Falcons Coaching Poll

[Diesel]

Who do you think should be the next falcons coach?

[ATLien_]

I voted for Bowles but old Blank man will want a big name for the new stadium, so I predict Shanahan. Smith was defensive so they will likely go offensive. Which may be the best choice the last time we hired a coach that had been to multiple super bowls it worked out fairly well with Dan Reeves.

He'll likely implement a zone blocking scheme which will help our putrid running game. If you can't be physical you may as well cut block. Matt Ryan will probably be the least athletic quarterback he's coached. He excels at play action, but would probably struggle with all the bootlegs Shanahan's offense requires. Shanahan has also been humbled, so he may be willing to keep on Tice and some of the other assistance coaches.

[PSSSHHHRRR87]

For those that need a review:

 

 

It finally happened. The Atlanta Falcons fired Mike Smith not even one day after an all too familiar meltdown when the team had every reason to win.

 

Now that is enough talking about the past. I am sorry it got so emotional.

 

Who are Smitty's potential replacements? The following is a brief summary of every coach that has been linked to the Falcons job and other coaches that have been popular names as future NFL head coaches.

 

Broncos OC Adam Gase

 

Gase has been popularly linked to the Atlanta Falcons and would make a lot of sense. Oh, also the team has already requested an interview with him. He is the hottest name early in the coach interviewing process. But who is he?

Gase is only 36 years old and has just finished his 2nd year as an offensive coordinator in the NFL. He was handed the OC spot in Denver after Mike McCoy took the head coach position in San Diego. Gase has moved up the coaching ranks in Denver, previously coaching both the wide receivers and quarterbacks.

 

Gase has done well shifting the Broncos offense away from Peyton Manning's crumbling arm and instead leaned on the run game. The prior Broncos OC has done well in San Diego, but you have to wonder how much of this success is related to an insane amount of talent across the entire Denver offense.

 

Is Gase an offensive genius or does he just email Manning small ideas about the offense he may wish to consider that never seem to get put into the game?

 

While he coordinated Manning to a record breaking year and a Super Bowl berth, and the Cleveland Browns were willing to wait until after the Super Bowl to interview Gase, he is still a pretty big unknown, but seems quite adaptive and can make adjustments where necessary.

 

Seahawks DC Dan Quinn

 

Quinn is another coordinator the Falcons have requested to interview. Similar to Gase, Quinn has coordinated at en elite level for just last two years, filling in after Gus Bradley left for the Jacksonville Jaguars head coach job. It is unclear if Quinn runs his own defense or Peter Carroll's defense, but he has done a masterful job improving what was already one of the best defenses in the league. He has plenty of experience working with the defensive line and has had success developing young talent.

 

Former Jets HC Rex Ryan  

 

You should really know about Rex Ryan by now. He never had a competent general manager or quarterback, but had consistently put together a quality defense. There have been plenty of reports linked Ryan to the Falcons, with Arthur Blank previously coming away impressed with him in interviews during the last head coach search. If Ryan could find a decent offensive coordinator, he could put together a potentially dangerous team in Atlanta.

 

Cardinals DC Todd Bowles

 

Bowles surprisingly came up empty as head coaching positions filled up last year, as the former player and one time Miami Dolphins interim head coach has produced a truly impressive Arizona Cardinals defense. He runs an aggressive, creative and blitz-heavy defense that has gotten great results.

 

Bowles is sort of the anti-Smitty. That is probably why the Falcons requested permission to interview him.

Bowles would be a qualified head coach that would also provide the Falcons with their first African American head coach hiring. His Cardinals defense suffered multiple major injuries but remained one of the best in the league. At the same time, he has gotten great seasons out of some pretty mediocre veterans, something that rarely happens in Atlanta.

At the very least, Bowles would make team far less conservative, inside and out.

 

Patriots OC Josh McDaniels

 

The Falcons surprisingly had some reported interest in Josh McDaniels, a man that has struggled outside of New England. While his offensive mind has some very real upside, and he may prove to be a innovative play caller and developing quarterbacks, the current Patriots offensive coordinator was run out of Denver after clashing with players and front office alike.

