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
fatz
January 8th, 2012
9:05 pm
i’m amazed that people on this blog actually think blank is going to fire mike smith. he has had 4 consecutive winning seasons. He does deserve the opportunity to have a better offensive coordinator, and he also needs his incredibly overrated GM to do a better job finding talent. i think Dimitroff is the real bust, and blank made a terrible hire there. I ultimately do NOT think Mike Smith will succeed, he just another in-bred NFL lifetime ass’t who is getting his head coaching time in the rotation, but he certainly won’t be fired. Jerry Jones isn’t even dumb enough to do that….
Fredi Gonzalez
January 8th, 2012
9:06 pm
Miss me yet?
Mike K
January 8th, 2012
9:07 pm
First, Dilfer called it on ESPN. Ryan is the worst quarterback in the NFL including Tebow (who has intangibles that Ryan doesn’t) when throwing more than 20 plus yards. He is incredibly inaccurate when going deep.
The Falcons need to address their defensive line and secondary but this loss falls squarely on Smith and the offensive coordinator. I believe Smith should be considered for termination. I don’t understand his reasoning for holding onto 2 TOs in the end of the first half when the Giants are on their heels. Also, calling the same play on 4th and inches is inexcusable. (We’ve shown that in critical times when the opposing side has a strong line – Saints and Giants- that we’re incapable of getting a yard)
I’d like to trade Ryan but I know that’s being irrational. The new coordinator needs to coach up Ryan from the average quarter back that he is to something that a Falcons fan can root for. Manning showed that he’s top 10 and Ryan showed that he’s dwelling on the middle of the QB pack.
Depressed Falcons Fan
KnowBest
January 8th, 2012
9:07 pm
I was Surprise that Mike Smith and his staff was not fired after the first New Orleans Lost (in overtime). Dan Reeves was let go for much less
phil
January 8th, 2012
9:07 pm
I’m ashamed for them.
Jints-10
January 8th, 2012
9:07 pm
Simply put, you ran into a real defense that got many of it’s players back and/or healthy. Thought it was obvious.
LakeDawg
January 8th, 2012
9:07 pm
Dimitroff and Smith are not the geniuses they were made out to be. First of all, the Falcons overachieved the past three years. They have serious talent deficiencies on both lines and the defensive backfield. Green Bay exposed them last year, yet Dimi and Smitty deluded themselves they were a Julio Jones away from winning a title. Smitty got improvement with good coaching, attention to detail, and a good running game, which hid a lot of problems, but they were never close to challenging. Now they’ve taken a step back and I blame that on Dimitroff. He let their best lineman (Dahl) go without signing him. That had more impact on the Falcons than drafting Julio. And if the Falcons can’t run, Mularky’s offense can’t function. Its all based on play action. The receivers are running the same routes they’ve been running for four years now and everyone has caught on. There is no variation. Finally, Matty is afraid to pull the trigger on long passes. It doesn’t help that the receivers don’t adjust their routes when he scrambles. When Drew Brees scrambles and buys time, you know he is going to kill you 90% of the time. When Matty scrambles, he dumps it off 90% of the time.
Jack
January 8th, 2012
9:08 pm
Ponder This…..”No#15 from Denver now has more playoff wins than “Matty-Ice”….
scfalcon
January 8th, 2012
9:08 pm
This one hurt. Hard to see any direction from here. It feels just like last year except with less hope going forward. Can’t believe I am tyoing that after the feeling last January. I go back to no wins in the preseason. Any time you suit up it matters. It expecially matters coming off a playoff loss. We had nothing building going into Chicago. We act as if we are a storied franchise. We need to scrap for every game regardless. We need that attitude we had in 2008 again. We need to keep it for about 25 years, because it would take that much winning to undo the suffering of this franchise.
Fire FG!!
January 8th, 2012
9:08 pm
Fire john fox!
Total Embarrassment!
January 8th, 2012
9:09 pm
SportsCenter Guys on ESPN says Atlanta Falcons should be “Ashamed” of themselves for that pathetic performance and not being able to convert on 4th and inches(0-3) on 4th down conversions…Falcons can’t rise up against 500 teams are better…The falcons are who we thought they were…a sub avg. team that hasn’t been able to move to the next level in playoffs..YUCK!
