The Falcons in 2012: The same players under better coaching
John Abraham didn't spread his wings and fly away. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
The Atlanta Falcons have told us what they think of themselves. They’ve told us they like their roster and have liked it all along. They’ve told us, tacitly if not flat-out, that they don’t believe a lack of manpower has stopped them short of the Super Bowl.
Otherwise they wouldn’t have spent the past three weeks re-upping nearly every free agent of consequence. John Abraham, Kroy Biermann, Thomas DeCoud, Harry Douglas, Todd McClure, Chris Redman, Jason Snelling: They’re all coming back. So is Brent Grimes, tagged as a franchise player. Yes, the Falcons did lose middle linebacker Curtis Lofton to New Orleans and kick returner Eric Weems to Chicago, but still …
If we’d known a month ago that the Falcons would keep eight of their 10 key FAs — and that Grimes and Abraham would be among the eight — wouldn’t we have said, “Job well done”?
Some of us would have. Others would have wondered, and are surely wondering still, why a team that hasn’t won a playoff game since January 2005 is so consumed with preserving the status quo. And the answer is:
Rightly or wrongly, the Falcons believe that they require no major roster-cutting-and-pasting. They believe the same players can, with different coaching, yield better results.
A caveat: Teams sometimes overrate themselves, and general managers are rarely heard to admit, “You know what? I really need to dump all these bums I’ve drafted.” But let’s remember:
Before Thomas Dimitroff was hired as GM in January 2008, the Falcons had never known consecutive winning seasons. Under Dimitroff, they’ve never had anything but a winning season. The man has earned the benefit of every doubt.
That said, something needed to change. The now-winning Falcons have fallen at the first postseason hurdle three times, and the past two losses weren’t even close. When that happens, an organization must ask itself: Is it the coaching or the playing? The Falcons’ answer has been resounding.
On the one hand, there’s a new offensive coordinator, a new defensive coordinator and a new line coach. On the other, there’s essentially the same roster. That’s not exactly a coded microdot of a message.
Heading into the playoff date with the Giants, the feeling in Flowery Branch was that the Falcons had the superior roster. (You’re free to argue. Wasn’t Eli Manning better than Matt Ryan? Wasn’t the Giants’ defensive front clearly stronger? I’m just telling you: That’s what the Falcons thought.) This presumed advantage resulted in a 24-2 loss on a day when the offense was, figuratively and literally, pointless.
This sorry showing was followed by an in-house sigh of relief when Jacksonville hired offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey as head coach, no real remorse when defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder left for Auburn, and the not-very-difficult decision to fire line coach Paul Boudreau. A hint dropped in January has been confirmed in March: The Falcons didn’t see playing as their biggest failing.
As much as fans clamor for their team to land big-ticket free agents, that’s not always the path to glory. (Michael Turner? Great signing. Dunta Robinson? Less great. Ray Edwards? Too soon to tell.) The Falcons are banking on continuity, with a twist. The players are the same, but the schemes won’t be.
We can’t yet know if that will be enough to push a team starved for a Round 1 victory into the game bearing Roman numerals, but this much we can know: The architect sounds happy. In a text message Wednesday, Dimitroff wrote:
“Our ability to re-sign the bulk of our own targeted [unrestricted free agents] was a creative group effort by many in our organization, players included. In a year with many of our own players up for free agency, it takes give and take from both sides of the table. I am pleased and encouraged that we were able to keep our core together.”
The belief in this space was that the Falcons entered the 2011 season with the most gifted roster in team history. That feeling soon gave way to consternation: Why weren’t such good players being put to better use? The belief now is that the three new coaches — Dirk Koetter, Mike Nolan and Pat Hill — will do more for the Falcons than any pricey import, be it Mario Williams or Carl Nicks, would have.
The Falcons had enough players, and to their credit they’ve kept most of them. The roster may have remained status quo, but this organization is no longer in stasis.
