Atlanta Falcons: Birds Embarrassed by Panthers
One of Worst Losses in Smith Era
No Falcon in Sight (Chuck Burton)
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It’s hard to know where to start on this one. To be blunt, this was one of the worst losses in the entire time that Mike Smith has been head coach. This team has serious problems and they just proved to all the doubters and skeptics that they may be right after all. The Falcons may not always win while under Smith’s reign, but they usually always play hard and fight until the end. Well, that appeared not to happen on Sunday in Charlotte. The Falcons were not only beaten, but flat out embarrassed. Fans likely started getting that same sick feeling in the back of their throats the way they did the last two years in the playoffs, because that’s how bad they looked. A look at the horror show that was:
Offense Just Pitiful
One Bright Spot (Chuck Burton)
15 yards in the first quarter. 40 total yards in the first half. Michael Turner 2 carries for 3 yards. Do those stats strike you as a team ready to make waves in the postseason? Sure, they turned it on when they decided to start playing, but by that point it was entirely too late. When they were well behind, they decided to start playing a little offense and looked pretty good in the no-huddle which bogged back down when they needed points. The running game was non-existent, the line was horrible, and Matt Ryan was off yet again. Most of us tried to chalk up the poor offensive game vs. the Saints as just a blip, but they actually looked worse against the Panthers.
Rodgers Should Get Bulk of Carries
That’s putting it nicely. The fact has long been that Jacquizz Rodgers has shown way more upside and the ability to carry the bulk of carries in the backfield. All Falcons fans appreciate what Michael Turner has done for this franchise and he’ll likely have a banner hung in his name when it’s all said and done, but he’s just not getting it done. It’s hard to part with players who have meant so much to the franchise, but the time has come. Mike Smith obviously hasn’t got that memo. The entire offense played terrible so it’s unfair to scapegoat just one player, but Jacquizz Rodgers is just better and the facts don’t lie. Rodgers had 21 yards on 4 carries and Michael Turner carried the ball 7 times for 14 yards.
Just a Blip or Playoff Preview?
Yuck (Chuck Burton)
This game had trap written all over it. The Falcons clinched the NFC South and were playing a 3-9 team with the Giants coming up next week. Fans are trying their best to chalk it up as just a blip, but there’s a growing fear that we’re starting to see an eerily similar storyline. In 2010, the Falcons won a lot of close games en route to a 13-3 season and the NFC #1 seed. The rest, of course, is history seeing the Birds have a complete meltdown catastrophe vs. the Packers. Being completely objective, the Falcons are still 11-2, have already won their division, and are still leading the NFC, but the nightmare scenarios are getting worse and not better with the Falcons seemingly playing their best football at the beginning of the season and playing their worst football closer to the playoffs. There’s still 3 games left and all 3 teams will be good tests for the playoffs. This one can be chalked up to a trap game, but we’ll know everything we need to about this team the next three weeks, starting with the Giants at home in a one week.
Ryan is Trending Downward
Yes, he threw for 325 yards and one touchdown, but he also does not look the same quarterback that he did in the first half of the season. He missed throws, looked jittery in the pocket, and just didn’t seem to be in a good rhythm. Maybe it’s playing behind a weak offensive line, maybe he’s suffering from a weak running game, or maybe his coordinator is not helping him at all. Who knows why, but the results say that Ryan is going in the opposite direction. He looks the most comfortable in an open, no-huddle type offense, but for whatever reason, the coaching staff seems to avoid it except when they are 23 points down. Here’s to hoping Ryan gets it figured out and quickly.
Defensive Line Must Improve
It’s been common knowledge that John Abraham has been the Falcons only pass rush for a long time. Problem is, when he’s not completely on his game, the Falcons have nothing else. Biermann has great hustle, but is more of a linebacker playing as a defensive end. No one has taken advantage of Ray Edwards absence whatsoever. In particular, the defensive tackle position appears particularly weak. Peria Jerry has never turned that mythical corner, Corey Peters is likely not 100%, Vance Walker is a good rotational player, and Jonathan Babineaux is playing more defensive end and on the downside of his career. The Falcons were gashed by the run yet again and it allowed Cam Newton be precise in his passing. All considering, the defense did pretty decent since the offense didn’t help whatsoever until entirely too late.
Where’s the No-Huddle?
