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
Rise Up
January 15th, 2012
7:42 pm
Rise up fans. At least we can let em know we are tired of mediocre coaches or players and dumb leadership. Let’s see, who has the worst rated Defense to see if that’s who Smith/TD/Blank hire next for the DC. Laughing stock of the NFL.
rm
January 15th, 2012
7:46 pm
Rivercard- i hear ya and agree. Its not a sexy hire but im more concerned about the dc, getting pressure on the qb (look at the giants and niners)
and fixing the o line. From what ive read people think he knows what he is doing. He didnt have much to coach up either. Cant polish a turd…
Michael M.
January 15th, 2012
7:46 pm
Rise up to what ?
BigTimeTECHFan
January 15th, 2012
7:48 pm
Great Hire
Perfect fit for system Smith want to run
Perfect fit for Falcons existing player
Jax has had QB issues sense he’s been there, but he still get most out of not that good QB’s, developed Gerrard pretty good till he got hurt.
Will demand big time OL play, bet he gets a nice tackle her
Save money for big time DC hire, we may have to out bid other teams
BigTimeTECHFan
January 15th, 2012
7:50 pm
All yall talking trash about this hire will eat your words, he’s a lot more diverse then Malarky was
rivercard
January 15th, 2012
7:52 pm
rm – agree that defense is going to be the key to taking this team forward. I am afraid they are going to lose Abraham and Grimes and I don’t know where we go from there.
kerryb
January 15th, 2012
7:53 pm
D. Orlando, You’re around the organization. Let them know how unhappy the fans are right now. Season ticket sales are going down for sure. What a pathetic hire.
Michael M.
January 15th, 2012
7:56 pm
I hope to hxll the falcons do make me eat my words but I don’t think they are moving forward at all with this deal they just made, we will get to find out very soon. It won’t be too long before football comes around again.
Watch em go for a cheap fix on DC and good luck with that !
rm
January 15th, 2012
7:57 pm
Rivercard- Td has work to do for sure. At least we will have a lot to talk about…
Loserville USA
January 15th, 2012
7:58 pm
Wonder if they make ARM VIAGRA for quarterbacks?
Michael M.
January 15th, 2012
8:02 pm
When you see Blank with smoke coming out his ears next Season…….Smitty, you better run !
Bro
January 15th, 2012
8:06 pm
The key here is in Smith’s statement, “he understands the passing game, but wants to run the football too (because that’s all I want to do) which is very important in the NFL”. Running the football is important, but points are usually scored by the pass or because of the pass. Running is a necessary evil once in awhile. It by it’s self will not win a game in the NFL. HERE IS THE KEY FACT OF THIS HIRING: NO F ING CHANGE IN THE SCHEME-SAME OLD CRAP.
Ex-Season Ticket Holder
January 15th, 2012
8:06 pm
On Friday, I received my season ticket renewal invoice. With the news of the new OC, there is no way I can waste another dime on the Falcons. Mr. Blank you can have my two tickets in section 216 .
Loserville USA
January 15th, 2012
8:08 pm
DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS. 3 of the final 4.
DC hiring is crucial.
Humbug
January 15th, 2012
8:09 pm
Smitty has led the Falcons to better seasons than any other HC in the history of the team. Maybe he knows what Koetter can do if he has the manpower to work with. Apparently Mr. Blank and TD agree with him. They have done pretty damn good so far.
Let’s give the man a chance before we stupidly tear him down. Bitching does not reflect knowledge.
angry mangy mutt
January 15th, 2012
8:11 pm
Disappointed – not sure if I am. I understand it, Jax ran a similar system to what we have been watching for the last four seasons. No need to learn a new system, but instead a new way to run it.
True
January 15th, 2012
8:13 pm
For sale: Two season tickets to next year’s train wreck of a season. I’d rather watch a train wreck on television and it costs a lot less!
Don't Sign that Contract...
January 15th, 2012
8:14 pm
Terrible day for all Falcon fans. The downfall of the Mike Smith era is now in the works.
Greg Mendel
January 15th, 2012
8:15 pm
Giants 37, Packers 20. Another tough loss for #1 seed, and almost the same final score. (It proves Aaron Rodgers has a noodle arm and will never be an elite quarterback.)
Before the Falcons/Giants playoff game, most folks said the Falcons would have to establish their running game and pressure Manning. There was no Falcons running game, so Ryan was constantly pressured. The Defense successfully pressured Manning until it was exhausted.
Maybe Koetter could have made that game plan work. I don’t think Mularkey even tried.
