Atlanta Falcons: How Should Fans React to Quinn’s Crowd Noise Admonition?
By W. M. Lawson
Coach Dan Quinn of the Atlanta Falcons admonished fans to get louder during home games. As you might imagine, that raised a few eyebrows.
The Atlanta Falcons have a huge game at home tonight against division rival New Orleans. It’s possible that any playoff hopes rest with a win. Couple that with a close home loss to Minnesota on Sunday, and Head Coach Dan Quinn implored Falcons fans to get louder and be a factor. It raised eyebrows and a couple of voices this week, too.
Our cousin website, inside the FanSided family, bloggingdirty.com, addressed this topic yesterday and caused a minor social media kerfuffle. The main point of their editorial is that the timing seems, shall we say, odd.
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Naturally, there are fans who take umbrage with having blame for a disappointing season rest at their feet. They bristle at the notion that fan participation is in any way to blame for a tepid, lukewarm, stale potato chip, limpy and soggy french fry record of (7-5) that the Falcons currently sport.
The thing is it is possible to agree with both sides here. In what has been a unique season for Atlanta, coming off of a Super Bowl appearance (and dramatic loss), opening a new stadium, and then having the soggy record, things have been in flux.
Add to that the fact that the NFL has been knee-deep in politics this year, with some fans choosing something else to do on Sunday in response, and it’s been a very, very weird season. The Buffalo and Miami losses reflect that. As do the Chicago and Detroit wins, some might suggest.
Look, I get, completely, what Coach Quinn was saying. Fans need to be loud and proud even when the team is struggling. Especially, when the team is struggling.
But to do so with attendance already down is a bit peculiar. To quasi-blame the folks who have shown up, in spite of the political stuff, is quasi-strange.
It’s also a little odd to approach that subject when the team itself is doing less than it should on the field. To that point, consider this: Last year, the Falcons averaged 33.8 points per game. This year they are averaging a paltry 22.8 points per game.
That’s like being in the first year of a relationship, things are hot and heavy, there’s breakfast in bed, and weekend trips. Then, in the very next year, most of that stops and it’s dirty underwear everywhere, sleeping on the couch, separate dinners with friends you’ve not met, and mounting credit card debt.
Could you blame someone for looking around, getting a little quiet, while trying to figure out what the heck is going on? Or what has happened?
To illustrate this, in the aforementioned home loss to Minnesota (a good team), Julio Jones only got 6 targets in that game. Dude had two catches. It’s like trying to drag race in 2nd gear. Makes no sense. You wouldn’t do it.
So, yeah. Coach Dan Quinn has a point. Home field advantage is mostly an advantage if fans are rowdy. And he needs them to be. The team needs fan support. And Coach Quinn has earned fidelity and deference with his performance as HC, thus far.
Next: Atlanta Falcons: Short Week And A Massive Game Against New Orleans
But you gotta give somebody something to scream and cheer for. The good kind of screaming and yelling and cheering. Not the kind that comes with the dirty underwear.