Real Falcons ‘fans’ need to thank Coach Mularkey
110801 Flowery Branch - Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey signals to the offense while players run through the first padded practice at training camp in Flowery Branch on Monday, August 1, 2011. Curtis Compton ccompton@ajc.com
FLOWERY BRANCH – Real Falcons ‘fans’ need to step up and send thank you cards to new Jacksonville coach Mike Mularkey.
What he was able to achieve in his four years of unprecedented success in franchise history should be recognized. He doesn’t deserve having some rocks thrown at him on his way out of town.
Some of you, before disrespecting Mularkey, need to reflect and look at his unit’s accomplishments.
The Falcons had to build the offense from scratch, starting with a rookie quarterback, a rookie left tackle, a free agent running back and a new right guard.
The offense was the backbone of the teams that went 11-7, 9-7, 13-3 and 10-6 and made three trips to the playoffs. The good folks of Cleveland and Buffalo would throw parades if they could average double-digit wins.
Here’s more to reflect on about how the unit performed under Coach Mularkey:
New Jacksonville coach Mike Mularkey.
–Ryan tied Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino for most wins over his first three seasons in the NFL.
–Michael Turner rushed for more than 1,300 yards in three seasons and went to two Pro Bowls.
–Roddy White led the league in receptions with 115 in 2010 and has gone to four straight Pro Bowls.
–Tony Gonzalez continued his march to Canton, Ohio.
–Turner broke the franchise record, in just four seasons, for most rushing touchdowns with 50.
–Ryan broke the single-season passing record with 4,177 yards.
–Ryan became just the second quarterback in franchise history to pass for more than 4,000 yards in a season.
–Ryan also set a franchise mark for 300-yard passing games in a season with six.
–The offensive line even started to get recognition as right tackle Tyson Clabo went to the Pro Bowl after the 2010 season.
–The line was a finalist in 2010 for John Madden’s “Most Valuable Protector’s Award” which goes to the top unit in the league.
There’s plenty more, but you get the point.
Some Falcons “fans” have a history of blasting the play caller. They didn’t like Dan Reeves’ offense (too conservative), then Greg Knapp’s attack (lack of structure) and now Mularkey’s (too conservative) unwarranted attacks. Bobby Petrino was here long enough and there were several other distractions.
Here’s the deal on playing calling. All of the plays will work if executed properly and everybody wins their battles. There are no bad plays.
You can’t blame the coordinator when your top receiver drops 14 passes (Roddy White last year). You can’t blame the coordinator when your line can’t get a big enough push to get six inches. You can’t blame the coordinator when the line can’t give the quarterback time enough to throw deep passes. (Ryan had to launch early on those two strikes against Houston to open the game.)
Those are not bad plays calls. That’s a failure to execute. But second-guessing the play caller is the easiest thing for fans to do.
Pro coaches spend so much time getting ready that there are rarely any just absolutely bad calls. You’ll
Former Falcons offensive coordiantor Mike Mularkey and quarterback Matt Ryan opened the game against the Bears in the no-huddle attack. (CURTIS COMPTON/AJC).
never see a goal-line defense on a third-and-long. (I mentioned that to Brian VanGorder and he said, “I got five kids to feed. Why would I do that?”)
I don’t preach or rant to you all often, so thanks for let me get this off my chest.
Also, I’ve got to wish Coach Mularkey good luck right here like I did in a couple phone messages.
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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286 comments Add your comment
d-bird
January 14th, 2012
9:29 pm
D-led is a joke! Mr Blank, your doing the right thing by cleaning house. Smith only has one more year as well.
blane f.
January 14th, 2012
9:49 pm
no one can believe that jacksonville was stupid enough to take him
Eric C.
January 14th, 2012
10:25 pm
JSS, thank you for cutting out the BS and saying it, “It is stupid to call a empty backfield with an unbalanced line, when you have shown that look on tape multiple times…”
O'Brien
January 14th, 2012
10:48 pm
I hope Matt rayn is watching how Tom Brady does his QB sneaks.
What’s up Big Ray,
Who thought Alex Smith would have a playoff win before Matt Ryan.
tyger
January 14th, 2012
11:28 pm
Rather than becoming an extended arm of the Falcons PR dept., let’s not forget his playoff record of 0-3, most notably the shutout vs the Giants…that is his legacy.
