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
Espn reported, the frauds were exposed last night
December 28th, 2010
9:56 pm
Extra extra read all about it, the frauds were exposed last night, according to the espn and NFL network. If spotted by the rest of the nation, please handcuff and arrest that team dressed in black and red, claiming to be some kind of champs. Also while you are at it, please if at all possible, let there long suffering fans touch super bowl trophy number 44, which was won by their hated rivals, the new Orleans saints.
AINTS FANS ARE LOW CLASS
December 28th, 2010
9:56 pm
I was at the game last night and I have to say the Aints fans have got to be the most ignorant low class trash I have ever seen. Please just stay in that toilet of a city and don’t come back out. Nobody wants to see your mullet wearing ugly faces here.
Loserville
December 28th, 2010
10:03 pm
Known fact, Atlanta pro sports team are known as loserville USA, and their fans are known as cry babies, haters and in all likely hood, never to see a super bowl trophy being stored anywhere in the state of Georgia.
peripheral
December 28th, 2010
10:11 pm
Seems like Turner only has success when there is a hole up the middle. It looked like he could not go left or right to get anywhere.
WTF?
December 28th, 2010
11:06 pm
This just shows that while the Falcons have improved dramatically, they are not quite yet ready for the big game. I don’t expect them to go anywhere in the playoffs, we’ll most likely see New Orleans vs Philly in the NFC championship game. A few more key players and the Falcons will be ready for a super bowl run, just not this year. Still exciting to watch how they’ve come so far in just 3 seasons.
Falcon Fans are Butthurt
December 28th, 2010
11:33 pm
The que to kiss Drew Brees Superbowl Ring begins right behind Roddy (3 catches for 43 yards) White. Just remember losers stay on your knees and in stay in line.
Boca Baby
December 28th, 2010
11:41 pm
I want to know why there was not a booth review in the last two minutes. The NO runner was clearly down one yard from where the ball was spotted. There is a difference between third and a couple of inches and third and a yard. And the refs were clearly giving deference to NO all night long. How can a receiver be interfered with and then commit interference? Lame calls all around. But all we need to do is beat Carolina and NO is shuffled into the wildcard bracket. Home field baby throughout! First round bye!
Boca Baby
December 28th, 2010
11:44 pm
Espn reported, the frauds were exposed last night:
One more win this weekend against Carolina and New Orleans is on the road throughout the playoffs. Let’s see you do it on the road. NOT.
joe
December 28th, 2010
11:55 pm
Wonder what if Brees had not thrown an interception. I guess there could be alot of what ifs.
joe
December 28th, 2010
11:56 pm
@Boca Baby – We had no problem handling you on the road.
Ben Dover
December 29th, 2010
12:05 am
It’s better to lose this game instead of losing in the playoffs.
Notch Johnson
December 29th, 2010
12:10 am
And to think that I was glad the Saints won the Super Bowl, after reading the comments by the trash that posted about Falcon fans, I take it back.
Freedomlover
December 29th, 2010
12:19 am
Saints sure can talk trash. But you are not playing well enough to blow anyone away and will have to work hard to beat anyone in the playoffs. Who Dat? No one dangerous….Just sayin.
Thomas
December 29th, 2010
1:02 am
Coach Smith, I like that we applied the pressure on Brees, but why for only 50 minutes? where was the pressure on their last scoring drive?
Yes several plays were left out there and Bierman and Brian Williams must feel horrible after missing Brees on so may occasions.
Coach if we lose by three or by ten points it is still a lost, and in this game you choked big time. The decision to punt with under 4 minutes to go, and then not putting any pressure on Brees to get back the ball was lame. Coach if we go for it and fail the defense will have to try and stop them just like we would need to do if we punted.
I have not lost faith but this conservative nature will not win for us in the playoffs against the very good teams.
DR. FALCON
December 29th, 2010
1:02 am
MY FELLOW FALCON FANS! WE ARE 12-3! THE LOSS HURTS BUT, DON’T JUMP SHIP! WE WILL END THE YEAR 13-3 WITH THE NUMBER 1 SEED! WE ALL WOULD HAVE TAKEN THAT BACK IN AUGUST! THE STEELERS LOST A CRITICAL AFC HOME GAME TO THE JETS 2 WEEKS AGO. DID THEIR FANS PANIC? SH@#! HAPPENS! WE WILL SEE THEIR ASSES AGAIN! THIS IS THE NFL! I’D RATHER LOSE TO THE DEFENDING CHAMPS, THAN DETROIT, LIKE TAMPA DID LAST WEEK IN TAMPA! WE WILL BE FINE!
