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
captguitarman
December 28th, 2011
3:48 pm
Although it may be disappointing to Falcon fans, and perhaps hard to accept, after the good, but sometimes sporadic good growth spurt since Smith arrived, the Falcons have a ways to go to reach the stature of teams like Green Bay, New England, New Oleans, and more recently, San Francisco. Another play off appearance is good after a somewhat shaky and inconsistent season, but if it happens in New Orleans, those who insist that there will be a different result qualify for insanity – which as the old canard goes, is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. You can cry about running up the score all you want, and perhaps even hope that it will fire up the Falcons to go in there and get revenge. But, if you watched the same game I did, the Saints practically couldn’t help themselves from scoring in quick 3 to 4 minute bursts. Maybe if the Saints could be limited to only 9 or 10 men on offense, it might make for a more interesting game. Monday night’s game was one of the most compelling ass whuppings of one good team by another good (great?) team televised this year. It was painful to watch. The Saints completely controlled every aspect of the game. Every Atlanta receiver targeted by Ryan had a swarm of black uniforms around him while Ryan was under constant pressure. Every Saint receiver ran free while Brees either took his time or moved around masterfully in the pocket easily dodging Atlanta’s best “blitzes.” And that is just one aspect. Besides passing, the Saints can run the ball all day if they want to. Nope. Not this year. The Saints have jelled and peaked at exactly the right moment. But, the Falcons can get there under Smith. It is just going to take more time
CGD..
December 28th, 2011
3:48 pm
I guess in Denver’s case it was good to be “lucky”?..Falcons could sure use some luck going into the playoffs…
It’s amazing how the Chargers underachieve for years with Norv Turner sorta like the Braves used to under Bobby Cox regime..
ramblingbuzz
December 28th, 2011
3:51 pm
An you don’t beat the packers, saints, or giants by kicking a field goal 1 out of every 2 times you’re in the red zone. Who calls the plays in the red zone, Mickey Mouse?
?
December 28th, 2011
3:51 pm
MATT NOODLE RYAN COULD NOT HIT A BULL IN THE ASS WITHA BASS FIDDLE. THE FALCOONS WILL ALWAYS BE LOSERS WITH THE STAFF THEY HAVE NOW.
atl = loserville
December 28th, 2011
3:52 pm
in loserville atlanta, just having a “winning” season makes it a big year!!! Two winning seasons in a row???? Take to the streets in celebration, have a parade, hand out big bonus checks!!!
That’s why it’s loserville!!!
AJ
December 28th, 2011
3:52 pm
Our achievement would be to get rid of Bryan Van Gorder so we can not worry about winning one playoff game and instead be Super Bowl contenders consistently.
Another wide receiver
December 28th, 2011
3:54 pm
the falcons need to give away a bunch more picks from future years to get another wide receiver! with another wide receiver, they will be unstoppable and will be dominating the league for years!!!! Dimitroff–pure genius!!!
Who dat now?
December 28th, 2011
3:56 pm
georgia blown out by lsu
falcons blown out by saints
playoffs: more of the same–saints win easy. Party time on bourbon street!!! saints win the super bowl!!!
Angelo
December 28th, 2011
3:57 pm
Falcons fan don’t worry the falcons will be allright its just a bump in the road.
JSS
December 28th, 2011
3:58 pm
Oh, sorry before I go; but do you really “trust” Smith to bring in quality assistants with his track record?
Jim
December 28th, 2011
3:59 pm
After 13-3 and talk by Blank et al that nothing less than a Super Bowl victory would be acceptable, anything less is not a success. Blank defined it for us all…as did a bunch of the players. Want a bold prediction?…no success this year by Blank’s standard. duh
Nativebird
December 28th, 2011
4:02 pm
Thinking right now Jeff kudos. Finally someone in Atlanta raising the bar on Falcon leadership and saying STOP with the silly lip service about “championships”. Appararantly they were spouting truth about simply being “relevant” because that is barely (repeat: barely) what they are. This franchise is not in the same league with the Saints, Packers and Patiots. not even close. So stop pretending Falcons and start learning what it takes to reach elite status and start executing on it. Cuz what Dimitrof, Smith and his Coordinators are doing is on the Right track for mediocraty.
