Falcons are winning because they’re following Mike Smith
Mike Smith has coached only 43 games and he already ranks fourth on the Falcons' win list.
They are winning because the owner cares and spends money.
They are winning because the general manager has made moves that look smart today and project well for tomorrow.
They are winning because they have a quarterback who seems to have discovered the road map to Canton and a wide receiver who just busted through that door that reads: “Superstar.”
But mostly the Falcons are winning because of their coach. It doesn’t work without Mike Smith. The money, the structure, the decisions, the athletic wonder of Matt Ryan and Roddy White – none of that translates into a 9-2 record this season and 29-14 over two and a half years if everybody isn’t following the head coach.
“We can all have grandiose visions,” general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. “But if the head coach is not carrying the torch, it’s all for naught.”
To this point, Smith is the NFL’s coach of the year. This week’s counterpart, Raheem Morris of Tampa Bay, is getting justifiable praise. So should Rex Ryan (New York Jets), Andy Reid (Michael Vick/Philadelphia) and maybe that guy in New England again (Bill Belichick).
But the Falcons have won a lot of games in a lot of different ways. They have beaten Baltimore and Green Bay and are tied with the Patriots and Jets for the NFL’s best record. They are getting better by the week.
In the 42 years before Smith’s arrival, this franchise had never managed consecutive winning seasons. They’re already assured of their third straight winning season under him. That’s not all talent and chemistry, it’s leadership. Smith ranks only ninth in Falcons games coached (43) but already fourth in wins (29). There’s a consistency in confidence and expectation level now that never has existed before.
Thomas Dimitroff (left) worked with one of the best in New England, Bill Belichick (right), and he believes Smith now ranks among the best.
Smith won big in his first season but so did Jim Mora. He differentiated himself in year two. Players played hard late in the season even when injuries contributed to a 6-7 start. They won their final three games. Then came this offseason’s self-analysis. Smith knew the potential perils of year three.
“Sometimes familiarity is not a good thing,” he said. “It’s natural for a staff and players to get into a routine and become comfortable with one another. It was important that we looked at all levels, starting with me, and we held ourselves to higher expectations.”
We’ve seen so many cartoons on the sideline here. From Marion Campbell to Jerry Glanville, from Mora to Bobby Petrino. How did the Falcons finally get it so right?
When Dimitroff was hired, he knew his coaching candidates were “accomplished” so he decided to focus less on Xs and Os than personality. He valued the coach-general manager relationship and wanted someone who shared the same vision on how to build a team. He had grown up in the NFL and saw how egos could fracture an organization.
“I wanted someone who would not only talk but listen,” Dimitroff said.
He interviewed Smith, Rex Ryan, Leslie Frazier, Jim Schwartz and Jason Garrett. Garrett had already decided to stay in Dallas. Dimitroff offered the job to Smith over the others.
When asked why Smith has been so successful, Dimitroff said: “He has a unique combination of levity and football street smarts. He has the ability to know when things need to be light and when to turn it on and off. He knows his players and is cognizant of the different personalities in the locker room.”
Notice how there’s nothing in there about plays or schemes?
Smith said he never wondered if he would be a good head coach. It follows that he never doubted himself.
Ask him who has had the greatest influence on him and he’ll name four coaches: Former Baltimore head coach Brian Billick “is the most organized guy I’ve ever been around.” Cincinnati coach and former Ravens’ defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis “had a knack for making everybody feel like they were a part of the game plan.” Another former Ravens assistant, Mike Nolan, had a defensive background but coached wide receivers one year in Baltimore. “We would talk in a defensive vernacular about what offensive guys were trying to do,” he said.
Finally there was Jack Del Rio, then a young Baltimore assistant and later Jacksonville’s head coach. Smith talked to him about the players’ mindset. Quoting: “I’d ask Jack, ‘What are they thinking at this time of the season? How about in March? Are they concerned about this?’”
And you wonder why Smith relates so well to players?
His keys to success are not great secrets: communication, character, team work. But getting players to buy in and watching them follow the coach — that’s a rare sight around here.
