Head Coach Mike Smith
Q: Did you think that the draws they were able to hit were good match-ups for them?
A: “Well, we did not fit the run very well yesterday. This week, we definitely have to address the draw plays, the 43-yarder and the two 18-yarders. The run fits, in general, were not very good. It is something that we have addressed and watched on tape. We will get those things fixed. I thought that they did a nice job in their game plan in coming out and trying to run the ball. They did it by running the draws which come off the pass. I thought they did a very nice job.”
Q: Keith (Brooking) said that when he was lined up on the tight end he was reading coverage the whole way.
A: “We did not fit the run plays very well and we didn’t fit the draw very well. We had a good scheme, but it was something where we could have played a lot better.”
Q: What happened this week? You stopped (LaDainian) Tomlinson last week.
A: “We fit the run and we played with great gap integrity seven days earlier against a very good running team and the top running back in the league. We did not play our best game on Sunday. To give up the rushing yards, we were very disappointed. We were very disappointed to have the outcome that we did. It’s all about fitting the run. When you don’t fit the run, you are going to give up some big plays like we did.”
Q: After Philadelphia, you all were able to bounce back.
A: “I think anytime a team runs the ball on you, it comes down to how you fit the run. It’s not necessarily what they are doing.”
Q: Is there any solace in that you all have turned it around before?
A: “This team has been very resilient. Anytime that we have not had the outcome that we have liked, we have come back the next week and played well. We should have a lot of desire to come out and play well this week. This is a big game for us. It is a division game here for us against the team that, depending on what happens tonight, could be leading the division.”
Q: Jerious (Norwood’s) production seems to be trailing off a little bit. Is it due to his rib injury?
A: “Jerious has not had the break out and explosive plays like he did at the beginning of the season. He has been nursing an injury with the ribs, but they have done a nice job in bottling him up. I think teams are aware of when Jerious is in the game.”
Q: Did you see anything from the film from (Pierre) Thomas’ return?
A: “There were actually three missed tackles on the kickoff return. There were also a couple of leverage issues where guys were out of position. That is something that Keith (Armstrong), Tom (McMahon) and the special teams guys have talked about and we realize that it was not one of our most efficient coverages. We have done a nice job throughout the entire season covering kicks. I thought we really did a nice job in the ball game up until that point of covering kicks. In special team play, it just takes one. They are probably the most important plays in the game because they are a scoring opportunity. Guys have to be ready to play that play.”
Q: Did you count (Michael) Koenen as one of the misses?
A: “Yes. He has to tackle as well. We hope he doesn’t have a whole lot of opportunities. He practices it, maybe not as much as the other guys, but it is practiced. He’s involved in our coverage unit.”
Q: Matt (Ryan) keeps looking comfortable in tough situations. Has there been a time when you have realized that this guy wants the ball and you need to give it to him to put the game in his hands?
A: “Matt continues to mature. In terms of running our offense, I think he has run it very efficiently. I thought he had his best game in terms of yardage and throwing the football. He has a good understanding of our offense. We anticipate that he will grow as we finish the last part of the season.”
Q: The first time you played Tampa Bay, Matt was a little shaky. Have you looked at how far he has come from that Week 2 game?
A: “Not only has Matt grown, but our entire football team has grown. That was his first game on the road in an away stadium having to face those elements. Even though he played poorly in the first half, I thought it was his coming out. In the second half, after a tough start in the first half, he was able to come out and complete seven of nine passes and complete a scoring drive. We were within a touchdown and a two-point conversion of tying the game in the fourth quarter. They totally dominated the game in the first half on both sides of the ball. I think that game was important not only for Matt, but for our entire football team because we came back in the second half from a 17-3 deficit.”
Q: On the challenge on the fourth down yesterday, was that to get the officials over to talk to you?
A: “I felt like, at that point in time, if we did win the challenge then we would definitely stop them from having a scoring opportunity. It was a challenge that we needed to take because if we won, it would have been our ball.”
Q: Are you still alright with your fourth and five decision?
A: “Yes, I have no reservations about it. With three minutes and 15 seconds to go on the fourth and five from the 35 yard-line, I felt like we were going to punt them back. Michael (Koenen) had a great punt. With three minutes and 15 seconds, if we were able to stop them, we were going to be able to get our offense in better field position than taking the gamble on fourth down. In hindsight, which hindsight is 20/20, you made the wrong decision. I had all the confidence in the world that we would go out and be able to stop them in a four-minute situation.”
Q: (Sean Payton) took a gamble just before that. If they would have kicked a field goal, it would have tied it. Some people thought you were going to go for it because you have gone for it a couple of times this year.
A: “Yes, we have. In this situation, we felt as a staff that it was in our best interest to punt the ball in that situation with the two timeouts.”
MORE FROM THE FALCONS-SAINTS GAME:
- GAMEDAY LIVE: Complete coverage from the Falcons-Saints game
- GAME CENTER: Stats and more from NFL.com
- GAME RECAP: Offense puts up numbers but late score lifts Saints
- GAME NOTES: Official game notes from the Superdome press box
- GAME BLOG: More news and notes from the press box
- BLOGS: Flipping Out with Falcon Al | Off the Cuff with Mookie Dunkleman
- J. MIKE'S MISSIVES: News and thoughts from the AF.com Managing Editor
- PRESS CONFERENCE: Head Coach Mike Smith | Matt Ryan
- NFL NETWORK: Highlights from the Falcons-Saints game in New Orleans
- TRANSCRIPTS: Head Coach Mike Smith | Falcons | Saints
- REVIEW AND RESPOND: Ask a question about Sunday's game
- FORUMS: Talk about the Falcons with other fans
- INACTIVES: Inactives and starters from Sunday's game at the Superdome
