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
colonel
December 27th, 2011
11:33 am
David the tweety birds were beaten twice by the SAINTS, now you say they are not that good,should the tweeties beat the SAINTS in the playoffs will you say tweeties are great. tweeties have no excuse this time, yeah you can make excuses for the tweeties but none are valid. You lost accept it stop crying. The TIGERS beat georgia and SAINTS will beat you again.
Supes
December 27th, 2011
11:33 am
THEY RAN UP THE DAYM SCORE,
Wanted to rub it in…if the AINTS would just admit to it it’ll be alright but they are all grinning acting like a bunch of smug BASTERDS.
If the FALCONS don’t remember this…it’s worth at least one good late hit on Brees next REGULAR season game in the DOME….
told you so
December 27th, 2011
11:34 am
Last year’s 13-3 season was, unfortunately, an aberation, fueled by near flawless performances and an abnormally low number of injuries. With that said, the 48-21 shelacking by Green Bay and the 45-16 trip to the Saint’s woodshed in two big, meaningful games against elite teams is far more indicative of where this Falcons team stands. Matt Ryan is in the upper third if not the upper 25% of QB’s, but he is no better than Matt Shcaub whom we traded away and then used a #1 pick for Ryan. Sam Baker is a 1st round bust. We over rated Ray Edwards, failing to realize that he benefitted from playing amongst other greats on the Vikings D-line, and on a pay/performance scale Daunta Robinson’s contract is the worst value at CB in the league. Although Julio is great, we way over paid for him, mortgaging our future by trading away too many draft picks. We now have an elite receiver that we cannot get the ball to, because our O-line is mediocre and Ryan is a pocket passer and not the athlete that Brees is. Meanwhile Abraham and Turner are aging and slowing. Turner is a sad caricature of three yrs ago. It takes him a week to hit the rare hole that his O-line provides. Add it all up and you have to think that while Dimitrov is a better GM than McKay, he will never produce anything other than a middling team. Get used to 10-6 and out in the 1st round of the playoffs. Dimitrov does not have the acumen or savvy to trade his way out of this and the Julio Jones deal has us relagated to this level of performance for some time. In fact, given the aging Turner and Abraham it could actually get worse before it gets better. My bet is that we get embarrassed and exposed for what we are (a solid middle of the pack team) when we play the Saints in round one – they will kill us again.
Tim
December 27th, 2011
11:34 am
Falcons are 2-5 against teams with a winning record. This team cannot compete against the better teams in the league. They will get humiliated again vs. the Saints in two weeks. Major changes are needed. Time to clean house. Will be painful for a couple of years, but so is this. They have become just like the Braves. Consistenly slightly better than average.
Buffy
December 27th, 2011
11:34 am
I don’t think I have seen a ball carrier gain an extra 6 yards on every carry with a scrum of defenders hanging on for dear life since Pee Wee Lions at Chastain Park in 1973. Looked like overboard cruise passengers holdiong on to the raft for dear life. I wonder how many plays the Saints geaned an additional 5+ rushing with more than 1 Falcon hanging on the scrum. I had nightmares about it last night for Christ’s sake!
stendek
December 27th, 2011
11:34 am
I forget the particulars but head coach once benched all starters after a heartless defeat. Replacements went on to win. Why? They were PROUD to be on field. Did not look upon as right but PRIVILEGE! No Falcons except Tony Gonzalez and the FG kicker earned the right to play in regular season finale! No matter what the F- any of you say.
Jamie
December 27th, 2011
11:35 am
And as for running the score up, the Saints have always been and will always be CLASSLESS. The media dolls them up and kisses their asses and the NFL has 2 sets of rules on the field- their pretty boy Saints, Packers and Patriots and everybody else. You acn tell that by the “mystery calls” they get. They really don’t want parody. Money stirs the pot!
jonk
December 27th, 2011
11:37 am
Whatever it is this season is over, we don’t have nothing to show for, coaching staff gotta be changed, get new players.. mostly on defensive. Side.
