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
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215 comments Add your comment
bart
March 28th, 2012
3:27 pm
hrn – excellent example with Harbaugh. Coaching can make the difference.
The Real Falcon
March 28th, 2012
3:31 pm
Using the same logic the Saints should have stayed put as well. However they did not. They lost a starting OG and went out and got another Pro Bowl OG. Not an out of football for a year OG.
They did not lose their middle LB (or may due to the scandal) but still signed a tackling machine in Lofton. They have not lost without quality replacement any player of merit on that team.
The Falcons cannot say the same and no wearing of rose-colored glasses or spin with hide that!
The Real Falcon
March 28th, 2012
3:33 pm
The lastest power rankings. Look down low.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d827e6cbc/article/how-does-free-agency-impact-nfl-hierarchy-bears-hit-top-five?module=HP11_cp
PMC
March 28th, 2012
3:35 pm
yeah but Harbaugh came in from where there was an epic void and they had more defensive talent than we do not to mention look at the absolute studs that they have drafted on the OL.
Our team is not remotely close to as physical and tough as San Francisco. They have Patrick Willis who we could have in the middle of our defense if not for JAMAAL FREAKING ANDERSON.
and people wonder why we have trust issues with our GM’s.
Look at San Francisco’s front 7 and their Offensive line and do a little comparison. They were amazingly undercoached until Harbaugh got there.
Hell look at Baltimore for the other Harbaugh. Coach Smith has some of the best numbers since he’s started of any coach in the NFL. Harbaugh is better (his talent is better too though I still like Ryan over Flacco every day of the week)
PMC
March 28th, 2012
3:37 pm
Coaching has made a difference, and our talent still isn’t good enough. We pick the wrong players…. A LOT.
QB/DB
March 28th, 2012
3:38 pm
This is not SUPER BOWL talent. Maybe Wild Card and one and done but not SUPER BOWL. Maybe if we get LUCKY in the Draft, get lucky with signing the RIGHT FA’s and get LUCKY with a great addition undrafted rookie or two. If we get lucky and avoid injuries, if Edwards, Robinson, Peria play like the money they are being paid, then MAYBE WE LUCK up and get into the second round but that depends on a lot of luck.
The Real Falcon
March 28th, 2012
3:39 pm
Mike Smith quote this week on the LB issue:
“I think those two guys are coming to camp and will compete for the Mike linebacker position,’’ Smith said during this week’s owners meetings. “They’ll be on even terms. It’s an open competition. We believe in open competition. We believe you get what you earn and you earn what you get.’’
How did that work out with the RG situation last year?
The Real Falcon
March 28th, 2012
3:41 pm
as Steve McQueen said in The Magnificent Seven: If brother, if!
PMC
March 28th, 2012
3:41 pm
The thing that impresses me about Coughlin is that his teams even when they are ridiculously flawed or injury riddled, they are always in it. I knew when they started last season they were beat up, but that they would be there at the end, not only were they there, they won the freaking Superbowl.
I wish I could be that confident here but the Giants have a ridiculosly good pass rush, I can’t say I’m really confident with the players returning that Mike Nolan is going to find it at least next year.
Ronald Millsaps
March 28th, 2012
3:50 pm
Andy– We don’t need your 11:17.
“spanish”– One is what he is, and statistics don’t always measure one’s production. In other words, he’s either a top-five corner now or a top-fifteen corner.
The Falcons werent’ better than the Giants, not even close. This team is too porous infrastructurally. The new coaches are an upgrade but could’ve been a better upgrade. I like Mike Smith; I just want him to work on his play-calling. A strong draft would help. Overall, be very fundamentally and infrastructurally strong; don’t look at the next receiver signing to be a cure-all.
Ronald Millsaps
March 28th, 2012
3:54 pm
“real”–The personnel and/or production might not have been ideal, but the ideology is correct.
Truthfully, every position on the field should be open at all times.
Roy
March 28th, 2012
3:55 pm
I think Matt Ryan is only an average QB. I think he was ranked last throwing the deep ball last year maybe the new coaching will help however this coaching staff could be worse we will see. I still say we really screwed up trading so many draft picks last year i thought TD was going to build through the draft and not trade them away!
FalconJim
March 28th, 2012
3:57 pm
Eh, sounds like the same-old, same-old to me…..we’ll see.
Ronald Millsaps
March 28th, 2012
4:01 pm
You don’t think there’s such a thing as working to MAINTAIN your job? You have to maintain your job just like you have to maintain your physical condition, your marriage, your front yard, etc.. Work is required. Many see that a guy starts at a spot for 10-12 years and assume his job was on auto-pilot. You didn’t see what he did behind from 4:16-12:59.
