Here’s why the Falcons’ Smith should have gone for two
To borrow from the great Louisianan Joe Dean Sr.: "Tony G. plays a little stufferino." (AP photo)
This post is an adjunct to the Falcons-Saints game column, which can be found here.
1. Mike Smith erred in not going for two after the Falcons cut the lead to 28-23. Smith’s position was that, with 13:57 remaining, it was too early. “You don’t even start looking at the 2-point chart until there’s seven minutes to go,” he said. But a 2-point conversion would have drawn the Falcons within a field goal, and the successful 1-pointer pulled them only within four, which is essentially the same as being down five: You still need a touchdown (or two field goals) to take the lead. And a successful 2-pointer would have left the Falcons within tying range on their final three possessions.
2. You might never see a better duel of tight ends. The Saints’ Jimmy Graham caught seven passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns. The Falcons’ Tony Gonzalez caught 11 passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns. (Gonzalez’s were the 100th and 101st touchdowns of his distinguished career.) Both tight ends played college basketball — Graham at Miami, Gonzalez at California — and both punctuated touchdowns this given Sunday by dunking over the crossbar. Asked if he ever worries about getting too old to dunk, Graham said: “I’m 6-foot-7. I’ll always be able to do that.”
3. The league’s least-penalized team hurt itself badly. Asante Samuel intercepted Drew Brees’ first pass and returned the ball to the Saints’ 12 but was flagged for excessive celebration, a penalty not often assessed in the NFL. Pushed back to the 27, the Falcons wound up kicking a field goal to lead 10-0 after five-plus minutes. As any coach will tell you, there’s a big difference between 10-0 and 14-0. And when the Saints punted inside the final minute, a holding penalty on Lawrence Sidbury moved the Falcons from their 41 to the 31 with 37 seconds remaining — another significant reversal at another significant moment.
Further reading: Bill Barnwell of ESPN’s Grantland on why Mike Smith should have gone for two.
Further still: Chase Stuart of Football Perspective — I really like Football Perspective, by the way — on why Mike Smith should have gone for two.
And even further: Jason Lisk of The Big Lead on why Mike Smith’s bigger error was on the next possession.
And further again: A Football Commentary chart on when you really should go for two.
By Mark Bradley
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197 comments Add your comment
The unbeaten Falcons fall in a distressingly familiar way | Mark Bradley
November 12th, 2012
5:47 am
[...] Further reading: Here’s why Mike Smith should have gone for two. [...]
SOUTH GA DAWG FAN
November 12th, 2012
5:54 am
1st
SOUTH GA DAWG FAN
November 12th, 2012
5:56 am
Back after a long absence. Good to be back Mark totally agree with you on this
Mark Bradley
November 12th, 2012
5:58 am
Kudos, South Ga. Good to hear from you again.
BlahBlahBlah
November 12th, 2012
6:07 am
I hope everyone can refrain from kneejerk overreactions. The supposedly mighty Niners couldn’t beat the Rams at home, and the Bengals destroyed Eli and company. These things happen. Their next game is at home vs. a team (Arizona) that’s lost 5 in a row. Take care of business, and then go down to Tampa after Thanksgiving and put the Bucs in their place and the division (and a bye) will be almost a certainty.
ERMAHGERD GERGER BERDERGS
November 12th, 2012
6:16 am
With how the Falcons played at the goal line, a 2 pointer would be a long shot.
George
November 12th, 2012
6:17 am
They should have scored on that last drive within the five yard line. Pass plays such as they ran in that situation don’t usually work (for us). Why they did not try a sweep play at least once is beyond me.
falcon
November 12th, 2012
6:18 am
I agree and said that Smith should have gone for 2 also. Michael Turner and his 15 yards on 13 carries is a big problem. I hope Thomas Dimitroff is taking notes. We need to improve at the RB position.
Samuel
November 12th, 2012
6:20 am
Ashante Samuels needs to calm down way too much testosterone released when he makes a play. It’s like look at me. Keep your eye on the prize fool. It seem like Drew Davis was way too nervous when he went in for Julio Jones. Run blocking was horrible and not enough plays on defense. Mike Smith can’t seem to fix these problems with the Saints. This has been going on for a long time.
Dan E
November 12th, 2012
6:20 am
Hopefully, everyone now sees that the Falcons have one of the best teams in the NFL with one of the most washed-up running backs in the game. I am sorry to say it, but Michael Turner has seen his best days. Please Mike Smith….start Snelling or Rodgers. The Falcons are too good to let the “Burner” send the season up in flames.
HardyFalcon
November 12th, 2012
6:23 am
Same old Falcons, they let the Aint’s of all Teams beat them, when will Mike Smith realize Turner is Burned-Out and quit trying to run him, look at all the amazing running back the Aints have and we have 1, Rodgers. Our defense never did put Breeze under pressure and the LB Corp really sucked today.
DeepDiver
November 12th, 2012
6:23 am
I don’t mind the decision not to go at all. Firstly, it’s hard to pass it in from the 2 when the defense is looking pass, as we demonstrated late in the game. I highly doubt the Falcons would have tried a run in that spot given the recent failures.
Secondly, Smith is right that you do get on the wrong side of the score there if you don’t convert. They could have easily scored a touchdown on that late drive and handing the ball to Drew Brees needing only a field goal to beat you is an unenviable spot.
Don’t mind that call at all.
itpdude
November 12th, 2012
6:25 am
Smith should have gone for two. It was the 4th quarter. What harm was it if you’re 5 pts down instead of 4 when you could be a FG away? It made no sense.
But that wasn’t the big problem. The big problem was the run-game.
Felix
November 12th, 2012
6:41 am
a couple of big problems. a lot of missed tackles, run blocking was not there. LB corp could not cover or tackle. RB can not run through hole that are not there.
Tom1
November 12th, 2012
6:42 am
Agree Dan E, Michael Turner not being able to effectively make short, crucial yardage when needed has been an ongoing problem for a couple of years now. This game in particular could have and should have been won. We all know the problem by heart: too slow to the line, too easy to hit and bring down, usually for a loss. This was once a team with a priority running scheme that wore the other team down. True he doesn’t have the greatest offensive line to break him open, but he has to have the ability to adapt to the situation he has. The coaching staff have been racking their brains trying get him open. MT has done well for us for a long time and has had a fine career to be proud of but it is time to sit him down now. This is a business and I’m sure he realizes it.
Rob L
November 12th, 2012
6:50 am
I agree with George… when the Falcons run sweeps, they stretch out the opponent’s defense, and usually gain 3 or more yards. It’s so frustrating to see them try to pound it through the middle of the line, especially when they’re near the goal line.
Buckeye
November 12th, 2012
6:51 am
The Mo flipped on Asante’s 4 point penalty. With 7 there, the 2 point conversion became moot.
By the way, did anyone else’/s comcast HD get stuck on the chicago channel movie after the emergency alert? I missed the end starting after the Douglas play at the 1.
Perhaps that was a good thing,
Go Falcons!
Buckeye
November 12th, 2012
6:53 am
Do we ever see Turner and Quizz in the same backfield? More options from the one!
BubbaDaBaller
November 12th, 2012
6:55 am
Deja Vu all over again…couldn’t execute in last years game to pick up needed “yard”… Although this year the Aint’s are giving up 400+ /Game…youda thought one wouldn’t be that hard..
Harbinger of things to come…What’s that whirring noise? Sounds like a “Buzz Saw”, don’t know who it is but it will be bestowed on the team that comes in and wins in the Dome in January…
Ken Norman
November 12th, 2012
6:55 am
The Falcons needed to be humbled by the Saints, because they were focusing their frustration with their so call lack of respect through the media instead of on the field. The issues moving forward are the same as we had a year ago, the inability to score or gain positive yards on short yard situations. If this happens again and we loss another game because of it, especially a playoff game, then Mike Smith will be looking for another job like Mike Brown. Mike Smith might not be good enough to get the Falcons to the next level (Super Bowl Championship). This team better start showing some sense of urgency or there will be major chances to come.
Buckeye
November 12th, 2012
7:00 am
The 49ers tie will loom large come home field throughout
Nativebird
November 12th, 2012
7:03 am
For being one of the great team leaders and team organizers and motivators in the NFL, Mike Smith is one of THE worst in game managers I have ever seen in the NFL. no ability or even a desire to step on a neck when he has them down, tries to sit on slims leads and run out a clock started AT HALFTIME, his fourth down play calling is attrocious and intimely, his instant replay calls are always crapshoots, and he consistently misses the opportunity to setup the point gaps favorable to his late game efforts.
Willy
November 12th, 2012
7:05 am
@ Ken Norman, thinking a lack of a run game this year would cost Mike Smith his job is utterly ridiculous.
