The story of the Falcons’ season: One Giant step backward
Julio Jones was supposed to make a difference. He made none Sunday. (AP photo)
East Rutherford, N.J. – In April they traded five draft picks to grab one wide receiver because they felt they needed to be more “explosive” to reach the Super Bowl. On Sunday the Atlanta Falcons saw that grand design blow up in their corporate face.
Their sleek offense ran into the NFL’s 27th-ranked defense and managed nary a point. Think about that. In a league where nobody can stop anybody, the Falcons’ offense was outscored by its own defense.
A year ago it was possible to write off the Green Bay loss as a case of the No. 1 seed being undone by a hot quarterback. These Falcons lost to a 9-7 opponent that didn’t do much itself until it was clear the visiting team could do nothing.
Said Mike Smith, 0-3 as a playoff coach: “I don’t know that there’s anything you can take from this game and say, ‘Gosh, they did this well.’ ”
How does that happen? How does a team with Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, Tony Gonzalez, Roddy White and the almost-as-good-as-advertised rookie Julio Jones play a postseason game to so little effect? In his first two playoff losses, it was possible to cite Ryan’s turnovers as the determinant. He made no turnovers this day … and his team lost by 22 points.
It was hard to tell what sort of game Ryan had. The Falcons’ offense wobbled so violently that the quarterback, who the in NFL is supposed to be a difference-maker, made no difference. The Falcons’ longest gain from scrimmage was 21 yards. They managed 247 yards. They failed twice on fourth-and-inches — should have gone for it the first time, shouldn’t have the second — and breached the New York 20 only in the game’s final two minutes.
We ask again: In a league that hinges on quarterback play, how was Ryan marginalized? Smith tried to say that his line couldn’t protect long enough for Ryan to throw any deeper, but he was sacked only twice — once on the Falcons’ final snap. In a game that demanded bold measures, the meek Falcons undid themselves.
Perhaps you see it otherwise. Perhaps you believe this game is proof that Smith is an affable dunce and Ryan an untalented plod who will never win a big game. I don’t believe either is true, but it’s hard to mount a passionate rebuttal after this one. The Falcons were so unassuming — they couldn’t even bring themselves to call timeout near the end of the first half — they made you wonder why they bothered to come.
“We did not play consistent football,” said Smith, speaking of the season, but he had it backward. The 2011 Falcons were very consistent: They beat teams of lesser talent but wilted against those of comparable resources. They were, in a sum, a bully. And when the playoffs commence there are no 90-pound weaklings.
Said Arthur Blank, the owner who hasn’t celebrated a playoff victory since January 2005: “I don’t think we took a step back [this season]. Obviously 0-3 in the playoffs [under this regime] is not where anybody wants to be.”
Then this: “It was disappointing not scoring any points … They made a couple of explosive plays.”
Those were the plays the Julio-boosted Falcons were supposed to make this time. None were forthcoming. Nobody made any plays. Nobody, at least on offense, did anything. When that happens yet again on the big stage, we must ask if the failure goes beyond the guys wearing the helmets.
Asked if he was confident in his franchise’s leadership, Blank said: “I think we have the right people in position because they’ll challenge themselves and ask the right questions. We’ve got to do a thorough diagnostic on why we didn’t perform to our capability. The beauty of Thomas [Dimitroff, the general manager] and Smitty is that they’ll ask the right questions. Where that takes us, I can’t tell you.”
Said Dimitroff: “Anytime you’re unable to get first downs when it’s less than a yard, you’re disappointed.”
Contrary to popular belief, not every team loses because of its offensive coordinator. (Or defensive coordinator, depending on the setting.) It is clear, however, that Mike Mularkey isn’t the man to maximize this personnel in the video arcade of neo-football. There’s a chance he’ll be hired away as someone else’s head coach. If he isn’t, it’s time for the Falcons to try somebody new.
For three years under Smith/Dimitroff the Falcons made clear and consistent progress: From the stunning playoff appearance of 2008 to the strong finish of 2009 to the 13-3 of 2010. There was no ground gained this season. There was only a glaring case of diminishing returns.
