Monday recap...

Head Coach Mike Smith: Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images

Atlanta Falcons Head Coach Mike Smith sat down Monday to go over Sunday's win against the Carolina Panthers. Coach Smith noted that the key to winning the ballgame came in the second half when the team committed zero penalties. In the first half, they had four for 57 yards. To me, this is very important in a ballgame because penalties makes a team lose momentum. Such as one key play on Sunday. Running back Michael Turner ran up the middle then cut to the left for a 41 yard gain. But it was called back on a personal foul by WR Roddy White. Momentum and  drive killed at that point. Last year the Falcons lead the league in fewest penalties committed. This helped in sustaining drives, which also helped the birds lead the league in drives of 10 plays or more. But not this year, Falcons are one of the top teams in most penalties committed. And as I said in a previous post, maybe the Falcons are getting back to old school Falcon football, and now fewer penalties will be committed.

Smith also noted that defensive End Ray Edwards has had two straight games where he has registered a sack. Smith said that he feels Edwards is just now getting comfortable with the defense. I hope this is the case, and not because we were playing the Panthers. But I do have to say the Panthers were giving QB Cam Newton plenty of time to throw, meaning good pass blocking. Panthers O-line is pretty good. I'm hoping this will continue throughout the remainder of the season. Having DE John Abraham lining up on the other side of Edwards, and Edwards getting into his own, is a good sign for our defense.

Smith went on to say that the training staff put WR Julio Jones through a rehabilitation drill on Monday to see how his hamstring was holding up. They will hold him out and see how he does when the team gets back on the practice field on Wednesday for preparation for the Detroit Lions (5-1). Since Smith didn't say that Jones did okay, or he ran well. Leads me to believe that Jones might not be ready for Sunday's game. I feel that the team needs him in there. WR Harry Douglas did well in his absence this past game, but it means we are down a receiver that has down the field speed, and not the slot receiver taking his place.

To close out this post, I want to commend Smith for calling out New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton, and wishing him a full and speedy recovery. Payton got barreled over in this past Sunday's game as a Buccaneers player tackled a Saints player, taking him out of bounds and knocking Payton over. Payton tore his MCL and broke his knee cap bone. Even though things might not have gone so well so far this season, at least Smith has respect to wish a division rival a good recovery.