No, I’m not promoting job paranoia, as I can’t stand hearing people whine about job security-or, much more strongly, do anything the “boss” requests in the name of “job security”, i.e. spineless people with no character. Those who compete against incumbents have to do just as much maintenance as incumbents, and anyone losing a job can indeed regain it.
One reason why evolution and the big-bang theory (they’re connected, contrary to liberal propaganda) are false is that they completely violate the Second Law of Thermodynamics, which I just referred to in this post. The universe had to be maintained by a Creator, just like, yes, your job, your healthy marriage, your trim front yard.
DogTheMan
March 28th, 2012
4:05 pm
It was not te schemes. Player who execute alwasy succeed. Mularky did nt under throw Julio Jones, Van Groder did not get manhandled at the line of scrimmage like Abraham did.. What will teh excuse next year be???
Ted M
March 28th, 2012
4:10 pm
That is total BS…at one point Mike Smith he wasn’t planning on firing his OC or DC and he thought they were doing a great job.
They felt like they didn’t have any real options so they are giving us spin. 7-9 next season.
bart
March 28th, 2012
4:20 pm
All you nay-sayers will see – the atl defense will be night and day better than last years.
PMC
March 28th, 2012
4:22 pm
Being a blind and ridiculous homer doesn’t make one a good fan, it makes one a mark.
Caring makes you a good fan.
D. Bell
March 28th, 2012
4:46 pm
Hey AJC, the ShareThis button seems to be broken, b-t-dub.
KakNiqueTree
March 28th, 2012
4:48 pm
Pat Hill– THAT Pat Hill? David Carr’s coach at Fresno St?
mark
March 28th, 2012
5:01 pm
Ryan and the offense is the key when we struggle offensively we loose games period. Matt is a great kid with a lot of toughness but in big games so far he has come up short. Payton Manning was the same way for a long time and Drew Breese won the Superbowl in his 8th season as a starter. Matt has to tear it up this year for us to be a success b/c Defense is not going to be any better than last year.
reebok
March 28th, 2012
5:04 pm
the Falcons are an average team. With a weak schedule and some good luck, they could go 10-6 or 9-7. Against a tough schedule, they’d be lucky to go 8-8. It’s 50/50 whether they get to the playoffs – they did NOTHING to improve the team in the offseason – but if they do get in, they will be one and done again.
St Simons - we're on Island time
March 28th, 2012
5:30 pm
yes, what T Dimitroff has screamed in these mgmt actions is -
“it wasn’t meeeeeeeeeee!”
This is going to end badly, you know it is.
atlantato seattle2015
March 28th, 2012
5:40 pm
just beat the aints..I HATE THE NEW ORLEAN AINTS!!!NO OTHER TEAM HAVE I HATED SO DEEPLY…ARROGANT CHEATING BUNCH OF THUGS..AND NEW ORLEAN NAVTIVE PLEASE QUIT MOVING YOU A$$ES TO Atlanta IF YOU HATE ATLANTA AND THE FALCONS SO MUCH INSTEAD MOVE YOUR a$$eS to jackson,mississippi ..see we dont move to your stinkin city…cause we hate your team and all it stands for!!
Jfreak13713
March 28th, 2012
5:41 pm
They still can’t rush the passer and their secondary is average. With that said I still like this team and believe they will be good next year like they were this past year. I love Matt Ryan not be cause he is great but because he is steadily good. See Eli Manning as a guy who just got bettter with every year and eventually won a Super Bowl. They have very good wideouts and a solid but aging running game. The only issues are can they call the right plays at the right times in the game to win?? Hey Mike don’t sneak Ryan up the middle when you have Turner and Snelling in the backfield!
I like this team and the men running the team.
kevkat
March 28th, 2012
6:07 pm
Well, we see where keeping the Hawks core together is reaping benefits….or is it just the coaching..
Jonas Pate
March 28th, 2012
6:15 pm
Birds Fans: Anyone else amazed at the lack of football IQ on this blog?
By any estimation, The Comrade and Smitty have done a very good job. 5th in wins last 4 years. Fire them? To hire who? Twenty five teams in the league would trade places with our Coach/GM. How many years did Brees go before he won a playoff game? How many years did Manning go?
