Mike Smith knows failure starts with him, not coordinators (updated)
Things didn't go Mike Smith's way for the third straight postseason. (AP photo)
(UPDATED: 2:20 p.m.)
Once you get past the problems on the offensive line and the secondary, the quarterback’s accuracy problems, the breakdown of the running back and players just generally looking at times like they would rather be somewhere else, this is what the current chapter of Falcons’ tumult comes down to: Mike Smith is on the clock.
When an NFL team blows out a coaching staff, it basically is eliminating scapegoats. Think of it as a restaurant owner changing chefs because the tables in his dining room are always empty.
Falcons owner Arthur Blank isn’t happy because he hasn’t a won a playoff game in seven years, and it’s not for lack of his willingness to spend money. General manager Thomas Dimitroff isn’t happy because the moves he has made to turn the Falcons into winners have nonetheless had limitations. Somebody had to take the hit. For now that’s Smith’s assistant coaches.
Regardless of the fact that Mike Mularkey left for a head coaching job (Jacksonville Jaguars) and Brian VanGorder left for a return to college (Auburn defensive coordinator) — and his career tendency to get restless after a few years — the backdrop of a third consecutive playoff loss screamed that one or both were going to get fired, anyway. Other staff changes also may follow.
The Falcons underachieved this season. They know that. Forget the regular-season drop from 13-3 to 10-6. The past two postseason belly-flops to Green Bay and New York were embarrassing. Dimitroff had already decided, to use his words Wednesday, that there was not “going to be a minor tweak, [like] changing the color of socks.”
When there’s failure in any business, it generally starts from the top down. Blank has done little wrong since making his ill-fated decision in 2007 to bring in Bobby Petrino. Dimitroff has made some high-profile personnel moves that have fizzled (Dunta Robinson, Ray Edwards and Sam Baker, being prime examples). But he largely has reshaped the organization and given order and respectability to the front office. (Critics of the Julio Jones trade remain. But Jones has proved to be a great player, a potential difference-maker. I thought it was the right move then and I still do.)
After owner and general manager, the next move down the ladder is head coach. Smith’s 43-21 (.672) regular-season record is impressive. But this organization is way past that now. The 0-3 playoff record is the massive mole on his resume’s forehead.
This is sports. The appropriate question isn’t: How many games did they win? The appropriate question is: Should they have done better?
The obvious answer is yes. That’s on Smith.
There were too many games this season where the Falcons didn’t seem focused. They were inconsistent. They were soft mentally and physically. They lacked an edge. Those maladies aren’t exposed against losing teams, against whom the Falcons won most of their games. They show up against premier opponents, and on the road, and in the postseason.
“I understand what my job is,” Smith said. “It’s to get people to perform. When guys don’t block, when guys miss tackles, ultimately one guy is responsible for that, and that’s me. I put more pressure on myself than anybody can possibly put on me.”
It’s commendable that Smith never has had a team go into a slide. Losses were followed by wins. But it shouldn’t take a loss to get everybody’s attention.
For now, everybody is blaming the coordinators. That’s fine. Mularkey never figured out a way to fully utilize the weapons on the team, and he became indignant any time somebody suggested his play-calling was flawed. The Falcons don’t need to be a bombs-away offense — just far less predictable.
Dimitroff on the offense: “In this league, as you know, matchups are very important, and there’s the Sun Tzu approach of the art of surprise, the art of deception. That’s very important. Looking forward with a new coordinator, how we utilize our talent is going to be very important.”
VanGorder was viewed by some as too rah-rah and college-like for the NFL. Sorry, I’m not buying it. The guy knows defense. Maybe some of his players just don’t take direction well.
Regardless, it often seemed Smith wasn’t on the same page as his coordinators. For as much heat as Mularkey took, Smith is the one more likely to order vanilla in an ice-cream shop. VanGorder’s defensive resume is all about attacking and blitzing. But the Falcons were conservative.
Coordinators call plays, but the head coach sets the agenda. If Mularkey and VanGorder failed, it’s at least in part because Smith failed. Going into next season, this much is certain: There will be nobody else to blame.
