Brian VanGorder leaving Falcons for Auburn
FLOWERY BRANCH — Brian VanGorder, the Falcons defensive coordinator for the last four
These two have to get the pass defense figured out. Here, Falcons defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder emphasies a point with head coach Mike Smith during defensive drills with players in the first padded practice at training camp in Flowery Branch on Monday, August 1, 2011. Curtis Compton ccompton@ajc.com
seasons, resigned to accept the same post at Auburn on Monday.
“Coach Brian VanGorder has accepted the position of defensive coordinator at Auburn University,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “Brian has been an integral part of our success here over the last four years. I want to thank Brian and his family for all that they’ve done for our organization. I want to personally thank Brian for all of his hard work and all the work that he’s done to make us successful here in Atlanta.”
Smith was a defensive coordinator under former Jacksonville coach Jack Del Rio. He would not say if Del Rio, who was fired in Jacksonville, would be a candidate for the vacant defensive coordinator position.
“I’m not going to comment on that position at this point in time,” Smith said. “It’s something that just came about. We’ll go through the due process of getting the best defensive coordinator for our football team.”
Van Gorder joined Falcons coach Bobby Petrino’s staff as the linebacker’s coach in 2007. After Petrino left, he accepted the defensive coordinator’s position at South Carolina.
Smith, who coached with VanGorder at Jacksonville, hired him to be the Falcons’ defensive coordinator.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for me and my family at this point in my career, both professionally and personally, to become the defensive coordinator at Auburn,” said VanGorder, who served as the defensive coordinator at Georgia from 2001 to 2004. “I’m looking forward to working at a school with the success and tradition of Auburn, and for a coach like Gene Chizik, who has led the program to a national championship. I’m very appreciative to the Atlanta Falcons and Coach Mike Smith for the experience of the last four years. It’s a great organization and will have continued success in the future.”
VanGorder’s defense finished the regular season second in the NFL in red zone defense, sixth in rushing defense (97.0 ypg), and 12th in total defense (333.6 ypg). But they struggled rushing the passer and playing the pass. In college at Georgia, he had a penchant for blitzing. But during his Falcons tenure, his unit played mostly zone coverage.
“I’m very excited to have a coach like Brian VanGorder join our staff at Auburn,” said Auburn coach Gene Chizik. ”From the beginning of this process, I had one person in mind, and that was Brian. He has achieved success at every level, both professionally and collegiately, which is a testament to his ability as a coach. He has been one of the best defensive coordinators in the NFL, has won a Broyles Award at the college level, and understands what it takes to succeed in the Southeastern Conference. We’re pleased to welcome Brian and his family to Auburn.”
VANGORDER’S COACHING BACKGROUND
2008-11 Defensive Coordinator // Falcons
2007 Linebackers // Falcons
2006 Head Coach // Georgia Southern
2005 Linebackers// Jaguars
2001-04 Def. Coor./Linebackers // Georgia
2000 Def. Coor./Linebackers // W. Illinois
1998-99 Def. Coordinator // C. Michigan
1997 Asst. H. Coach/Def. Coor. // C. Florida
1995-96 Linebackers/Sp. Tm. Coor. // C. Florida
1992-94 Head Coach // Wayne State
1989-91 Def. Coor./Linebackers // Gr. Valley St.
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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563 comments Add your comment
Falcons4Eva
January 9th, 2012
5:30 pm
So Glad your BUTT is outta here ! ! ! ! !
PMC
January 9th, 2012
5:33 pm
I haven’t felt this bad about the future of the team since 2007.
ohhhhYEAH
January 9th, 2012
5:33 pm
I think Smith has, at most, one more year to prove he can coach in a big game, and that a good part of this failure is due to him letting his coordinators have too much control. And for the idiots who still try to bash Ryan, who’s the best WB our franchise has seen by far, well theres no hope for you. If you watched even ten minutes of that game yesterday, you would have seen that Mularkey took the game completely out of the quarterback’s hands. Run left, run up the middle, pass on 3rd and 14 when they know its coming. Yeah, that’s all Matt Ryan’s fault huh guys? When a team that bad defensively completely shuts down our run AND pass game when they haven’t been able to do it all season, I don’t know HOW that doesn’t scream “TERRIBLE GAME PLAN” to you. And if you’re too ignorant, stubborn, or just plain stupid to realize this, then you have no business trying to voice your opinion about football.
