INDIANAPOLIS -- It has been a busy offseason for Falcons coach Mike Smith.
After the guiding the Falcons to the NFC South title, he had to deal with the aftermath of the team's loss to the Green Bay Packers in the divisional round of the playoffs, coach in the Pro Bowl, replace his highly successful quarterback coach, sign his three-year contract extension and evaluate the team's performance with his staff.
At the NFL scouting combine last week over breakfast at a bagel shop, Smith reviewed the season and talked about the team's improvement plan with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
In the first part of a two-part Q&A, Smith shared his thoughts on some key issues and gave his review of the offense.
Q: What are the keys to improving the offense?
A: Creating the explosive play is an area where we have to improve. [Explosive plays are defined as ones that gain 20 yards or more.] Really, creating those explosive plays are very similar to the turnover ratio. If you are giving up a lot of explosive plays, it doesn't really matter how many that you get. You want to win the explosive [play] ratio just like you do the turnover ratio.
Q: Will you all try to pass down the field more or just block better for longer runs?
A: It's twofold. You've got to create explosive plays in both the run and pass game. Defenses dictate that to some extent in terms of how you're going to have a chance to create those explosive plays.
If they are going to [focusing on stopping the run], you might have to throw a pass.
Q: Did you look at the playoff loss as an anomaly?
A: They were the better team on that night, and we did not play well. We did not coach well. That was probably the biggest, no it was the biggest disappointment last season. ... Hey, we're going to learn from it. I know our players will. I know our coaching staff will. I know I will.
Q: What will new quarterback coach Bob Bratkowski add to the offense?
A: When you have success, you're going to have coaches on your staff that are going to be coveted by other teams in the league. Bill Musgrave had the opportunity to go to Minnesota. I thought it was important for us to add a quarterback coach who has experience calling plays and has worked in the passing game.
We feel that he's going to continue to help Matt [Ryan] develop as a quarterback. It is important for us that not only does our quarterback develop, but that we develop as an offense.
Q: How important was it that [tight end] Tony Gonzalez confirmed that he's returning?
A: It was big. There is certainty now in terms of Tony coming back for another year. That helps us in our planning.
Q: Offensively, will we see a more aggressive and creative approach to creating more explosive plays?
A: We're going to continue to evaluate that all the way through the offseason. I think it's a real obvious [area]. Sometimes statistics can be deceiving. Sometimes they can be very telling. We know that we have to win the explosive-play ratio. We definitely know that. I think that's one of the four or five factors that will determine the outcome of most games.
Q: What are your draft needs on offense?
A: I will yield to [general manager] Thomas [Dimitroff] on that.
Q: How did the offensive line play?
A: They did a very good job of protecting the quarterback. We were one of the top teams in sacks allowed (third, 23 sacks allowed). We did a very good job. The core of what we want to do is going to be controlled by how our offensive line plays.
Q: How did Michael Turner and Jason Snelling perform?
A: I thought that Michael had a nice bounce-back year from the injury that forced him to miss, in my mind, eight games [in 2009]. ... I think that Michael is unique in that he gets stronger as the game wears on and he gets stronger as the season goes on.
Jason Snelling, just like he has in the three previous years, can handle a number of situations. He can still play fullback, too.
Ovie Mughelli was definitely the best fullback in the league. His Pro Bowl season was something that we can build on in our running game. I don't know that there is a better blocking fullback in the league.
Q: Is Jerious Norwood still in the picture?
A: We love Jerious' speed. Unfortunately for Jerious, he had the knee injury. He's going through the rehabilitation process right now. His schedule will come more into focus when he gets into that seventh or eighth month of rehab.
Q: What's your receiver situation going forward? A lot of people contend that you need a number-two receiver.
A: It's a very solid receiving corps, of course led by Roddy White. I think there will be a jump in production from Harry Douglas because it's going to be his second year recovering from his knee surgery. Even though Harry was ready to go when the season started, he wasn't 100 percent.
As the season progressed, he got better and better. I think it was evident in the Carolina game [in Charlotte on Dec. 12] when he caught the deep ball. Harry will be an integral part of what we want to do.
We will get Kerry Meier back. We were very impressed with him during the preseason. We felt that he was going to be a guy who could contribute not only on offense, but on special teams as well. He's ahead of schedule as well in terms of his rehabilitation.
Eric Weems was a playmaker on special teams. He did not have a whole lot of opportunities on offense, but he is a guy who can be more involved in the offense.
