ESPN NFC South Blog

Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas

Atlanta fans came through and really filled up the mailbag this morning. Thank you.

Couldn't anwer all the questions, but a lot of you asked about similar topics so I tried to cover as much ground as possible by choosing some representative questions. Here you go:

Robert in Savannah, GA writes: The Falcons have the Bears coming to the Dome this weekend. We've been very successful stopping the run, but Kyle Orton attacking our secondary worries me. We have to be able to get pressure up front to help those guys out, but Jamaal Anderson is a no-show on passing downs. The Bears have a great defense, and will likely force Matt Ryan to beat them Do the Falcons have the offensive power to win a shoot-out at home with the Bears?

Pat Yasinskas: After what the Falcons have shown so far, I'm not going to rule anything out. If they can go into Lambeau Field and win, anything's possible at home. Matt Ryan's getting better every game and it's no secret the Bears will load up on Michael Turner. But Atlanta's defense is going to be the key to this game. You're right about Jamaal Anderson and your worries about the secondary are justified. John Abraham has to come through, like he's been doing, and Mike Smith, who knows a thing or two about defense, needs to find some other ways to put pressure on Orton.

Joe in Atlanta writes: I am a huge Falcons fan and I am ultraexcited about the potential of this team.I am, however, a realist and believe the Falcons are a year off. I think our starters, other than 1 corner and 1 defensive lineman, are strong. I feel our depth is so young and not quite up to snuff, as we say here in the south. What do you think of our future promise and what holes do you see in our current roster?

Pat Yasinskas: I think your realistic approach is perfect. Falcons are off to a better start than anyone imagined, but they're still a work in progress. Mike Smith and Thomas Dimitroff are the right guys to turn this franchise around and I think they're already on a very good track. They've got some great parts in place with Ryan, Turner, Roddy White, Michael Boley, Sam Baker and a few others. You almost have to expect some bumps along the way -- if that doesn't happen, well, it will be a nice surprise. I've said this before and I'll say it again, the Falcons remind me of Carolina in 2002 when John Fox, who is a lot like Smith, took over a 1-15 team. The Panthers were very competitive right off the bat, but Fox needed a second offseason to fully get the roster structured his way. I think it's the same thing for Smith in Dimitroff and they can add some more help on both lines and in the secondary for next year. Again, I'll go back to the Carolina comparison. In Fox's second year, the Panthers were in the Super Bowl.

Warren in ATL writes: Any idea why Norwood isn't getting more carries/touches? Everyone seems to agree that he needs to get the ball in his hands more, but week after week nothing is done about it. I know that durability is a concern, but surely he can handle more than the 33 offensive touches that he's gotten over the last four games...

Pat Yasinskas: This is a dilemma the Falcons are working through. Jerious Norwood is a very talented runner and the Falcons know that. The problem is they also have Michael Turner and he's the kind of back who needs a lot of carries to be at his best. It's difficult to find the right balance. But there's still a long season ahead and the Falcons don't want to wear Turner down. I think you'll see a gradual increase in the use of Norwood.

Brandon in Rochester,NY writes: The Falcons finally beat a good team, yet everyone keeps bringing up how Aaron Rodgers was hurt and how other players were injured for the Packers D. I would think having a rookie qb go on the road and play well in Lambeau would mean something. What do the Falcons have to do to get some respect?

Pat Yasinskas: Can't speak for anyone else, but the Falcons have my respect. Winning in Lambeau, under any circumstances, is very impressive. As I said above, I think the Falcons are very much on the right track and things will keep getting better for this franchise.

FalconFan in parts unknown: Some of our fanbase is ready to call Jamaal Anderson a bust at DE because he still has no sacks. What is your evaluation of Jamaal at this point in his career?

Sharell in Raleigh, NC writes: You have to give me three reasons why Jamal Anderson should not be benched or cut. He looks clueless on the field.

