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
DHD
December 27th, 2011
12:55 pm
It is simple. NO is better than ATL. We are in the playoffs for the second year in a row. If we play our best and have some luck, we can win a game in the playoffs, but that is who we are. We HAVE to draft defense if we expect to compete for the Super Bowl in the upcoming years.
DC Dirty Bird
December 27th, 2011
12:57 pm
CGD..
Does Ryan have to hang with Brees for the Falcons to win as a team? He didn’t last year.
As far as our playoff destination, for us to play the Dallas/NYG winner San Diego must beat Detroit in Detroit. We likely booked ourselves another trip to Benz Dome with last nights loss.
Aint's aint the one
December 27th, 2011
12:57 pm
Hey Whodat…….the Saints won, we get it, but what you are doing is exactly why us Falcons fans dont like about you Saints fans. On the field the Saints are the better team………..But, any given Sunday is all it takes. And you should know this because of what happen to your team last year in the playoffs.
Not trying to down your team, just saying you won, relax and enjoy.
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
12:58 pm
If the Falcons lose to LSU..Just head for the mountains!!!!!!!!!!!!! lmfao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
mj
December 27th, 2011
12:59 pm
Hey Smitty, I know you had some chest discomfort but now you got to deal with stomach and butt problems because after that crap last night my stomach would be in knots and coming out both ends.Tell Van Gorder to re apply to South Carolina and lets get a real Def Cord!
FalconFan
December 27th, 2011
12:59 pm
Dirty Bird, You are wrong. Detroit plays Green Bay in Green Bay Sunday while the Falcons play Tampa Bay. San Diego is playing Oakland. If Denver losses, Oakland wins they go to the playoffs. If Denver wins they are in.
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
12:59 pm
^^^^ In that case just throw in the towel…
Saints win by default in two weeks! cause the other team will quit!!!!!!!!
THERE WENT THE JUDGE
December 27th, 2011
1:00 pm
The offense…what in the heck happened to the most exciting offense in the NFL…well now…lets see: On first downs, 99.9% of the time time…hand the ball off to Mike Turner…darn, darn (damn, damn!!). The receivers (too bad they outlawed stickum)…the O-line…what O-line…they don’t exist. Why put in a 175 lb running back (to block) on an obvious passing down, expecting an obvious blitz…the result – holding call on the 175 lb back trying to stop a 240 lb linebacker…made good yardage on the play but called back. Penalties (not enough room here to comment…just sickening!). Can’t say any moore other than to say that the OC should open his eyes while looking at his play sheet…at least on first downs (hint: throw to Tony – you know, the hall of fame tight end); try a swing pass to J. Rogers or M. Turner; a bubble screen to either Roddy or one of the other wide receivers!! (you know?). I know for a fact that Tony G. is open on every play…EVERY PLAY… throw to him until he’s double-covered then do something else. Maybe the OC should looking at the playbook from the back to the front…uuuummmmmmmm!!
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
1:03 pm
I would have fired Coach Smith last freaking night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
slaw dawg
December 27th, 2011
1:03 pm
pathetic, pathetic, pathetic, pathetic, pathetic. Please Mr. Blank demand more from everyone associated with this team. By the way I am glad our players were so well rested because they got a four day break, instead of getting coached up the way a pro team is supposed to do. Looks like that break really helped our performance, think about it.
GA Boi
December 27th, 2011
1:03 pm
The Falcons has to look at their defense. The defense put forth the effort, but did not come to play. All the Saints and Brees did was showed how vulnerable the Falcons defense is. When your defense put an offense in third and long, somebody has to step up and make a play. Whether it is the pass rush or the secondary. I am wondering do the Falcons have any playmaker on defense. Do they have a game changer? The offense has not played with consistency all season. There are playmaker and game changers on offense, but Ryan has to orchestrate the offense like Brees, Roders, Braddy, and P. Manning does with their offense. If you want to be talk about in the league as an elite team, you have to play like one. Right now the Falcons has some more growing to do.