This is Done (Chuck Burton)
Matt Ryan always does best in an open, no-huddle type of offense. If you think about some of Ryan’s best games, they have come from those type of gameplans going all the way back to the Ravens game in 2010. This offense is more in sync, has more rhythm, and it masks some of the weaknesses on the offensive line. The Falcons were at their best early in the season with many of the no-huddle type of looks and yet they are going away from it with diminishing results. Even the run game seems more productive in the no-huddle. Do they have to stay in all the time? No, but why not go with what works best. They only implemented it when they were down 23 points and, sure enough, they went right down the field. The great mystery remains.
Bad Calls
This may come off as sour grapes and ultimately it likely didn’t matter with how poor the Falcons played, but there were several questionable calls at a very critical juncture in the game. The first was one of the worst calls of the entire season. The Falcons scored a touchdown and converted a two point conversion. Even the line judge ruled the 2 point conversion good and was evidently overruled. The ref said that Roddy White bobbled the ball, but the replay clearly showed he never bobbled the ball whatsoever. It was only two points, but it seemed to cut down some of the Falcons building momentum. Another play showed a critical catch by a Panthers receiver who appeared to drop the ball, the play was ruled incomplete, but the refs overturned that call. Finally, Dunta Robinson was called for holding a play where the defense seemed to get a stop. He was holding and it was the right call, but there were tons of times when Julio Jones, Tony Gonzalez, and John Abraham were being held to no avail.
Tackling Still an Issue
Weak Tackling (Chuck Burton)
This is an issue that was supposed to get fixed earlier in the season, but the Falcons are still having issues bringing down their opponents. Corey Peters couldn’t bring down Cam Newton for a sack (but also got no help at all either) and there were several other instances where the Panthers running back or quarterback got extra yards after the first hit. At best, they’re simply inconsistent. Some weeks they’ll tackle well and others, they won’t. If they don’t get it fixed in a hurry, they won’t be going far in the playoffs.
Bird Cage Painkillers Turn
1) Simple missed tackle – how awful was this game?
2) Does this rank as one of the worst under Smith?
3) Is it panic time with the offense?
4) What’s most to blame on offense (besides the OL)?
5) When will the Turner Era end? Should it end?
6) Was this just a blip or playoff preview?
7) What is wrong with Matt Ryan?
8.) Which is worse: offensive or defensive line?
9) Why do the coaches refuse to run no-huddle, open attack?
10) Bad calls or sour grapes?
11) Will tackling ever get consistent?
12) Are you terrified of upcoming Giants game?
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1,438 comments Add your comment
falcon21
December 9th, 2012
8:50 pm
Can anyone on this blog tell me something to take positive out of this game? I love my Birds but I see nothing!
Eye in the Sky
December 9th, 2012
8:55 pm
@ Big Lou
take a look at the remaining schedules of the NFC East contenders
Washington next three games Browns, Eagles and Cowboys
Giants next three games Falcons, Ravens and Eagles
Dallas next three games Steelers, aints, Redskins
so it is possible that the GIants could falter IJS!!
Giants lose tie breaker they can’t afford to lose one game. However neither can the Skins or Cowgirls.
JJ
December 9th, 2012
8:56 pm
f21, yea Blank has no chance at psl’s!!! And the public sentiment with the hotel tax will scream NO if we go 0-4 in post season. AB’s ass is on the line with this 1.2BILLION dollar stadium, and he knowes it!!!
falcon21
December 9th, 2012
9:00 pm
Not what I was looking for JJ but good point!
JB Falcon
December 9th, 2012
9:02 pm
21, positive? We learned that we are not what we think we are?
Greg Mendel
December 9th, 2012
9:06 pm
“Can anyone on this blog tell me something to take positive out of this game? I love my Birds but I see nothing!” — falcon21
Check the link below. It’s from the Cage archives, and features 2012 season predictions:
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-falcons-fans/2012/09/04/atlanta-falcons-the-great-bird-cage-season-prediction-competition/?cp=1
In fairness, nobody was sure what to expect, but there was general optimism. Purely numbers-wise, the team is doing slightly better than expected at this point. We won some games most Cagers thought we’d lose.
I don’t think it’s unreasonable to say, after today’s loss, there’s much playoff optimism in the Cage. Well, I’m a confessed homer, and that’s bullsmitt! We’ll win the first one. And if we win the first one, we’ll play in the Super Bowl.
Greg Mendel
December 9th, 2012
9:09 pm
You want optimism, ask a homer.