By Jeff Schultz
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416 comments Add your comment
nique
January 11th, 2012
11:39 am
Schultz
I totally agree with you on this column!!! The only thing I’d add is that this team as it’s currently constructed seems to lack guys on the Offense who are going to play with passion, fire, & heart in the post season. On the D you’ve got Abe, Spoon, & Lofton who are guaranteed to show up, on offense who do you have? Even Matt, & I’m not one of these Ryan bashers, although it can be argued that he shows up in a big game, not in the post season, but in general for a big game, he doesn’t seem to summon that out of his teammates & demand it of his offense that way a great qb should. Julio came to play as well, but far to often in big games Roddy, Gonzo, & Turner get shut down & shut out. Moreover, in 6 or our 7 biggest games this year we failed to score over 24 points & with that offense that’s unacceptable! Some are completely placing that on Mularcky & it’s not all on him. Look at those qb sneaks in the playoffs, there’s a HUGE difference between the determination that you saw in Drew Bress the night before when he jumped the pile on his qb sneak to get it, & the timid way Matt when about trying to get it & not only that, he didn’t learn from his 1st mistake the second time around. I’m just saying i don’t see the heart, the passion sometimes in some of our leaders. Moveover, there were at least twice on big 3rd downs where Matt went to Roddy & he didn’t come back for the ball allowing the defender to come over & around him for a strip when the drive should have kept moving! That’s completely unacceptable!!! & that’s not the OC, that’s our stars, Roddy was completely outplayed by Julio & that’s not ok, for our star wr, I’m just saying where’s the heart? Clabbo, a supposed prow bowler last year kept getting beat this year like he stole something & jumped offside more than anyone else on the line, again not acceptable! & this is where i agree with you, these things, the undisciplined, unmotivated element of the team is a reflection of their coach, the head coach has to hold them to a higher standard. Has to not cancel out the pass making it one-dimensional before the game because he wants to over depend on Turner as he did in both the Arizona & Giants game. Smith has to be held accountable to & really shouldn’t have anything to do with the Offense, he’s a defensive guy! Bring in Todd Haley & Steve Spagnuolo
IMHO
January 11th, 2012
11:40 am
So making the playoffs 3 out of 4 years is ‘Failure’ according to Jeff.
If Vick completed an easy TD pass last year, the Seahawks would have visited Atlanta instead of Green Bay visiting. Then none of this discussion would be taking place. Vick screws the Falcons again…
falconfan58
January 11th, 2012
11:41 am
Smith is the one that opens up or limits the offense and the defense. He provides the guidelines for the staff. Now it is time to realize that is extremely difficult to run the ball for a yard or less when there are 11 defensive players clogging up the middle. Sometimes you have got to be a little unpredictable in order to loosen up the defense–pass the ball on fourth and one, and do not always run the ball on the first play of the game or the first play of the third quarter. I bet the other team has a clue of what you usually do in certain situations. The poor dumb fams doooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. WAKE UP PEOPLE.
Me Too
January 11th, 2012
11:42 am
JEFF,
BOLD!!!
Sportsnut
January 11th, 2012
11:42 am
The Falcon’s problem’s do start with Smith but it is his staff that is responsible for the product on the field. He allow’s his coach’s to play their scheme and it is not working and he refuses to see where the problem lies. The secondary has talent but has been playing in the wrong alignment and overall scheme. Every team they play know’s it is easy to pick them apart because of that ZONE they play. A good reciever will get open simply by continnuing to cross the field, where-as the secondary has to stay in their ZONE and are constantly getting beat. On offense, they must establish a balanced game plan that is more suitable to their talent. This group of reciever’s, both starter’s and reserves, are very talented and should be used on a more regular basis. Matt Ryan can control a game when it is 1;25 to go and they go no huddle. Why not take that attitude for an entire game? What is going on now is just terrible coaching and a lack of perception as to what we really have. This is a good team with the ability to be great. Coaching seem’s to be the drawback. Football know-how is on this staff but practicallity is not.
Buckshot
January 11th, 2012
11:42 am
Remember when we drafted Vick instead of Brees???? We definitely have made some bone head draft day decisions. Julio is good, but not worth 5 draft picks.
benchwarmer
January 11th, 2012
11:42 am
Press conference today more of the same that the Braves gave us with their letter to the fans. The real difference is that the Braves have a solid base for their team in good talent analysis and developement. Can’t say the same about the Falcons. And Jeff I too have noticed the lack of focus by the Falcons during theseason. Mike Smiths responsibilty all the way.
