Chiefs Mike Smith sees lots of Falcons in Chiefs - Page 2

**Tribal Warfare** · 07-15-2012, 01:14 AM

Mike Smith sees lots of Falcons in Chiefs

It’s a bit down the road, but for Falcons head coach Mike Smith he has thought a lot about his Week One opponent. The Falcons travel to Kansas City to start the season against the Chiefs, whom they have not faced since 2008, in Smith’s third game as the head coach in Atlanta.

Smith believes that the Chiefs’ 7-9 record in 2011 is a bit deceiving.

“I know (Chiefs head coach) Romeo Crennel is building something special there along with (Chiefs GM) Scott Pioli, and of course (Falcons GM) Thomas Dimitroff is familiar with both of those guys, having worked with them in New England,” Smith told PFW on a conference call this week. “They have done a very good job of building the roster there.”

Like others have noted, Smith felt that injuries were the key derailment for the Chiefs last season.

“They were a team that suffered an exorbitant amount of injuries last year, and clearly it affected them,” he said. “I think they are a much better team than they were last year if they can keep all the (key) guys healthy.”

But one of Smith's more interesting comments came in how he saw a lot of the Falcons in the Chiefs. Clearly the Dimitroff-Pioli-Crennel connections run deep from their time together in New England, and Smith has seen it play out in how the teams’ rosters have been constructed.

“There’s going to be some balance and some familiarity there,” Smith said. “We look alike in some ways, which is interesting.”

Some differences are clear — the Chiefs run a 3-4 defense, and the Falcons do not, for one — but Smith has a point. The two teams have invested heavily in the WR position with the Falcons trading up for Julio Jones a year ago and Roddy White in the middle of a six-year, $50 million contract. The Chiefs have used recent first-round picks on Dwayne Bowe (who is currently unsigned as the team's franchise player) and Jonathan Baldwin, they used a second-rounder on Dexter McCluster and also signed mid-level free agent Steve Breaston.

Both teams also clearly favor using a diverse run system to control the action offensively, although each have new offensive coordinators — Brian Daboll for the Chiefs and Dirk Koetter for the Falcons — who could add their own wrinkles to the existing model. Still, Michael Turner and Peyton Hillis are expected to be the battering rams and Jacquizz Rodgers and Jamaal Charles the quicker backs for the Falcons and Chiefs, respectively.

There also, of course, is one more level of familiarity despite the teams having not met in nearly four years. TE Tony Gonzalez, in what appears to be his final NFL season, will return to Arrowhead for the first time since he was traded by Pioli and the Chiefs to the Falcons, in what should be an emotional scene for the future Hall of Famer.

DTLB58 · 07-15-2012, 09:48 AM

1) I really wish people would stop calling Dex a WR.

2) The Falcons are 0-3 in the playoffs with Mike Smith. 0-4 and I bet he is sent packing.

Deberg_1990 · 07-15-2012, 09:49 AM

I can too. Mike Smith is a little Schottenheimer like in the playoffs.
Posted via Mobile Device

milkman · 07-15-2012, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

I can too. Mike Smith is a little Schottenheimer like in the playoffs.
Posted via Mobile Device

This is where Matt Ryan needs to step up and show that he is more than just a (talented) game manager.

This is where he has to show that he's a leader that can strap that team on his back and carry them, overcoming all obstacles, including conservative coaching.

Mr. Laz · 07-15-2012, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SNR

If by "a lot" you mean, "no more similarities than the Chiefs would have with the other 30 teams", then yeah, I guess you're right Mike.

How dare he try to say something good about the Chiefs.

That worthless POS

I say we mass email him and tell him if he ever says anything positive about the Chiefs again we will blow up his car.

Tombstone RJ · 07-15-2012, 10:53 AM

as others have suggested, Mike Smith ain't giving any other teams any bulletin board material. Yes, he can probably say this about many other teams ("xxxx team is built just like our team").

whoman69 · 07-15-2012, 11:52 AM

Chiefshrink · 07-15-2012, 12:38 PM

Mike Smith is quietly sitting on the hot seat whether he realizes it or not.

ThatRaceCardGuy · 07-15-2012, 12:54 PM

Is this because TG played for us ?

Ace Gunner · 07-15-2012, 01:09 PM

Hit people for a living? *check

Uniforms? *check

Charge an arm & leg for parking? *check

Make you sit in seats designed too small for a toddler? *check

Well said, Mike Smith.

**SAUTO** · 07-15-2012, 01:14 PM

Is he saying they are going to **** us?
Posted via Mobile Device

mcaj22 · 07-15-2012, 03:48 PM

we are the same in the sense that the Falcons got the better GM/Exec from the Patriots tree than we did.

okcchief · 07-15-2012, 03:59 PM

Maybe he's sucking up for his next job.

