Here’s a list of candidates to replace Musgrave
Matt Ryan and Jeff Jagodzinski back at Boston College. (Associated Press)
The Falcons will move quickly to hire a replacement for Bill Musgrave.
Coach Mike Smith has a list of potential replacements and will start officially contacting folks today. He’s known since letting Musgrave interview that there was a likelihood of him leaving. The search likely won’t be completed before Smith and his staff leaves to coach the Pro Bowl in Hawaii on Tuesday.
He wasn’t ready to reveal his list of candidates last night when we chatted, but here are some potential candidates to replace Musgrave, who’s headed off to become the offensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings.
1. Jeff Jagodzinski, head coach Omaha Nighthawks: He was Matt Ryan’s head coach at Boston College. He served as the offensive line coach for the Falcons from 2004 to 2005. He has been an OC, but has never coached QBs before.
Coach Brian Billick
2. Chris Palmer, head coach Hartford Colonels: Well respected as an offensive mind and mentor of quarterbacks. The former Cleveland Browns head coach has coached QBs at Dallas, New England and New York Giants.
3. Tom Clements, QB coach Green Bay Packers. He’s done a wonderful job in developing Aaron Rodgers. Some of his other pupils have included Tommy Maddox, Kordell Stewart and Elvis Grbac. He was the QB coach for the Steelers (2001 to 2003) when Falcons OC Mike Mularkey was the OC there before he left to become Buffalo’s head coach.
4. Darryl Bevell, former Vikings OC: His star was rising, but his inability to develop Tarvaris Jackson led the team to keep pursuing Brett Favre. He’s interviewing in Seattle. He’s either not a very good teacher or Jackson didn’t play attention in class.
5. Jim Zorn, Baltimore’s quarterbacks coach: He has no apparent direct ties to the current coaching staff, but is
Tom Clements, former Notre Dame stud and lawyer, worked with Mike Mularkey in Pittsburgh. (Associated Press)
widely respected around the league.
6. Brian Billick, former Ravens coach: Just throwing this one out there because of the obvious connection. Don’t know if he’s ready to get back on the sidelines or if he’s waiting for another head coaching shot.
7. Mike Shula, Jacksonville QB coach: Was hired in 2007 and spent one year on Jack Del Rio’s staff with Smith.
This is a pretty good working list. We’ll add and delete as the information flows. Who would you all like to see?
–D. Orlando Ledbetter
Get instant updates on Twitter at AJCFalcons and you can join the Facebook Fan page at AJC Falcons.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
127 comments Add your comment
Poor McKay
January 20th, 2011
10:40 am
Can any ex-QB be a QB coach? Doubtful, choose someone with interest in coaching. Teaching and doing are completely different skill sets… how many HOF players are exceptional head coaches?
fanfavorite
January 20th, 2011
10:41 am
First get some PLAYERS!!!!!!
E's Dirty Birds
January 20th, 2011
10:49 am
I’m still hurting too much have an oppinion right now
dan
January 20th, 2011
10:51 am
Jim Zorn was a lousy head coach, but as an OC or QB’s coach, he’d be a great hire.
Honestly, I think its time to take the training wheels off Matty Ice. He has proven that he can run a good 2 min drill with he is given the opportunity, so why not let him do more of it? I’ve never been all that impressed with Musgrave anyway. He won’t be a big loss.
Delbert D.
January 20th, 2011
10:51 am
“He’s either not a very good teacher or Jackson didn’t play attention in class.”
Jackson scored 19 on the Wonderlic, which may explain it.
joewhite
January 20th, 2011
10:55 am
I like billick,and like ashcan. states you cannot totally blame the oc, but in this case some of the play calling was suspect. Go falcons
Steve From Dalton
January 20th, 2011
10:57 am
I am not ready to ditch Mularkey over one playoff game. If we were to judge the Falcons based on the playoff loss, most of the team, coaches and a few popcorn vendors would be out on the street.
The only problem with Cynthia Tucker as OC is all of the plays would be to the far left of center.
arnold
January 20th, 2011
11:19 am
Never Jeff Jagodzinski. He was with the Buc’s and was released in one heck of a hurry. He refused to do his job and kept thinking he was the head coach. Keep him away.
