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
phil
September 25th, 2011
10:11 pm
MB – lol!
Mr Charlie
September 25th, 2011
10:12 pm
D was fine, played great….gave up 16 pts in spite of bad turnovers….I do agree about Dahl, seems his leadership is missed.
phil
September 25th, 2011
10:12 pm
Not on me, you doof….on depression….that stuff is serious…ask my dead relative from suicide. Get some sense.
Moorman
September 25th, 2011
10:13 pm
All the falcons wanted to do this year is not lose to vick. They back to their regular ole selves , foulcans
Mr Charlie
September 25th, 2011
10:13 pm
Nobody in the NFL is playing good D….Somebody told me earlier the Jets were….Oakland hung 34 on them today.
phil
September 25th, 2011
10:13 pm
I remember the pack….that’s why i’m NOT optimistic any longer….they exposed us for the fraud we are.
DawgNole
September 25th, 2011
10:14 pm
Actually, it was relevant, MB. Ask ol’ Phil; he knows.
phil
September 25th, 2011
10:14 pm
Charlie, others….a good night to you all…
phil
September 25th, 2011
10:16 pm
Fire someone…
Mr Charlie
September 25th, 2011
10:17 pm
Sorry about your relative, but you sound it too. Bottom line is, you nor I know what will happen, but I choose to believe we will be proud of the team at the end. We have a choice to believe what we want.
WPB MAN
September 25th, 2011
10:18 pm
RODDY WHITE LOST THIS GAME WITH HIS DROPPED PASS ON THE 2 YARD LINE
TURNER TAKES 5 SECONDS TO GET TO THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE AND IGNORES HOLES TO HIS RIGHT & LEFT WITH HIS HEAD DOWN AND RUNS INTO THE CROWD
TINY MAN RODGERS GETS MOWED DOWN FLAT WITH ANY CONTACT – AND TURNER IS NOW LIKE JAMAL ANDERSON IN HIS FINAL GAMES – TOUCH HIM AND GOES DOWN – HE NEVER RUNS ANGRY LIKE HE DID THE FIRST YEAR WE GOT HIM
JUST THROW THE BALL 60 TIMES A GAME IS THE ONLY WAY WE’LL WIN
Dennis Green
September 25th, 2011
10:19 pm
THE FALCONS ARE WHO WE THOUGHT THEY WERE!!!!!
honest_abe
September 25th, 2011
10:19 pm
i expect most bandwagon fans to jump ship about now. another wretched road performance. offensive line is in shambles. defense looks pretty shaky against the run. punter is awful. dimitroff is overrated.
Ragweed
September 25th, 2011
10:19 pm
Ryan is over rated, the line cannot block for the runners, they can’t protect Ryan, and anyone, no matter how good or how bad can pass on the defence, and they can run on the defence with ease. If they are forturnate to stop the opponent in three plays, they will be offsides or rough up someone in order to give them a critical first down.. In other word, the Falcoons suck and have an attitude problem. The will be last in the division this year and give someone else a good first round choise this years draft…..
Rip
September 25th, 2011
10:19 pm
well you will hear tomorrow on the sport stations, who LOVE Matty dice how he has a strong arm (LOL) and can throw the deep ball(LOL). He is a big stiff in the pocket, and can not throw on the run. OL what OL, PLAYOFFS, will be a good time to watch some bowl games later this year, well maybe we will draft, oops forgot we have no stinking draft picks
Mr Charlie
September 25th, 2011
10:19 pm
Every team in the league has problems, Bills and Detroit 3-0….I love the NFL.
Not a Falcon fan
September 25th, 2011
10:20 pm
Last year all you Falcon “fans” was saying the Falcons were the greatest team ever. Then Green Bay beat the Birds. Now they are 1 and 2. Now all the Band wagon fans are jumping ship. I have sad it for years, the Falcons will not win the Super Bowl. I love the faces of BVG and Daddy Art at the end of the game. Maybe next year !!!!!!!! Rise up !!!!!
take it from me.
