Falcons offensive line coach Paul Boudreau released
Falcons offensive line coach Paul Boudreau will not return for 2012. Brant Sanderlin / bsanderlin@ajc.com
Falcons offensive line coach Paul Boudreau was relieved of his duties on Tuesday.
Also, the team is expected to announce their new defensive cordinator shortly.
Boudreau joined the Atlanta Falcons coaching staff as offensive line coach in 2008 and spent four seasons with the team.
“We would like to thank Coach Boudreau for his contributions to our team over the past four seasons, and we wish him well in his future endeavors,” said Falcons head coach Mike Smith in a release issued by the Falcons.
Boudreau is the third coach from the offensive side of the ball to leave the team.
Offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey accepted the head coaching position with Jacksonville last Wednesday. Quartebacks coach Bob Bratkowski left to join Mularkey as his offensive coordinator last Friday.
On Sunday, the Falcons named Dirk Koetter as the new offensive coordinator.
The offense didn’t score a point in the 24-2 playoff loss to the New York Giants.
The Falcons’ line scrappy style of play, under Boudreau, drew criticism from opposing teams. Defensive linemen from the Lions, Packers and Giants accused the Falcons of questionable play. New York’s Justin Tuck callled the linemen “dirtbags” leading up the NFC wild-card game.
It didn’t help Boudreau or his unit that they weren’t able to move the Giants off the line of scrimmage on two key fourth-and-short situations against the Giants.
The Falcons contended that they are physical and just block, hit, push and shove until they hear the whistle stop blowing.
Under Boudreau, the Falcons’ offensive line was a finalist last season for John Madden’s most valuable protectors award, which goes to the league’s top line, after the 2010 season.
Also under Boudreau, right tackle Tyson Clabo, a former undrafted college player, went to the Pro Bowl last season.
Before coming to the Falcons, Boudreau, a 26-year NFL coaching veteran, was fired by the St. Louis Rams.
Boudreau, 62, worked with Smith on Jacksonville’s staff from 2003 to 2005.
Boudreau worked previously with the New Orleans Saints (1987-93), Detroit Lions (1994-96), New England Patriots (1997-98), Miami Dolphins (1999-2000), Carolina Panthers (2001-02), Jacksonville (2003-05) and St. Louis (2006-07).
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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126 comments Add your comment
Jimmy Crack
January 17th, 2012
2:57 pm
It’s no wonder they haven’t announced yet because they have to wait to see who gets thrown the bouquet for the EASIEST JOB IN THE NFL, the New Orleans Saints DC job. All the potential DCs in the league are putting on their best cologne and stepping on each other’s necks to get to the Saints’ DC job. Who wouldn’t want a job where you have Brees on the other side racking up points and your job is to keep the opponent under 30.
Mike
January 17th, 2012
2:57 pm
@ RJ, You and me both buddy. Sick of watching us play and not having reason to believe that we’re going to get the stop on 3rd down when we need or that we’re going to convert the 3rd down on offense when we need it.
SawThat1nce
January 17th, 2012
3:00 pm
Spend millions upon millions of $$, and trade a pile of draft picks, for the offensive weapons that the Falcons have acquired, then buy a KMart-bluelight-special OLine, to serve and protect those weapons. It doesn’t work or make any sense.
Solution. Blame it on the OLine coach. 86 him.
collegeballfan
January 17th, 2012
3:00 pm
I trust Koetter had a voice in this decision and will want to have a vote in naming his own OL coach.
Correct?
Najeh Davenpoop
January 17th, 2012
3:01 pm
It’s going to be Nolan according to Jay Glazer. I’m guessing this means John Abraham is gone.
Doc
January 17th, 2012
3:03 pm
D-Led: Whose decision was it to go into the season with our specific o-line personnel? Is that on TD, Mularkey or Boudreau? Wonder if Boudreau was screaming for help and is now the sacrificial lamb. I’m starting to wonder about the boy genius. Baker, Jerry, and Moore are all high profile busts. And as for the ability to find value in the lower rounds for O linemen, I present Garrett Reynolds, Mike Johnson, Joe Hawley and Andrew Jackson. I rest my case.
SawThat1nce
January 17th, 2012
3:04 pm
JC@2:57……..
question: Who wouldn’t want the DC job in New Orleans?
answer: Anyone that doesn’t like the constant smell of urine and feces.
