Atlanta Falcons: Smith checks in on Saints’ bumpy offseason
061312 FLOWERY BRANCH: Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith circles his troops for some "coach speak" at the conclusion of team practice in Flowery Branch on Wednesday, June 13, 2012. Mini-camp for the team will begin next week. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM
Falcons coach Mike Smith doesn’t believe that his squad is the automatic favorite to win the NFC South just because the New Orleans Saints, the defending division champs, have been embroiled in a bounty-filled offseason marked by suspensions, lawsuits and contract disputes.
“I don’t necessarily believe that,” said Smith, when asked on the American Century Championship conference call today. “I know that the NFC South has been one the most competitive divisions for a number of years. Most certainly before I got to the Falcons, there was the worst-to-first story for three or four years. It’s very competitive.”
The Saints have been hit hard by bounty-gate suspensions and have not worked out a long-term deal with quarterback Drew Brees.
“In the division, we have three outstanding quarterbacks that have proven themselves and then there is the young one in Josh Freeman that is going to be a great quarterback as well,” Smith said. “It’s a fun division and I don’t think the offseason is any different. We all will prepare and get ready to go play.”
Smith knows that quarterback Matt Ryan, who has a 43-19 regular-season record, but is 0-3 in the playoffs, will face pressure to return the Falcons to the playoffs and post a victory. Ryan has guided the Falcons to the playoffs in three of his four seasons in the league, but has been eliminated by the eventual NFC Super Bowl representative each time.
“I think the head coach and the quarterback position are the most scrutinized positions in an organization,” Smith said. “I think ultimately we are both going to be judged on success in the postseason. There have been a lot of teams and a lot of players that have broken through and gotten that first win. That’s why we are doing everything in our power to figure out how to get that done.
“That comes with the territory when you don’t have the success that people expect. The expectations are very high in Atlanta, so there are going to be people talking about it. We just have to keep our heads down, keep preparing and doing the things that we’ve done. We know that we’re doing it the right way. We just have to figure out how to play better at the end of the season.”
Smith also addressed the addition of safety Chris Hope, who was signed after the completion of minicamp.
“Chris is a very experienced safety, who’s going to give us depth,” Smith said. “That was one of the areas in the offseason that we felt like we needed to address. Chris has some experience with our defensive backs coach Tim Lewis, which I think is a positive.”
Smith is expecting the offense to get a boost from second-year players Julio Jones and Jacquizz Rodgers.
“Last year was a very unique year for the players, the coaches, the fans and the personnel department,” Smith said. “It was very difficult when there were so many unknowns for Julio Jones, Jacquizz Rodgers and our entire rookie class. You’ll see great steps in terms of their production simply because they’ve had an opportunity to understand not only what we do as the Atlanta Falcons, but what the NFL game is all about.
“They were at a big disadvantage in my opinion last year in terms of coming in on the 25th of July and not really having an opportunity to spend time with the coaching staff and understand the actual sequencing of what a work week should be like. Julio had a very good year for us last year and so did Jacquizz. I think they’ll be integral parts of the success we have this year.”
The Falcons open training camp on July 26. They open the regular season on the road at Kansas City on Sept. 9.
“I’ve been very impressed with their team,” Smith said of the Chiefs. “Romeo Crennel did a great job when he stepped in there as the interim coach. Romeo is an outstanding football coach and an even better person. Scott Pioli has done a very good job in building the roster there in Kansas City. They were a team that had an exorbitant amount of injuries last year. It will be a battle. . .I anticipate that they are going to be a much better team than they were last year, if they can keep all of the guys healthy. ”
Ryan has played in the popular tournament in Lake Tahoe, which will be held July 20-22 and televised on NBC, over the past three offseasons and told Smith about it.
“I’ve been hitting a lot of balls and hopefully, I will not finish last,” Smith said. “That’s the goal that I’m going to approach this with, have a good time and raise some money for charity.”
