Key question: Do the Falcons still know what they’re doing?
It has gotten this bad: Even the Bucs are mocking the Dirty Birds now. (AP photo)
Tampa – The Falcons are too good to be playing this way. They’ve trailed by double figures in all three games. They look great when they finally get serious, but by then their margin for error has been reduced to the nub, and any more wobbles — a dropped pass, a sack that shouldn’t have been taken, a lurch offside with the game literally on the line — can result in a good-looking team taking a big ugly L.
Asked Sunday night if he has been seeing the team he thought he’d see, coach Mike Smith said: “No, I’m not seeing that team … We’re making way too many mistakes.”
The same question was posed to center Todd McClure, who said: “No. We’ve got a great group of players, but we haven’t put it all together.”
Then this: “I feel like we’re holding ourselves back. We’re not making the plays that are there to be made.”
The obvious next questions: Why not? Why is a team fancied as a Super Bowl winner darn fortunate to be 1-2? Why do the Falcons start so slowly? Why has their devotion to details — a Smith staple — gone missing? Why must the long-promised “explosive” plays be saved for the desperate hours?
Nobody seems to know. The Falcons spent three quarters letting an OK Tampa Bay team get ahead and stay there, and it wasn’t as if the Bucs seized every moment. They netted three points from two sacks-and-recovered-fumbles inside the Falcons’ 20. They had a chance to pull ahead by three scores but threw an interception on the first play of the fourth quarter, whereupon a mystery guest appeared.
A team wearing the Falcons’ uniforms drove inside the Tampa Bay 5, then got the ball back and scored in two plays, then got the ball again and surged to the 5 again. At that moment you’d have sworn this team would seize the lead and win the game and talent would have finally been served, but at the same time you wondered: Where had this team been for 2 1/2 hours?
Let’s not fault the defense. It held the Bucs under 300 yards. Let’s turn instead to the high-priced offense, which has in two road games managed one touchdown. Asked if the Falcons aren’t a better team when three wide receivers are deployed and the no-huddle offense is implemented, Matt Ryan said: “I think we’re a good football team regardless of our personnel.”
For the first time in the four years of their partnership, it’s possible to wonder if Smith and general manager Thomas Dimitroff are as like-minded as we’d come to believe. Dimitroff traded 21 spots upward to land the hugely gifted Julio Jones, and through three quarters Sunday the receiver had one catch. He had five — for 97 yards — in the fourth. How hard is it to pull a Keyshawn Johnson and say: “Get that guy the darn ball”?
But it cuts deeper than tactics. There’s a weird air about this team. On the one hand, the Falcons seem careless. (Three turnovers and five penalties in this first half.) On the other hand, they seem scared to cut loose until circumstances render cutting loose a last resort. Former Falcons punter Michael Koenen, now a Buc, told the Tampa Tribune: “Up there, it’s a lot tighter. There’s a lot more nervous energy.”
There’s pressure on this team, yes. Dimitroff didn’t make big moves for Jones and Ray Edwards because he thought the Falcons might win a Super Bowl sometime in the next 30 years, and Arthur Blank — he of the not-exactly-relaxing late-game sideline appearances — has made it clear his only goal is to win a ring. But is a 53-man roster that includes only two Super Bowl winners capable of knowing what it takes without having ever come close?
The Falcons’ stated position is a reasonable one: They have enough talent to do whatever needs doing and enough time to correct the errors. Said John Abraham, the defensive end: “We’ve got to be back to playing Falcons football.”
For three seasons we thought we knew what that entailed — power football, focused football, precision football. Today we see a team that can’t handle the small stuff and seems, big-picture-wise, not to know what it’s trying to do. It’s as if the Falcons keep falling behind because falling behind is the only way they get to play the way they play best. It’s as if this grand design has lost all coordination.
By Mark Bradley
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598 comments Add your comment
CANDICECANDY
September 25th, 2011
9:31 pm
@FAN..LMFAO @YOUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!..
