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
Follow me on Twitter (@JeffSchultzAJC). Friend me on Facebook (Facebook.com/JeffSchultzAJC).
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
273 comments Add your comment
ohhhhYEAH
January 4th, 2012
1:30 am
And by your logic, there is indeed a team the Ravens can’t dominate; the STEELERS.
Sure, they swept them in the regular season, but we all know that you think the regular season means nothing, and so by that logic Joe and the boys are 0-2 against the Steelers in the only season that matters. Spread em Choke
PMC
January 4th, 2012
1:32 am
I’d put Grimes on Cruz all the time, Robinson on Hicks. I like both of those matchups. Both will get their catches, but we can make plays off of those matchups too. Grimes is the more technically sound corner, Robinson obviously the more physical. Spoon and a combination of Franks/Owens can take care of the TE.
I think we may see a bit more blitzing from Decoud and Moore, both have done it successfully and even if they don’t get there perfectly generally they slow the play up enough for Abe and Biermann to to effect the throw or get a sack.
Negativity stops here, we have a team in the tournament. Our team can win!!
ohhhhYEAH
January 4th, 2012
1:39 am
Amen PMC
Ed
January 4th, 2012
1:47 am
@choke
Sure was a week schedule, in fact I would argue the absolute weakest. Not only was it weak but it was front loaded to help build confidence. The wins over that terrible lions team in the opener follwed by KC was a huge confidence boost for the struggling franchise.
Were you just pointing that out, or was it supposed to impact the point I was making? Either way I agree the schedule was a huge help, just as this year’s division champion’s schedule contributed to the 3 game fall off.
Once Recent Reader
January 4th, 2012
1:51 am
OhhhYeah . . ..yesterday I went back and looked at Flacco’s stats in Playoffs. I’m not a Flacco basher, but since he is often compared to Ryan on these blogs and the conversation was on Playoffs . ..I was compelled to check:) Bottom line, that Pats game . ..he was 4 for 10 with an Int and 34 yards. Granted, he may have had better stats if needed . ..but Ray Rice and McGahee killed Pats. He only really had one very nice game against the Chiefs in playoffs. One average/good game against the titans. The others . . .absolutely terrible. I was looking at a Ravens blog . . . . I think Flacco gets as much grief there as Ryan gets here.
ohhhhYEAH
January 4th, 2012
1:56 am
Once Recent
Thats exactly my point. I’m certainly no Flacco basher, as I think he and Ryan both have big things to come for them in their careers. But to me, it’s simply arrogant to say that Flacco is better or to assume theyre even remotely in the same situation as far as team makeup is concerned. Flacco walked into a locker room as a rookie to the likes of Ray Lewis and Ed Reid. Who was in Atlanta when Ryan walked in? Keith Brooking? Where as I loved Brooking, he was certainly no Ray Lewis. Flacco has a much better defense to help his cause than Ryan does, and to me I think that makes Ryan a far better leader of the two.
Once Recent Reader
January 4th, 2012
2:01 am
OhhhYeah . . .. .agreed. I was actually surprised how poorly Flacco stats were in four of six playoff games. I mean they were really bad. As mentioned . . .we should probably put a * next to the Pats playoff win, but from 4 for 10, 34 yards, one Int . . ..only assumption that can be made . .it’s a good thing the running game kicked butt that day for Ravens.
D Fence
January 4th, 2012
2:15 am
The Giants aint shi$. And while the Falcons arent much more, they aint shi$.
mr. h
January 4th, 2012
2:32 am
The Falcons will win against the Giants… There are two that bother me : 1. Which Falcons are going to show up ? and 2. When will the Real Falcon Fans support this team instead of focusing on the past?
Watch out for that Tree
January 4th, 2012
2:43 am
Look You get what u draft picks here if other teams beat u to top notch player …U left with wings and gravy players…I will Predict sunday Falcons will beat Giants 37-13 at Metlife stadium and Denver will upset and beat the steelers in denver 17-14 at Home…..and saturday Game i goin pick a upset Lions over saints in New orleans 40-37 in overtime!..Now lets see anyone bites me here schultz!