GDawg
January 17th, 2012
3:04 pm
If not Spags or Nolan who else could it be?
josh
January 17th, 2012
3:05 pm
Nolan hired as new DC
Robert
January 17th, 2012
3:05 pm
Nolan named DC, yes, a 3-4 hybrid, this makes things interesting
SirReal
January 17th, 2012
3:08 pm
I bet it’s Nolan….if so…Spoon will be the new Demarcus Ware!!!
ATL O
January 17th, 2012
3:09 pm
little talent on the oline, but the coach didn’t have it either. the atl needs to clean house on offense.
walknbalk
January 17th, 2012
3:09 pm
you are late DLED!
Sid
January 17th, 2012
3:09 pm
ken herock January 17th, 2012 2:36 pm
Boudreau is one of the most respected OL coaches in the game.
**********************************************
The similarity in respect and results is they both start with “R”. I don’t argue your post, fish eggs and caviar are similar but they are not the same. It may even be that this was ulimately Koetter’s call to keep him or start anew. We have got to get some beef up there but how is it that we lose Dahl and it all goes to hell in a handbasket.
SawThat1nce
January 17th, 2012
3:11 pm
Are all of the wags going to hate the new DC, as much as they hate the new OC?
CGD..
January 17th, 2012
3:11 pm
Mike Nolan is your new base 3-4 DC!!!!!!! Good Luck!
David
January 17th, 2012
3:12 pm
Some of ya’ll are not ever going to be happy!!!!!
Great Falconi
January 17th, 2012
3:12 pm
Dimitroff worked for Belichick. Belichick likes to run multiple fronts. It’s one way to mess with the mind of an opposing QB.
Die Hard Falcon
January 17th, 2012
3:14 pm
I wasn’t aware the Nolan is still under contract, that could be a problem for us, if Spags go to the Aints and Nolan can’t get out of the contract, we could be left “holding the bag” and end up w/ another inept coordinator which would make this upcoming season very bleak.
slydog
January 17th, 2012
3:15 pm
Breaking News: Mike Nolan is the new DC. Thank the Lord!!!
mountain_jim
January 17th, 2012
3:17 pm
dang, even wikipedia already updated
slydog
January 17th, 2012
3:18 pm
One more thing: Baltimore runs a hybrid 3-4/4-3. So the basic scheme and the type of personnel will not change. But they will definitely be more aggressive and tricky. This is the same system Nolan and Mike Smith ran back in Baltimore.
slydog
January 17th, 2012
3:19 pm
Die Hard Falcon
January 17th, 2012
3:14 pm
I wasn’t aware the Nolan is still under contract, that could be a problem for us, if Spags go to the Aints and Nolan can’t get out of the contract, we could be left “holding the bag” and end up w/ another inept coordinator which would make this upcoming season very bleak.
We have Arthur Blank. Nolan’s contract will not be a problem.
Robert
January 17th, 2012
3:20 pm
yep, time to find a big space eating NT, any available??
mountain_jim
January 17th, 2012
3:21 pm
Falcons forum crashed as usual…
The Johnson Family
January 17th, 2012
3:21 pm
Matty Ice needs to thaw out a little. He was pitiful.
I saw Dirk Koetter
January 17th, 2012
3:22 pm
all the movies back in the 80s on VHS. I believe he was famous for the Aunt Flo scenes.
SirReal
January 17th, 2012
3:22 pm
I like Nolan. I have wanted a 3-4 here for quite some time. Now all we need is to get a power pig to plug the middle!!! The guy we need is Miami’s NT. He’s in our price range, young, and can be plugged in right away!
Robert
January 17th, 2012
3:23 pm
is he a FA?
SirReal
January 17th, 2012
3:23 pm
@Robert Asking me?