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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179 comments Add your comment
hiramsaint
July 11th, 2012
6:50 pm
well that might just happen if we had the failclowns week and pourous o line but fortunately we have a solid o line so maybe matty melts knee ought to be your concern after last seasons showing –26 was it ?
hiramsaint
July 11th, 2012
6:50 pm
bress ?????? really ????? c’mon man !
hiramsaint
July 11th, 2012
6:52 pm
bucky-how many usernames do you have ?
5150 UOAD
July 11th, 2012
6:53 pm
iRAMtaint…and what Plays did you call for Your Offense to score all those points?
Why do you live in Georgia if your team is in NoLa?
hiramsaint
July 11th, 2012
7:01 pm
5150-fortunately for my team , i don’t call the plays. the depth of our coaching staff prevents it. i live in ga for one simple reason. i’ve found a way to make a very lucrative living here which is not to be had in la. due to the napoleonic law code that governs the state. not trying to be offensive but those terms might not make sense to you . la. goes by a system of law based on the french law code of days gone by and ga. does not and thats where my talents lay .
JSS
July 11th, 2012
7:01 pm
POAD… Did you ask Bobby Dodd why he didn’t return his TN Hall of Fame induction or degree?
hiramsaint
July 11th, 2012
7:04 pm
that was really well put jss. kudos to you !
Big Time Saints Fan
July 11th, 2012
7:10 pm
Alex Smith to Vernon Davis (Harper gets pancaked again to boot) and we all cry like babies.
hiramsaint
July 11th, 2012
7:15 pm
matt ryan to julio for the td against the gian….wait… that never happened. in fact, it wasn’t even close to ever happening
Bucky Badger
July 11th, 2012
7:15 pm
I only use one username…Thanks Hiram. I don’t spend all my time on this blog. Looks like I sparked “True Falcon Fans” to Lash out at you! Go to your own Blogs & by the way… I think I hear your momma calling you for Dinner!
JSS
July 11th, 2012
7:16 pm
Hiram, you know how you hate us liberals, but being provincial has no place in AJC blogging… Like what you like, still ain’t going to change much…
hiramsaint
July 11th, 2012
7:19 pm
oh i can sense the want of a team who could score in a playoff game or not have it’s fans bail out at halftime of a home playoff game . i can sense the want of the failclowns wishing they had the talent of a certain other nfcs team . when you wish upon a star , you’ll find matty melt can’t take you that far … lol lol lol
5150 UOAD
July 11th, 2012
7:21 pm
JSS….Why would DODD do that? What a stupid question.
hiramsaint
July 11th, 2012
7:23 pm
jss i’m missing your point and i detect more intelligence in you than what i give liberals credit for. it was merely a compliment and nothing more on a snappy comeback. are you a liberal because your sensative ? thats a real question by the way and not a dig at you
5150 UOAD
July 11th, 2012
7:24 pm
iRAMtaint…..why do you say OUR team when you don’t work/play for, own or even live in NoLa then? They are not Your Team at all. Now if you were a Green Bay resident/stock holder you could say OUR/MY team.
hiramsaint
July 11th, 2012
7:25 pm
it’s over your head 5150. it has to do about the question you asked about why i live here.
hiramsaint
July 11th, 2012
7:29 pm
and you don’t claim the falcons as your team . it’s merely an expression and not a term of possession if you need it spelled out. also , all whodats are part of the team as stated by the team some years ago . it’s a bond i wouldn’t figure you could understand as a falcons fan anyway
hiramsaint
July 11th, 2012
7:31 pm
5150- obviously your spelling of my username is over my head. do the caps have any signifigance ?
5150 UOAD
July 11th, 2012
7:35 pm
I cheer for the Falcons but no they are not my team. I don’t have a Pro team.
hiramsaint
July 11th, 2012
7:40 pm
so sad for you . it’s really awesome being part of a winning team
5150 UOAD
July 11th, 2012
7:46 pm
Falcons 298–402–6
Saints 299-395-5
So what WINNING team do you cheer for exactly?
