Poll time: How should we define success for Falcons?
Brian VanGorder and Mike Smith have a lot to fix before playoffs. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
(Updated)
The Falcons tell us how that just making the playoffs isn’t good enough any more. So you wonder why they played one of their worst games ever under coach Mike Smith — Monday’s 45-16 loss at New Orleans — the night after they had clinched a postseason berth?
But let’s move on. The Falcons play their final regular season game against Tampa Bay Sunday. The game may or may not their impact playoff seeding and match-up. Nobody’s expecting an overly festive atmosphere in the Georgia Dome for the season’s final home game. (The only way the Falcons could host another game would be as a No. 5 seed if they faced No. 6 Detroit for the NFC championship. Not likely.)
Loading ...For all of the regular season success under Smith, general manager Thomas Dimitroff and quarterback Matt Ryan, the team has whiffed in the postseason. They’re 42-21 in four regular seasons, but 0-2 so far in the postseason.
So what qualifies as success this season? Here are the choices:
• Achievement: Making the playoffs. Breakdown: The Falcons are there for the third time in four years, which is unprecedented in franchise history. But the bar was supposed to be raised. Conclusion: Not good enough.
• Achievement: Win one game: Breakdown: This would be an improvement over the last two years. It would mean the Falcons had beaten New Orleans, New York, Dallas or San Francisco. There are varying degrees of difficulty in those games. But what should be kept in mind is: What was the expectation level before the season? Conclusion: Better, but still not good enough.
• Achievement: Win two games: Breakdown: This could be as difficult as beating the NFC’s two best teams, New Orleans and Green Bay, on the road. The easier end of the spectrum would be finishing as a No. 5 seed and Detroit upsetting New Orleans, which would mean the Falcons would need to only defeat the NFC East champion (New York or Dallas) and San Francisco. Still, it would be impressive. Conclusion: Winning two road playoff games, regardless of the opponents, would qualify as success.
• Achievement: Get to the Super Bowl: Breakdown: For this to happen, the Falcons would need to be far more physical and consistent than they’ve been this season. There has been no indication that is going to happen, but we’ve seen strange postseason developments before. Conclusion: Definitely something worth celebrating.
• Achievement: Win the Super Bowl: Breakdown: Honestly, if the Falcons can winning three NFC road playoff games, beating New England, Pittsburgh or any AFC opponent on a neutral field wouldn’t seem as daunting. Conclusion: Duh.
Those are my thoughts. What are yours? What do you believe qualifies as a successful season?
The poll is up and the floor is yours.
By Jeff Schultz
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418 comments Add your comment
Buzzman
December 28th, 2011
11:52 am
Not one to tell the Falcons they will win, they do not have the talent, if they play New Orleans again, they will lose again. They cannot match up to them. Our defense is terrible, we have no long ball threat,
Scoots
December 28th, 2011
11:52 am
You know…
You have a point, but I’d also argue that the Falcons are closer to being a Super Bowl caliber team than the Hawks are to playing in the Finals.
ICoachFootball
December 28th, 2011
11:53 am
@falconfiend – I admire your true “fanship” of the Falcons but as a coach let me point out a few differences between “Elite” teams and the Falcons.
1. Consistency on Defense – Elite teams’ defenses make the opposition get off the field on 3rd and long for the majority of a game..The Falcons allowed Brees and co. to convert on over 90% of their 3rd downs with nearly half of them over 10 yds. (Problem here is secondary and coverage)
2.Consistency on Offense – Elite teams’ offenses should be able to convert on 3rd down situations for the majority of a game. They should also be able to score TD’s vs. FG’s when they get in the red zone. The Falcons had 16 points…that’s not enough against Elite teams when your defense can’t stop anybody.(multitude of problems here from predictable offense to no deep threat which leads me to my next point
3.NODEAPTHREAT – why go and get Julio Jones if your QB can’t get him the ball past 20yds???? I know he’s supposed to be your guys saviour….but Matt Ryan has a WEAK ARM for a QB….He struggles to throw the deep ball…that’s why opposing defenses can play up on the offense becaue Matt Ryan can’t do much more past the 3 step drop….if you don’t believe me…check the Falcons stats for pass plays beyond 30 yds….THEIR RANKED CLOSE TO LAST. Elite teams don’t have this issue.
4. Offfensive Coordinator – this person on your staff needs to be a mastermind and must be able to adapt. Mularkey is neither…where are the slant routes? where are the screens? where is the play-action?? Falcons have the talent and the speed, but Mularkey doesn’t utilize them properly…
I”m sure someone will disagree with me…I’m more than willing to address it….
