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
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682 comments Add your comment
Saints can't help it....
December 27th, 2011
5:18 pm
Think of that LSU-Bama game down there in a couple weeks…..Bamards are gonna have a bunch of Harvey Updykes against the ghetto-swamp people.
That’s gonna be an ugly toothless crowd….
monty
December 27th, 2011
5:20 pm
Flip-flop the QB’s last night and who wins? If you had to bet the farm? Ryan on Sean Peytons team with those weapons and a defense that can pass rush Breeze versus one that can’t lay a hand on Ryan? Ryan with an actual running game that has to be respected so he can playfake or Breeze with old man Turner? For me the answer is simple. So stop all the Ryan bashing please.
old man
December 27th, 2011
5:22 pm
OK, Saint fans. I’m turning off the “Saints Fan Impersonation Skit”
Is this really what you guys think is sportsmanlike and respectful? Is this how people in NO act all the time? Your conduct really is awful, but I guess you don’t care. Bow on the football, run up the score, rub it in your opponent’s face. That really is how people down there act?
Is this how you were brought up? What would your mother say? “No Hiram, not now, I’m busy with a customer?”
old man
December 27th, 2011
5:23 pm
Amen, monty.
Here's to the Saints 1st round playoff loss
December 27th, 2011
5:24 pm
paybacks are hell
Grenlaw
December 27th, 2011
5:24 pm
‘Saints once again classless’ pretty much summed up NO in a nutshell. Brees has been the heart and soul of that organization for the last couple of years, and when you take him and a few other players out of the equations (Sproles, Vilma, and maybe Ingram), you’re left with a bootleg, what-to-be version of the 70’s Raiders. But they are absolutely no Oakland Raiders. Seattle proved that last year in the playoffs !!!
WhoDat4Eva
December 27th, 2011
5:24 pm
Here you go from CBSSports.com: Grow the F… up!!
http://gregg-doyel.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/5881996/34060839
Saints and their fans are all retards
December 27th, 2011
5:27 pm
bottom line is nobody’s beating GB
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
5:28 pm
Buffy the real deal!
IJR not so much!!! LMFAO!!
Falcons4Eva
December 27th, 2011
5:35 pm
If the offensive line opened up a big hole for Mike Turner to run through, it will take Turner 3 weeks just to get to the hole and another day and a half to go through it. How Pathetic.
Grenlaw
December 27th, 2011
5:37 pm
‘Saints and their fans are all retards’ …… that’s what I thought about the Colts in 2010 ……. and the Patriots in 2008. Just like Herm Edwards says ‘You Play to Win the Game.’ I LOVE THE PLAYOFFS !!!
Mr. SaintsFan Jr.
December 27th, 2011
5:40 pm
Calling the Saints classless and the running up the score accusation I believe is coming from a wounded fan base,Did not you pitiful team come back from a 24=7 deficit against the Panthers and win the game? Should take our foot off the gas pedal because you dont like the speed? I say hell no.
If you don’t want the other team to score points then stop them!. If you don;t want passing records broken against you stop them!. The late Walter Payton broke the NFL all time rushing title against the Saints in the 80’s, if the Saints didn’t want him to broke the record on them they should have stopped him in the trenches.Now lets admit something here Falcon fans, had the score been 45-16 Falcons would you be calling yourselves classless, running up the score, or blaming the refs, I don’t think so, some of you would be rubbing in the face of any New Olreans fan you cab found on this blog.We will enjoy this win and enjoy that we did3 things last night, won the division, broke the single season passing record and spanked you all in one night on national tv, and we will make no aplogy for that.
Grenlaw
December 27th, 2011
5:48 pm
I can care less about the accusations about running up the score. This IS the NFL. It IS a defense’s responsibility to stop the opposing teams offense. And I’m actually one of the few Falcons supporters who believes our woeful defense actually did a decent job against your team (compared to other teams I have seen play them this year). And we had to play you TWICE !!! But I am going to continuously say that some of your players (particularly defensive players) are confusing aggressive play with ‘thuggish’ play and you are getting away with it every weekend. I give all of the credit to your quarterback and your coach for getting you where you are today. And I really would like to see where you would be if you didn’t have either one.