Bucky Badger
July 11th, 2012
7:46 pm
5150 is Right! Green Bay is the Only Team owned by stockholders. I grew up going to Lambeau Field watching the Packers…Am not a Stockholder or resident anymore…So I cheer for my Home Team…The “Falcons!…Go Dirty Birds & Kick some Aints *ss!
Bucky Badger
July 11th, 2012
7:50 pm
Falcons 298–402–6
Saints 299-395-5
So what WINNING team do you cheer for exactly?
Uhhmmnn… The Packers & Falcons…Two of the Classiest Teams in the NFL!
…As opposed to the Aints!
hiramsaint
July 11th, 2012
7:53 pm
so i cheer for MY hometeam ??? see 5150 , bucky or whatever name you use at a given moment , it’s an expression and not a term of possession except in the saints situation where we are all part of the team- — the 1 with more wins less losses and less ties and it would be the saints…exactly. the aps sure has screwed up your ability to use deductive reasoning hasn’t it ? are you one of the students the teachers cheated for. you should say yes then you’ll at least have an excuse !
Bucky Badger
July 11th, 2012
7:54 pm
Oh by the way…The Packers reported record Income last year of 42.7 Million!
Bucky Badger
July 11th, 2012
7:55 pm
Hiram, Why all the Hate?
hiramsaint
July 11th, 2012
7:57 pm
bucky – thats an insult to the packers to lump them in with a team who’s fans bailed at halftime against the packers at the failclowns own stadium. in case you didn’t know- the packers have multiple rings and the failclowns have…well , you know the story there
Bucky Badger
July 11th, 2012
7:59 pm
This Season: Falcons win the Division, The Aints Just miss a Playoff Spot & begin to unravel to the point of Cleaning House & “Re-Building”. Face the Truth!
hiramsaint
July 11th, 2012
8:01 pm
no hate bucky , just mindless banterings with a division rivals fans.
hiramsaint
July 11th, 2012
8:03 pm
what evidence do you have to back up those statements or is it more like wishful thinking on a distraught fan
Bucky Badger
July 11th, 2012
8:04 pm
The Falcons have the Building Blocks in place to evolve in to a “Dynasty” Team of their own…in the same respect to what the Packers have done. Oh by the way, when I went to Packer games, we almost always lost. Dan Devine, Len Dickey on & on. But we were tried & true “Green & Gold”! GO FALCONS!!!
hiramsaint
July 11th, 2012
8:04 pm
lets get back to the MY hometeam thing- is it or is it not ?
hiramsaint
July 11th, 2012
8:08 pm
ok back to that- maybe you can understand that i’m tried and true black and gold. now moving on . what building blocks – abe, gonzo edwards sammuels – all on the last legs of their carrers and an average qbnot to mention turner who should be classified with said oldtimers. i’m not seeing any blocks just holes to be filled with julio eating up your draft !
Bucky Badger
July 11th, 2012
8:08 pm
Yes, but the only difference is, I’m on my Teams Blog. I’ve NEVER been on a Aints Blog…& I always use my own username…Anything other would not be right!
5150 UOAD
July 11th, 2012
8:09 pm
your HOME is in Hiram not NoLa anymore.
hiramsaint
July 11th, 2012
8:12 pm
seems to me the failclowns will be cleaning house and are doing so with a new oc dc and a soon to named new hc after this season. by 2015 ryan will be a backup ,probably with an afc team . roddy is getting near done also. arthritus is setting in and he can’t catch anymore . still not seeing any blocks yet . funny thats what ryan said after every game last year and that wasn’t addressed either this off season.
Michael M.
July 11th, 2012
8:13 pm
No need to even argue or fuss with the blow mouth tainter trolls for thats all their team will be this year a sputtering engine running on a lack of gas and hoping a tainter troll will f**t their way ! Falcons will wipe their hands clean of the Taints and trolls get your bags ready and also just pack up your bags and look somewhere else to vent your half you know what fustrations !
