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SMITH’S THREE-YEAR RUN AMONG BEST IN NFL HISTORY


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SMITH’S THREE-YEAR RUN AMONG BEST IN NFL HISTORY

Much has been written about the three-year run Mike Smith has orchestrated as the head coach of the defending NFC South

champion Atlanta Falcons.

Smith, who took over a team that finished 4-12 in 2007, immediately set about the business of changing the culture in Atlanta when he arrived as the 14th head coach in franchise history in 2008.

Since 2008, Smitty — as he is affectionately known around Atlanta’s state-of-the-art training facility — has compiled an impressive 33-15 record,three consecutive winning seasons (11-5,9-7,13-3), and easily the best three-year coaching mark in franchise history.

What might come as a complete surprise to many Falcons fans is that Smith’s 33-15 record over his first three seasons leads all active NFL coaches and is tied for fourth in NFL history interms of the coaching records for first time NFL head coaches. Only George Seifert(38-10), Chuck Knox(34-8), and Barry Switzer (34-14)compiled more wins in their first three seasons as head coaches than Smitty.

Here are a few other notes on Smitty’s three-year run as head coach of the Falcons:

Smith is 27-1 when leading at halftime.

Smith is 20-4 at the Georgia Dome.

Smith’s .688 winning percentage is the highest in club history through three seasons.

Edited by Northern_Falcon
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Nice... he really is a perfect fit as a HC. He seems passionate about his players and brought in assistants that could really help him kickstart this early success.

While people are always wanting more and want us to win a SB think back to how pathetic or team was from 1999 to 2007... even with a few good years in there we were not even considered contenders until Smitty came along.

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...and 2 of those guys (Siefert and Switzer) inheritted teams that were the reigning SB champions and teams of the decade.

In contrast, Smtih inheritted franchise that was probbaly as low as its possible to ever be.

What TD and Smith achieved here, is one of THE great coaching and team building jobs in NFL history, even though we get no respect for it.

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Nice... he really is a perfect fit as a HC. He seems passionate about his players and brought in assistants that could really help him kickstart this early success.

While people are always wanting more and want us to win a SB think back to how pathetic or team was from 1999 to 2007... even with a few good years in there we were not even considered contenders until Smitty came along.

I was thinking more like from 1966 to 1999. Give or take a few years. I often have seizures and blackouts from time to time remembering the Smith Regime. I hope Smith finishes this run off with a SB Victory.

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...and 2 of those guys (Siefert and Switzer) inheritted teams that were the reigning SB champions and teams of the decade.

In contrast, Smtih inheritted franchise that was probbaly as low as its possible to ever be.

What TD and Smith achieved here, is one of THE great coaching and team building jobs in NFL history, even though we get no respect for it.

Seifert showed his true colors in Carolina where he was horrid. He can thank Steve Young for that record in SF.

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angry.gifangry.gif My ONLY Georgia Dome game so far, and Roddy has a rare moment like that. Still depresses me to think about it. (Also, looking at those stats, I'm pretty sure that game is also Smitty's only loss when leading at half-time.)

That was such a great game experience for me too (besides the loss part). Had a bunch of friends in town for it and we tailgated like you're supposed to: big cook out, lots of drinks, and had a Bronco fan in the mix. He didn't know much about the Falcons, but came away impressed with our team.

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Great coach with terrible coordinators. I love Smitty but he needs to tell Mularkey and Van Gorder to get the **** on and bring in some decent coordinators.

If this was true, why does MM get mentioned each and every year as a HC candidate?

Ever wonder why we replaced Musgrave with a QB coach with coordinator experience?

Maybe, just maybe, TD realized MM will be gone soon and we needed to groom his replacement.

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There were some good choices that year as Head Coach candidates, including John Harbaugh who many considered a "better" candidate.

This team was more than just down in the dumps following that 2007 -- it seemed that it had lost all support. The head coach didn't even have the back of his players and left for the college ranks.

But when Mike Smith jumped into that sideline skirmish to defend our sideline against the Redskins......man oh man did I know we got the right guy.

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deangelo-hall-mike-smith-scuffle-on-sideline-2.jpg

Source

SMITH’S THREE-YEAR RUN AMONG BEST IN NFL HISTORY

Much has been written about the three-year run Mike Smith has orchestrated as the head coach of the defending NFC South

champion Atlanta Falcons.

Smith, who took over a team that finished 4-12 in 2007, immediately set about the business of changing the culture in Atlanta when he arrived as the 14th head coach in franchise history in 2008.

Since 2008, Smitty — as he is affectionately known around Atlanta’s state-of-the-art training facility — has compiled an impressive 33-15 record,three consecutive winning seasons (11-5,9-7,13-3), and easily the best three-year coaching mark in franchise history.

What might come as a complete surprise to many Falcons fans is that Smith’s 33-15 record over his first three seasons leads all active NFL coaches and is tied for fourth in NFL history interms of the coaching records for first time NFL head coaches. Only George Seifert(38-10), Chuck Knox(34-8), and Barry Switzer (34-14)compiled more wins in their first three seasons as head coaches than Smitty.

Here are a few other notes on Smitty’s three-year run as head coach of the Falcons:

Smith is 27-1 when leading at halftime.

Smith is 20-4 at the Georgia Dome.

Smith’s .688 winning percentage is the highest in club history through three seasons.

Just another Falcon imbed. Where does Smith rank among coaches to win a playoff game in their first three years. I promise it's not that impressive. Best case scenario, he is tied for last.

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