Those lucky Falcons: Mike Mularkey goes to Jacksonville
Double M leaves! Touchdown! (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
The Jacksonville Jaguars, for reasons unclear, have hired Mike Mularkey as head coach. That means the Atlanta Falcons lucked out. They’ve been spared having to fire him as offensive coordinator.
The belief here was that Double M, as he’s known, wasn’t going to be retained, but that’s not to say the decision would have been painless. The Falcons won a lot of (regular-season) games with Mularkey overseeing the offense, and it’s never easy to break a winning pattern even if you know the pattern needs breaking.
Moot point now, though. Mularkey is gone, same as defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder. The Falcons have two key hires to make this offseason, and the offensive position is surely the more important. In the end, offensive failings undid this talented aggregation. The Falcons need to find a man who could make these glittering pieces more of a whole.
Mike Martz is a name that keeps surfacing, but I might look first to Rick Neuheisel, who was just fired as UCLA’s head coach but who’s an offensive man by trade and who worked as coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens. That’s just a first look, though. There are a handful of good men out there whose addition would constitute an upgrade.
The Falcons, I say again, lucked out. A staleness had come over this coaching staff. That’s inevitable after four years together, and now the team gets to change on both offense and defense without having to fire anybody. Auburn and Jacksonville came calling at the right time, Jacksonville especially. Time now for Smitty and Thomas Dimitroff to make the most of this opportunity. Time to hire even better coordinators.
By Mark Bradley
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465 comments Add your comment
layinlow
January 11th, 2012
10:14 am
Vick didn’t get the credit in Atlanta because he was lazy and he himself admitted as much. Vick was absolutely brilliant early in his Falcons career and had the whole city buzzing but toward the end his play fell off big time. Anyone remember the season ending a$$ whippin by the Panthers at home. Vick quit on the Falcons that final season. And now he shows flashes of brillinace but can’t stay healthy for a three game stretch.
And now the Falcons have Matt Ryan who is just a slightly above average NFL QB. In my opinion the Falcons are in denial in thinking this guy is elite because he is not. I watch him in the pocket against the good defenses and when the pressure comes he panics. With julio jones, roddy white, and harry douglas this team should make more explosive plays down the field. Mularkey has been blamed but now that Ryan will get a new offensive coordinator I guess we will find out how good matty ice really can be. However, I am going to stick to my opinion that he is not elite until proven otherwise.
Michael
January 11th, 2012
10:14 am
@ All Im Saying Is- I could not agree more. There has to be some young, up and coming position coach on staff at GB/NO/Philly who wants to get out and run their own show somewhere. Hire them and give them the keys to offense. Defensively I just want someone with an NFL pedigree who is not afraid to go after a QB. BVG was always a college guy to me.
Disappointed does not cut it!
January 11th, 2012
10:14 am
BUMP this Fish Wrapper Newspaper! Reporters SUCK! You need to learn how to interview peeps and ask the hard questions!
Najeh Davenpoop
January 11th, 2012
10:15 am
“I say source your next Defensive Coordinator from one of those teams. ”
What you’re suggesting might seem obvious but it is amazing how many NFL teams hire coaches who didn’t rank near the top of the league with whatever units they controlled on their previous teams. Why do teams hire OCs and DCs to be head coaches when their units were not in the top 10 in the league (e.g. Jim Moron heading the 14th ranked defense in San Francisco before coming here, Bobby Petrino heading the 21st ranked offense in Jacksonville)? Why do teams hire lower level position coaches to be OCs and DCs when the players at their position didn’t rank in the top 10 in the league? Doesn’t make much sense.
PMC
January 11th, 2012
10:16 am
Let’s just step back off the ledge here for a second and realize/acknowledge that Matt Ryan will not be traded.
They have won a lot of games in 4 years. The QB situation isn’t ideal yet but they aren’t picking near the top of the draft like San Diego was when they got Phillip Rivers either.
