Things were much easier for Matt Ryan(notes) when he was one of the NFL’s
best-protected quarterbacks while leading the Atlanta Falcons to the NFC’s best
record in 2010.

It’s been a much different story this season, as Ryan hopes to stay on his
feet and help his offense find its rhythm when Atlanta visits the Seattle
Seahawks on Sunday.

Ryan has been sacked 13 times, including four last week when the Falcons
(1-2) lost 16-13 to Tampa Bay. He went down only 23 times all of last season -
29 fewer than the league-high suffered by Chicago’s Jay Cutler(notes) – and coach Mike
Smith said he will evaluate his offensive line in order to better protect his
franchise quarterback.

Ryan has been sacked at least four times in each game. He’d been sacked four
times in a single contest just twice in his first three regular seasons.

“We are very disappointed with the way we have protected our quarterback in
the first three ballgames,” Smith said. “We’ll have to look at what’s going
wrong schematically as well as evaluate our personnel.”

Ryan, though, refuses to place all the blame on the line.

“We just need to execute a little better – myself included,” said Ryan, who
threw for a career-high 330 yards against the Bucs. “The ball needs to come out.
You can’t keep hanging onto it back there.”

Though he may see some relief against a Seattle defense that is tied for
23rd with only five sacks this season, Ryan and Smith both admitted the offense
needs more balance. The Falcons rushed for only 30 yards last week, with Michael
Turner(notes) gaining 20 on 11 carries.

Atlanta had rushed for 248 yards combined its first two games.

“We have been very uncharacteristic in terms of our consistency in the first
three ballgames,” Smith said. “There’s spurts in the ballgame you’ll see that
we’re doing things very well, and there’s other times that it’s just not up to
our level of expectations. Right now we are not operating as efficiently or as
effectively as we’re capable of.”

Tarvaris Jackson(notes) has been sacked 14 times – tied for the most in the league
- and didn’t look capable of much in his first two games in a Seahawks uniform.

He heard boos early in Seattle’s home opener last Sunday against Arizona,
and his team went into the locker room trailing 10-6. But Jackson led a 14-play,
72-yard drive to start the second half, finishing it with an 11-yard touchdown
run that lifted the Seahawks (1-2) to a 13-10 victory.

“(The fans are) scrutinizing (him) very sharply at this point. He’s not
wavered by it at all. I’m not, either,” coach Pete Carroll said. “But it’s
going to take some time until everybody gets comfortable and sees what he’s all
about and sees his play.

“They didn’t boo him in the second half. I think that second half was OK.”

Having former Vikings teammate Sidney Rice(notes), who made his Seahawks debut
after sitting out the first two games with a shoulder injury, certainly helped.
The two connected eight times for 109 yards, and will now face an Atlanta pass
defense that’s 22nd in the league, allowing 261.0 yards per game.

The Falcons have also surrendered 248 yards on the ground and three
touchdowns the past two weeks, which bodes well for a Seattle ground game that
broke out for 122 yards against the Cardinals after combining for 95 in losses
to San Francisco and Pittsburgh.

Lynch ran for 60 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries against Atlanta on Dec.
19 last season, though Ryan’s three touchdowns helped the Falcons to a 34-18
victory.

The Seahawks have won eight of 12 all-time meetings, including four of six
in Seattle.

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP)—The Atlanta Falcons spent Thursday afternoon
trying to compensate for a growing list of injured starters.

With defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux(notes) and center Todd McClure(notes) sidelined,
the Falcons (0-1) won’t be at full strength Sunday night when the Philadelphia
Eagles (1-0) visit the Georgia Dome.

The good news for Atlanta, however, is that fullback Ovie Mughelli(notes) and
defensive tackle Corey Peters(notes) haven’t missed practice this week and seem nearly
recovered from knee injuries.

Mughelli, a Pro Bowl selection last year who helped the Falcons win the NFC
South with a 13-3 record, left last week’s season-opening loss at Chicago with a
knee injury and did not return.

Peters, a 15-game starter as a rookie in 2010, did not dress because of a
knee injury suffered in preseason. His return helps offset the absence of
Babineaux, a full-time starter over the last six years who has 18 career sacks,
seven forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries and 12 passes defended.

Babineaux is expected to miss three to five weeks after hurting his knee
against the Bears and replacing him won’t be easy. He is Atlanta’s only true
three-technique tackle and the interior heart of its 4-3 scheme, but Peters says
he and Peria Jerry(notes), a first-round draft pick in 2009, are ready to fill in.

“Babs has proven time and time again that he makes a lot of plays from his
position, and that’s what we want to happen,” Peters said Thursday. “Now,
it’ll be however it falls into place. We’re going to mix and match and rely on
our rotation to carry the load.”

