Dirk Koetter named Falcons’ new offensive coordinator
Dirk Koetter, formerly of the Jacksonville Jaguars, agreed to terms to become the Falcons
Dirk Koetter (Associated Press)
new offensive coordinator on Sunday, the team confirmed.
Koetter is set to talk to the media on a conference call at 11 a.m. Monday.
“I am very pleased to add Coach Koetter as our offensive coordinator,” Falcons head coach Mike Smith said in a statement issued by the team. “Dirk is a veteran offensive coach who will bring years of NFL experience as an offensive coordinator as well as a fresh set of ideas to our offense. He is bright, he understands the intricacies of the vertical passing game, but he also wants to be able to run the football which is very important in the NFL. I look forward to working with Dirk and have tremendous confidence that he will be a great addition to our team and our coaching staff.”
Koetter, 52, was Jacksonville’s offensive coordinator from 2007 to 2011. He will replace Mike Mularkey, who left to become Jacksonville’s head coach. AJC columnist Jeff Schultz has checked in already on the hire.
Falcons coach Mike Smith and Koetter were Jacksonville’s coordinators in 2007. Smith was hired to take over the Falcons the following season.
Smith is high on Koetter’s work and with how running back Maurice Jones-Drew led the league in rushing while the Jaguars had a rookie quarterback and an anemic passing attack. The Falcons running attack posted big numbers, but struggled in short yardage situations. Missing Pro Bowl fullback Ovie Mughelli certainly hur their short-yardage attack.
Koetter was head coach in the college ranks at Boise State and Arizona State. The Sun Devils’ vertical passing attack helped him land the offensive coordinator position with Jacksonville.
At Arizona State he had four winning seasons and went to four bowl games.
Thanks to @CavemanGamer who tweet us this link. It’s an interview with Koetter from July 2011 on XandOlabs.com.
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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559 comments Add your comment
steven A.
January 15th, 2012
1:28 pm
The problem right now really is “MATT RYAN” If he had more “athleticism” he could overcome poor
play calling and BAD COACHING.
FalconFan
January 15th, 2012
1:28 pm
And I am SOOOOOOOOO tired of hearing about throwing the ball deep. How many times did Brees throw deep? Most of his yardage comes from after the catch. Heck, I see more screen passes from him and short over the middle than anything and he put up record numbers.
Falcon Fan
January 15th, 2012
1:28 pm
I’m also tired of Falcon fans telling me to shut up because I don’t know football or I don’t know what I’m talking about. What game are you guys watching? You are the same people that thought you had a chance in hell of beating the Giants, when the last time they played us Manning had like 400 yards passing on. You are the same people who sit here and mock the Saints for losing yesterday, when they mopped the floor with us the last time we played them. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. You guys are still hoping!!!
Brian
January 15th, 2012
1:28 pm
If we start out 4-0 next season the guy is a hero…………..let’s face it, he had crap to work with at Jax except a bang up’d MJD. Let’s give him a chance.
Great Falconi
January 15th, 2012
1:29 pm
Smitty was on the hot seat as soon as the Falcons decided not to show up against the Giants. Koetter will have to come through for him. Otherwise, Smitty will be out the door.
FalconFan
January 15th, 2012
1:29 pm
Matt Ryan just broke the Falcons all time passing yardage record in a year with almost 4200 yards. I don’t remember Joe Montana, Dan Marino, Dan Fouts being atheletic and scramblers. We need a line to protect and receivers who can go verticle, not fall when making a catch.
falconsrelax
January 15th, 2012
1:30 pm
@ falcon fan Your supposedly saying your a falcon fan but dissin everyone move possible. I GAVE UP ON MM IN 09. Giving MM a chance is totally different situations than this guy. MM HAS DONE GOOD THINGS IN ATLANTA. The problem has always been expectations. WE finished 7th in points and 10th in offense this year but I wanted MM gone. A lot of other fan bases would be happy with the offense we produced this year. AS a falcon fan is really absurd to see you doubt the talent we have. Now your saying roddy is a good WR. RODDY IS A TOP 10 WR. Roddy to falcon fans had a bad year. He finished 2nd in receptions to Wes Welker and 6th in receiving. Its fans like you why Saints fans are always trolling. NOTHING IS EVER GOOD ENOUGH. The point is the FALCONS OFFENSIVE WEAPONS>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.JAGS OFFENSIVE WEAPONS. What would you do if you were the jags coordinator and had nothing to work with BUT FANS BLAMED YOU?? Exactly my point….your better off becoming a fan of the raiders or something
229Bravesfan
January 15th, 2012
1:32 pm
I love how there is about 2 or 3 guys telling everybody on this blog that people on this blog don’t know football. Since when did those guys become Mr. Know it All?
