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
fatz
January 8th, 2012
7:19 pm
the falcons need a sumb*tch like Jimmy Johnson in his Cowboy days. Ruthless, Fumble-and-i-will-run-you-outa-here (as in Curvin Richards). Someone that players will absolutely hate, and then begin to respect as they start winning. Mike Smith is a typical career numbnuts NFL ass’t coach- knows the X’s and O’s (well , with him he doesn’t know the O’s..) but couldn’t motivate a dog with a steak. The players are self centered jerks who will quit in a heartbeat if they don’t have some fear of their jobs- just ask Raheem Morris.
Seattle Falcons Fan
January 8th, 2012
7:19 pm
Move Duanta to nickle
Resign Grimes
4 Jacks
January 8th, 2012
7:19 pm
Rise up my a$$. The Falcons are still a joke. Hey coach Smith really? cant make one damn yard and then the whole team goes into the tank. Spent the next two years draft choices on Julio…man he really took you where you wanted to go huh? Looks just like the sorry a$$ hawks…make the playoffs and then get embarrassed. Hey you friggin LOSERS, yeah you to Mattie A$$, when a damnn playoff game or a friggin game that really does matter and then talk about “risen up”. You guys are all pretenders and chumps…whay a bunch of LOSERS
T. Tinklenutz
January 8th, 2012
7:19 pm
Nobody will see this but here it goes. Keep Mike Smith. It’s not his fault his team (offensive line) cannot get 1 yard. Any team that cannot get 1 yard in the playoffs when your life depends on it doesn’t belong in the playoffs. Malarky needs to go. No imagination. Offensive line is average. Defensive line is average. Defense is quick but relies on speed and gets tired easily when offense can’t hold the ball for long. Secondary gets better when Defense Line puts on pressure. Offense gets better when holes are made and pass protect. T.D. should strive to get help on both lines and we go to the next level. P.S. Tough to be an ATL sports fan. Regards, TT
Great Falconi
January 8th, 2012
7:19 pm
We have no imagination on either side of the ball. That works well against bad-to-mediocre football teams. It does not work against above-average-to-great football teams. I am absolutely sick and tired of this. All Falcon fans should be.
Ak21
January 8th, 2012
7:19 pm
The falcons lost me today, i’ve seen enough to know that this team will never win anything. They have 100 excuses, and 0 heart. I’m done with them, I’d rather be a front runner fan and get some enjoyment out of the NFL than pull for these losers anymore. I love Atlanta, but I’ve now given up on both the falcons and the hawks, so much talk, so much hype, but never ever any pay off, it’s an evil curse for sure.
Caesar
January 8th, 2012
7:19 pm
Not 1 point on offense today. Only 1 TD against the Saints 3 weeks ago. How in the HELL is Matt Ryan considered a top QB?
Brett
January 8th, 2012
7:19 pm
Blank won’t do anything because he thinks the guys running things know what they are doing and it couldn’t be further from the truth. The guy knows nothing about how to run a sports franchise. He should stick with retail stores.
Loserville USA
January 8th, 2012
7:19 pm
Some of these comments are moronic.
Well…opinions are like a-holes. Everyone has one.
Go through each game since last year’s Green Bay debacle. Ryan doesn’t trust his o-line and it’s apparent with his footwork. Holds the ball longer.
Regressed on penalties. Regressed on sacks allowed. Regressed nearly everywhere offensively. Starts with giving Ryan time. And they’re committed to him, so you have to do what it takes. Baker needs to go. Svitek on the bench. Hawley – questionable. Clabo – questionable. Only Blalock and McClure are good NFL starters.
dgreenwood
January 8th, 2012
7:19 pm
Where do we go from here? We have mortgaged our future to get more explosive with Julio.
How does this team possibly get better? With so many holes and so few draft choices we are
left with the genious of Tom Demeitroff to pick up free agents. Not a very good track record with Dunta Robinson and Ray Edwards.
I think we are looking at a five year rebuilding program.
