The unbeaten Falcons fall in a distressingly familiar way
Just a reminder: This is how it looks when a running play actually succeeds. (AP photo)
New Orleans — First, a spot of perspective. The Falcons are 8-1 and positioned to win their division. Just because they lost an excruciating game to the hated Saints doesn’t override all the good work that came before. That said …
The good work that came before didn’t include much in the way of short-yardage excellence. And when a team that couldn’t convert on fourth-and-1 on three infamous occasions last season loses its first game of another year due to the same failures, a flag gets hoisted. No, not a white one of surrender, but surely a bright red banner of warning.
“I don’t know what situation you’d rather be in,” said Michael Turner, the feature back who managed 15 yards on 13 rushes Sunday. “You’ve got one yard for the lead.”
“You’ve got to punch the ball in,” said Jacquizz Rodgers, the change-of-pace back whose 18-yard burst had pulled the Falcons within sight of that final yard.
“Of course you (think you’re going to get that yard),” said Harry Douglas, the receiver who barely missed scoring the go-ahead touchdown on a slant on first-and-goal from the 10. “That has to be your approach.”
That the Falcons’ first play from the 1 was a Matt Ryan pass for Tony Gonzalez tells us they weren’t convinced they could push the Saints backward even three feet. (Malcolm Jenkins knocked the ball down in the end zone.) That the third-and-goal call was a handoff to Turner that became yet another damp squib — of his 13 carries, seven either gained nothing or lost yardage — drove home the point:
An 8-0 NFL team could not line up and gain a precious yard against the league’s worst rushing defense.
By losing a yard on third-and-goal, the Falcons had no choice but to pass on fourth down, and again Ryan’s pass was flicked away. This time it was Jabari Greer, flashing in front of Roddy White. The Falcons would get the ball one last time, but their chance to stay unbeaten had come and gone.
Not that staying unbeaten was such a big deal. “That’s a distraction out of the way,” free safety Thomas DeCoud said, and he had a point. Trouble is, the the Falcons never want to lose to the opponent that has beaten the Falcons of Mike Smith seven times in nine tries.
DeCoud again: “That’s the one team you don’t want to have your first loss against.”
That Sunday’s game was a carnival ride surprised no one. Ryan threw for 411 yards, a career best, and if not — stop me if you’ve heard this one — for a failure on third-and-1 on the Falcons’ second series they might have seized a 14-0 lead.The Saints, who can play offense if not D, overrode that early deficit and took an 11-point lead midway through the third quarter. The Falcons cut it to four points with a touchdown and an extra point, Smith choosing (oddly and wrongly) not to go for two with 13:27 remaining.
They would draw within one point on a field goal after an incompletion on third-and-2. The Saints pushed the lead back to four, leaving the door ajar. The Falcons were too weak to kick it in.
Said Smith: “We were not getting the surge we needed on running plays … We did not win the line of scrimmage in the running game.”
Said Todd McClure, the center: “Every third-and-1 (not converted), every fourth-and-1 … I’m sure there’ll be a lot written about it tomorrow and we’ll be (seen as) a terrible offensive line. But we didn’t get it done today.”
For all their skill — the Falcons outgained the sleek Saints — the question remains: Is this team forceful enough? And not just along the O-line: The Falcons’ defense yielded 148 yards rushing and mustered one sack. For eight games people had been saying, “There’s going to come a time when the inability to run the ball and/or stop the run is going to bite this team.” That time arrived Sunday.
“We’ve got to address (the issues in the running game),” Turner said. “We’ve got to fix it. That’s what championship teams do. There’s attitude, there’s scheme … everything’s involved.”
The Falcons are 8-1. They did not become a terrible team by losing one game, but they cannot become a great one until they figure a way to gain a yard when a yard is mandatory. Is Turner too slow? Is the line too feeble? And if the answer, as seems likely, is a combination of the two, how do you work around it?
After every game, win or lose, Mike Smith says of any lapse, “We’ll get it fixed.” His Falcons have seven more games before the playoffs commence, which means …
Clock’s ticking, Smitty.
Further reading: Here’s why Mike Smith should have gone for two.