The defense could face a long night if it lacks consistent pressure. Eagles
quarterback Michael Vick(notes) is hard enough to defend as a runner, but if he is
afforded enough time as a passer, the former Atlanta star can pick apart the
Falcons’ secondary as receivers extend their routes.

Philadelphia had seven plays of 20 yards or longer in last week’s 31-13 win
over St. Louis behind Vick, whose 98.7 passer rating since 2009 ranks fifth in
the NFL.

“He rushed for almost 100 yards (against the Rams), so what you have to do
is be very disciplined because he can throw the ball,” Falcons coach Mike Smith
said. “He has a very strong arm. He can make the throws, and if the throws
aren’t there and you aren’t disciplined with your pass rush, then he’s going to
be able to hurt you with his feet. It’s a big challenge for our defense because
he can throw the ball and run the ball and he can hurt you doing both of them.”

Just as the Falcons’ defensive line will miss Babineaux, McClure, a starter
since 1999, is as indispensable to the offensive line. But Smith was pleased
with the debut last week of second-year center Joe Hawley(notes).

Though Atlanta allowed five sacks and six additional hits on quarterback
Matt Ryan(notes), Smith believed Hawley did a good job despite a false start penalty in
the third quarter.

“I thought of all of the guys, after watching the tape, he probably had the
most solid game of all the linemen,” Smith said. “That was encouraging the way
that he played.”

Hawley and his linemates face a tough challenge against an Eagles defensive
scheme redesigned by coordinator Juan Castillo and enhanced by new line coach
Jim Washburn’s use of a wide front.

Philadelphia added Pro Bowl left end Jason Babin(notes) and tackle Cullen Jenkins(notes)
in free agency to pair with Pro Bowl right end Trent Cole(notes) and longtime starting
tackle Mike Patterson(notes).

The Falcons know they must block linebackers Jamar Cheney, Moise Fokou(notes) and
rookie Casey Matthews(notes) if running back Michael Turner(notes) is to have continued
success reaching the second and third levels of the defense.

“They’re pretty much daring you to run inside,” Mughelli said. “They feel
like they can stop you on the inside. We feel like we can run the ball inside.
It’s going to be decided on Sunday.”

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons are looking to have another big season.

They’re certainly glad the exhibitions are over.

Chykie Brown returned an interception 65 yards for a touchdown and Baltimore scored the clincher after another Atlanta turnover, an appropriate way to decide a dreadful game won by the Ravens 21-7 on Thursday night to complete a winless preseason for the Falcons.

Not that this finale was much of an indicator of how either team will look once the score actually matters. Both teams sat out of many of their key starters, including quarterbacks Matt Ryan of the Falcons and Joe Flacco of the Ravens. They were mainly concerned with staying healthy going into the regular season.

Baltimore had the only injury of note, and it didn’t sound like any big deal. Backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor , who started in place of Flacco, sustained a bruised shoulder.

“We will have to see how serious it is, but it looks like it won’t be that serious,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “If we find out he can’t play, then we will definitely have an issue.”

Atlanta coach Mike Smith didn’t want to sound glib about the winless record. But he’s not placing too much importance on it, either.

“We have a saying: `If you play, it’s worth winning,”‘ Smith said. “Am I disappointed? Yeah. Am I concerned? No. We have a mature football team. We got some things accomplished that we needed to accomplish.”

Most of those who did play were battling for roster spots, or may have been out of the running no matter how well they performed. Given who was on the field, the results were to be expected.

The Ravens (3-1) failed to generate much offense, totaling just 175 yards. Atlanta (0-4) turned it over four times, basically handing Baltimore its two TDs.

Third-string quarterback John Parker Wilson was intercepted twice, including the pick that Brown, a rookie, grabbed right in front of the Atlanta bench and took down the sideline for a touchdown to erase Atlanta’s 10-7 lead with 1:59 left in the third.

After Billy Cundiff kicked his second field goal to stretch Baltimore’s lead to 13-7, the Falcons’ last gasp ended with yet another turnover. Wilson, who took quite a beating, was leveled by Michael McAdoo and coughed up the ball. It was recovered by Jason Phillips at the Atlanta 5 with 2 1/2 minutes remaining in the game.

On the next play, Damien Berry took it to the end zone to finish off the Falcons, who failed to win a preseason game for the first time since 2003.

That year, Michael Vick broke a leg in an exhibition game – against the Ravens, no less – and the Falcons spiraled to a 5-11 record that led to the firing of coach Dan Reeves before the year was done. This team has much higher hopes, coming off a NFC South title and bolstered by the drafting of receiver Julio Jones and the signing of defensive end Ray Edwards .

“There’s definitely not any panic in here,” fullback Ovie Mughelli said. “If anything, it gives us a little extra motivation. If teams are going to sleep on us or take us for granted because we went 0-4, they’re going to be in for a surprise.”

Jones caught a 25-yard pass from Chris Redman on the first snap of the game, and Edwards chased Taylor into the arms of teammate Kroy Biermann for a sack.

