by

The Associated Press

Associated Press

FLOWERY BRANCH — Matt Ryan is enjoying a strong recovery from his disappointing slow start to the season.

Ryan, the Falcons’ fourth-year quarterback who was coming off his first Pro Bowl season, appeared to be having a career setback when he threw six interceptions in Atlanta’s disappointing 2-3 start.

The Falcons, bolstered by improved stability on their offensive line, have won five of six as Ryan has been on a roll. He has nine TD passes and only two interceptions the last four weeks.

Ryan was especially sharp in last week’s win over Minnesota. He threw three TD passes with no interceptions.

He had a season-high passer rating (128.3) and completed 27 of 34 passes for 262 yards for the second-highest completion percentage (79.4) of his career.

Ryan’s resurgence is good news for the playoff hopes of the Falcons (7-4), who play at Houston on Sunday.Atlanta is No. 6 in the NFC playoff standings.

“He’s getting into a hot rhythm right now,” running back Michael Turner said Wednesday. “That’s what you want to do. That’s what you want out of your quarterback and every player, constant improvement, and he’s been doing that. Hopefully he doesn’t slow down anytime soon.”

Ryan threw six interceptions in the 2-3 start. He has thrown only four interceptions in the Falcons’ 5-1 recovery.

He said he still isn’t happy with his overall totals of 18 TD passes — tied for eighth in the league — and 10 interceptions.

“I think there are things I can certainly do better, that’s for sure,” Ryan said. “I think we’ve turned the football over a little too much. That’s an area we’d like to clean that up. There have been some things we’ve done well, too. My goal is always to get better week to week, year to year and I think I’ve continued to move in that direction.”

One key for Ryan’s improvement may be newfound stability on the offensive line.

Center Todd McClure missed three of the first five games while recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery. Will Svitek took over at left tackle for Sam Baker in late October and will make his sixth straight start against the Texans.

Coach Mike Smith said Wednesday Baker had surgery on his back in the Falcons’ Oct. 30 bye week and “is fighting very hard to get back.”

Baker had surgery in his 2008 rookie season to repair a herniated disk.

Meanwhile, Garrett Reynolds and Joe Hawley have alternated at right guard, with Hawley starting the last four games.

The patchwork offensive line wasn’t good for Ryan’s health.

Ryan was sacked 13 times in the first three games — an alarming total for a player whose career high was 23 sacks in 16 games last season. He has had better protection with only four sacks in the last four games.

“Continuity is very important on the offensive line,” Smith said.

“Our quarterback has been very efficient throwing the football, but for the quarterback to be efficient he has to have time and has to be able to be on his spot to be where he is supposed to be, and I think we’ve done a good job. I think the numbers say it, not only in the number of sacks we’ve given up, but in the efficiency we’ve thrown the football over the last five weeks.”

Svitek (6-6, 308), a sixth-round pick by Kansas City in 2005, is in his third season with Atlanta. The former defensive end at Stanford said he’s happy to finally have a full-time position after playing a backup role at guard and tackle.

Svitek has the responsibility of protecting Ryan’s blind side.

“It’s definitely a big responsibility,” Svitek said. “You take a lot of pride in keeping Matt clean and keeping him safe. It’s definitely a challenge every week.”

Ryan shrugged when asked Wednesday if he feels he is in a zone.

“I don’t worry too much about that kind of stuff,” he said. “I think offensively we still have a lot of areas to improve and that’s our focus week to week. That’s where my focus is every week, trying to be consistent and I think we’ve been a little more consistent the last two or three weeks.”

NOTES:

CB Brent Grimes will have what Smith said is a “minor” surgery on his right knee Thursday and will miss at least two weeks. Smith said another CB, Kelvin Hayden, is “probably very doubtful” after missing the Minnesota game with a toe injury. Chris Owens or Dominique Franks likely will start for Grimes. Smith said CB Darrin Walls likely will be active for the first time this season. … LB Stephen Nicholas (quadriceps) missed practice and may return later in the week. … WR Julio Jones (hamstring) and Turner (groin) also were held out.

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Matt Ryan is enjoying a strong recovery from his disappointing slow start to the season.

Ryan, the Falcons’ fourth-year quarterback who was coming off his first Pro Bowl season, appeared to be having a career setback when he threw six interceptions in Atlanta’s disappointing 2-3 start.

The Falcons, bolstered by improved stability on their offensive line, have won five of six as Ryan has been on a roll.

He has nine TD passes and only two interceptions the last four weeks.

Ryan was especially sharp in last week’s win over Minnesota.

He threw three TD passes with no interceptions.

