ATLANTA — In August, Atlanta Falcons proprietor Arthur Clean stated he could be dissatisfied if his crew was no more aggressive in 2023 and did not present enchancment. What Clean watched all through the season was far an excessive amount of of the identical.
So Clean determined to make a change, firing coach Arthur Smith after three seasons late Sunday night time after a 48-17 loss to the New Orleans Saints with a playoff berth on the road.
It was a considerably fast flip for the sometimes affected person Clean, who gave Jim Mora Jr. three seasons, Mike Smith seven years and Dan Quinn five-plus years. The distinction is these three coaches all made the playoffs of their first or second 12 months as head coach.
Whereas Arthur Smith’s state of affairs was completely different from his three predecessors when he took over due to wage cap constraints, he additionally by no means completed a season with a successful report or made the postseason. So Atlanta now embarks on a training search.
Why hearth Smith?
The one factor the Falcons had been throughout Smith’s tenure was inconsistent. Atlanta by no means received greater than two video games in a row beneath Smith, and each of his final two seasons had at the least a three-game dropping streak.
After the Falcons snapped a three-game dropping streak in December by beating the New Orleans Saints, Smith was requested tips on how to maintain the power up. In some methods, he summed up his tenure within the course of.
“Consistency, proper,” Smith stated. “That is the most important problem week to week. For us to take the following step, we now have to do this. Be constant and taking part in with the identical focus and power going into the final week.”
And far of it involves quarterback play. Smith had 4 beginning quarterbacks in his three seasons: Matt Ryan in 2021, Marcus Mariota and Desmond Ridder in 2022 after which Ridder and Taylor Heinicke this season. It is maybe the choice to go together with Ridder — after which Ridder’s propensity for turnovers and important errors — that finally did Smith in.
Smith and normal supervisor Terry Fontenot had been employed in an unenviable cap state of affairs and spent two offseasons cleansing it up. This season was the primary wherein Smith had a roster principally of gamers he and Fontenot sought. Enchancment did not present within the report or at quarterback.
Smith’s playcalling and decision-making additionally was suspect at instances. In opposition to the Carolina Panthers in Week 15, he went with a sport plan that was far too conservative towards a one-win Panthers crew. It was a call that performed a component in Atlanta’s 9-7 loss to the Panthers and put their playoff hopes in peril.
Atlanta had one of many NFL’s best schedules and couldn’t make the most of it. The Falcons misplaced to the Panthers, Arizona Cardinals, Washington Commanders and Tennessee Titans — all groups that completed within the backside 10.
“Whenever you go about there, there’s been situations in video games the place we have regarded clearly good,” offensive coordinator Dave Ragone stated. “And there is been instances the place we have had points.”
On offense, eliminating turnovers and enhancing third-down conversion charges had been areas Ragone pointed to as being inconsistent; the Falcons had been tied for twenty fourth with 28 turnovers and thirteenth with a 40% success price on third down.
What’s the pulse of the locker room?
Falcons gamers appeared to genuinely take pleasure in taking part in for Smith and backed him typically when questions on his job popped up late within the season. There was a consensus they appreciated how he dealt with them as gamers and the way he dealt with accountability as nicely.
“I consider in what he stands for and what we’re attempting to do right here,” left sort out Jake Matthews stated on Dec. 17. “And I am completely purchased in.”
After the blowout loss to the Saints within the season finale, they nonetheless backed their coach. A number of gamers expressed how the problems weren’t with the teaching workers and the way they hoped the workers would return in 2024.
The idea of shared accountability — which Smith preached typically to his crew and publicly — carried loads of weight with gamers. The locker room stayed collectively till the ultimate days. Smith even joined gamers in a quick shootaround on a basketball hoop within the locker room after the ultimate day of observe.
“Coach Smith is one of the best coach I’ve ever had,” proper guard Chris Lindstrom advised ESPN on Sunday. “I completely f—ing love him, and I believe this group and this crew does as nicely.”