The only other highlight for the home team came early in the third, when Antone Smith broke off a 46-yard touchdown run that might help his chances of sliding onto the Falcons final 53-man roster.

Smith rushed for 114 yards on 11 carries and hauled in a 42-yard screen pass. Still, it figures to be a restless night for a second-year back who knows he’s behind at least three others on the depth chart.

“It’s not going to be decided on one game, but I hope it helps,” Smith said. “I’ve always been a guy who’s got one foot in, one foot out. I’m always nervous.”

Taylor, the rookie out of Virginia Tech, broke off a 9-yard run with his first play. But he didn’t stay in very long after hurting his shoulder, completing two passes for 16 yards and having his other throw picked off by Brent Grimes .

Third-stringer Hunter Cantwell went most of the way for the Ravens. He was 13 of 28 for 111 yards and had an interception. The Ravens rushed for only 74 yards, led by Berry with 31 on eight carries.

The defense performed much better, especially third-year linebacker Jason Phillips . He helped his roster chances by coming up with an interception, a fumble recovery, four tackles and breaking up a pass.

” Jason Phillips is outstanding and really stepped up,” Harbaugh said. “He was all over the field making tackles.”

Redman was 4 of 8 for 58 yards during his limited time. He gave up Atlanta’s first turnover when blindsided by Paul Kruger , the ball coming loose and recovered by Bernard Pollard . The makeshift offensive line had a tough night – Redman was sacked twice, Wilson three times.

When not running for his life, Wilson managed to complete 16 of 33 for 146 yards.

“Everybody is out there as an individual performer,” Smith said. “But it’s a group effort, a team effort. Obviously, we didn’t have the type of performance we wanted to have.”

Even the officials had a rough night. Two calls were challenged by Smith, and both were overturned after the referee checked out the replay.

ATLANTA – The Atlanta Falcons are looking to have another big season.

They’re certainly glad the exhibitions are over.

Chykie Brown returned an interception 65 yards for a touchdown and Baltimore scored the clincher after another Atlanta turnover, an appropriate way to decide a dreadful game won by the Ravens 21-7 on Thursday night to complete a winless preseason for the Falcons.

Not that this finale was much of an indicator of how either team will look once the score actually matters. Both teams sat out of many of their key starters, including quarterbacks Matt Ryan of the Falcons and Joe Flacco of the Ravens. They were mainly concerned with staying healthy going into the regular season.

Baltimore had the only injury of note, and it didn’t sound like any big deal. Backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who started in place of Flacco, sustained a bruised shoulder.

“We will have to see how serious it is, but it looks like it won’t be that serious,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “If we find out he can’t play, then we will definitely have an issue.”

Atlanta coach Mike Smith didn’t want to sound glib about the winless record. But he’s not placing too much importance on it, either.

“We have a saying: ‘If you play, it’s worth winning,’” Smith said. “Am I disappointed? Yeah. Am I concerned? No. We have a mature football team. We got some things accomplished that we needed to accomplish.”

Most of those who did play were battling for roster spots, or may have been out of the running no matter how well they performed. Given who was on the field, the results were to be expected.

The Ravens (3-1) failed to generate much offence, totalling just 175 yards. Atlanta (0-4) turned it over four times, basically handing Baltimore its two TDs.

Third-string quarterback John Parker Wilson was intercepted twice, including the pick that Brown, a rookie, grabbed right in front of the Atlanta bench and took down the sideline for a touchdown to erase Atlanta’s 10-7 lead with 1:59 left in the third.

After Billy Cundiff kicked his second field goal to stretch Baltimore’s lead to 13-7, the Falcons’ last gasp ended with yet another turnover. Wilson, who took quite a beating, was levelled by Michael McAdoo and coughed up the ball. It was recovered by Jason Phillips at the Atlanta five-yard line with 2 1/2 minutes remaining in the game.

On the next play, Damien Berry took it to the end zone to finish off the Falcons, who failed to win a preseason game for the first time since 2003.

That year, Michael Vick broke a leg in an exhibition game — against the Ravens, no less — and the Falcons spiraled to a 5-11 record that led to the firing of coach Dan Reeves before the year was done. This team has much higher hopes, coming off a NFC South title and bolstered by the drafting of receiver Julio Jones and the signing of defensive end Ray Edwards.

“There’s definitely not any panic in here,” fullback Ovie Mughelli said. “If anything, it gives us a little extra motivation. If teams are going to sleep on us or take us for granted because we went 0-4, they’re going to be in for a surprise.”

Jones caught a 25-yard pass from Chris Redman on the first snap of the game, and Edwards chased Taylor into the arms of teammate Kroy Biermann for a sack.

The only other highlight for the home team came early in the third, when Antone Smith broke off a 46-yard touchdown run that might help his chances of sliding onto the Falcons final 53-man roster.

