Falcons presser: Blank was ‘angry’ with season
Falcons owner Arthur Blank let the public know that he was 'angry' with how last season turned out. Curtis Compton, ccompton@ajc.com
Falcons owner Arthur Blank admitted that he was “angry” after the team’s early exit from the playoffs in a press conference on Wednesday.
Blank, head coach Mike Smith and general manager Thomas Dimitroff spoke to the local media in the aftermath of a season that saw their Super Bowl hopes come crashing down in the wild-card round of the playoffs.
Before the presser, the team had already lost defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder to a “family decision” to return to the college ranks and around the same time, offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey was being introduced as the new head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Here are some of the other highlights from the press conference that lasted a little over an hour.
– The team stated that it wanted to support transparency, but that it would conduct its search for new coordinators in private.
– The team has 17 free agents and consider eight of them to be core players. However, all of them may not return because of financial considerations.
– Blank stated that the team is playing for “rings” and “championships.” He said, “We’re not about being in the playoffs. . . this organization is about greatness.”
– The team wants to add some tough, mean and physical players.
– Smith said that his offensive MVP was quarterback Matt Ryan. His defensive MVP was linebacker Sean Weatherspoon. He also had kind words for punter Matt Bosher and return man/coverage guy Eric Weems.
– He stated that Weatherspoon received some attention during the league-wide Pro Bowl voting.
– Running back Michael Turner’s touches will likely be cut down moving forward.
– Blank spoke about the “intellectual honesty” of Smith and Dimitroff. “They’ll be honest in their evaluations,” Blank said.
– Blank promised that the analysis of the team will be thorough. “We need to be careful that we don’t throw the baby out with the bath water,” Blank said.
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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515 comments Add your comment
Falcons Season tix holder
January 11th, 2012
3:29 pm
Matt simply doesn’t have the required winning attitude. He’s talented and will always win 9 games but simply can’t compete as a winner in post season. It’s something at the core level….you have it or you don’t. Good luck anyway Matt Ryan and the Falcons….
Brenda
January 11th, 2012
3:30 pm
Blank is only angry because when the Falcons don’t win he doesn’t get as much cash money. I’m glad the season is over. I’m tired of suburban fans coming into the city clogging up the streets and getting in our way. I wish they would do worse so they’d leave like the Thrashers…good riddance.
Great Falconi
January 11th, 2012
3:30 pm
Ryan is a damn good QB. He’s certainly the best passer I’ve ever seen in a Falcons uni. With only four seasons under his belt, he can get stronger and better. I look forward to seeing where he can take us as he enters his prime.
Charles
January 11th, 2012
3:30 pm
All this is just talk to me until I see the proof on the field. This is all fluff. Let’s see how serious they really are about building a winner. We only have 5 draft picks. Who we gonna get with 5 draft picks? I don’t know but it better count.
Brian
January 11th, 2012
3:30 pm
Wow, you guys are being way to harsh. We have an owner that is committed to winning, we have a strong head coach with integrity, and we have went 13-3 and 10-6 the past two years. Of course I felt like our teams could have achieved more but we are not far away. Given the history of our franchise, you would think we would be thrilled to be playing games that matter in December. I know I am. I appreciate the owner saying he wants more and his passion for the game. With him and Smith at the helm, Im sure we have a lot of more success to come.
JSS
January 11th, 2012
3:31 pm
And now does it finally sink in that you’re up against the Cap? You’re going to be bottom feeding searching for replacements for core pieces… Good luck with that!
this is falcons blog
January 11th, 2012
3:31 pm
changed from the B&J name D-Led…, glad you got it!
Falcons Season tix holder
January 11th, 2012
3:31 pm
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-falcons-blog/2012/01/11/falcons-presser-blank-was-angry-with-season/?cp=4#comment-137063
Tell it like it is
January 11th, 2012
3:32 pm
Auther Blank was angry,Ha,he should no how the fans feel. I have been a fan since 1966 and i an’t never been as humbled as i was seeing the complete domination of one of Atlanta pro teams.I felt sorry for the city,and the state of ga,that any team would put that kind of product on the field to be viewed by the whole country! what a sorry state of affairs.Way to represent the city of Atlanta,and the state of GA, falcons.
D
January 11th, 2012
3:33 pm
Enter your comments here
Willie Martinez
January 11th, 2012
3:34 pm
The Sooners just fired me. Anybody know of a job opening?
