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
GTJeff
January 15th, 2012
2:35 pm
What the F? I am EXTREMELY ANGRY as a Falcons fan right now. Obviously smith is a puss bag who is too afraid to go outside of his stupid box.
fedup falcon
January 15th, 2012
2:35 pm
i think Koetter will do good but only if we rebuild our offensive line to give Matt time to throw.
5150 UOAD
January 15th, 2012
2:36 pm
DAVE don’t worry CHOKE will be dead soon. His heart will attack him because Matt Ryan ain’t going away anytime soon. Choke living with all the hate and anger can’t survive the next few RYAN years.
Big Ray
January 15th, 2012
2:36 pm
I find it interesting that folks want to pass judgement on a guy whose name they didn’t know prior to this.
So his offensive rankings have gone downhill ever since 2007…look deeper. The Jacksonvile front office, personnel moves, and coaching have gone down since, as well.
Quick, name me somebody at an offensive skill position besides Maurice Jones Drew, Blaine Gabbert, and David Garrard for the Jags since 2007.
Note: Garrard was injured on and off that entire time….
Meet the new boss...
January 15th, 2012
2:37 pm
Same as the old boss…
DawgNole
January 15th, 2012
2:37 pm
Reality
January 15th, 2012
1:51 pm
A thought out of left field: Mike Singeltary as DC. Yes, I know he isn’t coaching the Niners but he turned them around.
Did you see the niners D yesterday? Intense and hard hitting. Brees had nobody open all day.
Singeltary may be wired a bit too tight as a HC but I give him a ton of credit for instilling a toughness in what was a soft, awful team.
________________________
“Brees had nobody open all day.” Are you nuts?! He completed more than 60% of his passes for 462 yards and 4 TDs. Nobody open??????????? Get real.
On the other hand, I do agree with you on SF.
Big Ray
January 15th, 2012
2:37 pm
….and Gabbert is scared to play….or haven’t you noticed?
just me
January 15th, 2012
2:39 pm
Numerous posts from fools and idiots who have no clue what they are talking about. Because they haven’t heard of him, he must suck. Just fools being fools. Typical of about 50% of the population of Atlanta.
June Jones
January 15th, 2012
2:39 pm
Hey I a pass coacnhing master!!!!! and I worked under glanville (better winning% that Rio)
:-O
keepinitreal
January 15th, 2012
2:39 pm
Very disappointing. All the rheteroic in the post-season presser about how the Falcons are going to do whatever it takes to win a championship was a lot of sound and fury signifying nothing. Smitty wanted a yes-man who he had a close relationship with rather than the offensive genius this team needs.
My guess is Smitty gets fired within the next year or two.
rivercard
January 15th, 2012
2:40 pm
Big Ray just me- Then give me one fact based reason this is a good hire. His failures speak for themselves.
just me
January 15th, 2012
2:41 pm
@DawgNole
“Brees had nobody open all day.” Are you nuts?! He completed more than 60% of his passes for 462 yards and 4 TDs. Nobody open??????????? Get real.
How many picks and fumbles? Most were short passes with the yardage after the catch. Hard to throw down field under pressure. Ask Ryan.
just me
January 15th, 2012
2:44 pm
@keepinitreal “My guess is Smitty gets fired within the next year or two.”
Reality says you are a complete idiot. Can you name the offensive coordinators of Pittsburg, New England, Philly, New Orleans, San Francisco, Baltimore…
Just keep being dumb as dirt. The world needs more idiots like you. That makes my job easier to keep making big money on idiots like you.
Gatorzone
January 15th, 2012
2:44 pm
Dumitroff sucks! Matty chickensh!t needs a west coast style offense to be successful. Smith and Dumitroff will be gone in 2 years. We have peaked, and giving up 5 picks for an often injured player will set us back for 5 years
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 15th, 2012
2:44 pm
Anybody know where I can buy a playoff game?
2004 is a LONGGGGGGGGGGGGGG Time to wait for another
ohhhhYEAH
January 15th, 2012
2:46 pm
Choke….why don’t you respond to my posts? there are at least two you failed to reply to. Guess you didnt really have an answer
Jim
January 15th, 2012
2:47 pm
Two losers swapping jobs and the team that get the other’s loser is supposed to have faith? In what? Reincarnation? The current Falcons no longer get the benefit of any doubt and reservation of judgments. This is a goofy hire on paper…which is the most objective standard anyone has. I’ve been a Falcon fan since the 70’s, and with few exceptions, this organization just consistenly finds a way to disappoint the fans…but they sell tickets and create false hope annually, that’s a given. I don’t see this move as an obvious good one, which is what the organization needs. I know, give him a chance. Yeah, right.
Gatorzone
January 15th, 2012
2:48 pm
Ryan needs to grow a pair! Sliding short of first down and throwing the ball away ain’t cutting it!