Smith rushed for 114 yards on 11 carries and hauled in a 42-yard screen pass. Still, it figures to be a restless night for a second-year back who knows he’s behind at least three others on the depth chart.

“It’s not going to be decided on one game, but I hope it helps,” Smith said. “I’ve always been a guy who’s got one foot in, one foot out. I’m always nervous.”

Taylor, the rookie out of Virginia Tech, broke off a 9-yard run with his first play. But he didn’t stay in very long after hurting his shoulder, completing two passes for 16 yards and having his other throw picked off by Brent Grimes.

Third-stringer Hunter Cantwell went most of the way for the Ravens. He was 13 of 28 for 111 yards and had an interception. The Ravens rushed for only 74 yards, led by Berry with 31 on eight carries.

The defence performed much better, especially third-year linebacker Jason Phillips. He helped his roster chances by coming up with an interception, a fumble recovery, four tackles and breaking up a pass.

“Jason Phillips is outstanding and really stepped up,” Harbaugh said. “He was all over the field making tackles.”

Redman was 4 of 8 for 58 yards during his limited time. He gave up Atlanta’s first turnover when blindsided by Paul Kruger, the ball coming loose and recovered by Bernard Pollard. The makeshift offensive line had a tough night — Redman was sacked twice, Wilson three times.

When not running for his life, Wilson managed to complete 16 of 33 for 146 yards.

“Everybody is out there as an individual performer,” Smith said. “But it’s a group effort, a team effort. Obviously, we didn’t have the type of performance we wanted to have.”

Even the officials had a rough night. Two calls were challenged by Smith, and both were overturned after the referee checked out the replay.

Notes: Cundiff missed a 57-yard field goal, while Atlanta’s Matt Bryant was wide left on his only attempt from 54 yards. … Both punters got plenty of work, and Baltimore’s Sam Koch had the clear edge. He averaged 49.4 on eight punts, while Falcons rookie Matt Bosher only managed a 37.7-yard average on seven punts.

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – John Abraham has a pretty good idea of one reason why the Atlanta Falcons have found success under coach Mike Smith.

It’s an “Over-30 Club” of players whose regular dialogue with Smith has created an open line of communication from the head coach to the locker-room.

“He listens to everything we’re saying,” Abraham, a four-time Pro Bowl defensive end, said Monday. “He puts it in his mind to use the stuff you’re saying, and it eases the situation for everybody on the team.”

Smith, whose Falcons (0-2) travel for a pre-season game Saturday at Pittsburgh (1-1), calls often on the over-30 veterans to meet and discuss a wide range of topics affecting any player on the team.

Without his coach’s management style, Abraham doubts the Falcons would have gone 33-15 in Smith’s tenure and earned two playoff spots and an NFC South title in the last three years.

It’s a protocol Smith first learned while working from 1999-2002 in Baltimore under his brother-in-law, then-head coach Brian Billick. Smith believes one reason the Ravens won the 2000 Super Bowl was Billick’s establishment of a team “pyramid” established a fluid dialogue from the locker-room to the front office.

“I don’t know if it’s a common practice around the league, but it was something we did in Baltimore,” said Smith, who worked as a defensive assistant with the Ravens. “I don’t know if it was done prior to that, but it was when I first became involved with it. To me, it was neat because you got your mentors, your older guys, to tell the younger players about what it means to be in the NFL. I think it just makes for a healthier work atmosphere.”

When the Falcons hired him in January 2008, one of Smith’s first notable changes was to create a give-and-take relationship with players whose voices had been stifled under predecessor Bobby Petrino.

Petrino, who quit after only 13 games of his first NFL season and left for Arkansas, told players he didn’t care what they had to say. He would often pass veteran players like Abraham, centre Todd McClure and fullback Ovie Mughelli in the hallway and make no attempt at eye contact or conversation.

Everything changed under Smith, an affable, professional boss who took over a 4-12 team that was in disarray after the ’07 imprisonment of quarterback Michael Vick and abrupt departure of Petrino.

“It was good to have your viewpoint heard with any situation,” Abraham said. “It was no longer a dictatorship.”

Added McClure, an NFL starter since 1999: “With Smitty, you don’t have a guy that’s holding a stick over your head as the hard, stern ruler. He’s here and he’s actually worried about each guy and their health and making sure they’ll be able to get out on the field. He said that the first time he came in these doors, and we respect him for that.”

For a chatty, intelligent guy like Mughelli, the change from Petrino to Smith made him feel wanted and needed.

Mughelli was drafted by the Ravens in 2003, the year after Smith left Baltimore to become defensive co-ordinator in Jacksonville. He decided to sign as a free agent with the Falcons in 2007, Petrino’s lone season.

After attending team dinners in which players weren’t allowed to speak unless spoken to under Petrino, Mughelli welcomed the familiar approach he knew would help the Falcons win under Smith.