Watch out for that Tree
January 4th, 2012
2:51 am
also i forget say Texans will beat bengals bad and next play Denver and Baltimore vs New england …..Oh and i say Pats win easy after all they can beat Flacco and Ray lewis who shot and killed a person in atlanta durin the superbowl vs cowboys here at dome any one remembers,,he Got away with it to and they get Murdered by Tom Brady n company 48-10……
Watch out for that Tree
January 4th, 2012
2:52 am
that was when buffalo played dallas here for superbowl left that out sorry!
Watch out for that Tree
January 4th, 2012
2:54 am
Its goin be fun Texans vs Pats in AFC championshio Game….and NFC drum roll please Packers vs falcons for The NFC championship also in Jan…….I not pick who wins just let yall fuss n cuss me!
thesenuts
January 4th, 2012
4:29 am
Victor Cruz has been balling!
thesenuts
January 4th, 2012
4:30 am
please don’t underestimate Bradshaw or Jacobs in big games they do show up
thesenuts
January 4th, 2012
4:31 am
JPP
JSS
January 4th, 2012
5:42 am
The Perkins-Parcells illustration was an example, not the only solution. You don’t hire the next Parcells, you hire the first version of the person who takes you to the place you need to go. Green Bay was not trying to hire next Jim Lee Howell (his boss) when they brought in Lombardi. He was considered to be an offensive genius. What was the first thing he fixed? That sieve of an defense. Then he introduced his version of an offensive philosophy, the rest is history…
This team has tied its apron to Ryan. If that is the case, bring in a real defensive coach like the Giants Perry Fewell and then pick his brain to address fixing their ability to take on defenses that throttle him. The other natural move is to either get a real offensive mind that has been in charge and give him the keys. You can always get a person like Joe Philbin or the QB coach Tom Clements from Green Bay. But if this team fails on Saturday, you cannot keep moving horizontally every time you get slapped in the mouth… Teams like Atlanta would instead promote someone like a failure like Mularkey or Bratkowski. Instead, look at how Pittsburgh or how Green Bay did it when they replaced Sherman, that is how you get a Tomlin instead of a Mike Smith. Dan Rooney’s interviews on the Tomlin hiring process should be required viewing. Everyone told them they must hire Whisenhunt or Grimm (both fine candidates). They were creative…
Ed
January 4th, 2012
6:48 am
This is a very winnable game for the Falcons. I think this is a game where Michael Turner needs to run the ball effectively to keep the offense out of 2nd and 3rd and long. If Matt Ryan can set up the play action I definitely think he can exploit the Giants secondary with Julio and Roddy.
just sayin'
January 4th, 2012
8:10 am
ed, burnout will have a pretty good first series..and then he’s back to his norm…tip toe to the line and get nailed…and u really think melt is gonna be able to throw the long ball in the wind and rain ‘outside’..he can’t throw an accurate long ball ‘inside’…juliet and rodney will have to catch those ’shut down’ 5 yarders to get any completions sunday….
DocDawg
January 4th, 2012
8:14 am
Its leadership on the defensive side of the ball. We’ve got a bunch of young kids, Abe and Dunta. The second string is scrub level players or an old man. As the defense matures, that’s when we’ll win playoff games.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 4th, 2012
8:24 am
@ohhhhYEAH
You are not my type BIG BOY
CHOKE is a Whimpy PUNK…………………….
This is Turner’s team you delusional “in the closet” fool
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 4th, 2012
8:36 am
I really feel sorry for you fools. CHOKE toys & teases you idiots. He puts up enough numbers vs bottom dwellers then you get your hopes up.
Then comes a good defense, and just when you are about get all excited, he RIPS OUT your poor bleeding hearts…………….. HA HA HA
Then you idiots disappear like the COWARDS you are, because you can’t suffer the wrath of your DUMB cheerleading. I haven’t heard the Peyton comparisons for a while. What’s wrong? HA HA HA.
This CHUMP is just a LOSER and it’s no surprise that LOSERS are like that birds of a feather flocking together analogy
It’s not that Flacco is a superstar like how Drew Brees PUNKED the Falcants so bad, that they were cheering when San Fran locked up the 2 seed, but compare Flacco to CHOKE and he looks like Joe Montana, and CHOKE looks like Ryan Leaf.
