Mike Smith trying to instill playoff toughness in Falcons
Falcons coach Mike Smith realizes the Falcons will be "scrutinized" for their playoff performances after two postseason losses.
First, let’s get past the flaws.
The Falcons are thin on the offensive line, sporadic in the secondary. Passes have been dropped. Tackles have been missed. Dunta Robinson, Ray Edwards – sorry, no rebates.
But every NFL playoff team has flaws, even the best one. Ask the Green Bay Packers about their 32nd-ranked defense.
The playoffs open this week. This is a good time for the Falcons to remind themselves of the one absolute truth in football that’s never changed, regardless of any second-guessing of the offensive coordinator or the quarterback’s Tramon Williams’ blind –spot: A punch in the mouth is the great equalizer.
The Falcons have talent. But they are 0-2 in the playoffs under this regime and they’ve struggled against good teams this season. To succeed in this postseason, they’ll need to win on the road, in the cold and/or difficult surroundings — New York this week, potentially Green Bay and New Orleans thereafter. That will require a mental and physical toughness they’ve consistently lacked this season and certainly in playoff losses to Arizona in 2008 and Green Bay last season.
Coach Mike Smith acknowledged, “I understand we’ll be scrutinized in the playoffs. That’s a natural. But it shouldn’t take away from what we’ve accomplished so far.”
It doesn’t take away. But it does leave some with thoughts of an imaginary ceiling.
Smith realizes bragging rights associated with his 43-21 regular-season record, as great as it is, carries a limited freshness date. At some point, the Falcons need to win a playoff game, and that point might very well be now.
One common theme in the two playoff losses: turnovers. The Falcons committed seven. But it’s not that simple.
The former linebacker and noted philosopher, Dick Butkus, once said, “When I played pro football, I never set out to hurt anyone deliberately — unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something.”
Now, this shouldn’t be viewed as a rallying cry for the Falcons to take the New York Giants out at the knees Sunday (notwithstanding the comical ramblings of Justin Tuck, who already views the Falcons as cheaters and “dirtbags”). It’s more about what Atlanta hasn’t been for much of this season and in the postseason: a physically and mentally tough team.
That’s odd, given, as Smith said, “A team takes on the personality of its coach.”
He coached smart, tough, physical defenses in Jacksonville (as coordinator) and Baltimore (linemen and linebackers). His Jaguars beat Pittsburgh in the 2007 playoffs before losing to unbeaten New England. His Ravens won the Super Bowl in 2000. He knows what it takes to be successful in the postseason and has tried to instill that in the Falcons. To this point he’s 0-for-2.
“When you’re in the playoffs, you know it’s win or go home — there’s a finality to it,” Smith said. “Everything is heightened in terms of your preparation, mentally and physically. You can’t look past what’s going on on that play, at that moment. The teams I’ve been on that have won postseason games, they’ve had that focus. They were prepared for the ebbs and flows in a game.”
Smith wouldn’t divulge what he’ll tell his team the night before the game in New York. But I’m guessing he just touched on elements of it. The Falcons weren’t prepared last season before the Green Bay playoff game. Smith acknowledges now that he botched the bye week, giving players “too much down time.” He wanted them to be fresh, but by game day they had lost their edge.
The way Aaron Rodgers was playing, maybe it wouldn’t have made a difference. But neither would it have been 42-14 in the third quarter.
If the Falcons win Sunday in New York, it will be because they were the smarter, tougher team. That wasn’t the case earlier this season against Green Bay, and it also wasn’t the case in losses to Houston, New Orleans (twice) and Chicago.
The Falcons have flaws, but those flaws aren’t going to keep this team from going anywhere.
“We have talent,” Smith said. “We have to play at a higher level than we’ve played all season to win in the playoffs.”
It’s the next step this team needs to take.
By Jeff Schultz
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273 comments Add your comment
DamYankee
January 3rd, 2012
5:22 pm
Half the Falcon’s “mean” is playing for St. Louis & most of the rest (M. Peterson) is hurt.
CGD..
January 3rd, 2012
5:23 pm
I can see it coming in the”AIR” OH NO!!!!!!!!!!! Whats wrong???
A pick six……………………That’s whats wrong…..
Gwinnett Fred
January 3rd, 2012
5:29 pm
People keep talking about the Falcons cowering against “elite” teams.
NYG ARE NOT AN ELITE TEAM!!
People love to point out ATL is 2-4 against teams w/ winning record
Nobody has noted the NYG are 1-3 against teams with a winning record
People love to bash Ryan and praise Manning
Nobody has pointed out Ryan’s 29:12 TD to Int ration is better than Eli’s 29:16
So Falcons fans – enjoy the game and root on your team.
Falcons bashers – go find a team to root for because it must be a miserable existance to only root against teams. Which, BTW, makaes you pathetic. Instead of rooting for 1 team against 31 others, you root for 31 teams against 1 – what a chicken $h!t way to go thru life.
