Koetter's Blueprint

[Knight of God]

http://www.atlantafalcons.com/2012/04/koetters-blueprint/

Some Falcons fans scratched their head at the hiring of offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter this offseason.

Falcons head coach Mike Smith selected Koetter based on the familiarity he had with the coordinator when the two worked together in Jacksonville. Smith’s last season with the Jaguars was in 2007, the last time the Jacksonville franchise made the playoffs.

Smith’s defense that season was a top-ten unit, but it was the offense that truly carried Jacksonville that season. Under Koetter’s direction Jacksonville scored the seventh-most points in the NFL that season.

Looking at what Koetter accomplished that season gives a glimpse into what he may be able to do with the Falcons in 2012.

Quarterback David Garrard was efficient for the Jaguars that season. His 28 touchdowns through the air was good for ninth in the NFL, but most impressive was how well he took care of the ball. His eight interceptions was the lowest in the league. Twenty-eight touchdowns is one less than Ryan’s career high, set this past season.

The Jags’ offense was carried by a strong running game, something Atlanta has always featured. While Smith has said leading running back Michael Turner will not carry the ball 300 times in 2012 if he can avoid it, he has never said the running game would be diminished. The presence of Jason Snelling and exciting second-year back Jacquizz Rodgers means there are some carries that can go around.

Sharing the carries is exactly what Jacksonville did in 2007. Fred Taylor, who is now retired and is considered one of the most underrated backs in the history of the game, rushed for 223 times for over 1,200 yards. A back who is now considered among the league’s elite was in his second season then, starting zero games for Jacksonville. Maurice Jones-Drew rushed 167 times for 768 yards. He was a touchdown machine that season, something he established quickly in his time in the NFL. He had nine that season and he had 34 touchdowns in his career before he even broke the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his career in 2009.

A split like what Taylor and Jones-Drew shared wouldn’t be far-fetched in Atlanta this coming season. Turner has a nose for the endzone and Rodgers has flashed playmaking ability. While the carries may go around to more players, Atlanta’s running game has a chance to become even more dynamic.

One of the reasons Koetter leaned on the run game so much is because his talent was there. The Jags didn’t have a single wide receiver that season eclipse 1,000 yards. Reggie Williams has 629, Dennis Northcutt had 601 and Ernest Wilford had 518. Williams led the team with ten touchdown receptions and Northcutt was next with four.

Compare that trio to Atlanta’s receiving core that includes Roddy White, Julio Jones, Tony Gonzalez and Harry Douglas and the possibilities appear endless.

Jacksonville was near the bottom of the league with 29 attempts passing per game in ’07 and they were in the middle of the pack with 208 passing yards per game. That was with largely average players catching passes. Imagine what Koetter could do with players like White and Jones making things happen after the catch.

After the catch is the key for the Falcons in 2012. With White and Jones, they should be in good hands with that area of the passing game.

No one knows exactly what Koetter will do with the Falcons in 2012 and everyone knows he’s never had the talent on offense that he will have with Atlanta this season. One thing he has had in the past was a strong running game with two capable backs. In Atlanta he has that plus one wildcard in Snelling.

On paper it certainly appears that Koetter has the tools on offense to have a passing game that he’s dreamed of, something he could never get going in Jacksonville with the receivers on their roster. In Koetter’s five seasons in Jacksonville he never had a receiver that had over 1,000 yards. That almost definitely won’t be the case in Atlanta.

[JulioisCoolio]

5 years and not a single 1000 yard receiver for Jax. Wow.

[Trouble]

In Koetter’s five seasons in Jacksonville he never had a receiver that had over 1,000 yards.

Im not sure if that article makes me feel better or more scared?

Really in 5 years he couldn't pass the ball enough to get 1 guy to do it?

[Guest Gritz]

5 years and not a single 1000 yard receiver for Jax. Wow.

That is concerning but Jax has had straight trash lining up at their WR positions for all of that time.

