Falcons Team Report

INSIDE SLANT

The injuries continue to mount.

With the Falcons set to face Drew Brees(notes) and the New Orleans Saints’ vaunted passing attack, they couldn’t afford to lose a cornerback.

But starting right cornerback Chris Houston(notes), arguably the best corner on the 29th-ranked pass defense, has been ruled out of Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury.

Brent Grimes(notes), who has started two games at right cornerback and two at left cornerback, will likely step in for Houston.

Grimes had an interception against Brees in the first game.

“I think we are a very young defense that has not played as consistent as we would like throughout the entire season,” Falcons head coach Mike Smith(notes) said.

“I think there have been spurts within games that we’ve played efficiently and effectively. I think that our guys are going through the learning curve and experiencing the ups and downs of being an NFL player. That’s where I think we’re at right now.”

Grimes is athletic, but he measures less than 5-feet-10-inches tall —meaning he’s usually outmanned against above-average-sized receivers. He’s a scrapper and he keeps battling back from being targeted by several quarterbacks this season.

He first lost the left starting cornerback spot with a poor training camp. Brian Williams(notes) was signed before the start of the season to take over. On third downs, Williams would move to cover the slot receiver and Grimes would play outside.

After Williams suffered a season-ending knee injury, Grimes took over but eventually lost the starting nod to Tye Hill(notes), who then lost it to rookie Christopher Owens(notes).

Grimes knows he’ll be battling all day against the Saints.

“One week (Robert) Meachem is making some big plays,” Grimes said. “The next week it’s (Marques) Colston. Then they might try to get Reggie Bush(notes) some touches. Then, there is (Jeremy) Shockey. There are a lot of people to focus on.”

On Sunday against the Saints, it will be Owens and Grimes starting with Chevis Jackson(notes) handling the slot duties.

“You just can’t say we have to stop this person or we have to stop that person,” Grimes said. “It’s a whole offense and that’s what makes them so successful.”

• In retrospect, it was a rather ambitious undertaking.

The Falcons’ plan to replace five starters on defense has not worked out too well through 12 games of the season.

Last season, they used a bend-but-don’t-break defense that held up enough to allow them to finish 11-5 and reach the playoffs.

But the team may have overreacted after a playoff lost to the Arizona Cardinals when they felt some of their older player’s lack of speed and range cost them the game.

So safety Lawyer Milloy(notes) was not re-signed. He’s a reserve now with Seattle.

Linebacker Keith Brooking(notes) received a much better offer from Dallas. He is having a fine season after being reunited with Wade Phillips, his former defensive coordinator in Atlanta.

Cornerback Domonique Foxworth(notes) signed a lucrative deal with Baltimore. He has struggled with the Ravens.

Nose tackle Grady Jackson(notes) was allowed to leave during free agency. He signed with Detroit and has played in 11 games.

Linebacker Michael Boley(notes) was not pursued in free agency. He signed with the New York Giants. He’s battled some injuries but is starting to play well.

While trying to break in the new starters, the Falcons have struggled. The team has given up 48 pass plays and seven running plays that have gone for 20 yards or more.

The coaches call them explosive plays and they’re killing the Falcons’ playoff hopes.

“Explosive players are normally one of four things,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “Three of the four are on the defensive players. Very rarely do you see a great throw and a great catch. It’s usually a mental error, a missed tackle or poor leverage. Those are the three things that contribute to an explosive play.”

Three potential replacements on defense ended up on the injured reserve.

The Falcons were counting on first-round draft pick Peria Jerry(notes) to start at nose tackle for Jackson. Jerry’s out for the year with a knee injury.

Second-round pick William Moore(notes) was expected to start at strong safety for Milloy, but he only played in one game.

Cornerback Brian Williams was signed late from Jacksonville and was starting at cornerback before he was lost to a knee injury.

Linebacker Michael Peterson was signed to play weak-side linebacker for Brooking. He had a fast start to the season, but has tailed off.

Linebacker Steve Nicholas took over at strong-side linebacker for Michael Boley and has been solid.

Looks like over the upcoming offseason, the Falcons will have to take another swing at fixing their defense. They will likely have to start with the secondary that has given up so many big pass plays.

“Right now we are not handling the explosive plays,” Smith said. “We are 31st in the league in terms of giving up the explosive plays. It’s something that we’ve been working on and trying to address all season long. It’s something that we haven’t gotten fixed.”

Series History:   81st regular-season meeting. Falcons lead the series 44-36. They split last season with each team winning at home. The Falcons won at home last year 34-20.

NOTES, QUOTES

—rb J  erious Norwood has struggled since returning from his right hip flexor. He’s played in the last two games after missing five straight and has been ineffective.

He had six carries for 22 yards against Tampa Bay and 11 carries for 18 yards against Philadelphia. On the season, he’s had 36 carries for 118 yards and is averaging 3.3 per carry, well below his career average of 5.8.

He has caught 12 passes for 107 yards (8.9) and has a 22-yard touchdown pass.

“Not to make excuses, but I don’t know that Jerious is 100 percent,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “He’s fighting through that injury. I don’t know that he is explosive as he would be if he was 100 percent. Again, we’re not going to use injuries as an excuse.”

They are hoping he can return to form down the stretch.

“Jerious is a guy that can create explosive plays,” Smith said.

• Last season, middle linebacker Curtis Lofton(notes) ranked second in the League in tackles among rookies behind Jerod Mayo(notes) (according to STATS, Inc.) and received 2008 All-Rookie accolades from the Sporting News and Pro Football Weekly.

