Falcons’ next offensive coordinator: Jaguars’ Koetter (really?)
Dirk Koetter has spent the past five seasons as Jacksonville's offensive coordinator. (AP photo)
I’ve long made it a practice to not pre-judge coaches. We’ve seen enough examples of guys who can win the press conference but lose on the field, and vice versa.
That said, the Falcons’ hiring of Dirk Koetter as offensive coordinator isn’t going to spark any block parties.
Koetter has been working for the Jacksonville Jaguars, who this season finished 32nd in total offense, 32nd in passing and 28th in scoring – which wouldn’t be so bad if the NFL had, say, 100 teams and not 32. The assumption in Flowery Branch must be that there’s only so much a coach can do with Blaine Gabbert.
Koetter has been a known candidate from the outset. The news of his hiring leaked out Sunday morning and later was confirmed by the Falcons, although Koetter said he was under instruction from the team not to comment.
The second sentence of Koetter’s bio in the Jacksonville media guide begins, “Known for his expertise of the passing offense …” In his first season as Jacksonville’s offensive coordinator in 2007, the Jaguars finished seventh in total offense, 17th in passing and sixth in scoring. That also was Mike Smith’s last season in Jacksonville, before he was hired as Falcons’ head coach.
But this is what has happened to the Jaguars’ offense since:
• 2008: 20th total offense (15th passing), 24th scoring.
• 2009: 18th total offense (19th passing), 24th scoring.
• 2010: 15th total offense (27th passing), 18th scoring.
• 2011: 32nd total offense (32nd passing), 28th scoring.
The Jaguars have had some obvious personnel deficiencies. The organization was a mess and head coach Jack Del Rio clearly had lost his effectiveness. But it’s safe to conclude Koetter was not viewed as anybody’s “hot” candidate.
Two factors may have played into this hiring: 1) Smith wanted somebody he is comfortable with, and in this case that’s somebody he has worked with; 2) The Falcons’ third straight immediate playoff exit has, for the first time, put some heat on Smith, and that perceived uncertainty sometimes affects a team’s ability to hire a high-profile candidate.
That said, Koetter had a solid offensive reputation when he was Arizona State’s head coach, and was viewed by some as one of the rising coaches early on at Jacksonville. As recently as July, an NFL.com blog on Koetter included this: “The Jaguars’ offensive coordinator is on the cusp of taking that next step [in coaching]. If he can continue to get what he has gotten out of Jacksonville’s offense without an abundance of talent, especially if he manages to get Blaine Gabbert ready to play despite this lockout, then a move up is imminent.”
It’s ironic that Koetter should come from the organization that just hired the Falcons’ recently maligned offensive coordinator, Mike Mularkey, as head coach. Mularkey might have been fired even if he had not gotten the Jacksonville job, given the predictability of the Falcons’ offense and the widely held belief that he did not fully utilize the weapons on the roster.
That’s on Koetter’s shoulders now. But it will be at least September before anybody is too excited.
By Jeff Schultz
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1,029 comments Add your comment
rc35
January 15th, 2012
4:35 pm
I’m a Jacksonville native who later moved to Atlanta. I pull for the Falcons in the NFC and the Jags in the AFC. Why the Falcons would hire ANYBODY from the Jaguars’ recent staff is beyond me. To quote from a golden oldie, “Ain’t no Coupe de Ville hidin’ at the bottom of a Cracker Jack box!”
ohhhhYEAH
January 15th, 2012
4:36 pm
Remind me again, Choke, who in the world was it that played QB for the Falcons in 2005 and 2006? I’m pretty sure it was Vick. So uh…..guess you’re saying he’s just as bad. He had ONE good playoff run, and he was the best the franchise had? LOL. Now THAT is funny. Guess his years in 05 and 06 weren’t worth mentioning huh? 2005: 8-8, 2006: 7-9
JP
January 15th, 2012
4:36 pm
ohhh YEAH…have not seen enough of Barkley to really know..will take your word for it for now……also, because so many people have said Luck is a can’t miss I have my doubts as if he will and can live up to the expectations……at this point, I’ll take a guy who’s got something to prove versus the anointed guys who might not understand how much room he has to grow at the next level….