Willy
November 12th, 2012
7:08 am
Actually, I think Smith has a better than average record on replay calls. It surprised me to hear that, but I heard it during a Falcons telecast, so I’m assuming its true
Willy
November 12th, 2012
7:09 am
And Turner running out of gas WILL NOT cost Smith his job. That’s pretty silly
Reality
November 12th, 2012
7:09 am
Bradley, this is why you are a writer and not a coach. First of all you are not held accountable for you ignorant comments. Second, the game had over 13 min left and to panic then would have been stupid. Wake up and continue to write garbage….
William Banks
November 12th, 2012
7:17 am
Ken Norman, don’t forget about Leeman Bennett days when the Falcons reached a supposedly plateau. Need to stay with Coach Smith.
Joey
November 12th, 2012
7:21 am
Did I see Snelling on the KO team?
Why is he not running the ball some?
Bill
November 12th, 2012
7:21 am
This was a great game. In the end, the Falcons simply lost at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.
Chip
November 12th, 2012
7:25 am
Get rid of Michael Turner
BobDawg
November 12th, 2012
7:26 am
I agree with BLAH that we can still take care of Biz and get the Bye….. that being said…. I want to see more of Julio in the backfield… Dude can take it up the middle or sweep wide as many are saying and who will catch him??? Even an end around from him… no one could stay with him….especially on the goal line….
Shelt99
November 12th, 2012
7:28 am
Falcons must play better in goal line situation. We are making the same mistakes from a year ago.
CW
November 12th, 2012
7:28 am
Enter your comments here
CW
November 12th, 2012
7:31 am
Not a big fan of going for two until you have to. If the Falcons had gone for 2 and missed, their next touchdown leaves them ahead by only 2 instead of three…so now they would have to go for 2 again…
BobDawg
November 12th, 2012
7:32 am
Once Quiz got us down there with 2 minutes left in the game.. I would have opted for a run on 2nd down…. run clock if we get stuffed. Then run a sweep on 3rd down with Julio… If we get stopped or even stuffed, backed up for 4th down…We operate better with more field for the 4th down pass… Smitty is great as Coach… He ain’t going no where nor should he… It was a great game with both teams knocking down haymakers all game long… Both tight ends were awesome….
We burn some cajun food
November 12th, 2012
7:36 am
Matt Ryan played his by far greatest game as QB as for Michael turner he has quit runnin like some one upset him in coach’s staff n front office…He acts like that baby runnin back at chargers had cryin over not gettin more carry’s….8-1 so lets go on vs arizona and win over Cards easy say 45-7 sunday show fans and Media in Ny city we are still here!
BobDawg
November 12th, 2012
7:38 am
…Witherspoon is really missed… I think our D is no where near as porous if he was in there… MarkB. when does he get back???
sherlock
November 12th, 2012
7:38 am
Saints game ball goes to .. Michael Turner
Herschel Talker
November 12th, 2012
7:45 am
MB:
You are WRONG. It’s way too early at that point. If he goes for 2 and misses, and then the Saints tack on a FG, then you’re down 8, not 7 and then you need a TD and a 2-pt conv to win. When you start chasing points too early, it will bite you more than not.
The bottom line is that with 1st and goal from the one, the blame lies with fat Sam Baker and fat Michael Turner for being bums, not with Mike Smith for kicking an extra point 13 minutes earlier in the game.
HT
loyal falcon
November 12th, 2012
7:45 am
CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL THE DEFENSE TO STOP TRYING TO TACKLE HIGH! ALL THAT DOES IS ALLOW THE PERSON TO GAIN MORE YARDAGE WHILE THE DEFENDER IS TRYING TO TAKE THEM DOWN. ( THE CHRIS IVORY TD!!!!!) COME ON DEFENSE!!!!!!
Monday Morning
November 12th, 2012
7:46 am
love the Falcons, Mike Smith, etc. etc. but damn, get a short yardage play. Turner is not a short yardage back- no first step and the d line chops hime at the knees every time. Ryan sucks at qb sneak. Roll Ryan out.
danny
November 12th, 2012
7:46 am
The reason the falcons lost is because we have a 250 pound running back who tiptoes up to the line and can’t get 3 feet!!!!!! Please get rid of Turner. We don’t need him to get 100 yards but we need him to be able to get 2 or 3 crucial yards and he CANNOT do it
Ted M
November 12th, 2012
7:47 am
Michael Turner stinks…thats why they lost. He never makes a play on his own. Smith should not have given him the ball on 3rd and short at the goal line. It takes him 5 seconds to get to the line of scrimmage and unless there is a giant hole he gets nothing.
papadawg
November 12th, 2012
7:47 am
BULL—, They loss by not scoring TDs instead of FGs plus if you can’t score from the one take your sorry butts home.
AlanFalcon
November 12th, 2012
7:48 am
I hope the Falcons look at this as a learning situation, #1-They still don’t have a ground game, Turner just can’t get the job done, turn it over to Snelling and Rogers, both a better fit with our lack of and OL push. #2-The players, not the coaches have got to understand how bad it affects our game when they create lousy penalties, Mike Smith has preach and continues to preach this, maybe the guys are just to proud and think they have to do stupid things even if it does cost the team as it did yesterday. #3-Now that we have lost and know that we are not a perfect team we can move forward and learn from our mistakes .
Good luck, time is on our side, don’t look pass the next two opponents, the rematch will come soon enough with N.O., in the mean time lets be 10-1 when they come to our house.
G-Man
November 12th, 2012
7:52 am
Couldn’t convert on multiple 3-1s. Bad tackling. No pass rush. Asante acting like an idiot. This was not all on Turner.
punk
November 12th, 2012
7:53 am
Turner is terrible, but the o-line didn’t do much on runs either.
Kennesaw David
November 12th, 2012
7:53 am
Red zone offense has been shaky all year. That is an area that has to be improved moving forward. Needs to be a focus. Need TDs down there.
Esquire
November 12th, 2012
7:55 am
Going for 2? Hell, we couldn’t even score 6 when it counted.
let's go
November 12th, 2012
7:56 am
I hate monday morning quarterbacks. Smith is right, it was too early to think about two at that point with so much time left especially with the way the offenses were moving the ball. The Falcons got the ball back 3 more times after that (twice with plenty of time left) and couldn’t score a touchdown. 46 rushing yards is what cost this team the victory because by the 4th quarter the Falcons had all but given up on the run so all the Saints had to do was drop back and defend the pass. I’m not sure if it’s Turner, the offensive line or the play calling but something has to change if this team is to advance into the playoffs.
Tuggle58
November 12th, 2012
7:59 am
@Loyal Falcon – great point, I was screaming “hit the legs” at the TV the entire game!
Mark, there is a reason you are a writer and MS is the coach. He made the right call on the conversion. My problem is with Dirk. We running in running formations and passing in passing formations all game. The goal line would have been a great time to mix it up. Deja Vu all over again. We lost because of our inability to gain a yard. Hated that our loss came to the Saints, but we have a lot of season left. GO BIRDS!
nbrdrdnk
November 12th, 2012
8:05 am
UGH… those three haunting words again: fourth and one.
RB for Hire
November 12th, 2012
8:06 am
The weak ground game finally bit us in the backside. This is my fear for when the playoffs start. No QB pressure and no run game. When we play the best of the best in the playoffs those two areas have to step it up. I am pretty sure Turner is washed up, so I am worried. REALLY need to address this during off-season to keep moving forward. For now, doctor it up by using heavy doses of Snelling and Rodgers. Use Julio and Harry Douglas more out the backfield.
Ivan
November 12th, 2012
8:07 am
Of all the negatives to pull away from this game, going for 2 is not one of them.
Turner = 15 yards.
Unable to convert 3rd/4th and short
Allowing the Saints offense to move the ball at will, running over our Defense.
Ivan
November 12th, 2012
8:12 am
At least now we can all agree Mularkey was not the problem on our short yardage woes.
loyal falcon
November 12th, 2012
8:12 am
There is no need to panic because we have plenty of football left to play. I have no doubt that we’ll get things corrected. Dirk definitely has to switch things up a bit. This one only bothers me because of the team we lost to. We just have to put this one behind us and get ready for Arizona. Oh and to all of you fans of the team we lost to talking about yall winning 11 out of the last 13 remember we still are ahead in the series 45-41.
Ed Pilcher
November 12th, 2012
8:17 am
Thanks for giving us the Kiss of Death yesterday, MB.
Stepchild
November 12th, 2012
8:17 am
Problem is and continues to be Mike Smith. He is a deer in headlights when it comes to the Saints. His knee jerk reaction last year to all of a sudden and be aggressive and “go for it” on 4th and short with no regard for field position (deep in your own territory)…just shows how blind and stupid he can get with this rivalry.
Now yesterday he errs on the conservative side and is WRONG again. What would the Falcons do with a competent coach? He is the equivalent of Jason Garrett.
Alfred Jenkins
November 12th, 2012
8:19 am
@ Nativebird…..you hit the nail on the head, whenever he starts calling plays we lose.
