Mike Smith said it was a ‘tough night’ for the Falcons
110115 Atlanta - A dejected Atlanta Falcons head football coach Mike Smith says " it was a very discouraging night for our football team but we will learn from it" during his post game press conference after losing to the Packers 48-21 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011. Curtis Compton ccompton@ajc.com
Falcons coach Mike Smith did not make any excuses for the teams poor showing against the Green Bay Packers.
Here’s what he had to say:
OPENING STATEMENT: Obviously, it’s extremely hard in this league to get the outcome that you want when we play the type of football that we played today. It was very uncharacteristic in terms of turnovers, proteching the football and winning third down on defense. It was a tough night for our football team. We had way too many mistakes. We ran into a real hot quarterback, playing at a high level. We obviously had a real tough time stopping them. Their offense did a very good job. Then when you turned the offense over four times and have five sacks, it’s not going to be pretty. We thought that the first quarter of the game went well. As we got into the second quarter it started to kind of go away from us. We had an opportunity ,in the third quarter on third down and 13 with them backed up, and we didn’t get a stop. We couldn’t spin the momentum. Again my hats off to them. They are moving on. We’ll be a better team and learn from this experience. Everyday, if your win or lose, it’s a learning experience. This is something that we will learn from. With that, I’ll open it up for questions.
ON THE INTERCEPTIONS RIGHT AT THE END OF THE HALF: “That was a tough play. We were right at the edge of a long field goal attempt. . . We wanted to try to get it in five more yards for the range that we had set for our field goal kicker. It was a throw where the guy jumped the route and ended up really turning the tide right before the half. . . . then it really started to snowball from that point.”
(DID GET THIS QUESTION): Again, I would not Mark. There were numerous opportunities to get the guy on the ground. That’s a very good quarterback, a very good offense. Our intent was to get him on the ground. We had some free runners, but we didn’t convert. I would have never have imagined that happening. It was not very characteristic of the way that we want to play football. That was not the way we played football all season long.
ON THE PLAY OF THE SECONDARY: “Well, we gave up way too many yards obviously. Touchdown passes. We had some penalties that hurt us. Until I watch the tape it’s going to be really difficult . . . but obviously when you give up the number of points and the passing yardage that we gave up today, we didn’t play our best game. That’s very obvious. I don’t know if we tackled as cleanly as we needed to. It was a very discouraging evening for our football team. For our organization, but we will come back from it. I can assure you of that.
DID YOU ALL MISS BRIAN WILLIAMS: “Brian Williams is our starting nickel back. When a guy is hurt, the next guy has to come in and make the plays. You want to have all of our players out there if possible. He wasn’t there. I thought that Chris did some nice things when they were out there tonight. Until I watch the tape, I’m not going to make any judgments on how individuals played.”
ON WHAT THEY DID WELL: I think we did a pretty good job stopping the run. We did a pretty good job this week preparing for the run. They used the same game plan they had the last time we played them. They made the plays when they had to make them and we didn’t. That’s what happened in the ball game. They were the better team in the ball game tonight.
WAS RODGERS BETTER THAN LAST TIME? “Yes he was. Aaron Rodgers was better than he was the last time we played them and we weren’t as good.
ON WEEMS KICKOFF RETURN: “It was a big play by Eric and our special teams. Then we got put back out there on the field defensively and we didn’t get a stop. It was one of those 80-yard drives . . . we didn’t get it stopped. You can’t go out there and play that many snaps in a football game and think that you are going to be stronger and you’re gong to win the fourth quarter.
ON RYAN’S INTERCEPTIONS: “I’m not going to comment on bad throw, bad decision until I’ve had the opportunity to really watch the tape and study what the coverage was. I think I know what it was, but until I watch the tape I’m going to hold onto any type of judgment.”
THE FOURTH AND ONE ON THE FIRST TD DRIVE: “Our philosophy this season on fourth down, especially in the red zone, we feel we have a pretty good chance to make it statistically. We did that and it ended up turning into a touchdown down instead of a field goal. We you are facing an impressive offense like that you’ve got to score touchdowns. You can’t get into a field goal kicking contest because that offense right now is playing very effectively.”
ON HIS POST GAME SPEECH TO THE TEAM: “Generally speaking, I know they are disappointed. I’m disappointed. We didn’t like the way the game went and that we would learn from it. The important thing is that we learn from what took place. I also told them that they need to realize that even with as bad as they feel right now, they have to remember that there is a whole body of work that we put out there this year and we can’t forget that either.”
