ajcsportstalk

By Manny

January 17, 2008 2:12 PM | Link to this

They should interview Mike Singletary first. Also, look at Russ Grimm. Look at other people. If Rex Ryan is still your man, then pull the trigger. To me? He’s just another Jim Mora Jr. A good Defensive Coordinator and the son of a legendary NFL head coach.

By furl

January 17, 2008 2:13 PM | Link to this

Continue the process but I like Ryan as well as his brother. I would be happy with either one as head coach.

By hop

January 17, 2008 2:16 PM | Link to this

who cares!as long as the falcons owner continues to shoot blanks, the revolving door of head coaches will NEVER STOP.

By ex-vickville

January 17, 2008 2:22 PM | Link to this

Too many other interviews need to be done in my opinion. There are several qualified candidates out there that need to be looked at. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD…DON’T RUSH HIRING OUR HEAD COACH

By Dawgbyte

January 17, 2008 2:28 PM | Link to this

I, like others, was excited about Garrett; but might he not have been just another Mora? Now, if the Falcons are going to hire an assistant, I think it should be someone with a defense background. And I think Singletary should at least get an interview.

By Phillip

January 17, 2008 2:30 PM | Link to this

Steve Spagnuolo, NY Giants Defensive coordinator is ‘da truff” - he will be next Falcons head coach as soon as Giants lose and we can interview him.

By Mick

January 17, 2008 2:36 PM | Link to this

Keep interviewing. We’ve already tried the son of a colorful ex-NFL coach approach before. How did that turn out? There are numerous qualified candidates out there. Keep trying until you find our man.

By True Braves Fan

January 17, 2008 2:43 PM | Link to this

why is Mike Singletary not higher on the list??????

By John in Tampa, FLA

January 17, 2008 2:44 PM | Link to this

TONY DUNGY

By Roswell Ed

January 17, 2008 2:45 PM | Link to this

How about Mark Richt?

He could teach them that Soulja Boo dance.

I just love that thing!!!

And I’m gone!!

All right all right all right!!!!

By mountain jim

January 17, 2008 2:46 PM | Link to this

Don’t hire Ryan without interviewing Spagnuolo first. And Schwartz might bring the strongest staff..

No need to rush it at this point - that’s how the last 2 wrong head coaches got hired - by rushing.

By neckville rednecks

January 17, 2008 2:49 PM | Link to this

Another Daddy boy give some other people a chance! Blank is that all you know to hire!

By brian finley

January 17, 2008 2:49 PM | Link to this

I think the Falcons brass need to hire a Coach that is “in” the NFL now. Don’t go after any college coaches. If Rex Ryan wants the job,give him a shot. My personal choice is Mike Singletary though. The guys was a true student of the game. Somebody’s gonna miss out on the chance to get him. Winning starts with a good defense that shortens the field. He was a good one when he played.

By SCBird

January 17, 2008 2:51 PM | Link to this

There are still some quality guys out there in my opinion (Grimm, Singletary, Rivera, Schottenheimer). On one hand, you don’t want to rush things, but also, you do have the Combines coming up soon. We do need a staff in place by then.

By Awesome

January 17, 2008 2:56 PM | Link to this

Mr. Blank, if you’re reading this, please consider Mike Singletary. He’s a hall of famer, played the game, knows the game, and will get instant respect. What player wouldn’t get up to play for this guy? San Fran may not have had the best record this season, but look at where their defense ranked in every category. It wasn’t too shabby, ecspecially when you consider that thier D is young and a bunch of no names. Lest I forgot he produced the defensive rookie of the year. Out of the 40+ years of Falcons football, why not finally give a minority a shot?

By Chris

January 17, 2008 2:56 PM | Link to this

Steve Spagnuolo is worth waiting on. Russ Grimm should also be called in for an interview. Don’t hire for the sake of hiring. This has got to be right this time. You have hired the right General Manager now take your time and do this right.

By Space Mountain

January 17, 2008 3:02 PM | Link to this

I am not sold on Ryan. He inherited a good defense. And Baltimore’s D has a heckuva lot of talent on it and has for awhile now. I think Dimitroff is waiting for the season to finish up so he can get New Englands O coordinator who is in a similar situation. New Englands O has alot of talent and has for awhile now. None of the names that are being floated around right now really stand out.