AlanFalcon
January 3rd, 2012
5:35 pm
I hope that Smitty doesn’t have short term memory loss, he step on the team this last week and got results even if it was Tampa Bay. The Falcons were a different team in the first half, one that we had not seen this year, I know he let up in the second half and I’m not sure that was a good idea as we all saw the results, this team unfortunately needs a cow prod put on their butts as they have a natural tendency to think that others will pick up their slack and when that happens they go down hill.
CGD..
January 3rd, 2012
5:37 pm
They both suck against the winners but guess what the Falcons are going to be outside in wintery conditions on the road..Oh no Matty!
JSS
January 3rd, 2012
5:51 pm
Ho Chi Mingh said it best… To paraphrase: “I’d rather smell French feces for 5 years, then eat Chinese feces for a 1000!” So I’d rather appreciate the teams that actually do something in the post-season then to keep “WIshin and Hopin’!” Hey, that was a Dusty Springfield song! It can join the Falcons Theme Song Collection… Post-Season Edition…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14Dgw_LSJ5w&feature=related
just sayin
January 3rd, 2012
5:56 pm
eli and matt both threw 29 tds this season. eli threw more picks. matt got pulled early in a couple of games for getting a huge lead and us being a classy team that doesent want to run the score up.
Tony Montana
January 3rd, 2012
6:13 pm
JSS,, I think you can do both,, unless of course you have ulterior motives for hating a certain team,,, which obviously you do… and you sure spend alot of time bashing on here,, here’s an idea,, go make your snide comments on the blogs of these teams that you “appreciate”…. Your lame jokes and historical referenses are. well,,, lame…
ijonathan
January 3rd, 2012
6:14 pm
CGD…yes, very nice use of the “greater than” and “less than” signs. Bravo.
St. Pete Falcon
January 3rd, 2012
6:31 pm
I agree with Steve O – anyone questioning Ryans toughness is Wacko. Who Me.
JSS
January 3rd, 2012
6:35 pm
“Your lame jokes and historical referenses are. well,,, lame…” Redundant is well “lame.” Snide enough? And does DePalma know you’re “lame?”
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 3rd, 2012
6:41 pm
Last 6 games vs 4 Rookies, a 4 win team and a THUMPING by Drew Brees.
Wow
Felix
January 3rd, 2012
6:43 pm
Hope they do go on a run but I’m just not sold on these Falcons. I think they got to where they are by playing a weak schedule. Just go look at all the chumps they played. When they did play a good team, the Saints, they were exposed.
My money will be on the Giants to advance.
JSS
January 3rd, 2012
6:48 pm
And my “motives” are not “ulterior.” A team that hired Bob Petrino as their head coach lost me as a season ticket holder on January 7, 2007. A team that overspent on the number 7 pick in the 2008 draft just reinforced my choice to become a NFL fan instead tying my “wagon” to one team. An owner who continues to insult taxpayers by demanding public funding of his private enterprise (a new outdoor football only stadium) while the region cannot pay for regional transportation needs or its Constitutional requirements for civic education is in no way a civic steward… Now, if you want to keep trying to tie your weak and misinterpreted reasoning to why I see a team that has failed at home and away in its last three games in the post-season (I included Mora’s folly in Philly too) as not worth holding up as a “real” contender, then go ahead and keep wasting your time…
Who Me?
January 3rd, 2012
6:50 pm
@Steve-O and St. Pete Falcon – puhleez. First of all its Svitek, not Svitex. Secondly, I reserve the right to question any QB’s toughness, especially my own team. I will say his second half of the season has been much improved from the early season efforts but he still runs out of the pocket far too much for my taste. Part of that was, I’m sure, Baker’s early inability to stop ANYone from blindsiding him. Svitek has done, in my opinion, an outstanding job stepping and gradually improving his technique so that Ryan could settle down, and clearly his QBR for the last month of the season indicates his confidence in Will.
Nevertheless, he needs to step up and demand more from all of his receivers, especially Roddy, as we go into postseason play.
and i still maintain he was tougher in his rookie season than he was this year, especially the first 8 games.
Tony Montana
January 3rd, 2012
6:53 pm
JSS,, I bet your moma had to tie a pork chop around your neck to get the dog to play with you…. your not clever, and your not funny.
JSS
January 3rd, 2012
7:10 pm
Sorry Fake Tony Montana (Spoiler alert: He ends up face down in a pool of blood in original and in the remake), had my dog from the time I was 2 weeks old until the day she when I was 17… And she was a loyal companion… And I didn’t have to smear peanut butter all over myself like you to get a little attention… :-0 !!!
Why Chipper Why
January 3rd, 2012
7:10 pm
“Gwinnett Fred
Simply put – if the Falcons don’t win this game, they need MAJOR changes.”