“In Baltimore, if the over-30 players thought we should let up, do a little more or how we might change some things, Brian would listen,” Mughelli said. “Smitty does the same thing. He’s very much a players’ coach, and I don’t think that’s a bad thing at all. It helps us fight harder for him. It helps us believe in him.”

McClure values how the process allows Smith’s word to become universal in the locker-room when his over-30 guys take his message back downstairs.

“A lot of times players will receive things better if it comes from one of their peers rather than from a coach or a head coach,” McClure said. “If it’s coming from another guy that’s lining up with them, they might take it a little better. What Smitty does is he puts messages to the over-30 club and he wants it to get out to the team and spread it in our own way.”

“He listens to everything we’re saying,” Abraham, a four-time Pro Bowl defensive end, said Monday. “He puts it in his mind to use the stuff you’re saying, and it eases the situation for everybody on the team.”

Smith, whose Falcons (0-2) travel for a preseason game Saturday at Pittsburgh (1-1), calls often on the over-30 veterans to meet and discuss a wide range of topics affecting any player on the team.

Without his coach’s management style, Abraham doubts the Falcons would have gone 33-15 in Smith’s tenure and earned two playoff spots and an NFC South title in the last three years.

It’s a protocol Smith first learned while working from 1999-2002 in Baltimore under his brother-in-law, then-head coach Brian Billick. Smith believes one reason the Ravens won the 2000 Super Bowl was Billick’s establishment of a team “pyramid” established a fluid diagloue from the locker room to the front office.

“I don’t know if it’s a common practice around the league, but it was something we did in Baltimore,” said Smith, who worked as a defensive assistant with the Ravens. “I don’t know if it was done prior to that, but it was when I first became involved with it. To me, it was neat because you got your mentors, your older guys, to tell the younger players about what it means to be in the NFL. I think it just makes for a healthier work atmosphere.”

When the Falcons hired him in January 2008, one of Smith’s first notable changes was to create a give-and-take relationship with players whose voices had been stifled under predecessor Bobby Petrino.

Petrino, who quit after only 13 games of his first NFL season and left for Arkansas, told players he didn’t care what they had to say. He would often pass veteran players like Abraham, center Todd McClure and fullback Ovie Mughelli in the hallway and make no attempt at eye contact or conversation.

Everything changed under Smith, an affable, professional boss who took over a 4-12 team that was in disarray after the ‘07 imprisonment of quarterback Michael Vick and abrupt departure of Petrino.

“It was good to have your viewpoint heard with any situation,” Abraham said. “It was no longer a dictatorship.”

Added McClure, an NFL starter since 1999: “With Smitty, you don’t have a guy that’s holding a stick over your head as the hard, stern ruler. He’s here and he’s actually worried about each guy and their health and making sure they’ll be able to get out on the field. He said that the first time he came in these doors, and we respect him for that.”

For a chatty, intelligent guy like Mughelli, the change from Petrino to Smith made him feel wanted and needed.

Mughelli was drafted by the Ravens in 2003, the year after Smith left Baltimore to become defensive coordinator in Jacksonville. He decided to sign as a free agent with the Falcons in 2007, Petrino’s lone season.

After attending team dinners in which players weren’t allowed to speak unless spoken to under Petrino, Mughelli welcomed the familiar approach he knew would help the Falcons win under Smith.

“In Baltimore, if the over-30 players thought we should let up, do a little more or how we might change some things, Brian would listen,” Mughelli said. “Smitty does the same thing. He’s very much a players’ coach, and I don’t think that’s a bad thing at all. It helps us fight harder for him. It helps us believe in him.”

McClure values how the process allows Smith’s word to become universal in the locker room when his over-30 guys take his message back downstairs.

“A lot of times players will receive things better if it comes from one of their peers rather than from a coach or a head coach,” McClure said. “If it’s coming from another guy that’s lining up with them, they might take it a little better. What Smitty does is he puts messages to the over-30 club and he wants it to get out to the team and spread it in our own way.”

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) – Atlanta Falcons coach Mike Smith believes Julio Jones’ even temperament will be a big asset in the rookie’s preseason debut.

Though the Georgia Dome will be loud when the Falcons face Miami on Friday night, Smith wants the NFL’s No. 6 overall draft pick and other Atlanta newcomers to follow the coaching staff’s edict – work within the scheme and try not to do anything spectacular.

“I think those guys are getting excited, but we’ve to keep it at the task at hand, and that’s to make sure we go out and execute and don’t go crazy,” Smith said this week. “Execute our scheme and not try to make plays. The plays will come, and that’s what the young guys are going to try to do.”

Jones knows it’s critical that he treat the preseason opener as nothing more than a live practice against the Dolphins. He needs to extend the intensity he’s shown in training camp but not to exceed his role.

