Is Falcons coach Mike Smith the Riverboat Gambler?
Falcons coach Mike Smith sporting the team's secondary "ATL" logo hat after Monday's practice. (D. Orlando Ledbetter/Dledbetter@ajc.com)
FLOWERY BRANCH — Falcons coach Mike Smith has not been shy about going
The Riverboat Gambler
for it on fourth down over his three seasons as head coach.
Under Smith, the Falcons have converted 25 of 41 fourth-down attempts (61 percent), which is sixth in the NFL over that period.
This season, the Falcons have converted three of five fourth-down attempts, including two in a 19-play touchdown drive against the Saints.
Last season, the Falcons ranked fourth in the NFL in fourth-down efficiency, converting 16 of 23 attempts for a 69.6 percentage.
“Coach Smith has had a lot of confidence in the offense in going for it on fourth downs,” quarterback Matt Ryan said. “The biggest thing as a player, you want to make the most of it. It’s good that they are not hesitant to make those kind of calls.”
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126 comments Add your comment
hiramsaint
September 30th, 2010
6:22 pm
I love men.
Matt
September 30th, 2010
7:15 pm
@seenthisb4 and hiraimsaint I guess my question is….who takes their time to go on another team’s local newspaper’s website to talk about how that team is trash and their team is better? Fat guys that can’t get a date and live with their mother still. Am I in the ballpark? Or is there some other reason you feel your time is best spent screwing around on here. Please..please give me a reason.
SeenThisB4
September 30th, 2010
8:08 pm
Blake: I don’t believe that I was rude to you specifically, but I will offer you an apology if you truely feel that I have verbally injured your sense of worth.
On the other hand, this is indeed a sports blog, a domain ruled by professional wise guys and trash talkers; that is a fact demonstrated time and again, even between falcant fans. I hear your criticism and understand your rationale, but it does not have merit in this forum; and it is ineffective in assuaging my natural instinct to respond to the gutless vermin on this blog, a.k.a. falcant fans, in kind.
GEAUX SAINTS! OUR TIME!!
SeenThisB4
September 30th, 2010
8:13 pm
Matt: You want an answer? I just gave you one, here’s another: I OWN this blog!
GEAUX SAINTS! OUR TIME!!
Falcon Jim
September 30th, 2010
8:22 pm
Seen,
I agree this is a forum for smack and it does, AND SHOULD, get a little rough and heated at times. Good and so be it. HOWEVER, what you do by constantly and consistently just insulting Falcon Fans on their blog is tantamount to constantly sending hate letters to your neighbor. After a while, he’s gonna come over and punch you in the nose!
OUR game with the Taint’s is over. We’ve put up with your GEAUX $HIT for weeks on end.
Now be RELEVANT and be courteous. Are you a man or a mouse? You have wore out your welcome. You are yesterday’s news. You are the in-laws that have stayed past three days.
Stay in touch but be respectful and balanced. BE A MAN !
Bye………
Falcon Jim
September 30th, 2010
8:26 pm
Seen, you just went over the line. YOU DO NOT OWN THIS BLOG.
Mr. Ledbetter, do something.
SeenThisB4
September 30th, 2010
9:05 pm
Falcon Jim: I am as respectful as the norm around here. I posted my rationale on why I believe the SF 49ers will win and got one legitimate response, ONE!
Your plea to D’ Orlando Ledbetter is just a demonstrative symptom of the true issue at hand. I’ve noticed on other falcant stories posted here on AJC.com, where I have chosen NOT to comment, your own fellow falcan’t fans asking the question: “Where’s SeenThisB4? ” Another nugget of evidence of the true nature of the issue at hand, and that is: That my meteoric cultural ascendence on this blog scares you, it illuminates your collective banality, it strikes at your core when you subconsciencely realize the truth. Face it, I am legend!
GEAUX SAINTS! OUR TIME!!
hiramsaint
September 30th, 2010
9:07 pm
blake-your falcons fans and bloggers should also be the recipients fo your theological insights. judge not lest ye also be judged. don’t try to be what your not just be who you are-hiramsaint 1:1
SeenThisB4
September 30th, 2010
9:26 pm
hiram: Thanks, I.ll look for that report.
hiramsaint
September 30th, 2010
9:32 pm
looking at our schedule i can only see 3 more possible looses. for the falcons i see losses to the packers , eagles , bengals , ravens , saints and possibly the seahawks so another winning season is still a distinct prospect!
