Mike Smith: ‘We coached a very poor football game’
110115 Atlanta - Falcons head coach MIke Smith reacts as his quarterback Matt Ryan walks off the field after throwing his first of two interceptions to the Green Bay Packers during 2nd quarter action at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011. Curtis Compton ccompton@ajc.com
FLOWERY BRANCH – Falcons coach Mike Smith met with the media on Sunday to discuss the playoff loss to the Packers.
He said, “The sky was not fallen” and thinks the Falcons will rebound from the worst lost in playoff history.
“We coached a very poor football game,” Smith said.
Here’s what Smith had to say:
OPENING STATEMENT: “After watching the tape I felt like we did some very uncharacteristic things in terms of doing the things you’ve got to do to win a football game. I really felt like there was a big momentum swing after we ran the kickoff back for a touchdown. On that next drive, there were three penalties that continued the drive. We had illegal contact on a sack in the endzone that gave them a first down and then of course we had a penalty that put the ball down on the two-yard line. The perception in this League is you’re only as good as your last game. It’s really not reality but that is the perception in this League and we know it as a football team. I want to say we won 13 games this year. Our team, through the season, did some very good things. We did not play good football last night. It was not the way that this team normally does business.”
ON EXIT INTERVIEWS: “We’ve done exit interviews. In fact we’re in the process of doing them right now. We’ve been here since early this morning. Players have been coming in shifts based on their seniority. We’ve had our final team meeting. They have exit interviews with not only their position coaches and coordinators, but they had their exit physical as well. There are a lot of guys that are disappointed in that room and they should be because you don’t get the opportunities very often to be where we were at in terms of this season. If you’re asking specifically about guys, I’m not going to comment specifically about any one guy. We’re disappointed, but we’ve got to put it behind us and make sure that we do everything in our power to get better as a team.”
ON THE OFFSEASON SCHEDULE: “We have a plan in place in terms of the offseason. Of course, that’s all predicated on what happens between now and March third or fourth. Our plans as a coaching staff, not to get into too much detail, is next week we have a commitment that we have to go and coach the Pro Bowl. That’s going to take time away from our offseason analysis but we will start that as soon as we get back. The week of the Super Bowl we’ll do system analysis in terms of evaluating everything that we do from top to bottom. We’re going to do everything in our power, myself, general manager Thomas Dimitroff, the entire staff and the entire organization to make our team better for next year. That is the goal each and every year.”
ON POSSIBLE CHANGES TO THE COACHING STAFF: “No, in fact we hope we can have continuity on our coaching staff. I think our coaching staff is one of the best or not the best in the NFL. I think that you want to have continuity with your players; you want to have continuity with your staff. I think our staff has done a great job this year preparing our team each and every week, even though there were a couple of games that we didn’t play our best. I want to say this, the Green Bay Packers were the better team last night. That’s how you’ve got to approach it each and every week because the dynamics change in this League from week to week.”
ON PACKERS QB AARON RODGERS CUTTING UP HIS SECONDARY: “Aaron had a great game. I think I was involved in one other game, I’ve seen Tom Brady have a game like that where you used to quote the talking heads ‘he’s on fire’, well he was on fire. But, there were a number of opportunities especially on third down yesterday where we had opportunities to make plays and we didn’t get them done. We had four opportunities to get the quarterback on the ground, the penalty on the third down on a sack changed the whole complexion of the football game in terms of a field goal attempt to a touchdown. Aaron had a good game. Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy had a good game plan. Their receivers caught the ball and we didn’t play up to our level and up to the capabilities that we have as a team. It’s something that you run into.”
ON HOW HE HANDLED THE DEFEAT: “I Didn’t get much sleep last night. I think there’s not only myself, but there’s 20 coaches, there’s staff members of the organization, probably fans that didn’t sleep well because we did not perform up to our abilities last night. As the head coach, you search for answers and that’s something that we’re going to make sure that we address. We have to look from the top down starting with me in terms of preparation for that ballgame and how we prepared.”
ON THE BYE WEEK: “I don’t think it hurt us. We had a very good week of practice. Someone asked last night did I think that the weather was an excuse, we’re not going to make excuses in terms of our preparation. I thought our guys were very prepared. They were focused. I thought up through the first quarter that it was a very competitive game. As I mentioned earlier, the momentum changed and we could not turn it back in that second quarter. There were a number of plays even though the score was such a one sided score, I still believe it came down to five or six crucial plays in the ballgame that really made a difference. We can say that each and every week. Sometimes we’re saying it on a positive note, sometimes we’re saying it on a negative note. Unfortunately, we’re talking about the negative today.”
ON THE SEASON: “The sky is not falling I can assure you that. We played a very poor football game last night in terms of the performance. We coached a very poor football game. Everybody in that room has ownership of that and it starts with me. I don’t think you want to over react. You’ve got to take time. You sit back and you analyze and you go through that analysis and you make decisions in the calm after you’ve been able to take the emotion out of it. If you go on emotion right now, you’re probably not going to like what you’re thinking.”
ON ANY POSITIVES HE CAN TAKE FROM THE SEASON: “The first one is that we won 13 football games and ultimately that’s how you’re judged. I think that our scoring offense and scoring defense, which is the second most important thing, we were fifth in the League on offense and fifth in the League on defense. We wanted to control the clock in our time of possession, we were third in the League in time of possession. We wanted to be the least penalized team in the League, during the regular season we were the least penalized team in the League. We wanted to win the turnover margin and have it significantly in our favor, and we were third or fourth in the League. Now, those are the things that we did during the regular season that you can take as a positive. We need to now take that into the second season. Again, our expectations as a football team have grown since we got here three years ago in terms of where we think we can be and where we want to be. We’ll keep those internally, but we’ve got to make sure that now going forward that we take the things that give us the plan for success during the regular season into the second season. Ultimately when your expectations are raised you’re not necessarily talking about just the regular season, you start talking about the second season and that’s something that we’ve earned as a football team and as an organization and we’re going to have to be able to deal with it because we plan on being in this situation again very shortly.”
–D. Orlando Ledbetter
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252 comments Add your comment
Matt
January 17th, 2011
12:08 pm
Wow, Coach Smith for the “Captain Obvious Award” 2011!! I didn’t see any real adjustments being made by Coach VanGorder to stop Rodgers dissection of the D and Mularkey’s game plan was far, far too conservative, even when the Falcons had the lead. Really disappointed in the coaching staff, especially since they had two weeks to get ready for this game.
Jim
January 17th, 2011
12:11 pm
YADA YADA YADA
The Real Falcon
January 17th, 2011
12:11 pm
I was there and I was not happy with what I saw. We WERE outcoached.
However I will be there next year for every game again. We will be there again and we will get better!
GO FALCONS!!
DUFFERDAWG
January 17th, 2011
12:12 pm
the only thing/stat that matters is 0-2. Which is your playoff record coach !
Jim
January 17th, 2011
12:13 pm
Teach your players how to tackle,do away with three man rushes,get a legit runner and a legit 2nd reciever, and someone who can ruch and TACKLE a qb.
Preston
January 17th, 2011
12:16 pm
I truly believe that this will be an experience that these coaches and players will learn from. Go Falcons in 2011-12!
Michael J
January 17th, 2011
12:17 pm
No, you won’t be judged on winning 13 games. You will be judged on squandering homefield advantage and embarrassing the city. Unlike your team, the fans showed up Saturday. Yeah, we left early, but your team checked out long before the end of the third quarter.
Preston
January 17th, 2011
12:17 pm
I do hope that they go out and get some DB’s and another beast DE to complement Abraham though!
Hose
January 17th, 2011
12:23 pm
I though early in the game the defense played well. We had the momentum. With a lead the offense shouldve of been more creative. With the lead the defense shouldve been more aggresive. All of a sudden it turned into a sieve. Bend, dont break? It broke!
jtdawgfan
January 17th, 2011
12:25 pm
very, very disappointed.
the elephant in the corner of the room stares directly at Mike Smith and Matt Ryan: 0-2, Ryan with 6 turnovers, and Smith’s teams playing some of their poorest in the most important games of the year.
MMA is stupid
January 17th, 2011
12:25 pm
This team looked like it was coached by Mark Richt and company. Totally unprepared, totally out played, out coached and just like my Dawgs…embarassing.
Games like this will never get you the national respect that you so desire. Games like this will cause all people to think its a fluke.
Oh…and you can STOP calling Ryan “Matty Ice”. Thank God, because that is the worst nickname ever.
jimmya
January 17th, 2011
12:26 pm
all i want to know is where was # 88 tony g in the first half the announcers didnt even call his name
PMC
January 17th, 2011
12:26 pm
It’s cool he’s taking responsibility but, this team STILL lacks talent.
13-3 put them ahead of the curve.
Robinson needs to be cut. That was a mistake. Chris Owens. Cut. Mistake.
They’ve GOT to go find more and better talent. Robinson has been a tremendous bust.
jtdawgfan
January 17th, 2011
12:28 pm
Hose, I assume you meant offense.
The only person I saw play defense for the Falcons on Saturday was Nicholas’ strip on the first drive when the other 10 clowns on the field tripped on their oversized shoes trying to catch Jennings.
Got 2 B
January 17th, 2011
12:28 pm
Smitty’s right about the coaches being culpable… It seemed the players just weren’t prepared to play in that type of game. And is it now OK to admit that Dunta aint all that?
Jake
January 17th, 2011
12:28 pm
Thinking about the Steelers/Ravens game that preceded the Falcons debacle, I saw two teams with serious attitude. There were guys out there who wanted to bite somebody on the neck. I don’t see that in the Falcons.
Put it in a baseball context: the Braves under Bobby Cox were always a one-speed team, which is why they only won the World Series once. They didn’t know how to ratchet their game up at playoff time. The Falcons are a nice team, but they’re going to have to develop an edge, some serious resolve, if they want to win in the playoffs.
Mikey
January 17th, 2011
12:28 pm
Enter your comments here
brad a
January 17th, 2011
12:31 pm
when we blitz we have to learn to come in under control. way too easy for the qback to sidestep the rusher and complete the pass. time and again this happened in both the no game and the packer game.
Just Sayin'
January 17th, 2011
12:31 pm
Notice that the 4 remaining teams in the hunt are cold weather teams that DON’T play in a dome. Football the way it was meant to be played…in the rain, mud and the snow.
DRH
January 17th, 2011
12:31 pm
The loss I can handle. It’s the embarrassment and blowout that is hard to swallow. I really thought the last team with ball would win the game. This game was over way before halftime.
Northern Bird
January 17th, 2011
12:34 pm
Super dissapointed with how we played Sat night. Everything was off; the discipline on penalties, the play calling, the execution on the field.
I thought this game turned to the Packers when we threw that ill-advised out to Roddy with 10 seconds left in the 2nd Qtr. What were they thinking ? Everybody in the building new we were going to the sidelines with that throw. D Led, you would have picked it off yourself!
Just a brutal play call there. Had we stayed put, and maybe kicked a field goal from 50 out, we would have gone into half down by 4.
After the half, GB stalled on their first drive. ATL scored on the following drive. We would have been up by 3 points with about 10 to go in the 3rd qtr. Bah, what a way to finish the season.
Johnny D
January 17th, 2011
12:35 pm
Did anyone even prepare for this game? Did they practice. Look at the tapes? It seems the other team was prepared. The Defensive Coordinator needs to be fired. Horrible play calling on the defense playing zone and giving them 15 – 20 yards at a time.
dylandawg
January 17th, 2011
12:35 pm
The game was a huge disappointment but the Falcons are on the right track. If anything they arrived a year early so expectations got a bit out of whack. The whole Ryan stinks, Smith stinks etc. is a joke. Unless you are willing to say Brady and Pats coach are also terrible. They did the same thing. The defense still lacks players. There is no reason to think that Dimitroff and Smith won’t fix it.
opie
January 17th, 2011
12:35 pm
DOL: More Excuses. You are judged on postseason wins not regular season wins. The ATL Braves were the regular season champs from 1991-2005 but at least the won a World Series. Rex Ryan defense against Peyton manning and Tom Brady are what true adjustments are about.
One again I reiterate How many championships has Martyball Won? How many top 10 defensive finishes has Jack Vanessa Delrio or Mike Smith ever had in Jacksonville of Atlanta? Mike Smith had nothing to do with the Ravens defensive scheme in 2000 it was Marvin Lewis Defense.
Navigator
January 17th, 2011
12:36 pm
Hopefully Mularkey will find a job elsewhere. He was like a schizophrenic Saturday, not being able to set up any cohesive offense. Let’s not forget that the two touchdown drives were Ryan running the no-huddle, rather than Mularkey doing the calls. That says volumes to me, so maybe they need to adapt the Indy method of letting the QB make most of the calls and only sending certain plays. Why does some guy (who never played QB) sitting up above the action think he understands the flow as well as the guy in the huddle (never understood this change in philosophy). I think the coaches are control freaks and that’s why few QB’’s are allowed to make the calls. Do you honestly think a good QB would regularly leave himself 3rd and long???
Mac
January 17th, 2011
12:36 pm
Just another out coached-out foxed team and a terrible IMPLOSION by the entire Falcon team!
I wonder..are the assistant coaches..both offense & defense too dam stupid to make adjustments as the game progresses..OR..are they under strict orders from “smitty” to change NOTHING?
rebeldawg
January 17th, 2011
12:37 pm
Wow, the only stat that matters is 0-2 in the playoffs? Tell that to a Lions, Browns, Bills fan. I can assure you they would be more than happy to be 0-2 in the playoffs the last three years. Mike Smith is doing his job better than over half the league. Honestly though, there isn’t much you can do as a team or coaching staff when a QB has a game like Rodgers did.
DTB
January 17th, 2011
12:38 pm
Falcons should have worn their throw back uniforms. The red helmets/black jerseys are much better.