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
1:04 pm
Greyhound is ready for Blanks whole staff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
duronimo
December 27th, 2011
1:04 pm
Dr. Warren is correct. Brees on our side and we win. Ryan is a good quarterback but he’s not like Rogers and Brees. They almost always hit their receivers on the dead run. Ryan had actually been doing that a little better in recent weeks and was getting some short one taken to the house. However, last night he was causing receivers to reach for over thorwn balls leaving them open to some vicious hits.
ijonathan
December 27th, 2011
1:05 pm
hind tit
December 27th, 2011
9:40 am
Is it just me but it seems coach just didn’t look well. Anyone else notice.
======
I said the same thing on Schultz’s live blog last night. To me his face looked off somehow, maybe a bit swollen, almost like he’d recently had a facelift. And his eyes looked odd. I’m not a doctor, but I’d be a bit worried. I wonder if his undisclosed, non-heart health issue is manifesting in this way. I wonder if we could convince Smith to take a 1 or 2 or ….10 year sabbatical to recover?
FalconFan
December 27th, 2011
1:06 pm
I will say this again, Ryan with Sean Peyton, Super Bowl. Brees with Falcons, playoffs. You better get this through your heads, Sean Peyton is the reason for Brees and the Saints success. Our lame OC only understands the way the game was played 25 years ago.
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.
ijonathan
December 27th, 2011
1:06 pm
duronimo…Ryan was mostly on target last night. Every NFL quarterback has a few throws each game that aren’t exactly on target. And as I recall, on the Lofton penalty, Brees made one or two such throws as well.
Claws of the Scorpion
December 27th, 2011
1:08 pm
This answers ALL the ‘WHO IS ELITE’ questions!!
1 Drew Brees, QB 622 440 70.7 5,087
2 Tom Brady, QB 576 378 65.6 4,897
3 Aaron Rodgers, QB 502 343 68.3 4,643
4 Eli Manning, QB 556 335 60.3 4,587
5 Matthew Stafford, QB 604 385 63.7 4,518
6 Philip Rivers, QB 556 347 62.4 4,314
7 Matt Ryan, QB 557 341 61.2 4,071
8 Tony Romo, QB 485 317 65.4 3,895
9 Cam Newton, QB 492 295 60 3,893
10 Ben Roethlisberger, QB 473 301 63.6 3,856
Hoopster
December 27th, 2011
1:10 pm
It wouldn’t hurt my feelings if Jeff Triplette and his officiating crew NEVER, EVER called a Falcons game again.
FalconFan
December 27th, 2011
1:14 pm
The best call of the night. Official: There is no holding call because they were going to throw a screen pass and the lineman was shucking the defender.” WHAT? Brees ran for 9 yards. This morning on ESPN they were mentioning the officiating and the blunders to include the NON call on the spearing on Kelly, the NON Call for offsides on the defense, the Should have been safety above. Not using excuses, but they did change the complection of the game at the beginning. They should be called into the league office and be asked to explain the holding call. So now the refs anticipate what play is being run? Boy, let’s start calling every play we run a screen so we can hold.
ijonathan
December 27th, 2011
1:14 pm
Ryan’s arm is fine. Can he launch it 80 yards? No. Can he launch it 60 yards? Yes. Can he launch it accurately 60 yards, without a ton of loft, not very often. Can he throw a 25-30 yard accurate dart over the middle, yes, if he can step into it (doesn’t happen often with this O-line). His arm is good enough to win in this league, easily. He couldn’t pass for about 4,300 yards (his pace), even in this pass happy league, if his arm was in any way suspect. I also think he is pretty smart and can read things pretty well. Where I think his largest deficiency lies is in his pocket presence/escapability. In short, they aren’t very good. Late in the game last night in the red zone, the Saints brought a blitz from the right side and two defenders literally had a free shot at Ryan on that same side (I’m really not sure how that happens except by design, like a screen pass). Brees, Rodgers, Big Ben at that point would employ a martial arts move and use the defenders’ aggressiveness to advantage…make a quick move to the left or up in the pocket and have the defenders run by you…then you have another second or two to find a receiver (and additionally two of their defenders are out of the play chasing you). It seems to me that Matt’s first thought or instinct is not to use the defenders’ aggressiveness to his advantage, it is “oh shyt, here they come, I gotta get outta here…or I gotta get this ball outa here.”
