Falcons' makeover starts with VanGorder

FLOWERY BRANCH — After suffering an embarrassing playoff loss for the third time in four seasons, the Falcons began a team makeover on Monday, signaled by the departure of Brian VanGorder to the college ranks.

VanGorder, 52, Atlanta’s defensive coordinator the past four seasons and linebackers coach for one season, left the team to accept the defensive coordinator position at Auburn.

Neither Falcons coach Mike Smith nor VanGorder offered reasons for the change. While it appeared VanGorder might have been made a scapegoat, Smith would not address any specifics.

“Yes, I was aware of it,” said Smith of VanGorder’s talks with Auburn. “I really don’t want to get into the details and the timing of this news.”

More change might be on the way. Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey remains a candidate to become the coach of Jacksonville or Miami, and is expected to interview with those teams this week.

A logical choice for VanGorder’s replacement might be former Jacksonville coach Jack Del Rio. Before joining the Falcons, Smith was a defensive coordinator for Del Rio.

Asked about the possibility of reuniting with Del Rio, Smith again deferred, saying, “I’m not going to comment on that position at this point in time. It’s something that just came about. We’ll go through the due process of getting the best defensive coordinator for our football team.”

VanGorder joined Bobby Petrino’s staff as the Falcons linebacker coach in 2007, and he became the South Carolina defensive coordinator once Petrino left Atlanta.

Smith, who coached with VanGorder at Jacksonville in 2005, brought VanGorder with him as the Falcons’ defensive coordinator when Smith was hired by Atlanta in 2008.

In a statement released by Auburn, VanGorder described his new coaching job, seemingly not a lateral move, as a positive one.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for me and my family at this point in my career, both professionally and personally, to become the defensive coordinator at Auburn,” said VanGorder, who served as the defensive coordinator at Georgia in 2001-04.

VanGorder’s defense finished the regular season second in the NFL in red-zone defense, sixth in rushing defense (97 yards per game) and 12th in total defense (333.6 yards per game). But the Falcons struggled rushing the passer and defending the pass. While at Georgia, he used aggressive defensive schemes. During his time with the Falcons, VanGorder had his unit mostly in zone coverage.

If Mularkey leaves, the Falcons will be in a full scramble to fill the two top spots on Smith’s coaching staff.

In addition to revamping the coaching staff, the Falcons must make major decisions on 20 free agents, including major contributors such as defensive end John Abraham, center Todd McClure, middle linebacker Curtis Lofton, cornerback Brent Grimes and safety Thomas DeCoud.

Smith admitted the Falcons, who were eliminated Sunday from the playoffs by the New York Giants 24-2, took a step backward this season. He’s looking for improvement across the board.

“I’m very frustrated,” Smith said. “There are 60-something guys in that meeting room that were frustrated today. We have set the bar very high here with what we’ve accomplished as a football team and the expectations and the markers are much higher now. ... We’re very disappointed in the way that we performed in the playoff game.”

Mike Nolan, who coached with Smith in Baltimore in 2001-02, might be a candidate to replace VanGorder. Also, Dirk Koetter, whose contract runs out in February with Jacksonville, could be a candidate to replace Mularkey if he leaves.