Falcon11
January 15th, 2012
1:32 pm
How do you get a job instantly after you had the 32nd overall offense in the NFL this season?
Falcon Fan
January 15th, 2012
1:32 pm
FalconFan the receivers you have are what you have. If they fell down last year they will fall down next year when making a catch. That is if they make the catch (see Roddy White).
Fan of the Game
January 15th, 2012
1:32 pm
Right, it doesn’t matter who the OC is. The Falcons offensive line is one of the worse I saw this year.
Fan
January 15th, 2012
1:33 pm
DOL may have been scooped by his own co workers and other blogs and a lot of fans on this story but I bet he knows more about reality show bimbos than any of y’all. Also none of y’all get to feud with mrs grimes on the two live stews show.
David
January 15th, 2012
1:33 pm
This is not the sexy pick I thought they were going to make but I think it will be a good one all of you armchair QB’s and GM’s who call yourselves Falcon fans need to chill out because when this guy does great thing’s for us you will be the same ones saying I knew he’d do good and that Smitty and TD are geniuses.
True Falcon
January 15th, 2012
1:35 pm
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RAD
January 15th, 2012
1:36 pm
GREAT HIRE! Now we can give the ball to Turner 80 times a game so he can get his 100 yards! I thought Arthur Blank was smarter than that! Does Jacksonville have anyone else we can hire since as our defensive coordinator???
joey563
January 15th, 2012
1:36 pm
He brought Boise st and Arizona st to be respectful. Give tree guy a chance.
Morn
January 15th, 2012
1:38 pm
The same guys that are complaining about this are probably the same ones, and their kids, that praised the hiring of Dan Henning which was a total disaster and joke. Lets give the guy a chance anyway.
joey563
January 15th, 2012
1:38 pm
He brought Boise st and Arizona st to be respectful. Give the guy a chance.
Poorlydunn
January 15th, 2012
1:38 pm
Have any of you guys heard of mike sims walker. Yeah koetter made someone out of him without a QB. He has made some recievers good with nothing. The jags haven’t had the players the last couple years. Let’s give this guys a chance with our players!!
falconsrelax
January 15th, 2012
1:39 pm
When our offenses really clicks this year….you supposedly “REAL FALCON FANS” will have have to come up with a huge excuse on why you doubted. And if we’re bad on offense the 1st year, which I doubt due to the weapons, then you have to give the guy time. I mean, its easy to blame the coordinator but I don’t care if its Vince Lombardi himself, IF YOU DON’T HAVE TALENT ITS HARD TO EXECUTE THE SYSTEM. This guy we just picked up is licking his chops at the talent he has to work with. Its funny nobody is discussing that the Jags actually had a good offense a few years ago. Garrad regresse, fred taylor fell off…AND THATS WITHOUT HAVING A GOOD WRS. How do you knock a guy who has nothing to work with????? Thats a literal statement…..how do you expect the jags to be good on offense when the have no offense? You take the same coach and move him somewhere where he has weapons and watch what that offense will do. EXPLODE…facts are the facts. This franchise is accomplishing things that hasn’t been done since TD and Smitty got here. I will take their choices over “fake falcon fans” opinion any day of the week
A_Realist
January 15th, 2012
1:39 pm
Yall sound just like all these so called politicians & sports analysts! But yall are not! If u were u would be a politician or a sports analyst! If they dont do what yall feel or hire who yall want then yall become negative about the situation! I tell yall what: Go buy u a professional sports team or go run for president then u can make the decisions “yall” want but til then shut the “f” up & stop complaining! BTW: GO FALCONS!!!
