Running Atlanta Falcons Thread

What about that Charlie guy in Notre Dame

 

We can hope, he hasn't been a very good HC so far.

edit: I'm afraid this may kill the chances of Atlanta spending their first rounder on a Qb, which I was hoping for.

 

a guy who's known Fox for years and years, knows his ins and outs, and has his supposed protege on our staff? Maybe not the best thing.

 

Well yeah that part is true, but it also cuts both ways (although I take the teacher over the student most times). But if he were as ineffective a HC in the pros as he has been at ND I still like our chances.

Either way Dimitroff is apt to call on someone from that tree so we will possibly face similar challenges.

 

Hiring Jags DC as Head Coach

Falcons Offer Jags' Smith Coaching Job
2008-01-23 1233
By CHARLES ODUM AP Sports Writer


ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons have offered their head coaching job to Jacksonville defensive coordinator Mike Smith, a person familiar with the search said Wednesday.

The person, who requested anonymity because contract talks between the Falcons and Smith have not been completed, said a news conference could be set for Thursday.

Smith, the Jaguars' defensive coordinator since 2003, had his second interview with the team Friday. He has never been an NFL head coach.

Smith first interviewed with Falcons owner Arthur Blank before the Jaguars lost to the New England Patriots in a divisional playoff game. His second meeting with the team was his first opportunity to meet newly hired general manager Thomas Dimitroff.

Smith, a former defensive assistant with Baltimore, had the league's No. 12 defense with Jacksonville this season after ranking second in 2006 and sixth in 2005.

ESPN.com, citing league sources, first reported the Falcons were expected to hire Smith.

Other candidates included Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier and former Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan.

The team did not wait on an interview with New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. The Falcons were denied permission to interview Spagnuolo while the Giants, preparing for the Super Bowl, are in the postseason.

The Falcons' offer to Smith could mean Ryan returns to Baltimore. Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said Ryan, who was fired with coach Brian Billick, would be asked back on new coach John Harbaugh's staff if he didn't get the Falcons' job.

Others who interviewed for the job but decided to stay with their current teams were Indianapolis assistant head coach Jim Caldwell and Dallas offensive coordinator Jason Garrett.

 

no way he doesn't take that.

He might surprise, but I'd be surprised if they make the playoffs under him. Don't like the hire for them, but since they can piss barbed wire for all I care, I like that they hired a coordinator who shouldn't translate. I don't think Ryan's a world-beater, but he's better, and Schottenheimer probably wouldn't get elite coordinators and talent to where he's at that 14-2 level, but either would be better for the team and worse for us.

If he gets good coordinators, though, that could be troublesome. Zimmer's gone already, so they can't build on that, Ryan probably won't come work for a team that passed him over. Might suck to have Dom in here, but he's not insurmountable. So I'm not worried (yet). So far, the idea of a Harbaugh/Ryan pairing in Baltimore, even without seeing the OC or the plan, sounds better.

A Dimitroff/Smith pair really doesn't instill huge confidence.

 

The team that finished last in the NFC South the previous year has won it the next year for every year of the division's existence. Something tells me that Atlanta will break that streak.

 

Little known Mike Smith fact #1: he is the brother-in-law of Brian Billick

Little known Mike Smith fact #2: his voice sounds homosexual.

 

They're fucked. Nobody substantial wants to deal with that mess.

 

Odd choice. I was as surprised by the timing as much as the name. Didn't know they were this close (or in such a hurry).

They had some pretty good names in and others on the horizon. Can't say I'm expecting much here