Buffy
December 27th, 2011
1:17 pm
Ryan-keeper (bashers need to acknowledge his value to the equation)
Turner-keeper (don’t unbderstand the bashers, we don’t need a long threat, Turner gets extra yards typically if the hole is there. Last night our O Line didn’t open the holes as they have in other games)
Gonzales-keeper (good as gold)
O-Line: Help wanted ad
D-Line: Help wanted ad
D Backs: Help wanted ad
WRs: hand transplants for all
Coaches: Light some guys up, call them out, tell them to play football or retire on their 10 acre farm and dreamhouse next year to wonder what could have been.
Look, in the NFL any player is an exceptional talet just to be on the roster. What seperates the NFL players froom the greats and the great teams is heart, determination, fire, guts, teamwork, playcalling, and making big plays.
This team lacks lacks these things at the current time.
I suspect we will pull one out against Tampa Bay in the 4th quarter, and gat hammered in the Wild Card game.
It’s going to be a long Spring and Summer in Falcon Nation.
Mr. Blank, it might be time for you to light a fire under Mr. Smith, or consider tweeking your investment.
mark
December 27th, 2011
1:18 pm
we are on diapers man! did you saw brees operate in machine levels no defense no offense damn we have a longgg way to go to call our selves elite!
duronimo
December 27th, 2011
1:19 pm
ijonathan You are probably right. I was at a party and got to see the second half. About the time I came in the room, I saw a couple of throws that led his receivers into some vicious hits. It’s probably correct as well that if Ryan was playing in NO’s offense he might be putting up Brees like numbers.
randyt
December 27th, 2011
1:23 pm
One reason that Brees looks so much better than Ryan is that Brees has more experience. Another is that he gets protection from his line. The Falcons O and D lines are barely decent. The Saints lines are great. Switch the QB’s and the Saints still win. The margin is not as wide but they still win.
FalconFan
December 27th, 2011
1:23 pm
Next years Falcon Cuts(should be)
Baker
Peterson
DeCoud
Abraham
Robinson
Edwards
Jerry
Owens
Weems
Keep as backups
Turner
Spvek (sp?)
Just start over with 2nd stringers on the line, can’t be much worse. take the Salary cap hit and move on
JT
December 27th, 2011
1:25 pm
Said it before and I’ll say it again. Matty is an above average quarterback and that’s it. Falcons can win a super bowl with him but will never win a super bowl because of him. When the birds start scoring 30+ pts a game, maybe I’ll change my mind. Oh yeah, we’ve got good players on defense but the schemes are rudimentary. Maybe you should check Madden 2012 for some tips!
AXETRIP
December 27th, 2011
1:26 pm
If you don’t like the bleeding – Stop It!
mark
December 27th, 2011
1:27 pm
what i saw was our defense not stunting, van gorder usually stunts alot, so i,m thinking we were trying somethings on defense and not showing any hard stunts, what we saw was Brees is gonna get his points if you don’t attack, i believe looking back that maybe we should have gone the other way and sent the house after him and maybe got him a little banged up,ruffed him up a little and maybe he would be looking over his shoulder a little if there is a rematch
Laughing Out Loud
December 27th, 2011
1:29 pm
We may be “loaded offensively” in every area ecept offensiive line play. OL is outplayed by each high achieving team we have played. Defense stinks also!
Grenlaw
December 27th, 2011
1:33 pm
This is the absolute first time I have ever posted my thoughts on this blog, but I felt that it was necessary after last night and, specifically, after reading the comments of others on this thread. First thing ….. oh how I love those ‘Falcons Fans.’ All these ‘I’ve been a Falcons fan since [insert number here] …’, if you remember all of those years, you should think before you begin to talk about how bad we supposedly are now. We are 10-6 and going to the playoffs even though we are a 5th or 6th seed. Going to the playoffs for the second year (third time in four years). And now I’m reading about our disappointment on not being an ‘elite team.’ C’mon Man !!! NO is one of the few teams to come out of nowhere to grab the pot of gold. And I’m pretty sure that everyone can see why (Sean Payton and Drew Brees).
