Mike Mularkey being unduly criticized for masterful game plan
Atlanta Falcons cornerback # 20 Brent Grimes intercepts a Drew Brees pass intended for wide receiver # 17 Robert Meachem during 3rd quarter action at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2009. Officials ruled pass interferance on the play awarding the Saints an automatic first down. Curtis Compton,ccompton@ajc.com
BIRDLAND — Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey was praised league-wide for his work last season.
The Falcons were able to win 11 games and reach the playoffs in part because of the fine job that Mularkey and quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave did with a rookie quarterback and the powerful rushing attack lead by running back Michael Turner.
Without either of his main weapons against New Orleans he came up with a masterful game plan. He’s getting unduly
Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey.
criticized by the reactionary fans.
Against the Saints, the Falcons had to come up with a creative game plan. They had to “Zig” when the Saints were expecting them to “Zag.”
Let’s call that, going against the grain.
Or in NFL talk, going against your tendencies.
New Orleans came out and sat down on tight end Tony Gonzalez and Roddy White, who were heavily targeted in the passing game by Chris Redman in the previous game. White had an unthinkable 20 passes thrown his way.
So they bracketed Gonzalez with two defenders and followed White everywhere, even to the bath room. How else do you explain them letting Michael Jenkins run down the middle of the field unguarded, not once, but twice?
Therefore, Redman had to spread the ball around to eight different receivers.
In the run game, Mularkey was able to beat the over-pursuing Saints with a reverse early in the game.
In all, the Falcons had nine plays that went for 18-yards or more. They were gashing the Saints.
Now, if they would have had a better red zone plan, they would not have had to kick those three first half field goals.
So, was the reverse on first down in the fourth quarter, really a bad call? Before that, it was the Falcons best rushing play of the game. Why not start the drive off with the play that’s picked up the most yards?
On the next possession, on fourth-and-2, Mularkey went back to another play that had gotten him 38 yards. Why not call a play that got you 38 yards, when you just need 2? (I do have a pet peeve of not throwing the pass play past the required yardage marker. . . but that’s another blog).
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) rallies teammates in a huddle before taking on the Atlanta Falcons in an NFL football game in Atlanta, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2009. (Associated Press Photo/John Amis)
But there was one major problem with the reverse call.
They Saints had sniffed it out and called a corner blitz.
The Falcons, in the Wildcat, didn’t have an audible out of the play. They were just hoping that Randall Gay went with the play fake to Jason Snelling and that Eric Weems could whiz around the corner undetached.
Head coach Mike Smith took the blame for that play.
“It was obvious, while we were getting ready to run that play that they were coming off the edge,” Smith said. “Really, I’ll take responsibility for that. It should be my responsibility as the head coach to call time out and make sure that we don’t run that play. Either we call time out or put it in the hands of the Lord and hopefully we can run around a blitzing corner. I take full responsibility for that play. It’s not on the players. There is nothing in our system for us to get out of that play. It’s something that I should have handled.”
REALITY CHECK TIME: It’s reality check time for Falcons. The playoffs are nearly a statistical improbability. According to one stat guru, the have less than one percent chance of making the playoffs.
Some of the fans, like Pete of Norcross, want to take the Reality Check.
In an e-mail, Pete wrote,
“D.O.L.
Every week it gets more desperate.
Still in the hunt? The Falcons, with their injury littered roster, are as much a playoff team as Tampa or St. Louis. Please.
We all have drunk the Kool-Aid for the ump-teenth time. It’s getting old.
Let it go.
This season is history. . . on to 2010.
Lot’s of interesting stuff to happen after Feb. 15, 2010.
Thanks.
Pete”
David Gerard has a website called www.makeNFLplayoffs.com and his computer program calculates the chances of the Falcons making the playoffs.
The Falcons have a 0.0% chance of a first round bye, a 0.0% chance of hosting a 1st round playoff game and 0.9% chance of being a road wild card team in the first round.
The Falcons playoff hopes peaked in Week 6 after they improve to 4-1. They had a 62.3 percent playoff chance.
