Tag Archives: Mike Smith

Rookies the center of attention

By dcox | Published: May 18, 2010
Atlanta Falcons Head Coach Mike Smith had one message for his rookies on Monday at the team’s first rookie minicamp practice: Relax. For the players gathered at Flowery Branch on Monday, their primary objective was to continue to learn the Falcons way of doing things. “I think that’s the biggest thing, when they left here a week ago [...]
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Final: The Streak Is Over

By John Manasso | Published: January 3, 2010
BLOGGER’S NOTE: For stats and play-by-play information, check out the official Falcons-Bucs game center on NFL.com. As the Falcons entered a new chapter in team history, perhaps the enduring image will be that of running back Jason Snelling breaking tackle after tackle, twisting and turning away from Tampa Bay defenders on a 22-yard, fourth-quarter run that [...]
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Pregame: What Might Have Been

By John Manasso | Published: January 3, 2010
Today on this last day of the regular season, I’m wondering about what might have been. Looking at the standings as the day begins, it looks like if the Falcons beat Tampa Bay to finish 9-7 then they won’t have missed the playoffs by much. A 10-6 record will have been necessary at a minimum – potentially [...]
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Pregame: Random Thoughts

By John Manasso | Published: December 27, 2009
With the exception of the Falcons’  shooting for a winning record, today’s game doesn’t have a lot of big themes or potentially surprising news stories in the way that the last few weeks have. Last Sunday, Matt Ryan and Michael Turner returned to the lineup (albeit briefly for Turner) and Falcons Head Coach Mike Smith [...]
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Pregame: Unusual Paths to the NFL

By John Manasso | Published: December 20, 2009
To say that the New York Jets have some coaches on their staff with unusual resumes might be an understatement, but maybe that’s just more of a commentary on the mercurial path followed by many an NFL assistant. Eight years ago, Doug Plank, the Jets’ assistant secondary coach and the former head coach of the Arena [...]
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Third Quarter: Call Goes Against Falcons

By John Manasso | Published: December 13, 2009
One quarter still remains and the Falcons trail by seven and are driving deep in the Saints’ territory with a chance to tie, but the outcome of the game — and the Falcons’ playoff hopes along with it — might have swung on one controversial play. Falcons’ cornerback Brent Grimes intercepted a pass to the Saints’ [...]
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First Quarter: Falcons Moving the Ball

By John Manasso | Published: December 13, 2009
On Monday when Falcons Head Coach Mike Smith addressed the media he said as part of his opening statement that he wanted to correct something he said the day before after the team’s 34-7 loss to the Eagles. The Falcons did not get beat in all three phases of the game against the Eagles — offense, defense [...]
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Inactives: Ryan, Turner Remain Out

By John Manasso | Published: December 13, 2009
Despite the optimism that Falcons Head Coach Mike Smith was trying to have this week about quarterback Matt Ryan working more each day as the week progressed in the team’s morning walk-through, Ryan will be inactive for the second straight week today. So will starting running back Michael Turner. Neither practiced all week. In addition, right guard [...]
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Pregame: Your Playoff Scenarios Here!

By John Manasso | Published: December 13, 2009
All week long I had been wanting to ask Falcons Head Coach Mike Smith which was his favorite NFC East team. Of course, putting it that way would be less than professional. What I really wanted to know was whether he had analyzed the playoff scenarios to see which NFC East team or teams the Falcons needed [...]
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Houston Out; Still Hoping for Ryan

By John Manasso | Published: December 10, 2009
Falcons Head Coach Mike Smith on Thursday ruled out a second player for Sunday’s game with New Orleans in the form of starting right cornerback Chris Houston (hamstring) but is leaving out hope that quarterback Matt Ryan might play even though Ryan did not practice for a second straight day this week. Tight end Justin Peelle [...]
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