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
OMG!! Are you kidding?
January 16th, 2012
6:28 pm
This hiring reminds me of tha trash barge from NYC a few years ago that no one would accept, so it was sailing around, up and down the east coast and through the Caribbean looking for a port of call. It seems that no one else in the NFL wants our garbage or Jacksonville’s, so we are just recycling it between ourselves – Mularkey for Koetter. As someone who just put a down payment on two season tickets, this has me reconsidering.
realfalconfan
January 16th, 2012
6:34 pm
the people who are fussin really dont care abput the falcons
all im gonna dp is wait and see what happen they said in the beginning that mike smith would be a joke but 4 straight winning seasons and the fact that turner and ryan got hurt we woulda have been in the playoffs for 3 straight years this is the best winning teams that we have had i trust smith and ryan and rem brees and rodgers have all been a league for over 6 years now they are shinning we got a good thing coming we just got to make our atlanta teams killing attitudes then we will non stop championships lets go falcons
Double Zero Eight
January 16th, 2012
6:54 pm
I have a very good friend that is an attorney,but I would not
hire him to reprresent me on an important case. You usually get
what you pay for. Why not hire a proven-top tier OC vs. looking
for a “diamond in the rough”?
Player Perspective | News on the NFL – National Football League and Players Association » Atlanta Falcons Hire of Dirk Koetter Has Me Concerned About Offense’s Direction » Player Perspective | News on the NFL - National Football Le
January 16th, 2012
7:10 pm
[...] writes: I’ve long made it a practice to not pre-judge coaches. We’ve seen enough examples of guys who [...]
Michael
January 16th, 2012
7:14 pm
Billick likes broadcasting and does not want to come be OC for his brother in law, Martz retired today, Schottenheimer just got run out of NY and landed in STL, Tom Clements biggest feather in the cap (being from GB) does not look as good today as it did yesterday morning and his offenses in Buffalo when he was OC were average. Who did you guys want? Is there really anyone out there that would make you feel that much better about next year? I see all the complaining but see no one offering realistic suggestions as to who we could have had. Mine? Aaron Krommer, Saints OLine coach. May have helped land Nicks in free agency too.
Eric C.
January 16th, 2012
8:15 pm
I think it is ironic that the Falcons hired the OC with the 32nd ranked defense…don’t you?
Football Bat
January 16th, 2012
8:36 pm
I for one, find it EXCITING that the Falcons brass are testing the theory that given another lineman or two, ANY IDIOT COULD RACK UP POINTS WITH OUR TALENT ON OFFENSE.
South Georgia
January 16th, 2012
9:00 pm
Coaching will not help much until you get a quarterback who has guts to step up in big games.
Ronald Millsaps
January 16th, 2012
9:35 pm
As for the abysmal in the Giants’ game yesterday, contrary to the presented premise by the announcers, no, the call in question was no “judgment” ball. The Packer in question had the ball slipping out and was not touching the ground. This reality is a fact, not a “judgment”; truth is absolute, not open to personal interpretation. Kindly read this last sentence again, most of you, given your sleazy comments.
The league’s rule that you must maintain possession “throughout the catch” is insane and self-contradictory. If you catch the ball and are down, you have a catch. If you continue to slide and have the ball come out, this fact does not mean you didn’t have a catch. The people coming up with these rules are undoubtedly the same pansy parents who put their kids in “timeout.”
Ronald Millsaps
January 16th, 2012
9:36 pm
abysmal call*
King Peter
January 16th, 2012
9:36 pm
Sorry falcons fans,i must have been out of my mine!
Ronald Millsaps
January 16th, 2012
9:37 pm
judgment call*
CGD..
January 16th, 2012
11:47 pm
Hey Arthur your new hire had the 32nd ranked offense (last)Fact, not the 23rd offense in 2011?..Wow..
This is not a drill? He really did this? Oh shoot….
Are you related to Rankin by any chance?
Antman
January 17th, 2012
12:23 am
Blank has lost his blanking mind. just to get someone that makes Mike Smith feel comfortable wit is rediculas. If he can’t feel comfortable with anyone other than a looser that shows his lack of self confidents. This guy was 32nd in totlal offense;worst in the NFL. Are you kiddinga? i AM TIRED OF THIS FOOLISHNESS. I won’t be a seasonal tifket holder this year. ANd Im sure of us feel the same.This will be the first time since the MIchael Vick ara that there will be empty bleachers in the stands.
