Falcons hire Mike Nolan as new defensive coordinator

my head is spinning…………lol

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YES!!!!!

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Crap

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Good.

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damn it. But what whats the point,Smith already said we have drafted for the 4-3 not the 3-4. So in other words we wont run the 3-4

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Ok. Great hire but. Do we have the personal for a 3-4? You can’t just mold principals.

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Outside of his years at B-More, why is this a good hire?

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Nice hire! Can’t be nearly as terrible as Van Gorder. Now hopefully we’ll stop hiding behind zone defenses and play some real football.

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Was hoping for Spags but i like the hire GO BIRDS!!

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Anything over van gorder is a good hire…he needed to get a NFL DC….

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WoW… We are going to see totally different Falcons team next year… Blew me away with both hire.. .

3-4 DC… May be we are going hybrid as MS has been saying all along…

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Great hire. . . it beats waiting to try and fight the Eagles for Spagnoulo. Switching to a hybrid 3-4 won’t be as big of a shock as going to a pure 3-4, and with all of the FAs on defense they might be able to transition pretty quick.

Look for Abraham to be gone, with Weatherspoon and Edwards benefiting most from the switch. Adkins and Dent will see more playing time, Babineaux (if he is still here in 2012) losing some time. We’ll probably also see more man and press coverage in the secondary, which will help Robinson.

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Another good one. Let’s get a guy with fundamental differences of opinion as the HC. That’s going to be a nice oil and vinegar combination.

Just started looking forward to the 2014 season, thanks guys.

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This is strange to me…But whatever, Just Win…Because the rest of the division is catching up fast.

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Solid hire. Yeah, I know everybody wanted Spags but Nolan knows what he’s doing…it’ll be interesting to see how he meshes his 3-4 scheme with our 4-3 personnel…

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This is great. I love the hire. Mike Smith is awesome. I hope he is able to continue the prgress he had with Mularkey and VanGorder.
I am 100% certain that he will trust his new coordinators and not micro-manage them into conservative football play-calling oblivion. He would never do that. Nothing in his four-year Falcons history suggests that he would.
This is great. I gotta go call Mom and tell her about this. She’s gonna be so excited. She loves Smitty and will be thrilled to know that Dimitroff is hiring all of his very bestest friends to be his totally empowered co-leaders.

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I bet Dan Reeves loves this hire!

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FACT: people will complain no matter who the hire was!!

Sometimes I think people were happier back before we couldn’t win back to back seasons!!!

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awesome

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You guys should cheer up and be positive now because it could have been a somebody never expected and I was expecting the worse. Right now I’m a happy little kid in the candy store and grateful.

May have to change my thinking on the 2012 Season..the Team may just surprise us all….going to lay low and see what and where they go from here

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kevin January 17th, 2012 3:25 pm
Falcons fans will forever live in mediocrity.
*************************************************
Hey, finally a Bayou peeshwank sticks his head out of his hole. C’mon, mention how great your team is…………

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Spaggs wants to go to the Saints because he knows what kind of offense they have. Falcons will finish 3rd in the division next year. Carolina will finish second behind the Saints.

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So does this mean I can get some Spoon coming off the corner at the other team’s quaterback now?

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So does this mean I can get some Spoon coming off the corner at the other team’s quaterback now?

I hope so!!!

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don’t know what to say of this hire? I haven’t really paid much attention to the Dolphins, but at this point I guess its worth a crap shot…I would have rather gotten Spag, but with this team you never really know sometimes…

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I love this hire. Finally a real Pro Defensive Coordinator.

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This is a good hire.

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I think we are much better at OC and DC!

We need better OL players, a solid OL coach and a true 3-4 nose tackle. I would like to see us trade Turner for draft picks or an impact player.

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TD.. You get A from me on this hire…Look at his track record as a DC…He’s one of the BEST

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Who is the guy in the picture on the main page? That is the Dolphins but isn’t Nolan.

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this guy is a solid coach! very solid guy al the teams he has coach step up on d nice! he made the 49ers d broncos d and fins d about time to bring a proven coach who dosent doubt to call on the blitz, this is gonna be good year!

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Shows that a good coach is eager to bring this Atlanta program into a champion!

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this was AWESOME hire……you guys that don’t think so are IDIOTS. It means you don’t know football. Mike Nolan’s defenses have been great every where he has been – Baltimore, San Francisco, Denver and Miami.

Proven winner…..

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The scheme doesn’t matter if you do not have the defensive personnel. Take a look at each individual on the defensive line then the linebackers. Look at teams that really do play defense and compare their personnel with Falcons’ personnel. Minimal pass rush, minimal sacks, minimal pressure on QB, cannot stop the run nor pass…kinda sums it up. Defense is something the Falcons do because the other team has the ball not because they are really good at it.

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MIKE NOLAN WAS THE SECOND BEST OPTION AVAILABLE AND TOP 5 IN THE LEAGUE ALL TOGETHER!!!! AND YALL STILL COMPLAIN??? WOW NAME A TEAM NOLAN WAS APART OF WITHOUY A GOOD TO GREAT DEFENSE… DORKS

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@ Sir Real…………………..that is so true. This Team can’t do worse with these new hires…its a win-win situation. I think we are going to get a much improved Football Team overall from all of this

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Spags is going to play all the other teams against each other, like the Tuna did against us/Blank. TD and Smith win this round!

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yes we can play a 3-4 d we need 2 more players to stuff the line because or ng are very slim but aint nothing worse than having a porn star running ur d! at least this guys has some class

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@atlppal ….. Spags has no idea where he wants to go yet, now the Colts have jumped into the Spags derby.

So the Stanks will be waiting for him to make a decision.

