Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank unhappy at playoff knockout - NFL News Update
A season which promised so much for the Atlanta Falcons as they progressed to the postseason with a 10-6 record, ended in big embarrassment as Mike Smith’s team was knocked out of the playoffs, with a 24-2 loss to New York Giants in the first National Football
League postseason matchup.
This was the third time that the Falcons have failed to progress beyond their first playoff game under the management of its coach, Mike Smith, and team owner, Arthur Blank is certainly unsatisfied with the recent results.
"I would say in 2011 we took a step back instead of forward", Blank said.
"That doesn't mean we haven't taken a lot of steps forward in the last four years. We have, but that being said, we're not where we need to be”.
Falcons picked up a fourth consecutive winning season under Smith who has revitalised a franchise that had previously struggled to even reach the playoff rounds.
Atlanta, led by quarterback, Matt Ryan, had a great regular season but failed to beat elite teams in their encounters, losing twice to fierce National Football Conference (NFC) South rivals, New Orleans Saints.
That lack of cutting edge against the big teams came to haunt the Falcons when they faced the NFC East champions, New York Giants, last Saturday.
With defensive coordinator, Brian VanGorder, resigning from his role on Tuesday to take up the same duties at Auburn University, and offensive coordinator, Mike Mularkey now heading to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Falcons definitely need to bring in some new
faces in their front office, and Blank believes that the new ideas might help the club break their playoff round hoodoo.
"Sometimes after a long period of time with a player, or an organization or a scheme, you tend to fall in love with them", Blank added.
"Sometimes it's healthy to have somebody from the outside look at it as well and confirm your thinking or maybe ask some questions. I think that will be healthy for us this year".
Blank however, praised Mike Smith and general manager, Thomas Dimitroff, for their work with the Falcons but believed that it is time for both of them to evaluate their performances and try to pinpoint the reasons for the franchise’s failure to progress
in the playoffs.
Both Smith and Dimitroff were present in the press conference with Blank, and the GM also hinted at changes in the roster for the upcoming 2012 season.
Atlanta Falcons have many unrestricted free agents, resulting in Dimitroff stating that some of them will not be back in the line-up for the new season.
Changes are inevitable in Atlanta's management and it remains to be seen who will take up the vacant coaching positions at the franchise.
Some new changes in the coaching department will do the Falcons no harm as the team will look to put in a better postseason performance when they get another chance next year.
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