Falcons’ coach search in holding pattern - AJC

[Goober Pyle 6,651]

by DOL for the AJC

 

NFL teams can’t interview or talk to any candidates under contract until after the regular season ends, so there hasn’t been much movement and won’t be until the middle of December.

But with NFL head coaching openings in Atlanta and Houston, some of the jockeying has started, and the Falcons are expected to have an extraordinary list of candidates to interview, according to several executives, coaches and agents around the league.

“Interviews won’t start until the season ends,” one person said. “(Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric) Bieniemy would hopefully be a candidate. (Falcons owner) Arthur (Blank) wants to win now. I assume the new head coach will come from the offensive side of the ball.”

Three of Blank’s hires have been defensive coordinators in Jim Mora, Mike Smith and Dan Quinn. His only offensive coaching hire was Bobby Petrino, who came from the college ranks and didn’t last a season.

Bieniemy, a former NFL player and an NFL assistant coach since 2006, will be perhaps the hottest name on the coaching circuit this offseason. There normally are between five and six positions open each offseason.

Other candidates include Buffalo offensive coordinator Brian Daboll and Tennessee offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. Also, Perry Fewell, Robert Saleh, Kris Richard and Keith Armstrong were mentioned as fits for a veteran team.

“The best coach available is Perry Fewell, who isn’t even coaching this year,” one person said.

Also, current interim coach Raheem Morris should not be discounted despite the “going 11-0” comment by Blank.

“If Raheem does well, I know Arthur would love to hire him,” one person said.

Morris, while considered a long shot, makes sense is some quarters because he knows the inner workings and the problems of the team better than a newcomer would.

“He can’t expect someone new to be able to fix what’s broken there without time to assess the many problems,” another person said. “Only someone who actually knows what’s broken can fix it soon.”

Whoever gets the Falcons job will be expected to immediately get into the playoffs and Super Bowl mix.

Bieniemy may be more attracted to Houston, which has a younger star quarterback in Deshaun Watson. Also, Jacksonville, which could be open, would be attractive because there is more draft capital, early-round picks and time and less pressure than the Falcons' job.

In addition to Jacksonville, the New York Jets job could become open. There will be others.

“Denver might be making big organizational moves,” a person said. “Ask around this weekend (with the Broncos in town to face the Falcons). Something is up.”

With Falcons president Rich McKay overseeing the search, some NFL executives believes he’ll put the Tampa Bay band back together. McKay was Tampa Bay’s general manager from 1994-2003 and was the Falcons' general manager from 2003-08.

He was the main architect of Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl XXXVII team. His first two draft picks were defensive tackle Warren Sapp and linebacker Derrick Brooks, who are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

“Think he is putting Tampa folks in place,” one person said. “FYI, he pulled (Falcons scout) Ruston Webster off the road to come to facility to help him. Worked together in Tampa. It’s all in place for them.”

Wide receiver Julio Jones played for the legendary Nick Saban in college and for Smith and Quinn with the Falcons.

“A good coach for me is just a leader,” Jones said. "He has to lead the troops. He’s also has to have the confidence that he’s doing a great job to let us go out there and perform.

“At the end of the day, all of the coaches that I’ve had thus far did that for me. But that’s all I look for. A father figure. A leader. You look at the head coach as a leader to push you throughout the week, and on Sundays they just let you go free and play.”

Safety Keanu Neal said the team is working its way through the coaching change.

“(Morris) does a good job of bringing energy to the locker room,” Neal said. “I would not say that is something that changed because (Quinn) did the same thing. But that’s one thing that has continued, the energy that (Morris) is bringing to the team. That’s one thing I would say.”

The Falcons have a ways to go, but will have several good candidates.

“Look, only one of two guys should get that job,” a person said. “Raheem or Arthur Smith.”

Here’s a quick look at the top candidates:

Brian Daboll, 45, Buffalo offensive coordinator: He’s done a great job with quarterback Josh Allen. He started with the Patriots in 2000 and went to the Jets. He was offensive coordinator in Cleveland under Eric Mangini. He’s also been a coordinator with Miami, Kansas City and was tight ends coach for the Patriots when the beat the Falcons in Super Bowl LI. He also was Alabama’s offensive coordinator when they beat Georgia in the 2018 College Football Playoff Championship game.

