The aftermath: Coach Smith explains decision to punt
Falcons head coach Mike Smith screams at an official after a first down catch by Roddy White was called back by a penalty, killing a Falcons drive during 1st half action against the Saints. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com
Falcons coach Mike Smith was gracious in his post-game media session.
He gave the Saints credit for shutting down the offense and explained his fourth quarter decision to give the ball back to the Saints so they could basically run the clock out.
Here’s what he had to say:
OPENING STATEMENT: “I thought it was a very hard fought ballgame tonight. It was two pretty good football teams playing against each other. I liked the preparation throughout the week; we just didn’t get the outcome that we wanted. Defensively, I thought we had a good plan and executed it; we just didn’t make some plays. We left some plays out there. We did some things very uncharacteristic in terms of turnovers in the ballgame. We’ll regroup, we’ll get back together, and we’ll put this one behind us. Again, we still like where we’re at, I can assure you of that. We’ve got to get this one behind us as quick as possible and move on to the Carolina Panthers.”
ON THE OFFENSE’S JAGGED PERFORMANCE: “I’ll credit New Orleans, they did some good things today. We were not very efficient on third down which is something we have been very good at all season. We have not been turning the football over and we had two uncharacteristic turnovers that I think were critical in the game. They did a nice job in defending us. It wasn’t our best effort and a lot of it has to do with the way that we played. “
ON THE DECISION TO PUNT: “Definitely thought it was the right thing to do. It was fourth down and six with the ball out their 38, 39-yard line maybe even a little bit further out. But on fourth and six we felt like the way that we’d been playing defensively and we had two timeouts and we hopefully could wrap one around the two-minute warning. Unfortunately, we didn’t get it done there at the end.”
ON WHETHER THE DEFENSE GOT TIRED: “I don’t believe so. We didn’t execute very well on that one drive. The other score was a short field after a turnover and I thought we kept our rotation like we wanted to. They made the plays. It’s the typical game when these two teams meet, since I’ve been here, there’s only been one game that hasn’t been at eight points or less. Most of them are at two or three or four point games.”
ON THE NO-HUDDLE: “We moved the ball down in the no-huddle. Again, we felt like it was in our best interest to get back in and huddle. What they were doing in the no-huddle was the same thing they were doing defending us when we were huddling. We felt that it was the right thing to do at that point in time at the game.”
ON THE PRESSURE ON BREES: “I think we had a very good plan in terms of getting pressure on the quarterback. I think we left a number of plays out there in terms of getting QB Drew (Brees) on the ground. He did a good job extending plays. It was a well-designed game plan and I thought the guys went out and executed it. We just did not always finish the plays. You can see why Drew Brees is a Pro Bowl player in terms of being able to extend plays. He was able to do that tonight.”
ON REGROUPING: “We’ll put this one behind us as quick as possible. The outcome we didn’t get tonight, but we still like where we’re at I can assure you that. I think there’s probably 15 teams that would want to trade with us so I like where we’re at. We didn’t get the outcome. I’m disappointed but not discouraged because there was some really good football played out there tonight by both football teams.”
ON RYAN’S PLAY: “Until I watch the tape I’m not going to make an evaluation. I know we weren’t as efficient on third down like we have been. We’ve been a very good third down football team. We didn’t run the ball statistically. Again, until I watch the tape I’m not going to make any statements about how our guys played. I know they played hard tonight and it was a hard fought football game. That’s two good football teams going at it, slugging it out and they were the better team tonight. My hat’s off to Head Coach Sean (Payton) and his staff.”
ON WHETHER HE’S CONCERNED ABOUT THE RUN GAME: “No, not at all. We didn’t get the yards that we would have liked to tonight. It wasn’t as efficient, but this is a football team that at the core of what we do is running the football. We will always be a team that’s going to run it. We just didn’t do it very well tonight. Again, you have to talk about the whole body of work. We’re talking about one night, but this is a good football team. There’s a bunch of guys in there that are disappointed but not discouraged. We’ll put this behind us and move on.”
