Time’s up for Falcons: They need to win in postseason now
Mike Smith and Thomas Dimitroff know they're being judged on playoffs now. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
FLOWERY BRANCH – When Falcons coach Mike Smith was asked this week whether he could sense when a team was ready to take the next step, he gave a long, winding answer that never really arrived at “yes” or “no,” even if he spoke in well-crafted sentences.
It reminded me of middle school when I was faced with an essay question that I didn’t know the answer to, which led to something like, “The Taft-Hartley Act is considered one of the most important documents in history, written half by Taft and half by Hartley, both of whom were fine, distinguished gentlemen who liked to wear suits, and this had a big impact on the United States of America! You’re my favorite teacher! Oh, look at the birdies …”
This was Smith, on whether he knows when a team is ready to take the next step, or possibly the Taft-Hartley Act: “We feel very good about what we’ve accomplished thus far this year. We have expectations. We set our goals, and we’ve been clicking along pretty well this season. I like the way that we’ve played through the first season. The second season is getting ready to start, and I know that we respect everybody that’s in this tournament because they’ve fought very hard to get in it.”
I’ll answer for him: No.
I’ll also answer for general manager Thomas Dimitroff, who, in trying to avoid anything close to state-of-the-Falcons questions this week, has decided to make himself unavailable to the media: No.
In the NFL playoffs, there’s a tendency to handicap teams not by records, statistics or talent, but by resume. New England and Green Bay are feared. They’ve won Super Bowls. The Falcons are not. They scored two points in the Meadowlands.
In their past three playoff seasons, the Falcons went 11-5, 13-3 and 10-6. They lost their first playoff game each year, in stunning, increasingly humiliating fashion: 30-24 (Arizona), 48-21 (Green Bay) and 24-2 (New York Giants). In all three years, they were confident. In all three years, they thought, “We can do this.” They didn’t.
So now we watch again. A talented, confident, 13-3 Falcons team, following the luxury of a week off that’s afforded a No. 1 seed, faces Seattle at the Georgia Dome on Sunday. There’s a public concern because the Seahawks are hot.
But really, that’s not what this is about. This game is not about what the Seahawks are, but rather what the Falcons have been.
This is a one-game pass-fail test. It’s important to Dimitroff, the architect of this otherwise wonderful, five-year franchise makeover, who made the decision to make few roster changes from last season’s team until the late trade for cornerback Asante Samuel (a familiar face from their New England days).
It’s important to quarterback Ryan, who could be excused for getting outplayed in the postseason by three Super Bowl quarterbacks (Kurt Warner, Aaron Rodgers, Eli Manning), but probably not so quickly if he loses to a rookie (Russell Wilson).
It’s important to Smith, who likely will catch more heat than anybody — yes, even more than Ryan — if the Falcons lose this game.
The people who claim Mike Smith absolutely gets fired if the Falcons lose this game are wrong. So are the people who say Mike Smith absolutely would not get fired. Fact is, we don’t know. That’s one man’s decision, and regardless of what that one man, owner Arthur Blank, might say now, even he can’t imagine the difficulty of processing another defeat and where that would lead him. We’re talking about one of the more emotionally invested owners in sports.
But there are several good signs for the Falcons (notwithstanding the season-ending stink bomb against Tampa Bay). They seemed hardened by the criticism. There was less celebrating this season after victories. There’s a swagger on defense — certainly in the secondary with Samuel, Dunta Robinson, William Moore and Thomas DeCoud — that wasn’t evident before.
This has been Ryan’s best season. His completion percentage (68.6), touchdown total (32) and rating (99.1) all were career bests.
But the Falcons’ biggest step forward this season probably came in game-planning and decision-making by the coordinators. Mike Nolan (defense) and Dirk Koetter (offense) have been superior to their predecessors (Brian VanGorder and Mike Mularkey), in terms of motivating players and putting them in positions to succeed.
Smith said, “We’re a much more mature team because of our experiences. I think you learn from your previous experiences in the playoffs.”
We’ll soon find out. Because if they lose again, there’s a very good chance the changes would not be small.
