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
Rod
January 9th, 2012
12:13 pm
DJ you sound like our color commentary lol you are right doing all this BRAINIAC at the line for what a 3 yard dink not even a dunk a dink SMH I agree defense played well until they learned Offense went to evening Church service
Caesar
January 9th, 2012
12:14 pm
“it’s 3rd and 6 after that 1 yeard gain by Turner, Ryan in the shotgun, he’s changing the play at the line…that guy sure is smart…now there’s the snap and Ryan fires the ball three yards over the middle…but it is dropped by Roddy White…….probably wouldn’t have had enough for the first down anyway…..in comes the punter.”
—————————–
This about sums it up.
BIG Bruiser
January 9th, 2012
12:14 pm
Fire Mike Smith! Who lines up on 4th and inches without a back in the backfield and without a goal line stance? A child would have selected a better play on EA’s Madden NFL. This guy should be ran out of coaching altogether for that ridiculous mishap.
realitycheck
January 9th, 2012
12:16 pm
Saints fans should say anything and everything they want, because the Falcons aren’t any threat to them and aren’t going to be for a long time. This may be a harsh reality but the Saints have the better GM(Loomis),HC(Payton),QB(Brees),a more committed fan base, and are younger than the Falcons(6 players 30 and over compared to 12 or 13 for Falcons). Last years Falcons team was an overachieving and opportunistic team that went 13-3 until Green Bay showed it was all fools gold. The Falcons overpaid dearly for a WR and now basically have no draft ahead to address their many needs, and the salary cap is strapped too. The homers and dreamers can believe what they want, but the Falcons may be every bit as close to the bottom than they are to the top of the NFL. Additionally, don’t believe all of this “too much talent” garbage because it’s not that good at all. Where is the talent? Maybe at WR, but what did they do yesterday? This team needs major changes that will require taking steps backward in the short term in order to take steps forward down the road. The “process” is a joke and it’s unlikely that the gap(which has widened considerably) between the Saints and Falcons is going to close under this regime.
Re
January 9th, 2012
12:16 pm
Atlanta’s QB is a crying shame!!!….he can’t throw 3 good passes together….anyway, american football is a worse than MEDIOCRE ’sport’ ( I use the term loosely)….ONLY 11minutes 30 seconds on the average of REAL ACTION !!!!!!!!!…in a 3 hour game !!!…what a bunch of losers !!
Want to watch REAL football for men, women and children???
Watch BARCELONA football.
Real Falcon Fanatic
January 9th, 2012
12:18 pm
I’m looking forward to training camp in August!
FIRE SMITH
January 9th, 2012
12:22 pm
ESPN not even talking about Falcons. Why should they? Hope a change is made before they turn into the Braves where the same thing is accepted year after year.
Re
January 9th, 2012
12:25 pm
Seriously, amerikan football is so boringly predictable.
No imagination whatsoever. Not allowed. Not permitted. Intelligence is discouraged.
Straight down the middle, even if the whole opposing team is there to stop you, wtf ?
How can you people seat, stuffing your obese bodies for 3.5 hours, to watch 11 min, 30 sec of ACTUAL action?? Only in the US !!
Peter
January 9th, 2012
12:29 pm
Tebow call Heroic…….Ryan should be called scarred !
Kimberley
January 9th, 2012
12:30 pm
Mr. Bradley… The Falcons are not as good as the Giants.. The Falcons are not as good as the Saints, The Falcons are not as good as GB, Or the Eagles, or The Bears (With Cutler), Or the Lions (and the Saints game is no judge, i dont think ANYONE is walkin into the Superdome and winning right now)… Anyways, Mr. Bradley, The Falcons are not good enough. Matt ryan, i dont know what he is, this is only his third year, and thats way to soon to be saying he can or can’t do anything.. but if he doesnt win a Playoff game soon, the Tony Romo comparisons will begin. Anyways, i think your article is lacking in objectivity. By making it seem like the Falcons were the better team, that had a bad day, is fools gold. The Falcons are BEHIND alot of teams in the NFC Hierarchy.