I have an idea. Lets trade the rest of this years draft picks and 2013’s for a wide receiver! I think thats just what our secondary and o-line need!
BravesFan79
January 3rd, 2012
7:11 pm
I dont think the Saints blowout was at all a reflection of this true team. They had ALOT of bad calls go against them that cost them points and momentum. I think this team is very capable of beating anyone in the playoffs! We need a more aggressive defense tho , playing that soft zone defence on 3rd down isnt going to cut it!
BravesFan79
January 3rd, 2012
7:11 pm
I dont think the Saints blowout was at all a reflection of this true team. They had ALOT of bad calls go against them that cost them points and momentum. I think this team is very capable of beating anyone in the playoffs! We need a more aggressive defense tho , playing that soft zone defence on 3rd down isnt going to cut it!
CGD..
January 3rd, 2012
7:15 pm
“Clearly his confidence has grown these last 4 games”
Yours would too, if you played against the last 4 teams with a combine record of 18-46!!!! Dayum!!!!! LMAO!!
Lets see that’s 18 divided into 64 carry the 4 subtract 5 add 15 multiply by 4 and you get 8 years of “this job would be a lot easier if I were a Dictator”.. hahaha
Combined winning %= .28125..Oh boy the Birds are ready now for phase 2( The Playoff Matrix)..
Hollywood could not script this any better…IN OLE NEW YORK, A CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS!
CGD..
January 3rd, 2012
7:19 pm
Mr Blank, you want a new stadium?
Sell more electric screw drivers!
Gwinnett Fred
January 3rd, 2012
7:24 pm
Chipper:
The major changes would (obviously) be needed on the defensive side. hard to argue with Dimitrof’s overall abilities, but he has NOT shown the ability to draft contributing defensive players so far (and his free agent defensive players haven’t done much either).
Joe Tess Fish House
January 3rd, 2012
7:30 pm
Its those flaws that will caused the Flacons a vicktory Sunday. Mark my word
Why Chipper Why
January 3rd, 2012
7:30 pm
Gwinnett,
Have you seen the episode of South Park describing how our government does business? Cut a chicken’s head off and wherever falls dead dictates your decision.
No one will ever be able to convince me that drafting Julio Jones was a good move. He’s a great player but was nowhere near what our team needed. Whomever made that decision, if it wasnt all Dmitroff’s idea, should be tarred, feathered, and dragged down Peachtree Street. Arthur Blank should spend the offseason kicking Dmitroff in the nads.
Why Chipper Why
January 3rd, 2012
7:32 pm
Do you know what Isiah Crowell and Julio Jones have in common?
One hard hit and that’s it.
Monday Morning QB
January 3rd, 2012
7:34 pm
America is a great country
Only in America could an absolute loser like CGD slam accomplished people like Arthur Blank and Matt Ryan.
Me Too
January 3rd, 2012
7:34 pm
Based on the Bucs game:
We will continue to play zone and Giants will have many long third down completions.
Our primary weapon will be one man, Micheal Turner, regardless of all the other talented players and the number of negative yardage runs.
Mike Mularkey will call the same plays up the middle on first and second downs putting Matt Ryan in a fail position on third down.
We will score field goals not touchdowns.
When we reach the red zone, Mike Mularkey will maximize the number of plays needed to score which usually means a field goal. Let’s show the Giants we can run the ball with Michael Turner across the goal line no matter if passing to one of the receivers is easier and faster. We want the Giants defense (don’t take advantage of them) to know what the plays will be because the plays have been run so many times before and we will prove we can out execute the Giants. We are looking for perfection not a score.
The fans will be disappointed on Sunday night. Since the Green Bay playoff loss and 16 regular season games the coaching staff has made no noticeable changes to play at a level of the elite teams. The coaches are going to do things their way at the expense of having a really great team.
I hope I am wrong
Monday Morning QB
January 3rd, 2012
7:35 pm
@ Why Chipper
What team do you work for? Why does anyone need to convine you? You are irrelevant.
JSS
January 3rd, 2012
7:36 pm
Pecking order for Arthur’s money…
1. Mrs. Blank’s lawyers
2. Mrs. Blank’s accountants
3. Blank kids private school
4. Mr. Blank’s lawyers
5. Mr. Blank’s off-shore tax shelters
6. Mr. Blank’s shell charity foundation
7. Mr. Blank’s Brooks Brother account
8. Mr. Blank’s lobbying concerns
9. The Georgia Legislature and the Governor’s fund raising pursuits…
10. Mr. Blank’s stadium consulting group…
Why Chipper Why
January 3rd, 2012
7:38 pm
Monday Morning QB,
You think we needed an upgrade at wide receiver after watching that Green Bay playoff loss?
What team do you work for?
CGD..
January 3rd, 2012
7:38 pm
Free Monday Morning QB!!!!