(Fire Turner!)
snacktastic
December 9th, 2012
9:10 pm
Still pissed off. Just thought I’d put it down so the team can know where I stand, just in case they read this blog. I can barely stand to write anything else.
Greg Mendel
December 9th, 2012
9:10 pm
“not” much
DHunt
December 9th, 2012
9:11 pm
Dang. 151 comments and counting and evidently the new blog was up before the game was over. Apocalypse Now, anyone? It will take me a few days to get through all the commentary this evidently engendered, so for now, just a few random thoughts to add to the cacophony.
Embarrassed? Really? This is a Panthers team that was picked to win the South by many at the start of the season. They’ve had almost as much bad “luck” as some would say the Falcons have had good “luck”. Cam Newton, despite maturity issues and growing pains, is still an athletic freak of nature and not a bad QB when the rest of his team is on a roll. This is a division opponent, who we face twice a year, at home, and literally most of these guys are playing for their jobs next year. And they lost a heartbreaker to the Falcons in the Ga Dome, in a game where they arguably outplayed us even moreso than they did today.
So they came out very motivated and played their best game of the year. The Falcons came out flat and couldn’t recover. But embarrassed seems putting a bit more on it than it really needs. The Panthers moved the ball on offense, in large part due to several excellent 3rd and long conversions, most of which were the product of Cam scrambling. And anyone who thinks Cam can’t scramble with the best that ever played this game, is either not paying attention or is delusional. A big third down touchdown pass on the first series of the game was a great pass and an even better catch over DeCoud who was a step slow, but only a step. Cam got a big designed run as well, and as Falcon fans who have seen first hand what a mobile QB can do if given even a little room to run, it’s great when you can stop it from happening, but it’s not totally unexpected or the end of the world when you can’t. Great play by Cam shouldn’t embarrass the Falcons. Maybe it should motivate them to be more prepared to deal with him, NEXT YEAR, but that’s about all it’s worth at this particular point of this particular season.
Let’s not get overly low about a division road loss. It’s not the end of the world.
That’s not to
Arno
December 9th, 2012
9:11 pm
Sharp, Greg. And D3’s words are prophetic:
13) Falcons @ Panthers – Loss — There’s a tendency to not include a game the Falcons should win in theory, and to his credit, Coach Smith has done a good job of winning the games that they should win, but this seems to have letdown game written all over it.
Wabe
December 9th, 2012
9:19 pm
falcon21,
The positive that I’m leaning on at the moment is, I’m glad this happened now. I’m glad they got a serious wake up call. It seems that folks at Flowery Branch were buying into this notion that they were just a team that ‘did whatever they had to do to win’ without ever concerning themselves with ways to get better. At least that’s the vibe I kept getting. They seemed satisfied with the way they’d been playing despite cutting it close all those games.
Now, they understand that they’re a flawed group. Nothing entirely wrong with that, because looking around the league, a lot of teams [if not every team] looks flawed in some way.
But what team masks its flaws the best wins. And the Falcons have done a pi$$ poor job of that. This is something that needed to happen. And I’m happy to see guys like Gonzalez getting vocal about it. Now, if only some of these other players who are supposed to be the leaders of this team would do the same. Ryan, Roddy, Gonzo, these guys gotta know what’s wrong with the offense and they need to get vocal about it. Stop with this ‘politically correct’ garbage and let it be known how you’re feeling every once in a while. I don’t mean throw everybody under the bus or pull a Ray Edwards. I mean, be a vocal leader.
Greg Mendel
December 9th, 2012
9:19 pm
DHunt:
Damn good post! Watching the game, I certainly noticed Falcons mistakes. But, frankly, Carolina played a good, hard game.
Maybe we Cagers (we homers, anyway) tend to forget that other NFL teams can play very well. It’s possible to lose even when both teams play well.
D3
December 9th, 2012
9:20 pm
Geo — Thanks man. It’s maddening to see our offense flow so well in the no-huddle and never to see it again. That’s Smittyball in my opinion.
Wabe — Great points all around. You can have close victories sometimes and that’s OK, but not if you’re seemingly intentionally putting yourself in those positions. It’s like that every single week. The last really good game we played was way back against the Eagles. Heck, that was like 6 weeks ago and the Eagles turned out to be bad anyway. Take no further look than the Saints game. We should have completely blown them out after being up 17-0 and we nearly blow the whole thing.
