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
slydog
January 17th, 2012
4:13 pm
Now all they need is Mike Singletary for LB’s coach and the defense might just get mean again.
Preston Thompson
January 17th, 2012
4:19 pm
Can somebody explain how you hire losers from one team and expect them to be winners with what’s here? This O line blew up when the right tackle left for Seattle, I think it was.
Frontman
January 17th, 2012
4:29 pm
slydog,
Boykin can’t cover guys in the pass-challenged SEC; how is he going to cover pros? Plus, he can’t tackle either. Convert him to a Devin Hester type and make him a receiver. He blows at corner.
Falcon 228
January 17th, 2012
4:48 pm
Not surprising.
Jerry
January 17th, 2012
5:10 pm
When are player changes coming at the Flowery Branch Country Club. I don’t care who the coaches are,if you don’t have the players, you can’t compete. First order of business,get rid of Robinson and Abraham ASAP!
George gill
January 17th, 2012
5:41 pm
I wonder what the REAL deal was when the Falcons QB sneak from an empty set backfield……where was Turner when they needed but 1 yard?….I suspect that the decision to sneak on 4th & 1 had nothing to do with Boudreau, but more with poor planning on down & distance with Mullarkey….or even “deer in the headlights” head coach Mike Smith…….Boudreau will continue to be one of the most respected veteran O-Line coaches in the NFL & will land on his feet, he always has…
Fred
January 17th, 2012
6:17 pm
Hire Ernest Byner….
bama falcon fan
January 17th, 2012
6:55 pm
Good move. Falcons need to blow the coaching staff and roster up and get rid of the trash. Our O-Line was awful this year. I knew it would be a long year when I saw Baker being blown off the line by the Bears and Packers.
bama falcon fan
January 17th, 2012
7:01 pm
Other moves I hope the Falcons do:
1) Cut, Baker, Abraham, Gongzales, Turner, Snelling
2) DLine Coach
Durt E Byrd
January 17th, 2012
7:19 pm
I guess Blank should have bought the Jacksonville Jaguars instead… Smith has just about brought everyone else from that organization to the Falcons.
What a waste.
bobby
January 17th, 2012
7:46 pm
LOOK FIRING THIS GUY IS NOT GOING TO HELP ANYTHING LOOK THE FALCONS HAVE NO TALENT ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE. THAT TALENT ON THE LINE IS SAD. EVERY GOOD DEFENSIVE LINE THIS LINE GOES UP AGAINST THEY GET THE **** KICKED OUT OF THEM IF ANYONE SAW THE LAST TWO PLAYOFF LOSES THEIR LINE WAS TOTALLY OUTPLAYED BY THE GIANTS AND PACKERS FRONT SEVENS. GIVE ME A BREAK. THE FALCONS HAVE NO RIGHT TACKLE, RIGHT GUARD, LEFT GURAD, CENTER AND THEY DARN SURE DON’T HAVE A LEFT TACKLE BY FAR THE WORST POSITION ON THEIR LINE. LET’S FACE IT THE FALCONS NEED FIVE NEW OFFENSIVE LINEMEN.
wisconsinfalcons fan
January 17th, 2012
9:05 pm
I know why the media gives Ryan a pass because he is the great white hope I not racist but it’s true like it or not
cmc
January 17th, 2012
9:49 pm
good move…….with new OC get some new blood and get these guys blocking again
WS
January 18th, 2012
12:14 am
Boudreau did a very good job with what he had too work with. One first rd thats a bust, one second rd pick and the rest came of FA or cut list.
Its not like he had first and second draft picks to work with.Mr Blanks mite be over doing it alittle bit.
With all the changes , Smiths better have the moving Van ready. Things start off bad , he will be fire before season is over and he got what he did’t want. A coach that he has to watch over his shoulder(NOLAN)
Birdthethird
January 18th, 2012
8:16 am
Off topic but Caldwell coached Peyton Manning for 7 years. Sounds like an excellent match for QB coach.
The Falconator
January 18th, 2012
8:35 am
Feel kind of sorry for the next OL coach. 60% of the OL starters need to be replaced immediately or Ryan will spend 2013 in a wheel chair and 4th and inches will always be a dicey proposition. Lower picks such as Johnson and Hawley won’t get the job done and TD’s first round gaffe with Baker really hurts. Scanning the board, the 55th pick of the 2012 draft is unlikely to produce any real help. If you were a top OL coach and this was your immediate future, would you want the Falcon job?