Good One!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great Falconi
September 25th, 2011
9:31 pm
Aside from the mistakes (and there have been many), what we’re seeing is that the Falcons are not a power running football team. They are a passing team. They play better in the no-huddle because they’re throwing it. Will Mularkey adjust the running game to fit the passing game and allow Ryan to go to work? If he’s incapable or unwilling to do so, will Smith and Dimitroff overrule him?
Been throgh this before
September 25th, 2011
9:31 pm
This is a poorly coached footbal team ! I have seen better tackling on a episode of pro’s vs Joe’s .
Horrible O line play, penalties, & QB who looks like a deer in headlights. Coach Smith needs to give up all the cliche’ post game comments about “we have to work harder” , “it is one me” ! Usally that means a coach doesn’t know how to fix the problem. Blank needs to stay in his box as well !
Hairy Dawg
September 25th, 2011
9:31 pm
The problem for Falcons is O-line being stinky. That why Ryan sacked 15 times in 3 games and Burner Turner can’t run ball. We need to get more mean and nasties on line. And getting more Dawgs on team do that. We need players like Stinchcomb and Ben Jones to put Oline talent on field that willing to get nasty. Then we get back to playing like Falcons skill players is capable of.
Eric C.
September 25th, 2011
9:31 pm
And I’ve said it a dozen times, the fact that the Falcons beat the Eagles last week shows they are winners
CANDICECANDY
September 25th, 2011
9:32 pm
Just face it….MATTYMELTICE IS NO DREWBREES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
georgiavol
September 25th, 2011
9:32 pm
Total offensive flop once again. Any why does Van Gorder still have a job?
archangeladidas
September 25th, 2011
9:32 pm
Man what happen to the big bad superbowl talk. One more loss and falcon fans will start sounding like bulldog fans…fire the coaches!
BIGG E
September 25th, 2011
9:32 pm
MATT RYAN DONT HAVE ANY BALL SPEED AT ALLLLLL
CANDICECANDY
September 25th, 2011
9:33 pm
Y dont yall come back over to nola.com and repeat some of da bs yall was talking earlier..BEAT BY TAMPABAY..Seriously???
Mitch (the one in Rome)
September 25th, 2011
9:34 pm
First, the Falcons don’t suck. They do have some issues. I believe it’s lack of practice from the lockout. For some reason it has not bothered some teams and his has bothered others. Falcons are not the only good team looking mediocre.
All will be well.
Second, there are some adjustments that must be made. I wonder to what degree loosing Musgrave has hurt?
crabapplejoe
September 25th, 2011
9:34 pm
But, But, but….we traded away the franchise to get Julio Jones…I thought that meant we automatically win…..”explosive” and all.
CANDICECANDY
September 25th, 2011
9:34 pm
@archange….
\
NO LOYALTY OR FAITH IN THEIR OWN TEAM..
Almost sad to watch..
They jump the bandwagon quick!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lou Kirouac
September 25th, 2011
9:34 pm
Team looks woefully unprepared. Maybe they should have taken preseason more seriously. Koenen has a good point, sure smacks of a mental thing (wish we’d figured out how to keep him and Harvey…….). Who was that guy who helped Smoltz a few years back? Make him a coach…….
SeenThisB4
September 25th, 2011
9:35 pm
A serious question? LOL!
Personally, I had a good weekend. LSU kicked WVU’s rear end. Then Drew Brees and the Saints showed the Texans how to engineer a fourth quarter comeback, not once, but twice. Then, the cherry on the whip cream topping was Tampa sticking it to the falcan’ts. A tri-fecta! LOL!
GEAUX SAINTS!
Uncle Fester
September 25th, 2011
9:35 pm
Really disappointing. Offense and defense have their troubles but Cory Peters must be let go. There’s no excuse for that stupidity. Everyone but him knew that was a designed play.
phil
September 25th, 2011
9:36 pm
Blank looks like a doof down there. Stay in the box with your rich buddies.
CANDICECANDY
September 25th, 2011
9:36 pm
@BiggE..
Matty Ice dont have alot of thing..LOL
RISEUP!!!???????????????????????????/…..Great theme…Samuel L Jackson can play QB much better….
phil
September 25th, 2011
9:37 pm
No mitch, all won’t be well…it’s already too late.