Double Zero Eight
November 12th, 2012
8:21 am
No pass rush + no running game = loss
Mr. Hankey
November 12th, 2012
8:24 am
Asante is olde enough to know better but apparently not able to control is juvenile emotions. What a total turd for acting that way. There’s other words that might be considered as slurs that fit his behavior. I was wondering about the 2 pointer myself. Dumb mistake. Look what playing by the “book” got Bobby Cox. 1 world series. Didn’t know you have “no choice” but to go for 1 until you reach the 7 minute mark. News to me. I thought you did what was best for team. That being said se la vis. We tee it up next week. Screw the national talkies. Does anybody reaaly care what Bayless says? I mean he’s as big a joke as they come and I ‘m sure enjoys the occasional golden shower. Skp? Really?
DP
November 12th, 2012
8:26 am
Uh no, being down 5 isn’t the same thing as being down 4 with 13:57 left in the game. If you’re down 5 and New Orleans kicks a field goal you’re down 8 so you need not only a touchdown but a 2 point conversion to tie. Smith is right, you don’t start chasing points with 2 point conversions early in the 4th quarter, particularly in a game where 2 high scoring offenses are going up and down the field. And as usual, Mark Bradley is wrong.
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
November 12th, 2012
8:26 am
The Saints are to the Falcons what the South Carolina Gamecocks are to UGA. Neither team can beat them.
NORRIS CHUCK
November 12th, 2012
8:27 am
Mr Bradley,
Why are you stuck on that 2 pt conversion thing when they had 13 minutes left in the game. Man im really glad you are not the coach!
No matter that the Saints recievers were celebrating EXCESSIVELY the whole game and never got a flag.
No matter that the D couldnt touch Brees.
No matter that the D-Backs couldnt tackle.
The Falcons lost this game because of Fatman Turner. This has been going on for a couple of years now. I dont care how writers try on explian things, the Falcons are not going to get far if their star running back takes 5 seconds to get to the line of scrimmage and then folds up when the team needs a yard!
Red Zone football
November 12th, 2012
8:27 am
The # 1 issue is ineffective red zone offense – we scored 3 TDs in 6 attempts – kicked 2 FGs and turned it over on downs.
And….
The worst defense in NFL history (statistically speaking) was able to…
1. stuff our run game (we had 46 yds) Saints are ranked 32nd in the league vs the run
2. held us to 50% in the red-zone
3. broke up 11 passes!!!
So…As good as Ryan played – 100+ QBR, he’s got to play better in the red-zone AND on the road.
I know Julio was out for half he game and banged up – but we’ve got weapons. Need balls in better positions to keep from getting break-ups…
Offensive line/Turner – just plain awful. Is it time to give Rodgers the job??? Where is the hard- running Snelling in the mix ???
Special teams/penalties – I think I counted 3-4 penalties on special teams yesterday. That’s got to have Smith steamed…Asante’s showboating was a killer as well, knowning how skiddish we can be in the red zone…
Last – The good news. The Giants and Bears looked just awful, and they are in my opinion the NFC front runners, despite our record. We are 8-1. As Herm Edwards says///We are what our record says we are. 8-1 is still very, very good.
The bad news. We will see a team like the Saints in the playoffs. (probably the Packers – remember those guys ??) We have got to improve our red-zone efficiency – against the worst defense in NFL history – it did not get done.
At the end of the day, playoff wins define Matt Ryan and this team. That environment is as close as we will get, and we did not get it done.
Saints Aint Bad
November 12th, 2012
8:30 am
Mighty Falcons lose to a 3 win team and can,t score from the 1 yard line on 4 tries, lmao!
Drew Breesus
November 12th, 2012
8:33 am
What’s funny is that falcon fans are acting like this is an aberration! “I can’t believe we lost to the Aints”, “The Aint’s suck and we couldn’t beet this team”? Here is a little history lesson-the Saints have beat the facons 11 out of the last 13 times. One of those falcon wins was due to a missed field goal under 40 yards. The aberration would be if the falcons won! You may not like the Saints (and there are plenty of reasons why you shouldn’t), but let’s be real. The saints have owned this team since 2006 and despite your great starts and record, the story never changes. Until we meet again in a few days or so after we take a trip to the black hole and payback those niners.
Growler
November 12th, 2012
8:33 am
I brought this up on the blog DURING the game right after it happened (Mark B. noted as much and you can go find it there). For those of you agreeing with the head coach — that it was too early to go for 2 — and bashing Mark B. for saying otherwise, please note that — despite the Falcons’ own Red Zone woes that day, they had given up FOUR TOUCHDOWNS by that point. Ironically, the teams did trade FG’s after that — but that was some mighty presumptive logic by Smith, at that point in the game, to think the 2 pt. try wasn’t necessary.
There’s also the larger issue (which I think Mark DOESN’T agree with me on), on Smith’s erratic decisions on when he does or doesn’t gamble,along with clock management and play-calling in specific situations — especially at the end of the half or game. I fear this will come back to haunt them in the playoffs. I hope I’m wrong.
NORRIS CHUCK
November 12th, 2012
8:39 am
This is a post by ivorydorsey, posted earlier this morning from the AJC top page. Loved it so i had to re-post:
“CONGRATULATIONS FALCONS!!! YOU HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT YOU ARE SERIOUS CONTENDERS. While “undefeated” is not a part of your 2012 mantra, the loss will serve to “sharpen” your contender muscle. Monday morning quarterbacking is a real safe space for those not in the game!! You are in the game!! I BELIEVE YOU ARE IN IT TO “WIN IT!!”
“(YOU DAT)!!” D-determined A-activated & T-trained to WIN!!”
Thanks ivory!
NORRIS CHUCK
November 12th, 2012
8:44 am
The worst defense in NFL history (statistically speaking) was able to…
1. stuff our run game (we had 46 yds) Saints are ranked 32nd in the league vs the run
2. held us to 50% in the red-zone
3. broke up 11 passes!!!
Redzone,
Great observation. David Rogers, Peyton and Eli would eat the Falcons up. And as we saw yesterday, Drew had the Falcons D falling all over the place yesterday. Good to Great QB’s destroy defenses like the Falcons.
And 11 pass breakups is not good either.
Ken Norman
November 12th, 2012
8:44 am
I like Mike Smith as the Falcons head coach, but if the Falcons fail to win a game in the playoffs, especially lose a game like they did yesterday, I don’t think Mike Smith survives another year, because Arthur Blank is a very successful businessman and he’s not going to stand for an underachieving football team. Bill Cowher or John Gruden anyone.
PMC
November 12th, 2012
8:45 am
You’re nuts on the 2pt conversion idea Mark. He played it correctly.
His offense had 2 chances to get it done late and they wet the freaking bed. Matter of fact they wet the bed all day in the red zone.
People kicking themselves today include the GM who found out he’s a RB short, 2 LB’s short at least and still has an offensive line that isn’t remotely good enough.
Yes this is a criticism of an 8-1 team but a team that can’t for the freaking life of them beat it’s biggest rival.
Georgia
November 12th, 2012
8:45 am
Look, half the eight Falcon victories were ugly wins. It’s the play calling. It’s the execution. It’s the arrogance of a team so undisciplined, that they celebrate in the first quarter? and if Smith doesn’t understand why the two point conversion was necessary in THAT situation, then we don’t have a playoff team.
It’s not monday morning quarterbacking. It’s the game we all know and love. I can’t believe they lost that football game just as much as I couldn’t believe they won some of the eight victories.
Atlanta has another also ran football team, folks. Accept it.
Stepchild
November 12th, 2012
8:46 am
Ivory nice post….it really makes us feel good that we lost that game – - – Falcons choke off another game to the Saints and our soft fanbase who head for the exits quickly (like at the Carolina game this year) offer up feel good nonsense.
Meebo_is_the_Devil
November 12th, 2012
8:47 am
Given the utter ineptitude on 3rd/4th and short, I doubt they would’ve converted the two-pointer anyway. Also, Smith was right about the amount of time left in the game. There were several more possessions after that point, so there were many different ways things could’ve gone after that point. The primary issue was ATL’s inability to score TDs deep in the red zone and therefore settling for fgs… something you cannot do against an offense like NO’s. I don’t think a two-pointer just a couple of minutes into the fourth qtr is what lost the game.
PMC
November 12th, 2012
8:47 am
If you’re going to kill them for anything kill them for keeping 2 safeties that have no freaking clue that they are the last man, the last line of defense and yet they ALWAYS EVERY FREAKING TIME Jump the slant and take bad angles. Great ballhawks, with horrible technique.
Beat Mike Smith up this week for his team playing largely terrible against the Saints everytime and being absolutely totally and completely unprepared for the playoffs.
Turner burned out
November 12th, 2012
8:48 am
Michael Turner deserves a lot of credit, but his time as an elite RB is over. Much like Priest Holmes, Tomlinson and others, the window has closed. Can he still be effective? Yes, but coming off the sidelines instead of being a 1st and 2nd down back. The Giants use Brown and Bradshaw. Time for Atlanta to make Quizz the No. 1 runner and alternate between Snelling and Turner. Wouldn’t you rather have 8 yards every third play than 1 yard, 1 yard and 2 yards on three straight.
