The biggest question for the Falcons entering the 2017 season is not who’s going to play right guard.
It’s how coach Dan Quinn’s revamped coaching staff will perform for the defending NFC champions.
Quinn elected to part ways with veteran NFL man Richard Smith as the defensive coordinator. Kyle Shanahan, who directed the high-powered offense last season, accepted a sweetheart, six-year deal to become San Francisco’s head coach.
Marquand Manuel was chosen to replace Smith, and Quinn picked Steve Sarkisian to takeover Shanahan’s old spot.
Despite the fact that both are first-time NFL coordinators and must figure out if they are going to call games from the sidelines or the booth, Quinn is confident both of the moves will work and the Falcons will continue to flourish in his third season at the helm.
Credit: ccompton@ajc.com
Credit: ccompton@ajc.com
Over his coaching trek, Quinn has philosophically bonded with Manuel and linebackers coach Jeff Ulbrich.
“Those two really have a special role with me,” Quinn said. “I’ve known both of them a very long time. I’ve coached with them a long time and over the last two years those guys have coached together in 43 games. They know this system inside out. We really lean on their expertise.”
Also, Bryant Young was hired to replace Bryan Cox as the defensive line coach. Former Georgia high school coaching legend Jess Simpson (seven state titles) was added to the staff.
Doug Mallory was promoted to defensive backs coach, replacing Manuel, and Jerome Henderson was named the pass-defense coordinator.
“Jerome Henderson has such a unique role for us because of his experience as a teacher,” Quinn said. “He played just about every position defensively that you can. I don’t think he’s big enough to play on the defensive line, but he played dime, played inside, played safety, played corner and played nickel. He’s one of the best teachers I’ve been around.”
Credit: Curtis Compton
Credit: Curtis Compton
The Falcons must improve dramatically on defense.
“We rely on him quite a bit for tackling, turnovers, technique stuff,” Quinn said. “We are comfortable with the process after three years of being together. Certainly, with Manuel, Ulbrich, and myself.”
During the exhibition season, Manuel will determine if he wants to call plays from the sidelines or from upstairs.
“We’re going to go through it a little bit like I did, where he’s going to try both in the (exhibition) season and then we’ll make a determination after that,” Quinn said. “In the first game, he’ll be up, and then we’ll try another one down. (There’s) a little bit of time for me to experiment with it.”
Smith called his game from upstairs. Quinn, a former defensive coordinator, has called games from upstairs and along the sideline.
“It’s a little bit on feel,” Quinn said. “From up top where you have certain strengths to where you’re on the field. We’re really fortunate to have a staff that’s adaptable to go either way with that.”
Cornerback Desmond Trufant believes Manuel, his former position coach, will do well.
“He’s got the same passion, maybe even more,” Trufant said. “Obviously, he always kind of had a leader mentality in our room any way. He’s just transitioned into coaching the whole defense now. I’m happy he’s moving up. We have big things ahead.”
After a rocky season in 2015, Shanahan and quarterback Matt Ryan got on the same page and the offense took off last season. The Falcons and Ryan put up dazzling numbers, which included leading the league in scoring and tossing touchdown passes to 13 receivers.
All of the key weapons return, as the team has to replace only right guard Chris Chester and fullback Patrick DiMarco.
Sarkisian, who last was in the NFL in 2004 as a quarterback coach, has to keep the attack humming along.
“It was important that we had a philosophy in place of things that we want to do,” Quinn said. “That’s important for (GM) Thomas Dimitroff and his group to know what are we scouting for. The scheme wasn’t going to change from coordinator to coordinator. It was going to stay very consistent.”
Sarkisian won’t by handcuffed. There is room for tweaking and improvement.
The Falcons need to come up with a better plan in short-yardage situations, get the tight ends more involved and figure out how to utilize Pro Bowl wide receiver Julio Jones’ immense talents inside the opposition’s 20-yard line.
“Now, that doesn’t mean that here is the playbook and you just run it in the same exact fashion,” Quinn said. “Over this camp, I can’t wait for Sark to see how he wants to feature the players.”
The Falcons like second-year tight end Austin Hooper and drafted pass-catcher Eric Saubert after re-signing Levine Toilolo.
“We’ve added even some more tight ends in the mix,” Quinn said. “That part, I’m anxious for him to put his own flair on it. He understands the style after being with me over six months of how we want to play.”
Sarkisian appears to be blending in well with the offensive players.
“Sark is fun guy,” wide receiver Mohamed Sanu said. “Loose. Let’s us be ourselves. He knows our strengths and is trying to get us better at our weaknesses.”
Another big loss for the Falcons was running backs coach Bobby Turner, who joined Shanahan in San Francisco. Turner is widely considered one of the top – if not the top – running backs coaches in the league. He made his name with Denver, where he regularly churned out 1,000-yard backs while on Mike Shanahan’s staff.
He worked wonders with Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman last season, as they combined to rush for 1,599 and 85 receptions, 883 receiving yards and 24 combined touchdowns.
Turner was replace by Keith Carter, who was the former assistant offensive line coach for the past two seasons.
Carter played tight end, “H” back and fullback at UCLA. He has held several assistant coaching positions for NCAA teams and served as an offensive quality control coach with the Seahawks for two seasons before joining the Falcons.
“I’m excited for Keith Carter moving over to running backs,” Quinn said. “He’s another one who I feel is a terrific teacher. We’re excited about where we are heading with the staff.”
The offseason was important for the staff to bond and get on the same page while not under fire in games.
“We’ve spent a lot of time together this spring,” Quinn said. “Our own standard of how we want to hold each other accountable to make sure we’re doing everything we can. By the time the players get the ball on Sunday, they’ve gotten our best as well.”
