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
D man
July 11th, 2012
8:54 pm
I can’t wait until preseason. We have a great team and I know we will have another great year, possibly a super fantastic year. Go Falcons!!!
hiramsaint
July 11th, 2012
8:55 pm
mikey – i’m impressed . that was the longest sentence with absolutely no meaning that i’ve ever read . where the improvement ? an aging sammuels coupled with last years aging and injured edwards . how about the rest of the geriatrics ? gonzo, abe, turner , white. by the way – sorry to hear about roddy having arthritus
hiramsaint
July 11th, 2012
9:02 pm
i’ve heard the rumor and flashy sounding words like building blocks and falcon dynasty yet not one of you can cite 1 example to back up these enormous claims . wanna give it a try mikey ? can ya ? huh huh huh can ya ?
JSS
July 11th, 2012
9:02 pm
Hiram…
Saying it and being it are two different things… The case of Terri Schiavo, Ralph Reed’s, Allen Peake’s, and Tom Delay’s of the world have done more to repress personal liberty and responsibility then anything passed in the two years of the present resident 2600 PA Ave or the US Senate…
Michael M.
July 11th, 2012
9:04 pm
I thought your mommy told you to take your meds and get your bath and get to bed Hermy…..we will see if the oldtimers bunch as you seem to think the Falcons are will be half as bad as you think they will. I will keep those big paper sacks for yah if anything to throw up in after they have lost to the Falcons and you are nowhere to be found.
1998 NFC Champions
July 11th, 2012
9:08 pm
I think the Falcons quietly had a really good offseason. I’m still lukewarm on the Dirk Koetter hire, but I’m ecstatic about Mike Nolan and I’m also pleased we finally upgraded the secondary. In the past few years it seemed like our blueprint was to try and improve the pass rush which we hoped would indirectly improve the secondary. There’s logic to that strategy, but it hasn’t worked because we’ve never been able to find that second guy after Abraham who can consistently put the QB on his back. But maybe now that we can cover a little better, the effect will work in the opposite direction and we’ll be able to get a few more sacks.
I’m excited. The schedule’s tough, but this is a good team.
hiramsaint
July 11th, 2012
9:16 pm
show me building blocks mikey —-jss-point well recievd. all of our liberties have been eroding since shortly after the constitution was written but as a frog will sit in warm water and boil so will we but if you turn up the heat real fast he will jump out and take more notice as we are doing now. maybe the current potus has done more good for us than we realize because now more of us are aware of what is happening at such an accelerated rate . in the end though , with our current system , i’m inclined to pick the lesser of 2 evils and hope for the best and live my ideals and pass along what i think is right to my kids . hey mikey- i’ll bet youre appalled that i have kids . the thought that i actually reproduced makes you want to vomit doesn’t ti ? my kids all where saints gear and when they are not , it;s lsu attire for all
hiramsaint
July 11th, 2012
9:23 pm
hey 1998- the poor vikings sure have suffered at the feet of our kickers and last minute field goals haven’t they ? lol
1998 NFC Champions
July 11th, 2012
9:24 pm
Yes, yes they have, hiram.
Sean Payton Used Cars
July 11th, 2012
9:27 pm
Destroying the Saints organization is a Process.
hiramsaint
July 11th, 2012
9:29 pm
honestly , what will the order be in the nfc south at the end of the season. remember-be objective
Michael M.
July 11th, 2012
9:30 pm
An ongoing process ? Ha ! Ha !
Falcon James
July 11th, 2012
9:30 pm
Let me just say that this is exactly what you would expect any respectable head coach to say about his opponent. He is certainly not going to be like Raheem Morris and come out and declair the Falcon as the best team in the NFL. Only a obstintitous moron like a Saint fan would actual say something like that. Although everyone in the country except a lowlife Saint fan believe that the Saint will be extremely lucky to win a few game, hades will freeze over before the Saint win the division this year. Only a useless piece of flesh Saint fan believe they a shot to win more than a couple of games. The difference between Smith and ANY Saint player, coach and fan, is he have enough class to show other teams respect no matter what he really think. I am sure behind closed doors, he know, like the rest of the world, the Saint will have the number 1 draft pick in 2013.