D. Orlando Ledbetter
January 11th, 2012
3:35 pm
Tremaine — I didn’t think about that.
this is falcons blog
January 11th, 2012
3:35 pm
Brian, also a Great Attitude, Kudos my man!
gsueagle
January 11th, 2012
3:35 pm
bulldog fans should love facing vangorder . hope auburn gets a spanking every week. vangorder has no class. he is a D BAG.
jerry
January 11th, 2012
3:35 pm
Rings, championships, and greatness. I believe Blank when he says that is what he wants. I know that is what Falcon fans want. I just hope he knows how to get there.
Charles
January 11th, 2012
3:36 pm
I say we let Turner go, trade Roddy, and get some draft picks. Both those guys are becoming cancers to the team. Turner can no longer run and falls if you touch him, Roddy is always running his mouth, dropping balls, and committing crucial penalties at critical times in the game. Needless to say, he’s a thug. Get rid of both. We can get better. Make Julio our #1 guy. He is anyway.
Stevie Wonder could have picked up 1st down
January 11th, 2012
3:36 pm
It’s hard to go from a QB that could launch a 50-yard pass to one that majors in handoffs (to Turner) and 5-yd tosses to Gonzo.
Dang, MV! We could have been on our way to Indy, man!
this is falcons blog
January 11th, 2012
3:37 pm
No 1st or 4th round pick? Wow, we are going to have to make an impact on free agency or possible trade. Hope they score big with what they’ve got in draft.
You better get this right!
January 11th, 2012
3:37 pm
Lick Skillet you are an idiot! Del Rio? Smitty’s Clone! NEXT!
Cat Daddy #1
January 11th, 2012
3:37 pm
You have to be JOKING when you name MATTY COLD your MVP on offense.Why because he played well against the weaker teams,or because other’s made him look good either way he’s not a MVP PLAYER at all.IF you can’t pick a player out of the other’s you have don’t just give it to your choice.
rob
January 11th, 2012
3:38 pm
No one….not one person has mentioned our cheeleaders….now….they are HOT!!!
Matt Ryan highly overrated
January 11th, 2012
3:38 pm
Jcard120
January 11th, 2012
3:23 pm
Since we lost Harvey Dahl our offensive has not performed to the same level it had in the past. That is where we need to make improvements. You can hate on Matt Ryan all you want, but it is not his fault.
Does facts count . you are brain dead Matt is part of the problem. Two point scored and he is the leader of the offence. Playoffs three time with some of the best players Atlanta has had on offence in years. Get real. Matt is already at his next level. Deer in the head lights Matt. They beat one team with a winning record this year Fact. you want Hope not a winner if you look at facts!!!!!
skydog
January 11th, 2012
3:38 pm
Did this article talked about “greatness” ? There is nothing great about this team. Matt Ryan can’t get the ball down field to his recievers. When he gets the ball to them they can’t catch it. Ronnie White has anger management issues. Turner, with is fat behind, is not trusted to get one yard. The offensive line is not getting the job done on protecting Ryan. The team has had three times to prove they will step up to the plate. Three times they have fail. In the short time Matt Statford has been a quarterback he has proven that is will be a quarterback to reckon with. I could not believe that they sign Tony Gonzales to 7-million when they could have use that money for something else. Please revamp this team and do it right.
this is falcons blog
January 11th, 2012
3:39 pm
jerry, keep the belief brother! Falcons will get there….need more fans like you!
this is falcons blog
January 11th, 2012
3:41 pm
I prefer glass half full and about to be filled!
JASon
January 11th, 2012
3:41 pm
The falcons are a typical Atlanta sports organization:
-coaches that aren’t smart enough to win in the postseason
-ignorance of fundamentals and accessory pieces. For example, we got rid of our best offensive lineman and our punter, but yet we have three huge receiving threats. Blank, you traded up to get another big name receiver. You idiot. There are other pieces to the puzzle.
SirReal
January 11th, 2012
3:41 pm
If you guys havent seen this yet, you should check it out. Michael Lombardi on NFL.com basically told it like it wa in regard to the franchise:
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d825e74da/article/falcons-fall-into-dome-trap-need-to-be-honest-in-evaluation?module=HP11_content_stream
mountain_jim
January 11th, 2012
3:41 pm
I watched the PC and I for one was thrilled at how Blank shut down TD’s defense of the oline’s sack stats and how Blank obviously has his eye on Smith and TD and they better come up big next year.
Platitudes about ‘the process’ and stats ain’t going to cut it with Blank anymore, and for that I am glad.
If left up to Smith and TD, this PC would have been the same BS smoke up all of our rears as every one in the past so I am glad something has changed.
As I am also glad the Dled’s favorite OC is now GONE! I wanted him gone last year so I am glad that change is a comin’ and none too soon!
I don’t know who’s seat is hotter – Smith or TD, but I am guessing TD because he has wasted so much of Blank’s FA money.
Bartles & James
January 11th, 2012
3:42 pm
And we thank you, D-Led, for remembering!