Meebo_is_the_Devil
November 12th, 2012
8:49 am
If you want to blame anything specifically, how bout an O-line that is simply incapable of generating ANY push forward in 1-yd-to-go situations. That’s what lost that game.
Stepchild
November 12th, 2012
8:50 am
Mike Smith deserves some blame for all of these big game flops. This is becoming a habit around here. . . playoffs are around the corner and an early exit might cost him his job.
tooltime234
November 12th, 2012
8:50 am
Yeah I agree with some of the folks here. It’s too early to go for two and it always seems like leaving points on the board does come back to bite you. They couldn’t get one yard to win the game. Roddy stoped running or we would have won the game. This was not the reason we lost the game. If he goes for two here and we didn’t make it, we are all blasting Mike Smith for going for two so early in the 4th quarter.
Robert
November 12th, 2012
8:50 am
Look…., here is the stat the sums this all up.
If you take out Turners one big run against the cowboys(43yds). He is averaging 2.72 yards per carry over the last 5 games. 2.72!!!!!!
You can’t tell me Quizz or Snelling wouldn’t do better.
We cut Polite after 1 missed catch and bad blitz pickup, but Turner keeps going, does Turner offer anything inthe passing game? Snelling and Quizz from here out and our run games becomes at least adequate
PMC
November 12th, 2012
8:51 am
It’s not playcalling, the playcalling has been awesome. It’s talent.
This team is playing vastly better because the coaching has been better. The talent is still substandard.
The LB’s on the field yesterday are probably the worst set of linebackers in the league. Without Spoon, they aren’t very good. The defensive ends, are very average. Beirmann has been awesome this year. Ray Edwards is a waste of a roster spot not to mention millions of dollars of wasted cap room
Bum is too nice a word for Ray Edwards. The offensive line is better because of coaching. The talent is still WAY off where it needs to be and we are in dier need of a young talented RB with some size. Quizz is a great 3rd down back he’s not a starter.
Stepchild
November 12th, 2012
8:52 am
Struggle to win against Carolina, Lose to the Saints…..Tampa Bay??????? Oh boy.
colelinski
November 12th, 2012
8:53 am
If you cn’t block tou can’t run.
bobbie brooks
November 12th, 2012
8:53 am
Maybe your team needs to quit boasting that they are better than everyone else, and prove it.
PMC
November 12th, 2012
8:53 am
Write a column about Ray Edwards Mark, maybe you can find out which injury he’s nursing this season as an excuse for why he’s awful.
tooltime234
November 12th, 2012
8:53 am
PMC I agree with you. Quizz is like a Sproles mold kind of player. Not an every down back.
Ted M
November 12th, 2012
8:57 am
I can’t think of a team in the league that has a worse starting running back then the Falcons.
If the don’t find a ground game they won’t win in the playoffs.
Answer This
November 12th, 2012
8:58 am
A few things first…..
1. 8-1………….enough said I could stop here but let me go on!
2. Lead the division
3. Aints 4-5……….stop celebrating……….
Now for the truth!
1. The two points did not matter! Would not have mattered if we missed it hind sight is 20/20…..half dozen in one hand 6 in the other…..who knows, I know you can say you dont know if you dont try. Lots of arguements both ways.
2. What matters is that we trusted MT33 to take the ball and ram his fat angus up in the hole to get one yard and he could not do it……like last year. Did anyone else notice that in the last 4 minutes of the game he did not see the field!? Hey Coach Smith, stop being loyal and start playing to win! MT33 let us down in a situation like that last year and when he did not get it the first time you gave him the opportunity he DID NOT DESERVE a 2nd TIME! PERIOD! Wise up!
3. Yes Samuels hurt us on the penalty, but emotions run high! Who knows if we would have scored or not? Remember half dozen, 6 in the other hand!
4. We had three more opportunities to scorea touchdown and had to settle for a field goal! Cant do that against the Aints, as much as I hate to say it!
5. Ryan you had a beast of a day! INCREDIBLE day; but I ask one thing and one thing only, you got to get the ball out just a little quicker and in front of the receiver when you take shots in the end zone from the 5 yard line. Those guys play on the receivers hip, and sometimes you got to make your receiver go get it a yard in front………but hey I cant say nothing about you really YOU HAD A BEAST OF A DAY!
6. Roddy next time dont look for the jump ball run through the route and you break these Swamp Rats hearts!
7. MT33 never gets another shot with-in the 10 yard line…….PERIOD. Any line that can hold up for the QB to throw for 400+ yards is not the problem! The problem is getting 13 touches and having 16 yards! MT33 I cant keep bashing you but your time has come and gone.
8. Yes our D got trucked in the first half but we made adjustments and gave up only 10 points in the second half, 3 points in the 4th quarter! No one has said our D was world beaters but we have a Coordinator that is smart enough to stop the bleeding and make adjustments and keep us in the game with in-game adjustments………o year Ray Edwards, MT 33 and you have a free plane ticket at the end of the year waiting on you, thanks for wearing black every month to pick up your check. Way to hold up and not fold D! You made the adjustments you had to make to keep yourself standing up! You know that every week you will get a full dose of a running game, so prep yourself and get ready!
9. We still RISE UP around here! We still show you all that the Nation does not die we just multiply! I wanted it bad on Sunday but we move on to the Cards and we will see you AINTS again, trust me!
10. 8-1 and we lead the division! NOW WHAT?!?!?!
colelinski
November 12th, 2012
9:00 am
Did anyone notice how the Saints o-line blew the Falcons d-line of the balll? I’ll even bet M.Turner
could run behind that line.
groundedbird
November 12th, 2012
9:00 am
falcons sucks,they will not make it too the superbowl. no running game=no passing game.saints have a 3 headed monster @ running back which opens up the pass & defense gives up 2 many big plays.hate it for A.blanks
Georgia
November 12th, 2012
9:03 am
Also note how the excessive celebration unhinged Coach Smith. He became unfocused and subsequent play calling suffered. That call, after the excessive celebration, and it was third and short in the red zone? Please. A straight ahead off tackle run? Easily defended. I mean look closely at THAT play because that was where we lost the game. It was a fatal momentum shifter: the entire episode of the penalty for excessive cabbage patching, (which I hate worse than the devil), the unscrambling of Coach Smith as he turned red as a beet, and then the absolute worst play call of the last fifty years in all of football including high school, pop warner, college, the lingerie league, and of course, the canadian football league.
Mike from the Coast
November 12th, 2012
9:07 am
I agree with going for 1, again as many have said. There were two opportunities to score later, the one point kept us in a situation where had we scored a TD, then another one point gives us a 3 point lead.
The problem is Michael Turner, he seems to think he is Ladanian Tomlinson, he doesn’t have the moves. How many times did we see Ivery pound the ball in and move the pile another two-three yards. Turner needs to pound the ball in there and use his legs to move the pile.
Third and one is killing us whether we are on the goal line or in the middle of the field.
PMC
November 12th, 2012
9:09 am
The other thing is that even though Tuner can still play a little, he’s completely the wrong style of back for Koetter’s offense. He’s a hammer, and he needs a fairly large hole to get going, Koetter needs a quicker, back that can catch the ball and get through the line, like MJD, or Forte.
Turner is not that guy. We’re a DE, LB, and RB short right now.
Georgia
November 12th, 2012
9:11 am
Playcalling? Did someone say it’s not the playcalling? Look, every game is different. The playcalling has to evolve as the game progresses. What’s appropriate in the first quarter, is inappropriate in the second or third, even though the down and yards to go is identical. It depends on the score. It depends on what you did in a similar third and short in the first quarter, second and then third. It’s not really a gut thing, it’s an experience thing. And throwing away timeouts is a sacrilege. There must be coaches’ souls burning in purgatory for the sins they committed on third and short with thirty seconds to go, the score tied, no timeouts left……..
falcons fan
November 12th, 2012
9:11 am
this team will not go far in the play offs until they run the ball, which means stop calling tuner up the middle for no gain
Najeh Davenpoop
November 12th, 2012
9:11 am
Y’all stay blaming Mike Smith for these close losses when the problems almost always lie with personnel. If you are one yard away from the end zone, you need to be able to power it in, period.
If Mike Smith deserves any blame, it is for the penalties, which killed the Falcons in this game and are generally a reflection on the coaching staff’s ability to prepare the team.
TN Jeff
November 12th, 2012
9:13 am
Thanks for pointing out what needed to be pointed out – 2 point conversion vital. This stupid chart that coaches live by if in fact advised NOT to go for 2 is for the birds (or in the case NOT for the Birds). Down 4 points or 5 points still necessitates a TD. Nothing to lose and a chance at NOT losing (which under Smith I hear the Falcons have done 7 out of 9 chances). Not sure if this poor judgment was more irritating or the moron announcers urging the Birds to run rather than fly to the endzone.
