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
Caesar
January 9th, 2012
9:18 am
Matt Ryan always loses in the playoffs to the better QB: Kurt Warner, Aaron Rodgers and now Eli Manning. Next year it could Brees, Cam Newton, Stafford and possibly Vick.
Matt Ryan cannot be depended on to make plays in big games. He could have New Englands’s o-line and he’d still be checking down or throwing the ball away. He is incapable of reading defenses down field.
Sad Sack
January 9th, 2012
9:19 am
How can a team with its third-string quarterback, who was on the practice squad most of the season, win it’s first playoff game – and how can a team with a quarterback who all the experts deem is not an ‘NFL-caliber’ quarterback win its playoff game – and in dramatic fashion in OT – and yet the Falcons, with all their offensive firepower – cannot even get a single, stinking point in their playoff game?!?!?!?!?!
colelinski
January 9th, 2012
9:19 am
Why is everyone upset? This is the usual fare from the Falcons. To be a good football team, players have to know how to play football. It’s easy to strut around when you’re not on the football field, but when you step on the field to play the game, it might help if you acutually know how to play the game. From the looks of the Falcons, they don’t a clue.
It always looks as if the Falcons are over matched, physcially, undercoached, unprepared and seeminly
with no fire in their belly.
I will say this again, the o-line can’t block, the d-line can’t tackle or rush the qb. The qb can’t pass or run.
The rb’s can’t run the ball. Thw lb’s can’t do their job. The db’s can’t defend the pass.
And on top of this, the coaches can’t coach. The Falcons are a soso team, not anyway dominant and from
the look of things they never will be. I believe by the end of next season there will be a change of the whole franchise again. Therefore there will be several more years of changes and probably the results will be The Falcons are consistantly mediocre at best and I don’ believe they will ever be a superior team.
Iv’e pulled for the Falcons ever since 1966. I don’t believe I’ll ever live to see and elite football team in Atlanta wearing a Falcon uniform. Sorry for the downer message, but it’s hard to see a city humilated by
such a pathetic organiization in sports, bar none. It never stops.
MG3
January 9th, 2012
9:19 am
We’re stuck with Ryan so we better find a way to keep winning with him.
CGD..
January 9th, 2012
9:20 am
Tim Tebow put up 20pts. on the #1 Defense in a quarter and the GREAT MATT RYAN LAYS A DOUNUT AGAINST THE #27 Defense?
He is BUST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Mary
January 9th, 2012
9:20 am
The problem is not Julio, It’s Ryan, a poor qb. Mike Vick was so much better,Go Go Saints.
CGD..
January 9th, 2012
9:20 am
doughnut^^^
Alejandro
January 9th, 2012
9:20 am
Explosive offense ???? Braves would have beat the Falcons yesterday. Don’t want to beat a dead horse, but we traded the future for JJ. Birds are several years and 6 players away from contending.
CGD..
January 9th, 2012
9:21 am
MV7 is 3x > than bust
C3000
January 9th, 2012
9:21 am
What did we expect? They are the Falcons.
CGD..
January 9th, 2012
9:22 am
Andrew Luck, RG3 are upgrades? Ya think?
the Fan
January 9th, 2012
9:23 am
Arthur Blank: “We have the right people in position…” Hmm, but mistakes are being made over, and over again. Time to change!
CGD..
January 9th, 2012
9:23 am
Falcons are 20 years and New Ownership away from a SB appearance….
CGD..
January 9th, 2012
9:24 am
Rich McKay is the right people?.. This guy see stars…..
CThom
January 9th, 2012
9:24 am
As usual the Atlanta teams disappoint us. With Matt Ryan you will continue to get the same results.
Rickster
January 9th, 2012
9:25 am
Mark Bradley
Live from the Outback: UGA should win this bloomin’ bowl
11:46 am January 2, 2012
Mark Bradley
It’s time for the Falcons to win a playoff game, and they will
11:08 am January 6, 2012
Rickster
We’re doomed, folks.
January 6th, 2012 11:42 am
Mark Bradley
January 6th, 2012 11:46 am
For Rickster:
http://blogs.ajc.com/mark-bradley-blog/2011/12/30/its-a-miracle-mr-wrong-actually-got-some-things-right-in-2011/
Rickster
Read that one too, Mark.
But the fact that you had to write a column saying, “Wow! I actually got some things right” does not bode well for the birds.