By Mark Bradley
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384 comments Add your comment
Eric in Kentucky
November 12th, 2012
9:39 am
The staff shoulda put a cheeseburger around each goal post before the game….#33 would’a rushed for 400 yards! I’d like to see Quizz play a whole game as the feature back and see how good he can do.
drew
November 12th, 2012
9:40 am
I put the third and short on the coaching; we seen over and over that we can’t line up tight and pick up a yard on brute strength. So how about SPREADING IT OUT, and throw, or sneak, or QB draw? No imagination at all in short yardage…Turner up the middle? Again? Come on Dirk…that’s the definition of insanity. You’re better than than.
Yeah, it sucks losing to the Saints, but in the big picture, we’re good. And I’m confident this staff will figure out a way to get a yard when they have to.
drew
November 12th, 2012
9:44 am
The “wheels fall off”? Right…8-1 and the season’s over! You sir are obviously a dumbass. Come back and talk your crap when we’re winning in the playoffs and your crappyass Saints are done for the year.
turb0
November 12th, 2012
10:06 am
@drew hahaha winning in the playoffs. riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight. you just got manhandled by a team you call crappyass. what does that say about the falcons? your schedule is a straight up joke this year and it’s going to be your downfall because the falcons are going into the playoffs only being tested by 2 legit teams, the saints and the giants. talk all you want about the way we started this season, but anyone who knows a damn thing about football knows its not how you start, it’s how you finish and we all know the falcons are absolutely miserable at finishing. but plz, keep trying to convince the world you’re not overrated and plz pretty plz keep mike smith as your head coach.
78dawg
November 12th, 2012
10:34 am
Turner should look in the mirror. He is slow, no quickness, weak for a man his size and goes down way too easily. He never keeps his legs driving. A guy his size should create some holes to run through.Don’t point fingers when you are the problem. I swear I don’t know why you are on this team !!!!
singhisking
November 12th, 2012
11:22 am
turner need to be benched , jason and rodger need to start ……… #35 should also share some carry …. he is the speedy back we got , and he is great reciever like snelling and rogder….
3lanes2nj
November 12th, 2012
11:26 am
why not QB sneak, it worked earlier and I doubt they were expecting it, that said 4 straight qb sneaks would’ve been better than any handoffs
Ed
November 12th, 2012
11:29 am
3rd and goal from the 1 yard line I think we should have tried a dump pass to Rodgers or Snelling. Oh well 8-1 is still the best record the the league.
Justsick
November 12th, 2012
12:18 pm
We have 4 plays to go one yard. It’s a gimmee. The object is to score and not leave Saints with a lot of time to kick a field goal.
So the line can’t push the ball across, then the next logical thing is to ahve Rodgers dance his way around the end. He can do it.He has done it. But no, Falcons call for passing.Stupid.
Then when they ahve failed, the only logical thing is to go for a safety. To do that you ahve blitz adn tackle Brees in the end zone. Instead, Falcons just quit.
Poor offensive play calling all season. Running Turner up the middle has always been a loser call.This is a loser team with a soft defense against the run and the pass.
captguitarman
November 12th, 2012
12:39 pm
In the bigger picture, the Saints were fired up more than the Falcons, and chomping at the bit to re-gain some of their dignity after the scandal and this year’s disasterous start. And they did. The Falcons were out played and the score was closer than the game really was. The Saints were clearly more physical on both sides of the ball and their running backs and O line were fierce in their execution, opening up big opportunities for Brees and Graham.. Except for just a few occasions, Brees stood in the pocket with no fear of any pressure and sliced and diced the defense at will. I don’t recall him being sacked once.
New Orleans will be a factor as their staff returns to duty, maybe not enough to win out, but definitely a team ready willing and able to screw up someone else’s season.
Lastly, the lack of any creativity (e.g. a misdirction play, shuttle pass, quick slants in several directions all at once) inside the Red Zone is puzzling. With a guy like Ryan and his big three receivers, and Rogers who can catch a pass coming out of the backfield, and Turner just in case, they should be unstoppable close in.
Suggestion:: Dig up those old Joe Montana/Jerry Rice era 49’s films and gin up some of their old red zone plays. When that team got into the red zone, it was all over for the defense. After the dismal results produced by Turner and the O-line the entire game, wasting a down on a run up the middle was just open and sheer stubborness, or worse, stupidity?
Iis good that the distraction about the perfect season is now behind them, but their lack of physicality and creativity, and the way the Saints pushed them around all day is a big concern.
