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
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,923 comments Add your comment
George
January 8th, 2012
6:33 pm
The Falcons are the NFL version of VA Tech; lots of hope, little results.
Black Dog
January 8th, 2012
6:33 pm
Play calling horrible on offense….. someone in coaching area has to be held accountable….
Howdy Doody in a helmet
January 8th, 2012
6:33 pm
Ryan passed under below moderate pressure for less than 6 yrds per pass. That is a joke.
archangeladidas
January 8th, 2012
6:33 pm
ZERO points in a playoff game! A big ZERO! Stats are for losers Mark. Only thing that matters are wins!
JN
January 8th, 2012
6:34 pm
Falcons fans are so negative, yet all last week they talked about how much better the Falcons were than the giants cant wait to hear the 680 guys
Howdy Doody in a helmet
January 8th, 2012
6:34 pm
George – I’d take Logan Thomas RIGHT NOW over Matt Ryan.
Howdy Doody in a helmet
January 8th, 2012
6:34 pm
at least Logan Thomas can get an inch on 4th and 1 sneaks.
bvgneedsahaircut
January 8th, 2012
6:34 pm
Falcons and Dogs have a lot of similarities
Casey
January 8th, 2012
6:34 pm
Any chance we can fire Coach Smith, then trade Matt Ryan; trade up and draft RG3?? This duo is not going to get it done. They’ve taken this team about as far as they can go. I like them both as people but I’m ready for results.
Thomas Dimitroff is a moron
January 8th, 2012
6:35 pm
Ryan didn’t even get 200 yards passing?!?!?
Damn I’m mad
Natty ice cold
January 8th, 2012
6:35 pm
First saying first. Props?
THIS IS MULARKEY
January 8th, 2012
6:35 pm
Mularkey was leaving anyway now we can fire him and what’s funny is now he won’t get hired for a head coach position its funny this one game is going to cost him .and as a Falcon fan right now good.
Falcon in DC (rupe)
January 8th, 2012
6:35 pm
@ Najeh Davenpoop…….You are right. At least the Hawks manage to get out of the first round. Heck the even will stare down the bullies a time or two (Boston, Miami, Chicago).
ramblingbuzz
January 8th, 2012
6:35 pm
When the going gets tough, the Falcons disappear. Where is the fire in the belly? How can Mularkey, or whoever, call another another QB sneak on 4th down when the 1st one got stuffed. Where is the imagination on the offenisve side of the ball? What a joke for a franchise. The AP writer called this team bumbling and inept. You can’t argue with that characterization.
Mark Bradley
January 8th, 2012
6:36 pm
Props, Natty ice cold.
JN
January 8th, 2012
6:36 pm
Matt Ryan is 17-16 on the road 0-3 in the playoffs
Andrea
January 8th, 2012
6:36 pm
I’m truly feeling discouraged as a Falcons fan. The loss isn’t such a shock, but the manner of the loss is unacceptable. The execution, coaching decision and effort were embarrassing. Had we competed and came up short, it would’ve been disappointing. But, I could live with it. But, to lose like that? In such a convincing fashion? It was like we had no right to be there. .
Jo
January 8th, 2012
6:36 pm
I wish the offensive coordinator well….somewhere else. The falcons looked like they could have done a lot today with the rights calls in place….instead……
Natty ice cold
January 8th, 2012
6:36 pm
Get RG3!! A young MV7 that all the fans can support!
realitycheck
January 8th, 2012
6:36 pm
Melt is a joke, and some morons on here were thinking he was elite this morning. Forget the TB and JAX games because those teams were awful. It’s not all Ryan’s fault because he’s just one of the many problems on this team. Saints fans should say whatever they want because they have the better GM, HC, QB, Team, and fanbase. Until the Falcons do something in the playoffs they will be the Falcant’s. Additionally, the dreamers and homers can believe what they want, but this team is already in decline. Very little draft ahead and salary cap issues make it nearly impossible for the Falcons to add necessary pieces and they need a bunch of them. Whoever buys season tickets next year is paying money to constantly be frustrated!
Ace8
January 8th, 2012
6:37 pm
Blank will look at his bottom line-the Dome and season ticket holders. He’ll listen then make his decision. I’m thinking the Todd McClure will be gone. He seemed to be hinting that in the post game interview on the Falcons website-good for him. There will be many changes-hopefully, for the good. Everyone knows, even the press-that the game was very poorly played, but more importantly, very poorly called-and that this loss falls squarely on Malarkey’s shoulders. I guarantee this dude will be outta here quick. My question is: what team would want him to coach after witnessing that debacle in New York. Atlanta will probably fire him if he doesn’t get any head coaching job.
flatsdawg1
January 8th, 2012
6:37 pm
If your coaches don’t give you a chance to win, well, you have no chance. Oh well, maybe next year, Hey maybe Tebow will come to Hotlanta!