Loserville USA
December 27th, 2011
5:51 pm
HORRIBLE FACT #1: Falcons are not very good. No signature wins. 1-5 vs. teams with winning records. And Seattle and Philadelphia would clean our clocks now.
HORRIBLE FACT #2: Falcons 6-1 when Turner runs 20 times. Falcons 1-5 when Ryan throws 40 or more passes. We have a dufus for an offensive coordinator who is desperately trying to make Ryan into Manning for his personal resume. Thanks to Blank, Dimitroff and Smith for allowing this nonsense to happen.
IF YOU ARE GOING TO CHANGE THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE TEAM, DO IT IN OTAs! Not in a shortened year. Unless Falcons return to the run-first philosophy for the playoffs, it’s one and done by halftime. With this group you have to control the clock — not throw 50 times.
Grenlaw
December 27th, 2011
5:58 pm
Totally agree w/ Loserville USA
Michael M.
December 27th, 2011
6:02 pm
Somebody hand me a hanky, I am still crying out here ! ………………lmao
???
December 27th, 2011
6:14 pm
Edwards, Decoud, Bosher and Refs are on the Saints payroll I think.
Michael M.
December 27th, 2011
6:16 pm
A lot of same ole news on these posts, heck, we lost the dam game but still in playoffs, who is to say Atlanta can’t recover from this and get em next time, after all, we all know that we probably got two shots at it in New Orleans and can’t rule out beating them in the Post Season. Better to have lost this one than won this one and lost in the playoffs so consider that before you give up on your own team.
The playoff game is the one that matters the most and not this stupid seasonal game that was played last night so get over it and lets move on to the next one with Tampa Bay.
Cheryl Arbon
December 27th, 2011
6:20 pm
I’m from New Orleans! Let me say just one thing. I’m always worried when we play the Falcons. I didn’t even feel comfortable last night until late in the fourth quarter! I have a respect for Atlanta that’s healthy! Ryan’s a good quarterback and will be great one day! Difference in the game last night was the “12th man on the field” willing the Saints to victory! When we got Payton and Brees after Katrina we got lucky! The Saints (and especially “Cool Brees”) are a class act on and off the field! HANG IN THERE Falcon fans, remember just a few years ago we were the Aints with the “head baggies”! You have some great players and will see victory!!! I l love our Saints but I’m also an Atlanta fan, surprisingly!
Grenlaw
December 27th, 2011
6:22 pm
C’Mon Cheryl !!! You can’t be BOTH !!!
Michael M.
December 27th, 2011
6:27 pm
She showed some class in her self wanting a NFC South team to do something in the playoffs besides just make a few sparkles and glitter.
Michael M.
December 27th, 2011
6:32 pm
Seriously, I though Payton and the bunch were all going to bust out in sobs and tears in the Saints locker room last night and start holding on to one another…where was the cheers and excitement or the razzle dazzle at what they had done last night.
old man
December 27th, 2011
6:33 pm
What I’m getting is that the Saints fans think the bow on the ball and running up the score to get a record are both OK. I have yet to see one Saints fan say these were wrong.
So we know who we are dealing with.
old man
December 27th, 2011
6:35 pm
In addition, running up the score was stupid. What if Brees had ripped up a knee on a sack on that last drive? Stupid coaching. You would think the head coach was on drugs or something.
All kidding aside, if that had happened, Peyton would have been crucified.
short memories
December 27th, 2011
6:35 pm
Our defense was very predictable. Four in the box and the linebackers playing way back. No guesswork by NO on who to block. The Saints would put seven in the box and you had to guess which 3, 5, or 7 they were going to rush. Give Brees a predictable defense and he is licking his chops.
old man
December 27th, 2011
6:38 pm
Actually, if it had happened, all of these Saints fans would have pointed the finger at the Falcons. The game was over, why were you guys playing so hard? You didn’t need to sack him. That was a dirty play. You were just mad because we were winning. You did it on purpose because we are going to play you in the playoffs, etc., etc.