–D. Orlando Ledbetter
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439 comments Add your comment
CHAMPS LAST YEAR CHAMPS AGAIN!!!!
December 28th, 2010
4:14 pm
ATLANTA in the playoff will lose to just pick a team: SAINTS, EAGLES, PACKERS, BEARS, GIANTS, just pick one and you’ll be right.
BLACKNGOLD
December 28th, 2010
4:14 pm
@Uediott..
OBVIOUSLY…
U didnt wanna watch the superbowl, (maybe it was too painful cause the falcants couldnt be there)
Our kicker (GH) kicked field goals in the beginning, on the touchdown to SHOCKEY, we were up by 5 points, we needed the 2point conversation to get a 7 point lead on the Colts…..
Na Go shut up and kick rocksss!!!!
Bird Droppings IV
December 28th, 2010
4:15 pm
It was pretty obvious that the NFL brass wanted the Aints to go all the way. It was a feel good story.
The Aints owner was in the process of moving the team to San Antonio prior to Katrina. The people of NO recieved a tremendous amount of sympathy from the entire world because of the devasting hurricane. The Aints and NO clearly benefited from Katrina more ways than one.
fansince74
December 28th, 2010
4:15 pm
I was very impressed with the overall play of our defense and I’m confident that the the problems that we had on offense will get corrected. The Falcons are a very good team and this loss may end up helping make us even better.
Chop Buster
December 28th, 2010
4:17 pm
Bart’s Boy…you are spot on!!!
BLACKNGOLD
December 28th, 2010
4:17 pm
@UIDIOT..
Which u ARE..
Louisiana Math?? Whatever!!!!
U must not know the game of football….
STUPID A$$,
But Thats OK…
I probably wouldnt wanna watch the SAINTS in the Superbowl with Peyton Manning either if I were u!!!!!!
Luv 2 Hate Me
December 28th, 2010
4:17 pm
The fued will be settled in the playoffs. It’s only right these 2 teams play each other again. I’m hoping N.O. beats the Bears or Philly just so we can play each other again. I use to live in Opelousas L.A and I’m happy for kynfolk back home. But I’m a Falcon fan and have been for 15 years and this team is better than N.O. We’ll settle the tie breaker in the playoffs! Go falcons
Bird Droppings IV
December 28th, 2010
4:19 pm
@ Black and Gold
If Katrina doesn’t happen, the NO Aints would be the San Antonio Aints.The Aints owner made that pretty clear.
RISE-UP ATLANTA
December 28th, 2010
4:20 pm
Because your playoff hopes were buried in the tears Matty last night.
Hey Matty they don’t even cry in the lingerie league!
BLACKNGOLD
December 28th, 2010
4:29 pm
Was Matt Ryan really crying???
The Reason the Aints are Lucky
December 28th, 2010
4:30 pm
The team was named for the great jazz song most identified with New Orleans – “When the Saints Go Marching In”, and it was no coincidence that the franchise’s official birth was announced on November 1, which is the Catholic All Saints’ Day. When the deal was reached a week earlier, Dixon strongly suggested to Rozelle that the announcement be delayed until then. Dixon told an interviewer that he even cleared the name with New Orleans’ Archbishop Philip M. Hannan: “He thought it would be a good idea. He had an idea the team was going to need all the help it could get.”
GOTTA LOVE ATLANTA IDIOTS
December 28th, 2010
4:30 pm
When they can’t back their talk about their football team they have to go back… OH YEAH!!! KATRINA,YOUR OWNER WAS GOING TO MOVE THE TEAM, THE NFL FIXED IT FOR TH CITY, YOU HAD BAGS ON YOUR HEADS.
YOU ALL KNOW THE TRUTH IS:
THE SAINTS WON THE SUPER BOWL AND ARE A BETTER TEAM THAN ATLANTA THIS YEAR AND YOUR QB WAS SEEN CRYING ON THE SIDELINE AFTER THE GAME LAST NIGHT!!!