January 6th, 2012 11:50 am
Please, Mark, for the sake of my beloved Packers…. PLEASE pick the Giants this week.
MG3
January 9th, 2012
9:26 am
I’m not ready to call Ryan a bust, he’s been to the playoffs 3 or his 4 years in the league. That’s better than two thirds of the QB’s out there. If he can’t win the big one so be it, but what’s the solution? All I see on this board are ridiculous statements about Vick, Young???, and RG3 who hasn’t even played a down in the NFL. I’m not happy with Ryan right now and he certainly has some difficiencies but 4 winning seasons do not make a bust. Please give me a better, more realistic option the Falcons have at this time and I’ll listen.
CGD..
January 9th, 2012
9:27 am
News Flash: same results next year with this throw back bust!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
MagnolaDawg
January 9th, 2012
9:27 am
Ryan is a fraud……..Malaurkey is clueless…………Smith is stubborn Ryan where is your arm strength……………….u have none and the critics were right
Rickster
January 9th, 2012
9:28 am
MB: “Two examples do not a representative sample make.”
Does three make a representative sample?
lamac66
January 9th, 2012
9:28 am
Boiler
You idiots keep blaming Matt Ryan goes to show how much you know about football. How many picks did he have. How many dropped balls did we have?
How many TD’s did he have? How many big plays did he have? How many 4 and 1 did he convert? You APOLOGIST!!
CGD..
January 9th, 2012
9:31 am
Roddy White said, that the Falcons knew they could not pass block=
They knew they could not win this game going in………….WoW….
letsgolonghorns
January 9th, 2012
9:32 am
what is there to say….. jacksonville come get your new oc/headcoach. kentucky state (juco) come get bvg your new dc and atlanta go and get somebody that will shine with this offense…. 2 points from the defense and you have julio…turner.. douglas.. roddy and a hall of famer te are you serious??
4dabirds
January 9th, 2012
9:32 am
Absolutely putrid performance. How can you be such high paid professionals and not be any better prepared than that? Predictable, boring, and poor execution of even the simplest plays is all we saw. How can you not manage the clock better than that?
You want to know why we are seen as a poor sports town? It’s because of epic collapses (see Braves and Falcons), and embarrassing performances (mostly Falcons) like that? How much garbage play are we suppose to endure?
What we all need to realize, is that pro sports are nothing but entertainment, and entertainment can come in many forms.
To the Falcons, maybe next year losers.
Mark
January 9th, 2012
9:33 am
I couldn’t agree more about needing a new coordinator. I am not happy with Smith either for the 4th down calls but I am not ready to give up on him yet. I can’t fully blame Ryan because this entire season I have said we don’t have the right coordinator to take advantage of our offensive weapons and develop Ryan properly.
This game was a complete joke and beyond embarrassing.
Ken Van
January 9th, 2012
9:33 am
Why not give credit where credit is due? The Giant’s pass rush and defensive front four dominated the Falcon offensive line. Two sacks doesn’t tell the story, the pass rush does, for any non-partisan sports writer that is. TheFalcon’s were blitzed in every category especially in Turner’s rushing stats. Admit it, you guys got shellacked by a far better team; a better Quarterback, better running backs, better everything. WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR Y’ALL…………..
Rickster
January 9th, 2012
9:33 am
With all due respect to Julio Jones…. no one on the Falcons made a difference Sunday.
Regina Gordon
January 9th, 2012
9:33 am
This is typical about Atlanta sports teams-get you excited about the Big Game, but they Never show up. Atlanta teams are like getting a wedding proposal, making all the planning for the wedding, but the bride/groom never show up for the ceremony. Do we deserve that type of treatment over and over again? My faith is lost. My passions for the teams are over. Yes, call me a Bad Atlanta Sports Fan!
ricker
January 9th, 2012
9:35 am
Just joined the fray, and I see that katherine is still incapable of not taking us all to task for what we say and do…katherine, you are nothing if not consistent. Again, you are exactly the reason chicks should stay off sports blogs–you are incapable of NOT playing hall monitor. You must have been a real pain in the a$$ in school.
CGD..
January 9th, 2012
9:35 am
Throw in the towel on Ryan..He aint the one GRASSHOPPER!