By Mark Bradley
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
215 comments Add your comment
fred smith
March 28th, 2012
1:19 pm
I definitely think the new coaches will help on the offensive side. We certainly have talent on that side and the offense never looked in synch last year. However, on the defensive side, I believe it is more of a lack of talent issue and we certainly did not add to that talent level by letting go of our top tackler. We now need help in all three areas of the defense. Hope the offense can score 30 a game!
Dr. Warren
March 28th, 2012
1:20 pm
The 1980 team was the most talented Falcons squad ever–about four years before MB arrived in Atlanta, so I can excuse the error. A healthy Bartkowski with his cannon arm was a more dangerous qb than Matt Ryan. And don’t get me started on how William Andrews–on pace for the Hall of Fame before the terrible knee injury–was a more fearsome and multi-dimensional back than Michael Turner. Roddy and Julio are more talented than Jenkins and Francis, I give you that, but the latter rarely dropped passes.
birian v.g.
March 28th, 2012
1:24 pm
under better coaching? just how in the hell do you figure that?
PMC
March 28th, 2012
1:27 pm
Dunta almost single handedly lost the Houston game because he made the worst play of the game while Peterson made one of the best of his career.
Dunta held on a play where he made 0 impact whatsoever. It was horrible and it almost cost the Falcons the playoffs. It’s hard to forget blunders like that especially when you see his paycheck.
I appreciate what we have here now, I appreciate Smitty’s coaching and TD at GM. They have made this team into a very good NFL franchise. I’m frustrated because I don’t think we have seen much if any progress in the last 2 years. I feel like they are trending down more than trending up. They haven’t been competitive at all in the playoffs.
I don’t think the Falcons have been honest with themselves about where they are as a football team talentwise. I guess we’ll just have to wait until Sept to see all of free agency and the draft. If history is any indication, no one has any idea where they are going in the draft. Where everyone else sees a weakness, they don’t.
Sausage King of Chicago
March 28th, 2012
1:31 pm
Let’s see what Grady Jackson’s up to and switch to a 3-4!
Michael
March 28th, 2012
1:31 pm
Hey Mark, huge falcons fan, but my comment to you is an aside:
This is a fantastically written article. I wasn’t even ready to read such good writing while fantasizing about my sports team.
Great. Work.
PMC
March 28th, 2012
1:32 pm
Fans here HAVE NOT BEEN CLAMORING FOR BIG TIME FREE AGENTS, we are trying to have honest and truthful discussion about THE CHOICES THEY HAVE MADE.
They are getting to the playoffs yes, but they are brutally non competitive when they get there.
Also, how do we know that the coaches are better?
George Stein
March 28th, 2012
1:33 pm
Why do people keep pointing to the playoff games? Does anyone really believe it takes any incremental skill to win a playoff game that is not present to win a regular season game?
A three game sample size against two teams that won the Super Bowl and another that came within a two minute drill of doing so is not reason enough to blow this organization up.
PMC
March 28th, 2012
1:42 pm
The difference between those games I feel like George is that the top 12 teams in the game generally are in the playoffs. Typically the best QB’s and the best defenses.
Smitty has been remarkable with this team beating up on teams with bad QB’s. They’ve won almost every game they should have won (exceptions Tampa away last season but there aren’t many)
They have been deplorable against teams with exceptional QB’s primarily because they are horrible in the pass rush (brought back Biermann) and they are wretched on 3rd and long (brought back Decoud)
Additionally they are very poor against teams with multiple players that are good pass rushers.
They have been unlucky with poor draws in the playoffs, but they’ve been physically the weaker team each time going back to the Arizona game. They have been the softer team each time.
When they win, they impose thier will in the running game generally. They lose in the playoffs because they don’t have the talent to get it done against the better teams in the league and in the case of last year, the offensive scheme against the Giants, was austensibly backwards.