Burdell
January 11th, 2012
11:43 am
“Hi, I’m Uncle Buck…Moley Russell’s wart.”
Great line Jeff…reminded me of a movie I loved as a kid…
dubious
January 11th, 2012
11:43 am
Mike Smith isn’t going to have a strategy transplant. He most certainly is a class guy and brought stability to the org, but I just don’t see him taking the team to a SB. This team needs someone to give it an identity!
Pooh Pooh Platter
January 11th, 2012
11:43 am
FAILURE STARTS WITH MATT RYAN(Weak Wristed) AND RODNEY WHITE(Butter Finders).
IMHO
January 11th, 2012
11:44 am
@falconfan58 “Smith is the one that opens up or limits the offense and the defense.”
You have a link that proves your opinion?
FalconFreak
January 11th, 2012
11:45 am
What a surprise! Great column! I couldn’t agree more.
FalconFreak
January 11th, 2012
11:45 am
What a surprise! Great column! I couldn’t agree more.
Falcons4Eva
January 11th, 2012
11:45 am
To the knuckleheads that thought I was off base when I suggested that Mike Smith would be on the hot seat (at the very least the spot light shinning more brightly on him) now that his two coordinators have left… I say to you….
I stand in full agreement with Shultz assessment: “… failure starts with Mike Smith”
By his stubbornness and unwilling to see that this is the NEW NFL – a pass oriented league – the Falcons have fallen way behind the likes of the Saints, Lions, and Packers….The Panthers are closing in FAST!
TU87
January 11th, 2012
11:46 am
But, but Jeff – Mark says Mike Smith is the best coach in Falcons history.
DC Dirty Bird
January 11th, 2012
11:47 am
I wish folks would stop crying about the draft trade for JJ. He’s a stud and you have to pay the price to get a stud like that if you aren’t a losing organization. Tom Brady’s best season came after Randy Moss dropped into his lap for a 3rd rounder. As for Smitty, I agree that he shares a lot of the blame. Those were his guys. Next year will be the tell tale as to whether he’s a championship level coach.
P. Bull Terrier
January 11th, 2012
11:47 am
It’s clear that Thomas D. has a vision for the Falcons offense that is closer to the Packers and Saints style of play than the old three yards and a cloud of dust philosophy that the Falcons too often employed under Mularkey. Given that Smith comes from the defensive side of the ball, it’s hard to tell if the conservative, predictable Falcons offense was a result of Mularkey’s inability to adjust to the times and the players on hand, or a result of a conservative mindset of left over from Smith’s days as a defensive coordinator.
From the outside, Smith and Dimitroff still seem believable when they claim they are working well together and share the same vision for the team. If that is the case, it would seem that Smith will be willing to let a new offensive coordinator open things up under a new offensive coordinator who is able to take advantage of the talent assembled on that side of the ball. Next season could be an exciting one for Falcons fans, or the end of an era for Mike Smith. I hope it’s the former.
Felix
January 11th, 2012
11:48 am
Jeff: Good article! ‘Bout time someone said it.
This has become typical stuff for Atlantan Pro Sports Teams……. The Braves organization ended up blaming it all on a single hitting coach. This was after ownership/management failed to add offensive power to the line up all season, a need that even us nitwits knew existed well before the start of the 2011 season. So, now the Falcons will blame it all on assistant coaches. How can we fans ever take the leadership of Atlanta’s pro sports teams serious?
Falcons change coordinators but failure starts with Mike Smith | football-feed.com
January 11th, 2012
11:48 am
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The Real Falcon
January 11th, 2012
11:48 am
What we lack are play-makers on both sides of the ball.
Guys who make a difference within the system but create plays.
Delbert D.
January 11th, 2012
11:49 am
Nobody’s screaming to bring in Todd Grantham. Why is that? Since Abraham won’t be back and the other DEs as a group are not real threats against the passing game, switch to a 3-4 to enhance the defense against against the modern passing schemes. As it has been said many times, 3-4 DEs are cheaper than 4-3 DEs and linebackers are easier to find.
Dome team?
January 11th, 2012
11:49 am
By my count, Atlanta is the only “Dome ” team to have never cultivated an explosive offense at some point over the years. St. Louis, Minnesota, New Orleans, and Indy have and three won a superbowl. I don’t understand why we get one conservative offensive coach after another yet we play half of our schedule inside on a fast turf. Wouldn’t it be ironic if it takes moving to a new outdoor stadium to get the offense right and we always wonder how powerful that team would have been in the Dome. Being a cursed Atlanta sports fan, it wouldn’t surprise me if this happens.
