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
Follow me on Twitter (@JeffSchultzAJC). Friend me on Facebook (Facebook.com/JeffSchultzAJC).
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,029 comments Add your comment
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
January 15th, 2012
12:27 pm
Let me 1st to say the Falcons will not lose in the 1st round of the playoffs in 2012!!!! They will not make the playoffs. Julio should ask for a trade in hopes he can get to a team that the QB can throw the ball at least 30 yards. Ok 40 yards.
WTF MAN
January 15th, 2012
12:27 pm
I am speechless…you can spin this any way you want but these kind of moves are what constantly kill this franchise in its ultimate goal…Super Bowl Champions. C’mon all the elite offensive minds out there both discovered and not given a chance yet and this is the answer? This worn tire of a coach from an organization that at best is mediocre will not get us competitive with the offenses that are dominating not just our division but the conference and the NFL as a whole. I can’t help but think that Smith is doing here what killed Dan Reeves which is not evolving as a coach and staying on a path where yes you will be competetive but not going to win only in that you limit yourself. No the OC was not gonna solve all of our problems but it was an important component and the old saying that time will tell does not apply here…the answer is apparent and this flat out was the pansy way of filling an important position but to end this I can only think of one thing left to say…Coach Smith you are a pussy.Man up and give us a championship…Dirk Koetter really? Losing BVG and his pornstache and we get this loser with his porn moniker…I never in a million years would think that Sean Payton and his girly boy look would be more hardcore than Coach Smith. And to Arthur Blank….Smith we know is a Pussy….but you signed off on this one after the pontificating on how what happened this year was not good enough…you sir are full of excrement.
railpost
January 15th, 2012
12:27 pm
THIS MOVE does NOTHING to suggest to the fans of the Atlanta Falcons that we are in any way, shape, form or fashion trying to be anything but our usual 3rd rate team. You just lost another disappointed fan!!!!
Michael
January 15th, 2012
12:28 pm
Would you guys really be that excited if the hire had been Billick, Schottenheimer, or Clements? I admit that I was in the Clements/Aaron Krommer camp (Saints OLine coach and wishful thinking on my part), but Billick has been out of the league since 07′ and it did not seem like he was too eager to get back into coaching, let alone as an OC. I live in NY and they ran Schottenheimer out of town here. Clements had an average run as OC in Buffalo before going to GB as QB coach. If there was a sexy candidate out there that didn’t have any serious cons then that person would be being considered to be a head coach somewhere.
Bottom line is that until the Falcons upgrade their talent in the trenches it won’t matter who the OC is. Smitty/TD know that the temperature is up, I don’t think they are deliberately trying to get fired. Give Koetter a shot.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 15th, 2012
12:28 pm
The Falcants don’t have a coordinator problem………………….
They have a CHOKE problem
Cut off the head of the CHICKEN and fry that sucker ……………….
HA HA HA
Skydawg
January 15th, 2012
12:29 pm
Horrific hire. PERIOD!
ueeediot
January 15th, 2012
12:29 pm
D man, you misread these comments.
Yes, people in this town want more than regular season wins.
What you are reading on this board are the comments of a town starved for a championship caliber team.
Starved, rabid, and ravenous for a winner, we give you…..lights and drumroll….DIRK Koetter….the line to buy tickets to the SB starts here?
marion campbell
January 15th, 2012
12:29 pm
good hire!
ThePro,
January 15th, 2012
12:29 pm
Well if he was as bad as he was in Jacksonville this past season it’s safe to say 2012 will be the last season in Atl for Mike Smith
JTH
January 15th, 2012
12:30 pm
With this move Arthur Blank confirms all his talk about winning is just lip service. What a damn joke. Typical Falcons.
jimmy
January 15th, 2012
12:30 pm
i live in Jax. They bash this guy constantly on talk radio. etc. Last dude I figured the Falcons would go after. Not a happy fan here!
Looking for another bandwagon to jump on....
January 15th, 2012
12:30 pm
Come on….no flash, no change…..nothing even remotely interesting about this OC. Does anyone else around here notice the teams we are watching this weekend are actually INTERESTING on both sides of the ball (even the Godlike Tebow)……I’m looking at the Lions as my new team to follow.
TD has no clue!
January 15th, 2012
12:30 pm
GOOD. TD, Smith and Matty Melt will be gone in 2 years. By the way, who dat? The 49ers dats who dat. hahahaha
Falcons4Eva
January 15th, 2012
12:31 pm
@ Michael
January 15th, 2012
12:28 pm
———————————————
I certainly would have been excited if they hired Chip Kelly – Head coach of the Oregon Ducks. He certainly knows a thing or two about throwing the football DOWN THE FIELD.
5150 UOAD
January 15th, 2012
12:31 pm
D man……The ONLY teams that didn’t have BAD years are the 4 that played for the AFC and NFC Championships. Winning the Super bowl isn’t easy. A team isn’t a loser if they are playing for a Championship in 1 of the 2 leagues.
