Is It All Just a Bunch of Mularkey?

Going into the 2009 season, Falcons' Offensive Coordinator Mike Mularkey was one of the names mentioned for possible head coaching jobs in 2010. He was a hot commodity in the pool of assistant coaches looking to move back to the head coaching role. Much of this is due to his prior experience going into the 2008 season as first-time head coach, Mike Smith's choice for offensive playcaller.

While being persued by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for their vacant quarterbacks coaching job, Mularkey recieved an offer he couldn't refuse from the Falcons. With almost 25 years of coaching experience behind him, the opportunity to call plays for the Falcons new offense was just too great an opportunity.

He tried his hand at head coaching in 2004 with the Buffalo Bills. After two seasons, he stepped down and moved to Miami to work with then-college coach-turned pro, Nick Saban. That went south the following year when Saban returned to the college ranks and new head coach Cam Cameron struggled in his first season.

Now a Falcon, Mularkey seems to be in the perfect situation with a solid running game led by 2008 Pro Bowler Michael Turner. The system used by Mularkey is a run first to setup the pass offense with a host of gadget plays thrown in for good measure. However, this season the offense has struggled to regain it's 2008 momentum with injuries to most of the teams returning starters.

Standout second-year quarterback Matt Ryan has spent the last three weeks watching the games from the sidelines with a turf toe injury. Turner has been banged up and starting offensive linemen Harvey Dahl and Sam Baker have missed games with various ailments. The offense took an early hit before the season began with the season-ending injury of second year receiver Harry Douglas.

So can we as fans deflect the obvious struggles due to injuries? Or should we take the high road the coaching staff has used and enforce the concept that every player should be capable of replacing their peers? Personally, I believe both are relative.

While Turner struggled early in the season, the pressure mounted on Ryan. After five games, the Falcons found themselves at 4-1 and were touted by NFL analyst as the second best team in the NFC behind the still undefeated Saints. Once Turner came out of his funk, Ryan began his struggles. After tossing 10 interceptions in five games the Falcons fell to 5-4 and since that time, the only victory was accomplished on a last second pass from Chris Redman to receiver Roddy White to thwart a Buccaneers upset.

After last weeks matchup against the Saints, the grumbles of Mularkeys predictable system gained momentum. After catching a break against the Saints failed fake field goal attempt, Mularkey called a wildcat formation used to execute a reverse. The result was a 12 yard loss and it was followed by an interception of Redman that all but sealed the fate of the game.

If you listen to the conversations of Falcons fans, you will quickly learn that the sacrificial dagger has turned on Mularkey. It's not exactly unfounded, but it does appear premature. Truth be told, the Falcons have created a strong foundation on offense and with the system in place it would set the team back quite a bit to replace him with a new coordinator.

Whispers have mentioned ex-Patriots coordinator and Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis. His work with Tom Brady is well documented. But this offense isn't built for the run and gun style of Weis. You have a power running back, a very underrated fullback and two very solid run blocking receivers. This offense is built much more like the Steelers in the Jerome Bettis days than the Patriots in the Charlie Weis years.

Whatever the case may be, the Falcons have three games remaining to close out the season on a high note against teams without a winning record. If the Falcons can manage to get Turner back on the field, the results should come soon. And if the Falcons can manage to pull off a winning record to break the 43 year curse of futility in back to back seasons, the fan base will likely be very forgiving of an injury plagued year. Winning cures all wounds and right now the Falcons need some good news going into the offseason.