Chiefs Mike Smith sees lots of Falcons in Chiefs

**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.

**RealSNR** · 07-15-2012, 01:19 AM

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.

Hammock Parties · 07-15-2012, 01:22 AM

My favorite similarity is how we are going to win 43 games in the first 4 years of the Pioli regime.

Going 22-0 this year is gonna ****ing rock.

booger · 07-15-2012, 01:23 AM

I can see a little bit of myself in Katy Perry. Doesn't make it true

CoMoChief · 07-15-2012, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by booger

I can see a little bit of myself in Katy Perry. Doesn't make it true

I can see all of myself in Katy Perry.

And it's going to be the best 10 seconds of her life.

BigRock · 07-15-2012, 03:03 AM

Red jerseys.

QBs named Matt.

Can't win in the playoffs.

Practically twinsies.

**Shogun** · 07-15-2012, 03:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRock

Red jerseys.

QBs named Matt.

Can't win in the playoffs.

Practically twinsies.

TE's named Tony.

BASICALLY wiener cousins.

-King- · 07-15-2012, 07:13 AM

Crennel and Smith both start with a consonant.
Posted via Mobile Device

**Fire Me Boy!** · 07-15-2012, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -King-

Crennel and Smith both start with a consonant.
Posted via Mobile Device

x5. Two consonants, one vowel and two more consonants, actually!

**chefsos** · 07-15-2012, 08:29 AM

You're not gonna get any bulletin board material from Mike Smith. No siree.

Pasta Little Brioni · 07-15-2012, 08:34 AM

They shit thier pants in the postseason as well.

Setsuna · 07-15-2012, 09:19 AM

The OP makes no sense because the OC for the Falcons is now the HC for the Jags so in reality, he should see a lot of the Falcons in the Jags. What a reerun Smith is.

Frazod · 07-15-2012, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PGM

They shit thier pants in the postseason as well.

Yeah, that was my thought. I see lots of the Chiefs in the Falcons. Including Tony Gonzalez sitting on the bench in the waning moments of a playoff loss looking like he's going to cry.

boogblaster · 07-15-2012, 09:32 AM

we'b twinks ... ima so proud ....

-King- · 07-15-2012, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Setsuna

The OP makes no sense because the OC for the Falcons is now the HC for the Jags so in reality, he should see a lot of the Falcons in the Jags. What a reerun Smith is.

I....um....what?
Posted via Mobile Device

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, 01:22 AM	#3
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $860478	My favorite similarity is how we are going to win 43 games in the first 4 years of the Pioli regime. Going 22-0 this year is gonna ****ing rock. __________________ Chiefs game films
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07-15-2012, 01:23 AM	#4
booger Don't Tug on Superman's Cape Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: clear out in the sticks Casino cash: $-2341450	I can see a little bit of myself in Katy Perry. Doesn't make it true __________________ 1 Thessalonians 5:3 “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” KJV
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07-15-2012, 03:03 AM	#6
BigRock Pritay Pritay Pritay Good Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: The State of Euphoria Casino cash: $715412	Red jerseys. QBs named Matt. Can't win in the playoffs. Practically twinsies.
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07-15-2012, 07:13 AM	#8
-King- ▓▓▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▓▓ Join Date: Jan 2009 Casino cash: $-1364257	Crennel and Smith both start with a consonant. Posted via Mobile Device
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07-15-2012, 08:29 AM	#10
chefsos Fifty eight sixty two... Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Felton, DE Casino cash: $8257676	You're not gonna get any bulletin board material from Mike Smith. No siree.
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07-15-2012, 08:34 AM	#11
Pasta Little Brioni Consuming CP souls Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: U.S.A. Casino cash: $228880	They shit thier pants in the postseason as well. __________________ **Official TFWdemB Trivia Commisioner**
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07-15-2012, 09:19 AM	#12
Setsuna Paladin Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Gator Country Casino cash: $10008487	The OP makes no sense because the OC for the Falcons is now the HC for the Jags so in reality, he should see a lot of the Falcons in the Jags. What a reerun Smith is.
Posts: 13,215

07-15-2012, 09:32 AM	#14
boogblaster MVP Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Verdigris Valley Campsite Casino cash: $10004900	we'b twinks ... ima so proud .... __________________ WR or S please
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