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
theGuyAboveMeIsAnIdiot
January 15th, 2012
2:31 pm
I don’t see how so many people think DK is the same as MM. That just shows you know nothing about football at all. DK runs a four vertical with levels passing concept. It isn’t what we have had here. MM didn’t even know we had more than two WR on the team. DK also uses a lot more screens. I will say this though.. Turner isn’t the best fit for this offense. You want your back to be able to chip block and then catch the ball on almost every passing play… not sure Turner has the hands for this, or maybe its just that MM never gave him the chance. Quiz is more his type of back.
Longtimefan
January 15th, 2012
2:32 pm
I am beginning to believe that posts on sports blogs primarily come from generally unhappy, disgruntled people. The negativity shown by some “fans” is truly amazing. I will bet their are many fan bases out there that would be thrilled to have made the playoffs 3 of the last 4 years. If it was that easy to field a team each year that contended for the Super Bowl I supposed every team would be doing it. If it was that easy to pick the “right” OC and DC, don’t you think the front office would do it. Do you think they want to lose. Why do you think the guy you think is right would be a fit. If they wre that great at their job I would think they would already be employed by another team.
good old joe
January 15th, 2012
2:33 pm
LESS JUST WAIT AND SEE– AT BEST GIVE HIM A CHANCE
Brian Friel
January 15th, 2012
2:34 pm
This move just plain out stinks. It shows how fearful management is to hire quality help in fear of their jobs. Sounds like the Smiths all over again. Arthur, if you can’t get mangament to make consistant decisions, escpecially after firing a HALL OF FAMER, in Dan Reeves. Sell the #%@# team!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Joe
January 15th, 2012
2:34 pm
J-Ville was ranked 29th in the NFL in passing and 32nd in yards…..and the Falcons chose this OC. What a joke!! Smith you are now on watch, you got a pass and should have taken advantage of it!
Joe Falcon
January 15th, 2012
2:35 pm
Why in the world would you hire an offensive coordinator whose offense he has been “coordinating” is DEAD LAST in the league in offense?
So long, Falcons.
Dime-a-Dozen
January 15th, 2012
2:35 pm
The Falcons better hire (insert big name) or I’m never buying tickets again!!!
Blue
January 15th, 2012
2:35 pm
FalconsFairWeatherFans
Word of the Day Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results
= Mike Smith = No Rings
Dawg A
January 15th, 2012
2:37 pm
Another typical Blank hire. Someone that won’t take attention away from him and his love for the cameras. I am officially done! I WILL NOT RENEW MY SIX SEASON TICKETS! Sick of settling over and over. We might as well have the Smith Clan in charge….
Dime-a-Dozen
January 15th, 2012
2:37 pm
If the Falcons don’t hire Bill Belichick or Nick Saban as D coordinator, I’m never wearing a Falcons jersey again!
mark
January 15th, 2012
2:37 pm
THIS HAS TO BE A JOKE WHAT A F* IS GOING ON! THE JAGS OC?! FOR REAL!? I REALLY LOST HOPE WITH THAT SIGN ITS LIKE MIKE SMITH WANTS TO BUILD A MINI JAGS WHO BY THE WAY DIDNT SCORE MANY POINTS SINCE 8 SEASONS AGO
Bart's Boy
January 15th, 2012
2:38 pm
Un — f—ing believable. SOS. Mike Smith is an inbred, nespotistic fool. Ditto Dimitroff. Ditto Blank. I hope for a 0-16 season to rid ourselves of this cancer. Right when the true fans had a wisp of hope, he slams the door with this incestuous hire! I say sh_t rolls up hill and it lands right in Arthur Blank’s lap. Stubborn foolish hire by a stubborn and foolish man. Mike Smith will not be a coach in the NFL three years from now anywhere. Why waste all this precious time???
tjhook
January 15th, 2012
2:39 pm
I am in favor of Koetter as our new hire; I am particularly interested to see if he can improve Matt Ryan’s deep throwing. If there is no improvement, then of course, everyone will be gone: Koetter, Smith, Ryan, and Tony G. Sounds fair enough. Now the tricky part is if Ryan is exposed as no more than above average. I saw good things but I am worried about his resourcefulness in the pocket( I consider him a “system” quarterback).
