this year with Michael Jenkins injured but I still see him getting his fair share of action on kickoff returns.

27-year old RB Jerious Norwood could also get some action returning kicks in 2010.   He played in 10 games for the Falcons last season and he only returned 1 kickoff but it went for 39 yards.  Norwood has now played in 55 games in his NFL career and he has returned 117 kickoffs for 2,987 yards (25.5 avg). 

No matter whether Weems or Norwood is returning kicks the Falcons’ offense will likely have a lot of solid field position when they trot onto the field in 2010.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE FALCONS KICKOFF RETURNERS in 2010:  B+

The Falcons will be without starting WR Michael Jenkins for the next 4-6 weeks due to a injured left shoulder.  This is a huge blow to the Falcons if Jenkins isn’t ready to start the season.  The Falcons have loved what Harry Douglas has been doing in training camp but I’m not so sure he would be ready to step into Jenkins’ starting spot by opening day.  Brian Finneran, Eric Weems and Kerry Meier aren’t starting material either so the Falcons need Jenkins to make a speedy recovery.

The Atlanta Falcons have finesse on the outside of the O-Line and nastiness on the inside.  Starting left tackle Sam Baker is a much better pass blocker than a run blocker but that’s exactly what you want guarding the QBs blind side.  LG Justin Blalock is a brawler on the inside as he loves to move piles in the running game.  Todd McClure is the senior member of the Falcons as he has played 11 years for them.  McClure makes the calls on the O-Line and he’s a solid technician.  Right guard Harvey Dahl likes to fight until the whistle blows and he’s an outstanding run blocker.  He in downright mean and that’s what you have to be when playing on the inside of the )-Line.  Tyson Clabo is more of a pass blocker than a run blocker.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE FALCONS O-LINE in 2010:  B