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
E-Roll
January 17th, 2012
2:05 pm
It is good to see that Blank is not letting those responsible for our continued problems keep their jobs. Now this should put you on notice Coach Smith. You can be next if we do not see progrees, ie. playoff wins!
RJ Voorhees
January 17th, 2012
2:08 pm
the DC is going to be Nolan
railman311
January 17th, 2012
2:09 pm
C’mon Spags!!!!
Nique
January 17th, 2012
2:11 pm
Yes!!!! Not that I want ppl out of work, but if you look back to my post from a few weeks ago, I said 4 coaches had to go & be held accountable for that sorry excuse for a game & gameplan against the G-Men, the OC, the O-Line coach, the D-Line coach, & the DC- who needed to leave not due to the playoff game but overall inadequacy. Any rumors about names for his replacement yet, or on who will be the new QB coach, or DC yet D-Led?
CDG..
January 17th, 2012
2:11 pm
Agree and Cosign @ E-Roll!
Super Bowl Shuffle
January 17th, 2012
2:11 pm
Player need to be on notice also! Changes are a-coming!
CDG..
January 17th, 2012
2:12 pm
Coach Clean Shot and Matt get one more than Greyhound will be ready ta ship em out of here! ASAP! LOL!
Mr. Phil
January 17th, 2012
2:13 pm
Suprise right.
CGD..
January 17th, 2012
2:13 pm
Enter your comments here
SirReal
January 17th, 2012
2:13 pm
Looks like they’re cleaning house huh D Led? Boudreau was a great coach with a garbage line. Hopefully the new coach is as good or better. Now on to the D. THIS is what we’ve all been waiting for.
Nolan or Spags….I’d be happy with either!!!! I think it’ll be Nolan though. I wouldnt mind Nolan because I’d LOVE to see a 3-4 here with the LBs we have. I wouldnt mind Spags because of his exotic blitzes. Oh the suspense.LOL LOL
CGD..
January 17th, 2012
2:14 pm
Mularkey will hook up his former Boss for sure…
Nique
January 17th, 2012
2:14 pm
So 3 of the 4 coaches heads i called for are down & now there’s just 1 to go! & before i hear it from “true falcons fans” i love the Falcons & am a true fan, i want these changes to improve our team, I’m not one of these bloggers stuck in the past or needlessly calling for ppl’s jobs, just want ppl to be held accountable! & railman311 I’m with you, I want Spags!!!
Big Crimson 75
January 17th, 2012
2:15 pm
Blame the O-line Coach for Matty’s weak sneak attempts!! This team is blowing up before our very eyes. That 2nd sneak was on Ryan. He had a window behind Blalock, he just didn’t make the play!
I thought Boudreau did a heck of a job, with the line he inherited. His lines have produced a 1000 yard rusher every year with only 2 high draft choices : Baker & Blalock & Baker sux.
Come 2013, bye bye Smitty, HELLO NICK SABEN.
Finally a real Coach!
SirReal
January 17th, 2012
2:17 pm
@Nique Yeah you did call it….
hooper
January 17th, 2012
2:19 pm
Isn’t this the type of news that was bringing out all the saints trolls about a week or so ago? Wow, I wonder what happened?
Sid
January 17th, 2012
2:19 pm
There was no other way………….had to be. Now we are in competition with NO for a DC? Somebody is going to pull the trigger fast.
CGD..
January 17th, 2012
2:19 pm
Funny!
Arthur said on 680 the Fan interview he wasnt so sure Mularkey would get the HC job since his “offense did not sore any points” this past Sunday! Awesome quote from Mr. Blank……
Mike
January 17th, 2012
2:19 pm
@Nique, good call. When your excuse for not throwing downfield is “we can’t protect long enough” then the OC isn’t the only one who needed to go.
Shinebone
January 17th, 2012
2:21 pm
Matty Ryan you should also be put on notice…. If you continue to choke in the playoffs and can’t convert a fourth and inches when the team really needs it then you will be out of here also. YOU ARE NOT AN ELITE QB CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE ATLANTA MEDIA KEEPS GIVING YOU A PASS!
sparky
January 17th, 2012
2:21 pm
This as martha would say is a good thing!
Freddy the Falcon
January 17th, 2012
2:22 pm
Hopefully with the new coaches / players to be had that things will be better next season…Hopefully they can make the playoffs next year and score some offensive points and maybe win a game.
SirReal
January 17th, 2012
2:23 pm
BREAKING NEWS: FALCONS HIRE JESSIE TUGGLE AND SCOTT CASE TO BE CO-DEFENSIVE COORDINATORS.lol
CGD..
January 17th, 2012
2:23 pm
When buster does not win a playoff game over the next two years. Will the so called “True Falcon Fans” have the same excuses they are giving out the past week and a half? Probably…..lol
Sid
January 17th, 2012
2:24 pm
Sure is quiet down in the Bayou? Crow doesn’t even taste good in anticipation. Come back you Peeshwanks, we only want to kick you while you are down.
SirReal
January 17th, 2012
2:25 pm
@hooper Please dont talk them up. Its been great to be able to not have to use air freshener.
