FALCONS COACH MIKE SMITH
Opening statement
“Obviously, this was not the type of performance that we need to have to win football games. It was very disturbing in a number of areas in what we were able to get accomplished out there on the football field today. With that, I’ll open it up for questions.”
On the defense giving up 558 yards
“We have a very hard time stopping them, whether if they ran the football or if they passed the football. We didn’t tackle well. You’re not going to win games in the NFL when you don’t get stops. It was the middle of the third quarter before we got a stop.”
On not being able to hold a lead
“We were able to fight back and get a one-point lead. We went back out on defense and we weren’t able to stop them. They ran the ball. They threw to the football. They did basically whatever they wanted to in terms of controlling the line of scrimmage. That is very alarming in the way that we have played on the road in the first two games is a big concern. We are going to be getting in a stretch here where we are going to have to be on the road for a number of weeks.”
On the run defense
“We have to get it corrected right now and we will get it corrected right now. We are not getting off blocks. We are missing tackles. We are not fitting correctly. We are not gelling as a unit. Everybody has a job to do and a gap to take when you are defending the run. Right now, we are not defending the run. Nor are we defending the pass very well.”
FALCONS DEFENSIVE END TYSON JACKSON
On the Vikings attacking
“I figured they would have done it a little bit with a new quarterback coming in, but they were able just to gash too much. Two or three yards is okay, but when you start to get five for six yards on one carry, they just put us behind the sticks, and from there it’s just an uphill battle on third down.”
LINEBACKER PAUL WORRILOW
On the play of the linebackers
“Getting off blocks. We have to get to the ball faster. It starts with that.”
LINEBACKER PRINCE SHEMBO
On his first NFL start
“It has been a great experience. Of course I hate losing games like this, but we just have to bounce back band get ready for our next one. I feel like I was mentally ready. I have been watching film, seeing Teddy Bridgewater since college being in the same draft class. We just have to play better, myself included.”
OFFENSIVE TACKLE JAKE MATTHEWS
On the down offensive linemen
“Those guys love the game of football and they played really hard. We will see what they have in store. No matter what we are going through it as an offensive line, and as a team, we are going to be helping each other out.”