Mike Smith Peroxide Sales
July 11th, 2012
9:30 pm
Keeping my hair like this is a process
hiramsaint
July 11th, 2012
9:35 pm
james , i’ve heard many bloggers say exactly what you sais they wouldn’t say hmmm. sorry james but smitty doesn’t have as much class as you say . i seem to remember him taking a swing at an opposing player then cowardly hiding behind the players . i’ve seen himm throw tantrums at his own call and destoy headsets. vegas has picked the saints to win the division and the falcons to not make the playoffs . would you care to cpomment in english this time ?
hiramsaint
July 11th, 2012
9:36 pm
an ongoing process? ha ha !
Falcon James
July 11th, 2012
9:41 pm
hiramsaint: I know you poorly educated like most Saint fan and players. But maybe you can understand this:
You are not worth the time it would take to make you understand what an idiot you are. Just take my word for it. You are beneath me in every way imaginable. Go back to school, get your GED, and get a job; you useless piece of human flesh.
Was that cpomment in clear English or should I write in another language?
Rick
July 11th, 2012
9:46 pm
I am here Hiram and the deal is this! If you are about million between what is offered and what he is worth considering he made this dead franchise you pay the man! Simple! You dont try to skimpon the guy who made your franchise and produced the only Super Bowl u have. Simple a class organization is the Falcons and a classless organization is of course the Aints! Get your paperbags ready! The Aints are who we thought they are! Hehehehehehe. I stole that from Dennis Green!
Michael M.
July 11th, 2012
9:47 pm
Vegas ??????? Got me laughing now .
hiramsaint
July 11th, 2012
9:47 pm
well , seeing as none of these building blocks in absentia can be produced , i will make my failclown prediction for the season . the failclowns wiil not lose a playoff game this year because they won’t be going . arty will try to hire one of the saints asst coaches to replace smitty and ryan will lose the starting job the the qb drafted in thr 3rd round of next years draft . as the old timers retire , due to injuries and boredom , the failclowns enter into a rebuilding process and are not of any concern untill long after drew brees 5 year contract runs out
hiramsaint
July 11th, 2012
9:50 pm
19.25 mil a year or 5 years is skimping? name one player who gets more than that . since when does having class mean you have to be losers ? thats all the failclowns have done when it counts . re read my above post
Michael M.
July 11th, 2012
9:51 pm
Those meds must be working
hiramsaint
July 11th, 2012
9:51 pm
james – speaking ebonics and being drunk is no way to go through life son
Rick
July 11th, 2012
9:52 pm
Tell me why he is not signed
Rick
July 11th, 2012
9:53 pm
Skimping is not paying him what he is worth! FACT! Spend to much on bounties? Heheheheheh
hiramsaint
July 11th, 2012
9:55 pm
gotta go ladies , my ga. peach is calling and she is a damn site more interesting than y’all and she’s also …well i’ll let you wonder about that part !
Rick
July 11th, 2012
9:56 pm
Lets be realistic Hiram…….if you go to work everyday make the big moves at the fry station and want to move up to burgers you expect to be paid like the best burger flipper! You understand right?
Michael M.
July 11th, 2012
10:00 pm
well when you do come back……………..the building blocks were already in place but just being mismanaged by a staff that are now long gone, thank-you very much.
Rick
July 11th, 2012
10:01 pm
To all my Falcons brotherhood that is how you shut down a AINT FAN!
Falcon James
July 11th, 2012
10:02 pm
Enter your comments here
Falcon James
July 11th, 2012
10:05 pm
hiramsaint: I aint your son, your boy, or your daddy. Show some respect for the blog you are in and maybe you will get some in return
Rick
July 11th, 2012
10:09 pm
Careful James he will put a bounty on you! Hehheheheheheh
Michael M.
July 11th, 2012
10:09 pm
A Job well done by you both Rick and Falcon James my hat is off to you !
Rick
July 11th, 2012
10:11 pm
Greatly appreciate that coming from a Falcon fan!
Michael M.
July 11th, 2012
10:14 pm
Daints players want a jury trial……………..”Order in this Court !, the judge says, ” and the bontygaters lawyers asking the judge, Your Honor, may we please approach the bench ? H*ll noooooooooooo ! says the judge……
hiramsaint
July 11th, 2012
10:18 pm
mikey–one more quick comment – i’ve been running my yap on this blog since 5 pm. it took you and how many others to shut me down and it only took 5 hours. man y’all are good . as good as your team has been about shutting down the saints for the last 6 years – ouch -that one hurt . james , my boy , your respect is as needed as a hernia so go sweep something ’till someone finds a use for ya. rick– as soon as i think failclowns fans might not be total idiots , you post and let me know i’m wrong . nite nite ladies and so long james , my boy!