Declinometer
January 15th, 2012
8:17 pm
To theguyabovemelsanidiot , get a clue. The jaguars covered some seats to reduce the number of seats necessary to prevent blackouts. The capacity with the seats covered is a mere 4000 fewer than what that mall you play in holds. That’s right the Ga Dome. Considering that The Atlanta market is 3 times larger than Jacksonville it’s still a large stadium.
Just because you can’t name the jaguar receivers does not mean that there has been no talent. David Garrard is a very good QB that will be starting somewhere next year. The reason no one picked him up is because he had back surgery after he was cut. The releasing of Garrard was an attempt to get a 1st round pick named starter before he was ready. Mistake! It was a mistake compounded by the inept OC Koetter. Garrard will be a starter somewhere next year, mark my words.
“Koetter is a guy who moves the ball in chunks in the air”. Dude, it’s ok to be optimistic but with that statement you are making a complete fool of yourself.
The Root
January 15th, 2012
8:17 pm
Simply amazing. Just goes to show you the Falcons should have cleaned house including Smith. JAX has had one of the most boring predictable offenses in the league. Traveling frequently to JAX they have to be shaking their heads about the decisions in Atlanta after living thru this coordinator.
Arthur
January 15th, 2012
8:19 pm
kerry b.—The real fans who buy the tickets and support the team are not as unhappy as you imply. It’s the sometime fans who only experience the games from their recliner and tv who express their negative opinions.
abby normal
January 15th, 2012
8:19 pm
OY!! Look for Joe Bagadoughnuts to be our new DC!
Loserville USA
January 15th, 2012
8:19 pm
If Smitty is bringing in his buddies to sink or swim then it’s probably a slam dunk that Nolan will be in to bring in the 3-4.
And that might be a good change.
rivercard
January 15th, 2012
8:19 pm
Humbug- More winning seasons, but not necessarily better. Remember the Super Bowl?
How could he know what Koetter can do with different manpower? He can only speculate like the rest of us. Better guess sure but not infallible.
Kane337
January 15th, 2012
8:20 pm
How many teams had this guy on their radar? If he stinks it could be the end of Mike Smith. I thought the plan was to win championships and not accept mediocrity.
fan of falcons
January 15th, 2012
8:20 pm
Players were distracted this year and obviously lost their focus. Maybe too much com “Rod” ery. Too much playing on the sidelines and not disciplined.
Humbug
January 15th, 2012
8:28 pm
@ rivercard… How many trips to the playoffs and that one super bowl did all the former head coaches lead the Falcons to? How many of them gave us four winning seasons in a row?
BigGAdawg
January 15th, 2012
8:31 pm
Did this happen because of the stellar job he did in Jacksonville??? Are you kidding me???
Joshing
January 15th, 2012
8:35 pm
I doubt that Vince Lombardi could have won with thw manpower at Jacksonville.
rivercard
January 15th, 2012
8:35 pm
Humbug- I said he had more not better and I am correct.
Give me a fact based reason as to why this is a good hire.
sad
January 15th, 2012
8:54 pm
So we get a guy that lost his job because they were not performing???
amazing. we get a guy who may be a veteran but has done nothing.
falcons will lose 9 games next year. no offensive coordinator and a qb that has no head on his shoulders.
Fresh Birds
January 15th, 2012
8:58 pm
This is a really bad nightmare. Next thing I will hear is the Falcons just hired the Clemson defensive coordinator that gave up 70 points to west virginia
ijonathan
January 15th, 2012
9:24 pm
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…
====
No JSS, you are the clown. And you have been clowned on here repeatedly by those participants in the know. Those, unlike yourself, who don’t chuckle at their own witicisms eminating from their keyboard. (Oh wait, I forgot, you have speech recognition software. I’m sooo envious.)
I wasn’t referring to a single pass that was behind a receiver, I was referring to repeated misfires by Joe Flaccid today. Yes, the Ravens won the game, and Flaccid was little more than an interested observer (aka Game Manager). Virtually any QB in the NFL could have matched his play today. Although I’m sure you’ll be able to find a highly objective video montage put together by some Ravens fan in his basement to prove otherwise.
jonk facons fan
January 15th, 2012
9:27 pm
Tthank u mr blank for a another looser oc, i could be wrong but well see.
techduck
January 15th, 2012
9:40 pm
it is really time for smith to go.this latest hire for O.C. is so stupid i mean really stupid,stupid,stupid,just blame stupid.the owner is so caught up in his money and has no clue whats going on .smith hires another buddy of his that has proven what?stupid move,just stupid.no way am going to renew my season tickets you falcons have proven something and that is a proven LOSER and this hire here proves that. just wait till you here who the D.C. is going to be.this teams owner is letting the coach hire all his buddies for cheap and tickets holders pay the price for it at the end of the beginng of the first round of play offs as the past years.
