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
FAN
January 9th, 2012
7:28 am
MATTY JOKE CAN’T EVEN GET A INCH, CAM NEWTON WOULD HAVE MADE IT!
D
January 9th, 2012
7:29 am
Falcons should leave the nfl and move to the acc. They play that way.
Rankin Smith Family
January 9th, 2012
7:29 am
Same ole falcons. Sucked when we owned them suck now. Yeh you have been to the playoffs more under the new ownership but we never created the level of let down that the fans are experiencing now.
Roadrunner
January 9th, 2012
7:29 am
Nothing against Julio Jones, but nobody is worth the draft choices the Falcons gave away to get him. Perhaps if they were the ‘Complete’ team with only one piece of the puzzle missing, perhaps, but they obviously needed some help in the O Line & Secondary more than they needed Julio. Winning teams ‘own’ the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, but today the game is all about the flash so the Falcons sell their soul, and their future, for one very good skills player and ignore the basics like the line…
Sittin it out
January 9th, 2012
7:30 am
Lets see sitting out the playoffs, Vick, Josh Freeman, T. Jackson, McNabb, Garrard,Young, Campbell and Newton. Yeah sure draft Rg3. It is a loser to go in that direction trust me.
Coach B
January 9th, 2012
7:32 am
Nice work MB. Well said.
howard
January 9th, 2012
7:35 am
Pitiful, all I can say about the Falcons, Braves and Hawks is pitiful.
Columbus
January 9th, 2012
7:38 am
Mark you picked the Falcons to win this game. You said they “would” win. Case closed right? So you think we should listen to anythign in this column and take it seriously? Blank knows FAR more than you do buddy boy….Julio will pay huge dividends down the road. he might be the next Jerry Rice. Him and Green are going to be the class of the league the next 5-7 years or longer. Blank will get the players we need WITHOUT the draft picks because there is free agency and there is plenty of undrafted players. The thing is, the weak thing is Mularkey or Ryan….With ALL the weapons on offense this year, I say it all rests on the OC and Mularkey will NOT be in charge of the offense next year.
He will be fired. Case closed!
JSS
January 9th, 2012
7:38 am
@ 7:30AM
And joining them on the sectional couch… One Matt Ryan!!! Oh, for the 2nd straight year, I hope he brought beer and pretzels this time!
Danny G
January 9th, 2012
7:38 am
Please no MV7. He was not a home town hero. He was a street rat with a lot of money and he got busted. No role model there. We fans deserve better than today’s team and ESPN can kiss my butt about us being lame. When you are given an inferior product, you just don’t buy it.
FAN
January 9th, 2012
7:39 am
@SITTIN IT OUT ILL RATHER HAVE ANY OF THEM GUYS U JUST NAME THAN MATTY FREEZE UP/CHOKE A** ICE!!!
Jackets' warlock
January 9th, 2012
7:39 am
@howard.
Lighten up.
I saved a fortune and retired early by being able to successfully predict Atlanta’s teams are not serious contenders.
dogearred
January 9th, 2012
7:40 am
After losing to the Packers last year it was obvious where are weaknesses were. very stunned on draft day they we gave up so much for one receiver when we obviously need an O-line a D-line and a defensive secondary. With that being said, i did not realize at the time that Michael Turner was going to dance and tiptoe everytime he got the ball this year. Obviously we need a runinng back as well. Why is it that the average football fan like me sees the blaring issues and the millionaires who run the organization dont?
Jackets' warlock
January 9th, 2012
7:41 am
BTW Mark, what is Dave Braine’s retirement package from Tech?
JSS
January 9th, 2012
7:41 am
A “real winners move” to go with Gibbert, Grossman, Ponder, and Kolb!
AU Liberal in ATL
January 9th, 2012
7:42 am
Get real, Natty. Atlanta hasn’t had an above average QB since Bartkowski. I’ve been a Falcons fan for over 30 years and what we saw yesterday was damn typical. I’m beginning to think there’s some kind of football curse on Atlanta. The one thing the Falcons can consistently do is dissappoint their fans. Lucky for them, they still get their inflated paychecks. Next season, my team will be lead by Cam Newton. War Damn Eagle!
stendek
January 9th, 2012
7:42 am
No additional comments are necessary:
http://stendek.tumblr.com/post/15563937040/falcons-verify-worthlessness-in-playoff-giveup-against
lamac66
January 9th, 2012
7:43 am
Lets see sitting out the playoffs, Vick, Josh Freeman, T. Jackson, McNabb, Garrard,Young, Campbell and Newton. Yeah sure draft Rg3. It is a loser to go in that direction trust me.
