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
Dirty Bird Nation
December 27th, 2011
9:08 am
Atlanta sport’s TEAM. Let’s see, the BRAVES have Bobby Lite and with a 10 1/2 game lead on the wild card, Bobby Lite loses and don’t make the playoffs. How about those Divison Flags hanging @ The Ted! Put World Champion FLAGs There(We have ONE) but 14 Divison Pennants hanging is a JOKE. Then the Falcons, who get BLOWN AWAY in supposedly “BIG GAMES” and get beat BADLY. Again on National TV with everyone watching in a National audience, looks like a grade school team. This isn’t the first time Coach Smith coached TEAM has been tared and feather. BVG & MM are clueless and will only be coaching in Atlanta as Co-Ordinators. MM will never get a HEAD COACHING JOB in The NFL……………NEVER. Then the NBA TEAM here run by The Stoogies doen’t deserves mentioning here. This City Only Has One Championship caliber TEAM in this city and IT IS THE DREAM, but no one CARES. Mr Blank demand Smitty get rid of both MM & BVG before next season and hire guys who have had winning defenses and offenses resumes. Buy the way THE OFFENSIVE LINE and Defense, need PLAYERS NOT SCRUBS!
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
9:10 am
THE FAL-CONS= 1-13 last 14 MNF GAMES!!!
Cant make this ish up…Get Brown Bags out for the big games cause they punk out.
Bench the starters and play the reserves. Cant play worse than this group of failures…..
Ted
December 27th, 2011
9:11 am
You didn’t honestly think that the Falcants would beat the Saints, did you? HA HA HA! The Falcants were outplayed and outcoached. They’ve shown repeatedly that they can’t compete against good teams. It serves all the Falcants fans right who were bragging so loudly and saying some terrible things about New Orleans that have nothing to do with football.
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
9:12 am
Its a pattern Coach Smith not fluke like you spin it..You are in over your head dude…Plain and simple..
Q&A: Coach Mike Smith sifts through the rumble « agumykysec
December 27th, 2011
9:12 am
[...] Source: http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-falcons-blog/2011/12/27/qa-coach-mike-smith-sifts-through-the-rumble/?c... [...]
Cal
December 27th, 2011
9:13 am
Why is it so hard to be a falcon fan, its to damn stressful at times. I just don’t understand why Thomas Dimitroff and Mr. Blank don’t hit the reset button and ask for help. 4 winning seasons, great but there is only a few teams in this league without a championship….Hello we’re one of them……i’m out, that performance last night has ruined my day.
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
9:13 am
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
9:15 am
Dirty Birds????????????
How bout ROASTED Birds……..
Jarrell
December 27th, 2011
9:16 am
how bout tweety birds
Samuel
December 27th, 2011
9:18 am
Next year Smith better go shopping, We need some horses on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Also you have to have some ball hawks on the back side of that defensive, save Grimes everybody should be exspendable. At some point you have to evaluate your coaching staff and make changes, sometimes continuity is not the answer.
FORTY-SIX YEAR A FALCON FAN
December 27th, 2011
9:21 am
A comment to Dr Warren. We could take the entire Saint team and trade the falcons to Sean Payton and Greg Williams. The outcome would have been the same, Saints would have beat Falcons bad.
When will people realize, this is not a personnel problem, but a coaching problem. Falcons coaches are not in the same league as Payton and Williams. Mr Blanks I know is a smart person. He has to see that falcons are still playing 1980 style football not twenty- first century football.Green Bay, Saints,New England and elite teams falcons has no chance. It is not the players. TD has done a good job of getting players. Now he needs to get some coaches. I would start first by trying to hire Saints assistance offense coach , or Green Bay OC.
If we falcons are satisfied playing .500-.600 pct football we stay as is. If our goal is to play and maybe win a superbowl, coach chance is a must. BVG had no answer for Brees and company, or did MM have a clue for Greg Williams. As Ryan would chance play Vilma would chance Saints defense, we were out coached by better coaches.
I will give one player a good job. Chris Owens. He has ran down Harvey and Sproles. I will say dude, you can run. I never would believe they could be caught.
SRF
December 27th, 2011
9:21 am
no, no – Mike Smith = Mike Singletary – nice guy but just cannot get it done.
Any Harbaugh brothers left – dude came in and took the same 49er players that had been clowned under Singletary and now they play some serious ball.