Me Too
December 28th, 2011
4:02 pm
After all the hype of last year, success should be getting to the Super Bowl, but at this point in time, I would define success as:
The coaching staff puts a team on the field for the first playoff game that has a defense using man-to-man coverage.
The coaching staff puts a team on the field for the first playoff game that has an offense that does not have Michael Turner as a starter or a reserve on the bench, Mike Mularkey has been pulled from the press box and is not calling plays, and every play called is a screen pass.
CGD..
December 28th, 2011
4:07 pm
Mr Blank you set the bar too High with that 13-3 record mostly against inferior talent last year..
Sorta would be like GM bringing back Charles Pogue “Winnipeg” carburetor that allowed V8 motors to achieve over 200mpg(circa 1931).. Who would drive an in-line 4 Hybrid that gets 50 MPG?….Duh!!!
cpat16
December 28th, 2011
4:08 pm
Rams are letting go of Spagnuolo. Lets grab him as DC and Todd Haley as OC. Problem solved. We have the talent, but no one knows how to use it.
Jacquess Strappe
December 28th, 2011
4:10 pm
Winning the first game and not embarrassing themselves (and us) if losing the second would be a positive; going one further game could be measured as real success. But if on a roll, don’t stop!!
Don’t know if it will happen in a playoff environment if we continue to be predictable on offense when not in no-huddle and don’t make better use of ALL of our offensive “weapons”, and especially if we continually play the soft zone on defense and do not get quarterback pressure. I do remain hopeful !!!
Scott6840
December 28th, 2011
4:20 pm
I have been a Falcon fan since 1966 and had season tickets for 15 years, until I moved away. While Coach Smith is by far the best Falcon coach ever, after last year’s post season game with GB and Monday night’s game I’m not sure they are ready for prime time.
I really hate to say this, but perhaps a forfeit would be less embarrassing.
Poll: How should Falcons define success in NFL playoffs? | Jeff … | football-feed.com
December 28th, 2011
4:37 pm
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keepinitreal
December 28th, 2011
4:46 pm
cpat, I like that plan. Spags knows how to rush the passer. That’s an area where the Falcons are badly deficient right now.
I like Haley, too, though if I had my pick of the litter, I’d go with Norv Turner for OC. If there’s anyone who could help Matt Ryan turn the corner, it’s Norv.
keepinitreal
December 28th, 2011
4:51 pm
But regardless, it’s obvious that Mularkey and BVG have both run their course in Atlanta. I don’t see how Smitty could justify bringing these two men back next year. Hopefully Mularkey gets a head coaching job. BVG should be given his unconditional release. He simply hasn’t produced.
Wink
December 28th, 2011
4:57 pm
Success can be defined many ways, but in football only W’s in the playoffs count for anything. The Falcons are 0 & 2 with this regime.
One playoff win would be success for this very ordinary team. The Falcons success is base on LUCK. Last year we were 13 & 3, but we playeda soft schedule and had 5 or 6 come from behind wins. We could have very easily been 8 & 8 or 9 & 7.
In the playoff we got the Green Bay Packer at 9 & 7, which was a wild card team, best draw we could have expected, playing on our home turf, where we had the best winning record and the Pack smashed mouthed our dream season and routed us. They just got their first lost since, last week. In hindsight we lost to an Elite Team and have been routed by them again this year.
We have been Lucky, we take care of weaker opponents in most games, but we can’t beat winning teams.
We need to get very LUCKY and see Murlarkey & Van Goder leave town. We need a new Offensive Coordinator, who idea of offensive creativity is to place Julio in the back field, on the opening play, and throw basically a lateral pass, for little or no gain. Why not a bubble screen, with blocker out front. Was that creativity or just stupidity? Really who did not know he was going to get the ball!
This team is programmed to play close and be in the game in the fourth quarter. History from last year says that’s the way to play the game…why not we were 13 & 3 right? Wrong, you are playing better competition this year and this has served you well against losing teams, even this year we are what 6 & 2 against losing teams.
Where are the explosive plays against good teams, what happens to the NO HUDDLE against good teams? Good teams score quite a few touchdowns and our penchant for taking FIELD GOALS to keep us close will not WIN FOOTBALL GAMES!!!!!