If Brees had blown out a knee, you absolutely would have heard that. 100% positive.
old man
December 27th, 2011
6:41 pm
So you put the entire team’s playoff run at risk so one player can get a record on national tv. Exactly how did the TEAM benefit from that?
Stupid, stupid, stupid.
Michael M.
December 27th, 2011
6:44 pm
That was just the old ” Rubbing our noses in the dirt ” routine. we shall have another dance with them .
old man
December 27th, 2011
6:48 pm
And who on the Falcons is going to put their TEAM’S playoff run at risk and get themselves injured when the game is clearly over? So you ran up the score on a team which had every legitimate motivation not to play 100% at that point. That really makes the record special. Plus the 325 yards and 5 tds against the Colts. That makes it special too.
Michael M.
December 27th, 2011
6:52 pm
I was in dismay they left Ryan on the field in the 4th quarter when the game was clearly out of reach and that was really stupid on our Atlanta Coaching staff.
JSS
December 27th, 2011
7:13 pm
Well I see the reality of those concussion grenades from last night have started to wear off and the usual suspects have started to try spinning the disaster! Newsflash, that was not a fluke! The bloom is off the rose… The Falcons only scare teams with no real offensive or defensive identity!
hiramsaint
December 27th, 2011
7:14 pm
and if ryan had been on the cusp of the record with 31 yds. to go , smitty would have bowed out and waited till next week? yeah right. the saints did that because it’s what they do . if your team had their feelings hurt , to bad -stop them if you can . the last td was also to make a point. the failclowns don’t deserve to be in the playoffs and everyone knows it for sure now. 0-3 with matty melt-smitty-van goiter and you gotta be full of mularkey to keep any of them around!
Michael M.
December 27th, 2011
7:20 pm
@ hiramsaint…………………It has been all about the Saints all week long up to the game anyways so what more could anyone expect but what happen last night, It was ” The Saints Show” and thats the way it is for this time anyways.
hiramsaint
December 27th, 2011
7:24 pm
all i’m saying is that i’m hearing the falcons calling it classless and running up the score. any coach and qb , including yours , would have done the same thing. did someone forget to tell the failclowns that this is not upward football ?
Edward
December 27th, 2011
7:24 pm
The Falcons embarrassed us again on nation tv.
Edward
December 27th, 2011
7:28 pm
The Falcons embarrassed us on national tv once again.
ijonathan
December 27th, 2011
7:29 pm
Edward, I think if anything the Falcons embarrased themselves, no? I’m not sure any one of my friends or colleagues who know me think any more or less of me after an NFL game.
Michael M.
December 27th, 2011
7:33 pm
@ hiramsaint…………….your Coach could have called off the Dogs hiram seeing how our Coach was stupid enough to leave Ryan in their until almost the very end. They could have got through and hurt our QB so I agree with some of them about running up the score and rubbing their noses in the dirt for they clearly were not up to task to playing with your boys in last night’s adventure.
ijonathan
December 27th, 2011
7:40 pm
I see the pro bowl rosters are out. Wait a minute, where’s Michael Turner? Isn’t it true that the Falcons have no shot at winning unless he does X or Y? Don’t you need to feed the burner carries by the dozen for the falcons to win? Isn’t he one of the top runners in the league? No?
Hmmm…
Turner. Scares. Nobody. Teams would be begging the Falcons, with this offiensive line, to hand the ball off to Turner 30 times a game.
And by the way, 3 of the 5 New Orleans Offenseive Linemen are pro bowl starters. some confirmation of what we saw last night.
The City of New Orleans
December 27th, 2011
7:40 pm
Since 2006 the Saints are 10-2 against the Failcons
Michael M.