Vesaversa
December 28th, 2011
11:53 am
At this point Ryan have been a stater for four years now . Which is plenty of time for him to learn the system and become a elite QB in the league. At this point anything less than the NFC championship should be seen as a failure . Arthur Blank need a wake up call the most . He need to see his Falcons team return to Louisiana and play them Saints one more time . Maybe after they are embarrassed again Arthur Blank will start firing peoples before the empty seats in the Atlanta dome become a problem for his bottom line .
Roger in Canton
December 28th, 2011
11:55 am
How to measure: Mike Smith, BVG, and MM showing some killer instinct and playing with an urgency to win and take no prisioners. For some asinine reason, the old Southern Hospitality seems to rise above winning at all costs and leaves us wanting…see Bobby Cox. Taking a moto from some recent national event that proved historical…its time Atlanta (A. Blank)for “Hope and Change”…dare we? Falcons, you want respect, you want admiration, you want something, then by G * D, go and freeking take it…see the resurgence of SF and Detroit, they are taking what they want, not asking please!! Smith, BVG, MM…are you in? Are you man enough? Falcons can you show what you preach? D-block what say you, or are you guy’s all glimmer and hype? We will see.
trademark
December 28th, 2011
11:55 am
Postseason expectations aside, the goal should be to win at least one playoff game. Since everything else they do around here is painfully slow, it seems like a logical progression. OK, they’re in. Let’s see what, if anything, they can do with it. IMHO, if they lose in the first round, this is actually a regression from last year. Last year they had at least a division championship to go along with it. Next year it just gets harder. Carolina is getting better, in case anyone’s been watching. And you have to wonder if Tampa is going to continue to freefall like they have. With the talent on that team, one would tend to think no. And then there’s New Orleans, who have proved without a shadow of a doubt they are the best team in the division. And it doesn’t look like it’s going to change as long as that group of personnel stay in place. Of course, the only reversal of that appraisal comes if somehow the Falcons take New Orleans out of the playoffs. Only shot at playing king of the mountain there. One things for sure, if they play anywhere near how they “played” that game on Monday, that scenario is not going to happen. Like ever.
Scoots
December 28th, 2011
11:57 am
Roger in Canton – last time Mike Smith ‘went for it’ he got ripped for it. 4th and 1 in OT vs. the Saints
50 years of failure
December 28th, 2011
11:57 am
The Falcons have won 6 playoff games in 15 tries. They have a winning record against 5 of 31 teams. The just wasted 2 drafts on a wide receiver who can’t catch. Yeah, they are going places.
50 years of failure
December 28th, 2011
11:59 am
The Falcons are 104 games under .500. They’d have to go undefeated for 6 straight years to be .500.
50 years of failure
December 28th, 2011
12:02 pm
In their first and last game or 2011 they’ve been outscored 75-28. They have really improved. The current regime has them on the right track. Glory awaits!!
Roger in Canton
December 28th, 2011
12:04 pm
Scoots, appreciate your comment…But, I had no problem with the call, just the freaking execution…Turner into the back of the line, a real stunner and took everyone by suprise (not, lol). If you are going to do something Mike that a lot of us agree with, not questioning strategy, but we do questions the tactics. If you want to act like a man Mike, then think big, not like some school yard girl passing out your manners before slapping at some one. Hit em, don’t slap at them!!
CGD..
December 28th, 2011
12:05 pm
“Shortly after their stunning loss Monday night, some of the Falcons were calling for a rematch with the New Orleans Saints.”
Bet cha COACH CLEAN SHOT and FUTURE GOLF PRO MELT aren’t asking for a rematch cause these beat downs are not an “aberration” as Coach Smith in his coyness tried to convey post game interview…
LOOK, the Falcons are pretenders! When you go 2-8, last 10 games against the winners that proves it! You are what most think you are now..The masses in Atlanta, even the fanatics now know the truth. They were in denial but most have come around begrudgingly to see what this team represents! Garbage!
Melt is elite in your and his dreams…He aint the one GRASSHOPPER!
Melt is an ELITE QB from the 20 to the 20!!
A FG expert! 7 is always greater than 3 in this time line…….
Stick a fork in Abraham and Edwards. Line play was and is HORRIFIC on both sides!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OUT Schemed, OUT Coached!! ET AL…..
Until Arthur cleans out Rich Mckay’s desk, expect more of the same……For years to come….
