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
Rob
December 27th, 2011
12:10 pm
Some of the worst officiating I’ve seen in a while; some very blatantley blown calls many of which swung New Orleans way in the first half.
realitycheck
December 27th, 2011
12:11 pm
told you so………I agree with all your posts!
Dis A Pointed
December 27th, 2011
12:12 pm
All I can say is the Falcons got thir collective butts kicked, and it was a poor performance. I am down right now, but I’ll be cheering for the Falcons next week when they play Carolina. I will always be a FALCONS fan.
Tell it like it is.
December 27th, 2011
12:13 pm
Did you see why you don’keep little men at cornerback?grimes gave up a touchdown to Grayum,just think what nix and co for the giants would do to grimes,not to mintion those big recevers at Dallas.Lets face it,the falcons don’t have the personel to play with the better teams in the NFL,they are a middle of the pack team ,at best.
Dwayne
December 27th, 2011
12:13 pm
Good to hear from you Stendec…How is Kari Letinmin??? lol…Falcons looked horrible….not ready for the big boys are they?
Dwayne
December 27th, 2011
12:14 pm
dis a pointed…..they play tampa next week
hello
December 27th, 2011
12:15 pm
MrJoad…nothing related there ..gore was beat fair and square.
How do you think Obama got in…acorn and other cheaters
WHODAT???!!!
December 27th, 2011
12:17 pm
ALL FALCON FANS WHINNING ABOUT THE OFFICIALS….Same people last week, that they said we would be whinning about the officials….(HAD WE LOST)..LMFAO
GameReviewer
December 27th, 2011
12:17 pm
Here’s the classic qoute of the year, ” I didn’t see that coming”. Next to last game of the year and you didn’t see it coming? We saw it coming. You struggle against botton dwellars(Carolina,Vikings) and you didn’t see it coming? If this was a “chess match” as we kept hearing, you’ve been checkmated over and over by Sean Peyton and you still haven’t learned.
The fact that you “didn’t see that coming” tells us all we need to know about your coaching ability.
Decatur Falcons
December 27th, 2011
12:20 pm
The truth is that we have a quarterback in Matt Ryan that can’t throw a deep ball to save his life. Yes, the refs cheated a little, we had some crazy calls by the refs that could have results in a shoot out. The Falcons are in the New Orleans house, and you just can’t complain, you have to play the game. It look like in the 10 days the Atlanta Falcons had to prepare for the New Orleans Saint they did more shopping than studying game film of Drew Brees. Like I said in my blog before this game air on Monday night. Sean Peyton is a cruel man who will run up the score, if Mike Smith doesn’t understand that madness than something is wrong. If we don’t win against the Bucs we are have to play the Saints again, I don’t like that when you have a secondary who don’t believe in scoring when Drew Brees throws an interception. We will see, the Atlanta Falcons have two weeks to get there act together. GO FALCONS!!!!
Buffy
December 27th, 2011
12:20 pm
Standek-Chandelier? Really….dat boy got injured everytime a stiff breeze blew thru the pocket. We need Bartkowski to throw down field. We need Alfred Jackson with hands, we need Billy White Shoes, we need Ryckman, we need John Zook and Claude Humphrey…we need football players that “get after it”.
Game Reviewer-I agree with #5….product of the soft zone. Won’t work unless you rush Brees. Even when we were collapsing the pocket we just danced and let him squirt out.
Jason
December 27th, 2011
12:21 pm
Best thing about this team is the cheerleaders!!!!!!
Blank must have been a one-two year owner that wants to win, cuz i have no idea what coach is worth keeping. Mike Smith has got to be one of most overrated coaches out there. Get a life Arthur!!!!
Buffy
December 27th, 2011
12:24 pm
Dis A Pointed-check your schedule….. we have Tampa Bay next week
Tell it like it is, get hooked on Phonix, it’s Graham.
Tell it like it is.
