Q&A: Coach Mike Smith sifts through the rubble
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees passes during the second quarter. AP
NEW ORLEANS — Falcons coach Mike Smith was caught off guard by his team’s woeful performance against the Saints.
“I didn’t see that coming,” Smith said.
Here’s what he had to say after the Saints routed the Falcons 45-16 on Monday night.
OPENING STATEMENT: We obviously are disappointed in the way that we played i the ball game tonight. We didn’t play well enough in any phase of the game to give ourselves a chance to win. We didn’t make enough plays. There were some opportunities early on and then it kind of got out of hand there at the end.
ON WHERE IT WENT SIDEWAYS: We were 0 for 3 in the red zone. We didn’t score touchdowns when we got down there. We really had a tough time in the first half stopping them on third down. They were 8 for 8 on third downs and we had some very favorable down and distances. Third-and-8, third-and-10, third-and-12, third-and-13 and we weren’t able to get them off the field. That was really the thing that happened there in the first half. I thought the special teams played well through the first 30 minutes. Then in the second half they gave up the real long kickoff return to Sproles. . . That’s kind of where it got out of hand and got out of whack. We had way too many penalties. The penalties were very lopsided in terms of penalties committed against our team. Some of them happened in the red zone and knocked up behind the sticks and early in the ball game as well.
ON TRYING TO RALLY IN THE SECOND HALF LIKE THEY DID AGAINST CAROLINA: No doubt about it. We knew we had to come out and play one play at a time. We went out there and got an interception on that first series defensively, but the offense had a three and out. Then the next drive I believe they went down and scored on an 80-yard drive. They had way too many long drives where they were moving the ball in chunks.
ON THE PASS DEFENSE: We had some opportunities to get them on the ground twice there in the first half and he was able to get out. If you don’t get the pressure and affect Drew, he’s going to make the throws. That’s what they did today. Unfortunately, we did not play very well today. I know that our guys are disappointed in the way that we performed.
ON IF THE SAINTS RAN UP THE SCORE AT THE END: Drew Brees has had an outstanding season in terms of the number of yards that he’s thrown for. My hat is off to Drew. That’s a longtime record here in the NFL. He accomplished that tonight against us.
ON THE STATE OF THE DEFENSE: I hope it’s an aberration in terms of the way that we’ve been playing defense. We had some opportunities there in the first half where the ball was thrown. We had opportunities to intercept it and we didn’t intercept it and they were able to continue and keep their drives alive. It happened twice in the first half. We were not on top of our game in any phase in terms of our football team in my mind. We just weren’t playing very consistently. It was just not the type of effort that you want to have when so much is on the line in terms of what the outcome could have meant to our football team.
ON HOW HE FELT COMING INTO THE GAME: I felt like we have a very good week of preparation. I though the guys handled Christmas Day and Christmas break that we had built into our schedule. I didn’t see this coming. We didn’t play Atlanta Falcons football and the scoreboard indicates that.
ON WHY THEY DIDN’T RUN MORE NO-HUDDLE: I think we ran a little bit more than that (six plays). Early in the game we moved the ball down the field. In the third drive, we jumped into our no huddle. We moved the ball down the field, but we weren’t able to put it in the end zone. Then in the second half we ran some of our no huddle out of our 21 personnel package. We were running it not out of our 3-wide set. We were running it out of two-back, one-tight end set.
ON REGROUPING: It’s just like any other week. We have to make corrections. We have to evaluate the film. Believe it or not, there’s going to be some positives that you’re going to be able to take out of this game.
ON THE TEAM BEING TOO HAPPY ABOUT BEING IN THE PLAYOFFS: There was a lot to play for in this ball game in terms of seeding in the post-season tournament. Believe me, our internal goals are much higher than just making the playoffs and being a participant in the playoff field. We knew what was at stake tonight. We knew that we didn’t have complete control, but we had an opportunity if we would have taken care of business there would have been a potential to move up in the seedings. . . we are disappointed. But no, I don’t think it had anything to do with us becoming a member of the playoff picture and securing a spot. We were fighting our tails off before the ball game to try to enhance and get our seeding a little bit higher.
FOLLOWUP ON IF THE SAINTS RAN UP THE SCORE TO GET BREES THE RECORD: Again, guys I’m not going to comment on that in terms of running up the score. It’s our job to go out there and stop them. I doesn’t matter if they are running the ball or throwing the ball. The job of our defense is to go out and stop them. Again, my hat is off to Drew Brees. It’s a record that’s been long-standing. He’s had a great season.
