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
Samuel L. Jackson
January 8th, 2012
7:36 pm
What do Falcons do????
LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY EGGS!
katherine
January 8th, 2012
7:36 pm
i really do believe the refs will do anything to help pittsburgh win
jack bull
January 8th, 2012
7:36 pm
Ryan is the 6th best QB in the league, no ands ifs or buts about it..we may have just lost to the NFC representitive in the Super Bowl,,again..dangit.
Loserville USA
January 8th, 2012
7:36 pm
And you all remember one thing — you can have all the elite players you want but games are won and lost at the line of scrimmage.
CALVIN JOHNSON WENT 0-16.
phil
January 8th, 2012
7:37 pm
Tom1
January 8th, 2012
7:34 pm
As a teenage fan from the Norm Van Brocklin days, I just want to say THANKS to Messrs. Smith, Mularky, Van Gorder, Dimitroff, Arthur Blank, Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, John Abraham, and the rest of the Falcons team and staff for another winning season and your best efforts. We know that there will be big changes in the off-season and I wish all of you well. Best regards.
This kind of crap is why we don’t win.
Pathetic, loser speak.
I wish em well too but please!
The Monger
January 8th, 2012
7:37 pm
We have to clean up the coordinator positions ASAP, or we will have NO chance in next years playoffs either…
Brian Van Gorder and Mike Mularkey need to be fired ASAP. NOW!!!! RIGHT THIS SECOND!!!
While the defense didnt play horrible, they under performed all year, and play WAY too soft for the amount of talent on this defense. We have too many fast, athletic, hard hitting players to not be playing a fast, all out blitzing, in your face defense similar to the Ravens or Steelers. Now I understand that this is really Mike Smith’s defense in essence, but I feel if Blank and TD tell Smith they are getting a TRUE aggressive DC to run a defense similar to the Ravens, and tell him to allow the new guy to run it his way, or they will fire him too, Smith will have to listen. This is what the Falcons NEED more than anything.
Secondly, Fire Mularkey right along with VanGorder. 0 offensive points against the 27th ranked defense in the NFL in the biggest game of the season. EPIC FAIL…enough said!!
I would give Mike Smith ONE MORE Year to correct his defense and offense to get to serious playoff contender status. Anything short of the a NFC title game appearance, (which will require winning at least 1 playoff game, possibly 2)…will result in immediate termination. Goodbye….we dont need coaches that go 0-4 in the playoffs..
stendek
January 8th, 2012
7:37 pm
You consider yourself an oak stump Katie? Gee.
1eyedJack
January 8th, 2012
7:37 pm
If they have any draft choices this year they need to use them for offensive linemen.
Maybe Jacksonville will do us all a favor.
Arthur needs to get the checkbook out.
Great Falconi
January 8th, 2012
7:37 pm
matty ice ought to watch tim tebow- learn a little bit about having some heart.
Tebow’s a running QB who doesn’t throw the football very well. However, he has an offensive coordinator who is doing everything he possibly can to give him the best plays to work with today against the Steelers. The Broncos are going against tendencies. They’re doing anything and everything they can to move the football against a solid defense. Mike Mularkey gave up his right to a job with the gameplan he put together. I have no doubt we need to make some changes on the O-line, but Mularkey is pathetic. We didn’t have any answers today on offense because he had no answers. That is unacceptable and cannot be allowed to continue.
Bellefay1
January 8th, 2012
7:37 pm
Just curious but if you’ve been a Falcons fan for 27 years, you quit to root only the dog?
Has UGA won anything in 27 years?
cybo
January 8th, 2012
7:37 pm
I am sick and tired of people saying Matt Ryan didnt have to to go throw deep.
The guy is afraid to throw the ball.
Sometimes you must put it up to allow the receivers to make a play.
