Time to Make a Statement

Jimmy Cribb/AtlantaFalcons.com

The Atlanta Falcons are playing the Pittsburgh Steelers tonight in their third preseason battle, but it's far more than just another preseason game. The Steelers are one of the few teams (alongside the Saints, Packers, and Patriots) who benefited from a short training camp period because of their already stable team chemistry and strong veteran presence. The Steelers are already strong contenders for the Super Bowl title and are ready to duke it out among the league's best. They came out, guns a-blazing last week against the Philadelphia Eagles and ripped them a new one. They proved that they are back and are hungry to redeem themselves from last year's championship game. Big Ben Roethlisberger, Troy Polamalu, Hines Ward and James Harrison are back and want blood - the statement they made last week says it all. It's critical that the Falcons step up to the challenge.

I'm hearing that the Birds are going to keep their first team offense and defense in at least through the first half. Good call, Coach Smith. It's obvious to me (and everyone else) that the offense this year, with Matt Ryan at the helm again and his weapons in the backfield in Douglas, Jones, White, and Gonzalez, will be one of the top in the NFL. The team also has an underrated run game with Michael (the Burner) Turner and Jason Snelling, plus the addition of rookie RB Jacquizz Rodgers. However, it's consistently been the first team defense that has been the proverbial Achilles' heel for this team. The Falcons' defense has suffered from injury across the board and has had issues with depth. This year, with some key starters healthy again, I think the guys in red and black will prove every naysayer wrong. I'm also hearing through the rumor mill that Ray Edwards may play a quarter or two, which will finally give Falcons fans a chance to see what impact he will have on the secondary (and hopefully it's a big one). Hopefully we will see Brent Grimes, John Abraham and Jonathan Babineaux come up with some big plays again, and I really believe this is the year Dominique Franks comes of age.

Jimmy Cribb/AtlantaFalcons.com

The Steelers are the first real opponent of strength that the Falcons have faced this preseason. It's also fair to say that this is a game that needs to be treated as the real deal - not just another preseason game to test second and third stringers and figure out new plays. This is the dress rehearsal for the regular season, especially with powerhouses on the schedule like the Eagles, Packers, Colts, and (this year) the Buccaneers. Time to step up and answer back, Falcons! I have total faith.  It all goes down against the Steelers tonight in Pittsburgh, and it's the Falcons chance to make the strong (and loud) statement they should.

By the way - here's a great "cheat sheet" put together by AtlantaFalcons.com writer Daniel Cox about some of the facts of tonight's Pittsburgh-Atlanta match up.

Until next time...
S