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SirReal
December 28th, 2011
12:06 pm
I agree with an earlier post about the team not having an alpha male on either side of the ball. Its because of the nice guy culture/image of this team. You cant expect to win playing with a mentality like the London Silly Nannies ( for you family guy fans, you know what Im talking about.lol)
SirReal
December 28th, 2011
12:07 pm
Whats up CGD….tell it like it is brotha. You said wait for it….and it came.smh
CGD..
December 28th, 2011
12:08 pm
Hey Chris Chandler go get warmed up so Sunday you can show the Fans how to go Deep with those patented 55 yard BOMBs into the endzone for 7!!!!!!!!!!!!
Melt needs some lessons……
True Falcon
December 28th, 2011
12:10 pm
As a Season ticket holder I define success as getting better each year, go further each year, always leaving your best effort on the field, and never being embarassed. The Falcons were embarassed by New Orleans! After lossing to them the way that we did earlier this year I would think that Mike Smith and the players would go into New Orleans with a something to prove. When this team falls behind by two score there are never any answers. Mike Smith = Jim Mora, Matt Ryan=Joey Harrington, Brian VanGorder=Gym Teacher
Roger in Canton
December 28th, 2011
12:10 pm
The Falcons are not Man Enough to play the likes of Gb and NO again…I doubt seriously they can beat the Lions again, let alone the Boys of the Niners…Are they serious when they muse for a rematch with the Saints? Really?? OMG, they have got to be STUPID and in denial of the arse kickin they received!!
Scoots
December 28th, 2011
12:11 pm
For those knocking Julio Jones, let’s put his season in a little perspective:
The 10th best rookie WR season in NFL history was Percy Harvin’s 2009 season: 60 receptions, 790 yards, 6 TDs.
Julio Jones has 50 receptions, 883 yards, and 6 TDs.
Extrapolated to a full 16-game season, that would come out to 67 receptions, 1177 yards, 8 TDs and one of the best rookie seasons of all time.
TheWad
December 28th, 2011
12:11 pm
ueeediot…..The bottom line is it doesn`t matter if Mularkey or Ryan is calling the plays, they are not getting results. The players are not producing on the Oline and RB positions. With no running game and leaky pass blocking there can be no consistency in the passing game.
The Dline is unable to get to any QB and therefore the DB`s look totally inept( with the exception of Robinson who IS totally inept). If the Falcons refuse to take a hint from KC and play every reciever from GB, NO, Ne one step off the line with their helmet barried in their face/chest everytime they come off the line then we have no chance of staying on the field with these playoff teams
rollo lawson
December 28th, 2011
12:14 pm
If Van Gorder and Mularkey don’t switch things up in the playoffs (crossing patterns for receivers, run Snelling and Rodgers more, more creative blitzing and man coverage) they should both be fired on the spot. You can’t tell me the 49ers have better overall talent on defense than we do. Look how they are balling.
sad fan
December 28th, 2011
12:16 pm
Why don’t someone ask Mike Smith tough questions during his interviews. Like why in the Fxxx did they feel the need to sign Ray Edwards. This guy is a none performer, he arrived in New Orleans on Monday with a ski mask on, taking the fans money.
reebok
December 28th, 2011
12:18 pm
The Falcons are not a good team. Much like the local college teams, they beat the bad teams and get thumped by the good ones. I expect them to get beaten soundly by whoever they play in the first round. And then the Falcons’ brain trust can again ignore the crappy defense by drafting a running back #1 or something equally inane.
TheWad
December 28th, 2011
12:18 pm
ueeediot…..agreed Ryan does not have an arm in the manner of Cutler, Rivers, Brees, Rodgers, Brady. But neither does Alex Smith of the 11-3 SF 49ers. The problem is at the line on both sides of the ball. The Falcons don`t have any consistency in line play.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 28th, 2011
12:18 pm
Loserville=ATL
"Chef" Tim Dix
December 28th, 2011
12:18 pm
I always chuckle at pro team sports players and coaches (or owners) saying things like get to the post season, or we’ve got bigger goals…
Winning the last game played is the only goal, anything less is a disapointment.
rollo lawson
December 28th, 2011
12:18 pm
TheWad, you are 100% correct about our coverage. Why give the receivers a clear path off the line of scrimmage? Makes absolutely no sense to me whats so ever. But stupid BVG and Smith keep doing it with that soft zone coverage. It is the same sorry defense that got Donatell run out of here. We should have kept on Mike Zimmer. Also, why does Mularkey not give Rodgers and Snelling carries, when it is obvious tip toe Turner can not find a hole or refuses to bounce the play outside? This coaching staff should be fired for simply bbeing so stubborn and predictable.