Splendid Splinter
January 9th, 2012
12:31 pm
Hey Re – take some where else!
mokha099
January 9th, 2012
12:34 pm
One and Done! no shock here….
2012!
January 9th, 2012
12:34 pm
In 2011, the falcons had a lot of bad breaks and injuries. In 2012, the team will be much better and should go deep into the playoffs!
Kelly
January 9th, 2012
12:35 pm
36 pages of comments. Changes must be made. God…that was the worst game they’ve played in forever. Awful…from coaching to execution…terrible.
over the hill
January 9th, 2012
12:36 pm
the falcons are filled with overpaid, over the hill players who don’t show up in big games. They beat creampuffs like the bucs and panthers but get dominated by good teams. Gonzales? Over the hill—but he’ll come back and make $7 million! More of the same next year for the chump fans in atlanta who pay to see this garbage.
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Ryan = Elite
January 9th, 2012
12:38 pm
Matt will remember all this disrespect and will work extra hard in the offseason! In 2012–his game will explode—book it!
Chris Kauffman
January 9th, 2012
12:38 pm
You’ve got a running back who is built like Earl Campbell in the backfield and you give the rock to a QB who is built like a center on a high school basketball team??? Say what??? That being said, please don’t do to Mike Smith what was done to Leeman Bennett, the former Falcon Head Coach who was fired in 1983 because the owners at that time (The Rankin Smith Family) felt that the team had “plateaued.” I like Coach Smith because he has the kahunnas to challenge his players with his 4th and 1 decisions. The players are always quoted as wanting to be champions. Well, their Coach is giving them the show case opportunity to back up their quotes. P.S. Send Matty Ice to that same psychologist who got John Smoltz straightened out.
mokha099
January 9th, 2012
12:42 pm
you know it’s bad when Teebow outplays matt “ice cold” ryan….
lamac66
January 9th, 2012
12:42 pm
The Falcons laid down again..I have never seen such a sorry offensive scheme
How soon we forget Gregg Knapp
loy
January 9th, 2012
12:43 pm
Falcon fan dont get you hopes up for this team. They won some game by luck last year. They started off bad this year. They only beat two teams with winning records this year. And dont listening to every sports announcer. And dont let the coaches get you hope up. Watch the first three games an then you will see if theres any improvements. One prediction the Georgia bull dogs backup QB last year is a good one. An i am not a GA bulldog fan.
P Rose
January 9th, 2012
12:46 pm
The 1980 Falcons team was the best Falcons team ever, because they had guts. At least their final game came down to the last minute, rather than being OVER in the 3rd quarter, as it was yesterday, as it was last year against Green Bay, and yes, as it was in the Super Bowl against the Broncos. Being an Atlanta sports fan is simply brutal. There is nowhere worse in the country. At least Cleveland won several NFL championships in the 50s and 60s.
curley
January 9th, 2012
12:46 pm
Enter your comments here
Mr. Thomas Anthony Jones, SR
January 9th, 2012
12:47 pm
The Atlanta Vultures need to admit that Smith is a dummy and Ryan is the most overated QB in the NFL. Look at the Falcons in the playoffs. They are chokesville. They need help getting a real quaterback who will excite the masses and terrify the opponents. Already Mr. Cameron Newton is a better quarterback as a new rookie. Next year the Carolina panthers will beat the Falcons at the Georgia Dome. Guaranteed, Fire Smith. He is the worse coach when in the spotlight. He has the Deer in the Spotlight look on his face. The Saints and the Panthers own the NFC South Division. On to Charlotte.
Bobby Helsel
January 9th, 2012
12:47 pm
These articles are as soft as the Falcons! I agree with Phil totally! And this is the problem with Atl sports! SOOOOFFFFFTTTT! This is why nobody cares! Why other cities and journalists continue to dog this town! ZERO ACCOUNTABILITY. HOW BOUT CALLING SOMEONE OUT AJC??!! USE YOUR FORUM FOR SOMETHING!