Ryan has to progress, he has to be accurate, he has to be quicker, he has to have much better pocket presence and he’s got to move better in the pocket, but he’s not going anywhere and he shouldn’t.
They are failing in the playoffs because they have some critical flaws.
The offensive line is not physical enough to impose thier will and the defensive line cannot get to and effect the QB.
You can’t win in the playoffs without doing those 2 things. Skill positions all rely on the LOS. That’s where we’re poor. Matt Ryan isn’t great, but lets stop pretending he’s awful. Guy is pretty good just not good enough yet.
midtown123
January 11th, 2012
10:16 am
@jerry are you nuts wanting to dump Turner!!?? He was 3rd in the NFL in rushing this year!!!!
mountain_jim
January 11th, 2012
10:16 am
Well FALCONEDDY, I am just saying that if this staff can’t fix the oline and dline issues either by coaching them up or getting better players, then Carolina is likely to ascend over Atlanta in the next 2 years, as the Falcons window closes.
Having been a Falcon fan since 73, I doubt I would or could change team-allegiances at this late date, but I can see problems with this franchise that I hope Blank, TD, and Smith can address and fix this off-season or else we will not be sniffing playoffs again for awhile.
Leeman
January 11th, 2012
10:17 am
The staleness starts at the top. Why let smitty and richt scapegoat these assistants?
Clear to see
January 11th, 2012
10:17 am
@London Based Jacket “Is Kirby Smart ready for the NFL?”
Just because a coach in the NCAA has the by far the most talent on his team and wins doesn’t mean the guy is a great coach. AL rushed 4 and played zone. Do you think that would work in the NFL? How did the great “coach” Saban do in the NFL when the other team had players that were as good as his?
warfalcon
January 11th, 2012
10:18 am
WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
warfalcon
January 11th, 2012
10:18 am
Enter your comments here
PMC
January 11th, 2012
10:19 am
This is a team built to play with a lead. Without scoring TD’s early and often, they can’t do what they want to do and they are far to comfortable with a score or two lead.
Clear to see
January 11th, 2012
10:19 am
@brad “Hugh jackson and Mike Singletary!!!”
Because of their success(lack of) or do you have other reasons? Are you another guy who wants to bring back Vick?
Najeh Davenpoop
January 11th, 2012
10:20 am
“For all people say about Vick, 2003 was one of the worst years ever for Falcons fans, and 2007 with Harrington and Leftwich was probably worse.”
2003 killed me. If Vick hadn’t gotten injured, Reeves probably doesn’t get fired, Moron never gets hired, and who knows what could have happened with this team.
There are plenty of valid criticisms of Vick as a Falcon, but the bottom line is this team completely fell apart without him in 2003 and 2007. I can’t think of a more direct indictment of a roster and organization than watching it fall apart when they lose one player. The Patriots lost Brady in 2008 and still won 11 games, and as big of a Vick fan as I am, even I’m not going to rank him ahead of Brady.
vesaversa
January 11th, 2012
10:21 am
“Time now for Smitty and Thomas Dimitroff” to leave too.
Falcons4Eva
January 11th, 2012
10:22 am
@ FALCONEDDY
January 11th, 2012
10:04 am
—————————————————-
My point was that even with this SAME offensive talent we had this past year….if the coaching staff of the Saints or the Packers were to have coached our SAME EXACT FALCONS TEAM, we would have score far more than 2 FREAKIN’ points against the GIANTS !!! More than 12 Points against the Bears, More than 16 pts against the Packers and so forth and so on.
A lot has to do with what play (or sequence of plays) you can and how often (or lack thereof) you call those plays. Sean Payton has no problems in is play calling.
Look at what Drew Brees did on their 4th and one….all he did was jump up in the air, and held the ball across the line of scrimmage for 1 yard….SMART Play, Smart Player. Mind you that Drew Brees is 6 feet tall at best!