Seminole Warrior and I have gone back and forth for awhile about the disconnect thing, but it appears he’s right after all. I think it begins and ends with Smith. Yes, TD hasn’t been perfect in his picks, but he’s at least shown an ability to change and adapt (not taking injury prone players after Peria Jerry, taking two OL with his first two picks this year). Smitty has not shown that yet.
Chop Buster
December 9th, 2012
9:22 pm
It’s one game, but I guess it’s the way they lost that concerns me. Inconsistency in every aspect of the word for coaching, playcalling, player execution, and tackling. I believe Smitty is overruling the DC and OC. Of course I have no evidence other than the team looks too darn conservative and I thought I was watching last years teams (BVG & Mularkey). But the common denominator left from that regime is Smitty. I don’t believe he has it in him to attack a team on both sides of the ball for 4 quarters. I hate that everything being pointed out seems so negative, but tell me what’s there to feel good about with this team other than their regular season record?
When the pressure gets turned up late in the season on this team, Smitty and Matt Ryan start cracking. This team is just not built right to win championships–yet. Let’s face it, they’ve overachieved all year long. Name ONE dominant player on either side of the ball? Julio…shows flashes but handcuffed to Smitty’s offense. Abraham…gets swallowed up by certain defenses.
Someone said it earlier, but TD or Arthur needs to have a serious sit down with Smitty and find out what is he doing with this team. What is his plan to win the next three games…the playoffs. Why we go an entire first half and couldn’t score one field goal? Looked likes the Giants game from last year. New coordinators don’t seem to make a difference when you don’t let them have free reign with the game plan. Players have a lot of blame in all of this as well. Enough from me on this…done venting.
falcon21
December 9th, 2012
9:24 pm
Wabe, I will buy that!
Chop Buster
December 9th, 2012
9:29 pm
DHunt/Greg, I can’t speak for anyone else but for me it’s about what the Falcons didn’t do. I know the Panthers have good players and will move the ball. The problem is we were NOT competitive the entire first half of a game. This is a bad pattern that we’ve seen before. Now I don’t know if it’s all coaching or the players lack focus and execution or what…but they stinked today. If you lose playing a competitive game that’s one thing, but they lost looking lost. The coaches seemed a dollar short and a day late getting things going.
Wabe
December 9th, 2012
9:32 pm
Dhunt,
I get you’re a glass half full kinda guy bro, but if you don’t see the problems at this point, I don’t know if you ever will man.
Going back to last week, just gauge where this offense is at. After an early jump on the Saints, the Falcons offense has been pedestrian at best. Downright pathetic in my eyes. And, you can honestly take it back further than that. They’ve had more bad games than good games this season. We’ve come out of more games this season questioning what’s going on with the offense than we’ve come out satisfied. That’s concerning. Especially when you’re getting locked up against very beatable defenses. That don’t bode well for the playoffs.
The Panthers gave up 27 points to Brady Quinn and the Chiefs last week. I understand after what happened in KC, there might’ve been some emotional players that played a ‘little harder’. But, point being, they still put the points up there. Not to mention, they’re a 1-win team that ended up beating the Panthers last week…
There’s no ‘positive way’ you can spin the game itself. It was atrocious. The coaching staff isn’t showing any understanding of how to make this offense ‘go’. Simple question, is this offense playing anywhere near its potential? Isn’t that why we got rid of Mike Mularkey? Because he wasn’t getting enough out of the offense that featured all these star studded players? Well, what exactly has Dirk Koetter done with the same guys that leads one to say they’re a ‘much better unit’ this season compared to last? They still look like the same inconsistent offense. They’ll look great one game, and look downright terrible in others. They’ll look great in one half of a game, and look downright terrible the next half. There’s no level of consistency on either side of the ball truthfully. It’s been that way for years with Smitty though. They don’t do any one thing great. That’s why you see one side having to pick the other up every week. They don’t have a ‘calling card’.
D3
December 9th, 2012
9:34 pm
Arno — Wow, I forgot I picked us to lose this one. I was worried about this game all week and it did have trap written all over it. This is by no means excusing the loss, but it came after a few huge games in a row, both to division opponents. I also think it was a major mistake for Smith to give the players 4 days off. Way too long of a layoff and expect them to just turn it back on. I said the same d@mn thing about our preparations for the playoffs with our bye week. I saw a few videos and reports and they weren’t even hitting. I’m sorry, but I just don’t believe you can be mentally ready for the biggest game of the seasons by practicing in shorts and t-shirts.