Pat Yasinskas: I'll take these two questions together. It's easy to understand the perception and frustration on Anderson, but I think fans need to at least try being a little patient with this guy. It's only his second season and he's with a new coaching staff. It's also a very good coaching staff. The Falcons believe Anderson has talent (that's why he was drafted so high) and they think they can develop him. The coaches aren't ready to give up on him and they'll tell you he's making progress. Sure, everyone would like to see that show up in sacks. But give him a little more time. You might be pleasantly surprised.

Alan in Atlanta, GA writes: Hey Pat, thanks for your excellent coverage of the division I have now heard referred to twice as the second best in football. While I admit I am a huge Falcon homer (I am currently starting Matt Ryan, Roddy White, and Michael Turner on my fantasy team), I can't help but feel that the falcons are actually playing good football. However, people point at the two division losses as proof to the contrary. Thus, I ask you, can the Falcons beat these two teams (Carolina and Tampa) at home, and wouldn't it help if the Dome was a real "sellout" with fans actually into the game? I swear, it feels like being a Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays fan in there. The crowd is quiet, uninvolved, and very frustrating. Many a time I have been told to "sit down", or "stop yelling"...are you serious? I really believe the fans are one of the big weaknesses of the team.

Pat Yasinskas: I'll talk more about where the NFC South ranks among divisions in a future blog post, but I think it's risen in stature quickly and the play of the Falcons has helped a lot. As far as the Georgia Dome, I've been there a lot through the years and have seen the best and worst of it. As I've said above, the Falcons still are a work in progress and I think that applies to the fans, who obviously have been through some rough times in recent years. But it's only going to get better. People in Atlanta are realizing they've got a competitor. I've seen the Georgia Dome, in the good years, when it's very loud and can be a factor in games. If the Falcons keep playing the way they are, the fans will catch on and they might be able to impact some of those home games.

Kevin in Atlanta writes: It seems to me that the past couple games the falcons have taken advantage of the perceived notion that they will go to the run first and often with Matt Ryan (first play downfield pass in the GB game, no huddle/hurry up offense, etc.). Mike Smith has proved his willingness to let Matt Ryan throw the ball based on defensive alignments even though they are run oriented. Do you see the Falcons or Bears approaching this game any differently now that Smith has proven that he will use Ryan as more than just a "game manager" and have him make plays for the offense?

Pat Yasinskas: Also, give some of the credit for the faith in Ryan to offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey. I think the Bears still will try to load up on the run, but they have to be conscious of Ryan. He's earning respect from other teams with each game and that's only going to help the running game.

Kevin in Los Angeles writes: Do you see Turner and Abraham staying at the top of Rushing and Sacks for long?

Pat Yasinskas: I see them staying near the top. Turner's talent speaks for itself. I love what the Falcons are doing with Abraham -- moving him around and limiting his snaps to keep him fresh.

Aaron in Fort Walton Beach writes: How do you see the Falcons offensive line holding up against the Bears this week? They have been solid so far(at least when Baker is in the game) but Chicago offers a very tough challenge. And if they can keep the Bears at bay, do you think they can pull the upset?

Pat Yasinskas: The play of the offensive line is going to be a big key to this game. Atlanta offensive line coach Paul Boudreau is one of the best in the business and he's an unsung reason for the early success. As far as pulling the upset, I say anything is possible with the Falcons.

Brian in Urbandale, IA writes: Pat, I'm glad ESPN decided to run with the division blogs this year. I'm enjoying seeing extra coverage of the Falcons each week, as well as notes regarding the rest of the division. Going into the season, I didn't expect much out of the Falcons, only hoping they could at least match wins from last year. I'm still mostly of the same mind, but they have been a pleasant surprise and I'm considering changing to 'cautious optimism' regarding the season. Can you add some insight to convince me to shift my perception?

Pat Yasinskas: Cautious optimism probably is still the best approach. As I said in the comparison to the 2002 Panthers above, this team is on the right track in many ways. However you look at it, the first five games have given Smith plenty to build on.