MrJoad
December 27th, 2011
11:38 am
@David
“The bottom line is the Saints are not as good as the Falcons seem to always make them look. Pathetic performance by the Falcons. Very disappointing. You have to make the plays in the crunch and they just did not. I see an early playoff exit for the Falcons, and the Saints for that matter. Neither are really that good. What is puzzling about last night though is the Falcons really are not as bad as they played last night and the Saints are absolutely not that good.”
Did you watch the game? Falcons were destroyed. Abraham and Edwards didn’t sniff a sack. How many times did Sproles or Thomas chip those overpaid losers to help keep them off Brees? The Saints O-line is the best in the league. The QB threw 2 picks and they still won by 29 pts. Parcells said you are what your record is. The score is the score. The Saints will be in Green Bay in late January, where they will run up and down the heated tundra, to set up Brees who will torch that overrated D on their way to ring #2 while Smitty is trying to figure out where he went wrong, again.
ole falcon
December 27th, 2011
11:39 am
gota love the NFL union where a player can not perform and still draws a 1,000,000,00 check, if we did not performed in business=we get fired. IT IS TIME TO FIRE SOME PLAYERS. in an 8 and 8 season cut the pay in half. Are the Smith’s running a football business or a facility for wanna bees!!
Will
December 27th, 2011
11:39 am
Last night’s game was an undeniable barometer of what and who the Falcons are. They are a reflection of Dimitroff and Smith. The players are not tough enough; the coaches not smart enough. Compared to the Saints –as well as a bunch of other playoff bound teams– the Falcons look big, slow and dumb. I hate to say it as I think that Mike Smith is a nice guy, but unless the Falcons can surprise us all and go two deep in the playoffs, it is past time for Smith and company to go. We long suffering fans have put up with long term mediocrity. We can and should do better than Smitty and Company.
tmc
December 27th, 2011
11:40 am
-“I didn’t see that coming,” Smith said.
(Coach, you were the only one to not see it)
-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.
(Coach, this has been going on for the last 3 years. Our defense against equal or better teams has been horrible. Bad game plans and no adjustments! Why?)
- I hope it’s an aberration in terms of the way that we’ve been playing defense.
(Coach, again this has been the norm. Against inferior opponents the defense plays well. Against equal talent or better, they are DOMINATED)
I hope this talent and coaching staff are judged against equal or better talent and not against inferior opponents. This team has completely underachieved ALL YEAR against equal or superior opponents.
Why? IMO, bad coordinators, period. Way to predictable and no adjustments.
Jason
December 27th, 2011
11:41 am
At what point in time are you going to say, hmmmm our defense needs some work? Brees proved he can score at will against you guys. At what point in time are you going to say, hmmmm our offense is suppose to be solid? Why can’t you score? When do you realize that maybe Ryan should throw down the field (i realize he’s not capible of doing so). Brees and Rogers aren’t as good as they are by doing what Ryan does, dumping the ball off 1-5 yards down the field everytime. What an embarassment to even be in the playoffs!!!!!!
Matt from MN
December 27th, 2011
11:42 am
Lord, I am sick of this coaching staff same old and tired excuses to this point. Can I get a little fire and emotion? Heck, I’d even accept a Jim Mora “Playoffs???” meltdown.
WHODAT???!!!
December 27th, 2011
11:42 am
HaHaHaHaHaHa..
Falclowns continue to be the laughing stock of the league!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bojack
December 27th, 2011
11:42 am
Matt Ryan this and that..get a life..he had 33 completions last night with no blocking, no recievers (drops etc) and someone breathing down his back. No running game. Ryan can’t do it all. The damn “D” is a joke anybody can pass on Atlanta and run it seems. Turner is getting to slow.
Brees playing with Atlanta last night the results would have been the same. Brees had a great night but so did every player on there team..they won on all fronts.
Its a shame that all Atlanta teams, Braves, Falcons & Hawks all choke play-off time……..
Mr.Blank needs to fire the DC & OC…..