Falcon Fan
January 15th, 2012
1:40 pm
falconsrelax I am a Falcons Fan but enough is enough! Don’t talk all this mess now and don’t show up next year when it’s the same situation. I’ll be here. I’m always here. I’m the Falcon fan losing tons of money and dignity ever year at my job getting made fun of when the Falcons don’t perform. I’m the one getting made fun of in the stands when the Falcons lose. And that goes for most of the Atlanta teams. Don’t you guys get sick of waiting? I WANT A BETTER TEAM! The Falcons need to stop trying to reinvent the wheel and hire proven winners! The Saints hit a homerun with Peyton yes, but they also signed some nice Free Agents that Super Bowl year to go with the young nucleus they had. We cut all of our Veterans and played young, especially on defense. As a “true Falcon fan” I say first and foremost that there is no fan on this blog that can bash a Saint fan because they are where we are trying to go, PERIOD! We sound like GT players trying to bash UGA players, its stupid! Lets stop talking and start producing otherwise be quiet!
Dumbo
January 15th, 2012
1:40 pm
I dunno…..Jacksonville’s offense never was 1/2 as good as we had under Mularkey….I duuno about this guy….I thought Blank wanted some real innovative and creative mind….instead we get a 3 yarder….I dunno……
steven A.
January 15th, 2012
1:40 pm
Probably “NEPOTISM” with this guy getting this job. His resume does not speak to being worthy of this hire at this time. Check the blood lines. 10-6 and first round exits “forever”
262 Falcon
January 15th, 2012
1:40 pm
I’m stunned by this hire!
So, Is this Mike Smith’s way of giving season ticket holders the middle finger for wanting Mularkey gone?
He hires one of his friends who lead the 32nd ranked offense this season? Really? If this regime truly cares about moving this franchise forward there is NO logical explanation for this hire. I can’t believe I just sent these idiots more money last week for tickets. What a waste and how stupid do I look this morning?
JSS
January 15th, 2012
1:41 pm
Nothing like AJC blogs, full of bluster and discontent… I’m loving it!!!
Gwinnett Fred
January 15th, 2012
1:42 pm
He looks like Nomar Garciaparra.
Anyway, a glaring absense of the Saints trash talking, government handout taking (abusing), blowhards today.
Atlanta sports=MEDIOCRITY
January 15th, 2012
1:43 pm
With the exception of Ted Turner and his money in 1995 with the Braves, Atlanta sports are the perfect model of acceptance of mediocrity. Yet another average hire when the owner claims he wants championships. BTW, short yardage in the Giants game had nothing to do with a fullback.
CONservative Johnson
January 15th, 2012
1:43 pm
Not an inspiring hire. But he also had no WRs in Jacksonville . . . I’ll have to wait and see on this one!
Ihatefakefalconsfans
January 15th, 2012
1:43 pm
All you fake and whinny fans need to shut up. Most of you prob have never coached or played the game or any sport you sit on your couch and run your mouth. Now give the guy a chance, watch him come in and do great we win a game and most of you will say”i knew it was a great hire way to go td”. so lame give him a chance and let them revamp the o-line. We have been to the playoffs 3 of the last 4 years. I want a super bowl too, but atleast we are not losing games and not making the playoffs. So shut up and give him a chance, if you dont like it go watch soccer.
Rickey
January 15th, 2012
1:44 pm
We all need to wait and see. If we don’t do it next year, GM, and head coach must go. I’m not happy about the hire but must wait to pass judgement. Its my team and always will be. Go Falcons!!!!!!
brazilia120
January 15th, 2012
1:44 pm
So June Jones wasn’t available, huh?
dan the man
January 15th, 2012
1:45 pm
oh well, here we go again….mediocrity has returned….
steven A.
January 15th, 2012
1:45 pm
I feel your “Pain” 262 Falcon. Probably the best thing that could happen. Once he fails to get into the playoffs and fall to a Sub .500 Team, Smiity will be gone TOO!!!! That’s change Falcon fans can believe in.
steven A.