September 25th, 2011
10:21 pm
Turner has to be able to run the ball,and he’s not doing it,to take pressure off of Ryan,and slow down the rush,untill that happens,the falcons will have a hard time winning.
The Truth
September 25th, 2011
10:22 pm
The Falcon’s coaches sucks!!Mike Smith don’t have a clue!!Fire him now!!!
Mr. Swamp People
September 25th, 2011
10:24 pm
FAILCONS go 0-16, SAINTS go 16-0 WHO DAT
marty
September 25th, 2011
10:25 pm
amazing… from the writer of the article to every single post … you got it all wrong, TAMPABAY IS A BETTER FOOTBALL TEAM !!! haha … just admit it !
The Ghost of Norm Van Brocklin
September 25th, 2011
10:26 pm
Last Week: Mike Vick points to the scoreboard in ATL while moping off the field….
This Week: Mick Vick whines about referees giving him…well…the same kind of courtesy that he gave non-perfoming dogs at his kennels….
Looks like the “Born-Again” Mike Vick in the image of Tony Dungee needs a little more work before the re-creation is made perfect, huh?
Arthur
September 25th, 2011
10:27 pm
We’re rebuilding come 2012
Mr Charlie
September 25th, 2011
10:28 pm
Tampa bay was better today…Agreed….But we get another chance at them at home, and I am sure we will give a good effort.
marty
September 25th, 2011
10:28 pm
your owner is a DORK walking the side lines !!! in a away game ? gotta love the horrified expression on his face in the last min of the game !!! priceless !
take it from me.
September 25th, 2011
10:29 pm
The Truth—firing Coach Smith at this point wouldn’t do any good,it would just set the team back 6 years and have to start over.
AnotherGM
September 25th, 2011
10:29 pm
Harvey Dahl……………………….nuff said!
Rip
September 25th, 2011
10:29 pm
hear is what Matty dice said “Jacquizz ran a good route and did what we asked him to do,” Ryan said. “We have to make those plays.” what do you mean We, all I ever heard you say when you are clearly screwing up is we. Jacquizz was not the option to throw the ball to. STAND UP BE a MAN and state hey I did not do my job and stop hiding behind your team,no wonder nobody is blocking for you
Mr Charlie
September 25th, 2011
10:30 pm
Yea, we need to keep Arty off the sidelines…..He almost looks as stupid as he does standing next to his soon to be exwife.
Arthur
September 25th, 2011
10:30 pm
Get rid of mooolarkey! Let Ryan make the calls, he’s smarter.
marty
September 25th, 2011
10:30 pm
It has gotten this bad: Even the Bucs are mocking the Dirty Birds now.
what the ??? Bucs were 10-6 last year and have WON a Superbowl… what have the birds done? what a bunch of blind homers !! AJC needs to find a new sports writer!
Homer Falcon
September 25th, 2011
10:31 pm
If you think things are bad now, wait ’til Redmond is the starter. Ryan IS a damned good QB, but nobody can take that kind of beating for sixteen games. No, Atl will not be in the playoffs this year.
Where’s Harvey Dahl when you need him?
Lamar
September 25th, 2011
10:31 pm
Is everybody crazy?? The problem with this years Falcons IS THEY FORGOT WHAT THEIR STRENGTH IS AND THATS RUNNING THE DAMN BALL! Not throwing it 45-50 times a game! The Falcons handed the ball to Turner last year and put together more 6-8 minute scoring drives than anybody else! Now this team went out and got another receiver and now they have changed their identity from a dominating running team to a pass happy New England Patriots WANT TO BE:S! Matt Ryan was and never will be a great throwing QB, he is better when the running game is forcing teams to load the box and stop their running game and THEN HE HITS THEM WITH PLAY ACTION! Late in the 4th quarter they had 1st and goal on the 5 yard line. Instead of handing the ball to Turner, they threw it 3 downs in a row! Now I ask you, could Turner not run the ball in in 3-4 trys from the 5 yard line?? HELL YES! This would have worked better than throwing it 3 times! As long as they keep throwing the ball every down instead of running Turner some THEY WILL KEEP LOSING! THEY HAVE FORGOT THEIR WEAPON IN TURNER!!
