Falcons coach Mike Smith lamented another penalty-filled exhibition game for his team on Saturday but he had no problem with tackle Ryan Schraeder getting flagged for coming to quarterback Matt Ryan’s defense.
Falcons offensive linemen didn’t like that Titans Tennessee’s Zach Brown got chippy with Ryan after Ryan slid at the end of a six-yard scramble in the first quarter. Schraeder and center Joe Hawley confronted Brown after the play.
Schraeder and Titans linebacker Wesley Woodyard were both called for dead ball unnecessary roughness penalties that offset. But Smith said Schraeder was right to defend Ryan against a cheap shot by Brown.
“There was a punch to the quarterback’s face,” Smith said. “I absolutely have no issue with that (penalty by Schraeder). Not at all. That is our quarterback and their job is to protect their quarterback.”
The play recalled an incident from last season that angered both Smith and Falcons owner Arthur Blank.
During the 2013 season opener at New Orleans, Saints safety Kenny Vaccaro delivered a late hit to Ryan as he slid to the turf. Vaccaro was penalized for the play and later was fined $8,000 by the league but suffered no repercussions from Ryan’s teammates for the play.
This time, Schraeder retaliated against Woodyard for roughing up Ryan.
“That’s part of how this game goes,” Ryan said. “It’s a physical game and tempers are going to flare at different points. I was trying to make my way to the sidelines. I didn’t turn back to see what was going on.
“I know our guys were out there battling tonight. Our attitude was good. I think heading into the regular season in a week, we are about where we need to be.”
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