Gamer
January 8th, 2012
9:09 pm
THE FALCONS COULD HAVE GONE TO FOUR WIDEOUT SET TO SPREAD THE GIANTS FRONTLINE BUT NO JUST KEEP DOING THE BASIC RUN FORMATION…NOTHING EXOTIC, NOTHING ILLUSTRATIVE, NO IMAGINATION TO SLOW DOWN GIANTS PASS RUSH.
D. Smith
January 8th, 2012
9:09 pm
I never speak out, call the radio station or anything. But this is getting old. Ideally we would change all of the coordinators trade Ryan and draft RG3. But we are the falcons and we don’t get rid of good guys (Ryan, Mike Smith), I mean look how long Brian Finneran stayed around only because he was a good guy. Dante Robinson is an issue and needs to go, Maluarkey needs to go(I’m sure jags text him and canceled the interview after that game plan). Good guys don’t win championships. I know it’s just unrealistic for them to get rid of smitty but this team has taken on the personality of the coach and I think we have plateaued. We are the Lenny Wilkens hawks of football. Good enough to make the playoffs but nothing more. Matt Ryan is not Bree’s or manning or rodgers and I wish this organization would realize that. Dedicating an offseason to get more explosive on offense to try to go blow for blow with those guys was a bad strategy. You build a mean tough defense and smash them in the mouth and put Matt Ryan in a west coast style offense. He doesn’t hve the arm or deep accuracy to throw the ball down the field constantly. We have a bunch of good players but no great ones. Everything isn’t all bad. We have been winning. But the truth is dimitroff isn’t the genius everyone tries to make him out to be. He did draft peria jerry (1st rounder), Sam baker (1st rounder), pull the trigger to over pay D. Robinson (equal to or greater than nhamdi asoughma seriously!!!) and Ray Edwards(40 million for 2 or 3 sacks). Let me know you alls thoughts. Maybe I’m overreacting because this is a fresh wound.
South Georgia
January 8th, 2012
9:09 pm
You have to be bold and tough in the playoffs and the falcons are neither on offense or defense. They played timid on offense. Need to trade for Matt Flynn or some quarterback who is not afraid of his shadow.
Mike
January 8th, 2012
9:09 pm
This is what the country is saying about us: Chris Berman on Sportscenter: “Falcons ought to be ashamed of themselves.” Trent Dilfer on the same program: “When Falcons needed half a yard, they could not even get an inch. This is who they are.” Damning words – but true words.
Mike Smith is looking increasingly like an “affable dunce”. Mike Mularkey ought to be fired. A day of shame indeed.
Brian
January 8th, 2012
9:09 pm
All those local radio morons bash Tebow and praise matt ryan. Yet tebow is 1-0 in the playoffs against the best defense in the league and ryan can’t score a td against the worst playoff defense. Yeah keep bashing tebow you jealous antichrist losers.
Caesar
January 8th, 2012
9:09 pm
Could you imagine Tebow, Vick, Brees or Cam Newton sliding 5 yards away from the first down marker with no defender within 10 yards? Matt Ryan plays like a female dog.
Average Ice
January 8th, 2012
9:10 pm
“All who are ready for the Braves why do you think it will be any better?”
maybe they’re just ready to watch the next big mediocre team from georgia to play (based on preseason moves, they won’t have a chance to collapse since they’ll finish 3rd behind Philadelphia/Florida)
CGD..
January 8th, 2012
9:11 pm
It amazes how long it take folks to see the obvious..
unless he’s the guy in the chair at the moment…
Matt Ryan folded like a “WET NOODLE”!
Bill Goldberg
January 8th, 2012
9:11 pm
Hire Mike Bobo! He’s not going to do worse.
Dawglasville
January 8th, 2012
9:11 pm
Bring back Chandler! He took us to the Super Bowl and didn’t crap all over his team. Philly has a much better coach and guess what? MV7 was at home watching Ryan today. I’m a big fan of Mike but you guys should let it go. He’s not the answer. He is stays hurt and he has never done all that well under pressure either. If you want to get behind a guy just because you pull for his skin color then cry for us to get Cam. He has ten times the shot of taking a team to a Super Bowl than Mike has at this point in his career.
FalconFollower1
January 8th, 2012
9:11 pm
Nobody seemed to notice the Falcons inability to execute even ONE successful screen pass. Its meant to help a struggling offense (Falcons) as it often yields easy yardage (Look no further than Sean Payton+Drew Brees).