dub366
January 18th, 2012
8:44 am
releasing everybody on off. when you need to be looking for a Quarterback that have guts
BloodthirstyPatterson
January 18th, 2012
5:21 pm
Matt Ryan makes almost TWICE the amount of money ($13 million) as the leagues top three qbs: Brees $7 million; Rodgers $7 million and Brady $7 million. Ryan threw enough picks (interceptions) for the falcons to finish with a horrible record (10-6) and was responsible for the falcons not getting a bye in the first round and then not being strong enough to HEAVE THE BALL DOWNFIELD and locate his open receivers. At least tim tebow in that one miracle game against the steelers threw downfield all day and outplayed his opposite qb ben rothlisberger. IN OUR WONDERFUL ELIMINATION GAME AGAINST THE GIANTS, RYAN COULDNT EVEN THROW 10 YARDS FOR US TO GET EVEN ONE FIRST DOWN. As a result, the EMBARRASED Falcons offense was kept off the scoreboard. Only the defense scored a safety and that was only because Eli got flushed out and didnt have time to throw it within five yards of a receiver. Had eli had the chance to do that, the Falcons would have been skunked 24-0. Absolutely the worst playoff loss in the history of the nfl, and it belongs to our Atlanta Falcons. That alone should have gotten smith fired, but somehow smith ducked and avoided the pink slip.
pilot97
January 18th, 2012
7:15 pm
I guess 43 wins in 4 seasons, one of the best pass blocking lines made up of average talent and 1000 rushing seasons plus 4 wining season (never before done by a Coaching staff in Atlanta) isn’t good enough for Atlanta Fans or the owner. Based upon how the NFL rates Asst Coaches, Boudreau has always been in the top 10 and even top 5 within the league. Least amount of sacks ususally in the top 5 although this year they were 6th. My bet is he will be hired within the week and will do well again. It is easy to blame the coaches but so far this owner and his GM have not done very well drafting (Ryan may be the one exception). The O-Lines and D-Lines probably couldn’t make it on any of the finalists’ rosters now in the playoffs. So you so called knowledgeable fans wake up and put the blame where it should be on this owner and his GM and the crappy players they have put on the field.
NewOrleansJazz
January 18th, 2012
10:29 pm
Falcons Should have Kept All of Their Coaches
Why change? Keep things the way they were. What about stability?
Joshua malavenda
January 19th, 2012
3:05 am
Paul B. wasnt really at fault he did a great job for what he had and I thought we had one of the most underratted o-lines in the game untill we let dahl go. Letting Dahl leave in the free agency was really the problem and that was the front offices fault not Paul’s fault. Dahl was the leader of the O-line when they let the leader go it messed up the dyanmic of the o-line and didnt have a valid replacement for him caused a domino effect in the whole offense. I think they should hire Tom clements as the quarterback coach and hire Howard Mudd as the Offensive Line coach
here are the links to their bios:Howard Mudd’s: http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/team/coaches/howard-mudd/742016c7-f12d-4d3e-8974-6b6d2dd110cc
Tom Clements: http://www.packers.com/team/coaches/tom-clements/bb67e02f-a2b1-4543-83af-00f437249c9f
If you want to win championships you have to surround yourself with people who have experience winning championships.
vesaversa
January 19th, 2012
10:23 am
It is good to see Blank clean house but Smith should have been fired too.
RomanGabriel
January 19th, 2012
11:34 am
BloodthirstyPatterson: good blog. you bring up a good point about matt ryan. I remember when matt came into the league with Joe Flacco, the media embraced Matt, gave him a great nickname “matty ice” and have been cheering him on as though they were related to him. Meanwhile Flaco has simply impressed every minute hes been in the league for the Ravens. There was once a debate whether Flaco was better than Ryan. well that debate is over. Since Flaco can throw the deep ball poised out of the pocket with precision, and Matt cannot, plus the fact that Flaco has been in four straight playoff games right out of the gate in his career and has done well, where matty ice has continued to have meltdowns to the point where most fans feel that Matt Ryan has become a BIGGER BUST THAN RYAN LEAF. I am pulling for Joe Flaco to win the superbowl so then maybe Flaco will earn SUPERBOWL MVP HONORS. That will be much different than what ryan will do for the superbowl as ice will be forced to watch the event on tv at home, while Flaco will be starring in it. Whos better now? Its Flaco by a landslide.
DelorisWatson
January 19th, 2012
2:32 pm
RomanGabriel: you are right on. I too noticed how flaco was improving dramatically at throwing the football downfield, while matty was struggling so much–it looked like he needed a high chair or ladder to get his throws off over top the defense. Matt looks like he cant see over the opposing defensive units and frequently has a ton of his throws tipped by opposing defenses. Ill state it one further–if the Falcons had drafted Flaco instead of Ryan, the Falcons might have already won two superbowls. Joe Flaco is an elite quarterback and represents what might have been, had the falcons hadnt been foolish to draft ryan over flaco. Enough said.
Joshua Malavenda
January 19th, 2012
3:16 pm
heres a great article from bleecher report that talks about mistakes made by the front office: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/999057-atlanta-falcons-thomas-dimitroffs-top-five-mistakes-exposed?search_query=Thomas Dimitroff
VernFlemming
January 20th, 2012
9:17 am
The Falcons should have selected Joe Flaco instead of Matty “Ice” Ryan. Flaco is becoming one the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history while Ryan’s ice is melting fast.