JR
January 17th, 2011
12:38 pm
THE MOST TELLING STATISTIC, IN MY OPINION, IS THAT GREEN BAY DID NOT PUNT ONE TIME. HELLUVA COMMENTARY ON THE DEFENSE.
I ALSO THOUGHT THAT THEY WERE A BIT CLASSLESS WITH THE PILING ON OF POINTS WITH FIELD GOAL ATTEMPTS. A CLASSIER TEAM, THE BEARS, JUST RAN THE BALL IN THAT SITUATIION.
Fansince66
January 17th, 2011
12:39 pm
13-3… one and done… at the start of the season, I didn’t expect either of those. Enjoy your Trip to Hawaii Coach! You earned it.
TRUTH Hurts
January 17th, 2011
12:40 pm
Season ticket holder here, I am ready for a new head coach. There I said what needed to be said.
Veronica B
January 17th, 2011
12:42 pm
Mike you have done a wonderful job since coming to the Falcon, I know we didn’t win the playoff game, I believe there were something we did. Green Bay know that we didn’t have a different game plan ,I believe we will go all the way in 2011-2012. I will always be a Falcon fan.
Hoop235
January 17th, 2011
12:42 pm
It’s obvious that we still need to upgrade the defense, but all in all I still like the direction of this team. Thanks for the third straight winning season with the #1 seed to boot!! It’s still good to be a Falcons fan.
Mikey
January 17th, 2011
12:43 pm
“We coached a very Poor Football Game” Smitty, you had 2 weeks to prepare against a team that you had already beat this year. A team with virtually NO consistant running game which relies on short quick passes to talented receivers. May I suggest you study the NY Jets defense against a superior passer if you want to win your first playoff game. Ps. Is there ANY reason that you had only 1 pass thrown (3rd. quarter) to the best tight end in football history???
TBone
January 17th, 2011
12:43 pm
The Packers just exposed the weaknesses most of knew existed from the beginning. Well maybe exposed and exploited the weaknesses. I think the Falcons did a wonderful job during the course of the year masking the deficiencies but the Packers just gave us a good old fashion butt-whipping.
schlame
January 17th, 2011
12:44 pm
Defensive secondary cannot stop the pass because the defensive line can’t put the pressure on the qb.This the same deal year end and year out.We need hard nosed lineman that can put it on somebody.1 big play every 8 doesn’t cut it. Look at the steelers approach ravens,packers,jets,bears,even the young patriots.We seem to be stuck in the bend [marion[swampy] campbell] but don’t break routine.That’s BS We need to hit somebody and hit somebody till they are silly.
Carl
January 17th, 2011
12:44 pm
The team was not prepared mentally for a playoff game. It’s hard to believe, but that is it. After the game in Arizona 2 years ago, in which we were the better team, you would have thought it would have been different this time. Of all the records broken in this game, I would think one would be NO PUNT by one of the teams in a playoff game. If the Falcons want to see what a playoff game looks like, see Jets-Patriots. There was more intensity from the defense in the Saints game, at least for 3 quarters. I think the fans would like to see a specific response from the Falcons as to what is going to be done…other than what a wonderful coaching staff we have. Mr. Blank?
Top Cat
January 17th, 2011
12:45 pm
Been a Falcon fan since childhood, and the inception of the team…And though we’ve been here before, I do believe we have the best organization we’ve ever had!…Still need more talent…DT to provide push up the middle;DB’s that can cover, and blitz successfully;a speed back (I’m assuming Norwood is done); perhaps a Receiver who can get separation;OL etc…If Jerry and ‘Spoon’ pan out to tne max next year it will help tremendously but…who knows, we said the same for years about Anderson!…We’re a good team…hope we can become a great team! Thanks Birds! for a fun season! Go Falcons!!!
TRUTH Hurts
January 17th, 2011
12:46 pm
I was talking to people who didn’t attend the game – they said they turned the channel in the third qtr. You people are terrible fans 1) for not spending your money to be there 2) for turning the channel.
Brave New World
January 17th, 2011
12:47 pm
Chill out. It was one bad game that Coach Smith and the team have taken responsibilty for. Would it be better if he fired his coaches, benched Matt Ryan and started over from scratch? Get real.
This team made me proud all year and I’m still proud of the season they had. For those fans that live and die with a win or loss, I say you have a sad, sad existence my friend.
Pet a dog, go for a walk, do something constructive with your life.
Waffle House or Bust
January 17th, 2011
12:47 pm
It was a poorly coached game from Smith. But I have a problem with Ryan looking nervous instead of having a killer instinct like Rodgers had. When the Falcons scored Rodgers looked like he could care less. When Ryan threw that interception in the end zone he looked like a kid that had his blanket taken away. Actually, the whole Packers team had a swagger I don’t remember seeing all season from Falcons. Grow up Ryan and be a confident leader or this team is going nowhere.
Now who wants to go to Waffle House?
FIREBVG
January 17th, 2011
12:49 pm
The key is Vangorder… He must GO!! There’s not one DB we could sign that could overcome the stupid, soft zone scheme that he runs… This is why we gave up so many yards during the season but still managed to keep teams out of the endzone. We were fortunate that somebody would step up and make a play after being gashed on a big drive, but that luck ran out on Saturday.
opie
January 17th, 2011
12:50 pm
Matt, don’t blame Mularkey for the game plan it is obvious that Mike Smith is Micro-managing the offensive and defensive game plans. In Pittsburgh Mularkey was very aggressive under Bill Cohwer with Kordell Stewart and less talent and they played in the AFC Championship under his watch.
Mike Smith is responsible for the passive offensive and defensive play calling. Read and React Defense which plays not to lose and they will get destroyed next season by Philadelphia and other high scoring teams with this pathetic defense. This is the same idiot who refuses to bring in capable Defensive Ends to help John Abraham, for example Julius Peppers. Jamal Anderson, Davis and Biermann or role Players.
Dimitroff better adjust his philosophy and bring in Namndi from the Raiders-recently released and move Brent Grimes to the slot if he wants the secondary to be competitive. Green Bay and New York Jets have great Secondaries.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
January 17th, 2011
12:50 pm
Waffle House or Bust – Which one? I’m down for some mid-day Waffle House.
Bro
January 17th, 2011
12:54 pm
TRASH TALK never won a game. Only loud mouth fools trash talk either during the game or on the media (news/internet). The old saying still applies: “Actions speak louder than works”. Like Elvis said in the song, “a little less talk and a lot more action”. Roddy White is and will continue to be a big disappointment. The inability to get separation on pass routes is one of two things, lousey routes or lousey ability. When was the last time the team made a big pass play. A pump and go on that 70 yard interception would have been a touchdown. Everyone in the stadium knew what the play was, especially the D-back. Mullarkey is just that a bunch of safe plays for a no talent receiving corps. The exception being Jenkins and Finn. When was the last time Tony G caught a deep pass down the middle-the best play in football. Wake up the offense and get some real plays. Even Pop Warner is more interesting than the Falcons. A lack of imagination(sp) has always resulted in playoff disappointment for the fans of the falcons and the braves. The book is not always right, it is just a gudeline–not the Bible. And these comments are just a waste of time because everyone knows that NFL coaches and reporters know everything and we the fans are just fustrated idiots.
jalex49
January 17th, 2011
12:55 pm
I turned the game off at halftime. I kept looking at the 3 man rush and knew in my heart that Aaron Rodgers was going to embrass the h_ ll out of our team.
I am not a football player but I love to watch the game and what I saw in the first half and recognized immediately the team was doing something defensively that had been seen before by Green Bay and we didn’t make any adjustments. Now, if I recognized that-why didn’t our coaches?
I appreciate the effort by some .. but for the most part, it was awful ! If the coaches want to run a 3 man rush defense then go out on the free-agent market and get those players that have the abililty to do such. The ones we have now can’t and it must be killing Abraham with the way he plays!!
I honestly think the building through the draft is a wonderful approach but it must be complimented with free-agent acquisitions that fit what you as a team are trying to get done. The teams lack of quality free-agents has cost the team when it really counts-the playoff’s.
I hope that next season is better. I can’t say I’m really surprised at what happened but I am dissappointed the team didn’t go farther. As a fan to see your team go 12 and 4 and 13-3 and get bounced in the first round is hard to understand?
Keeping your staff? Good move.. Now go get some players that know how to win!!!!!
the bird song.
January 17th, 2011
12:56 pm
Excellent season, but fell short. The birds ran into a buzz saw name Aaron Rogers. If Rogers doesn’t slip out of a couple near sacks on 3rd down, the game could/would have been much different….Rogers performance was brilliant.
TRUTH Hurts
January 17th, 2011
12:56 pm
Ryan looks scared…he has no arm strength
Larry
January 17th, 2011
12:56 pm
I paid $600 for four playoff tickets but something in my gut said that BVG, as usual, would not have his team ready or make the necessary in-game adjustments to counter the Packers’ passing game. So, four days before the game I sold them for $2,000 on StubHub to some poor soul who had to endure this pathetic effort by our coaches and players and then drive home at midnight or after.
I’m felling smart but my apologies to whomever forked out the 2K!
BigHittas
January 17th, 2011
12:56 pm
…and the reason that the D was in zone coverage was because the coaches knew they were in trouble with 21 on the field. It’s that simple. DOL even said before the game that this might occur with 29 being doubtful. I didn’t like that illegal contact call they Smitty said chenged the game momentum. It did do just that. Since everyone is down on the DB’s…..what about Spoon? What did he do? Thought he was supposed to be the next LT, yada yada.
opie
January 17th, 2011
12:56 pm
JR Green Bay is not classless if you do not want teams to run up the score dammit stop some body, ATL was the number 1 seed with two weeks to prepare green bay should have scored sixty ont their asses. I have been a Falcon Fan since 66 and I am tired of this BS.
Mark Meadows
January 17th, 2011
12:57 pm
The Falcons didn’t disappoint, they showed consistency in doing what they’ve always done at playoff time, “CHOKE”. They were beaten in every category except punt yardage, and if not for Weem’s record runback, the GA dome would have emptied earlier. This was a much needed reality check.
SquillDog
January 17th, 2011
12:58 pm
I’m as mad as anyone about the loss, but I will say that I’m happy to be mad about not advancing in the playoffs as opposed to mad that we draft Andray Bruce with the first pick.
Keep it in perspective!
leshphilling
January 17th, 2011
12:58 pm
And what was up with our first play of the game? Matt threw an out pattern while Roddy White was headed upfield. You would think that we would have the first play, and maybe the first ten plays, better scripted and rehearsed so our players would be on the same page. Just the first of many embarrassments Saturday night.
Captain Kirk
January 17th, 2011
1:01 pm
Smitty,
no no no!!!!!
you need a defenseive coach, you need a HOSS 350 lb interior NT, a monster pass rush LB, and shut down corner..no 2 of em
without each of these components..you have another patsy schedule nect yr and will go anywhere from 11-5 to 13-3 and again LOSE
isnt the definition of insanity doing xactlly the same thing and expecting different results????
WAKE UP……..Falcon Fans want CHANGE..not Obama change but perceptible fwd movement, not smoke n mirrors….
watch the Jets and how THEY play cover football….its instructive
TRUTH Hurts
January 17th, 2011
1:01 pm
Larry: the person who forked out $2K was a Packer fan.
Captain Kirk
January 17th, 2011
1:02 pm
Sqiill:
Aundray Bruce???? Peria Jerry…wats the diff???
Steve
January 17th, 2011
1:03 pm
I too am disappointed. I thought we had a legit chance to get to the Super Bowl. I have said all season the Falcons are a good team but there are better teams in the league. The Packers were one of those teams Saturday night. The Birds have had a good season. I don’t know what happened Saturday. I look forward to an even better season for 2011. I agree with the Matty Ice nickname. I don’t know who came up with that but it has to be most stupid nickname in recent history.
ATL krusher
January 17th, 2011
1:03 pm
hated the offensive playcalling..enjoyed the season but im disappointed. Ill be there again next year, season ticket holder again..Hopefully Coach Smith can see what all of us saw (no big play ability) and fix it.
Enough Said....
January 17th, 2011
1:04 pm
Smitty – keep positive and keep demanding more from the players. Sat. night was a total collasp. We have enough pieces in place to be a winning team, but top teams make the gaps quite glaring!
Falcons need…
a DB that has an agressive approach
an athletic TE that can stretch the center of the field
Albert Hanesworth (enter comments….)
speed at RB who is a threat to score from anywhere on the field…Or can Weems do that?
Cut Owens and trade Jenkins for late round draft picks.
John G
January 17th, 2011
1:08 pm
I think this was a better than expected rebuilding year. All season I wondered why the national sports media ignored our best-record-in-the-league Falcons. Now I know – because we just were not that good. It all came home to roost Saturday night. With one or two legitimate DB’s and another running back, we can get better. But I still feel we were also out-coached. If Rex Ryan can get his bums up to beat NE, why can’t someone on our staff use emotion as an additional motivating factor?
c'mon man
January 17th, 2011
1:09 pm
what’s so frustrating is the clear path to the big show and we blew it. Pathetic…. a braves story all over… built for season and not post season
Volfalcon
January 17th, 2011
1:12 pm
Trust me nobody is hurting more over this loss than me!! But our GM and Coach will make this team better I believe this!!! We are a very tough team to beat that is the truth and everybody has a bad day! I have them at my job all the time. I still love my Falcons and always will!!!! Better days ahead i promise!!
Dawgdad (the Original)
January 17th, 2011
1:14 pm
IF, and it is a big IF, that was BVG defense out there he needs to be fired. If it is as I suspect Mike Smith’s Jacksonville D, then he needs to get out of the way and let BVG do his job.
BVG did not coach D like that when in Athens. He blitzed and played man to man on the receivers. Me thinks that Smith has reined him in. That bend but break crap has gotten Falcon coaches fired since 1966, when will they ever learn.