Not ONCE has CHOKE ever ackowledged a loss was his fault – that is not a leader, that is a Republican
Flacco may not be the leader of the Ravens but he also doesn’t throw a pick 6 seconds before half time when the game is on the line, or be the 1st qb in NFL HISTORY to have a safety in the playoffs, or have a PICK 6 in ever playoff game……………
HA HA HA
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 4th, 2012
8:42 am
HOT SEAT ALERT:
Smitty – FIRED
Mularkey – WALKS
Dimitroff – FIRED
CHOKE – CUT
No playoff win for a 4 straight season, no draft in 2012, 2007 welcome back
In the meantime, the Dream Team has about 13 picks in 2012. 2011 was just a tune-up and a jelling session. Those last 4 games is the team you will see.
When CHOKE comes up to Philly next season, he won’t be bailed out by a freak Vick injury. By the way who was leading that game before Vick left?
That’s because CHOKE is a PUNK
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 4th, 2012
8:47 am
THE COUNTDOWN:
4 days until Falcants fans go into hibernation………………..
HA HA HA
Let the crickets begin.
Next up:
2013 draft watch
Donaldo
January 4th, 2012
8:54 am
One & done. Sorry, no team leaders & lack of coaching still persist, so the outcome should be no surprise.
blazerdawg
January 4th, 2012
8:56 am
The Falcons past two losses in the playoffs were to VERY good teams that made the SB.
The opponent this week is simply not as good as the Cardinals and Packers were.
Falcons win, easily, then get on a roll.
one and done
January 4th, 2012
8:59 am
Who wants to bet….the Falcons will not win in NY…mark it down.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 4th, 2012
8:59 am
blazerdawg
January 4th, 2012
8:56 am
The Falcons past two losses in the playoffs were to VERY good teams that made the SB
______________________________________
If you beat them, then they don’t make it to the superbowl. That is a LAME excuse
Secondly, the same team that RAPED you last season in the playoffs, won by a WHOPPING 6 points vs the Eagles.
If you would have beaten both teams, they would not have made it to the superbowl
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 4th, 2012
9:00 am
one and done
January 4th, 2012
8:59 am
Who wants to bet….the Falcons will not win in NY…mark it down.
__________________________________________
That is a SUCKER bet, but then again they have a SUCKER for a qb…………….
HA HA HA
blazerdawg
January 4th, 2012
9:07 am
Choke @ 8:59
Sorry you missed linear equations that day at Crimm Middle – no sh!t that if the Falcons beat the Cardinals or Pack, they do not make the SB – but those teams went on to beat other teams to get there – the point is that the NY FB Giants are not as good as those teams were.
The Falcons SHOULD win. If they loose, then I still do not see the Giants making a run. Having an easier first round opponent is an opportunity. We’ll see what Smitty is able to do with it.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 4th, 2012
9:18 am
@Blazercat
Actually the Falcants starts every opponents run in the playoffs.
Next excuse……………….
HA HA HA
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 4th, 2012
9:19 am
Damn 2004 is a LONGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG Time to wait for another playoff win…………..
HA HA HA
JeanE
January 4th, 2012
9:23 am
I will consider this season a success but only if we win a playoff game, just 1. I know we can’t beat top tier teams like Saints, Pats, Pack, etc. But we should be very competitive against the Giants, have to play mistake free football and like you said, be TOUGH. That starts will Matt and on down. Should be a tight one!
Go Birds!!!!
Birdman of Alcahol
January 4th, 2012
9:23 am
spotless et al… I too am not a big fan of BVG, but if ultimately you want to change coordinators so we can win more, why would you ever root to lose in this situation. If we missed the playoffs and this was the last week of the reg season I agree, lose to blow it up. But if BVG pulls together this defense agains the Gints, then he deserves to stay. No guarantee anyone out there would do so much better. Reality is we don’t have a defensive line that can rush, which all on DTroff not on the coaches. When we blitz (see GB game last year, Chris Owens) we miss the qb and then they have open receivers deep. Maybe that is coaching, but if Owens and a couple others wrap up the qb instead of dive and whiff, BVG looks like a genius. We still need players on the DL simply put. And Dunta is nickle back at best.