Robert
December 28th, 2011
12:19 pm
I wish I could see some hard stats that showed what the numbers looked like in the no huddle and when out of the no huddle. That should be the most telling stat of all for coach smith to see.
As far as I’m concerned, BVG is as good as gone, Coach smith has got to be getting sick of 3rd and longs being completed….at what point do you say enough is enough and takeover 3rd down play calling
Reality
December 28th, 2011
12:19 pm
The Falcons have always been losers-now they like to run their mouths after they lose-despicable.
They want a re-match with the Saints? Seriously? They play scared and then talk tough after the game. Didn’t think this organization could be any more embarrassing.
Post game comments:
“didn’t see that coming”
” they ran up the score”
“we want a re-match”
What losers
TroupDawg
December 28th, 2011
12:20 pm
PLAYOFFS!…. PLAYOFFS! …. Talking PLAYOFFS!!?? I still can’t get over Monday Night. Was that supposed to be a pro game? Reminded me of the old Harlem Globetrotters ( Saints ) and that goof ball team (Falcons ) they always pounded in their exibition games. And the refs reminded me of those keystone refs with the trotters. Only thing missing was the bucket of water being thrown.
Maybe it was thrown in our face as Falcon fans believing this pack of “players” actually had heart.
BooBoo
December 28th, 2011
12:22 pm
Achievement: The Falcons made the playoffs with an easy schedule and a bad defense.
That is it. They were blown out against the Bears. Green Bay could have run up the score on them again, but chose not to. The Bucs beat the Falcons (nuff said). The Texans beat them with a rookie 3rd string QB and a defense that played rag-doll with Matt Ryan. There were times when the Eagles looked like they could have beaten the Falcons worse than the Saints did, but somehow they ended up losing to them. The Falcons squeaked by Carolina twice, Seattle, Tennessee, and Minnesota for wins. They only manhandled the Colts and the Jaguars, both of which are not in the playoffs. The only win against a playoff team was their victory over the Lions, but they let the Lions come back in that one, for another squeaker.
That all means the Falcons will not bring a miracle to the Atlanta fans. If they can be competitive in a playoff game it will be a plus. However, their defense is not playoff calibre. They will probably be lown out by the Saints again, and go home to count their millions of comfort dollars.
It all boils down to what does Atlanta want. Do they want a team that wins more than it loses in the regular season, taking advantage of the waekers sisters, while losing to the strong he-men teams, making the playoffs with 10 win seasons, but missing them with 9 wins? Or, does it want to see another “We feel the team has reached a plateau it cannot extend beyond” (Leeman Bennett firing) and change to another college rah-rah loser, or someone who lost in Miami or St. Louis, and end up with another decade of 9, 10, 11 loss seasons, trying to find the right mix to be competitive?
Mike Smith is as vanilla as a coach as there is. He knows winning comes from a successful running game and an accurate passing game, with a defense that eventually stops someone and holds them to field goals. He would not know an “on-side kick” or “fake punt” play if it came up and bit him in the keister. A “far out” play for him is to go for it on 4th and 1, at your own 30 yard line, in overtime. New Orleans did not even have a deep man on the kickoff, after the Falcons kicked a field goal to make it 31-16. They expected an onside kick that never came. They expected Mike smith to be a riverboat gambler, when all he knows is the “missionary positions of the NFL playbook. That means the Atlanta Falcons’ “Achievement” is respectability, but not flare, and certainly not a Pittsburg Steeler-type defense.
Robert
December 28th, 2011
12:22 pm
Matt Ryan has not been the problem of this team the last 3 games….he’s shown up, And he hit roddy for that nice long pass on Monday
As for the playoffs I don’t know who our best matchup is. Dallas is a passing team along with Demarcus ware, Eli would pick apart this secondary,
sad fan
December 28th, 2011
12:22 pm
If Koy B get of tv show with his wife maybe and get in the weight room maybe he can produce more than on sack a season. That guy looks really small for a D-Lineman.