Roll Tide
January 17th, 2011
1:23 pm
Heck yes WAFFLE HOUSE! To be a champion you have to carry yourself like a CHAMPION…..and remember, no matter how good you are, no matter how many games or rings you’ve won, no matter what college you came from, no matter how many endorsement deals you have, or how much tenure you have…You’re 1 (one) game away from being a loser………
Mattyicemelted
January 17th, 2011
1:27 pm
One person here stated what need to be said, fire the coach. 0-2 in the playoffs, he’ll never win with his conservative attitude.
ctfalconsfan
January 17th, 2011
1:28 pm
SOMEONE NEEDS TO BE FIRED!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mularkey or Van Gorder, both!!!!!
To go into the off-season with no changes planned basically says everything is OK when it is clearly not.. Do we want to be a 500 or 10-6 team and get beaten by the Elites when it’s crunch time OR DO WE WANT TO BE AN ELITE TEAM!!!!!!!!!!!!
Offense – 5 PRO BOWLERS!!! tied for fewest 20 yard plus plays in NFL. Turner caught 12 passes out of the backfield all year, fewest of any starting RB..
- What does this say about our ability to stretch the field? We are too good but too predictable under Mularkey. HE SHOULD RESIGN TODAY!!)
DEFENSE – I think BVG did the best he could with the players TD gave him.. Our LB’S and DB’s are just bad.. Mistackles everywhere. BVG calls a safety blitz CORRECTLY yet Williams against the aints and Owns against pack couldn’t make a tackle. Do you think Troy Palamalou (sp? PITT) misses tackles like that? We need much better personel out there. We could basically replace all 11 starters. Grimes, Bierman, Babinaeux, Loften could stay as back-ups but that’s about it. (Abraham is getting on up there..)
Also how do you think the Defense feels going into the offseason knowing that they are coming back to play under BVG and the same staff? Not very motivating..
The downfall of Jim Mora was holding on to Gregg Knapp too long which pulled the whole team down. Smitty needs new blood = new excitement in that lockeroom!!!
Bill t.
January 17th, 2011
1:33 pm
Coach -
My, my how gratitude has a low attention span!
What you, GM Dimitroff and Mr. blank have accomplished, along with the entire Falcons family of staff, players, coaches and assistants, is unique to Atlanta. Prove the critics wrong. Stay the course and maintain your humility and humanity.
I can’t wait to read the criticisms of this comment!
Bill T.
DallasFalcon
January 17th, 2011
1:34 pm
Mike Smith took the blame for terrible execution by his players. I watched every game this year and the Falcons couldn’t pressure on the QB consistently. The Falcons knew that had to get pressure on Rodgers and blitzed like crazy Saturday, but the players didn’t make the plays. Good defense starts with good tackling! Too many missed tackles let Aaron Rodgers eat up the secondary. I don’t care what scheme you run or how well you coach, the players have to make the plays.
jfreak13713
January 17th, 2011
1:35 pm
If I were Blank I would not give Smith the option of keeping every coach. I would fire VanGorder and replace him with Wade Phillips who has PROVEN he can run a defense or someone similar to Phillips. I’m sorry but as a Team you can’t just write this off as a bad night coach! Now was it really the fault of the VanGorder to the players on the field? Probably both but you can’t fire all the players.
You will be remembered by the playoff loss not the regular season victories Coach. You’d do well to remember that next you speak. Fans want to know that this organizaition is dedicated to excellence or are you just another Altanta team that can’t win the big one? Look at the Hawks? Who cares that they are better? Nobody! We don’t care because we know deep down they can’t run with the big dogs! Now as an organization you have to decide are you going to run with the big dogs are stay on the porch? By not making “some” changes you are staying on the porch!
The U
January 17th, 2011
1:37 pm
This won’t be the last time we see Rodgers in the playoffs. Rodgers 1 Iceman 0. The coaches will have to come up with something to slow him down. Maybe the Bears will provide a clue.
sleeze
January 17th, 2011
1:39 pm
I just love how all these posters with “dawg” in their name are bashing the Falcons right now. Better take a look at your college team’s performance first befoere you spend too much time bashing a pro team that went 13-3.
FalconGone
January 17th, 2011
1:39 pm
I sure am glad that Mike Mularkey interviewing for head coaching jobs during the week didn’t interfere with his play calling friday night.
LOT43
January 17th, 2011
1:40 pm
All I can say is that, GB did not punt the ball all game. It looked like the Falcons were the ones that had a game last week and had to travel. It was a total team meltdown ! That game made me sick to watch.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
January 17th, 2011
1:40 pm
Coach Mike Smith has been named the coach of the year twice in three years by the Sporting News.
He just has to step up his playoff game. Mike Holmgren used to crank it up for the playoffs.(Um, he did have Reggie White, too.) Holmgren didn’t go into the “We’re going to do the same thing we did in the season” mode. The Playoffs are a different beast!!!
michael
January 17th, 2011
1:44 pm
i got concerned after the EW return, the defense had been on the field for 8 minutes on a very long and frustrating drive. and after the return, allthough exciting, had thje defense back at work.
they never had a chance to regroup and therefore did not have the chance to do any adjustments, than came another long drive. in the mean while , GB defense was sitting in their bench resting…..those 2 drives were over a quarter long…….just think about it
GT
January 17th, 2011
1:45 pm
Really?? Lousy coaching would be a better way of saying it. Also what a crappy quarterback.
JB
January 17th, 2011
1:46 pm
Rankin Smith must have been at the game.
Sickenedbird
January 17th, 2011
1:47 pm
The question is why did you get outcoached. You had 2 weeks to prepare for an opponent that was either going to GB or Philly. GB had a short week to prepare yet they were able to construct a game plan that took advantage of every weakness. The Falcons had a successful year but you can’t be deluded by their record and there is no assurance they’ll be able to build on this year. It’s unlikely that Dallas, Minn. and the Giants will stay down so the road back is by no means assured.
Falconincarolina
January 17th, 2011
1:50 pm
I’ve been a die hard Falcon fan for over 40 years. Billy Lothridge made NFL Punter of the Year in 1968. Billy, Randy Johnson and my father were very good friends. Billy gave me the game ball from that day he won POY. It was stolen during a robbery years later. For as long as I can remember, at some point during the season, I have been slapped stupid by the players not playing or the coaches not coaching. Saturday night slapped me straight. After 40 plus years my faith is gone. I will never wear Falcons clothing, watch a game or step foot in the dome again, I’m done. I cannot bear another season. I hope your future is brighter than the years I’ve witnessed.
Phillip R.
ctfalconsfan
January 17th, 2011
1:52 pm
COME ON DOL!!!! No one is saying fire Smith, just his coordinators..
Also please let me know where we fly the coach of year banner in The Dome? We don’t, we only fly championship banners! So I don’t want to hear about individual accomplishments, I want CHAMPIONSHIPS!!!
Falcon Fan
January 17th, 2011
1:52 pm
Man I was so sick I turn it off after 3rd…didn’t watch any games Sunday. Damn what is it about Atlanta teams that make play-off and lose in1st round. But today I’m ok..The Falcons have a great owner, Coach and GM..I have faith that next year will be better than this..we may not win 13 games but Super Bowl…yes.
Now bring on the Braves…
The U
January 17th, 2011
1:55 pm
I believe Robinson is a very servicable CB. I also believe he wasn’t the same player after the collision. Brent Grimes is better suited as a nickle cover guy. Mr. Blank and Mr. Dimitroff will need to open the purse again for a top CB to go alone with Robinson. I understand the Raiders allowed their high price corner go to the open market.
Bease
January 17th, 2011
1:55 pm
Fire VanGorder
Gamer
January 17th, 2011
1:56 pm
I agree with Coach Smith, let us look for the positives. And the Falcons have plenty of positives to appreciate. But expectations were so much higher this season with the talents on both sides of the ball.. UNFORTUNATELY, THE FALCONS HAD TO PLAY A HOT AARON ROGERS, WHO HAPPEN TO ESCAPE SACKS LIKE HE’S RODGER RABBITT!!!
I COMMENTED EARLIER ON ANOTHER FALCONS BLOG PRIOR TO DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF GAME. THAT MY CONCERNS WITH THE FALCONS WAS THE TEAM NOT PLAYING WITH ‘THE EDGE’.
THE EDGE IS THE KILLER INSTINCT TO BURY AN OPPONENT!!!
ONLY A FEW DEFENSIVE PLAYERS ILLUSTRATE PLAYING WITH ‘THE EDGE’. WHEN IT NEED TO BE ILLUSTRATED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL WITH ALL PLAYERS.
DEFENSIVELY, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME TO SEE THE DEFENSE PLAY SO POROUSLY. PLAYERS MISSING TACKLES, NOT HAWKING AFTER THE BALL IN THE AIR, TAKING POOR ANGLES ON PASSING DOWNS, MAKING BAD CHOICES DRAWING PENALTIES AT CRITICAL JUNCTIONS/DOWNS.
JUST A GALORE OF BAD DEFENSIVE PLAYS AND THE OFFENSE PLAYED WORSE THAN THE DEFENSE.
WHERE WERE T. GONZALEZ? TERRIBLE GAME PLANNING OFFENSIVELY BY OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR. TO HAVE A TIGHTEND OF HIS CALIBER AND NOT SPECIFICALLY DESIGN PLAYS FOR TONY WHEN THE PACKERS BLITZ. IS JUST HORRENDOUS PLAY CALLING!!!
WHERE IS HARRY DOUGLAS? WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO HIS CONFIDENCE? HE’S NOT COMPLETING HIS ROUTES!!! HE RUNNING HIS ROUTES TOTALLY FEARFUL OF GETTING HIT!!! HE’S NOT THE SAME SLOT-RECEIVER SINCE HIS INJURY!!!!!
THE FALCONS MUST GET A SPEEDY TAILBACK TO COMPLEMENT TURNER’S POWER STYLE OF RUNNING….AND STOCK UP ON A MORE TALENTED AND FEARLESS SLOT-RECEIVER. OR GO OUT AND GET A CALVIN JOHNSON TYPE RECEIVER….
JENKINS CONTINUE TO MAKE PLAYS AND AVAIL HIMSELF FOR BIG PLAYS…MATT RYAN MISSED HIM ON AN EASY TOUCHDOWN..JENKINS SLIPPED TRYING TO ADJUST TO RYAN’S LATE THROW…
MATT RYAN PLAYED LIKE PRIVATE RYAN…WHAT HAPPENED TO HIS MATTY-ICE CAPE?
WHEN RYAN GET HIT A COUPLE OF TIMES, HE EASILY GO SHELL. AND THE OFFENSIVE CO-ORDINATOR DOESN’T MAKE SMART ADJUSTMENTS..
OKAY OC, WHEN OPPOSING TEAMS ARE BLITZING; DO SCREEN PLAYS TO THAT SIDE OR DO MAX PROTECTION SENDING TONY G. OUT ON HOT ROUTES…
OVERALL, NICE RUN BY FALCONS….RELOAD FOR NEXT SEASON…GO FALCONS!!!!
Falcons73
January 17th, 2011
1:58 pm
There were several reasons that Falcons lost on Saturday night, but the most glaring item that needs to be changed is the conservative play on BOTH sides of the ball (offensive & defensive play calling).
It’s definitely a good plan during the regular season, but there are ways to implement a aggressive style, get a lead, and then pound a team into submission. For all there great characteristics, the coaching staff needs to be progressive and adapt their/tweak their play calling for these Falcons to improve.
Thundering Flea on a Dawg
January 17th, 2011
1:58 pm
Yeh, they got outcoached in this one. But……..I’ll be watching them again next year as they played pretty well during the season……..unlike my Dawgs who played poorly the ENTIRE season. I at least feel like the Falcons will be back in contention next year……..don’t have that feeling for my Dawgs unfortunately.
Not ready
January 17th, 2011
1:59 pm
The falcons were not close to ready to play that type of game. The D was flat the entire game and the offense looked slow and intimidated. The coaches need to change the preparation for next year or it will be more of the same—a big choke.
tt44
January 17th, 2011
2:02 pm
Oh My what a cave in! You Falcons made me more ashamed with a 13-2 record than all of the lousy Falon teams I have cheered for since the 60’s! This should not have happened to us Atlanta fans!
#88, only one pass I believe, no excuse, no creativity on offense at all, no screens, traps,etc/ Defense just pure lousy, I am so ashamed that I put sooo mucch into the Falcons as a fan, attending games, cheering for them weekly..(since the late 60’s). OC and DC in my opinion were terrible. Sorry, that is just the facts! A pittiful tackling, rushing effort! ugghhhhh!
Chris
January 17th, 2011
2:05 pm
I haven’t heard anyone question the game plan by the coaching staff yet. I thought it was WAY too conservative and didn’t see the necessary adjustments in the second half. This “establish the run” garbage doesn’t work when the defense is stacking the line of scrimmage with eight or nine guys. We seemed to have gotten the message in the Ravens game. Why not establish the pass and then it will open up the run? And I didn’t see any innovative blitz schemes. Seems like at most we would blitz one guy. I felt sorry for the secondary. You just CANNOT let Rogers sit in the pocket and pick apart the secondary. We should have blitzed two and sometimes three guys from all different angles. Safety and corner blitzes also. I do realize even when we did have shots at sacks, we didn’t finish. The offensive scheme as also way too conservative. Why not air it out to Roddy White early to stretch out the defense and at least make them aware that we are willing to go long? And as far as Matt Ryan’s just previous to second half mistakes. Did anyone emphasize to him to make sure he didn’t take a sack on second down? Did anyone make sure he understood when rolling left (his weaker side) to make sure not to take any chances that might negate at least an attempt at the 50+ yard field goal before halftime? The game plan reminded me of the one against New Orleans which stunk too. Playing not to lose is not the way to approach playoff games. I believe we had the talent to compete much more effectively in the Green Bay game but I believe the game schemes held us back and was just as much of a factor in the in the loss to Green Bay as was the inability by the players to execute..