At least some of them won some playoff games!!
Really?
January 9th, 2012
7:43 am
@NickGranite
Alex Wright for the 49′ers… Alex wrong… Alex Smith
HA_HA
January 9th, 2012
7:44 am
LOSERS……………Now sit home and sulk………..LOSERS………….Talk dat ish now SPROLE widd it………2 Dat
Jackets' warlock
January 9th, 2012
7:46 am
Funny Mark. “Eleven more safeties and we are in overtime”. With the Falcons’play-calling, that is the only way we would get there.
Columbus
January 9th, 2012
7:46 am
The defense wasn the problem people. It was the offense, which is our strength supposedly. There was a massive failure of production with a loaded offense. People talk about Julio and how we should have gotten better on defense instead. LOL. Saints defense sucks. New Englands defense sucks. Green Bays defense sucks. But their offenses do not suck and the Falcons offense should be able to score 30 points EVERY game and be right there with them. That was the plan, it was very viable but it failed and it failed due to one reason….the offensive coordinator and/or a weakend OL. That MUST be fixed immediately and I know Blank will not let it continue or heads will roll.
I do agree with Bradley(damn it) Mularkey MUST move on…..
FL dawg
January 9th, 2012
7:46 am
Nick I agree. The Falcons are stuck with most of the roster. Again, nothing against JJ, but he’s going to be another reason the Falcons are going to have to build around what they got. Fischer might keep a desent fan base. C’mon Blank, youv’e got a hell of a problem, and moves need to be made sooner than later. Your losing people left and right.
lamac66
January 9th, 2012
7:46 am
When you are given an inferior product, you just don’t buy it.
But the locals, especially the media bought into Peyton Manning,Jr…err, I mean Ryan hook line and sinker!
Rodster
January 9th, 2012
7:47 am
To quote Dr. Suess in the ‘The Grinch’…Stink, stank stunk!
Jackets' warlock
January 9th, 2012
7:47 am
Start to worry, Dimi, that Falcons fans will be very bored on draft day unless eager to find out who else u gave away.
Dimi
January 9th, 2012
7:49 am
Can I help it I am idiot enough to think we were just one player away?
Actually I did the trade to hide how bad I am at drafting talented players.
Joey
January 9th, 2012
7:50 am
“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?”
********************************************
Quick answer?
The Mikes.
Smith and Mularkey.
Tom G
January 9th, 2012
7:51 am
4th down and inches how many times have we seen that occur? Matt has the smarts, that is obvious. But he is so slender with no power. what is he, 6′4″, 205, that is almost skinny. He needs to hit the gym with Tim Tebow this summer and several more. Bring back Harvey Dahl(whatever it costs) from the Rams and give our OL that nasty attitude again. Games are won or lost at line of scrimmage 90% of times. Our high priced free-agent CB and DE, apparently are past their prime and just are collecting big paychecks? Just think a free-agent DE, like Babin(Eagles, 18 sacks was out there for the taking). The Falcons are not the worst, nor the best but a good middle of road team. Julio Jones has had some great moments this season but 5 top draft picks for a WR? I’m still shaking my head?
lamac66
January 9th, 2012
7:51 am
http://stendek.tumblr.com/post/15563937040/falcons-verify-worthlessness-in-playoff-giveup-against
GREAT LINK!!
Dru Bees
January 9th, 2012
7:52 am
The Detroit Lions are the team to watch in 2012. Matthew Stafford is a stud.
Jethro Bodene
January 9th, 2012
7:52 am
I was doing me some ciphering. It the Falcons could have scored about 15 more of them 2 point thingys they could have gone and won that dadburn game. Ellie May plays better than Matty Slush.
Jeff
January 9th, 2012
7:54 am
The entire coaching staff need to go, that include Mike Smith. We need a tough coach, a coach that don’t mind getting on their players when they not performing to their ability. This is so disappointing to Falcons fans.
just sayin'
January 9th, 2012
7:56 am
time to change from the ‘fal cants’ to the ‘f aints’….0-3 and counting
elroy
January 9th, 2012
7:57 am
bradley has to take blame for jinxing the team w/ his prediction last week. Bradley is bad for atlanta. The Falcons need new cordinators(offense & defense)
King Arthur Blank
January 9th, 2012
7:58 am
I have a very special announcement I want to make. As of today, I am petitioning Mike Slive to allow me to move the Falcons to the SEC. We will ask to have Vandy, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ole Miss and Georgia on our schedule so we will be guaranteed 5 wins next season. Ticket prices will have to increase because my soon-to-be 3rd ex-wife is going to clean my clock in court. Remember…Rise Up!
