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
Felix
January 11th, 2012
9:15 pm
Let’s face it folks. When it comes to pro sports, Atlanta has become the Cleveland of the south.
san diego steve
January 11th, 2012
9:16 pm
Tyler, what time are Vick and the dream team playing on Sunday?
Loserville USA
January 11th, 2012
9:20 pm
Morris joining Shanahan….dammit.
Felix
January 11th, 2012
9:23 pm
The owners keep raking in the dough and the fans (who pay the bills) get the short end of the stick. We are hopeless suckers to keep supporting the mediocre products they give us. What is wrong with us? We are the real idiots.
Pete
January 11th, 2012
9:28 pm
If we fix the o-line we’ll be fine next year and if we don’t we won’t. I think it pretty much starts and ends there. The game-plan doesn’t matter if the line can’t get a push, open holes and protect the QB. What o-linemen are available in free agency? We won’t be able to draft what we need. We’ll know by the offseason moves if the team will be better next year.
lombardi
January 11th, 2012
9:29 pm
@tyler > with respect, how many playoff games has one of my former favorites, MV7 won since MR2 entered the NFL ?
Oh yeh, I accept the apology.
Columbus
January 11th, 2012
9:48 pm
You want to solve the Falcons problems? It is easy. OL and DL. Fix the wink links there and the rest of the team will fall into place. That helps the passing game, the running game and the corner backs and basically snowballs the Atlanta Falcons into being up there with GB and NO.
The trenches are the Falcons weakness and NOTHING else.
Failcants are consistently a loser...
January 11th, 2012
9:59 pm
The entire organization is a joke….reading these comments reeks of desperation….Saints will have their second SB ring this year and you’re still trying to figure out how to win a playoff game….lmao…..
Rich
January 11th, 2012
10:13 pm
For those who believe the AJC BS here’s something to consider. Wade Phillips is the NFL’s highest paid DC at $700K per year. CVG will make over $100K more than that at Auburn. The NFL is a step up for players, but not coaches.
Cloudodust
January 11th, 2012
10:36 pm
The mark of a weak HC is to keep a steady course in the headwinds of failure. Change is good and all that rot but all that rot needs to bring results. That, in essence, is where a HC earns his $$$$. If the board approves, let there be change. If faiure ensures, get rid of the guy. And the board. Simple.
Buford Pusser
January 11th, 2012
10:42 pm
Dimitroff is on the hot-seat, and should be.
randybravesfan
January 11th, 2012
11:13 pm
Totally agree with this article. Smith made some really lousy decisions in that final game and I still haven’t heard his explanation for taking two time-outs into the locker room when the Falcons had the ball. Like Les Miles failed to motivate LSU the other night, the blame goes to Smith for not getting the Falcons prepared for the last two playoff games… even if the Giants do the unthinkable and go on to win the Super Bowl. He MUST produce at least one playoff win next season or he will be gone.
Saerus
January 11th, 2012
11:17 pm
Everyone Falcons fan should watch this video after the Giants loss!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=rLca3qktBx4#!
Who Me?
January 11th, 2012
11:22 pm
CMS may be to blame next year but you can point that gun upstairs too. Dimitroff’s trades have handcuffed the team now so that any move made is going to be expensive to trade up or to go out on the FA market. You can’t just point that finger at Mike, TD owns a great big ol’ hunk of that for the next couple of years.
Gritsfalcon
January 11th, 2012
11:33 pm
I think Mike Smith is a good guy whom everybody likes but not too many have respect in so far as a football coach is concerned. Again, to reinterate, the ‘birds need to sign three or four, 8 -12 year veterans who will kick butt in the locker room; And who have never won a Super Bowl ring! And I wonder if Mike Smith/Thomas Dimitroff are too afraid to hire those kind. They seem to be more worried about “keeping order and looking professional” as opposed to getting guys that live and PLAY on the “edge” each Sunday! They are afraid to loose the player’s loyalties to guys that have been in the NFL wars and shake things up! Yep, they need only three or four REAL football guys that when they hit low points during the game and during the season the team can look to those guys for “leadership.”