Then I hear you ridiculing our defense that allowed Brees and the Saints to rack up 307yds. passing and 4 TDs (3 INTs). You mean the same team that torched Green Bay (Super Bowl Champions) for 419 yds. and 3 TDs. The Chicago Bears and their vaulted defense for 270 and 3 TDs. The Texans and their supposedly stout defense for 370yds. and 3 TDs. The Giants for 363yds. and 4TDs. All I’m saying is that Brees is a superstar in this league and he’s going to get his points and his stats. But even though we were supposedly ‘embarrassed’ last night, we still played him at least as good as the other super powers in the NFL (322yds. and 2 TDs in our first game). Am I frustrated by our DC and the play of some of our players ??? Yes. But do I see progress in their play ??? He#@ Yes !!! I would have Abraham, Witherspoon, Lofton, Bierman, and Grimes on my defense any day. Do we need more pieces ……. Yes.
Now ….. about our offense, we have players on our team that other teams would covet. Ryan is an incredible QB and has the potential to be just as dangerous as a Brees, Brandy, or Rogers. And with weapons like Turner, White, Gonzalez, Jones, Douglas, etc., we could be a very dangerous team. Which brings me to our other problem ….. the OC. I completely understand why we’re doing what we’re doing. Controlling the clock and giving the ’super’ teams no time to run their fastbreak offenses. I hear that we haven’t beaten any good teams. For some reason memories are extremely short. NO, GB, and BAL last year using the gameplan (ball control and winning the time of possession). But we have got to learn to go toe-to-toe with these teams when we have to. On a number of occasions, we have broken out the no huddle and rolled down the field. But for some reason, we stop. That needs to change. Do I want to be like GB and NO ??? No. We don’t have the defense to play that game. And as you can see (NO vs. Seattle in the playoffs last year), there can be a time when that gameplan can blow up in your face.
So I see a very good team that continuously gets disrespected by announcers, ESPN, and especially in their own back yard by their ‘fair weather’ fans. I’m pretty sure that some other towns (Buffalo, Jacksonville, Carolina, Tampa, Indy, etc.) would LOVE to be in our position now. We FINALLY has an owner that cares more about just being an owner in the league and wants to try to build a winner. We have a GM that wants to take chances in the draft to make the team better. We’ve got a coach that demands professionalism on and off the field. Now …… do agree that we are missing something extremely important ….. a mean streak. I agree w/ reggie ……. WAY TOO SOFT.
Oh yeah …….. and If you can honestly say that last night’s game wasn’t poorly officiated, then you all are dreaming. Sparks hit the nail on the head w/ the NBA ref comment. It’s hard enough to play against the Saints without playing against the refs too.
The Falcons aren’t there, but they are a alot closer than they were in the mid 70’s, mid 80’s, ……. He@# ……. than a few years ago !!! But I’d rather be there than where the Saints were in the Aints days. And even then they showed more loyalty than the fair weather fans on this thread. Have you noticed that the hot teams in the NFL today have fans that stick with them through thick and thin (NO, GB, NE, PITT). If you’re so dissatisfied with their showing …….. NO is six hours southwest of us. GB, NE, and PITT are longer drives. Jump on their bandwagons.
Tell it like it is.
December 27th, 2011
1:39 pm
Mr blank-Please do not renew some of these players contracts! give them thier out right release,and please get a coach that has the balls to say something to a player when he doesn’t perform.
Buffy
December 27th, 2011
1:41 pm
Grenlaw-we are 9-6. Not so fast on beating the Bucs. I predict we win on a last minute field goal. Pathetic.
Then we lose handily to Detroit in the wild card game. Don’t spend too much on the game snacks.
This is a good team. This is not a top tier team.
And yes, I have been a season ticket PURCHASER and ATTENDER since 1968. So fairweather this my friend!
Buffy
December 27th, 2011
1:42 pm
Amen to Tell It Like It Is!
Mike Smith, get in some faces or get out the release forms.
Grenlaw
December 27th, 2011
1:44 pm
Then you know what pathetic really was back then. At these we are now competitive with HALF the league now. PURCHASER and ATTENDER since 1976.
DC Dirty Bird
December 27th, 2011
1:45 pm
Thanks FalconFan. To me, that’s even worse. Green Bay will pull starters with nothing to play for and basically hand Detroit a win.
Grenlaw
December 27th, 2011
1:46 pm
Oh yeah. About that 10-6. We never lose after an embarrassing MNF loss under Smith.
tmc
December 27th, 2011
1:47 pm
Michael Turners time in the ATL should be up!
He used to run hard.
He used to run threw arm tackles.
He used to hit the holes hard.
