Atlanta Falcons running back Antone Smith (35) runs against the Chicago Bears during their game, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014, in Atlanta.ATLANTA - The elephant in the Atlanta Falcons' locker room stands 5-feet-9, weighs 192 pounds and answers to Antone Smith.
On those rare occasions he sees the football field he is very, very good. So good, in fact, that he is averaging 56.3 yards for each receiving touchdown he's scored this season, including Sunday's 41-yard TD reception against the Chicago Bears.
Trouble is, Smith touched the football a grand total of six times against Da Bears, running twice for five yards and catching four passes total for 64 yards and that one magical score. And with that limited productivity from their too secret weapon, the Falcons fell 27-13, their fourth loss in six games, but their first defeat all year inside the Georgia Dome after two lopsided wins.
"We've got the talent, we've just got to get it done" Smith said as he stood in front of his locker room cubicle, clearly uncomfortable answering questions about his lack of playing time. "I just want to win. Whatever I can do to help us win, I'll do."
Some might say the six-year veteran out of Florida State is being asked to do too much that has nothing to do with offense, given his obvious offensive skills on a team that has obvious offensive weaknesses.
For instance, Smith tackled Bears kick returner Chris Williams on the kickoff following his touchdown reception, dropping him at the Chicago 14.
Good as that play was, a reporter couldn't help but ask Smith if he resented being on the kickoff team. After all, you don't see Julio Jones or Steven Jackson or the hands-challenged tight end Levine Toilolo on the kickoff or punt teams.
"If I have to go out there and cover kicks, that's fine," he said. "I've been doing it since I've been here, so I take pride in that, as well. When I go out there, I want to make a tackle. I want to be disruptive. That's all I try and do."
If we were searching solely for such coveted traits as character and selflessness and patience, this attitude would be both welcome and wonderful. But athletes blessed with such uncommon talents as Smith seems to possess sometimes need to force the issue.
A single mind-blowing stat: Smith is the only player since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger to have recorded six scrimmage touchdowns of 35-plus yards in his first 25 career touches.
Or as Falcons wideout Roddy White told The Associated Press last Thursday: "(Antone's) very explosive. If we can get the ball in his hands and it's one-on-one, nine times out of 10 he's going to out-run the guy that's trying to tackle him."
And he might. But through Atlanta's first five games before Sunday, Smith had touched the ball by land or air a grand total of 17 times. That number now stands at 23, which averages to less than four touches a game, even though his five touchdowns have averaged covering 51 yards.
Could there be a bigger elephant in any Falcons meeting room than that? You've got a guy averaging 51 yards a scoring play and you can't find him more than four touches a game? And even if you don't use him, shouldn't Falcons head coach Mike Smith and offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter have him on the field as often as possible, if only to force opposing defenses to worry about him?
Of course, it's beginning to look like nothing can fix this team that began the season by scoring a total of 93 points in its first two home games but totaled but 13 against a Bears defense that was surrendering an average of twice that total prior to Sunday.
The Falcons aren't getting better; they'e getting worse. Again. And just in time to face a brutal seven-game stretch that includes road games at Baltimore this Sunday, a "home" game in London, England, against Detroit on Oct. 26 followed by road contests at Tampa Bay and Carolina before hosting the improving Cleveland Browns and Arizona Cardinals prior to a road trip to Green Bay.
Can they win enough of those to reach the playoffs? Doubtful. A repeat of last year's dismal, injury-riddled 4-12 nightmare is beginning to look more likely. But doubt could become a certainty if Antone Smith keeps remaining too secret a weapon to make a difference.
"You get what you earn in this league," Mike Smith said a few days before Da Bears came to town. "And what (Antone's) done through these first games ... he's earned more opportunities to touch it, there's no doubt about it."
Smith's touchdown on Sunday came with 11:28 to go in the third quarter. He touched it twice more the next time the Falcons gained possession, gaining 11 total yards. The 29-year-old never saw the ball again -- not a single, solitary time in the fourth and final quarter.
"Obviously, when he gets the ball in his hands, he certainly makes a lot of plays," said Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan afterward of Antone Smith.
At least it seems obvious to everyone except those who have the power to call the plays that get him the ball. And should that continue one more week, it might be time for Falcons owner Arthur Blank to threaten Coach Smith and Koetter with an elephant-sized pink slip the next time Antone Smith touches the football less than 12 times a Sunday.
Contact Mark Wiedmer at mwiedmer@timesfreepress.com.