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
Cal
January 11th, 2012
12:46 pm
Mr. Blank said he wants rings, so the regular season is only about making it to the tournament. Once you’re in the tournament, the real season begins and so far Smitty has nothing but bird eggs to show for it 0-3 (three zero’s).
Jarrett
January 11th, 2012
12:48 pm
@ Cal… Every team gets lucky every now and then. The was a one man show that year and you know who I am talking about.
DawginLex
January 11th, 2012
12:48 pm
Another incorrect headline
You imply that Smith should leave.
Yeah, let’s do that.
And return to 4-12 and battling for the #1 draft pick again
Yeah. that’s a great idea
Let's See
January 11th, 2012
12:49 pm
What can we get in this draft that’s gonna improve us, with only the 3rd pick in the first four rounds? We have 20 free agents, about 17 unrestricted. Looks like we’re gonna have to improve in the FA market.
Falcons4Eva
January 11th, 2012
12:49 pm
Blank at the press conference: “We’re playing for rings. We’re playing for championships”
Catch it live at: http://live.atlantafalcons.com/
Ted M
January 11th, 2012
12:50 pm
Mike Smith is kinda hanging his career on Matt Ryan.
Jimmy Crack
January 11th, 2012
12:51 pm
Falcons4Eva, Don’t forget that Jason Babin was signed by the Eagles the DAY BEFORE the Falcons signed Edwards…
Jason Babin – 5 years/$28 million – 18 SACKS
Ray Edwards – 5 years/$30 million – 3.5 sacks
But, by golly, he’s a REAL GOOD RUN DEFENDER. The best we have had in Atlanta since Jamaal Anderson! Woo hoo.
Falcons4Eva
January 11th, 2012
12:51 pm
Mr. Blank at press conference: “New coordinators are expected to help us in our schemes and our player evaluation.”
Catch it live at: http://live.atlantafalcons.com/
Falcons4Eva
January 11th, 2012
12:53 pm
@ Jimmy Crack –
WoW …are you serious? I had no idea he was available at that time..all I remember is that they pursued Charles Johnson, but backed out when Johnson asking/signing price was more than they were willing to pay…
If that’s true about Jason Babin….then Dimitroff was asleep at the freaking wheel!
K Conway
January 11th, 2012
12:54 pm
The Falcons fired Leeman Bennett so the team could go to the next level and that level wasn’t reached til Dan Reeves…so they fire him and then comes along Smitty and people are belly-aching again! No wonder no good coach or player will ever come to Atlanta
Cal
January 11th, 2012
12:54 pm
@Jarrett … You do know we have been to the Super Bowl once, but Smitty wasn’t at the helm.
Falcons4Eva
January 11th, 2012
12:55 pm
Now kiddie boy Dimitrioff is now talking about upgrading the line so that it is capable of blowing people off the line 6 inches or 6 yards!!
Ya think! ! ?
Falcons4Eva
January 11th, 2012
12:56 pm
Wow….Blank just put the offensive line on BLAST!
Saying they did not play as well as they should have.
Jarrett
January 11th, 2012
12:56 pm
K Conway… I agree that people need to stop harping on Smitty, However, he was able to get Tony G to come here. I think that was a pretty good pick-up.
Falcons4Eva
January 11th, 2012
12:57 pm
Mike Smith just showed is ego stubbornness when answering a question by Jeff Schultz.
Catch it live at: http://live.atlantafalcons.com/
Jarrett
January 11th, 2012
12:57 pm
Cal…I agree that they have some work to do. There is no doubt about that. I’m just saying Smth gives us the best chance. That is all I am trying to say. We were in the crapper before him and I don’t want to go back to that.
duronimo
January 11th, 2012
1:00 pm
I like the fact that Smith is aggressive. He should have expected his team to make those 4th down plays. But he should have overridden Mularky’s ultra-conservative & predictable calls for the occasion. As I’ve said before, even Bobo would have burned them when they put 10 in the box.
Mike
January 11th, 2012
1:01 pm
Van Gorder’s defense was never that good here. At UGA, he had dominant defensive lineman. His successor, Willie Martinez, had success using the same system because he inherited Van Gorder’s D line recruits. Martinez’s D fell off the cliff with the D line. That is the same problem Van Gorder has had with the Falcons. The Falcons D line is not good enough to run the scheme. Van Gorder doesnt want to have to bring 5 or 6 guys at the QB every down. But that is what he has to do, and even then they dont always get there.
