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Home > Jeff Schultz > Archives > 2008 > November > 09
Sunday, November 9, 2008
VanGorder finally at home — with Falcons
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Having gone from Georgia to Jacksonville to Georgia Southern to the Falcons to South Carolina and then back to the Falcons in seemingly seven minutes, it’s easy to understand how Brian VanGorder became known as a coaching nomad.
If he wasn’t mentioned in the same breath as Bobby Petrino, it’s only because VanGorder actually seemed to care and never jumped on a passing train during the season, while leaving disingenuous “Dear John” letters on players’ lockers.
So in the midst of this wondrous ride the Falcons are on, one thing should comfort management, players and fans: their defensive coordinator isn’t planning on leaving.
“If I could coach in Atlanta the rest of my career I’d be very happy,” VanGorder said Sunday.
He is 49. He has a wife and five children. There comes a time when a coach reaches a comfort zone in his life and career. VanGorder doesn’t want to move any more. A head coaching offer isn’t the end-all, be-all any more. This is what he should be doing — creating defensive mayhem.
“He knows the game of football better than anyone I’ve ever been around,” Keith Brooking said.
“I really believe that if he could, he would get out there and fight with us,” Lawyer Milloy said.
This is why teams win football games. It’s not just because of the brilliance of a rookie quarterback, or a power running game. Teams win when players want to fight for their coach and believe they’re better because of them.
The Falcons defeated New Orleans, 34-20 Sunday. The Saints accumulated 521 yards in offense and quarterback Drew Brees threw for 422. But statistics can say one thing and hide another.
The Falcons led, 27-6. They held one of the NFL’s highest scoring offenses to two field goals until only 9:54 was left in the game. The rest is window dressing. New Orleans’ final touchdown came on a Hail Mary as time expired.
VanGorder generally has been doing this with mirrors and mid-level talent. The Falcons give up yards but they make plays (three interceptions, 15 passes defensed and a sack Sunday). They came into the game ranked ninth in scoring defense, with a depth chart that numbers only one real star (John Abraham).
They’re doing this with the passion and aggressiveness reflected by their VanGorder, who is one of the few coordinators that coaches from the sideline.
“I’m an emotional guy,” he said. “I need that contact during the game, in case we need to change the momentum.”
He understands his reputation as a vagabond, but believes it’s “a little unfair.” He left Georgia for Jacksonville in 2005. He felt he needed NFL experience on his resume in order to eventually get a head coaching job.
But leaving the Jaguars after one season for the Georgia Southern head job he now concedes “was very questionable.” In Statesboro, they would agree. He went 3-8.
He bolted to become linebackers coach under Petrino last season. But when Petrino quit after 13 games, VanGorder was left in limbo. He said he wanted to remain in Atlanta, but management couldn’t promise anything. (Neither Thomas Dimitroff nor Mike Smith had been hired.)
Then Steve Spurrier phoned to offer the coordinator’s job at South Carolina. VanGorder took it on Dec. 13. But a few weeks later, he received another call — this from Smith, who was preparing to interview for the Falcons job and wanted VanGorder as his potential coordinator.
“I was unsure what I wanted to do at that point,” VanGorder said. “I have a lot of respect for Steve, and I told Mike I would only do it with Steve’s blessing. He understood. But it was hard. Sometimes in this business, we try not to read the papers and listen to what you guys say. But you get a reputation out there that you’re looking to move every year, and that just wasn’t the case. I’ve gotten opportunities. They were good opportunities. For whatever reason, it just got a little crazy for a few years.”
He called this season “a blessing.” He spoke with a calm that suggested he had finally found a home — and he isn’t waiting for the phone to ring again.
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