What did Matt Ryan do…TURNED HIS BACK and Hoped to slid into a hole that did not exist! That was a coaches call. Our line was bunched up too tight to even create a crease. At the very least they should have SPREAD the line out and had someone in the backfield to offer the chance of a run play…THAT WAS Mularkey foolishness!
Jerry Glanville
January 11th, 2012
10:22 am
Bring back June Jones as OC
Andre Rison as receivers coach
Swamp Fox to coach the defense
Glanville to coach special teams
Clear to see
January 11th, 2012
10:22 am
Turner is getting slower and it one dimensional. Can’t throw to him and he can’t get outside. The Falcons have to move away from the ‘power running’ game, unless they retool the offensive line. The OL was the reason for the Falcons struggles offensively.
drew
January 11th, 2012
10:22 am
Najeh: Some day, Falcons fans will give Vick the credit he deserves for accomplishing what he accomplished here, and in his words “overcoming coaching”. Some day. I don’t have much hope that this will happen any time soon.
I would say 90% of Falcon fans DO appreciate what Vick accomplished here. The number would probably be higher if not for the Vick apologists (Choke, Falcons Sorry, etc) who used the race card to twist and distort the Vick saga into something it wasn’t. Vick WAS embraced by Falcon fans of all races, right up until he crapped on the owner, the coaches, the players, the fans (and his own pants!). At which time he received his well deserved scorn.
vesaversa
January 11th, 2012
10:25 am
Najeh Davenpoop) Mike Vick is irrelevant to what the Falcons needs are now . They don’t have the luxury to look back in time and ask what if.
JSS
January 11th, 2012
10:26 am
Like I said on the Mularkey Interviewed and Hired Blog, I’m not a usual suspects person.
I would go out of the box, try to get John Mitchell is D-line coach and Asst. Head coach with Steelers.
Or you can try Jim Leavitt, the old USF coach. He is presently coaching LBs in San Francisco. He’s seen the Vic Fangio (their DC) scheme up close now. I’d like for them to talk to him.
Steve Spagnuolo; I respect the body of work but I’ve known for quite awhile that Jeff Lurie and Robert Kraft have been trying to get the best of crop to their respective teams. he’ll most likely be hired by Friday.
I call Clarence Shelmon (he just quit in San Diego as the OC). Caveat: Although he said he wants to “do other things;” He has Norv Turner’s playbook without Norv’s baggage.
Some of you are insensitive, Joe Philbin has just lost his son for heaven’s sake… Let the man and his family have a moment to breath. Besides, isn’t there stay that rule that team’s don’t have to give permission to talk to a candidate if it is a horizontal move and not a vertical move?
Tom Clements is the Packers QB coach, he knows the position and knows how to breakdown a defense into segments like the Parkers do so well and isolate the weakness…
Pete Carmichael (Saints OC) is the same as Philbin, you have to get permission and you have to wait for them to get eliminated, big risk!!!
Then again, I say do you really trust Mike Smith making the choice?
Jesus Christ
January 11th, 2012
10:26 am
Four years bring staleness. Is that what your wife said, Bradley?
Falcons4Eva
January 11th, 2012
10:26 am
Thank goodness the Hawks are off to a hot start – Now we have something else to look forward to at least.
Clear to see
January 11th, 2012
10:28 am
@drew “Najeh: Some day, Falcons fans will give Vick the credit he deserves for accomplishing what he accomplished here, and in his words “overcoming coaching”.”
Has the ‘coach killa’ and ‘dog killa’ overcome that coaching in Philly? Vick won one playoff game in Green Bay because the Packers didn’t take the Falcons seriously. See Denver/Pittsburg. As soon as the NFL adjusted to Vicks style, we see the .500 record…..
