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
Kam
January 8th, 2012
11:45 pm
First off, Mike Smith gives the exact same LAME freaking excuses after every loss (lots of blowouts to boot) to decent teams and no positive result has come from them!!! We’ve been the same team that can’t stop anyone on third down and we can’t score points ourselves! It’s not a coincidence that we make other teams look a lot better than they actually are (Sorry Giants fans, but this year’s Giants aren’t THAT good), all the time! I am utterly pissed off that no one is examining the real reason behind the Falcons poor play! The offense’s main issues belong to schemes and, believe it or not, quarterback play! I wish someone would call it like it is, as Trent Dilfer tried to do twice now on ESPN, that Matt Ryan cannot throw past 20 yards well AT ALL!!! His arm strength is weak and he’s very inaccurate! Watch ANY of the good QB’s in the league and they make all of those throws without having a perfect pocket (which appears to be the only way Mike Smith feels we don’t make the deep passes). Also, I know other Falcons fans don’t want to hear it but Mike Smith makes all the wrong decisions when it matters most, along with the TERRIBLE PLAY CALLING from our OC! Which team continues to try all of their short yardage plays up the middle where the line is completely stacked, just about every time??? As much as I hate them, watch New Orleans play and you can see the difference in play calling, even when they have longer yardage to gain!!! The Falcons just aren’t that good and there needs to be some SIGNIFICANT CHANGES to the coaching staff and personnel on the roster if they ever have hopes of not being a mediocre team!!! I would not be disappointed AT ALL if they cleaned house on the entire coaching staff…and that includes Mike Smith! At least then, good or bad, I’d have some hope; if things stay the same I have none!!!
Home School Drop Out
January 8th, 2012
11:45 pm
The Falcons could probably play a better game; if these games were somewhere else.
But when we get to New Orleans and New York; you had BEST believe we are going to have us
a PARTY. then we play football.
Once Recent Reader
January 8th, 2012
11:46 pm
Bill from NJ . . ..is this your first time on AJC? It’s been a 4 year battle pitting Ryan Bashers against Supporters. I’ve not gotten into the Vick debate – only supported Ryan . . .but that is the “predominant” root of the discord. Some truly just never liked the Ryan pick or him as a player.
CGD..
January 8th, 2012
11:46 pm
ALL Points Bulletin:
Be on the look out for the Real Falcons QB..He went missing..
Some imposter showed up dinking and dunking….
Zero points scored with this buster.. Please help Arthur find his #1 draft pick QB will ya?
Arthur Blank
January 8th, 2012
11:47 pm
We’re signing Jamarcus Russell tomorrow. He’ll be competing for the starting QB position next season.
B DA MAN
January 8th, 2012
11:48 pm
I’ve said it before. Matt Ryan is not that GUY. Sure he is smart and can call the “right” play based on what he sees,but if things don’t go as he expected he is dead in the water. he is not a playmaker. can’t scramble to keep plays alive. Against good D, everythign is not going to go as you expected or planned. Look at Brees, Rodgers, Big Ben, tVick. These guys are athletes and can move and make things happen., even Brady and Peyton can side step you and make a play. Biggest play of the game was that run Eli had on their first TD Drive. Matt Ryan trips over his own feet.
I think the Michael Turner era is over. He is too slow to hit the whole, can’t chane direction and can break one if the perfect hole is there, otherwise tackled for a loss. draft a new RB please.
Both O line and D line are a mess. Can’t rush passer, Edwards was a complete waste. I think if you fix that D line, secondary will be much better. Is peria jerry still on the team. Also a big waste. Can’t pass protect and can run block either. Smith should have kicked FG on those 4 and 1. He obviiously doesn’t know his teams strenghths. Believing in them and showing confidence doesn’t mean they have the ability to do it.
Once again there’s always next year. BRAVES, HAWKS and FALCONS all need to find some heart. Neither has an emotional leader, just a bunch of nice guys and we know what happens to nice guys.
CommonMan
January 8th, 2012
11:49 pm
Turner the Burner? Give me a break! He rarely breaks tackles or puts any moves on anybody. We could’ve made those 4th downs if we had Ovie Mugelly in the lineup.
sports
January 8th, 2012
11:49 pm
Great win for Giants, and as usual the phony falcons Suck!