0-4 playoffs next season…
ricker
January 9th, 2012
9:36 am
Regina, well said–ok, I take back the “chicks” comment as you just made a non-judgmental, cogent statement…well done.
North Over South
January 9th, 2012
9:37 am
Matty Ice new name is Wet Noodle arm and the dirty birds to turdy birds stunk it up in NY
www.firemikemularkey.com
January 9th, 2012
9:37 am
This has been a lengthy discussion at work. The Falcons lack two major things: a more expansive playbook for the offense and a sense of urgency. The Falcons played yesterday like they were going through the motions, as if they were going to have another game next week. Sorry but your season is over. The Falcons can’t be happy with just making the playoffs or having a winning record. You have to have the mental toughness to get to the next level.
As far as the offense, it was mentioned that they were going to take the reins off and open up the offense. I felt as if yesterday they used like the same ten to fifteen plays. And that’s not gonna cut it. We have the offense weapons…just need a new philosophy.
CGD..
January 9th, 2012
9:37 am
@ ricker, she probably looks like Ruth Gordon? lol
CGD..
January 9th, 2012
9:38 am
Matt Ryan folded like a WET Noodle….
P Rose
January 9th, 2012
9:38 am
Mike Smith is a good man and a motivator, but not very clever. His coach’s play selection is totally predictable.
Matt Ryan is a good man with on-field smarts and a good short-passing game, but he’s inaccurate downfield, and he’s immobile – a deadly combination with a weak O-line.
The O-line is small and weak as butter. They can’t push anybody off the line.
The D-line is small and weak as butter. Anybody can push them off the line.
Julio is good but not worth the draft picks. Roddy is a bum. Tony is great but where was he against the Giants?
Weatherspoon is good and will get better. The defense overachieved all year, particularly in the first half against the Giants, until they got downhearted when they could see that the offense was hopeless.
Forget skill players, Falcons. Draft and trade to bulk up the front lines. Maybe by the time Arthur gets his open-air stadium, the lines will be established and Ryan will have matured into an elite QB (if the O-line doesn’t allow him to be crushed to death by then).
Steven
January 9th, 2012
9:38 am
It’s a shame the owner cannot put a competitive team on the field for this city. This city has ALOT of money to pour into a winning team and an owner that has some passion. Packers=Passion~Giants=Passion Steelers=Passion Titans=Passion. Give us something to spend our money on!
Rob Parker
January 9th, 2012
9:39 am
Like I said in my ESPN article, Falcs didn’t deserve to win. The sad thing for ATL is that they are now the 3rd best NFCS team, they will go 0-2 against a surging Carolina next year and continue to feed the Saints 2 easy victories each year. It’s time for Arthur Blank to think about moving the team–LA or San Antonio are both good spots he will consider.
CGD..
January 9th, 2012
9:41 am
He’s slow, non athletic, slow reaction time, weak arm, half the velocity of the avg QB, non play maker…
Very poor pocket awareness….
Did I miss anything?
phil
January 9th, 2012
9:41 am
A poignant flashback for Georgia fans late in regulation in the Denver – Pitt game yesterday when Champ Bailey knocked a pass away from Hines Ward.
These guys played for us in the mid to late 90s, and here they are still fighting it out in 2012 in the pros.
Sadly, little is different today than it was in that long gone Donnan era.
Hines and Champ….two of the best ever at their respective positions!
New Falcon's Stadium
January 9th, 2012
9:42 am
The new stadium is going to be very exciting. I can’t wait.
mikeotm
January 9th, 2012
9:42 am
Matty Ice is just like all the rich generation kids at occupy wallstreet.
He never had to fight for anything. His dad made sure his High School and College careers were handed to him on a gold platter. How many ACC QBs have played and made it in the NFL?
He won three bowl games unimpressively over Navy, North Carolina, and Boise State.
MOVE ON Atlanta. NEW COACH NEW QB Think Elway will trade his unorthodox Tebow arm for the perfect mechanics of Matty ICE. NO WAY!!!! Tebow has more desire and will to win in his little pinky than matty ice has overall….Enjoy your million dollar Mansion and your new wife this off season MATT!!!! THATS WHAT YOU LIVE FOR!!! LOSERS!!!!!!!