dawgforlife
January 11th, 2012
11:34 pm
over 4000 passing yards…29 TDS 12 INT….4 winning seasons for a team that does not and I mean does not ever win…I have been and continue to be a loyal fan of this team since they drafted Nobis. We are not an entitled franchise here people. Who are we to be tired of just winning seasons…I was here when it was 6-10 or worse not 10-6…I was here through Gerald Tinker, Bubba Bean, Andray Bruce, Bruce Pickens, Marion Campbell, Pat Peppler, Bobby Petrino, the entire time the Smiths owned this team…I was here during Early Arthur Blank as he roamed the sidelines like Jerry Jones acting as though he knoew something about football..Folks, the brand of football brought to us by Smith, TD, Ryan, and settled down Blank, is far an away the best brand ever in this town and for a longer period of time. Would I like to have playoff success? of course…But, I have enjoyed these last four years more than the first 40 something combined. There is not one fan in Atlanta who has been there since the beginning who doesn’t apprecaite everything these men have done for this team and this city.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 12th, 2012
1:10 am
2004 & Counting LOSERS
HA HA HA
GRADY BABY
January 12th, 2012
2:27 am
Is it just me or why nobody talking about why we didnt use Harry Douglass in the slot more. And, please tell Kory Bierman to stay off Real House Wives of Atlanta and gets some DAMN SACKS!!! NUFF SAID for now.
RMikel58
January 12th, 2012
4:52 am
Mike is fine but the players are the problem. We had a good OC and DC but there were people more from the Offensive side that seemed to not care about blocking or protecting the QB. Michael Turner was the obvious problem because he didnt seem to have any getty up-n-go in his step.
The highest paid RB in the league, he used Arthur Blank just as Michael Vick did. Im telling ya that you best get rid of that fat sausage and get a proven RB.
1 good year from Turner and he’ll have a good year when his contract is up for renewal. Invest in the OL because they need to be able to block and open up holes. No effort on their part.
This has been the whole problem, the OL and Michael Turner. Now we have the problem of finding a OC and a DC of all things.
Firing isnt the answer but re-wiring is.
JSS
January 12th, 2012
5:33 am
Crazy talk all over the place with the overnight crew I see… You people don’t even notice when DOuglas was on the field most the time… Go look at replay of the game, he was the target on the very first pass from the playoff inaccurate one. And he was on the field until they realize that he could get off of the jam at the line of scrimmage and that O-Line was unable hang with the Giants front 4. I’ve been telling you for 3 plus years (Hillbilly D pointed out it first) that this team cannot block 5 on 4 against any quality defense. You guys just refuse to accept the truth about this team.
The whole crying about Michael Turner’s running style has gotten old. He needs real holes, it is not about “tippy-toes” and being “indecisive.” That line has been overrated as a run block unit for a long time. They are not terrible, just an average line with a propensity to underachieve. And don’t come with that Dahl excuse, Sean Rodgers and B.J. Raji blowed him up too… Dimitroff saw the tape, that is one of main reasons why they weren’t more aggressive when the Rams made his UFA offer. They pursued Clabo and Blalock more ardently.
Chop Buster
January 12th, 2012
7:15 am
Arthur gets a little too personal with his staff. Case in point, Rich McKay. When have you ever seen a GM get fired and promoted to President & CEO by the oener that fired him from the lower position?
The press conference was nothing more than a marketing sham. When the HC who is responsible for leading the team and ensuring his coordinators plan and call an aggressive game totally fails and is still in place as though it was his coordinators fault, someone (Arthur) is protecting another of his favorites. Smitty is a WEAK leader and does nothing to hold players and coaches accountable during the season. Can’t come up with a solid gameplan or make an in-game adjustment to save his life–instead Arthur saves him. Now he’s going to make the necessary changes with TD to get the team on track? They must think we’re all fools.
Chop Buster
January 12th, 2012
7:15 am
Arthur gets a little too personal with his staff. Case in point, Rich McKay. When have you ever seen a GM get fired and promoted to President & CEO by the oener that fired him from the lower position?
The press conference was nothing more than a marketing sham. When the HC who is responsible for leading the team and ensuring his coordinators plan and call an aggressive game totally fails and is still in place as though it was his coordinators fault, someone (Arthur) is protecting another of his favorites. Smitty is a WEAK leader and does nothing to hold players and coaches accountable during the season. Can’t come up with a solid gameplan or make an in-game adjustment to save his life–instead Arthur saves him. Now he’s going to make the necessary changes with TD to get the team on track? They must think we’re all fools.
BigBobbles
January 12th, 2012
7:34 am
BY the way….did you know that the Patriots have lost their last 3 playoff games.Fire Belechek and get rid of Brady.
Falcon Man..
January 12th, 2012
7:45 am
I’m surprised a little by the bashing of Van Gorder by the fans. I thought he was probably our best coach on the staff. AU, I’m afraid will be very very strong on D in a couple of years, he was great at UGA
Me
January 12th, 2012
8:01 am
Failure starts with Blank. He’ll never get a noted, first-string coach to work for him.