BLACKNGOLD
December 28th, 2010
4:32 pm
Seriously BirdDROPSONURFACE…
The Katrina Talk is 5 years old and tired..
MOVE ON, WE HAVE!!!
It doesnt at all offend me just to let u know, BUT, CLASSY very very CLASSY of you….Obviously u know a little bit of HISTORY,,but thats what it is..HISTORY…
Can we talk about the present NOT the past….
fansince74
December 28th, 2010
4:33 pm
Interesting, The Falcons are 12 and 3. No one in the NFC is better. They beat the Saints in N.O., beat Baltimore, beat Green Bay, beat Tampa bay twice, and they lose a close game that could have gone the either way and folks go to bad mouthing them. What’s up with that! I for one, am so impressed with the Falcons defense. They held they Saints and Drew Brees to 10 points for 56 of the first sixty minutes. They will get the Offensive mistakes corrected. The Falcons can play with the defending Champs and the Falcons are good enough to beat them.
BLACKNGOLD
December 28th, 2010
4:37 pm
Hey what happened to the IDIOT..Guess he went kicked rocks like I told him too..
LOL
falconfan 4life
December 28th, 2010
4:42 pm
Who dat stink. You dat.
Go Falcons.
Priest2004
December 28th, 2010
4:43 pm
Enter your comments here
Priest2004
December 28th, 2010
4:44 pm
Enter your comments here
Great game, can’t wait to see these 2 teams again in the playoffs.
Fair-feathered Fan
December 28th, 2010
4:44 pm
There will be no Aints vs Falcons rematch because the Aints will lose in the Wildcard game to the Rams or Seahawks.
Big Juan
December 28th, 2010
4:47 pm
I like the Falcons talent over the Saints. The better team did not win. The real SuperBowl will be when the Falcons beat the Saints in the playoffs. Maybe then, Jaws will recognize that Drew Brees is not He-Man from the Castle of GraySkull. According to the peanut gallery, the Saints “beat themselves” in the first game with the botched field goal. Well the same thing can be said of Michael Turner’s fumble on the one yard line!
SAL PAOLANTONIO
December 28th, 2010
4:51 pm
” Boomer.
it looks like the Falcons will go 13-3 and wrap up the division.”
Bird Droppings IV
December 28th, 2010
4:53 pm
The Aints is a dynasty.
One with a rich tradition of losing.
I dare the Aint fan acuse us of jumping off the wagon, and question our loyalty to our team.
This accusation is from a franchise that wore bags over their face because they didn’t want to be associated with the Aints. Although,the Aints and Falcons has been playing each other for many years. I do not remember their being a lot of aints fans coming to our Dome. Clearly, they jumped on the wagon when the Aints started winning.Desides that, most of the Aints fans moved to Atlanta to get away from NO . I recieved this imformation first hand from NO refugees.
Bird Droppings IV
December 28th, 2010
4:57 pm
Drew Brees is a mama’s boy.Phillip Rivers is better than him, thats why the Chargers kicked him to the curve.
Charleston Jacket
December 28th, 2010
4:57 pm
CMS is too stinking conservative. Offense play calling has no imagination and we were outcoached all night. Fumbles hurt – especially Turners, but come on make some game adjustments when things are not working. Saints made adjustments we did not and the results showed. Punting on 4th day with 2 min makes no sense when we could not stop them. D played hard but need to learn how to tackle. Had Brees cornered several times and let him get loose. Still a good year – but we have some weak areas that need to be addressed. Starting with our offensive game plan!
BLACKNGOLD
December 28th, 2010
5:00 pm
Big Juan: Well the same thing can be said of Michael Turner’s fumble on the one yard line!
