
Falcons offensive coordiantor Mike Mularkey and quarterback Matt Ryan are ready to expand the use of the no-huddle attack and maybe throw in some gadget plays. (CURTIS COMPTON/AJC).
BIRDLAND – They called Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey “Inspector Gadget” for his creative play calling in previous NFL stops.
He’d be the first to admit that he’s had to hold his cards close to his vest while the team has been developing young quarterback Matt Ryan, implementing his system and still winning 20 of 32 regular season games.
As the Mularkey and Ryan are about to enter their third season together, we should see more creativity in Mularkey’s

Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey.
play-calling and Ryan’s play.
“Obviously, we’re light years ahead of where we were when we got here three years ago,” Mularkey told the AJC’S Ken Sugiura after the last open OTA practice. “We can experiment a little more with things because of these guys’ experience with the offense. It’s been fun. It’s gotten very productive.”
Mularkey has been spending time on the board, drawing up new formations. He’s been moving parts around like he’s playing chess and adding new wrinkles to existing plays.
“Our guys just adjusted immediately and made it easy to do,” Mularkey said.
So should the fans be expecting to see Inspector Gadget at the Georgia Dome this season?
“That reputation and the players that I was with in Pittsburgh were capable of doing the stuff we were doing,” Mularkey said. “That’s one of the things we try to do offensively is play to the players’ strength. We’re not doing anything different here.

Tight ends Justin Peelle and Leroy Banks signing autographs after a recent minicamp practice. (D. Orlando Ledbetter/AJC)
“It’s just a different personnel group. We don’t have the same type of guys. It doesn’t mean I don’t like that. I think it keeps defenses off-balance, but it’s hard to do if you don’t have a specific-type player.”
MULARKEY ON THE O-LINE: “The O line has been absolutely a blast to be around with the way they approach everything. Very positive. (They) bust their ass as well as any group I’ve been around. I think they’re just hitting their stride. Their communication is far ahead of where we’ve been.”
ON TIGHT END JUSTIN PEELE: “Justin Peelle, I think every team wants a Justin Peelle.”
ON THE RUNNING BACKS: “In the back, it’s been good to have Mike (Turner) back and Ovie (Mughelli’s) been here. Having everybody here has allowed us to take maybe a step ahead in the offseason compared to where we’ve been.”
71 comments Add your comment
FalconTransplant
June 24th, 2010
1:46 pm
If VJAX doesn’t wanna play there and still won’t sign his tender then the Chargers will take what they can get. Look Holmes went to the Jets for like a 6th round or something like that. All I’m saying is that if we can deal with the team, they should be able to negotiate a more workable trade.
Problem is, is this team builds through the draft and I don’t see them giving up more than a single pick.
Plus i really don’t see them going after VJAX any how. So this is a moot point.
FalconTransplant
June 24th, 2010
1:48 pm
But it’s till fun to dream about it.
Besides VJAX is still under contract for another year and if he were to come here in that year and prove he’s worth #1 money, then he deserves it. And if he doesn’t THEN HE DOESN”T
FEATHEREDFRIEND
June 24th, 2010
2:33 pm
C’mon now —14-2…14-2…14-2 Flyin’ High Again——WOOOOOWEEEEEE……. YA GOTTA BEEEEEEEEEELEEEEEEEVEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!. Matthew”The Iceman”Ryan. He’s gonna sell Drew Brees an autograph when the seasons over baby!!! Yeah C’mon
Billy Ryckman
June 24th, 2010
2:40 pm
What’s the holdup with Kerry Meier signing a contract?
Steven D
June 24th, 2010
2:40 pm
For the “first” posters….this is you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciG-Xs7mBwU
FEATHEREDFRIEND
June 24th, 2010
2:46 pm
FOURTEEN &&&&&&&&&&& TWO!!!!!!!!!!!! BEEEELEEEEVIIIIIN IT ALL YOU CRAZY BIRDZZZZZZZZZ Flyin’ High Again!!!!!!!!!!!!
truth
June 24th, 2010
2:52 pm
DLed….have you heard anything on HD’s recovery?