WAS THE WEATHER THIS WEEK A FACTOR: “No excuses. We’re not going to make any excuses. I thought our preparation was good. All week, when we came to practice we were focused. We just did not play Atlanta Falcons football. The way the Atlanta Falcons have played all season long. I think the statistical bear that out from the score on the scoreboard to what happened to us offensively and defensively.
–D. Orlando Ledbetter
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369 comments Add your comment
Tim
January 16th, 2011
8:04 am
We learned that the Falcons were pretenders. Definitely not deserving of a top seed in the NFC and certainly no in the upper tier of the NFL. The combination of no pass rush and weaknesses in the secondary is lethal against the better teams in the league. Like Green Bay. Falcons needs are pretty clear – defensive lineman that can get pressure on the QB, people that can cover in the secondary and another running back. Norwood needs to go. It’s questionable Turner’s future is. His lack of speed is a problem – allows defenses to pile up in the middle and take away the run. The bottom line is that this team is nowhere near as good as we hoped they were. It was a total embarrassment on the national stage last night.
RomeDawg
January 16th, 2011
8:04 am
“Tough Night”, no kidding Smitty!
Lessor brock
January 16th, 2011
8:06 am
Great try Atlanta
FalconFan
January 16th, 2011
8:08 am
Very disappointing loss, but what a season….Pickup a few missing pieces during the off season and we will be back. Thanks guys for such a terrific season…Maybe we can start getting some respect in the league now.
hike!!!
January 16th, 2011
8:15 am
The Falcons are still a couple of players away from winning it all. Had we managed to get to the Super bowl there is now way we beat the Patriots or Pittsburgh. It would have been a real hard loss to take.
Were getting there, be patient.
Falclowns Fans are Classless
January 16th, 2011
8:17 am
Bottom line – Falclowns are a good regular season team and a TURRIBLE (Charles Barkley) playoff team. #1 seeds do not lose in the first round and get HUMILIATED in their DOME! You embarrassed the NFC south, you played weak and were FRAUDS all year….at least the SAINTS won SB44….but, your jealousy has been reduced to slamming a great city vs. looking at your own pathetic organization and lack of tradition, integrity and identity as a team…..you could not stay classy, much less spell the word….Who Dat – You Ain’t Dat…
georgiadawgg
January 16th, 2011
8:18 am
i hate a conservative coach
Falclowns
January 16th, 2011
8:20 am
Sean Payton > Little Mikey Smith
Drew Brees > Little Mattie Icey
Saints > Falcons
Saints SB Rings = 1
Failclowns = 0
james
January 16th, 2011
8:26 am
Atlanta is just not as good as Green Bay. If not for a fumble by Aaron Rodgers on the 1 yard line the Falcons would have lost the first time they played.
If you think Green Bay is tough this year, wait until next year when they get all their guys back. I think they have 7 starters on Injured Reserve.
They still have to win two more games this year but Green Bay is on the verge of big things in the years to come if they don’t win it all this year.
Saints > Falcons
January 16th, 2011
8:26 am
1. Payton is better than hot head Mikely Smitty
2. Brees is better than Little Mattie Chokey Ice
3. We have a SB Ring; YOU GOT NOTHING!
4. NFL wants to host Super Bowls in NEW ORLEANS in the Superdome! GA DOME IS A PATHETIC BUILDING AND NOT EVEN IN THE DISCUSSION!
5. SAINTS WIN AS THE #1 SEED; FALCLOWNS LOSE AND EXPERIENCE THE MOST EPIC FAILURE EVER IN THE HISTORY OF THE NFL….
WHO DAT NATION > FALCLOWNS WANNA BE BANDWAGON FANS
john cross
January 16th, 2011
8:26 am
A big disappointment. We had two weeks to get ready. But it did not look like we were ready. It is a long wait until next year.
cheesehead
January 16th, 2011
8:30 am
Thomas D will make changes. Not wholesale, but enough to correct many of the weaknesses of the falcs. The sun will rise tomorrow ATL. Keep ur heads up
Go Pack Go!
hjones
January 16th, 2011
8:33 am
COACHING FAILURE!!! Points on the scoreboard win games!!! Nothing else matters!!! Our coaching staff worries about the statistics. We played GB the same way we played in every game this year. BugKilller is right – NOT TO LOOSE!
Disgusted
January 16th, 2011
8:34 am
The fans ain’t gonna stay if the team’s stinking up the stadium.