Whereas cash additionally helps lure free brokers, Atlanta was in a position to get coveted gamers, akin to security Jessie Bates III and defensive lineman Calais Campbell, this offseason partially as a result of they believed in what Smith was attempting to construct.
So why did not it work?
It begins with the quarterback.
Ridder grew to become the starter in 2023 after a four-game stint on the finish of the 2022 season. He confirmed flashes of potential marred by fumbling points and premature interceptions, ultimately resulting in a flip-flopping between Ridder and Heinicke, who had beginning expertise in Washington.
Whereas quarterback was the principle challenge — together with defensive issues in Smith’s first two seasons that had been largely remedied by the hiring of defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen and an improve in personnel final offseason — there have been different components on offense.
For each well-designed and progressive play Smith schemed up, for instance, there was a call to run in a third-and-long state of affairs or to present the ball to somebody aside from considered one of his stars in essential conditions.
However Smith’s failed tenure comes right down to the problems at quarterback.
What’s subsequent at quarterback?
The brand new coach will dictate that, nevertheless it appears clear Ridder and Heinicke are usually not the solutions.
Whereas Ridder confirmed flashes of success, he turned the ball over far too typically to be an efficient starter, together with within the season finale when he was reinserted because the starter after an ankle harm to Heinicke and had two second-half turnovers — an interception and a misplaced fumble. His decision-making, at instances, was head-scratching. Ridder threw an interception ultimately zone towards Washington, a fumble crossing the purpose line towards Tampa Bay and a purple zone interception towards Carolina; two of these three video games led to losses.
Ridder completed the season finishing 64.2% of his passes for two,836 yards, 12 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and 12 fumbles. Heinicke had a 54.4% completion price for 890 yards, 5 touchdowns and 4 interceptions.
A query for the brand new coach can be whether or not Ridder and/or Heinicke ought to stay with the crew as a backup. Heinicke has yet one more season on his deal and a $9 million cap hit for 2024. Ridder has two years left on his rookie contract. However it could be tough to see any coach sticking with Ridder because the starter.
Whether or not Atlanta pursues a veteran starter or takes a rookie within the upcoming draft may rely upon the following head coach and offensive coordinator. A rookie may require buying and selling up within the draft, however the Falcons have cap room to spend. The problem may be who is on the market. Kirk Cousins, Baker Mayfield and Ryan Tannehill are the highest quarterbacks slated to be free brokers.
Who may Atlanta goal as its subsequent coach?
Groups typically go reverse of what that they had earlier than, so a candidate with prior head-coaching expertise may be what Clean and Fontenot take a look at. However this won’t be essentially the most engaging 12 months for that, particularly as a result of former Detroit Lions and Indianapolis Colts head coach Jim Caldwell stated final 12 months that he is finished pursuing head-coaching openings (he may have been a good selection).
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh could be an apparent name, as he has received all over the place he has coached in school and the NFL. Whereas Invoice Belichick is 71 years previous and has dropping seasons in three of his previous 4 years, he stays among the finest coaches of all time and could be price calling if he and the New England Patriots half methods.
Detroit offensive coordinator Ben Johnson may make loads of sense with how Atlanta’s offensive playmakers are just like the Lions’ at No. 1 receiver (Detroit’s Amon-Ra St. Brown vs. Atlanta’s Drake London), No. 1 tight finish (Sam LaPorta vs. Kyle Pitts) and working again (David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs vs. Tyler Allgeier and Bijan Robinson).
If the Las Vegas Raiders select to not maintain interim head coach Antonio Pierce, he could be somebody price interviewing and giving an extended look to due to his efficiency this season.
Irrespective of whom Atlanta targets, its head-coaching place must be a lovely job due to the crew’s offensive expertise, affordable cap area and younger playmakers on protection. Plus, the brand new coach will not be tied to any incumbent quarterbacks.
