Success Following Quinn Through Current Role

[birdz4i]

It has been three months since head coach Dan Quinn took over the Falcons and we take a quick look back at the impressive resume he put together before arriving in Atlanta.

Dan Quinn began coaching in 1994 at William and Mary as a defensive line coach and after two decades of carrying success in the college ranks and into the pros, he was a leading candidate for Atlanta’s coaching vacancy.

By the time his Seattle Seahawks defense returned to the Super Bowl for the second straight year this past Feb. 1, Quinn’s reputation as being the NFL’s next great head coach was already widely recognized and Atlanta would ink the New Jersey-native to his first head coaching job on Feb. 2, 2015, the day after Super Bowl XLIX.

There are many ways to define a great coach and winning is sports’ most valued feature. Quinn has shown his ability to win in both the short and long term throughout his career, even while making jumps from the collegiate to professional level.

The new head coach spent six years coaching the defensive lines for the San Francisco 49ers (2003-04), Miami Dolphins (2005-06) and the New York Jets (2007-08) before first joining Seattle in 2009. After his first two-year stint with the Seahawks, Quinn became defensive coordinator with the Florida Gators and his brilliance began to grow in the eyes of his players, other coaches and football fans.

Florida’s defense was top-10 in the country both seasons under Quinn, and in that first season, they would rank eighth nationally in total defense (299.5), seventh in passing defense (166.8), and second in third-down defense (27.12 percent). His ability to lead a solid unit in both the pass defense and the run defense is one of the most underrated aspects of defensive coaches today, but for some reason this simple concept is often overlooked.

Quinn’s last two seasons spent in Seattle saw the same level of dominance in all statistical categories and he oversaw the NFL’s top defensive unit over the two-year span. The defense led the League with just 270.4 yards per game, 15.2 points per game and 178.8 passing yards per game while holding opponents to 91.6 rushing yards per game.

DAN’S PLAN

When Quinn’s 2013 Seattle defense made it to Super Bowl XLVIII and frustrated Peyton Manning in a 43-8 rout on football’s biggest stage, Quinn’s ability to break down film and prepare his players was put in plain sight for the world to see. His appetite for film study throughout his career could be viewed as almost obsessive, but like anything football-related the 44-year-old head coach does, there is a passion and purpose behind it.

Quinn credits much of what he has learned from the head coach he worked with in Seattle, Pete Carroll. Rather than looking at a player that might not fit a system, Quinn developed the habits he uses now and evaluates what that player can bring to the table instead.

The result has been fast-paced, high-effort and high-energy defenses built on its players’ strength. This was seen on each level of the Seattle defense, especially in the trenches. Michael Bennett came in from Tampa Bay before their Super Bowl-winning season in 2013 and joined a group crowded with talents like Cliff Avril. Bennett admitted he was skeptical that he would find his role when Seattle signed him in 2013, but Quinn assured him that he would find a way to use him to the best of his abilities, and he did.

Avril would set a Super Bowl record by scoring only 12 seconds into the game with a safety on the Broncos opening snap, and he later forced a Manning interception that led to a touchdown before becoming the first player in NFL history to win a Super Bowl after having been on a zero-win team (0-16 with 2008 Lions).

Bennett was awarded a massive four-year deal and has produced 15.5 sacks the past two seasons. Bennett’s success came from Quinn’s decision to move the 6-foot-4 end to tackle during nickel packages and he continued putting him in blitzes and alignments tailor made for his abilities.

“He (Quinn) convinced me he would use me to the best of my abilities,” Bennett said. ”He’s not married to a scheme; he wants to grow. He changes with the players. He’s a master in the film room.”

BUILDING BLOCKS

Quinn’s current challenge is fixing a Falcons defense that gave up an NFL-high 389.3 yards per game last season and allowed opponents a 46.8 percent conversion rate on third down. But this undertaking will be in Quinn’s hands, as he was given control by Arthur Blank over the 53-man roster.

Quinn also built a staff that he is familiar with and that shares his high-energy style of coaching. He brought in Kyle Shanahan as his offensive coordinator and has praised him for his unique offenses and how difficult it was to coach against him as a defensive coordinator over the years.

Richard Smith is Quinn’s defensive coordinator and Raheem Morris is the defensive passing coordinator and assistant head coach. Quinn was coaching at Hofstra when Morris was a defensive back and they coached together at the school once Morris’ playing career was finished. The connections do not stop with the coordinators, and top to bottom, the staff the franchise was able to put together this offseason was a huge achievement.

Special teams coordinator Keith Armstrong worked with Quinn in Miami and defensive line coach Bryan Cox worked together with the New York Jets. New offensive line coach Chris Morgan is another bridge within Quinn and his staff. Morgan coached as an assistant with Quinn in Seattle last year and also coached under Shanahan in Washington, which will help channel Quinn and Shanahan’s philosophies to the offensive line.

