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
Ueeediot
January 15th, 2012
12:42 pm
The reason for the timing of the hire is that you want your OC in place before the East/West Shrine game and the Senior Bowl as those are 2 of the 3 biggest recruiting events.
Greg Moundine
January 15th, 2012
12:42 pm
I believe. We need our FB back an a tough WR. Remember our fullback was a Pro Bowl player. Our offense is not that bad. Falcons will hit home run with DC. Watch.
Tommy Maddox
January 15th, 2012
12:42 pm
I guess there were no more Harbaugh offspring available to hire.
Mr. Blank, you might want to stick with the home improvement products business because your football business blows.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 15th, 2012
12:43 pm
THE FLACCO SUPERBOWL TOUR
2 wins to pay dirt, while CHOKE rest that ZERO points performance
Ted M
January 15th, 2012
12:43 pm
I have no idea if this guy is any good, in spite of his crappy record, but at least Blank can afford to fire Dimitroff, Smith & staff if need be. Ga Tech can NOT afford to fire Paul Johnson were stuck with him for better or worse. Unfortunately there is only worse.
Bruce
January 15th, 2012
12:44 pm
Just because you do not agree with what a team is doing and complain about it does not mean that you are not a fan or are jumping off the bandwagon. If you were not a fan then why would you be complaining so much? I am tired of people that keep saying that people that complain about the coaching & play calling of both the Falcons & the Bulldogs are jumping off the bandwagon & are not true fans. True fans do not sit by like little lambs and accept mediocrity from the teams they love. Get real guys, fans have a right to complain.
WaitandSee
January 15th, 2012
12:44 pm
When I first heard about Koetter I wasn’t impressed. But I was listening to 680thefan the other day and Chuck Oliver said that Koetter was the second best play caller in college behind Bobby Petrino. Now that’s saying alot. Petrino is, if not the best, one of the best play callers in college. Jacksonville had no weapons. At Arizona State Koetter had the third-best offense in the NCAA that averaged 537.4 yards a game with a passing offense of 400 yards a game. Now I know that’s college. Let’s just hope he can be creative with the talent that we have. Remember in 2005 Mike Mccarthy (Green Bay Packers head coach) was the OC in San Francisco and that offense finished last with Alex Smith as a rookie. Look at McCarthy now, a Super Bowl winner. Let’s just wait and see if Koetter can be our McCarthy.
AlanFalcon
January 15th, 2012
12:44 pm
The only thing wrong with ths hire are the idiots on this blog who want to kick a man before he has a chance to show what he can do, why don’t you just move out of the state and go (bleep) another coach -You blog monsters are SICK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
5150 UOAD
January 15th, 2012
12:44 pm
JB…………do the 49ers have an ELITE QB? Hahahha I don’t think so. Harbaough is only 1 yr removed from College and Andrew Luck. The guy’s play calling and coaching is great since he is playing for the NFC Championship now.
Ueeediot
January 15th, 2012
12:44 pm
wonders how many games Arizona state could win in the NFL.
wonders how many games Arizona State played against NFL (scratch that) even SEC level teams…
smashmouth
January 15th, 2012
12:44 pm
I think we can all agree this was not a sexy pick, seems a little hasty and has a whiff of nepotism.
For a moment, let’s consider Tom Moore- OC for Indy. Since 98, won a ring and offense been a complete juggernaut. This year, he loses one player and ends up 30th in total offense with no doubt 10x the talent Jax has ever had-I’d take orlovsky and painter over gabbert right now too. Would we all not have been jumping up and down with that hire?
My point is the ranking (32nd – yuk) doesn’t tell the whole story- don’t get caught up in it. Talent, play calling and scheme that the head coach allows and game situation dictate the seasons totals- Jax was 11 in scoring D so there wasn’t a need to turn every game into a shootout unlike say, NO or NE.
Koetter has performed at certain points in his career but situation around him(talent, head coach, low scoring games) have ultimately been reflected in the numbers. Though we don’t have a big reason to be excited over the hire, this guy could end up showing his best yet in the ATL. Remember, no one was pumped for the Smitty hire at the time either.
For those of you who reply with angst for not winning a playoff game yet- remember two things: playoffs weren’t even in the discussion when Smitty started(interested how quick it’s moved from that to being expected) and until last night, the Pats had lost 3 straight playoff games including 2 at home (where they are unbeatable). Saints have a pretty good OC and they couldn’t outshoot Alex Smith– it’s a total team sport ya’ll
ground_fog
January 15th, 2012
12:44 pm
Koetter interview on scheme http://xandolabs.com/2011/07/dirk-koetter-exclusive-interview/
jhj88
January 15th, 2012
12:44 pm
Mr. Blank i bet u won’t have another press conference explain this stupid hiring!