Mularky’s offense was awful this year. As good as it has looked in recent years, it looked that bad this year. A lot of it has to do with the O line. It did a terrible job blocking both run and pass this year. It also seemed like Mularky didnt know exactly what the offenses’ identity should be…power running or pass attack? They did better when he opened the passing game up, but too often he bottled it up into a futile attempt at power running.
These two were good for the Falcons to gain stability in the franchise, but are not good enough here to take them further. Hopefully Smith replaces them well.
Falcons4Eva
January 11th, 2012
1:02 pm
duronimo
January 11th, 2012
1:00 pm
I like the fact that Smith is aggressive. He should have expected his team to make those 4th down plays. But he should have overridden Mularky’s ultra-conservative & predictable calls for the occasion. As I’ve said before, even Bobo would have burned them when they put 10 in the box.
_————————————————
DItto! !
O'Brien
January 11th, 2012
1:04 pm
During the press conference, TD said how the offensive line was 6th in fewest sacks allowed, which was good.
Howeva…Mr Blank intervened and said numbers are misleading (in a vacuum), because just because you are not giving up sacks doesnt mean you’re doing your job.
He said maybe your QB is forced to throw the ball away (he mentioned how Matty was only sacked twice against the Giants but was under constant pressure), maybe he is forced to take the check down instead of going deep etc.
I’m glad Arthur stepped in.
Falcons4Eva
January 11th, 2012
1:04 pm
News conference over.
J-Man
January 11th, 2012
1:05 pm
“After head coach and general manager, the next move down the ladder is head coach”…………Theres a typo Jeff????
Cal
January 11th, 2012
1:05 pm
K Conway… That’s the point. They keep trying to hire these nice clean cut coaches and player with no blemishes and that doesn’t work. Sometimes you have to hire the not so polished coach or player and let him grow. I.e. Coach Gurden(chucky), Ray Lewis.
Phalcon Phil
January 11th, 2012
1:05 pm
If it’s not a franchise qb or defensive qb like a ray lewis or polamalu you don’t spend 5 picks on any player unless they are guaranteed to be the top 3 all time at their position. I could see if we were as good as this delusional front office thought we were but we need all the picks we can get to protect our physically limited qb and surround him with elite talent on both sides of the ball. as much as this front office wants and thinks ryan to be an elite superstar qb, its just not reality. if youre going to stay with ryan youre going to need a constant influx of young talent.
FalconFan
January 11th, 2012
1:09 pm
Regarding Matt’s lack of passion…does anybody remember last year during the Falcons’ game against New Orleans. The camera cut over to the sidelines and Matt’s face was almost purple with passion as he was letting the O-line have it trying to get them fired up as they were going into overtime. They won that game. Where did that Matt Ryan go?
dean
January 11th, 2012
1:10 pm
Am I the only one who thought Mr. Blank looked as if he was about to flip the table over?
Cal
January 11th, 2012
1:10 pm
It’s time to higher a Coach, and some players that can play football and love playing football. I don’t care if their hair hangs out their helmet. I don’t care if the spend their off time in the woods hunting. I don’t care if their in a band making videos. As long as they take football serious and can play ball. That’s it.
O'Brien
January 11th, 2012
1:10 pm
I think Joe Lombardi, QB coach of the Saints…is the guy for OC.
Joe Lombardi enters his fifth season with the Saints and third as quarterbacks coach after having served as an offensive assistant the first two years.
In his previous position, he was heavily involved in the preparation of the quarterbacks and passing attack as well, having worked closely with offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr. Lombardi also stepped in for a brief stint as the running backs coach near the end of 2008.
He arrived in New Orleans with extensive coaching experience on both sides of the ball, most recently serving as defensive assistant for the Atlanta Falcons in 2006. While in that role, Lombardi worked with a defensive line that combined for 25.5 sacks.
Cal
January 11th, 2012
1:12 pm
He should flip the table over. This season ending was awful…….
Smith is a Punk Biatch
January 11th, 2012
1:12 pm
Get rid of him!