Looking at Quinn’s resume is certainly exciting, but the positive energy and excitement he brings to the job, ultimately is what will be reflected each time the Falcons step on the field this season.

“I’m fired up,” Quinn said. “I am grateful for this opportunity. Atlanta felt like the right fit from the beginning. My goal is to build upon the foundation that has been laid here and to play a physical brand of football as we build a championship caliber team.”

http://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/article-1/Success-Following-Quinn-Through-Current-Role/3bbf00ff-0c82-44a1-a886-f081564a363e

[birdz4i]

It really appears to me that over the last couple of seasons we didn't have the wrong GM, we had the wrong coach. I'm certain we are going to have a dramatic turnaround this season with TD and Smitty joined at the hip rebuilding this team with clear cut direction.

I love and respect what you brought here for the first several years Smitty, and I wish you well moving forward. If this team advances to greatness over the next 5 years with TD and Quinn running the show, I'll always give you (and TD) credit for turning this moribund franchise around.

more like that coach was hand cuffed by the owner after the vick disaster and wanting to stay away from "troubled" candidates, then throw in the move to get "more explosive" coupled with a couple years of injuries and smith was taken out of his element.

[madman88]

more like that coach was hand cuffed by the owner after the vick disaster and wanting to stay away from "troubled" candidates, then throw in the move to get "more explosive" coupled with a couple years of injuries and smith was taken out of his element.

and here i thought i was the only one who saw this..

Smitty wasnt in charge of the whole 53 man which is why were making such a big deal about it now..

When smitty got here in 08 his very first press confrence he said and i quote " i believe we have to stop the run and run the football, and that you build a team inside out"

If you look at our roster since 08 this team has been built outside in and since 2011-2014 we haven't been playing smitty ball.

So i point this all to the GM who sat there and admitted on espn interview after 2010 pakers loss HE felt we needed to be more explosive.

Smitty was a scape goat, blank loved both men but couldnt lose both and decided the coach got the ax.

[DoYouSeeWhatHappensLarry]

OMG people defending Mike Smith.

It's perfectly reasonable to like Mike Smith and appreciate his contributions to this franchise and still think he's a sorta ****** coach. Which he is for this particular team and where it was at. A ******, ****** coach. He wasnt "hamstrung" or "burdened" he simply didnt do a very good job at coaching on Sundays. Mike Smith is a pretty decent 6 days a week coach. But that 7th day? Yikes.

[madman88]

OMG people defending Mike Smith.

It's perfectly reasonable to like Mike Smith and appreciate his contributions to this franchise and still think he's a sorta ****** coach. Which he is for this particular team and where it was at. A ******, ****** coach. He wasnt "hamstrung" or "burdened" he simply didnt do a very good job at coaching on Sundays. Mike Smith is a pretty decent 6 days a week coach. But that 7th day? Yikes.

and his GM aka right hand man didnt do a good job at drafting players noelr signing FA.

Edwards dunta robinson, just to name a few.

[birdz4i]

Ok, it's clear birdz4i and madman are unhappy Smitty was let go, since they feel he wasn't the problem.

Let's see how the next year compares to the last two years and revisit this conversation.

it is clear you should stop making assumptions. i have no problem with smith being let go, but like it or not he is the most successful coach this team has ever had and doesn t deserve half the **** talked about him here.

[birdz4i]

and why is it you have "no problem" with Smitty being fired?

cause i understand it is a business based on what has been done lately?

[madman88]

Ok, it's clear birdz4i and madman are unhappy Smitty was let go, since they feel he wasn't the problem.

Let's see how the next year compares to the last two years and revisit this conversation.

i never said he wasnt the problem but he was let go when a lot around him wasnt his own doing 100%..

This team wasnt talented at all.. you can say the staff dint develope the players or we played them out of position but the FACTS are that you gotta have talent to be coached up.

The first thing quinn did was tell TD that we need to upgrade our front 7, cause it was a joke.

So we signed two LBs, a DE tried to sign a MLB, drafted a pass rusher WITH THE FIRST PICK!

Then went after a cb,DT,

Why wasnt nolan offered the same type of effort?

Why did it take TD 7yrs until smitty last yr to get him big bodies up front?

This front 7 was overhauled and rightly so, not cause to fit quinn scheme, no bit to add talent to positions that lacked them.

THATS NOT COACHING THATS FO management missing on players.

Again ive said in another post that as much as smitty blew late qt leads and missed calls, TD blew FAsignings and missed or complete bad drafts that got us nothing to show for it.

Thoes my friend are the facts.