Why can’t we win because we can’t keep up with the scoring. Good team exploit Van Goder and his PRECIOUS LITTLE SOFT ZONE. We can’t get off the field on 3rd DOWN. I would much rather see the Falcons face 3rd down & 2 than 3rd Down & 7, 10, 17, because the PRECIOUS LITTLE SOFT ZONE allows teams to be successful, Brees was 8 for 8 at one point in the game on 3rd DOWN CONVERSIONS!!
So the Falcons are very lucky to be in the playoffs and in these parts one win would be a Huge Acheivement for Falcons…yet in REALITY FOR MOST FANS…NOT GOOD ENOUGH!!!
1990_Champs_GT
December 28th, 2011
5:37 pm
I still hold to what I said about the Falcons at the end (half) of the Packers’ playoff game last year:
If the they don’t make the playoffs or lose in the first round, fire Mike Smith and the coordinators.
mike
December 28th, 2011
5:39 pm
at least the hawks have won a playoff series three years in a row.. thanks for getting up hyped up all year for the Falcons only to see them lose the big game year after year..
Mr. SaintsFan Jr.
December 28th, 2011
5:42 pm
As a diehard Saints fan, I can understand your frustration and fully sympathize with you guys as a fan base. For more than 40 years we put up with a miserable bottom dweller in the New Orleans Saints,until Tom Benson bought the team and we began to enjoy some success around the early 90’s under Jim Mora. We had some leans years until Coach Payton took the job and took us to our first NFC Championship where we lost to the Bears in 06. Since that time I noticed something special about his coaching staff, a winning formula that has worked for the last 6 years that has bought us a Superbowl ring.T he Saints are known as a team who will draft you in the 7th round or if you go undrafted you will get a shot to make the team. We have a lot of no names, players who have come from colleges like Hostra, Bloomberg, rookies who are drafted in the 2,3,4 rounds and guys who don’t mind if they are not the star. We don’t have prima donna recievers if they don’t get the ball go to the media, I have read stories on Tuesdays, the off day for most NFL players our recievers are playing pitch and catch with Drew Brees. My point is this team and the coaches have put the time in to be great or good whatever you want to describe them as, and it has paid off big dividends. The Falcons have some great talent and that game is probaly the one game of the year that we as Saints fans know will be a tough game for us.I think Mike Smith is a good coach, I think your coorinating positions need to be upgraded. I can tell you one more thing about the Saints I have never seen them out coached, they make adjustments all game along, they will figure out what you are doing and simply adjust to counteract what you are doing. If a game plan not working, they will change it on the field and thats the kind of coaching that will bring you success.
Phalcon Phil
December 28th, 2011
5:42 pm
Replacing Ryan and Dimitroff would be a huge success for this franchise.
Mr. SaintsFan Jr.
December 28th, 2011
5:49 pm
Winning or the opportunity to play in a Superbowl should be the only gauge for success. To win it all should be the ultimate goal. Coach Patyon said , his desire is either to play in them or put your team in a position to play for a championship. The Saints build their team each year with that goal in mind.
DC
December 28th, 2011
6:01 pm
I would be happy with REPLACING Mike Mularky and Van Gorder immediately! You can pass all day long on that garbage Saints defense. Instead we try to control the clock and that is not going to happen with them. They can score on a kick-off as you saw with Sproles, they can score on three or four passing plays, and they can score at-will. Turner was effective out of the back field on dump-passes. We need to step up our defensive pressure. The game would have been completely different if we scored on ONE of those turnovers!
Get a clue Van-Gorder, dial up a blitz once in a blue moon. Ray Edwards, earn your contract and John Abraham get 3 SACKS on someone besides Blaine Gabbert!!!!!
72-92
December 28th, 2011
6:08 pm
whats with that no huddle…too much delay…no huddle get up there and hike the ball and catch someone off gaurd
Fan from SAV
December 28th, 2011
6:26 pm
every time I think about Monday night -my head hurts-it’s more than depressing –Much much more was expected this year-I know it’s only a game-but damn if small town GB and that cesspool NO can play -it seems as if Atlanta could at least showup every now and then
C.R Mountjoy
December 28th, 2011
6:29 pm
Kinda tired of hearing the cries of the Saints running up the score this past Monday. The Falcons better be glad the Saints did not run up the score. Yes, DB got his record, but if the Saints really wanted to pour it on, there was nothing the Falcons could do about it. This is pro football, not Pop Warner. Like so many other people have said, if we did not want the score run up on us, the defense should have stopped DB and the O should never have kicked three FGs. It’s that simple.