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They can’t switch overnight to a 3-4, and our roster is currently set for a 4-3. It would take a year at least to change over to the 3-4, but it could be done. Some teams do well in the 3-4. I personally don’t like it, but I’m a 4-3 guy at heart.

My biggest gripe with this hire is that it does seem like Mike Smith and Thomas Dimitroff are setting up a “Good Ol’ Boy” network of coaches. Spagnuolo would likely have been a better hire, but at least we’ve brought in guys that have a history with the Head Coach, so team chemistry won’t have to be built.

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D-Led, Nolan is a great coach but this quote below from Dimitroff is very misleading and bogus after watching Mike Smith’s passive defenses for four years.

Moving forward, this defense needs to continue its growth and evolution as a passionate and fiery defense, one that is going to fly to the football, disrupt, be opportunistic and capitalized on opportunities to turn the game around; flip the game in critical situations,” general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. “We’ll look for a coordinator who will [aid] Coach Smith and his approach to putting that type of aggressive defense on the field.” When has Smith’s units in Jacksonville and Atlanta ever been aggressive? Please show me so I can dispute it.

Is AID Mike Smith a Code Word for Vanilla Scheme, Business as Usual, Yes Man, I have a problem with Mike Smith continuing to hire his buddies. If you hired your friends, they will only agree with you and tell you the BS you want to hear. Where will the objectivity come from? When Dimitroff drafts another bust, and he will in April, will the defensive coordinator have the testicles to tell him that he wants someone else and Dimitroff’s choice does not fit his scheme? I doubt it.

Last week on several blogs I stated that Smith would hire his friends to fill both OC/DC positions instead of improving this team, damn if he didn’t prove me right!! This was the one time I was hoping I was wrong about this idiott!!!

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lol at people complaiing that we dont have 3-4 personnel.. We dont even have 4-3 personnel .. No pass rush, no coverage, no pressure lol

Lets try something different.. cant do any worse

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@ E-Roll………….A Hybrid 3-4 4-3 change-up at the line………..that should be very interesting to see play out of the field

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I can’t imagine why anyone gripes about this hire. Sheesh. Wait for Spags, and get Lewis? What a joke.

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Shoz, really?

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If you add the no-huddle in the mix on offense you are going to drive alot of these other teams absolutely nutsssssssssss

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Spags will end up with the Colts.. Just my opinion.

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Good hire..However, makes you wonder if the Saints will get Spags now since they let Williams go…If the Saints get Spags the falcons will be running in place

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Personnel for 3-4? 4-3? Who gives a hoot! Just hit the mf with the damn ball before he crosses the line of scrimmage! Great hires all around! I was getting tired of “No Imagination Mularkey” and “Soft as Butter Van Gorder”!

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GREAT GREAT Hire. Let’s get moving in the right direction. Things are looking up.

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Time to renew season ticket LOL

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Abraham is going to get at least 10 sacks next year. Ray Edwards is going be traded or released. and Bier Man is going to get 10 sacks on the other side. Sidbury is going to be a servicable backup.

Dunta Robinson’s int and pass breakups are going to go up next year because he will FINALLY play man to man cover 0 and 1. that’s his strong suit.

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It’s interesting, the Colts interviewed Spags for the DC position on Monday, and fired Caldwell today. Wonder if maybe they are thinking about making him their Head Coach in Indy now ?

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I expect the Falcons to go after Paul Soliai to occupy the all important NT position in the 3-4 Defense, I also see us getting another LB or letting Spencer Adkins or Akeem Dent to play the other LB spot. I also see Babineaux and peters being moved to the DE in the 3-4 Defense and Iexpect ABE to be let go and maybe we go after Mario Williams.

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does anybody else realize that the falcons were 7th on offense and 10th on D course not…The Fan culture needs to change more than the team..all these old fans that long for the good ole 6 – 10 seasons…you are whats wrong…Saints got bounced by a sub .500 team a year ago got manhandled by a first year head coach and a bust at QB…Patriots are 1-4 in the playoffs and had been bounced in the first round 3 years in a row after they caught cheating…Yet those cities and fans love those teams

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You know Nolan has got to be loving the opportunity to come in here and be a part of this Falcons Organization ………I like this hire, think we are going to see a hell of a different football team come next Season

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plus the saints are gonna be without williams and he step up and sign they num 1 candidate its a win win situation!

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Actually the only thing specific we are missing is a big body in the middle. There are quite a few in the 2012 draft that are projected to go in the 2-4 rounds where we start to draft. Our linebacker corp is athletic. If Ray’s issue was healing from surgery, this year should be a good year and if the Falcons decide to lock him up, the two of them focusing on pass rush because they lineman are focused on the run is real plus. Our issue, of course, is at the safety and cornerback positions. But regardless of what D we run we would have to address that. LOVE this hire. Wanted Spags at first but the idea of running even a hybrid 3-4 is much more appealing.

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Great hire. Although I think he has his work cut out for him.

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This hire is worth season tickets.

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I love all these penciling in Old Man Abe… He’s a UFA, and are you going to get him at a discount somehow? That is how you lost Dahl… Reality+fantasy=confused Falcons fans…

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At least this guy has some descent stats. Dirk on the other hand had the worst offense in football.

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I am loving this hire!! We finally have a guy that gets results!! Falcon fans now we can start to look for the Falcon defense to get more takeaways giving the offense more posessions and giving them a short field with these oppurtunities, now we should see more points from the offense. The Falcon defense will get teams off the field on 3rd down now and we can expect better designed blitzes. Mike Nolan will make Dirk Koetter’s job a little easier.

#IKillTrollsAllDay FUNNY!!!!!! LMBO!!!!