JASon
January 17th, 2011
2:06 pm
“…there were a number of opportunities especially on third down yesterday”
Hey, coach smith, you know you don’t have to wait until third down. Thats the problem with your offense its too conservative. Why even have huge playmakers running routes if you are not going to use them
Timbo
January 17th, 2011
2:07 pm
We need a stud D tackle, a stud D end, a true number one cornerback, and believe it or not another linebacker… On offense we need a better number 2 receiver that can consistently stretch the field. We need a slot receiver that’s NOT A GHOST… i’ll take the scrappy precise route running really smart but maybe 2 tenths of a second slower guy over the uber talented fast poor route running not really football savy guy any day of the week. Also the tight end position needs and upgrade. Love Gonzalez, but he’s done. Also we need another PASS BLOCKING TACKLE…..
Timbo
January 17th, 2011
2:08 pm
Where is our CLAY MATTHEWS? He’s been in the league a whopping 2 years and looks and plays like a veteran in his prime. Weatherspoon should be able to do what Matthews does. Can he stay healthy?
Brian
January 17th, 2011
2:08 pm
I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone with the team say the words “Super Bowl.” It’s always something about greater goals.
Kinda like the anti-Jets.
There’s a reason our city’s symbol is the Phoenix, time to Rise Up for 2011.
Objective Joe
January 17th, 2011
2:09 pm
Facts: The Falcons have an aging pass rush, slow backfield and no break away speed at WR. That’s not a good combination. Better players always make better coaches! Not convinced MR can take us to a SB either. I hope I’m wrong.
Once "Recent" Reader
January 17th, 2011
2:10 pm
Has Chris Owens been OK this year, or was it mostly like Saturday night?? Were they just picking on him and he got a little out of his normal play?? Just asking, as I really don’t know how he has performed in most games.
Lepidus
January 17th, 2011
2:11 pm
When winter’s abolished and no one needs coats
Seven pound bass jump right up in our boats
Bud costs a buck for a sixty-can pack
The Martians say “Sorry” and give Elvis back
When I pay all my bar tabs and right all my wrongs
When Nashville records all my best shower songs,
Then the famous Fat Lady will end her recital
And the Falcons will bring home a Super Bowl title.
Over react much?
January 17th, 2011
2:12 pm
Get some perspective people. This team was a shambles when Petrino left in the middle of the night. They just had their 3rd straight winning season and were the #1 seed in the playoffs. If a CEO came in and turned around a company in that time span, they would be rewarded as heroes. I am as disappointed as anyone in the game Saturday night. The defense was a huge disappointment. However, the game snowballed on the Falcons. If Matt throws a little earlier to Jenkins when the score was 14-14, they that’s a TD (it should have been). The pick 6 before halftime was a back breaker. The Packers were the better team, but I don’t think the result would be the same, if we played them again.
Have some patience and perspective people. I have been a Falcons fan since they came here. I truly believe that they are headed in the right direction this time and will continue to improve. This is only Matt Ryan’s 3rd year. He will continue to get better. They team still needs to add talent. I believe they will and the team will continue to improve AND win in the postseason.
It was ONE game. A huge game for sure, but one game. The Patriots just lost as well, after DESTROYING the Jets just weeks ago. I don’t think they’ll be over reacting. They know where they’re going and I believe the current administration does as well.
GO FALCONS!
LOS-GRID IRON
January 17th, 2011
2:16 pm
Enter your comments here
Matt Ryan highly overrated
January 17th, 2011
2:20 pm
Coach smith This was more of your team than you ! Ryan all the hype how he can read defensive is not true not in this game. weak arm on long passes. front four three in the pass rush is just middle of the road. DB has middle of the road cover skills. Falcons have no defensive coordinator!! If this team is 21 points down by the way they are build ed they lose.
who is going to bring them back not Matt Ryan he is
to mechanising and a weak arm . Stop the run this team is dead!!! But we have the best owner but he need to make some hard adjustment in coaches and players if he want to win a super bowl!! This last game showed our real weakness we were exposed top to bottom!! you need a state of the Falcons ! The last game was the state of the falcons! who will you bring in new?!!! Who can catch the pass out of the back field? now that you have been exposed weak arm QB, defense with all kinds of holes . The Gm it is time to see him adjust he and his team has been exposed!!!
dakota
January 17th, 2011
2:21 pm
Thank you Falcons for a very exciting season. Thanks too all the coached and players. I am SOOOO gald all these coach-wanta-be’s are not in charge of the Falcons. The season ended sadly but I have faith Smith will work things out. I remember the days when we would hope we could win a game, now we know we are going to win. Thak you Arther Blank. If you are a true Atlanta Fan enjoy the season and quit whining……..Love my Falcons.
fleshbomb
January 17th, 2011
2:24 pm
There are truly some of the stupidest people that comment on these boards. Fire the coach, fire the oc, fire the dc. Dolts. Jump off the bandwagon already.
ingletary
January 17th, 2011
2:25 pm
Enter your comments here
ctfalconsfan
January 17th, 2011
2:27 pm
Dakota, it would be a HUGE mistake for the Falcons to go in the off-season patting themselves on the back and think everything is fine…
We won 6-7 close games this year which was gret but we may not be so lucky next year. We are playing aginst the NFC North which is much better than the west…
Yes we have a good football team but if we want to step up and compete fot Championships we need to realize that we are not there.
If Mr. Blank is happy winning winning seasons and making the play-offs for one game then great we are here but if we want to go to the SB we need better coordinators and players!!
NorthFlaFalcon
January 17th, 2011
2:30 pm
The kickoff return was THE WORST thing that could have happened for the Falcons. It let the coaches and players ease up, thinking “we got this.” If it had been a nice return instead, and we had gotten into a good groove of run/pass on a long 6 minute drive, then go down and maybe get 3, it’s 10-7. Then GB scores, 14-10. Then we grind out a drive, 14-13. Or heck 17-14 Birds. Keep it close. Instead, the had the incredible high of the kick return crash and burn in the 2nd quarter. That is why this one really, really hurt bad.
LOS-GRID IRON
January 17th, 2011
2:31 pm
Could someone please let Mike Smith read my comments. First of all we are not going to beat a competitive team under Brian Van Gorder led defense, its a college scheme it not built for the NFL. Troy Aikman said that BVG didn’t have a clue he was right. We can’t put this one on Keith Brookings or Lawyer Malloy. Almost every team that made it to the playoffs runs some version of the 3/4 defense except the Atlanta Falcons,. we need a proven NFL defense coordinator who will allow our defense to start attacking teams offense in stead of this BVG defense that stalls all the time. This is BVG third season here and our defense is still ranks at the bottom in teams total defense. I want to know is Mike Smith going to make a change or is he going to sink with the ship we need an image on defense that is what wins championships not friendship you figure by now BVG should been gone a long time ago.
Once "Recent" Reader
January 17th, 2011
2:37 pm
OK – I think there is one thing that probably is being exaggerated. The Falcons did NOT have 2 weeks to prepare for the Packers in Playoffs. They did not know who they were playing until the end of the Eagles game. Did that happen on Sunday or Saturday? Now granted, they did have some time to mix in Eagles/Pack prep . . . .but I don’t think they were solely focusing on the Pack in two weeks ago.
georgiadawgg
January 17th, 2011
2:37 pm
MATTY ICE HAS A NEW NAME, SKINNY MINNIE. I CAN’T WIN ANY.
C-Football
January 17th, 2011
2:38 pm
D. Orlando/ Mr. Blank
Why do we still believe in this 1990 style of foot ball? It really just burns me to my soul when I hear Mike Smith say he wants to keep the same coaching staff. Obviously all the fans, media and other coaching staffs know that our offense is horrible. It’s not built to catch up if you fall behind more than one score or in a game that becomes a shootout. The Defense is built like a 1990 team…We do not have the rush or secondary skills to be successful against passing teams in the 4-3. I know we don’t have the players to convert to a 3-4 defense right now, but it’s time to start the process. New Orleans first year converting to the 3-4 won them a super bowl, and they didn’t have all the pieces yet. Our coaches’ style of coaching is outdated period. The only time we get compliments on our team is when the other team is getting ready to play us and being courteous. If you really think there was any doubt in Green Bay’s mind about playing us replay A. Rogers or Clay Matthews’s pregame interviews. We do not have good cornerback’s period. We do not have a number 2 receiver period. We do not have a change of pace back/play maker period. (Norwood should’ve been gone; at least you would have gotten a pick for him, now you get nothing…period. MR. BLANK stop worrying about image and who got baggage, find ball players that love the game. Name one player that TD drafted that’s a star player? Don’t say mat Ryan because he was knocked completely of the pedestal Saturday. The offense the falcons run are handicapping him, when it’s time to all out slang the ball around the field he can’t do it.
Great Falconi
January 17th, 2011
2:39 pm
It’s very difficult to make halftime adjustments when you don’t have the personnel to match up with your opponent. We beat the Pack at home during the regular season, but we didn’t outperform them. Unfortunately for us, they raised the level of their game on both sides of the ball in the playoffs and we didn’t. I trust that Dimitroff and Smith will work their asses off to make this team better in the offseason. That includes improving the pass rush (an Achilles’ heel all year, no doubt) and adding speed and athleticism to the RB and WR positions (lack of explosiveness made the offense too conventional). The key to being a great offense is to have the weapons to present the defense with many different matchup problems. The Packers have the depth on their team to do just that. We don’t.
ctfalconsfan
January 17th, 2011
2:43 pm
Great Falconi, I hope TD and Smitty will step it up in the offseason and bring in more talent.
However, going into last offseason we clearly identified that we needed a pass rush! WE CHANGED NOTHING!!!
We also needed speed at RB and WR and we brought in NOBODY!!!!!!!!!!
Ghostrider
January 17th, 2011
2:47 pm
All I can say is………………….I’m totally speechless
Marty
January 17th, 2011
2:49 pm
Falcons played the WHOLE 60 minutes of every game, except the last one. That’s a big difference from years past. They were competitive in every game, except the last one. Again, a big difference from years past. They are definitely heading in the right direction. Until Saturday, it was a real pleasure to watch and support them this season. After decades of ineptness, stupid, cheap ownership, pathetic coaching, they are finally fielding a competitive product. How sweet it is. They deserve a big thank you even though it’s hard to get Saturday’s stink to go away.
Popeye
January 17th, 2011
2:56 pm
We are still not ready for “Prime Time” and success in the post season:
Coaching- Solid bunch but get’s out couched in big games. When the lights are on and the nation is watching the Falcons never look like they are prepared to play. Can’t make in game adjustments.
***Offense***
1. Matt Ryan-Stop with the “Matty Ice” thing already. Aaron Rogers is a star with quick feet and a big gun, and can process defenses on the run, with unbelievable creativity. MR is a serviceable QB with a good processor upstairs (when he has time), slow feet, a weak arm, and no creativity, but gives his all every time he plays. Aaron Rogers he is not!!!
2. Turner- Needs to hit the holes with more explosiveness. Seems to never make the first guy miss, but good open field runner once he gets a head of steam rolling. We need a change in pace back quick an agile with breakaway speed.
3. OC- Malarkeys’ offense will never scare anyone. No screen plays to slow down defense, no vertical game (probably due to MR weak arm) to stretch the defense, and absolutely no creativity or imagination what so ever.
4. Receivers: RW is a beast but double teams take him away, Gonzalez has great hands but no speed, Jenkins inconsistent, Douglas good speed but runs poor routes with butter fingers.
5. Offensive line: Average at best, plays poorly in big games against playoff caliber teams.
With that said, the Falcons offense is relatively slow, easily predictable, lacks imagination with no vertical game to stretch the field, and can’t run the ball against elite defenses.
***Defense***
1. I love JA but he is not the athlete he used to be and he is not the future.
2. DR is a complete total “BUST” Someone dial 911, we’ve been robbed.
3. T.DeCoud and C.Owens should be released for better talent
4. Inability to mount much of an effective pass rush.
5. BVG either can’t put together a solid defensive game plan or don’t
have the talent to execute it.
5. Secondary- Couldn’t cover their mouths if they coughed.
Overall- Falcons D cannot compete against playoff caliber teams thus the 48 pts GB hung on us at the Dome.
***Atl Fans***
1. A+ for the game Saturday night. Loud, Flags flying, good behavior, and best of all little or no Booooo’s for terrible team performance.
2. Still trying to figure out that when and when not to cheer thing.
3. We don’t travel well for away games.
4. Too many seats available to opposing team fans.
5. Overall team support is still behind other teams like: Green Bay, Patriots, Steelers, Seahawks, Raiders even Chiefs fans. Oh well it’s the same for the Braves too!!!
DRH
January 17th, 2011
2:57 pm
Oh Yeah….Matty Ice IS a pathetic nickname
Falcon Friend and Fan
January 17th, 2011
3:03 pm
Mr. Blank/Coach Smith: Please disregard all suggestions
on all bloggs that try to tell you how to run the Falcons.
Some of these people may mean well but most do not have
any understanding about how to manage and coach a NFL team.
The fans that buy tickets and support the team have a right to voice their opinions but that is as far as it should go.
Post-it
January 17th, 2011
3:08 pm
As a city, are we really taking heat for leaving the game early?? That was without a doubt the most miserable game I’ve ever sat through. Yes, the 13 wins was great. But to choke so badly on a national stage once again was simply too much to endure. And for anyone who wants to criticize Atlanta fans, did you see the stands halfway through the 4th quarter of the Pats game yesterday? About as emptied out as ours. And if ever there was a team with fans that should feel fortunate, it’s New England.
ctfalconsfan
January 17th, 2011
3:08 pm
Thanks Falcon Friend, as a 21 year season tix holder I want to be heard!
FIRE MULARKEY!!
C-Football
January 17th, 2011
3:10 pm
D. Robinson is garbage, but like earlier stated Thomas has not draft or brought in one star player. Matty Ice is pedestrian and nowhere near elite. TD eye for talent is below average, Decloud, Owens, Jerry, Robinson, both of the new linemen and all the dead weight dropped in camp BUST’s. Everyone else he picks is injury prone and has consistently failed to play more than ¾ of the season. TD only solid picks that lived up to the slot they were picked is C. Lofton and Cory Peters.
