Somebody Explain To Me How Mike Smith Is "conservative"

[falcondiehardsince 88]

We did miss, they got more than 10 yards, and they didn't win.

NOPE HE MADE IT THANK GOD< WRONG

[Guest Gritz]

Remember that change in philosophy he was talking about at the end of last year. It seems to be a change from a methodical, poses the ball, milk the clock, run the ball type offense to a more pass oriented offense. The conservatism comes in once we have any kind of lead. He starts trying to milk the clock too early, lets his foot of the pedal. He doesnt seem to have a killer instinct or desire to embarrass teams the way other coaches do. There is a reason all of our games are so close. Mike Smiths conservative attitude.

I don't even feel like I have to read the rest of the responses 'cause this is gold right here.

[daybumper]

Man it's been a while since you and I agreed on something, but we are right there on this one.

Yeah lol

It makes no sense . How does a coach that knew going for it on 4th and 1 and not making it basically gives the game to other team . It doesn't make sense . No conservative head coach would ever think about going for it on 4th and 1 in overtime on the 30

[Guest Gritz]

I don't buy that at all. I think we've had so many close games this year because the offense just hasn't been able to score as many TDs as they should.

You might not agree, and I certainly wouldn't flame you for it, but he absolutely got it right with his assessment.

[Peyton]

here is the best proof of all................Before half, when we were 3rd down, 16 secs left, ryan threw a pass to the 6 or so yd line and he was letting the clock tick down to kick a fg.

Someone had to tell him, hey dumb Fluck, call a time out so we can go after the end zone , oh ****, Timeout.

he was so focused on just getting a fg, that he forgot to realize a td was right there.

Thats conservative

going for the td thats elite and aggressive and confident

No, man, that's just not what was going on there.

Tampa was marching up and down the field on the D, and he wanted to make sure that the Falcons didn't give Tampa time to mount another drive.

They ended up wasting a few seconds too many, and they lost an opportunity for a play because of it. It wasn't a case of being conservative though, just a mistake.

[vel]

I think he is very restrained in how he uses his talent. Guys like Mass and Sid were drafted because they can sack the QB. We are struggling to sack the QB. They still don't get a chance. I don't know if you can call that conservative, but it's like he is over-loyal. JA98, Jenkins, Edwards, Houston, McClure, etc. The list goes on. It takes too long for him to try something else and when he does, it is very short lived. Like he's out of his comfort zone trusting other players beyond our main 22. It's taken over half the season to get Quizz integrated in the offense. HD still isn't gameplanned for. It's taken how long for Antone Smith to see his first regular season snap? That's my biggest gripe. Look at play off teams. It's like an operation at positions. It takes injuries for our depth to play. Even in a game like yesterday.

You know I was on the "Get MM out of here" boat. But this "hold the playbook close to your vest" crap that seems to be going on right now is all Smitty. He's not going for a 15-1 or 14-2 season, he's going to do just enough to get in with a #1 seed. That's fine and all, but you lose steam and you go one and done.

[Peyton]

You might not agree, and I certainly wouldn't flame you for it, but he absolutely got it right with his assessment.

Ok, I respect your opinion. Give me a game that is the best example.

[falcondiehardsince 88]

heres conservative in a Nut Shell

Mike Smith " all divisional games are going to be close. Its just how they are played"

You need any more than that as proof, you and mike smith have the same winnners IQ

[Peyton]

I think he is very restrained in how he uses his talent. Guys like Mass and Sid were drafted because they can sack the QB. We are struggling to sack the QB. They still don't get a chance. I don't know if you can call that conservative, but it's like he is over-loyal. JA98, Jenkins, Edwards, Houston, etc. The list goes on. It takes too long for him to try something else and when he does, it is very short lived. Like he's out of his comfort zone trusting other players beyond our main 22. It's taken over half the season to get Quizz integrated in the offense. HD still isn't gameplanned for. It's taken how long for Antone Smith to see his first regular season snap? That's my biggest gripe. Look at play off teams. It's like an operation at positions. It takes injuries for our depth to play. Even in a game like yesterday.