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Love the hire. Mike Smith was NOT the problem with this defense. If you see his work in Jacksonville, they were very aggresive and blitzed creatively and frequently.

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The Falcons have unleashed an army of blog plants to convince us that this is a good hire, so we will renew our season tickets. Sad.

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I can barely contain my overwhelming elation….NOT !

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while I like this hire, I don’t know about it. I think that if he was allowed to run his 3-4 defense then it would be great but Mike smith already said we have drafted for the 4-3 not 3-4. And I don’t know why, but i get a feeling that we will see about 85% 4-3 and 15% 3-4.

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So were goona run a 3 1/2 3 1/2 Defense…..Gues we play Jaquizz Rodgers both ways….

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Some folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be! says ole Abe Linc,.
Go Falcons…Just win your LONGTIME supporters a SUPERBOWL! We need big, fast , mean O line and D line…P. Jerry…a bust? Edwards A model?, Abe…bless his heart is aging and slower!

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@ yeahsure

Don;t go typing facts like that on here, they will only ridicule you for posting positives about Smitty. I said the same thing yesterday when losers tried to say Van Gorder was aggressive and it was Smitty who was the problem. So i presented them the statistical data that as a DC, Smitty’s units were never lower than 12th in the league in total defense(only once was it that low) and were 2nd overall at one point, not to mention his defenses were only out of the top 7 in sacks just ONCE. But yes, I can see their point, it must have been Smitty……riiiiight

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Nice move, Falcons. John Abraham will stand up at OLB. Ray Edwards might as well, or take a few trips to Golden Corral and become the 5-technique. Spoon and Lofton may be the best LB tandem in the league after this move. And that says a lot, considering Willis and Bowman in SF are excellent. The secondary will be better because they can sack the QB and get pressure with 4-5 rushers. Look for the Jones kid out of UGA to get drafted. Not sure how they will check Jimmy Graham, but should make for some good games.

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Now this is what I’m talking about. http://mosthighpayingjobs.com

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DOL…your copy and paste from ESPN is not reporting…Wake up AJC

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with the 3-4 and 4-3 i dont’ care what defense it is the falcons got to know how to tackle somebody for the pass 4 years this team can’t tackle…..

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Big Dude, after Gregg Williams blitzed us into the offseason, I think it was a clean break. Carmichael and WR coach Johnson moving on would be huge. They are instrumental in the development of our stars: Brees, Graham, Colston. I like Spagnuolo, although I would be comfortable with a more conservative DC because we can score with anyone. Also, that would help get rid of Harper at SS because we would need a ball-hawking type instead. Not only can’t he cover, but he can’t make INTs either. We could also bring in a couple of safeties that got cut last year because they didn’t fit well with Williams.

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I’m just happy Aints LOST.

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Some of you people complain just to be complaining. I love mike nolan as DC. Now while Dirk doesn’t have the stats to make you go wow i am willing to give him a chance. He had Blane Gabbert and for all the complaining Mike Murlarky had decent stats but we couldn’t produce with his offense when it counted so stats are sometimes over hyped. So be happy we got new coordinators and fresh ideas up here. Go Falcons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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I like Nolan for the type of coach he is, but “blending the principles of Nolan’s 3-4 and Smith’s 4-3?” What are they going to run? A 3.75-4.25 alignment? Do we need a nosebacker or a linetackle? Do AB and TD have a clue? Stay tuned, this should be good. Also, have a great deal more liking for this move than Koetter.

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E Roll……YOU DAMN RIGHT, GIVE ME SOME MORE SSPPOOOOOONNNNNN!!!!!!

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For a 3-4 D to work, the Falcons will need a mean NG. I’m not sure if any of the current d-line is fit for the job. This defense could work with the right personnel. Now its up to the right off season acquisitions.

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well the falcons will never get it right SS WAS AVAILABLE AND THEY GO with nolan and koetter in offense this team has gone backwards again fire smith get the coach from the steelers and redo the offense and defense and win a super bowl before i die .

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Serena Williams might make a good NG.

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Why can’t we play both? With the right personnel and quick substitutions-we can act like N.O. and the Ravens.

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We Are Rollin’ with Nolan!!!

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Mike Smith may have just hired his replacement??? A great mean defense in atlanta would be awesome. Even under mularky our offense could usually score 14 pts. and thats all they will need with a bad a**, rugged, defense with a chip on its shoulder!!!

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I am pretty stoked about this hire.

I think Nolan and Koetter will both improve the Falcons.

It will be a great year to be a Falcon Fan!

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In other news, Mike Smith’s personal bartender named as Concessions Coordinator for Falcons game. When will this recycling coaching hire binge stop?!?
For the poster that said this hire was worth season tickets…fine. You can buy the ones that I won’t be buying. When Mike Smith gets run out of town next December, be sure to send Thomas Dimitroff packing too. Maybe by then we’ll have a first, second, and third round pick again.

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not to sound stupid but just what is a hybrid 4-3,3-4 someone please explane,but i do like the hire

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A fresh set of eyes on the young players we have here right now? Sounds like they’re trying to cover up some poor draft choices by T.D.

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hehehehe January 17th, 2012 4:43 pm
Serena Williams might make a good NG.

I can use parts of her to guard my nose, lol.
I know she is not your type but those skinny minnies that you probably like are not my type so we both get what we want, win win!

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Mike Nolan is an established coordinator in this league,” said Falcons head coach Mike Smith. “He brings more than 25 years of NFL experience to our team and has been a coordinator at this level for 14 years. Mike has a history of developing physically intimidating defensive units, and we are fortunate to have him join our staff.”

