The Atlanta Falcons are facing a head coaching problem, with Arthur Smith being a significant issue. Until the team improves in this crucial area, they will continue to lose games they shouldn’t. This was evident in Week 9 when the Falcons lost to the Minnesota Vikings, 31-28, even though the Vikings had rookie fifth-rounder Jaren Hall as their starting quarterback and had to turn to Joshua Dobbs after trading for him earlier in the week. In his three years as the Falcons’ head coach, Smith hasn’t made significant progress.
One particular sequence in the second quarter highlighted Smith’s coaching ineffectiveness. After the Falcons forced a fumble and had a first-and-goal from the 1-yard line, Smith called plays designed for tight end Jonnu Smith and running back Tyler Allgeier. The drive resulted in a field goal, which was an unacceptable outcome for an offense that includes running back Bijan Robinson, the team’s eighth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and 2021 fourth-overall pick Kyle Pitts. Another former top-10 pick, Drake London, was inactive for Week 9 due to a groin injury.
It’s very simple. Either Bijan isn’t the best guy in your RB room – in which case it’s a massive waste of draft capital OR… Bijan IS the best guy in your RB room and this is a mind boggling sequence of coaching. There’s no other reasonable explanation. (I’m pro Bijan FYI) https://t.co/b9ZhDol6LZ
— Matthew Berry (@MatthewBerryTMR) November 5, 2023
For a head coach with an offensive background, it’s puzzling that Smith didn’t prioritize running plays designed for players the franchise invested high draft picks in, especially in critical situations like the goal-to-go scenario. This coaching decision garnered strong negative reactions online.
The Falcons just forced a fumble and returned it to the Vikings' 1-yard line.
The subsequent plays:
1st & goal: False start
1st & goal: Pass to Jonnu Smith
2nd & goal: End around to Jonnu Smith
3rd & goal: Handoff to Tyler AllgeierBijan Robinson was off the field for ever…
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) November 5, 2023
Arthur Smith’s coaching shortcomings are not a recent issue. He consistently misuses or underutilizes talented playmakers in favor of targeting backup tight ends like Jonnu Smith or MyCole Pruitt. As of Week 9, Smith and Pruitt had as many red zone targets (eight) combined as star players Kyle Pitts and Bijan Robinson.
Smith’s decision to bench starting quarterback Desmond Ridder ahead of the Week 9 game did not improve Atlanta’s offense. Despite scoring a season-high 28 points, the Falcons didn’t score a touchdown until midway through the third quarter, and they had as many drives ending in turnovers as in touchdowns.
His inability to fully harness the talent on the Falcons’ roster, coupled with his less-than-ideal track record with quarterbacks, raises serious questions about the team’s direction. Smith struggled to make the most of Marcus Mariota, Ridder, and Heinicke. Even though none of these quarterbacks were elite prospects, the fact that Dobbs, who was relatively inexperienced with the team, had a successful performance against Atlanta’s defense underscores the coaching issues.
Smith appears to be a consistent factor in the team’s struggles. If he continues to be part of the problem, team owner Arthur Blank may need to consider removing him from the equation for the Falcons to progress.
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