♦
Falcons head coaches ranked by wins Coach (seasons) Games W-L-T Dan Reeves (1997-03) 109 49-59-1 Leeman Bennett (1977-82) 87 46-41 Norm Van Brocklin (1968-74) 89 37-49-3 Mike Smith (2008-) 43 29-14 Jerry Glanville (1990-93) 64 27-37 Jim Mora (2004-06) 48 26-22 Dan Henning (1983-86) 64 22-41-1 June Jones (1994-96) 48 19-29 Marion Campbell (1974-76; 87-89) 68 17-51 Norb Hecker (1966-68) 31 4-26-1 Pat Peppler (1976) 9 3-6* Bobby Petrino (2007) 13 3-10 Wade Phillips (2003) 3 2-1* Emmitt Thomas (2007) 3 1-2* Jim Hanifan (1989) 4 0-4* (*Interim coach)♦
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250 comments Add your comment
Terrell
December 1st, 2010
2:57 pm
Matt “CHOKE” Ryan
You really are dumb. The last lost for Matt Ryan at home was against the Broncos in his rookie season, and we should’ve won that game.
Jimmy Crack
December 1st, 2010
3:13 pm
Hey “Choke”, is that a nickname you got in your high school bathroom? Sniff my surname and shove off, you punk.
Enkinan
December 1st, 2010
3:28 pm
This is definitely a well coached team that is headed in the right direction, but let’s take it one week at a time with playoff and Super Bowl talk. The Saints are right behind us and don’t look to be going away any time soon. A win down in Tampa against a pissed off and very good team would be a great addition to the season. I honestly hope we get Philly down here in the playoffs, what a better way to get that monkey off of our back and shut up all of these obnoxious Philly/Vick fans.
reality check
December 1st, 2010
4:03 pm
The Falcons do appear to be very well coached but their level of talent isn’t among the league’s top teams. The Falcons are among the league leaders in time of possession which keeps their offense on the field and helps hide their defense. 1st down- Turner for 4 2nd down-Turner for 3 3rd down- short pass complete to White or Gonzalez for the 1st and move the chains. This ball control offense has worked well, but what happens if they eventually fall behind by 10-14 pts in a game? What happens when the Falcons eventually lose the turnover battle? At +11, they have been very fortunate getting more than their fair share of breaks. What happens when an injury or two does occur? To date, the Falcons have been about as healthly as any NFL team. Eventually some adversity will come, and it won’t be that they are just tied or down by 3 late in the game. What happens then? Considering time of possession, lack of injured starters, +11 turnover margin, 2nd fewest offensive penalties per game, and zero fumbles for the season from their primary running backs(Turner and Snelling), why have they had so many close games? The only possible reason: Not anywhere close to elite talent. These coaches are getting the most out of what they have. An elite team loaded with talent with all of the things that I listed that have gone the Falcons way would be 11-0 with 8 blowouts. The Falcons may or may not beat out the Saints this year, but the Saints seem to have a good bit more talent and many more explosive players. If the Falcons had the Saints injuries and turnover margin, they might not be a .500 team. And if the Saints had the Falcons health and TO margin they would be at least 10-1. If the Falcons don’t do something this year with all of the things that have gone their way, they will have wasted one of their best opportunities in team history!
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 1st, 2010
4:03 pm
Sarah B
December 1st, 2010
1:13 pm
vs Bengals (2-9)
vs Tampa (7-4)
vs Ravens (8-3)
vs Packers (7-4)
———————————————————–
The stats are for the games played in the season, just because a team was a playoff team in 2009, the Falcons didn’t play them until 2010.
With your reasoning, you could say the Bears won the superbowl in 1985.
Sorry, that’s not how it works. Season to season. Facts are facts – deal with it.
Only 2 of those teams made the playoffs in the season that the Falcons played against them.
CHOKE is overrated plain and simple.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 1st, 2010
4:11 pm
Sorry guys but that 19-1 record is suspect, plain and simple – YOU DIDN’T PLAY ANYBODY
Hell I can bowl a 200 game in “no tap”, but who cares about either
CHOKE is a CHUMP who just is along for the Turner/White ride…. ha ha.
Don’t shoot the messenger. Until that CHUMP wins a game that matters, like the playoffs or lead the team to a championship game, he is and will be a BUST with meaningless stats.
Scooter
December 1st, 2010
4:12 pm
Another day, another FALCONS blog where people actually try to talk about the FALCONS..and of course it’s full of Mike Vick sycophants and dumbass Saints fans that are crying in their hurricanes and making excuses about being below the Falcons in the standings.
Is there a biggger bunch of one hit wonder arrogant douches than Saints fans this year? Their team was lucky as hell last year in addition to playing well and yet all they can talk about is how the Falcons are lucky this year and the Saints are really better.