Chucktown38
January 15th, 2012
9:41 pm
Have been waiting for years for the Falcons to put it all together. It’s not going to happen with TD, or any of our current coaches.Most of TD’s draft picks are substandard or BUSTS, take your pick. Never going to win with the Smith name tired to the organization. Rankin or Smitty!!
realist
January 15th, 2012
9:45 pm
Garbage hire.
With the OC and DC transitions, won’t see the playoffs next year and will be lucky to break even.
iceBIRDcold12
January 15th, 2012
9:49 pm
He who laughs first will never laugh last. Now that you have read the cover lets wait to read the book. Change is not all bad.
eturn
January 15th, 2012
10:14 pm
Why this is not a good hire at O C ..This is what MS said… 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.” MS still living in the 80’s hung up on running the ball..when will he learn
GameChanger
January 15th, 2012
10:27 pm
Good idea Smitty, hire the OC of the team we beat 41-14. I have a BAD FEELING about this hire.
GameChanger
January 15th, 2012
10:30 pm
Oh, he like the running game huh? New flash for Smtty, we don’t have Maurice Jones-Drew, we have stumblefoot Turner who needs a hole as big as a truck to get any yards. You better get an O-line if you’re back to the running game again.
Nique
January 15th, 2012
10:39 pm
Helpful stats from ESPN:
Before this ugly season in Jacksonville, Koetter was viewed as a potential head coach. He did some good things in his first four seasons in Jacksonville. In that time span, Jacksonville’s offense ranked 13th in the NFL in total yards (338.6 per game), sixth in rushing (134.2), fifth in third-down conversions (43.0 percent) and fifth in average yards per rush (4.5). In his first season with the Jaguars (2007), Koetter directed a record-breaking season as the offense set franchise records for points (411 total and a 25.7 average), touchdowns (50) and touchdown passes (28).
Eric C.
January 15th, 2012
10:53 pm
“…he also wants to be able to run the football which is very important in the NFL.” —Mike Smith
Translation…expect more of the same
houstondawgdfan
January 15th, 2012
11:00 pm
I hope it works out, however I think we have regressed.
old man
January 15th, 2012
11:03 pm
As I said on Schultz board, there is no way to know about this hire. His talent was so bad at JAX. My jury remains out.
Maybe a fringe benefit of this is that he will come in with such little ego that he will let Matt Ryan be the game time OC. Couldn’t be worse than what we had last year.
No Surprise Here!
January 15th, 2012
11:04 pm
Atlanta Jaguars! Jags and Falcons swapped coordinators…great lateral move by falcons, mike smith has a great relationship with jags staff…it’s all about relationships falcon fans Mike Smith is pulling from his roots and now DC needs to be filled soon…looks like saints and falcons maybe in bidding war for Spagnuolo and mike nolan for DC position…Greg Williams contract expired and he will be moving on to join fisher his buddy in St.louis
Nique
January 15th, 2012
11:05 pm
Eric C.
That’s a very true statement, i believe the biggest change we’ll see with DK is an effective screen game, which will be beneficial against heavy rush defense’s & will help Matt & the O-Line out in ways that MM couldn’t, but i agree if that’s the only substantial change, which I’m hoping its not, but its the main one that i can see, we’re in trouble, but so is Mike Smith’s job if this is the case! Falcons fans wanna open it up be more G.B., Colts, N.E, N.O., & Detroit. style Offense, I’m not sure Matt’s quit on those guys levels yet, especially when it comes to playing on the road though! But i also don’t think we’ll get that style of Offense until Mike Smith is out of here, he’s to committed to the run for that sort of change!
Nique
January 15th, 2012
11:07 pm
Oh & when i said not sure, i meant Stafford, there’s NO WAY IN HELL he’s on the other 4 QB’s level just to clarify!!!
old man
January 15th, 2012
11:11 pm
AB is not ready to fire MS. TD does not have the experience to step in and object, even if he wanted to. AB is giving MS whatever rope he needs to succeed or hang himself. Simply agreeing to whoever MS wants is probably the quickest way (one season?) to find out if MS is playoff caliber. The quicker we find out, the better. Viewed in this light, it’s all for the best.
For now, we can do nothing but hope MS is the right head coach. Focusing on this hire in a vacuum misses the bigger picture.