Donatell unleashes new Falcons defense
After taking the fall in Green Bay, Ed Donatell has bounced right back with the Atlanta Falcons.
Donatell took control of a defense that was one of the worst in the NFL and – voila! – it’s now one of the best. The Packers, meanwhile, have struggled to stop anyone.
“Look at the direction Green Bay’s defense has gone since (Donatell) left,” Falcons linebacker Keith Brooking said. “Look at the direction our defense has gone since he got here. That pretty much says it all.”
Donatell did plenty of good work in four years as the Packers’ coordinator. Most notably, Green Bay led the league with 116 takeaways from 2001-03 and had a franchise-record 52 sacks in ‘01.
Then came last season’s playoffs.
Green Bay was on the verge of winning in Philadelphia when Donavan McNabb hooked up with Freddie Mitchell to convert a fourth-and-26 with the clock winding down in regulation. After backing up the Eagles with three consecutive blitzes, Donatell called a four-across zone that didn’t work.
The long pass set up a tying field goal, and the Eagles won 20-17 in overtime.
A few days later, Donatell was fired.
But he’s not bitter about the way he was treated, saying he’s put it behind him.
“In Green Bay, I learned about tradition,” Donatell said. “Here, we’re fighting to build a special tradition. I want to be part of it.”
The Falcons (5-1) have equaled the best six-game start in franchise history, even though quarterback Michael Vick is going through some growing pains in the new West Coast offense. The reason? Defense. Defense. Defense.
Atlanta has given up 14.3 points per game, third in the league behind Philadelphia and Denver. The Falcons have the NFL’s stingiest run defense, surrendering an average of 74.5 yards. Overall, they rank seventh in yards allowed.
Last season, the Falcons surrendered a staggering 6,108 yards – the most in team history – and 422 points, more than 26 a game and the third-highest total in the NFL.
“One thing about this defense is their togetherness,” Donatell said. “That’s the most important thing. That’s everything.”
Long waiting for prime time in Cincinnati
When 1-4 Cincinnati entertains 5-1 Denver on Monday night, it will mark the first time the Bengals will host the marquee game of the week since the Bush administration was in office.
The first Bush administration, that is. Cincinnati hasn’t hosted this game since 1989. They haven’t played in one since 1992.
Buccaneers activate Jurevicius
Tampa Bay activated wide receiver Joe Jurevicius, hoping he will give a boost to the struggling Buccaneers offense in today’s game against the Chicago Bears.
Bucs defensive tackle Ellis Wyms was placed on the injured reserve list with a shoulder injury.