Calculated and Deliberate Style Leads Smith and The Falcons Staff

The Falcons organization saw a dramatic and needed change with the addition of Mike Smith and his coaching staff for the 2008 season. After having a very disappointing 2007 with Coach Patrino giving up on the team leaving the Falcons with huge questions about identity and worth, Mike Smith turned the team around in his first season. Smith implements a systematic and deliberate coaching style which seems to have helped his rookie quarterback Matt Ryan make an easy transition from college to professional football. Also addition such as Michael Turner in 2008 and Tony Gonzales in 2009, the Falcons coaching staff seems to know what direction they want to go and are willing to do whats necessary to acquire them. The strong defensive draft in 2009 also points to the deliberate nature of the Falcons staff addressing the issues of defense by drafting seven out of eight players on the defensive side of the ball.

Key Coaches:

Mike Smith, Head Coach:

Being known mostly for his defensive prowess from Baltimore in 2000, Smith and his staff made great decisions on the offensive side of the ball in 2008. Rookie Matt Ryan was guided heavily by Smith who implemented an offense that the rookie could understand. Coach Smith and staff set the tone when rookie quarterback connected on his first pass to Michael Jenkins which resulted in a Falcons touchdown. Great way for the Falcons to start their new journey together and establish trust in one another.

Setting milestones and taking his team game by game, Smith establishes a confidence in his players by issuing challenges such as not losing two games in a row. If the Falcons could do this task technically they would be in the post season most likely and end up competing in the post-season. This also allows for players and the Falcons to look ahead to next week for redemption if they lose the week before. Smith says that the team that can sustain a winning mindset week after week and will be motivated to do just that, win!

Mike Mularkey, Offensive coordinator:

A former tight-end in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburg Steelers, Mularkey knows a little something about offense. He also was a head coach for two seasons with Buffalo and multiple stints as offensive coordinator with Miami and Pittsburg. Mularkey is known to have similar philosophy's and tastes as Mike Smith which makes him a beautiful fit into the Atlanta system.

In his first year at the helm of the Falcons offense, Mularkey turned the franchise around by implementing a simple yet effective running attack first and then letting his rookie quarterback make easy throws to get into a rhythm. Taking a rookie quarterback under his wing along with quarterback coach Bill Musgrave and allowing him to feel comfortable from day one is another reason why the Falcons had such a great turn around in 2008.

Brian VanGorder, Defensive coordinator:

Bringing twenty-five years experience in coaching, VanGorder is said to be a staple of defensive knowledge according to Mike Smith after coming out of the SEC and defensive coaching at University of Georgia as well as stints in the NFL. Smith coached with VanGorder in Jacksonville on what was a very tough defensive team.

VanGorder has a lot of work to do in his third season with the Falcons as he has a lot of young talent to plug in and some big holes to fill with departures of veterans such as Keith Brooking and Michael Boley. With the Falcons staff trusting VanGorder and going pretty much all defense in the draft in 2009, VanGorder has a lot of work to do but a great foundation of knowledge to help.

Keith Armstrong, Specail Teams Coordinator:

Good coaches know that special teams is a crucial part of the game in the NFL. One play can make or break the game and swing the big momentum in either teams favor. Armstrong has a fourteen year experience in coaching with seven of those being the special teams coordinator for the Miami Dolphins. With all the defensive rookies taken in the draft, Armstrong will have plenty to choose from for additions to his special teams unit for the 2009 season.

The supporting Coaches embody the ideals of their head coach Mike Smith. The coaching staff was hand picked to play his style of football and do nothing less. Play hard, play tough, and have fun.