Anybody see a pattern ??? Can anyone save Alex Ryan ?
flatsdawg1
December 27th, 2011
9:23 am
The best football players on our team are Matt Ryan, Tony Gonzalez, Julio Jones, Michael Turner Jaquizz Rodgers and Roddy White on our offense. Our defense is good enough against the rest, but these guys from New Orleans are the best. The best for NO are Drew Brees, Marques Colston, Devery henderson, Darren Sproles, Jimmy Graham, and all their running backs. They have 4 running backs that really open up their offense even more which makes it almost impossible to stop with Brees at the helm. This is a Super Bowl team. If you don’t have a defensive line that can get a push you have zero chance against these guys. Love it this time of year when you know we have an extra game but unless Van Gorder can get them to play much better, we are probably done.
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
9:24 am
Bye Coach, good job! Next!
Jarrell
December 27th, 2011
9:24 am
Does anyone think Matty may be a problem? Can I say that?
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
9:26 am
Melt is not a play maker plain and simple…Give him a clip board!
phil
December 27th, 2011
9:26 am
Rumble?
Our writers are as dumb as the players and coaches…
Good grief.
Jarrell
December 27th, 2011
9:26 am
well said cgd. my point exactly
TampaGator
December 27th, 2011
9:27 am
The Saints rumbled all over Falcons defense. It caused a rubble.
Was that Katrina roaring through the Falcons last night…..or just a “breeze”…….
SRF
December 27th, 2011
9:29 am
Jarrell – seems you are one of the many Ryan haters – but his stats were good. How can he be blamed for no special teams, dropped passes, no defense and no o-line blocking ??
phil
December 27th, 2011
9:29 am
What?
December 27th, 2011
3:40 am
Didn’t play Falcon football??
Been a fan for 35 years. Unfortunately Coach Smith, the one thing we can safely say after that debacle is your team played Falcon football, perfectly.
*******
exactly.
Matty-Iceman
December 27th, 2011
9:29 am
I love my Falcons, but there was no way we were going to win last night. Any time the Saints have a big event and its on Monday night we lose, (remember 2006 SuperDome reopening. The ‘72 Dolphins would have lost that game). Notice he didn’t get the record until the end of the game and the head ref came to congratulate him after the play. I think the refs blew a lot of calls, no way Brees has that much time without OL holding. I dont’ think the Saints or the Packers are as good as there record shows.
FalconsinPA
December 27th, 2011
9:30 am
I don’t how many Falcon fans remember how sorry we were year end and year out not that long ago? You would think reading the comments that we have been playing every year in the Super Bowl? It is and always be about giving yourself a chance- we are in the playoffs- any thing and I mean any thing is possible- yes our OC stinks- Yes our DC stinks (every game they lose) I don’t care who our QB is- when a WR drops the ball it is a drop- last I looked Falcons are leading the NFL in drops- that is on our WR’s. DB’s had a chance for a fwe picks last night and dropped the ball as well. I wish the D would play man to man if your going to get beat anyway what are you losing out on? Look how KC beat GB they pressed the corners and brought the heat on Rodgers- Falcons had seom success when rushing the QB but then they stop and get picked apart playing a WEAK zone. But guys I will take these teams over the past 5 years- because the Falcons are now winning on a regular basis- no more winning season- losing season. Just so folks are aware packages are put in for plays that are called the OC or DC coord can’t help if the opposing team changes what they are doing once they have a package already in for a play.
Big Cheezie
December 27th, 2011
9:31 am
Everyone is blaming the coaches, its not them. Start looking at your receivers (most drops in the NFL). You played against New Orleans, in a hostile environment which many teams have come in and flopped. Your defense stopped New Orleans several times in the 2nd half. Take away a couple of penalties and some drops, and you would have been more competitive.