Splendid Splinter
January 9th, 2012
12:48 pm
loy -oh you’re not GA bulldog fan? Well you’re not a Falcon fan either. Geez -
curley
January 9th, 2012
12:48 pm
The Falcons should move to Winnipeg also.
joh
January 9th, 2012
12:53 pm
-DL-Only time I heard $$$$$$ DE EDWARDS NAME CALLED ALL GAME WAS FOR offside penalty truth is Falcons do not have ;not many real good,consistent Defensive P{layers
-Offensive L-really slipped w/o Harvey Gant (blame mangement for that) -also, Baker disappoints, Got to get young,good Center ,another BIG Tackle, maybe two as Clabo was terrible againt G’s Rookie and Sviek got RUN OIVER a couple of times
Backs -Turner has been great but beat down , getting older and slowing-Rodgers has not shown anything at least yet
QB-Ryan is great young man but just so-so as Pro QB- we have seen Brees, Cameron, Manning, etc -no comparison
lamac66
January 9th, 2012
12:53 pm
By making it seem like the Falcons were the better team, that had a bad day, is fools gold. The Falcons are BEHIND alot of teams in the NFC Hierarchy.
That’s what delusional homers do here
U-MANN
January 9th, 2012
12:53 pm
MV7 didnt even make the playoffs!!!!!! hes still not better than Matt
The Mediator
January 9th, 2012
12:53 pm
what Tebow might say
hey falcons, sorry you’ve been embarrassed, humiliated, disappointed, etc. once again. somebody has to go through it, thankfully it’s not me. i’ll share this with you, try reading rom 8:28, ‘all things work together for good’…
try getting on your knees next year like me (or maybe start right now) and ask for forgiveness for letting the fans and city down, thank God for the income earned and lessons learned (if any).
a few weeks ago, they were mocking me on national tv for being on my knees, who’s laughing now? thanks to God last night was a literal ‘reality’ show. time to get off my knees and prep to play again next week
what have you got to lose?
see ya next year!
lamac66
January 9th, 2012
12:54 pm
Ryan = Elite
January 9th, 2012
12:38 pm
Matt will remember all this disrespect and will work extra hard in the offseason! In 2012–his game will explode—book it!
I will file the above for future reference for sure!
Coach Johnson
January 9th, 2012
12:54 pm
Can’t win with such a poor offense line!
fan man
January 9th, 2012
12:54 pm
We gone on 4th down so many times and failed at some point you think they would try to throw on fourth just to give somebody a different look.especially down on the other teams goal.They are going to have to put their money on in the o line in free agency.
Skeezix
January 9th, 2012
12:55 pm
Upon more reflection, that was a very poorly coached game.
Zap
January 9th, 2012
12:57 pm
SPLENDID SPLINTER…
Why not tear the Failcons down and rebuild? Ex: Sean Payton and the 2006 Saints, Payton’s first season. Came in, released over HALF THE TEAM(!), picked up no-names, small college guys, rejects, has-beens, never-wasses(sp?), and a guy named Brees that NOBODY wanted, kicked ‘em in the azz, explained that NOBODY had a guaranteed job and made ‘em WORK for those checks. First season practiced in parking lots, had NO home stadium but a loyal fanbase that wanted the team back in NOLA.
Result? A trip to Chicago for an NFC Championship game. As he said in a post game speech, “We’re not carrying the sins of those old teams. This is our deal.” The Failcons can do the same thing. There IS a blueprint for it. Sometimes ya gotta tear the old down to build the new.