Disappointed Again
January 8th, 2012
11:50 pm
Drew Brees got one yard on fourth down Saturday night….Isn’t he smaller in stature than Matt Ryan?
billy
January 8th, 2012
11:50 pm
Playing smart + Playing with Heart = Falcons Not! Not playing smart = blame the coaches. Not playing with heart = blame team leaders. Some guys like Curtis Lofton showed up to win today, but we’re overshadowed by all the kids that didn’t want to get out of bed today and go to school…
Loserville USA
January 8th, 2012
11:51 pm
For older fans there were times we never dreamed of 4 straight winning seasons. But for a lot of us it all becomes about winning a Super Bowl before we go.
You younger fans have no idea how much suffering we have gone through with the inconsistencies of ownership, the front office and personnel. So b!tch all you want about Ryan — he has won. Now he needs to take it to the next level. But Dimitroff needs to get him an ELITE OL. Not just improvement — vast improvement.
Josh
January 8th, 2012
11:51 pm
Only scoring 2 points is worse than a shutout. At least “0″ points is more common. Seeing a “2″ on the scoreboard just makes it stick out worse that you didn’t score any points. Way more embarrassing.
intellibird
January 8th, 2012
11:52 pm
Bill from NJ – appreciate the vote of confidence. I will be cheering for the Giants from here on out. Don’t like the other 3 teams, especially the Saints. Secondly, I don’t like the Packers.
Anybody with a brain can see that the Falcons are on the right path. Mike Smith seems like a good coach along the lines of Tom Coughlin, and Ryan seems to have similar skills to Eli Manning.
Appreciate your evaluation of the game and good luck to your team going forward.
UGAKev
January 8th, 2012
11:55 pm
Bill from NJ
I enjoyed reading your insight but please tell me how many championships has the city of Atlanta has won in all professional sports? Then let me know how you would feel if that was the same number in New York.
Mr. Bill
January 8th, 2012
11:55 pm
Mark, thanks for being the only journalist in this city who is honest enough to go on record saying what we fans have known for at least a season: Mularkey is pathetic and woefully inadequate.And today, the whole world found that out, along with our offensive line’s dirty little not-so-secret; that our whole offensive game plan is to merely run a gradually fading Turner into tons of flesh and cross our fingers when Ryan throws a deep ball. Not a very threatening apparatus in the post season.
ZT4
January 8th, 2012
11:55 pm
This was unacceptable. I think both coordinators have to go. Smith has earned himself at least a couple more years. Dimitroff needs to fix the problem with the secondary that he ignored last offseason. Solidify both lines as well. If those things don’t happen he should be gone after next year. I like Matt Ryan, but there are other quarterbacks in this league that could win the Super Bowl with our current roster. Brees and Brady are proving that they don’t need good defenses to win. If Ryan is going to be the future, we really need to tighten up on D and the O-line to make up for his non-Breesness. Turner needs to be replaced too, he’s too slow and can’t cut. Rough day…..
WTF
January 8th, 2012
11:55 pm
as long as this team has Matt Ryan, Tony G (never won a playoff game in his career) and Roddy “Stone hands” White on this team, they won’t get past 1st round of playoffs
Old School
January 8th, 2012
11:55 pm
Tony Gonzalez said it all after the game: “It was embarassing. Don’t know how other people in here, but it is totaly unacceptable. Things gotta change…”
Also, I wondered the same thing that the Channel 2 asked: Why did the Falcons sit on 3 timeouts during the waning 90 seconds of the first half when they had a chance to get in field goal range? And then Ryan slides down with the clock running instead of running out of bounds and stopping the clock? And why go for it on 4th down with an empty backfield? Ryan might as well yelled out: “Hey, I’m keeping it, rightat you.” Yeah, like that worked when you tried it in the first half. And that crap about “..we sequence those things in practice leading up to the game, blah, blah, blah was a bunch of crap. Like Gonzalez said, “we can’t keep doing the same things over and over again…”
Loserville USA
January 8th, 2012
11:57 pm
Now wait a second….