YOUR MOMMA
January 17th, 2011
3:11 pm
video for all Falcon Fans.
http://www.youtube.com/user/dejuanptv#p/a/u/0/31ydzkbjTrY
Blake
January 17th, 2011
3:18 pm
The problem with the defense Is the scheme! Most every game our corners we’re sitting 10-15 yards off the receiver.We don’t have enough beef on the d-line.Yeah they’re all business like and everything but you have to ratchet up the Intensity In the playoffs.Myself and most fans had no problem racheting up the Intensity.The Bears of 85 put eight In the box and dared teams to run or pass on them. I mean come on…please…this was the biggest game In ATL Falcon history and we lay an egg.I don’t care how hot Rodgers was.HE’S HOT BECAUSE YOU’RE LETTING HIM BE HOT.If somebody could get Into the backfield and disrupt that offense and make a TACKLE on the Qb…He doesn’t get hot.We need some people on defense that want to BUST SOME CHOPS and disrupt an offense.And the offense…that’s another story.They haven’t gotten Into a rythym since the NO game.There’s no fire In the boiler.When Is this team gonna show some fire and win the big game on a Big Stage.Come on guys…we always seem to lay an egg In our biggest games.We should have went to Philly this year and threw down…but Instead we lay an egg.Terrible….! We as fans shouldn’t have to take this crap!
YOUR MOMMA
January 17th, 2011
3:20 pm
ALL FALCON FANS MUST SEE
http://www.youtube.com/user/dejuanptv#p/a/u/0/31ydzkbjTrY
Blake
January 17th, 2011
3:22 pm
I’m still pissed when I think about how we threw that game out the window!
ctfalconsfan
January 17th, 2011
3:30 pm
Blake, this wasn’t the biggest game in Falcons history. Top 10 yes but not biggest..
- There are 3 others, Super Bowl and NFC Championship games in 99′ and 05′..
Ted
January 17th, 2011
3:31 pm
You played a very poor football game too.
C-Football
January 17th, 2011
3:32 pm
Why do the D coaches keep stalling the conversion to the 3-4 defenses, New Orleans made the change and won the Super Bowl that year? They didn’t even have all the right personnel at the time but they used free agency and the draft to build a champion D in one year. The New York Jets is a testimony to a team with a powerful 3-4 scheme and mediocre offense can win playoff game consistently.
falconsphysco
January 17th, 2011
3:32 pm
Needs: linebacker, two cornerbacks, defensive end, defensive tackle, safety and defensive coaching staff. Fan since 66, this is the worst most humiliating loss ever.
NorthFlaFalcon
January 17th, 2011
3:35 pm
Blake I don’t think we had a “scheme” for Rodgers. our “scheme” was to bend, not break. give him a soft zone but (hopefully) prevent the big play. The first big play they got, we stripped the ball then scored on a short field. So it seemed to be working. We got compacent like Leeman Bennett did in 1980.
Waffle House or Bust
January 17th, 2011
3:41 pm
Larry – Why apologize for making profit off tickets not worth the paper they were printed on? I’m sure Blank pulled in some nice pocket change from this “game” as well.
Ry
January 17th, 2011
3:42 pm
The problem is that this team is built to play well during the regular season. However, I don’t think they yet know how to make adjustments for post season play. You can’t take the same approach during a play off game that you took during regular season games. You have to be a little more creative on play calling. That being said, I am not sure anything would have helped as poor as the players performed.
Timbo
January 17th, 2011
3:47 pm
Dmitroff deserves some blame along with the credit he usually receives. The last two #1 drafts picks have done NOTHING… Don’t talk to me about injuries either. Also, was Weatherspoon injured this year of just hurt?
Waffle House or Bust
January 17th, 2011
3:47 pm
falconsphysco – Even worse than the Cowboys comeback against Falcons in 1980? I remember crying as a little kid after that game. Broke my heart but prepared me for all the disappointment that comes with following Atlanta teams.
SeenThisB4
January 17th, 2011
3:51 pm
Hey C-Football, the Saints play a 4-3, not a 3-4.
Samuel Jackson is at the New Orleans arena today takin in a Hornets/Toronto game, I wonder why? Did he give up on ATL completely after that embarrassingly sorry display of football prowness by the falcan’ts on Saturday night? Probably.
Buck
January 17th, 2011
3:54 pm
Well the SEC may be better than the Big Ten in bowl games, but when it comes to the PROs… the NFC North beats the South in the playoffs! My $99 dollar ticket was WELL worth it!
Told u so
January 17th, 2011
3:56 pm
Falcons fans were shooting their mouths off all week before the game. Oooohhh Matty got iced all right and did his BFF, Rowdy Roddy White even bother to show up? Gonzalez name was mentioned when he got hurt and had to leave the game. Show some respect and STFU!
Robert Jenkins
January 17th, 2011
4:05 pm
Matt Ryan is((((((((overrated )))))))
C-Football
January 17th, 2011
4:06 pm
Hey SeenThis B4………..They play a base 3-4, but they can line up from time to time in a 4-3 formation like everyone else that use the 3-4 scheme. Go watch their games………….
Mikey
January 17th, 2011
4:08 pm
Hey F/F&Fan,
If this team wants to compete in the post-season against the elite teams, much of the criticism posted here should be addressed by management as constructive.
C-Football
January 17th, 2011
4:11 pm
Ok it’s time to save money and replace the old and untalented with free agents as well as cap space….If you hear your name report to the office with your play book…..Brian Williams, Jamaal Anderson, C. Owens, Brian Finneran, J. parker Wilson (Malarkey’s nephew), E. Coleman, P. Jerry, Tray Lewis and Mr. super bust, I have to say your name twice JAMAAL ANDERSON. This is where we’ll get the money to make some important hires in the off season, because there is no time to build completely through the draft.
chris
January 17th, 2011
4:11 pm
Thanks Falcons for an exciting year. Weve had three straight winning years and we’ll be back. Just need to tweek the team a bit but we don’t need to throw it into the lake. To all the moaners – just remember that we’ve not been to the playoffs two out of three years EVER since this franchise has been in Atlanta. Coach Smith at least recognizes the problem and I have faith in him and the GM they will get things tweeked. Atlanta will be back in the playoffs in 2011. This game while bitter for some to digest is going to be a learning tool for next year. Keep the faith and show a little bit more respect for Matt Ryan and the team. To win 13 games in the season is nothing to sneeze at and no matter whether people say it was luck, a fluke or whatever, when they show W-L’s in the records- there are no columns for flukes or luck, a win is a win and we got 13 of them. Just didnt get no. 14 on Saturday and move on. Momentum was on GB’s side from the start and it showed; we didn’t have it they did.
realitycheck
January 17th, 2011
4:16 pm
Enter your comments here
fish2774
January 17th, 2011
4:19 pm
Unfortunately next year will be Smitty’s last if he doesn’t part ways with VanGorder and Mularkey. Dunta Robinson isn’t as bad as we think. He’s a victim of a bad scheme and coaching. He’s a bump and run corner that’s aggressive playing press coverage, but plays in a bend but don’t break defense that played the corners off. The linebackers need replacing except Witherspoon, keep Roddy and replace Finneran, Jenkins, and allow Douglas one more year. DeCoud, Owens, and Brian Williams need to be replace. Move Grimes to nickel, bring up Franks at Free Safety, and Pay Asmougiha from the Raiders. Keep the O-line in place, get a speedy versatile back and receiver, TE, and a middle linebacker that can cover in space.
Falconian
January 17th, 2011
4:19 pm
I am one of the Falcon fans that think VanGorder needs to go back to college ball. Running this soft coverage and no good mixture of blitzes killed us against the good teams.
Who's your daddy Atlanta?
January 17th, 2011
4:19 pm
DR. AARON RODGERS
I'm your daddy Atlanta!
January 17th, 2011
4:21 pm
Air Rodgers
Conservative HC
January 17th, 2011
4:23 pm
Arthur fired Dan Reeves because his approach was very conservative and he could never win the Superbowl. I see Smith from that same school of conservativeness (run the ball, use TEs to block, sit on a lead once you get it and by all means never run up the score on your opponent). Sound familiar? I’m not saying that Smitty has to go, but his coordinators are TERRIBLE and that’s being kind. The offensive coordinator runs the EXACT same plays he did during the season. The defensive coordinator COULD NOT do one thing to get Green Bay off the field. He had to come up with constant blitzing to even remotely get to Drew Brees. We need to go back to the drawing board on our defensive and offensive lines. We need a front four that can get consistent pressure on a QB without the blitz (which should be used occasionally). Our offensive line was a turnstile most of the season and even more Saturday night. I’m by no means a football expert, but I’ve been watching this game over 40 years and I know what works and what doesn’t. It’s not rocket science after all. Finally Dimitroff needs to be held accountable for being tight with Arthur’s money and not going after more FAs that can help this team–even his draft picks are questionable.
Matty got Iced
January 17th, 2011
4:24 pm
Yo Atlanta, your boy Matty “Iced Cold” Ryan got iced by the “Road Warriors” from the frozen tundra of floating icebergs. Go get ur ice on boyyyeeeeee!!!!
Conservative HC
January 17th, 2011
4:32 pm
Also, our defense is soft (except for William Moore). No one is physical and beating up the opponent. I say we start over and find some nasty, physical players that make the opponent think twice about running the ball or running all through our secondary. 80% of these pussies need to go.
CARTER
January 17th, 2011
4:43 pm
The Falcons have to sit down and look at this game as a total failure on both offense and defense. Matt Ryan should NEVER attempt to run the the ball, he just dont have what it takes to scramble he’s too soft for that. DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR your play calling cost us the game when did you realize that rushing three was’nt working in fact the Falcons has given up huge yards all season.
The defense has always been the problem fix the defense and the offense will follow.
Slim
January 17th, 2011
4:44 pm
It shouldn’t take us 4 years to build an elite defense wtf the packers hired Don Campers 2 years ago they have a good defense Rex Ryan took him a year to help the jets to build an elite defense Greg Williams one year to build a great defense Bvg 3 years our defense is garbage still. Man fire Him an hire a NFL Coordinator not a college coordinator that’s what Bvg is . The offense just need a few personell changes the defensive staff needs to be overhualed Cover 2 our linebackers can’t over Curtis Lofton and Stephen Nicholas can’t cover they are run stopping linebackers . Mike P needs to be released our d line can’t get to the qb we need to change schemes Starting with a New Innovative Coordinator and Creative .
Jeff in Roswell
January 17th, 2011
4:52 pm
That game proved that Van Gorder should not be an NFL DC, he must go now! As long as re runs the defense, expect the same in big games. There was not on adjustment made all night. Fire BVG now!!
Popeye
January 17th, 2011
4:53 pm
For Coach Smith or any other Falcon’s organizational staff members or fan for that matter that thinks 13-3 is good enough I have news for you. 13-3 season may have made big money for the players and owners but all I have to show for a 13-3 season is my credit card bills. At the end of each Falcon season all I have are the bills paid to support a team that has delivered little more than years of heart aches . Over 25+ years I have over paid for a championship for this city and Damit I want it. To say no changes will be made burns my azz.
- No pass rush
- No speed at running back
- No speed at WR positions
- No deep threat
- Poor tackling
- No secondary (Just ask Aaron Rogers)
-TD said defense is fast (70yard Packer TD interception) not fast enough
- No creativity on offense or defense
To this you say no changes will be made. Looks like the Falcons will be going nowhere soon. Thank you coach Smith for 3 winning seasons but if you think all we want is a good season, you are sorely mistaken. The Fans in ATL deserve a Super Bowl title or at the very least a competitive showing during the play offs. The regular season is like going to school, all semester long you turn in your home work assignments for a grade but if you don’t pass the final exam (as in the playoffs) “YOU DON’T GET THE CREDIT”!!!!! Speaking of credit, it’s time to pay my credit card bill. Too bad they won’t accept a 13-3 season as payment. It’s obvious that GB made a few changes. You may remeber this number 13-3, I will remeber this number 48-21. Change This AB if MS can’t!!!
tc
January 17th, 2011
4:55 pm
I think this falls on Mike Smith not having the team ready and a solid game plan. I am not saying Coach Smith is not a good coach, I am just saying he did not do his job in the last game. I hope he can learn from it and be in better shape in the future. It appeared that the team was over confident and was looking past this game.
tc
January 17th, 2011
4:57 pm
Popeye, The Falcons have everthing you mentioned, They we not ready to play the game, and that does fall on Coach Smith.
jimbob (aka James Robert)
January 17th, 2011
4:57 pm
Anyone that actually feels ‘embarrassment’ over a loss by professional vagabond millionaires really needs to get their priorities straight.
I really wanted the Falcons to win, but I take no personal shame in their defeat and it really has no effect on my family’s well-being.
The Falcons were crushed in all facets, so it will be interesting seeing how they address things. Yesterday I watched some of the Jets game and LT made a nice catch and dive through the corner of the end-zone. Atlanta backs seem to have hands of stone compared to that (but there aren’t many LTs out there). Getting a decent 2nd receiver should be a high priority too. It gets old watching Jenkins drop crucial 3rd down passes.
Ryan had a terrible game, but it’s way too soon to throw in the towel on him. All but a handful of teams in the NFL would be glad to have him, and NFL qb’s sometimes don’t hit their prime until 28, 29, or 30 even.
Gwinny
January 17th, 2011
4:58 pm
This was just an old fashioned ass kicking. there was no answer to be had. Everyone on the field was helpless, and the staff was clueless on how to stop Rodgers. The only thing I say do right now, is hand Owens his pink slip.
rc35
January 17th, 2011
4:59 pm
The Falcons have a terrible propensity to perform well in obscurity and choke every time they get a national stage. Look at our Monday Night Football record across the years as Exhibit A. Take the sputter against the Saints at the end of this season as Exhibit B.
