Head Coach Mike Smith
Q: What does this first road win do for your team?
A: “When you get your first win, it is a milestone. We have talked from the very beginning about this always being a process for us. Part of the process was learning how to practice, learning how to get in lines for drills and winning games. Winning on the road was part of the process for us as a football team. I feel like the next step is to put back to back wins together. Up to this point in time, we have been up and down with a win and a loss and a win and a loss and now a win. We have our win on the road so the next step is to put consecutive wins together.”
Q: What are some the reasons you have been able to get off to a 3-2 start?
A: “I am not sure I can come up with a lot of reasons, but I know that we have been very efficient in a lot of areas with our football team. I know that one of them is running the football. From the very beginning, I know we said we wanted to be a team that was going to be able to run the football. When you are able to run the football, you are able to think you are going to have an opportunity to be in every game. The other thing that our guys have done is that they have played hard with passion and they have competed in all of our football games. I think when you do that, you also increase your chances of being successful.”
Q: Could you talk about how (John) Abraham played this week?
A: “I think John has been very consistent in the first five games. His ability to rush the passer and do it with less opportunity has been very impressive. We have made a conscious effort to reduce his number of snaps in the games to allow him to be fresh in critical situations. I think that Brian (VanGorder) and Ray Hamilton have done a very good job in putting John in situations where he can succeed. He has done a good job when we have put him in those situations.”
Q: John Abraham had just one sack yesterday, but did you see the havoc he caused with the holding penalty?
A: “Yes. I think sometimes we always go to look at the sack numbers and don’t look at the other numbers. He caused a holding penalty. He also caused an intentional grounding penalty which doesn’t count as a sack. I don’t really understand why the rules are set that way, but, in terms of intentional grounding, it was a loss of a down. It was a very big play for us. The next play we also end up getting the interception and the turnover. He also hit the quarterback five times and had a tackle for a loss on a running play. I felt that John played extremely well yesterday.”
Q: Your offensive line coaches have been able to open some holes for you and protect the quarterback.
A: “Yes. Through the first five games, our offensive line has been playing very well. As a unit, they have gelled together and opened up holes. As of right now, I believe we are the number two rushing offense in the league. I think that is a tribute to our offensive line. I believe our offensive coaches have done a good job of putting that unit together. Mike Mularkey has done a good job in his play selection. I think it is an effort by the entire group.”
Q: How comforting is it to have a veteran kicker like (Jason) Elam?
A: “It has been very big for us to know that if we get the ball inside a certain range, depending on the weather conditions, we are going to have the opportunity to score three points. I think he has been a great addition to our football team. Jason has been perfect in field goals and perfect in extra points. We are very fortunate to have added him. He is one of our free agent acquisitions that will go a long way for us over the next couple of years.”
Q: Are you concerned with the yardage your secondary has been giving up these past few games?
A: “That is a concern in terms of passing yards. This is something that we have to address as a staff. The big thing is the explosive passes. Teams are going to move the football, but you can’t allow them to have the passes in big chunks. There were a couple of plays yesterday that were good throws and good catches. We are there and we have got to make those plays. This is something that we have to address. We have a young secondary in terms of our two corners. It is just not the secondary; the linebackers are dropping in coverage as well. It is something that we have to address and we will.”
Q: Could you talk about Michael Boley’s interception?
A: “That was a big play for Michael in terms of the interception, especially when it came in the fourth quarter. Michael was in what we call a vision drop, where he envisions the quarterback. He got a good jump on the ball and had a good return as well. It was a big time play for us especially at that point in the game.”
Q: How has Michael (Boley) been playing so far?
A: “I think Michael has been solid. He had a week where we had to rest him because of a neck injury, but he has played consistently for us through the first five games.”
Q: How did you come out of the game health-wise?
A: “We had a couple of guys get banged up. Ben Wilkerson had a bruised chest. We kept him back in Green Bay overnight just to make sure he was ok. From what I understand, he is now en route back to Atlanta. We just needed to keep him there for some observations. For the most part, we came out of that game very healthy. We have been very fortunate to have the guys staying healthy. I think that is a big tribute to what we have been doing in the weight room. Jeff Fish and his staff have done a great job with our football team.”
Q: Are you anticipating getting a receiver (Laurent Robinson) and a defensive tackle (Jason Jefferson) back this week?
A: “We hope that they will be able to get back out this week. Laurent has been able to move around and Jason was out of his boot that he had been wearing for his ankle. It is going to be a matter of how they feel on Wednesday, whether they are able to get out there and be integrated into the system.”
MORE FROM THE FALCONS-PACKERS GAME:
- GAME BLOG: Follow updates in the official in-game blog
- GAME CENTER: Stats and more in the NFL.com Game Center
- GAME NOTES: Official game notes from the Lambeau Field press box
- TRANSCRIPTS: Head Coach Mike Smith | Falcons Players | Green Bay Packers
- VIDEO: Head Coach Mike Smith | Matt Ryan
- HIGHLIGHTS: Game Highlights | Matt Ryan Highlights | Michael Turner Highlights
- J. MIKE'S MISSIVES: Thoughts and commentary from the Managing Editor
- BOARDS: Talk about the Falcons on the FalconsLIFE Message Board
- FOLLOW THE FALCONS: Twitter | Flickr
- GAME INACTIVES: Inactive players and starters from the Green Bay game