Blank=biggest sucker EVER!
January 15th, 2012
4:38 pm
As PT Barnum once said (in reference to A. Blank) “theres a sucker born every minute!” Smitty and Dimitroff should be locked up. the way they are treating Blank has got to be a CRIME!
Gatorzone
January 15th, 2012
4:39 pm
Choke, Vick was sent to prison and the Falcons moved on…. What do you expect?
ohhhhYEAH
January 15th, 2012
4:44 pm
Well friends, I’m off.
Choke, good luck with….whatever it is you do
tony
January 15th, 2012
4:47 pm
Mike Martz would of been a better choice in my opinion. The Rams won a sb when he was their OC. He did ok as a hc(53-32).
I agree with some that they should hire Steve Spagnuolo-DC. He was a bad hc but a good DC(NYG won SB). Until they build a dominant d-line and o-line, it really doesn’t matter who they hire.
Starrman
January 15th, 2012
4:48 pm
What happen with Clements,at least an interview would have fool us a little.I starting to think the Falcons are a joke.I hope he signed a 1 yr deal because Dementia and Smith are getting fired next year
Who Me?
January 15th, 2012
4:50 pm
This is about the WORST personnel move I’ve seen from this organization since the day Jerry Glanville was hired. Unbelievable that AB would give the nod to this guy right out of the gate. Jeff’s comment about CMS being on the hot seat might be spot on but is this REALLY the leading candidate the league has to offer? Don’t be surprised if Del Rio shows up as our DC next…
You know what? it’s this narrow minded bunker mentality that’s killed Atlanta sports franchises for so many years and yet we keep making the same goober-headed mistakes over and over again.
so Coach, how’s it feel to be living Groundhog Day?
Here’s the NFL coaching carousel in full action:
Get a job as OC in the NFL, move to Jacksonville. The HC gets fired, you become the HC, and then YOU’re fired 3 years later. Career over??
Nooooooooooo, you just pack your stuff up and move north to Atlanta where they’re too STUPID to understand you just got fired and your offensive scheme hadn’t worked for the last 5 years so HEY, they need an OC and you need a paycheck.
Buncha damn Jed Clampett’s running the sports teams in this town…I hope I’m so wrong I eat it for 2 years saying i”m sorry….but on the surface this stinks.
Nikki
January 15th, 2012
4:52 pm
All I can say is coach Smith really is putting all his eggs in the basket of his J-ville peeps. Some times you need to branch out.
Satchmo
January 15th, 2012
4:54 pm
Very interesting,the connection between Jax and Atl.
5150 UOAD
January 15th, 2012
4:55 pm
Mike Smith didn’t Change his Underwear he just turned the dirty pair inside out.
JB
January 15th, 2012
4:57 pm
Just like Richt and Bobo…..non threatening…….and just more of the same that won’t let a strong willed OC come in with fresh ideas…..The proof will be in the pudding I guess.
j
January 15th, 2012
5:01 pm
give the guy a chance. his offense did manage to put up 14 on the Falcons
JB
January 15th, 2012
5:02 pm
didn’t that staff down there just get fired for not getting it done?
JB
January 15th, 2012
5:03 pm
Who’s the OL coach with the Falcons. Let’s hope they don’t come after Coach Friend.
Gatorzone
January 15th, 2012
5:06 pm
More vanilla from smith! Fire Dumitroff!!!!