Gatorman
January 12th, 2012
8:41 am
Passive offense, when was the last time the Falcons used the screen pass as an offensive weapon. How do you stop a fast rush, a well designed screen.
observer
January 12th, 2012
8:57 am
I’m surprised that so few bloggers zero in on one of the biggest flaws in the Falcons offense. It is easy to blame the QB since most fans just watch the QB primarily. No QB looks good when running for his life. The running game only works when they are against inferior lines and the QB has time to throw and receivers have time to run the route. The Falcons are probably the league’s slowest team on offense. Turner has zero quickness and no breakaway speed. Snelling is the same. Even little Rodgers is not fast by NFL standards. The tight ends, Gonzalez and Palmer are very slow. Roddy White has average speed for a receiver; same for Douglas. Jones has good speed but not great quickness. The defense has some talent but the soft scheme really hurt in several games. I think Van Gorder was a big problem…good riddance.
MCDAVIDDAWG
January 12th, 2012
10:04 am
It’s unfortunate that Georgia’s coach doesn’t understand it starts with him. Georgia’s fans also don’t want to hold Richt responsible. Amazing.
Falconsufferersince66
January 12th, 2012
10:50 am
Maybe in a 100 years the Falcons will become and elite team.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 12th, 2012
10:54 am
Mike Vick is a helluva drug
HA HA HA
Enkinan
January 12th, 2012
12:39 pm
I like Smith, it’s nice to be able to whine about losing in the playoffs instead of not even having the chance to play there. We really aren’t that far from being able to compete with the elite.
I think these two coordinators knew they were out and went ahead and moved before it was a big scene. On defense, the soft zone prevent garbage that gave us one of the worst 3rd down defenses has to go. The front four needs to get pressure. The secondary with Grimes in really isn’t that bad, the problem is a lack of pressure. Ray Edwards has been silent, and Abe didn’t really get it going until the end of the season. Why BVG waited until a playoff game to finally get some decent blitzes going baffles me, it was obvious for most of the season that the front four weren’t generating the pressure needed. On the Offense we need a more dynamic and non predictable play caller, and Ryan needs to get accurate deep.
Gerhart76
January 12th, 2012
1:19 pm
To the poster who asked about Baker. He was a 2008 Dimitroff pick; trading pick 34 & 48 (rd 2), pick 103 (4) to get pick 21 (rd 1). His play certainly suffered this year. Another Dimitroff misfire???
Maybe Ryan needs to get in the weight room this off season and build up his arm instead of working on his golf game. My opinion of him this year is he has not improved in his play and has to work on his “happy feet”. Seems before they moved or rolled the pocket more. He’s almost stationary now.
I don’t see much room for improvement next year because of lack of picks and lack of cap room.
Arthur's New Stadium
January 12th, 2012
1:30 pm
chump atlanta taxpayers and fans are going to be paying big money soon to build Arthur a fancy new, open air stadium so he can even more millions!! If not, he’ll threaten to leave and the chumps will come up with the cash! The stadium contract deals will go to friends of the mayor and council, as always—everyone involved gets rich, the taxpayers will get hosed! Prices will be even higher for tickets, parking, food, …. Pay up chumps!
Saints4Life
January 12th, 2012
1:33 pm
As a Saints fan living here in Georgia, I too, was puzzled as to what was going on here. As much as I hate to admit it, the Falcons are a very good football team and should have done better this year. However, I’ve been telling my co-workers all year that I think the problems start with the head coach. There is a difference between having great talent and being able to make them play like one cohesive unit. Good article and It’ll be interesting to see what happens this year when new coordinators are hired…can’t hide behind coordinators this year. I think y’all need a new head coach.
mike
January 12th, 2012
2:06 pm
Boy I wish I could play a violin or fiddle with all the excuses for this football team. Since the falcons lost, it seems all the so called sports experts on radio, tv and print have done nothing but come up with excuses after excuses. I would not count on next year either since it will be more of the same.
The Falconator
January 12th, 2012
2:36 pm
My 2012 Falcons forecast is Next=Last. If the new coordinators bring something better than garbage game planning and play calling, another 10-6 is possible with the slightly easier schedule they’ll have. I, personally, think 9-7 or 8-8 is more likely because with not much in the way of draft choices and a tight cap, the roster will be basically unchanged and won/lost records with single digits rarely make the playoffs. Rebuilding begins with the 2013 draft and The Falcons will probably need a QB because this worn-out, crappy O-line is going to get Ryan killed or drive him to suicide. Another year of the joke soft zone defense will drive ME to suicide. I just can’t get excited about the foreseeable future. That said, I’ll probably still drink the Kool-Aid and continue to watch. I will not invest in high-priced tickets.
Bobby Walden
January 12th, 2012
3:39 pm
Just think: the 2012 draft will be of little immediate impact help; it was gutted in a trade for 1 WR.
God, how the old stupid Falcons live on.
Oscar Harper
January 12th, 2012
3:43 pm
IMHO – Vick didn’t lose the game the kicker did. You know the guy in ‘Frisco..