NCBravesFan
January 8th, 2012
6:37 pm
Plain and simple, it just looked like the Falcons did not show up to play. Those clock blunders at the end of the first half were inexcusable in amateur football, let alone the pros.
Somebody – or bodies – need to be held accountable for this … by not being here next year.
DP
January 8th, 2012
6:37 pm
“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.”
Sounds like the 2011 Georgia Bulldogs.
“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.”
Reminds me of Mark Richt having Murray take a loss to the center of the field on 2nd down and attempt a long field goal on 3rd down in OT against Michigan State.
Is there something in the water in Georgia that causes these football teams that look good on paper but fold up when challenged?
JN
January 8th, 2012
6:37 pm
@ George Maybe more of the UGA of the NFL
BUTYAHHH
January 8th, 2012
6:37 pm
matt ryan is not a qb who can win games on his own. there is plenty of talent on the offensive side but ryan is no more than a game manager on his best days
CGD..
January 8th, 2012
6:37 pm
Enter your comments here
Natty ice cold
January 8th, 2012
6:37 pm
Thanks mark
Paul
January 8th, 2012
6:38 pm
At least you finally threw Mularkey under the bus.
gary
January 8th, 2012
6:38 pm
Falcons suck and will never win. I am done with this team. 31 years and the same old crap. I wont put up with crap they send out there anymore. My money and energy for a franchise is done. Arthur Blank needs to sell the team to someone that cares and spends money the right way. The defense and offence is 3 to 4 players away. Tim Tebow is beating the Steelers and the Falcons cant beat someone that barely got in to the playoffs.
BIG JIM
January 8th, 2012
6:38 pm
why do you take a scout team to play the giants[ falcons] to get them ready for the packer MR.BLANK have nothing better to do but throw his money away on a joke coach staff ROB PARKER was right in what he said about the falcons matt ryan is not a smart QB even drew brees got the mine to stick the ball across the fourth and one line to keep the drive going rookie t.j. yatt can win a playoff game bad thing about it tim tebow may be next that is a dam shame after the last two playoff game the falcons ain’t learn nothing and that is how to win the player and the coaching staff need to get smater!!!!!
Falcaints
January 8th, 2012
6:39 pm
Why do some of you think the Falcons are so talented? Where is the talent?
Mark Bradley
January 8th, 2012
6:39 pm
I have to concentrate on some other writing duties — I’ll check back in a bit — but I want to ask this:
How many quarterbacks are there who are demonstrably better than Matt Ryan? Of that number, how many would be available?
Sick to my stomach
January 8th, 2012
6:39 pm
I can’t even blame this on BVG (who I don’t think is the answer either). However, in a season where marginal defense gets you by if you have the difference makers on offense (and on paper we do), we should have won this game. We were good enough on defense to win this game. Completely uninspired offensive performance. There has to be changes. Completely unacceptable. While I agree Mark that we do need a different offensive coordinator next year, Ryan has something to prove too. His grasp of the no huddle and the offense in general does nothing if you can’t be mentally tough enough to go out and execute in a playoff game against a train wreck of a defense like we saw today. Horrible.
SeenThis B4
January 8th, 2012
6:39 pm
Kinda hard to win when you’re defense outscores your offense.
What’s worst losing to 7-9 Seattle, or losing in a virtual shut out?
At least against Seattle the Saints scored 36.
Mr C
January 8th, 2012
6:39 pm
The game was lost on the o-line. They were totally dominated. When u can’t make 4th and inches, u have a problem
Hey Bradley, maybe u will stop praising Dimitroff. Next time u interview him, ask him about that Ray Edwards signing or mortgaging the future for Julio. BTW, three members of the o-line got a contract this past yr so they are not going anywhere. Decould sucks as safety but we don’t have any draft picks.
Thanks Dimitroff
REF
January 8th, 2012
6:39 pm
Need a new OC to change the entire philosophy. New route running schemes, this isn’t the 1960’s, we need to take plays from the Saints & Packers playbook and be more creative and explosive.
KC
January 8th, 2012
6:39 pm
RG3!! RG3!!!