07-15-2012, 01:14 AM
Tribal Warfare Man of Culture Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $-2937187	Mike Smith sees lots of Falcons in Chiefs Mike Smith sees lots of Falcons in Chiefs It’s a bit down the road, but for Falcons head coach Mike Smith he has thought a lot about his Week One opponent. The Falcons travel to Kansas City to start the season against the Chiefs, whom they have not faced since 2008, in Smith’s third game as the head coach in Atlanta. Smith believes that the Chiefs’ 7-9 record in 2011 is a bit deceiving. “I know (Chiefs head coach) Romeo Crennel is building something special there along with (Chiefs GM) Scott Pioli, and of course (Falcons GM) Thomas Dimitroff is familiar with both of those guys, having worked with them in New England,” Smith told PFW on a conference call this week. “They have done a very good job of building the roster there.” Like others have noted, Smith felt that injuries were the key derailment for the Chiefs last season. “They were a team that suffered an exorbitant amount of injuries last year, and clearly it affected them,” he said. “I think they are a much better team than they were last year if they can keep all the (key) guys healthy.” But one of Smith's more interesting comments came in how he saw a lot of the Falcons in the Chiefs. Clearly the Dimitroff-Pioli-Crennel connections run deep from their time together in New England, and Smith has seen it play out in how the teams’ rosters have been constructed. “There’s going to be some balance and some familiarity there,” Smith said. “We look alike in some ways, which is interesting.” Some differences are clear — the Chiefs run a 3-4 defense, and the Falcons do not, for one — but Smith has a point. The two teams have invested heavily in the WR position with the Falcons trading up for Julio Jones a year ago and Roddy White in the middle of a six-year, $50 million contract. The Chiefs have used recent first-round picks on Dwayne Bowe (who is currently unsigned as the team's franchise player) and Jonathan Baldwin, they used a second-rounder on Dexter McCluster and also signed mid-level free agent Steve Breaston. Both teams also clearly favor using a diverse run system to control the action offensively, although each have new offensive coordinators — Brian Daboll for the Chiefs and Dirk Koetter for the Falcons — who could add their own wrinkles to the existing model. Still, Michael Turner and Peyton Hillis are expected to be the battering rams and Jacquizz Rodgers and Jamaal Charles the quicker backs for the Falcons and Chiefs, respectively. There also, of course, is one more level of familiarity despite the teams having not met in nearly four years. TE Tony Gonzalez, in what appears to be his final NFL season, will return to Arrowhead for the first time since he was traded by Pioli and the Chiefs to the Falcons, in what should be an emotional scene for the future Hall of Famer.
Posts: 43,447

07-15-2012, 09:48 AM	#16
DTLB58 DT CARD COLLECTOR Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: ManCave Casino cash: $10005837	1) I really wish people would stop calling Dex a WR. 2) The Falcons are 0-3 in the playoffs with Mike Smith. 0-4 and I bet he is sent packing. __________________ 667 Different DT cards and counting
Posts: 7,574

07-15-2012, 09:49 AM	#17
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $164454	I can too. Mike Smith is a little Schottenheimer like in the playoffs. Posted via Mobile Device
Posts: 68,621

07-15-2012, 10:53 AM	#20
Tombstone RJ Broncos' Fan Extraordinaire! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Denver Casino cash: $10012184	as others have suggested, Mike Smith ain't giving any other teams any bulletin board material. Yes, he can probably say this about many other teams ("xxxx team is built just like our team"). __________________ ORANGE COLORED GLASSES ARE ALWAYS ON!
Posts: 6,151

07-15-2012, 12:54 PM	#23
ThatRaceCardGuy I BRAUGHT THE BOOZE Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: KU VILLE Casino cash: $10007253	Is this because TG played for us ?
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07-15-2012, 01:09 PM	#24
Ace Gunner First Overall Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: kcmo Casino cash: $10007271	Hit people for a living? check Uniforms? check Charge an arm & leg for parking? check Make you sit in seats designed too small for a toddler? check Well said, Mike Smith. __________________ The Greatest
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07-15-2012, 01:14 PM	#25
SAUTO Shit Join Date: Jun 2008 Casino cash: $10039067	Is he saying they are going to **** us? Posted via Mobile Device
Posts: 55,715

07-15-2012, 03:48 PM	#26
mcaj22 MVP Join Date: Feb 2010 Casino cash: $10014454	we are the same in the sense that the Falcons got the better GM/Exec from the Patriots tree than we did.
Posts: 11,886

07-15-2012, 03:59 PM	#27
okcchief MVP Join Date: Jul 2008 Casino cash: $9849890	Maybe he's sucking up for his next job.
Posts: 6,703