Roger
January 11th, 2012
1:13 pm
“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” … stop with that nonsense.
There is a salary cap and virtually all NFL teams are up against it every year. Spending money foolishly is the problems – can we recall Vick’s contract which prohibited acquiring a supporting cast to make the Falcons a winner during his tenure?
motormouth
January 11th, 2012
1:15 pm
fire all of the coaches! who attempts a 4th and inches play with no one in the backfield. HIDEOUS!
Tom G
January 11th, 2012
1:15 pm
ProBowl OL Clabo played a lot worst this season, do any of you think it was because OL Harvey Dahl was not next to him this season. ATL let Dahl go to Rams as free-agent last season. They were known as Bad Boys last season, this season they were alot less aggressive. I have two suggestions(1) Get M Ryan in weight room, he needs to get stronger ( kinda like T Tebow)where he can make those 4th and inches (2) Get a big strong RB, who when the hole is there, can go the distance instead of a 10 yd gain that Turner can give us. Most important thing to remember, games a won or lost at OL and DL! Get meaner and stronger there!
Cal
January 11th, 2012
1:18 pm
No the problem is not spending, it’s leadership. Also Vick contract was justified then the same way it is in Philly……..Jersey sales and feeling seats. So enough of that foolishness….The problem is the falcons alway find a way to pick the wrong guy. Team President, GM, Coach, QB etc……..
George Stein
January 11th, 2012
1:19 pm
In what universe is three trips to the post-season in four years and a winning record considered failure? They got beaten by Arizona the first year, a team that was a miraculous Santonio Holmes catch away from winning the Super Bowl. They lost to Green Bay last year, and Green Bay is quarterbacked by a guy that’s playing at the highest level any of us have ever seen. This year’s playoff loss wasn’t great, but New York played the most difficult schedule of any team in the NFL, so their record doesn’t tell the entire story. But, then again, neither has Jeff in this piece.
scott
January 11th, 2012
1:20 pm
The coaching decisions have certainly been suspect: all of the going for it on 4th down against superior lines with vanilla plays that never had a chance of succeeding in important situations, total failure to manage the clock before halftime down in a playoff game. The last one may be more on Matt Ryan than Smith, though they would never call him out on it if so. My knock on Smith is that everything seems to be done by the numbers (i.e. going for it on 4th is statistically the better call and quarterback sneaks have the highest rate of success). This approach is uninspired, and if I was a player, uninspiring.
The Falcons were fairly beaten up going into the Giants game. They were lacking Mughelli and Douglas on offense. Might as well add Toney Gonzales to thelist, he was noticeably limping. They were missing their top two corners for the season in Grimes and Hayden, and had a 3rd string linebacker starting. Edwards may have never truly gotten back to full strength from the knee surgery as hoped.
Ryan truly can’t seem to handle the playoff pressure. They have pointed out that you don’t necessarily need an elite QB to win a Super Bowl. But the exceptions tend to at least be calm under fire (usually because they’ve got decent protection) and occasionally make something out of nothing. Ryan seemed mentally rattled the whole game, and his timing on his throws seemed a split second off as a result. The Falcons rely heavily on precision passing to take advantage of momentary advantages. If the ball gets there a half second faster, the receiver probably isn’t going to make the catch. If it’s a half second late, the defender gets a chance to make a play on the ball or at least eliminate any yards after the catch.
Hillbilly D
January 11th, 2012
1:20 pm
One thing about cleaning out a coaching staff is it leaves you with 2 possible results. One: The new people make and impact and the team gets better, or Two: The team stays the same or gets worse and it don’t take a genius to figure out whose head goes on the platter next.
To go any further, the Falcons are going to have to improve both lines. I think the team made the same mistake that I’ve seen a lot of teams make, in all sports, they start off trying to build something, they start to improve but they also get some breaks and have some things go their way. When that happens, they get the impression that they are better than they are, and they abandon their methodical building process, and try to grab the brass ring a little to quick. When you get to the point to contend, you have to take the shot at going all the way but if you grab too quick, you not only miss the ring but you start down hill. I think the Falcons went heavy on skill players, while ignoring building up the lines and that is why they are where they are. Now the challenge becomes building the lines before the skill players get old and start to decline.
