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
AlanFalcon
January 16th, 2011
10:52 am
One thing for sure, the other teams in the NFC South were not present for this round of the playoffs and the one that was got beat down in the first round by Seattle, SAY WHO DAT, SEATTLE.
THE FALCONS AT LEAST GOT BEAT BY A QUALITY TEAM-now Falcon haters go stick your head in the MUD where it belongs.
GO FALCONS AND GO SOUTHERN RUSH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Auburn Grad
January 16th, 2011
10:53 am
Draft Cam Newton as a backup to Matt Ryan. He has arm strength.
atlppal
January 16th, 2011
10:57 am
They would never draft CAM NEWTON….They’re WAITING ON THE SOUTH TO RISE UP….AGAIN!!! RIGHT RMIKE???
AlanFalcon
January 16th, 2011
10:59 am
He also has a father that has extra dollars in the collection plate, the one that couldn’t afford to repair his church and then all of a sudden the repair cost of $50,000 appeared, not a problem here or is it.
oldnorthernguy
January 16th, 2011
11:00 am
What brain dead reporter asked if the wether played a role in this loss ? You guys play in a Dome ! It only snows in the Viking’s Dome. I was stunned at the Falcons team I saw last night. It looked nothing like the team I saw all year.
atlppal
January 16th, 2011
11:01 am
Only a small token of what has historically happened huh….AlanFalcon???
Sick fan
January 16th, 2011
11:02 am
I will always be a die hard fan, but I am just sick of the embarassments! Losing is understandable. Being blown out at home when you are the number 1 seed is totally unacceptable!!!!
Call me a fickle fan if you like, but the falcon history is marred with this type of games. I thought they had turned the corner on this garbage, but last night proved me wrong.
Paper Champs
January 16th, 2011
11:04 am
rmike158- yes we did lose to a 7-9 team, but at least when we were the number one seed, we went all the way to the super bowl and won it. We lost, i’m not going to make the excuse, that we had tons of injuries etc. You lost at home as a number one seed. You are only the second team to lose in the playoff’s by such a large margin. One thing we have that your team does not and that it’s fans want more then anything is a super bowl trophy. Your team got EXPOSED last night and that’s a fact. If you stop the run, the dirty birds are done. It happened with the saints a couple of weeks ago in the georgia dome and it happened again last night. Now, the other thing, when you talk about a city. Katrina was of epic proportion. That little snow on the road you guys had, and it shut down the entire metro atlanta area. Can’t say that we were unprepared, because it’s the United State Goverment (CORPS OF ENGINEERS) whose job it is to maintain the levee’s, not the locals as some of you would like to believe. On the other hand the state of georgia failed to take care of their business in clearing the highways and roadways a couple of days ago. So you see, just like your falcons, the state was not prepared when the time came.
atlppal
January 16th, 2011
11:06 am
The falcons proved that the seeding and regular season records doesn’t matter! NEW SEASON. When you narrow the field…exposure pops up!!
ALANFALCLOWN IS A JOKE!
January 16th, 2011
11:06 am
@ALANFALCON – your comments are a joke JUST LIKE THE FRANCHISE YOU FOLLOW…over the last 30 years only 4 NFC top seeds lost in the first game, with the icing on the cake since the Falcons have now done it twice!!!! EPIC FAILURE = FAILCANTS! YOU WERE EMBARRASSED LAST NIGHT…YOUR TEAM IS A HOUSE OF CARDS….FRAUDS…NO SURPRISE EXCEPT FOR THE DELUSIONAL FALCLOWN FANS…
YOU ARE SO PATHETIC YOU HAVE TO BASH THE SAINTS TO FEEL BETTER? LMAO..BOTTOM LINE – Saints rule, WE HAVE A RING, YOU DON’T, enough said….stings, huh? so sorry! Who Dat, We Dat! later, loser…
RMikel58
January 16th, 2011
11:07 am
@Paper Champs……………..thats a lie……….Your City elected to not spend tax dollars on your levy. Y
atlppal
January 16th, 2011
11:08 am
PAPER CHAMPS…Don’t try to explain anything to him….With that mindset, the more he knows….the less he understands!!
Chucktown38
January 16th, 2011
11:09 am
First of all congrats to the Falcons on a good season. Second it is time to put play makers on this both sides on this team NOW! We well never be any better than average until TD does this. I understand drafting players but you still need FA to take the team to the next level. This team has a good core but we still need more top talent.DE.LB,WR,TE,RB
FALCLOWNS ARE A JOKE!
