SMith talks about the 4th down play
 

Falcons coach Mike Smith said the plan all week was to be aggressive against the New Orleans Saints.
So, in overtime, with just a few inches to go he could not go against what he had been preaching all week and dial-up a punt on fourth-and-inches.
Here’s what Smith had to say after the Saints defeated the Falcons 26-23 in overtime on Sunday

Q&A: Smith takes

I loved his call, he don't. I guess it took the last defensive play to show them we really do have a set of nuts.

I was going to start a post titled "Mike Smith is an Idiot", but I'll just pile on here instead.

1- first half, 3rd and short before 2 minute warning. Incomplete pass instead of run by bruiser Turner. Didn't get it, stopped clock before two minute warning
2- onside kick with 4 minutes and 2 time outs against a team that had not run well all game
3- 4th and inches call minutes after just forcing the Saints into 3 and out

there's aggressive, and there's stupid

... sucks to be the Falclowns!

I thought it was the right call, we just executed better.

All we needed was to be in FG range and even though they held Brees in check for one drive already in OT. You don't keep giving our explosive offense chances, hell Sproles could have taken the punt back into range with just the return...

he did the right thing he'd had to go for it. LOL

I only have one point to add to this:

SMITH IS A D-BAG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Drew Brees scares the $**t out of Smith. Just told his team that he did not believe in them. Let's hope that they are damaged beyond repair

I understand his point on being agressive, the call to go for it was agressive but the play was anything but. It was a basic run play. If anybody was agressive it was the Saints, they stacked the line and attacked Turner. And his point about the play call and showing his hand makes no sense. This game was critical. Whatever he had it was time to use it.

I think he made a MISTAKE. Their defense was NOT slowing down and the Saints offense had sputtered in overtime already.

Why not punt and live to die another series of downs. Make the Saints march to a field goal.

If you DO NOT get the 1st down, the Saints are already in field goal range???

He had flashbacks of Drew carving them up there last year..lol

I agree Strato, that was a pure emotional call. He was not going to lose another game by Payton and Brees eating the clock to a field goal. He wanted to finally be the hero.

He was a hero, mine. Thank you Mike Smith.lol

the real kicker is, so what if they make it?
first down on your own 30 yd line, 35 yards from FG range
risk > reward

Play to win, not play not to lose. I was onboard with his decision and was fearful that they would ram it down our throat as they had all day long. Our boys made the stop when it counted, but my confidence in them was not there.

I HATE scary games. I have NEVER screamed at an inanimate object (T.V.) like I did yesterday. Very frustrating.

Alaska

Just play this

Hopefully this will cure him forever of that thing he has about going for it on fourth down against the Saints. He has been doing that so many times against us, and getting away with it a lot of the time, especially in that first Falcons/Saints game in the Superdome last year. Frankly I think it kind of reeks of desperation. You look at the whole series of him vs. Payton and he is clearly getting outcoached.

After a night to think about it and after hearing his and other's explanations it comes down to this:

Fear.

Look, he can talk about "we should be good enough to get a yard" until he's red in the face. He can talk about liking his guys and having faith in them to get it done all he wants.

It's double-speak because he DIDN'T have faith in his guys, in particular his defensive guys. That call wasn't about faith in anything. Instead it was about his fear of Drew Brees and the Saints Offense.

I just think Christmas CAME EARLY!

CLEARLY OUT COACHED!:doh:

Clearly he was out coached.

again, he risked an entire division-rival-for-first-place game so that he could retain possesion on his own 30
stupid

Smith should've ran a QB sneak and then he probably would've gotten it. The handoff allowed the Saints LB's and Safeties enough time to crash into the pile.

I love his arrogance.

Colin Cowherd on the Herd this morning explained it perfectly as to why it was a bad move. He was saying the only thing they would have gained is a first down, ON their 30yd line. The risk is too high to gamble on something like that on your own 30. They had just made the saints go 3 and out the possession before.

I completely agree with him on that. Mike Smith was a dumbass for doing that.

I think Mike Smith lacked mental stamina. His brain got messed by the plays to send the game into overtime (even though it benefitted the Falcons). And not getting a score on the 1st drive of overtime sent his brain into meltdown.

http://www.joanneburrell.com/blog/wp...in-melting.jpg

I disagree with this. Most coaches and players believe that if you can't make one yard when you need it, you don't deserve to win the game.

Punting would have told his team he doesn't believe in them. When you've racked up 4.3 yards/rush during the game, it's not unreasonable to expect to get 6 inches.

I'm damn happy that the defense bowed up and shut them down though. It means I won't have to hear any Falclowns fans crap for the rest of the season.

SFIAH

Didn't think about it at first... but it's a similar to what Bilichick did a while back against the Colts.

Honestly, I would have went for it too. If he would have made it and drove down field to kick a field goal... he would have been a genius. Oh well... suckers! =]

Not really...you make it.. its just a first down..you dont and you lose the game..

Punt and you have a chance at a TO or just all out stop..

Dumb move all the way around..and he is getting chewed up in the media for it...

If it would have been on our 40 ..then it would have made a a little more sense..