@ tfalcon….I posted a little on it on page 3 of this blog

go here and read more

http://www.nfl.com/kickoff/story?id=09000d5d80a518b3&template=without-video&confirm=true

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Spanola would have been my preference. Still don’t get the OC hire – too inscestuous for me but time will tell. If it doesn’t work out Smith needs to go.

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Good Hire hopefully he’ll bring some class with him and make the falcons d-fense act like professionals,instead of that Thug D-block cellmates hanging out crap. What a embarrasement for the fan’s and the city that segment on the home page was!! Hard to Belive Author Blank would let That Image of his team and organazation be portraed that way!! D-block That’s a prison term to describe what section of the jail you where held at. How About being a positive roll model for youth instead of acting like a bunch of ex-con Thug’s

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the falcons hired the coordinator from the worst offensive team in the league and now hire a 3-4 coach from one of the worst defensive teams!! brilliant! let me guess–he’s a good buddy with mike smith! more mediocrity to continue in loserville.

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We are crumbling here in Miami…you guys just got a good one…you will see some solid defense. Please send a dollar to the “Get Me Out of this Banana Republic” fund.”

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I don’t understand why people seem to think that just because Nolan is good with a 3-4, he will struggle with a 4-3. I would be willing to bet that he and Smitty are familiar with just about every defense out there, including Buddy Ryans 4-6 defense that the Bears were so successful with. All the defenses out there use a number of variations, depending on the situation, and match-ups. For instance, Dallas runs a 3-4 most of the time, but often run something similar to a 4-6 in 3rd down situations.

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Anything they do .bring back Lindsey Thiry…………………yessssssss that chick is hotttttttttttt

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Keep in mind that there are two very different types of 3-4 schemes.

The classic two-gap system has the nose tackle line up directly on the center. He has to be able to control his point and shed the center to cover the A-gap on either side. You need a big NT (B.J. Raji or Vince Wilfork) for that one. We simply don’t have the big guy to do it. We’d need to land a starter AND a suitable backup. That’s probably a deal-breaker right there.

But the other (single gap) system is far more likely to work with our personnel. That one is really close to what we’re doing right now anyway, especially when you consider how often we rush a linebacker on one side while dropping a DE into coverage or how we played the 3-3-5 nickel package throughout the 2010 season.

You have seven guys defending seven lanes, and the linemen line up on the gaps rather than the linemen. At the snap, they attack and try to penetrate into the backfield. The nose tackle is on the A-gap, not on the center. All he has to do is attack his one lane. He wins in any of three ways – penetrate the line, draw a double team, or hold the point and force the run to go outside.

You don’t need Jabba The Lineman to pull it off. A smaller DT that can attack the gap would be ideal – such as Jay Ratliffe of the Cowboys, who is smaller than any of our four defensive tackles. Corey Peters or Vance Walker could do it, and that kind of penetration capability is supposedly the reason why Dimitroff drafted Peria Jerry in the first place.

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Good hire

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ICE MELTS IN RAIN

January 17th, 2012
3:20 pm

Another safe “good ole boy” hire by Smith…

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__________________________________________________________________________________

Your innuendo is tiresome.

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Falcons you not fooling me you made the O C AND D C PICKS WHERE WE CAN HAVE NO. ONE PICK NEXT YEAR. PICK THE WORST D C AND OC RECORD IN THE NFL THIS YEAR GO FALCONS.

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If all I knew about the Falcons now was what I saw from reading many of the comments so far, I’d be slitting my wrists.

Questions for all the monday morning coaches, GMs and QBs:

Name any Falcons’ coach that has had a better record than Mike Smith.

How many teams in the league have better records since Smith took over the HC job here?

Wonder what the Green Bay fans think about the Pack’s one and done loss to the Jints? What will GB do about it?

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Smitty wont be going nowhere no time soon…..he could have a losing season next year and guess what ? He will be there the following year. I don’t think they will have a losing season next year now, not with this hiring today……now they need to get the rest of the staff in place and start evaluating the players and what they need to do

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Breeze has alot of off time to make Nyquil spots too……………..ha ! ha !

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Speaking of Saints…come on over Aint trolls and lets have some fun……I feel good today boys

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I have hope now……this guy can change the way we play !

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Great pick up by the Falcons. Where are all the Saints trolls? Did they go in hiding?

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The teams who are consistent winners are those who continue to build over the long haul and don’t over re-act to every disappointing loss. Organizations who fire their head coaches every 2-4 years are not winning on a regular basis. The Falcons are finally relevant and some of you want to run Coach Smith out of town. He’s never had a losing season as the Falcons Head Coach and no other head coach in Falcons history can say that. Jeff Fisher who is esteemed as the top pick of the Head Coaches to hire this year only finished above .500 six of his 16 seasons as the Head Coach of the Oilers/Titans. The playoff win(s) will come. FYI: Have any of you noticed how well the teams that have knocked the Falcons out of the playoffs have done. The Cardinals went to the Super Bowl and almost won. The Packers won the Super Bowl before going 15-1 this year. The Giants are playing their best football right now and may very well get to the Super Bowl themselves. The Falcons will enter the playoffs while hitting their stride in due time, but until they do keep some perspective would you.

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I’m good with this hire. Nolan is a PRO defensive coordinator, not some overmatched college coach. If you don’t give 110 percent for this guy, your butt is on the bench. Heads up to Dunta, Ray Edwards, Peria Jerry and their like.

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Future Head Coach of the Atlanta Falcons. Put him next to Coach Smith, he definitely looks “HEAD and SHOULDERS above Mike “mr predictable” Smith in terms of “common sense and smartness”

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Good solid hire. Our defense, while definitely needing improvement in spots, is not the problem with this franchise. Top 5 in NfC in total d, top 12 in the NFL. That’s pretty good, certainly not indicative of a bust. Nolan should create a sense of toughness with this group and challenge them, make them better. Our new boy DIRK on the other hand has his work cut out for him.