January 16th, 2011
11:10 am
I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND MY CONGRATS TO THE FALCLOWNS FOR A GREAT REGULAR SEASON…TOO BAD YOUR PLAYOFF RECORD AND HISTORY STINKS LIKE THE SOUTH SIDE OF FULTON COUNTY….KEEP BASHING THE SAINTS, WE DON’T CARE…WHILE YOU ARE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO WIN YOUR FIRST RING, WE WILL HAVE AT LEAST 1-2 MORE…IT IS FACT…OUR ORGANIZATION IS QUALITY…NOT A HOUSE OF CARDS LIKE THE FALCLOWNS….TRUTH HURTS, HUH? KISS THE RING, LOSERS….AND, UNTIL YOU GET ONE? STFU….
Falconlittle
January 16th, 2011
11:13 am
FALCONS,good season…..Thanks for all the fun and good times
To all the rest of you… The sky is falling, The sky is falling, The sky is falling…… Come on man! Least we forget Bobby ball., not that long ago. We have made progress every year… Oh sorry, back to reality for all the short sighted, THE SKY IS FALLING… THE SKY IS FALLING
COME ON PEOPLE
BOOGIES THE MAN FROM HARTWELL GA
January 16th, 2011
11:14 am
.
George Goble
January 16th, 2011
11:15 am
OK, the dome is lousy venue. I was a season ticket holder for a number of years in late 90’s and just couldnt take going down there. Awful, the whole experience.
Draft: Last 3 years, who have we gotten out of it?
Defense: Owens is a joke. We lose 1 nickel back? Nobody can cover, Robinson, nobody.
Offensive Line: Caved in every play, terrible pass blocking.
Recievers: Where was Gonzales and White last night? Disappeared.
Everyone in the country knew what was coming last play of the half. Painful.
Take the best player available in the draft, because there is no area that we don’t need serious help. Get some free agents who can play. And lets get a really nice outdoor stadium where its fun to go to, and not some awful downtown dead end.
sdw1957@hotmail.com
January 16th, 2011
11:16 am
WHERE ARE THE RACIST CLOWNS THAT RAN BROOKING OUT OF TOWN???????
LOFTON WAS A JOKE ALL GAME—PLAYED SOFT—OUT OF POSITION—-AND RAN OVER ALL NIGHT.
WE WIN AND LOSE TOGETHER—-BUT HE HS GOT TO BE RE-EVALUATED????
RMikel58
January 16th, 2011
11:16 am
@Paper Champs…………… New Orleans knew the levy would not hold a catagory 5 and put the money somewhere else. Not Corps of Engineers but your City elected to not spend the money shoring up your levy’s. You guy’s didnt think it could happen and guess what? IT DID.
Bad planning, corrupt city officials, corrupt mayor, corrupt chief of police, half the police force ran off, thouands of buses were not moved and you had plenty of time to plan better so you deserve what you got.
Atlanta didnt plan thje snow storm well either but with the oil spill, Katrina and preperation plans New Orleans cost the tax payers billions upon billions of dollars, citizens shot other citizens, stole, raped one another. Alot of that could have been avoided if you didnt have so much corruption in your city and piss poor planning.
Comparing Katrina to our recent snow storm is like night and day you’ll have to do better than that.
ATLFans REP
January 16th, 2011
11:20 am
Big up to Mike Smith and the Falcons for a great regular season!
Now, let me make one thing CLEAR!
Atlanta fans are not satisfied with just having a great regular season…..we want Championships…. that goes for the Hawks, Braves and the Thrashers!!!
mokha099
January 16th, 2011
11:21 am
@RMikeI58—seriously, are you talking about the levy. This is Football, stop crying,
take that beating like a man! dont be mad bc your team got owned in their own house.
say what you like about the Saints, They ARE SB Champs. They went through Warner, Favre, and Manning to get there. Remember that. They EARNED IT. the only thing your team earned is a spot on the couch to watch another SB. take it like a man and stop crying.