He had a season-high passer rating (128.3) and completed 27 of 34 passes for 262 yards for the second-highest completion percentage (79.4) of his career.

Ryan’s resurgence is good news for the playoff hopes of the Falcons (7-4), who play at Houston on Sunday. Atlanta is No. 6 in the NFC playoff standings.

“He’s getting into a hot rhythm right now,” running back Michael Turner said Wednesday. “That’s what you want to do. That’s what you want out of your quarterback and every player, constant improvement, and he’s been doing that. Hopefully he doesn’t slow down anytime soon.”

Ryan threw six interceptions in the 2-3 start. He has thrown only four interceptions in the Falcons’ 5-1 recovery.

He said he still isn’t happy with his overall totals of 18 TD passes — tied for eighth in the league — and 10 interceptions.

“I think there are things I can certainly do better, that’s for sure,” Ryan said. “I think we’ve turned the football over a little too much. That’s an area we’d like to clean that up. There have been some things we’ve done well, too. My goal is always to get better week to week, year to year and I think I’ve continued to move in that direction.”

One key for Ryan’s improvement may be newfound stability on the offensive line.

Center Todd McClure missed three of the first five games while recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery. Will Svitek took over at left tackle for Sam Baker in late October and will make his sixth straight start against the Texans.

Coach Mike Smith said Wednesday Baker had surgery on his back in the Falcons’ Oct. 30 bye week and “is fighting very hard to get back.”

Baker had surgery in his 2008 rookie season to repair a herniated disk.

Meanwhile, Garrett Reynolds and Joe Hawley have alternated at right guard, with Hawley starting the last four games.

The patchwork offensive line wasn’t good for Ryan’s health.

Ryan was sacked 13 times in the first three games — an alarming total for a player whose career high was 23 sacks in 16 games last season. He has had better protection with only four sacks in the last four games.

“Continuity is very important on the offensive line,” Smith said.

“Our quarterback has been very efficient throwing the football, but for the quarterback to be efficient he has to have time and has to be able to be on his spot to be where he is supposed to be, and I think we’ve done a good job. I think the numbers say it, not only in the number of sacks we’ve given up, but in the efficiency we’ve thrown the football over the last five weeks.”

Svitek (6-6, 308), a sixth-round pick by Kansas City in 2005, is in his third season with Atlanta.

The former defensive end at Stanford said he’s happy to finally have a full-time position after playing a backup role at guard and tackle.

Svitek has the responsibility of protecting Ryan’s blind side.

“It’s definitely a big responsibility,” Svitek said. “You take a lot of pride in keeping Matt clean and keeping him safe. It’s definitely a challenge every week.”

Ryan shrugged when asked Wednesday if he feels he is in a zone.

“I don’t worry too much about that kind of stuff,” he said. “I think offensively we still have a lot of areas to improve and that’s our focus week to week. That’s where my focus is every week, trying to be consistent and I think we’ve been a little more consistent the last two or three weeks.”

NOTES: CB Brent Grimes will have what Smith said is a “minor” surgery on his right knee Thursday and will miss at least two weeks. Smith said another CB, Kelvin Hayden, is “probably very doubtful” after missing the Minnesota game with a toe injury. Chris Owens or Dominique Franks likely will start for Grimes. Smith said CB Darrin Walls likely will be active for the first time this season. … LB Stephen Nicholas (quadriceps) missed practice and may return later in the week. … WR Julio Jones (hamstring) and Turner (groin) also were held out.

(Today’s blog provides press-box observations on the Colts-Atlanta Falcons game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Questions can be submitted via Twitter @pwilson24 or by email at phillip.wilson@indystar.com. Comments can be posted at the end of this thread. A Colts chat on Coveritlive.com will be at 8 p.m. Monday.)

THIRD QUARTER

2:50 — Nobody bothers to cover TE Tony Gonzalez on third-down pass from the 1. Too easy. TD. FALCONS 28, COLTS 7.

4:51 — Third-down pass to WR Roddy White, easy pitch-and-catch against a soft zone, gain of 10 to the Colts 2.

6:53 — Another throw to the soon-to-be Hall of Famer, Gonzalez grabs pass outside for 11-yard gain and first down at the Colts 13.

7:35 — As the Colts languish, the Miami Dolphins are ahead 28-3 at Kansas City. It would appear the Colts will finish this day as the NFL’s last winless team.

8:49 — Gonzalez with 20-yard catch to the Colts 40.

10:22 — Colts go three-and-out. Ho-hum. Punt. Falcons will start at their 27.

11:40 — LB Philip Wheeler blitzes on third-and-2 and gets the sack. Falcons punt.

14:29 — After another Colts kickoff for a touchback, RB Michael Turner opens the second half with a 5-yard run.