The Falcons are weakest where the best teams are the strongest (Line of Scrimmage)
Lee Jay
March 28th, 2012
1:48 pm
Standing pat and status quo gets you nowhere in this league. Playmakers are needed. None of the players on this current roster have shown they can make a big play in a big game (vs NO, GB, NO, HOU, NYG, ARZ). OK could not afford Mario, I get that. We could not get Tulloch or DeMeco Ryans, I get that. Marcus mcNeil is busted up, I get that. But no improvement on OL? No improvement on DL? Resign Decoud? Tag Grimes who chickened out of the playoff game? Perhaps the cap was tighter than we all thought but we can’t even afford LOFTON? NFL=not for long. Stand pat on status quo and that’s how long this team will continue winning 9+ games per season; Not For much Longer.
George Stein
March 28th, 2012
1:52 pm
Except that they’ve beaten four playoff teams the past two seasons, PMC (Baltimore, New Orleans, and Green Bay in 2010 and Detroit last season).
My point, I guess, is that the teams they’ve lost to in the playoffs aren’t losing to anyone. It isn’t just the Falcons that aren’t beating them. If they lost to New York this year and then New York got drilled by Green Bay, it might be more of a problem. But New York drilled the Falcons and turned around and did the same thing to the best team in football.
bart
March 28th, 2012
1:52 pm
More so than any other sport, success in the NFL hinges on competent coaching. The distribution of talent in the NFL is fairly even with a few exceptions. If you have the best coaches you can succeed. The last SB is a perfect example of this. Superior coaching on both sides. Lot’s of doubts prior to the playoffs on the talent levels of both the Giants & Patriots. Not sure about our new offense but I believe our defense under Nolan will become dominant with basically the same players. It’s all about coaching.
George Stein
March 28th, 2012
1:54 pm
Provide alternatives, Lee Jay. If you didn’t want DeCoud, then tell us who the Falcons should have signed and why he’d be a better player than the current one.
Jcard120
March 28th, 2012
1:57 pm
The saints are gonna be third in the division this year.
rivercard
March 28th, 2012
1:59 pm
Let’s get this straight. The Falcons didn’t make coaching changes . Their coaches who they have said they would not have replaced left them. Trying to spin the coaching change as pro active is a load of steamy nonsense.
They are what they are. An above average,but far from great team with no game changing players and below average lines. Not exactly a recipe for the Super Bowl trophy.
Dr. Warren
March 28th, 2012
2:01 pm
George Stein is making some very good sense. Well-argued, sir.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
March 28th, 2012
2:07 pm
You can have a Porche in Daytona but you won’t reach the finish line with a Vega engine.
That engine is CHOKE…………….
HA HA HA
George Stein
March 28th, 2012
2:08 pm
Thanks, Doc.
Nativebird
March 28th, 2012
2:10 pm
Please…can we please jettison the “boy we used to be real bad, isn’t the current regime just swell” excuses and placating of the 3 straight better than .500 seasons.
EVERY time it seems any one even questions the all knowing mr. Dimitroff, the status quo mediocraty defenders start off with utterly useless fact. eNUFF!
“That said, something needed to change. The now-winning Falcons have fallen at the first postseason hurdle three times”. Correction 4 times….MISSING the playoffs I’d say is falling before you even get to the first hurdle. No doubt though tis still the same race.
PMC
March 28th, 2012
2:15 pm
George, the Falcons weren’t competitive in those playoff games.
You’re using the “we ran into the buzz saw argument”, and that’s fine the Braves approach if you will.
24-2 last season, that’s almost impossible in the playoffs, to not even scratch on offense. Heads should roll after that, that was hard to watch even.
Before that, yes they beat Green Bay and Baltimore at home that season, those wins made me believe they had turned the corner, and then Tramon Williams stepped infront of a poorly thrown ball on 4th down went in for a score and the Falcons haven’t shown much since that play.
So the question then is WHY were the Giants and the Packers able to do that and the Falcons weren’t?
The talent played no part it that? Because that’s what Thomas Dimitroff has said with these moves.
It’s pretty difficult to trust an group that is unwilling to admit any fault.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
March 28th, 2012
2:16 pm
I mean seriously when is the light going to come on in Blank’s head that he screwed up 72 million dollars on a low level game manager?