December 27th, 2011
12:24 pm
All the excuse’s in the world won’t change things,fact is the Falcon just arn’t good enough to be in the playoffs! Look for Tampa to give the falcons a hard time sunday, and maybe upset the falcons.its hard for a team to come off the floor after such a beating,and perform like they should.
CRO-MAGNON MAN
December 27th, 2011
12:24 pm
Obviously with over 5000 yards passing and breaking Marino’s record stopping this ole boy Brees is pretty damn good…yet our stupid fans want to blame it on the defensive coordinator…our front 4 outside of Abraham is pitiful.
Aint's aint the one
December 27th, 2011
12:26 pm
Mike Smith; ‘it kinda got out of hand at the end’
No, it got out of hand before the half.
Mike Smith; ‘we didnt score touchdowns’
if you dont score touchdowns, how do you expect to compete in the playoffs? might as well not even play.
Mike Smith; ‘They had way too many long drives where they were moving the ball in chunks.’
D. Robinson plays way off the wr. he needs to bump, fight off or otherwise do what is needed to disrupt the wr, instead of letting him run his route to completion. That is somewhat a coaching problem.
Mike Smith; If you don’t get the pressure and affect Drew, he’s going to make the throws.’
Ole’ Abe is old, and it shows when playing the better teams in the nfl. Ray Edwards needs to stop pretending, and start his modeling gig early. Seriously Ray is only as good as the other side or the inside will let him be……What happen to Babs this season? And please trade or release P.Jerry.
Mike Smith ON IF THE SAINTS RAN UP THE SCORE AT THE END?
Did he offer an answer? I will. No, they didnt. They did what they were suppose to do to a rival. Beat them down so that they remember it next time.
Mike Smith; I hope it’s an aberration in terms of the way that we’ve been playing defense.
Aberration? Aberration? The Falcons are who we thought they were. A good team that plays down to the not-so-good teams, and horrid when its time to step up. Most of this falls on the coaching staff though.
Mike Smith; I didn’t see this coming. We didn’t play Atlanta Falcons football and the scoreboard indicates that.
I didnt see this coming…….that statement scares me for some reason. If a coach can see a loss coming, what does that say about his team? I feel that when we play the better teams we start off not playing “Atlanta Falcons” football. Its a fact that when we run the ball, our chances of winning is very high. And when we dont run, and try to match Brees or Rodgers throwing the ball, chances are we wont win. We got Turner, Snelling, and Rogers? Why the hell dont we run Turner more to the edges instead of up the middle all the time? Why dont we use Snelling more? he has proven himself. And why dont we use Rogers in the screen?
Mike Smith ON WHY THEY DIDN’T RUN MORE NO-HUDDLE:
I think Matt Ryan is a great manager on the field like Payton Manning, Matt just dont have the arm to match. Knowing such, why dont the staff (MM) have them using more of the screen plays, the skinny posts, the short post with Tony. Seems we only use those when we really need it like on third and short. If we are not going to adjust to Ryans abilities, we need to get another qb in here.
Mike Smith; Believe it or not, there’s going to be some positives that you’re going to be able to take out of this game.
To me there are times when you cannot walk away with any positives, UNLESS you think that game was an aberration like Smith did. Someone please point out a positive for the Falcons in that game…….
Mike Smith ON THE TEAM BEING TOO HAPPY ABOUT BEING IN THE PLAYOFFS
I dont think they were too happy, they’ve been there before. They just played to their capabilities, or better yet to the coaches capabilities.
Mike Smith FOLLOWUP ON IF THE SAINTS RAN UP THE SCORE TO GET BREES THE RECORD: It’s our job to go out there and stop them.
This is the only answer Smith offered that made any sense.
Overall I’m beginning to think at least most of our problems are with the coaching staff. The team has improved under Thomas and team, but it may be time to continue the process by improving the staff.
Jason
December 27th, 2011
12:27 pm
Tll it like it is……….i’m not sure it should actually be called an upset when bucs beat the falcons. We just played worst teams to get more wins than the bucs.
