Falcons fire offensive, defensive line coaches
The Falcons, who struggled mightily in the trenches during the 2013 season, have fired offensive line coaches Paul Dunn and Pat Hill and defensive line coach Ray Hamilton, according to the team.
“We didn’t win the line of scrimmage in most football games,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “I thought that was a factor.”
The Falcons attempted to replace center Todd McClure with Peter Konz, had to settle for Garrett Reynolds at right guard and Lamar Holmes at right tackle for Clabo.
Konz and Reynolds struggled, while Holmes had to move over to left tackle after Sam Baker was placed on injured reserve.
The Falcons gave up 44 sacks, which ranked 10th in the league and 100 quarterback hits, which ranked fifth.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Falcons didn’t stop the run and rarely mounted much of a pass rush.
The gave up 135.8 yards rushing per game, which was second in the league. They could only muster 32 sacks, which ranked 29th in the league.
Hamilton had been with Smith since he arrive in 2008 and had coach with him in Jacksonville.
Dunn has also been with Smith since 2008.
Pat Hill, the former head coach at Fresno State, joined the staff after the 2011 season.
About the Author
Honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his "long and distinguished reporting in the field of pro football," D. Orlando Ledbetter, Esq. has covered the NFL 28 seasons. A graduate of Howard University, he's a winner of Georgia Sportswriter of the Year and three Associated Press Sports Editor awards.
