SavvyFalcon89 Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 http://www.myajc.com/news/sports/football/in-quinn-the-falcons-have-their-new-voice/nnkHP/?icmp=ajc_internallink_referralbox_free-to-premium-referral In Quinn, the Falcons have their new voice Posted: 4:36 p.m. Monday, Sept. 21, 2015 By Mark Bradley - The Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionAtlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn runs off the field at halftime during an NFL football game,We ask: Are the Falcons a brand new team because of their brand new coach? The answer: No, but also yes. Meaning: “Kind of.”Dan Quinn isn’t saying anything Mike Smith didn’t say in any of his seven seasons here. The stuff about “finishing,” about “playing fast,” about “being the aggressor” – that’s the football equivalent of a Tea Party candidate avowing he/she favors lower taxes. For a football coach, “finishing” is boilerplate stuff. We forget now, but the Falcons under Smith were adept at “finishing” – assuming we define it as “winning a close game.” That incredible stat yet again: Over his first five seasons, Smith’s teams were 29-12 in one-score games. The sixth game of his first year produced the most astonishing rally in franchise history: The Falcons saw Chicago score the go-ahead touchdown with 11 seconds remaining; they won in regulation.That’s a finish.In 2010, Smith’s third season, Matt Ryan authored six game-winning drives and five fourth-quarter comebacks in – pause for effect – the span of 10 games. Those were finishes. So what went wrong?The offensive line got old. The defense never got good. Julio Jones got hurt in 2013. Maybe Smitty’s luck just ran out. The 2013 Falcons opened with four one-score losses in their first five games. Had that year’s theme been, “Let’s stop worrying about finishing and worry about where we’re going for dinner?”Nah. As anyone who spent much time around him knows, Smith essentially said the same things every day for those seven years. But sometimes it’s not the message as much as the messenger. When you say the same stuff every day for seven years, it comes to sound tired and trite. Put the same words in different speaker’s mouth – and let him deliver them with a bit more oomph – and you’d be amazed how many ears perk up.Back when Lombardi was urging his Packers to “finish,” the Rolling Stones cut a tune – the B-side of “Get Off Of My Cloud” – entitled “The Singer Not The Song.” It’s poppy and driven by acoustic guitars, a far cry from the famous fuzz-tone intro to “Satisfaction.” It’s no “Gimme Shelter” lyrically, but it does include these Jagger-written lines: “The same old places and the same old songs/We’ve been going there for much too long.”That, I submit, is what happened with Smith and the Falcons. Too much time passed and, while there was much winning, the ultimate success never arrived. The Falcons fell 10 yards short of the Super Bowl in January 2013; nine months later, they started a new season 1-4 and were done. By the end, it was sad to watch. Smith, still offering his bromides, was so uptight he was blowing games himself. A new singer was needed. A new singer was hired. And now we hear familiar words, but coming from this new voice but they don’t sound tired and trite. They sound new and true.It hasn’t hurt that Quinn arrived off consecutive Super Bowls with Seattle. Everyone who cares about football knew how hard the Seahawks hit, and the guy who tutored those fearless defenders had come to right a franchise going wrong. Quinn passed – aced, really – the Credibility Test. And then, as luck and design would have it, his first two games as a head coach yielded two comeback wins over favored opponents.You can’t write a better song than that. (Well, you can. But “Visions of Johanna” doesn’t apply to football.) The Falcons were inclined to give the new man every benefit of the doubt, and they’re 2-0 and there’s no reason to doubt. It doesn’t matter that Quinn is saying what exactly what his predecessor had said; it matters only that Quinn has hit the ground winning. And when a team starts to win, who knows where it will end up? Jim Mora’s first Falcons team started 4-0 and played for the NFC title. Smith’s first team started 4-2 – the fourth win being the escape against Chicago – and went 11-5 and made the playoffs. It would be no great surprise if a NFC South title is forthcoming.The song, to borrow from another colossus of classic rock, might have remained the same. But we’ve not seen nothing like the mighty Quinn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wjcorner Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 A good AJC article???Only thing in our way in the division is Carolina...I know people want to write them off, but their defense has been quite stout, and their offense is doing enough to win Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SavvyFalcon89 Posted September 22, 2015 Author Share Posted September 22, 2015 A good AJC article???Only thing in our way in the division is Carolina...I know people want to write them off, but their defense has been quite stout, and their offense is doing enough to winWell a certain journalist whose name I shall withhold isn't involved with this article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Mazetti Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 (edited) Good read. I know all the words to It's The Singer, Not The Song, as I was an early Rolling Stones fan circa 1964....Wait....I am old. Beatles did ok with Sgt Peppers and the White Album, but too late. Blues rule.Not to derail. Edited September 22, 2015 by Tim Mazetti Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HASHBROWN3 Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 Well written, but I didn't care for it. We have a new singer...uhh coach, who sort of says the same things but since he's new, it's fresh and wonderful...Just not feeling it. He should have gotten into the meat and potato's of how Quinn is an entirely different creature than his predecessor.Geesh.Meanwhile, Ledbetter is standing in a hallway somewhere....drooling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Mazetti Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 (edited) Well written, but I didn't care for it. We have a new singer...uhh coach, who sort of says the same things but since he's new, it's fresh and wonderful...Just not feeling it. He should have gotten into the meat and potato's of how Quinn is an entirely different creature than his predecessor.Geesh.Meanwhile, Ledbetter is standing in a hallway somewhere....drooling.How is the message and Quinn different? These players have heard it all. I think it might be that Quinn feels "it" and that may transfer? Edited September 22, 2015 by Tim Mazetti Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulitik Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 Wait a sec...he didn't mention anything someone said about the Falcons on the internet. I thought all AJC Falcons sports pieces are about what other people from other websites or TV shows are reporting or speculating about the Falcons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free Radical Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 I've heard Quinn say SEVERAL things that people drilled Smith for, but either it was different because of phrasing or just because of the messenger.Quinn has said or said something that mirrored the