The Grinch
January 11th, 2012
11:49 am
The defense looked great on first and second downs most of the year. It was shifting into the “oh, please don’t convert!” soft zone on third down that killed us every time. BVG didn’t do that at Georgia; that has Smith written all over it. I’ll be willing to bet he talks Blank into hiring Jack Del Rio as the new DC, which will lead to more of the same. Hopefully Dimitroff will talk him into leaving the new OC alone. Smith=Marty Schottenheimer.
2010 BCS CHAMPS
January 11th, 2012
11:49 am
Auburn and Alabama are both fighting for Jacksonville’s offensive coordinator. Should be fun.
The Real Falcon
January 11th, 2012
11:50 am
Tom Brady won Superbowls and a MVP before Moss arrived by the way.
Falcons4Eva
January 11th, 2012
11:52 am
Hey Jeff Schultz;…
“After head coach and general manager, the next move down the ladder is head coach”…
Don’t you mean “After Owner and General Manger, the next move down the ladder is head coach”
Great article and summation by the way. Right on point!
The Real Falcon
January 11th, 2012
11:52 am
No one is sreaming for Todd Grantham because we’re Falcons pro football fans and not just Georgia college footballs fans
garcia
January 11th, 2012
11:53 am
Mr. Schultz, you are correct. While I like Mike Smith’s demeanor, I am concerned. He was a calming leader when the franchise was crumbling but I wonder if he has the depth of knowledge to take the team to the next step.
Mike Smith is a meat and potatoes sort of guy that has already shown signs of strain (check his recent hospital stint). He inherited a team in disarray. He was the perfect hire for the situation. The question now remains whether he is the perfect guy for the future. If Blank fired Dan Reeves, why wouldn’t he fire Mike Smith? Smith and Reeves are very similar HC’s. Both can take a mess and organize it. However, neither seem to have the ability to out-coach his opponents.
This will be Smith’s year on the “hot seat” (an over used expression stamped into my brain by ESPN). Does he have the ability to adapt and innovate? We will see.
zbulldawg
January 11th, 2012
11:54 am
He’s the BOSS he can handle it !! Let’s not forget where we come from ! I’ll take this any day !!
Dave
January 11th, 2012
11:54 am
Blank is often credited for his willingness to spend money but aren’t the Falcons consistently in the bottom half, even the bottom third, in NFL payroll? The team needs to invest some money along the line of scrimmage.
Sonny Clusters
January 11th, 2012
11:55 am
We was wondering what is the difference between Mike Smith and Bobby Cox and why Mike Smith might be the problem but Bobby Cox never was? Winning in the regular season and losing in the playoffs seems to be a pattern, right? If Mike Smith was a nose picker we’d know something.
SimpleDawg
January 11th, 2012
11:55 am
Too many stupid 4th down calls……
……and Smitty’s defiance in recognizing the pattern of failure in continuing to “go for it”.
NOTSO FAST
January 11th, 2012
11:56 am
When Coach Smith arrived all he needed to do to please the fans was to win more than he lost. He did and was hailed as a great coach. Now more is expected. We can get to the playoffs but we want to win a game in the playoffs. Coach Smith will have to do much better to stay. He has one more year.
Arno
January 11th, 2012
11:56 am
Good job, Mr. Schultz.
warfalcon
January 11th, 2012
11:56 am
We will see what happens.
Sonny Clusters
January 11th, 2012
11:56 am
Poor Arthur Blank. First he loses his horse, then his wife, now his coordinators. He should go to Home Depot and shop for some replacements. He’d look better on a saw horse, anyway.
Cal
January 11th, 2012
11:57 am
Honestly Coach Smith should be gone too, if team lacks edge (which it does) Smith is not the one to restore it. All his mannerisms say i’m just going to be as good as i can and hope for the best…..GARBAGE I’m sure with this teams roster Coach Gruden would come out the booth and coach it if asked. this brings me to the next question, who wants to work with Smith thats good when they know he’s not going to let him fire up their side of the ball and ask more of the players. We he allow them to bring in the players they need to work their game plan? No, because old Smitty is a dinosaurus and you have to be inavative in todays NFL. Mr. Schultz please ask these tuff questions at the press conrfence. If the team takes on the idenity of it’s coach, who believes will win a champioship behind Mike Smith……I don’t, and I think deep down inside you and many others don’t neither.
bird
January 11th, 2012
11:57 am
@Three Jack, Jimmy Smith has gotten burned at corner all year.