ART
January 8th, 2012
7:19 pm
Is todays disaster going to cost MIke Smith his job???????????????????
Pmc
January 8th, 2012
7:19 pm
Bree’s got better when He met Sean Payton. We can only hope to find an offensive genius.
Without a miracle this is the end of progress.
FIRE MIKE SMITH NOW !!!!!!!!
January 8th, 2012
7:19 pm
FIRE THEM ALL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Black Dog
January 8th, 2012
7:19 pm
Tebow up by 10 now.
Dru Bees
January 8th, 2012
7:20 pm
This proves that the Saints are miles ahead of the Bird Brains.
Artjir
January 8th, 2012
7:20 pm
Enter your comments here
CGD..
January 8th, 2012
7:20 pm
Brees with the Falcons offense would have scored 40 today……
Hmmmmmmmmmmm… I’m just saying…..
katherine
January 8th, 2012
7:20 pm
Ak21
January 8th, 2012
7:19 pm
The falcons lost me today, i’ve seen enough to know that this team will never win anything. They have 100 excuses, and 0 heart. I’m done with them, I’d rather be a front runner fan and get some enjoyment out of the NFL than pull for these losers anymore. I love Atlanta, but I’ve now given up on both the falcons and the hawks, so much talk, so much hype, but never ever any pay off, it’s an evil curse for sure.
ok…buh bye
Bellefay1
January 8th, 2012
7:21 pm
Question for everyone going apecrap on this thread…
Better Falcons QB?
Chris Chandler or Mike Vick? Chandler took the Falcons to a Super Bowl. Vick got us to the NFC Championship.
Great Falconi
January 8th, 2012
7:21 pm
Mike Mularkey would make Brees look like Romo.
Arthur's New Stadium
January 8th, 2012
7:21 pm
Arthur’s tired of this chump change from the Ga Dome! He want a brand new, state of the art open air stadium with tons of pricey suites so he can make more millions–all paid for by chump atl taxpayers! pay up chumps!
FIRE MIKE SMITH NOW !!!!!!!!
January 8th, 2012
7:21 pm
HERE’S THE NEW PROCESS , FIRE THE GM AND COACHING STAFF AND IF YOU DON’T ARTHUR , YOU DON’T HAVE A HAIR ON YOUR @$$ . WHERE IS THAT HOME DEPOT ATTITUDE ?
katherine
January 8th, 2012
7:21 pm
yes…and brees took awhile to get to where he is now……it might be that way for matt too
realitycheck
January 8th, 2012
7:21 pm
Greg……..agree with your talent evaluation!
Angry Dave
January 8th, 2012
7:21 pm
Done
jack bull
January 8th, 2012
7:21 pm
did i say earlier that my gf was trashed, well, maybe i am too..that last sentence made a whole lot of sense, didn’t it….
but she is tore up, which is hilarious, actually….
good old joe
January 8th, 2012
7:22 pm
GIVE MATT AND SMITTY 1 MORE YEAR ,I BELEAVE THE LOCK OUT HURT THIS TEAM. JONES WE GIVE TO MUCH FOR HIM OFF LINE NEEDS BIG TIME HELP,BEFORE WE JUDGE LESS SEE WHAT HOPPON IN THE DRAFT.
Former Falcon Fan since 66
January 8th, 2012
7:22 pm
I could pontificate ad nauseum over this loss, but why bother? Obviously this organization is too dense to make the changes necessary to put a viable product on the shelf. I thought that the Blank era would get rid of the bad taste in my mouth that was the Smiths. But alas, more of the same! Time to go back to the days of my youth, before the joke that was the Atlanta Falcons. I will return to the glory days of my youth and be a Packer fan. At least that organization has a clue. Sorry to all my fellow Falcon Fans, just can’t take it any more.
katherine
January 8th, 2012
7:22 pm
a new stadium would be awesome
X-Falcon
January 8th, 2012
7:22 pm
Sell The Falcons. They can’t win. I been a fan for thirty years, no longer, I give up on supporting the Falcons. I quit.
phil
January 8th, 2012
7:23 pm
Fire everyone!