Sidslid
December 28th, 2011
6:47 pm
Aren’t all three local teams essentially #10? And aren’t all three stuck there because of financial constraints or “core personnel” issues. Falcon’s expensive busts on the defensive side will hamstring them
Fire'em
December 28th, 2011
6:47 pm
If they (Smith and Mularkey) are going to stick with the “3 yards and a cloud of dust” then we’ve got the wrong tools on offense – really, the WRONG kind of offense.
As for the defense – I don’t know even where to start it is so bad…
jojatek
December 28th, 2011
6:50 pm
Seriously? These are the Falcons! Consecutive winning seasons and a future with Dimitroff at the wheel is more than enough. Let’s build it slowly and (finally) develop a franchise that contends year-in and year-out. If we do that, the playoff wins and Super Bowls will follow. Patience, Schultzie… we’ve waited this long…
All I remember is
December 28th, 2011
7:10 pm
Since 1966,
not much Falcon hope hanging around.
Mr. Panic Button
December 28th, 2011
7:16 pm
The reason the Falcons don’t have any top-tier players that dominate the game is we have the worse Scouts in the league. TD brought some of his rejects that Belichick fired from the Patriot’s scouting staff. The drafts have been more miss than hit and the FA signings were more of a marketing ploy to appease the fans rather than finding someone that could come in and make a real impact. We have blind men steering the ship people!
ADS
December 28th, 2011
7:20 pm
How is winning one game better than the past two years when last year they got a bye which is basically like winning a game to get to round 2?
Mark
December 28th, 2011
7:23 pm
Does anyone ever think that maybe the reason john abraham and edwards are not getting pressure against teams like bg, no etc is because those teams have BETTER O lineman and those o lineman are BETTER at their job than ja and re are? It’s not that complicated.
Mr. Thomas Anthony Jones, SR
December 28th, 2011
8:10 pm
One of the most overrated team in the league. A Mike Smith Team can not win in the playoff. Ever! Reminds me of Bob Cox of the Atlants Braves. Overhyped by the news media.
Mr. Thomas Anthony Jones, SR
December 28th, 2011
8:12 pm
Saints wins Divisions. And the Super Bowl.Falcons choke
Mr. Thomas Anthony Jones, SR
December 28th, 2011
8:12 pm
Enough said!
early exit
December 28th, 2011
8:29 pm
falcons go out quick in round one again–but the homer atl media will suck up to blank and smith and declare it a “great” season!!! the difference in champions and losers.
We need a dominant "D" or an elite QB
December 28th, 2011
8:32 pm
How is winning one game better than the past two years when last year they got a bye which is basically like winning a game to get to round 2?
——————————————-
And people wonder why some Falcons fans are called delusional
Delbert D.
December 28th, 2011
8:33 pm
If the Falcons win 1 more game, they will exactly match my preseason expectations for wins. I didn’t think it would get them to the playoffs, though.
Mr. Thomas Anthony Jones, SR
December 28th, 2011
8:34 pm
Another failure by Michael Smith! Yet again. Go Saints!
Furman Bitcher
December 28th, 2011
8:37 pm
duh
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 28th, 2011
8:53 pm
Falcants fans love LOSERS that’s why they support CHOKE.
The last playoff win was 8 years ago, but that’s okay with them because they have their idol.
LOSERS love LOSERS
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan is an idiot
December 28th, 2011
8:55 pm
That’s all!
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 28th, 2011
8:58 pm
The Falcants will always play second fiddle to Mike Vick, no matter how much it angers the LOSERS
in this city. Outside of Atlanta the CHOKE led Falcants are not respected.
I mean just look at the Pro Bowl, the so called image bowl. The Eagles are not even going to the
playoffs and they are sending 3 players to the Pro Bowl and the Falcants are sending a soon to
retire tight end.
Look at ESPN, they are already running a full page article on Mike Vick & Cam Newton, because
Mike Vick and Cam Newton sells, and CHOKE just plain SUCKS & FAILS
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan is an idiot
December 28th, 2011
8:59 pm
And he likes little boys too!
Michael M.
December 28th, 2011
9:06 pm
I am no coward here and tell my pick…………..winning it all………..third go at it and time to put up or shut up and don’t even make a playoff appearance next year if they just doing one and done over and over again .