Once "Recent" Reader
January 16th, 2011
11:23 am
I read somewhere that Matt Ryan went into a shell. Not sure I agree. What happened was a combination of factors. First off, I thought the team was looking pretty good . . .at minimal decent in the first quarter . . ..actually the first half up to that last play. Now I know there was another Int in the endzone before that incredibly damaging Pick 6, but remember the team was moving OK up to that point. Motion pentalty I believe, then sack put them in a 3rd and long position. I would have preferred Ryan look for a shorter pass and minimal chance for 3 pts . . . .but he actually changed his normal decision making and I believe forced in a TD attempt. Could have been thrown earlier, could have been knocked down if receiver stayed up, could of – means nothing. Int in endzone means everything. After that, it became clear to us all that the Pack was pretty much having it’s way . . ..then the O had to change after 35-14. I still thought there was potential for an “interesting” end, but Onside Kick missed by inches, fumbles occurred. No I did not see Matt going into a shell, I saw a game that got away from Falcs. The sacks and Int’s were the very damaging blows. The inability to stop Rogers/Pack and other turnovers were the coup de grat.
Loserville USA
January 16th, 2011
11:24 am
TOUGH NIGHT FOR THE FALCONS?
How about with social media ALL OF US who are getting killed as well….a 13-3 team playing like THAT?
..
Van Gorder had NO CLUE what was going on last night…NONE!
Mularkey didn’t even use Gonzalez until the 2nd half… and what happened to the running game early…. TURNER IS OUR KEY…. not MATT RYAN…..
Our biggest friend last night could have been the clock, but we’re too bust trying to make Ryan into Peyton Manning.
Manning never lost like this in the postseason!
buzz
January 16th, 2011
11:25 am
For all you Saints fans coming on our blog:
Its just too bad Katrina didn’t bring more rain.
cg
January 16th, 2011
11:28 am
A tough night? C’mon coach. I realize you can’t say anything publicly and I respect that BUT it was a HORRIBLE night, EMBASRRASING, DISGUSTING even HUMILIATING but tough just doesn’t cover it.
I put most of the blame on the coaching and game playing. Even us arn chair coaches know that you can not use a drip and grind approach when your opponent is as explosive as GB was. The game plan was absolutely HORRENDOUS
BOOGIES THE MAN FROM HARTWELL GA
January 16th, 2011
11:28 am
To the 9:45 aints fan who loved the youtube fool……
Too bad he didn’t jump in his toilet while making a childish video…
Once "Recent" Reader
January 16th, 2011
11:29 am
buzz . ….the Saints fans took a hit last week from Falcon fans. They are just doing what is normally done on all posts . . . .exacting there revenge. This is the AJC’s blog, not Falcon fans only, just as any other blog open to the public is everyone’s blog. Just how it is. There are ways to set up your own blog where you only allow access to those that have like minded views . .and are able to remove access to those who prove to be intruders. This is not one of those sites. So we’ll get Green Bay, New Orleans, Philly, and many other fans. The Blogs are not about civility . … .can’t remember a time they were, especially in regards to Sports and Politics.
UN12
January 16th, 2011
11:30 am
Enough hammering on M Ryan, come on, when your defense can’t get the other team off the field at all something has to be done offensively (did anyone notice the Pack didn’t punt the ball at all). Chances have to be taken to score and keep the game tight, Rogers was eating them up on every play. Jenkins slips down and there is no chance to fight for the reception, granted the interception at end of the first half was critical, but Mularkey/Smith made that call. You saw what happened in the first half with the offense, Turner moved the ball, Ryan hitting some key throws. Then Weems ( a great special teams player) makes the great play, the Packers get the ball and go what 80+ yards. The reason Ryan couldn’t get the O going was the Packers ate up the clock because a lousy defensive effort kept our O off the field, look at time of possession. This wasn’t about the O, it was about a D that could not stop anyone, 3 possessions over 80 yards, even in 3rd and long they could not make a stop. In my opinion they need to look at the D, expecially Defensive Co-Ordinator (paid to make adjustments at the half) and D Backfield Coach. Plus, Mularkey/Smith needs to open up the O to allow Ryan to do what we all know he can do, throw the ball down field. Why do we not have a screen play or safety outlet pass to a back when MR gets harrassed as he was all last nite, something to slow down the opposing D.
By the way, did anyone notice the “ole man” Finneran making the catches when the ball came his way, taking two big hits and bouncing right up…way to go Finn. Great year Falcons, now make 2011 a better one by making the right changes to the D and allowing a good QB to become an even better one.
G-Man
January 16th, 2011
11:32 am
Alpha9 you’re right get some packer fan ladies together and they could beat the falcons!
Once "Recent" Reader
January 16th, 2011
11:32 am
cg . ….. I think the Offensive Plan did have pretty good potential. The Falcs should have had 17 or 20 points at the half, but 2 FG attempts were never made due to sacks that lead to Ints. Unfortunately, the D plan could not stop the very hot Rogers. They tore apart the free spots in the middle, then got the outside later. With the Pack scoring, the Pick 6 . . . . .all best laid plans go awry.