Samuel
January 17th, 2012
3:24 pm
All the four coaches that have left or got fired, isn’t anything new. All have been here four years, the National Football League is ever changing. And if you don’t produce from year to year you usually are the odd man out. Just wait and see the Falcons new roster next year, it will consist of some suprises. Some of these players on this team have gotten payed, for a little or no productivity…
The Johnson Family
January 17th, 2012
3:24 pm
The Falcons would be crazy to get rid of Abraham.
dirty bird
January 17th, 2012
3:25 pm
Turns out we should’ve spent to keep Harvey Dahl. Chemistry is priceless, and he and Clabo had it.
slydog
January 17th, 2012
3:25 pm
ken herock
January 17th, 2012
2:36 pm
Boudreau is one of the most respected OL coaches in the game. The players he had to work with were journeymen at best. Maybe you have to make a change just to shake things up but I’m would be surprised if Birds are able to hire anybody better.
Apparently, the Falcons are changing their blocking scheme in order to fit what the new OC wants. Some coaches are flexible enough to coach different systems in different ways, however, most of the “good” ones teach only one system. Plus, Koetter may want his own man and the O-line coach is just as important as a D-line coach to a DC. It dictates what they can and cannot do.
GT GRAD
January 17th, 2012
3:26 pm
There are a few bloggers who continue to claim/suggest Matt Ryan is not a “keeper” or not a future “elite” QB in the NFL……..what are these guys smoking? They are either mentally challenged or they sooooo biased that they cannot comprehend the truth.
It is simply silly to say Matt Ryan is not a good QB with the potential to be great!
The OL has been borderline pitiful with regard to pass protection for years. Let Matt Ryan play behind the OL at NE, NO, or GB where they give the QB 3-6 seconds on each and every pass play………he would be stellar (already and he is VERY young!). Matt typically gets 2-3 seconds before he has to get the ball out of his hands………seems to me like 2-4 times each game he has an interior defensive lineman follow him as he drops back to set up (because the RG missed completely)!! It is nearly impossible to throw deep routes on a consistent basis given the OL protection he has been gievn.
Given time (meaning his age and OL time), I think any/all reasonable people realize Matt Ryan has the potential to be a Great NFL QB.
mountain_jim
January 17th, 2012
3:28 pm
http://www.atlantafalcons.com/2012/01/nolan-named-defensive-coordinator/
slydog
January 17th, 2012
3:28 pm
Once again, you do not need a Big NT to run Baltimore’s 3-4 system , which Nolan (and supposedly Mike Smith) is bringing with him. It is more of a hybrid system which requires defenders to be able to do different things. One thing we can count on is press man coverage in the secondary, something the Falcons DB’s are much better at than a soft zone.
Marcus
January 17th, 2012
3:32 pm
I think it will end up being Nolan ……… only because he and Smitty overlapped for 2 seasons in BAL before Smitty left for JAX . They have some familiarity w/each other and right now, our HC is circling the wagons before he sees the Falcons gig circle the drain ….
Seems like we are following the Ravens model …. but without benefit of a Ravens level of defense ….
mountain_jim
January 17th, 2012
3:33 pm
(from above link)
The Atlanta Falcons today announced that Mike Nolan has been hired as the team’s defensive coordinator. Nolan is one of the most experienced defensive coordinators in the NFL, having served in that capacity for over 14 seasons.
“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.”
Nolan spent the last two seasons as the Miami Dolphins’ defensive coordinator. In 2011, the Dolphins boasted the third best run defense in the NFL, allowing just 95.6 yards per game and 3.7 yards per carry. His defense also produced 41 sacks which ranked tied for 10th in the League and allowed the sixth fewest points per game at 19.6. The Dolphins also ranked seventh in third-down percentage (33.8) and sixth in red zone defense, holding opponents to a 44.2 touchdown percentage inside the 20.
In 2010, Nolan’s defense ranked among the league’s top ten in overall defense, pass defense and run defense, and was one of just five units in the League to accomplish that feat. Nolan joined Miami after spending the 2009 season as the defensive coordinator of the Denver Broncos. Under his tutelage, Denver’s defense improved to seventh in the NFL in total defense after finishing 29th in 2008. Denver’s pass defense was equally impressive, ranking third in the NFL, allowing just 186.3 yards per game through the air.
Prior to joining the Broncos’ staff, Nolan served as the San Francisco 49ers’ head coach from 2005 to 2008. During Nolan’s four-year tenure with the club, the 49ers were one of the NFL’s most consistent teams in stopping the run. San Francisco ranked fourth in the league in yards per carry during that period surrendering just 3.9 yards per rush.