Falconfan 84
December 29th, 2010
2:30 am
The Aints fans stink, literally speaking.
Congrats, on clinching the number 5 seed. We will be the Division Champs.
Falconfan 2
December 29th, 2010
2:34 am
13-3, not bad. Rise up.
We played our worse game offensively and still had a chance to pull it out. That is a sign of a good team.
holla
December 29th, 2010
9:06 am
the play should’ve been blown dead before the fumble occurred…forward progress had stopped for a good 3-4 seconds at that point. also, what about the obvious intentional grounding by brees in the end zone (i.e. should’ve been a safety) at the start of the 90-yd drive?
Scott
December 29th, 2010
9:53 am
The team didn’t lose the game coach Smith lost it . Smith is a good defensive coach he is not a offensives minded guy ,his play calling is to conservative to win against a high power team .If Smith doesn’t change and let Matty Ice play his game the Falcons will be dome to lose in the playoffs .
holla
December 29th, 2010
11:42 am
and what was with matty ice running away from the fumbled snap like a little b–tch instead of trying to fall on it?
monty
December 29th, 2010
11:49 am
Scott, Smith doesn’t call te offensive plays. Mike Malarky does.
I’m disappointed we lost but not totally surprised. I knew it would be hard to shut Brees down. Even with all the blitzing(which I liked) he still throws for over 300 yards. I’m a little disappointed in Ryan though and our receivers. He was bested by Brees. Never looked “into” the game like Brees did. New Orleans loaded the box to stop the run and they succeeded. Too many passing routes that take 4 seconds to develop. Brees just picked us a part with little slants right over the middle. Looked like on replays that Turner missed some big holes to run through on cut-backs but he never cut it back. Just ran straight line.
Decatur Falcon
December 29th, 2010
12:31 pm
I can’t believe you all are losting your mind over this lost. It is as simply as one, two, and three. The Falcons gave the game to the Saints. The Saint fans jumping up and down losting their mind for nothing. When we face them again, they are going to be bang up from playing the previous week in the playoffs. Falcons are going to finish them AINTS off. Matt Ryan was just practicing against them, just seeing if him and Harry Douglas were on the same page passing the ball. It was all a setup, but the third game if them SAINTS survive is going to be a beat down. We already gave you a simple of what we going to do come playoff time. Drew Brees is going to throw some interceptions, and maybe a fumble. The Falcons need to take care of business come Sunday at 1:00p.m. and get the title back from them WHOA What Saints. 13-3 Baby GO FALCONS!!!!!
Scott Anderson
December 29th, 2010
12:45 pm
It was a great game to watch but have to put the burden of loss on Coach Smith.
The decision to punt from the 45 not the 38 was stupid and reminded me of when we had Dan Reeves coaching. There was no way in hell the Falcons were going to get the ball back. Take some chances man.
I dont see Smith ever making a onside kick work in the Super Bowl.
If the Falcons do get to the SB it will lost with stupid coaching that was spotlighted in this game.
If Smith is not concerned about the running game thats another joke.
Burner Turner has lost something. His big fat churning legs take one hit and he is flat like a pancake. Even smallish Safties can take Turner down with a leg hit low. Really need a very fast tough runner in the draft.
I doubt Falcons get to the SB
F-Troop
December 29th, 2010
4:50 pm
The offensive production of Jenkins, Finneran, HD, Peele, Palmer, Mughelli, and Snelling will have to step up come playoffs.
I hate to rank on the guy, but is there a WR in the NFL who’s had more snaps with less of an impact on a game than HD? I wish it were not so, but our entire “2nd tier” of offensive players are in the same boat now that they have been exposed by the Saints. Limit RW by rolling the safety his way, bracket TG with LBs, clog the front with the inside LBs and you can slow MT. This forces Ryan to have to beat you with the “2nd tier” guys. Jenkins and Snelling are more likely than not to step up but it’s the rest who’ll have to get it done for us or it’s one and done this year.
It’s that simple.
