Bobby Petrino Falcons New Head Coach (1 Viewer)

[jeter23]

Some were wondering how Petrino would affect the Falcon offense. In 2001, he was the Jaguars offensive coordinator. Here are some stats from that year:

534 pass plays resulting in 3,670 yards and 20 TDs, with 14 INTs.

372 rushing plays resulting in 1,600 yards and 11 TDs.

Total yardage was 5,270, ranking 17th in the NFL.

Mark Brunell was the leading passer with 3,309 yards and 19 TDs.

Stacey Mack was the leading rusher with 213 attempts for 877 yards and 9 TDs.

Elvis Joseph ran 68 times for 294 yards.

Fred Taylor ran 30 times for 116 yards.

Jimmy Smith was the leading receiver with 112 catches for 1,373 yards and 8 TDs.

Keenan McCardell caught 93 passes for 1, 110 yards and 6 TDs.

After those two, the next leading receiver was TE Kyle Brady with 36 catches for 386 yards and 2 TDs.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

In the NFL you work 17 hour days while in college you work ten hour days. In the NFL you deal with high paid players who know the system and know what they can and can't get away with. In college you deal with kids who want to get to the pros and will do anything for playing time. In the NFL the GM, the Director of personnel, and all the VPs have a say in a lot of your daily life. In college the regents don't know their ### from a hole in the ground and the AD has several other sports keeping them busy on a daily basis. Petrino has coached at Weber State, Nevada, and Louisville for the past 14 years. He doesn’t have any idea about the pressures of coaching at a premier University where the fans expect ten wins and a BCS bowl every year. And you think he can make it in the pros where you have an owner who is usually more concerned with his bottom line than he is with the product?

Also what makes anyone think he can evaluate what good pro talent is? Can he handle the rigors of losing six games a year and that being a good year? Can he be both master and servant with NFL egos? Can he take a bunch of orders from a GM and get told by the personnel director who he’s going to take in the draft and be his starting OLB? Sorry, this is a terrible hire. You don’t hire a guy who has never coached or played in the pros and doesn’t even come from a top 20 program (year after year). Arthur Blank wanted his guy in there and is running this as you would a business which he has every right to. But he should have hired a Singeltary, a Cameron, or a Rivera who know the NFL, who command respect, and who know what being an NFL coach on a day-to-day basis is like. ####, guys like Belichek were over their heads in their first NFL jobs after spending their entire career in the NFL. What Blank is doing is he's bringing in an "outsider' to righten the ship which often works like a charm in the business world. This hire is like hiring Matt Millen to be a GM. Millen had the NFL experience, knew the system, the players, and is not a dumb guy. But he didn't know how to be a Gm. Bobby Petrinio does not know what it's like to be an NFL coach.

Petrino could be a great playcaller and offensive mind and that works for about 4 games in the NFL until guys much smarter than you, who have coached in the NFL for years, and who have huge scouting budgets figure you out. Then you have to work some 19 hour days to compensate. Being a good playcaller is great but an NFL coach has so much to do it's hard to call the plays and only the most experienced and bright guys can actually handle the workload (Holmgren, Walsh, Billick now, etc.).

This is a D- hire but I guess there is nothing but upside because nothing much should be expected from Petrino. This is the worst NFL hire I can remember in years.

Edit for not knowing he coached in JAX

 

[lod2005]

Does anyone have any info on when Atlanta is going to address the real problem?

 

[el centro]

As a Falcon fan I'm not too happy with the hire (with Wisenhunt, Rivera, Cam Cameron, Norm Chow) still out there. But I'll wait & see, I wonder who he'll hire as OC/DC.

I'm not a big Atlanta fan... but I am questioning this hire also. I don't understand why we go thru this in the NFL every 3-5 years where some moronic NFL GM makes a coach hire from the collegiate ranks - only to see that coach implode in 2-3 years. It seems from my observations that high-profile assistants have faired markedly better as head coaches in the NFL!

 

[el centro]

He has a history of running a spread offense with a big Rb. Almost seems like the Falcons might wish they still had Duckett.

How do people see Norwood/Dunn being used? Or will he bring in another Rb?

Will they use more 3 WR sets and spread formations now?

I could see Vicks style working in a spread offense.

They need 3 WR's first.