DAMON
January 15th, 2012
2:49 pm
We don’t need an OC, Ryan thinks he’s the second coming of Peyton……..let’em call his own plays
Devil's Advocate
January 15th, 2012
2:49 pm
Why do people keep saying Matt Ryan is one the best QBs in the league when his body of work says he’s just average? Marketing says Ryan is one of the best. If we judge ALL QBs by the same criteria, Ryan is just another mid-tier guy. That’s not an insult or hate, it’s the truth.
More importantly, it doesn’t mean the Falcons cannot win the Super Bowl with Ryan. We just need a great run blocking OL like we’ve had for the past decade before we decided to become a pass first team in 2011.
5150 UOAD
January 15th, 2012
2:52 pm
This has all the makings of “ISHTAR” or “Gigli” if this were a Hollywood Can’t Miss Movie.
Devil's Advocate
January 15th, 2012
2:52 pm
And more importantly, we need a tougher defense.
GulfwavesGary
January 15th, 2012
2:53 pm
Never heard of the guy. Not happy. No on the job training. No grace period. Either he produces from the beginning or I hate the hire. Just cannot believe it. Watching 3rd string QB Yaes for Houston playing. Falcons 0 offensive points in playoff. Houston 13 in first half. The guy better be great or Coach Smith is to blame.
ohhhhYEAH
January 15th, 2012
2:53 pm
@Devil’s Adv.
I think he’s better than his body of work suggests. I agree to some extent, simply because I know he’s not Brees, Manning, Brady, or Rodgers. BUT, in his defense, he could easily be right behind them if he had an OC that was worth anything the past few years. Yes, they developed him well for his FIRST FEW YEARS, but the past two, even at 13-3 last year, they never put the game in his hands, as we see with Rodgers, Brees, Manning, and Brady. Ryan’s body of work, even in spite of being handcuffed by an inept OC, shows that he can be a top QB in this league. Maybe I’m wrong, but if I’m right, then Mularkey being gone will prove fruitful for Matty Ice. And as he goes, the Falcons go also
Reality
January 15th, 2012
2:54 pm
With a winning record, the Falcons will have a tough schedule next year. The Falcons will struggle to make the playoffs.
Prediction: Next year is Mike Smith’s last with the Falcons.
Next year is a wasted year for the Falcons.
Herschel Talker
January 15th, 2012
2:56 pm
Schultzie:
What’s with the split infinitive in the first sentence?
HT
jmoore
January 15th, 2012
2:57 pm
MIKE SMITH YOU SUCK!!!! NEXT YEAR YOUR BROTHER IN LAW WILL SHOW YOU HOW TO TAKE THE FALCONS TO A HIGHER LEVEL….JERK……
Saints lost
January 15th, 2012
2:57 pm
What happen to the Saint’s? Brees away from home is no better than Ryan. Funny stuff listening to all of the blue gummed, bug eyed fools from New Orleans. Saw where one of your boys shot up a couple of San Fran fans at Applebee’s in Duluth.
We used to take care of that kind of stuff with a rope and pickup. Problem was solved so quick.
My Opinon
January 15th, 2012
2:58 pm
@Reality “Prediction: Next year is Mike Smith’s last with the Falcons.”
I don’t have to predict to know you will still be an idiot next year.
Devil's Advocate
January 15th, 2012
2:59 pm
ohhhhYEAH,
I disagree. Ryan has been making adjustments at the line and going no huddle on a regular basis for 2 seasons now. Against inferior defenses Ryan looked above average but against better defenses he looked below average. He is what he is right now. Sure, he could get better but so can any player on any team in the NFL. Why is Ryan’s “could” more probable than everyone else’s “could”?
bill
January 15th, 2012
3:00 pm
Boy, I feel better now…the Atlanta Jags, or is it the Jacksonville Falcons?
ohhhhYEAH
January 15th, 2012
3:00 pm
@ Reality
Schedule of opponents already decided. We play the NFC East and AFC West. If we cant beat Dallas, Washington, Oakland, KC, Denver, and SD, then theres a problem. We also play Arizona and Detroit again. HOWEVER, even as bad as everyone thinks we are, we aren’t that bad. We are certainly in a better situation than every team in the AFC West, INCLUDING Denver, and much better than Arizona. And Washington….well…..it’s Washington. We will beat the Bucs twice and Carolina at least once, so I’m already at 10 wins. Maybe we get lucky and steal a game from the Saints, or steal a game in New York or Philly(doubt it…have we EVER won in Philly?). So even as things stand, I still like our chances to have another SOLID year at minimum. Who knows, maybe they’ll surprise us all
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 15th, 2012
3:02 pm
Gatorzone
January 15th, 2012
2:48 pm
Ryan needs to grow a pair! Sliding short of first down and throwing the ball away ain’t cutting it!
____________________________________
That was HILARIOUS………………
What a BIG PUNK
ohhhhYEAH
January 15th, 2012
3:03 pm
@DA
It’s not better or worse than anyone’s “could,” nor did I make that statement. I’m just saying time will tell what he ends up as, nothing more. But I do agree that he isnt always great at making reads and calling audibles at the line. An area in which every qb in the league always has room to grow, even the greats.