Maybe Mularkey wanted to be free to interview so….. no he wouldn’t do that, would he?
gucci706
January 8th, 2012
11:58 pm
its plain n simple we need a new OC and im sorry to say but matt ryan aint the answer to our problems the kid cant win the big one we have all the pieces in place but no coach who know how to used them someone should be fired dis week we need a quarterback who can make all the throws
DawgVoiceofReason
January 8th, 2012
11:58 pm
This was another in a long list of tough days to be a Falcons fan. I was very excited about the playoff game and thought they had a legit shot to beat the Giants. I didn’t think we would get far after that but saw the positives that could come from a win. Instead, the team looked like a disaster on offense and then the defense eventually collapsed. Our head coach looked like he had never coached a game in his life. What was wrong with him? Everybody else has already taken apart Matt Ryan. Nothing much more to be said except I think the “Matty Ice” nickname is probably going to be put away for quite a while.
chip renner
January 9th, 2012
12:00 am
Hey you act like the Giants had nothing to do with the atlanta loss.The Giants have been hurt all year.they are finnaly healthy & the defense is back.the offense can play with most teams.now thy don’t need to win shootouts all the time.We have a good shot against green bay so who knows.
Your writer sounds more like a homer fan then a journalist.
nathan
January 9th, 2012
12:01 am
@ stendek
January 8th, 2012
6:59 pm
thanks for the comments, needed a good laugh and you are spot on!
DawgVoiceofReason
January 9th, 2012
12:03 am
The reference to “stone hands” Roddy White struck me. When I was at UGA, Herman Archie, the tightend got that nickname. Roddy White has definitely earned it now. Something is wrong with him. I don’t care if he does catch 100 passes, dropping the most passes of anybody in the league drops him into also-ran status. If this continues next year, they need to be done with him.
billy
January 9th, 2012
12:03 am
When Ryan slid into second base 10 yards from any opposing player and then tried to back his butt across the line for a first down.. That’s when I said it would have been better if we never even made the playoffs and embarrassed ourselves with the whole country watching.
Matty Melt wants to make sure he collects all of that 70 mil rather than show real team leadership. These guys have no heart. Tebow has the heart of a lion. Watch and learn..
CMC
January 9th, 2012
12:03 am
Im sick of this crap.I have been a Fan of the Falcons since the
Early 80s and have never been more frustrated of the team than
Now.What in the world was THAT today? My lady asked me tonight
why im an Atlanta Falcons fan because all she sees is total Crap
every year from them in the Playoffs.Ill be back as a fan next year
for the umpteenth year in a row but Im starting to have my Doubts
that us True Falcons fans will ever see them win another Playoff game,
let alone a Super Bowl Win….
gucci706
January 9th, 2012
12:04 am
alot of ppl think its the secondary but its not its the scheme we in we can change players every year but as long as we in this scheme we in we will get the same results get rid of that zone mess and blizt more look how good the defense can be when we do blizt we could use a better safety though
UGAKev
January 9th, 2012
12:05 am
chip renner ,
I hate to burst your bubble but you will find out next weekend at just how of a Falcons team you beat.
UGAKev
January 9th, 2012
12:06 am
how bad*
intellibird
January 9th, 2012
12:06 am
We definitely need an offensive line that can get 1 yard when necessary. I’m sure Demitroff sees that too.
Gonzo Boberto
January 9th, 2012
12:10 am
If Jimmy Hoffa was buried underneath the end zone of Giants Stadium instead of underneath the GM building in Detroit like that new book claims, and if Giants Stadium hadn’t been demolished in 2010 and replaced with Metlife Stadium, and if he was a Falcons fan instead of a Giants fan, he’d be rolling over in his grave right now.
Kiss of Death!!!!
January 9th, 2012
12:12 am
http://blogs.ajc.com/mark-bradley-blog/2012/01/06/its-time-for-the-falcons-to-win-a-playoff-game-and-they-will/
billy
January 9th, 2012
12:15 am
Don’t worry, according to Arthur, Smitty and Demitroff are going to ask the right questions and its going to be all better next time.. Be patient..
intellibird
January 9th, 2012
12:17 am
Is that all of the “expert” opinion we’re gonna see here? Basically, “fire everybody and start over”.
billy
January 9th, 2012
12:18 am
No intellibird, you’re the expert.
GoDeep
January 9th, 2012
12:19 am
45 years of mediocrity. Some years, bad mediocrity…some years a better grade of mediocrity…a few years of great mediocrity. But, always, consistently, nothing but mediocrity. What a pathetic “organization”!!!
