Press conference takeaways: Arthur Smith opens up about Calvin Ridley, emergency and injuries

Arthur Smith’s offense came to life in a way we haven’t yet seen during his tenure as head coach of the Falcons, but it ultimately wasn’t enough to hold the team back. Washington Football League. A major theme of Smith’s post-game press conference was the missed opportunities by his team, not just down the home stretch, but throughout the afternoon.

“Obviously frustrating when you don’t finish games,” Smith said after the loss. “We had several chances to win this game. We did not do it. … We had a lot of chances to get the ball. We did not do it. You have to give Washington credit. They made plays when needed. The quarterback extended the game. He threw them up there and their guys went down.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the same theme popped up at Smith’s Monday afternoon press conference, but he did have the benefit of being able to watch the movie and dive into some of the details. Here are some key points from Monday’s presser.

A sense of urgency surrounding the necessary improvement of the team

After last week’s brutal and narrow victory over the Giants, the Falcons’ coaching staff made a point of declaring that NFL teams are a work in progress. The goal is to continue improving this time of year and achieve gradual growth which should translate into wins.

The Falcons have shown a lot of growth against Washington, especially on offense, but the end result is all that really matters. A lousy victory last week, a prettier loss this week. Guess which Smith would prefer? Now sitting 1-3 on the season, Smith feels the turnaround needs to happen sooner rather than later. As Tori McElhaney tweeted at the press conference, there has to be more urgency with this team.

No update on the injury front

While it was Washington who really felt the brunt of the injury virus on Sunday, there were a few notable Falcons who fell during the action. Most notable of these was nickel corner Isaiah Oliver, who was hauled off the field after taking a hit while bombarding the quarterback. He was initially deemed doubtful to return, then declared absent for the remainder of the action.

Punter Cam Nizialek also left the game after apparently injuring his leg during a kick-off, and he was also unable to return to action. On Monday, it was announced that punter Dustin Colquitt had been removed from the practice squad and added to Atlanta’s 53-man roster, which could give an indication of Nizialek’s long-term status. Finally, safety half Erik Harris, who made several breakage passes on Sunday, was also among the injured during the match.

On Monday afternoon, Smith said he had no injury update to provide. Typically, serious injuries are known at the time of Monday’s press conference, but since this is a new regime that is handling things, they may have a different way of doing things. Players are off Tuesday, and it’s often a day for trades to happen in the league. Maybe we’ll know more then.

Smith expects more from Calvin Ridley to move forward

This season, Calvin Ridley was set to take on the role of Atlanta’s No. 1 offensive receiver following the Julio Jones trade. Although he currently leads the Falcons with 255 receiving yards, Ridley has yet to look like the dominant receiver many expected him to be. Even without Jones on the pitch throughout his first three seasons, Ridley was a nightmare for opposing defenses. So far he has had a slightly uncomfortable night’s sleep.

For the first time in his career, Ridley did not have a 100-yard receiving game in the first four games of the season. His lone touchdown also represents a new career low in the first four games of a season. He’s a player prone to lightning-fast starts, but he’s struggling to really assert himself on this attack. Against Washington, Ridley saw 13 targets and caught seven passes for 80 yards. He’s had several drops on potentially important plays, and while they’re tough catches, Ridley should make them.

When asked about Ridley on Monday, Smith made it clear that the team have higher expectations for the fourth-year wide receiver.

Mike Davis isn’t blamed for the series finale

While maintaining a 2-point lead in the fourth quarter, the Falcons made up three games for Mike Davis – two points and a screen – to try to salt the game. Those three games resulted in 6 yards and a subsequent punt that allowed Washington to score the winning touchdown. Some criticized the conservative approach late in the game, and others questioned whether Cordarrelle Patterson or Wayne Gallman should have had the chance to carry the ball there.

Despite Patterson’s early successes, it’s clear Smith trusts Davis and still sees him as the leader.

“Everything is fair. But we trust Mike Davis, ”Smith said after the game. “That’s why he’s in there. It’s about ball safety, making the right decisions, doing the right readings. This one is pretty obvious.

On Monday, Smith reiterated that belief. He pointed out that the 11 members of the offense were responsible for the three-and-outs so late in the game, and it’s a good reminder that the running back isn’t the only culprit for a failed play. Davis scored a very impressive touchdown on a 7-yard catch, and he essentially knocked down a defenseman by yard on his way to the end zone. Still, the returning veteran only gained 14 yards on 13 carries, so hopefully better days are ahead.