This guy bis garbage. He has reached his ceiling
Ace8
January 8th, 2012
7:37 pm
The question Falcon’s fans should be asking: what will Matt Ryan do in the off season to improve his game on a personal level? Is what we (fans) see all that there is from Matt and will he ever get a stronger arm or legs or anything? If not, then the owner needs to consider going 0 and 16 next year to get a top pick in the draft. Don’t worry though; it’ll be easy to do, because we won’t make the playoffs in 2012. The NFC South division will hold them at or fewer than 500. or they’ll finish 4-12. Don’t however; expect much from this team in 2012. We hate to admit it, but we got an average quarterback that could win a few games, but in the hands of these dumb coaches, they wouldn’t survive with a Brees or a Rogers in their backfield. I believe I’ve heard this in corporate. It’s called a planned and conceived “failure”.
G. Tanner
January 8th, 2012
7:38 pm
Must say I’m disappointed to see the human pipe cleaner in an empty backfield on fourth and almost nothing. Maybe Smith can talk his brother-in-law into joining up.
phil
January 8th, 2012
7:38 pm
Ryan is definitely part of the problem, but i think the line play, both ways, is the bigger issue.
Vick Supporter
January 8th, 2012
7:39 pm
And the city and maybe the writers still will not blame Ryan for this weak armed QB play. Yes, my EAGLES didn’t make the playoffs, but you can say that they are closer to the SB than the Falcons are.
I’ve been telling you for years that “ICE” was Joey Harrington 2.0. Ryan can olay, but he needs A LOT OF HELP to win in the playoffs
jack bull
January 8th, 2012
7:39 pm
Denver gonna lose, all after that terrible call..have i said that already?
DEPOT
January 8th, 2012
7:40 pm
Yes, the Falcon teams of the 80’s with Steve, Jackson, Jenkins and Johnson would go deep at least 5x a game. Those teams won in the playoffs…………………..period!!!!!
Charles Barkley
January 8th, 2012
7:40 pm
ATL just have role players no heart no guts..No perry homes bowan homes…Draft some players that want to kick some as.
katherine
January 8th, 2012
7:40 pm
ohhh this is going to be so close
Abbadabba Jackson
January 8th, 2012
7:40 pm
The Falcons are nowhere near a Superbowl team; it’s obvious. Superbowl-winning teams require great players, coaches and owners. The Falcons have never had a great owner, and will never win a Superbowl game.
Loserville USA
January 8th, 2012
7:40 pm
Agreed phil.
OL and DL are the biggest issues. But we can’t be EXPLOSIVE until Ryan quits dancing around in the pocket. Absolutely awful OL play this season at times.
tony
January 8th, 2012
7:41 pm
The only qb I want to see in a falcon uni is Kellen Moore. Make it happen Dimitroff!
BIGBEN42
January 8th, 2012
7:41 pm
Matt Ryan is not in the elite status in the NFL.Good but not enough.Can’t take a team to the next level.
philip minutillo
January 8th, 2012
7:41 pm
Why doe this happen to us.. I am so embarrassed to be a fan. Stop Building through the draft we are not a college team TOMMY! If we were aggressive in FA over the year the out come could be different. I am getting sick of this process thing that they preach. We need another tough RB behind turner. All the teams have a 3 headed monster. We are a joke on the o line and d line. The Falcons are the bad news bears….
katherine
January 8th, 2012
7:42 pm
ohhhhh almost intercepted
7VickGhost7
January 8th, 2012
7:42 pm
Matty Ice M
jack bull
January 8th, 2012
7:42 pm
awe, champ…dang
stendek
January 8th, 2012
7:42 pm
Hope that dropped INT does not cost Bronc game! Damn. Come on guys!
jtfalcan
January 8th, 2012
7:42 pm
very disappointing.
G. Tanner
January 8th, 2012
7:42 pm
Dunta Robinson is not as good as Brent Grimes, Dominque Foxworth, or Chris Owens. How many more years is he under contract?
Eric
January 8th, 2012
7:42 pm
Kellen Moore from Bosie State will be available. Why not?
I am done with Matty Freeze Up
Caesar
January 8th, 2012
7:43 pm
And you all remember one thing — you can have all the elite players you want but games are won and lost at the line of scrimmage.
CALVIN JOHNSON WENT 0-16.
