Seattle defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who’s widely known to be the Atlanta Falcons’ coach in-waiting because of the league’s tampering rules, wouldn’t have the rules changed.
A coach on a team in the Super Bowl can not be announced as going to his new team. Much like the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, when Todd Haley was known to be headed to Kansas City, the Falcons have not been able to announce their new coach.
“I’m appreciative of the league and that they allowed the interview process to take place during the bye,” Quinn said on Tuesday at the Super Bowl XLIX Media Day. “That allows us to get right back and focus on the job at hand. I’m appreciative of that process and it allowed me to get right back in line. Who wouldn’t want to be apart of this situation.”
Quinn’s initial interview with the Falcons came during the bye week before the Seahawks played Carolina in the divisional round of the playoffs. His second interview came after the NFC championship game.
He’s set to be named the Falcons’ 16th coach after the Super Bowl, perhaps as early as Monday in Atlanta.
He’s presided over the top ranked defense in the league.
“It’s a blast,” Quinn said. “One of the things that I most respect about our team is just that these guys won’t back down from a challenge.”
Quinn will not bring a bunch of complex schemes with him from Seattle. The Falcons tried to mask their talent deficiencies by playing a hybrid 4-3 and 3-4 scheme over the past two seasons under defensive coordinator Mike Nolan.
The plan to trick offenses into mistakes didn’t work and the Falcons finished last season ranked last in defense.
Quinn, a 4-3 proponent, will have a much simpler approach.
“Fast and physical is one of the mottos that we want to play by,” Quinn said. “We don’t play a lot of schemes and calls. It’s not what we play, it’s how we play it. Fast and physical is our style.”
He credits Seattle coach Pete Carroll with helping him to develop his defensive philosophy and with identifying the strengths of his players.
“One of the things I really learned from Pete is how to feature the players and put them in a role where they can do their unique stuff,” Quinn said. “It’s about finding what unique talents a player has and the feature what they can do.”
Seattle linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr. is a big supporter of Quinn.
“Dan Quinn is a really special leader,” Norton said. “He knows his stuff. His record speaks for itself with how he’s been able to work with people and put people in the right spots. His defenses have been dominating. So, I think what he’s going to be to accomplish on his own is going to be really good.”
Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman also gave Quinn a major endorsement.
“He’s great at relating to his players,” Sherman said. “He’s great at understanding the strengths and weakness of his players. He allows everybody to play to their strengths.”
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