SmashMouth

Mike Smith's past success won't matter if team falters again in 2014 - ESPN

Garry42

I really don't understand how Smith can be credited with "past success"! You have to be able to win playoff games to have "success", and his record is far from great.

Utah_Saint

I'm surprised Mike Nolan still has a job.

In 2011 the falcons ranked 12th in the NFL in total yards allowed.
20th in pass yards allowed and 6th in rush yards allowed

Then Mike Nolan took over.

In 2012 the falcons ranked 24th in yards allowed, 23rd in pass yards allowed and 21st in rush yards allowed.

And last year the falcons ranked 27th in yards allows, 21st in pass yards allowed and 31st in rush yards allowed.

Since he's been there he's let Curtis Lofton, the teams leading tackler, Brent Grimes, Pro Bowl corner, and John Abraham, the teams leading pass rusher, all go.

And he's brought in Asante Samuel and Osi Umenyiora. Big names that never lived up to their big name contracts.

Smitty may have some credibility because of the overall success of the falcons since he's been there, but Nolan's two years in Atlanta have been bad and terrible.

ScottF

I don't know how Smith survived this year. I guess their drafting genius GM had too much on his plate to fire and hire coaches.

Blank has really proven to be clueless as an owner- Vick, Petrino, Smith

WhoDat!656

They are the failclowns, what else can you say!?

Vrillon82

I think a big part of their past success was easy schedule, the moment their schedule got hard, they went in the corner and balled up. If they manage to beat good teams, it usually has been when they caught them at the right time.