Now after a loss in week 14, the Falcons (6-7) chance of making the playoffs has fallen to 0.9%.
FOILED OR BOTCHED: My man Ron sent me a few e-mails contending that the Falcons didn’t “foil” the fake field goal attempt. He contends that Mark Brunell, the holder, messed up the play by holding onto the ball too long.
What did y’all see?
FRIENDS, HOW MANY OF US HAVE THEM????: It looks like defensive end Jonathan Babineaux didn’t learn
Atlanta Falcons tight ends coach Chris Scelfo offers some encouragement to defensive tackle # 95 Jonathan Babineaux as he warms up for the Saints at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2009. Babineaux was arrested on charges of possession of marijuana during a routine traffic stop Thursday night. (Curtis Compton,ccompton@ajc.com)
that lesson about picking good friends.
The lesson was also on display in the Michael Vick case.
So that brought to mind a line in an old rap song by Whodini, when they ask the question: “Friends, How many of us have them?”
Later on, there’s a line about “With friends like that, you don’t need enemies.”
Have to give some respect to AJC Baseball blog and music guru Dave O’Brien first, but here’s the youtube link and the lyrics. Jalil, Ecstasy and Grandmaster Dee breakdown the meaning of “Friends.”
(LYRICS COURTESY OF http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/nextfridayoldschool/friends.htm)
Friends
How many of us have them?
Friends
Ones we can depend on
Friends
How many of us have them?
Friends
Before we go any further, lets be
Friends*
Is a word we use everyday
Most the time we use it in the wrong way
Now you can look the word up, again and again
But the dictionary doesnt know the meaning of friends
And if you ask me, you know, I couldnt be much help
Because A friend is somebody you judge for yourself
Some are ok, and they treat you real cool
But some mistake kindness for bein a fool
We like to be with some, because they’re funny
Others come around when they need some money
Some you grew up with, around the way
And you’re still real close too this very day
Homeboys through the Summer, Winter, Spring and Fall
And then there’s some we wish we never knew at all
And this list goes on, again and again
But these are the people that we call friends
When we first went out together, we barely knew each other
We had no intentions, on becoming lovers
But in no time at all, you became my girl
Me and you, one on one, against the world
Talkin on the telephone for hours at a time
Or else I was at your house, or you was at mine
Then came the arguements and all kinds of problems
Besides making love, we had nothing in common
It couldnt last long because it started out strong
But I guess we went about the whole thing wrong
Cause out of nowhere it just came to an end
Because we became lovers before we were friends
*Friends
How many of us have them?
Friends
Ones we can depend on
Friends
How many of us have them?
Friends
Before we go any further, let’s be
Friends*
You say you and your girlfriend were so tight
You took her out with you and your guy one night
She even had a set of keys to your home
And you shared mostly everything you owned
But as she shook your hand, she stole your man
And it was done so swift, it had to be a plan
Couldn’t trust her with cheese, let alone your keys
With friends like that you dont need enemies
You wonder how long it was all going on
And your still not sure if your man is gone
You say, well if she took him he was never mine
But deep inside you know thats just another lie
And now you’re kinda cold to the people you meet
Cause of something that was done to you by some creep
But nevertheless, I’ll say it again
That these are the people that we call friends
*Friends
How many of us have them?
Friends
Before we go any further, lets be
Friends*
*Friends
How many of us have them?
Friends
One’s we can depend on
Friends
How many of us have them?
Friends
Before we go any further, lets be
Friends*
*Friends
How many of us have them?
Friends
One’s we can depend on
Friends
How many of us have them?
Friends
Before we go any further, lets be
Friends*
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133 comments Add your comment
gdg73
December 16th, 2009
4:27 pm
To MV#777, Thanks for that article. Me, you, and other sensible football fans knew that it would only be a matter of time before this guy got back to his usual “amazing” self. Now this guy is focused, driven, and hungry. A dangerous combination to go with his phenomenal athletic ability. I see Philly showcasing him for the rest of the season and playoffs, possibly going to the Super Bowl, and trading him to the highest bidder in the off-season to some QB starved team that is not sold on these overhyped golden boys coming out in the draft. I pray he goes to Carolina. This franchise is definitely snake-bit, I swear!! Like I said back this summer, by December the Vick controversy would be old news, and another athlete will have take Vick’s title as the “flavor of the month”. Hello Tiger Woods!!!
tiger7_88
December 16th, 2009
4:39 pm
You’re right, Ledbetter… he does deserve credit for the gameplan against the Saints last Sunday.
