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
gabugman
January 9th, 2012
12:57 am
The (no) showing from the offense today was offensive and pathetic.
I don’t care who’s to blame, something has to change…
Eboney&Gold
January 9th, 2012
12:58 am
New Orleans BEATS Atlanta again Thanks Eli !!!!
'M-barrassed'
January 9th, 2012
1:02 am
Trade Ryan,getRG3.Re-tool O-line.Get new play-caller.
JSS
January 9th, 2012
1:04 am
you’re very fair… I always point to you when over the edge bloggers start in on the Ryan is elite phooey… It is just gone beyond the pale now with the dead enders…People still living with the old rules 6 to 7 years to craft a QB… My goodness…
Really
January 9th, 2012
1:04 am
Tip toe Turner, Ray Edwards hasn’t been seen since the national anthem from game 1. Still standing there. Offensive line looked like prom dates for Giants D line….on their back all the time. Shoddy White….plays the catch on the hop. Mularkey playbook isnt smarter than a 5th grade. Mike Smith good defensive coach…only
intellibird
January 9th, 2012
1:05 am
Loss today had little to do with Ryan. What do you suggest JSS, draft a black QB?
Once Recent Reader
January 9th, 2012
1:12 am
Intellibird . . . . I’m was sitting watching the game very perplexed. I kept seeing the D play well (1st half) and the offense get stalled. I have always strongly supported Ryan . . .and still will. Were there a couple of key drops? Sure. Questionable replacement of ball on the first 4th down that cost a 1st down, yes. Very questionable having no one in backfield on the 2nd 4th and inches . . .definitely. BUT . . . . I think Ryan could have done a bit more today. I still say he is and will be a very good QB for Falcs . . . .. but he did not do what was needed today. He is not alone in the blame, but he is the QB – most important player on the team.
A155MM
January 9th, 2012
1:15 am
Today I had a flashback to the REALLY bad old days of the Rankin Smith era. I could see running backs tearing up the old stadium turf while Falcon defenders tried to tackle them from the ground with one arm. I saw journeyman QB’s make their retirement money in Atlanta before they moved on. I even saw Rankin Smith make his famous pronouncement that he didn’t care if the Falcons won or not as long as the stadium was full. Today the Falcons played like the RS era Falcons; and it was painful to watch.
I got rid of my season tickets over the Smith family; and it doesn’t look like I’ll need anymore for awhile.
Eric C.
January 9th, 2012
1:15 am
I could rant about a lot of things with this game, but the play there is absolutely no excuse for is the second sneak. The first sneak failed when there was an element of surprise…so what play gets called the next time? An empty backfield sneak! Everyone knew what was coming…even with JJ in motion. I knew the play was doomed as soon as I saw the formation. Please JAX…please pick Mularkey!
intellibird
January 9th, 2012
1:18 am
Agreed, but why weren’t we throwing the ball further down the field on average, and secondly, we stuck with the run for too long.
The pick six last year may have made Ryan scared to throw downfield today or either the receivers weren’t open. We were definitely too conservative today.
Mularky probably recognizes this more than anybody, so I’d suppose he’d make changes in the future. Most people change as they learn.
JSS
January 9th, 2012
1:24 am
See I knew you would come with some idiocy like that because you’ve been fanning that crap all over the blog since your boys got flogged like a 12th century wag this afternoon…
It is tired an old, and asinine… Play it somewhere else with someone else…. I don’t care if they draft Casey Kellem, Kellen Moore, or if they hope one of the better flawed QBs like the Oklahome State gereatic QB is available as UFA because he is so old, they won’t improve as long as Bratkowski is their position coach…
See Mr. Racist Wannabe we actually agree that until they improve their line play, they are going to struggle even more then they currently do… If you think line play alone is going to save Ryan, you’re sadly mistaken… He doesn’t know his own limitations, that is dangerous to any team…
And that feeding a linemen stuff is 1980s high school stuff… The big athletic boys like Rogers, Roji, and Suh are going to the smart teams who draft wisely… The rest are Albert Haynesworth!
Nick R.
January 9th, 2012
1:32 am
Blank needs to clean house and start over if he’s a real business man and wants to eventually win a championship, not settle for mediocrity. Smitty and his clan have zero intensity (directly translating into the team’s lackadaisical play today), and it was blatantly apparent that they failed to spend even ten mins preparing for this matchup. We’re stuck with the players we have for the next few years, so a change must occur where it is feasible. Hire Fisher and light a fire behind this team.