Rick James
January 9th, 2012
5:33 pm
Were Falcon coaches intervewing and hammering out contracts instead of preparing for the game this week?
ohhhhYEAH
January 9th, 2012
5:34 pm
best QB*^
WC_Falcons_Wc
January 9th, 2012
5:36 pm
Can anyone say Jack Del Rio?
fla dawg
January 9th, 2012
5:36 pm
section 322 row 7…why are you totally wanting to fire Smith….the person who has done the worst job is Dimitroff.
al.com
January 9th, 2012
5:37 pm
Auburn how has the best DC in the state of Alabama.
falconfiend
January 9th, 2012
5:38 pm
go figure. Brent Grimes is the falcons best corner. Major overhaul ahead. On Offense. Need to bring in a whole new offensive scheme, Coach. just have to make those changes. Mike Smith will need to keep his job by cleaning house. Everything falls on him.
SirReal
January 9th, 2012
5:38 pm
Ok guys. Had a LOT of good laughs on this one but I’ll get serious for just a sec. On a lot of previous blogs I said BVG was a great fit in collegiate football and will probably have success there. Just wasnt a good fit for the modern NFL and he will probably forever have nightmares of Andy Reid. It was time and at least he got another job immediately that pays probably a lot more than a lot of us.lol So he could probably care less that we are glad he’s gone. With that said, the crazy euphoria has set in as people clamor for the firing of MM…myself included. HOWEVER, we must think logically people. If MM does leave the Birds…WE DO NOT WANT THE LIKES OF MIKE MARTZ RUNNING OUR OFFENSE!!! Seriously, I’d rather them promote the Bratkowski fella and run that Bengals 06 Offense than see Mike Martz’s in here. Let’s just let a little dust settle from the first chop of lumber.
Noneya
January 9th, 2012
5:39 pm
Happy for him Mularkey should be right behind him.
Vent on the season! Falcons Season Wrap Up
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/cpstylin
gene chizik | More Than More Insurance
January 9th, 2012
5:39 pm
[...] names VanGorder new defensive coordinator Opelika Auburn News (blog)The Auburn Plainsman -Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)all 87 news articles » Dec 31, 2011 [...]
Brave Hokie
January 9th, 2012
5:41 pm
Maybe Ray Edwards can follow BVG to Auburn…
he probably could use some more “book learn’n”…
Weaseal
January 9th, 2012
5:42 pm
Mister I ain’t a boy I’m a man & I belive in the promise land……
KG
January 9th, 2012
5:42 pm
One down, two to go. The other two include Mike Smith and Mike Mularkey. I am still disgusted by what I saw yesterday. Lack of passion, lack of energy, lack of gameplan should equal lack of employment. I refuse to attend another Falcons game as long as these “pranksters” are on the sidelines.
Good riddance and good luck Smith and Mularkey.
falconfiend
January 9th, 2012
5:43 pm
It just seemed to me that Matt was still being treated as a rookie. This offense was made. Always need to protect the quarterback- and Matt needs some of those speedy little receivers just to get those first downs. Tom Brady thrived off little receivers getting those first downs.
SawThat1nce
January 9th, 2012
5:45 pm
Main thing wrong with this team is the weak OLine, also the lack of a good pass rush.
I also think that it is about time to hire a new OC.
curious
January 9th, 2012
5:46 pm
This guy moves more than a military brat. Look at the resume.
John
January 9th, 2012
5:49 pm
There’s no way a Bobo offense can score against a VanGorder defense.
John
January 9th, 2012
5:52 pm
Was VanGorder the reason the offense scored 0 points against the Giants? Blame everybody but Matty Ice….
Londonman
January 9th, 2012
5:52 pm
Finally! Now we only need for Mularky to be FIRED or Resign!
DeanB
January 9th, 2012
5:53 pm
Hope BVG takes that useless #23 with him.
slug27marathons
January 9th, 2012
5:53 pm
Yay! And I thought Christmas was over!!! Does he have room in his car for Mularkey? No guess not…Mularkey needed about 1/2 yard of space in the trunk…
MR. ATL
January 9th, 2012
5:53 pm
SirReal….