Oscar Harper
January 12th, 2012
3:45 pm
Enter your comments here
Ghosts of loserville
January 12th, 2012
4:22 pm
Excellent piece. Now can you give you colleague some lessons on avoiding unnecessary flourishes and overwriting.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 12th, 2012
6:23 pm
Mrs Charlie is a PUNK COWARD
Trapper John
January 12th, 2012
8:43 pm
Mike Smith hired these bozos. Mike Smith is to blame. Don’t let this idiot (politician!) hire the next two coordinators to try and cover his tracks. New head coach. Then, let him pick the people to go to the next level!
Hugo
January 13th, 2012
8:02 am
Smitty maybe a good coach but he seems to be alot like Bobby Cox, a regular season guy. Come playoff time it seems he is out of his league. Accountability. Chemistry. New O. seems like they use Falcons defense as practice dummys. No pressure on Brees and receivers taking turns with catches.
PlanB
January 13th, 2012
10:42 am
Mike Smith is a nice guy but I’m not understanding why he gets another chance. Most of you guys posting here could see the problems with our conservative team and not using the talent we had. When that happens, the HC is in charge and should change the OC & DC if they are the problem or go along with the ideas of the OC & DC if he is the problem. He didn’t change. Why do we have to wait another year to see if he will change with the ideas of the new coordinators. Even if the new OC & DC want rainbow ice cream, it was the HC ordering vanilla.
One good thing is when we get rid of of the dead weight, we will have alot of money to spend. Many of TD’s drafts and free agents cost alot, but if he made so many bad choices before, how do we depend on him to make good choices this time.
PlanB
January 13th, 2012
10:58 am
What is the guys name that was HC at Texas Tech that was fired 2 or 3 years ago? He has a great offensive mind. Then there is Norv Turner. Some are saying another guy. Forgot his name. Point is there are some good ones. Still no good tho unless the HC uses their skills.
@observer saying that no QB looks good when running for his life. True, but he mostly ran backwards and to the right to throw the ball away. Brees, Rodgers and other good ones run and complete a 5 yd, 10 yd or 15 yd pass. This keeps the offense on the field and these are the 38 PPG QB’s as opposed to MR’s 20 PPG+-. He may do that as required by coaches, but that needs to change.
PlanB
January 13th, 2012
11:24 am
This by: Jimmy Crack
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.
________________________________________________
This not realizing the best talent by TD makes me wonder why we are keeping MS & TD. Some say if we let them go we will go back to 4-12. I disagree. Arthur Blank cares too much to let this team go back to that. He hired a good 10 wins a year HC in MS and we find out we need to take the next step. Mr. Blank will get us there but we still have many needs due to some of the picks we’ve made.
kcfoster34
January 13th, 2012
12:22 pm
Big fan of Mike Smith and what he has done for this team, but maybe there is a ceiling to his success.
I don’t think he is on the hot seat, but it’s certainly warm.
Atlanta just didn’t have a lot of swagger during the season. They would pound bad opponents and look over-matched by the elite. I believe in the talent on the roster on offense (Ryan, Turner, Rodgers, White, Jones, Gonzalez) and defense (Lofton, Weatherspoon, Moore is really shaping up, Abraham has been steady though at times unspectacular) I would just liked to see, as you put it, a less “predictable” offense. Anyone who has watched a SINGLE Falcons game knew what that team was about and what they were going to do.
I’d like to see the offense use the pass to set up the run more. Let Ryan loose. I’d like to see him throw for 4000 yards every season. He has the skills and the know how to get it done. I watch offenses like New England and Green Bay enviously and know that with the talent on the offensive side of the ball, the Falcons could be that way too.
Robert Dallas
January 13th, 2012
1:06 pm
Jeff, I love your columns! Thanks so much for your candor and especially, your humor! I am no genius as related to pro football, but for years I have wondered if having three really top notch running backs wouldn’t take the team to another level. Yes, also better lines on both sides of the ball, but it seems they often over-think the situation. The personnel, in the office, and on the field, seem OK. Just create a lot more unbalance in opposing defenses with less predictability in terms of WHO will be running WHERE. With that, I think the passing game would have a lot less pressure.
Scott Anderson
January 13th, 2012
7:37 pm
if they bring in a ex head coach or a really good coordinator
Smith will gone sooner than later.
Guy cant manage games.
He panics in crunch time and only know to run up the gut. wthf
free agents better be a big part of the off season quest.
Draft picks in 2 and 3 only aint going to solve the Falcons troubles.
texasbirdfan
January 13th, 2012
7:57 pm
hire ANYONE who knows more than one game plan and can switch at halftime TWICE or more (flexibility here) because our 2011/2010 opponents beat us in the third quarter like dumb mules