following:1. Expected/Expect the game to be close or come down to the end.2. Tip your hat.3. Finish strong4. Sacks aren't the most important statAnd that's with less than two seconds though. I'm sure the list goes on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free Radical Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 Let's not forget that Quinn's defense is BBDB, just like it was under BVG. Stop the run, prevent big plays, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulitik Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 How is the message and Quinn different? These players have heard it all. I think it might be that Quinn fells "it" and that may transfer?Scheme, culture, and coaching fundamentals. Mike Smith coached scared. Scared of the other QB, scared of making mistakes, scared of stepping outside the process, when we did, or the FO pushed him out of it, he crumbled. Square-pegging the talent to fit his vision, as opposed to having the vision to put the player in the best position to succeed. Quinn doesn't obsess about making mistakes, he obsesses about maximizing talent.Yeah, they might say similar things, and 5-6 years from now, Quinn's message may wear thin, and we may see a fall off. We all thought Mora was a coach for life 4 games into the season. But the approaches of Smitty and Quinn are apples and oranges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toadfishtom Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 In Quinn the falcons have a coach who understands how to build a defense and how to scheme and motivate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Mazetti Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 Scheme, culture, and coaching fundamentals. Mike Smith coached scared. Scared of the other QB, scared of making mistakes, scared of stepping outside the process, when we did, or the FO pushed him out of it, he crumbled. Square-pegging the talent to fit his vision, as opposed to having the vision to put the player in the best position to succeed. Quinn doesn't obsess about making mistakes, he obsesses about maximizing talent.Yeah, they might say similar things, and 5-6 years from now, Quinn's message may wear thin, and we may see a fall off. We all thought Mora was a coach for life 4 games into the season. But the approaches of Smitty and Quinn are apples and oranges.I didn't see it that way, but your post made me think about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HASHBROWN3 Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 Scheme, culture, and coaching fundamentals. Mike Smith coached scared. Scared of the other QB, scared of making mistakes, scared of stepping outside the process, when we did, or the FO pushed him out of it, he crumbled. Square-pegging the talent to fit his vision, as opposed to having the vision to put the player in the best position to succeed. Quinn doesn't obsess about making mistakes, he obsesses about maximizing talent.Yeah, they might say similar things, and 5-6 years from now, Quinn's message may wear thin, and we may see a fall off. We all thought Mora was a coach for life 4 games into the season. But the approaches of Smitty and Quinn are apples and oranges.Thanks. And there's so much more... My point is that there are always going to be similarities in coach speak but Quinn is the polar opposite of Smitty... Quinn is 10X more cerebral. He moves at twice the speed in practice and is much more hands on. He also knows what he wants, puts coaches in place who can implement his scheme, and gets personally involved in the implementation. From communicating it to his coordinators, to acquiring players in FA & draft. Heck, Smith allowed Nolan to run the cluster special with the wrong personnel... etc. etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free Radical Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 Yes, but a Quinn led team has finished strong in both games...Smitty was just lip service!We were one of the strongest finishing teams in NFL history from 2008 to 2012. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xfactor Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 In Quinn the falcons have a coach who understands how to build a defense and how to scheme and motivate.This and Quinn knows how to make half time adjustments see OBJ. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Gritz Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 Scheme, culture, and coaching fundamentals. Mike Smith coached scared. Scared of the other QB, scared of making mistakes, scared of stepping outside the process, when we did, or the FO pushed him out of it, he crumbled. Square-pegging the talent to fit his vision, as opposed to having the vision to put the player in the best position to succeed. Quinn doesn't obsess about making mistakes, he obsesses about maximizing talent.Yeah, they might say similar things, and 5-6 years from now, Quinn's message may wear thin, and we may see a fall off. We all thought Mora was a coach for life 4 games into the season. But the approaches of Smitty and Quinn are apples and oranges.In Quinn the falcons have a coach who understands how to build a defense and how to scheme and motivate.You 2 guys should be sportswriters because you nailed the clear differences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaschart Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 Watch a Mike Smith press conference, then watch a Dan Quinn press conference, then imagine the difference between the two in a locker room. Smith could never hold my attention, I'd be looking around my living room, inspecting flaws in the paint... With Quinn, I'm making eye contact, he's got my attention, and I hear every word he says (fast and physical did start to grate...). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toadfishtom Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 So far the team looks solid on both sides of the ball.Quinn is making good decisions and the defense is stepping up late in the game as opposed to falling apart.Ryan was always able to make a 4 qt.drive but now our defense can stop people and make adjustments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Mazetti Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 We were one of the strongest finishing teams in NFL history from 2008 to 2012.This^^ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wjcorner Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 I've heard Quinn say SEVERAL things that people drilled Smith for, but either it was different because of phrasing or just because of the messenger.Quinn has said or said something that mirrored the following:1. Expected/Expect the game to be close or come down to the end.2. Tip your hat.3. Finish strong4. Sacks aren't the most important statAnd that's with less than two seconds though. I'm sure the list goes on.yep...it's an accurate article. Quinn even made a Smith-esque mistake with not challenging the strip sack Beasley got...but at least Vic got his first sack but overall, only difference I see is more young guys given chances, and identifiable halftime adjustments Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sicairos Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 Meanwhile, Ledbetter is standing in a hallway somewhere....drooling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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