Project 115? Is that the shelled-out, boarded up public housing on Memorial? HAHAHAHAHA
GET SOME CLASS, FALCONS. Then you can lose with DIGNITY.
Then we’ll work on not phenomenally reeking out the joint when it counts.
Birds of Prey
January 16th, 2011
8:34 am
I’m still wondering how the hell we can put extreme heat (aka blitzing) on another great QB, Drew Brees and forget it last night? Rush 3 or 4 against a QB like Rogers? Even as dumb as I am I think I could figure out a way to put more pressure on Aaron Rogers. OOPS, I forgot: rust a few and stay back and prevent pass completions…that’s it! Look at Roger’s stats, he sure was held to only a few dozen yards (per pas, that is). boy, that Zone D works like a charm.
james
January 16th, 2011
8:38 am
Birds of Prey,
The Falcons were putting pressure on Rodgers. They were just whiffing. Rogers has mobility that most QB’s don’t have. He’s elusive and has great footwork.
paul
January 16th, 2011
8:41 am
ATLANTA FANS at the Game, We did our part. The crowd was the greatest I have ever seen.
scott
January 16th, 2011
8:41 am
I just want to see us get better from this. Great 2010 regardless… the bar has been set high for the 2011 campaign.
Go Falcons!
Dr. Warren
January 16th, 2011
8:42 am
I never expected the Falcons to look so much like the ‘09-’10 Hawks. Green Bay was the Falcons’ version of the Orlando Magic.
68Falcon
January 16th, 2011
8:43 am
Just as I predicted…. let Ryan (the melt down Ice Man, who is called iceman because he always has us in close games at the end….good QBs get it done early) call his own play,,, the hurry up seemed to work in the end but who knows…. just a good ass kicking by the Cheese Heads,,,,
boiler up
January 16th, 2011
8:45 am
This is a special team that need a few additions and it showed. That’s the good thing about losing figuring out what needs and adjustments for next season. Overall, we are a very young football team that will have many more chances. We are very similar to the early years of Manning and the Colt’s.. Gooo Falcons and go get em next season.
Sam Williams
January 16th, 2011
8:48 am
I going to say this and I have been saying this since day 1 when we draft Matt Ryan. Matt Ryann needs to work on his arm strength. I notice his first year he can not make the deep throws. Everytime our receivers have a 2 or 3 step separation on deep throws or a sideline throw they have to come back for the ball. This give the defender a chance to catch up to the ball for interception are a change to bat the ball down. Once again Mike Jenkins had 3 steps on the defender and the ball should have been thrown over his head, he actually had to come back to the ball. And the defender was able to catch up and make an interception. That was the key play to the game. Look at some of the past interceptions throughout his career here in Atlanta and you see for yourself. The times when Rowdy White has his man beat by 2 or 3 steps on the deep routes and how he has to come back for the ball. To sum it up the falcons will never be able to spread the defense because teams know they do not have worry. That’s why if we get behind in a game we would never be able to catch up. We do not have big play potential
Glenn In Florida
January 16th, 2011
8:49 am
Real Falcon Fan, if you truly believe that the Falcon’s beat themselves, you were not watching the same game as the rest of America was. It is one thing to get beat by 7 or 3 points and point to one or two mistakes which changed the game completely around. When you get beat by 27 points, at home, you didn’t beat yourselves. You got the s**t kicked out of you. I’ve lived with this saying for about 20 years. It was something said by a sportscaster, it goes like this; “I may be a homer, but I am not an idiot.” The Falcon’s got straight out beat up, down and all around. They wouldn’t have won yesterday if they brought their A game.
james
January 16th, 2011
8:50 am
How do you “work on arm strength”?
Sorry, but you either have it or you don’t.
True Falcon Fan
January 16th, 2011
8:53 am
WTF: Like I stated, WIN or LOSE — as I promised, I’m here/aqui,,,, CONGRATULATIONS to the GB Packers & Fans— “Good Luck” through-out the rest of the way.
Saludos
TFF
NY Nick
January 16th, 2011
8:54 am
Too all the sad Falcons Fans today, We must hold our heads high!! Winning 13 games in the National Football League is a Tall Task. First Seed, Division Champs even Taller!! Special and more sophisticated teams with balance on both sides of the ball win the Super Bowls. The Falcons are almost their, their defense still has some holes to fill. Aaron Rodgers is now, and will be considered a Elite QB after last nights performance. Falcons have a little more work to do….Be Patient the Falcons are still going thru growing pains. It will Happen. Great Job Atlanta on a GREAT SEASON!!!!