Mr Charlie
September 25th, 2011
9:37 pm
Expectations are just a lot higher, this team never seemed to play well on grass…..I think we should evaluate after the season. 3 games is not enough….If we were 3-0, it would not mean jack.
CANDICECANDY
September 25th, 2011
9:38 pm
@SEENTHISB4…
RIGHT ON BRO<<<<WHODAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mr Charlie
September 25th, 2011
9:39 pm
It was Julios 3rd NFL game, he had 97 yards…..we will be fine. You guys are such a joke.
take it from me.
September 25th, 2011
9:39 pm
Tampa coach said,we hate the dirty birds,they wanted the game more than the falcons did.As bad as the falcons played,they still should have won the game.No excuse!
stendek
September 25th, 2011
9:39 pm
When it comes to my passion for the sports teams of Atlanta I rarely hold my tongue. Too slippery anyway. Reason why I was banished from Thrasher blogs during last season. Reasons many of my posts fail to materialize in public print. I care! The Falcons had no business losing to Bucs. None whatsoever! A team with any aspirations at all does not lose to the Bucs. A highly charged emotional victory over hated Michael Sick and Eagles was followed by this? Hard to accept for fans! Apparently not so much for jovial Falcons who were all smiles following giveup choke job. Champions hate to lose. The Falcons have been graciuos losers in seven of their last on field appearances! I have lost confidence in Matt Lice who has regressed markedly since his rookie season. The only offensive player with heart is Tony Gonzalez! Roddy White has returned to his old butterfingers form. Defense surrendered 16 points. Not terrible considering wretched performance of offense. Seahawks a sure win? I dunno. May be tossup. At best. Anyone up for 1-3?
Born2Buzz
September 25th, 2011
9:39 pm
Do not blame Matt Ryan for this loss. Do not blame the defense. Blame Mike Smith. Why he didn’t kick the FG early in the 4th is beyond me.
Mr. Cheese
September 25th, 2011
9:39 pm
Look forward to opening a can on you guys in a couple weeks….go pack!
kaput
September 25th, 2011
9:40 pm
The thing is, most Falcon and Bulldawg fans have a higher opinion of those two teams than is warranted. Almost always.
Maybe it’s the reporting from the AJC that puts fans in that mindset?
Ryan is slightly above average.
Ted
September 25th, 2011
9:40 pm
I know he(and stepanie) owns the team-he can do as he chooses. But WHY is he on the sidelines with that smug look? That has to inspire added stress.
Mr Charlie
September 25th, 2011
9:40 pm
Everyone knew the first games would be tough…2-3, or 3-2, or even 1-4 does not mean too much….November and December is when it counts.
Jordan
September 25th, 2011
9:40 pm
http://isportsweb.com/2011/09/25/bucs-beat-birds-16-13/
Hairy Dawg
September 25th, 2011
9:41 pm
Falcons need better O-line instead of stinkys they gots now. Need to hire some mean nasties like Dawgs of Stinchcomb and Ben Jones. That would get OL back instead of taking 15 sacks in 3 games and not opening holes for Burner Turner. Falcons playing like they sorry team and has been for time since playoff embarrass last year. We got to get good OLs and not more stinkys. But hot sitting now needs to be on Coach Smith and not on Coach Richt.
The Falcon Jedi
September 25th, 2011
9:41 pm
First!
stendek
September 25th, 2011
9:41 pm
Let it free Mark—When it comes to my passion for the sports teams of Atlanta I rarely hold my tongue. Too slippery anyway. Reason why I was banished from Thrasher blogs during last season. Reasons many of my posts fail to materialize in public print. I care! The Falcons had no business losing to Bucs. None whatsoever! A team with any aspirations at all does not lose to the Bucs. A highly charged emotional victory over hated Michael Sick and Eagles was followed by this? Hard to accept for fans! Apparently not so much for jovial Falcons who were all smiles following giveup choke job. Champions hate to lose. The Falcons have been graciuos losers in seven of their last on field appearances! I have lost confidence in Matt Lice who has regressed markedly since his rookie season. The only offensive player with heart is Tony Gonzalez! Roddy White has returned to his old butterfingers form. Defense surrendered 16 points. Not terrible considering wretched performance of offense. Seahawks a sure win? I dunno. May be tossup. At best. Anyone up for 1-3?