The Falcons are a running team that should use the pass sparingly. Matt Ryan is good, but doesn’t throw the deep ball well. Use the run to setup the pass. Anytime you stop ATL from running, you make Matt Ryan beat you, but only if his receivers catch the ball.
jimb
December 27th, 2011
9:32 am
Falcons didn’t try anything on defense, they played straight no blitz or cross rush very basic. Looked like they wanted to finish healthy. Smitty is to smart to stand on the sidelines not red faced or mad. They had a plan how to play the game safely. Saints are very good at home and don’t match well with the Lions.
jay404
December 27th, 2011
9:32 am
Mike Smith is a P*SS. i cant believe he is this calm with the game that he coached and his team just played. i am so embarrased to be a falcons fan today. i know right now is not a good time for the falcons to think about blowing the team up and rebuilding but the thought should be in the back of their minds. i have been a since i was 12 and this has been happening every season. #disgustedfan
FalconsinPA
December 27th, 2011
9:34 am
I also want to add making no excues but the officals in the NFL are a joke- even Chucky said last night don’t know how you can call Peterson on a Personal Foul and not the Saints on that one hit- I saw several NO CALLS last night that happen to go against the Falcons- go back and watch that return by Sproles- block in the back not called- and yes there were more holds not called when you see Jerseys being pulled out that is a hold- and one more call I saw not made- go back and watch the TD pass that beat Grimes- even though the guy has a Foot on him he pushed off before he turned to come back to the ball. I’m done whinning now-
Penalties
December 27th, 2011
9:36 am
our o-line is pathetic. ryan is hopping and scrambling around trying to make something happen, but our oline is like a sieve unless they are holding someone. improve the o-line and this team improves 100%. look at brees, rodgers, and brady. generally, they have plenty of time to make their progressions and deliver a ball on balance. ryan does not have that luxury
hind tit
December 27th, 2011
9:40 am
Is it just me but it seems coach just didn’t look well. Anyone else notice.
Sid
December 27th, 2011
9:40 am
What? December 27th, 2011 3:40 am
Didn’t play Falcon football??
Been a fan for 35 years. Unfortunately Coach Smith, the one thing we can safely say after that debacle is your team played Falcon football, perfectly.
************************************************************************
That’s pretty good…………..
It would have been nice to have a shot at the South title next Sunday but alas here we are again,
IN THE PLAYOFFS…………..!!!
Tojo
December 27th, 2011
9:42 am
Rubble, you half-wit. Can’t understand why a guy who has puncuation lapses, tense errors, misspellings etc. keeps a job as a JOURNALIST.
SeenThisB4, your take on the game (I knew you could do it) I am in agreement on. Falcons are the most schizophrenic team I have ever seen. If they end up going to the meadowlands in round 1, the oddsmakers will have a blast handicapping that one. Giants are a freaking rollercoaster as well.
Falcons can’t block worth a flip, and can’t pass rush. Those 2 facts = death in the NFL playoffs, no matter how many skill players you have, how many big plays you can fall into, how many wins you managed to pile up in the regular season. Throw in some penalties like last night and you will be beaten by even mediocre teams.
When a team is this up and down, I believe it’s execution more than coaching. the players are to blame, and it starts not with the QB or the high price flop free agents but mostly with the O-line and the D-front. Games are won and lost in the trenches. And, our secondary does not have the talent to play zone OR man. Toasted both ways.
Probably one and done. If the Falcons are out, please God let it be ANYBODY BUT THE SAINTS. I did not think they were “running up the score”, but I thought it was classless for Brees and his teammates to be posing for group photos WHILE THE GAME WAS STILL GOING ON. That was rubbing it in, and Mike Smith should have had a word with smarmy Sean Payton about it.
Said this game didn’t matter earlier in the week, but maybe it did. Falcons will now be officially “under the radar”.
Julio needs to catch balls that hit him in his hands
December 27th, 2011
9:43 am
Guess they don’t teach that at Alabama!
jay404
December 27th, 2011
9:44 am
is this the same team they said was a contender for the superbowl. Sid i have also been a fan for years and its something about this loss that sent a sharp pain down my spine.
NFL Game Review: Falcons @ Saints | FanFeedr News
December 27th, 2011
9:44 am
[...] Falcons Hot Take | Q&A: Coach Mike Smith sifts through the rumble [...]
Keith
December 27th, 2011
9:44 am
Last night’s game is eerily similar to the last game vs Green Bay. No matter what we did, we could not stop their offense. So the solution? Go out and draft defense. Oh wait, we traded most of our picks for a talented WR that fumbled away our chances of making the score respectable.
Pretty frustrating game, but NO is definitely as good if not better than GB right now.
Anyway, let’s hope we get lucky and don’t have to play them again in the playoffs Round 1. GO FALCONS!
