Smith Fired https://www.nfl.com/news/falcons-fire-arthur-smith-as-head-coach-after-three-seasons
Smith Fired https://www.nfl.com/news/falcons-fire-arthur-smith-as-head-coach-after-three-seasons
Didn’t make it to Black Monday.
He was hired because he was supposedly an offensive genius. In 3 seasons as not only the Head Coach but the Offensive Coordinator as well, he went 7-10 three times, finishing with a 21-30 record.
Number of playoffs appearances: 0
Number of 30+ point games: 0
Score of his final game (with still a small chance to make the playoffs): Loss to the Saints (ugh) 49-17.
The team was not improving. It was time to move on.
Not to mention 3 years in a row selecting offensive skill players in the top ten of the draft. And nothing to show for it.
Zagaki.
I genuinely thought he'd get a slight pass this season with next year being his first true hotseat season. I've posted this before elsewhere but...
YEAR ONE
-
Inherits a team with zero depth at any position and thin at talent in the starters
-
Loses WR1, forcing WR2 to step up
-
So deep in cap hell the best they can do is sign 3rd stringers and warm bodies.
-
New WR1 gives up on the team and takes mental health leave
-
Still manages to go 7-10
YEAR TWO
-
WR1 gets suspended the entire season
-
Loses QB1 in the offseason and the best we can do is sign a 2nd stringer who hasn't started a full season in his entire NFL career, and played in 18 games in the previous 3 seasons across 2 teams, injury prone with nerve damage in hand
-
Still in cap hell, can only sign 2nd-3rd stringers
-
Still shows flashes
-
QB1 maybe kinda sorta quits on the team after being benched poor play, rookie 3rd rounder shows flashes
YEAR THREE
- First year with cap room to actually sign FAs and make vet splashes
If anything, unless AS completely shits the bed this season his job is 100% safe. If he makes the playoffs year 4 is safe.
-