Mr. SaintsFan Jr.
November 12th, 2012
12:49 pm
Falcons seem poised yearly to win the division…..is that all to aim for? The fans seem content as well to win a divisional title…well it’s yours enjoy.
SaintMike
November 12th, 2012
2:00 pm
To the real Falcons fans: Your team is exciting. Matt Ryan is playing great. I can’t wait for the rematch.
To the ignorant Saints Haters: Kick rocks. Ya’ll got beat by Champions. Take it as a lesson from a team that has been where you’re trying to go.
TSleazy
November 12th, 2012
2:39 pm
First of all I’m a Falcon Fan, but I’m a realist also! I never thought for a minute that we would go undefeated! We are not totally solid all around! If we had a balanced attack we would have won against the Saints. I have been saying for two years that we need to get rid of Michael Turner. Every running back in the league runs harder than our back. If he doesn’t have a gaping hole to run through, he will not try to create one. He has no speed to get to the outside, so he just runs up the middle and once some touches him he lays down! J. Rodgers is a much better back that Turner and if we don’t fix the problem soon we WILL be one and done in the playoffs! Dimitroff and Smith need to have a long talk with Turner about his lack of production! P.S. Smith needs to reign in Samuels before he gets out of hand. That long exchange, they had on the sideline concerning the penalty he picked up after the interception, went way too long. It’s okay to be geeked about a pick, but piss on your accomplishment, by picking up a bone head penalty!
SAINTS4SHO
November 12th, 2012
3:35 pm
All of this griping and yall Falcant’s still loss the game!!! It won’t take away or change anything. Before the game yall were praising “The Burner” now you all are calling him “The Slow Cooker.” I’m not a fair-weather fan. My Saints have been to hell and back quite a few times lol!!! Honestly, the Falcant’s are an up and coming team. They have a good nucleus. A play here or there could have changed the complexity of this outcome, as it’s been in the last few games versus each other. However, it’s about passion, and execution and my Saints did better in those categories down the stretch. I am not a believer in moral victories. Let’s just say everything is clicking down here in the N.O. and yes we’re still a below .500 team, but let’s not forget we know how to make a run. Superbowl year we went 13-0 before dropping a game and last year we won 13 games as well. Despite the circumstances, the records, or whatever excuses you all may have; the Saints are a viable threat down the stretch and nobody wants to see us come January!!! Believe dat, like a true story!!!! Who Dat!!!
bobaroo
November 12th, 2012
4:41 pm
I DONT HAVE TO COMMENT NOW JUST READ ZACKS.HE GOT IT RIGHT
ejj
November 12th, 2012
5:11 pm
Been gone awhile, still no changes with our falcons. we lack the intensity on the offensive line to dominate. No pass rush, Brees had pretty good pass protection. Same problem, same result.
Jay Dubu
November 12th, 2012
5:24 pm
The Falcons still have to play Tampa Bay (whyo are playing really well) twice, Carolina (who had thhe Falcons beat in the Dome this season and spit the bit) and New Orleans (who just beat them like they were playing in the school yard).
Not to mention the Giants and Detroit….this division is not the Falcons’ just yet.
Jay Dubu
November 12th, 2012
5:30 pm
1990_Champs_GT
The Falcons did not score a single point for the Saints, so the Falcons did not beat themselves. They lost the game, accept it, and move on to next week.
No matter what they do, yesterday’s lost will still be on their record.
Superbowl, not a perfect season
November 12th, 2012
5:44 pm
Play straight up football for the rest of the season. At 8-1, and with the weak schedule ahead, the team will make the playoffs. Don’t tip your hand at this point. Save the good schemes for the playoffs, making it harder for opposing teams to game plan.
phil
November 12th, 2012
5:45 pm
Fire the front office!!
phil
November 12th, 2012
5:46 pm
Saving the good schemes…..
Yeah, thqt’s what we’re doing! Lol
Get real.
MFranklin
November 12th, 2012
6:43 pm
There was no real way to escape this.
For one, the sports media was gonna heel-nip the Falcs until they lost their first game and then serve up a buffet of ‘I told ya so’… which also includes a certain AJC sports desk jockey praising troll-fans from our last opponent. And since going unbeaten in this league is nearly impossible, the eventuality that the above would happen was never in doubt. It was just a matter of ‘when’.