Nolan spent four seasons in Baltimore from 2001 to 2004, including the last three as the defensive coordinator. Nolan’s group tied for the NFL lead in takeaways (106) while ranking fifth in the league in both points per game allowed (18.8) and third down percentage (34.7). He also coached five Ravens defenders to nine trips to the Pro Bowl, while tutoring back-to-back AP Defensive Players of the Year in LB Ray Lewis (2003) and S Ed Reed (2004).
The New York Giants made Nolan the NFL’s youngest defensive coordinator in 1993 at the age of 34. He spent the next eight seasons as a defensive coordinator with the Giants (1993-96), Redskins (1997-99) and Jets (2000). In his first year with the Giants, his defense led the League allowing just 12.8 points per game. His coaching career began at his alma mater, Oregon University, where he served as a graduate assistant in 1981. He went on to coach at Stanford University and Rice University as a linebackers and defensive backs coach before the Denver Broncos hired him to be the special teams/linebackers coach in 1987. He spent six seasons with the Broncos and helped the team reach the Super Bowl in the 1987 and 1989 seasons.
mountain_jim
January 17th, 2012
3:34 pm
Huge upgrade!
Marcus
January 17th, 2012
3:34 pm
wow, thats what I get for partially typing a note on yesteday’s thoughts then not coming back to hit the ‘Send’ button.
Shamrock
January 17th, 2012
3:40 pm
Now when do we release the receivers coach?
Shamrock
January 17th, 2012
3:42 pm
Ok, Marcus, we’re all stupid and believe you predicted the Nolan hire. Can you sell me something now?
Marcus
January 17th, 2012
3:42 pm
Now, this is interesting in what these choices for OC and DC have on our 2012 draft picks. I would assume OL and DL would be top priorities.
Taking into account where we are drafting (assuming we don’t have any wheeling and dealing to move up), TD will earn his paycheck getting potential starters/difference-makers in the 2nd and 3rd round.
We don’t have enough early-round picks to get everything we need, but I would luv to somehow pick up a developmental TE (the guy from Louisiana-Lafayette – Ladarius Green), a developmental replacement for Burner (Doug Martin – Boise State), and a potential plug-and-play at CB in case Brent Grimes is not renewed (UVA Chase Minnifield or UGA Brandon Boykin)
Marcus
January 17th, 2012
3:44 pm
Derp derp, looka me, I cutta paste from wikipdee bio mike nolan. I seem smart tuh tuh tuhday.
Ladarius Green
January 17th, 2012
3:46 pm
You know I shattered my fibia playing basketball last week and won’t be at the combine, right?
slydog
January 17th, 2012
3:47 pm
@GT GRAD
My weed smokes just fine thank you…lmao. Anyway, Matt Ryan is NOT an elite QB. You can’t find ONE reason why he should be labeled as such. However, he is a very good QB who can win the Falcons some games. But Matt Ryan does not possess elite talent (like Brady) nor does he play like an elite QB (like Brees, who also doesn’t possess a cannon for an arm). He nneds more help around him, including a superior line and running game, in order for him to be effective. Matt Ryan strikes me as the type who always does what the coaches say and never goes off script. This approach wins many games but not championships.
Marcus
January 17th, 2012
3:50 pm
rolleyes shamrock. Everybody had an opinion on who they thought or who they wanted for DC for the last week and a half, with everybody and dey momma [from AJC, ESPN, SI, etc.] reporting Spags and Nolan were the prohibitive favorites in the rumor mill.
I didn’t *predict* anything nor did I claim such.
Just my opinion that Smitty would opt for someone he knows and had previously worked with, and that he probably wasn’t too keen on a blitz-happy scheme that Spags (from late PHI DC Jim Johnson coaching tree) cut his teeth on. *shrug*
where is the middle finger icon when you need it?!?!?
slydog
January 17th, 2012
3:51 pm
The Falcons can get 2 of these 3 guys and improve: Orson Charles (replaces Tony G. next year), Ben Jones (replaces Todd McClure next year), and Brandon Boykin ( an actual talented nickel back and KR/PR). I believe Boykin will be off the board by the time they pick in the second round and will have to choose between Charles or Jones because they probably can’t get both. This is all pre-combine of course.
railman311
January 17th, 2012
4:03 pm
The new hot rumor is the Falcons will hire Andy Heck from …You guessed it J-Ville