This has nothing whatsoever to do with Charles Smith getting blocked four times in 13 seconds in the playoffs against the Bulls. It has everything to do with Mike Smith and his decision to go for it on 4th down and 1 in the Falcons' own territory in overtime against New Orleans. It's all over TV and radio today. Don't want to get into it too much, but the point is Mike Smith made absolutely the right decision. He thought that the Falcons would lose if they gave the ball back to Drew Brees, so he went for it. I agree completely. If you think punting the ball back to New Orleans and giving it to them at their 25 yard line would result in a loss, then what's the difference if you miss on 4th down?
That does not exonerate Smith in the least, however. The stupidity of the decision was completely in the play call itself. I mean they basically broadcasted the play over the internet for billions of people to see. Everyone and their mothers all knew what Atlanta would do, and yet they did it anyway. They should have run any single play in the history of play-calling other than the one they ran. For that, and for that alone, Smith should be blamed for the loss. Let's see what TMQ has to say about it tomorrow.
Meanwhile, at the dog pound, "Wanted" signs are being posted to find anybody, ANYBODY, who can jam a 6'6" tight end at the line to bust up the play, and maybe throw off Tom Brady's timing for half a second. Any takers?
Follow up from TMQ:
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In overtime, Atlanta faced fourth-and-inches on its 29, and went for it. This absolutely was the right decision, as Brian Burke of Advanced NFL Stats shows in detail. If you can't gain a few inches you are not likely to win, while punting to the Saints would have given Drew Brees good field position to seek a field goal and victory. TMQ contends that NFL coaches do not go for it enough on fourth down because if they kick and lose, the players are blamed; if they go for it and lose, the coach is blamed. Sure enough, that's what happened to Mike Smith.Stuffing the Falcons' run was sweet for New Orleans -- the sour part was a good decision but a bad play call by Atlanta. TMQ's lead last week was that bland straight-ahead rushes don't work on short-yardage downs. Atlanta's call was a bland straight-ahead rush to the power side of the formation, exactly what New Orleans expected. There was no misdirection -- and misdirection is essential on short-yardage downs, when the defense is cranked to charge straight ahead.
To top it off, the extra blocker at the point of attack was skinny wide receiver Roddy White, while running back Michael Turner took the handoff four yards deep in the backfield, meaning he would have to fight just to reach the line of scrimmage. Atlanta might have employed some misdirection; or simply had Matt Ryan sneak, starting the play much closer to the line of scrimmage; or play-faked and gone deep for the win. Instead a bland straight-ahead call, and seemingly no audible available to Ryan if the defense was overstacked. TMQ's law holds: Do a Little Dance If You Want to Gain That Yard."
And about the aforementioned "Wanted" signs:
"Now it's Flying Elvii leading 16-9, facing third-and-3 on the Jets' 5. Tall tight end Rob Gronkowski lined up wide as a wide receiver. To that point, Gronkowski already had seven touchdown catches. Across from Gronkowski in single man coverage was 5-foot-10, third-string corner Donald Strickland, no safety in sight. Seeing Gronkowski in man coverage wide, who might Tom Brady look for? If you'd been at the game, you would have pointed at Gronkowski presnap. Strickland didn't jam Gronkowski as he ran a simple slant for the score, and no safety came over to help. Ye gods."