RMikel58
January 16th, 2011
8:56 am
Greenbay had alot of injuries and beat us with 2nd string players for the most part. Van Gorder and Mularkey got schooled too not just the players. We were ther stepping childs for Greenbay. Bad thing is they’ll show the thrashing on ESPN that Greenbay as highlight films.
We have got to get a better RB than the one we have now. Michael Turner doesnt cut back, run with vision and has no break away speed. Yeah he’s fat and big legs but doesnt get big gains. Tony Gonzalez needs to retire folks, he still hasnt won a playoff game.
O.K. so now we have had a winning record the last 3 years. We won our Division which was great but next year the Saints and Tampa will have something to say about that. Great Defenses win Super Bowls and ours is sub par at best.
We have got to get better CB’s by trading or drafting which either and be able to play 1 on 1 more cause this zone stuff isnt working Van Gorder.
Watch Greenbay and New Orleans on film and maybe you can learn something. Greenbay is going to the Super Bowl folks, their a class act with a complete football team even without their starters. We got beat in the trenches on both sides yesterday.
Their front 4 played awesome and our OL couldnt pick up the stunts, no check offs, no screens and no execution. We only won in our Special Teams which was a non factor later on.
I hvent given up on the Falcons but you gave up yesterday, no effort, no focus, no pride and the score proved that. Go get your 43,000.00 pay checks for participation and watch the rest of the playoff’s on the tube.
Those are real players and real men in the playoffs, cash your checks sit by the fire, drink some hot chocolate, cuddle with your wives and make your plans on going on vacation.
I dont want to watch us get embarrased on t.v. and atleast you saved us from that.
Sam Williams
January 16th, 2011
8:58 am
You’re absolutely right about arm strength you either have or you don;t. And does not have it, I just wanted to be easy on theese fans because when I mentioned this 1, 2 years ago they were in denial. He does not have it and will never have it. I remembered on draft day the espn analyst Mel Kiper said that he does not have a decent arm and it shows.
Dave in Green Bay
January 16th, 2011
9:03 am
I said earlier in the week my team is tough. The stinky birds will have to wait until another year.
This loss should be easy to take for you birds as it was a complete ass whipping by the Pack.
Dave
January 16th, 2011
9:04 am
The Packers won that game, they deserved the W. We simply did not show up to play last night. However, the Packers fans that were in attendance last night were disgusting. Of all the NFL games I have ever attended, that was a group of the rudest, most crass, and embarassingly disrespectful NFL fans I have ever seen. And that is saying something given that we host Saints fans once a year. Green Bay fans have nothing to be proud of. I hope they learn to keep it classy. They have a long way to go.
Football Wife
January 16th, 2011
9:11 am
I agree with Coach Smith–since 2007, the Falcons have been adding building blocks to this team. Arthur Blank cares about this team and this city(unlike Rankin Smith and his family.) Mr. Blank has gone out and hired us a great coach and front office when we had none.
Over the last three years, the Falcons have put together consecutive winning seasons(something the organization had never done before) and two playoff appearances. Yes, last night was difficult but as Mike Smith said the Falcons will learn from this and go after players who will fill those holes so visible last night.
Great teams aren’t built overnight but over time. This is just another step in the process, a hard one to swallow but still a step forward.
Seriously
January 16th, 2011
9:12 am
Tough night for Falcons? How about the suffering of the Atlanta fans who you begged to come out early to only show up to stink up the game and crap all over the fans!!! This is exacly why the fans dont come out early and we hesitate to even show up for games. We are sick and tired of the ecuses, sick and tired of the blame game. Please wake me if this team ever decides to get their head out of their ass and play for a SB Ring.
John
January 16th, 2011
9:12 am
The ghost of Jed Clampett still hovers over this program.
Old White Haired Man
January 16th, 2011
9:13 am
We are still proud of our Atlanta Falcons. It was an enjoyable ride. TYVM. As a long time fan, as usual, I will wait till next year…
Wishing Atlanta Stayed Confederate
January 16th, 2011
9:13 am
Does Ryan still deserve that Pro Bowl selection? His regular season was nowhere near as impressive as A-Rodg’s NOR was his post season performance.