Saints fans..your team and franchise’s history is just about as crappy if not more so than the Falcons’…you won the Super Bowl….enjoy it. I promise that they won’t take the trophy away if you actually give credit to some other teams this year. Forgive us lowly Falcons fans for actually think our team is good…we obviously don’t have the storied history of the Saints..lol.
Scooter
December 1st, 2010
4:16 pm
And by the way Saints fans…if the Falcons are so bad and the Saints so obviously superior then why did you lose to them in your home stadium already this year. Why do the Falcons have a better record? Ohh..I forgot..if your team misses a short field goal they should just go ahead and give you the win…
Quit whining, quit making excuses, quit talking crap about other teams on THEIR blogs..and act like the Super Bowl champions. Noone on here said the Saints suck…just because Falcons fans happen to think their team is better doesn’t take away your Super Bowl trophy.
Scooter
December 1st, 2010
4:19 pm
And Matty Choke…we all know you just want attention. I guess your mommy didn’t hold you enough as a kid or something. It’s morons like YOU that make people in this city feel glad that Vick is gone. I like the guy and am happy for him to succeed somewhere else..but if you like him so much then maybe you should read his OWN comments where he admits he let down Blank, the Falcons, and the whole city of Atlanta by being lazy about his job. Those aren’t stats..those are his OWN words.
Scooter
December 1st, 2010
4:20 pm
And Matty Choke…we all know you just want attention. I guess your mommy didn’t hold you enough as a kid or something. It’s morons like YOU that make people in this city feel glad that Vick is gone. I like the guy and am happy for him to succeed somewhere else..but if you like him so much then maybe you should read his OWN comments where he admits he let down Blank, the Falcons, and the whole city of Atlanta DOWN by being lazy about his job. Those aren’t stats..those are his OWN words.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 1st, 2010
4:37 pm
NO Playoff wins
NO Division titles
NO Championship games
Sounds about right for the Falcons.
No Turner or White and they would be even more irrevelent
As far as the Vick comments. Vick has learned more in 1 season with Andy Reid than the morons in Atlanta could ever do.
I am looking forward to that beat down in the playoffs, that is if CHOKE doesn’t lay another egg in the 1st round
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 1st, 2010
4:40 pm
Which of the following doesn’t belong in this group:
Rex Ryan/Mark Sanchez
John Harbaugh/Joe Flacco
Mike Smith/CHOKE
Here is a hint: They are the only ones not to take their team to the championship game in their rookie seasons, yet their dumb fans think they are elite.
Scooter
December 1st, 2010
4:42 pm
I notice you don’t bring up Andy Reid’s stellar record in the playoffs there Choke..lol.
Scooter
December 1st, 2010
4:52 pm
And if you’re an Eagles fan now that they have Vick…I hate to tell ya Choke..but Andy Reid is possibly the biggest choker in the league now..lol
Atlanta Peach
December 1st, 2010
5:25 pm
Congratulations Our Quarterback, Matt Ryan just named NFL Player of the Month ! Yea !
Atlanta Peach
December 1st, 2010
5:30 pm
Hmm, I wonder why Michael Vick didn’t get player of the month ?!? Did anyone catch Jim Kelly on the NFL Network say he wasn’t a Michael Vick fan ?!? I wonder why he feels that way ?!? (wink)
Gruden to Miami would be manna for starving ACC | Jeff Schultz
December 1st, 2010
8:15 pm
[...] ♦ Falcons are winning because they’re following Mike Smith [...]
Saints1Fan
December 1st, 2010
8:31 pm
Choke:
Scooter is too special to even respond to. No one said what type of fans they were but my name. You didn’t say you were a Saints fan and neither did the other writer who broke down the stats and injuries. For some reason it doesn’t register as calling a spade a spade. He is upset that not only do we know about our teams, but we keep up with other people’s teams as well and probably know more about their games then they do.
Atlanta Peach:
Anyone who can’t be happy for a man who made a bad decision, paid for his crime, and is doing so well can only be someone with a problem.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 1st, 2010
9:57 pm
Atlanta Peach
December 1st, 2010
5:30 pm
Hmm, I wonder why Michael Vick didn’t get player of the month ?!? Did anyone catch Jim Kelly on the NFL Network say he wasn’t a Michael Vick fan ?!? I wonder why he feels that way ?!? (wink)
—————————————————-
Ghetto “Not Fabulous” I believe Vick has already won Player of the month, and 2 player of the weeks, back-to-back weeks.