SECOND QUARTER

0:00 — Half ends on 55-yard punt out of bounds. FALCONS 21, COLTS 7.

0:10 — Falcons throw another incomplete pass on third down. Have to punt.

0:15 — Colts CB Jerraud Powers almost has second INT. Thrown right to him, but he can’t hang onto the high pass.

0:28 — Falcons get ball back at their 40. Not much time to do anything.

1:08 — Colts throw another WR bubble screen on third down. Short of sticks. Colts have to punt from their end zone.

1:25 — Pierre Garcon should have fair caught the punt at the 10, but let’s it bounce and get downed in deep. One rush later, Colts are backed up to their 1.

2:00 — A holding penalty helps back the Falcons up to third-and-24 at the two-minute warning.

3:42 — WR Roddy White hauls in 33-yard pass to the Colts 46 as CB Kevin Thomas and S David Caldwell are in the area but can’t stop the big play.

3:56 — Falcons get three guys into the backfield as QB Curtis Painter goes down. Third-down sack loses 12 yards. Colts punt.

4:38 — Austin Collie runs away from coverage on crossing route for 16-yard catch.

5:33 — Colts catch another break. TE Tony Gonzalez is open for the third-and-8 pass outside as he gets separation from LB Ernie Sims, but the Falcons target can’t hold on. Visitors punt. Colts take over at their 30.

6:44 — Falcons get back to basics and run the ball. A couple cracks at it gain a first down.

7:47 — For the first time since the second quarter against Pittsburgh in Week 3, the Colts come up with a turnover. Falcons QB Matt Ryan throws behind his WR, but directly to a diving Powers, who hops up and runs into the end zone with the INT from 6 yards out for the TD. Colts had not come up with a turnover in 23 quarters. FALCONS 21, COLTS 7.

8:35 — Colts move a little, but then stall near midfield as third-down blitz doesn’t get picked up and Painter is forced by a blitzing LB to throw incomplete. Home team punts again. After ref goofs on initial ruling, the punt is declared out of bounds at the Falcons 1. Nice job by punter Pat McAfee.

12:26 — Third-and-3 at the Falcons 20, quick slant, Julio Jones snags it and outruns everybody. Some kind of rookie talent. Although the Colts make everybody look good. Jones scores on 80-yard TD pass. FALCONS 21, COLTS 0.

13:29 — Colts have to punt again after a Painter sideline throw sails high and incomplete. Painter is 5-of-14 for 53 yards with one INT. Falcons will start at their 13.

13:48 — Deep ball to Reggie Wayne draws contact. But refs don’t call it. Say the overthrow was uncatchable. Fans boo. A colleague nails it when he observes, “Bad teams don’t get calls.” Sure didn’t last week when the Titans mugged these guys.

14:55 — Jacob Tamme wide open when he makes out cut. Painter air mails is high and wide. Incomplete.

FIRST QUARTER

0:00 — After a brief scramble, Painter hits Clark for 12-yard gain and another first down to the Colts 41. End of quarter. FALCONS 14, COLTS 0.

2:04 — Painter atones with an 11-yard strike to WR Austin Collie for a first down.

2:19 — Painter throws two passes on same play. That’s a no-no. Ball got batted back to him. Guess he didn’t know you can’t throw it again when that happens.

2:51 — Wow … WR Julio Jones is triple-covered deep but dives and appears to catch a 50-yard TD pass. Ref signals incomplete. But Falcons challenge. And they get the call reversed. Touchdown. Jones was right. He jumped off and told his sideline to challenge. Rookie was sure he got it. FALCONS 14, COLTS 0.

3:32 — Jones takes a double reverse for 14 yards to midfield. Snazzy razzle-dazzle play there. It looked as if it might gain a lot more than that.

4:05 — Turner sheds tacklers and drags S Antoine Bethea on a run for 15.

4:25 — Third-down pass sails high and through the hands of Tamme. Painter looking shaky at best so far. Colts punt again. Falcons take over at their 21.

5:40 — After a 13-yard pass to WR Roddy White for a first down, the Falcons go nowhere on three plays, two Matt Ryan passes incomplete and a run for nothing. Falcons punt.

8:05 — Former Colts CB Kelvin Hayden in the right place at the right time, comes up with the interception to kill a Colts scoring threat.

8:16 — Painter pass over the middle is behind Clark. Yes, he could have caught what amounted to a back-shoulder throw when he’s going the other direction, but it sails through incomplete. Puts Colts in a third-and-10 situation.

8:50 — Donald Brown keeps his legs moving after the initial contact, gains 2 on third-and-1 to the Falcons 33.