Sargent Carter
January 9th, 2012
1:33 am
SOS, that is save our ship or same old sh.., take your choice. As I have said all along, the plodding, predictable offense is very stoppable. Even Vince Lombardi knew in 1963 if this is your offense to have some play action. The crowning jewel of this defeat was to have the big lumbering Michael Turner on the sidelines and not even use him as a decoy on a 4th and less than 36 inches play. Duh, I am sure the Giants were just stupified at what the Falcons might do. According to Mike Smith, the situation(computer situation) told him to quarterback sneak…gee maybe the Giants have computers too and maybe they had video of that famous Saints malfunction….and, of course, when the falcons get behind against a mediocre to good team, they are roasted birds, breasts, wings hearts and gizzards and all….Mike Smith is to the Falcons what Eddie Haas was to the Braves…Mike Smith asks the computer what play to use? Why do we need Mike Smith? I have been consistent with my critique all year and saw in the Philadelia debacle last year before the Green Bay rout in the playoffs that this team ha
oldman
January 9th, 2012
1:34 am
Terrible coaching..2timeouts left in first half and did nothing with them.2times on 4th down and line up with an empty backfield….with Turner on the bench.Stat of the year…only 11 passes completed when ball was thrown OVER 20 yards,…just not a very good or smart team.
atlbird
January 9th, 2012
1:35 am
Horrible play call on the QB sneak, at least have SOMEONE, ANYONE in the backfield so everyone in the stadium doesn’t know exactly what’s coming!
intellibird
January 9th, 2012
1:41 am
Yeah, guess your right, we need more “street” ballers like the Tampa Bucs and Philly Eagles just showed us. Now, there was two teams for the ages.
Maybe, the Falcons will fire Van Gorder and bring in the genious Raheem Morris. And then, cut Ryan and bring in the other genious Michael Vick.
That would definitely make our team better.
(ps. maybe Kansas City would trade us Dorsey for Ryan).
Sargent Carter
January 9th, 2012
1:46 am
Anyway, as I was saying, you could see in a number of debacles in the past, the Falcons are a dead bird when it comes to certain teams. The Falcons have players. We need a few offensive lineman, Brent Grimes healthy, a new offensive coach, a new defensive coach, and a new head coach. Run off tackle and play for the last score is not working. Like Drew Brees says, “We play with the clutch out all of the time.” Like Green Bay says, “Just be patient withe falcons and we will whip them like a crippled dirty bird.” Sorry Arthur Blank, your present coaches have “unsound methods” and have led us to “apocalypse Now.” Time to send Charlie(Martin is too old) Sheen up the Chattahooche River to do the nasty…
intellibird
January 9th, 2012
1:49 am
Like I said before (sarcastically), “fire everybody and start over”.
Parson Brownlow
January 9th, 2012
2:00 am
Mike Smith needs to be coaching the Falcons for a long time. But a strong offenseive line makes a coach look like a genius and vice versa. It’s telling that one of our better linemen this year was a player who was cut from another team. What we saw yesterday was a result of a relative neglect to building a line under TD. That is the foundation to any winning team. The next two or three drafts are going to have to be dedicated to builing up the offensive line with a strong secondary purpose of further building the defensive line and pass rush. It wont happen overnight but that’s the prerequisite to getting the full value out of playmakers like Julio Jones.
The Real Julio
January 9th, 2012
2:20 am
Estos Falcones apestan!! Matt Ryan no tiene brazo ni buebos cuando lo apresionan!
Los coaches no saben un coño tampoco. Que mierda de juego fue esto y le dicen futball?
Pal carajo con este equipo, no sive pa’ mierda!!
JTH
January 9th, 2012
2:27 am
The annual autopsy is complete. The Falcons once again died from a combination of a missing heart and brains.
no surprise
January 9th, 2012
2:31 am
The curse of loserville continues…next up the Hawks
JHuffman
January 9th, 2012
2:45 am
For the last twoish years when everyone said Matty Ice cant win the big game I was first to step in and defend him, giving him the benefit of the doubt. Now, after two horrific playoff performances (HUGE games) it is clear that Matt Ryan is not the type of QB that can lead an astonishing offense like that of the Falcons. Im sorry but like said in the article, with Gonzalez, Jones, White, and Turner there is no way in this world that we should be held to 0 points offensively. Yes, play calling was an issue, but where in the world was Matt Ryan? There were countless numbers of plays where I asked myself “where is Matt’s head?”. Im not for sure if you guys noticed, but there was one time where Tony was absolutely wide open down the middle of the field, Ryan stepped up in the pocket looking like he was headed that way with the football but ends up dumping it off for a 1 yd gain. Is this a confidence issue with Ryan? Im just at a lost for words that this incredible rookie season has turned into a demise in big games (games that TRULY matter). Ryan to me is on a short leash and then its time to turn to someone new.