Noles Fan
November 12th, 2012
9:15 am
Turner should have been gone at the beginning of the year. Need to start Rodgers more. Turner stops and falls down too much, just Run!!
Georgia
November 12th, 2012
9:17 am
No. Smith should have known to go for 2. Were were Blanked in the third quarter. Points were becomming scarce. That’s the way this particular game was evolving. You have to play the game and take the points you’re given. Especially if the end game boils down to going for a tie with a 3 pointer. It’s everything in the game of football. Everything. Smith failed this crucial test. There is one other reason we lost. The Saints cheated, man. Those horrid saints beat our falcons by cheating. They cheated!! They were holding and biting and kicking in the clinches. Their cheerleaders went commando in the second half. That’s why we didn’t score till the fourth quarter. I want a review by the NFL commissioner!!! It’s not fair.
Short yardage solution
November 12th, 2012
9:19 am
Our problem with short yardage is very frustrating – but what’s worse is how we approach those situations.
Whenever we need 3rd or 4th and 1 we put in our BIG package – two tights big fullback and one wideout. We give the defenses permission to bring 10 in the box. Offensive line is not built for power game and d- line ALWAYs gets penetration giving backers and safeties chance to blitz gaps – too much traffic to get through and Turner rarely does anything after first low contact except fall down. So we end up losing yardage and never come close.
SPREAD the field with 4 wides – make the defense play coverage and roll safeties into 2 deep – clear the box and give your line a chance for crying out loud. It is not rocket science to figure out. If they still stack box hit Julio or Roddy on two yard stop or slant because corners will have to give some cushion. Come on Koetter. Figure it out for crying out loud.
TB
November 12th, 2012
9:22 am
When they got down to the one or two yard line, they wasted a down with a running play. Why insert a running play when it hadn’t worked for you all game. My thought was Ryan should have rolled ou, and if no one was open, ran it in himself.
Stevereeno
November 12th, 2012
9:22 am
They should have lost three other games this season. Same problem, can’t score in the red zone.
Mike from the Coast
November 12th, 2012
9:24 am
Evidently we don’t have a running play that goes outside on 3rd and one. I agree with a poster or two on here, a quick pitch once in a while. If you run the exact same play up the middle and it has failed 3 times earlier in the game, why would you expect a different result?
Jimhatl
November 12th, 2012
9:27 am
If Roddy had kept running on the next to last play instead of back peddling, touchdown Falcons, game over.
KC Falcon
November 12th, 2012
9:27 am
They will certainly be re-evaluating certain short yardage running plays in film session and for practice this week. We’ll probably see some new formations and personel packages as a result.
Probably less Turner in those situations, and more Quizz.
As has been discussed already, if the Falcons go for 2 and make it at 28-25, leaving them with needing just a FG to tie at 31-31, I believe Brees takes the Saints down in just over a minute for the game winning FG anyway. He would have had enough time himself.
There were several plays that could have been made, including Ryan not throwing up high to Julio Jones on an earlier 3rd down play in the left end zone. He had single coverage there like he wanted and didn’t make a good throw.
On the last throw to Roddy in the end zone over the middle, Ryan was rushed hard and threw off one foot, so he didn’t have the full 100% zip on the ball to get it there a split second earlier, so as not to be knocked down. He couldn’t get a little more lead on the throw either.
It’s all frustrating because even down 28-17, the Falcons still could have and should have taken this game. The Saints were pretty inspired to knock off their undefeated rival in their stadium. They made a lot of plays that they haven’t been consistent at making through the early part of the season, especially on defense.
The Falcons need to be ready for payback back at home in a few Thursdays.
Don’t overreact to one loss, even though it had several familiar plays that let the Falcons down. Better to correct this stuff now, rather than have it come up again down the stretch or in January.
Eli and the Giants couldn’t win in Cincinnati. The 49ers couldn’t take care of the Rams at home. The Bears couldn’t beat the Texans in Bear weather in Chicago. The Eagles couldn’t stop their skid at home against a beatable Cowboys team. Just remember all that when piling on the Falcons. They weren’t the only high quality team to lose a game on Sunday.
That game should be a great teaching tape game and sort of a wake up for the players. Smith always talks about little things. Samuel’s penalty after the INT changed the complexion of the scoreboard. Those extra 4 points wound have come in handy later on.
Should be lots of motivation for next week and the Saints 2nd game, and to get things right for the playoffs.
Wutehvah
November 12th, 2012
9:29 am
If you can’t run the ball vs. the Saints, then we’re going nowhere in the playoffs. We need to address this now. Go Falcons!!
Cpt Kirk in Arkansas
November 12th, 2012
9:30 am
How about holding Dimitroff & those who acquire players accountable?
I realize Ive harped on this in the past but, assuming the committee responsible for the players draft, aint smoking crack..who would draft:
Peria Jerry when Clay Matthews and/or BJ Raji are available
AND who would allow Julius Peppers to slip thru ones fingers when he bacame available for free agency
The list of players Missed By TD & CO who became All pro or stars elewhere would fill a wing in the Smithsonian.
How bout some accountability Dimitroff?
How bout doin your job ??? or is your definition of success is amassing an *-1 record against numerous sub >500 teams
Is success also winning seasons and one n done toastings in the playoffs..
Perhaps if you hired me for your job, Id have passed on you in favor of Ken Herock or Jerry Glanville
get it?
You hvae a short window to win it all with the cuurent offensive playmakers we have.
In a few yrs Gonzalez, Roddy White, and Julio will be gone and youll have to aatempt and I say that grudgingly to draft for both sides of the ball, instead of whatever youve been doing..
One gem in the Julio quest and I give credit where its due, doesnt make up for passing over potential stars for cupcakes and non impact players
It was a nice idea to go and draft 2 big stud linemen this past April but we’d hope that both would be starters, given the places we gave up to get to where they were evfen available but
Has it led to a better run game, especially when the games on the line and they cant punch it in from 2 yards on 4 plays and instead we attempt another cute pass play in a reduced red zone???
That really sends a message to the entire ballclub, the fans, and your opponent about the ferocity of your O line
Get it? the Saints did.. Tony G can only resue our bacon so many times inside the 5 before hes rendered ineffective by multiple coverages/
or are will you still be pleased with a winning season then one n done again?
Dilla
November 12th, 2012
9:34 am
I defended Turner before, blaming the offensive line for not opening holes. Not anymore, It’s the same thing against the Saints last year and against the Giants in the playoffs. We cant run for critical short yards. He runs directly into tackles, he gets brought down too easy for a power back and he’s slow. Time to run somebody else.
Red Zone football
November 12th, 2012
9:35 am
This loss is not on Mike Smith….
before I rant…@NORRIS CHUCK – I was talking about the Saints defense, which has been label and statistically backed as the WORST DEFENSE IN THE HISTORY OF THE NFL!!!! That’s pretty bad.
Heck, anyone should be able to rack up 450 yards and 35 points on those clowns…Everyone else is, by the way…Not to take anything away from Matt Ryan’s performance yesterday, but it does put it in perspective. We knew Brees was going to be tough to stop, and he was. No pressure on him did not help.
1. Red Zone – 50% TD conversion in RZ vs the worst defense in the history of the NFL, and this years weakest run defense – ranked 32nd. The worst. period.
2. 46 yards rushing – 18 of which came on one run. So, that’s 28 yds rushing on 17 attempts. 1.5 a carry won’t get it done. Is it Turner or the O-line or both??? All I know is it will not get much better if you can’t run it on the Saints.
3. Key situations – Yes. Matt Ryan’s numbers looked gaudy. But, when we needed big plays/throws – the balls have to be in front of the receivers in a catchable spot. He had little if any pressure on him yesterday – he’s got to be more accurate, make better reads in redzone to win big games. How else did the NFLs worst defense ever break up 11 passes??? Maybe Bradley has an explanation.
The reality is we can’t run it – so it’s on Ryan to make Red Zone plays, plain and simple. We can move it down the field, just can’t get it in when it counts. That’s why Matt Bryant has kicked 12 FGs of less than 40 yards.
Is Ryan better than last year? Yes. But, it’s the Saints type game that will be played on the post-season. Hopefully we can learn from it or we are one and done again.
Dawglasville
November 12th, 2012
9:35 am
Every time we get within the 5 we need to take a delay of game penalty and throw for the end zone.
Cpt Kirk in Arkansas
November 12th, 2012
9:38 am
Stevereeno,
spot on..those situations couldve been handled with a decent run game.. Three seasons ago, scoring from inside the 5 via the run wouldve been routine, instead of the fade and other cute pas plays in a much shorter goal line red zone..some of those passes to the corner-ie fade routes, can if underthrown, be run back for pick 6’s..
Whatever happened to trap blocks with a fullback lead blocker..do we even have a fullback or is he only for special teams beef?
and what about a pass rush other than Abraham, who must be kept fresh for the postseason run, if that will ever get beyond the first game
Joey
November 12th, 2012
9:38 am
Mark, as it turns out, we surely wouldn’t have gotten the 2-points anyway, as lousy as we were in goal line situations.