Paul Farber
January 9th, 2012
9:43 am
Throughout the Falcons 40 year history, expectations have been very low, and success was very rare. In the past decade, and especially the past 3 years those expectations are steadily rising. The fan base is growing and enthusiasm is reaching new levels. Granted we have a long way to go, but in comparison to 10 years ago it is night and day. It is time to live up to those expectations. Yesterday was an embarrassment of the grandest proportions. The national media expected us not to show up and we not only lived up to their expectations, we far and away blew those expectations out of the water. It is not a stretch to say, yesterday was the lowest (on field) day in the history of Atlanta sports. This is when and where it is important to prove that the expectations are not what they were in the 1990’s and before. There must be accountability, and that accountability must be with the coaching staff. That is why I am fully endorsing a changing of regimes. Obviously the eventual decision goes to Mr Blank, but as a long time season ticket holder, my opinion has some (if be it a small amt) of levity. In my opinion, if we want to prove that yesterday was not acceptable and that we expect at least to show up. It is time to make an example and show it.
WhoDat own ATL
January 9th, 2012
9:43 am
This song goes out to the Dirty Turds,.,.,.
You had a bad day
You’re taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don’t know
You tell me don’t lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
The camera don’t lie
You’re coming back down and you really don’t mind
You had a bad dayyyyyy’aaaa ya had a bad day
Who Dat.,.,
TheCritic
January 9th, 2012
9:44 am
The Falcons .. man oh man. Hey, I agree that a good run game means game management and clock control. However, with all those weapons on offense, it’d of been nice to see the Falcons be a little more aggressive against a team that knew coming in they had to stop the Falcons run game. No imagination on offense.
Leading Off: The Price of Not Believing - NYTimes.com
January 9th, 2012
9:45 am
[...] two fateful fourth downs, and learned all that and $4.25 will buy them a venti latte at Starbucks, writes Mark Bradley in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The Giants actually know how to win playoff games and have the bonus of getting hot at just the [...]
Matty Cold as Ice
January 9th, 2012
9:46 am
Highway robbery / Draft mistake
Matty made $11 million this season. You think Blank wants his money back?
And the Julio Jones deal was a mistake. The guy is talented, but thats not the point. You build your team through the draft. Only a fool (like Dimitrof or Ditka) would ransom the whole draft for one player. Question(s): What happens if that player is a bust or gets hurt or is interesting in just cashing a big paycheck? Answer: You’re screwed.
MG3
BTW, the Falcons are stuck with Ryan. They CAN try to upgrade the position. Granted, it won’t be easy (or cheap), but I’d rather pay Matt Flynn and take my chances drafting another QB in April. The problem is Smith probably feels like he’s attached the guy. Looking at past history, that can spell doom for the HC.
Falcons4Eva name for Sale
January 9th, 2012
9:48 am
So d@mn disgusted. My name Falcons4Eva now available for a discounted rate….2 cents! That’s ’bout all this team is worth.
C from Marietta
January 9th, 2012
9:48 am
Dear Mr Blank,
Please see this team to someone OUTSIDE of Atlanta. This team needs to pack it’s bags and leave town. I am no longer wasting my time or money on them.
falcon
January 9th, 2012
9:49 am
Patty Ice? Now that is funny.
Matt Ryan is as slow as Christmas. He is getting depressing to watch. Michael Turner is as slow as Matt Ryan. I don’t think either one of these guys should have an automatic spot in the starting lineup next year. Bring on some competition for them. Or better yet, trade them for someone with some speed.
We have zero speed in our back field. When Mike Mularkey bunches everyone in close in a 2 TE set, with an I formation and runs Turner into the pile? What the heck is that going to accomplish besides causing a huge traffic jam? Yet he does this, week,after week,after week.
Awful clock management reflects very poorly on Coach Smith. I don’t know how else to say it. He simply did not lead the team correctly at that point. I guarantee you Sean Payton or Mike McCarthy would not have wasted those time outs and the time remaining on the clock. Coach, you blew it.
I bought into Arthur Blank. Then I bought season tickets 3 years ago for the 1st time ever. I will not be renewing them this year. I’m no longer sold on Thomas Dimitroff, Mike Smith, Van Gorder, and especially Mike Mularkey.
Sorry Mr. Blank, but I did not get my money’s worth this year. And in this economy, I’m not willing to take the risk that 2012 is going to be any better. The only thing that will make me reconsider is if you make some wholesale changes to your lineup. As of right now, I’m not buying. This team is very average. We can not play with the big boys.