Falcons 23, Dolphins 6: Seven-game exhibition season losing streak snapped
Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons throws the ball prior to the preseason game against the Miami Dolphins on August 24, 2012 at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)
MIAMI — The Falcons’ dress rehearsal for the 2012 regular season was not a rousing success.
Facing a team with a struggling defense and a rookie quarterback not named Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III, the Falcons stalled on offense and didn’t dominate on defense as they posted a 23-6 victory Friday night at Sun Life Stadium.
COACH MIKE SMITH’S OPENING STATEMENT: “I was really pleased with some of the things that we did tonight. The effort was good in all three phrases. I felt that we improved defensively, especially on third down. That was one of the things that we didn’t do very well in the last ball game. Offensively, I felt that we left some points out there. Not necessarily in the red zone all the time. Sometimes it was pre-red zone; just before you get into the red zone. I thought our special teams units played well. We had an opportunity to return a kickoff. I was very impressed with what Jacquizz Rodgers did. There are lot of things that we have to get fixed between now and next week as we go through the finish of the preseason. The toughest things is getting the roster in place over the next 14 days we’ll be doing that. Going to 75 and then to 53.“
Faced with a similar situation Thursday night, the Baltimore Ravens destroyed Jacksonville 48-17 in their regular-season tune-up. The Falcons did manage to stop their seven-game exhibition season losing streak and helped coach Mike Smith improve his record to 4-1 in the important third exhibition-season games.
While Matt Ryan was sharp, the offense couldn’t convert their drives into touchdowns. The unit settled for three first-half field goals and some of the same problems from 2011 surfaced.
Ryan completed 18 of 26 passes for 220 yards and one touchdown. For the exhibition season, he’s completed 45 of 60 passes (75 percent) for 549 yards, three touchdowns, an interception and has a quarterback rating of 111.
On the team’s first offensive drive, the Falcons elected to go for a fourth-and-2 from Miami’s 33, but running back Jacquizz Rodgers was dropped for a 2-yard loss.
Last season, Smith had a high-profile fourth-down call backfired against New Orleans in overtime. Also, the Giants stopped the Falcons twice on short-yardage situations in the wild-card playoff loss.
Smith plans to continue to go for it fourth down, but doesn’t appear to have a line that can get enough push in those situations. Also, the Falcons appear to miss the lead-blocking of former Pro Bowl fullback Ovie Mughelli.
They tried to run behind Cox and right tackle Tyson Clabo, but Miami defensive end Cameron Wake broke through and tackled Rodgers in the backfield.
The team saved $3 million by releasing Mughelli in May, but it doesn’t appear that he has been adequately replaced unless Lousaka Polite is a better lead blocker than Cox. After being released, Mughelli signed with the St. Louis Rams as a free agent.
The team is taking a close look at the offensive line. Rookie right guard Peter Konz was inserted for Garrett Reynolds and played two series with the first unit.
Also, rookie left tackle Lamar Holmes entered the game when the second-team took over in the third quarter.
Konz and Holmes were the Falcons’ top two draft picks in 2012, but they don’t appear ready to contribute immediately. Holmes’ play was particularly important because backup left tackle Will Svitek, who started 11 games in 2011, was lost for the season with an upper right arm injury.
The Falcons’ rushing attack continued to struggle.
Running back Michael Turner, who’s accounted for at least 1,450 yards in three of the past four seasons, was held to 14 yards on eight careers in the two previous exhibition games.
The Falcons tried to unleash Turner against the Dolphins, but he finished with 35 yards on 10 carries for a paltry 3.5 average per carry. Rodgers had four carries for 4 yards.
The Falcons elected to keep most of the same personnel from last season and ordered up a major retooling by hiring new coordinators in Dirk Koetter (offense) and Mike Nolan (defense).
The reconfigured offensive staff, with Pat Hill as the new line coach for Paul Boudreau, came up with a mock game plan as they treated the third exhibition game as a warmup for the season opener at Kansas City on Sept. 9.
On the second drive, Matt Bryant kicked a 45-yard field goal to put the Falcons up 3-0.