Just sayin . . .
WhatNoOneWillSay
November 12th, 2012
9:40 am
This has to be said. I REALLY like Michael Turner. Turner was an important weapon in the Falcon’s 4 years of winning records.
But Turner can’t play anymore. Look at the Saints runners breaking tackles and making yards. Turner can’t do that anymore. He only makes yards now when the blocking is great.
Give Turner his kudos but we need to replace him.
Steve762
November 12th, 2012
9:40 am
I have no problem with Smith not going for 2, it was too early. Falcons didn’t loose because of that.
They lost for two reasons: (1) Couldn’t get the ball in from 1 yd line. (2) Poor tackling from defense, 2nd week in a row they couldn’t make easy tackles. Need Witherspoon back big time.
Walter
November 12th, 2012
9:43 am
Bradley, sounds to me like you think you ought to be the coach. Nothing but complaints about what should have been done and that this team is not good enough to have won eight games.
.
Home of the Braves
November 12th, 2012
9:44 am
The Falcons just seemed a little too tense. It was a big game against the hated Saints to keep the perfect season alive and they let the pressure get the better of them. Now that the loss is behind them they can losen up a little bit and just play football without worrying about being perfect.
LASH LAROO
November 12th, 2012
9:45 am
“I defended Turner before, blaming the offensive line for not opening holes. Not anymore, It’s the same thing against the Saints last year and against the Giants in the playoffs. We cant run for critical short yards. He runs directly into tackles, he gets brought down too easy for a power back and he’s slow. Time to run somebody else.”
THAT. PLUS1
Falcon66
November 12th, 2012
9:45 am
The Monday morning QB’s are out today–it is amazing when we lose our first game that so much is wrong with a great team and a great coaching staff. Yes we should have won that game but to blame not going for two or to blame Michael Turner is kind of silly. If there is any blame it should be the silly penalties particularly the early one on excessive celebration (Samuel) HUge difference to lose ten yards due to penalty and have to settle for a FG, Make the TD there and you are up 14-0 and also have 4 more points which could have made for a tie at the end. Let’s stick together and keep supporting this excellent team–not without issues but still doing rather well I would say
abby normal
November 12th, 2012
9:45 am
It’s not all Turner’s fault. Yes, he seems slow but the offensive line has never been the same since Harvey Dahl left town.
rc35
November 12th, 2012
9:50 am
If you can’t get it in from 1 yard out in four tries, what makes you think we could get it in from 3 yards out on one try? We lost it on the TD that wasn’t, not the 2-point conversion that wasn’t.
D man
November 12th, 2012
9:56 am
Very frustrating, they looked afraid to win and take the next step. Someone needs to kick them in the butt today… They should have won this game.
JP
November 12th, 2012
9:56 am
Wow, Mark. I think this is the biggest reach for writing material that I’ve seen out of you in a very long time. Lets say the Falcons go for the 2-point conversion and fail. No way to know how that would have changed the flow of events. Maybe they later score a TD and pull ahead, 29-28. If they hadn’t gone for two earlier, an extra point puts them up by three. Instead, they have to go for two again. They miss again and the Saints drive down and kick the winning field goal. I have no problem with Smith not going for two with that much time remaining, especially considering how poorly both defenses were playing. There was no way to know how many more times each offense might score or how the final might play out. Complaining about a coach not going for a 2-point conversion early in the fourth quarter only distracts from what was the real fatal wound: being unable to score a touchdown after having second-and-goal at the 1.
older1
November 12th, 2012
9:57 am
Remember when running backs could dive over the top for a score, H. WALKER could have scored yesterday even at his age.
drew
November 12th, 2012
10:00 am
It doesn’t bother me so much that we didn’t go for two (although I agree with you, Mark). But I do have a problem with Smitty saying ““You don’t even start looking at the 2-point chart until there’s seven minutes to go.” The chart is s good “guideline”, but a coach should use his head, and his gut, to determine when he should go for two, not some freakin’ “chart”. Who’s smarter, the coach, or the chart? Every game is different…a coach needs smarts, the ability to think outside the box, and a good sized set of balls.
And on the short yardage failures…we’ve proved all year long (and several times last year) that we cannot bunch-up and push eleven players back for yard. When we line up like that EVERYBODY knows what’s coming. How about going five wide, spreading the field, and trying something DIFFERENT? Hell, even a run up the middle has a better shot if you don’t have 9 in the box. Maybe a QB sneak or QB draw? Come on Dirk…you’re better than this.
I’m satisfied that this staff is smart enough to figure it out. And in the meantime, 8-1 isn’t a bad place to be.
Booker T
November 12th, 2012
10:02 am
The Falcons are who we thought they were.
CSB
November 12th, 2012
10:03 am
Look…be real…Turner aint getting it done Falcon coachees. IF we want to improve our chances a change at running back MUST take place immediately. IF NOT….”what is the definition of insanity?”..Keep doing the same thing expecting a different result! Turner the burner is BURNT UP! The time to make a change is now if we want to make a serious progress towards making the Super Bowl and winning it!
Staying the Course
November 12th, 2012
10:05 am
This all doens’t matter since the Birds can’t get one yard … on multiple occasions … and the won’t win a play-off game
take it from me.
November 12th, 2012
10:05 am
The Falcons don’t match the intensity the saints play with! .Thats why they could not gain a yard when they had to have it with 2 minutes left in the game,thats why they have lost something like 11 out of 13 to the saints.the falcons have got to match the intensity of the saints or the outcome will be the same everytime.
Jo
November 12th, 2012
10:09 am
Dont agree Mark. The Falcons have no run game. The Falcons cant win in the playoffs without a run game period. There is time to fix the problem still but first the coaches must acknowledge it (Turner already has).
William
November 12th, 2012
10:11 am
and here’s why the Falcon’e will lose their first playoff game.. AGAIN
- can’t run the ball
-can’t stop the pass
can’t stop the run
my 14 year old could have scored with 7 tries from the 1 … WEAK!!!
beezit
November 12th, 2012
10:11 am
woulda’ shoulda’ coulda’…..even a guy like me can place a simple game like that…got any sports related commentary..??..
Monday morning one-liners
November 12th, 2012
10:13 am
[...] Bradley of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution thinks Falcons coach Mike Smith erred by not going for two early in the fourth [...]
beezit
November 12th, 2012
10:15 am
Forgot to ask, what the hell do #2 and #3 have to do with a two point conversion attempt….are you getting journalism classes from Suguira..??..
Peter
November 12th, 2012
10:35 am
Mark going for two meant getting 2.5 yards….. and so why if you can’t get 1 yard ?
Our offensive line must be too small or too weak ? Turner must be too slow ?
Peter
November 12th, 2012
10:37 am
With out a doubt both lines got beat on Sunday…… can’t make a yard on the ground, and zero pass rush.
Falcon Man
November 12th, 2012
10:41 am
We gave the game to them!!! Ryan played great…but should have utilized 88’s size and threw those balls up high for him to go up and grab….
10per
November 12th, 2012
10:44 am
Maybe I have been watching Tech too much all year, but the Falcons really could use a pitch/zone read in their playbook. Getting down inside the 5 and not being able to get out pads low and run it up the middle is killing us.
willdave
November 12th, 2012
10:49 am
Man, so many things went wrong yesterday. I don’t think you can pick just one instance as making all the difference. However, my biggest concern is our inability to gain short yardage when we really needed it. What was up with that crap?
Anyway, I just want to thank and congratulate the Falcons for beginning the season 8-0 and flirting with immortality. This is by far their best start ever, and we true fans are da*n-proud of this team.
GO FALCONS!!! (Saints still suck!)
Gordon
November 12th, 2012
10:49 am
Mark,
On going for two, if we fail the score is 28-23. If we then score a touchdown we have to go for two again just to get up by a field goal. If we fail the second time, a field goal beats us. Going for two too soon is called chasing the point and it rarely works out, especially at the highest levels. We lost, as you wrote yesterday, because we couldn’t score from so close at the end. We need a guy that can always get us 1 or 2 yards.
Falcon Brass
November 12th, 2012
10:57 am
So what if Turner failed to gain an inch on the goal line against the Saints? So what if Turner only gained 42 yards against Arizona in the playoffs? So what if he only gained 39 yards against Green Bay in the playoffs? So what if he only gained 41 yards vs New York in the playoffs? So what if he always fails to gain even a yard in critical situations? So what if he puts us in 2nd and long 10-20 times a game? So what if we are 0-3 in the playoffs? We are 8-1. We know what we are doing. Is that arrogance?
Gatorman
November 12th, 2012
11:14 am
Am I the only one who thinks the Falcons have no running back now. I really get tired of seeing a slow oaf running sideways to be consistently hit behind the line. I notice on several occasions yesterday the line opened a hole, but it closed before the the back even got there.
Tommy Maddox
November 12th, 2012
11:16 am
With NO running game, I’m surprised the Falcons have gone this far without a loss.