Even the man who works hard never to say anything spicy conceded the point. Asked if the Falcons had taken a step backward, Matt Ryan said: “We certainly didn’t take a step forward.”
By Mark Bradley
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1,923 comments Add your comment
Caesar
January 8th, 2012
7:54 pm
@ijonathan, I think Roddy, Julio, Tony and Turner match up well with any offense in the league. Tony is older and Turner isn’t the fastest but as a whole we are above average at the skill positions. An elite QB would maximize the talent on our offense. I don’t think Ryan is capable.
stizz
January 8th, 2012
7:54 pm
It’s obvious dirty sanchez didn’t watch the game today. I see phil is spreading his joy again as always.
Loserville USA
January 8th, 2012
7:54 pm
Dirty Sanchez — Been a fan since ‘66 — I’ve suffered just as much as you have — and I believe and continue to believe that changing the offensive structure without OTAs was a brutal mistake.
Yeah — I love 4 straight winning seasons but this season was a step backward anyway you shake it. We need to sign elite OLs to give Ryan comfort in the pocket. Emergency top priority.
Great Falconi
January 8th, 2012
7:54 pm
Go get this win, Big Ben.
Dirty Sanchez
January 8th, 2012
7:54 pm
So, Phil,
How so? Don’t be a little girl and make a statement and not back it up. Got something to contribute besides a “witty” comeback?
J-Man
January 8th, 2012
7:54 pm
We need to dump the baggage, Dunta Robinson, Ray Edwards, Babineaux, Sam Baker, Weems. We will have Abe’s 9.45 mil off the books, resign him for 5 mil, restructure Matt Ryans contract he takes up about 14 mil next season. #1 Priority is to resign Curtus Lofton #2. Grimes.
Then we need to go after Carl Nicks, Brandon Browner of the seahawks, and Paul Soliai of the Dolphins. We also need to Draft Jordan White from Western Michigan in the 4th Round because he will slip because he is 5′11 but the boy is a player and can return. and get a backup for Gonzalez to teach up. And get O-Line depth. And sign David Garrard to be the back-up
Bradley you need to look up Jordan White on youtube so I can convert you
katherine
January 8th, 2012
7:54 pm
sounds lovely lol
Jesus Christ
January 8th, 2012
7:54 pm
Why do Jewish people own all the franchises?
katherine
January 8th, 2012
7:55 pm
ohhhh how heart breaking…they are going to lose on a field goal
jack bull
January 8th, 2012
7:55 pm
time to start Tebowing….ref’s have been terrible in this game.
miked706
January 8th, 2012
7:55 pm
jack bull
January 8th, 2012
7:36 pm
Ryan is the 6th best QB in the league, no ands ifs or buts about it..we may have just lost to the NFC representitive in the Super Bowl,,again..dangit
Jack are you smoking drugs? Do I need to call Intervention? 6th in the league? You are Crazy. Rodgers, Brady, Manning, Stafford, Rivers, Big Ben, Brees, Cam Newton, Eli Manning, Flaco, Romo and Vick are all better than Matt Ryan. Let’s face it our owner doesn’t know sports he knows wood. As long as we have MattRyan as our QB WE WILL NEVER WIN THE SUPER BOWL. Also Coach Smith is a soft coach who will never fire his OC or DC because that is the kind of man he is. People talk about the Hawks. People talk about the Braves, but at least they can say THEY MADE IT TO THE SECOND ROUND. the Falcons can’t It’s time to clean house but the Owner and Coach won’t do it. So we are stuck with NOODLE ARM it seems. I didn’t like Vick and I am black but at least he did win a playoff game. I never saw what people saw in Matt Ryan. When he was at BC I never heard him mentioned for the Heisman. I never heard him mention for player of the year. Let’s face it, he is average and always will be.