Possum
January 11th, 2012
10:28 am
Some sports commentator pointed out that Tim Tebow is more accurate at long passing than Micey Ice. Get rid of What’s His Face and bring back Jerry Glanville as Head Coach. Or even Dan Reeves. Talk to Indy and see if they’d be willing to trade either their no one draft pick or Peyton Manning for Ryan. Or talk to Philly to see if they’d be willing to trade Andy Reid and Michael Vick for What’s His Face and Ryan. Think big.
JSS
January 11th, 2012
10:28 am
10:22 and 10:25 are of the silliest comments I’ve read in years…
Falcons4Eva
January 11th, 2012
10:29 am
I pray that the Falcons don’t promote some other in-house “yes man” to either of these positions.
The new NFL QB/Passing league is upon us. Get someone who understands that and embraces that! !
Go Falcons!
Go Hawks!
Go Braves !
Later guys.
Ernest T Bass
January 11th, 2012
10:30 am
Please fire Barney Smith next!!!!
JSS
January 11th, 2012
10:30 am
@ Mark Bradley if you check in on this blog, could you please release a comment that I made around 10:23-10:25AM, it is in the filter… Thanks
Bravesfan79
January 11th, 2012
10:31 am
Hire the old offensive coordinator from the Ravens?? Are u kidding me! Have they ever averaged over 20 points a game in their history?
I wish June Jones was available, now thats a offensive genius.
Just saying..
January 11th, 2012
10:32 am
My question: Did both the blitzing VanGorder and “Professor Gadget” Mularkey have their previously innovative styles reined-in by a more conservative Coach Smith? Because for the resumes these two guys came in with, the Falcons have been very dull on both sides of the ball.
Section 124, Row 10, seats 6-10
January 11th, 2012
10:34 am
Mr Blank: We were obviously distracted in this game and lost because of it. I know there is a rule (written or gentleman’s agreement) that prohibits asking for “permission” to discuss job openings until after the season. The end of the season is different for playoff teams and MM clearly showed his head was elsewhere the week that he should have been preparing his greatest gameplan to date. We were far too predictable. How does the league, the Falcons, NFL owners change this situation?
Najeh Davenpoop
January 11th, 2012
10:34 am
“Has the ‘coach killa’ and ‘dog killa’ overcome that coaching in Philly?”
LOL @ “coach killer”. I must have missed the wins and accolades Jim Moron and Greg Knapp racked up after they were “killed” by Vick and moved elsewhere. Give me a break. I guess Matt Hasselbeck is a coach killer too then. Vick is a Pro Bowler without them and they are jack sh-t without him. Check the resumes.
Hoopster
January 11th, 2012
10:35 am
Rumor is that the Falcons have contacted Todd Grantham’s agent about interest. Hmmmmm.
tony
January 11th, 2012
10:35 am
The OC and DC were not the problem…..the problem is that they keep ignoring the OL and DL. Until they get bigger and stronger in the trenches they will continue to stronger against quality teams.
DRAFT Kellen Moore-QB!
Matt
January 11th, 2012
10:37 am
Why is Brian Billick not mentioned more? He’d be a great hire.
Falcons4Eva
January 11th, 2012
10:38 am
@ Just saying..
January 11th, 2012
10:32 am
“My question: Did both the blitzing VanGorder and “Professor Gadget” Mularkey have their previously innovative styles reined-in by a more conservative Coach Smith? Because for the resumes these two guys came in with, the Falcons have been very dull on both sides of the ball.”
===========================================
Absolutely. 100% no doubt about it.
That’s why we very well might see the same thing gain. Especially if we hire in-house.
The good news is that now that both coordinators are gone…its ALL on Mike Smith. He’s on the “hot seat” if this team fails to do anything with the changes.
Rebuilding Year
January 11th, 2012
10:39 am
Awesome news! Fine with me to give Smitty another year. Let Dimitroff work his magic in free agency and get Ryan a new nickname.
With the great home games on next year’s schedule I should be able to sell enough tix to break even on season tix and still attend five or six games.