Michael M.
July 11th, 2012
10:18 pm
I bet Coach Smitty has been laughing every since the downfall began! But we all know it would never be told in D-leds blog article ! ha! ha ! ha ! ha !
JSS
July 11th, 2012
10:21 pm
You three sound like Bill Oldenkirk and David Cross slapping on the back after smoking too much weed!
Michael M.
July 11th, 2012
10:22 pm
That was a quickie ha ! ha !ha !and no I never tried to do nothing for I am innocent, I did no wrongdoing just like the Aints players are tellin.
thejama
July 11th, 2012
10:23 pm
D Orlando, with all the talk about Drew Brees franchise tag deadline for this coming monday, what about BRENT GRIMES?? Has he signed the franchise tender? Are we negotiating his longterm contract? Throw us a freakin bone here buddy…thanks
Firsttimer
July 11th, 2012
10:24 pm
1998 NFC Champions – thank you and the few others who discussed the Falcons and our excitement for the upcoming season.
Rick
July 11th, 2012
10:49 pm
Best you got Hiram? Like the Aints you got your priorities messed up! Thought you had a Georgia Peach waiting on u? Clown! Thanks for proving you are like Aints management……
Sean Paytons friendly trash pick-up service
July 11th, 2012
10:57 pm
I can still call-in coach once I figure out how to sneak cell phones into the players bench
yes I can
Falcon James
July 11th, 2012
11:33 pm
I saw hiramsaint peach. Whatever it was, it looked like Vilma in a skirt. Sort of a bowling ball with leg, but not that pretty like a bowling a bowl. Sort of look like Mr. Ed had sex with Janet Reno. Had hair on her back. Face too ugly to look at straight on. Now I know why she wear that bag at the game. Need to wear the bag all the time in my opinion. When you look up Ugly in the dictionary, it say see Horses Ass, when look their, it show a picture of when she was skinny.
Falcon James
July 11th, 2012
11:39 pm
The worst part was that between Hiram and his peach; his peach is the pretty one. I think her name Alice but her friends calls her……. well they don’t call. Sort of like Hiram in a skirt. Match made in heaven. The big JC do have a sense of humor.
realitycheck
July 11th, 2012
11:43 pm
Michael M………..After your predictions last season, you should’nt come on here. All your guarantees the Falcons would do this and that and how they would sweep the Saints made you look like a total moron! Your obsession with the Saints is quite comical, but consistent with that of CMS and the AJC.
PFT: Leaf won't be extradited to Texas – Drug Rehab Treatment Guide
July 12th, 2012
12:21 am
[...] know that the NFC South has been one the most competitive divisions for a number of years,” Smith said, via D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Most certainly [...]
zbulldawg
July 12th, 2012
12:22 am
Forget about the what ifs and could bees for the Brees. These Falcons are hungry , angry & just plain tired of the BS. They have loaded their defense with Vets on the back end & the LBs are better than people think. The D line are very good. This new D cordinator will mix it up more. Making harder for QB’s to read their coverage. The offense will be much improved There’s alot more speed to work with. They can still pound & grind but also strike quick.This will help spread the defense more helping the running game & every body knows if you can run you can pass.If you can pass you can run. In the past they had to control the clock to have a chance to win. With the DBs they have now they can come after the QBs more.Now they can have 5 or 6 DBs in their coverage. Take more chances & create move turnovers Which leads to more points. As a fan forever I feel this team is more complete. GO COONS
falconsrus
July 12th, 2012
12:36 am
hiramsaint=hell is realizing a mediocre season as inbred n’awlins taint
DR. FALCON
July 12th, 2012
12:47 am
NFC SOUTH, BABY!!! IT’S THE BEST DIVISION IN THE NFL! THE FALCONS WILL WIN IT THIS YEAR! WATCH AND SEE! MATT RYAN, WILL BE TURNED LOOSE THIS YEAR! NO MORE PLODDY OFFENSE! GOOD RIDDANCE, MULARKEY!