He has not had a drop-off in his second season, as he leads the team in tackles with 135. He had a career-high 19 against New England earlier this season. Lofton has also added two forced fumbles and two passes defensed.

Last season, he came out in passing situations. Now, he’s a three-down player and is emerging as a leader on the unit.

• The Falcons have had their share of injuries, the latest is a concussion to tight end Justin Peelle(notes), who will not play this week. Linebacker Tony Gilbert(notes) (hamstring) was placed on injured reserve.

Quarterback Matt Ryan(notes), who missed last week’s game against the Eagles with turf toe, and running back Michael Turner(notes) (high ankle sprain) will be game-time decisions.

After having very few injuries last season, the Falcons have been hit hard in 2009.

First-round draft pick Peria Jerry (knee), wide receiver Harry Douglas(notes) (knee), second-round pick Williams Moore (knee), cornerback Brian Williams (knee), long snapper Michael Schneck (broken ribs) and linebacker Tony Gilbert (hamstring) have all been lost for the season.

Fullback Ovie Mughelli(notes) (two games), running back Jerious Norwood(notes) (six), Turner (two full and parts of two others), left tackle Sam Baker(notes) (two, parts of two others), wide receiver Brian Finneran(notes) (three) and Ryan (one) have all missed games.

Last season, Baker, who suffered a concussion and a back injury, was the only starter to miss any games. He missed 11 starts, but played in eight games, making five starts.

“We can’t make excuses,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “There are no excuses. Injuries are a fact of life in the NFL. This late in the season, we are going to have guys down.”

By The Numbers:   0—Number of times the Falcons have dropped back-to-back home games under second-year coach Mike Smith.

143—T  ony Gonzalez’ streak of consecutive games with a reception. His streak ranks second among tight ends in league history behind Ozzie Newsome (150 games).

12-2—T  he Falcons’ home record in the Georgia Dome under second-year coach Mike Smith.

48—N  umber of pass plays that the Falcons have given up that have gone for 20 yards or more.

7—N  umber of rushing plays that the Falcons have given up that have gone for 20 yards or more.

Quote To Note:   “Guys, the sky is not falling.”—Falcons head coach Mike Smith when asked about the Falcons’ playoff chances with four games to play.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

The Falcons lack of depth at receiver got exposed last week when Michael Jenkins(notes) did not play. Veterans Marty Booker(notes) and Brian Finneran, who was coming off a knee injury, were not able to pick up the slack. They caught just two passes for 18 yards and were targeted on just four plays. The Falcons have some promising young receivers in the pipeline, but one of the most promising, Harry Douglas, missed this season with a knee injury. They keep shuttling Troy Bergeron(notes) back and forth between the roster and the practice squad, so they must see something there. Also, Eric Weems’(notes) role has increased this season.

Player Notes  

•  DT Jonathan Babineaux(notes) was arrested and charged with marijuana possession following a traffic stop on I-85 outside Atlanta, according to The Associated Press. The team released a statement saying: “We are aware of the situation concerning Jonathan Babineaux and are in the process of gathering information. Because this is a legal matter, we will have no further comment at this time.”

• QB Matt Ryan (turf toe) participated in the team’s closed walk-through part of practice for the second day in a row. He knows the game plan and has been at all of the meetings. He’ll likely be a game-time decision.

•  RB Michael Turner (ankle) is expected to be a game-time decision, coach Mike Smith said Friday.

• WR Michael Jenkins (ankle) has returned to practice, but is limited. He doesn’t appear 100 percent, but will very likely play against New Orleans.

• RG Harvey Dahl(notes) (ankle) missed Wednesday and Thursday practices. He could be replaced in the starting lineup for the second consecutive week by Quinn Ojinnaka(notes).

• C Todd McClure(notes), who left last week’s game with a knee injury, is set to make his 126th consecutive starter.

• TE Tony Gonzalez(notes) improved his streak of consecutive games with a reception to 143.

• MLB Curtis Lofton leads the team in tackles with 135.

Game Plan:   The Falcons went to the playoffs on the strength of their running game last season. Whether Matt Ryan or Chris Redman(notes) plays against the Saints, the Falcons want to return to their bruising style of play.

They attempted 44 passes against the Eagles. This season the Falcons are 1-4 in games where they have attempted more than 40 passes. The only victory was a 20-17 win over Tampa Bay.

The Falcons dropped games to the Saints (42 pass attempts), Carolina (41), New York Giants (46) and Philadelphia (44) when they got out of balance.

Matchups To Watch:   Falcons LT Sam Baker vs. Saints DE Will Smith(notes). In the first matchup on Nov. 2, Baker had a tough time with Smith. Baker has been practicing, but did not play last week with a nasty left elbow injury. He was a last minute scratch because of concerns about how effective he would be playing with an elbow brace. He said he should be ready for Smith this time around.

Saints QB Drew Brees vs. Falcons secondary. Saints quarterback Drew Brees should have a field day against the Falcons leaky secondary. The Saints lead the league in points and yards. He’s spreading the ball around to all of his receivers, has incorporated tight end Jeremy Shockey(notes) into the offense and will be looking to Reggie Bush out of the backfield.

Falcons LG Justin Blalock(notes) vs. Saints DT Sedrick Ellis(notes). These two didn’t square off in the previous meeting. But Ellis will be a load for Blalock. His combination of speed and power have helped him anchor the defense. As the second-year player finds the right speed and flow to the game, he will just continue to grow and develop

Injury Impact:   QB Matt Ryan (turf toe) will likely try to play at less than 100 percent.

• RB Michael Turner (sprain right ankle), re-injured against Tampa Bay, will try to go at less than 100 percent after not playing last week.