Angus
November 12th, 2012
11:16 am
Plain and simple, we had plenty of chances to win, but never took advantage of the opportunities.
I thought the three and out with 3:30 to go in the first half (which started with a horrible Turner carry) put us behind the 8-ball, and set the tone for the rest of the game. We needed a big play at some point to make up for it, but never got it.
Oh well, let’s get ready for the next one.
Monday morning one-liners | Sport Snapback Hats Sport Snapback Hats
November 12th, 2012
11:18 am
[...] Bradley of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution thinks Falcons coach Mike Smith erred by not going for two early in the fourth [...]
Old Granddad
November 12th, 2012
11:19 am
We could not score from the one. How could we have gotten the two point conversion? We need some very quick pass plays. Snap and throw.
SAL
November 12th, 2012
11:22 am
Everyone just chill!!!!!!!!
james
November 12th, 2012
11:37 am
The 4th and goal play call was abysmal. They needed to roll Matt Ryan out to the right, bootleg style, to shift the receivers and defenders that direction. Matt would have had the option to an open Tony Gonzalez, or may even have headed straight to the pylon himself and gotten in with the winning touchdown. Why not play to the strengths of this team rather than rehashing over and over what has become a low percentage play for them (Turner up the middle)?
flagger
November 12th, 2012
11:59 am
READ THIS CAREFULLY!!!! WE ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF A RUNNING BACK THAT CAN GET A YARD WHEN NEEDED…. AND A DEFENSE THAT CAN TACKLE….
dan
November 12th, 2012
12:04 pm
We are the Saints Little Brothers, and this is what Little Brothers do, find ways to lose games to Big Brother. Ridiculous! The Saints have the worst defense in the freakin league, and we can’t score TD’s on our last two offensive possessions???? Its good to know that we can still lose to the Saints even without their head coach. How about this…how about I just go ahead and assume that we lose to the Saints every year. Just automatically chalk up 2 losses. Falcons finish 12-4 with 2 losses to the 8-8 Saints. G@D DAMMIT!!!
"You don't even start looking at 2 points until 7 minutes"
November 12th, 2012
12:11 pm
I totally disagree. You are playing against Drew Brees. You have to know the possibility of him having a long drive (at the minimum) and taking a possession away. His mistake is he should quit thinking like a defensive coordinator and like a balanced head coach. GO FOR TWO. Every coach carries a chart that shows what to do. It would have changed the way the Saints approached defending the goal line defense as well.
Hillbilly D
November 12th, 2012
12:17 pm
Asante Samuel intercepted Drew Brees’ first pass and returned the ball to the Saints’ 12 but was flagged for excessive celebration,
Why can’t these guys in the NFL just hand the ball to the ref and save their celebrating until after the game. Seeing these dances after every play is one reason I don’t watch much football, anymore.
Peter
November 12th, 2012
12:25 pm
Asante Samuel intercepted Drew Brees’ first pass and returned the ball to the Saints’ 12 but was flagged for excessive celebration,
Yes that was a totally moronic move. set the tone for the day, as their heads were more into celebrating then playing SMART and Tackling…. They deserved the loss with the poor play, and they better tighten up or the will be one and done in the playoffs.
rich
November 12th, 2012
12:33 pm
Going for 2 would have made no sense. Falcons were getting their butts kicked at the line of scrimmage….REPEATEDLY couldnt even gain a yard……so how would you expect them to be able to convert a 2 point conversion
Softcore
November 12th, 2012
12:38 pm
I thought not going for the 2 point conversion was stupid right at the moment, but what if the Falcons had scored a TD (instead of coming away with the field goal that made it 28-27). The score would have then been 31-28 Falcons and if they had missed the 2 pt conversion earlier – it would have been 30-28 and could have lost on a FG. A 2nd pt conversion attempt (this one good) would have been necessary to make it 31-28. In hindsight it all looks simple ,, just like not running the ball on 3rd and goal with the game on the line and getting stuffed. Should have thrown 4 straight passes. An btw, when are we ever going to see any roll out by Ryan?
loyal falcon
November 12th, 2012
12:55 pm
It’s going to be sweet holding that trophy up in the Superdome in february. The ultimate payback!
Peter
November 12th, 2012
12:58 pm
Too bad Roddy White can’t keep playing instead of talking trash…… he has beaten his defender only to run backwards……. Do they teach you to run your route backwards, and to run your mouth all at the same time ?
Open Minded
November 12th, 2012
1:08 pm
Michael turner is so SLOW… we get burned game after game by fast RB’s but ours is slower than molasses in the cold.
He was so INEFFECTIVE.
Please, let’s get some speed back there… Rodgers is good but not terribly fast.
A good shorthand to remember whether or not to go for 2
November 12th, 2012
1:09 pm
[...] with 13 minutes remaining, to cut the lead to 28-23 pending the point after. Smith’s absurd reasoning doesn’t merit discussion, and according to Bill Barnwell and the footballcommentary folks, [...]
Eric C.
November 12th, 2012
1:11 pm
- 2pt conversion…in hindsight would have been nice because they could have tied the game at 31 instead of having to go for 4th down. However, what are the odds of converting a 2 pt attempt? 40 something percent? I agree with Coach Smith, given the defensive play in this game, that it was too early to worry about 2 pt conversions.
- On Turner, if anyone is going to replace him…need an angry-running, Marion Barber-like, back. Rodgers can only juke so many people…he goes down with the good hit. Snelling is too much like Turner. In any case, the O-line needs to perform better.
- Arizona is coming off a bye and have a long losing streak…dangerous team and the Falcons need to shake this game off.
- Agree that the Sidbury penalty was very costly, but the Asante penalty…we’ll never know. Given the Falcons goalline play, let’s make no assumptions they would have scored from the 12. Also, that was an incredible interception…give him some credit because it would have been 0 points with just about any other DB.
Eric C.
November 12th, 2012
1:18 pm
loyal falcon, you don’t know how sweet that would be…very much a dream right now…but getting it at the superdome would erase all of the sour memories in Falcons history, Danny White, the 1980s, losing Brett Favre, the Eugene Robinson fiasco, Petrino, Vick, the GB and NYG playoff losses., etc. …all of it erased if the Falcons are smiling in NO in February.
Falcony
November 12th, 2012
1:35 pm
Playing at the Saints a the Superdome was just a taste of what the Playoffs will be like. “We lost” I am not convinced that we can win in those situatation. Elite teams get better as the season progress. I am tired of having a great regular season while seeing a decline in performance towards the end of the year and then eventually losing in the Playoffs
Falcony
November 12th, 2012
1:37 pm
Playing at the Saints a the Superdome was just a taste of what the Playoffs will be like. “We lost” I am not convinced that we can win in those situatation. Elite teams get better as the season progress. I am tired of having a great regular season while seeing a decline in performance towards the end of the year and then eventually losing in the (1st round of the playoffs)
Falcony
November 12th, 2012
1:41 pm
Asante appologizes for his excessive celebration, he thought we had won the Superbowl.
Dum-Bass
November 12th, 2012
1:49 pm
MB, don’t even try to reason using common sense and logic with these “so-called expert coaches”. They are all “know-it-alls” and usually end up being the reason for several losses. Take Jeff Fisher of the St. Louis Rams for example last night. He is still up to his same old antics he employed while with the TN Titans. He will never go to another Super Bowl because he is too “dumb” and conservative. Hope the Rams fans are enjoying him. That OT with the 49ers last night was pathetic, for both teams, actually! I have seen better high school teams in GA than those two. How do you get a delay of game penalty after your kicker has just made a 53 yd. FG? Then he misses the 58 yarder, of course. A tie game like that in the NFL is not just “kissing your sister”, it’s more like “kissing your UGLY stepsister!”. Bet those were some happy fans leaving that game, after putting after all that money, and seeing neither team win. Do something, even if it’s a kick-off for FG’s from the 50 until someone misses or hits it.
Mike S.
November 12th, 2012
1:59 pm
Short yardage continues to be an issue. They stubbornly run Turner up the gut and he usually gets stacked up behind the line. Running Turner on 3rd down inside the 5 is a wasted down right now. They would have been better off trying something else. They settled for that early FG because they got stuffed on short yardage as well. Its a play that more often than not will result in lost yardage.
buckblue
November 12th, 2012
2:00 pm
Geaux for 2 go for 3….it does not realy matter
Saints have won the 11 of the last 13 time they have lined up against the nasty…stinky…dirty birds
Falcons…Lords of NO Rings
Hollywould
November 12th, 2012
2:01 pm
Good game/ just short prob. a good thing the streak is over. Got to get Turner out of there. he is killing us. Good defensive adjustments at halftime. Everything will be ok folks.
crowmeat
November 12th, 2012
2:10 pm
The saints did not beat the falcons..the falcons beat the falcons! You can blame everyone in the orginazation from the water boy to the owner..IF you don’t have a run game you will Not travel very far in this league! How in the hell do you go from one of the top run teams in the league to the Bottom run team in the league in one season???? We have basically the same people from last year, what gives? When your offense can NOT cash in from the goal line OR anywhere in the red zone, you SUCK as an offense…We now see the REAL dirty birds..Smith has NO wins against the ants and will probably figure a way to lose at the dome in 17 days!! The New offense and defense coach’s have not a clue on how to stop the run and or cover a receiver or stop the run up the gut! A.Samuel is a joke..D.Robinson should be traded or cut loose as soon as possible, insert R. Mcclain in his spot & watch the difference in play!! M.Ryan still looks like a deer in the headlights..He can not survey the field & find the open receiver..one that comes to mind..Gonzo # 88 was open all day..for some reason Ryan did not want him to have his 3rd td catch..That lineman ,I think #79 that caught the 1st td..was not used again that game! Cutter does not have a clue as to what works and sticking with it..Nolan’s defense has show what they can do against a top rated qb and all the different formations they can throw out there..YET they refuse to use those formations against anyone else!!