Falcons4Eva
January 15th, 2012
12:44 pm
@ Hoopster
January 15th, 2012
12:39 pm
The Jags haven’t had any receivers in years.
——————————————-
Nether have they had any coaches….we get them all it seems! (Smith, BVG, Now Koetter) and Players (Mike Peters and a couple others over the past 4 years).
rivercard
January 15th, 2012
12:45 pm
San Diego Steve – Is that the same ASU offense that got him fired after 5 mediocre years and was 1-11 against top ten teams?
Rise Up Atlanta
January 15th, 2012
12:46 pm
I’m a season ticket holder and I will be letting my season tickets go. This is a bad hire, it’s just going to get worse for this franchise. I really believed we would do better than this. This franchise doesn’t want a championship bad enough. Good Luck Falcons, I can watch this crap on TV every sunday.
Wow
January 15th, 2012
12:46 pm
“Who got it better than us” Everyyyyybodddy!
Falcons4Eva
January 15th, 2012
12:46 pm
Mike Smith can NOT get enough of Jacksonville. He has an obsession with them. 4 years, we always scrimmage with them at pre-season. What’s with this guy and Jacksonville and all things Jags?
5150 UOAD
January 15th, 2012
12:46 pm
wait&see……….Chuck Oliver? Really you are going to listen to Chuck “Fat DA” Oliver for your coaching advise? You have been Smoking with VICK & CROWELL?
Cal
January 15th, 2012
12:47 pm
As long as Mike smith is there we’ll never get any top tier coordinators. They should’ve fired him with the others.
SawThat1nce
January 15th, 2012
12:47 pm
This sounds like a joke, that JS is punking his readers with.
Can’t be true.
Frank Wren
January 15th, 2012
12:47 pm
Great hire, Thomas!
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 15th, 2012
12:48 pm
1st time in Ravens history that they have been to the playoffs 4 years in a row. Prior to Flacco, it was just 2 years, and a 5-11 record before Flacco was drafted.
CHOKE will be holding that clip board real soon………………. Destiny cannot be denied
Robbie
January 15th, 2012
12:48 pm
Wouldn’t you thinik that A. B. and crew would know more about this person than we would. If it turns out that we have the same type of offense then T.D. and on down needs to go… Our draft has been so bad for 3 years this is what needs to be criqutqed.
Hedo Rick
January 15th, 2012
12:48 pm
So true…. WTF is up with us and Jacksonville? Only thing I want out of Jax is MJD for another year or two. This is a ridiculous hire.
———————-
Falcons4Eva
January 15th, 2012
12:46 pm
Mike Smith can NOT get enough of Jacksonville. He has an obsession with them. 4 years, we always scrimmage with them at pre-season. What’s with this guy and Jacksonville and all things Jags?
Jimmy Falcon
January 15th, 2012
12:48 pm
Well, the OC is done now.
Spags will not be coming here. Smitty is on the hot seat, Andy Reid is not. After watching the Niners yesterday, maybe we bring Mike Singletary in as DC?
rivercard
January 15th, 2012
12:49 pm
Smashmouth- It is not just the playoff issue- It is the disjointed, unfocused and inconsistent play of this team. They perform poorly against winning teams.
Koetter got worse at JAx. Not just one bad year. There is no way to justify this hire based on his performance. I will hope for the best , but looks like a bad hire now.
Dirk Koetter to become Falcons offensive coordinator | Atlanta Falcons
January 15th, 2012
12:49 pm
[...] Koetter, 52, was Jacksonville’s offensive coordinator from 2007 to 2011. He will replace Mike Mularkey, who left to become Jacksonville’s head coach. AJC columnist Jeff Schultz has checked in already on the hire. [...]
DawgNole
January 15th, 2012
12:49 pm
Runnin with the Dawgs
January 15th, 2012
12:14 pm
He’ll be coming to a team with a higher quality of talent on the offense than he had at Jax. Remember when Gene Chizik went to Auburn. The entire fan base thought it was crazy to hire him, as he had never had a winning record anywhere. Auburn went undefeated in his first year as head coach. Welcome Dirk! Do us good. GO FALCONS!
__________________________________
Chizik did NOT go undefeated his first year at Auburn. He finished 8-5 there in 2009. Check your facts before you post.
Paul From Milton
January 15th, 2012
12:50 pm
He better get that offense producing quickly or it will get even uglier. Now let’s hire Del Rio as DC and the circle will be complete.