By Keeping it real

January 17, 2008 3:03 PM | Link to this

What is wrong with Blank has he lost his mind. Mike singletary wants to be here. The players will play for him and he would keep them in line and most of all win! Is Blank a blank shooter give the guy a chance! you will not be sorry you did so!!

He is listen to the wrong people if mike is not high on the list to hire!

By Ed

January 17, 2008 3:04 PM | Link to this

I think Rex Ryan would be a great condolence prize in the Jason Garrett sweepstakes, often times it is the guy that everyone just want’s you to hire so badly that turns out to be a bust. For instance everyone thought Mike McCarthy was a bad hire in Green Bay last year, a year later the Packers are 1 win away from the Super Bowl and no one is complaining now. Rex Ryan or Jim Schwartz, either one would be fine by me.

By Pogo Stick Comments

January 17, 2008 3:20 PM | Link to this

Keeping it Real you are soooooo Right!!

I think Mike Singletary is the best fit for Atlanta and not anyone who is left, I mean Garrett would have been nice but this team needs motivation and without that I don’t care how good your Head coach is mentally with Offense or Defense his main job is to MOTIVATE this team thats why you hire Coordinators.

By Bob in SF

January 17, 2008 3:20 PM | Link to this

They need to call Mike Singletary and give him an another interview. He is a great motivator and respected by everyone on the field; when was the last time you could say that about a Falcon’s head coach? While not a coordinator his experience as a player, motivational speaker and the quality man he is make him a great canidate. And the job he has done with the Niners LB’s has been outstanding; living in the Bay area I have seen up close what he has done and the LBs are the easily the 49er’s D’s strength, they’re motivated and come to play every down despite the fact that their offense was one of the worst in the NFL. Also lets be honest; there would be a certain amount of PR capital to have a Southern raised, African-American HOF’er as the head coach in a city with the diversity of Atlanta. His values are old school and his credentials are solid. So what if he is not the flavor of the month “hot” coordinator?

By Jason

January 17, 2008 3:28 PM | Link to this

I like many other have been screaming Singletary when dinglefruit left for Arkansas. Hell, give it a shot, I know another former defensive player that has done pretty well coaching in the NFL. This team needs direction…Singletary knows how the way.

By FalconDawg

January 17, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this

I’m a big fan of Singletary as well…however…there’s gotta be a reason no one is giving him a serious look. Not sure we win with anyone that comes here right now.

By Mike

January 17, 2008 3:30 PM | Link to this

2 WORDS SINGLETARY OR SPAGNUOLO. Thank you.

By Rob

January 17, 2008 3:32 PM | Link to this

I don’t understand the infatuation with Singletary. He’s not on anyone else’s list and there’s a reason for it. He coordinated a defense last year that finished 25th out of 32 teams and that ain’t saying much. He was a great player but doesn’t seem to me much of a motivator. He is not the guy in my opinion.

By Bubba, Lower Forty

January 17, 2008 3:36 PM | Link to this

Hi y’all!! I’m hearing Ryan has been tabled for now. Apparently the 2nd interview did not go well or the Falcons were looking at Ryan as a DC instead of HC. Who now? Spagnuolo comes to mind, had a good year for the Giants. Are we sure that McDaniels is still a no? What about Marty? He has made good progress on teams, other than the playoffs. Why not bring him here on a 3 year term, since we won’t be in a position for playoffs anyway, get the team and players sorted out and have him groom a new HC from one of the coordinators on staff? Obviously, that is what the Cowboys and Colts are doing.

By deep

January 17, 2008 3:37 PM | Link to this

I think they’re nuts not to talk to Brian Billick.

By John

January 17, 2008 3:41 PM | Link to this

All great players are not great coaches. Singletary has not done anything with San Fran’s defense. They were barely better than the Falcons! Why are you people so high on him? No other teams have him on their radar. That says something…

By phatt

January 17, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this

Josh McDaniels and whatever else we can steal from the Patriots!!!!

If no one is hired in the next week, you know they are waiting…

By Casey

January 17, 2008 3:46 PM | Link to this

After two interviews, they should know by now if he’s their man! If he is… fine! Pull the trigger! If not, then keep looking. Don’t settle!! We deserve better.