But that doesn’t excuse the uncreative CRAP that has come out of that booth with regard to the offense for all of the rest of the season in my opinion.
sirluciouscp
December 16th, 2009
4:42 pm
I cant help but wonder–YOURE A MORON. GET THAT THROUGH YOUR SKULL!
Tailgate
December 16th, 2009
4:44 pm
Dear Falcons, please scratch the Wild Cat formation from your playbook. It doesn’t work. Never has. Is it too late to get Matt Schaub back? I have a problem with an Insurance Salesman QB’ing my team.
Dr Richard Handler
December 16th, 2009
4:54 pm
D-LED!!!!!!!!!!!!!Whodini!! That’s what I’m talkin’ about. Great column as always. One question; who is the better fullback, Ovie Mughelli or Larry Conjar?
I can't help but wonder
December 16th, 2009
5:02 pm
Thanks for that in-depth analysis “Sir Lucious.” You really showed who’s smarter in this battle of wits.
Darrick
December 16th, 2009
5:25 pm
David, it appears you took my statement out of content where Matt Ryan is concerned, and boy you seem upset, so let me clarify yes I palyed football (Z Slot Receiver) I do understand the complex state of the game if only from College level, all that I was stating the year Matt Ryan had last year in most cases would have been expected from Quarterback with at least two years of starting every down, so the year he is having now is not a big surprise to me. And Matt Ryan does not play defense, so he is not the blame for all that is wrong with Atlanta, but has made some unforced errors that has really hurt the team with the game on the line. As far injuries go, as I stated the Falcons were losing before the 5 starters went out, so I am not sure what point you are making there, the team does not look that different if at all with Redman Quarterbacking.
I was not nor am I now bashing Matt Ryan, he is the number one guy who is hurt and it simply is what it is.Defensive schemeing and corner play are bigger concern to me than Matt Ryan, and my point was proven when I stated the Falcons had the worst defense on 3rd down, the inability to get off the field is what hurts this team more than anything else.
Darrick
December 16th, 2009
5:33 pm
Oops, context vice content, sorry David.
MCook
December 16th, 2009
5:33 pm
Hey Choke, If you can read…
Take notes from Darrick…
outside of that…go back to your vick/ vick supporter poster
Old Dawg
December 16th, 2009
5:44 pm
I was totally surprised by how well the Falcons played against the Saints. With the injuries on both sides of the ball it’s amazing they remain competitive. I know these guys are professionals, but there’s such a difference between starters and back-ups.
That being said, the game plan, play selection and quarterback play were all exceptional. I know the Saints blew up the play out of the wildcat and it’s obvious the Falcons have learned from their mistakes.
MCook
December 16th, 2009
5:47 pm
At least Troy can catch a football.
cutter
December 16th, 2009
6:03 pm
No wonder we have a lack of depth we keep signing these no names. Reggie Swinton has not played pro ball in 4 years I thought practice squad was for up and coming talent. Thomas Johnson had not played pro ball in 2 yrs. Troy Bergeron has never played pro ball nor college ball. Bergeron turned down a scholarship because they asked him to change positions and then ends up not playing college ball at all. Sounds like he might have a problem making good career decision like Babineaux.
cutter
December 16th, 2009
6:06 pm
My bad James Swinton not Reggie. Still a no name.
cutter
December 16th, 2009
6:09 pm
Total of 5 catches for entire college career. WOW. Dimitroff gets a kick out of trying to find a diamond in the rough.
Sid
December 16th, 2009
6:10 pm
Fury, don’t worry about the spelling, nobody else does.