I do believe he also leads the league in qb rating.
Now crawl back to your hood
Eric C.
December 1st, 2010
10:08 pm
@Saints1Fan, the fact is your Saints have played Carolina twice already and the Falcons haven’t, and that is a huge advantage for the Falcons the rest of the way.
drmondo
December 1st, 2010
10:19 pm
Here’s a suggestion, Jeff. Let us block certain people so we don’t have to wade through pages of garbage to read actual comments about the team. If you can’t do that, then how about blocking anyone who has half the posts on a page back-to-back-to-back.
Saints1, I disagree with 90% of your posts but don’t have a problem with you. I think a lot of the posts against obnoxious Saints fans are really talking about a whole group that started posting on these blogs last winter and never let up. It was never thoughtful, but “Brees is great. Ryan is poopy” level of dialogue. That’s why guys like me who rooted for the Saints in the SB (represent our division) now can’t stand the team. A whole lot of bandwagon fans who never suffered through the paper bag years act as if the Saints are NFL level and everyone else is HS level. That’s why you see the anti-Saints fans comments here. A whole bunch of a-holes ruined it for all of you.
Atlanta Peach
December 1st, 2010
10:37 pm
If you’re happy and you know it, Clap your Hands ! Clap ! Clap !
Atlanta Peach
December 1st, 2010
10:43 pm
If you’re happy and you know it, Clap your Hands, Clap ! Clap ! If you’re Happy and you know it, Clap your Hands, Clap ! Clap ! If you’re Happy and you know it and Vick will surely blow it, If you’re Happy and you know it, Clap your Hands, Clap ! Clap !
Atlanta Peach
December 1st, 2010
10:48 pm
I am so happy and proud of the Falcons and this Orginaztion this year ! Thank you so much Author Blank for all that you do for this City and this team ! So ever Grateful to you. God continue to bless you, the team and this City ! Thank you !
Katrina says...........
December 1st, 2010
11:05 pm
People, just ignore the stupity of the haters on this blog.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 1st, 2010
11:36 pm
Atlanta Peach
December 1st, 2010
10:48 pm
I am so happy and proud of the Falcons and this Orginaztion this year ! Thank you so much Author Blank for all that you do for this City and this team ! So ever Grateful to you. God continue to bless you, the team and this City ! Thank you !
————————————————
You meant “Organization”
You meant “Arthur”
I guess hood rats missed spelling class
Atlanta Peach
December 1st, 2010
11:38 pm
Clap ! Clap !
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 1st, 2010
11:41 pm
Dear Santa:
I know I have been asking you since 2004 to bring us a playoff win,
a division title and a qb that can make a pro bowl, but can you see
it in your heart to grant us that simple wish?
I really do appreciate you sending us 18 doormats for teams to the dome
the past 3 seasons, but we still can’t seem to do what the Saints, Eagles, Ravens, Patriots or even the once horrible Jets seem to do – win a play off game.
I promise to be good – please Santa.
Sincerely,
Delusional Fan Base.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 1st, 2010
11:43 pm
Atlanta Peach
December 1st, 2010
11:38 pm
Clap ! Clap !
————————————–
That’s a matter between you and your doctor
Atlanta Peach
December 1st, 2010
11:48 pm
Ce-le-brate good times, Come on !
Atlanta Peach
December 1st, 2010
11:50 pm
Way to go Matt, Way to go !
Atlanta Peach
December 1st, 2010
11:51 pm
Hey Matt ? Invite me to the wedding !
Atlanta Peach
December 1st, 2010
11:55 pm
#2 is the Bomb !
Atlanta Peach
December 1st, 2010
11:59 pm
#2 has come of age. Thanks Thomas for the first round pick. Couldn’t have chose a nicer gifted person. Way to go !
Atlanta Peach
December 2nd, 2010
12:04 am
It was reported today, That many of the Falcon’s players came in on their off day to hit the weighs. They clearly know what’s at stake. They’re going to do it yall !
Atlanta Peach
December 2nd, 2010
12:07 am
Listen to the guys on NFL Live show. They love the Falcons !
Atlanta Peach
December 2nd, 2010
12:17 am
The staff at usatoday are loving us too ! http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2010-power-rankings.htm Look at who’s ranked 10th ! (wink)
Atlanta Peach
December 2nd, 2010
12:19 am
They lost two spaces in a week. ha ! ha !
