Crimson Red Sports

The big question is, do the Falcons continue their death spiral & does Mike Smith keep his job?

 :popcorn2:

By the way, Mark Ingram had a great game against the Cowboys a couple of weeks ago and has played well the last two games though he hasn't put up huge numbers.  One thing I've noticed is that he's been very animated after every run, almost looks like he's angry/upset every time he doesn't break one for a huge gain.  I'm not sure that's a good thing long-term.  He needs to calm down a little.

Spent my Friday in the location below watching my Saints sweep the Falcons and stay in the hunt for home field in the playoffs.  Not a bad morning.

(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w10/bamaphil1226/BZphxiZCQAAll9i.jpg)

The big question is, do the Falcons continue their death spiral & does Mike Smith keep his job?



 :popcorn2:

Well, my first part of the question is yes, now what about the 2nd part?


 :dunno:

I don't think they'll get rid of him after one bad year.  As much as I hate to see it as a Saints fan, he's done a great job for too many seasons to run him off after one disappointing season.  The Saints are at least the second best team in NFC and the Falcons have played them extremely close twice this year.  Sometimes that's just how it goes.  

I'm a big Falcons fan and my complaint against Smith has been the same over the years. He's plays it too safe and when they get a lead late in the game he tries to stall and hold the ball. This has resulted in several late game losses due to this overly conservative approach. He is a defensive coach, so he thinks he can win by running the ball late in trying to run out the clock. Also, they seem to play somewhat soft late in the game with too much coverage and almost no pass rush. Again, this has backfired more than once, but he just won't change. I can see him getting one more year, but he has to perform next year, no excuses.


 :popcorn2:

In seven years of running the most high-powered offense in the NFL Sean Payton has yet to figure out how to convert a 4th and 1, which has cost the Saints several games over the years.  Every coach has some weaknesses. 

At least he has won a Super Bowl and no one accuses him of playing it safe late in the game and relying too much on the "prevent" defense, which basically prevents you from winning.


 :facepalm:

Who Dat!!  :dance:

The prevent defense is the battlefield equivalent of a retreat.  You retreat all the way back to your end zone where you are forced to make a goal line stand to win the game, and hope for time to run out before they score.  If you are going to lose, at least go down fighting.