———————————————
Calvin is a WR. I don’t see your point. They went 0-16 with no QB and a terrible defense. The Falcons have elite WR’s, a better than avg. running back and a top 12 defense. The difference is now Detroit has Matt Stafford. We are stuck with Mr. Dink and Dunk.
Ricky Ricardo
January 8th, 2012
7:43 pm
@CGD
We would have to dig him up.
phil
January 8th, 2012
7:43 pm
I want Herrington brought back.
Release Ryan!!
Blue Flame
January 8th, 2012
7:43 pm
From the very first play by the offense, I knew the falcons were in trouble. Predictable. Calls on fourth down? Predictable. If there are no changes next year (offensive line, defensive line, offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator), the falcons will go nowhere once again.
Predictable!!
katherine
January 8th, 2012
7:43 pm
well if they do score here lets hope we also get to see tebow time..even though the whole game today has been tebow time
Loserville USA
January 8th, 2012
7:43 pm
DEPOT….
Late 70s early 80s had explosive players — Bart had a cannon — and a GREAT OL with Kenn, Scott, Thielmann, Van Note and Bryant. All elite.
Nothing like the crap OL we have now.
stendek
January 8th, 2012
7:43 pm
If Steelers win there is no justice in NFL. PERIOD!
G. Tanner
January 8th, 2012
7:43 pm
Have you ever noticed how Kellen Moore looks like Jess from the Domino’s commercials?
jtfalcan
January 8th, 2012
7:43 pm
Lost faith in Smith and Ryan. Mularkey is DONE. BVG has done his best with what he has here, but damn, we need to be more aggressive on D with this offensse
phil
January 8th, 2012
7:44 pm
Yes sir!!!
katherine
January 8th, 2012
7:44 pm
dang
Joe Mama Angie Daddy
January 8th, 2012
7:44 pm
I’ve been watching the Falcons for 40 years, and that’s the worst game ever! You can blame it on Matt Ryan all you want, but that was the sorriest coaching I’ve ever seen, period!
stendek
January 8th, 2012
7:44 pm
Brons have their own Nothing Robinson! Damn.
billya
January 8th, 2012
7:44 pm
Great article, Mark. Arthur, why weren’t the “right questions” asked earlier in the season? Why weren’t they asked after the terrible, terrible performance during the holidays against New Orleans. This is the NFL. You play every game to win..and they laid down at the end of the season. The brainiacs on here said, “they didn’t need that game so it didn’t count…” Damn, ever game counts!!! Where were the “riqht questions” asked then? Arthur, here’s the point: If you don’t want to win, sell the team. Don’t over-intellectualize this loss. Don’t accept “we didn’t take a step back” from yourself. That’s meek talk. All we here is excuses from you and this team. Stop!
katherine
January 8th, 2012
7:44 pm
ok its tebow time
Antn
January 8th, 2012
7:44 pm
I will repeat this again: The Atlanta Chickens WILL NEVER WIN with Coach Smith or QB Ryan. One is a dunce, the other a scaredy-cat. NOTHING WILL CHANGE AS LONG AS THESE TWO ARE HERE and this team WILL remain the ATLANTA CHICKENS. The Atlanta Chickens need to RUN and grab Matt Flynn of Greenbay RIGHT NOW before Jacksonville or Miami gets him. How in the world do you dont kick a field goal on 4th and 1 and you are down less than 2 td’s??? Then call for a QB sneak on 4th and 1 and you have an empty backfield, with a weak offensive line, and a weak footed, scaredy-cat QB???? Why didnt Ryan JUMP over the top like Brees did yesterday? Or, better yet, do a quarterback bootleg? Or, pitch out to Julio Jones to run to a virtually deserted left side????
Are the Atlanta Chicken coaches THAT STUPID or was this game INTENTIONALLY THROWN?
Caesar
January 8th, 2012
7:45 pm
We need to draft a QB I’m tired of watching open receivers get under/over thrown. Matt Ryan is straight GARBAGE!
ijonathan
January 8th, 2012
7:45 pm
Caesar, you are seriously overrating our offensive talent.
Eric
January 8th, 2012
7:45 pm
BIG BEN throws a ROCKET to tie the score. WOW!!!!