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By Jeff Schultz
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353 comments Add your comment
GJay
January 8th, 2013
5:13 pm
Where are all the Falcons fans? Less than 5 days to go before the game, and stubhub shows 10,000 seats available. Ticketmaster shows 7,000 on its exchange. And face value seating is still available via Ticketmaster’s regular site. And this doesn’t even include those being held by old-school ticket brokers. This is pathetic.
Answer This
January 8th, 2013
5:15 pm
And one more point……if Julio was not here do you think we would be 13-3? Or 10-6 last year? Before you answer that, Answer This ( hebebeh like that?) Is MT33 of this year or last year capable of carrying this team anymore? It was the correct move!
Rise Up!
Answer This
January 8th, 2013
5:17 pm
And those are who JSS….please give names….I will wait while you google.
amused in seattle
January 8th, 2013
5:18 pm
I see a common theme in many of these comments. Stuff the run, and confuse the rookie qb. Did Atlanta get a new playoff defense? Because the regular season defense was a bottom dweller as a rush defense. And as far as confusing the rookie, Seattle has faced much more aggresive defenses this year than the Falcons, and that rookie qb finished the season with a qb rating of 100.00. By comparison, Ryan, with a softer schedule finished the season with a qb rating of 99.1. He must have been confused more than our rookie. I think it will be a great game. To me the wild card in this game is the home crowd, and Tony G., but not the Falcon defense.
Rise up
January 8th, 2013
5:22 pm
I echo that the Seahawks are not as impressive as some think. They are the hot flavor of the week. No team gets to the playoffs and advances without being decent. There are no Jacksonville or kansas City teams in the second round of the playoffs. Seattle is a decent team with a decent defense and a strong running game. They also have lost on the road to, among others, arizona, the lions, the Rams and the frickin dolphins. There is no excuse for the Falcons not winning this game. Seattle has to travel cross country for the second time in a week. We are healthy and rested and playing at home. No excuses!!!!!!
Answer This
January 8th, 2013
5:23 pm
We all know that GM’s move up for skill players…..so moving up for a non-skill position is something most GM’s dont do. They get it later in the draft or through FA. I did not have to google that King Idiot!
JSS
January 8th, 2013
5:25 pm
Don’t worry PSI (if I may), when they have to ditch “stars” after they hit the cap ceiling after extending Ryan, they will find out why drafts matters (and rookie contracts) keep good and great teams on a high level like Packers, Pittsburgh, NE, and the Ravens…
While some teams get stuck with the Peria Jerry, Sam Baker, and Chris Owens of the world… Feel comfortable extending those guys?
drew
January 8th, 2013
5:26 pm
If the Falcons lose, Blank might consider making a coaching change, but he’s not a hot head. He’ll sit down after the heat of battle and review Smith’s entire body of work – as a coach who has had four straight winning seasons, three of those resulting in playoff appearances. And after the frustration of being one-and-done again fades a little, there’s no way in hell he’ll fire Smith.
I don’t see how ANYBODY can look at the Smith’s record over the last four years and justify firing him. Having said that, I’m still not sure he’s is the long term answer…I just know he’s better than pretty much everybody that came before him.
Lastly, as much as I want this team to win (I’m an old fart and I’ve been on this wagon since the beginning) this team has impressed me in maybe 3-4 games this year. Yeah, I know they won 13, but several of those wins were not impressive. I just hope they’re not who I think they are.
JSS
January 8th, 2013
5:29 pm
You don’t “move up” in a foolish way… You move up in a tactical minor…
Oh, you didn’t say: “moving up for a non-skill position is something most GM’s dont do (it)?” Did you tell Dimitroff that before he moved up to get Baker? ROTFLMAO!!!