Loserville USA
January 8th, 2012
7:55 pm
DEPOT — Clabo got beat all day long. Watch the tape.
katherine
January 8th, 2012
7:56 pm
big ben should be in jail…not the playoffs
The Monger
January 8th, 2012
7:56 pm
Post of the year from Antn…
I will repeat this again: The Atlanta Chickens WILL NEVER WIN with Coach Smith or QB Ryan. One is a dunce, the other a scaredy-cat. NOTHING WILL CHANGE AS LONG AS THESE TWO ARE HERE and this team WILL remain the ATLANTA CHICKENS. The Atlanta Chickens need to RUN and grab Matt Flynn of Greenbay RIGHT NOW before Jacksonville or Miami gets him. How in the world do you dont kick a field goal on 4th and 1 and you are down less than 2 td’s??? Then call for a QB sneak on 4th and 1 and you have an empty backfield, with a weak offensive line, and a weak footed, scaredy-cat QB???? Why didnt Ryan JUMP over the top like Brees did yesterday? Or, better yet, do a quarterback bootleg? Or, pitch out to Julio Jones to run to a virtually deserted left side????
Are the Atlanta Chicken coaches THAT STUPID or was this game INTENTIONALLY THROWN?
Spot on….
Jesus Christ
January 8th, 2012
7:56 pm
Bradley should stick to basketball and write about Bernard King.
phil
January 8th, 2012
7:56 pm
Our lines are the main issues, not JJ, etc…
Great Falconi
January 8th, 2012
7:56 pm
Tebow’s played well today, but I give O-coordinator Mike McCoy a lot of credit for opening things up. Unfortunately, the Broncos have only scored three points after the Steelers made their second-half adjustments. As all Falcon fans know, there are two halves in a football game and the other team might not be as stupid in one half as they are in the other.
Loserville USA
January 8th, 2012
7:56 pm
And we don’t need OL depth. We need a legitimate OL.
CGD..
January 8th, 2012
7:56 pm
No hope for Melt..Cant teach will or talent. Its born….
BillyJoeBob
January 8th, 2012
7:57 pm
Dirty Sanchez you are so right.
To all you people coming down so hard on Matt Ryan did you happen to watch New Orleans and Detroit play? Both teams Offensive Lines allowed their QB’s way more time than Matt has been given this year. Same for Michael Turner. The line is where we have stepped back this year.
Caesar
January 8th, 2012
7:57 pm
I’m sittting here watching the Steeler/Bronco game. What I notice is even when the pocket breaks down Big Ben stands in there and waits for a play to open up. Matt Ryan seems to panic in said situations and either throw the ball away or takes the sack.
Matty Melt
January 8th, 2012
7:57 pm
@ Dirty Sanchez ,,, you can hop in that fast and furious wannabe at the next light. Keep settling for mediocrity and you will be satisfied as both a Braves and Falcons fan. Get a clue.
katherine
January 8th, 2012
7:57 pm
well this was a really good game
Ready for the braves?
January 8th, 2012
7:57 pm
Radio post game? Come on
Dirty Sanchez
January 8th, 2012
7:57 pm
Still waiting, Phil. Refute anything I said. It’s all fact. Oh, wait, you’re in the bathroom typing away while you’re mother’s been calling you for supper. C’mon, boy. Man up.
MG3
January 8th, 2012
7:57 pm
MR2 deserves as much blame as anyone here but all the calls for Vick? Kidding right? We sucked in his last few years here and he’s done nothing in Philly. And RG3 is being annointed before playing snap one in the NFL. Blind loyalty will always rule the day in this town I guess. Like I said, MR2 gets plenty of blame but the ENTIRE team sucked today. Oh yeah, coaches too. I mean, we’re they even trying to win. Field goals would have been acceptable in a couple of situations and kept us in the game.
Bigdawg
January 8th, 2012
7:58 pm
“Veni, Vidi, Sucki!”
We came, we saw, we sucked!
katherine
January 8th, 2012
7:58 pm
matt ryan is also a lot smaller than big ben…he needs to bulk up
Bobby's Cox
January 8th, 2012
7:58 pm
Blank is a dipsh!t SAPP
jack bull
January 8th, 2012
7:58 pm
have to disagree with half of those you listed,,Cam? come on, Man!
The Truth
January 8th, 2012
7:58 pm
Ryan is awful. Turner, with his offensive guard-like speed, iis clearly not a game-breaker. Both sides of the line are soft, and the DBs couldn’t cover a quadrapelegic with an oversized blanket.