Buffy
December 27th, 2011
11:43 am
As a football official with 20 years on the field, I would like to pointn out one “no-call” last night that needs some further explination from the league. Not the no-call on the hit on Roddy vs the silly call on the Falcons for unnecessary roughness comparison, but the flag for holding, after which the white hat announces, “there is no foul for holding on the Saints because it was a screen pass”. WTF is that? Since when did the NFL definition of holding vary based on what type of pass play was executed? And this is an NFL white hat (referee)? On Monday Night Football? Busch, Bush, Booooosch League.
colonel
December 27th, 2011
11:43 am
Just because the tweetie birds can’t stop a peewee team ground game doesn’t mean the opponent ran up the score.. If the shoe was on the other foot would tweetie fans still be complaining about running up the score.
tmc
December 27th, 2011
11:43 am
Also, i hated to see Smitty kick field goals in the 4th qtr when they were meaningless. It was the first time i saw Coach Smith not play to win.
(spit on the ground) Coach, don’t pad points for the sake of appearance.
Play to win. That’s an “old Falcons” way of thinking/coaching.
WHODAT???!!!
December 27th, 2011
11:43 am
YOU MEAN 2 TELL ME THAT THE FALCONS NOT ONLY LOST THIS GAME, BUT WAS “EMBARASSED” “AGAIN?” ON NATIONAL TELEVISION??? REALLY THATS NOT POSSIBLE, WHAT WITH ALL THE CRAP TALKIN THESE CLOWNS WAS DOING?
carefree002
December 27th, 2011
11:44 am
I long for the days of Dan Reeves’ defense……
Jim
December 27th, 2011
11:45 am
Might be time for Blank to run another one of those full page apologizes like he has in the past. The only time this team clicks is when it plays a team with a losing record, then everyone gets all giddy. It has been apparent all year = this team is a bunch of underachievers…#1 underachiever being Roddy a/ka “Droppy” White.
carefree002
December 27th, 2011
11:47 am
turner is getting slow, but the line is not helping. it’s become obvious that we NEED a shutdown corner… the falcons have had problems with slants ever since i could remember….
mountainman
December 27th, 2011
11:47 am
This whole team is an aberration. Receivers don’t catch. Rushers don’t rush. Backs don’t run. Coaches don’t coach. Blockers don’t block. Special teams aren’t special… I don’t care… either.
ONE AND DONE
December 27th, 2011
11:48 am
This team showed no heart last night and quit on national TV. I’m so disgusted with this team and their coaching staff. I think Arthur Blank needs to have a long conversion about this team direction. Yes I agree Mike Smith has been the Atlanta Falcons most consistent head coach in franchise history, but now it’s time to take this team to the next level. I really think Mike Smith is going to have to make changes to his coaching staff. I’m so upset about the team’s reaction after the blowout last night. I hate the fact that no one on this team seem to care about how they performed last night. It’s like they could care less and that really pisses me off. They watched their arch rivals run up the score and could do nothing about it.
Jason
December 27th, 2011
11:48 am
Supes……..All you can think about after the #$$ whooping was how they ran the score up???? Good lord this coaching staff and team is abslutely horid. This team shouldn’t even be in the playoffs.
told you so
December 27th, 2011
11:48 am
I am telling you, a dead fish rots from the head, Dimitrov is the problem. Not to mention the fact the Sad Sack Arthur Blank still has McKay hanging around. The executive decisions that traded Schaub, used a #1 on Ryan, overpaid for Robinson & Edwards and mortgaged the future for a wide receiver while ignoring the lines…..it has mediocrity written all over it.
stendek
December 27th, 2011
11:49 am
NFL MEMO TO FALCONS-SAINTS GAME OFFICIALS
All members of crew followed mandate pretty closely in regard to calls going in favor of Saints without being too transparent or obvious.
One major error which cost league public perception was nonsense call on penalty in end zone as no pass was ever thrown so officially should be ruled safety. Only fans familiar with rules realize how absurd official call was.
It did not look good to flag Falcons for clean tackle then not penalize Saints for flagrant spear in back on unprotected Falcon.
Way to look theother way as Saints held on long kick return and to protect Drew Brees.
Excellent non calls on Saints interfering with Falcon receivers. Nice touch of class on calling Falcon receiver for intereference. Some extra in pay envelopes for that one.