 

McDaniels seems to have worked on his social skills since that time and could develop an offense significantly better than Atlanta has seen in recent years. He has coordinated many different types of offenses, frequently fitting his scheme with his current personnel. Like Rex Ryan, the 38 year-old not seem to have much understanding about the other side of the ball, resulting in his Nolan-esque .393 win percentage as a head coach.

Lions DC Teryl Austin

 

Austin is a surprising name on the list, as he has limited pro experience and has spent only one year coordinating an offense. However, he was linked to the Atlanta Falcons because he has completely turned around the Detroit Lions defense in only one season, despite the roster remaining essentially the same as 2013. It may be early for him to get realistic head coaching consideration, but he was finally the defensive coordinator to turn the Lions defense into what it should be.

 

Mike Nolan Keith Armstrong

 

Realistically, the only coach on the staff deserving serious consideration for the head coach spot. While I could talk about how much I like Armstrong as a coach, I could just link to the greatest speech in Hard Knocks history. Special teams coordinators rarely move up to head coach, but if anyone is worth the shot, if would be Armstrong.

 

David Shaw

 

Shaw took over the Stanford football program after Jim Harbaugh left for the 49ers head coaching job, with the former college wide receiver and position coach for the Raiders and Ravens bringing the college program to even more wins. Only 42, Shaw maintains that he will not make the leap to the NFL. That has not stopped NFL teams from expressing their interest and Shaw could be the latest college head coach to make the move to the pros when the right opportunity (and money) come along.

 

If he interviews, Shaw has proven he can maintain an entire organization and would be more polished overall than the likes of an Austin or Quinn. He has learned under Harbaugh but is reportedly not a huge jerk.

 

Lets just call that everyone

 

If there is anyone we missed here, put them down in the comments. The Falcons have a lot of problems, but I would like a creative, aggressive leader to help change this team. Any change in how the team is managed would feel like an improvement.

 

 

http://www.thefalcoholic.com/2014/12/29/7463381/atlanta-falcons-head-coach-targets

 

 

I read the description of Bowles and knew that was my guy.  Anti-Smitty.

Edited December 30, 2014 by PSSSHHHRRR87

[Guest]

Voted McDaniels because of Ahrthurhs obsession with the "Patriot" way.  Unfortunately we're being set up for more turmoil since, if it doesn't work year one, TD is likely to be fired.  No new GM is gonna want to come in with a coach already in place so .... round and round we go.

[Vol4ever]

I went with Rex Ryan, BUT I dont think anyone on that list will be the guy.  Blank has been looking around for a while now and I think he will pay for a big name coach.  I certainly could be wrong though.  I would like to see some defense and good play along both lines.

 

Why wasn't the GM fired is the biggest question I had...............

[Guest]

I went with Rex Ryan, BUT I dont think anyone on that list will be the guy.  Blank has been looking around for a while now and I think he will pay for a big name coach.  I certainly could be wrong though.  I would like to see some defense and good play along both lines.

 

Why wasn't the GM fired is the biggest question I had...............

 

I agree with you.

 

Jerry Jones er Danial Snyder er Blank can look at "big name" coaches all he wants but, just like last time (allegedly), they'll balk at having him and his lack of football acumen standing over their every decision.  We'll end up with another assistant.

[jy23]

I've been on the Rex Ryan train for awhile now. Get it done AB

[EazyRoc]

Im not voting because I would be equally happy with Rex Ryan, Teryl Austin, or Todd Bowles. Of course, Ryan and Bowles would be better hires as we have great 34 linemen. We would just need to get those linebackers. I think Austin runs the Wide 9 and i think we could make it work, but we still need that pass rusher on the edge.

[frosgrim]

I voted for Bowles. He seems like the type of guy we need to push some buttons on both defense and offense. For example, I think he'd get the most out of Hageman who can be an absolute beast, if motivated.

 

After Bowles

2. Ryan- was a clown early on, but figured out that didn't work. Did an very good job with an awful Jets roster

3. Dan Quinn- will bring Carroll's "system" with him (addoral?) and help get the most out of later round talent

 

The one guys i really don't want are McDaniels and Gase. I just get the feeling these guys will be a hot mess as HCs. McD may have figured out some things after the Denver mess, but Gase is too young and too green to lead a team.