Arthur Smith is the Falcons’ biggest problem
The Falcons have a head-coaching problem.
Arthur Smith is Atlanta’s biggest problem, in fact. Until the team improves in that vital area, it will continue to lose games it has no business losing.
That was the case in Week 9 when the Falcons lost to the Vikings at home, 31-28, despite Minnesota starting rookie fifth-rounder Jaren Hall and being forced to turn to quarterback Joshua Dobbs after they traded for him earlier this week.
Afterward, Dobbs described the learning process as taking an AP French exam after studying the entire year for a Spanish test.
In three years as Falcons head coach, Smith hasn't made it past Spanish 101.
One sequence in the second quarter in particular was a showcase for Smith’s ineptitude. After the Falcons forced a fumble and had a first-and-goal from the 1-yard line, Smith called two plays designed for tight end Jonnu Smith and another for running back Tyler Allgeier.
Atlanta settled for a field goal on the drive, an unacceptable failure for an offense featuring running back Bijan Robinson, who the team selected eighth overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, and 2021 fourth-overall pick Kyle Pitts. Another former top-10 pick, Drake London (groin) was inactive for Week 9.
For a head coach with an offensive background, it’s unconscionable that he can’t (or won’t) run plays designed for players the franchise used high draft picks on in key situations. The inability to feature Robinson in the goal-to-go situation, in particular, drew a strong reaction online.
This isn't anything new for Smith. He is constantly misusing or underutilizing talented playmakers to scheme the ball to the likes of backup tight ends Jonnu Smith or MyCole Pruitt. Per RotoWire, entering Week 9, Smith and Pruitt combined for as many red zone targets (eight) as Pitts and Robinson.
Smith benched Week 1 starting quarterback Desmond Ridder ahead of the team's Week 9 loss, but that decision didn't make Atlanta's offense any better. Despite scoring a season-high 28 points, the Falcons didn't get into the end zone until midway through the third quarter and had as many drives end in turnovers as in touchdowns.
His inability to maximize the talent on Atlanta's roster, plus his poor track record with quarterbacks, should have team owner Arthur Blank thinking seriously about the team's direction. Smith wasn't able to do anything with Marcus Mariota or Ridder. Heinicke didn't look much better.
While none of those were elite prospects, neither was Dobbs, who just diced Atlanta's defense while learning a new language on the fly.
Smith has been the common denominator in the team's struggles. If he continues to be part of the problem, Blank must remove him from the equation.
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