OH, and DOL- you are lame for trying to make fans appreciate Mularkey as he leaves. The Falcons are a private business so “customers” owe that DUD nothing!!
JSS
January 15th, 2012
2:40 pm
Four vertical levels = one because the Falcons can’t block!!!
Jay Black
January 15th, 2012
2:41 pm
I think I see the way the Falcons think here. If we hire a big name OC, and he does good like he should, he’ll be gone next year to a head coaching position as he is a high performing big name OC, and we’ll be back to square one, although we could have gotten somebody with a better body of work than Koetter, IMO. If we hire somebody with the POTENTIAL to be good, with more upside, we’ll at least have him for a few years before he’s ready to move up or move on. Now with the DC it’s different, because the best DC available just got fired as head coach from a team and is unlikely to gain a head coaching job in the near future. That’s why I think Spags is a lock here. Plus the defense needs more help than the offense, so Blank would benefit to save the big money on that hire.
mark
January 15th, 2012
2:41 pm
MAN IM SO F SAD! ALL FOR THIS THE JAGS OC I CANT BELIVE IT ITS BY FAR THE WORST MOVE I EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE SINCE ROBINSON! CANT BELIVE IT! DAMN I THINK I TAKE MULARKLEY BEFORE THIS DUDE, JAGS WHERE SOOOO BAD ON O LAST YEAR THAT ITS AMAZING YOU GO OUT AND SIGN THE DUDE WHO IS CALLING THAT PLAYS, PLUS HIS BEST SEASON WAS A NUM 7 OR 8 NOT EVEN TOP 5!
d-bird
January 15th, 2012
2:41 pm
Thank you Mr Blanks. You can remove me from this season ticket list. My offical. Last season. Mike Smith, you clearly out of your mind bringing this guy from a losing organization. Was this a trade for our OC for there OC. If so this will be disgrace.
44counter
January 15th, 2012
2:42 pm
Longtimefan~having been a Falcons fan since the 70’s, yes having been to the playoffs 3 out 4 yrs is great. For me, it’s how they lost those three playoff games, think about it, the Arizona game was the only one somewhat competative.
d-bird
January 15th, 2012
2:43 pm
Hey, the Jags just has another losing season right. Who made this decision? D-Led.
All I'm Saying Is...
January 15th, 2012
2:43 pm
We will give Dirk a chance. One thing for sure, he will be happy to be with the Falcons given the changes in Jacksonville as he was likely out of a job with a new coach coming in.
If you do some research (i.e. Google his name), you will see that Dirk has a good track record, mainly at the college level though the Jags were a top 10 offense his first year and top 20 offense for the next three years with Garrard in 2006 and 2007 having his best years offensively.
As I’ve typed before, we need a speed burner to stretch the defense in one of the receiving positions and apparently Harry Douglas ain’t it. Plus with Ovie back, we will improve in the running attack too as he was an excellent blocker.
LET’S GO FALCONS!
EC
January 15th, 2012
2:49 pm
We will never win..Geez
Sean
January 15th, 2012
2:50 pm
When I first heard the news, I wasnt excited just b/c of where he came from. But everyone deserves a chance…I’ll reserve all judgment until this time next year. I know he didnt have a lot to work with in J-ville, but we’ll see what he’s made of when he gets to Flowery Branch. Good luck, Koetter!
Falcon fan
January 15th, 2012
2:50 pm
Now that we got Koetter..hire Ernest Byner (sp) the running back coach also..he is the one responsible for Maurice Jones-Drew”s 1900 yards.
Give the Man a Chance..this year as a Jaguars watcher also…Koetter did what he was told. Don’t blame him for Jaguars stupid. He is much better than Mularkey..bet on it. Go Falcons..now hire Steve Spagnuolo as DC.
Bill
January 15th, 2012
2:53 pm
I like Koetter and believe he will be a good OC for Falcons. Now get it done!
Gregg Knapp
January 15th, 2012
2:53 pm
Why didn’t you just hire Gregg Knapp? Hasn’t this season proven that a running game isn’t how you win in the NFL? Who cares what Jones-Drew did, it’s a passing league. And we just hired the bum of all bums.
Why do we like Jax hires when we stomped the piss out of them this year?
I’D RATHER JUST NOT EVEN HAVE AN OC, AND LET MR2 CALL EVERY SINGLE PLAY. AND I MEAN THAT.