He has thrown millions after millions on more pieces than any other qb in Falcants history ever had and yet he is 0-3 in the playoffs. Each appearance in the playoffs have just gotten worse regardless of all the money and draft picks that have been thrown away and wasted just to make this CHOKE look credible.
If you don’t get at least a playoff win in 4 long seasons, how much more time do you need in order to see what everyone else outside of Atlanta already know.
This dude is pushing 30 and he is just a BUST compared to other qbs that have landed 72 million dollar contracts.
Hell Joe Flacco earned a 30 million dollar contract with 5 playoff wins and never a ZERO point playoff performance.
Even the Offensive & Defensive coaches have abandoned ship.
Enough of this failed “Replace Vick” project………….It has failed miserably
SeenThisB4 = Pamela? What a coward
March 28th, 2012
2:17 pm
Amazed that any Aints fan would post here these days…has a defending super bowl champ ever had more humiliating playoff losses in subsequent seasons than the Saints??? Losing to two NFC West teams??? Really???
Just worry about your coach and that he doesn’t take too many painkillers now that he’s suspended.
George Stein
March 28th, 2012
2:20 pm
Green Bay wasn’t competitive against New York this year, either. Interestingly, they did beat the Giants in the regular season, though.
Look, I was disappointed in how the past two seasons ended, too. But, if I had to guess why they lost in such convincing fashion, I’d say some element of talent and coaching played a roll (but not that big of a roll). However, generally bad teams don’t get blown out like that, which leads me to believe there was just a lot of luck – or randomness, if you prefer – involved.
Peyton Manning didn’t win a playoff game until his sixth season. Just something to keep in mind.
bart
March 28th, 2012
2:24 pm
There seems to be some assumption that TD is only responsible for the roster. But he’s also responsible for the makeup of the coaching staff. Heads were going to roll and the coaches knew it so finding a new job before the ax fell was a smart move on their part – no “fired from” on their resumes.
rivercard
March 28th, 2012
2:27 pm
Bart – Then you are calling Blank and company liars, because they said unequivocally in their post exodus press conference that they were not going to change coordinators.
PMC
March 28th, 2012
2:27 pm
Fair points George, some luck was definately involved (we had free rushers in the GB game they just didn’t make the play some of that is definately luck), but I feel like if we had even adequate pass rush and we had cleaner pockets more often, we might fair better.
I haven’t given up on Matt by any means, but the guys beating us are obviously better at this juncture. I do wish they would let him run a fast paced no huddle more often because I feel like he’s much better in rhythm.
Great discussion, thanks.
George Stein
March 28th, 2012
2:32 pm
Agreed, PMC. Nice speaking with you, too.
wreckbuzz
March 28th, 2012
2:33 pm
The more I think about this, the more I agree with what the Falcons have done. Signing a free agent helps a particular position or at the most a position group.
A new coach, if he’s good, can affect every position on the field. The in-game calls will be different. The attitude will be different. The game plan will be different.
As a person who felt the offense was too conservative, especially considering the weapons on the field (Roddy, Julio, Tony, Douglas). I feel that group could light it up, and we saw flashes of that last season, if they let it fly. And they only had one loss on the OL, Harvey Dahl. I don’t think he took all their blocking ability with him. But the guys charged with stepping up in that spot were not prepared. That’s on the position coach. And the defense always seemed to scheme to be back on their heels. The few times they pulled out all the stops and took some chances they looked formidable (the OT Saints game comes to mind, when Drew Brees was flustered a lot).
Maybe personalities can make the difference. I mean, does anyone feel like the Falcons employed a lot of talent in the coordinator spots? I don’t. I feel like Mularkey was a good guy to break in Matt Ryan, but I don’t think he is viewed as an innovator like Sean Payton or Mike McCarthy. And Van Gorder wouldn’t have been a DC for most NFL teams. It’s debatable whether Dirk Koetter is an upgrade on Mularkey, but at least he’s not as conservative. But Mike Nolan is a definite upgrade on defense.
