Falcons could have Matt Ryan back this Sunday

Sports

December 10, 2009

By CHARLES ODUM Picayune Item Thu Dec 10, 2009, 12:07 PM CST

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Mike Smith had more injured than healthy offensive starters by the end of the Atlanta Falcons’ third loss in their last four games.

That was only part of the somber news.

The Falcons’ 34-7 loss to Philadelphia on Sunday was the team’s worst in Smith’s two years as coach. The loss left the 6-6 Falcons on the fringe of the NFC wild-card chase.

More reason for concern: Just when the Falcons can’t afford another loss, the 12-0 New Orleans Saints come to Atlanta next week.

Perhaps intent on countering the somber mood, Smith assumed an upbeat tone on Monday.

Smith dismissed the lopsided loss to the Eagles as an “anomaly.” He insisted his team’s season is not over, and he said he hopes quarterback Matt Ryan and other injured starters can return this week.

“Guys, again, the sky is not falling, OK?” Smith told reporters.

Ryan wore street clothes and protected his turf toe injury by wearing a walking boot on the sideline on Sunday. The boot sat empty at Ryan’s locker on Monday.

Ryan wasn’t available for interviews. Smith said he hopes Ryan, who hurt his right big toe two weeks ago, will participate in the team’s first practice of the week on Wednesday.

“Of course we’re encouraged because we’re going to get a chance to see Matt out there on Wednesday,” Smith said.

When asked again about Ryan, Smith was less firm when he said “We’re hoping to see where he’s at on Wednesday. If he can come out and participate, then he’s going to come out and participate.”

Smith said the team’s medical staff was encouraged by Ryan’s progress last week.

Backup Chris Redman threw two interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, in his first start since 2007.

The Falcons began the game without five offensive starters: Ryan, running back Michael Turner, receiver Michael Jenkins and offensive linemen Sam Baker and Harvey Dahl. Center Todd McClure, who left the game with a right knee injury, was the sixth starter lost.

The defense took a hit when cornerback Chris Houston left the game with a hamstring injury.

“We’ve got an injury list right now that is pretty long,” Smith said.

Turner offered a quick update on Monday, saying only “I’m better.”

The Falcons have only four games remaining to climb back into the NFC wild-card playoff picture.

When asked how the offense and the team can recover from the loss to the Eagles, receiver Roddy White didn’t have a quick answer.

“Oh man, I don’t know,” White said on Monday. “That was a tough loss for us. We’ve just got to get everybody together and keep practicing and go out there and try to fight our way to a victory. Man, hopefully we get some of our guys back this week and get everything back together and try to win us a game.”

Smith said he told his players to wipe away the loss like water off a windshield.

“I think it’s an anomaly the way we played yesterday,” Smith said. “That s how I look at it and as I told the guys when we finished our meetings today, I wanted them to be kind of like a windshield wiper and just kind of wash that game right out of their mindset. We needed to move on and put that behind us as quickly as possible so we can get ready for New Orleans.”

Smith demonstrated by moving his arm like a windshield wiper.

White, who caught a touchdown pass from Redman on the final play for the Falcons’ only score, said it may not be so easy to move past the loss to the Eagles.

“It was tough,” White said. “I can’t recall the last time we got beat like that, so soundly. They did a good job. They came in here with a great game plan and they executed their game plan and we didn’t.”

Text Only

Sports

League tourneys set
With regular season play wrapping up over the weekend, local prep basketball teams now look forward to their respective district tournaments which begin this week.
All area teams will begin postseason play on Tuesday night, with two local teams hosting tournaments.

February 4, 2012
Super Bowl today
MVP quarterbacks on marquee franchises. A rematch of a nail-biter from four years ago, featuring many of the same key characters. Madonna and plenty of Manning — Eli, and Peyton, too.
This Super Bowl certainly has all the makings of another thriller, the perfect finish to a season that began in turmoil and wound up the most successful in league history.

February 4, 2012
Picayune sweeps Pearl River Central
Shemar Williams hit four of six free throws in the final minute and his Picayune teammates completed the task at hand as the Maroon Tide turned back Pearl River Central 70-62 on Friday night.

January 28, 2012
Green County beats Lady Hornets
A small sign in green and gold hung on the fence at the Poplarville High Stadium, reading, “We believe! Go Hornets!.”
And certainly, while a little belief can go a long way, it simply wasn’t enough for the Lady Hornets in Saturday afternoon’s semifinals of the Class 4A South State girls soccer playoffs.

January 28, 2012
Blue Devils face forfeitures
Pearl River Central’s Boys basketball team is in the midst of one of its best seasons on the hardwood in a decade. The Blue Devils, however, face the possibility of having to forfeit many, if not all of their 15 wins.

January 24, 2012
Local teams split hoops games
The struggles continued for both Poplarville High teams Friday night.
Homestanding Ocean Springs swept a pair of games from Poplarville, as the Hornets fell 83-35 and the Lady Hornets dropped a 48-36 decision.

January 21, 2012 1 Photo
River splits
Pearl River Community College splits with Hinds in women’s and men’s MACJC South Division basketball action here Thursday with the Lady Wildcats pulling off a 66-53 victory, while the Wildcats fell 62-59.

January 21, 2012
Moultrie’s big numbers lead MSU
When Arnett Moultrie and his Mississippi State teammates watch basketball highlights on television, the conversation often evolves into a discussion about the lack of respect the 18th-ranked Bulldogs feel they get on the national level.

January 19, 2012
Seal paces PRC to big win
Only two local prep teams managed to earn a win on the hardwood Tuesday night.
The Pearl River Central Blue Devils and Picayune Lady Tide were the only fortunate ones to pull out wins as the high school basketball season heads down the homestretch.

January 19, 2012
49ers beat, Saints 36-32
What a way to celebrate the 30-year anniversary of “The Catch.”
Joe Montana to Dwight Clark then.
Alex Smith to Vernon Davis now.
Smith completed a 14-yard touchdown pass to Davis with 9 seconds left just after Drew Brees had put the high-powered Saints ahead, and resurgent San Francisco capitalized on five New Orleans turnovers for a thrilling 36-32 playoff victory Saturday.
“This is big for us,” Davis said. “It’s history. It’s legendary.”

January 14, 2012
More Sports Headlines

Sports

Search Results

Falcons could have Matt Ryan back this Sunday

Site Map

Contact Us