Agent Johnson
January 9th, 2012
12:20 am
You falcons fan just do get it. None of the players that this team is built around are as good as YOU think that they are. Roddy White gets yardage and catches by default. Who else is Matt Ryan going to throw to? Julio Jones has always shown to be an inconsistent player (e.g. whole career at Alabama). Turner is a tank. If he gets hit in the backfield, the play is over. He doesn’t have the ability to elude tacklers. Gonzales is a hall of famer, but on the downside of his career. Finally, good ol Mattie Ice. He has never been all that good. Have any of you falcons fans seen him play at Boston College? Andrew Luck is better than Matt Ryan, right now. Robert Griffin the III is better than Matt Ryan, right now; not to mention Cam Newton. In summation, the Saints will always be better than the Falcons, and our (Saints fan) only real competition will be coming from the Panthers and Bucs… P.S. Falcons SUCK!!!
Ed Stone
January 9th, 2012
12:21 am
One question. The Falcons need 2 feet, why is Michael Turner on the sidelines watching? The whole world can see the play call when you line up with no backs in the backfield. Plus you have an undersized quarterback.! Geez!!!!!!!!!
BAMA MAN
January 9th, 2012
12:21 am
TWO WORDS FOR ALL FALCON FANS [ THEY SUCK ] THERE SO FAR BEHIND NEW ORLEANS, AND CAM’S TEAM IT AINT FUNNY. SAD SAD SAD TEAM………………….
Vince Doodly
January 9th, 2012
12:23 am
First, lets not panic. And DO NOT listen to Bradley.
Second, lets work drafting a quality Left Tackle. The Sam Baker, Switek experiment is over and has been a failure. The O Line needs serious help.
JSS
January 9th, 2012
12:24 am
Once Recent Reader
January 8th, 2012
11:46 pm
“Some truly just never liked the Ryan pick or him as a player.”
Glad you finally got to that line!
matt cryin
January 9th, 2012
12:38 am
I was so looking forward to going to Green Bay.
intellibird
January 9th, 2012
12:40 am
Alright, Billy, I’ll tell you how to make the Falcons winners. Number one – build yourself a first class offensive line. As a former lineman, I can tell you that the entire game of football starts and ends with the line.
I like our defense, so few changes are necessary there. Get Grimes healthy and keep feeding the interior players.
Do these things and 2nd round playoffs are guaranteed next year.
nathan
January 9th, 2012
12:42 am
It all just became clear. Atlanta is the Hollywood of the South, and the Falcons are the main actors. They have a great costume and wardrobe department, pyrotechnics, dancing girls, and do a decent job at mimicking a REAL professional NFL team. I REFUSE to by another ticket to this sideshow until they drop the act and get legitimate ATHLETIC talent and FOOTBALL (not ACTING) coaches on staff.
intellibird
January 9th, 2012
12:45 am
Nathan, why don’t you just move to Philadelphia. There you will find all of the “talent” you are seeking. Enjoy the winter weather!
JSS
January 9th, 2012
12:47 am
@ (Un)intellibird…
No, I can tell you what it looks like when Belichick game plans for Matt Ryan… Go look that butt whipping he laid on Ryan in 09 and again in 2010 pre-season (the big rehearsal game)…
Mathman
January 9th, 2012
12:49 am
It ALWAYS comes down to C-O-A-C-H-I-N-G! Smith needs new Offensive and Defensive Coordinators. To have an empty backfield on 4th and inches and you don’t think the opposing D won’t stop Matt. . .you are nuts. To put such little blitz pressure on Eli who is capable of panicking, you’re nuts!!! Hell, study the plays the Patriots run and copy them. PLUS, M. Turner is not a short yardage back. He does NOT hit the hole with authority. He’s is a tank AFTER he get up steam. Snelling is the best short yardage back on the team. I can see this from watching TV. . .to quote Lombardi, “what the hell is going on out there”???
Once Recent Reader
January 9th, 2012
12:51 am
Come on JSS . . .you know I’m pretty fair:) I remember the debate . . ..and there were quite a few initially who didn’t like the pick. Many preferred Dorsey – who definitely was a top player on draft boards. So I truly think initially there were many who just wanted a different pick. I also think those with less skin in the game were happy with Ryan’s play by mid-season rookie year. Then it was mostly the Vick-Ryan battle. But I know there are plenty very knowledgeable fans who didn’t and don’t believe Ryan can pass a certain average / just above average level needed to get to deep into Playoffs. Unfortunately he has not proven anything to discount that viewpoint.
hris Dimino
January 9th, 2012
12:53 am
I say hire Jackie Robinson to coach the Falcons. He was the best ever.
Gritsfed
January 9th, 2012
12:53 am
Bye, bye, Mularkey! The coach that is as great as his name!