Look at Matt’s stats vs Brees first four years:
Brees: 62.1 completion %, 12,127 yards, 79 touchdowns, 53 interceptions, 84.6 passer rating
Ryan: 60.9 completion %, 14,238 yards, 95 touchdowns, 46 interceptions, 88.4 passer rating
Matt had more yards more TD, fewer INT’s, higher rating.
please stop embarrasing yourselves. i’m talking to you Khao$.
MaxxFalcon
March 28th, 2012
6:16 pm
“Pamela”, how about you GEAUX get a reality check. I know you live in a swamp and probably have limited access to the outside world, but in case you haven’t heard, your Head Coach is banned from the NFL for the upcoming season. Your GM is banned for half the year. You lost two 2nd round draft picks because of the deplorable actions of your dirty disgrace of a franchise, and you don’t have a 1st rd pick this year because of your trade up last year to get a mediocre pro running back in Mark Ingram. Love to break this to you, you are not winning a Super Bowl ever again. Hopefully Drew Brees leaves after this year and I can then watch your entire despicable fan base drown in your tears. What a joke that you would even show your stupid smiley faces on this blog, the audacity of your trashbag of a franchise and of your disgusting fans never ceases to amaze me.
LakeDawg
March 28th, 2012
6:19 pm
The problem might have been coaching on the offense, but VanGorder got all you can out of the defense. Of course, that might have been enough for a playoff win if the offense hadn’t been dead on arrival. Falcons might get a playoff win this year if everyone responds with new energy to the new staff, but they are no where near contending with the elite. And I wouldn’t be surprised at them missing the playoffs altogether.
Chop Buster
March 28th, 2012
6:21 pm
It’s not like the fans weren’t clamoring for changes to the coaching staff (OC/DC) all year. We all know this team has talent, but the knuckleheads that called themselves coordinators did not know how to use what they had. If the new coaching staff gets this team to play at an even higher level then TD and Mike Smith will look like geniuses. If the players turn out to be regular season winners and choke in the playoffs again…oh well…we all know what’s next. Or should I say who’s next out the door?
Disgusted
March 28th, 2012
6:21 pm
Well, Dunta and Ray Edwards could be better.
And Manuwai could be the answer at right guart. But, we still have Sam Baker, oh wait a minute, he is supposed to be better too.
I dunno. Whatever.
Chop Buster
March 28th, 2012
6:27 pm
“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.”
If this is true, someone in the organization is HIGHLY delusional. They are out of touch with reality. Again, mediocre players produce mediocre results. Everyone keeps talking about how TD and Mike Smith has turned this team around…very true. But isn’t that what a GM and HC is suppose to do? Win games in the regular season to give themselves a chance for the playoffs? I’m not discounting what they’ve done, but at some point you have to move beyond consecutive winning seasons and start winning playoff games, NFC Division Championships and then Superbowl. We need to take a BIG step this year.
Chop Buster
March 28th, 2012
6:28 pm
Sorry coaching is even worse than mediocre players though! We’ll see if coaching is the difference this year.
Big Crimson 75
March 28th, 2012
7:14 pm
This year will be the Team We expected to see last year!!
Ueeediot
March 28th, 2012
7:23 pm
I always love the “Falcons had a weak schedule” line.
You do know the Falcons had the same exact schedule as the other 3 teams in the division, except for 2 games. Its the same schedule in the division EVERY YEAR.
Cant wait to see what the game plan looks like from a coach who isnt a whiny child (looking at you Mike Mularkey).
Cant see how the defense got any better though.
And this bull**** about Chris Redman being an intregal part of this team and a valued FA says a lot about the talent scouting of this organization. Chris Redman cant even throw a ball 20 yds in a game twice much less win a game for you.
Why are you resigning a over the hill, never was, FA quarterback who isnt getting any better? Maybe because as a staff, youre ability to develop players is nill.
I still miss you Michael Boley. Im sure you all remember him….he is the guy who couldnt make it past being a 2 down LB…
Ueeediot
March 28th, 2012
7:25 pm
Every year you can find holes on the Falcons roster. Players who are just wasting space and not being developed.
Mike Smith needs to show some development of his own. I watched that fool waste 5 time outs in a single game against the aints last year. What has he done to get better with game management?
nobody
March 28th, 2012
7:46 pm
2 years ago we didn’t think it was the talent. Most of last year we didn’t think it was talent. We all talked about the awful coaching. Im glad the Falcons want to try to fix the team with better coaching before they go mortgage our future by dismantling the team.