All he does now is tip-toe to the line, looking for a cutback…
when he get’s hit by an arm, he’s going to the ground.
I saw him 4 or 5 times last night, tip-toe cutback barely get hit by a DB and go down.
If you don’t run HARD and with a purpose, get out of the way.
TIME TO GO MIKE. Sorry, but you got nobody to blame but yourself.
ijonathan
December 27th, 2011
1:48 pm
Buffy
December 27th, 2011
1:41 pm
Grenlaw-we are 9-6. Not so fast on beating the Bucs. I predict we win on a last minute field goal. Pathetic.
Then we lose handily to Detroit in the wild card game. Don’t spend too much on the game snacks.
This is a good team. This is not a top tier team.
And yes, I have been a season ticket PURCHASER and ATTENDER since 1968. So fairweather this my friend!
=====
Buffy, can you please enlighten us as to how the Falcons will end up losing to Detroit in the wild card game?
DC Dirty Bird
December 27th, 2011
1:49 pm
Buffy we will play either SF, NO, NYG, or DAL in the wildcard game. I prefer SF or NYG.
ijonathan
December 27th, 2011
1:49 pm
Michael Turner making a cut is like watching a motorhome in quicksand.
Grenlaw
December 27th, 2011
1:50 pm
O.K. ……. U might have a good point about the ‘Burner.’
G
December 27th, 2011
1:51 pm
Could Bill Bellachek, Mike Tompson, Mike McCarthy or Sean Peyton staff win a championship with this Falcon roster? There, you will find you coaching answer.
Could Tom Brady, Drew Bres, Aaron Rogers or Phillip Rivers under center in Atlanta make a difference in a couple of wins that we lost? Answer that question and you will assess the value of Matt Ryan. Matt is an average QB that needs to improve. So far he’s a stat-stuffer, but needs to improve on his timing, footwork, and trust his instincts more.
Michael M.
December 27th, 2011
1:53 pm
Neither one of our “Warm n Friendly” football teams can do well in the “Outdoor” climate of the Packers Stadium unless its a balmy 75 degrees and afraid it aint happening folks so stop all the fussing and ragging we on both teams know we have two chances up there in the cold , ” Slim and None” !
mark
December 27th, 2011
1:53 pm
its the same sttment from the 6 last games we loose? c on at least add something new man! like bad words emotion something
Grenlaw
December 27th, 2011
1:55 pm
O.K. …….. Enough w/ the ‘Mike Smith needs to Go’ talk !!! Who else is out there that’s better ?!?!?
Bill Cowher (would you leave that job ?!?!?!?) ….. College Coach (Saban or Miles ???? C’Mon Man !!!!
ijonathan
December 27th, 2011
1:55 pm
G, can you explain exactly how Ryan is a “stat stuffer?” thanks.
Double Zero Eight
December 27th, 2011
1:56 pm
Payton > Smith
Brees > Ryan
Abraham = Mediocre
Edwards < Mediocre
Baker = Bust
Robinson = Clueless
It will be more of the same in the
playoffs when we play the Saints.
The Falcons are unable to beat
top tier teams.
G
December 27th, 2011
1:59 pm
Things we know:
Tuck the ball in Turner’s gut 20-25 times, with a mix of Rogers and Snelling, we win 9 of 10 games.
We need a kicker that can boot the ball out of the endzone, and better pieces on coverage.
We will never beat high octane offensive teams with this offense. We’re a running team first, to open the pass.
WR do a better job of yards after the catch when they run deeper routes.
Defenses have better success against the pass when they play “through” the whistle, not to the whistle. Even if we get flagged on the play, you MUST put the QB on his tail.
At least Tebow knows how to get it done in the endzone.
ATL Fan
December 27th, 2011
1:59 pm
The NFL needs to take a close, hard look at the officiating in this game. There may be some criminal activity behind the the calls, or lack thereof. How else do you explain the personal foul against Atlanta for hitting a defenseless player (note player saw the defender coming), and then not call the hit in the back on Peele when he was actually injured on the play?
Heck, if it’s called one way, it needs to be called the other way too. Otherwise, the likely result will be outcries of unfair officiating. This calls the integrity of the game into question.
PMC
December 27th, 2011
1:59 pm
Julio has been awesome for a rookie.
Edwards should keep his modeling job
Jerry should learn a trade