JSS
January 8th, 2013
5:31 pm
“manner” Feed the minor bird…
bfred
January 8th, 2013
5:32 pm
I think this is going to be a shootout. Give me Ryan slinging to Julio, Roddy, Harry and Tony, Rogers and Turner keeping them honest and some well-time screens all day. Our DBs are all healthy at last so cheat a linebacker in to stuff the run and make the rookie beat you downfield.
bfred
January 8th, 2013
5:34 pm
Oh, and my only real concern about Smith is his tendency to take his foot off the gas too early. For some reason he seems intent on letting teams hang around when he should be putting them away.
bfred
January 8th, 2013
5:34 pm
Oh, and my only real concern about Smith is his tendency to take his foot off the gas too early. For some reason he seems intent on letting teams hang around when he should be putting them away.
bfred
January 8th, 2013
5:36 pm
Grr.
extremus
January 8th, 2013
5:36 pm
Look at any team (Packers, Saints, Patriots, etc.) that won the Superbowl in recent years (or further back as happened to the Patriots or Colts, won that elusive first Superbowl). Up until that moment there were the detractors and the doubters, particularly among the national media (except for the Saints; it seemed like they couldn’t be bigger homers for New Orleans if they tried).
If the Falcons end up winning the Superbowl, just watch how many of the same “experts” and pundits who’ve used the phrase “never won in the postseason” suddenly start proclaiming them the next dynasty or whatever and taking credit for calling it. So pay zero attention to the bandwagon; the only real fans are the ones who’ve stuck with their team through the good years and the bad and don’t switch loyalties based on who’s the “favorite to win it all”. Que sera sera…and GO FALCONS!!!
LOL at The Aints
January 8th, 2013
5:41 pm
I’ll Wait while you Google, LOL,, Now thats funny,,
Bling's the Thing
January 8th, 2013
5:43 pm
One has to think that the worm has to turn for the Falcons this year. This will not be the Aaron Rodgers light show that happened in 2010. Falcons were ultimately blown out in that game, but that was after the wheels came off right before the half and they were never able to recover from Ryan’s Pick Six – prior to that they were in the game and if it had not been for the suck ass secondary we may not have been shredded. Anyone who saw the Cardinals game knows we should have won it and let it get away. Last year was just embarrassing. SO, they are a better team this year and I think the only reason they sucked against lesser competition, was they could just not get themselves up for those games like they did against NYG, Broncos, Dallas, NO, and Wash. That is the team we should expect to see on Sun, with a lot of attitude like they had against NYG. As long as Matty Ice doesn’t become the Matty Melt with scared eyes, we should dominate ,, and I don’t think that is the Matt Ryan we will see. God, I hope not!! Go Falcons!!!
Jfreak13713
January 8th, 2013
5:48 pm
Look people consider all the facts surrounding this game that are in the Falcons favor this year that did not apply last year. 1) Seahwaks have to travel all the way across country to play very early game for them. 2) Seahawks have a rookie QB. 3) Falcons defense if MUCH better than before. 4) White, Jones, and Tony G. who can guard all three? 5) Teams in their 3rd playoff run are historically much better!
Falcons win a good close game 24-17
I worry more about Green Bay the following week. And yes Green Bay will beat San Fran.
Go Falcons
Answer This
January 8th, 2013
5:51 pm
As for Baker how has that turned out? Looks like he will be getting re up! So that arguement blows chunks. And to let the talking heads tell it, he is also one of the reasons Matt has had a very good year….go figure. And if not that is why you drafted for depth this year with that behemoth tackle we got….and he has not seen the field because we did not need him this year! I see you could not come up with anymore names….your goggle broke? Lol. Last thing about Julio to finally prove a point….ask the 2/3 of the vote ( you do know that 1/3 comes from, coaches, players and fans) that voted him in why they wish TD did not move up and make that move. Now back to you King Idiot…what stars are you referring to? All and I am saying all those players you mentioned can be released without a hint of cap ramifications….still ROFLYBBAO? Thought not! You must be thinking of the Aints….? Lol.
JSS
January 8th, 2013
5:57 pm
Extremus, those teams turned themselves into a running capable teams for the post-season… And didn’t wait for the Bye week to accomplish it… The Saints may have lost their last 3 regular season games, but they jump started the run game and hit the Cardinals up for 171 yds in the Divisional round… The Packers put 143, 119, 60, then back up to 138 against the Eagles, on the Falcons 96 to close it out, and 120 to win the NFC championship in Chicago… The 2006 Colts only threw for more 300 yards once in their SB run (AFC championship game), the rest they rushed for less than 100 yards in their final games… That was against the Ravens… Playoff football still flows along success in running unless you have one of those games like GB laid on the Falcons…
Answer This
January 8th, 2013
6:04 pm
FYI looks like the Jags are hiring our Director of Player Personnel to be th new GM there. Wonder why they would do that since we suck at bringing in talent and also suck in having a grip on the cap? Go figure, those darn Jaga got it a year late…they had the old GM hire M2!