12 men in the huddle
December 28th, 2011
12:22 pm
Frankly, when each season starts, every team has the goal of making it to the big dance…the playoffs! Once you make the playoffs, then your goal becomes getting a home game, then a bye week! Last year we not only made the playoffs, but got a home game AND a bye week, and then the Packers came to town and slapped 50 points on our heads! This years Falcons made the playoffs as a wild-card but certainly looks weaker than last years team that won the division. Looks like we are going back to NO and they say it’s extremely hard to beat a team 3 times in the same year. Personally, I think the Falcons could play NO 100 times in NO and not win one time! But stranger things have happened……remember the time the Falcons went to Minnesota as heavy underdogs and beat that Viking team to make the Super Bowl? Bottom line: I’m happy the Falcons made the playoffs again, even though an early exit is most likely.
CGD..
December 28th, 2011
12:23 pm
If I recall Coach Smith was the Defensive Coordinator for Jacksonville a few years ago when Brady put up 60 on them?
See a pattern? Hmmmmmmmmm…
Elivs the Falcon Fan
December 28th, 2011
12:24 pm
Success??? Forget winning a playoff game. Ain’t gonna happen. This team looks like they are already getting their bags packed for the off season. Here would be my definition of success: In the off season you build an offense around your talent rather than making your talent conform to your offense. Start with Ryan, get him to shed a few pounds and try some plyometrics to get a little more athletic in the pocket, hit the weights and gain some arm strength. Build your offense around he and Roddy and Julio and Tony G. Utilize Harry Douglas, Quizz, and PLEASE make Snelling the feature back. Turner just doesnt act like he cares anymore. Try some more 3 and 4 wide sets using Julio and Harry D on the outside to burn deep. NO gimmick plays, just set up the run off of the pass (unconventional). Defensivlely, well where do I start? BVG just doesnt have it. Get a big intimidating run stopper up front. Let Witherspoon and Lofton loose on pass plays. MAKE OUR SECONDARY PLAY COVER WHICH IS WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DO!!! You dont have to get sacks, just make opposing qbs throw off balance or make them throw when they dont want to. We do not have a defensive player that other teams “scheme” against do we? Finally, get a kicker that can eliminate returns and FIRE WHOMEVER LET KOENEN AND DAHL GET AWAY!!
Robert
December 28th, 2011
12:25 pm
One last question…….. Have we heard a good and true reason for the holding in the end zone call, Was the refs answer legit, You are allowed to tackle abe on a screen play, when no screen was thrown and the qb scrambled…….WHAT?
Buzzer
December 28th, 2011
12:25 pm
Don’t forget what happened when we fired Leeman Bennett for not taking us to the next level.
CGD..
December 28th, 2011
12:27 pm
There’s nothing respectable to losing by 4 TD’s time and again….
There is a major disconnect……And it has not been fixed yet.. But Arthur said he would…Sit tight we will see soon…..
jerry
December 28th, 2011
12:28 pm
Consistently beating bad teams indicates they are not a bad team, consistently losing to good teams indicates they are not a good team. So their record indicates they are not a good team, which is not being successful.
1eyedJack
December 28th, 2011
12:29 pm
Let the Saints fold to someone else in the first round. The Falcons haven’t shown the ability to beat them.
Whopper Dawg
December 28th, 2011
12:32 pm
Out in the first round would lead to questions about the direction of the franchise, personnel, Ryan and can the TD/MS regime compete with the better teams in the NFL when it matters.
First round win will mitigate those worries and provide a positive springboard for next year. While not a roaring success, it would be night and day from another first round whipping.
Two wins and better would be cause and sign for belief of better days ahead.
DJ Sniper
December 28th, 2011
12:34 pm
I see somebody else has brought up Matt Ryan’s arm strength again. No, he doesn’t have a cannon, but his arm is strong enough to get the job done. Once he improves his accuracy, people won’t even care that his arm isn’t as strong as Rogers, Cutler, or Vick.
Like somebody else already said, it’s amazing how the announcers can see what we’ve been saying all season: The offense runs better when Ryan is in the no huddle, and the soft zone coverage is not the answer. Far too much predictibility and stubbornness from our coordinators.
Mark
December 28th, 2011
12:35 pm
Not going to happen – based on the last several weeks, we will only win in the playoffs if we play Carolina or Jax. Find an agressive defensive coach in the off-season and call Ralph Friedgen to light a fire under this unimaginative offense.
sad fan
December 28th, 2011
12:36 pm
Why can;t we the fans hold these guys accountable. It’s clear that they do not respect us the fans, because they continue to take our money and play the same way week after week. BVG has been with the falcons for 4 years and d has not made ay progress. Why? Didn’t we learn our lesson last year when we played Green Bay. The fxxxing zone does not work. I rather you get beat with a blitz and to get beat by the soft zone. At least you have a chance with blitzing, but the zone is and has been a slow death for this team since BVG has arrived. New Orleans blitz a lot and guess what, it worked to get them to a Super Bowl and maybe agian this year.
