chronob

I would be happy if we just found a way to blitz more often.

This gives me a more position impression of Bevell: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2018/12/19/18146997/atlanta-falcons-darrell-bevell-offensive-coordinator-seattle-seahawks-minnesota-vikings That said, it won't matter who they hire if they can't put together an O-line that opens up running holes and keeps their QB upright.

I assumed when Knapp was hired that it was to both to help Sark get the offense on track, as well as make a case to replace him if things didn't improve. I suppose now that all depends on how much of this year's failures they lay at Knapp's feet. If he can make a case where he suggested "A", Sark chose "B", and things didn't work, then maybe he has a chance. Honestly, I'd be as willing to give Knapp a shot (which would at least provide some continuity) as I would be to see Bevell hired. Would we even be talking about him as a candidate if didn't have Russell Wilson (and, previously, Marshawn Lynch) to make plays? With the exception of Kubiak I'm not sure I've heard a name for OC that would excite anyone.

Obviously, the best case scenario is to ditch Sark and hire Kubiak. Kubiak would come in and instantly command respect (both from our players and opposing teams), and, hopefully, change the culture on the offense. Blank, Dimitroff and Quinn should do whatever it takes to get him. Pay him what he wants. Fire Manuel, make Morris DC and give Kubiak the Assistant Head Coach title, whatever it takes. Honestly, unless Quinn is going to take over calling the defense he needs a top flight DC replacement, too. With a head coach like Quinn the Defense should be more than pulling its weight this far into his tenure. I'm dubious Kubiak will wind up here for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that I don't think most HCs would knowingly and willingly hire a potential replacement unless they have to. If the offense were to perform well next year but we miss the playoffs again Blank could think of replacing Quinn with Kubiak. Heck, maybe he ought to right now.

Absolutely true. We were led to think before the season that this was a team that was bound for the post-season. Then the injuries to critical starters began to happen. We were then led to believe that we had adequate depth based on drafting and coaching to remain in contention for a winning season and post-season appearance. That has proven to be flagrantly untrue. Either that, or once the starters went down Quinn and Dimitroff decided it was a lost season, and privately decided to let the season play out with back ups. Might as well have called Joplo Bartu and Paul Worrilow to come back. The collapse this season is completely on Quinn and Dimitroff. Unlike when Smith was here, they're tied at the hip on personnel decisions. And they either both believed they had starting caliber players in reserve for this season and didn't need to make some trades, or they both had an overinflated sense of what this coaching staff is capable of doing with second stringers. That being said, I don't think either of them should be fired this season, but I do think Blank should privately tell them that if they don't have a winning, playoff-bound season next year they'll both be fired. That's sure as heck what I'd do.

Brotherhood or not, there always needs to be a few cutthroat arseholes that care more about performance and success than people's feelings or their perceptions, with both the players and the coaches. They hold people accountable. Shanahan served that role, and once they all learned to get along after that first season the offense took us to a superbowl. I think it is rarely a good thing when players say how much they love a coordinator or assistant coach. I'd rather hear how much they respect him or admire him (and maybe even fear him a little). Head coaches are fine being one of the bros if the coordinators are enforcing, and vice versa. Too much brotherhood may mean not enough people saying "do your job or hit the bench".

You think the Falcons will ever win a Superbowl? That's funny. Maybe someday, if they're the San Antonio Falcons, or Oakland Falcons. Yes, a team will go undefeated again before the Falcons win a Superbowl.

This ^^^^, all day. Our identity should be one thing, control the line of scrimmage. On offense, that's opening holes and protecting the QB. On defense, that's stuffing the run and getting to the QB. If you add a franchise QB to that (which we have), then you're set. Everything else can be worked out or will take care of itself. In my opinion, it's really that simple, and why more teams (including our own over the decades) don't adhere to that I'll never understand. Arguably, it can get even simpler than that. When Mike Smith first got here they asked what his plan was, and it was to run the ball and stop the run. And that's what we did while adding our rookie franchise QB.

That people actually thought the Falcons had become a good team the last few weeks, or that Cleveland will feel proud of themselves for beating the Falcons. Regardless of the fact this probably puts the last nail in the coffin of our season, this is easily one of the most disappointing Falcons games I've ever watched (and I've been watching since the mid 80s). We're losing to the Browns with interim coaches and a rookie QB. Our coaching staff has a lot to answer for after this one.

Who gives a crap about the dates? Dude doesn't score enough touchdowns! End of story. Deep balls, targets, blah blah blah. I don't know how many touchdowns Ryan has thrown since Julio got here, but I think it is the numerical equivalent of a $hitload. I'd trade half the yards he's ever racked up for twice as many touchdowns.

Honestly, there are good reasons to consider this. Julio is one of the greats, but he's already going to rip up his current contract and want a max deal next year. Can't tie up that money in Julio, and I'm sure a receiver that is half as good but will score twice as many touchdowns can be found. Freeman, despite being a very good running back, was vastly overpaid. Trufant is another very good but not great player, and he's not impossible to replace. I don't blame the FO for not making any trade deals for these guys when we thought we could contend this year. But now that it is obvious we won't contend, and our lack of depth at multiple positions is exposed, I think you could argue it's irresponsible not to trade one or all of these guys if the right deals can be had. I don't want to see any of them play for another team, but you simply have to get value for players when you can if you want to remain viable in the long term.

If Dimitroff has the stones for it, he'd be making calls right now to trade Julio and/or Freeman (or insist to Blank that they should). He traded the farm to get Julio, we made the most we could out of him, now trade him to get the farm back. There has to be a contending team right now that would kill to get Julio, and give up multiple picks in the process. Don't get me wrong, Julio is one of the greatest receivers of all time, and I'd hate to see him go (partially because I'm sure he'd torch us every time he plays us). But we clearly need more depth on this team if we're going to make the most out of the rest of Ryan's career.. And no, you don't trade a franchise quarterback that can still play at a high level. You get him better protection so that he can make the most of his playmakers.

It's not just the Falcons, its this town/state. The idea that Atlanta would break the streak of teams that don't make it to the Super Bowl the year they host was always laughable. This is the team that lost the Super Bowl twice in embarrassing fashion, who's star quarterback cared more about fighting dogs than playing football, and had two coaches that preferred toiling for college losers than being an NFL coach. And this is the town that lost two hockey teams. Who's baseball team won 1 championship in 14 straight postseason trips. Georgia and Richt being one catch away from a National Championship game where they could have beat a weak Notre Dame, and Kirby's guys going down to the wire in the Championship to get beat by a last minute change to a rookie quarterback. What the Falcons and other teams around here don't realize is there are no teams of destiny here. They're fighting destiny to make it all the way.

The only reason we're talking about this is because Beasley isn't getting it done. Regardless of contracts, if you swapped them out, is there any expectation Irvin can do things Beasley can't or isn't doing?

I'd rather he acknowledge reality.