Head Coach Mike Smith
Opening Remarks
“After reviewing the tape, I felt like we left a lot of things out there yesterday offensively, defensively and on special teams. We didn’t get the outcome that we wanted. With that being said, we pride ourselves in our fast start. When we have been successful, we have had a very fast start. That was something that we didn’t do yesterday. We kind of were lethargic at the beginning of the football game. I think we got through the first series on offense and defense and then started to play a little bit better. It wasn’t the type of start that we like. Like always, when we come in here on Monday, we have the 24-hour rule. We are moving on to our next opponent which is the Carolina Panthers. It will be a 4:15 p.m. kickoff here at the Georgia Dome. It is a NFC South divisional game. We anticipate that it is going to be a tough battle for all of us.”
Q: How much better has your offense improved since you played the Panthers in Week 4?
A: “I think this is a maturation process for our football team. I think we have gotten better over the past seven weeks. I think we will be a little different team in terms of what we are doing both offensively, defensively and on special teams. This is a process that we have been going through. It has been our goal for us to get better each time we go out and play.”
Q: How much did you learn from that game because your secondary had a tough day?
A: “That was a tough game for us, especially in the passing game. Our young guys faced two outstanding receivers in Muhsin Muhammad and Steve Smith. Those guys had good games against us. I know that our guys will be up for the challenge. It’s just not our secondary. We weren’t able to pressure the quarterback in that first ballgame. It is going to be imperative that we are able to apply some pressure either with our front four or some other way to get to (Jake Delhomme).”
Q: Are people reading too much into the fact that four of your top tacklers in yesterday’s game were defensive backs?
A: “No, I think our run defense was not what we would like it to be in the first half. They did not run the ball. When they ran the ball, it was basically runs with reverses. They had a number of reverses in the first half. In the second half of the ballgame they got the running game established a little bit. I don’t think we fit the run like we would like to. Even though it was only about 120 yards, which is about our average, it was too much there in the third quarter like Coach (Mike) Shanahan’s teams like to do. I thought that they ran the ball better than we wanted them to, that’s for sure.”
Q: How was the play of your linebackers?
A: “I thought that Curtis (Lofton) did not have one of his better games. I thought that we need to make sure that we fit our runs. When we do fit our runs, we need to make sure it is not necessarily the linebackers but the defensive line. We were out of our gaps and that is why they were able to have the success that they had.”
Q: How is John Abraham health-wise?
A: “I think Abraham made it through the game. John’s a tough guy. It’s the time of the year that there are going to be a lot of guys that have bumps and bruises. We had a number of guys that left the game and were able to come back. That talks a lot about the toughness of our football team. We don’t really have a whole lot to say about our injury report right now. We won’t know much more until Wednesday.”
Q: I wanted to ask you about Todd Weiner. Have you been amazed at the way that he has been playing?
A: “He is one of the toughest guys that I have been around. He is amazing to go out there and play. He played every snap of the ballgame yesterday. He’s not 100 percent from his procedure that he had last season. He is a tough guy. It’s really amazing to see him go out there and play with the production that he has not being at 100 percent.”
Q: Everyone seems to know that he is hurt. Why do you think that guys don’t attack him or do they go after him?
A: “I don’t think they would attack him any differently in terms of what they are going to do schematically. I know that there are certain things that Todd does better than others. He’s is really one tough guy.”
Q: Is there anything new to report on Sam (Baker)?
A: “Sam is increasing his rehabilitation. We are not anticipating him to be out for the long term. We know that he is going to get back at some point in time. We have ramped up his rehabilitation and he will continue that protocol.”
Q: Is there any possibility for Sam Baker to return this week?
A: “I would say no. He will be out this week.”
Q: When do you have to make a decision on (Renardo) Foster?
A: “We have to make that decision between now and Wednesday in terms of whether we will be placing him on the active roster or on injured reserve. Those are our two options.”
Q: Brandon Miller was available for you yesterday to provide some depth.
A: “Yes, he was. Kindal Moorehead was not able to go. We had Brandon Miller up and available although he did not participate in the game yesterday. I will say that Brandon has done some nice things with the opportunities that have come his way out there on the practice field.”
Q: I want to ask you about the wildcat formation that seems to be running rampant.
A: “It takes on feel of the old single wing or going way back to the wishbone. In terms of your defense, there is now another ball carrier there. I know that a couple of teams have been throwing the football from back there. It makes for knowing that you might have to defend the quarterback. He is not just going to be handing the ball off or throwing the ball. It adds another element to it.”
Q: Is there an amount of practice time you have to add to it?
A: “Some of the exotic formations you have to spend some time on. There is a lot behind it because you force a defensive staff to go through preparation time and you don’t know if you are going to see it or not. Some of the things that offensive coordinators stay up late at night dreaming up make it harder on defensive coaches.”
MORE FROM THE FALCONS-BRONCOS GAME:
- GAMEDAY LIVE: Complete coverage of the Falcons loss to the Broncos
- GAME CENTER: Stats and more from NFL.com
- GAME RECAP: Turner's touchdowns aren't enough to carry Falcons
- GAME NOTES: Official game notes from the Georgia Dome press box
- GAME BLOG: Live notes and commentary in the official game blog
- RING OF HONOR: Vote for the next member of the Falcons Ring of Honor
- VIDEO: Head Coach Mike Smith | Ryan | Abraham | White | McClure
- HIGHLIGHTS: Game highlights from NFL Network | Michael Turner Highlights
- J. MIKE'S MISSIVES: News and more from the AF.com Managing Editor
- TRANSCRIPTS: Head Coach Mike Smith | Falcons | Broncos
- INACTIVES: Inactives and starters from the Falcons-Broncos Game
- REVIEW AND RESPOND: Ask your questions about the game with Voices Heard
- PHOTOS: Images from the Falcons 24-20 loss to the Denver Broncos
- DISCUSS: Talk about the game with other fans on FalconsLIFE