NFL wanted record set on MNF. It was. Mission accomplished. Job well done.
NFL HEAD OF OFFICIALS
So it goes…
terrell
December 27th, 2011
11:49 am
Tebag over Ryan? Stop drinking.
Bojack
December 27th, 2011
11:50 am
Its a sad day for Falcon Fans……………enough said.
realitycheck
December 27th, 2011
11:53 am
Saints are now 7-0 at home, 7-0 against the spread, and winning by an avg. of more than 21 pts. per game. How in the world did so many on this blog really think that they were going to lose back to back home games and give the division away? Like I said yesterday and all last week, there was no chance for that to happen. The Falcons are a pretty good team, but no better than that, and no threat whatsoever to the elite teams. Matt Ryan statistically threw for a lot of yards between the 20’s, but could only produce a single TD. Once the field became condenced, Ryan struggled. The Saints aren’t 29 pts better than the Falcons, but they are head and shoulders above them, and Payton/Brees have the Falcons number whether the games have been close or not. The larger reality is that it’s possible that this Falcons team has already hit it’s ceiling. The salary cap is strapped, and there is very little draft upcoming in April. Those factors will make it nearly impossible to add the type of players that it will take to close the gap on the elite teams. The Falcons clearly have not recovered from last year’s playoff debacle vs Green Bay, and it’s far from certain that this current regime ever will.
Jason
December 27th, 2011
11:53 am
NFL OFFICIALS ARE TERRIBLE I AGREE
here is one call……..
We have no flag for holding since it was suppose to be a screen play and he was shucking the player by. ??????
what the…… holding is holding no matter what the play is…….and how the hell do you know what the play should have been. GET A LIFE NFL!!!!!
Glenu
December 27th, 2011
11:53 am
Read most of the comments but suprisingly very little concern about the one thing the Falcons need. The difference maker is the running attack or in this case the lack of one. The reason is not the coaches, QB Ryan, the receivers, the game plan, the blocking- just the lack of at least one good runner. More than one would put the Falcons deep in the playoffs but just one would make us respectable. For instance the Saints third string tailback lining up for the Falcons would have made this game close.
Tom G
December 27th, 2011
11:54 am
My take – When is the open tryouts for DL and OL positions, most games are won and lost there. Harvey Dahl(meanest, nastest OL guy we had), took no crap from anyone and caused Clabo to play the same way as he did somehow. We let him go to Rams as free-agent, Rams are terrible, go get him back and give OL back that mean, nasty fighting spirit!! Ray Edwards(free-agent) is just counting his money as he gets older, Bierman and Sidbury both can play better with more fire and hustle. Seems like every free-agent we sign just comes in counting his money and plays down to expectations. I don’t care if we have to cover with one defender on two WR’s, rush enough guys to put him(Brees) on his butt all day!! If you do not pressure the good QB’s, they will pick you apart. D must get after people and bust someone’s butt not play touch football. I’m very disappointed about last nite. As an old timer, there were some Falcon teams that would have taken last nite personally and scuffles and fights would have been all over the field. Last word – get Harvey Dahl back or his clone!!!
Getting Old
December 27th, 2011
11:54 am
What does he mean he didn’t see it coming??? It’s his JOB to see it coming!!! Nice guy, poor planner and motivator. Me thinks he’s not telling his players what they need to hear, or they’re not listening.
colonel
December 27th, 2011
11:54 am
Standek read this HA,HA,HA,HA,HA, you lost because you are a loser
terrell
December 27th, 2011
11:54 am
Everyone trippin over giving up a 1st and a 4th for Julio needs to chill. At least he can play, and has a ton of potential. The 1st rdr will hurt a little this year, but do you really trust TD to get it right with that 4th rdr? Hell, do you trust him if we had the 1st rdr? Probably just blow it on another Sam Baker.
MrJoad
December 27th, 2011
11:54 am
stendek
December 27th, 2011
11:49 am
NFL MEMO TO FALCONS-SAINTS GAME OFFICIALS
All members of crew followed mandate pretty closely in regard to calls going in favor of Saints without being too transparent or obvious.