It’s our only hope for a losing season next year.
fatz
January 8th, 2012
7:23 pm
i’d rather start over next year with a bunch of kids and go 6-10 then watch Ryan and Turner pick up a b bunch of useless, meaningless yards and then fold like a cheap tent when the pressure is on. I gotta believe there was NOBODY else- GM wise- stepping up to overpay Ryan in the 1st round.
katherine
January 8th, 2012
7:23 pm
ok former falcon fans..bye…leave already..you said your piece now dont come back to the blogs next year BYE
DonewithFalcants
January 8th, 2012
7:23 pm
Definitely need to get rid of MM….should also consider getting rid of Smith or Ryan or both. This is Insanity…. doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results…
F Falcons…I’m done with these chokers…No season ticket renewal for me….
CGD..
January 8th, 2012
7:23 pm
Throw in the towel on this bust from BC..
Today proved he is a complete objective failure……..
Coaching cant help a guy who does not have the talent or will to get it done…
Not so smart after all? Hmmmmmmmm…
Bellefay1
January 8th, 2012
7:23 pm
The end of the progress is our first back to back playoff seasons, 4 winning seasons in a row after not having back to back winning season…ever…and the franchise record for passing yards was broke.
FIRE EVERYONE….THIS IS A DISASTER!!!
Nola Cola
January 8th, 2012
7:23 pm
Congratulations, ATL! Way to “Rise Up” (HAHAHA! ) An entire 2 points, against a defense that your bitter NFC South arch-rivals hung a 49 spot on, just a few weeks back —as usual your team and your fans aren’t good for anything other than “trash talking”, and the harsh reality has to be a very hard pill to swallow : Not only are you NOT among the NFC’s ‘elite’, but you are BARELY just slightly above average ………………..RISE UP!!! What a joke (lol)!!!
jack bull
January 8th, 2012
7:23 pm
see ya, AK, go pull for the Steelers. good luck to ya.
222joco
January 8th, 2012
7:23 pm
Time to let the whole coaching staff go and bring in the right leadership
CGD..
January 8th, 2012
7:24 pm
Fire Mr. Blank….
Jerry
January 8th, 2012
7:24 pm
As long as we are going to the playoffs Mike Smith is doing a good job, as was Leman Bennett who was let go cause he couldn’t win in the playoffs. We paid for that for years. Lets not repeat that.
phil
January 8th, 2012
7:24 pm
Some of you bloggers – and you know who you are – have the sense of an oak stump.
CTB
January 8th, 2012
7:24 pm
FIRE EVERYONE….GET ON THE PHONE TO FISHER….MATT RYAN, GROW A SET SON……ALL OF THIS NOW.
FIRE MIKE SMITH NOW !!!!!!!!
January 8th, 2012
7:24 pm
GOOD BYE MS , BVG , MM AND MATTY SLUSH
Mako
January 8th, 2012
7:25 pm
Bradley, look at the Offensive Coordinator, he hasn’t shone a knack for defining what kind of Offense the Falcons are supposed to be. If the Falcons are supposed to be a power running team, then get some huge Guards and Tackles to act as roadgraders, if they are supposed to be some hybrid running and long passing team then they need to get big Guards, a big Center and strong Tackles that can move their feet and pass block. But the Identity of the Offense has to have a identify and stuck with it thick or thin. Some new creative and imaginative plays wouldn’t hurt either.
Give Me a Freakin' Break
January 8th, 2012
7:25 pm
Mike Mularkey is better than Gregg Knapp as an offensive coordinator on any given Sunday and all day on Monday. Yet Vick and Knapp were able to win a playoff game. Matty Mice apologists love to lift him up anytime the team wins. But anytime the team poops in the playoffs then it’s Mularkey, Van Gorder, it’s the O-Line, it’s Keith Brookings, it’s Michael Jennings, in other words it’s everybody but Matty Mice.
