April 25, 2024
ATLANTA (AP) — In sidestepping a question about the much-debated roughing-the-passer call that torpedoed Atlanta's comeback attempt against Tampa Bay, Falcons coach Arthur Smith said, “I have to find out how I can coach better.”
A Falcons team picked by many to contend for little more than the No. 1 pick in next year's NFL draft has instead been competitive in every game this season, including Sunday's 21-15 loss at Tampa Bay. The Falcons have surpassed those low expectations by playing five consecutive games decided by one score.
If Smith must coach better in any area for his Falcons (2-3), perhaps it is in the passing game.
Better balance in Atlanta's offense, which continued to produce on the ground, might have prevented the roughing-the-passer call against Grady Jarrett from having such a devastating impact on the team's chances.
The call wiped out Jarrett's fourth-quarter sack of Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, extending a Tampa Bay drive to close out the win. The sack appeared to be routine to almost every observer with the exception of referee Jerome Boger, who threw the flag.
There was widespread outrage on social media. Former Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy declared on his Twitter account: “It was a terrible call.”
There is no guarantee the Falcons could have taken the lead if given another possession. After all, Marcus Mariota threw for only 147 yards. He has been held under 200 yards through the air in three of five games.
Mariota is playing well enough to keep the Falcons competitive. He threw a touchdown pass, wasn't intercepted and had a team-leading 61 yards rushing.
The question for Smith: Is Mariota playing well enough to make the Falcons a winner? Perhaps with more offensive balance, Atlanta wouldn't have trailed Tampa Bay 21-0 entering the fourth quarter.
Mariota's performance through five games has been mid-level at best. He has thrown only four scoring passes with four interceptions. He has provided stability for an offense in transition but not standout production.
Smith believes Mariota provides the best chance for wins in 2022. Rookie Desmond Ridder, a third-round pick from Cincinnati, hasn't appeared in a regular-season game.
Inevitably, Smith must find out if the rookie makes the Falcons — and the coach — better for the future.