The Georgia Militia put up a better defense at Griswoldville during Sherman’s March to the Sea than the Falcons did against the Packers Saturday night.
It’s truly sad that, across half a century, only the Braves have brought us any real postseason joy; everyone else (except the Atlanta Chiefs of long-ago soccer) shows up rarely and manages to collapse in some embarrassing way. The Falcons (and Hawks, to a lesser extent) are Lucy van Pelt to Atlanta fans’ Charlie Brown. They always make us believe the football will be there, but they always pull it away and leave us flat on our backs in the end.
Blue
January 17th, 2011
5:03 pm
In my humble opinion, I think they are one truly, truly impact guy or two away on defense (like a Revis, Polomalu or Ed Reid, James Harrison, Clay Matthews type of guy) and a true ‘home-run’ threat…a speed guy on offense…to be legit. The fact that there was only one play of over 50 yards is very telling. And they didn’t really even try to ’stretch the field’ very much. So the defense is playing in a smaller box. I’m not going to bash them because they had one really crappy game (at a very, very important time). You freaking learn from it and move on.
Real American
January 17th, 2011
5:03 pm
All that talk about the 13-3 record, all that talk about how the NFC goes thru Atlanta, all that talk about being the #1 seed, all that talk about lack of respect from the national media.
And the Falcons wet the bed.
Mgibby
January 17th, 2011
5:07 pm
Its embarrassing having to listen to the national media talk about how much of a fluke this team was all year, when I think that we were one of the top 3 teams at any point in the season. It’s also embarrassing as an atlanta sports fan to be afraid to turn on a national broadcast for fear of seeing us get blown out( in any sport).
It would be nice to see the falcons put together a package for Haynesworth after the new CBA, but as an atlanta sports fan, its almost foolish to even think of bringing a playmaker here.
bls
January 17th, 2011
5:23 pm
Two weeks to prepare and all he says is we coached a poor football game. Says a lot about the coaches huh? Expect more of the same next year, that is if we even make the playoffs. #1 seed and got absolutely embarrased. Maybe he needs to give that coach of the year award back.
SAME OLE THANG
January 17th, 2011
5:24 pm
The Falcons looked like team from the old days, Matty Ice thawed out and became Matty Slush.
tyrace
January 17th, 2011
5:25 pm
We need to blitz on defense that all you might just knock the qb out.
PappyHappy
January 17th, 2011
5:27 pm
Well, Mike Smith told it like it was! For Pete’s sake, the man is the only coach for the Falcons it their history to have back to back winning seasons! Green Bay was hungrier that the birds! And, as Coach Smith said, Rogers was on fire!
That said — how do you think the folks in Boston are feeling today???????
Tom
January 17th, 2011
5:29 pm
None of the coaches need to be fired because of one playoff game, we did win 13 games during the regular season(even though we were in very close contests). Just seemed like our year to win the close ones, next season we might not win the close ones. Don’t forget the guys on the other side get paid too! Remember on any given Sunday, anything can happen(just ask New England)! Ok, we do need fast playmakers at the receiver position, not just possession receivers! Need a fast, big back to compliment our bulls. CB Owens was terrible, he needs playing experience or to be let go, does not need to be put in such an important game with little or no experience! Our rushers need better self control when they rush the passer and not over-run the QB. We missed the QB about 10 times in last 2 games by over-running the QB! Rush hard and fast but under control? That’s about it, except maybe our LB’s need to be a little meaner, like say Ray Lewis!!
Chaos
January 17th, 2011
5:29 pm
Thank you Coach Smith for a great year, after so many close wins all year I was really concerned about the post season. We are built for the long haul and I know you will have them ready for next year. I hope you can put this year behind you and be ready to take the next step in 2011….157 Falcons forever!
Strange Brew
January 17th, 2011
5:31 pm
I mentioned awhile back that it seems incredible that we have most of our playmakers on offense going to Pro Bowl, yet we don’t score alot. There were too many times in games where we just ‘pulled it out’ at the end. No creativity.
BigHittas
January 17th, 2011
5:33 pm
I now know what happened. Spoon and company didn’t get to the QB cause the crowd never hit 115!
jay
January 17th, 2011
5:38 pm
we need a new defence of cooridater..i cant believe he cant see that,you would think he would kno from being a dc in the past….i think there 2 happy for going 13-3 yes its a big thang and we had a great season bt u play well in the reg. season 2 make it 2 the post seaon teams arnt juged by the reg. seaon only the post seaon i really wish coach would reliaze that, we’re 0-2 in the playoffs smh….better luck next year
Tony Granzianni
January 17th, 2011
5:46 pm
Serious Question: Were Peira Jerry and ‘Spoon limited by injuries or is their upside limited. We need playmakers on D. It is hard to absorb not getting production out of your past three first round draft picks on D (Anderson, Jerry and ‘Spoon). Also, if Sidbury cannot get on the active roster is their any reason to believe he can develop into a situational pass rusher. On the bright side, we have drafted well in later rounds.
Sid
January 17th, 2011
5:54 pm
DUFFERDAWG
January 17th, 2011
12:12 pm
***************************************
You are so wrong, we have lost more than that! Won a few too!
Sid
January 17th, 2011
5:57 pm
Draft Scenerio – Atlanta Falcons: Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame
Hmmm, maybe we can trade up………….
DrJ
January 17th, 2011
6:03 pm
The Emperor Has No Clothes….
On the bright side, when Smitty is at the Pro Bowl, maybe he can gather up a couple of new players who want to help us, and bring them home with him.
jdawg
January 17th, 2011
6:04 pm
I just wish that half of you idiots who get on here and want to fire every one after every loss could be judged as harshly at your place of employment. If you were, I could get my Pizza delivered in less than 30 minutes, I could find someone at Home Depot who knew anything, and we could have had our roads cleared in less than 5 days last week. Here’s a hint. Your disposition to do such firing is why you will never have the chance to in real life. Now go get my salad from the kitchen. Oh, and by the way, spare me the reply as to your position of CEO of such and such. And I also don’t care about the old and tired “but if I made that kind of money” reply either.
Chad
January 17th, 2011
6:05 pm
We had a great season and will be back next year!
Dunta Robinson needs to man up to his contract and I’m sure he will as he is a damn good talent.
DrJ
January 17th, 2011
6:06 pm
Kyle Rudolph is outstanding when healthy, but currently on IR.
Barticus Maximus
January 17th, 2011
6:06 pm
I hated to see such a great year end the way that it did. TThe Packers gave out a good ole wooping. The better team was able to exploit the others weaknesses and get into the others decision making cycle. As Smitty excepts the responsibility, he also knows that he still has holes that he needs to improve. I am happy were we are and know that the staff will continue to improve this organization. The Falcons have come a long way in the last four years. For of those of you calling for Smitty’s head, I am not sure anything will make you happy except for winning the Super Bowl every year. GO FALCONS!!!
DrCH2
January 17th, 2011
6:17 pm
I too was at the game Saturday night. I couldn’t understand why our defense was unable to make adjustments, such as Pittsburgh had done just hours earlier in their game against Baltimore. Nor did we seem to have the intensity that the entire Jets staff and team displayed yesterday. Mr. Blank, take a few cues from the Chicago organization, and bring in a few of those former coaches, that can help step up our team on pass rushing. Otherwise, we may not be so lucky in 2011-12, given that the Saints, Bucs and a newly coached Panther team will be nipping at our heels. P.S. for those of you who want an outdoor stadium, can you imagine what life would have been like at the stadium on Saturday night if we had been outdoors. The game would have been postponed or moved, since there would have been no way to get that ice out of the building in time. Let’s face it, at a more Southern latitude, we are much more prone to ice than our brothers and sisters up north, who have the manpower and ability to clear just snow. Check with the Weather Channel!! The northerners would have struggled with the ice too.
ATL Observer
January 17th, 2011
6:21 pm
Like Tom said, we can’t get into a huff to fire EVERYONE because of a 13-3 season that ended in a playoff loss. Changes needed? Sure. But blow the whole thing up? Hardly.
I’ve said some of this in another thread but these are some of the problems that I believe need to be addressed (but it’s just one humble fan’s 2 cents):
- There is NO defensive difference maker on this team. Are there some good defensive cogs? Absolutely. But the best defenses in the league have those one or two players that are transformative by their mere presence. Look at the difference Urlacher & Peppers make in Chicago or Matthews makes in Green Bay. THAT is what the Falcons need. Whether through draft or free agency, they need that one player where the offensive coordinator goes “I don’t know where THIS GUY is gonna be but I know we have to worry about him…”
- The Falcons are a run-first, clock-control offense. OK, that’s fine. And it got the team 13 wins so there’s no need to change the identity wholesale. BUT they need to pick at least three games next year against clearly inferior opponents and say “we’re gonna throw the ball down these teams’ throats.” Get the team into that mindset. I’ll actually take 5-7 more INTs on Matt’s regular season resume if they’re done in the pursuit of helping to cut down the postseason INTs. I love what Ryan’s brought to the team but there are two stats that should worry everyone: 1) 3 TDs to 6 turnovers in two postseason games, 2) his QB rating dips below 70 in last two minutes of the half and OT situations (look up the career #s). That will have to change and I think it can.
In that regard, Ryan needs the breakthrough year Brees had at about the same stage in his career (Brees OT/two minutes rating was alarmingly low in ‘03 but improved TREMENDOUSLY in ‘04). I think that will happen if the Falcons SELECTIVELY pick the games to throw the bombs and get Ryan (and everyone else for that matter) into that rhythm.
- The #2 receiver on this team (whoever you think it is) wouldn’t be #3 on most of the other playoff teams.
- The fan support for the Falcons needs to be far more intense. You know that great home record the Falcons have? Most of the home games the Falcons play are more like wakes. Then if a national spotlight is shone (see: the last two games that ended in losses), all the fairweathers show up and act like it’s the most intimidating fanbase in the country. Problem is: it completely changes the feel of the dome and it’s not what the team is used to. But they SHOULD BE USED TO IT! Opening game for the Falcons should be a madhouse! The fans need to bring the playoff atmosphere to EVERY game so that when the playoffs arrive to the dome, the players are feeling “at home” both literally and figuratively speaking.
- Who’s the TE going to be if/when Gonzalez retires?
I’d be fine keeping the entire coaching staff except possibly Mularkey, who I was hoping was sitting on a playoff game plan that no NFC team would be prepared for but clearly wasn’t. If I was Smith, I’d have a sitdown with Muls and ask “what are you going to do to make sure this doesn’t happen again next year?”
jdl2
January 17th, 2011
6:23 pm
Coach Smith, you’re the HEAD COACH. It’s not “We coached a poor game” it’s “I coached a poor game”. And, yes, you did. Still a great season by the Falcons, looking forward to next year, congratulations.
Roark
January 17th, 2011
6:25 pm
Beg to differ…but the sky has fallen in terms of competing for a championship. Further, we don’t need continuity with this defense coaching staff. we won’t get to the big one with that 1-AA guy running the defense. He has to go!
Anointed champs/NOT
January 17th, 2011
6:27 pm
Paper champs, by by birdies, see you next yer
edcane
January 17th, 2011
6:30 pm
To hell with the Falcons, I’m a Jets fan now!!!!
BigHittas
January 17th, 2011
6:31 pm
well jdawh, if you can find anyone @ Home Depot that knows anything, you can blame that on Mr Blank, too! He left it in a mess.
LKW
January 17th, 2011
6:32 pm
Ths is the same thing year after year. Falcons would rather go to Pro-Bowl than Super-Bowl. The fans have supported the Falcons through thick and thin. The players have not supported the fans. Things that need to change: get rid of Turner – he is no burner- he can’t run and he is to fat! Ryan – learn how to read the field or else move on to a different career. You don’t know how to make plays and have back-up options. Change out the coaching staff. We need a staff that can come up with new and improved plays. These players, coaches and staff get paid big bucks. They need to get out of the high school game calling and into the pros! Everytime someone dogs the Falcons the fans defend them. Then look at the way they play on the most important game of the year. All the sports pros say that Falcons are not the calibur of a team to go to Superbowl. We fight them, we take our ground and defend the Falcons. Why? Everyone was right, except the Falcon Fans. Roddy – we don’t care about your apology. We care about winning an important game. We care about going to superbowl. Aruther Blank – get your heart out of the football decisions that are made and make your decisions with your checkbook! I am taking time, like Mike Smith, in determining if I will remain a Falcon Fan.
eddy
January 17th, 2011
6:35 pm
Please watch the films of New York Jets and Ptt vs. Ravens. That is how defense should be played. The Falcons are so far away from those teams in personnel, coaching and schemes that it is not funny. The Falcon DBs are small plus they cannot cover the big receivers. Minimal pass rush and when they get there, cannot finish and sack the QB. Normally teh Falcons are abysmal in stopping the run but the Packers showed that they are equally inept in the passing game as well. Dimitroff should focus in the off season on defense…pass rushers…..big DBs and a big fat nose tackle to occupy the middle. I watched the Ravens and Steelers…it was defense and then some more defense…none of this little ticky tack stuff. The Falcon’s season was a good one but this game illustrated in very stark terms how far they must go to get to be a legit contender for a SB.
IheartFalcons
January 17th, 2011
6:36 pm
Daunta Robinnson needs to go. How can the Falcons pay a DB that kind of money when he can’t make a takle, cover or make an interception. Grimes is the truth. He should have make the pro bowl. He is always in position. Daunta on the other hand cannot cover Jenkins. Daunta for Nnamdi Asomugha. If the Falcons really want to be a Superbowl contender thay need to go out and get a proven free agent. Stop getting players off injures, ie. Piere Perry, Daunta, Douglass.
Fire VanGorder !