Greg M
January 15th, 2012
12:50 pm
Give them tickets up like you all did when Vick left. I will jump all over them as if the stock market dropped. The Falcons will prevail. Go Falcons.
coo coo bird fan
January 15th, 2012
12:50 pm
U gotta be kidding ME!!! The confidence level is dwindling by the second as well as fans, I do not trust this pick and unless MJD comes along with him whats the use. Falcons lose 10 games next year and Mr. Koetner gets the door after one year, book it!!
Falcons4Eva
January 15th, 2012
12:50 pm
Jeff Shultz said: “…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.”
Translation: Smith has 2 years. Period. Blank did not want to put added burden on Smith by having a strong minded and potential Head Coach in waiting. Therefore he allow Smith with someone who would not undermine him and the team.
welikebaseball2
January 15th, 2012
12:50 pm
I knew they’d go with someone that Smith has worked with. In turn, I knew that would be someone on the conservative side (32nd in passing doesn’t exactly scream agressive). Mike Smith has got to go.
Section 335
January 15th, 2012
12:51 pm
I think John Henderson is available for DC…….
FalconFan
January 15th, 2012
12:51 pm
Well, that’s probably Smitty’s last hire…
tree rollins
January 15th, 2012
12:52 pm
Regarding the Falcons sexy new hire for OC, I think we just traded Rosanne Barr (Mularkey) for Rosie O’Donnel (Koetter). Falcons fans have got to be thrilled – I can see those 2012 season tickets just flyin’ off the shelves!
Falcons4Eva
January 15th, 2012
12:52 pm
Typto Error –
Blank allowed Smith to HIRE someone who would not undermine is authority and be seen as a “Head Coach-In Waiting”.
Mike Smith….you are now on the CLOCK!
john
January 15th, 2012
12:52 pm
Unbelievable I’ve been glued to the computer all week to see this coordinator get hired. I feel betrayed!
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 15th, 2012
12:52 pm
A MESSAGE FROM MRS CHARLIE…………………..
I can’t show my face anymore because of all the ELITE talk I made about CHOKE.
I am a COWARD so I have retired my screen name, and just monitor the comments on the blogs until the heat settles down, and I can sneak and make a comment in the near future, and hopefully the CHOKE critics will forget what I said.
In the End I’m just a COWARD
Bama Bill
January 15th, 2012
12:52 pm
Guess the Bama OC job was not available – but why did the Falcons take him ? Strange hire !
Ole richie
January 15th, 2012
12:53 pm
This guy has never had a decent QB or a serviceable WR in jax. Let’s hold off on the wfts and give the dude a chance with some real talent
Falcons4Eva
January 15th, 2012
12:53 pm
I give up…another typo error.
Must be the keyboard…full of Mularkey and Dirk-doo-doo
Cal
January 15th, 2012
12:53 pm
So much for all the talk of wanting a championship from Mr. Blank. You let the staff go hire another dud coordinator with no resume to speak of. No good coordinator wants to work with mike smith, his style is to old and the NFL has passed him by. Now how does Author Blank expect to win with basiclly the same coaching staff?
BLACKFALCON
January 15th, 2012
12:54 pm
We are condemning before we see it play out … He never had a quarterback to coach.
Are you kidding me?
January 15th, 2012
12:55 pm
Breaking news… The next piece of the puzzle will be implemented when the falcons announce Grady high’s own towel boy to the position of Defensive Coach. Falcons are looking for a perfect compliment to their newly hired OC. Smith was recently quoted saying ” I feel real comfortable with the towel boy… During Friday night lights, he was always there with a smile and a fresh towel… I don’t care if he does not have a results oriented record as a DC, its part of the process. Folks, this is pitiful.
Danny
January 15th, 2012
12:55 pm
OK, folks, the Falcons have demonstrated their lack of commitment to producing a winning team. There is only one way you and I can show our displeasure with their decisions. No one within the Falcons organization will read these posts but believe me, there is a way for us to make a difference. Do not purchase tickets to the game and do not buy their NFL memorabilia. This is the only way for our voice to be heard. An empty stadium, no concessions, no parking fees, no jersey sales is our only effective voice. Please, let’s bad together on this. If this is the best Mike Smith can do, I’m so ready for him to be gone as well!!!!!!!!!!
FalconFan
January 15th, 2012
12:55 pm
Let’s see, Falcons burn 5 picks to get Jones so they can go downfield, now they hire a OC who thinks down field is 3 yards past the line of scrimmage. Screwy.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 15th, 2012
12:55 pm
Everybody talked trash about Jim Mora, but he won a playoff game and made it to the Championship game in his 1st season…………….
HA HA HA
Bama mike
January 15th, 2012
12:55 pm
Well. Where do I get my discounted tickets for the 2012 Mike Smith farewell tour.