JoeBrave
January 14th, 2012
11:43 pm
not another word, no not one, you who bash on Ryan, you guys can Kiss My @ss! Teblow just pi$$ed his pants on National TV, and that overrated overblown bunch of PATSIES from NOLA well how bout dem one and done Who Dats? you people are JOKES!
realfalconfan
January 15th, 2012
12:52 am
First ESPN tells us we (Atlanta) doesn’t deserve a playoff win or super bowl because of the fans, now this sweet cheeks. Man, what has Atlanta done to deserve all this hatred.
what,what,what??
January 15th, 2012
5:50 am
from a falcon fan since 1966, well put DLED. most of these clowns don’y and won’t ever get it.
NATIVE SON
January 15th, 2012
9:10 am
@DOL
There is truth in what Mularkey has done. When this offense executed, it was a challenge for any team. The problem was when they played like that and won; it looked like the team wasn’t used to winning,( over celebratory mindset) and it almost was never against a top opponent. I’d also add that play calling was a shrinking violet in the face of a big moment. That’s what real fans were upset about. For the love of pete, take some dad’gum chances. The coaching staff has to be tough minded in order for that to translate on the field. Insanity; is not making 1 yd three consecutive times, and trying it a fourth time. Can you see how Sean Payton inspires his club, and I don’t believe I’m saying this, but Todd Grantham; even? Don’t bring the troops to war, if you won’t let them take the shots.
Peace From The “MOST NATIVE”
David
January 15th, 2012
9:39 am
Get Off Your High Horse Sir, We REAL FANS can voice our opinion about play calling in the playoffs. We didn’t score any points knucklehead! You can follow him to Jacksonville too, the writing and coverage you provide is less than stellar, and your softball questions and analysis would be better suited for a bottom dweller team in the AFC South. Take that bow tie and lazy writing to the Jaguars!
RobbE33
January 15th, 2012
10:45 am
Is that just season ticket holders or can others be categorized as ‘real Falcon fans?’
Mularkey and Bratkowski have jumped into a real fine fire, haven’t they?
Doc Dawg
January 15th, 2012
10:48 am
Hey, we had 40 years of utter ineptitude under the Clampetts. Mr. Blank came in meaning well, but made some rookie owner mistakes. Its just going to take time to clean out the system. 4X winning seasons is a start. Skill players on O are there. Now it is time to go back to the basics of football and build O and D lines that can win the battle of the trenches. Please, please don’t succumb to some new philosophy that the league has changed and line play can be deemphasized. Pull the Saints-Niners tape. Watch them protect Brees. Watch them run on the Saints. That’s what we need. Hopefully the “sacred cow” remark is the acknowledgement that Sam Baker is a bust. Lets get some linemen in here.
JoeBrave
January 15th, 2012
11:18 am
Dirk freakin Koetter named Offensive Coach! Oh NO Smitty has brought his insanity to a new level! the same old sh!t offense!
drmondo
January 15th, 2012
11:28 am
DOL, where’s your story on the new OC? How come the home paper gets scooped by ESPN (and every other football blog)?
Kingbyrd
January 15th, 2012
11:46 am
I thank him for leaving.
Phalcon Phil
January 15th, 2012
1:59 pm
homers are hilarious. they think we have this juggernaut offense that mike mularkey is deviously hindering on purpose. get real morons mularkey is the best thing that could have happened to this offense. great article dled, normally i dont think you know your ass from a hole in the wall but this one was right on point. you ryanettes will get it next year when gabbert is putting up ryan type numbers.
WDE
January 15th, 2012
2:05 pm
Well isn’t this so damn typical so many of our “experts” wanted him gone..well you got your wish the OC that lead us to winning seasons more times in a row more playoff games back to back than any OC in team history is gone.Congrats ! Now what will happen is that you won’t get behind the new OC, and will now howl for the HC and AD’s heads..are you folks insane or just new to the ATL? These have been the glory days for the Falcons do we need to get better sure we do….but we may have thrown the baby out with the bathwater. Oh and whoever we get for DC won’t be good enough for the same bunch that are already crying about the new OC.