I inetially thought we had something new and exciting here with the new cordinators..but, alas, I was wrong..The birds have been lucky as hell so far this year..yeah, they might make the playoffs But, if a run game does Not show up soon..like next week..too bad so sad, another season gone by the wayside!
I Personally am sick and tired of Smith’s same ole b/s news conference: ” we have a lot of things we need to correct and we will start on that as soon as we review the film” b/s, he has said basically the same thing for 5 years and I don’t see the improvements from week to week!
One disgusted 46 year fan..
DawgNole
November 12th, 2012
2:21 pm
DeepDiver
November 12th, 2012
6:23 am
I don’t mind the decision not to go at all. Firstly, it’s hard to pass it in from the 2 when the defense is looking pass, as we demonstrated late in the game. I highly doubt the Falcons would have tried a run in that spot given the recent failures.
_________________
You “doubt they would’ve tried a run in that spot”? Didn’t they do exactly that at game’s end?
Jack ®
November 12th, 2012
2:22 pm
Turner up the middle ain’t working.
DawgNole
November 12th, 2012
2:43 pm
Buckeye
November 12th, 2012
6:51 am
By the way, did anyone else’/s comcast HD get stuck on the chicago channel movie after the emergency alert? I missed the end starting after the Douglas play at the 1.
______________________
Dump Comcast! They’ve long been one of the world’s worst corporate giants. I finally left them 2 years ago for DirecTV. No regrets. Much more reliable.
Ken Norman
November 12th, 2012
2:46 pm
THANK GOD FOR THE LAKERS!!!
DawgNole
November 12th, 2012
2:48 pm
loyal falcon
November 12th, 2012
7:45 am
CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL THE DEFENSE TO STOP TRYING TO TACKLE HIGH! ALL THAT DOES IS ALLOW THE PERSON TO GAIN MORE YARDAGE WHILE THE DEFENDER IS TRYING TO TAKE THEM DOWN. ( THE CHRIS IVORY TD!!!!!) COME ON DEFENSE!!!!!!
____________________
Good point. Basic tackling techniques are no longer taught/practiced. Defenders think they’re strong enough to knock the runner off his feet w/o wrapping up. It’s the same mentality that makes them celebrate routine plays.
DawgNole
November 12th, 2012
3:13 pm
nbrdrdnk
November 12th, 2012
8:05 am
UGH… those three haunting words again: fourth and one.
_________________
How bout those SIX haunting words: “First and goal from the one.”
UGH is right!
DawgNole
November 12th, 2012
3:20 pm
Herschel Talker
November 12th, 2012
7:45 am
MB:
You are WRONG. It’s way too early at that point. If he goes for 2 and misses, and then the Saints tack on a FG, then you’re down 8, not 7 and then you need a TD and a 2-pt conv to win. When you start chasing points too early, it will bite you more than not.
_________________
Are you mathematically challenged? If you’re “down 8, not 7,” then “a TD and a 2-pt conv” is NOT going to get you a win.
Otis Spunkemeyer
November 12th, 2012
3:20 pm
The falcons are really not all theyre cracked up to be.
DawgNole
November 12th, 2012
3:53 pm
Tommy Maddox
November 12th, 2012
11:16 am
With NO running game, I’m surprised the Falcons have gone this far without a loss.
_______________________
They haven’t; they lost to the Saints.
JD
November 12th, 2012
3:53 pm
I told my son the same thing before the TD. It made a lot of sense to us.
C from Marietta
November 12th, 2012
3:57 pm
You guys are a bunch of cry babies. SO WHAT THEY LOST ONE GAME!
Last time I checked they are 8-1. GET OVER IT! They lost a game on the road in the NFL. IT HAPPENS! If you play .500 on the road in the NFL your doing good.Your bunch of crying is stupid. It’s like your rooting for them to lose to crash.
C from Marietta
November 12th, 2012
4:00 pm
@ crowmeat
If your sick of Coach Smith. Your no 46 year fan of the Falcons. He is the best coach in the history of the franchise already. If you think otherwise. Your not very smart or don’t know football.
C from Marietta
November 12th, 2012
4:02 pm
@ crowmeat
This is funny and I quote you
“M.Ryan still looks like a deer in the headlights”
Yeah, a 411 year 3 td performance in the headlights. Yeah, I convinced your just stupid.
Weyman C. Wannamaker Jr. (A Great American)
November 12th, 2012
4:12 pm
Mark Bradley: “The Falcons will lose – but not today”
oops!
falcon
November 12th, 2012
4:19 pm
When a defensive lineman chases your RB down and tackles him for a loss, it’s time to add some speed to the backfield. I’m sick of seeing the Falcons line up in a bunch formation, then run Turner into the pile. It don’t work anymore. It didn’t work last year, and it aint working now. Arthur Blank needs to shake things up a bit. We keep trying the same old tired stuff and we’re getting stopped.
DawgNole
November 12th, 2012
4:27 pm
crowmeat
ovember 12th, 2012
2:10 pm
Smith has NO wins against the ants and will probably figure a way to lose at the dome in 17 days!!
______________________
Better do your research before posting on here and confirming your ignorance. Smith may or may not “figure a way to lose at the dome in 17 days,” but in any event he already has TWO wins over the Saints.
Amanda davis
November 12th, 2012
4:44 pm
I drive a Fiat and where they are made you can drive on the left side of the road. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
Keith
November 12th, 2012
4:53 pm
You’ve got White, Jones, Gonzo, Davis …and we try to run it in with the worst part of our offense all day – Turner and the run game. Should have thrown it twice there.
Keith
November 12th, 2012
4:54 pm
Re: DawgNole
I know he has 1 win vs the Saints….next time should make it #2.
Go FALCONS!
Kirk
November 12th, 2012
5:23 pm
MT is taking the heat. But in my opinion the offensive line is not creating a surge. Then the play calling does not fit MT’s running style. MT is only a “down hill” runner after he’s worked up a “head of steam” which means we need more screen and sweep plays. This 2 yards and a cloud of dust play calls will not work. Our line is not big or strong enough to create holes. We have an athletic under sized line, hence we have to be a moving line. Play calls must work toward our strengths. Passing play calls have been excellent. Only the running plays for MT need improving. Quizz plays are fine, so no changes needed for Quizz.
Its Statistics
November 12th, 2012
5:50 pm
Going for 2 was certainly the percentage play. Read http://www.stat.duke.edu/~dalene/chance/chanceweb/133.sackrowitz.pdf if you really want to know why. If Smith had a mathematically sound chart he would be able to use it before the end of the game.
hmkidd1
November 12th, 2012
6:13 pm
whaa!! whaa!!! whaa!!! The Saints have the Dirty Birds #, simple as that. Tell Roddy to keep his mouth shut, that might help when it comes to the Saints. Like Will Smith said “you have to go 9 – 0, before you can be 16 – 0.” Dirty Birds still having GREAT season, but the regular season means nothing, I’m sure you realize that after the past few years.
DawgNole
November 12th, 2012
9:57 pm
Keith
November 12th, 2012
4:54 pm
Re: DawgNole
I know he has 1 win vs the Saints….next time should make it #2.
________________
He has TWO wins vs the Saints–one in 2008, the other in 2010. Look it up.
Adogg36
November 13th, 2012
12:23 am
Wounda coulda shoulda!!! We didnt!!!!
Adogg36
November 13th, 2012
4:30 am
All I can say is sad!!!!!
Steve
November 13th, 2012
5:16 am
Poor Roddy White — somewhere, a village is missing its idiot.
Singletary
November 13th, 2012
9:51 am
Dear Dirk — Naked bootleg. Your OLine isn’t creating A or B gaps. An interested fan.
Chip
November 13th, 2012
10:22 am
Falcons ran 11 plays inside the 5 (not counting FG attempts) against New orleans and scored a TD on two of them, a miserable 18.2% conversion rate. Throw all those “statistically speaking” charts because the Falcons “statistically” should have scored at a much higher rate of success according to the charts. With that futility inside the 5, kicking the XP was absolutely the right call.