Miami, with rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill at the controls, answered with drive to the Falcons’ 4. Dan Carpenter kicked a 22-yard field goal to make the score 3-3.
Bryant added field goals for 44 and 51 yards to give the Falcons a 9-3 halftime lead.
The Falcons finally reached the end zone when Ryan connected with Roddy White for a 20-yard touchdown with 6:40 to play in the third quarter to give the Falcons a 16-3 lead.
On Miami’s next series, Carpenter added a 52-yard field goal to make the score 16-6.
Backup quarterback Dominique Davis continued to impress. He tossed a 39-yard touchdown pass to Tim Toone with 8:36 left in the fourth quarter.
Defensively, the Falcons revealed how they plan to play their cornerbacks.
Brent Grimes started on the left side and Dunta Robinson on the right side. When they went to their nickel package, Asante Samuel went to the left side and Grimes moved over to the right. Robinson went down inside to play in the slot.
The Falcons, who improved to 1-2, close out the exhibition season at Jacksonville on Thursday.
THE LATEST NEWS
5 things to look for from the starters vs. the Dolphins
Should the Falcons trade with Jax/London Jags for MJD?
Falcons third-round pick Lamar Holmes set to make his debut vs. Dolphins
Coordinators hand out their exhibition mid-term reports; backups need to step it up
Running back Michael Turner still a weapon
Falcons thin at left tackle after Will Svitek goes down; out for season
Falcons finally get fiesty in practice; a couple of fights breakout
Akeem Dent returns to practice; will play against Miami
OTHER NEWS
Dominique Davis in hunt for No. 2 quarterback position
GAME STORY: Bengals 24, Falcons 19
SIDEBAR: Matt Ryan won’t call himself an elte QB after completed 18 of 21
Asante Samuel admits to relaxing on A.J. Green’s touchdown catch
A.J. Green and Julio Jones shine in exhibition game
VIDEO: Matt Ryan, Lousaka Polite featured after loss to Bengals
VIDEO: Post game presser with head coach Mike Smith
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68 comments Add your comment
True Falcon Fan
August 25th, 2012
11:28 am
ZERO, as I read these posts you haven’t lost any charm in your communication skills. Also you definitely failed 101 in communications! Hey, I thought you stated you were going to Disney world to sign checks and take a few days off??? Maybe you’ve done that with all those fast drugs you’re on…….. My guess maybe Nah is your only only for this blog…
Dled,,,, You are right-on about JPW he’s gone by next week. Davis hopefully moves to #2 — I like this kid and he & Matt will make a very good 1,2!!!!
Go Falcons!!
Decon
August 25th, 2012
11:36 am
@Who me? Dude we surrendered only 6 points last night. Defense looked pretty great to me. If you can hold an offense to 6 points in a game, you should be 100% of the time.
Decon
August 25th, 2012
11:37 am
*Win 100% of the time
Michael M.
August 25th, 2012
11:54 am
Looks like they still playing some Smittyball to me………..need to turn this team loose and let them play high octane football Coach Smith………let the OC and the DC run the team and you just stand there and gloat………………………………………………………………….
Michael M.
August 25th, 2012
11:55 am
but a win is a win and its more points than the Taints will score against the Texans ha !………………..
Chris Redman
August 25th, 2012
12:02 pm
Davis is the #2 QB
Who do you want in the game if Ryan cant play? Redman, who took 7 plays to score from the 3yd line against a pathetic TB team and then proceeded to lose 3 games in a row…with at least 10 passes knocked down at the line?
Or take a chance on putting Davis in the game….
I know what I get with Redman in the game….
1998 NFC Champions
August 25th, 2012
12:34 pm
Dang, DOL, what’s with the negative lede? The Falcons won a road game by 17 points, but if you didn’t know better you would have thought we lost by double digits.
Whadda Ya Know?