Matty Bicep
January 8th, 2013
6:05 pm
Baker was the 7th LT taken in the draft, slotting is supply vs demand, LTs were in demand, we needed one. It is all relative, you would think somebody who knows football like JSS claims would know this, but he is a fraud. Oh, and overall, he has been more than serviceable, I don’t think he has give up a sack this year.
Tundra Dude
January 8th, 2013
6:13 pm
All the Falcons need to do is score 20 points.
The Seahawks have difficulty scoring on the road in noisy domes.
ps: stay healthy for my Packers
JSS
January 8th, 2013
6:14 pm
Man, JJ Watt and Aldon Smith were in that draft (if you just had to move up), Cobb (as aforementioned), Kerrigan was in that draft, Orlando Franklin… Sam Acho slipped to the fourth round. The 2012 pick could have been Doug Martin and you could have moved Turner
Value!!!
Answer This
January 8th, 2013
6:20 pm
Google back up?
KC Falcon
January 8th, 2013
6:20 pm
How in God’s green earth did Seattle ever lose 5 games this season? Let’s just fit ‘em for the Lombardi now, right?
Between the trolls and real Falcons fans, I don’t know what to make of this site any more.
It’s hard to win in the NFL. We don’t need people making it harder.
If RW is so great, why wasn’t he taken in the first round? 32 plus teams passed on him twice. What happened with Pete Carroll in NE and with the NYJ?
OMG–RGIII and Andrew Luck have never won a playoff game. Shut the league down.
Just win Falcons and shut all these people up.
Answer This
January 8th, 2013
6:21 pm
You named 6 people and out of all 6 of those not one I take over Julio……so again yohr arguement. Lows chunks King Idiot!
Georgia
January 8th, 2013
6:22 pm
The two teams I’m afraid of are the Broncos and the Seahawks. I look back at the Falcons’ season and remember the roller coaster ride in every game. How we won those games, I don’t know. I guess I don’t understand football anymore. But the fact that they won sucked me in again, and I can get my girly-man feelings hurt if they lose, that’s the problem. It takes me along time to get over a loss when I’m carried away by a team like this year’s Falcons. I’m getting a 50 inch plasma with the 640 refresh rate just for the game. I’m going to sit three or four feet away from it and be a part of every huddle, every sack, every blitz. I’m going to make sandwiches. I’m going to will the Falcons to victory!!!!! GO FALCONS!!!!
Matty Bicep
January 8th, 2013
6:22 pm
JSS, show some hindsight in the draft, hard to pick that logic apart…..move Turner Value lol….got a forklift?
Answer This
January 8th, 2013
6:23 pm
And just for your info….how many other teams passed on those guys…..we got what we needed!
Matty Bicep
January 8th, 2013
6:26 pm
Talk about hindsight, like we traded up to get a guy over hyped who could only manage 2 playoff wins in 13 seasons, when we could have stood pat and taken Drew Brees and LT? Yea, I hear ya JSS, talk about believing the hype and screwing the pooch.
Matty Bicep
January 8th, 2013
6:33 pm
Bottom line is, there is not a QB who was drafted after 2005 who has a ring, so unless you define success as winning a playoff game, no QB in the 2006 class has gotten to the promise land. Out of the 8 teams left, 4 have a chance…..and until one does, nobody is any better than the next….You don’t get in the HOF by winning playoff games.
JSS
January 8th, 2013
6:34 pm
Dude, Baker is a contract year, the first year he’s shown anything since a stretch in year 2010 (where he went bad in the last 6 games of the year)… His 2012 year has been with a load of help sliding his way.. Sam Baker rarely is man-vs-man in pass protection… Oh yeah “fraud” he’s allowed 3.5 sacks, you really pay attention… Like I said, you want to extend an OL who has historically been injured… Good luck.. You’ve spent more time with out of possible 80 games only 66 games played (not started)…
Edd Double D
January 8th, 2013
6:36 pm
Falcons coast to a 35-13 much needed playoff win ! Ya’ll heard it here first, jus sayin !!