If you watch the replay the ball was stripped by our defense
(Jeff Charleston)
Greg Mendel
December 28th, 2010
5:02 pm
I’m glad Coach Smith has his attention on Carolina. The Panthers have nothing to lose. The Bucs are still alive, I think.
truth
December 28th, 2010
5:05 pm
Who won the game last night?
falconfan 2
December 28th, 2010
5:09 pm
The Bucs are in if they beat the Aints, and if the Packers and Giants lose.
falconfan 2
December 28th, 2010
5:09 pm
The second place team won last night.
falconfan 2
December 28th, 2010
5:13 pm
Last night game is in the books. We have bigger goals to achieve. Falcon nation, let’s turn our focus on Carolina and let the chips fall where they may. We are in the playoffs and we control our own destiny.
HARDCORE FALCON FAN
December 28th, 2010
5:14 pm
ok aints you didnt accomplish a thing last night yeah you won but it took you 16 weeks just to clinch a playoff birth and you call your self champs when you milked your way to the super bowl with your feel sorry katrina story last year ..the falcons beat themselves with fumbles your win was not impressive at all..and your quaterback is horribly overated ..you simply evened the series last night 1-1 nothing else…your disrespectful attitude after the game will haunt you
Aints History
December 28th, 2010
5:17 pm
Do not put your faith in the hands of the Aints. In 2008, we (Falcons ) needed the Aints to beat the Panthers in the last game of the season in order to win the division and a bye. Needless to say the Aints choked, when Steve Smith scored on a last second bomb from Jake Delhomme.
lithonia vinc
December 28th, 2010
5:20 pm
why are we sitting on here crying about one loss.when the falcons make it to the playoffs everybody on here complaing will be back at the dome cheering again.we still got the best record in the nfc so why u crying go dirty birds
Football Wife
December 28th, 2010
5:33 pm
Though I respect the Saints for their three point win, the Falcons are still a head of your team in the power numbers and the NFC standings. Let’s talk again in three weeks.
rugburn
December 28th, 2010
5:36 pm
well at least espn is happy.. they will probably show every 3 yard punt return that bush had and call them highlights. they might even throw in those 2 yd pass plays. faceit… the falcons are not a glamour team like everyone seems to think the saints are. funny how winning a super bowl that they shouldn’t have even been in will do that for you. the vikes dominated them and the officiating gave them 3 big calls , all of them wrong, because it was in the best interests of the league that the saints win. i’m a falcons fan and an nfc fan but the vikes got gouged last year. the way i see it, we played our worst last night and still should have won. the saints aren’t sleeping any easier
Mama Says
December 28th, 2010
5:36 pm
not an excuse but I was just wondering, why was “forward progress” not ruled on Turner’s fumble ? In my view he hit the line and was pushed back and then fumbled the ball-with two defenders hanging onto him. I think if that took place at any other part of the field they rule forward progress and the play dead.
someone help me out with this
waynester
December 28th, 2010
5:49 pm
This is just year 3 of what most considered would be a 5 year process to turn this franchise around. We’ve got some obvious deficiencies in coaching and personnel to address in the offseason but the arrow is firmly up and the improvements just keep coming to fruition. Dimitroff seems to be building right for the long term…..
dawgs2004
December 28th, 2010
5:52 pm
2 turnovers, Turner fumble and poor snap and sorry oline play beat Falcons. 14 point swing on 2 turnovers folks.
fish2774
December 28th, 2010
5:55 pm
I’m happy with the way the defense played, but we’re lacking that back that can hit the corners. We need a game changer with speed and hands that can come out of the backfield. Another receiver is also needed. Yes, we have Michael Jenkins but he’s iffy at times. A new defensive coordinator is also needed. We never seem to apply pressure on 3rd and long down, but apply pressure on 1st and 2nd downs. Our secondary will never be tops with this way of thinking.
danny butler
December 28th, 2010
6:17 pm
Enter your comments here
danny butler
December 28th, 2010
6:18 pm
Falcon gumbo tastes oh soooooooooooooooooooooo sweet WHO DAT!