By Dawgs2007

January 17, 2008 3:48 PM | Link to this

To heck with Mike Singletary! Get a life people. He is not coming here! Now go back to your jobs at Popeye’s and KFC!

By Blaze

January 17, 2008 3:51 PM | Link to this

Another round of interviews should be conducted before an offer is made for a couple reasons: 1) Dimitroff needs to put his evaluation into practice. 2) There are several other prospects better than Ryan **Candidates should include: Josh McDaniels, Steve Spagnuolo, Mike Singeltary

By Supe

January 17, 2008 3:51 PM | Link to this

WHat about Caldwell from Indy? He’s being touted as Dungy’s successor. Grab him now!

By Hamp

January 17, 2008 3:52 PM | Link to this

It must be a sign that the ravens did not offer the job to him so I would pass and keep looking. I think maybe we can lure J Mc from NE now that we have JD we might as well become the Patriots south. I hate the patroits because they win all the time (highly respect em though) and seem to just reload BUT I would love for the falcons to have this problem of winning all the time and just reloading right now we are having a problem just loading. Also Please do not draft a quarterback first this year Dj is coming back and deserves a shot and redman played lights out the last couple of games these guys deserve to have a knock down drag out this preseason without having to wonder about a their jobs or take woodson or the mizzo qb whichever the third best qb is. dixon (from oregon) would have won the heisman hands down if he did not get hurt I think he will be around if he is not an underclassman that stays (i don’t know his status)and don’t draft mcfadden you can get mendenhall who is built better. Mc fadden has those pencil legs that is just a big injury waiting to happen. we already have a fast back with pencil legs we need a brusier. Mendenhall would be perfect he had a thousand yards in the bowl game. side note for all the money we are paying fb oglie or what ever his name is he needs to be running the ball send him to a high school football camp or something we need more bang for our buck from him. And last but not least go get OL long from michigan lineman don’t come out ready and he is the closest thing to it. The patriots don’t draft for flash they draft for need and that is why they are where they are and we are where we are. Management needs to get put their HOO HOO’s away and let JD take over and build this thing if he has to answer to mckay then we are no better off

By Rob

January 17, 2008 3:55 PM | Link to this

I agree with deep. Billick should be interviewed. The guy took his team to a Super Bowl just a few years ago. Bring him in to begin the rebuilding process. He has the experience.

By D-Cider

January 17, 2008 3:58 PM | Link to this

Rex Ryan is one heckuva defensive coordinator but an unknown as a head coach. but, since the Falcons aren’t going to win more than 12 games the next two years, they could give him a shot.

If I ever see Brian Billick as a head coach again in the NFL it will be too soon.

By jsmith770

January 17, 2008 4:05 PM | Link to this

My comment is this why is everyone suggesting we go after Mike Singletary? He is not even a defensive coordinator. There seems to be contradicting opinions. People want someone with experience and leadership but you want an Ex-football player that has no exprience at this level. Remember Mora Jr was a seconday coach and not a coordinator and look how he ended up. I think the Falcons should overlooke Singletary for a coordinator in the league. And race has not issue because I am African-American myself. Singletary is a good postions coach but to jump to head coach I just dont think that is the right move

By Gabriel

January 17, 2008 4:06 PM | Link to this

Bring in Mike Singletary !!!!!

By Cairo

January 17, 2008 4:16 PM | Link to this

Blank is a LIAR. If he was so high on Mike Singletary last year when he hired the coward Pequeno what happened this year? It is the GOOD OLE BOY network at its best. I say HELL NO to Ryan. Give Singletary, Steve P and Schwartz an interview first. Singletary is the ONLY one who openly wanted to come here. NO ONE else does so why settle to appease the others.

By falcon_nut

January 17, 2008 4:18 PM | Link to this

please,,,just think about who you hire. dont hire bc the coach is a minority,, dont hire bc the coach is a “hot item”. hire the BEST COACH AVAILABLE, not a coach that IS AVAILABLE! just please,,,no retread coaches with losing records or “hot assistants”. personally i dont see why we didnt go after marty schottenheimer, he has turned around every team he has coached to winners. true, he may not have won in the playoffs,,,but 1st you have to get there,,and the falcons luck hasnt been that great.