You know I was on the "Get MM out of here" boat. But this "hold the playbook close to your vest" crap that seems to be going on right now is all Smitty. He's not going for a 15-1 or 14-2 season, he's going to do just enough to get in with a #1 seed. That's fine and all, but you lose steam and you go one and done.

NOPE HE MADE IT THANK GOD< WRONG

You are talking about the Tampa game right? We missed.

[daybumper]

Remember that change in philosophy he was talking about at the end of last year. It seems to be a change from a methodical, poses the ball, milk the clock, run the ball type offense to a more pass oriented offense. The conservatism comes in once we have any kind of lead. He starts trying to milk the clock too early, lets his foot of the pedal. He doesnt seem to have a killer instinct or desire to embarrass teams the way other coaches do. There is a reason all of our games are so close. Mike Smiths conservative attitude.

This team is not good enough to put teams away or put up 50 burgers

It has nothing to do with Smith pulling the reigns . It has nothing to do with Smith calling off the dogs

we're not good enough to embarrass teams .

Don't mistake being up 10 and playing smart / sound football and keep playing away

as we're not tryin to run up score and Smith is conservative

You guys want your cake and eat it to

What makes Smith a winning HEAD COACH is cause he is smart

[Peyton]

This team is not good enough to put teams away or put up 50 burgers

It has nothing to do with Smith pulling the reigns . It has nothing to do with Smith calling off the dogs

we're not good enough to embarrass teams .

Don't mistake being up 10 and playing smart / sound football and keep playing away

as we're not tryin to run up score and Smith is conservative

You guys want your cake and eat it to

What makes Smith a winning HEAD COACH is cause he is smart

D*mn another opinion of yours I completely agree with. I might need to rethink my feelings on this.

[Guest Gritz]

There's a huge difference in being labeled "conservative" for the play calling you want/approve your OC implementing and being labeled "conservative" for your approach to how hard you press your team to go during a game.

You'll never see a Mike Smith coached team beat another team 58-0, even when/if he had the horses to do so.

You can argue back and forth whether that's a good thing or not but it is what it is.

[falcondiehardsince 88]

No, man, that's just not what was going on there.

Tampa was marching up and down the field on the D, and he wanted to make sure that the Falcons didn't give Tampa time to mount another drive.

They ended up wasting a few seconds too many, and they lost an opportunity for a play because of it. It wasn't a case of being conservative though, just a mistake.

A mistake caused by his conservative outlook and mindset

all along he was thinking and honing in on a fg.

and our team had other ideas,

he still didnt snap out of fg and was running it to one sec, then somebody called a timeout for him.

Somebody that had more insight then the single guy on the field whos tasked at that job

Thats concerning to me

[Peyton]

I don't care if you buy it or not. IT IS the reason we play so many close games and the reason Ryan has so many come from behind victories. We get a lead and he clams up, tries not to lose, Plays to milk the clock. Milking the clock is ok, but not starting in the late second early third quarter like he does sometimes. Its his philosophy, ball control. No matter how much he might want to change that, its who he is.

Give me the game that is a good example. I want to study this and see if I can understand what you guys are saying.

[Guest Gritz]

Ok, I respect your opinion. Give me a game that is the best example.

It's hard to point to a specific game. It's one of those eye test type of things.

Plus, it'd be real easy and possibly correct if someone said in response "Well, in that game we simply weren't executing. That's not on Smith."

But I have seen several games since Smith has been our HC where we inexplicably let a team off of the deck that we were pummeling.

Even this recent Saints game is somewhat of an example of that. We started out running both Turner and Quizz down their throats. I really believe that we adjusted prematurely to a defensive adjustment that hadn't even been made yet.

Completely on Koetter? Possible, but Smitty appears to me to be a hands on type of HC. Koetter isn't putting in gameplans that don't have Smitty's stamp of approval.

I just think it's an attitude that permeates throughout this organization.....and I'm a Smitty guy...not wanting or looking to get rid of him....I want him around a good while....

But I want him to make good on the flexibility he talked about in the off season (the approach to how he prepares this team for the playoffs is what I'm specifically talking about).

[vel]

You are talking about the Tampa game right? We missed.