“I’m pretty good with everything right now, but I want to be great at it,” Jones said Wednesday. “I still have a lot of room for improvement.”

Working on a high school field during the NFL lockout helped Jones establish a rapport with quarterback Matt Ryan. When camp started and the Falcons released starting receiver Michael Jenkins, Jones was an instant starter.

Ryan appreciates Jones’ eagerness to study film and work precisely in practice shows a maturity level that’s missing from some rookies with great skills. But in a passing scheme that relies a lot on play-action, Ryan needs Jones to follow the lead of receiver Roddy White and tight end Tony Gonzalez, a pair of Pro Bowl targets who rarely miss assignments in games.

“Julio has a great understanding of how to run routes and how to get open, but in our offense you’ve got to be in the right spot at the right time,” Ryan said. “So I think that’s kind of been the biggest thing for him is understanding route depths, the landmarks on the field and how to get to those in the right amount of time. It takes a little bit of time to learn that. It really does, but he’s probably picked it up as fast as anybody I’ve been around.”

Jones understands that he’s no different from other rookies trying to adjust to the speed of the NFL. Now that he’s no longer lined up against college cornerbacks, Jones knows it will be difficult at times to do his job.

“Everything’s all about timing here,” Jones said. “The ball is out Matt’s hands before I break out, and it’s going to be there every time. If I slip and fall, it might be an interception or something, so it’s very critical.”

Smith is grateful that Ryan and Jones worked together during the lockout, on the field during 7-on-7 drills and at Ryan’s house afterward to discuss what they practiced and what they need to accomplish.

“I thought they did a very good job, hearing when they got back here, what they were able to accomplish and what they were able to get installed,” Smith said. “Julio got that time with Matt, and I think that’s a plus because in some situations across the league, a quarterback might not have had an opportunity to work as much as those two guys have worked.”

Jones, whose Alabama career began in a season-opening game at the Georgia Dome, does plan to take a quick moment Friday and soak in the feel of his first time in an NFL uniform.

“You know, we want to win,” Jones said. “We’re just going to go out there and play fast and just do what we’ve been doing the whole time.”

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP)—Atlanta Falcons coach Mike Smith believes Julio
Jones’(notes) even temperament will be a big asset in the rookie’s preseason debut.

Though the Georgia Dome will be loud when the Falcons face Miami on Friday
night, Smith wants the NFL’s No. 6 overall draft pick and other Atlanta
newcomers to follow the coaching staff’s edict—work within the scheme and try
not to do anything spectacular.

“I think those guys are getting excited, but we’ve to keep it at the task
at hand, and that’s to make sure we go out and execute and don’t go crazy,”
Smith said this week. “Execute our scheme and not try to make plays. The plays
will come, and that’s what the young guys are going to try to do.”

Jones knows it’s critical that he treat the preseason opener as nothing more
than a live practice against the Dolphins. He needs to extend the intensity he’s
shown in training camp but not to exceed his role.

“I’m pretty good with everything right now, but I want to be great at it,”
Jones said Wednesday. “I still have a lot of room for improvement.”

Working on a high school field during the NFL lockout helped Jones establish
a rapport with quarterback Matt Ryan(notes). When camp started and the Falcons released
starting receiver Michael Jenkins(notes), Jones was an instant starter.

Ryan appreciates Jones’ eagerness to study film and work precisely in
practice shows a maturity level that’s missing from some rookies with great
skills. But in a passing scheme that relies a lot on play-action, Ryan needs
Jones to follow the lead of receiver Roddy White(notes) and tight end Tony Gonzalez(notes), a
pair of Pro Bowl targets who rarely miss assignments in games.

“Julio has a great understanding of how to run routes and how to get open,
but in our offense you’ve got to be in the right spot at the right time,” Ryan
said. “So I think that’s kind of been the biggest thing for him is
understanding route depths, the landmarks on the field and how to get to those
in the right amount of time. It takes a little bit of time to learn that. It
really does, but he’s probably picked it up as fast as anybody I’ve been
around.”

Jones understands that he’s no different from other rookies trying to adjust
to the speed of the NFL. Now that he’s no longer lined up against college
cornerbacks, Jones knows it will be difficult at times to do his job.

“Everything’s all about timing here,” Jones said. “The ball is out Matt’s
hands before I break out, and it’s going to be there every time. If I slip and
fall, it might be an interception or something, so it’s very critical.”

Smith is grateful that Ryan and Jones worked together during the lockout, on
the field during 7-on-7 drills and at Ryan’s house afterward to discuss what
they practiced and what they need to accomplish.

“I thought they did a very good job, hearing when they got back here, what
they were able to accomplish and what they were able to get installed,” Smith
said. “Julio got that time with Matt, and I think that’s a plus because in some
situations across the league, a quarterback might not have had an opportunity to
work as much as those two guys have worked.”