2010 BCS CHAMPS
January 11th, 2012
11:57 am
“Remember, the head coach always sets the agenda. If Mularkey and VanGorder failed, it’s partly because Smith failed.”
Kind of hard for a defense to care when they are the only one capable of scoring 2 pts in a game.
Bottom line: Falcons suck.
Jimmy Crack
January 11th, 2012
11:58 am
I can see Smith’s hand in this “vanilla” philosophy as well. You have an offense that only performed well in the no huddle yet Smith was decidedly bent on controlling the clock. It was completely opposite in nature and many times lent to opposing teams having extra time for their offenses at the end of halves after we hurriedly (and unsuccessfully) tried to manufacture something from our side of the field. You could also tell from Smith’s pregame comments throughout the week that the MAIN thing they were going to focus on in the game was ZERO turnovers. They must have mentioned that a dozen times between Smith, Mularkey and Ryan before the Giants game. With that idea filling Ryan’s head throughout the game it is no wonder he didn’t force anything deep or throw into tight spaces, something that winners HAVE to do to have success in the playoffs.
Falcons4Eva
January 11th, 2012
11:58 am
Jeff Schultz: “For as much heat as Mularkey took, Smith is the one more likely to order vanilla in an ice cream shop.”
A Classic line. LOL
GTBob
January 11th, 2012
12:00 pm
Nobody’s screaming to bring in Todd Grantham. Why is that?
Because is is not NFL DC material. VanGorder really wasn’t either. We need a proven NFL defensive mind. It’s not time for anymore hopeful experiments.
Tradition
January 11th, 2012
12:01 pm
Mike Smith=Mark Richt=Bobby Cox . Good managers of the REGULAR season but innefective beyond that. One championship in 28 combined years says it all.
Sonny Clusters
January 11th, 2012
12:02 pm
When Clusters are little babies we start thinking about how to win in the playoffs. As a result, Clusters have always won playoff games and there have been some championship Clusters throughout history. When we was young and playing ball we once jumped up high in the air and pulled a ball down before it went over the fence and we saved the game for you-know-who that wears the lucky underpants Jeff made famous a few years back. He was so happy that he just started crying and slobbering and sobbing so loud that it was embarrassing and most of us on the team just left him out there on the mound by himself and we went to the Dairy Queen for a post-game snack on-the-house because we was winners. That’s all the Falcons and the Braves have to do.
IMHO
January 11th, 2012
12:02 pm
@Falcons4Eva “To the knuckleheads that thought I was off base when I suggested that Mike Smith would be on the hot seat”
So “Failure” is making the playoffs 3 out of the last 4 years? Hot seat? Idiots fire their head coach after making the playoff’s 3 out of 4 years. See Leeman Bennett.
The Real Falcon
January 11th, 2012
12:02 pm
Falcons live video about to begin.
Out!
The Real Falcon
January 11th, 2012
12:03 pm
http://live.atlantafalcons.com/
IMHO
January 11th, 2012
12:05 pm
@GTBob “Nobody’s screaming to bring in Todd Grantham. Why is that?”
Same reason nobody’s screaming to bring in Nick Saban or Paul “Man boobs” Johnson.
You stupid tool.
CGD..
January 11th, 2012
12:06 pm
Addition by subtraction:
Subtract Ryan
Add RG3!
As long as Happy feet is the QB expect more playoff destruction!
Ryan’s game is obsolete…Jettison this bust…or expect 0-5…..
Hollywould
January 11th, 2012
12:07 pm
Jimmy Crack is dead-on. I know Turner had 1,300 yards but how many times was he stopped for no gain? Every time that happens you are in 2nd and long, 3rd and long, and this offense is predicated on 6-7 yard passes with the receiver stopped or on an out where they can not get any yards after catch. You cannot be a ball control team without a consistent push from the o-line and with our o-line and Turner running like T. J. Duckett you cannot win those battles. New OC has to help!!