Troup Dawg
January 8th, 2012
6:39 pm
Blank doesn’t have a clue. He has fallen into the trap of following the Smith/TD “Process” speech that he thinks they are going to make the right decisions after this disaster. It is the “process” that has this team 0-3 in playoffs and getting blasted in big games by good to great teams.
Instead of “process” how about some heart, professional pride, guts, and a winning ATTITUDE!! Smith coaches not to lose and the team plays not to lose. This works fine when you play the ugly sisters of the NFL but not when you play winners.
AB’s comments makes me want to vomit all over again…
CGD..
January 8th, 2012
6:39 pm
worst QB play in Falcon Playoff history..
epic fail..Historic fail.. et al…
RG the 3rd, is an upgrade…Melt needs a clip board..
Bird-poop
January 8th, 2012
6:40 pm
It’s no wonder they played like they did. Abraham after the game boosted on tweeter about how” wew, I’m a free agent now”. Thank god MM is leaving. When you have so many weapons and don’t score, it can’t be the players. Even I knew when we were passing and running. Some game plan. Not hard to stop. Get a real OC and maybe few new D-players and we might have at least another 10 game winner next year.
Bag Man
January 8th, 2012
6:40 pm
Well it is finally time to put the bag on my head at the games, it cannot get any worse than what I have seen with this team, a weak arm clumsy QB, a fat running back who cannot hit the hole, a poor secondary, no pass rush and a offensive line (slow) that is bitch slapped each game a tight end who is too old to stretch the field (7millon). And I just heard Smithy’s interview and you would think it is a beautiful day in the neighborhood. Do not piss on me and tell me it is rain. We are a bad football team and with all the holes to fill and salary cap issue and no draft picks, we are now headed back down hill to the basement in the south. This horse is tired, what a JOKE
REF
January 8th, 2012
6:40 pm
Falcons also need to improve the O-line so we can spread teams in 5 WR sets.
Black Dog
January 8th, 2012
6:41 pm
when I saw NY Giants take care of business last week against Dallas, when they had too……I knew we were in trouble….heck , never know, Eli may win more Super Bowls than his brother….good coaching up in NY today
Natty ice cold
January 8th, 2012
6:41 pm
Jason Campbell is better than ice
gil
January 8th, 2012
6:41 pm
vick vick vick vick vick
CGD..
January 8th, 2012
6:41 pm
Stick a fork in Melt! He’s toast…
Does not have the smarts, arm, or talent to win the money game..This experiment in over…
RG3 is an upgrade
80sFalcon
January 8th, 2012
6:41 pm
Watching Tebow handle Pittsburgh pretty well. Much better defense than the giants trying to stop a QB that most “experts” say can’t play the position. Where does that put Ryan?If he’s not the answer then who? I’m in my 37th year as a Falcon Fan. I don’t have many “wait til next year” in me.
Nique
January 8th, 2012
6:42 pm
I don’t wanna hear excuses by fans who wanna try to throw other Falcons fans under the bus for ripping this team after that piss-poor effort!!! This was beyond embarrassing, 2 points & those came from our D, so our “explosive offense” with our qb who’s close to being “elite” goes up to NY & lays a goose egg against a 500 ballclub…are you kiding me??? We are the only team in PLAYOFF HISTORY to score 2 points in a playoff game, in PLAYOOF HISTORY!!!! This was beyond embarrassing & everyone always wants to rip the D, Duanta Robinson, Ray Edwards, the D-Line, the D came to play today!!! No one will stand up all dau if you leave them out on the field the whole time, it was the Offense like i said before the game, who let us down. It’s not all on Matt, its also not all on the O-Line, they both played their parts, its on them Mularkey, & our star wr Rodey, not the rook, he played well, but a star wr plays like Calvin did in a loss, not like what we saw from Rodey today being shut down by Corey Webster & If i haven’t been saying it for years, WE ARE NOT A RUNNING TEAM!!! Running teams convert 3rd & 4th & inches, they don’t get stuffed or have to resort to passing the ball or only attempt qb sneaks, running teams, you know they’re gonna run & they line up & run it down your throat anyway!!!! I’m proud of the way the D stood up today without 3 starters, one of which was a prow bowler last year, but this offense was beyond despicable today, sooo disappointed & y’all wanna criticize the city for no support, criticize the teams for no heart!!!!
Thomas Dimitroff is a moron
January 8th, 2012
6:42 pm
Mark,
Not your fault, but if NO ONE will take Ryan to task… What’s the fear?
If Ryan can’t take people/media ripping him, how is he gonna withstand a real pass rush?
Giants didn’t overwhelm us with rush.
RYAN MUST TAKE BLAME