papz

What were your thoughts about losing Curtis Lofton to the Saints? How did that affect your team’s defense?

“Curtis was an integral part to our success in our first four years here. The way that the league is set up, with free agency and everything, you’d like to be able to sign all of your players back but it’s just not possible. Curtis had been a leader for us and had done a very good job. Unfortunately, the way that the league is set up, guys are going to change teams. I miss Curtis. Curtis is a great man. He was a big part of the success that we had in our first four years. Unfortunately now we are on the opposite sides of the sideline.”

Does it hurt more that he went to the Saints instead of another team?

“No it doesn’t. In terms of free agency, those are decisions that the player has to make. We have no control over that. The decisions that the player makes is what he feels is best for him and his career.”

With the Saints, is he doing what you expected him to do?

“He’s still a tackling machine. You see that every week. Probably 90% of the games that have been played this year, he is probably the leading tackler. That was a trait that he had here, he was a very active player on defense.”

How helpful has Todd McClure been for Matt Ryan and his development? How about for you?

“Everybody talks about the quarterback- wide receiver relationship and what’s often overlooked is the center- quarterback relationship because depending on how you’re identifying defensive fronts, sometimes it’s on the quarterback and sometimes it’s on the center in different schemes. Sometimes it’s on both guys and they have to be seeing it out of the same eyes. Todd has seen a lot of different fronts and a lot of different looks. Especially early on, I think he was a calming influence on Matt. Matt has played a lot of football games, he is in his fifth year, and his maturation process is probably as fast as any quarterback that has ever played.”

Read more: Atlanta Falcons Head Coach Mike Smith, Quarterback Matt Ryan Preview Sunday's Matchup

Attached Thumbnails

 

Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege.

All little common sense goes a long way.