Did you mean to quote me?

[Peyton]

There's a huge difference in being labeled "conservative" for the play calling you want/approve your OC implementing and being labeled "conservative" for your approach to how hard you press your team to go during a game.

You'll never see a Mike Smith coached team beat another team 58-0, even when/if he had the horses to do so.

You can argue back and forth whether that's a good thing or not but it is what it is.

The Falcons took 40+ point leads against thier last two home opponents last year. They might not have won the games 58-0, but it takes a special brand of quit by your opponent to do that.

[Peyton]

Did you mean to quote me?

No, I didn't lol.

[PokerSteve]

Please somebody, anybody, explain to me where this complaint that I see over and over again that Mike Smith is "conservative".

Please give me specifics, because I have no clue what any of you are talking about.

Help me understand.

A short list of Smith's conservatism just off the top of my head ~

1.) Sitting on even the smallest lead.

2.) Almost always punting on 4th and short around mid-field or in the opponent's end of the field.

3.) Almost never throwing a challenge flag, except of course when throwing it will bring a 15-yard penalty. LOL.

4.) Never getting the subs into the mix unless the starter is completely unavailable.

5.) Continuing his traditional grind-it-out style of play, despite having a highly talented passing attack. This team doesn't throw more than one long pass per game, if that.

6.) His emphasis on not committing penalties rather than emphasizing risk-taking to try and dominate an opponent, or at least get the upper hand.

[Jaymadd]

I don't think he conservative, but I do think he can be too loyal to his players and staff at times

[Peyton]

A mistake caused by his conservative outlook and mindset

all along he was thinking and honing in on a fg.

and our team had other ideas,

he still didnt snap out of fg and was running it to one sec, then somebody called a timeout for him.

Somebody that had more insight then the single guy on the field whos tasked at that job

Thats concerning to me

OK, you are just getting a lot of your facts wrong. The Falcons called the time out before the first down play. Then threw two incomplete passes. Then kicked the FG because there was only 4 seconds on the clock.

And what game were you talking about with this FG the Falcons made when they should have punted?

[Peyton]

A short list of Smith's conservatism just off the top of my head ~

1.) Sitting on even the smallest lead.

2.) Almost always punting on 4th and short around mid-field or in the opponent's end of the field.

3.) Almost never throwing a challenge flag, except of course when throwing it will bring a 15-yard penalty. LOL.

4.) Never getting the subs into the mix unless the starter is completely unavailable.

5.) Continuing his traditional grind-it-out style of play, despite having a highly talented passing attack. This team doesn't throw more than one long pass per game, if that.

6.) His emphasis on not committing penalties rather than emphasizing risk-taking to try and dominate an opponent, or at least get the upper hand.

That's hilarious considering how many high profile 4th down fails the Falcons have had.

[PokerSteve]

it's the biggest misconception on this message board

Mike Smith is the same head coach that went for it on 4th and 1 on his 30 in overtime

yet he is labeled conservative

Wrong. One Moron Moment hardly changes the fact Mike Smith is ultra-conservative in his philosophy of football.

[falcondiehardsince 88]

watch the giants game this week and then follow this up with actual instances. That helps everyone realize after the game they just see the W or the L just like smith

[falconsd56]

This is the first year we are struggling with lesser teams. We've normally taken them down hard.

One could argue vs the giants we were not conservative ENOUGH

We went for in on 4th down when we were in FG range in a tight night game.

I believe we were down 7-2 when when we went for one of those downs, a fg makes it 7-5.

and then for the second one I believe we were down 14-2, which could have been 14-8.

Not saying we would have won but the complexion of the game changes had we kicked fgs instead of going for it.

The last time we went for it the giants took ALL the momentum and it was over.

A FG instead of turning it over on downs changes that IMO.

Same thing against the packers,,,,,

We were in Fg right before the half but we went aggressive to get more,

We kick there instead of being too aggressive and THAT complexion of the game is TOTALLY different.

So yeah the notion he is a "conservative" coach is flat stupid.

Correctly me if I am wrong but arn't we something like 30-0 when leading going into the 4th?