Mr. Charlie
January 17th, 2012
6:58 am
Antman there have been empty seats this past season already.
Jimmy Crack
January 17th, 2012
7:23 am
32 out of 100. That made milk come out of my nose. Thanks Jeff.
mock1
January 17th, 2012
7:28 am
WTF…..You get what you pay for……Nothing from nothing leaves nothing !!! com’ on man!!!
TrishaDishaWarEagle
January 17th, 2012
8:09 am
Hmmm..should I trust the analysis or top NFL insiders that this is a good hire, or the whines and incoherent ramblings of aint’s fans, madden players, and other assorted losers on the Atlanta Urinal sports blog who wanted a “sexy” hire..
Yeah, I’ll go with the insiders..
Go FALCONS!!!!
CGD..
January 17th, 2012
11:01 am
Last= theres only one way to go? Thats up ^! LMAO!
Dee
January 17th, 2012
11:02 am
We should have waited I don’t like this hire we need to spread the offense with the weapons we have and we need to revamped the whole defense keep babineau and abraham the rest can go I mean really if you wathed the games they play lazy and gives up once the guy goes by them Arthur Blank stop letting these guys rob you revamped the defense Dunta is overpaid
DW
January 17th, 2012
11:21 am
I am so tired of Atlanta Teams and this comfortable crap!!! It’s not going to get you to a championship.
Kane337
January 17th, 2012
12:55 pm
With this hire the Falcons should have the #1 offense in the league next season……LOL
zbulldawg
January 17th, 2012
1:16 pm
He’s going with someone he can trust ! The Jags couldn’t have passing game game without the tools to work with ! The last thing we need is a coach to come in & only be worried about his own A – - ! Keeps the ego’s down This team is sitting on go to take off !! It won’t take much to sit OFF !
The Falcons’ Offseason Questions Pt. 2 « Welcome to the Bigs
January 17th, 2012
2:09 pm
[...] a look at some of the Atlanta Falcons’ targets for both the offensive and defensive coordinators. Well I guess I’m 0 for 1. The Falcons might as well hire Jack Del Rio now so we can complete the change to the Jaguars of the [...]
Just get it done
January 17th, 2012
4:13 pm
Retread? We’ll see…..I don’t care if it’s the big rat Mickey Mouse…..Just do the job you’re paid to do.
phil
January 17th, 2012
7:59 pm
HGN
January 15th, 2012
12:04 pm
Unbelievable. I just can’t believe Smith and TD are going to stake their jobs and reputation on this guy……Why?
*******
Because they’re buffoons.
musicrockinrobin
January 17th, 2012
8:00 pm
Personally, I think this might be a good thing. Maybe we’ll get back to running the ball. I got really tired of three passes and punt. Why have three good running backs if you’re just gonna pass it? Jason Snelling and J. Rogers had 111 carries combined for the year, not nearly enough. Sproles was NO’s 3rd back( & mostly a receiver) and he had 87 carries. M. Turner is hardly washed up, he averaged just under 4.5 ypc and finished third in the league. NO QB needs to throw 50 passes, that’s too many. The running game helps the o-line by wearing down the defenders and keeping them honest. It’s about time somebody started laying the wood to these basketball teams, that’s how the Giants and the 49ers won…they HIT Harder. Now if we could get a d-coodinator that will teach that we might be on our way. These last four seasons have been better than it could have been, just ask the fans of all the teams looking up at us.
elvis the falcon fan
January 20th, 2012
12:41 pm
This is a joke right? No, come on serioulsy, Are you effin kidding me? I can just see it now, Arthur, Smitty, and TD are all sitting in the conference room and in walks McKay with the kosher donuts and coffee. The conversation goes something like this: AB—”alright guys, I am about to ask the taxpayors for another bucket full of cash for a new dome event though the one we got is fine, so who is it going to be?” SMITTY—”well, we need to correct the process and get better” TD—-”I agree with Smitty, we need to go out make a great hire who can design out routes for Julio and also needs to be able to design plays so we can run our aging overweight tippy toe power runner on first down.”
McKay raises his hand and asks if anyone has seen his stapler. Then TD says ” I know, kets go hire whomever had the worst offense in the league last year and make him our new OC” SMITTY—”I think that we need to correct the process.” TD—”well its settled then.”
Brendan
January 21st, 2012
11:38 pm
I’ll support the hire, for now. I was not saddened to see Mularkey go. This is probably a step in the right direction.