ATLBLACKBIRD40
December 16th, 2009
6:30 pm
There was absolutely no reason to call the Wildcat play in that situation on Sunday…The D was finally getting some stops and the O was moving the ball on the Aint’s pretty well…
For all the Aint’s fans…the most you can hope for is a Division Title…”you’ve been exposed and won’t make the SuperBowl”
gabugman
December 16th, 2009
6:35 pm
Here’s the problem with the in question wildcat call:
Mularkey called it during a TV timeout. NO had 3 MINUTES to digest the personnel. The play wasn’t the problem, the timing was.
cutter
December 16th, 2009
6:37 pm
Now Weems gets a DUI!!! Cut him tomorrow. At some point the organization is gonna have to send a message to these players.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
December 16th, 2009
7:01 pm
The Falcons & the CHOKE are so pitiful & pathetic right now, it’s not even worth debating – my job is done here
tyger
December 16th, 2009
7:15 pm
Mularkey called a fine game except for the dumb as reverse. And he should’ve redeemed himself after the egg he laid against Philly. The 4th down play was Redman and Smith’s fault. He should use Shockley on short yardage plays like the Eagles are doing with Vick – it creates problems. But, I guess he would rather lose, than abandon the “process” of eliminating all black quarterbacks from the franchise.
Falcoons Easy Button 0.5 – Pre-post season Evaluations:
Offense:
QB – Ryan twinkle toe has happy feet and weak arm; more Danny White than Tom Brady – paycut.
Redman may have salvaged his job; jury still out; need more talent there. OUT
Charlie Parker Wilson – holds a great clipboard and looks fine in a baseball cap. WHY
DJ Shockley – sadly wont get a fair chance here, cut bait – plenty teams need a QB. OUT
RB – Excellent – Strongest position on the field – Turner, Norwood, Snelling compliment each other.
TE – Excellent – Gonzalez, Peele are very strong; need a young one, where’s Martez Milner?
WR – Very average. No hands. White/Jenkins need a paycut. Douglass/Weems good backups. (Do you take a Dez Bryant if he’s available?) OUT: Finneran
OL – Very average. Baker unreliable, Blalock-Dahl tough, McClure old; Clabo is a backup.
Defense:
DL – Poor. Abraham, Davis, Jerry, Babineax, Biermann, Sidbury. OUT – Anderson, Lewis, Johnson
LB – Very Good. A little slow, but thumpers. Lofton, Peterson, Nicholas, Wire good group.
CB – Below average. Too young, too small. No upside. OUT – Hill, Jackson
S – Excellent. Coleman-DeCoud held this defense together. Healthy W.Moore big addition.
K – Fail. Who gave Jason Elam all that money? They need their collective ases whooped.
Overall – Average. Last season’s weak schedule made them look like the next young turks, but this year they were exposed as the next young turds.
Michael
December 16th, 2009
7:18 pm
the gameplan seemed to work really well actually. considering our injuries, 394 yards is pretty darn good. we also left some points on the field, like when Redman missed Jenk on that deep ball.
the only thing that infuriated me was the wildcat play we ran, basically screwing the game over for us. everything else was flawless in my opinion…and we nearly beat the Saints.
as long as this teams people stick together it will win a lot of games next year, and anyone who thinks otherwise needs to back off.
cutter
December 16th, 2009
7:44 pm
Plenty teams might need a QB but none of them seem to be interested in Shockley. Martez Milner is not even in the league any more.
cutter
December 16th, 2009
7:44 pm
Neither is Thomas Brown.
DrJ
December 16th, 2009
9:24 pm
Yes, Mularkey did a great job, as we see by the score (with a little help from the players). You asked why Jenkins was left all by himself, and I guess they figured that left alone, he had a fifty percent chance of holding onto the ball. Well, maybe the percentage is wrong, but their coverage tells us how they figured it.
I’m glad the reverse worked, but as I recall, in the past, when we tried to run the reverse we usually got stopped at the line of scrimmage. This has happened in a bunch of games. I don’t know if it is our blocking scheme on reverses, or the speed of the DBs, but it’s a problem.