[JulioisCoolio]

That is concerning but Jax has had straight trash lining up at their WR positions for all of that time.

I wasn't saying it as a bad thing towards Koetter. They have aboslute hot garbage @ the WR position and have since Jimmy Smith left. Dude had MJD to work with and that was it.

[Trouble]

He talks about passing, but in 5 years his O has been running. How far can the excuse go about not having any weapons before the OC takes some of that blame?

[JulioisCoolio]

He talks about passing, but in 5 years his O has been running. How far can the excuse go about not having any weapons before the OC takes some of that blame?

How's it an excuse? Who has he had? They have the worst receivers in the league and the only team close is the Bears pre Marshall trade. ****, he's barely had a QB.

[Guest Gritz]

I wasn't saying it as a bad thing towards Koetter. They have aboslute hot garbage @ the WR position and have since Jimmy Smith left. Dude had MJD to work with and that was it.

I know you weren't....I was simply stating the obvious for those that might not have known.

[Trouble]

How's it an excuse? Who has he had? They have the worst receivers in the league and the only team close is the Bears pre Marshall trade. ****, he's barely had a QB.

How many wr`s have been drafted or FA WR`s over the last 5 years have there been? He is a coach, can he not coach 1 guy up enough or design a play to get just 1 guy a ball enough to get 1,000 yards? We haven't had a legacy of being the best team ever, but come on 5 years???

If it was us and MM couldn't get 1 wr to have a 1000 yard season, how long would it be before the fans and media called for his head? Look what MM has done for us in 4 season and we still wanted his head. Im just saying.

Edited April 9, 2012 by danight

[Aftermath]

I'll wait and see with cooter, for every year that he was good I can point to four more where his run heavy O **** the bed.

[JulioisCoolio]

How many wr`s have been drafted or FA WR`s over the last 5 years have there been? He is a coach, can he not coach 1 guy up enough or design a play to get just 1 guy a ball enough to get 1,000 yards? We haven't had a legacy of being the best team ever, but come on 5 years???

If it was us and MM couldn't get 1 wr to have a 1000 yard season, how long would it be before the fans and media called for his head? Look what MM has done for us in 4 season and we still wanted his head. Im just saying.

He's the offensive coordinator, not the wide receivers coach. He's had a **** near top running game 3 out of his 5 years there. That tells me he was working with what he was given. Their FO drafted bust after bust @ the WR position.

Reggie Williams

Greg Jones

Matt Jones

Mike Sims-Walker

He had nothing to work with.

[X-Man21]

Im not sure if that article makes me feel better or more scared?

Really in 5 years he couldn't pass the ball enough to get 1 guy to do it?

It was enough for qb hype.... I don't think harried could have done that anywhere else and we all know Ryan has more weapons than he had then. So your talkin 1,300 + for 2 wideouts 1 1,000 for 1Slot guy and possibly 900 for our TE and 600-800 + for HB if Koetter and co spreads the ball well enough, and turner can still get his 1000-1200yds

[pren226]

5 years and not a single 1000 yard receiver for Jax. Wow.

I'm just hoping that means they spread the ball so much you never know where it's going??

[Trouble]

I hope Koetter expands Ryans audibles. Let Ryan call the game and keep Koetter out of it except maybe play design.

[The O.D.B]

I'm liking the even distribution of the ball among WR.

what did HD have like 250 yrds last year and most of that was gained in the 4th Q of the Saints game. Also, we didn't start using JJ regularly until about halfway through the season, which makes his production all that more impressive.

Even if we kept the same MM playbook and play calling distributing the ball evenly would've paid huge dividends in our offense. the fact that our play calling won't be predictable this year combined with even distribution should blow the top off.

[Guest TheIdowu]

I hope Koetter expands Ryans audibles. Let Ryan call the game and keep Koetter out of it except maybe play design.

You are out of your mind. . . . No way in heck do I want them to do that.

[hjerry]

You are out of your mind. . . . No way in heck do I want them to do that.

Right, b/c as we've seen Ryan is at his absolute worst in the no huddle.

[Guest TheIdowu]

Right, b/c as we've seen Ryan is at his absolute worst in the no huddle.

To each his own. . . . . I'd rather not see an offense heavily reliant on no-huddle. I'd rather see a structured, methodical offensive approach and philosophy that stresses fundamentals and proper execution of those fundamentals.

[hjerry]

To each his own. . . . . I'd rather not see an offense heavily reliant on no-huddle. I'd rather see a structured, methodical offensive approach and philosophy that stresses fundamentals and proper execution of those fundamentals.

I'm not disagreeing with you. I want that too, but I've also seen that Ryan is at his best in no huddle, so I'd like to see more of that. A good balance of the two would be preferable.

[Guest TheIdowu]

I'm not disagreeing with you. I want that too, but I've also seen that Ryan is at his best in no huddle, so I'd like to see more of that. A good balance of the two would be preferable.

Yea, you are right. Balance is the key. I know many of us looked at Smith and MM when we went no huddle, had success, and went away from it too soon OR did not go back to it to either catch up or regain the momentum. I see what you are saying.

[FalconFanSince1970]

I'll wait and see with cooter, for every year that he was good I can point to four more where his run heavy O **** the bed.

Cooter? Oh hail. I like that.

No offense to the good poster on this board from the 2001 era that went by Cooter. One of my fav posters. On the board and in person. He was a hoot.

I'm hoping buddy can deliver the goods. I think he's probably a good coordinator. But he's gotta deal with an Oline that gets it's as handed to em against most good front sevens. The kind you need to beat to get what we want. What we need. Rest.

[hiawasseefalcon]

Why can't I escape this feeling that our offense is going to be the major story from our team (in a good way)? I guess it is just that everyone will be overlooking the big name hire (even paying more attention to Nolan) and then the offense will be the one that lights it up...

[hjerry]

Why can't I escape this feeling that our offense is going to be the major story from our team (in a good way)? I guess it is just that everyone will be overlooking the big name hire (even paying more attention to Nolan) and then the offense will be the one that lights it up...

Man, I hope so. We've arguably invested a lot more work into offensive weapons than defensive weapons, so I'm really hoping that a coaching change can unleash that potential. Koetter looks really good on paper, and I want to believe that he was the victim of circumstance in Jacksonville. I hope.

[Trouble]

You are out of your mind. . . . No way in heck do I want them to do that.

Was that because Ryan could actually read the D and make adjustments? Would that be based off Ryan knows what talent he has and knows what they can do and could see what situation fits them vs a OC who is knew and is trying to force the ball to 1 WR.

When MM was here he was often considered predictable and boring while our NO huddle was way more productive. Ryan also called Running plays while in the no huddle.

Tell me why Koetter could not design and practice screens and expand to what our O did best and was most productive at?

Does anyone think the Saints or panthers etc are gonna go slow on us if we fail to get the running game going. If they come out firing we better have a answer and telling Ryan to only go to 1 wr or a checkdown and then get scared and telling Ryan to hand off seems rather obvious to figure out on film.

We dont have to stay no huddle for Ryan to see whats going on and what he may be able to exploit. If the Oline doesn't hold up, id rather Ryan know what he is working with than Koetter trying to go down field and getting Ryan killed. Or getting scared and abandon the Passing game all together. Just to have Smith say "Ryan your up take over with the no huddle" after we are down 2 scores.

Edited April 9, 2012 by danight

[Trouble]

You dont tie Payton manning hands and expect Manning to be Manning. Everyone wants a balanced and effective O But thats tough to do. But if the QB is smart enough to see and juggle the 2 (which is hard to do) then why not build from that instead of trying to reinvent the wheel.

Why cant Koetter concentrate on gameplanning and what players on D he would like to exploit each week and gameplan against that. Something MM didnt seem to do much of. Ryan is smart enough to see if the running game is working and see if something opens up downfield because it is.