P Rose
January 9th, 2012
12:57 pm
Hey, Re – American football games may consist of only 11 minutes and 30 seconds of “real action,” as you say – but at least it is REAL, bruising, head-butting, bone-crushing ACTION. If a bunch of curly-haired guys in satin shorts, running around kicking a ball, who are not allowed even to touch the ball, much less each other, is what you call “real action,” then I have a suggestion for you – put down the wine and cheese, grab a beer and a hot dog, and man up, dude.
Mike Smith
January 9th, 2012
12:58 pm
Okay! Okay! If you guys are gonna complain that much and get all riled up, next time me and the other coaches won’t smoke cannibus during the game.
warfalcon
January 9th, 2012
12:58 pm
Awful,wonder how M.Smith and M.Marzt[O.C.] can get along,we need the greastest show on turf.Because right now we have NO SHOW.sEE Y`AH NEXT YEAR.
realitycheck
January 9th, 2012
12:58 pm
Ryan=Elite………………..You are an absolute delusional moron if you really think that!
loy
January 9th, 2012
1:01 pm
I am a falcons fan and not a dogs fan. I know a good team when i see one. Like i said my falcons are not that good team. An falcons and dogs dont go together with me. Like it or not.
Real Falcon Fanatic
January 9th, 2012
1:01 pm
Lets hire Jack Del Rio as the new D-coordinator!
Promote our QB coach Gratkowski to O-coordinator.
We need to hit a home run on some free agent O-lineman.
Can we get another running back, back up tight end, d-lineman and secondary help in the draft with no 1st or 4th pick?
bama falcon fan
January 9th, 2012
1:02 pm
sad, sad, sad. 1. Urgent, blow up coaching staff. (Dungy couldn’t win big games in Tampa and had to go.) 2. Get rid of D.Robiinson (bust of a signing) 3. Release John A. (Too old) 4. Look for better offensive linemen.(S.Baker needs to go) 5. Upgrade running back position (I thought Turner was done last season)
parsley snipe
January 9th, 2012
1:03 pm
ryans just not good enough. bottom line. last yrs packer game. this yrs packer game. nothing going on. and then yesyerday. its tough as an organization to admit you picked the wrong guy, but you have. whats he ever won? nothing. and he never will.
lamac66
January 9th, 2012
1:03 pm
ZERO ACCOUNTABILITY. HOW BOUT CALLING SOMEONE OUT AJC??!! USE YOUR FORUM FOR SOMETHING!
Well, I think that has changed today finally. Only because they really didn’t have any choice because not doing so would have questioned their credibility…not like they had any to begin with.
They can’t protect Matt Ryan anymore. They all but said the Falcons had to win this game and for Ryan to be considered an elite QB he had to win this game against an inferior secondary. Well, now what? NO EXCUSES for the local press to pooh pooh Ryans limitations.
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1:04 pm
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Nom Nom Nom Chucks....Taylor or Norris
January 9th, 2012
1:06 pm
Worst part is….thanks to Dmiti’s brilliant draft bust last year…It’s going to be like this until 2014. Good move guys.
loyal falcon
January 9th, 2012
1:06 pm
Falcon fans are just tired of being let down. It never fails. This team gets you all excited and worked up just to let you down in the end. This was an evident case of bad coaching or being out coached. Our offense is extremely inconsistent. It’s almost unreal. How do you not score any points in a playoff game.
It is what it is
January 9th, 2012
1:06 pm
oh wow I thought you just wrote the other day that the Falcons would go to NY and win this game.
Rob B.
January 9th, 2012
1:07 pm
Ryan is a passable QB, but not on the level of a Brady, Brees or Rogers. He is no better than a younger version of Chris Chandler. The sooner the Falcons realize he’s not the second coming of Brett Favre, the better off they’ll be. Mike Smith was never a head coach before coming to the Falcons and was a coordinator with the Jaguars before that. During the 4 years he was there they went to the playoffs twice and won one playoff game, not exactly the record you look for in a guy you expect to take you to the next level. Par for the course. I was going to write a poem about the Falcons but couldn’t think of a word that rhymes with mediocre.