Falcons in Flux -- ATL fantasy performance WKS 15-16 (1 Viewer)

[Stompin' Tom Connors]

Since the Petrino thread never seemed to get around to discussing this, how do Sharks feel Petrino walking out on the club will affect the fantasy community in these pivotal playoff weeks?

Some believe that Petrino leaving will help open up opportunity for Norwood -- others I've talked to seem to think that with so much up in the air, the Falcons stick to, if not what's worked for them, what's familiar in terms of playbook and personnel.

Roddy White has been outstanding this season, but with a new QB at the helm, and with the team experiencing such a shake-up, does using White -- or indeed, any Falcon -- become fraught with risk?

I tend to think that while the gameplan stays in place, the emotional turmoil that this club is experiencing is bound to take its toll on the field in some way. Disarray on the sidelines and in the staff room often finds its way on field, especially in the week after it all goes down (imagine what practices are going to be like this week) and while I've depended on Falcon players here and there as spot starts in the flex, I'm sorely tempted to look elsewhere this coming week.

Thoughts?

 

[Judge Smails]

99% chance that this team is in absolute chaos/quit mode this week. Vick, blowout loss, short week, HC abandons them. Tampa Bay D is the play of the week. After they get crushed, they may actually come together and man up the last two weeks, as they realize there is no pity party and they are playing for their jobs. But not this week. I expect a listless performance to say the least.

 

[MU Seminole]

I tried to get this tangent going in the other thread without much success.

It's hard to see ATL doing well this week @ a good defense in TB. You mention White - he has been tremendous the last three weeks but I'm leaning toward benching him now. IMO Petrino created much of his value. ATL can't be focused this week, while TB is in a playoff run. IIRC TB has the #4 pass defense anyway, while ATL's pass offense is somewhere in the 20s. And Redman will be making his first road start of the year. That's a lot of negative signs.

 

[Deuce'sWild]

You realize if you bench White he will go nuts. I did so vs the Colts #1 pass def and he had a great game. They look for him deep often. I think I counted 5 go routes they threw to him last game. Two were caught (1 for a td and the other 1 yd short of a td) and the other 3 were out of reach. But, the fact is they are going to try to get him the ball deep, which could turn into a big game real easy.

 

[FFdork]

I agree it's a risky play. I guess there's two main categories on how this might affect the team: preparation and motivation.

Preparation: things have to be pretty disorganized while they figure out who is going to be doing what. It's a short week and there's just no way it's a normal week of practice and getting ready to play. I know there are people on these boards that have spun this as a positive change because they think Petrino is an idiot, but other than something like playing Norwood more or maybe some in-game decisions, I don't see any major philosophical changes for this week or the rest of the season.

Motivation: I can see this going either way. They could mail this one in, but the rumor is that the players hated Petrino. I wonder if they might try to give an inspired performance as a sort of 'don't let the door hit you in the ####' type thing. However, in a grind like a NFL football game, I think this kind of 'rah rah' stuff is rarely sustained for very long. Your motivation has to be internal.

 

[Two Deep]

I can't imagine they have anywhere to go but up. Petrino was an absolute joke for a coach. With that said I doubt they change much this late in the season. I might add if they are smart they will run the ball more and rely on the one playmaker they have in Norwood.

 

[PatrickT]

This probably got lost in the other thread, so I'll post it again here:

Emmitt Thomas, the Falcons secondary coach, will serve as interim head coach of the team for the final three games of the season, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

That's from the AJC. Stands to reason that Jackson will be calling the plays now and I suspect he'll try to go vertical. That was his MO in Cincy, wasn't it? No clue as to what his opinions are on Dunn/Norwood, I won't even speculate there.

Still can't see this as being a good time to start any Falcon tho. Maybe Roddy in the flex, if you don't like your other options.

 

[FFdork]

One thing I left out in preparation is game-planning. It's possible that Petrino was really bad and someone on the staff (that he picked) is better, but I wouldn't want my fantasy season riding on that hope. I expect status-quo, so...

My thought is that if White was a clear-cut starter for you, he should continue to start for you.

Norwood could see an increase in action, but that's pure speculation probably largely fueled by people that have held on to him hoping. It's the playoffs for almost everyone now, so he's a pretty risky play.

I would imagine those are the only two guys that anyone other than the really desperate or someone in a 20 team league would potentially care about.

 

[Deuce'sWild]

White isn't playing for a contract or anything (he signed a 5 yr deal in 2005), so I guess there's a chance he mails it in. But, it's hard to sit this guy, even with decent options like Berrian and Driver....he's put up 22, 22, and 13 pts in the last 3 weeks.

I just don't see that changing too much even though the head coach left. They'll probably run the same offence and White will still be targetted often.

Anyone else think differenty?

 

[PatrickT]

White isn't playing for a contract or anything (he signed a 5 yr deal in 2005), so I guess there's a chance he mails it in. But, it's hard to sit this guy, even with decent options like Berrian and Driver....he's put up 22, 22, and 13 pts in the last 3 weeks.I just don't see that changing too much even though the head coach left. They'll probably run the same offence and White will still be targetted often.Anyone else think differenty?

I agree, I think the questions are: Will the routes be run _quite_ as crisply? Will the oline hold the block _quite_ as long? Will the RB hit the hole _quite_ as hard? Will Tampa smell blood and bury the QB all day? Risky, that's all.

 

[zamboni]

IYou mention White - he has been tremendous the last three weeks but I'm leaning toward benching him now. IMO Petrino created much of his value.

I don't think Petrino created his value, but that his his development as a WR/playmaker made the team want to get him the ball. Besides, Bobby Jackson probably deserves more credit for his development.

 

[Paddy O'Seanessy]

If you're playing in week 17 make sure you start all your Seahawks. Falcons in a home closer will earn an EPA violation for all the cars in the players lot loaded up with engines running.

(that would be to make a quick get away)

 

[stevegamer]

I think we're going to see some pissed off Falcons who want to prove that Petrino was the problem.

On the Seahawks in week 17 - realize they may have nothing at all to play for by then; right now they have clinched the divison, are unlikely to catch Green Bay, and are a game up on Tampa with 3 to play with the tiebreaker on Tampa - head to head win. Tampa needs to win 2 more than Seattle does here on out.

Seatlle has @Carolina, Baltimore, @Atlanta.

Tampa has: Atlanta, @ SF, Carolina