By falcon_nut

January 17, 2008 4:18 PM | Link to this

please,,,just think about who you hire. dont hire bc the coach is a minority,, dont hire bc the coach is a “hot item”. hire the BEST COACH AVAILABLE, not a coach that IS AVAILABLE! just please,,,no retread coaches with losing records or “hot assistants”. personally i dont see why we didnt go after marty schottenheimer, he has turned around every team he has coached to winners. true, he may not have won in the playoffs,,,but 1st you have to get there,,and the falcons luck hasnt been that great.

By WarParty

January 17, 2008 4:18 PM | Link to this

The new Falcon’s coach should be a good FIT with the new GM. Say it again with me.

Okay, most newly hired GMs want to bring in ‘their guys’ or the ones they know first and foremost. Short of that, they settle for those who are consistent with their vision of what a team should do on the field in terms of schemes, formations, personnel and all the rest.

Thomas D has yet to find ‘his guy’ and most likely will not until the Pats are done playing. Meantime, everyone can relax.

By Pogo Stick Comments

January 17, 2008 4:24 PM | Link to this

Singletary is hungry!! http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=chadiha_jeff&id=3200995

And waiting for this job.

By Jt

January 17, 2008 4:31 PM | Link to this

Can you say Mike Singletary? If he was Blank’s choice last year, where is he this year? No coach has head coaching experience until his first head coaching job. He exemplifies class, he is disciplined, he is a winner, he commands the respect of men. Sounds like the right man to me

By Patrick

January 17, 2008 4:38 PM | Link to this

I’d be ok with Ryan, but I have NO problem with them stepping back and taking their time. Just not too much time, I need to get back to my job!

And please interview Singletary, if for no other reason than it might make people shut up.

By viking

January 17, 2008 4:43 PM | Link to this

Mike Singletary probably will be a great head coach one day. Players respect him, he’s very smart, and he’s got a lot of character. What he doesn’t have right now is experince as a coordinator, which is considered crucial, for the most part, in hiring a head coach. Some would point out that the 49ers have had little success (although they were OK in ‘06) while he’s been there, and that at least reflects on him a little. Ryan would be a fine choice. He’s had great success as a coordintor, and players respond to him. Jim Schwartz would be a really good choice, but I think he’s going to the redskins. The Falcons should at least wait a little to talk to Ed Spagnoluolo and may be one, two other guys. No need to rush it.

By coocoo birdfan

January 17, 2008 4:46 PM | Link to this

Ryan is nice, but interview some more guys, there may be a diamond in the rough out there. Our new GM has only interviewed two candidates, keep the search going till you find the right guy, dont rush it. If the smoke clears and Ryan is still there, Ink him and lets get on with rebuilding MY team. Oh yeah, why hasn’t anyone mentioned Brian Billicks name, he did win a Superbowl. Just an idea.

By chi chi

January 17, 2008 4:50 PM | Link to this

Hire singletary as a D coordinator

By Ken

January 17, 2008 4:54 PM | Link to this

While Rex Ryan may be offered the job, I wouldn’t be surprised to see 2 New Engalnd coaches be interviewed..Scarnechia and Collier. Both have a ton of experience on both sides of the ball. Have been involved with special projects and personnel. And Bellichek was an assiatnt special teams coach for Colliers dad in Denver.

By mars

January 17, 2008 5:01 PM | Link to this

The Falcons haven’t contacted Singletary as of yet because they are enamoured of so-called “in” coaches, Proof positive that image is much more important than substance in Atlanta. And for those who claim his lack of success in Frisco, let me point out that the GM of the 49ers dismantled the team about 5 years ago, for salary cap reasons, and never bothered to replace them. So the lack of winning in Frisco is due to the lack of football players in Frisco. It’s more of a city for interior decorators anyway.

By jeryy

January 17, 2008 5:07 PM | Link to this

Why is Dennis Green name not coming up? He brought in all kinds of talent to the Vikes and the Cards. He knows how to rebuilt a football team. Why isn’t he being consider. He may not have a champship but he wins games and goes to the playoff alot

By Dawgs

January 17, 2008 5:09 PM | Link to this

Deep, I agree. I am suprised they haven’t at least talked to him. I don’t know that I would give him the job but I would at least interview the man. The raven’s defense was a lot of his doing after all.

