Shakeup continues as Alvin Reynolds is fired
MOBILE — Defensive backs coach Alvin Reynolds, an original member of head coach Mike Smith’s staff, was fired, the team announced on Monday.
Alvin Reynolds
The Falcons have been undergoing an intensive review of their football operations since they were blown out 24-2 by the New York Giants in the wild-card round of the NFL playoffs on Jan. 8.
Reynolds spent four seasons with the team.
“We would like to thank Coach Reynolds for his dedication and hard work over the last four seasons,” Smith said in a statement released by the team. “We wish him all of the best.”
Reynolds, who’s coached in the NFL for 18 seasons, became the fifth coach from last season’s staff to either be fired or leave for another position.
Former offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey left to become the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Former defensive coordiantor Brian VanGorder left to take the same position at Auburn.
Quarterbacks coach Bob Bratkowski left to become the offensive coordinator in Jacksonville. Offensive line coach Paul Boudreau was released from his contract and has since been named the offensive line coach for the St. Louis Rams.
Dirk Koetter and Mike Nolan have been named as the new coordinators. The Falcons are looking for three assistant coaches for the quarterbacks, offensive line and defensive backs.
While there have been some breakthroughs in the secondary, the pass defense has not improved significantly.
Since 2008, they’ve ranked 21st (2008, 220.4), 28th (2009, 241.9), 22nd (2010, 226.6) and 20th (2011, 236.6) in pass defense.
From 2003-07, Reynolds served as the defensive backs Coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars. During his tenure with the Jaguars, he guided a secondary that ranked fourth in the AFC after totaling 20 interceptions (tying a team record) in 2007, led by rookie safety Reggie Nelson’s five picks. In 2006, cornerback Rashean Mathis led the club with a team-record eight interceptions en route to a Pro Bowl bid as Jacksonville set a franchise high with 20 interceptions.
Reynolds coached the Carolina Panthers for four seasons (1999-2002) as a defensive assistant. He was present with the Baltimore Ravens for its first three seasons in franchise history (1996-98) as the secondary coach and started his NFL career with the Denver Broncos (1993-95).
Throughout his career, Reynolds has worked with the likes of safeties Steve Atwater and Dennis Smith in Denver and Pro Football Hall of Famer Rod Woodson in Baltimore. With the Panthers, he worked with then-defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio, helping with tape breakdown, game plan preparation and statistical tendencies. He also worked with the Carolina secondary.
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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123 comments Add your comment
DECATUR FLASH
January 24th, 2012
6:46 am
How can Boureau be released and Reynolds get fire?
old man
January 24th, 2012
7:16 am
Some of those who defend our DBs because we get no pressure on opposing QBs (and agree with them), are the the same people who blame MR2 instead of our OLine that gave no protection (I disagree with that).
For me, I tend to think our DB talent and performance, though not perfect, was better than our DLine, by a decent amount. Focus on the DLine.
Likewise, our major problem on offense in the OLine.
In the NFL, it’s all about keeping pressure off your QB and putting pressure on the other QB. Some of the time that Brees, Flacco, Rogers, Brady had in the playoffs so far was absolutely nuts–5, 6, 7 seconds. This was with 3 or 4 man rush, but we have had times when our QB had less than three seconds when we had 5 men trying to stop only a 3 man rush. Not acceptable. Interestingly, Eli has dealt with the most pressure so far.
On offense, I put QB and WR in the acceptable zone. RB and especially OLine not.
On defense, LB is good (best part of our team) DB is acceptable (if we get some pressure). DLine is not.
Bottom line: priority one is OLine. Priority two is DLine. All of our skill players will then look a lot, lot better if we upgrade these.
Big Dude
January 24th, 2012
7:40 am
It’s plain to see that Arthur is wanting a good return on his investment. If you don’t “show”, you’re gonna “go”. I like his focus; he is a lot like me. He or I don’t like to be around losers. Put you’re money on the Falcons. Arthur will get his elite team…
Big T
January 24th, 2012
8:24 am
So long Big Al…Should have been fired years ago….High schools have better secondaries and DB’S…
birddroppings
January 24th, 2012
8:24 am
I don’t think it’s a coaching problem, I think we have a talent problem.
Mac Daddy
January 24th, 2012
9:20 am
Why are we so concerned about a defense that did a pretty good job this year. It was that stinking offensive play calling and irratic QB play that was the Falcons biggest problem. Offense that couldn’t even score a single point in a playoff game.
Mac D
coleski
January 24th, 2012
9:23 am
I think both the offense and defense will play better next season. The big question will be how much
better and will that translate into wins. Using players to their skill set will improve the team somewhat.
But wi ll that make them able to compete with the better teams in the league.
wins-by-a-link
January 24th, 2012
9:44 am
You cannot stand pat in the NFL, Players and coaches must be evaluated after each season and those found to be below par or show a trend of failing to improve from previous season must be replaced, Its a dirty business but to win in the NFL it is required, Some teams would be happy with a 10-6 season and a play-off game but Mr. Blank is not one of them.
STRETCH
January 24th, 2012
9:44 am
Dont care who they fire, they wont win as long as Mike Smith is the head coach. His decision making in crunch time lead to a couple of losses that were winnable games.
D man
January 24th, 2012
9:48 am
Here is my prediction, the D coordinator will bring in the guy that used to be the backs coach at Jacksonville. We are just doing a coach swap with them.