We DEFINITELY don’t want Bratkowski promoted to run the offense. Who do you think he was under in Cincinatti….YEP….YOURS TRULY. Mike F-in Mularkey. So if Mularkey leaves….he’ll likely take him too. Besides….do you want the guy who’s been coaching Matt Ryan to be our Offensive Coordinator….I’ll let you ponder on that for a minute. (Needless to say….I’m a Ryan fan…but his play isn’t the most intriguing. To be completely honest….Bill Musgrave should get complete credit for how he developed Matt Ryan and no one else)
falconfiend
January 9th, 2012
5:54 pm
the falcons scout teams need to look for guys who have speed and our football players for our secondary. On both sides of the ball the falcons just need to get some more BEEF.
MR. ATL
January 9th, 2012
5:56 pm
I don’t think Dimitroff is bringing ANYBODY else in here from Jacksonville. Believe it. If Del Rio comes to Atlanta….it’s for the aquarium and Magic City at best. (And maybe the Varsity who can turn down a Varsity Orange)
LakeDawg
January 9th, 2012
5:56 pm
BVG did a good job with the Falcons. He had very little talent on that side of the line of scrimmage. He consistently kept the Falcons in games and gave the offense a chance to win it. He will do a very good job at Auburn. I’m going to go ahead and chalk up Auburn as another Dawgs loss next year.
TN Dawg
January 9th, 2012
5:56 pm
BVG already has his resume posted on Monster looking for a better position.
gene chizik | More Than More Insurance
January 9th, 2012
5:57 pm
[...] names VanGorder new defensive coordinator Opelika Auburn News (blog)The Auburn Plainsman -Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)all 112 news articles » Dec 31, 2011 [...]
Ron902
January 9th, 2012
5:58 pm
Next to go should be Dunta (Overpaied Can”t Cover Anybody)
Robinson, what a joke…
Big Wally
January 9th, 2012
6:00 pm
Can only hope that Dimitroff will follow.
ohhhhYEAH
January 9th, 2012
6:01 pm
Would hardly call Brent Grimes, Ray Edwards, John Abraham, Curtis Lofton, ‘Spoon, and William Moore “very little talent”. If you really thikn so, you must not ahve noticed that we probably have a top 10 linebacking core. Abe’s track record speaks for itself, Edwards just couldnt seem to get going after the surgery, and Moore had injury issues. Dunta is a very good athlete, but was lost in these schemes. And you wanan know who that falls on? I’ll give you one guess
paint
January 9th, 2012
6:12 pm
i agree with john.
good hire for auburn.
some good dc’s in the sec.
go dawgs
Rodney Ramsey
January 9th, 2012
6:13 pm
Good news for Falcons; bad news for Auburn.
Fan of the Game
January 9th, 2012
6:13 pm
I can assure you that the scheme wasn’t the problem. It was the prima donas on “D”. Van Gorder knows more about defense than all you bloggers know all together.
Nick Lynch
January 9th, 2012
6:15 pm
THANK GOD! and good luck Auburn hahahaha! finally this idiot is gone! why did we pick up this idiot from georgia southern anyways?? hopefully mularkey will be fired shortly..
mark louther
January 9th, 2012
6:16 pm
Falcon defensive talent is over-rated but the cabinet isn’t bare. But coaching was worse. Van Gorder didn’t maximize what he had. Schemes were scary bad at times. The offensive coaching is worse. Game plans typically horrific esp against good teams. Ryan’s biggest obstacle is Mularkey’s game planning; predictable, conservative, never pressured the defense. Giant game plan was pathetic. He played right into their hands and we all knew it after the game’s first two plays! Up the middle, up the middle. Arghh. But whomever is offensive coach we have to abandon our bargain basement approach to building an OL! It’s bottom 10 in league and that’s nuts!!
extrapoint
January 9th, 2012
6:17 pm
It looks like time has passed him bye. Can he still relate to college players. Give him two years at the most.
john
January 9th, 2012
6:18 pm
I see alot of my fellow Falcons fans saying hire Del Rio. I don’t think he’ll come to Altanta. I know he ans Smith are close but I just heard on TV at if Saints DC Gregg Williams leaves to be with Jeff Fisher, Del Rio will be hired to be Saints DC. I heard Del Rio lives in New Orleans and also played for the Saints. So all the Del Rio sure end because the Saints just might let their DC walk to hire Del Rio.
SirReal
January 9th, 2012
6:19 pm
@Mr.ATL NO SIR!!!LOL BY all means, I DEFINITELY dont want that either.LOL LOL I’m just saying that shows how much I DONT want Martz.
I hope he goes too….seems like him and Ryan never clicked.