By Cyrus

January 17, 2008 5:10 PM | Link to this

What about some of the Bears coaches, they seems to be pretty good.

By Cyrus

January 17, 2008 5:10 PM | Link to this

What about some of the Bears coaches, they seems to be pretty good.

By Just a fan

January 17, 2008 5:11 PM | Link to this

I think the birds should hire a solid high school coach because they sure haven’t gotten anywhere with college coaches and pro assistants such as Bobby boy and Jimmy boy. Nah, never mind. They probably couldn’t find anyone who wants to take a step backward and coach the birds?

By Blackedout

January 17, 2008 5:16 PM | Link to this

Singletary uh no!. SF’s defense is terrible, why hire a guy who can’t even coach up his unit? JUst cause he’s black? Ridiculous! Ryan had exceptional talent with Baltimore, does that make him a great coach? My grandmammy could coach NE’s offense with all that talent & it would be about as good as it is now. Belichick runs the entire team up there including the offense. McDaniel NO! Maybe the DC for the Giants is the guy. I don’t like any of the current guys, need to keep looking!

By mars

January 17, 2008 5:18 PM | Link to this

Brian Billick!?! Let’s sign Ray Lewis, Pacman Jones, and bring back Vick. If we can’t compete in the NFL, at least we can remake “The Longest Yard” in a couple of years!

By none

January 17, 2008 5:21 PM | Link to this

ALERT ALERT ALERT ALERT ALERT

This is what we NEED to do!!!

We hire Steve Spagnuolo or Jeff Swartz as Head Coach Cam Cameron as OC or Norm Chow Monte Kiffen as DC or MIKE SINGLETARY AS DC

Aurthur Blank needs to pull out the BIG BUCKS OUT TO BRING MONTE KIFFEN IN!!!

By Najeh Davenpoop

January 17, 2008 5:27 PM | Link to this

Schot

Ten

Heim

Er

clap clap clap-clap-clap

By Najeh Davenpoop

January 17, 2008 5:29 PM | Link to this

Mike Singletary?

What happened the last time the Falcons hired a defensive assistant from the 49ers who presided over a mediocre unit?

This happened.

By Dom

January 17, 2008 5:41 PM | Link to this

Spagnuolo is a joke…ryan has players like ed reed and ray lewis to coach in baltimore…they won’t do much in atlanta…the Falcons need a coach who’s been there and knows what it takes to be an NFL football player…someone who is respected by the players….and someone who respects them back…not like Petrino….Singletary is that man…he deserves an interview before we can hire someone…if not Ryan will do…Dimitroff is not an idiot…he means business…I’m sure the right decision will be made in the end…GO FALCONS

By mars

January 17, 2008 5:49 PM | Link to this

I’ll tell ya’ what happened, Poop. They hired the wrong guy. Singletary has stated that he wants to be here. Schottenheimer has stated that he does NOT want to be here.

By I'm just saying

January 17, 2008 6:09 PM | Link to this

Hmmmm…Rex Ryan was the defensive coordinator with the Ravens this past season. I wonder why his former team is not viewing him as a serious candidate for their vacant head coaching position?

By KB

January 17, 2008 6:44 PM | Link to this

Absolutely do hire Rex Ryan! We don’t need another first time head coach. He will be just be another pawn that the players will walk all over like they did Jim Mora and will have no team discipline. They need to hire an established head coach with a bright offensive mind and tough-mindedness of what it takes to win consistently. Fire Rich Mckay and hire Pete Carrol and give him total control.

By heybud

January 17, 2008 7:11 PM | Link to this

I trust that our new GM Thomas Dimitroff will make the correct decision regarding who will be the next head football coach of the Atlanta Falcons.

Like many I was enamored with Mike Singletary at first, but then I looked at his record as a coach and remembered that he was not even defensive coordinator yet and have cooled on him a little. Also, keep in mind that Singletary supposedly wowed Blank and/or McKay last year. For some reason they evidently have cooled on him. Remember, all great players don’t necessarily make the best NFL coaches. Maybe Singletary will be a great coach some day. I hope so, but right now I think we need to head in a different direction. However, if he is the choice I will support him 100%.