Told You So
January 24th, 2012
10:17 am
Well, we are slowly working our way down the scapegoat list. Hopefully, eventually, we will get to Dummytroff and McKay. As long as those two bozos are walking the halls of Flowery Branch we will always be a solidly middle class team. The defense wasn’t the problem – look at the Giants game! They not only scored our only points, they held the Giants to 10 pts through three qtrs. When your offense with its prized draft pick Julio Jones goes three and out all of the time and can’t convert a 4th and inches, your defense spends something like 40mins on the field and time of possession takes it toll. We were “one or two players away” and Dummytroff mortgaged our future for one WR leaving us with no O-line, an aging D-line and more than a few holes in the secondary – and NO DRAFT CHOICES to fill them. What’s more, Dummytroff’s record in the free aganecy market is nothing to write home about. We have come a long way since the Clampetts ran the show, but this front office will never get us to the promised land.
Double Zero Eight
January 24th, 2012
1:17 pm
I hope Smitty is feeling the heat. He should have
a renewed sense of urgency. I am sure Blank had
an in depth “heart to heart’ discussion with him.
The secondary missed too many tackles and had
too many blown coverages. They looked confused,
and were out of position during critical third down
situations. The lack of a pass rush contributed
to their woes.
Arthur Blank
January 24th, 2012
1:24 pm
What ??? Offensive coordiantor, Offensive line coach, Offensive secondary, same with defensive. Who am I paying, for what?
Fred-D
January 24th, 2012
1:29 pm
Bulldawg
January 23rd, 2012
3:05 pm
“How could our defensive backs cover anyone when the quarterback has 5-7 seconds to throw on every pass attempt? If we don’t get some d-linemen that can rush the passer it won’t matter who is the defensive backs coach”
Bulldawg, I agree with your post so much that I just might paste it again!!
Preston Thompson
January 24th, 2012
1:50 pm
To me the main problem with the DB’s is not the coaching, but the players having the intelligence to understand what’s expected. When you have somebody break over the middle and is open by 10 yards, sure you have a problem. But when the DB’s look at each other as though saying, ” where were you suppose to be”, you really do have a problem. A lot of the times I don’t think they knew where to be. And like the NFC championship game showed this past weekend, sometimes it just doesn’t matter if a receiver is covered or not. A god QB is going to stick it in regardless. I’m not saying BVG did make mistakes, but I am saying the DB’s wouldn’t know the right coverage if it was taped to their forehead. All except Grimes. He does know what’s going on. Why does he cover tight and DR can’t, or doesn’t?
tree rollins
January 24th, 2012
3:37 pm
WHAT????? We fired an ex-Jacksonville Jags coach!!! Holy Cow – what’s the world coming to? Now I can no longer quote Head Coach Mike Smith as saying “I’ve never met a player or coach from Jacksonville that I didn’t like”. Next thing you know, he’ll be arguing with Koetter that he doesn’t want to bring in David Garrard as his new starter!!
tree rollins
January 24th, 2012
3:41 pm
Cancel that new stadium – let’s just work on getting this rebuilt staff and team back in order. Lot’s of old men on this team from Abraham to Gonzalez to Turner to McClure, etc. Need to worry about depth and young talent – oh that’s right, we traded almost our entire draft away. Ok, Arthur, open up the wallet and this time let’s get some free agents that work (hear that Dunta and Ray?) !!
True Falcon Fan
January 24th, 2012
7:23 pm
Go ahead fire the special teams coach too – make it hat trick! Players make coaches in the NFL!
Go Falcons
True Falcon Fan
January 24th, 2012
7:27 pm
Also move the new Falcons nest “Stadium” —- North to Doraville or at least Gwinette or Buckhead = $$$$$$$$$$$ —- get the OUT of ATL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GO where the REAL fans are!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Los Angeles Falcons
January 25th, 2012
9:37 am
What I saw in the championship games were dbacks who HIT — SF especially. Very few yards after the catch. Our dbacks soft cover, then try the old “hip tackle” … they never wrap a guy up with their arms! So if one guy whiffs, it’s a big gain. Bring in a coach who can get these guys back to the basics … turn your head … wrap a guy up … and if they can’t or won’t, then cut them and bring in some players who will do this!!!
Th
January 26th, 2012
12:12 pm
For all you guys who think it’s all the players’ fault – Jamaal Anderson had 4.5 sacks in 4 years playing for these coaches. He had 3 sacks this year as a sub for the Colts’ coaches.
Ronnie Dobbs
January 27th, 2012
8:07 am
“Also move the new Falcons nest “Stadium” —- North to Doraville or at least Gwinette or Buckhead = $$$$$$$$$$$ —- get the OUT of ATL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GO where the REAL fans are!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
I live in Atlanta and I’m a season ticket holder. Great logic. The Falcons haven’t had attendance problems for a long, long time now. They’ve filled the Georgia Dome, season by season, well north of the 95% mark since Blank took ownership. Why would you want to build a new stadium? Assuming you get that 4-5% boost in attendance, that’s what? An additional 3,000 to 5,000 extra tickets per game? Do you know how long that would take to pay for a new stadium? You’re effectively looking at long term, massive debt on hopes of snagging that small percentage? Come on.
This team sells well and the Dome still looks great. It’s location is condusive to the entire metro-Atlanta area. A new stadium is the least pressing issue currently facing this team.
Am I the only one that remembers the black out days?
broadsword
January 29th, 2012
11:35 am
What makes a defensive backfield is real pressure and actually hitting the quarterback…it makes the average d-backfield good and makes a good d- backfield very good to great…..look at the giants ….the d-backfield is wrecked….3rd – 4th stringers …what do they do….they pressure and get to the QB. Pressure makes great QBs good and good QBs average…. stop the run and sack the QB to win championships