I think with most of the great OCs having gigs, we may have to bring in a young creative mind. I think it’ll be good because no one in the division, especially the Saints, would know what to expect for at least a year or two.lol
SeenThisB4
January 9th, 2012
6:24 pm
http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshhRh9a6MS9bwMLRuj8
please excuse the racial and foul language but listen to the underlying statements….
LakeDawg
January 9th, 2012
6:24 pm
ohhhhYEAH
January 9th, 2012
6:01 pm
Would hardly call Brent Grimes, Ray Edwards, John Abraham, Curtis Lofton, ‘Spoon, and William Moore “very little talent”. If you really thikn so, you must not ahve noticed that we probably have a top 10 linebacking core. Abe’s track record speaks for itself, Edwards just couldnt seem to get going after the surgery, and Moore had injury issues. Dunta is a very good athlete, but was lost in these schemes. And you wanan know who that falls on? I’ll give you one guess
————————————————————————————————————————————–
The Falcons have two excellent LB’s and that’s about it. Abe is going downhill fast. Got nothing out of Edwards, who wasn’t that great even when he was healthy. Moore has potential, but can’t stay on the field due to injury. Robinson, McCoud, the rest of the DL….average to below average talent.
So, YEAH, BVG was scrambling just to keep NFL offenses from torching the Falcons D just about every game.
MaxxFalcon
January 9th, 2012
6:25 pm
Thank god, good riddance to that perverse mustache and soft zone Defense…We need Spags….we also need to moveDunta to FS, restructure his contract, trade Ray Edwards and get a DE who wants to play football as opposed to modeling underwear and can rush the passer with any success…also trade Turner while he still has value and beef up that O-line
ohhhhYEAH
January 9th, 2012
6:26 pm
If Mr Van Gorder knows more than all us bloggers combined as suggested by you, Fan of the Game, then how is it that everyone BUT Van Gorder knew exactly what opposing teams would do to exploit our defense? Hmm, no one ever in the middle of the field to cover a crossing pattern? Lofton is big, but he’s fast and so is Spoon. So what you’re trying to say is that these two, who are probably the best athletes on our defensive unit, could NOT cover the middle of the field because they aren’t good? Nope, thats all scheme, and all coaching. Even arm chair quarterbacks can pick up on that one friend
SeenThisB4
January 9th, 2012
6:29 pm
Lets talk about cheap azz Arthur Blank, Mike Smith with the dumb play calling 4th and inches, Matt Ryan not being able to do a quarterback sneak, VanGorder who should of never even been here, Thomas Dimitroff with his cheap azz conservative philosophies of “salary cap casualities” to address the key defensive positions that got the Falcons put out last year, and Matt Ryan should be gone now!!! Go a get a Drew Brees!!! If it weren’t for the San Diego charges, the Saints would a nobody, Ill admit it, but hey better luck next time…
Falcon Man
January 9th, 2012
6:29 pm
This guy can’t make up his mind where he wants to go. In the NFL he was just average. On the college level he might be ok. Next up Mularkey.
Jason
January 9th, 2012
6:32 pm
I know this much…Auburn’s defense will be feared again with BVG at the helm. I betcha that. He was feared and a legend at Georgia. Georgia’s defenses were tenacious as hell when he coached them. He’ll do the same at Auburn. He just didn’t have what it took at the NFL level. He’s a good DC, just not here. He’ll have Auburn in the top 5 in 2 seasons.
Atl Resident
January 9th, 2012
6:33 pm
WTH, this guy is a sorry damn excuse for being a coach, so irresponsible. When I attended GA Southern, he resigned cause he failed to turn the program around and now is the same damn situation with Falcons and now he is going to Auburn, this is some more BS. This guy knows he is not good a coach just like Murlarkey know he is the same way, and they need to admit it and stop hurting these programs and wasting their time and our money.
Jason
January 9th, 2012
6:34 pm
NFL QBs know how to pick apart zone coverages and are trained to do so. College QBs can’t. That’s why he was so dominant at UGA.
LakeDawg
January 9th, 2012
6:35 pm
The worst off-season move by Dimitroff was not signing Harvy Dahl. It had a much bigger impact than signing Julio. The OL lost their best player and spiritual leader. He was one mean SOB. The OL wasn’t the same this year. Apparently, Dimi, Smith, and Blank think they can just plug anybody in on the OL and succeed.