January 17th, 2011
6:38 pm
The guy is no Defense head coach.
oldfart
January 17th, 2011
6:39 pm
Unfortunately Jimmy Johnson had it right in the pre-game. With only Abraham against a good Green Bay OL Aaron Rodgers was able to look like Joe Montana. I do fault the coaching for not having the pass rushers notice he uses the same spin move every time he did get pressure. But I also can’t believe how many times the Falcons only rushed 3 and offered no pressure at all.
Ryan was pressured on practically every play and the real clincher was rolling Ryan to the left and therefore throw across his body to the short side of the field when everyone in the stadium knew they were going for a quick out to position the field goal. 21-17 at the half probably wouldn’t have changed the ultimate outcome but it wouldn’t have ended so embarrassingly ugly.
Just sayin'
January 17th, 2011
6:40 pm
Oh, look! DOL has posted a record number of columns in the post season. If only he had cared to report equally on the Falcons 13-3 record. When question about his lack of coverage, his email response to me was essentially, ‘that’s not my job.”
Keep rubbing it in, DOL. You AJC folks know blood when you smell it. Go for it. Tool.
Waffle House or Bust
January 17th, 2011
6:41 pm
I see the bus full of Falcons, Smith and Blank (the NFL commercial seen all season during games), going over a cliff and blowing up like on Saturday Night Live. Pretty much felt like that kind of ending to season.
Dave
January 17th, 2011
6:46 pm
Hey Mr. Smith, Just admit it you and your team were lucky to end up 13-3. You won games on bad calls by officials and mistakes made by other teams. In this game you got neither and your true
ability showed.
pat sills
January 17th, 2011
6:49 pm
I can’t believe someone wanted a new head coach!!! what a moron. you must of jumped on the bandwagon 2 years ago. I have been a fan since 1976 and went thru loosing season after loosing season. I have had a chance to drink my beer and hollar deep into the last three seasons. We have somethin good goin here and the long time fans know it. I’m disappointed about the outcome as well but have neve had as much fun watchin Falcon football as I have this year.
falconsphysco
January 17th, 2011
6:57 pm
Waffle House or Bust- You’re right the 1980 playoff loss to Dallas was demoralizing but we dominated the boys until the well intentioned Robert Pennywell knocked Roger Staubach out and Danny White came in and made us look like the three stooges on crack. I didn’t expect as much in those days. A winning season in those days was an exception. Nice of Roddy to apologize, know I’m waiting on the other 52 and coaching staff.
phillip ernsberger
January 17th, 2011
7:00 pm
i am more concerned with matt ryan a.k.a matty ice. i saw a regression the last 4 games of the season. matt has to understand that he has done ZERO in the nfl.his playoff record is 0-2 while mark sanchez is 4-1 in the playoffs with wins over peyton manning(twice!!) followed up by tom brady. he has a chance to make history in only his second year if he beats big ben than aaron rodgers. i know he can be great-NO DOUBT ABOUT IT! but he has to do it FIRST!
The Joker
January 17th, 2011
7:02 pm
We need some players with a ‘Nick Fairly’ mentality….aggressive, mean, nasty, cold-hearted players!!!!!
DrJ
January 17th, 2011
7:17 pm
This type game will only mature Ryan, he will progressively get better.
Statistically, Coach Smith had a very nice year, and he has done a really good job resurrecting the team from the depths. Now that he has got them this far he needs to drop the corporate approach, and move up to the Rex Ryan approach: stick it to the opponents. The nice guy approach couldn’t get the team up after they got top seed and pro-bowl awards galore.
After paying Dunta so much, I guess they have to say he played well (corporate). The team has no depth due to the Falcon’s long-term failures in drafting and acquiring good free agents, so we end up with Owens dancing with the receivers.
Regarding the rush, we over-ran both Brees and Rodgers, they just stepped up in the pocket; where is the push up the middle. And as far as the run game, Turner has his style of running, but it’s not enough, he needs some new, faster, more agile help.
When our outstanding punter shanks one, you know it’s not a good day.
jackets2001
January 17th, 2011
7:26 pm
No one picked ATL to win this game. We are still not relevant in the NFL, never have completed the deal.
Again, we are shamed and even today on ESPN no one talks about the Falcons, was a given ttaht theythe Falcons were an illusion all year!
Falcon2
January 17th, 2011
7:56 pm
Atlanta’s D had to play against Arron Rodgers and Green Bay’s D had to play against Matt Ryan. Maybe that’s the reason for it all.
Jerry
January 17th, 2011
7:58 pm
I thought it wouldn’t happen this year but the old Falcon finally reared it’s ugly head.
ctfalconsfan
January 17th, 2011
8:09 pm
I have been concerned about our lack of offense all year.
We have too many good players (5 pro bowlers on offense) to struggle to score TD’s each week.
TWO MAJOR FACTS:
1) We were tied for fewest 20+ yard plays in the NFL
2) Turner caught only 12 passes (we don’t run a screen) This was the lowest total of any starting RB in the NFL
WHAT DOES THIS TELL YOU?
We can’t stretch out the D. They know we aren’t throwing deep and if Turner is the lone RB they don’t have to defend the pass to him so now the defense can start to cheat up. Isn’t this obvious???
MULARKEY NEED TO BE FIRED!!!
ATL Observer
January 17th, 2011
8:16 pm
Thanks ctfalconsfan for covering one element I totally overlooked: SCREEN PLAYS! This team probably ran less screen plays in the entire season than Baltimore & Pittsburgh did for first downs in their one game.
ctfalconsfan
January 17th, 2011
8:29 pm
Hi ATL Observer, I understand that Mularkey might not like screen plays, deep passes, reverses, etc. fine but you have to run them to keep the defense honest – keep them on their heels guessing.
Ryan almost always drops straight back in the pocket and the defense is swarming!! Wouldn’t that tell u tell dump the ball off on a screen pass to keep the defense back a second longer?
It’s just crazy how limited our offense is…
old man
January 17th, 2011
8:41 pm
Ryan: All this talk about lack of arm strength is a mystery to me. I saw a lot of unbelievable throws over this season. He needs a little more swagger, a little more edge, a little more killer instinct. He’s got the talent and the desire.
Mularkey: From Penthouse to outhouse that fast? No way.
Roddy: Consistently great all season. Wow.
Offense in general: continue the gradual upgrade of O-line with younger players; get somebody like Harry Douglas (WR or RB) only better.
Defense: Are Perry and Weatherspoon both draft day misses? Can our current guys be “coached up” to make pretty simple tackles of an average runner like Aaron Rogers? Is Aaron Rogers that good, or is there some major problem with our defense I am missing?
On offense, don’t panic. On defense, panic just a little bit. This loss was awful. But it’s not time to clear house or change course.
drmondo
January 17th, 2011
8:50 pm
Well, the areas we need improvement on were highlighted by GB.
-We need a speedy change of pace back who can catch. Preferably one who stays healthy.
-Douglas was a no-show all season. Get a true deep threat.
-The DL needs changes. Abe carried the pass rush by himself. Since the run D was good, not great what benefit is there to keeping J Anderson? What happened to Beirmann? Sidbury spent most of the year inactive, why? Will Jerry or Peters step up and be a force along with SS Babineaux for an entire season?
-Is it time to replace Peterson with a younger LB who can rush the passer?
-Nnamdi Asomugha is a free agent. Make an attempt to get him. Let Grimes and Robinson fight for the other starting CB position with the “loser” becoming our nickle back. With so many teams running 4-5 WR sets we need 3-4 starting caliber CBs. I like both our starting safeties but Owens showed how big a drop off in talent we had at the CB position.
-Talk Gonzo into another year. I’d also offer him a coaching position the moment he stops playing. The guy is the quintessential pro in every facet of the game.
It dosn’t matter whether you fill needs through the draft or free agency, but we need to improve.
Shannon
January 17th, 2011
9:34 pm
JMO, but the Packers didn’t beat the Falcons on Saturday night, the Falcons beat the Falcons on Saturday night.
jarvis
January 17th, 2011
9:51 pm
I trust this coaching staff to get it right next year, so this is just my opinion: Since we got shredded in passing game i would go after oakland’s free agent CB( i won’t bother to try to spell or googles his name)move grimes at right, move dunta at nickel, release or move brian williams. Draft another LB with smarts and speed draft DE,TE,OL,a no.3 speed WR that can make tough catches, move harry douglas on special teams draft a speed RB , and release norwood.
jarvis
January 17th, 2011
9:58 pm
drmondo- I didn’t read your comment before I posted mines. I pretty much said what you said so I apologize.
This Gets Old!
January 17th, 2011
10:46 pm
Shannon the Packers didn’t beat the Falcons on Saturday night, the Falcons beat the Falcons on Saturday night
What game were you watching?
Matti-ocre
January 17th, 2011
10:56 pm
Rise up, y’all….rise up…we goner due it necks yeer…
Sincerely,
A well edumakated falkins fin….
True Falcon Fan
January 17th, 2011
11:23 pm
Falcon fans have a right to be disappointed, but you would think the earth was coming to an end according to some of these comments. Get a grip, the team is not there yet, but they are on the right path. There were times when making the playoffs was but a distant dream. While we should not settle for this as fans, we need to be patient. This franchise is moving in a positive direction, and is in incredible shape compared to where it was just a few short years ago. Have faith! GO FALCONS!
DR. FALCON
January 18th, 2011
12:29 am
I THINK WE NEED TO BLOW THIS THING UP AND STSRT ALL OVER! WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW IS NOT WORKING! YOU DON’T GO 13-3 WITH A 1ST ROUND BYE, THEN GET BLOWN OUT AT THE HOUSE WHEN THE WORLD ID WATCHING! OUR WEAKNESSES WERE EXPOSED! I CAN’T GIVE MATT RYAN A PASS ON THIS ONE. AS A 3 YEAR STARTER, AND SUPPOSEDLY ONE OF THE TOP QB’S IN THE LEAGUE, HE FAILED TO DELIVER BIG BOY FOOTBALL! 2 INT’s AND A FUMBLED SNAP? I SAY, BRING STEVE BARTKOWSKI OUT OF RETIREMENT, WITH HIS OLD ASS! HE COULD NOT DO ANY WORSE! IN FACT, I WILL BET AYBODY THAT BIG BART CAN STILL WING IT! IM SERIOUS!!! THIS LOSS WAS PAINFUL!!!
DR. FALCON
January 18th, 2011
12:32 am
I WAS JUST KIDDING ABOUT BRINGING BARTKOWSKI BACK!! I THINK?
Packer Pat
January 18th, 2011
1:49 am
I have to say, most Packer fans would be cheering for the Falcons had we either not been playing in the playoffs or were not playing the Falcons. Your team has most of the pieces in place, they just simply ran into a team in Green Bay who right now is so focused and hungry that it’s actually hard to comprehend. Don’t hang your heads, Falcons fans, just be sure you get a young stud tight end in the draft and keep fighting, you’ll be right back in the playoffs next season.
Packer Pat
January 18th, 2011
1:53 am
Also, you guys have a great coach in Mike Smith. The Falcons are a lot like the Packers a year ago. Just have patience Falcon fans, you’ll see the NFC title game in the next year or two if the right personel decisions are made in the offseason. Support the Packers against the Bears!
10+seconds
January 18th, 2011
5:20 am
Arron Rogers looked great because he had all day to get rid of the ball. I cant think of a play at all where he didnt have at least 10 seconds to get rid of the ball. Falcons lost the home saints game the same way. YOU MUST NOT ALLOW ANY NFL QB THAT MUCH TIME BECAUSE HE OR (GIVEN THAT MUCH TIME) SHE WILL CUT YOU UP ALIVE.
Rick
January 18th, 2011
8:13 am
You would think that a trained journalist would know the difference between “lost”, and “loss”.
SonofaDawg
January 18th, 2011
9:17 am
Not a falcons fan but I can honestly say that they ARE headed in the right direction.
D man
January 18th, 2011
9:23 am
Mike, the team looked unprepared Saturday night. You had two weeks to prepare and rest. I didn’t see any adjustments to stop the passing over the middle. 3 man rush? Why? The team looked like deer in a headlight. Terrible effort by all. You need to get angry sometimes and let those highly paid professionals have it when they don’t perform as you taught them.
But, I’m still a fan and will be back later this year to support you. Love ya man…
DR. FALCON
January 18th, 2011
9:27 am
UNTIL MATT RYAN CAN PROVE HE CAN WIN IN PLAYOFF CRUNCH TIME, STEVE BARTKOWSKI WILL ALWAYS BE MY QB! I WILL GO TO MY GRAVE BELEIVING THAT! MOST OF YOU ATLANTANS HAVE MIGRATED FROM OTHER CITIES. YOU HAVE YOUR OWN ALLEGIANCES OR TEAMS. YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND! FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE FOLLOWED THIS TEAM FOR 30, 35, 40 YEARS, BIG BART IS ALL WE HAVE! I DON’T HAVE ANOTHER 30YRS TO WAIT! I JUST DON’T! GIVING UP 48PTS AT THE HOUSE IN FRONT OF OUR FANS, WAS NOT COOL!!!! THIS FRANCHISE MAY NEVER RECOVER! HOW PAINFUL! HEADS NEED TO ROLL!
jalex49
January 18th, 2011
9:41 am
Coach Smith:
I for one, am thankful for your leadership during this season. I honestly thought we won some games we should have lost but was delighted for the team and us fans on the outcomes. I listened to your address to the press after the loss to Green Bay and “No excuses” was without a doubt the right approach and it’s good to see a Head Coach not make excuses, in Atlanta our excuse book is completely filled with previous coaches making excuses.
Let me say right up front, I am only a fan and don’t pretend to know all the x’s and o’s of a football team. I do know based upon my 20 years in the military and a Viet Nam veteran with a combat unt (1969-71) understand the idea of ” Search and Destroy” and ” Silence your enemy” in this respect your (Competition).