Jones, whose Alabama career began in a season-opening game at the Georgia
Dome, does plan to take a quick moment Friday and soak in the feel of his first
time in an NFL uniform.

“You know, we want to win,” Jones said. “We’re just going to go out there
and play fast and just do what we’ve been doing the whole time.”

NEW ORLEANS — Two months have passed since a disappointing playoff loss and Atlanta Falcons coach Mike Smith is still looking back at what happened in a home loss to the Green Bay Packers. That might be the best or the only way to move forward.

In a hotel ballroom Sunday afternoon, Smith gave plenty of praise to the Packers. Then he took one finger and pointed it at the person he believes is the main culprit for the 48-21 loss to Green Bay. The finger stopped about three inches from Smith’s chin.

“You can get paralysis from analysis,’’ Smith said. “We analyzed a lot in those two weeks of our preparation. Even though our players were off for part of that time, I think as a coaching staff, we tried to turn over every stone and look in every corner. I think there’s a point of diminishing returns in terms of your preparation.’’

In other words, Smith believes he and his coaching staff outthought themselves after they went 13-3, earned the No. 1 seed in the NFC and prepared for a game in the Georgia Dome against the sixth-seeded Packers.

“As a coaching staff, the first thing you have to do is make sure that you have the plan in place that gives you the best opportunity to succeed,’’ Smith said. “I think that sometimes you make the scope too big, especially when you have the opportunity to have extra time to prepare. I think that you have to stay with the things that have gotten you to where you’re at.’’

That’s one of the things I admire about Smith. He’s as honest a coach as you’ll find, and he’ll throw blame at himself. The other thing I came to admire about Smith came moments after he talked about sticking with the things that the Falcons do best. He didn’t veer off that, but at least acknowledged there have to be some minor tweaks.

Smith and the Falcons have been a success story. The franchise was in disarray when Smith was hired in 2008. He’s produced three winning seasons, but has yet to win a postseason game. That’s the next logical step for any team in that situation, and the pressure might have increased a bit in recent weeks as Smith and general manager Thomas Dimitroff signed contract extensions. That’s fine with Smith.

“If you’re a relevant team year in and year out, you’re going to be judged on how you perform in the second season and we did not perform very well this past postseason,’’ Smith said. “It’s going to be a very good learning opportunity for me, our coaches and our players as well. I think we’ll take a lot from that.’’

So what specifically does Smith think the Falcons need to do to get over the hump?

“You analyze your team in all phases,’’ Smith said. “Creating explosive plays on the offensive side and minimizing them on the defensive side are very important. I think the explosive-play ratio is just as important as the turnover ratio. We did a better job this year in terms of minimizing explosive plays as a defense. But offensively, we did not create the 20-yard plays. Those 20-yard plays are very important in the flow of a football game. Usually, if you have a drive with a 20-yard play in it, you’re going to score a touchdown or a field goal.’’

It’s easy to take those comments and assume the Falcons can just go make dramatic changes and start throwing the ball downfield on every play. But that’s not going to happen, and it sure isn’t what Smith is saying.

“Our style is we want to control the clock,’’ Smith said. “We want to make first downs. Sometimes grinding it out is a tough chore, week in and week out. We recognize that we want to continue to do what we do offensively, but we want to get back to creating those explosive plays. Those 20-yard plays, whether they’re in the run game or the pass game, will be paramount toward us scoring more points.’’

Yeah, maybe the Falcons go out and draft a deep-threat receiver and a speedy running back. Or maybe they get one or both of those things in free agency, if it ever starts.

But Smith is right when he says it’s not all about the personnel.

“You can’t just sit there and say we have to have more explosive players,’’ Smith said. “That’s the easy answer. But going into the draft, we’ve used the term urgency. We want players with more urgency that are passionate with what they do and have a certain skill set. We’ll continue to look for guys like that.

“I also think you have to look at things schematically that will give you an opportunity to create those explosive plays. That doesn’t mean that we’re going to turn around and go away from the core of what we do philosophically.’’

Smith’s right. You don’t mess with 13-3. You might tweak it a bit, but you don’t overhaul it. You keep doing what you’re doing, slightly update your personnel and schemes, and that’s how you start exploding in the postseason.

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons have signed coach Mike Smith to a three-year contract extension after he led the team to the NFC South title.

The deal announced Thursday locks up Smith through 2014.

Smith was a little-known defensive coordinator at Jacksonville when he initially signed a four-year contract with the Falcons in 2008, taking over a team coming off a dismal 4-12 season that included star quarterback Michael Vick going to prison and coach Bobby Petrino leaving the team after just 13 games.

Atlanta quickly turned things around under Smith, going 11-5 and making the playoffs in his first season. The Falcons followed with a 9-7 mark – the first consecutive winning years in franchise history – and then went 13-3 this season, earning the top seed in the NFC playoffs.

