Head Coach Mike Smith
Q: Opening remarks:
A: “That was an outstanding football game. We played a very explosive offensive team. For our guys to go out and hold them to no touchdowns in the first half was very big. I liked the way that we played. Our players executed the game plan on both sides of the ball. We were proficient in our special teams as well. They bounced back well. There is a lot of stuff that we will have to check on the tape and make sure we get it corrected. But, this is another step in the process of our football team.”
Q: Play of the secondary today.
A: “Going into the game, we wanted to make sure that we didn’t give up explosive plays. This is a football team that leads the National Football League in offense, 20-yard plays and 40-yard plays. We did a good job. We got a lot of pressure on the quarterback. Our guys had to play coverage for a long time in terms of Drew (Brees) being able to improvise and extend plays, but they did a nice job. Most passes were contested. Our guys had a good understanding of how they were going to attack us. Dominique Foxworth played well. Chevis Jackson had a 95-yard interception for a touchdown and it was a big play. Chris Houston had an interception in the end zone. Erik Coleman intercepted the ball on the first play of the game and we were able to steal a possession there. You don’t want to give that team a lot of offensive opportunities because they are very potent.”
Q: On kicker Michael Koenen.
A: “Michael has kicked the ball off extremely well. He’s done a nice job with his net punting and directional punting. Net punting helps our coverage unit.”
Q: On offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey.
A: “I can’t say enough about our coaching staff. Mike and the offensive staff put together a very good game plan. It was executed extremely well. Brian VanGorder and his staff did a nice job as well. We have to continue working this process. We are a young football team. Our quarterback is maturing each week. As long as he continues to develop, we will continue to add to what we can do offensively.”
Q: On Matt Ryan’s play.
A: “He was very accurate in the first half. He threw some great timing routes out in the flat to our wide receivers. He made a heck of a play on a bootleg when they had a linebacker blitzing off the edge. He was able to avoid and get the pass to Justin Peelle. That was a big play. Like always, there are plays in that football game that we will have to do better and make corrections. They are a lot easier to fix when you have a win.”
Q: Jerious Norwood’s 67-yard touchdown.
A: “It was an outstanding play. We got the look that we wanted pre-snap. Matt (Ryan) knew where to go with the ball. Jerious likes to run. He’s fast and he likes to run. He caught the ball in the seam and we had two nice blocks. Michael Jenkins had a nice block and Laurent Robinson had one too. Jerious had an opening and he is one of the fastest players in the league.”
MORE ON THE FALCONS-SAINTS GAME:
- GAME CENTER: Stats and more in the NFL.com Game Center
- GAME BLOG: Live thoughts and notes in the FalconsLIFE game blog
- GAME NOTES: Official game notes from the Georgia Dome press box
- VIDEO: Head Coach Mike Smith | Ryan | Houston | Foxworth | Jackson | White | Norwood
- NFL NETWORK: Falcons-Saints game highlights
- J. MIKE'S MISSIVES: Thoughts and comment from the AF.com Managing Editor | Birdseed
- TRANSCRIPTS: Head Coach Mike Smith | Falcons | Saints
- INACTIVES: Inactives and starters from the Falcons-Saints game
- REVIEW AND RESPOND: Ask your questions about the game via Voices Heard
- PHOTOS: Images from the Falcons win over the New Orleans Saints
- DISCUSS: Talk about the game with other fans on the Message Boards
