RealGM

Assuming that Leftwich replaces Harrington in week 3, how many games will the Falcons win this season?

They won't win more than 5-6 games. They might even go 4-12. Leftwich will probably pay dividents next year when they draft a first round QB. He will be accustomed to the system, be the full time starter over the offseason and maybe give them a chance to compete for a playoff spot.

This year is a lost cause for the Falcons. New QB, new system, new coaches, very tough to win more than 6 games with that and there already 0-2.

I imagine it's ridiculously hard to go to a new team, with a new offense, with completely new players after the season has started and be prepared to start in the same week. It'll probably be 2-3 weeks before he starts if he starts at all. (even though I see him taking over eventually)

That said, I think we'd win about 6 games all things considered. Our defense has played more than well enough to win both games, but we were let down by our OL, Joey and our kicker. We just need a QB that doesn't play scared and take sacks whenever things don't go exactly according to plan. Leftwich also has a much stronger arm.

Not sure Leftwich is an upgrade over Harrington at all, if he were he'd probably still be playing in Jacksonville.

Jacksonville just wanted someone more mobile and reliable as far as injuries. Guarrad is better than Harrington, too.

3. from game 5 on. 13 sacks in two games people. Some of that is Joeys fault, but it can't all belong to him.

chrbal wrote:3. from game 5 on. 13 sacks in two games people. Some of that is Joeys fault, but it can't all belong to him.

Most of it does. I'd say about 2/3 of it is Joey. The other 1/3 is on the protection and the WRs.

He'll win enough for the 1st pick in the draft...

Leftwich has been in so many different systems that his learning curve shouldn't be too steep. What makes me wonder is that he's got that methodical, slow release and needs lots of room to stride into it or else he has awful accuracy. High 5 is right that Joey bears a good deal of responsibility for the high sack total, but they're allowing pressure up the gut and Leftwich offers much less lateral mobility than Joey. Leftwich doesn't panic and I know guys around the league respect him, so that will help.

Their defense, when fully healthy, doesn't suck. And sooner or later Jenkins and White are going to catch balls that aren't perfect (or are perfect in Jenkins case!). I think they're good for 4 wins, but resurrecting Morten Andersen is not a positive sign even though I love the guy.

Icness wrote:but resurrecting Morten Andersen is not a positive sign even though I love the guy.

Why not? He had the best percentage of his career last year. He was money from 45, only kicked one 50+ and it just fell short by about 2 feet. The guy he's replacing went wide right on a 26 yarder by about 10 yards. That was a very positive signing IMO.

High 5 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



Why not? He had the best percentage of his career last year. He was money from 45, only kicked one 50+ and it just fell short by about 2 feet. The guy he's replacing went wide right on a 26 yarder by about 10 yards. That was a very positive signing IMO.

The fact that he was born before the Superbowl era and the fact that he's older than 9 head coaches in the league doesn't scare you?

J.Kim wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



The fact that he was born before the Superbowl era and the fact that he's older than 9 head coaches in the league doesn't scare you?

Didn't hurt him last year. It's not like he's a RB.

High 5 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



Didn't hurt him last year. It's not like he's a RB.

I don't know how Morten's fared over the past couple of years, but generally, older kickers have less power in their kick, don't they?

I remember when Gary Anderson was on the Titans. Anything over 40 used to be an adventure...

J.Kim wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



I don't know how Morten's fared over the past couple of years, but generally, older kickers have less power in their kick, don't they?

I remember when Gary Anderson was on the Titans. Anything over 40 used to be an adventure...

Naturally his leg isn't as powerful as it used to be, but like I said, he was money from 45 in. He only missed three kicks (out of 23) last year, one from under 45 that he just went a tad wide on, one was a 50+ yarder against the Steelers that fell just a few feet short and the third one was blocked.

And that was after taking an entire season off from the NFL, training by himself on some high school field. He also gets the advantage of kicking 8 games in a dome.

I'd say Atlanta will be a 50% team with Leftwich at the helm..

As a rookie, Byron went 5 and 9 with a much less talented team than what the Falcons have now, and he was a lengthy holdout that year (he only played in the last preseason game).

I think situations are very similar with the way he's coming in now, only he already knows what to expect in an NFL offense/defense as opposed to back then.

Dont see any more than 4 wins there, Leftwich or not.

4-5 wins.

Leftwich will not overtake Joey Harrington. I am as big a homer for him as you'll find, but it's tough to disprove that.

PhilipNelsonFan wrote:Leftwich will not overtake Joey Harrington. I am as big a homer for him as you'll find, but it's tough to disprove that.

Joey Harrington may not make it through another game if he keeps playing scared. I said that before we signed Leftwich, so I definitely believe that now.

The line is bad, they always just kept a weak line, because they knew Vick could just run away