Oldatl
December 29th, 2010
5:25 pm
All consider, the offense did not come to play. Matt was average, the o-linemen was below average, and Turner wasn’t himself at all. This was a game where we really could have use Norwood, the saints were just packing the line of scrimmage. If we beat the panthers then the loss will justify itself, personally I think they needed a loss before the playoff just to give them a reality check.
Mike
December 29th, 2010
7:15 pm
For those who are not aware, the reason that Ryan was backing up on the McClure fumble was simple….as soon as the centers hand moves everything starts…the oline out of there stance to block, the receivers start down the field, and the QB starts his drop back before the ball hits his hands..it is not like playing in your back yard where the fence is out of bounds and right past the rusty blue car on blocks is a touchdown.
Adair Ville
December 29th, 2010
7:25 pm
Did we blitz on the long Saints drive? I must have been a sleep. Seems to me we went into a straight 3 or 4 man rush!
Charleston Jacket
December 29th, 2010
10:45 pm
Okay it is three days later and I am still ticked about this game. Punting with 3 min left – still can’t get over it. Stupid, Stupid, Stupid. May not have made the first down but at least we would have gone done swinging. Offensive play calling is a problem and they need to make adjustments if we expect to get through the first game. CMS needs to give the players a chance to win and quit being so stinking conservative.
Ms. Kp
December 30th, 2010
8:40 am
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/14484345/brees-saints-use-championship-heart-to-deny-falcons
Posing and pissing on the logo and you call the Saints champs. Champions don’t exhibit that type of behavior. We understand that in competition you either come up long or short. Unfortunately we came up short and that is ok. We will not act like savages, degenerates, nor will our team exhibit behavior unbecoming a professional. Now what will happen is when we play ya’ll again, we will make sure his head is put in that piss spot in the middle of the field. Congratulations on your win Monday and your one Superbowl ring. Ya’ll acting like a man getting some snatch for the first time, got one ring and now you want everybody to know it. Get a set of brass knuckles like the Steelers or Cowboys then you can talk.
Johnny Fever
December 30th, 2010
10:05 am
Can someone explain why the falcons did not challange the ball spot agianst the saints in the 4th or why matt ryan was staying in the pocket and not running more? This is mularkeys job to find ways to get the offence going.
Reality
December 30th, 2010
10:45 am
Falcons fans know that they are not making it past their first playoff game. The Patriots they are not. Got to be able to run the ball. Can’t. Falcons going to flop.
YourPoliticalAnimal
December 30th, 2010
12:29 pm
YAAAAAAWWWWWWNNNNNNN . . . FALCONS AND EAGLES IN THE NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME . . . AND I’LL BE THERE NO MATTER WHAT . . . I’LL SIT IN THE NOSEBLEED SEATS, ON ARTHUR BLANK’S LAP, DOESN’T MATTER . . .
LegionOfDome
December 30th, 2010
2:31 pm
I love Mike but I don’t get that call. All the 4th and short conversions he’s called for all season and he didn’t at least give it a shot there? Even if we didn’t make it everyone would have understood… Why would you give the ball to Breesus to eat up all out clock when we are down with 3 min left? Might as well have been Peyton freakin’Manning
SB44Champs
December 30th, 2010
3:23 pm
“Might as well have been Peyton freakin’Manning”
No thank you, we will stick with Drew!!!
SB44Champs
December 30th, 2010
3:25 pm
“Can someone explain why the falcons did not challange the ball spot agianst the saints in the 4th or why matt ryan was staying in the pocket and not running more? This is mularkeys job to find ways to get the offence going.”
First the challenge question. A spot cannot be challenged by the D unless it results in a first down. Why didn’t Ryan run more??? Common sense!
SB44Champs
December 30th, 2010
3:26 pm
“nor will our team exhibit behavior unbecoming a professional. ”
Tell that to Roddy White you IDIOT!!!
SB44Champs
December 30th, 2010
3:28 pm
“Get a set of brass knuckles like the Steelers or Cowboys then you can talk.”
I find it interesting that a birdy fan cannot mention her team in an expression of excellence……sad……lol
SB44Champs
December 30th, 2010
3:29 pm
BTW Ms KP,
We will stick with our Saints. Since Payton and Brees have arrived Dallas has one playoff win. The Saints have one trip to the NFC title game to go along with our Lombardi.
Jerry
December 31st, 2010
8:29 am
I don’t think we wanted to show them much offensively. Might help us in the playoffs of the “who dats” come back around.