Falcons’ defensive coordinator Marquand Manuel has a wealth of NFL experience to draw on in his new job.
Manuel played eight seasons as a safety in the NFL for eight defensive coordinators. He’s coached for six seasons for three more coordinators.
He’s played for some of the league’s most respected coordinators in Dick LeBeau (who was his first head coach), Leslie Frazier, Ray Rhodes and Gunther Cunningham. He’s also coached with Gus Bradley, Dan Quinn and the man he was named to replace, Richard Smith.
“It’s been a blessing honestly,” Manuel said Tuesday. “The thing about it is, they all taught me something. I was actually blessed to have some great coaches.”
Manuel, who joined the Falcons’ staff in 2015 and coached defensive backs for two seasons, will draw on all of those experiences as he calls plays for the first time during the 2017 season.
“There was a piece or a part that you took away from each one of them,” said Manuel, who played at Florida under Steve Spurrier from 1998-2001 and was a four-time SEC academic honor-roll selection. “That’s the cool part.”
Part of the reason Quinn selected Manuel was because he is versed in all of the intricacies of pro defenses, and he’s able to simplify things for players.
“I’ve played in every defense known to mankind,” said Manuel, who played with the Bengals (2002-03), Seahawks (2004-05), Packers (2006), Panthers (2007), Broncos (2008) and Lions (2009). “I have an understanding of how you simplify things for the players because they are the ones who perform on Sundays.”
Manuel tries to blend the scholarly approach of LeBeau with the old-fashioned fire-and-brimstone approach of Rhodes.
“They had different ways of doing it,” Manuel said. “Coach LeBeau had a friendship way of doing it. He wanted to make sure that you knew every point in a nice and respectful way. Coach Ray Rhodes was a little different. … He was an old-school coach. He was that dad who made sure he put his elbow on you. He taught me about game-planning, even as a player.”
During his second season in the league, Manuel played for Frazier, who was Marvin Lewis’ defensive coordinator for the Bengals in 2003 season.
“Leslie taught me what to expect and how to expect it from each opponent,” Manuel said.
Last season, Quinn took over the play-calling from Smith during the Kansas City game. Manuel is set to call the plays in 2017.
“Coach LeBeau had a way of doing it with (defensive coordinator Mark) Duffner,” Manuel said. “But I think Leslie had a cool demeanor, understanding that you had to remain calm in every situation. You cannot get emotionally into the game when you are calling it.”
Rhodes was Manuel’s coordinator when he played with the Seahawks.
“Ray Rhodes made you understand that the players make the plays come to life,” Manuel said. “You can call it, and there is not one perfect call for one perfect offensive play.”
Manuel inherited a young and athletic unit that has several areas to improve on.
The Falcons, playing seven first- or second-year players, last season ranked 26th in rushing yards per play (4.52 yards), 28th in passing yards (266.7), 26th in sacks per pass attempts (5.19), tied for 29th in first downs per game (22.4), 26th in third-down percentage (41.78), 32nd in red-zone percentage (72.73) and 27th in points allowed (25.4).
“The main focus is on us,” Manuel said. “The numbers will take care of themselves. Fundamentals, if we did half of that right and finished, that would (eliminate) a lot of things we had problems with.
“As far as us finishing, there were one or two plays in each and every game that caused the offense to get their stride. How can we keep them off rhythm?”
Manuel wants the defense to allow fewer points, play better red-zone defense and continue to have a positive turnover ratio.
“If the team doesn’t score, they don’t win,” Manuel said. “Red-zone defense, we have to make teams kick field goals. The last thing that we talk about, it’s all about the ball.”
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