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Interview with the Enemy: Atlanta Falcons

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Interview with the Enemy: Atlanta Falcons


This week, the New Orleans Saints head into enemy territory as they face the Atlanta Falcons in Week 4 of the 2024 regular season. Tre’Shon Diaz of The Falcoholic joins us to preview Sunday’s showdown between one of the league’s most heated division rivalries.

NJ: In your opinion, how has QB Kirk Cousins looked in his return from season-ending Achilles surgery? Does he seem capable of leading Atlanta to the promised land? If not, how soon should first-round NFL Draft pick Michael Penix Jr. take over as the team’s starting QB?

TD: I expected Cousins to have a slower start after coming off the significant injury, and that’s what we’ve seen. Each week, he’s knocked a layer of rust off, and most of it has appeared to be mental, not physical. People attributed his Week 1 shakiness to health, but the real issue was TJ Watt being in his lap the entire game.

At this point, he has taken care of it. Cousins has enough left in the tank to get this roster to the playoffs, so I won’t anticipate seeing Penix until 2025 or 2026.

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NJ: With Atlanta set to be missing two starters on the offensive line—RT Kaleb McGary (sprained MCL, day-to-day) and C Drew Dalman (high ankle sprain, IR)—are you concerned about the Falcons’ ability to contain the Saints’ revitalized pass rush? New Orleans is currently tied for fourth in the league with 11 team sacks.

TD: There’s still a chance McGary plays this Sunday, but regardless of health, I would still be concerned. The defense has had an abundance of opportunities to rush the passer due to the position their opponents have been in, and they’ve been capitalizing on them. Ryan Neuzil filled in for Dalmn last year and did well until running into the Saints. Storm Norton also filled in for Kaleb McGary in 2023 and clamped rookie sensation Will Anderson, but he was up and down in his other outings.

Last week, the line adjusted well by the fourth quarter, and I think with a week of preparation, they’ll be able to devise a game-plan to protect Cousins.

NJ: Atlanta is 6 of 27 on third down conversions to open the season. What do you believe is the cause of this—coaching or execution? Do you think things will change against New Orleans?

TD: It’s a combination of both. There have been drops and other execution errors for plays that had potential. New offensive coordinator Zac Robinson has also put the team in bad positions. With only a three-game sample size, I’m not panicking yet, but there is a healthy level of concern.

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Things have to change against the Saints, and Robinson has shown the ability to adjust and has improved week to week as a play-caller. However, there will still be growing pains with the rookie coordinator.

NJ: It’s clear that many fans are still upset about New Orleans failing to land All-Pro safety Justin Simmons, especially after Philadelphia Eagles TE Dallas Goedert recorded 170 receiving yards on 10 receptions against the Saints on Sunday. With that being said, has the superstar tandem of Simmons and Jessie Bates III been as lethal as advertised for the Falcons secondary?

TD: Per PFF, in 101 coverage snaps this season, Simmons has 16 yards allowed, one interception, and one forced incompletion while allowing a 6.3 passer rating when targeted. Jessie Bates was the NFC Player of the Week after his performance against the Philadelphia Eagles, which included a game-winning interception.

The duo has been everything the team has hoped for. They’ve allowed defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake and head coach Raheem Morris to bring over their zone-heavy scheme from Los Angeles. The duo has also helped cover up a subpar pass rush through coverage sacks.

NJ: According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the Falcons (-120) are currently 1.5-point favorites over the Saints (+102) in Sunday’s matchup; who do you think will come out on top, and what is your final score prediction?

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TD: Derek Carr will have a long day trying to push the ball down the field with Justin Simmons and Jessie Bates looming in the secondary; we may even see another pick-six. I think Bijan Robinson will continue his dominance in this series, and Atlanta will win 21-17.

Thank you again to Tre’Shon Diaz for joining us this week! You can check out the rest of his work here.


Make sure you follow Canal Street Chronicles on Twitter at @SaintsCSC, “Like” us on Facebook at Canal Street Chronicles, and make sure you’re subscribed to our YouTube channel





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Atlanta, GA

Hurricane Helene: Boat rescues underway at flooded Atlanta apartment complex

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Hurricane Helene: Boat rescues underway at flooded Atlanta apartment complex


Hurricane Helene: Boat rescues underway at flooded Atlanta apartment complex

A boat rescue is underway for residents of a flooded Atlanta apartment complex.

The Peachtree Park Apartments on Peachtree Park Drive are feeling the impacts of Hurricane Helene as it comes through Georgia.

Heavy rain ahead of Helene’s full arrival in the metro area led to the apartment complex seeing lots of water, leading to the need for an evacuation.

A Channel 2 Action News photographer was at the scene, where first responders were using boats to help residents leave the apartment complex.

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Details on the exact number of people impacted were not immediately available.

Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 storm on Thursday evening and early Friday was downgraded to a Category 1 storm.

However, rain is still coming in and wind speeds are still reported at about 90 miles per hour, meaning the storm will still likely impact the area as it moves through.

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Channel 2 Action News is working to get more details about the rescue underway.

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IN OTHER NEWS:



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Atlanta, GA

Atlanta Hunkers Down As Helene Approaches – Videos from The Weather Channel

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Atlanta Hunkers Down As Helene Approaches – Videos from The Weather Channel




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Major League Scouting Report: Atlanta Braves’ Spencer Schwellenbach

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Major League Scouting Report: Atlanta Braves’ Spencer Schwellenbach


Atlanta Braves right-handed starter Spencer Schwellenbach kept his team in the National League Wild Card race with a huge victory September 24.

Schwellenbach, 24, improved to 8-7, with a fine 3.47 ERA, and 1.07 WHIP in 20 starts for Atlanta.

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Schwellenbach has thrown 116.2 innings in 20 appearances for the Braves.

Impactful Injuries:

The Braves have endured some very serious injuries this season, and they still have a chance to make the playoffs.

All Star outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. required surgery for a torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament on his left knee. He has missed almost the entire season.

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All star right-handed starter Spencer Strider, considered one of the best pitchers in baseball, has been sidelined since mid-April with elbow surgery that required an internal brace.

And to make matters worse for Atlanta, highly regarded third baseman Austin Riley’s season is over, due to a fractured hand.

Starter Reynaldo Lopez, who was having a very solid season on the mound, has been disabled with shoulder inflammation since September 10.

About Spencer Schwellenbach:

The Cleveland Indians selected Spencer Schwellenbach in the 34th round of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft. He did not sign with Cleveland.

Schwellenbach, who attended Heritage High School in Saginaw, Michigan, chose to attend the University of Nebraska, where he spent one season.

Schwellenbach, who also played soccer in high school, was named the Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year, as well as Mr. Baseball in his senior year

Schwellenbach played three years of shortstop in high school, and was a two-way player at Nebraska.

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At Nebraska, Schwellenbach appeared in 18 games on the mound, all in relief. He earned 10 saves.

Schwellenbach earned the John Olerud Award as the best two-way college player.

Schwellenbach was chosen in the 2nd round of the 2021 draft by the Braves.

Atlanta gave Schwellenbach a $1 million signing bonus.

After the draft, Schwellenbach underwent Tommy John surgery, keeping him off the mound in both 2021, and 2022.

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Schwellenbach missed a month of pitching in 2023, with shoulder inflammation.

His injury history dictates care in his use by the Braves staff.

This old scout was fortunate to see Schwellenbach in the 2023 All Star Futures Game in Seattle.

In that game, Schwellenbach threw one inning in relief; yielding one hit, while striking out two.

Scouting Spencer Schwellenbach:

Even though he was an award winning closer in college, the Braves have always used Schwellenbach as a starting pitcher.

Before his big league debut May 24, 2024, Schwellenbach made 24 minor league starts for Atlanta. He threw 110 minor league innings before he graduated to the Braves rotation.

Schwellenbach has a strong frame at 6-1, 200 pounds. He’s an excellent athlete.

A true power pitcher, Schwellenbach relies on both two-and four-seam fastballs as the foundation of a six-pitch mix.

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According to brooksbaseball.net, Schwellenbach’s four-seamer sits at 96 miles per hour, but he can increase velocity when needed.

Schwellenbach’s sinker has a bit less velocity, sitting at 95 miles per hour.

Schwellenbach also throws a curve, a slider, a cutter, and a split.

One of the best aspects of Schwellenbach’s approach is his ability and desire to use any pitch at any time in the count. And his pitch distribution is very equal. Here are the percentages of Schwellenbach’s pitch use:

Fourseam fastball-37.24%

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Sinking fastball=6.09%

Split (also a form of fastball)=10.77%

Cutter=14.52%

Slider=18.50%

Curve=12.88%

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While he strikes out an average of 9.4 hitters per nine innings, Schwellenbach is only walking 1.8 hitters per nine, showing fine command and control of his arsenal.

Schwellenbach has yielded only 14 home runs in his 116.2 innings, which is outstanding.

Schwellenbach is the fifth starter in a solid Braves rotation that includes:

Chris Sale-LHP

Max Fried-LHP

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Charlie Morton-RHP

Grant Holmes-RHP

Spencer Schwellenback-RHP

Scouting Grade: 55

For this old scout, Spencer Scwellenbach is a Grade 55 starter, which is a better than average performer.

Perhaps due to the Braves pitching injuries, Schwellenbach graduated to the big leagues quickly. However, he has earned the trust his team has placed in him.

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If the Braves do make the playoffs, we may see Spencer Schwellenbach on the roster as pitching depth for a team on a mission.



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