D man
December 27th, 2011
12:28 pm
Wow, I didn’t see that coming either Mike. The Defense played HORRIBLE. 3rd and long how many times??? BLITZ damn it… Rushing 3 or 4 does not work against any NFL team, especially a team with a good QB… Offense was too predictable in the red zone. If the Falcon coaches don’t know how to fix this before we play the Saints again, they should be replaced… Better try something different next time…
Reality
December 27th, 2011
12:28 pm
Reality….the Falcons have second teir players at defensive end, second teir coaching and a second teir QB. No break threat at RB. Saints are far superior in every area.
I have said it before, the Birds will never win a Super with Ryan at QB and Mullarkey and Van Gorder on the sidelines.
If they play the Saints ten times, Saints win 9.
Supes
December 27th, 2011
12:32 pm
I sure hope Brent Grimes enjoyed himself with his little “trying to be cool bro” routine after the game hugging on Drew Brees…same for Matt Ryan. When is Matt Ryan going to become a true emotional leader of this offense, get in some people’s faces (ala Phillip Rivers?). Instead we lay down and play “good sport” to the SMUG AINTS once more.
The FALCONS need a heart transplant, a new backbone, new offensive and defensive scheme approach…can’t fix that now…hopefully in the future.
enough.com
December 27th, 2011
12:34 pm
I agree with some of fans that the OC and DC is part of the problems. But I have had enough of this organization believing that Abraham is a top pass rusher, against weak teams he wreaks havoc, but verses team with winning records he disappears.He should have sold popcorn last night. Everyone pretty much said what a waste of millons of dollars that Dunta Robinson and Edwards is. Enough of slow methodical Turner, I have really had enough of him, Snelling runs so much harder than he does. I know the Oline is not perfect but big time runningbacks can make plays sometimes when the hole is not there. Please cut Turner loose and get a group of explosive backs(see the Saints,Packers,Steelers,etc)
colonel
December 27th, 2011
12:34 pm
Stendek , Kapp wasn’t there, but Brees lives in New Orleans why don’t you come and punch him in the mouth. Oh ok your mommie has to change your diaper before you get out of the playpen . I hope you are not a real falcon fan.
saintsation777
December 27th, 2011
12:34 pm
Even I am shocked. Didn’t knew ATL was this bad of a team!!! Still fear playing you people in playoffs than Detroit!!
D man
December 27th, 2011
12:36 pm
With the terrible loss last night, I still believe this team has what it takes to win the big games too. We just need to grow up and realize that we can win big games. That starts with the coaching staff. We need bold plays called both on Offense and Defense. Take a chance with new strategies. I am so disappointed in how we played last night. That is embarrassing and I hope Aurthur Blank talks to the coaching staff and blesses them out for that performance. They deserve it… It’s time for some change…
HERE COMES THE JUDGE
December 27th, 2011
12:37 pm
Well now…last Monday night game of the season…you gotta know that a bunch of folks were watching cause no f’ball on Sunday and the f’ball purists were itching for a game…and what did they get…certainly not a football game!! What they really got was a good ole behind the barn butt kicking. The defensive coordinator (if you want to call him that) should be packing his bags to catch the first thing smokin’ (out of town of course); the one stat I have been grieving over since the start of the season: The birds are dead last in the entire NFL for stoping 3rd down plays of 10 or more yards…pitiful, pitiful…AND no signs of a pass rush…makes you want to puke! The linebackers are a 100% worthless…also got to be last in the NFL or close to last for QB hurries, knockdowns and sacks. I guess you get the point…the DC has had no clue all season of the talent he has and how to use the talent to stop opponents. I’ll save my best comments for the OC for another time…like later today…too emotional right now to give my 3 cents worth concerning the OC…yea, pack your bags too!!!
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
12:37 pm
Blank shooting Blanks!