8:57 — Colts put Brown in the game for Delone Carter. Brown rips off a couple runs for 15 yards. Painter hits on 15-yard pass to Garcon for another first down.

11:38 — Michael Turner plows over a Colts tackler for 1-yard TD run. Didn’t get the number of the Indy guy, but no matter. He didn’t have a chance. FALCONS 7, COLTS 0.

12:41 — Backup RB Jacquizz Rodgers takes the quick pitch left for 11 yards. Almost scores. First-and-goal at the 2.

13:26 — Two Turner runs and the Falcons have a first down at the Colts 13.

14:16 — Carter runs twice, coughs it up on the second carry. Falcons recover at the 26.

14:53 — Joe Lefeged returns kick to the 19. This time, he had to bring it out. Falcons kicked it to the goal line.

PREGAME

Colts have won the toss and will receive.

Window and roof are both open!

Inactives — Colts: WR Blair White, QB Peyton Manning, CB Terrence Johnson, CB Prince Miller, OG Seth Olsen, OG Joe Reitz, DT Drake Nevis. Falcons: CB Darrin Walls, RB Antone Smith, LB Spencer Adkins, C Brett Romberg, OT Sam Baker, DT Carlton Powell, DE Cliff Matthews.

Lineup changes — Colts will start Mike Tepper at LG for Reitz, Curtis Painter at QB for Manning, Delone Carter at RB for Joseph Addai. Falcons will start Will Svitek for LT for Sam Baker.

Officials — Referee Mike Carey, umpire Chad Brown, head linesman Dana McKenzie, line judge Tim Podraza, field judge Mike Weir, side judge Boris Cheek, back judge Kirk Doman, replay Al Jury, video Ken Dollar.

(Phil B. can be found on Twitter @pwilson24, on Facebook @ Phillip B Wilson, and via email at phillip.wilson@indystar.com. He appears regularly on local radio, including Friday mornings at 10 on The Bob & Tom Show, and is a regular guest on Fox-59 TV.)

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – The Atlanta Falcons almost began the season without Jason Snelling. Now he could be one of the keys to the team’s playoff hopes.

Most of Snelling’s playing time in his five seasons in Atlanta has come at running back. Beginning with this week’s game at Indianapolis, he has an opportunity to prove he take over as the starter at fullback.

Pro Bowl fullback Ovie Mughelli’s season-ending knee injury in Atlanta’s win at Detroit on Oct. 23 leaves Snelling as the probable new starter. Mughelli, who was placed on injured reserve last week, had surgery on Monday to repair a tear in his right MCL.

The Falcons signed fullback Mike Cox last week, but Snelling appears to be the first option to replace Mughelli. Snelling’s normal dual role as a backup at running back and fullback will change as he focuses on blocking.

“As you know, Jason has been kind of that back who can play both,” coach Mike Smith said after Monday’s practice. “That’s going to obviously change his role.”

Snelling said he doesn’t think the offence will have to change if he starts at fullback.

“I think we just pretty much call what we’re going to call,” Snelling said Monday, when the Falcons returned from their bye week. “I think my coaches have the confidence in me that I can go in there and get the job done and do what I need to do to help my team win.”

Snelling talked with other teams, including St. Louis, as a free agent last summer before signing a one-year, $1 million deal to return to Atlanta.

“I just took the experience for what it was, free agency,” he said. “I’m happy where I’m at. This is where I chose to come back to and I’m glad to be a Falcon.”

Snelling rushed for more than 900 yards while backing up Michael Turner at running back the last two years. He set a career high with 613 yards rushing in 2009 and added 324 yards rushing last year.

The fifth-year back from Virginia has had only six carries for 24 yards this season. He has 12 catches for 89 yards.

Snelling likely will be the lead blocker for Turner against the Colts as the Falcons (4-3) look for their third straight win.

Snelling helped clear the way for Turner to rush for 122 yards in a 23-16 win over the Lions before the bye week.

“My career here has been as a guy who takes advantage of opportunities and a guy who can play different roles,” Snelling said.

“They have that confidence in me and that’s always good when your team has confidence you can do multiple roles. That was a critical time in the game that I had to go in there and step in. There was never a doubt from my coaches or my teammates that I could get it done, and we ended up getting the win. That was great.”

With Snelling at fullback, rookie running back Jacquizz Rodgers could have more opportunities to run the ball.

“Whether Jason is at halfback or fullback, I think Jacquizz has shown he’s got the skill set to be a running back in this league and we need to make sure we spread the ball around through the second half of the season,” Smith said. “We’ve kind of been a little one-sided in our carries.”

Turner has 621 of the Falcons’ 789 yards rushing.