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I told you so.And you thought the OC was bad.I saw this coming from the start.Hey fans are you still going to buy your season tickets? Go for it then.You just remeber this. You are just one of 60,ooo plus that is paying one player $500,000 for one game,thats right, just one game $500,000 for one player and there is 16 games in one season.Add it up.8,000,000 four one year.I can stay home and not fight the traffic and see a lot more on TV and spend my money on my kids and go to CHURCH and paid my ties before i would to such a grettie sports

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Damn great hire..Thanks for getting a great D-man..I like the 3-4 better but we’ll see what happens.. Cutter, Nolan will do just great.. Now kick some azzz Falcons.

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Look, until they FIX THE OFFENSIVE LINE it won’t matter who they bring in. You can not win in this league with a make-shift o-line with a deer in the headlights QB behind it. I like Matt Ryan, but when “that moment” arrives, be it a MNF game, any prime time game, or a playoff game – dude ish his drawers cause the o-line looks like turnstiles at Marta on a free day, so we have to protect him like he was made of china. WE can not do that with this o-line I don’t care what the stats are saying. Most of those stats, and this absolutely kills me when it comes to our o-line apologists, come against crappy teams with crappy d-lines and its been this way FOREVER. WE gotta fix this, or else everything else is for naught. Unless Mike Nolan is going to make our defense an over the top great one like the Ravens are/were where we won’t have to score much, there isn’t much to get happy about and that’s just being real. It is time for Blank to stop putting up $$$ for pretty named skilled players and get that offensive line in order. It starts in the trenches people! I like where the defense (outside of the secondary with no disrespect to Optimus Grimes) is headed, but mannnn I’m getting tired of our not so primetime swiss cheese o-line. If we don’t get it right in the trenches, this is much ado about nothing. At least I hope these new guys tell Smitty and TD this, which btw they SHOULD already know.

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I talked to SeenthisB4 he is trolling over on ESPN’s blog we got to talking about Brees being a Free Agent and the Saint are gonna have to Waste a Franchise tag on him. And that they were gonna lose Nicks and Marcus Colston. He obviously thinks his team has an unlimited Cap.

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Great pick Smitty–love Nolan. Now get him the players he needs and let Koetter get a o-line and another speedy running back and lets play..Go Falcons!
Can’t wait.

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some of you guys should to stick to giving the half time bands advice like you did in school leave the football to the guys who know football. Your dads were probably the same guys screaming to get rid of Leeman Bennett we know how that turned out, if you fire the current coach who are we bringing in suey Bobby or lets release Matt Ryan i sure Redman or John Parker Wilson is better. Before you can replace someone have somebody better Coach Dolan has been a very good defensive coordinator where ever he has been this is a good hire.

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man we sure got alot of wanna be coaches around the ATL ,since everyone seems to know so much why dont you pick up an application from Mr. Blank.

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I don’t know if we change to a 3-4, but I’m stunned people are acting like we have the personel for the 4-3, but not the 3-4. Our interior defensive linemen are a huge weakness. Our linebackers are serviceable at worst.

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I’m late getting in on this, so I’m surely repeating. I heard on the radio about Biermann being an outside LB in a 3-4, and the I just read the idea of Sidbury, and that sounded at least as good.

So yes, it is possible that all we lack is a NT.

Does a 3-4 allow Dante Robinson to play tighter coverage? He has been sorry at the soft coverage we have been playing. I don’t know enough to know.

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yay more people out of position because they don’t know their assignments. I can see Dunta “can’t catch a cold” Robinson already throwing his hands up. On the plus side atleast we can run screen plays >.>

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George Will once said “when President Clinton walked into a room, everyone knew he was the smartest
man in that room” The players will figure out things for themselves. Mr. Nolan will be the new “Informal
leader of this team.”

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And after that, another heapin’ helpin’ of some o’ that O-Line.

Code Blue.

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BREAKING NEWS…. Saban to the Colts!

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I like the Nolan hire. It is an important piece for the Falcons to start building for the 3-4, if Smitty and Dimitroff decide to do that. Personally, I think that it is inevitable with the league shifting rapidly to more passing.

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I like the hire. Nolan was great in Denver. Just couldn’t coach with that jerk McDaniels. In fact he’s been good every where he’s been. I think they can make the switch to 3-4. Heck Houston switched in one year and look where it got them! And BTW, we need to see Smith the way the titans did with Fisher and the way Steelers do with their coaches. Keep him for the long haul. You don’t fire a coach who took a pathetic dysfunctional team and has 4 straight winning seasons and 3 playoff teams. Give it a little more time and we will rise up to another level.

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Let’s see, Koetter is worst than Mularky and Nolan is better than Van Gorder. Sounds like break even to me.

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Not crazy about Turners style of running but at the end of the year he has 1300+ yards. We need a faster 2nd back in the 2 back system.

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i don’t give a **** who the falcons hire as defensive coordinator until they get better players especially difference makers, this defense will be like it is now medicore.

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In a 32 team league Mat is def in the top 10

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I just read that Carl Nicks isn’t leaving New Orleans. He will be tagged instead of Brees. The Saints coach Sean Payton said Brees and Nicks are the most important players and they will get there money. They also might let Colston walk and re-sign Meachem for a cheaper price than Colston. I also heard the Saints are trying to sign Vincent Jackson from the Chargers if Colston walks. I don’t know whats worse: Saints might land Spaggs and sign Vincent Jackson or the fact the Saints will sign Carl Nicks so we don’t get him. Plus, there OC Pete Carmicheal might not leave the Saints to be the Raiders HC. Just when you think the saints are done, they come back even stronger. I don’t see us winning the NFC South next year.