Two Words come to mind: START OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
scott
December 27th, 2011
12:38 pm
The Falcons have got to get a pass rush to compete against the elite quarterbacks. They obviously can’t get it with just the line. Did Ray Edwards play last night? Don’t recall hearing his name caleed even once. They need to have a lot of different blitz packages so that they can be well disguised. On almost all of those 3rd and longs, the Falcons rushed only three or four giving Brees time to make something happen. Leaving one more guy back in coverage didn’t do squat. Yes, Brees is elusive and accurate, but he is not tough. When he always knows exactly where the pressure is going to come from, it is too easy.
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
12:39 pm
This has got to be one of the most HORRIFIC Loss in FAL-CONS HISTORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tell it like it is.
December 27th, 2011
12:39 pm
Buffy– Sorry about the spelling,but you get the picture!
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
12:40 pm
Mr Blank, you probably haven’t figured this out yet..Your QB aint no play maker at this level…..
WHODAT???!!!
December 27th, 2011
12:40 pm
SeenThisB4…YOU ARE HILARIOUS DUDE!
YOU TRIED TO WARN THESE CLOWNS,,ESPECIALLY (MICHAEL M, MONDAYMORNING(still looking for your next nursery rhyme lol,#1FALCOFAN) HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA..THATS WHAT YALL GET MAKING THEM WACK @$$ PREDICTIONS…
So Michael M~~ You seem to love to make predictions about the Saints, why dont you tell me what were gonna do in the playoffs?????????
chris
December 27th, 2011
12:42 pm
tough night at the office but just got to beat the bucs, hope the pack can take out Detroit and then we head to Dallas or NY to get that first playoff win for smitty and matty…if we come back here in two weeks so be it…i remember the 91 falcons having to play a playoff game here against a heavily favored Saints team…and we kicked their tails out of the first round…once you get into the playoffs all bets are off…hopefully they can watch the film of this game and see where to improve. the saints are a scary team, its where the falcons need to get soon!
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
12:42 pm
MONDAY MORNING QB IS A COMPLETE MORON……
FalconFan
December 27th, 2011
12:42 pm
You know for all the Ryan bashers, he is the only shinning spot on the team right now. Believe it or not, look at the comparison of the two games Brees and Ryan went head to head this year. I was surprised.
In 2 games-Falcons vs Saints
Brees
53/82 64%
629 Yards
6 TD’s
2 INT
Ryan
63/104 61%
724 yards
3 TD’s (2 dropped in end zone that should have made it 5)
1 INT
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
12:43 pm
FALCONS WILL LOSE TO THE GIANTS OR DALLAS 48-21..
ANOTHER BLOWOUT LOSS COMING..
COACH SMITH=NORV TURNER….
FalconFan
December 27th, 2011
12:44 pm
You cannot blame Matt Ryan for this for sure. He has had a great season. He will break Jeff George’s single season passing record for the Falcons on Sunday. (4143 yards). His season:
90.7 Rating
4,071 yards
27 TD’s
12 INT.
He has had a great season although so many want to bash him. The line protecting him stinks, the running back is aged and cannot run like in the past, the defense has no rush, the DB’s can’t cover and the OC and DC need to go.
If Ryan was playing for Sean Peyton, he would probably be the MVP. Considering having an idiot for an OC consider this that Ryan is ranked for 2011:
8th in the league in rating
7th in the league in yardage
6th in the league in TDs
The Falcons have a QB and receivers that will grow (Jones), but they have a LOT of holes to fill to compete week in and week out. But QB isn’t one them.
Brees better play well Sunday or he will have the shortest lived record ever in the NFL. Brady is only 190 yards behind him.
colonel
December 27th, 2011
12:44 pm
Forget last night, when Falcons travel to N.O. for the playoffs bring your lombardi trophy LOL
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
12:46 pm
IS CHRIS CHANDLER WARMED UP AND READY?THIS GUY CAN HANG WITH DREW….