Also, one big problem with the Falcons is that turner and rushing attack rarely excell versus quality opponents on big stages. Whether it’s Turner or the O-line, something needs a fix. ***I think some personal changes are needed, but rather than panicking and cleaning house, the Falcons
MUST learn how to better utilize their weapons by changing offensive philosophy and
implementing new plays and schemes.*** <–THEY ARE JUST TOO PREDICTABLE
Honest Truth
January 8th, 2012
9:11 pm
Here’s the brutal honest truth. Matt Ryan has a pretty weak arm, he’s a smart kid but in big games he just can’t get it done. The Giants defense were daring him to pass past 10 yards, stacking 8 in the box but Ryan just couldn’t get it done. He comes up small in BIG Games. Mike Mularkey playcalling is terrible as well, he fools nobody and going for it on 4th down out of an empty backfield set is just plain arrogant and idiotic. The offensive line is decent, just upgrade at Hawley’s position. Skill players are there, Ryan just needs to work on his arm strength and deep ball. Michael Turner isn’t a threat out of the backfield (in the receiving game) and he’s slowing down, should look into a replacement. It doesn’t hurt to have a lot of good backs, look at the Saints.
On defense, Ray Edwards & Dunta Robinson are both overpaid and are below average players, TD did a bad job (why is he getting a pass) on signing these guys. Besides Abraham, who on the D-line can get pressure on the QB? No one, so try to sign one via Free Agency or draft, personally, I really wanted Jason Babin (who had 18 sacks) over Edwards but what do I know? Cut your ties with Dunta Robinson, he can tackle but his cover skills are just terrible. Re-sign Grimes, and get some corners who have cover skills. Replace Thomas Decoud with a competent safety, retain James Sanders because he can play pretty well. I wanted to wait year and sign Johnathan Joseph or Nnamdi Asomugha, but again, what do I know? The linebackers are fine with Lofton, Weatherspoon, and Nicholas.
Replace Weems because he’s garbage in the return game, a decent gunner, but his return game is terrible.
A lot of people are high on TD but I’m not that impressed. He has hit on some picks (Ryan, Weatherspoon, Lofton) but those were high picks. His other high picks (Peria Jerry, Sam Baker) haven’t panned out, his big free agent signings (Ray Edwards, Dunta Robinson) haven’t panned out. Where are his value picks? Saints drafted Colston and Graham in the middle to latter parts of the draft. Victor Cruz was a undrafted free agent pickup, same for Arian Foster. Anyone having a decent knowledge of football could’ve done the same job TD has done in assembling this roster. He better start hitting more home runs in his middle round picks and also doing more research in his free agent signings.
AlanFalcon
January 8th, 2012
9:12 pm
Arthur, T.D. and Smitty need to step up and take control instead of giving everyone a pass, its quite evident the players are incapable of policing themselves, If MM does’t get offered a job we need to release him and his counterpart BVG and start all over.
Falcons’ two-point total is first in NFL playoff history
January 8th, 2012
9:12 pm
Great job losers
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/falcons-two-point-total-first-nfl-playoff-history-215655937.html
Reality
January 8th, 2012
9:12 pm
Kenny’s,
You have said it all!!!!!!!!!!!
The coaching staff must go.
scfalcon
January 8th, 2012
9:13 pm
Well we had no turnovers. I am sure they preached it all week and we played scared. We always play scared on a big stage. Just cut it loose already. It is just a game and how could we embarass ourselves any worse.
aldog
January 8th, 2012
9:13 pm
Just get rid of your offensive coordinator and be done with it. The blame falls squarely on his shoulders. He has no imagination what-so- ever.
tree rollins
January 8th, 2012
9:13 pm
If a tree falls down in the woods but nobody is around to hear it, did it make a sound? (THUD – Falcons)
Disgusted Fan
January 8th, 2012
9:14 pm
Three opportunities to get a total of 2 yards. Twice Ryan couldn’t get 2 inches. Right call. Again, poor execution. Turner needs to be traded for draft picks and Snelling needs to be given the opportunity. At least he runs hard. Regressing with the DC. The only Falcon who plays with an attitude is White. I am really frustrated with this team.
ijonathan
January 8th, 2012
9:14 pm
Bernie Marcus = Home Depot visionary
Arthur Blank = accountant along for the ride
Scott
January 8th, 2012
9:15 pm
Whats the difference in this edition and the Clampetts and Norb Hecker?
billya
January 8th, 2012
9:15 pm
Would Donald Trump take this crap. 60 seconds would be to long..
matt cryin
January 8th, 2012
9:15 pm
you guys know that im no good playin outside. put me in the dome and im a BALLER..