captguitarman
December 28th, 2010
6:24 pm
The play calling after the Falcons’ opening second half drive was quetionable. OK. Turner up the middle once? Good call, but it didn’t work — and didn’t even come close. Then the same play again???? And the Falcons must have done something to tip it off because he whole Saints squad was stacked up in the middle waiting for Turner, and several hit him hard behind the line of scrimmage and he fumbled (uncharacteristically). There had to be a lot of other good plays besides Turner up the middle that they might have tried. And the punt???? Are you kidding me??? Give up your last chance to score a touch down and kick the ball to Drew Brees (and one of the best two- minute drill teams, if not the best, in the NFL) with 2:58 left???? Ryan could not execute a creative pass play to get six yards??? When they kicked it, I changed the channel. It was over with 2:58 left. I knew that — but why didn’t the Falcons??? Later on while channel surfing I caught the victory interview with Brees — I was not surprised in the least. Was anyone else?
falconsphysco
December 28th, 2010
6:27 pm
No need to hit the panic button yet. I’ll gladly take the wake-up call now. I’ve been a fan since 66. I’ll gladly take the split with the Saints, thump Carolina and be home through the playoffs and hope Saints have a hiccup on the road. Mularkey could be less predictable though.
chipontheroad birdsrus
December 28th, 2010
6:49 pm
I tried to get on Times-Picyune blog to see If all saints fan were as stupid as the trolls that show up here it cost $ to subscribe thats why we get stuck like chuck with all these Genius saints fans they can’t afford to blogg at home
chipontheroad birdsrus
December 28th, 2010
6:52 pm
yes we needed to come back to earth refocus and get back to work.that being said defense looked good last night.rise up
Coach Steve
December 28th, 2010
8:20 pm
Hey Martin…you Saints fans win ONE season and a Super Bowl and then you’re all mouthy…go back to that rat infested nasty and scummy city of New Orleans and play in that Dome that the rest of America rebuilt and refurbished for you and get ready to lose in round 1…Show some class like Mike Smith did and give some credit to the Falcons…you could’ve lost that game easily..
ATLANTA FANS ARE JUST A BUNCH OF JEALOUS LOSER WANT-A-BES!
December 28th, 2010
8:27 pm
All of these Atlanta fans are just so jealous of what the New Orleans Saints have the town is green. They can not stand it that the New Orleans Saints won the Super Bowl before the tweety birds.
But face it you haven’t won it and you act like you are this years Saints but in all actuality the tweey birds will be this years Vikings. The Atlanta fans are scum. I can’t believe I actually cheered for them when they went to the Super Bowl (with Morten Andersen)
No matter what happens to the Saints this year (beside we already have the trophy) I will cheer for whatever team is playing this lame @$$ team and their lame @$$ fans. I didn’t think any fans base could get lower than the Vikings but Atlanta and their trophy envy will be the Vikings this year.
Remember what happened to Chilly the Vikings coach I hope it happens to Atlanta next year.
Say good bye to coach Smitty because you’re not going anywhere this year and next year you ‘ll be this season Vikings
LOSER WANT-A-BES!
December 28th, 2010
8:35 pm
TIME TO PANIC VIKINGS I MEAN PHALLIC ONS
What the heck was DAT?!
December 28th, 2010
9:29 pm
I wouldn’t have found the game so disappointing if I felt like the Falcons actually played to WIN. They did not. It seems that they played to avoid getting injuries for the upcoming playoffs. If I had known that THAT was going to be the plan of the evening, I could have better spent my time.
You guys want “respect”? Well, the WORLD was your stage last night and you failed to:
1. RISE UP
2. SHOW UP
3. PUT UP
FALCONS, GET IT IN GEAR AND PLAY TO WIN.
falconnut
December 28th, 2010
9:39 pm
derick brown is an idiot. I suppose failing to score on 1st and goal from the 1 and taking control of the game doesn’t equal a missed chip shot in your warped mind. Falcons will take care of business this week and be ready for the playoffs. ctfalconsfan is exactly right. This will help in the long run.