J-Man
January 17th, 2012
2:25 pm
In your opinion if you had to make a bet who would you say is gonna be the next Defensive Cordinator DOL?
CGD..
January 17th, 2012
2:26 pm
Yea Shinebone, why does the media give Ryan a pass for his pathetic play in these blowouts time and again? Good questions Sir!
Larry Theisen
January 17th, 2012
2:29 pm
I agree, it is good think that those responsible for the Falcon’s failure have been relieved of their duties. However, Arthur appears to allow this ‘under achieving hiring”, rather than spending some cash and pursuing major coaching opportunities. This guys they hired as OC failed terribly in Jacksonville, but we go an hire him. Arthur, it is time to walk the walk of a REAL football team. Let’s be a Home Depot, not an Ace Hardware…..
Sid
January 17th, 2012
2:30 pm
Nique January 17th, 2012 2:11 pm
*******************************************************
I felt Boudreau should have been gone early in the season, forget saving face. That O line played like crap all year. Yes, they sort of, kind of, plugged some holes around game 5 but the handwriting was on the wall.
rick
January 17th, 2012
2:32 pm
Who are in the running for DC???
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.
RJ Voorhees
January 17th, 2012
2:37 pm
Nolan and Spagnulo, my guess is it will be Nolan. I would rather have Spags
Mako
January 17th, 2012
2:42 pm
Soon enough we’ll hear the name of DC Jack Del Rio!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yikes we’re becoming Jacksonville North…..oh no!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gerhart76
January 17th, 2012
2:43 pm
Sir Real @2.23 PM: Actually Scott and Jesse might be an improvement.
The reality is when comparing our D-line to those teams who made the playoffs, we might have the least talent. And its TD funky hair that’s getting the pass on that. The new defensive co-ordinator is certainly going to have his hands full. I just don’t want to see “blown” coverages half way through the season as a result of poor communication or misunderstading of the “scheme” called.
One thing for sure these type of coaching changes don’t forbode well for the upcoming season or for Coach Smith.
Mike
January 17th, 2012
2:43 pm
I will not be upset with Nolan. Before you guys start whining about wanting Spagnuolo more you should check the stats. Nolan’s D ranked 7th last season on 3rd down, the Rams were 22nd. I don’t disapprove of Spaguolo, but I’m just saying it’s not like Nolan’s chopped liver.
Michael M.
January 17th, 2012
2:46 pm
Wonder if they can collect unemployment checks while they looking for new jobs under Obama watch……………throw em in a few food stamps too………..lol………………………….all I can say is “Good Riddens” and ” Onward & Upwards with the Falcon’s Train “, theres a 60 min video on Falcon’s website with Blank ans TD and Smitty discussing on improving the Team form now forward
jerry
January 17th, 2012
2:46 pm
Let’s get the DC and let the release of the players who are only average begin…..oh wait, that would be just about the whole team.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
January 17th, 2012
2:46 pm
J-Man – I only bet with inside info. Spags’ agent hasn’t returned calls. Nolan has been fighting to get out his contract. Del Rio supposed to not be a “fit.” Working the phones trying to get us the intel.
mountain_jim
January 17th, 2012
2:47 pm
If you saw Blank at the press-conference talking about the failures of the oline, you knew the oline coach was a dead man walking.
RJ Voorhees
January 17th, 2012
2:48 pm
@Mike, that’s true but it would be an easier transition to Spags because Nolan runs the 3-4.
spokesman for
January 17th, 2012
2:48 pm
Mularkey, van Gorder, and Boudreau. You can’t make chicken salad out of …….you know the rest.
Sid
January 17th, 2012
2:49 pm
Colts have let go Jim Caldwell……………….
RJ Voorhees
January 17th, 2012
2:50 pm
Sounds like it will be Nolan. Hopefully he can improve the d
Mike
January 17th, 2012
2:51 pm
@ RJ Voorhees, it would not be as tough a transition as you may think. You would need to resign Lofton and Biermann, and get a NG. Spoon, Lofton, Dent, and Beirmann (was a 3-4 OLB in college) at LB with Babs, Peters, and Edwards rotating as ends. Spoon and Biermann off the edge would be better than the rush we’ve had the last two years.
Michael M.
January 17th, 2012
2:51 pm
No telling who they will hire as Defensive Coach………………I am expecting a shock here
Los Angeles Falcons
January 17th, 2012
2:51 pm
With these questionable moves sometimes I wonder if we are just biding our time until the team moves out to the Staples Center………….
Coleman
January 17th, 2012
2:52 pm
D-LED,
If nolan is the hire of defensive coordinator, Do you feel that Ray Edwards could be converted to an outside rush LB in the 3-4 scheme? If Mario Williams can make the switch it would seem Edwards could too. Thanks
PMC
January 17th, 2012
2:53 pm
Surely these Tim Lewis rumors are false?
RJ Voorhees
January 17th, 2012
2:55 pm
@Mike, I sure hope, im ok with anyone who can fix our defense. im just tired of our defense not producing. I don’t want the transition to be an excuse from management as to why we were not successful.
Great Falconi
January 17th, 2012
2:56 pm
To be fair, Boudreau was brought in precisely because the Falcons believed he could develop O-linemen.