FEATHEREDFRIEND
June 24th, 2010
2:57 pm
I heard he’s gonna be Flyin’ High Again and I’m BEEEEELEEEEVIIIN’ IT BABY——14-2…14-2…14-2
falcon4ever
June 24th, 2010
3:25 pm
Don’t hate me but I sure hope we don’t resort to gadget plays. Those are for teams that are in a bind or are losing in the 4th qtr. Just guessing, I’d say gadget plays blow up in your face 70% of the time . Granted , Smith is a defensive coach and doesn’t seem to be offensive minded , but he should know better than to let Malarkey start that stuff unless we want even more turnovers and picks. If you have good offense , use it. If your the Lions or the Rams , use gadget plays. What do you have to lose?.
ASHCAN.
June 24th, 2010
4:31 pm
@ FEATHEREDFRIEND,and what gives you the notion that this team will be 14-2? Ok 14-2 with no superbowl.I would have to say 8-8 or maybe 9-7 at best.Ok bird droppings prove me wrong.
Falconidiot
June 24th, 2010
5:40 pm
Gadget plays help take some pressure off the QB and when the defense is over pursuing they work best. But 50/50 split of pounding a team with Turner/Snelling with a good dousing of Gonzo/White/Douglas we don’t need to spend much time on them. Couple a game just to keep you honest.
FEATHEREDFRIEND
June 24th, 2010
5:40 pm
Cuz I BEEEEEEEELEEEEEEEVEEEEE!!!!!!!! Therefore it must be that way….Flyin’ High Again Baby!!!!!!
Go Junior!
June 24th, 2010
6:56 pm
Turner is the best pure runner in the NFL
Ken Strickland
June 24th, 2010
7:07 pm
ASHCAN-Why don’t you prove yourself right. We managed to finish 9-7, last season with all of those key injuries, a lack of experienced depth at almost every position, a much weaker DEF, shaky FG kicking and a much stronger schedule. Except for a 3pt loss to the Saints and a 3pt over time loss to the Giants, we could have easily ended up 11-5.
Tell me, how is it any better to criticize a Falcon fan for possibly going overboard and expecting too much, when as a Falcon hater, you’re going overboard with expecting too little.
FEATHEREDFRIEND
June 24th, 2010
7:42 pm
14-2…14-2…14-2 Maybe it’s overboard but thats what happens when you are Flyin’ High Again…. YEAH C’MON and ride the Matty polar express bandwagon with MEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Atlanta Falcons Talk » Blog Archive » Mike Mularkey dusting off his Inspector Gadget material?
June 25th, 2010
1:01 am
[...] Link Source >> Atlanta Falcons Blogs Posted June 25th, 2010 in Atlanta Falcons Blogs. [...]
States Burr
June 25th, 2010
3:17 am
Just a note Larry: Mike Kenn was a Left Tackle, approx 280lbs and tall. Technique guy with balance.
If all 3 receivers are back and were all-world it doesnt matter. If Matt Ryan is losing a second or so in pass protection and the running game is not working to open up play action then 3 great receiver’s don’t matter
He will only have time to focus on one (1)
WingMan
June 25th, 2010
6:56 am
14-2 is fantasy but fun and possible. 12-4 and Division title is probable with split with NO and 2 wins over Carolina.
dan
June 25th, 2010
8:49 am
I think Mularky should worry less about trick plays and more about executing. There have been a couple times where he has tried to be cute, instead of just running a play that works 70% of the time. Case in point, the New Orleans game in Atlanta this past season. The Falcons were putting together a drive in the last couple minutes to possibly take the lead or tie the game. Mularky decides to run the freakin wildcat formation, which got stopped for no yardage and took considerable time off the clock. The offense wasn’t able to find it’s rhythm and lost a game they could have won, even with a back up QB in Chris Redmon who was playing well in that game. The two minute drill is no time to be running a gimmic offense, its time to execute. There is a time and a place for trick plays. That was just a poor decision and it cost the Falcons a game.
Atlanta Falcons Talk » Blog Archive » Saturday Six Pack 6/26/10: Unchained Mularkey Edition
June 27th, 2010
1:00 am
[...] certain way about the Falcons’ offensive playcalling. Well, Mike Mularkey promises to ramp up the Mularkery in 2010. We’d certainly all be happier than [some Southern idiom] to see the offense get broke wide [...]
bob
June 28th, 2010
2:17 pm
I still want to see the tight end screen pass to Gonzalez like the old Baltimore Colts used to run with
John Mackey. Imagine Gonzalez with a couple of our linemen blocking in front of him.