Only in Georgia would they put you out on probation…lol
Monday Morning QB
January 3rd, 2012
7:39 pm
Pecking order of JSS money
1. he has no money because he is to stupid to get a job and to big a loser to have a girlfriend.
CGD..
January 3rd, 2012
7:42 pm
No he didnt go there?^^^^^^
Joe Tess Fish House
January 3rd, 2012
7:43 pm
Oh yeah Schlutzie….U forgot 2 mention all of these probs R b Cuzx of Dimitiroff. Wht kind of isoit sighs a CB that cant cover ot tackel or a DT that cant sax a QB. Dont forget drafting a DT that fakes injruy so he can collect a paid chex. Dont bale rthe coach although he screw u a lot 2 no blame Dimitiroff and his decesions on draft day and FA sighing.
Joe Tess Fish House
January 3rd, 2012
7:43 pm
Oh yeah Schlutzie….U forgot 2 mention all of these probs R b Cuzx of Dimitiroff. Wht kind of isoit sighs a CB that cant cover ot tackel or a DT that cant sax a QB. Dont forget drafting a DT that fakes injruy so he can collect a paid chex. Dont bale rthe coach although he screw u a lot 2 no blame Dimitiroff and his decesions on draft day and FA sighing.
Monday Morning QB
January 3rd, 2012
7:44 pm
@ Why Chipper
I work for the same team you do but I’m smart enough to let things play out before I start complaining. Based on what I’ve seen of Julio so far the early returns look pretty damn good.
Falcons4Eva
January 3rd, 2012
7:46 pm
@ JSS
January 3rd, 2012
7:36 pm
===========================================
And your point being?
It’s His FREAKIN’ money you idiot! He do with it as he damn well please.
Are you jealous or what? Typical socialist!
Why Chipper Why
January 3rd, 2012
7:47 pm
So you are of the opinion that New Orleans would be correct to trade 2 years of draft picks for a star quarterback? Have you even paid a slice of attention at whats happening in Indy over Peyton and Luck?
Dont be contrary. No one likes a person that argues with people for the sake of argument.
Why Chipper Why
January 3rd, 2012
7:50 pm
Monday,
When I see Julio Jones out there in our secondary, providing pass protection so the Rodger’s of the world dont eviscerate us(AGAIN), I will be inclined to agree with you.
Falcons4Eva
January 3rd, 2012
7:51 pm
@ Monday Morning QB
January 3rd, 2012
7:39 pm
======================================
You are a retard. Saying a billionaire is too stupid to get a job? Are you serious? A billionaire getting a job?
What planet are you from – Planet of the Idiots?
It tickles me to hear other nutts begrudge another mans success in life. Only low life’s who has never accomplished anything would make such a statement as yours.
Monday Morning QB
January 3rd, 2012
7:54 pm
@ Chipper
Where do you morons come up with this two years of draft picks nonsence. The Falcons gave up picks 2 & 4 last year and picks 1 & 4 this year. That’s 4 picks out of around 14 picks for the two years. Your math is very shaky.
Michael M.
January 3rd, 2012
7:55 pm
One rags one praises on and on and back n forth………….but I did like the very first comment on this by Jeremy.
You got to go with Atlanta on this one, no way they going 0-3 under Smitty in a wildcard playoff game boys,…….” Atlanta by 3 ————-Falcons 30 – Giants 27
see yah
JSS
January 3rd, 2012
7:55 pm
He he he he, somebody said “socialist” while giving public money to a rich man to build a facility for his private gratification not the community’s edification… Now there is some more that “unintended irony!”
JSS
January 3rd, 2012
8:03 pm
It ain’t his money when ask “us” to be 1. the bond security for his venture (that was the tenet of true capitalism, you risk it to reap the reward), 2. its not “his money,” its “their money.” Go back and read that little marriage contract (oops i forgot, you wouldn’t know a thing about that, you only think the license closes the deal). So who got the double-wide, dang it was a rental too!
zorro
January 3rd, 2012
8:04 pm
Falcons 38 Giants 20
after saturday game the door opens just a little bit wider,come on in boys and bring J Jones with you.
Why Chipper Why
January 3rd, 2012
8:04 pm
Monday,
I see your point about generalization but that has nothing to do with the fact that Julio Jones is not what our team needed.
Just because the rest of the board is tearing you apart doesnt mean I will feel sorry for you and agree.
I think im in agreement with the community concerning you.
Truth
January 3rd, 2012
8:05 pm
Julio will make the difference. Best draft decision in Falcons history.
JSS
January 3rd, 2012
8:05 pm
Oh yeah, message from my girlfriend, enjoy the cold of winter in late January and February, we’ll be Ixtapa… Look it up!!! Hasta la proxima Chiva!!!
zorro
January 3rd, 2012
8:05 pm
After sat game (saints, &Lions)