Double Dub
January 15th, 2012
12:31 pm
I live in Jacksonville and have to watch this team most Sundays due to regional coverage. Granted the personnel is different, but how can you pick a guy to run your offense who’s offense finished DEAD LAST?! Mike Smith is a homer and just upped the temperature on his seat with this hire. I cannot believe Mike Smith would make a hire like this based on how we ended the season. If we bring in Del Rio, I am not sure I can watch the Falcons this season. Still in shock…
what!!!
January 15th, 2012
12:32 pm
no playoff !!! wrong man!
D man
January 15th, 2012
12:33 pm
Falcons4eva
Wrong on all counts. I coach little league baseball and I hate the every kid gets a trophy approach because it doesn’t teach kids the realities of life that life is not fair. On the other hand, I am a positive minded person that doesn’t Waller around in the self pity of losing three straight playoff appearances like most of these non real Falcon Fans on this blog. I applaud what Blank and the organization has done for my Falcons and I wish Blank would buy the Hawks and Braves because we would be alot better off if he did.
jhj88
January 15th, 2012
12:33 pm
Anyone got any tissue?? after this hiring i feel like crying..
rash
January 15th, 2012
12:34 pm
great hire…..koetter was the coach i was wanting td and blank to hire good pickup all yall haters give the man a chance before you cut his throat and feed him to the wolves im sure atl. offense have sucess all yall will be saying good pickup some of yall dont even know football all you can think that is gonna do a good job is the names you have heard before…all i can say is great job now get spags as the dc and clement as qb coach and life will be good next year
Jimmy
January 15th, 2012
12:34 pm
I will give this one year and if it doesn’t work, Mike Smith pack your bags. Arthur we thought you wanted to win, it starts with the front office. What a bad choice!!! Falcons put some names out there, known they wanted to hire this clown. Falcons will have the number one draft pick in 2013.
Michael
January 15th, 2012
12:34 pm
@Falcons4Eva Why would Chip Kelly leave a top flight head coaching job at the college level to be an OC in the NFL? Recall that Phil Knight is bankrolling the Oregon football program. As long as Kelly is getting them to BCS bowls he’s going to be paid well there. Would make no sense for him to come to the NFL for anything short of a HC job.
bamaonline
January 15th, 2012
12:34 pm
Alabama tried to hire him but when he found out about the Ncaa problems that are lining up for Saban and Alabama over some recruiting violation he decided to stay in the NFL where a team don’t have to worry the NCAA coming in.
Falcons4Eva
January 15th, 2012
12:35 pm
What Would “SeenThisB4″ say about this hire?
oooops….my bad…..
He’s probably has his mouth too full to speak with CROW ! !
Who Dat, say they gone beat them 49ers. Not the Saints. Pull up a chair with us and watch the rest of the NFL.
Skydawg
January 15th, 2012
12:35 pm
With this hire, I have lost a lot of respect with Smith, Dimitroff and Blank. This wreaks of a the good ole boy, don’t spend a lot of money network. I’m shocked. If I were Arthur Blank and I was truly committed to winning, this hire would not have happened.
Bruce
January 15th, 2012
12:35 pm
If we are going to be a ball control offense next yr why did we sell the farm for an “explosive” receiver? Turner is absolutely the worst running back up the middle, expecially on delayed handoffs. He goes down easier than TJ Duckett unless he gets 5 yds downfield. Jacquizz Rodgers has shown little as a RB this yr. Snelling is a good backup that plays hard. Don’t see how we can be a ball control offense when we can’t make 3rd & 1’s or 4th & 1/2 yd. No improvements that will be an immediate help will be available when the Falcons finally get to draft in the 2nd round. I may be wrong but I don’t see that many free agents available this yr that will give immediate results. Thanks again Falcons for once again not getting a “Name” coach that know what he is doing.
5150 UOAD
January 15th, 2012
12:35 pm
I took my morning DIRK and it came out looking like a Mularkey.
TD has no clue!
January 15th, 2012
12:35 pm
You know this guy is crap, even MM didn’t want him as his OC.
JP
January 15th, 2012
12:35 pm
All the great OC’s have elite QB’s or QB’s who play elite….as I mentioned prior, the OC is only as good as the QB and the QB’s ability to make plays…elite QB play equals playoff wins……just look at the games already played thus far in this year’s playoff’s…..some of you are way too emotional to post on a sports blog..!!!! LMAO…!!!