Falfan
January 16th, 2011
9:14 am
As an Atlanta Falcon Fan, I am truly disappointed in the way our fans abandoned our team in the 4th quarter. If you are a true fan, you stick it out with your team, WIN OR LOSE and no matter how UGLY the loss is……WAY TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT. I’m pretty sure the guys felt bad enough with the performance that was given last night, but to see their fans just up and leave is really, really bad.
techster
January 16th, 2011
9:15 am
ouch – that did hurt.The interception before half was the backbreaker but we would have lost anyway. What’s up with the ole pass rushers. To me, that was the game. BVG got free rushers but Arod just slipped them time after time. So the BVG didn’t know what to do but drop to a zone which I fully believe even he didn’t think would work. I have a bad feeling about the falcons going forward. You only get setups like this year so many times and to get routed when you had everything going for you does not bode well for the future. Smith and Ryan are the future but the psyche of getting smashed as a #1 seed at home may never be forgotten. I see some missed playoffs and maybe a wild card loss for this team over the next several years. But they appear to just not be tough enough in the trenches to ever win a major playoff game. Hope I’m wrong. Go Braves!!!!
Steve
January 16th, 2011
9:18 am
I knew it. I felt it. God put snow on the ground to say, The Packers are coming y’all. The Packers are coming. It was a sign. What the Packers did was a clinic. Every team in the NFL will benefit from watching the tapes. If last night was the super bowl, the Packers would be the champs.
Don..Milwaukee Wi
January 16th, 2011
9:22 am
Dave, Dave, Dave….What a dilemma,, hey ? You can’t attack the Pack’s performance because it was nearly flawless. You cant attack the Falcons’ performance because it was nonexistent. You can’t attack the Falcon fans because they bailed out early. So you attack the Packer fans. Tsk,tsk.
Sam Williams
January 16th, 2011
9:25 am
I knew it we are still in denial about Matt’s inability to strow deep routes. Matt is not the answer and other teams know this. That’s why it is important to get another running back for the type of quarterback we have. The running back for this type of offense for this quarterback is important. We have to play ball control offense we can not have a high scoring offense when we have a quarterback that can not I repeat can not make the deep throws.
Wishing Atlanta Stayed Confederate
January 16th, 2011
9:25 am
Also, Falcons fans, please stop saying BS such as “we underperformed” this game. What actually happened was you guys over-performed all season. Everything about your offensive and defensive system screams mediocrity. You had how many “Pro Bowl” players from a defense ranked 16th… That should never happen.
Turner, while leading the league in carries is a distant 3rd in overall yardage and 31st in the league for yards/attempt.
When ranking qb’s, Ryan is never ranked higher than 9th in the league for Percentage, overall yards, passer rating, or yards/game. Best thing he has is TD to INT ratio.
You have a team focused on playing to not lose and to make fewer mistakes than their opponent. Which is fine, it will get you to the playoffs. But you are not designed to come from behind or to stretch a lead. That does not work in this league, in which the rules regarding how receivers can be covered, encourages the big play. You don’t believe me? Look at what happened to the Titans after that 10-0 start. They crumbled. They also had a much better defense and more explosive running game.
Facts is facts.
christophorm
January 16th, 2011
9:26 am
I was born in georgia but thank God my mommy moved me to D.C. in 1971 Go SKINS…what a embarrasment to a city and state this team has always been.Everybody saw right though that 13-3 record and you laid a Egg just like we thought you would.Nobody would pull for this team now, unless ofcourse you think pro wrestleing is real..we use to say as boys in the 1970’s “Go falcons ..and take the hawks with you”.all these years and nothing has changed ! you better sell blank !
Wishing Atlanta Stayed Confederate
January 16th, 2011
9:29 am
Dave, if you think Packer fans are the worst fans, then you should come to a Titans game. Don’t ever say we are worse than this guy:
http://law.rightpundits.com/?p=1465
RMikel58
January 16th, 2011
9:30 am
Thomas Dimitrioff needs to evaluate our Secondary. Safety- not sure the guy’s name but he just sat back there for the most part, never saw him double up on WR’s on the left or rightside of the field. He missed on a cpl tackles and didnt see much run support frm the safety. (Need a better Safety) trade him!
CB- Owens where did we get that guy? Got to be the worst CB in the league, they threw on him all day…could not anyone teach this guy the fundamentals on coverage? maybe Deion Sanders can. (Trade him)
I’m 53 and can play better than that.
OFFENSE- Michael Turner highest RB in the league. What is so special about him? No break away speed, no cut backs, and no vision. Dimitrioff needs a true RB and not a FB go out and get you 1.
WIDE RECIEVER- Roddy White cannot do everything. nope cannot. We need another i mean another very good reciever thats a veteran reciever cause Douglas and Jenkins moreso Douglas needs to be traded.