SeenThisB4
September 30th, 2010
9:40 pm
Actually, I agree the falcan’ts will lose to Vick & the Eagles, that,s providence there. They can probably beat the C-hawks and bengals, if they stay healthy. I agree they will lose to the Saints, ravens and watch them get caught over-looking the bucs once. If they do garner that wildcard spot, it more than likely will be one and out for the falcan’ts.
hiramsaint
September 30th, 2010
9:46 pm
the bengals recievers will slice them through the air just like we did. they have almost no secondary . the seahawks are at the end of the season and there is not enough depth to cover injuries that are bound to happen . i also think a.rodgers is gonna shred that secondary too. you could be right about the bucs ’cause anything can happen
hiramsaint
September 30th, 2010
9:52 pm
see- ever notice how your handle is pirated only when waynester has posted within a few min? i’m pretty sure he has a man crush on you! just an observation-not an accusation!
Falcon Jim
September 30th, 2010
10:05 pm
Seen,
The only further response I have to you is that you are one big self-centered piece of self-inflated blowhard ass-hole that we could do without.
That’s MY OPINION AND I WILL HOUND YOU!
Falcon Jim
September 30th, 2010
10:06 pm
hiram, It is far, far far from our most important win. GET REAL.
Falcon Jim
September 30th, 2010
10:07 pm
Taint fans…………GET OF OUR BLOG!
Falcon Jim
September 30th, 2010
10:07 pm
OFF, not of..
hiramsaint
September 30th, 2010
10:47 pm
well then , act like you’ve won one before
Falcon Jim
September 30th, 2010
11:01 pm
I DO.
Been there many times. More so than the one shot wonder Taints.
HA HA HA
Ken Strickland
September 30th, 2010
11:05 pm
SEENTHISB4-How lucky were the AINTS in their win over the 49ers, who outplayed you, but had to many unforced turnovers. Quit whining and making excuses, you got your butts whipped. DEAL WITH IT, because you have another butt whipping coming when we meet again in the ATL.
GHunt
September 30th, 2010
11:21 pm
Have we discovered a panacea for all that trouble the Falcons? Probably not, but beating the Saints comes dam near close! We will not long frorget what we did Sunday. 27-24, Our year.
We are fair and balanced. With 228 and 202 passing & rushing yards, the birds left the Superdome in shambles. The most important game of the year is always the next game. 9ers on the radar.
Atlsince1972
October 1st, 2010
1:13 am
Seenb4 – always remember, doesn’t matter what you say, we can always fall back on this – WE WON THE GAME BABY!! It’s a what have you done for me lately league baby, and lately – we kicked your butts!!!!!!!!!!!
Blake
October 1st, 2010
2:59 am
B4-I have no sense of worth.The only thing good about me Is Jesus Christ but this isn’t a theological blog so I’ll get on to the subject of football and fans.I think real men speak In good taste and show respect and kindness when talking to other football fans.Yes there are bad seed In Atlanta,but there are bad seed In all cities.I think we should come on here and show a little class.Besides that’s what this organization and city are all about.New Orleans has shown a ton of class by rebuilding that city after Katrina and giving It’s fans a Superbowl.I tip my hat! Instead of telling us how sorry our team Is…tip your hat.The Falcons outplayed the Saints and had a little luck In doing so.Arthur Blank Is pure class and this organization oozes class from top to bottom.We’re not there yet…but hey..we’re on our way.Tip your cap my friend…It’s gonna be a war between the Saints and Falcons from here on out!
WingMan
October 1st, 2010
6:12 am
I second that Blake. No need for nastyness to make your point. B4 is amusing.
Speaking of luck, it also was luck when the ball hit the Falcon on the heel on the punt. Luck goes both ways. You just have to go with the flow. The good teams, like the Falcons, overcome or take advantage of luck.
hiramsaint
October 1st, 2010
4:42 pm
by your comments i see you missed the game ken. dealing with some sort of personal problem maybe?
pritdapit
October 2nd, 2010
1:19 am
i love seen and hira. haha so amusing trying to get attention. i bet 2 things 1. they come from families where they received 0 attention growing up. 2. they desperately wanna be accepted by anybody, even if that means getting accepted as the “enemy” and ppl constantly feeding them that attention. also they have big ego’s so next question with ya rudeness ya trying to compensate for something?????