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think it is a good hire, anything is better than bvg!

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Welcome Mr. Mike Nolan.

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Listen up everyone. We are not going to fully convert to the 3-4 defense. We will run both at various times throughout the game. For instance if you put ray edwards, babineaux, and peters as the lineman, you can have abraham, biermann or possibly sidbury as the rush linebackers and weatherspoon and lofton as the inside backers, just to give teams a different look and throw them off. We are still going to be a 4-3 defense we are just going to have a lot more versatility.

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Great hire! Excited to read what Nolan says about 3-4 vs 4-3. This may be what the defense needs-it allows them to add one player, a NG, and improve the entire defense. The young DE’s, MAtthews and Sidbury can play rush LB, Nicholas can play on the other side OLB, and Babineaux is a natural 5 technique DE. This may even save Jerry’s career if he can play the other 5 technique. The two top tacklers, Spoon and Lofton, will be free inside to run and hit. Everything is predicated on a two gap NT obsorbing blocks. Take a look at N. Jean Batiste in this weeks East West Shrine game, he’s 6′2″ 320 and runs a 5.02. Right now projected as a 5th rounder.

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To all you Falcon “band wagon riding” fans that say we will always be happy with mediocre and fire smitty and we wanted spaggs…..these past four years have been incredible! I remember for decades we couldnt GIVE a ticket away for the game, much less, buy a game for our birds. This organization is headed in the right direction with the right personnel calling the shots. Now focus on that buster secondary we have! GO BIRDS!

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So what was the criteria for hires, was Smitty looking for Monday nite poker players or bridge partners? I don’t sense a winning staff here, just more of the same.

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I thought one of the problems this year was that the Falcons too often looked like they were trying to blend the 3-4 and the 4-3 defensive schemes – 3 defensive linemen rushing the passer, 3 linebackers plugging up the run, and 5 guys randomly roaming around the field hoping they bumped into someone.

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Great hire! Haters keep on hating! Complainers never win and winners never complain! Oh, that’s winners never quit and quitters never win…Any way, we have far to many so called fan complainers. It’s not the team that is medicore, but the fans certainly are! Go Falcons! Your efforts are appreciated!

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Well, gotta say I like this hire. I was hoping for Nolan or Spags, so I’m pretty happy with this. Sure beats Cpt. Porn ‘Stache by a mile.

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Well did Miami go to playoffs? Just sayin! Defense wins game but how many games did Miami win? Just wonder.

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Need to get some offensive linemen, just heard a New Orleans pro bowler will be on the market. Also shop around for some defensive backs. These two areas should be addressed ASAP.

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The Saints fired Greg Williams.Now, it looks as though they have the inside track for Spags. Go figure.

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Does this mean we can expect a run at Paul Soliai since he is a FA?

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Hope Nolan can turn things around, BVG never got the Falcon D anwhere near the top ten in NFL, I liked BVG at Ga. But I think it was time for him to go, Sorry I can’t wish him luck at Auburn, He probably won’t be there very long anyway.

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Maybe the Falcons aren’t as bad as they looked against the Giants, After the way the Giants handled Green Bay the Falcons may only need minor tune-up.

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I like both hires. Pat Yasinskas, the NFC South blogger for ESPN checked with Paul Kuharsky, the AFC South blogger for ESPN, who told him Dirk Koetter is a highly respected OC in the NFL. I like what he said about keeping the parts of the Falcons offense we do well, even if it is not part of his normal scheme or philosophy, and then improving other areas where we are not so good. He is known for having a vertical passing game – something we have lacked. He needs to hire a QB coach whose specialty is developing a QBs ability to throw an accurate deep ball. The lack of an accurate deep ball is Matt Ryans only weakness.

BVG improved the Falcons defense “statistically” every year he was here, but it was not enough. I am glad he is gone and now Mike Nolan is here. I am confident the Falcons can switch to a 3-4 defense immediately. The only player we lack is the gigantic NT now, and I do not think it will be impossible to get one in free agency and/or the draft, or both so we also have a back-up.

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move d rob to safety

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Didnt smith learn the first time we couldnt make it on fourth and inches in that game. and what about when we couldnt convert on fourth down in ot against the damn saints

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Coach smith has done a good job. but post season is where it counts. he cant get it done its obvious. then he brings his buddy dirk koetter along to be the new oc. really? ranked dead last in offense. the new hire speaks for itself. and so does smiths post season record.

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I am old school at heart so I wonder if he have some fun with the defense and do some 3-4 and bring back the old 4-6

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I couldnt wait for the third pick in the draft. then we took matty ice. i couldnt believe it what a horrible pick. thats what we took with the third pick. then i watched him play and i am the biggest fan. i love ryan, white, jones, turner, gonzo, and the defense should be sooo much better under nolan.

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Cut our drops in half and ryan’s stats would even be much better. They were excellent with those drops. Roddy needs to step up!

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Give koetter a chance. If we have a screen game and can run it good we will be very good. Tired of the negativity in the middle of the best run in falcons history!

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lol @ Elvis comment

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Don’t expect alot out of these new hires too soon. They have to find new places to live ,settle in and get moved into and family things also to take care of…………real life stuff to take care of first before settling in to taking on the task at hand.

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After years of the bend and break marshmallow defense ANY change is better than what we have had the last 4yrs !!!

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Loser should not hire another loser. Now, falcons have three of them, are there more out there? come and join them, falcons can never have enough. blank wanted new set of eyes, he got new set of blinds.

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The loser comments must come from non falcon fans. Maybe u would rather be a buffalo or ram fan now. The falcons will be good again. U must have a good o and d to win in this league. It is not one or the other!