captguitarman
January 9th, 2012
2:47 am
I recently wrote that this was not the Falcons’ year, but based upon the foundation set by Smith and the program, they would. They were just having an off year. After this game, I think I was wrong. As the old boxing saying goes “they shoulda stood in bed.” Tim Tebow put up 29 points today against the best defense in the AFC and all of the NFL. I think Tebow is a great young quarterback, and he has a very bright future, especially if Elway does what he say he is going to do and gives him personal NFL quarterback turtoring in the off season. But, I think it is reasonable to say taht Matt Ryan is a better NFL quarterback right now than Tebow is. So . . . what the hell happened to the Falcons today? Did they really only score two points . . . really? New out door stadium? For what? You have got to be kidding me. Miles and miles to go yet. Miles and miles . . .
SXS
January 9th, 2012
2:49 am
Cleaning house isn’t going to solve anything. I rather lose playoff games every year with this team than go back to the cellar with teams in the past. Of course they will address various issues to hopefully overcome their recent playoff woes. The Falcons as a team have to execute good plays to succeed. Thank god I don’t get all psychologically invested in sports like most people on these blogs.
torry10
January 9th, 2012
2:59 am
Last year’s lost against the Packers was embarrassing but I can accept losing to GreenBay that was just a buzz saw and no one was going to beat them…but to lose to the Giants..I mean a team that is just not that good and to only score 2 points!!!!….This was terrible…Changes have to be made…
New York 24 Atlanta 2
January 9th, 2012
3:18 am
Didn’t Atlanta trade away Lowe?
New York 24 Atlanta 2
January 9th, 2012
3:20 am
I guess Chipper’s magic has worn off.
New York 24 Atlanta 2
January 9th, 2012
3:21 am
I can’t believe Spring Training has started already.
Dave
January 9th, 2012
3:22 am
I hate to burst the bubble of the the gentleman who didn’t put Flacco ahead of Matt by advising him that Joe took the Ravens to the championship game and has won four road playoff games. Flacco is not elite but he is a winner!
New York 24 Atlanta 2
January 9th, 2012
3:23 am
Did they ever find Hoffa when they tore down the old stadium?
New York 24 Atlanta 2
January 9th, 2012
3:24 am
At least Rob Parker now knows the “why” about the Atlanta fan’s indifference.
Take two pills and call me
January 9th, 2012
3:30 am
Well two ways see this draft Griffin son from Baylor who is goin be in NFL great quarterback i see and Denver has found there QB now also Tim Tebow had 10-21 passin 310yards and won on first play in overtime 80yards….they as Texans usein unknown QB’s could be very intesrted AFC if Denver vs Texans for AFC title i pick denver upset pats at home and texans beat Ravens sunday too…As for the Birds GM must Go he one panic after GB lost last year get a One reciever no upsated OL n defensive Line n core…..Bad play callin the OC’s need Booted out…Look If Matt Ryan was playin for Denver he be in superbowl as will Tebow this season and play Saints for superbowl!
Soulman
January 9th, 2012
3:49 am
Shame on you , Falcons !!!
Where were the passion and commitment ?
mowreck
January 9th, 2012
4:00 am
Also a giant step backwards by the sports media, who already put them in the Super Bowl.
Willie
January 9th, 2012
4:19 am
A little perspective here is needed. After all, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Remember it looked for a long, long time like the Falcons were never going to have two winning seasons back to back. But then, after only forty-five years they finally did it. Now that’s a big accomplishment that we should be really happy about. So just hang in there, and maybe in another half century or so the Falcons may be able to combine back to back winning seasons with winning the wild card game in the playoffs instead of being swept out in the first round.
Agent009
January 9th, 2012
4:35 am
Make a bold statement, Mr. Blank! Fire Diminishtroff and the coaching staff!
Willie
January 9th, 2012
4:53 am
Don’t you think good teams are good because they have stability in their organizations? Look at the Steelers. They’ve only just recently hired their third head coach since 1969. How many head coaches have the Falcons had since 1969?