BOOGIES THE MAN FROM HARTWELL GA
January 16th, 2011
11:32 am
Falcons were not the better team last night.
That game ended in last 2 min. of the 1st half.
THANKS TO THE FALCONS FOR AGREAT SEASON …
WE WILL BE BACK SOONER THAN LATER.
ALSO, THANK YOU ARTHUR BLANK AND TO THOMAS D. , MIKE SMITH…….
KEEP DIGGIN, CHOPIN WOOD AND WE WILL GET THERE……
cg
January 16th, 2011
11:33 am
And furthermore, the fact that we were getting killed by Rodgers and made no adjustment. That is lack of coaching ability. Not sure where it’s coming from but it needs to get fixed. IMHO I believe the soft zone approach of BVG almost lost us a number of games this season. That’s the first thing or person that needs to go. I saw absolutely 0 bump and run last night to interrupt the GB receivers, (I take that back – Chris Owens did [plenty of bumping it was just far down field where it shouldn’t have been)
Mularkey also did not adjust when our offense could not put the ball in the end zone. I don’t know if that was his decision or Smitty’s but that was poor coaching.
Once "Recent" Reader
January 16th, 2011
11:37 am
UN12 . . . . that is true. I do think that endzone throw is not attempted normally by Ryan if the Pack was not moving the ball so easily. But still – he’s gotta stick to smart decision making. Of course posters would have said he has to go for endzone if he made a shorter pass and they get 3 points. I absolutely hated that they tried that quick pass to sideline with a rollout – that turned into pick 6. With no timeouts it was SOOOO obvious to the D what the Falcs would attempt. Ryan has to not throw that ball – I would have preferred just going for 3 or an Endzone attempt again. I really thought the O was doing OK, but just NO match for what the Pack O was doing. They did have to force things. Even then I saw glimmer of hope for a closer game. But that went by the wayside with fumble caused by Ryan and the Center on one series, then the reversed reception to Jenkins. Too bad there.
Ray B
January 16th, 2011
11:38 am
Teams that finish 13-3 are not supposed to get embarassed like this at home against a 6 seed. Teams that finish 13-3 should dominate a 6 seed, not the opposite.
I agree with the comments that Mularkey must go (guess it doesn’t matter as he already has his foot one step out the door as it is). I was never imprssed with him as OC, and all I need to know about him is what a terrible head coach he was in Buffalo and then quit on the team after two years. Last night (and throughout the season) it was typical Mularkey conservative pklat calling which may win close games in the regular season but gets you spanked in the playoffs. What a disaster. Mike Smith says they’ll get better from this? How much better then 13-3 can you get? How much better the #1 seed can you get? The table was set and this team again disappoints. If you can’t go all the way as a #1 seed, what will it take?
Akki
January 16th, 2011
11:40 am
This clearly shows that Flacons’ 13-3 season is not legit, they had too much luck in too many games. Unfortunately luck was not even close yesterday..this is what happens when you celebrate on other tema’s loss(Karma).
FANU
January 16th, 2011
11:40 am
First of all, as long as Ryan, is Quarterback, Atlanta will never play in the Super Bowl, because you have a better than average quarterback, who has no killer instinct, and no emotion that the players can feed off of. If Atlanta needed 7 yards for a 1st down, and Ryan had a clear path to run for it, he would still try to find a way to pass for it than to go ahead and run for it and get it over with. Atlanta is too conservative, until it has a “big play” offense, that will make teams play off them they will continue to crowd the line. One last thing, please! Please! Get a back with break away speed, because Tuner, although a decent back, he has no outside speed to get around defenses.
EJ in JC
January 16th, 2011
11:43 am
At the end of the first half they should have been going for 7 and not three.
When you think you are taking the safe and conservative route, bad things happen. They should have been playing to win, not playing NOT TO LOSE.
BOOGIES THE MAN FROM HARTWELL GA
January 16th, 2011
11:44 am
EVERYONE NEEDS TO SEE 9:45 YOU TUBE LINK OF AINTS IDIOT AND HIS STUPID COMMENTS ON THE FALCONS………….
Waiting on YOUR feedback…………………
cg
January 16th, 2011
11:45 am
FANU – I completely agree that weed need break away speed but I don’t agree that Matt Ryan is average. The game plan was the problem. No imagination, same ole same ole, and evrybody knew it. Where the heck was Gonzalez?