Listless in Macon
September 25th, 2011
10:31 pm
Yeah, the Falcons need to pass more, to open up for the run. I don’t understand for the life of me why Tony Gonzalez isn’t a target for at least one series of every down. The Falcons finally started throwing receiver screens in the 4th to Julio. Tackling has got to get better too. I don’t expect the birds to make it past the Divisional rounds this year, but next year better be an improvement.
hiramsaint
September 25th, 2011
10:32 pm
seems to be some discontent in birdland…i’m lovin’ it!
take it from me.
September 25th, 2011
10:32 pm
Tampa bay looks like a 500 hundred team this year 8-8 at best!
Mr Charlie
September 25th, 2011
10:33 pm
We do miss Dahl, I think his intensity was contagious…We seem to be lacking urgency. If Ryan gets knocked out, we are screwed. I would like to see Jizz start and get 20 carries just to see what he does.
Kelvin Frazier
September 25th, 2011
10:33 pm
The offensive line is absolutely terrible. I came into the season thinking the defense was the biggest problem with this team, now I am not so sure.
hiramsaint
September 25th, 2011
10:34 pm
looks like you’re screwed now !
Yankee
September 25th, 2011
10:34 pm
The only people who thought this teams was any good are deluded homer fans and ajc pimps.
Arthur
September 25th, 2011
10:35 pm
Peter Principle, Google It!
Mr Charlie
September 25th, 2011
10:35 pm
Hiram, we are 1 game out with 13 to do….worry about your team, you know, the one that go knocked out of the playoffs by a 7-9 team?
Claudia
September 25th, 2011
10:36 pm
Once again, the Falcons failed to move the ball down the field. Had they done that with consistency, we would not be looking at a “must-win” against Seattle. And why not give Merkin more carries? That is a failure on the part of the coaching staff. Giving Merkin the ball 20 to 30 times would have established a solid running threat and opened up the passing game.
Eric C.
September 25th, 2011
10:38 pm
Turner has lost a step and goes down too easy…but the OL is in shambles now and only seems to do well in the no-huddle…so not sure any back would get it done at this point for the Falcons in their traditional formations. Need major improvement on the OL before the Packers game…
P Rose
September 25th, 2011
10:39 pm
Julio Jones and Ray Edwards would have been icing on the cake, but there is no cake. Football is won or lost on the front lines, in the trenches. The offensive line had attained a certain chemistry up to last year, but the loss of Harvey Dahl was devastating to this team. Matt Ryan has no time to make a play. And the defensive front hasn’t been good for a long time. It was the team’s major weakness last year against Green Bay in the playoff disaster. This year does not look promising.
Same old Falcons
September 25th, 2011
10:40 pm
We may have back 2 back winning seasons but this team sucks. The coaching is abysmal. The drafting is dismal…good God, I need some Pepto-Bismol.
Eric C.
September 25th, 2011
10:41 pm
Btw, the Saints defense has serious issues…the Saints fans on this blog can’t say much at this point.
chuck
September 25th, 2011
10:41 pm
The offense is a mess. The OL isn’t suited to a deep passing game. Baker is not an NFL caliber left tackle. I don’t care if we have 5 Julio Jones, the QB will be on his back before they get 20 yards down the field.
Same old Falcons
September 25th, 2011
10:42 pm
The coaching is abysmal…the playing is dismal…lordy, I need some pepto-bismol !
Arthur
September 25th, 2011
10:42 pm
Here’s the bottom line, the birds have some who really want to win, the others are here for the check. Management, what hell you gonna do?