They were routed by Green Bay 48-21 in the divisional round, but that didn’t nothing to lessen the confidence of owner Arthur Blank. He moved quickly to keep Smith around another four years.

“When we hired Mike Smith in 2008, we believed we had found the total package: a head coach with strong leadership skills and experience and the track record to back it up, and a man of high character and integrity,” Blank said in a statement. “In his three seasons with us, coach Smith has demonstrated all of these characteristics, and then some.”

Smith has a cumulative record of 33-15, easily the best three-year coaching mark in franchise history. The only blemish on his resume is an 0-2 mark in the playoffs.

“I am looking forward to continuing to build upon the solid foundation we have in place within our organization and on our football team,” Smith said. “We are going to continue to work as hard as we can to bring a championship to Falcons fans and to the city of Atlanta.”

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Read More: Mike Smith (LB – BAL), Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith has signed a three-year contract extension. The amount of paper to be stacked by Smith has yet to be announced, though it’s reasonable to presume he picked up a handsome raise after winning the 2008 Coach of the Year award and guiding his team to a 2010 NFC South title.

In the past three years, only New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick has won as many regular season games as Smith. The Falcons had never enjoyed consecutive winning seasons until Smith took over the team — during his time in Atlanta, they’ve had three straight. His value to his franchise is as high as any NFL coach’s.

It’s important to maintain coaching staff consistency in the NFL, and with Bill Musgrave and possibly Mike Mularkey moving along this offseason, locking up Smith was even more critical.

For more on Smith and what this move means for the Falcons, visit The Falcoholic.

ATLANTA, Feb. 3 (UPI) — Atlanta Falcons Coach Mike Smith has been given a three-year contract extension, the NFL team said Thursday

The Falcons are 33-15 under Smith, the best three-year record for the franchise. Atlanta was 13-3 last year and had the best record in the NFC but was beaten 48-21in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs.

The Falcons, who have been in the NFL since 1966, haven’t had back-to-back winning seasons until Smith took over the team.

“I am looking forward to continuing to build upon the solid foundation we have in place within our organization and on our football team,” said Smith in a statement. “We are going to continue to work as hard as we can to bring a championship to Falcons fans and to the city of Atlanta.”

Smith signed a four-year deal with the Falcons in 2008 thought to be valued at $8 million-$10 million. The new deal keeps him under contract with Atlanta through the 2014 season. Other terms of the agreement weren’t released.

The Atlanta Falcons signed coach Mike Smith to a new three-year contract after he guided the National Football League team to its first division title in six years.

In his third season with the team, Smith led the Falcons to a 13-3 record and a division title before losing to the Green Bay Packers 48-21 in the second round of the playoffs.

Financial terms of the contract weren’t disclosed in a statement by the team.

“When we hired Mike Smith, we believed we had found the total package: a head coach with strong leadership skills and experience and the track record to back it up, and a man of high character and integrity,” Falcons Owner Arthur Blank said. “In his three seasons with us, Coach Smith has demonstrated all of these characteristics, and then some.”

Under Smith, the Falcons have compiled a 33-15 record, the best three-year coaching mark in team history.

The Falcons were the only team in the NFL this season to rank in the top five in both scoring offense (25.9 points per game) and scoring defense (18.0 points per game), earning Smith NFL Coach of the Year honors by the Sporting News.

To contact the reporter on this story: Michael Buteau in Atlanta at mbuteau@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Michael Sillup at msillup@bloomberg.net

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons have signed coach Mike Smith to a three-year contract extension after he led the team to the NFC South title.

The deal announced Thursday locks up Smith through 2014.

Smith was a little-known defensive coordinator at Jacksonville when he initially signed a four-year contract with the Falcons in 2008, taking over a team coming off a dismal 4-12 season that included star quarterback Michael Vick going to prison and coach Bobby Petrino leaving the team after just 13 games.

Atlanta quickly turned things around under Smith, going 11-5 and making the playoffs in his first season. The Falcons followed with a 9-7 mark — the first consecutive winning years in franchise history — and then went 13-3 this season, earning the top seed in the NFC playoffs.

They were routed by Green Bay 48-21 in the divisional round, but that did nothing to lessen the confidence of owner Arthur Blank. He moved quickly to keep Smith around another four years.

“When we hired Mike Smith in 2008, we believed we had found the total package: a head coach with strong leadership skills and experience and the track record to back it up, and a man of high character and integrity,” Blank said in a statement. “In his three seasons with us, Coach Smith has demonstrated all of these characteristics, and then some.”

Smith has a cumulative record of 33-15, easily the best three-year coaching mark in franchise history. The only blemish on his résumé is an 0-2 mark in the playoffs.

“I am looking forward to continuing to build upon the solid foundation we have in place within our organization and on our football team,” Smith said. “We are going to continue to work as hard as we can to bring a championship to Falcons fans and to the city of Atlanta.”