December 27th, 2011
7:42 pm
The Days off crap is for the off season and they better be out there on the practice field tomorrow or we may see something like this again against Tampa Bay and then there would be something to complain about. The Game last night should be a learning experience about the days off bs, hopefully it is in the coaching staff’s heads.
hiramsaint
December 27th, 2011
7:43 pm
if it was pee-wee league i might agree but in the nfl against your biggest rival on national tv. you gotta go for it. our qb could have got hurt as well , he also could have slipped in the shower this morning and been out for good . if you have a chance to go for it then go for it. our coach isn’t really concerned with the medias or the falcons feelings . brady will probably top it next week as i’m guessing brees will only play a qtr.in a meaningless game .
NOLASean
December 27th, 2011
7:44 pm
The media is insulting the Falcons….we (the Saints) didn’t run up the score…whoever heard of that in the NFL? How about stopping the Saints??? That’s what happens in the NFL. And it’s no secret that on the last drive the calls from Coach Payton were helping Brees get to the record, but, come on…this is a game. It’s on national TV, the Saints knew they were going to win..how about putting the icing on the cake and breaking that NFL record….for all of those fans in the Dome? Did anybody notice that NOBODY left the game? They wanted to see that record and I think they were entitled to see it…it’s history in the NFL…and everyone on national television was given the treat of seeing it happen, as well, to noone more deserving than Drew Brees. If the tables were turned, I can truly say that if the Falcons were playing at home, their quarterback was THAT close to breaking the record, and the game was in no way in jeopardy…I’d think the Falcons coach would be an idiot to not go for that record. I’m glad Payton did…it was the right thing to do, and I’ll never forget watching it live (with my Brees jersey on, no less). WHO DAT!!
Michael M.
December 27th, 2011
7:48 pm
@ NOLASean…after reading your post it makes it seem more like this was a ” Fixed Game “. Think I am nuts ? Just go back and reread it and catch the fine print highlights out of it and think about it !
Michael M.
December 27th, 2011
7:51 pm
Amazing piece of work, there in the final moments the record is broken,mmmmmmmmm, it does sound fishy. Why did it take that long ?
Barry
December 27th, 2011
7:59 pm
This team makes the playoffs only to get completely stomped the first playoff game they play (which is what is going to happen). This team did not improve in the areas they needed to improve and management traded the future for Julio Jones…one player. One player does not a Super Bowl team make. This Falcons team needs improvement in secondary, offensive line, and defensive line. Also they need another power running back to compliment Turner. Also at the end of the season both the offensive and defensive coordinators need to be gone. The offense and defense were both MIA yesterday.
NOLASean
December 27th, 2011
8:05 pm
Michael M…it took so long because our special teams and rushing game were so efficient against the Falcons, Brees didn’t have to have a 400 yard game to win. Fixed game? Again, how could anyone insult the Falcons even more? Even I respect the Falcons more than that…to accuse them of being in a fix…unbelievable. That’s just sad….
Michael M.
December 27th, 2011
8:07 pm
With this being considered a winning season again we gonna be stuck with another year of this crap with gordy and mularky at the helms and Smith with his too nice attitude. I get sick thinking about it but it is going to happen to us again.
Michael M.
December 27th, 2011
8:10 pm
@ NOLASean…………………These days things are not as they seem……..lmao….all the crooks and gangsta’s running things for the money…..its all about , ” Show me the money Baby ” ! In the early days things was different but all the greed and corruption is spread throughout everything anymore including the charities and things of that nature……….so don’t even go there, okay.
hiramsaint
December 27th, 2011
8:15 pm
it didn’t even take 24 hrs. and now , since the failclowns didn’t win , it was fixed or a conspiracy theory. i wonder if anyone thought that last year when the failclowns went 13-3 with roddy pushing off on every throw and never getting called for it. y’all won 3 mysterious games last year that very way but i’m sure that wasn’t fixed was it?