Yeah, that’s why the falcons lost, sure…in a related story George Bush beat Al Gore fair and square.
eastside31
December 27th, 2011
11:55 am
Simple facts are we lost up front. Our D line could not pressure Drew and our O line could not protect Matt. We need bigger D linemen and a RG and LT on the O line.
trudevotedfalconfan
December 27th, 2011
11:55 am
Hang in there Birds! Take out your frustrations on Tampa and get your groove back and then go into playoffs on a high! Falcon nation we will be fine!!
Buffy
December 27th, 2011
11:56 am
Hey One and Done-I am with you! Coaches, players, trainers, managers, medical staff, custodian, receptionist…………We will go to work on Wednesday and prepare for Tampa Bay. We will look at the film and make adjustments. (Todd McClure) This is a business and we will focus on the next one. BS, BS, BS, BS, BS, effin BS!!!!!!!!
Someone needs to step up, tell it like it is, and light the proverbial fire under some as$@$!
This is football. So play footbal….and leave the business to the front office and your agents. We don’t need businessmen, we need hungry, gritty, kick some As$ football players!
jb
December 27th, 2011
11:57 am
terrell stop smoking that crap. Get real!
told you so
December 27th, 2011
11:57 am
they have beaten only two teams all season that currently have winning records (Detroit and Tennessee) – nuff said
dan
December 27th, 2011
12:00 pm
RYAN is not a quarback and the falcons need defence cor.
stendek
December 27th, 2011
12:01 pm
Only emotion I saw from Matthew Ryan was when he hugged and kissed Drew Brees after game. Joe Kapp would have slugged the SOB in mouth after what he did to his team. MR team leader? Not in THIS lifetime!
Jason
December 27th, 2011
12:02 pm
I agree dan…….RYAN is terrible. yeah he can complete 30 passes but 28 of them are 5 yards or less. Good quarterbacks can throw down field and actuall complete one. RYAN almosts kills his receivers when he throws downfield.
stendek
December 27th, 2011
12:03 pm
The Matthew Ryan experiment was another Falcon failure. Tell Chris Chandler to suit up! His heart and leadership are needed!
GameReviewer
December 27th, 2011
12:05 pm
Keys to the game:
1. Did you notice the Saints have screen passes and the Falcons refuse to use them? They went for BIG YARDS and they keep the defense from blitzing too much.
2. Saints runners were plowing ahead looking for a first down, Michael Turner looks for somewhere to fall down. They know the secret that gets him on the ground QUICK. Just barely touch his feet or lower legs and he topples harmlessly to the ground.
3. No pass rush WHATSOVER. Brees thought he was playing a practice squad.
4. No chance WHATSOEVER in any playoff game no matter WHO they face. Matty “Choke” Ice can never quite make it to the end zone in the big games.
5. Did you notice when a Saints receiver caught a pass, the nearest Falcons was 10 yards away. When a Falcon caught a pass, a Saints defender or two was draped all over him.
6. The Saints had 10 guys in the box and Matty “Mr. Audible” Ice still keeps the running play to Michael “Stumble Foot” Turner. The result… three yard loss of course.
Conclusions:
Without SIGNIFICANT improvements to the secondary and front D-line, the Falcons are going NOWHERE. All three Saints runners are better than Turner. So, lets trade or release this guy and get a runner who gives extra effort instead of going down after one slight touch.
Did anyone hear coach Smith talk after the Carolina game? I almost fell asleep. The guy has NO FIRE, NO EMOTION. I’ve seen him get fired up on the sidelines, but where is the emotion in his pep talks?
Malarkey needs to go NOW! The ESPN announcers were all talking about some new plays being used because they had the extra days off. Nope, no new plays, same old crap, can’t score in the endzone.
MrDan
December 27th, 2011
12:05 pm
No defense = no contest. Bob Berry could have set a record last night with the time Brees had to throw.
Bobby
December 27th, 2011
12:08 pm
GEAUX SAINTS GEAUX! Thank you Brees and the entire team for a really great and fantastic season. Sincerely, Tucker, GA SAINTS fans!