Eric Bieniemy, 51, Kansas City offensive coordinator: Started his NFL coaching career as the running backs coach with the Vikings in 2006. He coached Adrian Peterson to two rushing titles and was named the assistant head coach in 2010. He’s been with the Chiefs since 2013 and has been the coordinator since 2018. He’s work Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Arthur Smith, 38, Tennessee offensive coordinator: The son of FedEx magnate Fred Smith got into coaching with the Washington football team in 2007. He coached in college at Mississippi before joining Tennessee’s staff under Mike Munchak as a defensive quality control coach in 2011. He climbed his way up to offensive coordinator by 2019, and the Titans had their highest-scoring unit in 16 years that featured running back Derrick Henry and quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

Perry Fewell, 58, Carolina’s interim head coach in 2019 was his last job: Fewell coached 13 years in college before moving to the NFL where he coached with Jaguars (twice), Rams, Bears, Bills, Giants, Washington and the Panthers. He’s an old-school defensive coach, who was brought into the league by Tom Coughlin. If the Falcons believe they just need more discipline to get over the top, Fewell is the guy.

Other notable candidates: San Francisco defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, former Dallas assistant coach Kris Richard and Tampa Bay special-teams coordinator Keith Armstrong.

 

 

[Goober Pyle 6,651]

1 minute ago, Goober Pyle said:

With Falcons president Rich McKay overseeing the search, some NFL executives believes he’ll put the Tampa Bay band back together. McKay was Tampa Bay’s general manager from 1994-2003 and was the Falcons' general manager from 2003-08.

He was the main architect of Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl XXXVII team. His first two draft picks were defensive tackle Warren Sapp and linebacker Derrick Brooks, who are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

“Think he is putting Tampa folks in place,” one person said. “FYI, he pulled (Falcons scout) Ruston Webster off the road to come to facility to help him. Worked together in Tampa. It’s all in place for them.”

 

This is what scares me....

Edited November 12, 2020 by Goober Pyle

[weezy01212 274]

I read an interesting comment in an article posted by Michael Lombardi today for the Daily Coach that I think applies here.

”Who is the best problem solver, not who worked for the problem solver. This occurs in sports often when owners/athletic directors hire coaches from successful programs and then wonder why their new coach does not have the same talent to make decisions. Don't hire people who are associated with greatness; hire those who have great potential. "

 

I think we need to keep this in mind when drooling over the hot name Eric Bienemy. We need the best problem solver.

[AUTiger7222 6,202]

16 minutes ago, Goober Pyle said:

This is what scares me....

Well if the Falcons turn into the late 90s/early 2000s Bucs then I'd gladly welcome it. I'd love to build a smash mouth offense with a killer defense.

[AUTiger7222 6,202]

8 minutes ago, weezy01212 said:

I read an interesting comment in an article posted by Michael Lombardi today for the Daily Coach that I think applies here.

”Who is the best problem solver, not who worked for the problem solver. This occurs in sports often when owners/athletic directors hire coaches from successful programs and then wonder why their new coach does not have the same talent to make decisions. Don't hire people who are associated with greatness; hire those who have great potential. "

 

I think we need to keep this in mind when drooling over the hot name Eric Bienemy. We need the best problem solver.

Exactly what I keep trying to say!!

[Goober Pyle 6,651]

7 minutes ago, AUTiger7222 said:

Well if the Falcons turn into the late 90s/early 2000s Bucs then I'd gladly welcome it. I'd love to build a smash mouth offense with a killer defense.

Good point.

[Osiruz 10,079]

Add Jimmy Harbaugh to the list and I wouldnt mind Rex Ryan. Harbaugh + Wade Philips would awesome. 

[youngbloodz 15,454]

28 minutes ago, AUTiger7222 said:

Exactly what I keep trying to say!!

I agree 100%

[opensource001 1,051]

Please tell me I wasn't the only person who read that one of the potential coaches was Perry Farrell.

[Fernando C. 920]

Why let Mckay run the show.. there is a lot of talk about Coach but not a GM.. we need a GM first... cause as of right now AB will leave Mckay running the draft with Webster... that is not good for the francise... 

[Atl Falcon 3,744]

58 minutes ago, weezy01212 said:

I read an interesting comment in an article posted by Michael Lombardi today for the Daily Coach that I think applies here.

”Who is the best problem solver, not who worked for the problem solver. This occurs in sports often when owners/athletic directors hire coaches from successful programs and then wonder why their new coach does not have the same talent to make decisions. Don't hire people who are associated with greatness; hire those who have great potential. "

 

I think we need to keep this in mind when drooling over the hot name Eric Bienemy. We need the best problem solver.

What he said ^. too many hires are made on assistant coaches that ride the coat tails of other great coaches and players. I’m not sold on EB. I do think he’s a good leader but he’s riding the Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill, Travis Kielce train. I mean seriously who couldn’t coach that crowd to score points. Give me someone that does better with less and is a leader of men. I want a guy that’s got some piss and vinegar who holds his players accountable. Give me the next young guy - Sean McVay, Sean McDermott, Brian Flores, Mike Tomblin, John Harbaugh, Kyle Shanahan....all of these guys are extremely intelligent and didn’t  necessarily come from who’s winning right now teams with great talent. I don’t know if it’s Joe Brady, Lincoln Riley, Arthur Smith, Brian Daboll. DQ came from the hot Seahawks Pete Carroll coaching tree and how’d that work out. How many HCs have come from the Bill Bellichick tree and flat out failed but were hired because of BBs success.....the hot name’s not always the right name. 