CGD..
December 28th, 2011
12:37 pm
NO SHOT?
As of right now, the Falcons will get lit up by any of these playoff teams on the road:
GIANTS, DALLAS,49′ERS, SAINTS and maybe even the LIONS! Sheesh……………….
soon to be 0-3 in the playoffs with Matt Ryan
December 28th, 2011
12:39 pm
Matt Ryan does not have the playmaking ability to take advantage of our recievers. Can you image Brees with Julio, Roddy and Gonzalez? Similar to Turner’s rushing yards ranking (3rd), Matt Ryan passing for 4,000 yards is misleading. He only ranks 17th in yards-per-completion, 1 spot ahead of Alex Smith. People can try and blame the o-line all they want but Matt Ryan gets sacked less than Aaron Rodgers, Big Ben, Matt Stafford, Tom Brady and Tony Romo. The dude has the time he just can’t make the reads like the elite guys can.
Zooker
December 28th, 2011
12:44 pm
Buzzer: I remember the Bennett firing and have always regarded it as a cautionary tale. Not sure the thinking behind it was wrong though-they just could never hire the right coach to replace him. Leeman was never successful anywhere else and the Falcons were loaded in 1980-the season of the epic playoff collapse to Dallas.
Not sure if Smith is a great coach but he is as good as Falcon fans can hope for. He is a good coach an a good guy- hoping I works out or him but history isn’t on his side.
sad fan
December 28th, 2011
12:46 pm
So in the film room after the game does anyone ask BVG why in the hell does he continue to run that crappy as zone d. If I was a player on D I will be in the media this week becuase I called out the coaches. The reason I say this is becuase he and the organinzation is effecting my resume do to like of play calling. You expect me to cover a wide receiver and all he need to do is run to the open part of the zone and catch the ball. It is fxxxing imposible to cover anyone with that kind of D.
trademark
December 28th, 2011
12:48 pm
Geez…”Choke”, you know, as bad as the Falcons played on Monday night, I would think a devoted Vick and Philly fan would know better than to talk crap about Atlanta….I mean, damn, Philly? Really? What’s their GD excuse? Hey, it isn’t much, but at least we aren’t the “dream team”. Talk about crap and under-performance.
What’s interesting is that these Falcons DO have another gear, but for some reason, they seem to shift out of it inexplicably in the middle of games against tough opponents. Scared to win? Or not laying all cards on the table? I don’t know. It would be nice to see them turn it all loose against one of them, at least just once. We get the answer to all of this, of course, AFTER the first playoff game this year. Talking heads can speculate all they want up until then.
ShempHoward
December 28th, 2011
12:49 pm
Getting to the playoffs is USELESS. It is a complete waste of time. I remember years ago after Tom Landry’s great run in Dallas in the early 70’s–the cowboys had made something like 12 straight trips to the playoffs, with no superbowls to show for it until jimmy johnson took over. Then they went on to win three superbowls in four years. But the point is 12 CONSECUTIVE TRIPS TO THE PLAYOFFS MEANS NOTHING if it doesnt result in hoisting the Vince Lombardy trophy. Any questions? I think coach mike smith is just plain vanilla (TOO SOFT). He will not ride his players hard to make them perform at the highest level. Smith is full of excuses when his team gets embarrassed on national tv. When the Falcons lost to the saints on monday night, smith said he was surprised and thought they were prepared. My advice to Smith is to go back and watch films of the 1999-2002 St. Louis Rams football team, featuring marshall faulk, kurt warner, isaac bruce and tory holt. Go back and see what it takes for a real football team to go down the field and strike in 2-5 plays almost every time. THAT, MY FRIENDS, WAS THE GREATEST SHOW ON TURF. AND QUITE FRANKLY, I HAVE NEVER SEEN A BETTER OFFENSE PERFORM IN PRO FOOTBALL. If Mike Smith were to watch those films of the Rams and then run the same plays for our personnel–THE FALCONS WILL WIN THE SUPERBOWL THIS YEAR. But I know he wont do it because smith is satified with 20 straight playoff appearances and NO RINGS. It makes no sense to me but I just thought I would educate a novice on what it means to strive for excellence and strive for the highest level and pursuit of perfection. GO WATCH THE FILM.