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
Get instant updates on Twitter at AJCFalcons and you can join the Facebook Fan page at AJC Falcons.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
682 comments Add your comment
ShakinMyHead
December 27th, 2011
2:41 pm
@CGD
Brees is a better qb dude, I will give you guys that..Falcons are pathetic man. I was expecting them to come down there and handle business. you would think that they wouldve played with a little bit of a chip on there shoulders, but not at all…
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
2:42 pm
That front 7 looked like they eat too many HAM SANDWICHES over the Christmas weekend…
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
2:43 pm
ate^^^^
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
2:46 pm
Here’s a telling Stat: Falcons are 2-8(.250%) last 10 game against the winners.. Pathetic!
That stat alone says it all @shakin my head..Nobody’s hardly talking about it..But I have been paying attention to it all season…They are pretenders no doubt……
That stat will keep you from being deceived!
Double Zero Eight
December 27th, 2011
2:49 pm
By the time Brees is on his decline,
Cam Newton will be a veteran. I
fear the Panthers will pick up where
the Saints have “left off”, and Newton
will replace Brees as a top tier QB.
Looks like it might be “more of the same”
for Falcons fans.
Buffy
December 27th, 2011
2:49 pm
With the NFC South and home field advantage for the first round of the playoffs still at stake, the Falcons came in to this game with plenty to play for. That’s true even when you consider that they had locked up a playoff spot by Monday morning
What followed, of course, was a display that was equal parts offensive malarkey, defensive ineptitude and some of the worst officiating you’ll ever see. The Saints did their part by playing a smooth, quality game in all three phases, and the Falcons were more or less done in the third quarter. They still fought, bless their hearts, but ultimately the giant lead the Saints opened up in the third doomed our beloved birds.
Good recap from falcoholic.com
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
2:50 pm
I would target Vice President of Operations for these melt downs…He is the main reason why the Falcons have not won a playoff game in almost 8 years now…. Arthur has spent a ton of money to get marginal results……Somebody is in the way for this team going all the way…..
mikeb
December 27th, 2011
2:53 pm
Maybe Mike was watching a different game that i watched.Can’t stop a cold.No pressure on Brees really at all.All q-b’s look great without pressure.Malarky is just that on offense.Receivers would catch a pass and they step backwards when they caught the ball.Well if this was to be able shake the db it didn’t work.Turner was running like he was wearing a couple of cinder blocks.Saints defense isin’t great.Changes has to be made or you’ll be about where you are
mark
December 27th, 2011
2:55 pm
its time for some people to back and get out of town man beginnign with the oc and dc! come on man i saw a play where grimes was covering jimmy graham!? how in the hell jimmy its gonna be cover against a midget, way too many mental mistakes way too many penalties,bad decision the first series was good it didint look mm was running it then the same old story! bored and bad execution this has to be the worst game i watch since ms come to atl, and the statment come on its the sames one over and over its time to step up tell the truhth the coordinators have to go after this season i bet any good coaching staff can make the falcons a championship team
ijonathan
December 27th, 2011
2:55 pm
G
December 27th, 2011
1:59 pm
Things we know:
Tuck the ball in Turner’s gut 20-25 times, with a mix of Rogers and Snelling, we win 9 of 10 games.
G
December 27th, 2011
2:08 pm
Ryan is a good stat-stuffer. Most any QB in the league will have comfortable numbers if your repetoire is filled with passes under 20 yards. Not trying to dump on Matt, because it’s not all on him. We can win a championship with him, but not because of him.
=====
Of the top 30 running backs in the league in terms of total yards, Turner is a whopping 25th in YPC. And his trend of late is brutal. I truly believe the guy is done, unless it is his groin holding him back.
And regarding the ease of piling up stats mainly with throws of less than 20 yards, AdvancedNFLstats.com tells the tale. So far this year, Ryan is mediocre on their “deep %” (percentage of pass attempts of 15 yards or greater. Ryan is ranked 20th, similar in percentage (20.6%) to Schaub, Sanchez, Skelton and Flacco. Do you know who is even further down, way down, that ranking at 35th? Drew Brees, with Matt Stafford and Kevin Kolb (around 17%).
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
2:57 pm
Mckay and Dimitroff should be read the riot act… They appear to be failing miserably……….
Buffy
December 27th, 2011
2:58 pm
We know it’s you I J Rosenberg….aka ijonathan.
mark
December 27th, 2011
2:58 pm
our team is a joke man we are lightyears away from an elite team! just look the saints brees had all day long i think he even light up a joint, if we where playing with 15 on defense it would be the same story, way too many failed tackles and sacks against brees no pressure no nothing it was pathetic
ijonathan
December 27th, 2011
2:59 pm
CGD, the more you post, the less consequential your contribution becomes. The equivalent of a dink’n'dunk approach to blogging. You need to follow your namesake and “go deep”. 1 or 2 really good posts of consequence, then call it a day.