Help
January 15th, 2012
2:34 pm
Can anyone find accurate stats for team YAC? It seems ATL was near the bottom, but I can’t find out, every site is different.
Hummon
January 15th, 2012
4:20 pm
Right on, D Led. I think the time had come for a change, but the achievements must be acknowledged. Every time we ask “Why aren’t we Green Bay,” fairness ought to have us also asking, “Why aren’t we Cleveland?” Because these guys have done a pretty good job.
KQuark
January 15th, 2012
4:26 pm
Mularkey does deserve credit for designing plays and the success that entailed but he was a terrible play caller. That’s why the offense always does better with Ryan in the hurry up, even in Ryan’s rookie year.
cwltank
January 15th, 2012
4:32 pm
Smith will be the next man fired, if they do not get better offensively. And by the way MM was dirt…..
I hope TD step up and get a proven Def coordinator.
WS
January 15th, 2012
7:17 pm
Watching the Gaint -Packer game. Falcons couldn’t sack Rodgers. Boley has sacked him twice so far in game. Looks like being cheap we are letting wrong players go.
Falcon Fan 24-7
January 15th, 2012
8:24 pm
You cannot get blood out of a turnip.
Falcon Fan 24-7
January 15th, 2012
8:29 pm
A Georgia man allegedly shot at two football fans in a restaurant parking lot — critically injuring one — because he took offense to their cheering for the San Francisco 49ers as they faced off against the New Orleans Saints.
DRAMA KINGS
49ers 36, Saints 32
Donald Ray Ayro, 31, was being held without bond Sunday after the incident, according to a police press release.
Corey Adams, 30, told WSB-TV that he and friend Chris Middleton, also 30, were confronted by Ayro inside an Applebee’s restaurant in Duluth, Ga., as they celebrated a 49ers touchdown in the playoff game.
“The only thing me and my buddy said was, we were excited that the 49ers scored,” Adams said. “It was only one touchdown.”
According to Adams, the Saints fan then left but told the men he would return.
About 90 minutes later, Ayro allegedly fired gunshots at Adams and Middleton in the restaurant’s parking lot.
“I took off running and he started shooting at me and shot like four or five times and he grazed the back of my head,” Adams told WSB.
Middleton was shot in the chest. He was taken to nearby Gwinnett Medical Center in critical condition.
Police found Ayro through Adams’ description of him and his vehicle. He was arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated assault, possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, police said.
The 49ers beat the Saints 36-32 Saturday.
DR. FALCON
January 15th, 2012
11:22 pm
ARE YOU KIDDING ME D-LED? THANK MULARKEY? YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO COME STRONGER THAN THAT!! YOUR FAN BASE IS MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE THAN YOU GIVE US CREDIT FOR! ALL THOSE REGULAR SEASON STATS ARE NICE BUT UNDER THE PRIMTIME GLARE, WE FAILED MISERABLY! WHETHER IT’S THE MONDAY NITE GAME LATE IN THE YEAR AGAINS THE SAINTS, OR THE PLAYOFF LOSS TO THE GIANTS, OUR OFFENSE STUNK! ALSO, WHO CAN FORGET THAT PLAYOFF MASACRE TO THE PACKERS AT HOME! 2PTS, IN A PLAYOFF GAME? GOOD RIDDANCE!
mrzizzle
January 16th, 2012
5:09 am
In reply to this story …”Yawn” This team needs to learn how to play in the post season. The fact that the games are over by the start of the 4th quarter against the Giants and Green Bay. I’m not thanking Mularkey, Smith, Thomas or Big Bird! I’ve been a fan of this team since Bartkowski in 1980 and winning seasons are not enough anymore. Now I am figuring this team WILL get it done in the next 4 years (Super Bowl) but the time is now to show up in the Post Season!
Billy Mack
January 16th, 2012
9:23 am
All those records really prove was how pathetic the franchise has historically been, that they could set all these records in such a short period of time. And you’ll excuse me if I’d rather be lumped in with the perennial winners in the league as opposed to bottom feeding Cleveland and Buffalo!
I give credit for bringing “some wins” to a franchise that has long been a bottom feeder itself. However fans are long starved for winning mentality and don’t expect that to go away til we reach
the mountain top!