Jake
March 28th, 2012
2:35 pm
Did you see Dirk Koetter’s offense in Jacksonville this past year… not an uipgrade…
PMC
March 28th, 2012
2:37 pm
I mean we do have to be patient with FA, it is open until August and there is the draft. I tend to wear my opinions on my sleeve.
I’m pretty bullish on the CB position next fall probably more than most. I really like the guys we have coming back.
George Stein
March 28th, 2012
2:38 pm
Bill Walsh could not win with Blaine Gabbert at QB, Jake.
Jt
March 28th, 2012
2:40 pm
Mark, as I scroll through the blog, I see that this blog was a “hit and run”. You hit and then ran. I do not blame you. I think that is exactly what the Falcons are thinking and I am in agreement. If proven wrong by the end of the year, then I am willing to say I am wrong and the Falcons will have some tough decisions to make. I was always leery of Van Gorder as a coordinator-never understood the hiring even though he and Smith had a history together. They made some strides but in the end they were as terrible on 3rd and long as at the beginning and just unable to get off the field. They made some roster changes, but just did not improve. I thought it was good fate when he went to Auburn. On two fronts- I am a Falcon fan and an Alabama fan. Roll Tide! Mike Nolan damn sure comes froma good pedigree and is highly respected as a defensive coordinator. He brings a new perspective- that is definitely preferable to complete roster makeover- they have some good pieces.
On the offensive side, Mularkey seemed like a good fit in the beginning. Matt Ryan had one of his best years in his rookie year. They seemed to have a plan and an identity- run the football and throw off play action. It worked pretty damn good. As time went on their evolution seemed to take them in the opposite direction. Lack of identity and trying too hard to be something they were not. I do not know the new coordinator, but based upon the first few years, I am still confident in both Mike Smith and Dimitroff. If things stay the same and results are either no better or worse, then maybe a different route, but right now, I have hope for improvement.
JSS
March 28th, 2012
2:41 pm
The worst thing about George Stein and his augment on regular season wins is the following:
Plus .500 teams have feasted on the Falcons since the Ravens lost here on the final drive. All of teams they own victories (minus Detroit) were either won the final drive or because those teams left points on the field in the red zone. Green Bay and New Orleans have never made mistake again when they encountered the Falcons a 2nd or 3rd time. Atlanta had absolutely response to those adjustments. Look, the Giants are a tough match-up for the Packers, they can match firepower on offense when it comes to aerial weapons when it matters, the 50 and in… Moreover they have the great equalizer, that pass rush (had it with Spagnuolo and now Fewell). When you’re realistic, you know Atlanta does not have that component. It is a pipe dream that you are going to get some magic pixie dust from Nolan and Dirk to make it happen!
tree rollins
March 28th, 2012
2:42 pm
Let’s amend a few of your thoughts Mark. 1) We returned all the players EXCEPT our best tackler and replaced him with a guy out of football for a year = not an even swap by any stretch. 2) We didn’t replace the coaches – they QUIT and LEFT US – not a good sign. So we have an older team missing its best tackler from last year. Combined with all new coaches (Nolan may be an improvement). Not exactly resounding stuff! Why TD doesn’t get more heat for trading away nearly an entire draft for Julio when he could have gotten Mike Wallace, a proven receiver for a single 1st rounder, I’ll never know. Yeah that TD – he’s some kind of wizard at the controls!!!
Hillbilly D
March 28th, 2012
2:45 pm
If the lines are the same, the results will probably be the same.
tree rollins
March 28th, 2012
2:45 pm
And before everyone says Mike Wallace – that’s this year – we got Julio last year. We also could have gotten Brandon Marshall this year. The point is you don’t have to give up the farm to get a good wide receiver. I would love to play TD in a game of Monopoly. TD, I’ve trade you Park Place if you trade me all 4 Railroads and all the utilities. Sheesh!!
