Atlanta Falcons
Mike Smith - From Jacksonville DC to Atlanta HC
Mike Mullarky - From Miami TE Coach (ex-Pittsburgh OC and ex-Miami OC) to Atlanta OC
Smith brings a decidedly defensive pedigree to the Falcons, having picked up a Super Bowl ring as defensive line coach for the 2000 Baltimore Ravens’ and spent the last five years working with the highly-regarded Jaguars defense. And while he hasn’t been a head coach at any level of his 26-year coaching career, the nearly universal sentiment amongst former players and colleagues is that he’s thorough, organized, and well-prepared for the task. Moreover, he seems ready to put his unique personal stamp on a team desperately searching for a new identity.
“As head coach my offensive philosophy is real simple,” Smith told the team’s official web site earlier this offseason. “We’re going to be a very physical football team. We’re going to control the line of scrimmage both offensively and defensively. I think when you control the line of scrimmage you have an opportunity to make the offense or the defense one-dimensional. In terms of us being able to run the football, that’s what we want to be able to do offensively. That doesn’t mean we’re not going to throw the football, but we want to establish the line of scrimmage and run the football first.”
Uh, doesn’t take much reading between the lines there to figure out the game plan.
The good news is, the Falcons seem to be stocking the cupboards with players who can carry out Smith’s plan. Michael Turner will play the Jerome Bettis role in Mularkey’s “Exotic Smashmouth” offense, a scheme the Steelers used with great success in 2001 and 2002 while Mularkey was their offensive coordinator. And, after beginning the transition last year the Falcons can potentially field an offensive line of all 300-plus pounders—including left tackle Sam Baker, the second of Atlanta’s two first-round picks in April’s draft. While still a work in progress, this unit should have time to develop while Chris Redman takes some lumps and be ready to protect top pick and new face of the franchise Matt Ryan when his time comes.
Smith has pointed out that he and Mularkey “share the same philosophies on the offensive side of the ball,” and that philosophy starts with a power running game. Under Mularkey’s tutelage, the Steelers led the NFL with 174 rushing yards per game in 2001, and though the Falcons lack the line to put up such a gaudy number you can bet Turner and the rushing attack will be the team’s offensive focal point. The Falcons’ addition of tight end Ben Hartsock via free agency is notable, though not necessarily from a fantasy perspective; the role Hartsock will fill is that of former Steelers tight end Mark Bruener, who was renown far more for his blocking than his receiving. With the offensive line still a work in progress you can expect plenty of two-tight end sets, with Hartsock and Martrez Milner or rookie Keith Zinger helping up front. Fullback Ovie Mughelli, underused by the departed Bobby Petrino last year, will also help Turner find daylight.
With multiple “skill” positions devoted to blocking, Atlanta’s passing game might be considered an afterthought. However, that same season the Steelers led the NFL in rushing they also produced two 1,000-yard receivers. Not that Roddy White and Laurent Robinson (or Michael Jenkins or rookie Harry Douglas) are in the same class as Hines Ward and Plaxico Burress, but there is at least a modicum of potential here. Consider that under Mularky in 2001 and 2002 nearly three-quarters of their completions went to wide receivers; last year Falcons wideouts combined for slightly less than 60 percent of Atlanta’s completions. What chances Mularkey does take, he takes downfield—great news for White, coming off a 1,202-yard season last year, and Robinson, expected to supplant Joe Horn in the Falcons’ lineup.
Whither Alge Crumpler? Don’t fret for the Falcons, who signed Hartsock to replace the departed tight end. And while Mularkey is a former tight end himself he doesn’t necessarily favor throwing to the position; in 01 and 02 combined Steeler tight ends caught just 42 balls for 736 yards and six touchdowns. Hartsock and company will block for Turner first and catch only if the downfield options aren’t available.
Of course, Mularkey is well known for pulling out more than the occasional gimmick play— the halfback pass, the tight end reverse, etc.—from his bag of tricks. Falcons fans can expect to see at least a couple trick plays a game—just enough to keep defenses from loading up 11 defenders to stop Turner and the running game. As Redman pointed out during the Falcons’ first minicamp, “We’re going to really play smash-mouth football, and when the opportunity to pass presents itself, we’re going to take advantage of it.”
Added Milner, who will see time at H-back in Mularkey’s offense, “It’s going to be like playing backyard football.”
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