As to Snelling not getting to the first down marker for the short pass, I think he had a LB all over him, and Redman had the same problem and couldn’t wait for him to clear.
Lil Larry
December 16th, 2009
9:33 pm
Mike Mularkey doesn’t get a pass for calling plays that are as predictable as Jerious Norwood running into a pile of his own blocker’s backs. I don’t see the “genius” that everyone talks about in his play calling? Do any of you? As I’ve said before, he’s Dan Reeves reincarnated…two TEs, blocking FB, blocking WRs. Who’s available to make a play if everyone is kept in to block?
stendec
December 16th, 2009
10:19 pm
I LOVE IT! As I said, one (known) drug dealer in starting lineup now one (known) drunk. Phantom injuries to Matt “Toe Bruise” Ryan and Michael “Pick A Bogus Injury” Turner and the Falcons do the National Felon League proud. Completely without honor or heart. Fully expect them to go bellyup against Jerks to keep disgraceful streak intact. Hope gloom and doom lasts for decades more. When it comes to Falcon updates scan police blotters not NFL newswires. Fondest wish would be losing streak from here on out. These quitters and their brainless fans deserve nothing better. ++STENDEC++
Tina
December 16th, 2009
10:55 pm
I was sad about the wildcat play but realistically, one play doesn’t lose a game. It took a series of misses to lose that one. Jenkins missing Redmond’s passes, which were well thrown, is in the mix somewhere as well!
Billy Bob
December 16th, 2009
11:16 pm
To Same Ole Song.
I’m afraid you need an enema. You seem to be back up a bit. Relax and have a bowl of jello or a corn dog. Loosing is good for the soul. Your post have the depth of a petri dish. Maybe it is the insulation in your double wide that is causing your mental disorder. One thing I can take pleasure in is when the Falcons loose you are one step closer to having your name in the obits. No that is not nice I take it back you are already brain dead.
psgab01
December 17th, 2009
8:59 am
Chris Henry – natural selection at work.
All I'm Saying Is...
December 17th, 2009
10:35 am
(psgab01: You’re entitled to your opinion but that’s cold, man.)
And, back on topic, all that needs to be said about Mularkey and play-calling was said very well yesterday by…
tmac
December 16th, 2009
3:17 pm
I believe Coach Milarkey is a good coach, but both of the calls you write about were BAD calls at the time and situation in the Saints game.
1st: You said it exactly right in the ( ) when you said you must throw the ball beyond the first down distance… Pet peeve #1 as a offensive player. The defense wants you to throw short of the first down… that’s why you don’t. I don’t care what yardage you made on the same play during the middle of the game. It’s crunch time and you can not depend on the player making the yardage by breaking tackles… YOU MUST THROW BEYOND THE YARDAGE NEEDED.
2nd: The reverse and loss of huge yds.
The offense was just coming off two drives where we begun to dominate their defense by running up the middle and attacking their offense down the field in the air… Not by running east-west and allowing their team speed to catchup… Those plays work in the middle of the game as a surprise. They NEVER work twice in a game much less in a critical drive situation. Never. I’m not even a coach and i know that… so a falcons coach has no excuse. And to hear them say there wasn’t an audible and couldn’t change the play… In crunch time, that should never be something you find yourself in. I wish they did take a timeout and change the whole thing… who know’s it might have turned out differently.
Barkin'Dog
December 17th, 2009
10:55 pm
All I know is Ryan is returning this week with a rested arm. If Turner can get 100, I like their chances in NY. Let’s have a run of 3 and win THIS season. Go Falcons!
MV#777
December 29th, 2009
7:19 pm
IT FIRST BECAME obvious, this feeling between Michael Vick and his new teammates, a couple of weeks ago in Atlanta. It was his homecoming game, as it were. It was where he scored his first touchdown for the Eagles and his teammates bounded off of the bench in celebration, where cornerback Sheldon Brown said that he and some of the players were telling each other before the game that they wanted to win it for Vick.
I mean, win one for Mike? Really? We all observe from a distance, and it was so hard to see or to understand. But it was real. There is no doubt that it was real, this bond between Vick and his new teammates.