D3
December 9th, 2012
9:36 pm
Gotta love that pesticide…………
Greg Mendel
December 9th, 2012
9:37 pm
Chop Buster:
I agree, and I saw it too.
I always plead football ignorance, but I do have my own theory. The first Carolina game was a surprise because the Panthers came with a plan to put heavy pressure on Ryan. They did it again today and won.
After Carolina did it first, other teams saw and planned. That’s how you beat Atlanta.
Maybe the coaches can “fix” the O-line without better players, but I don’t see how.
darrell starks
December 9th, 2012
9:43 pm
Will the coaching staff ever listen 2 D3 and bloggers about Turner, why is he still starting ?
What have Turner done so far in the playoffs ?
How many yards did he have against Cardinals in 2009 playoffs ?
How many yards did he have against Packers in 2010 playoffs ?
How many yards did he have against Giants in 2012 playoffs ?
So what make this coaching staff think that 30 YEAR OLD Turner will do anything in 2013 playoffs ?
Mike Smith will he become the bobby cox of football time will tell.
GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wabe
December 9th, 2012
9:47 pm
D3,
I’ll definitely buy into that ‘disconnect theory’ that SW has been harping on.
It boils back down to philosophy in my eyes. As you point out, TD sees what’s going on in the NFL, and he’s adjusted his approach and adapted to make his team more successful in today’s NFL. He understood that it was a passing league [QB driven league] after that Debacle in the Dome, and he made the bold move to go get an explosive player to plug into this offense to help us become more of what the NFL had become [a pass first QB driven offense]. As you point out, he saw the flawed OL play and took a couple linemen this past draft.
I still don’t think he’s without fault. I mean, dude’s taken probably one to two linemen on both sides of the ball with early draft picks. Everybody else is a mid to late round pick. That pretty much speaks to why this team is so bad up front. And truthfully, I think this is where the disconnect is. It has everything to do with the lines.
Smitty seems like a guy who knows how to win one way. He’s old school, and TD’s adjusted to try to get us more effective in today’s NFL. Smitty’s wants to run the football and play good defense. Just look at the places he came from. He spent time in Baltimore [never really a high flying offense, more of a run the ball + play great defense] and came from Jacksonville where they had great lines. To do what Smitty wants to do, you have to be oober talented on both sides of the ball, but that’s an area that TD’s been downright neglectful in. TD hasn’t valued the lines anywhere near the level they need to be to do what Smitty wants to do. There’s a reason BVG was rushing 3-4 more than he’d get exotic and send heat. That’s how Smitty’s accustomed to playing it. There’s a reason why he keeps ramming Turner and insisting on running the ball, that’s the only way he’s accustomed to. His track record [the places his been and how they've built and won football teams/games] would show exactly the kinda approach he’s gonna bring.
I’m not saying Smitty’s approach won’t ever cut it. But, I really think that’s where the disconnect is. It’s the approach. TD’s adapted to today’s NFL and has built this team in that manner. Problem is, you have a headcoach that has no experience winning in that way, and despite being around in the league for a while, he’s always been on teams that carried that philosophy [run and play good defense], and as a result, that’s what he’s been groomed to do.
I maybe wrong. Just my take.
The Time is NOW
December 9th, 2012
9:47 pm
There is one other thing from this game that gives me hope. After the Falcons fell behind 23-0, they finally started playing some football. They scored on consecutive possessions and were driving again. Ultimately, they didn’t make plays and lost. But they came back to the point where I actually thought they would get a shot for a win or tie at the end of regulation. I am not happy with the result, but the comeback attempt avoided the embarrassment of getting whipped so bad that they were never in the game. Still, the trend of the team’s recent play is disturbing.
falcon21
December 9th, 2012
9:53 pm
I hear ya Time Now, Wabe, good stuff man!
Coop
December 9th, 2012
9:53 pm
As the year goes on, I see the same thing I saw last year. No way, I’d bet money we beat anybody in the playoffs.
D3
December 9th, 2012
9:54 pm
Wabe / Chop — Great points. Smitty is the common denominator here for sure. How does our offense look so great early in the season only to look as bad or worse than Mularkey’s offense from last year. Is Koetter really that bad where once people get film on him, than he’s all figured out for the rest of the season? Surely not.