There are clearly a lot of problems, but you have to start the fix by shoring up the lines and putting Ryan on the sidelines with a clipboard firmly in hand. Hopefully the Falcons will be smart enough to draft RG3 – oh wait! They blew this year’s draft by giving away the farm last year for the 3rd best receiver in the draft! A+ Falcons. You’ve built a slightly better than mediocre team that is incapable of beating anyone of consequence – especially in the playoffs.
CGD..
January 8th, 2012
7:59 pm
14 million reasons why Atlanta needs to get rid of CHOKE!!!!
Arthur owes this bust 14 million usd! What?
Big J
January 8th, 2012
7:59 pm
WTF??? No points by the offense? Are you serious? Didn’t they draft Julio Jones because the brain trust felt they didn’t have enough offensive weapons? So, where was the offense? What happened to the defense? I love Mike Smith by he’s 0-4 in the playoffs, IF he stays you must replace the offensive coordinator. You need to fix the 0-line and strengthen the secondary (later burnt toast, I mean Dunte Robinson). Why is Matt Ryan carrying the ball on a 4th and inches? Why wasn’t Turner in the backfield if, for nothing else, to serve as a decoy. This is ridiculous. Time for a change. What a sickening display of football.
phil
January 8th, 2012
7:59 pm
Dirty Sanchez
January 8th, 2012
7:54 pm
So, Phil,
How so? Don’t be a little girl and make a statement and not back it up. Got something to contribute besides a “witty” comeback?
Just yanking your chain. I agree a little, but it’s been 4 yrs. We were awful today. Next yr isn’t likely to be better. We’ve regressed.
munited88@hotmail
January 8th, 2012
8:00 pm
Just to make this clear we all love our Falcons and thus are rightly pissed off! 2 points! Really!!! We are too predictable.
Dirty Sanchez
January 8th, 2012
8:00 pm
C’mon Phil. You’re obviously a brilliant football mind. I could tell by that awe-inspiring evaluation of the problems with this team…. “Our lines are the main issues, not JJ..” Geez, that was insightful. You are a master of the obvious. Give us something more insightful.
jack bull
January 8th, 2012
8:00 pm
my tore up gf just said, “oh my gosh, they tied it up, when did they tie it up?” nice…lol
Bobby's Cox
January 8th, 2012
8:00 pm
Kick Blank’s a$$!!!
Loserville USA
January 8th, 2012
8:00 pm
Like I said before, give Ryan the keys next season and find out if he’s the problem. But give him elite offensive linemen.
katherine
January 8th, 2012
8:00 pm
ha lol
Nate
January 8th, 2012
8:01 pm
Ryan for Peyton Manning and Indy’s 2nd round pick.
jquick
January 8th, 2012
8:01 pm
Can see from his interview Arthur doesn’t get it. Good luck Falcon fans!
katherine
January 8th, 2012
8:01 pm
overtime…..whew
miked706
January 8th, 2012
8:01 pm
OK let’s ask everyone. DOES Anyone agree with Jack Bull Statement that MATT Ryan is the 6th best QB in the league?
jack bull
January 8th, 2012
8:01 pm
maybe this Tebowing thing really works…let’s see who wins the toss, then we’ll really know…
Ricky Ricardo
January 8th, 2012
8:01 pm
Great game here, unlike that crap we had to watch earlier…
phil
January 8th, 2012
8:01 pm
Sorry, Sanchez.
I was decoding with my little orphan annie thing.
The Truth
January 8th, 2012
8:02 pm
Ryan is terrible! He will never win an NFC title. It’s time to move on from that sorry 1st round bust. It’s comical that he was a top 5 pick!
katherine
January 8th, 2012
8:02 pm
awesome….its overtime like college not sudden death
Ready for the braves?
January 8th, 2012
8:02 pm
Don’t give up on Ryan…chargers gave up on brees and kept the off coordinator..how did that work out? Think about it people. Ryan didn’t scheme this offense….the talent is there, the coaching is not