Falcons' coach takes the heat, team readies for Saints - article 10/27 (1 Viewer)

[kfran]

Coach takes the heat, team readies for Saints
by Chris Vivlamore; Staff , The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

You came blame Mike Smith for the Falcons loss to Dallas.

He does.

The head coach took responsibility for Sunday's 37-21 defeat at the hands of the Cowboys. And he presented his own case in a point-by-point analysis at his Monday news conference:

- The Falcons had three turnovers.

- Quarterback Matt Ryan was sacked four times.

- The team gave up two long scoring plays: one a 59-yard touchdown pass from Tony Romo to Miles Austin, the other a 73-yard punt return by Patrick Crayton.

- Romo passed for 311 yards and three touchdowns. He had a quarterback rating of 141.

"We did some very uncharacteristic things [Sunday]," Smith said. "We started fast in all three phases. ... After the first quarter we were not able to sustain that. In fact, we really struggled with it. We've got to sustain the level of play to be successful in this league.

"It's my responsibility as the head coach to make sure that we do. We did not get that done [Sunday]. To start that fast in all three phases and then to have the level of play go down, I take full responsibility for that." ...

... The Falcons will have to move forward pretty quick. They take a 4-2 record to New Orleans for a Monday Night Football matchup with the undefeated Saints. New Orleans has been showing the rest of the NFL how offense is supposed to work, averaging league-bests of 427.3 yards and 39.7 points a game.

"There are some things that we've got to get better on, especially with [Saints quarterback] Drew Brees being one of the best quarterbacks in the league passing the ball right now," Falcons defensive lineman Jonathan Babineaux said. "We can't be sitting there staring at the quarterback, giving him time all day."

The preparation for New Orleans could involve a lineup change in the secondary, though Smith was not specific on what changes are possible.

"We will evaluate week to week," Smith said. "We are always contemplating changes if we feel like they will help us. ... If we think that's warranted we will make changes." ...

More...
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/10279676/Coach-takes-the-heat,-team-readies-for-Saints-

 

[chad_moore]

Sounds to me like he's already makes excuses and going with the injuries as the reason he is going to get beat like a rented mule this Monday night!!! :00000665:

 

[UptownShark]

You can sense the fear.