 

[el centro]

Wonder why, the Falcons who have one of the worst Ds in the league, were rumored to be only hiring offensive gurus.Hmmm.... They also have a very unique QB, who doesn't fit most systems.Hmmm... Add in the fact they can't trade or cut Vick without a 20M cap hit.Hmmm.... Before Vick the Falcons couldn't sell out a section let alone the entire dome... Hmmm.... When Vick was hurt they never sold out a single game a backup QB started... Hmmmm.... Falcons for the first time in 40 years have a waiting list for season tickets.Hmmm....So Vick isn't going anywhere for 2+ years, they bring in an offensive genius, this adds up to Vick in Cleveland and Schaub starting? Even if the team sucks, people will still pay to see Vick. With that D, lack of any skill position playmakers beyond Crumpler, Vick isn't going anywhere. Vick is the lone bright spot on a heartless team. They went after creative, progressive, offensive minded HCs. Mostly because the last coaching staff, set Vick back years. Vick had his best year in his 1st year under Reeves, a guy who knew how to use a running QB from his days with Elway. Knapp knows WCO, and not much else. HORRIBLE match with Vick. So now they bring in unique offensive minded coaches, not to get rid of Vick, but to create an offensive to utilize his unique abilities. If Blank was ready to let Vick go, he'd go hire a defensive coach, to fix the MAIN PROBLEM with the Falcons. They hired a DC last time as HC, and it was a disaster. Now they're going to bring in a guy who can put Vick in the best position to succeed. That all being said, Vick will start at least for 2007. If the HC at that point believes Vick won't cut it at QB, they'll move to a new QB in 2008 and use Vick in a Bush type role. Then in 2009 they can more easily trade Vick without a massive cap hit they'd take right now. Either way, Vick is stuck in ATL for 2 years. But there is no way in hell, based on preseason/training camps, the new HC is going to demote Vick. Not based on practices. There is no freaking way. I'm sure Blank told him I won't hold the franchise back to force Vick at QB, but there's no way in hell you're going to make that judgment based on June practices. They have too much invested, too many "Vick fans" as opposed to "Falcon fans" to bench the face of the franchise based on 7 on 7 scrimmages in June. Vick gets at least one year, maybe two before the franchise will move on. Cap wise their hands are tied. Business wise, Vick is a goldmine. I have no doubts Blank/McKay want to see Vick in a better suited offense, before they're going to pull the plug. They won't pull the plug based on Knapps crappy offense, and a college coach’s opinion after watching Vick in practice. The only reason you buy a ticket to see the Falcons is Vick. The defense sucks, they don't tackle well, they don't give full effort, and they have no playmakers anywhere on the field besides Vick. There is 0% chance a college coach comes in, tears down the franchise, without seeing how Vick progresses in a more suited offense. It just won't happen.

Ditto that.. Now I just wonder who Petrino will target as a Def. Coord - maybe Coughlin?

 

[On The Rocks]

Just reported on Comcast.Good Hire.

the Falcons would have been better off keeping Mora and firing Vick.

 

[jeter23]

People who think this is a great hire are really missing something very important: Petrino has never coached at the NFL level. So don't compare him to Saban. You might not want to compare him to Spurrier either because at least Steve played in the NFL. I'd compare him to Darryl Rogers.

In the NFL you work 17 hour days while in college you work ten hour days. In the NFL you deal with high paid players who know the system and know what they can and can't get away with. In college you deal with kids who want to get to the pros and will do anything for playing time. In the NFL the GM, the Director of personnel, and all the VPs have a say in a lot of your daily life. In college the regents don't know their ### from a hole in the ground and the AD has several other sports keeping them busy on a daily basis. Petrino has coached at Weber State, Nevada, and Louisville for the past 14 years. He doesn’t have any idea about the pressures of coaching at a premier University where the fans expect ten wins and a BCS bowl every year. And you think he can make it in the pros where you have an owner who is usually more concerned with his bottom line than he is with the product?

Also what makes anyone think he can evaluate what good pro talent is? Can he handle the rigors of losing six games a year and that being a good year? Can he be both master and servant with NFL egos? Can he take a bunch of orders from a GM and get told by the personnel director who he’s going to take in the draft and be his starting OLB? Sorry, this is a terrible hire. You don’t hire a guy who has never coached or played in the pros and doesn’t even come from a top 20 program (year after year). Arthur Blank wanted his guy in there and is running this as you would a business which he has every right to. But he should have hired a Singeltary, a Cameron, or a Rivera who know the NFL, who command respect, and who know what being an NFL coach on a day-to-day basis is like. ####, guys like Belichek were over their heads in their first NFL jobs after spending their entire career in the NFL. What Blank is doing is he's bringing in an "outsider' to righten the ship which often works like a charm in the business world. This hire is like hiring Matt Millen to be a GM. Millen had the NFL experience, knew the system, the players, and is not a dumb guy. But he didn't know how to be a Gm. Bobby Petrinio does not know what it's like to be an NFL coach.