And doesn’t Matty Mice have the option of calling some of his own plays especially when they go to a no-huddle offense? Pinning the blame on Mulakey is just weak. I’m not saying he doesn’t deserve some blame, but, Matty Mice is just plain sorry. He is 6′5″ and Drew Brees is 6″;yet when the Saints needed a 1st down on 4th and inches on last night — Drew Brees leaped over the pile to get the ball over the line. Yet Matt Ryan who is 5″ taller than Brees tries to back his way in.
I’ll keep Smith and Mularkey and give me some Drew Brees (a little guy with a big heart) and I guarantee you a SuperBowl championship.
Mark Bradley_010812
January 8th, 2012
7:25 pm
“…It is clear that Mike Mularkey isn’t the man to maximize this personnel in the video arcade of neo-football. It’s time for the Falcons to try somebody new….”
And the Falcon fans said…..AMEN
Ace8
January 8th, 2012
7:26 pm
This loss hurts. I lost cause. What does it hurt for the fans of Atlanta? Because we live here-and expect better. If we didn’t care then we wouldn’t be on these blogs. We feel that somehow-we gotta get this off of our chest. We need swagger. It seemed that our better days were behind us-with the likes of Deon, The Hammer, Rison, Chandler and a host of others, Vick, not withstanding. Speaking of Vick, I do think that we probably would have won a Superbowl with him or at least got deep into the playoffs.
jack bull
January 8th, 2012
7:26 pm
Broncos going to lose this game, which stinks after that horrible call on the fumble…hate it for em..
The Monger
January 8th, 2012
7:26 pm
The Atlanta Falcons are another football team that embarrasses the state of Georgia on a yearly basis, similar to the Georgia Bulldogs. Similar to Georgia being 0-9 against top 20 ranked teams with Richt and Murray, the Atlanta Falcons are now 0-3 in the playoffs under Smith and Ryan. FOLKS THIS ISNT ROCKET SCIENCE, AND ITS NOT A FLUKE. There is a reason UGA is 0-9 in BIG GAMES and Atlanta is 0-3. It is that OUR FOOTBALL TEAMS ARE MEDIOCRE, TRASH THAT BEAT UP ON WEAKLINGS IN THEIR SCHEDULE WITH MILATARY PRECISION AND THEN CHOKE, CRASH, AND BURN IN ALL BIG GAMES!! This was a TEAM loss…Starting with our weak armed, check-down, deer in headlights quarterback Matt Ryan!! We will NEVER win anything with him at QB, he is scared to take chances deep, he reverts to checkdowns all the time, he has no pocket presence or mobility, and today could not even get an inch on a couple fourth downs. He is a LOSER, the opposite of a winner. Every single play he had a chance to make a big play, and really start to break the Giants defense’s will. HE FAILED Time after time. Mike Smith failed in every big coaching decision time after time. Michael Turner failed in running the ball north and south, and thus our running game was done before it got started. Our offensive line Failed time after time, and every big 4th down or 1 yard run when we needed them to push back the Giants D- Line they FAILED AND FAILED MISERABLY! The defense played all right, but once again it destructed in the 2nd half. Tony Gonzalez was NOWHERE to be found….and Im sure even if he was open downfield Matt “checkdown” Ryan would have threw a 3 yard checkdown to Jacquizz. This was an embarrasment of epic proportions, there is NO EXCUSE to score 0 offensive points against the 27th ranked Defense in the league……except having a terrible, choking coach and an even more terrible, choking quarterback at the helm, sorry to say this guys but get ready for plenty more 10 win seasons as the Falcons feast up on the bottom feeders of the league, only to be trounced in the first round of the playoffs for years to come. Right now we are 0-3, the only question left is how long Blank lets this go on 0-5? 0-7? 0-10 in the playoffs??? Sad….Georgia football is truly out of luck as long as we have Smith coaching the Falcons and Richt coaching the Bullldogs…..
-Monger