Reall Fan
January 16th, 2011
11:46 am
Real Fans would have givin their teama standing ovation for a winning season.. not Atlanta wat a class act huh?
jc_dawgs
January 16th, 2011
11:47 am
What we saw last night was a lack of playoff experience…especially from Ryan. We got behind and I think given the magnitude of the game Ryan forced the issue and threw that int before the half. The Defense could not stop them and Ryan felt he had to match GB’s offense score for score.
The Falcons are a good football team…and I challenge anyone to say otherwise. However….I do believe we were lucky to be 13-3 and we were not quite as good as most other 13-3 teams from past years. GB is playing lights out and we were exposed.
Having said that I will also say that I have all the confidence in the world in the coaching staff….this team will continue to get better and they will be in the playoff discussion next year and the future years to come as well. You can count on it!
JohnGaltWho
January 16th, 2011
11:48 am
Wow – Falcon fans (and players) really can’t come to grips with what happened. The player post game comments and fans (who abandoned their team after a great season) all whine about how “we didn’t play Falcons football”… ” a #1 seed should not lose to a 6 seed at home…”. The Falcons didn’t lose because they played badly. They were steamrolled by a superior team that had no business being a number 6 seed. Falcons are young on defense, Aaron Rodgers is maturing and has the best receiving corps in the NFL and the Packers defense overwhelmed Matt Ryan. Falcons will recover and this should be a good rivalry going forward. Of course, if you think the Packers are good now – wait till they get Finley and Grant back on offense and a healthy Smith and Bigby on defense. Future looks bright for both teams.
Falcon Fan
January 16th, 2011
11:49 am
Man up Ryan! You screwed up bad! Those interceptions were killers! Don’t make excuses. You were just plain bad last night!
FANU
January 16th, 2011
11:49 am
Atlanta is too conservative!! No defensive linemen!! And a quarterback, that is a little that above average, who has no killer instinct!! Can’t run when he should and no emotion for the players to feed off of. As long as Ryan, is Atlanta will never win a Superbowl, because he unlike Roger and other QBs he cant run because he is afraid of getting hurt!! And he has no mean streak to motivate him to win!!
Once "Recent" Reader
January 16th, 2011
11:53 am
Ray B. . … .there have been quite a few non #1 seeds that have made it to SB, and even won. The Pack has been playing great ball towards the end of the year. Unfortunately for Falcs, they met a team as hot as any . . .maybe even New England . . . . in the league. #1 seed is nice, but remember, many had predicted the Pack to beat Falcs in Atlanta during the Reg season. They even have it more together now, especially on Offense. It was a terrible display on Defense and Offense because of turnovers. I think that Offense if it played normal good decisions / low turnover game would have put up close to their average of 25/26 ppg. Unfortunately, they would have needed around 35. (I say 35 as if they got that many, Pack would probably have not had as many points.)
Sam Williams
January 16th, 2011
11:53 am
Matt Ryan is average, can you see Ryan has a weak arm. He cannot make the deep throws. Since we are committed to Ryan we need to get a back with power and speed. The running back on this team has to have MVP potential. Our receivers are getting open on the deep routes since Ryan can’t get the ball to them on those routes we have to play conservative football. Murlarky HAVE TO COACH THE OFFENSE ACCORDING TO QB ABILITY.
Jaguars Are Best
January 16th, 2011
11:54 am
Like children like father – Ok all you Falcon fans, go on home and mourn in silence, as your beloved UGA and haggardly GT did, the Falcons followed suit. Georgia is truely Losersville.
Earl Austin Jr.
January 16th, 2011
11:55 am
Ryans pick before the half was the Ballgame,,, Elite QB’s dont make that throw.
cg
January 16th, 2011
11:55 am
I have to disagree with you ReallFan, We have watched our teams have a great season then go nowhere in the playoffs for too many years (mainly trhe Braves). We, as fans, don’t want to settle for mediocrity. We would like to seeb just a little supremacy for this great city.
Once "Recent" Reader
January 16th, 2011
11:57 am
FANU . . . .OK whoever you are. What is this about “no emotion”??? Have you watched the team over the past 3 years? The QB does show his emotions and all teammates say is a great leader. I don’t know what would have worked last night better . …. .yelling, getting angry or staying calm and keeping the team from getting to frustrated. What causes dissension in many cases is when you have a hot-headed QB who can’t “control emotions” and starts yelling at teammates laying blame.