Los Angeles Charges 20 - Atlanta Falcons 17
Q. Arthur, can you explain a little bit what maybe happens on third down for you guys defensively? It seems like the last few weeks a lot of explosives have happened on third down.
ARTHUR SMITH: Well, I tried. What did we hold them to 6 points? 14 in the first. So, again, obviously in the first quarter, came out the way we wanted, and then they got us off the field on third down, and then they had a long drive. They overcame a long third down. But that's a good quarterback and that's an NFL team, and kind of going back and forth. And they made some plays in the second quarter. Came back in the third quarter, I thought we played pretty well. Obviously didn't love the touchdown. I gotta look at that, and then we over came that. And then we got the fumble, and then we got the turn over, came back and scored. So pretty short game, and at the end they made a play or two. So whether you're mixing up calls in a day and they executed better than we did down the stretch.
Q. Some of the deep shots toward the end of the game, how much of that is what you're looking for as primary versus Marcus just seeing something and taking a shot?
ARTHUR SMITH: Yeah, I'm not going to go through the reads, but they gave us a look. At some point they had to bring everybody up there, and stop the run and you gotta back them off. I'd have to look at the tape to see exactly what happened. There's always a risk to take a shot. And certainly, you know, I tried and I gotta look at the tape.
Q. And from a mentality standpoint, a lot of times takes something to get over the hump, learn how to win. Is there something that when you get to 500, you have to get something else there?
ARTHUR SMITH: No. I think that's a convenient narrative. You know, a lot of times in this league it's really the matchups week to week, and every game is its own story. So this game right there, there was appear ebb and flow, right? First quarter, second quarter, third quarter and then down the stretch. They made one more play than we did, and that was the difference in the game. They kicked a field goal and time expired. Obviously disappointed but you gotta give the Chargers credit. And we gotta learn from it quick because we gotta turn around because we'll be playing Thursday night in a big divisional game.
Q. When it comes to what you were looking at, what was the difference in the first quarter start versus kind of what happened in the second quarter?
ARTHUR SMITH: Yeah, I mean usually what it comes down to is third down. Miscommunication error, free hitter. We had a look on the outside, and I don't think we even got the top of the drop. So that happened on two third downs, and that's usually the case. We made some adjustments. Obviously we didn't make enough plays, but that's what happens, especially because it were to happen early in the drive, too. Certainly allowed them to go back out there as we, you know, you feel like you got the momentum, you got them on the ropes a little bit, but that's the NFL. We gotta find a way and we'll continue to do that and we'll get back to work tomorrow.
Q. Obviously not one play that's going to lose a game, but what do you say to TQ kind of in the moment, in that fourth quarter?
ARTHUR SMITH: Back peculiar TQ a thousand percent. You want to make a play, it's a funny shaped ball. I love TQ, and he should never hang a head down. I mean he scooped the ball up, it slipped out. He's a defensive lineman, ball takes funny bounces sometimes.
Q. The possession where you take it with about 520 left. You had things setup, it felt like, the way you wanted it right there, your time possession. How disappointed were you that you couldn't get anything must erred to start that to maybe get into a roll a little bit?
ARTHUR SMITH: It's a risky take, right? First down run, second down shot and we didn't do it. Third down, didn't do it. They covered us. So that's kind of how it happened. Yeah, obviously you take a risk when you go for a shot, but the way they were up there, we thought it was worth the risk.
Q. Obviously you haven't looked at the tape from today yet, but there have been a few of the shots that you've taken going back feels like a month or so where you've had that big shot but haven't quite been able to hit it. Is there anything there?
ARTHUR SMITH: I mean we've had some shots. That's kind of the way it goes. Obviously we'll continue to look at timing and sometimes when your timing depending on the protection of where you're setting up, if you gotta move a little bit, throw you off. Little drop backs. But we had some big plays and we'll continue to work on it to get that corrected.
Q. With the way you used Cordarrelle today, was that him full go or was there some limit to him because he'd just come off an injury?
ARTHUR SMITH: Pretty good today. Glad CP is back.
Q. The way you divvy up carries with CP --
ARTHUR SMITH: Can't get into the strategy, but happy he's back. We got a lot of guys we believe in and they can help us, and clearly CP helped us today in a lot of different roles.
Q. Do you have any injury updates on Hennessy?
ARTHUR SMITH: I don't. He tried to go back in. I'll go check and obviously we had a quick turnaround. So depending on what the doctor says. I'm sure they'll have to do some imaging. Matt did try to go back in the game, and I appreciate him trying, but obviously he couldn't do it and I'll just have to see what the doctors say.
Q. Pitts had a few drops today. Is there any concern when it comes down to communication between Marcus Mariota and Pitts?
ARTHUR SMITH: No. It's just something we gotta clean up. And we'll work to execute better. But I believe in those guys, and we'll continue to find ways to improve. Like I said, we got a lot of football. Obviously disappointed we didn't get the job done today. Credit to the Chargers, but we gotta flip the pace pretty quick. As soon as I leave here, because it's a short week.
Q. You talk about the roles that CP helps you in. Is one of those in your mind energy? I'm thinking of the goal line run. Do you feel like your whole offense kind of feeds off him a little bit? Is that fair?
ARTHUR SMITH: He certainly brings a physical element when the ball is in his hands. I mean, certainly we all saw that on the goal line. Then the reason I wanted him in there, kind of hockey something there on the goal line when he ran it in. I mean it's a guy we believe in. He's a veteran, a heart attack. But we got other guys. Allgeier is a heart attack, Huntley is a heart attack. But happy he's back and we'll continue to find ways to make sure we're being effective down in the red zone and find unique ways to get him the ball as well.
Q. The finishes you've had the last few weeks, in your mind is that just a reflection of how thin the margins are in this league?
ARTHUR SMITH: No. You look around the league, it's so competitive, week in and week out. They usually come down to the end, and I think it's kind of the trend around the National Football League, and certainly we've been in our fair share really the last two years, but didn't get it done today.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports