Best of NFL: NFC South teams

[UptownHardHitta]

My link

Best coaching staff, Falcons: Coach Mike Smith’s going to be challenged a bit this year because the Falcons lost quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave to a coordinator job in Minnesota, but they’ve replaced him with Bob Bratkowski. The rest of the staff is a group of all-stars, highlighted by coordinators Mike Mularkey (offense) and Brian VanGorder (defense). Offensive line coach Paul Boudreau isn’t a household name, but he’s one of the best in the business. For the past three years, the Falcons have given Matt Ryan great protection without having a lot of big names up front.

I think Smith is solid, but not better than Payton. BVG is definitely not better than Williams. Our OC won't get the credit because Payton calls the plays, but he does a better job than Mularkey, who everyone around here seems to have a problem with. Let the fans tell it, he's gonna be the scapegoat if fireworks don't fly this next season. I guess the only reason we have had a good Oline for years is because of the players and scheme only, that one is up for debate. Drew Brees is only good because he's Brees right? Nothing to do with coaching ha? Our WR coach Curtis Johnson is second to none. I'm sure you won't agree, but overall we have the better staff, I want to hear your opinion.

Edited July 6, 2011 by UptownHardHitta

[MattM12]

Bodreau is, imo, the best in the biz. But he will have to earn that moniker with the pending FA.

BVG. can be a lot better and the bend don't break worked to keep us alive. Now we need to see a shift to playmaking.

Mularkey. Heck, if he can't design plays for all of our targets/weapons. There is something wrong.

Smitty. good leader, honest, tough, well respected coach

Ray Hamilton needs to get some production out of the youngsters. This is a huge year for him. The unit may shine.

Glen Pires has the tough job of getting our LBs to cover.

Tim Lewis replaced Emitt, and I want to see how Decoud bounces back, and to see how he can bring along the young guys to get up to a top 10 unit.

The saints co-ordinators are pretty good, I like seeing Payton call the plays, but all in all I like our assitant coaches, our HC, and think it is a huge year for our two coordinators.

[UptownHardHitta]

Bodreau is, imo, the best in the biz. But he will have to earn that moniker with the pending FA.

BVG. can be a lot better and the bend don't break worked to keep us alive. Now we need to see a shift to playmaking.

Mularkey. Heck, if he can't design plays for all of our targets/weapons. There is something wrong.

Smitty. good leader, honest, tough, well respected coach

Ray Hamilton needs to get some production out of the youngsters. This is a huge year for him. The unit may shine.

Glen Pires has the tough job of getting our LBs to cover.

Tim Lewis replaced Emitt, and I want to see how Decoud bounces back, and to see how he can bring along the young guys to get up to a top 10 unit.

The saints co-ordinators are pretty good, I like seeing Payton call the plays, but all in all I like our assitant coaches, our HC, and think it is a huge year for our two coordinators.

Who is Ray Hamilton?

I'll agree Boudreau is doing a great job if the players aren't as good as the article suggests. I know one thing, they dam sure can run block.

[HouTexFalcon]

Uptown,

Payton is a great offensive mind. Sometimes I wish Smith would become as liberal with some plays. But he is very calculated almost to a fault.

Greg Williams is without a doubt, better than BVG. He falls into that Dom Capers mold, as they stink as a HC but shine as a DC.

[MattM12]

Who is Ray Hamilton?

I'll agree Boudreau is doing a great job if the players aren't as good as the article suggests. I know one thing, they dam sure can run block.

D-Line coach. If he can find production from PJ, increase Peter's game and get Sid on the field, then he is my hero

[Abe]

Our offensive line coach may be our coaching MVP. What he has done with some of our lineman is amazing.

[Zodiac]

My link

I think Smith is solid, but not better than Payton. BVG is definitely not better than Williams. Our OC won't get the credit because Payton calls the plays, but he does a better job than Mularkey, who everyone around here seems to have a problem with. Let the fans tell it, he's gonna be the scapegoat if fireworks don't fly this next season. I guess the only reason we have had a good Oline for years is because of the players and scheme only, that one is up for debate. Drew Brees is only good because he's Brees right? Nothing to do with coaching ha? Our WR coach Curtis Johnson is second to none. I'm sure you won't agree, but overall we have the better staff, I want to hear your opinion.

TBH i've been reserved on my opinions of BVG, I know what he's capable of, I remember his tenure at UGA, that Defense tore almost every O they came across a new one, and I think he's now got all the pieces he needs outside of a LDE to go back to doing that, **** he did it against you guys last year in the 17-14 game.

MM, Im not sure about, he has to convince me he trusts Matt to go downfield more often and for the love of God run some screen play.

Terry Robiskie is as good as they get in WR Coaches.

Bourdeau as said has done an excellent job with the Oline.

Our DLine guy has done a pretty **** good job too, he's turned Babs from a 3rd Rounder into a guy that's capable of posting 6 Sacks a year.

[chitowndirtybird]

My link

I think Smith is solid, but not better than Payton. BVG is definitely not better than Williams. Our OC won't get the credit because Payton calls the plays, but he does a better job than Mularkey, who everyone around here seems to have a problem with. Let the fans tell it, he's gonna be the scapegoat if fireworks don't fly this next season. I guess the only reason we have had a good Oline for years is because of the players and scheme only, that one is up for debate. Drew Brees is only good because he's Brees right? Nothing to do with coaching ha? Our WR coach Curtis Johnson is second to none. I'm sure you won't agree, but overall we have the better staff, I want to hear your opinion.

There is a fundamental difference in the coaching when you compare Payton to most any other coach out there. Yes he calls the shots and yes he's been very successful at it but his style is so outlandish and different from a standard run NFL team.

Payton's biggest claim to fame is the fact that his offensive schemes fit his players and he doesn't try to do that the other way around like most teams. Other teams try to find players that fit what they want to do, Payton says, ok these are the players I got? Cool lets do this and this and that with them. He's very tactical and thats why the Saints have garnered success the last few seasons. Obviously the players (more importantly Brees) has a lot to do with it as well but he's putting those guys in position to be successful and thats what any good coach does, doesn't matter how you get to that point it just matters that you get there.

With that said, it's prudent to ask the question, does our coaching staff, and more importantly Mike Smith, do that? To a degree, yes he does. However the way he does it is the tried and true smash mouth style. A style in which they went out and got a guy to fit that mold (Turner god love him.) Matt Ryan, despite what you feel or think about him, and for better or worse, is a game manager that has great ability to score under immense pressure. He has showed flashes of what he could potentially do if he were to work in a fluid and tactical offensive scheme, one in which he can call plays and make adjustments before the play ala Manning.

The other side of this coin is Payton's uncanny use of the chance plays, by which Smith took a cue from him last year with all those fourth down conversions we had.

So basically, for me at least, it seems that Payton would have the edge because of his SB win. That can not be denied, however the success that the Falcons have had since that drastic 2007 season is enough to argue that Smith and Payton are either on the same level or Payton is slightly above him with very little space in between. As for the coaching staffs in their entirety, I'd have to side with the Falcons because of the consistency displayed across the board. The Saints are a high risk high reward type team (at least they were as they've slowly moved closer towards a more consistent team.) With the Falcons, you kind of know what your going to get and just hope that the game stays tit for tat and it doesn't turn into a game like the Eagles or Packers playoff game last year.

[Butudontseeme™]

My link

I think Smith is solid, but not better than Payton. BVG is definitely not better than Williams. Our OC won't get the credit because Payton calls the plays, but he does a better job than Mularkey, who everyone around here seems to have a problem with. Let the fans tell it, he's gonna be the scapegoat if fireworks don't fly this next season. I guess the only reason we have had a good Oline for years is because of the players and scheme only, that one is up for debate. Drew Brees is only good because he's Brees right? Nothing to do with coaching ha? Our WR coach Curtis Johnson is second to none. I'm sure you won't agree, but overall we have the better staff, I want to hear your opinion.

I don't disagree that Payton is a good coach and a very good playcaller but as far as a head coach I think smith is better he is more team oriented, rallying, structured and more of an administrator than Payton seems to be. We'll see just how good G Williams is this year. Seems your d went backward last year from 09. Saints have a good staff tho. I really admire Sean Payton as a coach. He is a winner

[Farmer2]

Both of our coaching staffs are very good, and have brought franchises from about as bad as can be to contenders every year. I love Coach Smith and most of the staff, but I'll always maintain that if you have the balls to call an onside kick to open the 2nd half of the superbowl, and it works...then you deserve a little extra credit.