George Stein
March 28th, 2012
2:46 pm
Well, if they won on the final drive, I guess they didn’t happen. I love how you cherry-pick facts that support your claim and make excuses for the Packers but don’t extend the same courtesy to the Falcons.
Why don’t you enlighten me on what the adjustments were, JSS.
tree rollins
March 28th, 2012
2:47 pm
And why didn’t we go after Michael Bush if he was available? Is that because we think our “Burner” Michael Turner is better than Chicago thinks Matt Forte is?? I’d trade Turner for Forte any day of the week. For that matter, I’d trade him for Bush.
tree rollins
March 28th, 2012
2:49 pm
The only thing that Turner does related to “Burning” is the rug burn he gets when he’s knocked down at the line of scrimmage by hitting the hole too slow!
JSS
March 28th, 2012
2:51 pm
Bill Walsh won with Steve Dils and Jeff Kemp, he had something called a defense… What he could not do really was beat Bill Parcells in the playoffs after Parcells decided to build his team to beat the Niners…
bart
March 28th, 2012
2:56 pm
Rivercard – let’s not get overly dramatic and play the “liar” card. Their statements were more just the typical BS you might here from any owner & company. How many “votes of confidence” have we seen in pro sports followed shortly by a firing. This is just SOP – not grade-school “you called them a liar” crap.
hrn
March 28th, 2012
2:56 pm
san francisco had the same team with basically the same players when jim harbaugh put his scheme in they went 13 and 3
rivercard
March 28th, 2012
3:02 pm
Bart – Sorry I don’t have your truth divining rod. He said point blank he did not want them to leave. I will take him at his word. You obviously don’t. Call it what you will.
JSS
March 28th, 2012
3:05 pm
Adjustments
Packers took away all of the Falcons short to intermediate routes and flooded the middle 2/3rds of the Falcons strong side with secondary blitzes. They squatted on all out pattens and dared the Falcons to go over the top (they knew Atlanta couldn’t block them)… Falcons cannot block teams that have have secondary rushers.
The Saints rarely worry about the Falcons, they just try to get at DeCoud and Moore because they know that Falcons cannot challenge them up the middle enough to not be able to chip at Abraham and Brees can take his pick (usually Meechem or Graham against the back line… I could go on and on… They are overmatched (and it is rarely about the scheme)… The points that Saints left on the field in the 3rd and 4th qtr in Atlanta disappeared in the rematch… Simple as that, and that is the fact…
rivercard
March 28th, 2012
3:08 pm
JSS- You are correct. It basically correct that it comes down to having below average line play on both sides of ball. I am a little leery of how much you can scheme your way out of that problem.
Hillbilly D
March 28th, 2012
3:08 pm
If I were a coach, in any sport, and my owner came out with a public vote of confidence, I’d start working on my resume and touch base with all my old contacts.
jerry
March 28th, 2012
3:15 pm
If the Falcon’s problems resulted from poor coaching and not a lack of talent, how does that absolve Dimitroff and Smith from blame? Did they not hire these so called nincompoops and keep them around for four years? The insulation is gone. Time to put up or STFU.
rivercard
March 28th, 2012
3:20 pm
jerry – you are not supposed to ask those type of questions. Accept the spin, go forth and parrot it or you aren’t a “real” fan.
bart
March 28th, 2012
3:25 pm
Jerry – they’re not absolved and they have taken responsibility – just not as specifically as some bloggers might like. 4 consecutive years of winning seasons buys them more respect and extra time in my mind. How easily people forget our long history of failure with this franchise. I would love a SB trip but in the meantime winning seasons are much better than the majority of what other teams have to look forward to. We’ll get there.
JSS
March 28th, 2012
3:26 pm
“make excuses for the Packers but don’t extend the same courtesy to the Falcons.”
“Make excuses?” Where? I said they are a tough match-up… If they aren’t willing to realize they need make a change in how they approach Coughlin coached teams, well………. We know Mike doesn’t…