BET
January 9th, 2012
7:58 am
Matt Ryan Sucks!!!
JSS
January 9th, 2012
7:59 am
Falcon fans think they have cap money to throw around!!! This team is 3rd closet to the cap ceiling!!! Overpaying for the 3rd pick in 2008 draft is looking like pure Dimitroff genius! Dunta, Ray, and Roddy, what is that sucking sound coming from Flowery Branch?
Freedom from insanity
January 9th, 2012
8:00 am
They say that insanity is doing the same thing over & over & expecting different results. Sound familiar? In my humble opinion, the skill levels are there (in most areas), but the heart, passion, guts, desire (call it what you will) is missing. How many times do they expect to gain 1 yard by running up the middle – this time without Turner? Do they think the other teams don’t watch films? Why not kick a FG & get points on the board?
2 defensive points – not only embarrassing, but pitiful. Will I be a Falcons fan next year? Probably, but other teams are looking attractive. Especially when I watched two rookie QBs in the bengals/texans game and the have to watch Tebow pull out a win on pure guts & passion!
Smokewagon
January 9th, 2012
8:00 am
The problem is Blank’s obsession with ACC quarterbacks. Vick was a byst and Ryan is very intelligent but neither belong on the football field. The ACC is the worse conference in football period and they do not produce many good NFL players. It is killing the Falcons. Go out and get yourself a good SEC quarterback. Did you catch performances by Stafford and Tebow this weekend? That is how the game is played.
whewww....
January 9th, 2012
8:03 am
At least this lousy team has taken the heat off me for a while…go Dawgs…..CMR
Mike/Jack
January 9th, 2012
8:03 am
Pathetic and embarrising performance and the only player I heard say that was Tony G. Tony is the only honest stand up player we have, everyone else gives the same reply that we need to work on it and we did not make the plays. Matt needs to be a leader and show some fire when things are not going right. No one has any b___s on this team they just lay down and take the beating. This is standard Atlanta Falcon football, it is just what the Falcons are. I am ashamed to be a fan of such a girly football team.
Rick
January 9th, 2012
8:04 am
This was as much a coaching loss as a player loss. They’re just not able to coach this group up well enough on either side of the ball to be competitive enough for the playoffs. The defense was confused throughout the season, the secondary was like swiss cheese this weekend, the offense that can’t gain one foot when it needs it is predictable and hapless. Time for some changes in the coaching crew, Smith is not getting it done, with his “let’s go for it on 4th down instead of taking the 3 points” strategy. Big fail, Falcons, time to clean house.
Ravenman
January 9th, 2012
8:04 am
What did you expect…..Atlanta is SOFT outside the dome……
johnnyreb
January 9th, 2012
8:05 am
Fire: Smith and the OC and trade Ryan. Ryan is a joke with no heart or arm. Why did anyone think they would beat the hottest team besides the Saints?
JSS
January 9th, 2012
8:05 am
You mean a good SEC QB like John Parker Wilson? Chris Leak? D.J. Shockley? Stephen Garcia? JaMarcus Russell? Mitch Mustang?
pollackdawg34
January 9th, 2012
8:05 am
Move to LA and save us the pain.
Joey
January 9th, 2012
8:06 am
As a longtime UGA and Falcon fan, I watch teams like the Saints, Packers, Patriots, Boise St, LSU, West VA, Arkansas and it is sickening to compare those coaches’ styles with ours’.
Innovation and attacking offenses vs 1 yd run or 3 yd pass offenses. A Porsche vs a Plymouth.
I hope I live long enough to see the Falcons and Bulldogs get head coaches who aren’t timid in their offensive philosophy, but aggressive, and bold. We have world-class athletes on both of these local teams, but the coaching, is holding them back.
BET
January 9th, 2012
8:07 am
lammuc 66 WTF are you talkin bout…makes no sense. Several of the QBs you mention outplayed Matt Ryan all years…Newton is a BEAST. No defense fears Matt Ryan. Betcha they fear MV7 and Newton.
Rankin Smith Family
January 9th, 2012
8:07 am
When we owned the team, the ticket prices were cheap. $2 nose bleeds even. They still suck but the prices have increased dramatically. High ticket prices does not equal better team. Hmmm..