[Atl Falcon 3,744]

12 minutes ago, opensource001 said:

Please tell me I wasn't the only person who read that one of the potential coaches was Perry Farrell.

Perry who....we don’t need a Perry Farrell Fewell. He’s been in the league long enough and had interim jobs and didn’t get it done. I’m out on Perry. 

[NWFALCON 3,913]

I’m guessing that no one read the post because Keith Armstrong was mentioned.  There goes the author’s credibility 

[A Dog Named Brian 3,610]

2 hours ago, weezy01212 said:

I read an interesting comment in an article posted by Michael Lombardi today for the Daily Coach that I think applies here.

”Who is the best problem solver, not who worked for the problem solver. This occurs in sports often when owners/athletic directors hire coaches from successful programs and then wonder why their new coach does not have the same talent to make decisions. Don't hire people who are associated with greatness; hire those who have great potential. "

 

I think we need to keep this in mind when drooling over the hot name Eric Bienemy. We need the best problem solver.

I’m over, “gurus” at this point. They tend to start fast and flame out quick

[red falcon 4,619]

Im worried. A mistake will set us back another 3 years. We will start over. 

[DonOfThemBirds 17,260]

1 hour ago, NWFALCON said:

I’m guessing that no one read the post because Keith Armstrong was mentioned.  There goes the author’s credibility 

 

The Falcons sure as **** needed Keith Armstrong here to tell Takk "You're not good enough to be an *******".

 

Blank should've opened the checkbook to the Bucs just to rent Armstrong for a few hours right before releasing Takk lol

[Jesus 24,664]

1 minute ago, DonOfThemBirds said:

 

The Falcons sure as **** needed Keith Armstrong here to tell Takk "You're not good enough to be an *******".

 

Blank should've opened the checkbook to the Bucs just to rent Armstrong for a few hours right before releasing Takk lol

Armstrong ran a lousy special teams unit. This place couldn't run him out of here fast enough. All that yelling accomplished nothing.

[red falcon 4,619]

3 minutes ago, Jesus said:

Armstrong ran a lousy special teams unit. This place couldn't run him out of here fast enough. All that yelling accomplished nothing.

You just tune it out after a while.

[DonOfThemBirds 17,260]

1 minute ago, Jesus said:

Armstrong ran a lousy special teams unit. This place couldn't run him out of here fast enough. All that yelling accomplished nothing.

 

True

 

The odd thing is after thinking about it, Freeman went on to become good enough before injuries hit him.

 

Armstrong saying that to Freeman might've been the best thing he did here lol.

[Pacific_Falcon 4,549]

1 hour ago, NWFALCON said:

I’m guessing that no one read the post because Keith Armstrong was mentioned.  There goes the author’s credibility 

Writer's not good enough to be an *** hole.

[Pacific_Falcon 4,549]

23 minutes ago, red falcon said:

Im worried. A mistake will set us back another 3 years. We will start over. 

We retained McKay, methinks this ship has already sailed.

[Day1 77]

3 hours ago, AUTiger7222 said:

Well if the Falcons turn into the late 90s/early 2000s Bucs then I'd gladly welcome it. I'd love to build a smash mouth offense with a killer defense.

it wouldn't be the same head coach, so I don't think it would. 

[AUTiger7222 6,202]

1 hour ago, Day1 said:

it wouldn't be the same head coach, so I don't think it would. 

You don't have to get Tony Dungy in order to build that type of team and have that type of success.

[ramonezy 855]

11 hours ago, weezy01212 said:

I read an interesting comment in an article posted by Michael Lombardi today for the Daily Coach that I think applies here.

”Who is the best problem solver, not who worked for the problem solver. This occurs in sports often when owners/athletic directors hire coaches from successful programs and then wonder why their new coach does not have the same talent to make decisions. Don't hire people who are associated with greatness; hire those who have great potential. "

 

I think we need to keep this in mind when drooling over the hot name Eric Bienemy. We need the best problem solver.

Amen to this... 

[supercollider 293]

11 hours ago, Goober Pyle said:

With Falcons president Rich McKay overseeing the search, some NFL executives believes he’ll put the Tampa Bay band back together. McKay was Tampa Bay’s general manager from 1994-2003 and was the Falcons' general manager from 2003-08.

This is what scares me.

Meanwhile, I'm shocked to see Armstrong on this list, although the year before he got released here, I thought he'd be a good HC candidate somewhere.