UPDATE: Mularkey mum on Jacksonville talk
UPDATE: Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey would not comment about his pending interview with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Tuesday.
“I’m totally working on the Giants,” said Mularkey during his weekly meeting with the media. “That’s strictly all business with that and trying to get ready for that.”
Per league rule, Mularkey can’t interview with Jacksonville this week. He must be made available next week if the Falcons advance in the playoffs.
Mularkey could also become a candidate in Tampa Bay, but reiterated that he’s focused on the team’s playoff game.
“There’s just so much going on different going on during the season, during the week,” Mularkey said. ”I can’t tell you how from the minute we get here to the minute we get home, it’s just so structured that there’s not enough time to really focus on anything else. And I’m serious about that.
“Every minute has something going on in it and what’s interesting is that at the end of the week when it’s over, Friday comes around and everything is installed and put in, all the sudden it hits you on Friday, especially late in the season, you don’t realize how tired you are because you don’t have time to think about it ’til when it’s all put in. There’s too much going on, especially this time for any of us to be worried about anything, but this game.”
FLOWERY BRANCH – The Falcons have granted offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey permission to
Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey.
interview for the vacant Jacksonville job.
“They have requested an opportunity to talk to Mike Mularkey and really the league has a policy in place for wildcard teams,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “There is a certain time period that they can interview. We have of course signed off and granted that opportunity.”
Mularkey was a candidate last season for head coaching jobs in Cleveland and Denver. He interviewed with Cleveland, but withdrew from the Denver search. Cleveland hired Pat Shurmur and Denver hired John Fox.
Jacksonville dismissed Jack Del Rio this season. He was replaced on an interim basis by Mel Tucker.
Mularkey wants to be a head coach again. He was the Buffalo coach in 2004-05 and posted a 14-18 record.
Mularkey and Bill Musgrave, who left last season to become Minnesota’s offensive coordinator, have been lauded league-wide for their fast development of quarterback Matt Ryan and for turning the Falcons’ offense into one of the league’s top units.
Mularkey is attractive because of his background in coaching power football. Jacksonville also needs someone to develop quarterback Blaine Gabbert, who struggled in his first year in the league.
“When you have success there are going to be opportunities for guys on your staff to get head coaching jobs,” Smith said. “I don’t have any doubt in my mind that Mike’s sole focus for this week is on the New York Giants.”
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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130 comments Add your comment
Dee
January 3rd, 2012
9:45 am
Please, please, please, JAX, hire Mularkey. Take him off our hands, PUH-LEEZE!
Just don’t draft a QB that he can help put the brakes on.
Rod Paradise
January 3rd, 2012
10:13 am
1st and 10 for the Falcons after kickoff into end zone. Wonder what play the Falcons will run…perhaps Turner out of the backfield? Please take Mularkey.
REALLY?
January 3rd, 2012
10:40 am
Interviewing during playoffs…where’s focus on the team 1st instead of thinking about yourself…why would Coach Smitty give permission, ok falcon fans…don’t be shocked and surprised that falcon season can be over Sunday…if falcons get a new OC, matt ryan will have to learn a new system and it’s not a guarantee he will be successful in it…it can be a setback…it’s 50/50 gamble..success takes time and can’t happen overnite…I just think it’s a bad decision to interview during playoffs right now.
Noneya
January 3rd, 2012
12:18 pm
I really think he may get the job in Tampa.
Days In The Lives Of Falcons Fans
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QKLJ4wY_yQ
T
January 3rd, 2012
1:06 pm
Can Mike Smith talk his Brother in-law to be an OC? Brian Billick
Dirty Bird Nation
January 3rd, 2012
1:08 pm
Those on here who think MM did or is doing a great jon with the Falcons, must be relatives. Tom Brady under MM would look like John Wilson Parker. This guy(MM) is garbage and will never be a HC in the NFL again, Never! Hde will never be let go By Coach Smith so we are stuck with this incompetent OC as long as Coach Smith is HC. Smitty was streching when he said “MM has developed young QB’s in the league. WTF? Who? Matt Ryan has regress under this GUY!
Willie Coyote
January 3rd, 2012
2:51 pm
Keep in mind that the Head Coach has a lot to do with how the game is called offensively and defensively. If our coordinators leave and Smitty keeps playing not to lose, we haven’t accomplished anything.
Mularkey's Town
January 3rd, 2012
3:59 pm
The reason that Jacksonville is so high on Mike Mularkey is that his son is a scout for the team and has strong ties down there along with Mike Smith. i hope he gets the job and then tell BVG to go call defense for Fresno State or anywhere else. Interview Todd Haley and Raheem Morris and Steve Spagnoulo and watch this team open up and become an elite team. We have almost all the pieces , we just need the players work with their strength’s and not some much their weakness. I would also trade Sam Baker , Duntahhhhh Robinson and few others for a slim jim . Also , I would tell Thomas Dimitroff to stop calling his daddy Bill Bellichick in NE and asking him who he should draft or did we forget about that mess . Good Luck Birds . Justin Tuck Suxxxx.
Jay Dubu
January 3rd, 2012
4:05 pm
Can’t he wait until after the Giants and Falcons play to persue his next job?
The Falcons need his total devotiona and attention this week.
Jay Dubu
January 3rd, 2012
4:19 pm
Willie Coyote ,
Typically the coaches (in this case, the Falcons Offensive coaches) will study film on the upcoming opponent to identify ways to exploit the opponents’ weaknesses. Once you identify things that you think you can do against the opposing defense, you design a game plan, and most times will include new formatons, and plays.