Petrino could be a great playcaller and offensive mind and that works for about 4 games in the NFL until guys much smarter than you, who have coached in the NFL for years, and who have huge scouting budgets figure you out. Then you have to work some 19 hour days to compensate. Being a good playcaller is great but an NFL coach has so much to do it's hard to call the plays and only the most experienced and bright guys can actually handle the workload (Holmgren, Walsh, Billick now, etc.).

This is a D- hire but I guess there is nothing but upside because nothing much should be expected from Petrino. This is the worst NFL hire I can remember in years.

Although he has not been a head coach, he was OC for Jax in '01. He knows the work that is needed to be successful. Now we'll see if he is willing to put in that work.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

People who think this is a great hire are really missing something very important: Petrino has never coached at the NFL level. So don't compare him to Saban. You might not want to compare him to Spurrier either because at least Steve played in the NFL. I'd compare him to Darryl Rogers.

In the NFL you work 17 hour days while in college you work ten hour days. In the NFL you deal with high paid players who know the system and know what they can and can't get away with. In college you deal with kids who want to get to the pros and will do anything for playing time. In the NFL the GM, the Director of personnel, and all the VPs have a say in a lot of your daily life. In college the regents don't know their ### from a hole in the ground and the AD has several other sports keeping them busy on a daily basis. Petrino has coached at Weber State, Nevada, and Louisville for the past 14 years. He doesn’t have any idea about the pressures of coaching at a premier University where the fans expect ten wins and a BCS bowl every year. And you think he can make it in the pros where you have an owner who is usually more concerned with his bottom line than he is with the product?

Also what makes anyone think he can evaluate what good pro talent is? Can he handle the rigors of losing six games a year and that being a good year? Can he be both master and servant with NFL egos? Can he take a bunch of orders from a GM and get told by the personnel director who he’s going to take in the draft and be his starting OLB? Sorry, this is a terrible hire. You don’t hire a guy who has never coached or played in the pros and doesn’t even come from a top 20 program (year after year). Arthur Blank wanted his guy in there and is running this as you would a business which he has every right to. But he should have hired a Singeltary, a Cameron, or a Rivera who know the NFL, who command respect, and who know what being an NFL coach on a day-to-day basis is like. ####, guys like Belichek were over their heads in their first NFL jobs after spending their entire career in the NFL. What Blank is doing is he's bringing in an "outsider' to righten the ship which often works like a charm in the business world. This hire is like hiring Matt Millen to be a GM. Millen had the NFL experience, knew the system, the players, and is not a dumb guy. But he didn't know how to be a Gm. Bobby Petrinio does not know what it's like to be an NFL coach.

Petrino could be a great playcaller and offensive mind and that works for about 4 games in the NFL until guys much smarter than you, who have coached in the NFL for years, and who have huge scouting budgets figure you out. Then you have to work some 19 hour days to compensate. Being a good playcaller is great but an NFL coach has so much to do it's hard to call the plays and only the most experienced and bright guys can actually handle the workload (Holmgren, Walsh, Billick now, etc.).

This is a D- hire but I guess there is nothing but upside because nothing much should be expected from Petrino. This is the worst NFL hire I can remember in years.

Although he has not been a head coach, he was OC for Jax in '01. He knows the work that is needed to be successful. Now we'll see if he is willing to put in that work.

Damn my bad. He was also the quarterbacks coach for two years. I'm not even drinking this morning. I bump this to a C- hire.

 

[Warpig]

Good move.

They had to bring in a college coach to install a college like offense to fit their college qb.

This'll turn out well.

 

[Jason Wood]

After last season, I'm not sure anyone (myself included) should feel confident proclaiming which guys are good hires and which aren't. I looked at the Jets staff whereby virtually everyone was young and completely inexperienced at their new positions and expected a multi-year learning curve. Oops. A lot of folks gushed over the Linehan and Marinelli hires, but so far the returns have been inconclusive at best.

But since it's the (almost) offseason and the coaching carousel is afoot, I'll throw my two cents in for the halibut.

Petrino is a guy I've never really been a fan of for several reasons. One, the guy has wanderlust and is always (or has the appearance of always) chasing the "next big thing."