January 15th, 2012
1:45 pm
I feel your “Pain” 262 Falcon. Probably the best thing that could happen. Once he fails to get into the playoffs and fall to a Sub .500 Team, Smiity will be gone TOO!!!! That’s change Falcon fans can believe in.
ijonathan
January 15th, 2012
1:45 pm
Anyone watching the Bal/Hou game sees what Joe Flacco is. (Note to you JSS). He makes as many or more bad throws as anybody, including Ryan. I’ve never seen so many high, behind, etc. throws on his first 2 or 3 series. But Ray Rice and his defense/Houston turnovers sets him up in can’t miss position, he makes 2 decent throws, and it is 17-3. And Flacco is complaining about not getting enough “respect”. Trent Dilfer 2.0.
Falcon Fan
January 15th, 2012
1:45 pm
He was the OC in JAX from 07 until now. And I guess he never had any say so with some of the draft picks they had on offense in all that time. Some of you guys are really blind.
Falcon Fan
January 15th, 2012
1:47 pm
Lets hire Nick Saban for our DC! We seem to like college coaches who have minor NFL experience. Good thing we hired Koetter when we did or he would have went to Alabama.
Blue
January 15th, 2012
1:47 pm
I am a true Falcons Fan and this hire make me sick to my stomach. How can you hire a man and look at his resume and say this is the man for the job, when none of his offense was in the top 10. We just fired a coach which had our offense in the top 10. Your goal should be to get better and this hire does not do that. Do anybody remember the 1998 Vikings? Who was the OC Brian Harold Billick. That should have been our Offensive Coach. Not only did he have the best offense. He lead 3 QB to the top of the National Football League, Randall Cunningham, Jeff George, and Daunte Culpepper. I want to start it now. Fire Mike Smith. That was a stupid hire !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Blue
January 15th, 2012
1:49 pm
FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FFIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITHIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FFIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITHIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FFIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITHIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FFIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITHIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FFIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITHIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FFIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITHIRE MIKE SMITH FIRE MIKE SMITH
Falcon Fan
January 15th, 2012
1:49 pm
Atlanta sports=MEDIOCRITY sums it up in a nutshell. Evidence=Ihatefakefalconsfans
January 15th, 2012
1:43 pm
All you fake and whinny fans need to shut up. Most of you prob have never coached or played the game or any sport you sit on your couch and run your mouth. Now give the guy a chance, watch him come in and do great we win a game and most of you will say”i knew it was a great hire way to go td”. so lame give him a chance and let them revamp the o-line. We have been to the playoffs 3 of the last 4 years. I want a super bowl too, but atleast we are not losing games and not making the playoffs. So shut up and give him a chance, if you dont like it go watch soccer.
Falcon Fan
January 15th, 2012
1:50 pm
Rickey
January 15th, 2012
1:44 pm
We all need to wait and see. If we don’t do it next year, GM, and head coach must go. I’m not happy about the hire but must wait to pass judgement. Its my team and always will be. Go Falcons!!!!!! (he’ll be saying wait and see next year again, watch!)
JSS
January 15th, 2012
1:51 pm
@ Ijonathan…
I knew you’d come on here with your silliness today… Go back and watch the ball that was behind to Ed Dixon, it was tipped at the line… And wow, he improvised on the goal line and got the ball out hot for the TD…. You’re clownish on this point… And he’s two for in the Red Zone… You’re boy is not up to the job… Live with it, and that great hire this morning is just scaring everyone…
ATLER(RAMBLIN WRECK)
January 15th, 2012
1:52 pm
Seems like Coach Nice guy is hooking his out of work buddies up……… Stay tuned…………
Nique
January 15th, 2012
1:52 pm
Why the sudden hire, they just requested permission to talk to the GB quarterbacks coach? Any idea of who the qb coach will be…I hope it won’t be the old Jags QB coach.
Falcon Fan
January 15th, 2012
1:52 pm
CONservative Johnson
January 15th, 2012
1:43 pm
Not an inspiring hire. But he also had no WRs in Jacksonville . . . I’ll have to wait and see on this one! (Conservative=safer to go with the status quo then take a chance.)
Gordie
January 15th, 2012
1:52 pm
I like to shop at Trader Joe’s for stuff to eat while watching Falcons games.
denverfalcon
January 15th, 2012
1:52 pm
Round two of a MM style uber-conservative offense begins.
rivercard
January 15th, 2012
1:53 pm
Falcon Fan is correct on all points. Case closed.
Relax idiot Falcons Fans
January 15th, 2012
1:53 pm
How many home games will be on tv in 2012?