Raising the white flag

It’s fitting that Byron Leftwich had been designated as the Atlanta Falcons’ ‘‘emergency quarterback’’ after missing two days of practice with an ankle sprain before a Monday Night Football game against the Giants.
If ever there was an emergency, this is it.
The Falcons are 1-5.
They are ranked 27th in the league in total offense and 29th in scoring offense.
They have scored six touchdowns in six games.
So Atlanta head coach Bobby Petrino went to his bullpen Wednesday.
Leftwich will replace Joey Harrington as the starter for Sunday’s game against New Orleans.
Before you start reserving your playoff tickets, please understand that this won’t change much of anything.
The Falcons’ problems go well beyond one player or one position.
Besides, it wasn’t as if Harrington should have been seen as the primary problem here. He’s completed 123-of-195 passes for 1,279 yards and owns an 80.3 quarterback rating. There were plenty of seasons when Michael Vick didn’t come close to those numbers after six games.
But Harrington is no Vick when it comes to avoiding pass rushers. Thanks in part to Atlanta’s ineffective offensive line, opponents have piled up 22 sacks.
That trend probably won’t improve now that Harrington has been replaced by the less mobile Leftwich.
For this offense to have any semblance of upward mobility, it needs to become well acquainted with running back Jerious Norwood.
Yeah, you know, the guy who broke off the 67-yard touchdown run against the Giants the other night.
He might need to wear a name tag so the Atlanta coaching staff remembers him. They obviously forgot Monday night.
Despite providing his team’s one big play of the first half, Norwood carried the ball just six times for 87 yards.
But look on the bright side.
If Atlanta’s offense continues to ignore its best playmaker and play QB switcharoo each week, it will likely be in prime position to win the Andre Woodson sweepstakes.