Falcons: The Mike Mularkey era is officially over (via Falcons Focus)

[RFlagg]

Original Article

Quote:Mike Mularkey was not a bad hire by the Atlanta Falcons back in 2008.

With help from Thomas Dimitroff and Bill Musgrave, Mularkey was able to build a smashmouth offense that centered on the power running of Michael Turner, which helped take a lot of pressure off then-rookie quarterback Matt Ryan. The Falcons made the playoffs behind this approach when most people figured it would take years before the team could clean up the mess that Michael Vick and Bobby Petrino had left behind.

But it became abundantly clear in early 2010 that Mularkey wasn’t the right man to take the Falcons’ offense to that next level. His game plans were too simplistic, his playcalling was too predictable and his in-game adjustments were non-existent. Worst yet, he was either unable or unwilling to allow Ryan to grow in the offense.

Mularkey’s actual passing game was flawed as well. It appeared as though 90% of his passing routes were designed to break zone coverage. Receivers were forced to stop their momentum and come back to the ball, which didn’t allow for any yards after the catch unless the wideout broke a tackle (which was rare since the defensive back was usually hanging all over him). This strategy worked when the opponent couldn’t stop Turner but when he was bottled up, the passing game never strapped on a red cape and came to the rescue. How could it? Mularkey’s scheme didn’t allow for many big plays.

To his credit, he did try to open things up in 2011. He did throw more. He incorporated more no-huddle. He did break away from Turner on occasion and put the game in Ryan’s hands. But a leopard can’t change his spots and it was painfully obvious that Mularkey was out of his element as a playcaller. He wanted to run the offense that Dimitroff created for him in ’08. That smashmouth style suited Mularkey but unfortunately, the Falcons outgrew him and this approach. That left them without an identity and it made for a wildly inconsistent season on the offensive side of the ball.

And while he did try, it appeared as though he fought the transition tooth and nail. Back in April, Dimitroff traded the equivalent of two drafts in order to acquire Julio Jones. Then he sat back as Mularkey made the dynamic receiver into a complementary piece instead of a weapon. Granted, maybe that’s all Jones could handle. Maybe Mularkey had to scale back his offense because the rookie was drowning in the playbook. But that still doesn’t excuse Mularkey for not designing plays to get the ball into Jones’ hands more. A creative coordinator would have had more in the playbook than just a simple end around for the team’s most explosive playmaker. This same creative coordinator would have also used his full complement of players, just like Mike McCarthy and Sean Payton have done over the years.

Would either McCarthy or Payton not use Jones, Harry Douglas or Jacquizz Rodgers? Douglas proved in preseason that he was a major mismatch against linebackers and safeties in the slot and yet once the regular season started, Mularkey flat out ignored him. And instead of designing screen passes to get Rodgers the ball in space, Mularkey would often line up Turner and Michael Palmer out wide when Ryan was in the shotgun. (Nothing like using Michael Palmer in a spread formation to instill fear in a defense.)

Following Sunday’s 24-2 playoff loss to the Giants, there has been a growing contingent that believes it wasn’t the offensive coordinator holding the Falcons’ offense back, but the quarterback. That’s fine. Everyone is certainly entitled to his or her opinion. But I would implore anyone who believes Ryan is the issue to hunt down a copy of the team’s win against the Ravens last season. That was one of the only times where Mularkey had an aggressive game plan in place that was meant to actually attack a defense and Ryan flourished. The Falcons went with an up-tempo approach early on and Ryan got into rhythm, which is something he often struggles with in the first quarter. The Ravens were completely caught off guard and for one of the few times under Mularke, a Falcon opponent was actually back on its heels. Mularkey used a similar approach this season against the Packers on Sunday Night Football, allowing the Falcons to build an early 14-0 lead.

Specifically in that Green Bay game, he was calling plays I had never seen the Falcons run and by God, they were working. But in both games, Mularkey took his foot off the gas. Once the team got off his opening script, he never adjusted when the defense countered. Mularkey’s adjustment was always to go back to Turner, which played into the defense’s hands. Look at last weekend’s debacle in New York. The Giants knew that if they stopped Turner, they’d have a good chance of winning. But apparently that was all they had to do because Mularkey had no Plan B. (He rarely did in big games against elite opponents.)

But it’s over now. Mularkey is the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars and you know what? He’ll probably do well in his first couple seasons. He’ll have a new young quarterback to mold and he’ll be able to lean on Maurice Jones-Drew, one of the finest running backs in the league. Mularkey will be back in his comfort zone again, and I wish him well. (Although part of me wonders if he knew he had the Jaguars’ job locked up and mailed it in last week against the Giants. I mean, he interviewed on Tuesday and by Tuesday night he had the job. Seems like strange timing to me.)

The Falcons now have an opportunity to find someone who will want to use all of the weapons at his disposal. Who will want to revolve the offense around Ryan (who has clearly been overcoached, just look at the way he handled that series right before halftime last week). Who will make Julio Jones more than just a complementary piece. Who will be creative, aggressive and imaginative. Who will actually attack a defense instead of using a passive approach.

Assuming Dimitroff finds the right person and Mike Smith doesn’t hold him back with his own conservatism, the Falcons now have an opportunity to grow. It’s been months since we’ve been able to say that.

[juraitwaluzka]

Pretty much sums it up right there.

[ViperXX79]

Great read. Thanks for sharing. I'll be reading more from this author.

[JOEinPHX]

Dude nailed it, aside from the suggestion right at the end - that Smitty might force the next OC into a conservative mindset. Contrary to the beliefs of some, coach gave his coordinators free rein. He's of the school that says "Hire the right people and then get out of their way." One could argue that he may or may not have hired the right people, but I think everyone's assessment of the last two years is badly clouded by the expectations that followed an amazing 2008 season. There's no question that Mike Mularkey plateaued. It's not hard to argue that he lasted one year too long in Atlanta. But he was an integral part in a rise from the ashes.

[juraitwaluzka]

(01-11-2012 05:54 PM)JOEinPHX Wrote:  Dude nailed it, aside from the suggestion right at the end - that Smitty might force the next OC into a conservative mindset. Contrary to the beliefs of some, coach gave his coordinators free rein. He's of the school that says "Hire the right people and then get out of their way."

I've heard Blank say that many times as well. I'm glad Smith is on the same page with this, makes me even more optimistic that if we find the right person he will be allowed to shine.

Quote:One could argue that he may or may not have hired the right people, but I think everyone's assessment of the last two years is badly clouded by the expectations that followed an amazing 2008 season. There's no question that Mike Mularkey plateaued. It's not hard to argue that he lasted one year too long in Atlanta. But he was an integral part in a rise from the ashes.

I give Mularkey thanks and credit for his help, and I believe he was the right choice for the conditions in 2008. But it became pretty clear that we have moved to a point where we need more than he is able to deliver. Like I said earlier, I'm glad it worked out like it did, I'm glad both he and BVG got something positive out of it and that there didn't have to be any firings.

And honestly, if Mularkey learned the right leadership lessons here, he has a good chance of having some success in Jacksonville, especially if he will hire complementary coaches and allow them do what he's not that good at, like calling plays.

[Aftermath]

Quote:Assuming Dimitroff finds the right person and Mike Smith doesn’t hold him back with his own conservatism, the Falcons now have an opportunity to grow. It’s been months since we’ve been able to say that.

This is the part that worries me

[cnasty]

This article really just explains everything that Mularkey brought to this organization. So friggin glad we are past that era.