Ed
January 20th, 2011
11:25 am
I would go with Tony Clements he would be making a lateral move realistically but I think he would be able to relate well to Matt Ryan much the same way he did with Aaron Rodgers.
Brad Komminsk
January 20th, 2011
11:28 am
Mike Bobo.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
January 20th, 2011
11:29 am
A couple of more candidates:
Ray Sherman — Most recently of the Dallas Cowboys. He was the Falcons Asst. head coach/offense in 1990. Coached QBs for Minnesota 1995-1997.
Courtesy of @FalcFans on Twitter.com:
Mark Whipple — Mostly recently of Miami (The U!) where he was Asst. HC/OC/QB coach from 2009-2010. Coached QBs for the Pittsburgh Steelers 2004-2006.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
January 20th, 2011
11:35 am
Delbert D. — Brett Favre scored at 13. It’s not rocket science.
Pee Jay
January 20th, 2011
11:41 am
Get someone with experience in developing a MOBILE QUARTERBACK…To open up the playbook, Ryan is gonna hafta start movin’ more…A one-dimensional, drop-back passer QB coach ain’t gonna cut it..and no washed-up has-been’s, either! Let’s inject some FIRE and ENERGY into this team!
D. Orlando Ledbetter
January 20th, 2011
11:43 am
My man Pat Yasinskas has Mike Shula going to interview in Carolina likely for their QB coach spot. He disses my listing of Jags. (I know their were “issues” in Tampa Bay. But Jags and Ice had a great time together at Boston College.)
http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcsouth/post/_/id/17933/nfc-south-coaching-carousel
Gregory
January 20th, 2011
11:43 am
Steve Young
Mr. Zizzle
January 20th, 2011
11:45 am
Still numb from that beatdown saturday. Number of Packer punts “0″
I think the quarterback coach is a minor setback. How about a pass rush and more punishing defense!
DUUUURRR!
January 20th, 2011
11:46 am
Yeah, the Falcons need a MOBILE QB. They should cut Ryan and sign Pat White!
Ted Striker
January 20th, 2011
12:13 pm
Pretty interesting list, D-Led.
Any truth to the rumor they are bringing you in to discuss the job?
D. Orlando Ledbetter
January 20th, 2011
12:18 pm
Ted Striker — No truth to that rumor. None whatsoever. Matt Ryan wouldn’t look too good running the Double Wing, my offense of preference.
Josh
January 20th, 2011
12:21 pm
John Ramsdell has done a heck of a job with Phillip Rivers out in San Diego.
a bunch or idiot
January 20th, 2011
12:35 pm
why would a the QB coach from GB leave to become a QB coach for the Falcons?
lol
a bunch or idiot
January 20th, 2011
12:39 pm
what offensive weaponas?
RB: Turner is up the middle back. No quick enough to turn the corner and poor pass catching
WR: R. White is good but no explosive, he can not seperate. All the other WRs are GARBO
TE: Gonzo is awesome but has lost a step..
I am baffled that people think of the Falcons as an offensive juggernaut.
Sid
January 20th, 2011
12:41 pm
Ok, what about Brett Favre? He loves the Atlanta night life!
OK
January 20th, 2011
1:10 pm
a bunch OR idiot? weaponas? this says a lot.
tim
January 20th, 2011
1:11 pm
There are way too many asst coaches in football.
A quarterback coach for 3 players?????????
Get real…….
collegeballfan
January 20th, 2011
1:16 pm
Mark Richt.
Youknowme
January 20th, 2011
1:33 pm
Bret Favre would make an excellent qb coach and could teach the offence a lot. He ain’t ready to get out of football, just playing.
Ben Dover
January 20th, 2011
1:43 pm
How about Fridge. Ralph took San Diego to the Super Bowl as Bobby Ross’s OC.
ssuradio.com
January 20th, 2011
2:14 pm
What about Jeff Rutledge? He was the QB’s coach in Arizona the year they went to the Super Bowl. Anybody that can help do that feat must be good!
wxwax
January 20th, 2011
2:16 pm
I wonder if Jeff Jagodzinski regrets having interviewed for the Jets job and consequently losing his gig at Boston College?