The only thing that could be better would be to swap N.O. for Jacksonville in the NFC South because you know Jacksonville is gonna be a world-renowned punching bag for at least two seasons.
mongolikebeer
January 11th, 2012
10:40 am
We’ll see Atlanta. MM won a lot of games with the worst O line in football, a WR who can’t catch the ball consistently, an ancient TE, and a QB who lost his confidence and gained happy feet with every new sack. Did anyone watch the LT vs Pierre-Thomas? He threw him around like a rag doll. inspite of all the overated expectations and lack of real talent this offensive co-ordinator owns all the Falcon records.
Be careful what you wish for……..
Be careful what you wish for….
Najeh Davenpoop
January 11th, 2012
10:40 am
I doubt that Billick is going to leave the booth for anything less than a head coaching job, even if it involves working for his brother in law.
“All I’m Saying Is” has the right idea. Look for position coaches who have succeeded beyond expectations with their groups who may be ready for the promotion to the coordinator level. Who is Cam Newton’s QB coach? Who is the Saints’ O-line coach?
showmebetr
January 11th, 2012
10:41 am
HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!!!!!
OK so the current NFL rules allowed Mularkey to interview with Jacksonville while the Falcons were supposedly getting ready for the playoffs and the results showed. I just hope AB, TD and MS take their time and get it right. Please!!!!!!! bring in somebody with a fresh outlook. The Falcons have good players they just need the right coaches to bring it out.
SavDawg
January 11th, 2012
10:41 am
I like CMS as a person but with his conservate nature why would you think he would bring in an off & def coor. that doesn’t mesh with his way of doing things. Unless management gets involved, then he is not on same page with org. It will be very intresting but I’m afraid we’re in for more of same.
bob
January 11th, 2012
10:41 am
Mark Rich offence,Paul Johnson defence! We would all be Lucky!
Clear to see
January 11th, 2012
10:42 am
@Falcons4Eva “The good news is that now that both coordinators are gone…its ALL on Mike Smith. He’s on the “hot seat” if this team fails to do anything with the changes.”
Yeah, run off the guy who has taken the Falcons to the playoffs 3 of the last 4 years. You are proof that idiots are everywhere. I don’t think VanGorder was forced out, but Mularkey would have been let go.
lilcs
January 11th, 2012
10:43 am
Bradley, why would you want someone who has been in the offense with the Ravens? They haven’t put points on the board in their entire franchise history. Trent Dilfer came in and gave them some life foe their Super Bowl win. And he sucked! So no gifts from Baltimore, Please!!!!!! Mike Martz or Norv Turner. Period!
pat
January 11th, 2012
10:43 am
Jacksonville is going to suck.
Falcons4Eva
January 11th, 2012
10:45 am
Forget all these re-cycled folks for OC and DC –
Bring in some new talent…the NFL is soon moving to the SPREAD offense. SEE SAINTS and PACKERS! ! !
Hence: Oregon Ducks, Boise State –
You may as well match fire (Payton/Brees) with fire (RG3/Chip Kelly). Mike Smith and Matt Ryan is a snooze fest.
I predict that by 2014, Mike Smith will be gone and so will Ryan, simply because Smith is too stubborn to change, and Matt Ryan will not get the kind of line protection he needs. He’s too immobile and has very poor pocket awareness. Even Ben Rothlesberger (sp) does a better job of extending plays in the pocket….
All I'm Saying Is....
January 11th, 2012
10:45 am
In terms of personnel, success breeds success so hire someone who has been successful or has been around it. And if you can poach a QB Coach or top OC aide from New Orleans and make life a stitch more difficult for the Saints then all the better.
LET’S GO FALCONS!
Always High
January 11th, 2012
10:46 am
Najeh is like a Plecostomus forever attached to Mike Vick.
Clear to see
January 11th, 2012
10:46 am
@Najeh Davenpoop “Who is Cam Newton’s QB coach? ”
Wtf are you talking about? Funny stuff. What is your infatuation with black QB’s who have no real record of success in the NFL.