Keith
December 27th, 2011
9:47 am
Definitely not Smitty’s fault. This is greatest stretch of Falcons football regarding winning, playoff appearances, etc., in their history.
Doesn’t accout for Defense dropping relatively easy INTs that would have changed the momentum of the game. Doesn’t account for Julio’s fumble. Doesn’t account for blown coverage and missed sacks.
terrell
December 27th, 2011
9:47 am
Things we need asap.
OC. DC. DE’s. CB. Nickel CB. LT. RG.
The Walrus
December 27th, 2011
9:50 am
I posted this on Jeff’s Facebook page last night: when your defense consistently struggles in 3rd and long situations like the Falcons have all year, that is a by-product of poor coaching and poor scheming. Brian Van Gorter needs to go.
Pool guy
December 27th, 2011
9:50 am
You cannot win defensive football giving up 3rd and 10 + consitantly. I do not see either of these coordinators doing a good job with the talent they have around them.Already looking forward to post season changes. We cannot compete with good teams with the schemes we are playing. One word Mr Blank, Outcoached!
Once Recent Reader
December 27th, 2011
9:54 am
Seen This B4 . . . wow, do I sense you are taking the high road? Good 4 you. The game result did enough speaking for itself. I too agree with you on Mike Smith. Folks can say he is no Sean Peyton . . .. well I’m not sure Sean Peyton would be Sean Peyton without Drew Brees. They make a great team and Brees is no doubt in a level all to his own with Brady and Rogers. The Falcons can be frustrating, but I believe they just still need a few more players. I like Ryan as most know, so unless we got Manning, Brady, Rogers, Brees . . ..maybe Big Ben, I’d stick with him. The O line, D line, and secondary is where I think they could improve. Great game by Saints, and particularly Drew Brees. Yes, one player can make a huge difference when that player is a GREAT QB.
Lemon B
December 27th, 2011
9:59 am
nice to have a classy coach. outside of the upcoming 1 and done, it is about all we have.
monty
December 27th, 2011
9:59 am
Falcons are a good team. Just not an elite team. It’s nice to be in the playoffs considering so many bad years but the difference in Falcons and Saints in personell and coaching is night and day at this time. Whether it’s O-Line or our backs or both, what a difference in the run game last night. THeir backs hit the holes and were off to the races with cuts and amazing power. Turner has got to be the easiest big back to tackle without having a full head of steam. MAtt is a very good QB, but no HOF QB like Breeze. Our defense is pretty good against the run , but gets exposed against a great passer and good passing scheme. 3rd and 11, 3rd and 12? No matter to the Saints last night. Dunta Robinson is the worst overpaid corner EVER!! IMO.
henry
December 27th, 2011
10:00 am
It is apparent the NOS is a better team rhan our AF. Enough said!
Peter
December 27th, 2011
10:00 am
How about the GM, who gave away all for Julio Jones, and watched as the D and Ray Edwards did zero ?
8 for 8 on 3rd downs was a joke !
Twooten
December 27th, 2011
10:01 am
Whats the point? Falcons make playoffs, yeah, but might win one playoff game, two max.
Whats the point? Yet another useless Falcon season…… sigh.
Let me post!!!!
December 27th, 2011
10:01 am
The Falcons Are Too Soft and some people love to keep making excuses for the organization. As a life long Falcons fan, I’m SICK and TIRED of getting embarrassed by teams worst then us only to pass this organization and become elite teams and organizations. Draft and sign players that can play, not because their really good guys.
SRF
December 27th, 2011
10:01 am
Bet every nickel that you own on the Foulcons first round opponent – you will start the new year rich.
Peter
December 27th, 2011
10:04 am
Out coached all year long in the 2nd half of games, and now all game !
Blazerfan
December 27th, 2011
10:07 am
Matt Ryan is not the franchise QB that a lot of people apparently think he is. He is only slightly above average and will always be that way. The Falcons need to go for a more multi-dimensional QB.
(Robert Griffin III). The Falcons have reached their plateau with Ryan and should not expect to go much further. He is a good guy, but not one of the best QB’s.
monty
December 27th, 2011
10:08 am
What’s the point? I’d much rather be 10-6 than 6-10. It’s the difference in watching them on Sundays or watching reruns of Law and Order. In both cases you know how it ends, but one is not quite so painful to view.