He has had way too many misses and this is another terrible decision! I think next year Falcons take a step back and smith gets canned!
j
January 15th, 2012
5:08 pm
Nothing like hiring an OC who was fired for being a poor OC
Suck Pick
January 15th, 2012
5:11 pm
C’mon man really–the guy is bad—so many other better choices
JB
January 15th, 2012
5:12 pm
Jacksonville 32nd of 32 teams in Offense ….. And they hire the OC………………Only in Atlanta……Marion Campbell not available….
Sid
January 15th, 2012
5:13 pm
49′ers……. thank you!! You put the Dat in my Who……….!!
On another note, this hire makes Mike Smith comfortable…….?? Is it because Koetter is an unlikely head coaching hire should the Falcons and Smith falter next year? I don’t know anything, nada, zero, zilch about the guy and am willing to wait and see. I know our current front office isn’t a bunch of derelicts trying to run a football team and they expect the hire to produce results and so should we. No matter, we still need massive changes on the O line. Don’t know if we can expect much with our first pick in the draft @ #55.
****************************************************
ground_fog ………January 15th, 2012 ………12:04 pm
Does anyone know who was ranked 31st in total offense with the Niners but was hired as head coach at another team? that would be Mike Mccarthy of the Packers.
_________________
ground frog………..you couldn’t be more wrong, the Niners were 32nd in total offense when McCarthy was OC the year before he was hired @ GB.
___
JB
January 15th, 2012
5:13 pm
Geez, they could of hired Bobo……
j
January 15th, 2012
5:14 pm
So even our former OC didn’t want to keep this guy. Looks like problem is with the HC. The Atlanta Jaguars will suck
5150 UOAD
January 15th, 2012
5:16 pm
JB……Bobo can’t find a road out of Athens. He has been there so long he doesn’t know there is a world outside of UGa’s rectum.
BravesFan79
January 15th, 2012
5:17 pm
Im going to trust that the coaches know something the average fans dont, and that this is a good hire. I just hope we land a big name D coordinator.
Gatorzone
January 15th, 2012
5:20 pm
Yay!!!! More of the same!!!!!
Thanks Smith!! Falcons will fall to 3rd place in the south
TrishaDishaWarEagle
January 15th, 2012
5:22 pm
I like the Koetter Hire…and yes I am here to rub it in saints fans faces..get back in the gutter until mardi gras…2 straight pre championship game exits from the playoffs…is this the best drew brees will ever be again? is sean peyton on the hot seat? 2009 is so long ago…reset the team..(sound familiar, fake falkon(vick) fans?)
Birdman of Alcahol
January 15th, 2012
5:22 pm
Status quo. Safe, un-imaginative. Remember this hire when we look back on the failure of this group led by Ryan to ever win a superbowl. I don’t get it, you could have promoted Bratkowski or any of our offensive coaches if you want to keep the control the clock by running scheme, only to lose to high power passers. Same ole same ole. 9-7 next year.
Ernie
January 15th, 2012
5:22 pm
Had season tickets for the last 8 years. I’m not renewing based on this hire alone. Completely ridiculous. Perhaps I’ll get new tickets when Smith gets fired after next year.
Sid
January 15th, 2012
5:23 pm
Meet Dirk Koetter
1983–1984 Highland HS Head Coach
1985 San Francisco State (OC)
1986–1988 UTEP (OC)
1989–1993 Missouri (OC)
1994–1995 Boston College (OC)
1996–1998 Oregon (OC)
1998–2000 Boise State Head Coach
2001–2006 Arizona State Head Coach
2007–2011 Jacksonville Jaguars (OC)
2011 Jacksonville Jaguars (OC/QB)
2012 Atlanta Falcons (OC)
Timmychuck
January 15th, 2012
5:23 pm
The Falcons are pulling a joke on us , right?
Whoppper Dawg
January 15th, 2012
5:24 pm
I have to admit when running through possible OCs for the Falcons, the thought “Why don’t we hire whoever had the worst offense this year?” did not spring to mind.
Not quite sure how you make chicken salad out of that.
