Ask The Falcoholic!

Matt Ryan’s a huge question mark. Turf toe is a lingering injury and the coaching staff has shown a lot of caution about bringing him back. With our playoff hopes, however slim, hanging by the balance, he could well be back against you guys in a scaled-down gameplan. Hard to say.

Injuries, poor play-calling and a lack of consistent execution have doomed the Falcons of late. If I had to point to one thing above all others, it would be our complete lack of a pass rush. In weeks like this last one against the Saints, we managed to generate zero sacks and not a whole lot of pressure. That’s a killer when your secondary is shaky to begin with.

To the naked eye, Abraham is having a down year. According to our most diligent reader, a stats man of the highest order, Abraham has a ton of quarterback pressures this year, so he’s just an inch or two away from piling up that sack total. In my estimation, he’s lost a half step.

In his absence, our running backs are averaging under four yards a carry. Chris Redman is a very capable backup who could thrive with Michael Turner attracting attention and keeping defenses on their toes, but he’s having to throw way too often.

That’s not to say we don’t miss Matt Ryan, because we do. Turner’s just been far more consistent when he has played, and the Falcons have traditionally done well with a strong ground game.

There’s a modicum of balance, but the instant the team falls behind they air it out. It’s not working particularly well right now, either.

I never have a complaint with his play, but he rarely makes any standout plays. He’d be a solid 80 overall in Madden, the kind fo guy that you forget is back there for all the right reasons.

The team seems a lot less careful with him than Ryan.

Ryan’s gotten some limited work, but I think both are too far away from returning to risk it on this weekend’s game. Your defense would probably destroy them anyways.