JSS
January 8th, 2013
6:40 pm
Brees and Tomilinson would have never succeeded in Atlanta, Reeves never drafted quality in the lines… Ask Elway how happy he was to see him go!!! He lucked into Kerney and never augmented him… Art Shell did miracles… You people kill me with those distractions… Brees would been killed and for this despite all of his talents and drive, Reeves has NEVER improved a single QB under his employ…
JSS
January 8th, 2013
6:42 pm
“You don’t get in the HOF by winning playoff games.”
Do Joe Namath and Terry Bradshaw know that?
New York 1
January 8th, 2013
6:43 pm
Won’t be any Sea allis Seachicken fans on here on Monday. The Falcons are a lot better team and play very well at home and on the road too. Hope your team doesn’t have anymore big injuries like last week. Those Falcons can hit and score. 42- 10 Falcons.
Jeff Schultz
January 8th, 2013
6:44 pm
What of it? — Thanks. How could someone say playoff loss wouldn’t take away from season? Even every player would disagree with that statement.
Answer This
January 8th, 2013
6:45 pm
And for a minute you make a little sense but then you go being King Idiot again! They drafted another tackle to groom for a reason! If they choose to not sign the Baker man they dont have to! Wake up man! And FYI know it all I can count on one hand the number of tackles who dont get help from game to game. Even you know protection is moved weekly to stop these DE from killing your QB…..another arguement that blows chunks! Back to Baker 3 years in the league and you wanted Tony Munoz? Lol. He much like you said was hurt all last year….has not missed a game this year has he? And those 6 games he missed carried over into the next season so he was hurt! It happens when 300 lb men continue to push into you on a consistent basis… thats free info just in case you did not know about how these guys get hurt in the NFL!
Jeff Schultz
January 8th, 2013
6:46 pm
Growler — You make a very good point about Nolan vs. QBs this season. In fact, that might be a topic for Sunday column.
Texas2step
January 8th, 2013
6:49 pm
The Falcons will do to Seattle what Alabama did to Notra Dame.
Say what
January 8th, 2013
6:49 pm
Wow, JSS, you think the mobile Brees couldn’t succeed with a weak O line, while an immobile QB like Ryan obviously does. You make no sense.
And stop ragging Baker. He played hurt last year and has worked hard to come back and play great for us this year. To paraphrase Ryan, “get the eff off our blog!”
Answer This
January 8th, 2013
6:51 pm
I guess Chris Chandler never blossomed under Reeves? He only took the Falcons to the there first Super Bowl and first NFC Championship. 2 time Pro Bowler under Reeves….never before he got to atlanta and never after he left…..but you correct King Idiot…..no QB!
JSS
January 8th, 2013
6:51 pm
And somebody feed that Minor bird, maybe eating will distract from that stupidity…
UGA ECONOMICS MAJOR
January 8th, 2013
6:52 pm
EXPERIENCED,POISE,FALCON TEAM WILL ROLL SUNDAY ..COMBINED WITH A EAR SPITTING NOISY GEORGIA DOME AND A ROOKIE QUATERBACK…ATLANTA 27 SEACHICKENS 10
loose caboose
January 8th, 2013
6:53 pm
JSS… How mant Falcons are going to the pro bowl this year? Oh, , you have to google to get that info…like the rest of your crap…fraud.
Answer This
January 8th, 2013
6:53 pm
Lol @ Say What…
get the eff off our blog……classic!
loose caboose
January 8th, 2013
6:58 pm
Damn good point about Chandler Answer….JSS breaking Reeves ba!!s…sissy…
JSS
January 8th, 2013
7:02 pm
Chandler had one good season in Atlanta, and he took off when Reeves was laying in the cardiac unit at Piedmont!!!
.500 and below the rest of time… I loved how he threw a ball, but he could not stay healthy or upright… And people talked about Vick…
loose caboose
January 8th, 2013
7:05 pm
Chandler retired you moron.