I think what many of us get so angry about is the refusal on Smith’s part to try different things. It’s called Smittyball, but it’s more than just coaching decisions and such, but a larger philosophy. He will not change hardly whatsoever. I could list a thousand examples, but I’ll just go with a few:
1) Refusing to change the RB situation
2) Exact same OL as last year, despite draft picks
3) Refusal to give guys like Snelling and Antone Smith touches
4) Put A.Smith in for one play, never to see him again.
5) Quizz makes a great play and gets immediately taken out
6) No changes in offensive philosophy
7) Never putting young guys in on defense, like Sidbury
8.) Glacial change or really no change at all
It’s a pattern and we all feel like it’s 2010 all over again.
Big Lou
December 9th, 2012
9:57 pm
Derrell
At least Bobby Cox made it to multiple world series games and won one.
Smith aspires to be on that level.
darrell starks
December 9th, 2012
9:59 pm
What Happen 2 Travian Robertson why he is not playing ?
PERIA IS A BUST
What Happen 2 Cliff Mathews why he is not playing ?
It is very obvious that Kroy should be playing OLB instead of DE.
Why is so hard for this coaching staff to figure out only a little adjustment will make this team better.
Falcons DL have no pressure up the middle or on the edge if you shut down Abraham then you need not 2 worry about pass rushing from Falcons at all.
Travian and Cliff make this DL much better up front against the run and also more pressure up front against passs.
GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!
Chop Buster
December 9th, 2012
9:59 pm
Greg, there are things the Falcons can do in the interim to counter the pass rush–but darn if we do them. We saw one, maybe two screen plays today? Ryan must not be good rolling out of the pocket and throwing because we don’t do it that much. Or how about the toss sweep to Jacquizz that worked so well and many other plays that had success to never be seen again. Does the coaches think those plays are good for just one game or something? I don’t know. Coaching is definitely part of the problem with this team’s overall success.
Big Lou
December 9th, 2012
10:00 pm
Wabe
Smith’s way will win if we had an Adrian Peterson, not some used up RB.
After the Arizona playoff game in Matt Ryan’s rookie year, Turner hasn’t done jack sh!t in January.
Greg Mendel
December 9th, 2012
10:01 pm
Sincere, serious question:
If Smitty is “old school” and not the best head coach we could have, who is “new school” and/or a better coach we could have? “Could have” means “could realistically acquire.”
DISCLAIMER: This question is a question, not an argument or a statement, and not directed towards anyone in particular. Doubts about Smith are frequent in the Cage.
Wabe
December 9th, 2012
10:02 pm
Smitty’s approach is more built for a team built like the Niners or even the Steeler’s of the past.
Run the ball behind great lines and play great defense. He’s accustomed to grinders.
It’s not an approach that can’t work. But, that’s where the disconnect is between Smitty’s approach and TD’s approach. TD’s invested heavily in skill positions, and has done the bare minimum to bolster the lines.
Greg Mendel
December 9th, 2012
10:03 pm
Thanks, Chop Buster.
Chop Buster
December 9th, 2012
10:05 pm
D3 (9:54), I swear it feels like Smitty is living that 1970 football philosophy of many head coaches. They don’t play rookies unless they’re a first round draft, they insist on running the ball with a blocking FB and HB, and want to milk the clock anytime they’ve gotten a lead (it’s not sportsman like to run up the score on anyone). All of the things you mentioned and more shows this guy is set in his ways and it may end up being his demise if we continue to fail in the playoffs.
The Time is NOW
December 9th, 2012
10:09 pm
O linemen usually take some time to develop at the pro level. However, with all the linemen we’ve drafted the last couple of years either TD ain’t pickin’ well OR the players aren’t being coached up and put in a position to succeed. This observation is focused on beyond this season. For now, we have who we have and will live or die with them.
Wabe
December 9th, 2012
10:09 pm
Greg,
I’m not sure who the Falcons could go get that would be better suited for the personnel we have. I still don’t think it’s all coaching, but there is certainly something that just ain’t clicking within the coaching staff [regardless of whether you wanna talk about the staffs of the past or this years staff].
A guy like Sean Payton would be a much better fit for this team than a guy like Smith.
Still not calling for Smitty to be fired. Like I said during the game, TD isn’t without blame. I mean, if I’m not mistaken, the only early draft picks he’s used on the lines have been Baker, Konz and Peria Jerry [someone check me on that].