August 25th, 2012
12:34 pm
The game was very lackluster last night. Looked like the Falcons of last year. Ryan didn’t look as sharp to me…under thrown ball to Julio and still looked anxious when the defense got pressure. Dom Davis was the bright spot showing his continued improvement each week. That was a perfectly thrown ball to Toone. If McKay in fact said they won’t let a first year rookie backup Ryan, someone needs to go to the Falcon’s offices and put a foot in his a$$. DLed I think you’re in the best position to get near McKay for that task. I still can’t stand that McKay’s sorry butt is still associated with this team. What other GM gets fired and then promoted to President/CEO? He must have some compromising pictures of Arthur. Defense still looked vulnerable up the middle in just about all three games now. I hope they’re going to fix that and not really showing their hand in preseason.
technofalconeer
August 25th, 2012
12:35 pm
dled- why you always crashing on cox?? watch the play again on 4th down–he held that block nicely the play broke down from the INSIDE–I am a long time tech/falcon fan and you are wrong on part of your statement– overall-I like what I see in the falcons so far–I m excited about this team–GO FALCONS
technofalconeer
August 25th, 2012
12:36 pm
dled–tough run call on 2.5 yds to go–sweep off tackle to strong side with defense lined up strong–just watched it again
James
August 25th, 2012
1:02 pm
So the question of the moment is how will the Falcons try to utilize Dom Davis this season? I know that Smith is more of an X’s and O’s kinda guy, but wouldn’t the Falcons top brass be foolish NOT finding a role for Davis in the offense? Occasionally, coming in for Matt as a change of pace perhaps?
Chris
August 25th, 2012
1:19 pm
To all you Falcons fans despairing because they only scored 9 points in the first half, keep in mind that the ‘fins still have a strong D. I would say they have a much better unit than either the Panthers or the Bucs.
Of course the fins have a pop-gun offense and from what I saw last night they will be hard pressed to score in the twenties. You can’t always win in the NFL by throwing the ball. Turner is still a valuable piece IMO.
Tommy Maddox
August 25th, 2012
1:40 pm
It seemed that both offenses were playingdoen to a level equal of the opposing defenses.
Ivan
August 25th, 2012
2:11 pm
“Smith plans to continue to go for it fourth down, but doesn’t appear to have a line that can get enough push in those situations. Also, the Falcons appear to miss the lead-blocking of former Pro Bowl fullback Ovie Mughelli.”
Wait….I thought it was all Mike Mularkey’s fault!!…
DawgNole
August 25th, 2012
2:15 pm
Rick in Macon
August 25th, 2012
9:34 am
Robinson has to go…release him, he’s clueless in the defensive backfield. Am I the only one who thought that female sideline reporter during the game last night is 150% airhead? Where did they find her…cute, but she asked some absolutely stupid questions.
_________________________
She’s Laura Okmin and has been on FOX national and regional broadcasts the past few years. I was surprised to see her doing a local Falcons broadcast. Wonder if she got demoted? Based on her airhead questions last night, maybe that’s what happened.
heartofdarkness
August 25th, 2012
2:45 pm
The short yardage run game on 3rd and 4th down didn’t look a whole lot better than last year. The odds shifted to the defense when the Falcons needed less than 3 for a drive extender, because you knew Mike Mularkey wanted to test the line, the opposing defensive co-ordinator knew the Falcons would test the line, and the defenders knew the Falcon line couldn’t move them. For what ever reason, the Falcons have had a hard time replacing Harvey Dahl.
I would expect more throws on 3rd and short this year and better use of big bodied TEs in this situation. Throwing more to the backs out of the backfield should open space for the TEs. Even using the TEs as picks as possible, as all the principles are experienced veterans.
A successful season would be highly improbable without a large improvement in results in short yardage 3rd and 4th downs.
It will be fun watching how the coaches and players approach this problem.
JSS
August 25th, 2012
3:45 pm
Redcoat (worst band in the SEC)…
They still play that 1968 Led Zepplin to get y’all foaming at the mouth?
Every team should have the same goal in game 3, get touchdown points in and near red zone. Impose your offensive will on the other team… Baltimore and Green Bay did it the previous night…
Jimmy Crack
August 25th, 2012
4:54 pm
A rather biting article, DOL. You know, we were the ones with 23 and they other guys had 6 with no touchdowns. Additionally, I believe that the Dolphins starting defense was 3rd in the league last season in rushing defense. But you can go ahead and blame the O line and our RBs.