Falconsfan708
January 15th, 2012
3:03 pm
This says it all……from ajc article thursday
Dirk Koetter
This one makes the least sense of any candidate available. His offense last year was one of the worst in the NFL while he was offensive coordinator in Jacksonville. His Jaguars were ranked dead last in total offense and passing yards. The Jaguars were 12th in rushing, but were 28th in points per game. Some will say that was a product of having a rookie quarterback and a team in turmoil. That excuse doesn’t pass the smell test when Denver is in the divisional playoff round with Tim Tebow, along with the Houston Texans winning in the playoffs with their 3rd string quarterback. He’s of course on the list for his familiarity with Coach Smith. Isn’t that the exact thing the Falcons need to get away from?
Gatorzone
January 15th, 2012
3:04 pm
Ryan is gutless
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 15th, 2012
3:04 pm
DAMON
January 15th, 2012
2:49 pm
We don’t need an OC, Ryan thinks he’s the second coming of Peyton……..let’em call his own plays
_____________________________________________-
He couldn’t carry Peyton Mannings luggage…………..
HA HA HA
DawgNole
January 15th, 2012
3:05 pm
You’ve missed the boat, “Just me.”
Reality said “Brees “had nobody open all day.” This has nothing to do with YAC.
You don’t complete 40 passes for 462 yards with nobody open all day.
Steer your ignorant comments in someone else’s direction.
Dawg A
January 15th, 2012
3:05 pm
Horrible hire! And yes I am (not for long) a season ticket holder so I do understand the game. Another idiot move by Blank!
42-10
January 15th, 2012
3:06 pm
Falcons had a chance to really step up and get a damn good OC and also make a hit with the fans but no they took the easy way out and hired a friend.???? Holy Cow and you wonder why fans don’t like the Falcons and Falcons can’t win..
Also the same BS Braves and Hawks do…BS sorry Atlanta teams.
JP
January 15th, 2012
3:06 pm
ohhh yeah……in the pros they have a drill call “scramble drill” in which the QB has to practice scrambling outside of the pocket to make a play……Matt has not done this well in practice, thus it has not translated in the game….additionally, I have been at the practices when they the “deep post” drills are called…again Matt did not execute well in practice thus, the OC doesnt call those plays in the game because there has not been success with it in practice…..for those who really have played sports college and or pro..this is well known…
Gatorzone
January 15th, 2012
3:07 pm
Yay!!! More bland football! Dimitroff sucks!
42-10
January 15th, 2012
3:07 pm
I bet they never interviewed anyone else..want to bet?
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 15th, 2012
3:08 pm
Reality
January 15th, 2012
2:54 pm
With a winning record, the Falcons will have a tough schedule next year. The Falcons will struggle to make the playoffs.
Prediction: Next year is Mike Smith’s last with the Falcons.
Next year is a wasted year for the Falcons
_____________________________________________
And in 2013 The Great Hope search starts all over again……………..
HA HA HA
freddy
January 15th, 2012
3:09 pm
They better hire Steve Spagnuolo as DC are the fans will rebell and not show up.
freddy
January 15th, 2012
3:11 pm
DT said it would not be a fan hire..damn well got that right..stupid man!
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 15th, 2012
3:12 pm
Devil’s Advocate
January 15th, 2012
2:59 pm
ohhhhYEAH,
I disagree. Ryan has been making adjustments at the line and going no huddle on a regular basis for 2 seasons now. Against inferior defenses Ryan looked above average but against better defenses he looked below average. He is what he is right now. Sure, he could get better but so can any player on any team in the NFL. Why is Ryan’s “could” more probable than everyone else’s “could”?
_____________________________________
EXACTLY!
HA HA HA
ohhhhYEAH
January 15th, 2012
3:13 pm
@JP
Funny, considering I played a fair amount of college ball. I know what goes on in practice, I also know games are often MUCH different than practice. Practice speed is not game speed, etc…It’s also hard to complete a deep ball when you’re constantly in a 3rd and 14 and Ray Charles knows youre about to throw it AT LEAST 14 yards to pick up a first down. But I guess you didn’t think about that, while you were trying to talk to me about practice
Gatorzone
January 15th, 2012
3:13 pm
People thinking Dimitroff and smith are the answer are wrong. Smith gets outcoached by anyone with an imagination. Dimitroff gives up 5 picks for an oft injured player who will touch the ball 7 times per game! This was when there are so many needs on defense! He sucks!
O'Brien
January 15th, 2012
3:15 pm
So the problem with ATL’s offense is coaching, but the problem with Jacksonville’s offense is not enough quality players? So ATL and Jax switch coaches? As a Falcons fan, I’m not impressed with this hire. I hope Koetter surprises me though, because next year, Smitty and TD will be out of excuses.