Blue
January 15th, 2012
2:54 pm
What the the hell lets go ahead and complete the make over and hire Jack Del Rio.
Great Move Falcons. NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tree Rollins
January 15th, 2012
2:57 pm
I hear the people saying wait and see what this guy can do with good personnel. That’s what they said about Mike Singletary also – and then they hired Jim Harbaugh. Same personnel exactly now equals a great team all of a sudden. If Koetter was a good offensive mind they do not end up 32nd on offense. The NFL has very similar quality players on each team. Look what Green Bay did with their 2nd string quarterback – it’s about the coaching folks. Get serious.
Waffle House or Bust
January 15th, 2012
3:01 pm
Dear Arthur Blank,
Why are you turning us into the old Jacksonville Jaguars? I don’t recall them winning anything back then. You Mr. Blank are no Ted Turner.
Blue
January 15th, 2012
3:01 pm
BREAKING NEWS ON ESPN ATLATNA FALCONS JUST CHANGE THERE NAMES TO THE ATLANTA JAGUARS.
Yikes
January 15th, 2012
3:02 pm
One thing is for sure and that is this regime will hire whoever they see fit regardless of public opinion. Like watching Obama put through healthcare. I know better than everyone else and will do what I want public opinion be damned. Obviously not worried about disgruntled season ticket holder base. Not worried about filling stadium or creating excitement about next year. Let’s pray they prove everyone and I mean EVERYONE wrong and for the first time in Falcon history surprise us with a successful move we didn’t see coming. Odds just went up against it but only time will tell.
kirkinga
January 15th, 2012
3:03 pm
If people weren’t real fans, they wouldn’t care who was hired for the position.
44counter
January 15th, 2012
3:03 pm
Falcon fan~ funny you mentioned Byner, I was thinking earlier today, he has to find another job.
He was RB coach for Redskins and Titans before going to the Jags.
I’ve known him since the was playing in middle school.
Foul-Can
January 15th, 2012
3:04 pm
I dont agree with this hire. It seems to me that Arthur and Thomas are just being the same conservative cheapskates as usual. I dont care what the guy didn’t have in Jacksonville. How do you get angry and frustrated, and want to win a TITLE, but you still to the same game plan of tightfisted with the cash and hoping for more. Im sorry, I do not care how highly regarded he is in coaching circles…. WHAT HAS HE ACCOMPLISHED LATELY!! This is not 2007… IT’S 2012. We better hire a Defensive Genius or i will not return as a season ticket holder.
Falcons4Eva
January 15th, 2012
3:06 pm
Ok…now that I’ve had time to digest this info….Let’s consider these factors:
Factor 1: Michael Turner has seen his best days. Dirk Koetter loves the Screen Play.
He did a lot with MJD. We could see some of the screen plays used in a similar matter. Consider this:
Maurice Jones Drew – Position: RB. Height: 5′7″ Weight: 208 LBS
Jacquizz Rodgers – Position: RB. Height: 5′6″ Weight: 198 Lbs
Falcons4Eva
January 15th, 2012
3:08 pm
Again, looking on the bright side:
Both Maurice Jones Drew and Jacquizz Rodgers have very similar running styles, both can catch the ball out the backfield and both have speed.
ATl Sports
January 15th, 2012
3:08 pm
WAS THIS A SURPRISE!!! REAL THOROUGH SEARCH!!!!!! JACKSONVILLE NORTH!!!!!!
GOOD OLE BOY NETWORK!!!!
ARTHUR, REALLY SURPRISED IN YOU!!!!!!!
Tree Rollins
January 15th, 2012
3:10 pm
It’s sad because I like Mike Smith but he just began putting some of the first nails into his own coffin with this pick. He’s all about famiarity and this theme just keeps going. I would have rather held onto MM than this choice. Now, we will not be able to get anybody with any serious resume to take the DC job because they will base part of their judgement on what we just did with the OC. Same thing with the offensive free agents. It all rolls downhill from here.
Pike
January 15th, 2012
3:10 pm
@Yikes
…Like watching Obama put through healthcare…
No, people like having health care as Republicans are going to find out in the Fall after campaigning on cutting Medicare.