And, now, this:
The Eagles’ players have unanimously voted Vick as the team’s recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award, given annually to the player on each NFL team who exemplifies “commitment to the principles of sportsmanship and courage.”
Guilty of horrific crimes. Sentenced to a federal prison term. Forfeited millions and millions of dollars. Back in the league for only a few months, only through the good graces of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Eagles coach Andy Reid. Now, a convicted felon honored by his teammates for overcoming a terrible situation into which he had put himself.
“I’m not sure you can explain it unless you’ve gone through it here with him,” Reid said yesterday. “Everybody is going to have their opinion on it, I’m sure. Until you’ve been with him for the hours that his teammates have been with him and seen him through all these different things that he’s had to go through, that time-tested part of it, you can’t appreciate it quite as much.
“I don’t expect everybody to understand it, no, but I think it’s a tribute when it’s a slam dunk by his teammates voting him that. It was just a unanimous vote there.”
That this is just a gut punch to the people who have opposed Vick’s reinstatement goes without saying. For them, a PETA spokesman said:
“The Philadelphia Eagles fumbled when they gave Michael Vick the Ed Block Courage Award, which was named after a man who advocated in behalf of abused children. Michael Vick should not be the person anyone points to as a model of sportsmanship, even though he has now exchanged dogs for touchdowns after serving time for extreme cruelty to animals. We wish him well in educating others, but this is not appropriate and does not mark a joyous moment in NFL history.”
It is hard to disagree with any of that. It does seem too soon to be celebrating Vick. It does not feel right – and this comes from somebody who thought Vick deserved a chance to play this year, somebody who was looking forward to seeing what he could do on the field.
But here is the thing: I did not get a vote and you did not get a vote. This is a players’ award, voted upon by players. And whatever your personal feelings, it is impossible not to be fascinated by this team’s embrace of Vick, right from the start.
“I never worried that guys wouldn’t accept me,” Vick said. “That probably was one of the last things on my mind. The most important thing was to get in here and get to know the guys and get acclimated in the city and playing football again. You just let things happen naturally. You just be yourself.”
This is more than just teammates supporting a teammate. It is clear that they like the guy. Talking to them through the season, it is clear that they thought the punishment for the crime was so severe, prison-wise and especially financially, only because Vick was a celebrity. Their inclination as fellow celebrities was to root for him, and as fellow teammates to root for his ability to help them on the field. But the feelings still ended up going deeper, and this award demonstrates it.
“It means a great deal,” Vick said. “I’ve only been in this locker room for 3 1/2 months. For those guys to feel that way about me, it means a lot to me. The bond that I have with the players on this team and the way we’ve jelled has been outstanding.”
Someone asked Vick what kind of courage he demonstrated, per the award.
“I’ve had to overcome a lot, more than probably one single individual can bear,” he said. “Take a look at what I’ve been through. You ask certain people to walk in my shoes, they probably couldn’t do it – probably 95 percent of the people in this world. Because nobody had to endure what I’ve been through, situations I’ve been put in, situations I’ve placed myself in, decisions that I’ve made, whether they were good or bad. There are always consequences behind certain things and there are repercussions behind them, too. Then you have to wake up every day and face the world, whether they perceive you in the right perspective or it’s a totally different outlook on you.
“You just have to be strong and believe in yourself and be optimistic. That’s what I’ve been able to do and that’s what I display.”
When you talk to Vick, it sometimes takes him a minute to get to the key point: situations I’ve placed myself in. That is what rankles for some, still, that minute it sometimes takes. But it is all part of a longer process.
Anyway, Vick said, “The thing I told Roger [Goodell] was that, 4 or 5 years from now, when I come to him, I’ll be able to say everything I told you I was going to do, I’m still doing it. That’s what I pride myself on. That’s my focus and that’s my goal.”
That might have seemed a more appropriate time for an award such as this one, not now. Then again, this is all about a bond within a locker room, a place that none of us can hope to understand from the outside
MV#777
January 2nd, 2010
3:07 pm
WHAT GOES AROUND….
COMES AROUND……
LOL………..