Grenlaw
December 27th, 2011
3:00 pm
ijonathan …… I can read your posts all day. Hilarious !!!
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
3:01 pm
You invest money and 1st round picks to draft ALL PRO LINEMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, you win, CHAMPIONSHIPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There’s your disconnect…..
Buffy
December 27th, 2011
3:01 pm
OK, IJ, like go deep on that Braves Miracle Season book deal. Give me a break kid.
Buffy
December 27th, 2011
3:03 pm
Like blog babysitting is consequential…come on man…time to break for your water aerobics class at Zaban IJ!
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
3:03 pm
Thanks for 1 cent IJ…Yawn….
ijonathan
December 27th, 2011
3:04 pm
CGD…like Glenn Dorsey? LMAO.
SavDawg
December 27th, 2011
3:04 pm
It seems to me when Smith & GM came to Atl their statements where we are going to build inside out. Yet we spend most of our $ and efforts on skill positions. I love Julio but those draft choises would have been better spent on DL & OL.
Once Recent Reader
December 27th, 2011
3:04 pm
I watch Brady every week as I’m a Pats fan from youth. Yes, he does have a great arm and has proven he can consistently throw it deep. But he often dumps it off 10 yards or less to Welker, Gronkowski, Hernandez . ..and many times those guys break longer plays. It’s scary to watch. Obviously, Pats (Brady) are better at getting the TDs than Falcs (Ryan). That definitely has to get fixed.
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
3:04 pm
Buffy
December 27th, 2011
3:03 pm
“Like blog babysitting is consequential…come on man…time to break for your water aerobics class at Zaban IJ!”
That’s classic Chit!!!!!! lmfao!
tmc
December 27th, 2011
3:04 pm
Just heard coach Smith say on the radio:
“…you can’t kick field goals when you get in the redzone against the Saints.”
Well, why then coach when you were down 15 or 22 points were you kicking field goals?
ijonathan
December 27th, 2011
3:05 pm
I guess I have my fans No accounting for taste, Ms. Vampire Slayer.
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
3:06 pm
The Master of dinking and jock sniffing IJ himself! LMAO!
Once Recent Reader
December 27th, 2011
3:07 pm
ijonathan . . . .did you say Glen Dorsey:) Do you recall that argument when Ryan was drafted. I live in SE Florida now, and I’ve said it before and will say it again . . …the fans down here . . .a vast majority wish the Dolphins had selected Ryan. I know he has many Falcon fan detractors, but down in Dade/Broward/Palm Beach counties – Sports radio hosts and callers say that was a major blunder as they need a QB and they really like what they see in Ryan. Now, Jake Long is an All Pro and they really like him . . ..but they now look at that draft as a missed opportunity to get a very good QB.
ijonathan
December 27th, 2011
3:08 pm
tmc…that is a funny quote. Cognitive dissonance much? Who exactly forced coach to go for field goals in those situations?
Sideline official
December 27th, 2011
3:08 pm
I.m in Vegas playing the house guyssssssssssss ! I told you all if you paid us the bigger pot we would steer the game in your direction but as you see we officials favored the Saints baby !
Once Recent Reader
December 27th, 2011
3:10 pm
tmc . . . . .he kicked field goals because that was the “numbers” thing to do. You don’t just go for it on 4th down just because you are in the Red Zone. You know he meant you have to get it in there on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd down. I’m not sure what he would have done with a 4th and 1 yard or less in the Red Zone early.
ijonathan
December 27th, 2011
3:10 pm
ORR…Of course I recall that argument
I was just engaging in some playfull blog banter with the master of the 3 yard blog dumpoff, CGD, who was with a wave of his hand, dismissing the entire drafting/signing strategy of the Falcons by saying they should concentrate on the lines. While I agree with that sentiment to some extent, Glenn Dorsey vs. Ryan is a perfect example of when you shouldn’t follow that approach. And, oh, TD did try to address the line that year as well, problem was, he selected alligator arms.
DREWSTER
December 27th, 2011
3:11 pm
Dunta needs to go! Every time this year when we’ve had a team 3 and long he backs up 6yrds past the line to gain watch’es the reciver sit down at the marker and pick up the frist down! And BVG as a couch is so bad he dosen’t even reconize this . That is why the falcons cain’t get anybody off the feild on 3 down .LOOK at the tape of the Freaking Game!!! IT’s Not Rocket science !!! 3rd and 8,3rd and 12,3rd and 20 it dosent matter!