I think you meant to say:
Like watching Bush tell us Iraq had WMD and their oil would pay for the bill…
King Kong
January 15th, 2012
3:14 pm
What an odd move, Falcons brought in an unproven OC to take it to the super bowl. I’ll sell my season ticket.
Blue
January 15th, 2012
3:15 pm
Hey Arthur Blank,
Did you know David Garrard is a Free Agent? Let See if we can sign him too.
Falcon fan?
January 15th, 2012
3:15 pm
THE KEY TO A GOOD SEASON IS HIRING A GOOD(DC) MIKE SMITH AND NOT ANOTHER ONE OF UR BUDS…..JERK…..
Nique
January 15th, 2012
3:16 pm
In an effort to look at this hire positively lets lot at what good Koetter could bring. In 07 his first year with the Jaguars, his offense finished ranked seventh in the league. Koetter’s offenses never re-captured a league top-10 fire in his following 3 years with the Jags, most argue that it was due to the quarterback position being in flux, especially last year Gabbert after a lockou shortened offseasont. Also on a good note, Koetter’s offense finished with the top rusher in the league last year (he’s to hoping he brings along some of that toughness with whatever O-lin coach he hires). Before coming to Jax, Arizona State, Koetter headed up the third-best offense in the NCAA, which gained 537.4 yards per game and put up 36.8 points per game that year. The Arizona State offense also passed for almost 400 yards per game that season.
ESKOBALLA
January 15th, 2012
3:17 pm
Im not a big fan of this move. but then again, we ve seen people from jacksonville provide well for other teams. take greg williams D-coordinator of saints for example, he helped the saints bring home a superbowl title with his oppurtunistic defense. we may not like it now but we jes gota wait and see how this unfolds. FYI im mainly focused on which coodinator will transform our defense. hope we land nolan, spagnuola, or singletary.
44counter
January 15th, 2012
3:18 pm
Be careful what you ask for, afterall, Turner was the leading rusher in the NFC.
Just take a look across town, everybody was glad to see Bobby Cox retire and look what happened at the end of the season. Are the Hawks a better team with a new coach??
In the blink of an eye, the Falcons could be back to 7-9 or 8-8…….then what??
next year
January 15th, 2012
3:19 pm
1Carolina11-5
2Saints10-6
3Falcons8-8
4Tampa6-10
Ginger
January 15th, 2012
3:20 pm
I wanted Falcons to interview Tom Clements QB coach of Packers…don’t know of Clements was not interested..also liked the idea of Billick–but figure he wants an HC position. Koetter was my last choice because of where he came from and poor offense there….but willing to give him a chance. Jax did not have any receivers and a rookie QB…
Smith must feel very good about him—becauseof Koetter fails–it could very well cost Smith his job.
Falcons must become a more potent offense….playing in same division as New Orleans and same conference as GB, and now San Fran–those offenses can put points on the board…
It just seem to hard for Falcons to score at times this year….long drives with lots of plays and more chances for things to go wrong…This used to be model–Don Shula Dolphins would score and take 8 minutes off clock–but you gotta but able to stop other team for this to work….NO and GB are very tough offenses to stop….So Falcons gotta be more potent and able to do both–long drives, but quick drives also.
Hoping we get Spags for DC
Yikes
January 15th, 2012
3:23 pm
Point is only time will tell if public opinion on this hire is wrong. Not sure what public optnion was on Bush stating there were WMDs. Public opinion of Bush in general didnt seem too good. Only time will tell if This is a good hire but if SO it is truly pulling a rabbit out of a hat……not to knock magicians now
Falcon Fan
January 15th, 2012
3:24 pm
44 counter, Ernest is a damn good coach….I hope he is hired by Falcons. A good man also.
rivercard
January 15th, 2012
3:25 pm
Nique – Jax was 10th in offense before he arrived so 7th some improvement but after that dramatic regression. Surely he must take some blame for that.
He had some good stats at ASU , but bottom line is they were 1-11 against ranked teams and he was FIRED. Maybe he can help continue Falcons tendency to beat the lesser teams and fold against the better ones.
Iuperay
January 15th, 2012
3:26 pm
We get this dawg and ESPN reports that Greg Williams leaves Saints to go to Rams. Spag goes to New Orleans and Nolan alsoto the Rams. And the Falcons get the best friend.