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
12:46 pm
MR BLANK, YOUR ARE THE “WEAKEST LINK”!
Lamar
December 27th, 2011
12:49 pm
Falcons Need To Play A 4 4 3.I’ll explain it in detail, if anybody wants to know.Need new offensive & defensive coordinators.Enough said.
What a Waste
December 27th, 2011
12:49 pm
It’s a darn shame the team wasted all of those draft picks to get Julio Jones. Wide receivers only touch the ball 10 times or less a game. They can’t win games, but they can sure lose them. That move was almost as stupid as when Ditka gave away the farm to draft Ricky Williams.
The Falcon defense is old and slow. They don’t have anyone that can get to the QB. Abraham is almost as old as Abraham, and just needs to retire. There isn’t a player on this defense that can make an open field tackle. They all play like they are afraid to put a hit on someone, wrap him up, and take him down.
You better hope that Dimitrov focuses on defense this draft. He also needs to get a running back and tight end. Michael Turner is old and slow, and can’t hit the open lanes anymore. Tony Gonzalez is probably going to retire in a season or two.
Good luck. If they get lucky in the draft and FA, they may be able to take the next step.
FalconFan
December 27th, 2011
12:49 pm
Let’s compare Brees in his 4th and 5th seasons as a Charger and Ryan’s 4th with the Falcons. And prior to anyone saying I am comparing them NOW, I am comparing them to the point of their careers. Brees became Brees with Peyton and the Saints, although good with San Diego. He is completing his 11th season and will be 33 January 15th. Ryan is 26. Maybe an innovative OC, (Josh Mcdaniel) could be what the Falcons needs, along with an OL and a Running back.
Brees was with the Chargers eight years ago, getting ready to be replaced by a draft pick named Phillip Rivers. Remember that?
In Brees 4th year in the league
65% completion rate 27 TD’s 7 INT 3,159 yards
Ryan’s 4th year in the league through 15 games
62% completion rate 27 TD’s 12 INT 4,069 yards
Even in Brees 5th year (Chargers) he had:
64% completion rate 24 TD 15 INT 3,576 yards. Not even close to what Ryan has in his 4th year.
DONT QUIT NOW!
December 27th, 2011
12:49 pm
Regardless of what happened last night, there are still games to be played. Aint gonna be no fergettin…..and there’ll be no quiting with this Falcon team. Wait till the final curtain call. You may get suprised. FALCONS FOR EVER…………GO BIRDS.
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
12:51 pm
The Falcons could not beat Georgia right now….
MrJoad
December 27th, 2011
12:53 pm
hello…denial ain’t just a river in Egypt. Wake up, you pathetic cracker.
WHODAT???!!!
December 27th, 2011
12:54 pm
@CGD////You are so right dude.>>MondayMorning is not coming out to play…Maybe he’s writing another nursery rhyme to put his loser FalClowns to sleep for good! LMFAO
slaw dawg
December 27th, 2011
12:54 pm
We cannot afford to give good qb’s all day to throw the ball. Our defensive line is a joke, a bad one. with the money that has been spent there you would think that we would be much better. Bad drafts bad free agent pick ups, shame on us. Our evaluation of talent is very suspect. Abraham is the only legitimate player on the defensive line, and he is undersized. I think that TD is not as good as he thinks he is. We are not an elite team and are quite a few pieces short of being one, with little or no options left in the draft due to our panicing to get Julio.
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
12:54 pm
When your hear Coach Clean Shot says ” I did not see this one coming” what does tell you Mr Blank???
Ya screwed up for third time, hiring 3 Norv Turners in a row? Hmmmmmm….
WHODAT???!!!
December 27th, 2011
12:54 pm
Falcons could not beat LSU right now!!!!
HaHaHaHa….#HoneyBadgerTime!
WHODAT???!!!
December 27th, 2011
12:55 pm
I would love to see this matchup….Falcons Vs LSU