Wchiefus
November 12th, 2012
8:05 pm
Roddy White is one classless and overpaid football player.
Wchiefus
November 12th, 2012
8:05 pm
Roddy White is one classless and overpaid football player.
Wchiefus
November 12th, 2012
8:07 pm
MFranklin – The Saints have better fans than the Falcoons will ever have
savannadawg
November 12th, 2012
8:09 pm
Matt Ryan’s weak throws cost us the game. I hope he doesn’t have a weak arm, but those last few pass attempts looked very weak to me.
savannadawg
November 12th, 2012
8:14 pm
Would ‘Spoon’ have made a diff on “D” perhaps. But the fact is the Falcons have got to get the stigma of the Saints Offense off their minds. They just don’t play against that O very well.
MFranklin
November 12th, 2012
8:39 pm
Wchiefus – Yup… that’s why they wore bags on there heads at one time.
Tiffany
November 12th, 2012
8:46 pm
@1lovefalcons20…..you make no sense! First off its The SAINTS, not the aints…and win or lose we are die hard WHO DAT fans who are proud to call New Orleans home! We will take “as you say” our vomit and urine smelling city over yours ANYDAY! Your team lost….to ours….deal with it and move on! Your players run their mouths too much..and if you guys want to win a Superbowl maybe they should keep their mouths shut and focus on their performance on the field!
P Rose
November 12th, 2012
8:50 pm
I don’t know why I ever try to post anything on the bow-tie dude’s blog. Anything I post there is automatically deleted. Guess I’ll repost here.
MT looks as if he’s tiptoeing to the line, waiting for a hole to open. A power-back should charge the line and knock someone back on their butt. When you need just one yard to win the game you’ve got to be more aggressive. The same thing happened against the Saints last year and we lost that one, too. Turner does look soft in these situations.
SAINTS4SHO
November 12th, 2012
9:56 pm
I thought after 24 hours these Falcant’s would not still be talking about a loss from Sunday!!! But I guess it was a deep wound to an already fragile pysche of a team!!! LMBO. You Falcant’s will never learn, it takes heart and determination to win in this league. And it never fails, you all talk a big game but never show up when in really matters!!! Meanwhile, my Saints are proven winners who have made runs in the playoffs and on to win a Superbowl. The last time the Falcant’s were relevant, Jammal Anderson was the running back, and yeah you all still blew it in the Superbowl! Suck, suck, suckkkkkk!!! Sorry Falcant’s it may never be yall’s time to shine…Heck of a game though, and we’ll see you all in about three weeks for a repeat outcome!!
Adogg36
November 13th, 2012
4:37 am
We still got trouble wit tampa bay(.Wacth now)
Heat check: UGA’s hot, Tech’s warm and the Falcons are 8-1 | Mark Bradley
November 13th, 2012
11:51 am
[...] the rival that has become an abject nemesis and, in losing, saw their biggest weaknesses – can’t run the ball, can’t stop the run — exposed. And what were the two things Mike Smith, after taking this job in January 2008, [...]
BennieBlades
November 13th, 2012
9:05 pm
Some fans were saying the bears are a great team, but they lost to a better team in the houston texans. I think in the power rankings, the Falcons should still be ranked #1 in the NFL because they had 2 or 3 chances to beat the saints this past sunday but couldnt do it because they couldnt gain one measley yard, when they were 2nd and 1, 3rd and 1 and 4th and 1 at the goal line. Hey falcons brass, let me give you a quick solution to the falcons problem of their inability to gain the one yard when they need it most. STOP GIVING THE ROCK TO TURNER. PATTY CAKE SLOW TURTLE TURNER WILL NEVER GET YOU A YARD WHEN YOU NEED ONE OR WHEN THE GAME IS ON THE LINE. Instead, hand the rock over to Jason Snelling and you will pleasantly be surprised at the outcome. The Falcons would have beaten the saints had they gone to snelling in those critical 1 or 2 yard situations and the the Falcons should start making snelling their money back–only giving him touches in critical situations. the Falcons are wasting jason snellings talent and snelling has earned a greater role with the team than what he is currently getting! Make snelling your money back when all the chips are on the table and the falcons will roll on to become superbowl champions. The Falcons have the talent, I just hope they dont blow it!