It’s not enought to prepare for battle, it’s more important to evaluate your resources, plan of action, and what you have to fight with. I can’t help but feel after the game that maybe the later aspect somehow wasn”t thought thru enought. An example: You had a mobile quaterback and yet he, in the first game got outside consistently? A three(3) man rush! Are you kidding me! Why in the world would your coaches apply this? And yet, there were no obvious tactical changes to correct this. Why?
I don’t know Chris (CB) but what was he doing all night? If he doesn’t have the abililty to cover, then find a back-up that can. I hear a lot of complaints about D. Robinson and I’m not defending his play, but to ask him to continously cover a receiver and also keep the G.B. quaterback from escaping around the end-is unbelieveable.. Where is his help on the DE side?
I appreciate the defensive line play but to have one guy that can get (almost) to the quaterback from the DE side(Abraham) and a DE line that has players that find themselves out-played consistently leads me to believe that we are either not drafting the best/correct players and we are relying to much on the Draft. (Thomas D).. Need more proven free-agent help at these positions.
To have some of our best players apologize to the fans, sends a message that something is wrong in the hen house. There’s an old saying out on the farm and that is” You can have all the people you want chasing the hen, but if you can’t catch the hen-you don’t get the EGG!!!!!
If I sound upset, I am and I apologize, because inside I do appreciate what you guys have done for Atlanta. I guess I’m (like a majority of the fans) tired of seeing Atlanta Falcons.. Chase the hen and not get the EGG!!
I hope to be watching next year, again thanks.
Big Dawg
January 18th, 2011
9:53 am
Great season Coach Smith and the Falcons. While it didn’t end up the way anyone would have liked, we can all see the progress being made. And we can rest assured that you and your staff will continue to do so. Thanks for the good work, and also we appreciate your standing up and taking responsibility for the Packers game. You’ll have the Falcons back and ready to play in 2011, and we all look forward to that.
D. Mcleen
January 18th, 2011
9:55 am
New offensive coordinator, Matt ryan isnt all that. even i can throw ten yard passes and hand the ball off to a running back. Call me when he can despite turner
SonofaDawg
January 18th, 2011
9:58 am
Mike Smith can coach, Matt Ryan is a good qb(not great). They just need a gamebreaker on offense and defense!
D. Mcleen
January 18th, 2011
9:59 am
If you shut down turner, gonzo, and white what happens to the team
C from Marietta
January 18th, 2011
10:16 am
Concerned about the offense. LOL. They were FIFTH in the league in points scored. I love monday morning quarterbacks. You folks are a*sholes and need to find another team.
rock
January 18th, 2011
10:27 am
Coach, something is going to have change on defense, the coach, strategies and personnel or some combination of thee three.
SonofaDawg
January 18th, 2011
10:37 am
C from Marietta
January 18th, 2011
10:16 am
Concerned about the offense. LOL. They were FIFTH in the league in points scored. I love monday morning quarterbacks. You folks are a*sholes and need to find another team
———————————————————————————————————————-
Chill out, it’s not that serious.
Steve Fisher
January 18th, 2011
10:51 am
Seriously, The Atlanta Falcons are set to be playoff and Super Bowl contenders for years to come. It was just one bad game.
True Falcon Fan
January 18th, 2011
11:02 am
DOL,,,,Please deliver message to L. Hartstien for me, “Hey Larry”, if you would also add to your recommendation candidates list for DC job, there’re many opportunities out there in the market not just Jim Mora Jr. My opinion on JMjr he’s NOT FOR US “The FALCONS”! The guy is waiting for his “DREAM JOB” to open like Bobby Petrino! Re: The Radio show remember
Although I do agree with your direct “IMPLY” in your post — I think Smitty & TD should take a hard look at the staff presently “Ask themselves, are these the teachers, coaches that can get us to the PROMISE land”?? In my opinion “I DON”T THINK SO” —- But I know they MS & TD know BEST!
Scott
January 18th, 2011
11:10 am
Fk the pro Bowl because no one care ,Fk continuity ,heads should roll because the coaching staff lack the know how in wining play off games . I hope Smith rethink his position before he is run out of Atlanta . The fan deserved much better than what they got. .
Greg Mendel
January 18th, 2011
11:27 am
Fact is, the Falcons did a lot of things right during the season. If they hadn’t, they’d have been “none and done,” which was what many expected. The Patriots were “one and done,” the Saints “done B4 one.” Does anybody think those two teams should overhaul themselves? The GB lesson wasn’t lost on Smith or Dimitroff. Changes will be made. The team is still building. For years, the Atlanta Falcons prayed to even be in a playoff game.
valleyboy32
January 18th, 2011
11:29 am
to be honest our qb cant make all the throws to make him great all his throws outs and small stuff in the middle to tightends he cant make those 20yards down the middle throws like the qb’s man he still got some growing to do the media talked bad about cutler and rogers now both of them in the nfc champs while sitting home whining and criying and donta robinson aint showed me nothig all year no press couverage no nothing so far he’s a bust
valleyboy32
January 18th, 2011
11:34 am
right now sanchez is way better than ryan true he has a better defense but 3-1 record in post season i’ll take it forget all the stats and awards to me you’ll judge on your postseason and matt ryan aint nothing till he prove he can win a postseason game i’m still a falcon fan but really i’m a realistic fan i dont care about stats care about postseaons winss thats it
birdwatcher
January 18th, 2011
11:56 am
Bend don’t break, got Broke. We need another go to receiver and a speed back. Examine this comment: I hear a lot of complaints about D. Robinson and I’m not defending his play, but to ask him to continuously cover a receiver and also keep the G.B. quarter back from escaping around the end-is unbelievable.. Where is his help on the DE side?
Also play to win, not to not lose. The conservative and predictable play calling has to stop. So many times this year, 1st and 10 first play of series…Atlanta runs with Turner for maybe a gain of 2. Come on mix it up.
Finally, when consistent thing about teams in the Super Bowl is this. You never know exactly which guys on that team are the most dangerous you just know they are all dangerous. Turner, Gonzalez, White, Ryan shut down. We lost. I am proud of this years performance, but the guys in the rest of the playoffs need to be examined. Shut down defenses with good offenses that mix it up. Open up running game with spreading defenses with the pass.
DC Dirty Bird
January 18th, 2011
12:10 pm
Anyone get the feeling that this team has too many nice guys? We need guys with an edge who could give a crap about what others think of them, particularly these judgmental self righteous so-called fans who’d rather comment on a players behavior rather than their play. So to those who were against Peppers being signed? What say ye now? Now, I’m going to say something that will stir the pot. ALBERT HAYNESWORTH
Audrey
January 18th, 2011
1:09 pm
Misery loves company I guess because reading the other posts expressing their disdain for how the game turned out is making me feel slightly better. I’m a season ticket holder and I love the birds, but man…that loss was hard to stomach and totally inexplicable!! From the team not having that post-season killer instinct to the coordinators and their whack game plan…there’s a lot of blame to go around. I know the players heart was in it at the beginning but something broke them. I’m placing the bulk of the blame on Mularkey and Van Gorder. They have got to go!! They’re not creative at all!!! Rushing 3 didn’t work for us against Rodgers during the regular season game, why do you think its gonna work again…and in a playoff situation?? Just plain stupid. Our offense didn’t click, the calls were predictable as usual and it was just poor scheming. I’m really sad. We had a road clearly paved and we squandered the opportunity.
I know Dimitroff and his staff will do another fine job of scouting for more talent, but please PLEASE get another pass rusher to help Abraham. I felt for him out there. He was trying and gave his all. I know Fairley from Auburn will go in the top 5 or 10 players drafted, but if we could find a way to get that kid, that would be tremendous!!! Or get a vet in free agency…how about that guy whose no longer with Oakland??? I have a lot of faith in the Falcons chances for next season-we have a very good team, if they remain relatively injury free, but we need some more stud players on defense and two stud coordinators…PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Golden Talons
January 18th, 2011
1:14 pm
Hilarious comments on this blog.
The Falcons are mostly young and still missing key pieces. The coaches know this, the players know this.
The scheme this season brought them 13 wins. 3 winning seasons in a row for the franchise – never happened before. The organization is solid. To move forward they will have to add pieces. To open up the offense for Matt Ryan they will have to add pieces. To plug the holes on defense they will have to add pieces. Dimitroff and the coaches know this. They knew it before the season began.
The coach takes the blame for the loss, taking the focus off of his players, as he should. There will be changes. The players intuitively know who will be back next year and who will not. It’s the NFL.
Stay tuned.
True Falcon Fan
January 18th, 2011
1:16 pm
The best news I heard today Jim Mora jr is going to work as DC with Andy Reid / Eaglettes and “The Coach Killer”.
PackalldaWay
January 18th, 2011
1:34 pm
You guys will never go anywhere when you have a coach that believes..”You are judged by the regular season”
Sorry to disappoint you Smitty, but the regular season doesn’t mean anything if you can’t win in the post season!
The city of atl, the fans, and the team were celebrating before they did anything…
LKW
January 18th, 2011
2:02 pm
I am areal tired of hearing how good Matt Ryan is and how he progress into a better quarterback. We have given him three years. What has he given back. We paid big for Turner. What has he done for Atlanta Falcons except get fatter, he sure can’t run. We paid Mike Smith 6 million for three years, and he has changed the Falcons how? Oh yea, he couldn’t come up with any new plays, he couldn’t make the right calls and then?? You said it we lost a major game because “We (Mike Smith) did a poor job coaching! Lame reason to lose a major game when you make that kind of money. But he got paid, milked the fans and laughed all the way to the bank!
MO
January 18th, 2011
2:09 pm
lk-you might want to check and see how many coaches and qbs have gone to the playoffs twice in their 1st 3 years.
packalldaway- i believe your team has da bears next so unless you’re really some anti falcon, put a sock in it.
Decatur Falcon
January 18th, 2011
2:25 pm
The truth is Mike Smith, didn’t understand that you can’t rest your players 7 days and then practice on a Wednesday on the week of the playoffs.That is crazy. Mike Smith act like he was playing on Sunday, no your playing on Saturday. The Falcons need to learn from this lost, and I believe in my heart they will. Mike Smith is still learning in this league, that it is hard to win in this league. The playoffs are not the regular season. Like I said in my previous blogs, in other to win playoffs games, you have to open your whole playbook. If you don’t you going to lose in the playoffs, and if you can’t make adjustments when your down by two or three touchdowns you are going to lose in the playoffs. The Atlanta Falcons players don’t eat junk food until after the Super Bowl, chicken and mush pototoes will kill you on the football field. Abe should have knock Aaron Rodgers out of the game, he didn’t because he was not condition and didn’t work hard in practice. Green Bay Packers where in game shape, and Mike Smith fail to get his players in game shape in the two weeks they had to prepare for this game. Mike Smith has to learn from this horrible lost, and I believe he will. GO FALCONS!!!!
MO
January 18th, 2011
3:02 pm
I think you nailed Decatur Falcon
Wade
January 18th, 2011
4:11 pm
The coaches comment doesn’t make sense. “We coached a very poor football game.” This implies that the game was “poor” and they happened to be there coaching, or the game was low on finances and they were coaching. No wonder he’s not very effective. What he should say is “Our poor coaching created poor execution by the players.
J_Birdwatcher
January 18th, 2011
6:55 pm
Its time to hire Mike Singatary as the defensive coordinator or someone like him, We seem to lack that Killer instinct that the JET’s have and by the way are there any players with the passion of a Bart Scott.
Birdman123
January 18th, 2011
11:17 pm
It’s all downhill from here. Next year, Falcons have to contend with the up and coming Bucs and a resurgent Saints team. There’s no hope…Take it from the Birdman.
Scott
January 19th, 2011
1:55 am
Regardless of the loss, aren’t we all much happier with this team than those of the past, that never did anything, except loose? Normally, we’d all be reading excerpts from another teams coach, while our Falcons were talking about rebuilding….again. At least, going into next year, we know the Falcons should be a force to be reckoned with, and not the door mat we used to have. Sure, I was just as disappointed as anyone, having so many hopes for this year. But I’d also like to say “Great job, team. Thank you for giving us a season to be proud of”.
Phill Comeaux
January 20th, 2011
12:57 am
From what I see, the falcons thought they were a superbowl team but found out that they are not when they faced Greenbay. I knew they was not good enought when they played the saints both times. As beat up as the defending superbowl champs were, the falcons got a little break the first game and they killed the panthers with a record of 2-13 the second game playing the saints when the saints got a few key players back a little healthy the falcons struggled even more and lost. Right here I started feeling if the falcons were a playoff contender-never mind the superbowl.The falcons tried to get by with a team they know was not really ready to be contenders. Now the falcon head coach knows.
ppeck
January 21st, 2011
11:37 am
Wow ! For a “prepared” NFL team, this looked like a preseason debacle that smacked of, we’ll fix it in the next preseason game. There is no “next” in the playoffs. It seemed our guys quit. When we played the ravens a few weeks back, that was the most focused team I ever saw. They were like a “laser” ! What happened? Were they looking ahead to the next game? Pro Bowl? The halftime adjustments were terrible. On the bright side, I know this will never happen again !!!! EVER!
RockyMtnFalcon
January 21st, 2011
12:39 pm
I will take a winning season and a playoff loss over all the 4-12, 3-13, 5-10 seasons.
Just remember we are a team that is learning how to win consistantly.
Whateva
January 21st, 2011
2:48 pm
These comments are all sickening. The Falcons are a very good TEAM (not individuals), the coaching staff is skilled, and they have the motivation and drive to win. They stubbed their toe. Those of you who are sooo critical…where have you been the last, what, 45 years? Have you forgotten what this team used to be? It’ll not be what it was again as long as AB owns it and his staff coaches it. Rome wasn’t built in a day. So go get another beer and more nachos and prepare for next season. The Falcons will be working while you’re criticizing!
As for the players, the staff, and the owner: Thank you! Great job this season, gentlemen. Go into 2011-12 with the same goals, the same motivation, the same staff. Learn from your mistakes in these playoffs, and kick some serious @#$ next season. I’ll be there…with a beer and some nachos!