CGD..
January 8th, 2012
9:15 pm
Mr Blank shooting Blanks!l
Where’s my picks, picks,picks?
Trade up for Robert Griffin the 3rd! The Heisman Trophy winner!
He’s a playmaker and an upgrade for real over this BUST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
tree rollins
January 8th, 2012
9:15 pm
Maybe if we sweet talk John Elway and Denver and ask them real nice – there might still be enough value left in Matt Ryan to trade him for Tebow in the offseason!
Jason
January 8th, 2012
9:15 pm
While I would support the idea of a new OC to replace Mularkey, I will say that he is not the only problem and the reason for the poor offensive play. The O’line is not very good and the qb cannot make plays like Vick use to do playing behind a poor line.
Our talent needs plenty of upgrade at the level of players and coaches. Was the idea of wanting explosive plays Arthur’s idea, or Smitty. If it was Arthur’s idea did Smitty not man up and show he has balls, by telling Arthur that we don’t have the oline or QB to make those deep throws.
Td is grading out at C., he better do better with this coming draft despite not having a pick in the 1st and 4th rounds.
jay yocam
January 8th, 2012
9:16 pm
Seeing how you’re an out of town writer, I can (almost) excuse your appalling ignorance about the Giants. The “9-7″ record you allude to is misleading. With the exception of the Saints blowout, they were in every one of those games and should have won them all. What’s more, they “lost” 38-35 to Green Bay and SF just squeezed by, proving NY can play with the other elite squads. Despite myriad injuries to key personnel on both offence & defence, the Giants have played very strongly the last several games. They’re a LOT better than 9-7, a fact that teams such as the Falcons are finding out to their distress.
Give the Giants credit; they’re the hot team and they have some great players. Super Bowl, here we come, baby!
it fits
January 8th, 2012
9:16 pm
there’s a reason the nation calls atlanta loserville—it fits perfectly—chokes every year in every sport. 1 fluke title in baseball. Come to new york for real sports!
Skeezix
January 8th, 2012
9:16 pm
Mark: I didn’t pick them to win today, but you got the Falcons of 2011 perfectly pegged -”bullies”. They were tough guys against the lesser opponents, but not so tough when up against equal or better competition.
falconfanstill
January 8th, 2012
9:16 pm
Please just fire Mike Mularky and move on. Pay the Jaguars to hire him as HC.
new stadium
January 8th, 2012
9:17 pm
arthur wants a new stadium soon—fully paid by taxpayers—or he will “threaten” to move the team! chumps—pay up!!
Falcons fan 82
January 8th, 2012
9:17 pm
Enter your comments here
CGD..
January 8th, 2012
9:17 pm
ijonathan
January 8th, 2012
9:14 pm
“Bernie Marcus = Home Depot visionary
Arthur Blank = accountant along for the ride”
Brilliant Rosenberg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
tree rollins
January 8th, 2012
9:17 pm
Matty Ice just became Matty Flat Tire
Joe Robinson
January 8th, 2012
9:17 pm
Sorry, but lets give the Giants most of the credit. they are a better team and played in a tougher division. There are no easy teams in the East.
FenderMan
January 8th, 2012
9:17 pm
Man I hope Jax hires Muarkey. His offense is mularkey .With the talent we have there is no way we should score only 2 points against a team we can beat .
qb sneak
January 8th, 2012
9:18 pm
worst coaching calls i have ever witnessed….pathetic
mark loves ATL
January 8th, 2012
9:18 pm
mark picks the atl to win! then is mad at atl when they don’t win! what gives?
Fire FG!!
January 8th, 2012
9:18 pm
Brian
January 8th, 2012
9:09 pm
All those local radio morons bash Tebow and praise matt ryan. Yet tebow is 1-0 in the playoffs against the best defense in the league and ryan can’t score a td against the worst playoff defense. Yeah keep bashing tebow you jealous antichrist losers.
Way to make christians proud!