Sid
January 15th, 2012
5:27 pm
I can’t find it now but whoever wrote Dan Reeves was one of the Falcons worst coaches is an idiot.
Old Coach
January 15th, 2012
5:28 pm
@5150
I guess you are an expert on just about everything! I have never seen anyone that know everythig about everything. Why start downgrading Bobo? What a tool!!!
Troup Dawg
January 15th, 2012
5:29 pm
What the hell with this hire!!! And you people saying “give him the benefit of the doubt” just from what facts are you drawing the bases for this statement? LOOK AT HIS BODY OF WORK!! HE SUCKS!!!
LAST IN THE NFL IN OFFENSE!!!! Spare me the PAC-12 BS he produced at ASU.
BLANF YOU ARE A FOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
this stinks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 15th, 2012
5:31 pm
this is a horrible hire jvilles offense stunk now we get this guy ,we would be better off with malarkey,Mr.Blank this is a bad hire!
5150 UOAD
January 15th, 2012
5:32 pm
Old Coach stop sniffing BOBO’s butt. I was not the only person on here to Laugh about BOBO being a joke OC like the new Falcon Hire.
yodaddybrother
January 15th, 2012
5:33 pm
typical move from an Atlanta organization…..
hire the worst and probably cheapest coach available. Jacksonville Jaguars the worst offense in the league and we bring him in and expect to be good.
playa changes
January 15th, 2012
5:33 pm
problem is d-block mentality (falcons.com)
this stinks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 15th, 2012
5:34 pm
of all the coaches we get this one to screw us up
Old Coach
January 15th, 2012
5:34 pm
5150 maybe the Falcons could hire one of your Tech coaches, maybe CPJ! Once again you have ALL the answers.
Jeffrey
January 15th, 2012
5:36 pm
They have to be kidding. We hired someone Smith was comfortable with, really? What happened to the talk of bringing coaches who will give a new perspectives? His offense was no better than 15th and seemed to get worse each year until it bottomed out at 32nd this year. I’m tired of this buddy system and in particular hiring losers. No championship shot next year, guess no need to renew season tickets.
Anthony Davis
January 15th, 2012
5:40 pm
dont know where to start, Atlanta is known for this, fans are never excited, all the hype in the regular season and when they come to the playoffs they act like they never been there before. Just pray they sign Spags cause DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS!!!!
TrishaDishaWarEagle
January 15th, 2012
5:41 pm
Everyone in line at the gas station who was playing lotto slips and buying 1 grape flavored blunt wrapper seemed so bummed out about the saints loss to a defensive running team..they play 4 or 5 games of Madden 2011 a day and they know how to win and the aint’s were supposed to win it all on pure passing.
5150 UOAD
January 15th, 2012
5:45 pm
Trisha….the Katrina Trash already hit the Lottery when they got moved out of the NoLa Toilet for free by the American Taxpayers.
Jockich Smelley, I
January 15th, 2012
5:47 pm
Ryan, bit of advice……let it rip Brother! Quit dinking and dunking and checking down….Your passing game is like listening to the rain hit a tin roof (dink…dink…dunk..dink dunk…dink)….you pad your stats ….listen, promise Tony G that your wife will have his baby……
Well….Ryan will once again be able to HIDE behind the OC hiring…..Matty Ice, stand up like a man and start being accountable….quit saying WE and say I!!!
rivercard
January 15th, 2012
5:49 pm
Trisha- instead of worrying about Saints- Falcon fans need to ponder why a team like SF has passed them by.
fan
January 15th, 2012
5:50 pm
cancelling season tickets. this garbage on top of the obvious ref cheating for GB…. We are DONE.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
January 15th, 2012
5:55 pm
@rivercard
I don’t worry about the saints, but I really get off on Schadenfreude..it’s FANtastic!
RedandBlackPeachy
January 15th, 2012
5:57 pm
So…are we the Jackanta Jaguars or the Atlanville Falcons? Just want to know how to cheer next season.