Big Dude
January 16th, 2012
10:04 am
On a scale of 1-10, MM was a 7 which means he can only take his offense no higher than a 6. Which means he is mediocre at best.
Kelly
January 16th, 2012
10:07 am
I’m a real Falcons fan and I don’t have to thank anyone, save for myself and the dollars that I contribute to their organization and paychecks. Thank me! Falcons fans: Don’t buy into this false deliniation about what a “real” fan is or isn’t. Bottom line is, if you pull for the Falcons, buy tickets, support them, then you don’t owe them anymore than that. What Ledbetter? Should I sign my soul to them? Give me a break. How about thanking me for supporting a team in a city to which I was born for supporting perennial losers no matter what? And buying tickets. Thank me. Screw that *&^% about thanking them. If it weren’t for the fan base (real, unreal, contrived or any other descriptor you choose to modify with), the Falcons wouldn’t exist.
Grow up!
Duke
January 16th, 2012
10:09 am
You can blame a coordinator when you O-line stinks and he runs it up the middle 12 out of 14 time in a game. You can also blame him when HD and Quiz never really touch the field. How many time during the off season did we hear about how explosive HD will be yet how many plays involved HD as the primary receiver? At what time did we run screens to Quiz??? He stunk. When a guy sitting on the couch can see the problem then why can’t he? He was great against GB in the first half this year. Then the creativity stopped and we lost the game. Yeah we should thiank him….for what? By the way Gonzo could stop playing and get tot he Hall. Your reaching.
Kelly
January 16th, 2012
10:14 am
This was a horribly conceived article.
Dukester
January 16th, 2012
12:01 pm
Very good article you hit the nail on the head. This line has done a great job protecting Matt Ryan. Have any of you been watching the playoffs? Look at what the elite QBs do when they are under pressure. They become athletic and make plays. Stop making excuses the 14 drop balls Roddy dropped I bet he caught 14 that he wasnt suppose too. Quit crying. Poor Mike Smith is about to lose his job with this noodle arm fraud at QB!
C from Marietta
January 16th, 2012
1:05 pm
Is it just me or do I see a complete lack of respect for our fellow humans on this blog? You might not agree with his article,but name calling and temper tantrums are the work of 10 year olds. The anger and hatred over a football game? Please grow people.
Chubbyboy
January 16th, 2012
2:00 pm
Great article DOL…I do believe Murlarkey should be given Kudos for his development of Matt Ryan…He is a perfect fit for any team starting and developing a young quarterback..However; for a young starting QB that has been in league 3 or more years (such as Ryan) his playbook is too conservative and more aggresive and unpredictable playcalling is needed…My brother, who is a Denver Fan, watched the Giants game with me and his comment was, “Is this what you have been watching offensively ALL YEAR??? He said he would rather paint dry than the Falcons offense…Now; this is coming from a guy who has had Tim Tebow as his quarterback but at least their play calling against the Steelers was unpredictable.
Murlarkey was a good fit for this young revamped Falcon’s team 4 years ago but some fresher play calling is needed to energize this offense while the weapons are still young and able to make plays.
If Koetter fails to bring an imaginative offense next year and the Falcons don’t make the playoffs or are a “One and Done Again” then Smith and the player make all the money will be held more accountable….A HOUSE CLEANING WILL BE ON THE HORIZON IF THE NEW OC AND DC FAIL NEXT YEAR (WIN A PLAYOFF GAME)…
ChampDavis
January 17th, 2012
2:31 pm
The Falcons made a good hire in ushering in ‘WELCOME BACK KOTTER”. It is useless though because this off-season will sting even more because two of the most prolific offenses (and last two superbowl champions–saints and packers) got eliminated this weekend. That means ANYONE who made the playoffs could have won the superbowl. I thought either the saints or packers were going to win this years superbowl and now both teams are gone. That proves that if the Lions had upset the saints, maybe they would have took the lombardy trophy, or had the falcons gotten by the giants, then maybe the falcons would have played in the nfc title game. The parity in the nfl this year is the best ive ever seen it. Any team remaining in the last four can win the superbowl.
christophorm
January 17th, 2012
11:03 pm
If you think the Falcon Defense is good you are cRAZz_E..only abraham is good.