Dirtysouth1
March 28th, 2012
7:56 pm
If most of these blogs are by true Atliens? You should be ashame of yourself, I remember old Fulton county stadium when it was cold and raining and we (Falcons) were losing and on our way to another last place finish and a top 5 pick! I know everyone has the opionion, but remember it can ALWAYS be worst i.e. Cleveland, St. Louis Cardinals, N.O. etc.
Joe Tess Fish House
March 28th, 2012
8:04 pm
Hears the prolblem with the Flacons. @ many fist round draft busts. Follow that up with trading 2 much of the draft for Juliet Jones.
I say its time Mr Dummytroff 2 go.
marcus
March 28th, 2012
8:06 pm
I think the coaching changes will work on the defense or I hope it does because it was like we got a few talented young corners but they haven’t seemed to got any better under bvg plus known his he messed up Georgia southern program when he was there how did even get a chance any ways plus I used to see smitty getting on to him all the time on the offense Matt need to spread the ball around better and I still think Harvey Dahl was our biggest lose we could of moved on without blalock
reckingball
March 28th, 2012
8:29 pm
The new coaches have got to help, the HeadCoach, needs to let up on his conservative game plans.
But, in my opinion, the Falcons desparately need to strenghten their OLine, that is what hurt them the most last season.
They also need to get a quicker pass rush, they can’t give Brees and QBs like him, all day long to pick them apart.
Lucas Mcain
March 28th, 2012
8:57 pm
So what we lost our best defensive player to our archrival,daggumit we resigned JOE ZELENKA!And dont forget we still have Sam Baker.When do super bowl tickets go on sale?!
Whopper Dawg
March 28th, 2012
9:12 pm
Maybe the new coaches can wave the magic wand. It is a bit puzzling how the former coordinators feel into discontent, they have been coaching and calling the same game since year 1, I would assume with the blessing of TD and MS.
I am afraid they think they have more stallions in the corral than they do. No one thought the Falcons has superior personnel than the Giants other than the Falcons FO.
shesoleo
March 28th, 2012
10:12 pm
I’ve been a fan of the Falcons since the very beginning, not like maybe some of you thats on this blog. I’ve been through many years of not wishing, but knowing we weren’t going to do anything that particular season even before it got started. This franchise has come so far since the likes of Rankin Smith and co. I understand the frustrations of wanting your team to be the best and win Super Bowls but,from where we’ve come from I feel that we are on our way. It’s almost laughable to me how people tend to forget how very bad we use to be given we didn’t know what back to back winning seasons were, not to mention even being in a playoff game. I understand this is the microwave generation, and everyone wants things fast and right now but me myself I feel the organization is headed in the right direction. Not being complacent are anything, nor am I saying we can’t improve in some areas but if I can make it through those years then I’m sure willing to give AB,TD,& MS the opportunity to build upon want they have started. FALCONS FAN FOREVER RIDE OR DIE!!!!!!!!
D-ROME
March 28th, 2012
10:20 pm
Everybody is on Decoud ,but he was not that bad ,and its not like it was a lot out there.People say they are Falcons Fans But these so called fans are sooooooooooo negetive.
Ueeediot
March 28th, 2012
11:09 pm
demanding improvement during the 5th year of a coaching staff is not being negative.
Loserville USA
March 28th, 2012
11:22 pm
As a west coast guy I don’t think many of you know how GREAT a hire Pat Hill is.
He is a terrific coach who will improve our OL by leaps and bounds. Guaranteed.
Raymar31
March 28th, 2012
11:30 pm
Hey, Maxxfalcon, thanks for the update captain obvious. We sure hadn’t heard all those things about the Saints. Evrything you said is true…..so what? The Saints will still dominate the pigeons yet again. You better hope Parcells doesn’t take the Saints job, which he just may. Saints just might win another Super Bowl! I believe you bird fans may never watch football again if that happens. Get ready!
GregG
March 29th, 2012
12:32 am
I think we should remember, for what it’s worth, that the three first-round losses were to the eventual super bowl champion. Were they that good or did beating the Falcons so handily give them the confidence they needed to proceed? Anyway, a corner and a couple of linemen, plus good luck with injuries could make all the difference. May be a linebacker, too.
JSS
March 29th, 2012
12:44 am
D-ROME
March 28th, 2012
10:20 pm
“Everybody is on Decoud ,but he was not that bad ,and its not like it was a lot out there.”
Ha ha, Hakeem Nicks is still laughing as he flew by him!!! Let’s go to the video…
http://www.opposingviews.com/i/sports/nfl/video-giants-hakeem-nicks-does-dirty-bird-after-td-vs-falcons