Chief Ref
December 27th, 2011
3:12 pm
When you want the Win just payoff the house girls. The chips are flying in Vegas ladies !
Buffy
December 27th, 2011
3:12 pm
That’s Mr. Vampire slayer to you IJ.
I Quit (just like the Falcons)
December 27th, 2011
3:13 pm
Not going to support this franchise anymore. Tired of the ineptitude, stupidity and humiliation. Frankly just tired of the whole thing. If the players don’t care, I don’t either. I really don’t have another 40 years to give anyway. Life will be better without this aggravation.
SavDawg
December 27th, 2011
3:13 pm
It seems to me Van Gor is running HC MS’s defense. Do we believe Van G runs this soft zone with no pressure without HC knowing it seems to me HC is more to blame than DC.
Once Recent Reader
December 27th, 2011
3:14 pm
ijonathan . . .yeah I hear you. Dolphins did it the opposite way. Addressed the line with #1 pick and thought they could address QB later. Chad Henne was the pick, and the fans down here don’t have much hope there . . .but the guy still has potential. The Phin fans are disgusted as they have not got what they deem a good QB since Marino. Jay Fieldler was tough and serviceable, but he definitely had a lower ceiling.
Isiah morman
December 27th, 2011
3:14 pm
mr. blank you have seen the best that you’re going to see from this coaching staff. it is time to found out who can play or who is just drawing a paycheck. we know what the coaches can do they are over matched. time to move on i have been a falcon fan since 66 i can see you want to win so CHANGE IS IN ORDER NOOWWW pleeaassee
Really??
December 27th, 2011
3:15 pm
We gave up 2 drafts for a wideout who can’t catch, a midget running back and a PUNTER??? Stupid is as stupid does
tmc
December 27th, 2011
3:15 pm
Once Recent Reader-
excuses, excuses… as a philosophy, i know what you are saying.
In the 1st drive, i get it. In the 2nd half, i don’t. You are not catching up with field goals against the Saints (or Packers & Patriots). Not going to happen.
It was the first time in coach smith’s tenure he padded points for appearance.
THAT is not acceptable.
Backfield Judge
December 27th, 2011
3:16 pm
Yes, when the payoff is greater we usually make sure we throw special penalties on plays to the Team we signed the under the table contract to make sure they come up big with the win. You see that falcon go down from the hit and the back and we just turn our heads the other way !
ijonathan
December 27th, 2011
3:16 pm
Good point SavDawg. Both the offensive and defensive approaches reek of HC Mike Smith’s inate conservatism. Field goals instead of trying to force touchdowns. Sticking with a (to me) obviously washed up Turner. Not letting the offense go no huddle most of the time. Playing a soft zone defense. Not bringing the house when it is obvious Brees is going to pick you apart anyway, etc. Change the overall philosophy, and maybe you start changing outcomes in the big games.
Buffy
December 27th, 2011
3:16 pm
CDG-we sniffed him out. Thanks for the assist. Boy never played a down of football growing up. He was a soccer boy. Has no idea about putting on the pads and playing smash mouth football. Just pulls from that BS in language arts to throw euphemisms and rhetoric along with his handy dandy stats file. Ever “tasted” a stinger IJ……I think not.
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
3:17 pm
Hey Genius the line play was horrific..No argument there I J Rosenberg..
Backfield Judge
December 27th, 2011
3:17 pm
I am buying a new house out of my payoff cut !
Once Recent Reader
December 27th, 2011
3:18 pm
tmc . . .excuses??? I try to stay away from blaming Refs, injuries, dropped passes, . . .etc. I was just mentioning what I thought was a fact. Smith was playing the numbers game when he chose to go for FGs. I’m not saying I loved it, but I understood it and hoped the D could then hold up the Saints . ..and the O could score a few TDs in 2nd half. Both hopes were dashed.
Really??
December 27th, 2011
3:18 pm
Been 3 drafts since Ryan was selected. Plenty of time to build O&D lines. Clueless, pointless and hopeless
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
3:18 pm
My pleasure Buffy!!!!!
Go get that son of a Broad!!! LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
3:20 pm
AH a soccer boy.. How cute???????? LMFAO!
Sideline official
December 27th, 2011
3:20 pm
When the Saints lead with the helment spear we led our eyes in the other direction, no can see on that one, woops, didn’t see that one Coach Smith !