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It’s called talent. The jags had none. See what happens with the falcs talent.

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I wonder who decided to offer him the position? It certianly wasn’t Smith or Dimitroff or McKay because I think this is actually a SMART move, so it DEFINITELY rules the three of them out–a veteran NFL coach!!! Ah yes, of course, “he coached with Mike Smith at Baltimore….” More cronyism!! That tells me that “Smitty” still has too much “control” of things. Especially bringing in a 3-4 coach to run a 4-3 system.

D-Led, I wonder how long it will be before you start writing of conflicts between Smith and Nolan?

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I HATE the 3-4, it is soooooooooo college! The 4-3 is a REAL NFL defense !!!
But, hey, if Nolan can make it work I’ll be happy to eat the crow!!!

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Does it count as “cronyism” if the Falcons hire somebody Mike Smith once met at a yard sale?

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You might hate the 3-4 defense, look at the team that run it. I think all in playoffs, other than Falcons and Gaints, run 3-4.

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I believe to win championships you have either have an exceptional (top 5)defence or offense. You can get by with either side being average, they just have to play up to their potential or better in the playoffs. However you your top 5 offense or defense has to perform and carry you. The final 4 teams this year either have exceptional offences or defenses in combination with an average unit performing above expectations. The Falcons need to decide if they have the quarterback to be top 5 in offense. I believe not. So they better focus on improving the defence. Similar to San Fran. or Baltimore.

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@ Michael M. — I agree. I hated the playoff losses to GB and the Giants. But those calling the current team “losers” is a real stretch. I was disappointed at times during the past season, but disappointment beats back-to-back-to-back decades of hopelessness.

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Zig , Wade Phillips was not the Dc when Falcons went to Superbowl. Brooks was DC. Phillips came after Brooks went to Kentucky. Phillip was coach when Falcons played Eagle NFC championship game.

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Spags was a good coach with Gaints, but looks like Fewell is doing ok with them. With all the lineman Gaints have I think I or all one could be a good DC with their talented linemen.

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Three things this hire does for the Falcons:

1. Dunta Robinson will no longer have to play zone coverage. In Houston, he excelled in playing tight man coverage, and keep in mind he had to play Harrison and Wayne twice a year. He was bred to play in a man-cover scheme. It’s what he did in college at South Carolina and that’s what Houston drafted him to do. In Atlanta, his cover skills have been exponentially under-utilized due to the cover 2 zones BVG used. Expect big things in ‘12 from Dunta.

2. Gives us a multitude of options as far as who/what our scheme uses. Big time FA on the market this year that would fit well in a 3-4 defense. IF we let Abe walk, and IF we let Lofton walk(I doubt Lofton leaves), then we could pick up Mario Williams, Robert Mathis is out there, NT from Miami everyone keeps talking about (which isn’t unlikely considering where Nolan just came from), and two or three other good defensive backs.

3. FINALLY brings a sound PROFESSIONAL defensive approach to the team. BVG was solid, at the very best of days, while heading the defensive unit. Nolan has never known anything but success with his defensive teams. He sets standards high and if you don’t meet them, expect to be cut or replaced.

I’m quite looking forward to what the 2012 season will bring to the ATL. Is it July yet?

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OK so I’ll admit my one won was off … but my opinion about my QB holds true …

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CAN WE PLEASE TRADE MATT RYAN

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Now if we could just fix the the TATF board I would be happy.

This is not a problem with IP.Board but rather with your SQL server. Please contact your host and copy the message shown above.

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To the atlanta falcons “players”(no caps for you guys), no more “rise up”(coz you haven’t), step up or step the heck out…

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Falcon fans should be angry with the offensive coordinator we chose !!!! We needed a guy who not only was going to open up the playbook but spread the ball around with alot of these weapons we have on offense much like the saints!! For that bum to say he is going to keep the old offense and add a screen game is the absolute most piss poor sorry excuse for a gameplan in the history of football!!!!!!! If that is the falcons gameplan then next year come playoff time the only improvement will be a fieldgoal on offense instead of a shutout!!!!The falcons coulda hired me as the offensive coordinator if the were going to take the cheap give a guy a shot route.!!! POOR HIRE ARTHUR BLANK I PREDICTE NO IMPROVEMENT ON OFFENSE INSTEAD WE GOT A GUY WHO WILL DO THE SAMETHING ONLY LOOK BETTER CUZ MIKE ALREADY BUILT THE SYSTEM!!!!!

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@ Gritsfalcons–how is a 3-4 a college defense when colleges run 4-3’s? It is why it is difficult to draft for those defenses and teams who run it have to draft on potential and talent as opposed to proven guys. There aren’t a lot of guys that come out of college with the girth that is normally coveted for the 3-4 defense.

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Great hires offensive and defenseive sides :coaches please give the Falcons some players that are not rug rats but all around players we need size and skill at several positions. Best of Luck Sec 105

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[...] few that I like… – It looks like the iPad 3 is set for a March release. – The Atlanta Falcons have hired a new defensive coordinator. They also picked up a new offensive coordinator a few days ago. – Burger King is going to give [...]

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This is a great hire. All you nay sayers understand this,
2012 IS THE YEAR OF THE ATL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You heard it here first…..lol

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Just thank God the MM/BVG era is now dust in the wind. All you naysayers, who wouldn’t have been satisfied if the reincarnation of Vince Lombardi somehow landed on earth and was hired to be the Falcons DC or OC, stop whining like a little beotch and just let things unfold. New blood; new set of eyes; new attitude. If you’re not God, can you really say you know what’s gonna happen? Rock on Falcons! Try to do your best to get to the next level! I’m gonna hang out with you guys for another years to see what effect these new cordinators have on a roster full of talented, but perhaps unmotivated or mis-deployed players.