Brian Billick
January 11th, 2012
3:43 pm
Hire ME!!!! I want to coach again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
fla dawg
January 11th, 2012
3:43 pm
i can not for the life of me understand why so many of you think that Dimitroff is so sharp and is not deserving his share of the criticism. maybe you just dont understand the structure. Blank will have some input into the coordinators hiring, Dimitroff will have a little more input and Smith will make the final decision. Smith has to work with them and he has to be responsible for them and that is how it should be.
Dimitroff, the supposed Belichik clone, has put together all of this organization. He should be held accountable and for that reason i think his job should be on the line next year.
SirReal
January 11th, 2012
3:43 pm
@mountainjim I hear Blank was visibly upset. Was he? Hearing that just let me know that Blank is tired of the spin doctors. I’m glad he called it for what it truly was.
Jimmy Crack
January 11th, 2012
3:43 pm
Del Rio is looking to be the Saints’ DC after Williams leaves. Why eat grits when you can have Bouillabaisse?
Jack Del Rio
January 11th, 2012
3:44 pm
My team fell apart after coach Smith left….I’m also looking for work!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Bartles & James
January 11th, 2012
3:44 pm
Sir Real, if you look on internet long enough, you’ll find someones opinions (that’s all they are) to support your opinions (again, that’s all they are).
USMC
January 11th, 2012
3:44 pm
GET RID OF…
-SAM BAKER and any other dead weight on the Offensive Line
-Michael Turner
-At least half of the Defense
… for starters
ShoNuff
January 11th, 2012
3:45 pm
Ok
Cat Daddy #1
January 11th, 2012
3:46 pm
Auther Blank you turned your back on the best player for your QB POSITION so now you STUCK with COLD MAN so stop BLAMING other’s your QB lost that game with his SCARY FEET SELF.
curious
January 11th, 2012
3:47 pm
VanGorder & MM gone day after playoff loss. Hmmm. How long were these two coordinating their departures instead of their jobs? I think we all saw the result.
Boone's Farm
January 11th, 2012
3:47 pm
D-Led, any unknown N.O. offensive coach ready to take leap as OC?
Tremaine
January 11th, 2012
3:48 pm
D. Orlando Ledbetter
I hope so.
MD 20/20
January 11th, 2012
3:49 pm
Yes Sir USMC!
ManofWar
January 11th, 2012
3:49 pm
Hello Charles, didn’t you hear that “thugs” are the type of players Arthur wants on his team!
mike
January 11th, 2012
3:50 pm
Don’t change a thing…I like the Falcons the way they are. And by that I mean “I don’t like the Falcons”.
Just Looking
January 11th, 2012
3:50 pm
Whenever your best secondary player is 5ft8 (Grimes) and your best DL is 34 (Abe)….you will have these problems. We have absolutely NO stud on the Oline. We blew out the Jags, team feeling good about itself, then came back to reality against the Saints. We blew out the Bucs, team feeling good about itself, then came the playoff game. All this “explosive” talk before the season. Everyone pointing at the OC and DC. The GM is responsible for personnel and depth. We have NO quality depth!!! Regular season success seem to expose a double edge sword. That other edge is painful early playoff exits.
SirReal
January 11th, 2012
3:50 pm
@Bartles & James I know.LOL BUT all of those arent my opinions. I believe there are some valid points made here though. Did you get a chance to check it out? They DO need bigger guys on the line as we are outweighed in our own division by an average of 40 lbs!lol We need some power pigs to control the line of scrimmage.lol This organization DOES need to realize that we arent just a player or two away. The offense needs a whole new philosophy and most of the D needs to be blown out and retooled. Honestly, the only ones I’d keep are Spoon, Grimes, and Lofton. Resign Abe to a year if he agrees to that to hold the seat warm for a first rd DE in 2013 bc the “Great (yeah right) Thomas Dimitroff gave up this year’s for a great player (that just wasnt worth what we reached to get him because of too many other needs.)
MD 20/20
January 11th, 2012
3:51 pm
Cat daddy, Delta flies to Philly for ya. I’m sure Greyhound would be better for you though.
44counter
January 11th, 2012
3:52 pm
If football is a team sport, why are you only praising two or three players??
ManofWar
January 11th, 2012
3:52 pm
The water shortage in Georgia is officially over….”Matty Ice” has completely melted each of the last three years………I say trade up and get RG3!!!
Ex Falcon Fan
January 11th, 2012
3:53 pm
Blank taken up Matt Ryan he the one made them lose 3 playoff games. The falcon going to lose alot of season holder fans. Ryan will never beat the Saints he is a nervous quarterback and cant run the ball.