On paper, the Atlanta Falcons should be an offensive juggernaut. They used 3 consecutive Top 10 draft picks on skill position players - TE Kyle Pitts in 2021, WR Drake London in 2022, and RB Bijan Robinson in 2023. Pitts and Robinson were dubbed generational prospects. Also in 2021, the Falcons hired head coach Arthur Smith following his successful tenure as a playcaller in Tennessee. A dominant offense seemed predetermined. However, Atlanta is currently 28th in scoring this year. They finished 24th in 2022 and 29th in 2021. What has been the reason for the failure?
Uneven quarterback play has certainly been part of the story. The Falcons started a melting Matty Ice, then a flat soda Mariota, then a mid Desmond Ridder, and are now about to open a skunky Heinicke(n). A major part of their team-building issues stem from their reticence to move on from the Matt Ryan era and the half-assed investment in finding his successor. (Good thing they passed on Lamar Jackson). Yet, the Falcons were a pretty popular choice this offseason to be a team on the rise - the logic being, any bum can function at QB with Bijan, Pitts, London, and a yoked Mack Hollins as weapons on offense. That simply has not happened, and now Atlanta head coach Arthur Smith is catching heat for it.
There's a long list of criticisms levied at Smith by football analysts and fans. He runs the ball too much. He does not properly utilize Kyle Pitts' skillset. He failed to report Bijan Robinson's migraine issues prior to the Tampa Bay game. He gives too many carries to Tyler Allgeier and Cordarrelle Patterson instead of Bijan. His game management is sometimes baffling. He is blunt and indignant when his decisions are questioned by the media. I believe many of the criticisms are valid, but I have to say I admire Smith's stubbornness. To me, he is an old school guy that only knows how to play/win one way and there's been a disconnect between the Falcons' team-building decisions and what Smith likes to do on the field. The front office keeps bringing him Ferraris, but we know Smith prefers a beaten-up FedEx truck.
The thing I really enjoy about Smith is the pleasure he takes in screwing over the fantasy football community. The man simply hates your fantasy team. Look back at the criticisms I mentioned - player underutilization and injury omission are cardinal coaching sins for fantasy football bros. Also, like I mentioned, many people expected breakout seasons for Pitts, London, Bijan (his ceiling has been limited by Smith, they would say), and even Ridder, and it hasn't happened. Another slap in the face to everyone who drafted these players to their teams. I genuinely believe the Smith hate gets exacerbated because of fantasy football. I think "fantasy brain" has gotten out of control. Almost everything in the world is becoming commodified and athletes are no exception. We are at the point where fantasy guys are treating players more like Pokemon than people. Arthur Smith is the voice of reason, reminding the world that Drake London is a second-year wideout still improving as a pro, not a commodity.
Arthur Smith hates your fantasy team and I do, too.
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