John Ellison
January 9th, 2012
5:10 am
Mike Smith was hired to bring stability to the program. Now it’s time to hire someone who will bring championships to the program.
matthew
January 9th, 2012
5:15 am
The coaches and players should all bear the brunt of this loss. 2 minute drill at the end of the first half was a joke, Matt Ryan is predictably timid, and Mularkey play calling unimaginative at best. Lets leave a pair of 240 lb. RB’s on the sideline for 4th and inches and have olive oil sneak it. Great call. And Dunte Robinson, it”s ok to tackle and cover on defense. This team needs some of what Denver has : HEART.
dale in newnan
January 9th, 2012
5:23 am
Losing in the first round still beats 3-13. Very dissapointed in the flcons today; I do believe we need a new direction on offense since we have become too predictable and uber-conservative. Do not understand why we must change our offensive philosophy on short yardage. Anyway, tomorrow I will be a fanatical Falcon fan just as I have been since ‘74. No wonder they call this the worse sports town in America. If you are gonna bitch, please have solutions or a valid point.
MrFactor
January 9th, 2012
5:23 am
Why is Roddy White being let off the hook? No mention of his crucial drops all season long. His drops should be magnified because many of them came on 3rd down. Dare I say, we could have won a few more games had he not dropped critical passes on 3rd down. He continued his issue with the dropsies yesterday against the Giants. Time for him to be traded due to his value. Perhaps we can recoup those picks we lost with the Julio deal.
Dick M
January 9th, 2012
5:27 am
I don’t know why anybody is surprised. Matt Ryan is a third rate quarterback with busy feet and fear in his eyes. He will NEVER lead this team to the promised land. On top of that we have an offensive coordinator with the imagination of a dolt. The defense is old and listless. Our defensive coordinator has no clue how to make half-time adjustments to stop the opposition. The entire coaching staff should be shown the door then thrown through it………My season tickets are history.
marko
January 9th, 2012
5:28 am
Just got up. It’s still true. I was hoping that I’d had a nightmare.
big stan
January 9th, 2012
5:31 am
You can use charles barley comments towards the falcons also just and “bunch of nice guys” with no passion to play up to their talent.
MrFactor
January 9th, 2012
5:31 am
I don’t think Matt Ryan is nearly as bad as people are saying. The trouble is that there has been way too much emphasis on him in the offense. The ball should really flow through Turner while we have him. The offensive personnel are not built to Ryan’s strengths. They are more built toward Turner’s. Ryan will be an outstanding QB in a West Coast offense. In that, he would need an All Purpose back, in the mold of Marshall Faulk, Thurman Thomas or even a contemporary guy like Matt Forte. A good back who can catch and go out of the backfield would go a long way to helping Ryan and the offense. Turner is a smash mouth RB. The two cannot peacefully coexist. We need to pick one philosophy. Are we WC or Smashmouth?
chipper's acl
January 9th, 2012
5:35 am
The Jones trade set this team back. The offensive style, which had been sucessful, changed. Don’t get me wrong Julio has talent but this team was more than one player away. The O line was terrible at times, avg at best. A dominate safety and DT is needed. Looking back at some of our latest #1’s that have been sub par (Jerry and Baker for starters) Thomas needs to re-think the draft process. This was a man that was going to bring the NE style of drafting to ATL. That vision has been lost. High priced top 5 draft picks don’t make a team. 5 quality picks would.
The Truth
January 9th, 2012
5:36 am
The Falcons have taken on the personality of their coach Mike Smith; a kind man, very professional, respected and conservative. These are good qualities but will only take you so far in the NFL. The Falcons have an overabundance of talent but they have no personality. No fire. This is especially evident in the play of Matt Ryan. A very good QB but he plays too conservatively and often without emotion. Ryan plays it safe too often and is always content to check down rather than take a shot down field. These are also not qualities that will take you far in the playoffs.
The Falcons need an attitude adjustment. At minimum the offensive and defensive coordinators must go. Both zombies currently filling these positions lack innovation and the ability to maximize the potential of the players at their disposal. Truly uninspiring. If the Falcons are again one and done in next year’s playoffs (or fail to make the playoffs) with no change in organizational attitude despite new offensive & defensive coordinators, then Smith must go. Sometimes great guys can only take you so far.
Cat Daddy #1
January 9th, 2012
5:36 am
Just call them the WHO BIRDS, thats what you have.Matty who is scared to run, gets scared in the pocket,he’s a pocket passer who will never be anything other than that.The WHO BIRDS yah that’s them STARING SCARED MATT RYAN as MELTING ICE………… WHAT JOKE.
Willie
January 9th, 2012
5:39 am
To “the real julia”
Please don’t waste the space on this board and our time by posting in a foreign language. Save your hungarian or czechoslovakian or whatever it is, for when you write home to the old country, because here in the United States, we are an English speaking country for more than a couple hundred years since we won our independence from our mother country, Great Britain.