Biermann, Corey Peters, Vance Walker, Lawrence Sidbury, Cliff Matthews – all mid to late rounders. But, they’re all guys we’re hoping to play ‘great’ when they’re really just rotational guys.
Baker was a bust – that’s on TD.
Peria Jerry was a bust – that’s on TD.
Not investing in the lines – that’s on TD.
So, I don’t think TD’s without blame. Even with the greatest head coaches, it’s tough to see them becoming a juggernaut offense behind this OL.
Chop Buster
December 9th, 2012
10:09 pm
Wabe (10:02) – Exactly! I feel Smitty is stuck in the past and those old school philosophies just don’t work when you don’t have the OL/DL or players to run the smash mouth style of football. Heck even Tom Coughlin has changed his ways of attacking down field through the air. At least he goes and get RBs who can run the ball when needed.
Big Lou
December 9th, 2012
10:17 pm
Chop Buster
Giants also have the best defensive line in the league. That helps.
Greg Mendel
December 9th, 2012
10:22 pm
Wabe: Thanks for taking the time — and for the thoughtful response.
The Time is NOW
December 9th, 2012
10:23 pm
If you can’t win in the trenches, you gotta outcoach and deceive the other team. You also need some exceptional playmakers and win the turnover battle. It’s a tougher formula to win.
Big Max
December 9th, 2012
10:24 pm
The offensive and defensive lines are the most incompetent, weak, sissy’s in the entire NFL. Regarding our defensive line, if you strung a sheet of tissue paper across the field, it would do a better job of stopping the opposing team. Regarding our offensive line, if you strung a sheet of toilet paper across the field, it would do a better job of protecting Ryan. Can you guess how thoroughly disgusted I am??
falcon21
December 9th, 2012
10:30 pm
Wabe, Chop and Greg, later guys, enjoyed and Time Now and D3!
waynester
December 9th, 2012
10:35 pm
The photo of the two Head Coaches kind of tells the story of the game…Rivera and the Panthers pi$$ed off and fired up and Smitty and the Falcons standing around bewildered, unsure of what just happened….
The Time is NOW
December 9th, 2012
10:36 pm
Later cage. Thanks for all your excellent analysis. Tomorrow is another day (although I imagine it will take awhile to get the foul taste out of my mouth).
waynester
December 9th, 2012
10:39 pm
The only way for one of these young guys to get any snaps on a Mike Smith team is for another guy to go down. Our linemen have been mostly healthy keeping the young players off the field…..
D3
December 9th, 2012
10:55 pm
Guess I’ll have to turn in too, don’t want to, but gotta hit the pillow. I thought we’d know all we needed to after the Bucs-Saints consecutive games, but I was wrong. The Giants game will tell us everything we need to know.
Ending thoughts………..
Positive Polly
-Better it happen now than in playoffs
-Maybe this @-whippin’ shook something loose in Smitty’s head re:Turner
-Still have a nice lead for home field advantage
-We’ll know in 7 days whether or not we’re for real heading towards playoffs
-No more “barely getting by” BS meme after this one
-Quizz is showing he’s more than capable of being our primary back
-Smitty’s out of excuses: can’t blame coordinators or assistants now
Negative Nellie
-It’s deja-vu all over again (2010, here we come)
-Our OL may be worst in league
-Our DL’s pretty close
-The coaches are too d@mn stubborn to change
-Looks like we’re the ones with egg on our face now
G’Nite All!
Rip
December 9th, 2012
10:59 pm
Why do people think you have to put up with a crappie Team to be a fan. Just keeping believing that the Crap that is put on the field will WIN. And one year the ball seems to bounce their way and blind fans start talking about Super Bowl, then the Playoffs start and there is the reality shock treatment, BLOW OUT, AND DISGRACED IN THE PLAYOFFS. eyes to cloudy to see, simple put, you do nto have enough pieces and you can not put a bad product on the field and expect to win, Several wasted number 1 picks.
D3
December 9th, 2012
11:00 pm
Just to add a little salt in our wounds………..
The defense, which was playing its fourth and fifth safeties and third and fourth defensive tackles due to injuries, also clicked. The Panthers held the Falcons to 35 yards of total offense in the first half.
The Falcons offensive coaches and players should be ashamed of themselves.
Greg Mendel
December 9th, 2012
11:01 pm
And good night, Mrs. Calabash, wherever you are.
(Sorry. Cagers over 24 years-old won’t understand that reference without the Calabash iPhone app.)