I was never a fan of Jason Garrett becoming the next head football coach here, primarily because I felt all along he was using the Falcons to improve his situation in Dallas. He’s a Cowboy through and through.

I have mixed feelings about Marty Schottenheimer. He turned around a lot of teams and certainly you’d have to think he has the hunger to coach a team to the Super Bowl (a necessary ingredient in my mind), but I wonder if he’s the right fit now.

One thing we all have to keep in mind is this: If we get a coach from a winning team, we have to remember that that team obviously has better players to coach than the Falcons have currently, so we shouldn’t automatically expect them to be successful here because of their success elsewhere.

Spagnuola - not sure

Billick - don’t like him

Schwartz - not sure

Ryan - NO

McDaniels - not ready yet

I like the attitude of our new GM. I agree that “team” is the key.

Remember when the Patriots went to their first winning Super Bowl? That whole season the players chose not to be introduced individually. They chose to be introduced only as a team. That carried over into the Super Bowl.

We need a coach who is talented, one who has the ability to recognize and cultivate talent, one who is a team player, and most of all one who has the hunger for one thing and one thing only and that is to win a Super Bowl. Bill Parcells had it. Jimmy Johnson had it. Joe Gibbs had it. Vince Lombardi had it. Tony Dungy had it. Bill Cowher had it. Mike Ditka had it. And it appears that Bill Belichick still has it.

Hunger for winning the big one. Having the talent to be a head football coach in the NFL and then doing whatever it takes to win the big one. Those are the keys in my mind.

By falcon21

January 17, 2008 7:15 PM | Link to this

Mike Singletary never coached pee wee football,go after Jimmy Johnson.Anyone but M.Singletary.

By Bill

January 17, 2008 7:25 PM | Link to this

Ryan has a gift of getting players to follow him. That’s what we need. The new GM has a rep for getting the players. Ryan got his shot to co-ordinate a high maintanance group and they set defensive records. How can we hire a Petrino and pass by a Natural like Ryan? Show me where he has been given an opportunity and not excelled…that’s what I see.

By Bo

January 17, 2008 7:27 PM | Link to this

Dimitroff is waiting on New Englands season to end and he will hire one he knows and trust to rebuild Falcons. Which is a good deal to me. Josh McDaniels are Steve Spagnuolo. Mike S will not be the Coach. It will be someone Thomas Dimitroff feel good with. Take your time Thomas and do it right.

By Bill

January 17, 2008 7:55 PM | Link to this

McDaniels is not leaving NE. But yes, he’s an interesting candidate they say is off-the-charts bright. Spagnulo is a guy worth interviewing I guess, but we’re talking about a guy that hasn’t co-ordinated 1 season in NFL and what has he done before that? What is the allure here. Right place , right time I guess. Ryan is best of rest. He’ll come in here and get our guys excited about playing winning football again. How uninspired did our team look this year? GM will improve roster. Our defense could be a hybrid 43/34 like Ravens w/Ryan. Offense will complement it. And that spells trouble for TB, CAR, NO. Balt defense embarasses TB and NO when they played them. We have talented players on our defense, not too much different than Balt. We need better players on Offense but if Defense can become stifling like Balt, Offense can play keep-away until they get a few playmakers at QB and RB, hopefully in this draft. The rest of the candidates, I don’t see the same fit. Spagnulo??? Let’s let him get a year under his belt as a co-ordinator . It’s always amazing how obsessed everyone gets with a new guy that has 1 good year. If Eli hadn’t improved, they wouldn’t be in this game and no one would be talking about this guy. Compare NYG defense vs NE and Balt defense vs NE. I rest my case.

By mars

January 17, 2008 8:57 PM | Link to this

falcon21, any D Hall fan that is against Mike Singletary just cements my support for him. He would be the man to not put up with Hall’s crap. Therefore he definitely is the man.

By mars

January 17, 2008 9:12 PM | Link to this

Quit trying to reinvent the offensive plan. We have skill players out the yang! All we need is to find the biggest, meanest, genetic mutant freaks available to man our offensive line. Then let Singletary concentrate on what really wins games. A solid, well disciplined defense.