If he had high-powered offenses at BC, would he be a good fit at more conservative Atlanta?
wxwax
January 20th, 2011
2:17 pm
Favre could also show Matty Ice how to use a cell phone camera.
Georgia Dawg
January 20th, 2011
2:24 pm
Can we move Mike Bobo to the top of the list of candidates?
JMar
January 20th, 2011
2:35 pm
Based on the comments, I guess the connection to Billick isn’t as obvious as you thought.
Tweets that mention Here’s a list of candidates to replace Musgrave | Atlanta Falcons -- Topsy.com
January 20th, 2011
2:39 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Myron Abernathy, ReidAdair, Ron Smith , brad cottrill, D. Orlando Ledbetter and others. D. Orlando Ledbetter said: Here’s a list of candidates to replace Musgrave http://bit.ly/hZxTJe [...]
Tweets that mention Here’s a list of candidates to replace Musgrave | Atlanta Falcons -- Topsy.com
January 20th, 2011
2:54 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by ajc sports editor, SportVise and Sean Womble, Jeff Schultz. Jeff Schultz said: D-Led esq./@ajcfalcons has a dandy list of potential QB coaches. I like Tom Clements (coaches Aaron Rodgers). http://bit.ly/hxiAgp [...]
blord
January 20th, 2011
2:56 pm
I think the pick is pretty easy. We have to get Trent Dilfer. He loves Atl and is an expert on everything.
K Bird
January 20th, 2011
3:17 pm
How about Bobby Cox? He has some free time. He could not call a worse game than the scheme Saturday night.
REF
January 20th, 2011
3:26 pm
@waynester – it’s not always wise to mix family and business.
GIVE ME A BREAK
January 20th, 2011
3:31 pm
How about Joe Montana?
opie
January 20th, 2011
3:43 pm
Jags was fired in USF how suspect can he be. Bevell was hired in Seattle as OC
BigHittas
January 20th, 2011
4:11 pm
BoBo the Clown! he can also be the new OC!
sp
January 20th, 2011
4:22 pm
no more mularky! please go! and take your predictable, slow, boring, weak offensive plays with you
loser
take it from me.
January 20th, 2011
5:06 pm
How about Jim Mora SR! Playoffs,Playoffs,Who said Playoffs!
Showmekid
January 20th, 2011
5:32 pm
I think that they should hire Mike Bobo.
Falcons2011
January 20th, 2011
5:45 pm
GB denied permission to the Bears last off season to interview Clements for their vacant offensive coordinator position.
Unless Clements contract is up at the end of this season, I can’t see GB letting the Falcons interview him, nor would they let him make a lateral move.
Plus, it’s reasonable to expect that at this point in Clement’s career, he would like to be a coordinator at some point.
Arthur Blank
January 20th, 2011
5:47 pm
I WILL COACH MATT MYSELF
Falcon 2012
January 20th, 2011
5:50 pm
My picks
1. Tom Clements
2. Shula
3. Zorn
4. Billick
Any of the above..I have Faith in the Falcons GM and Smitty to make the right call.
Any news on Mularkey getting another job?
Cynthia Tucker blames everything..right are wrong on whites..period. The only card she knows. I’m black and she makes us all look bad.
thunderbull56
January 20th, 2011
6:10 pm
Nepotism will always bite you in the #ss.Say we demote OC to Qb coach and move on.Matt’s college coach nor Billick are smart choices.Kind of like you being your son’s Cub Scout leader and then moving up with him to each sucessive level.Sooner not later he has to prove himself a man.Not a man riding daddy’s coattails.
UGASlobberknocker
January 20th, 2011
6:38 pm
Hey J fever. Chandler wouldnt work because he would on the coach]s DL most of the time . God love him for his one healthy year in 98.
Facethenation
January 20th, 2011
7:20 pm
Falcons 2012, Your attack on Cynthia Tucker saying she hates whites is accurate because you are black. How stupid can you be? Ms. Tucker is an editorial, opinion page writer and if you were intelligent you would know her writings exposes the truth about right wing extremism in our country as well as in Georgia.