TIGHT END- Time for Tony Gonzalez to retire……… Might be good during the season but you can do nothing in the playoffs whether it be now or later…you’ve got go.
OFFENSIVE LINE- Are they just robots out there or can they not do checkoffs? Greenbay killed us on stunts and one time the CB blitzed off of the reciever and the tackle never picked him up. Those are fundamentals that are taught in highschool folks.
Van Gorder just like he did at Georgia never makes adjustments after the half. Boy you got SCHOOLED by Greenbay’s OC didnt ya?
Mularkey (OC of the year) maybe that trophy was given out too soon. Greenbay’s OC got overlooked on this one. Greenbay had alot of injuries and their OC made adjustments and look what he produced. We lose some starters and cant tie our shoe laces.
Maybe you guy’s should send your trophies up to Greenbay. All in all these Falcons are still 5-7 players away from beimg able to survive a 1st round loss in the playoff’s. Gonzalez, Finneran, Abraham is old now and are more proned to injuries than the younger players and must evaluate their future in football.
Van Gorder must look for immediate help in the Secondary to prevent this in the future, Mularkey has got to find a really decent RB and WR too take pressure off the other players by trade or draft otherwise we’ll end up just like this next year.
GOP Cannon
January 16th, 2011
9:33 am
Wow, biggest loss in NFL playoff history….
Only in Atlanta can a sports team go 13-3 for the regular season, yet make the franchise look like an absolute joke in just one play off game.
InTheShadowofLambeau
January 16th, 2011
9:34 am
” Response to post by: Alpha9 – January 16th, 2011 – 3:20 am
Oh well at leat all of our women don’t look like AJ Hawk and Clay Matthews..so we still kinda won”
If that’s the best crap talk you’ve got to offer up, I feel for you. Still and the same, the ignorance of your post tells me that you wouldn’t have a shot at ANY woman who doesn’t look like AJ Hawk anyway.
Response to: RMikel58 – January 16th, 2011- 8:03 am
“I’d like to congradulate the Greenbay Packers on the win against us. They out coached us in everyway and even if you take away our 4 turnovers it still couldve been 28-7. They are a class organization with great fans. Good luck in the NFC Championship.”
Thanks Rmike, I’m telling you, the Falcons are NOT that far off and you’re laying a foundation with a franchise QB. A good many Packers fans forget that it took Ron Wolf and Mike Holmgren 4 full years to put together a Championship team back in the early 90’s. Your guys will be back. They’re just too good of a team…a good team that had a really bad night. That stuff happens…it doesn’t lessen the pain to hear it but … it happens. The Falcons are a good team and a class organization. The Green Bay televisions stations had quite a lot of coverage from Atlanta leading up to this game and one re-occurring note was the ‘good form’ of the Falcons organization. The majority of the pieces are in place and, as I said, the Falcs will be back.
christophorm
January 16th, 2011
9:36 am
man boycott this terrible franchise..this team gose back to the beginning, when it comes to loseing and chokeing…watch the 1980 atlanta vs dallas playoff game in atlanta….ain’t nothing changed.
Dana
January 16th, 2011
9:36 am
Being a Cowboy fan, I have no room to talk but it obvious the Falcons are lacking a couple of things. To really that advantage of the Georgia Dome, the Falcons need to address team speed. Outside of Roddy White maybe, the offensive skill players do not have speed that will scare anybody. Harry Douglas has speed but either he can’t get open or he is not fully recovered from his knee injury. The Falcons are built to play football outside.
The second thing they need is related to first thing; they need playmakers and playmakers are usually players with blazing speed. I know this is hindsight 20/20, but the loss of Norwood was big for the Falcons. Norwood in the passing game would have been a big mismatch for any linebacker in the league. I know the guy can’t stay on the field, but the Falcons need to pick-up faster running back to back-up Snelling. Yes, I said Snelling because he should be the starter.
mokha099
January 16th, 2011
9:37 am
A few things…. i’m not hating, but just curious. How does Matt Ryan have a nickname of Matty Ice. No playoff wins…. you get a name like that only if you EARN IT. Remember Joe Cool, and of course Cool Brees or Big Breesy- they both won SBs. EARN IT first before you talk! atl got owned in their own house. Second, roddy said something a few weeks ago about the aints…. looks like roddy (aka push off) still aint got a thing but an ego. perform and then talk. Not hating….just saying…
joe
January 16th, 2011
9:38 am
Are you that naive UGABugKiller? You have no idea what you are talking about.