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The Falcons next step should be to acquire a quarterback to challange Matt Ryan for the starting job. It time for Ryan to step up or get out the way!

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5th year in the league now as a Pro so it is time he starts really playing his best games and show up every Sunday on the football field and stop the yo yo nonsense ( win one week, lose the next)

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They still crying over another playoff loss………….ha ! ha ! ha ! ha ! Then their DC left and alot of the players didn’t know about that was coming……..lmao……he was a good one too, I know that hurt !

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I was hoping for round 3 for Marion Campbell, AKA Swamp Fox. His defenses couldn’t patch a nail hole with a 5 gal bucket of joint compound…LOL

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Van Gorder, like Spurrier, is a much much better college coach. I think Van Gordor is a good teacher, and in the pro’s, teaching is pretty much done. Van Gordor will make Auburn much better……Damnit.

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Not impressed with any of the changes so far. What happened? Mel Tucker signed on with MM? I’ve been a Falcon fan since ‘66 and a Dawg fan forever but I think I’ll spend my weekends at the golf coures from now on. Nothing will ever change for either of these teams. Take a tip from the 49’s and Alabama. Good coaching can turn a team around in 1 (one) year,we don’t have that with either team and I wonder if we ever will. You have to pay for good people.

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I LOVE TO HATE THE SAINT’S

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Code blue. O-line.

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I seen more comments over there on Nola over that whooping they took at the hands of the 49ers than I ever have and now they was just about as bad as us on fire him or her……………lol

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I don’t know enough about these guys, but Miami???was not impressive with their record – We just swapped with Jax? come’on man.

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If all of you that keep bashing all the moves the Falcons make were as smart as you think you are you would all be NFL gm’s or head coaches. The Falcons might fall flat on their A$$, but until they play the games, who knows.

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I’m happy with this. I can live with it. He has a good track record and he’s coached some talented players. Hopefully he’ll make our players better.

I’m much more excited about the DC hire than the OC hire.

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FIRE COACH MIKE SMITH ASAP…BRING IN THE COLTS COACH NOW,HE HAS A PROVEN TRACK RECORD AND KNOW HOW TO WIN. MIKE SMITH NEEDS TO BE GONE BECAUSE HE IS THE PROBLEM….

ROFL, (this must be a bulldog fan). Colts were dominant this year buddy, werent they?

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When do thr Saints play this weekend…..oh yeah !!! WHO DAT ??

The Niners…….Nice turnovers….

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Whats in a big name coach I like the Nolan hire .

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I look at this way Smith have one more year in Atlanta if his system doesn’t work he will be looking for another job probably as Defensive coordinator.

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I guess all the negative comments about the Falcons sells newspapers and keeps this blog going, but next year is a new season and the Falcons certanly have a shot at making the playoffs and perhaps getting to the SB. All many guys want to do is criticize – which is OK except I’ll take where the Birds are now every day from where they were from ‘66 to ‘07.

Firing everyone off of a playoff team and starting over would be ludricous – yeah I know the Saints did it once but that was when they were the”Aint’s” and were 2-14 or something. All you guys who pointed the the Saints as the greatest thing since sliced bread, you see where they are now. The same place as the Birds – out after their 1st game. Let’s play next year’s schedule and see what happens before we torch next year’s team.

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Spaggs was my choice as well. I quess we will see. If we don’t blitz more we will be 2nd or 3rd in our Division next year.

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Great hire! If you look at the Broncos under Nolan and the Broncos after, night and day difference. This makes up for the OC hire.

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I don’t keep up with OC’s & DC’s from other teams unless we talk about them here or some articles are printed. Sounds like most like Nolan & don’t like Koetter. I’m just happy we have different coordinators and I hope MS won’t micro-manage them. Hopefully he has learned. I hope Nolan does a good job as expected and also hope Koetter is a better pick than most think. At least we will have screens.

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Hey Matty lets compare playoffs stats. Yeah i thought so

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Yeah Falcons fans- He’s going to get us a lot of scores next year. Go get ‘em Mr. Nolan and give us a bucket load scores !!!!!!!!!!!!!- Falcons to the Super Bowl in New Orleans next Year- If we can beat them

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HEY MICHAEL M AND ANY OTHERS,

THE SAINTS ARE WINNERS AND SUPERBOWL CONTENDERS!

HATE ON US IF YOU WILL, BUT HATE IS NOTHING BUT A TRUE SIGN OF ENVY!!!

YOUR FALCONS WANT TO BE US AND CAN NEVER BE US!

WE PUT UP POINTS, WE AREN’T GIVEN THEM (2 PT SAFETY)! PLAY OFF TEAM, YEAH RIGHT!

IT’S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF OCs AND DCs TO FIX YOUR TEAM!

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS FIRE MIKE SMITH. YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE A DUMMY-LIKE, JOKE OF A TEAM IF HE IS YOUR COACH. HE COULDN’T FIND HIS ASS IF YOU PUT HIS HAND ON IT!

OH AND MIKE M: OUR OLD DC WAS ON HIS WAY OUT IF WE WON OR NOT! WE WERE LETTING HIM GOOOO!

BRIAN BILLICK DIDN’T EVEN WANT TO BE YOUR DC! THAT’S A PROBLEM! hahahaha

THE SAINTS ARE YOUR FUTURE AND WE ARE IN YOUR DREAMS.

BE AFRAID, BE VERYYYYY AFRAID!!! WE’LL SEE YOU AND SPAGS WILL HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU!!! YOU SHOULD REMEMBER THE GIANTS!

“SAINTS TO THE SUPERBOWL IN OUR SUPERDOME!!!”

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