Brian
January 4th, 2012
9:44 am
Sorry you missed linear equations that day at Crimm Middle – no sh!t that if the Falcons beat the Cardinals or Pack, they do not make the SB – but those teams went on to beat other teams to get there – the point is that the NY FB Giants are not as good as those teams were.
———————————————
No I think you’re missing the point. If the Giant beat the Falcons and somehow make it to the SB and lose, then all we’ll here is, “well we just ran into a hot team at the wrong time”. It all comes down to excuses.
j
January 4th, 2012
9:49 am
Please play Biermann over No play Ray Edwards. I have no clue what we can do with Dunta. Dude is flat out awful.
SawThat1nce
January 4th, 2012
9:53 am
The Falcons will win this game easily, by at least 2 scores.
SawThat1nce
January 4th, 2012
9:53 am
The Falcons will win this game easily, by at least 2 scores.
PMC
January 4th, 2012
9:53 am
What excuses? They lost to the Cardinals because they did not execute on defense. (Couldn’t defend the TE’s route on 4th and 18)
They lost to the Packers because they didn’t matchup well at all on defense, they made too many critical errors on offense and they didn’t have enough playmakers to keep up.
In both cases, their best players outplayed our best players.
Ivan
January 4th, 2012
9:56 am
“C’mon – really? This is not a team know for toughness of any kind, hell just look at our QB.”
Clear evidence of simply a troll that doesn’t even watch the games. So he hasn’t seen the hits to the head on our QB. Or even the QB having his ankle mashed by his own lineman, missed a play, and then goes back in and throws a TD.
Or Jones carrying three tacklers into the end zone.
Or the hits Robinson will put on someone.
Or even the short J. Rodgers pushing the defense against their will.
Or Biermann shoving through the line, taking the football out of their QBs hands, and running it into the end zone on his own.
Nah. They’re not tough at all. /sarcasm
Go back to Fantasy Land.
D man
January 4th, 2012
9:56 am
Smith is correct, the Falcons need to toughen up against good teams in order to win. I think they just need a playoff win to get over the hump. Then the sky’s the limit…
DC
January 4th, 2012
10:16 am
I’m always curious to who “Choke’s” other daily blogger screen name is…b/c he posts on here constantly and when new blogs are brought up about the falcons he shows up…interesting..someone with multiple screen names = troll.
Joey
January 4th, 2012
10:17 am
Dear Mike Smith,
You want to beat the Giants?
Leave Mularkey in Atlanta, and let Matt Ryan call the plays. How many games will it take for you to realize the Falcons are better without Mularkey calling the plays?
Thanks,
A Falcon Fan
TroutFalcon
January 4th, 2012
10:20 am
The key is the effectiveness of the rushing attack and how well the O line protects Matt Ryan so he can get the ball to Roddy White, Julio Jones, and Harry Douglas.
jason
January 4th, 2012
10:20 am
yeah and they let him have the final shot too. what a pathetic loss to be ahead 19. typical atlanta teams.
Peter
January 4th, 2012
10:58 am
Playoff tough ? That would be assuming they are regular season tough….gee watch the saints games, and then decide.
No No and NO !
John Ellison
January 4th, 2012
11:30 am
The Falcons need to move away from “Flowery Branch” to a tougher city name like “Stone Mountain”.
willdave
January 4th, 2012
11:54 am
This one quote from Smitty says it all: “We have to play at a higher level than we’ve played all season to win in the playoffs.” The Birds can win this game in NY on Sunday if they will do that.
I just hope the Falcons win this first playoff game so they can finally get that monkey off their back. If they do that, I won’t feel quite as badly when they in all lilkelihood get creamed the following week in GB or SF.
Go Falcons!!!
old fart
January 4th, 2012
12:04 pm
This game is over before it’s played. The Falcons are not going anywhere except to Atlanta after Sunday’s game
Rowdy Yates
January 4th, 2012
12:10 pm
I had to shoot and I shot…….don’t let the other guy get the advantage!