Mike Smith, Welcome To Hell...Err, Atlanta
by Dave the Falconer on Jan 24, 2008 2:47 AM EST
in Falcons News
9 comments
Congratulations, Mike Smith! You've just stepped into a situation where half the fan base doesn't know who the hell you are and the other half doesn't like you because you're not a big name. You also have a general manager in the same boat, a domineering owner and a roster roughly half-stocked with sourpusses and other players you probably don't want.
Boy, this is gonna be great!
Gin-fueled pessimism aside, I still think the decision to hire Mike Smith was made for the right reasons. He's a football guy through and through, just like Comrade Dimitroff. He's quiet and unassuming and has long toiled as an effective coordinator and assistant coach. He also doesn't have a reputation for being a space reptile unable to communicate with his players or the kind of guy that tucks them into bed at night. Players can respect someone in between, and lord knows we'd like our players to go through a season quietly and happily.
Nothing about Smith says flashy--including his name--but I don't really give two good goddamns about that. We tried player's coach and we tried big name over the last few years, and it got us one brilliant season and three ranging from mediocre to lousy. I think I speak for all of us when I say that I'm sick and tired of losing. I love a lot of our players and I'm still damn proud to say I'm a Falcons fan, but it would be nice to string together more than one winning season.
Sure, Smith and Dimitroff might fail. But at least they're being given a chance to succeed by the guys on top of this organization. If Blank and McKay can stick to business and resist the temptation to meddle, I think this combo has a chance to work. Even if I'm hard-up for a nickname for Mr. Smith, I'm going to say congratulations and cross my fingers. With any luck, this team will make some more confidence-affirming moves in the near future.
For the love of Tuggle, though, please hire a real offensive coordinator. Mike Mularkey can't even spell offense, much less teach it to anyone.
Oh, and I'd be remiss if I didn't tell you to check out Big Cat Country, our Jags blogger. I think his take on this is worth a read.
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Marcus Wiley
I'm not swayed by the "He's-not-a-big-name" argument, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't concerned with former Jags defender-cum-commentator comments that Del Rio (along with vocal vet Mike Peterson), NOT Smith was the driving force behind the success of the Jags defense.
If you didn't see Wiley, it's available as a video from ESPN.
by iRonin on Jan 24, 2008 10:21 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
I am concerned
by Dave the Falconer on Jan 24, 2008 11:17 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Scripts
I mean, really, when was the last time a new HC took over, and a lot of people came out and said, he's not very good and probably won't have success as an HC (Norv Turner notwithstanding).
Remember when Bobby Petrino was hired? I heard a lot of the same scripted accolades. It was the lone voices who turned out to have the most accurate assessment of the man's character.
He's not exactly endearing himself to me with his list of OC candidates...
by iRonin on Jan 24, 2008 12:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
River City Rage
by iRonin on Jan 24, 2008 12:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I would be interested myself
by Dave the Falconer on Jan 24, 2008 2:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
No, sir, I don't like it.
Besides, for every Wiley, you've got Stroud, Peterson, and Mathis (three names that actually matter) saying that Smith was great.
Yes, Jack Del Rio, as a defensive guy, had a big role in the shaping of our defense. Jack's role is in setting the tone and attitude of our defense. I know Pro Football Talk has been raking Smith over the coals for his decision to "die slow" against Brady rather than bring the heat and "die fast", but that was as much a Del Rio decision as it was a Smith one.
Mike is the X's and O's of our Defense, as well as the man who's responsible for filling huge holes due to injury. He's a guy who absolutely believes in the importance of next man up, and he won't hesitate to bench a big money star if the guy behind him is playing better. (Example, Bobby McCray, who almost held out this season, was benched for 4 games and inactivated for another, because he simply wasn't performing)
What you'll really like about Smith is his ability to make defensive players more functional and useful. Mike's a 4-3 guy, but he's found use for 3-4 style outside linebackers as DPR's, he's a master of scheming in such a way that your linebackers can become nearly interchangable, and your current roster should know that just cause they played inside or outside in 2007 dosen't mean they should assume that's where they'll play in 2008. Mike would rather keep a lesser player who can play inside and outside than a better player who is limited in his role. Same for DT's and DE's, a guy who can move around on the Defensive Line is more important to Mike than an all star who's a one trick pony. Dwight Freeney would be miserable under Smith, in my opinion.
The Idea that Del Rio is the "brains" behind the Defense is misguided. While he is without a doubt the emotional leader of the team, Del Rio left the x's and o's to Smith. If ex-players want to call him out for being less out there than Del Rio, they're foolishly underestimating Smith.
You'll have to trust me on this, but you're getting a really good coach that's been overlooked. We (Jacksonville) have been lucky that he's not been picked up sooner. Give him some time and you'll see some good things happen.
If you have more questions, please don't hesitate to ask (absurdpolitiks [AT] gmail [DOT] com )
-Chris
by River City Rage on Jan 24, 2008 4:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
A fantastically detailed answer
by Dave the Falconer on Jan 25, 2008 9:29 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Wiley Indeed
by runningback on Jan 24, 2008 12:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Here we go again...
When I fist started following this team, the coach was named Norm Heckler. He lasted a few games into 1968 and was replaced by another Norm... van Brocklin. But, that's another story.
Point is - names with either top-heavy recognition, or none, mean absolutely nothing. We've had `em all, from the ridiculously inept Marion Campbell to the solidly deserving Leeman Bennett. As for styles? We did H-Backs, Elvis, black jerseys, red jerseys, back in black and the gritz blitz. The immaterial is simply immaterial. So is the material for that matter.
If time has shown anything, we can and will have a great season when don't expect one and get mashed flat with a team loaded with talent and coaching.
Go figure. The gridiron gods must enjoy thumping my team. There has to be some form of sardonic enjoyment they get from the pain and chaos.
Okay, had my two minutes. I'm done.
Oh... almost forgot - Good luck Mike Smith!
...
by Redoubt on Jan 24, 2008 5:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
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