By dirty byrd

January 17, 2008 9:25 PM | Link to this

ok no one is thinking outside the box here !! we need a off cord person we need a def cord person we need a head football coach as well, so thats 3 top spots plus all the rest of the coaching staff dont just think about 1 person here we need several good folks to help build a real team our new gm can see its going to take several hires to put a team on the field that can compete week to week

By Najeh Davenpoop

January 17, 2008 10:08 PM | Link to this

Can someone please explain to me how Singletary’s NFL coaching credentials are any different from Jim Mora? Yes, he was a great player. Yes, he has a hard-nosed personality. But can he coach football? There is a LOT more to being a good coach than having the right personality. Even if he does want to be here, that doesn’t mean the Falcons should want him to be here. I don’t see how he’s proven ANYTHING as a coach so far in the NFL.

Josh McDaniels doesn’t strike me as being all that great either. I’m pretty sure I could coach a pretty good offense if I had Tom Brady, Randy Moss, and the best offensive line the NFL has seen in the last 10 years. How’s Charlie Weis working out for Notre Dame? Supposedly he was an offensive genius too.

Rex Ryan is basically the defensive version of McDaniels… when you have Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Chris McAlister, etc. on your defensive unit, you better be successful. I’ll give him credit, he is an innovative coordinator and has been successful for a longer period of time. Still not convinced he is the right fit though — in his three years as coordinator, the Ravens’ defense declined each year.

Brian Billick, the offensive genius control freak who hasn’t coached a good offense in Baltimore in, like, forever? Uh, no. When you are an offensive coach, and all your teams were good because of the defense, that says a lot about your coaching ability.

The Titans’ D-coordinator… uh, just look at what that defense did in weeks 10-12 this year, when Albert Haynesworth was injured. Haynesworth is THE reason that defense was good. Let’s not get carried away about this guy.

Steve Spagnuolo probably has the best credentials of the remaining candidates… and this is a guy who has a total of four years NFL coaching experience. He coached a good unit this year and got good performances out of some young and/or lesser known players. Who knows, maybe some time along the line he will make a good head coach, but the last guy this team hired also only had one year experience as an NFL coordinator. I don’t know if I would trust a rebuilding project this bad to a guy with so little experience.

Which all brings me to this… when there is a guy available who has made a career out of taking over bad teams and making them playoff teams, why wouldn’t you hire him? I can’t find any reports of Schottenheimer declining the Falcons job, so I’m assuming he hasn’t, in which case why the hell wouldn’t he be a good choice? The only knock on him is that he can’t win in the playoffs… well, nothing is stopping the Falcons from firing him once he makes this a playoff team.

The Falcons are in a position right now where a Super Bowl is a long way away. Right now, they first need to become a respectable playoff contender. Maybe there is some candidate that can get them beyond that. But Schottenheimer is guaranteed to get them to the playoffs, based on his track record. If he is willing to coach here, hiring him should be a no-brainer.

By jsmith770

January 17, 2008 10:12 PM | Link to this

Lets put this Mike Singletary idea to rest shall we. Remember when Falcons were looking to find a coach to fill the spot when Mora Jr. was fired and we picked Petrino…well notably Blank liked Singletary and he was a high candidate…well everybody out there questions Blanks choices…stay with me….Blank like Singletary…Blank makes bad decisions…lets not pick Singletary and let Dimitroff earn his pay check

By Najeh Davenpoop

January 17, 2008 10:17 PM | Link to this

One more thing about Rex Ryan:

He has been the Ravens’ coordinator from 2005-2007.

Before him, the defensive coordinator was Mike Nolan from 2002-2004. After having great success coaching that defense and being considered a “defensive genius”, he was hired by the 49ers to be head coach. Check his won-loss record.

Before him, the defensive coordinator was Marvin Lewis from 1996-2001. After having great success coaching that defense and being considered a “defensive genius”, he moved on to Washington for one year and then was hired by the Cincinnati Bengals to be head coach. Check his won-loss record.

I’m just saying…

By Tech Forever

January 18, 2008 1:29 AM | Link to this

Why would Singletary or anyone else for that matter WANT to coach the Falcons??? Seriously. This is one of if not THE worst job in the NFL and there’s probably 20 or 30 college jobs better than the Falcons.