All you boneheads do is just have one smart remark after another about anything here in our State and hiram I call herman the aint, if you don’t like it here pack up your stuff and get onboard the bus and blow it going down the highway to where you really belong , yah bum ! !
hiramsaint
July 11th, 2012
8:16 pm
there you go with MY team again. whats the decision-your team or not . see where i’m going with this ? surely you can understand it now. my HOUSE is in hiram but my home is in the state of louisiana and the city of new orleans and the suburb of metairie
hiramsaint
July 11th, 2012
8:19 pm
why mikey who said i didn’t like it . thats a bit presumptuous on your part. if you’ll read the post , you’ll see we were talking football so get back on your knees girl and pipe down
hiramsaint
July 11th, 2012
8:22 pm
hey everyone – mikeys here. just entertain him a bit and mommy will be calling him in for his diaper change soon and we can get back to our dicussion on the building blocks the failclowns have put in place to become a dynasty
Rick
July 11th, 2012
8:22 pm
Drew Brees is……still unsigned and being treated like a third string QB! What you got to say about an unhappy QB who has proved to be the best if not one of the best in the NFL HIRAM? You dont have to say it but this is going to be a BIG problem for your Aints! Heheheheheh! The pleasure of seeing you turn and twist and not addressing the real issue with your AINTS is so satisfying!
Rick
July 11th, 2012
8:24 pm
They waiting for you to come back so you can troll the Aints blog there Hiram
JSS
July 11th, 2012
8:28 pm
I’m liberal because it is more than the stereotype and it brought my forefathers and ancestors from being slaves and itinerant farmers to being college professors, a civic leader, and able to see most of the world without fear of repression…
Now back to football, I said it (POAD) because that man (Hiram Saint) has a right to dislike and express his dislike of the Falcons… I used Dodd as an analogy on provincial blogging. Coach Dodd had a place in his heart for UT long after he left the sidelines on the Flats… No matter how deep his Tech roots were (and still are in the grave), he’s still that boy from Kingsport…
hiramsaint
July 11th, 2012
8:31 pm
the saints offered brees 19. 25 mil – hardly 3rd string pay. his agent wants 20.5 per year and i’ll go out on a limb and say they settle inbetween there near 20 mil by the end of the week and at that poiny , smitty and your new dc start sweating profusely.
hiramsaint
July 11th, 2012
8:37 pm
jss- that sounds like non stereotypical conservatism to me. the right for a man to make his own way without gov. interference or fear of repression. our current liberal potus and senate has the exact opposite in store for you and his record thus far at implementing it has been exemplary. i concur -back to football and these seemingly invisible building blocks of the failclown dynasty i’m hearing rumors of !
PFT: Kraft addresses video with woman in bikini
July 11th, 2012
8:40 pm
[...] know that a NFC South has been one a many rival groups for a series of years,” Smith said, around D. Orlando Ledbetter of a Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Most positively [...]
hiramsaint
July 11th, 2012
8:44 pm
rick ???? are you there ???? are you googling more facts on brees ???? well it seems i’ve overwhelmed bucky/poad/mikey with my knowledge of their team or as they put it ” the team they root for”. i’ll check back ina few to enlighten you further
Michael M.
July 11th, 2012
8:47 pm
Falcons are hardly sweating about the Bountygate Fiasco all they are doing is improving to give your boys a good swift kick in rear end of their pants. All you have to go on is in the past and from the past as it always is. The difference between a team that cheats and looks for ways to win games unfairly is like Sunlight to the Moonlight but one thing for sure is that we have no worries as to the Falcons being in a mess as you find the Saints that give you your ticket to fame Hermy.
SeenThisB4
July 11th, 2012
8:49 pm
New Orleans has officially started the Drew Brees Watch party with the start of the 2012 ESPYs.
Michael M.
July 11th, 2012
8:50 pm
Good idea , check back real late in the Season when you are sitting at 7-9 and struggling to break even.