[Peyton]

I am probably the only one on this board, but I think BVG is a very good DC.

[Brian_Boitano]

Awww... Don't be so somber. It's not saying that your staff isn't any good... Just not as good as the Falcons.

[Dem Birds]

Staff includes more than just the HC, OC and DC. As already mentioned Boudreau, Hamilton and Robiskie are widely considered to be among the best at their jobs. And Tim Lewis ain't bad either.

[kane#7]

I am probably the only one on this board, but I think BVG is a very good DC.

I do as well last year I think he wasn't that confident about our players ability/ experience... We weren't that bad anyway.

In the playoff game I think he takes some heat but I don't think I have seen so many miss tackles on a QB, which can be game changing plays. Also you cannot scheme on what Owens was doing.

[Brian_Boitano]

BVG is gonna be a hot commodity when this defense gets filled out.

[sharky]

My link

I think Smith is solid, but not better than Payton. BVG is definitely not better than Williams. Our OC won't get the credit because Payton calls the plays, but he does a better job than Mularkey, who everyone around here seems to have a problem with. Let the fans tell it, he's gonna be the scapegoat if fireworks don't fly this next season. I guess the only reason we have had a good Oline for years is because of the players and scheme only, that one is up for debate. Drew Brees is only good because he's Brees right? Nothing to do with coaching ha? Our WR coach Curtis Johnson is second to none. I'm sure you won't agree, but overall we have the better staff, I want to hear your opinion.

I still say we need an OC. We should avarage at least 30 points a game. Just my opinion.

[UptownHardHitta]

We'll see just how good G Williams is this year. Seems your d went backward last year from 09. Saints have a good staff tho.

It's all about perception. We were pretty much better across the board last year (statistically) compared to 09 except for turnover margin. What you probably remember most is that debacle in Seattle and that is why you made that comment. I'm guilty of the same thing, I dump on Ryan from time to time because my most vivid memories of him are his most recent performances.

Staff includes more than just the HC, OC and DC. As already mentioned Boudreau, Hamilton and Robiskie are widely considered to be among the best at their jobs. And Tim Lewis ain't bad either.

My main argument is for our big three (HC, OC and DC). As much as I don't like him, Mike Smith is VERY solid. The team buys what he is selling. I don't know enough about your assistant coaches to truly say who's better. Whoever your special teams coach is a stud. I think your oline coach is a stud also. If Robiskie taught White that push off then he's a beast also. I think he hasn't done a good enough job to get the potential out the rest of the wr core though, unless they are just not that good. We'll see how Julio develops. I can't give too much props to the defensive coaches. There are a few players who shine because they are just good. It's the other players who need the coaching to make the defense better. Let's see if they improve over the next year.

Edited July 7, 2011 by UptownHardHitta

[Butudontseeme™]

It's all about perception. We were pretty much better across the board last year (statistically) compared to 09 except for turnover margin. What you probably remember most is that debacle in Seattle and that is why you made that comment. I'm guilty of the same thing, I dump on Ryan from time to time because my most vivid memories of him are his most recent performances.

the Seattle game to me was a fluke bad day for you guys. They aren't even on the same level as the saints. I'm only saying that the t.o. margin was so instrumental in your sb season and what took that defense from above average to good. 2010 seemed like it was back to above average. I could be wrong. I didnt watch all of the saints games

[Radical]

I am probably the only one on this board, but I think BVG is a very good DC.

Then you didn't know I was here. I defend BVG AND... Mike Mularkey.

Edited July 7, 2011 by Radical 2.0

[Peyton]

Then you didn't know I was here. I defend BVG AND... Mike Mularkey.

LOL...well you know...I was just being overly dramatic. The guy takes so much stuff on this board but our defense is steadily improving every year since he got here, even though he is working with 3 or 4 new peices every year.

[youngbloodz]

BVG and MM are all star coaches huh? I will give them MM because of what he did with the Steelers. But BVG can take his soft zone defensive scheme and hit the road

[Peyton]

If you 33-15 during a 3 year span when you flip over 80% of your roster, your coaches are doing something right.