From there, you develop 50 plays or more, depending upon how creative the offensive staff is, that you implement for the game. ut the opposing team is doing the same thing for you. That’s why the half time adjustments play such a big roll in the game.
Jay Dubu
January 3rd, 2012
4:24 pm
“I don’t have any doubt in my mind that Mike’s sole focus for this week is on the New York Giants.”
How can that be? You mean that he’s going to the interview to tell the interviewing team what the Falcons are planning to do against the Giants?…Has that been decided already?
Durt E Byrd
January 3rd, 2012
6:26 pm
Permission my arse… where can I sign the petition they hire him???
FalconAJ
January 3rd, 2012
6:34 pm
I see Mike Martz is now available…
Noneya
January 3rd, 2012
7:28 pm
We are talking Falcons football tonight! Log on and listen and then call in and give us your thoughts.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/cpstylin/2012/01/04/nfl-wild-card-round-preview
Loyal falcon
January 3rd, 2012
8:27 pm
We just have to play our game and we will be fine. Cone head from the giants(tuck) is already talking crap. Let’s just go play falcons football. The offensive line has to be aggressive, but smart. MT33 needs to impose his will.
PMC
January 3rd, 2012
9:45 pm
Coach Mularkey says he doesn’t read or observe any media and thusly won’t read this, but I just want to thank him for his time here. The man isn’t stupid and much as I’d like to believe I know about football it’s his job to view the team and observe them on a daily basis. I have no doubt he believes he is putting them in the best position to win, man I’d just like to see more of that Jaquizz Rodgers TD at Carolina action.
Regardless, if it’s a new head coaching opportunity. Thanks for making this an offense that scores effectively and efficiently coach. I get frustrated, because I believe they can and should do better a lot, but you were a big part of helping this team become a quality football team and I thank you for it.
PMC
January 3rd, 2012
9:47 pm
Also, an interview is a freaking interview. You don’t have to prepare for it. go in be yourself, answer questions.
It’s not like you need a presentation to get hired if you are getting that interview. Either you can be an NFL head coach or you can’t. Chances are, if you bring a Power Point presentation to the interview, you can’t.
ed
January 3rd, 2012
9:52 pm
You guys who want to fire the staff make me laugh, including and especially Jeff Schultz. Do any of you remember where we were before this staff was hired. Go count the banners in those rafters at the dome from the 40 years of football before Smith, Mularky, Van Gorder and the QB y’all like to call a choker got here. Saying to replace anyone on this staff makes you a complete imbecile when it comes to understanding the NFL. I can understand that from casual fans, from a professional writer like Schultz is a joke.
Dennis Reynolds
January 3rd, 2012
10:00 pm
What’s the use in having such a great weapon in Quizz Rodgers if they don’t know how to utilize him???
Super frustrating.
AlanFalcon
January 4th, 2012
8:45 am
New blood and thinking will go along way toward advancing the Falons offense for the future, anyone notice that BVG has not come up in a conversation from another team of interest????????????
Spagnola would be a great addition and replacement for BVG as would Del Rio, don’t get cold feet, TD and Smitty need to make changes.
Willie Coyote
January 4th, 2012
8:47 am
Jay Dubu, you responded to me but your comment didn’t have anything to do with mine so I think you meant to respond to someone else.
Someone mentioned Mike Martz’s name. That is a BAD idea.
I will stand by that we can get better on offense, whether Mularky stays or goes, only if Smitty stops playing not to lose against good teams.
isproab
January 4th, 2012
9:47 am
Bye…I’ll help you move. I think we are better off without him. Keep most of the system in place, tweak some stuff and let Matt run the show for most of the game.
be careful...
January 4th, 2012
11:46 am
what you wish for.
Falcons need Players on defense…don’t knock the DC.
Falcons need O-Linemen and future RB on offense….don’t knock the OC
This is far from a finished product. But think how far they’ve come in a few short years.
When given a lead.....
January 4th, 2012
11:55 am
Falcons have gone conservative with leads and have not put away teams. That is a head coaches responsibility to keep pressing. MIke Smith has been our greatest coach and deserves the utmost respect. But he, as everyone else, can get better.
Leeman Bennett learned the hard way about going conservative with too much time remaining against Dallas in ‘80 playoffs.
That devastating loss pretty much set the franchise back 2 decades.
Use clock management better till there’s no more clock left.
And give players some fault when there’s lack of execution.
Chris
January 4th, 2012
1:13 pm
Help the Falcons, leave now!
mark
January 4th, 2012
1:24 pm
im willing to help packing the u haul hell i even drive him to jack
Preston Thompson
January 4th, 2012
2:11 pm
I got it figured out. Mr Malarkey goes to Jacksonville and Mr Blank lobbies UGA for Bobo. Can’t cha just see it.
Threadkiller
January 4th, 2012
2:42 pm
I’m for “The Greatest Show On Turf” at the Georgia Dome next year!
Mike Mularkey and the Jacksonville Jaguars | Falcons Focus – Atlanta Falcons Blog, Opinion and Analysis
January 4th, 2012
4:07 pm
[...] when I read that the Jacksonville Jaguars are interested in making Mularkey their next head coach, I can’t help but get excited. The Falcons’ offense is currently [...]
shizzle
January 4th, 2012
6:58 pm
Yeah Sniper he needs to roll and definitely needs to take Van Gorder with him. They need to try and get Josh McDaniels and Steve Spagnuolo