Snelling (5-11, 234) looks more like a running back than a fullback. He’s lighter than Turner (5-10, 247). Smith said Cox (6-0, 252) “is more of the body type of the traditional fullback.”

“We’re going to give him work to see what he can do and try to get him up to speed with our base offence,” Smith said of Cox.

Cox, from Georgia Tech, played for Kansas City the past three seasons. His younger brother Lucas Cox, also from Georgia Tech, was with the Falcons in training camp this year as an undrafted free agent and has helped with playbook questions.

“I was on the phone with him last night,” said Mike Cox of his brother. “There were just a few little questions I had. He’s definitely been a huge help.”

Notes: Rookie WR Julio Jones, who has missed two games with a hamstring injury, returned to practice. … Smith said his coaching staff worked in the bye week on improving three areas: first down efficiency on offence, third-down defence and penalties. “We tried to analyze the areas we were getting the penalties and what the penalties were and why,” he said.

by

Charles Odum
Associated Press Sports Writer

Associated Press

FLOWERY BRANCH — The Atlanta Falcons almost began the season without Jason Snelling. Now he could be one of the keys to the team’s playoff hopes.

Most of Snelling’s playing time in his five seasons in Atlanta has come at running back. Beginning with this week’s game at Indianapolis, he has an opportunity to prove he take over as the starter at fullback.

Pro Bowl fullback Ovie Mughelli’s season-ending knee injury in Atlanta’s win at Detroit on Oct. 23 leaves Snelling as the probable new starter. Mughelli, who was placed on injured reserve last week, had surgery on Monday to repair a tear in his right MCL.

The Falcons signed fullback Mike Cox last week, but Snelling appears to be the first option to replace Mughelli. Snelling’s normal dual role as a backup at running back and fullback will change as he focuses on blocking.

“As you know, Jason has been kind of that back who can play both,” coach Mike Smith said after Monday’s practice. “That’s going to obviously change his role.”

Snelling said he doesn’t think the offense will have to change if he starts at fullback.

“I think we just pretty much call what we’re going to call,” Snelling said Monday, when the Falcons returned from their bye week. “I think my coaches have the confidence in me that I can go in there and get the job done and do what I need to do to help my team win.”

Snelling talked with other teams, including St. Louis, as a free agent last summer before signing a one-year, $1 million deal to return to Atlanta.

“I just took the experience for what it was, free agency,” he said. “I’m happy where I’m at. This is where I chose to come back to and I’m glad to be a Falcon.”

Snelling rushed for more than 900 yards while backing up Michael Turner at running back the last two years. He set a career high with 613 yards rushing in 2009 and added 324 yards rushing last year.

The fifth-year back from Virginia has had only six carries for 24 yards this season. He has 12 catches for 89 yards.

Snelling likely will be the lead blocker for Turner against the Colts as the Falcons (4-3) look for their third straight win.

Snelling helped clear the way for Turner to rush for 122 yards in a 23-16 win over the Lions before the bye week.

“My career here has been as a guy who takes advantage of opportunities and a guy who can play different roles,” Snelling said.

“They have that confidence in me and that’s always good when your team has confidence you can do multiple roles. That was a critical time in the game that I had to go in there and step in. There was never a doubt from my coaches or my teammates that I could get it done, and we ended up getting the win. That was great.”

With Snelling at fullback, rookie running back Jacquizz Rodgers could have more opportunities to run the ball.

“Whether Jason is at halfback or fullback, I think Jacquizz has shown he’s got the skill set to be a running back in this league and we need to make sure we spread the ball around through the second half of the season,” Smith said. “We’ve kind of been a little one-sided in our carries.”

Turner has 621 of the Falcons’ 789 yards rushing.

Snelling (5-11, 234) looks more like a running back than a fullback. He’s lighter than Turner (5-10, 247). Smith said Cox (6-0, 252) “is more of the body type of the traditional fullback.”

“We’re going to give him work to see what he can do and try to get him up to speed with our base offense,” Smith said of Cox.

Cox, from Georgia Tech, played for Kansas City the past three seasons. His younger brother Lucas Cox, also from Georgia Tech, was with the Falcons in training camp this year as an undrafted free agent and has helped with playbook questions.

“I was on the phone with him last night,” said Mike Cox of his brother. “There were just a few little questions I had. He’s definitely been a huge help.”

NOTES: Rookie WR Julio Jones, who has missed two games with a hamstring injury, returned to practice. … Smith said his coaching staff worked in the bye week on improving three areas: first down efficiency on offense, third-down defense and penalties. “We tried to analyze the areas we were getting the penalties and what the penalties were and why,” he said.