Falcoon
January 15th, 2012
12:36 pm
Be careful what you wish for. You couldn’t wait to get Mark out of town lol. Remember players play and coaches coach. No matter how good of a coach you are, at certain levels, the player are the key to your success. So don’t blame the coach, blame the personnel people, who don’t bring players that matches the coaches style and philosophy. In college you recruit what you need and in pro you bring players that matches your skim. Good luck Falcons.
jhj88
January 15th, 2012
12:37 pm
Troll alert!
abby normal
January 15th, 2012
12:37 pm
And Arthur Blank signed off on this hire????? Maybe we can get Jerry Glanville to come back as DC. I just don’t see this as a great step forward.
Mark
January 15th, 2012
12:37 pm
This is simply a hire so that they would not have to totally change the offensive philosophy. I will have to disagree with some earlier comments of the Falcons having a horrible defense. They ranked in the top ten in stopping the run. The offense could not sustain any decent drives, so the defense finally wore down towards the end of the 3rd quarter of the Giants game. Defense is simply missing a pass rush. Corner back play was really not that bad considering we had no pass rush. Now play at the Safety position, as far as the passing game went, was horrible. When the opposing QB has all damn day to throw the ball you won’t win. I look for Abraham to be allowed to leave so we can free up some money. Decoud and Grimes will not be back either. I also see some OL free agents being brought in as well. Now with that said Koetter’s offense may work, but if I had the choice it would have been Billick or Clements as OC. Remaining optimistic till shown otherwise.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 15th, 2012
12:37 pm
“Mike Vick Curse”
You will never win a playoff game until I lift the curse
Falcons4Eva
January 15th, 2012
12:38 pm
@ Michael
January 15th, 2012
12:34 pm
—————————————
I didn’t say he would. But I did say it would make me excited. But Kelly never denied having an interest in becoming a HC in the NFL. In fact ESPN and others have said rumor was the Dolphins were interested in Chip. As long as the SEC is the SEC, the Ducks will never win a BCS.
Better be one helluva introduction
January 15th, 2012
12:38 pm
In all of the speculation and write ups of all the candidates, Koetter was not really singled out for anything beyond his personal connection to Coach Smith. Fans are going to want to know more of the strategic thinking that went into this hire – and it will need to be both substantial and convincing.
If the front office is as talented and perceptive as we keep saying they are, they must have a pretty good reason for this decision. They need to help the fans understand why this can be the best choice for OC. Soon.
ddt
January 15th, 2012
12:38 pm
We couldn’t have waited 3 weeks, a very questionable hire, Why are we stil hiring Smith’s Boys???
JP
January 15th, 2012
12:38 pm
thanks Falcoon…!!
Koetter
January 15th, 2012
12:39 pm
We will be a high-powered offense! Mark my word.
Hoopster
January 15th, 2012
12:39 pm
The Jags haven’t had any receivers in years.
jhj88
January 15th, 2012
12:40 pm
Troll Alert! Most likely an Anits fan
Declinometer
January 15th, 2012
12:40 pm
As a Jaguar fan that has been calling for Koetter’s firing for a few years, I say good luck Falcons. Any offensive production from the Jaguars was despite of Koetter. It’s going to be a long year until he gets fired.
rivercard
January 15th, 2012
12:40 pm
JP while I generally agree about elite QB’s , I think Smith shows what can happen when the right COACH teams up with a QB not even considered good.
san diego steve
January 15th, 2012
12:40 pm
At Arizona State, Koetter headed up the third-best offense in the NCAA, which gained 537.4 yards per game and put up 36.8 points per game that year. The Arizona State offense also passed for almost 400 yards per game that season.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 15th, 2012
12:40 pm
Oh yeah………………
Flacco is the 1st qb EVER to start at qb in the playoffs in his 1st 4 seasons………………
Did I mention:
Should have drafted Flacco……………..
HA HA HA
Mike Smith
January 15th, 2012
12:40 pm
“Let’s hire Koetter, I can keep him in line and he will do what he is told”
LOL
January 15th, 2012
12:41 pm
Hey guys, maybe we’re missing out on things. All we need is Jack Del Rio for DC, and we’re Jacksonville number 2. If you squint a little, Arthur Blank even looks like the new Jaguar owner. Plus, we got us a QB on Gabbert’s level. Whoo.
mackpack2
January 15th, 2012
12:41 pm
Another stupid choice by the Falcons front office! Mike Smith will be fired mid year ,What in the hell are u thinking.
Falcons4Eva
January 15th, 2012
12:41 pm
5150 UOAD
January 15th, 2012
12:35 pm
I took my morning DIRK and it came out looking like a Mularkey.
———————————————–
I took my morning DIRK around the block and stepped into a pile of Mularkey. I could not wipe if off my feet!
Nativebird
January 15th, 2012
12:42 pm
Wow. My season ticket upgrade selection just got a lot better. Talkin about hearing the sound of “thud” with this hire. Billick? No. Mcdaniels? Nope. Okay…hmmm. How about Sporano? Nada. Oh good…we got KOETTER!………Here that collective “who?” by the entire Falcon nation.