Cal
January 11th, 2012
1:21 pm
Clabo played sorry because he got paid, when he was in his contract season he played like his butt was on fire. Typical player for the Falcons.
Phalcon Phil
January 11th, 2012
1:21 pm
vicks contract wasnt bad. we had all the talent we needed. the problem was, we couldnt keep them off IR if you remember correctly. hartwell, coleman, smith, kerney, scott, price the list goes on and on. all our money was on the benches injured. it wasnt vicks fault we had poor strength and conditioning coaches. weak cop out.
dean
January 11th, 2012
1:22 pm
I don’t about y’all, but the game at Houston is when I faced the stark reality that our team really wasn’t very good.
Unfortunately, what happened at NOLA, then 2 weeks later at NY, did not surprise me at all.
ANOTHER DISAPPOINTED FALCON FAN
January 11th, 2012
1:23 pm
interesting read. i hope Arthur read this too::
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/kerry_byrne/01/10/julio.jones.trade/index.html?sct=nfl_bf3_a3
So much for shiny hood ornaments…lol
ANOTHER DISAPPOINTED FALCON FAN
January 11th, 2012
1:31 pm
more on story above….
http://www.coldhardfootballfacts.com/Articles/11_3746_Atlanta%27s_big_move_tops_night_of_surprises.html
all i can say is…..wow….
Donaldo
January 11th, 2012
1:31 pm
The Raiders got it right. So, did the Niners……. your article is articulate and direct…..hopefully Mgmt. is paying attention…
darren harper
January 11th, 2012
1:32 pm
Jeff, I agree with most of what you wrote but BVG has never led an attacking defense. While at Georgia with mostly better talent than teams he played Vanilla was the norm. He depended on outstanding play from DE’S. If that failed the defense broke down.The same thing with the falcons. He is a excellent College DC and will be better after his years spent in NFL but he is average at best in the NFL. MM just does not get it, he still believes the run sets up the pass when it’s the opposite. He is a dinasaur and should have been gone after first season with falcons….
Gatorzone
January 11th, 2012
1:33 pm
For everyone saying that Julio will be worth it when he is healthy, go look at his career at Alabama… The guy stays injured!
Cal
January 11th, 2012
1:33 pm
The problem is the past coaching staff teaches players, but they don’t inspire them to be great. They can’t get them to go that extra yard, make the extra block, wrap up when you tackle. It’s very few coaches that command that type of effort, but most have help from veteran players on the team that steps up and call other player out in the locker room. We don’t really have a Hines Ward or Ray Lewis type player. We need player like that on this team. Tongy is a great guy and player, but calling out other player and forcing them to step up their game is not his style.
GTJeff
January 11th, 2012
1:34 pm
What a bunch of losers that call yourselves Falcons fans. I have sat through 32 seasons of Falcons football (since I was 4 watching Bartkowski with my Dad). This coach & team has had 4 count em FOUR winning seasons. There isn’t ANY coach that has come close to that in 46 years of existence. Not Bennet, not Glanville not Reeves. There are some BIG pieces missing on this team (D line, o line, secondary, decent offensive play calling). Considering we went 10-6 & got the 5th seed in the playoffs while in the NFC SOUTH (Arguably the toughest division in the NFL) is not bad. If Blank fires the best coach in Falcons history after next year if we don’t win a playoff game yet win our division, it would rank right up there with the Boneheaded decision Rankin Smith made by firing Bennett the first time.
New OC, new DC are great for this organization. Let Matt Ryan,(the best quarterback this team has EVER had) loose with those weapons & watch out.
Cal
January 11th, 2012
1:36 pm
@ GTJeff you should be ashame to be a fan that long and not feel like Falcon City (fans) deserve more.
Facts
January 11th, 2012
1:37 pm
After head coach and general manager, the next move down the ladder is head coach
Ever heard of proofreading. Considering your profession, you’d think it would be done 100% of the time.
dr henry
January 11th, 2012
1:37 pm
I heard (may have been a rumor) that Ray Edwards ,formerly a dynamic pass rusher w/Minn. was signed by the Falcons during training camp to help out JA on the DL…..Seeing that I never heard his name called during any game must mean that the report was wrong…….