Atlanta Peach
December 2nd, 2010
12:31 am
Hey Matt, Make your haters your motivators ! It works !
Atlanta Peach
December 2nd, 2010
12:36 am
Guess I’ll wrap some gifts. Rise up Falcons Nation. Rise up !
Matt "ICE" Ryan
December 2nd, 2010
12:53 pm
yo choke, the kid is tha bomb. he did alot with less last year. now he’s about to RISE UP and take the mvp currently 3rd on espn’s mvp list.
how can someone be a CHOKE if their only behind brady, and rivers? and ahead of ron mexico (aka mike vick)
droopydawg
December 2nd, 2010
2:16 pm
The Falcons have certainly had some horrible coaches in the past. I am a TB fan and think Raheem Morris probably deserves the coach of the year unless the crumble in the last 5 (which is possible with a team this young) and arguably the GM has been more important (look at how many 08, 09, and 10 draft picks are currently starting or giving significant playing time…not just Freeman, Benn, Williams, McCoy, Blount, but half the defense too).
That said, Mike Smith is a close, close second. He has done great things with the Falcons. The NFC South in general is pretty solid overall and particularly in coaching.
droopydawg
December 2nd, 2010
2:17 pm
Saying Matt Ryan chokes is to have no idea about football. They have had a number of 4th quarter comebacks this year. The only choking for ATL all year was the D against Mendenhall.
Saints1Fan
December 2nd, 2010
2:19 pm
Eric C:
Maybe you missed it, but when the Saints played Carolina, their defense was ranked number 4 overall. They were leading the league in sacks, etc and were giving up 14 points per game. That included holding us to 16 points in our first game in the Dome and we scored about 31 in Carolina.
If you think that Carolina is going to be a walk away win for your ball club, you are kidding yourself. They play the same type of football that you do. Normally mistake free, ball control, field positon games. In the games that they lost badly, they didn’t have Steve Smith or their two starting running backs. You would be foolish to sleep on them.
ICE: Ryan is a good quarterback. In no way shape or form is he or should he be considered an elite quarterback at this stage. Will he get there? Yes, I believe so. Is he there now, I would say no. Just like Drew Brees wasn’t there when he was in San Diego. Brees was a good quarterback. Now he is an elite qb. Since 2006 Brees played in 74 regular-season games as the team’s starter, Brees is 46-28 and has thrown 145 touchdown passes. Not to mention he has more passing yards than any quarterback in the league during that time frame.
waynester
December 2nd, 2010
3:56 pm
Jeff Schultz
Off topic but you’re wrong about Cam Newton’s case. The NCAA is bending over backwards to avoid the stigma they inflicted on USC for the same wrongdoing and that is patently unfair to all the other parents and players who abide by the rules and don’t go shopping their services to the highest bidder. It stinks to hell and every game he participated in has the taint of the Newtons’(plural) rule-breaking. Absolutely shameful….
Fred Macmurray
December 2nd, 2010
6:00 pm
MattChokeRyan = NO CLASS TRASH
Matt "ICE Ryan
December 2nd, 2010
10:56 pm
saints fan: i believe matt ryan is elite in his own way. the two guys in front of matt have o do it all on their own when it comes to offense but, matty ice is different . he could throw for 300+ yards if he had to (see vs. ravens) because the run wasn’t working or he could throw for 180 yards and convert those 3rd and longs, and run the offense. he can do it all and has a great football I.Q.
“Great timing can beat any D no matter how great it is
-Matt Ryan
Tom Matthews
December 3rd, 2010
12:06 pm
Wasn’t it Marcellus Wiley on ESPN who, on the day Smith was hired, called him a guy who stood at the front of the room while Jack Del Rio coached the Jacksonville defense, and talked about how the Falcons had to go low on the totem pole to get Smith? Whatever happened to Wiley? Oh, yeah: Still doing analysis for ESPN. (I suppose they had to reach low, too.) Has he ever recanted?
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 3rd, 2010
12:27 pm
Dink & Dunk King
FALCONS LIVE: No Cam Newton here but Ryan's not bad | Jeff Schultz
December 5th, 2010
1:48 pm
[...] I wrote early in the week, Smith (29-14) already ranks fourth in team history in victories despite being only ninth in games coached [...]