FugitivePoet
September 25th, 2011
9:42 pm
@CANDICECANDY (All caps—just for you.) Damn, you are hot.
Such control of the language and all of this time on another team’s obscure football blog. I’ll bet your men are trying to tear you away from the keyboard at this very moment.
Can we go out? You are a MickeyD gal I’ll bet. So sexy.
Please hit me again with the multiple punctuation. I am holding my breath in anticipation.
phil
September 25th, 2011
9:42 pm
Yes, that was our former number one that just rumbled for a defensive TD…
We have an incredible knack in atl for getting rid of players just as they become hall of famers…
Sigh….
Mike
September 25th, 2011
9:42 pm
Anybody hitting the panic button needs to chew on this: We started out 4-1 each of the last two seasons and we all saw how those seasons ended. The NFL is about who is playing the best ball at the end of the year, not the beginning. We just need to stay in striking distance, that starts this week @ Seattle.
stendek
September 25th, 2011
9:42 pm
Free up my post Mark or let me know why it was trapped in blog limbo.
bigdave
September 25th, 2011
9:42 pm
Luda (Jamaal Anderson 98) just returned a fumble for a TD
CANDICECANDY
September 25th, 2011
9:42 pm
@ Mr. Charlie….yeahhhhhhh???Keep thinking that way…
Mr Charlie
September 25th, 2011
9:42 pm
I agree with Raheem, they did want the game more. We will see how the team responds to adversity….Ryan is below average when it comes to athletic ability, but above when it comes to guts and intelligence. He got smacked all day, yet, he was in position to win.
phil
September 25th, 2011
9:43 pm
Whatever, Mike….you waste YOUR timethinking so…not me, not again…
FugitivePoet
September 25th, 2011
9:44 pm
Gotta love the gutless, lifeless, lurking, sphincter-muscle trolls.
phil
September 25th, 2011
9:45 pm
Right, Mr. charlie….we’ll be fine.
Just like we are every yr, right?
Mr Charlie
September 25th, 2011
9:45 pm
Mike, exactly, it is not how you play in September, it is how you play in December. in 2005 and 06, we went 6-2 and 5-3, only to finish 8-8 and 7-9. Sure, it would be nice to win, it is never “must win” in September. Julio came alive, White came alive. We will be in the hunt.
Mr Charlie
September 25th, 2011
9:46 pm
Phil, yep, I am always fine. Fact is, what the falcon do have very little impact in my life.
Smarter than your average D-lineman
September 25th, 2011
9:47 pm
Blah, Blah, to how one player and one play did not cost us the game. Jumping off sides when the other team is clearly trying to induce you, and only trying to induce. Corey Peters woud need to check the Greyhound schedules, he would not be coming by on my team plane. Maybe he can ride back next to Leon Lett and Joe Piscarcik.
Mr. Cheese
September 25th, 2011
9:47 pm
Candice…we beat you guys early, but you have come back strong. You’ll take the NFC South.
kaput
September 25th, 2011
9:48 pm
White dropped HOW many passes?
lol, but he’s “come alive.” Alive, I tell you. lol
FugitivePoet
September 25th, 2011
9:49 pm
@CANDICECANDY (All caps—just for you.) Damn, you are hot.
Such control of the language and all of this time on another team’s obscure football blog. I’ll bet your men are trying to tear you away from the keyboard at this very moment.
Can we go out? You are a MickeyD gal I’ll bet. So sexy.
Please hit me again with the multiple punctuation. I am holding my breath in anticipation.
Mmmm, posting twice is twice as nice. Still holding my breath.
Mr Charlie
September 25th, 2011
9:49 pm
He had 8 passes for 150+ yards. Let him get the drops out now, in september.