Second, I can't figure out what to make of this guy's career. He's been John L. Smith's righthand man quite a few times, but has also flown the coup a few times; most notably to join Arizona State as their QB coach during Jake Plummer's run.

I heard Mike & Mike praising his experience under Tom Coughlin in Jacksonville, yet a) he was there for the downturn of Coughlin's Jags run, b) he was one and done in Jacksonville as OC (despite Coughlin staying on for the 2002 season), and c) the vast majority of the John L. Smith/Bobby Petrino QB proteges haven't lived up to the NFL hype.

This could be a good hire, don't get me wrong. But as I understand it, Petrino's best skill is play calling, plain and simple. Not sure if Mike Vick is going to allow him to utilize that skill to its fullest.

 

[pfalvey]

I'm confused, help me out here. We are talking about the same Matt Schaub right, the guy who has a 52% completion percentage, a 69% quarteback ranking and a dude that throws equal number of TD's and INT's? Why in the world would he ever get a nod over a QB who has better QB stats and is also a 1,000 yard rusher. All Atlanta needs is one big WR and that team is looking good.

Schaub only has 161 career pass attempts over 3 years, not a large sample size and I don't think it's large enough to provide an accurate measure of his talent level. It may be possible to make a reasonable assessment of his actual skill-set from watching his play, but the sample size is too small for his passing stats to provide any definitive evidence of his skills. Add in the fact that some of those numbers came from brief in-game substitution, mop-up work or during his rookie year and they hold even less relevance. I'm not suggesting Schaub will be any great QB, but I think he's significantly better than what his numbers would suggest. Vick, on the other hand, has very relevant passing numbers and they are a more accurate reflection of his mediocre QB skills.

 

[JAA]

I think this means Brohm is going into the draft this year.I thought for sure Bush was staying, but his chances of forgoing his last year of eligibility just jumped a bit too.

My :moneybaag: is on Brohm, Bush, Urritia, and Douglas all gone to the NFL.

 

[jeter23]

I think this means Brohm is going into the draft this year.I thought for sure Bush was staying, but his chances of forgoing his last year of eligibility just jumped a bit too.

My :moneybaag: is on Brohm, Bush, Urritia, and Douglas all gone to the NFL.

I never would have thought Douglas would go, but after his big game in the Orange Bowl and now this, I could see it. Paul Petrino is already being talked about as a replacement here, so that could keep some of them in school, likely the WRs.The local news quoted Bush's father as saying that Michael had already made up his mind and that Petrino leaving had zero affect on his decision. His announcement is likely to come this week.

 

[jeter23]

That didn't take long... Word is that Paul Petrino has accepted the OC job at Bama.

 

[aldelgreco]

Do they have to take a big cap hit to retain Dunn?

I think that this news is best for Norwood owners.

 

[noneother]

if hue jackson goes there, any chance he takes Chris Henry with him...

Henry and lelie, Jenkins and White.. would be nice set...

 

[jeter23]

if hue jackson goes there, any chance he takes Chris Henry with him...Henry and lelie, Jenkins and White.. would be nice set...

I am not 100% sure, but I don't think henry is a FA. If Cincy was willing to put up with everything from this past offseason without cutting him, I don't see them letting him go at this point.

 

[Fiddles]

He has the reputation of being on the best Xs and Os coach in the NFL or in college," Blank said.

After Blank's opening remarks, Petrino spoke.

"When you start in this profession, you look ahead and set your goals and want to become a head coach in the NFL," Petrino said. "This is the best job in the NFL and I'm very excited to be here.... I truly believe I'm totally prepared for this."

"Offensively our philosphy is going to be very aggessive. Defensivley one of our most important hires will be a defensive coordinator."

Petrino said he didn't have any specific ideas on how to use Michael Vick. Blank and Falcons general manager Rich McKay both emphasized in the search process that candidates would be asked specifically about how they would utilize the team's enigmatic quarterback.

"I'm looking forward to working with Michael.... I'd like to stand up here and say this is what we are going to do with Michael and how we are going to use him, but you don't know until you get out on the field," Petrino said. "I can't wait to get started."

Petrino, who was hired by the team Sunday night, discussed leaving a college program that he built into a national power.

"It was a tough decision to leave [Louisville} in one aspect, but in the other to see the opportunity to reach a Super Bowl here. It was not a tough decision."

 

[Gator Shawn]

I'm not happy with this decision. What was the big freaking hurry? Is this about Blank pulling the "hottest coaching name" in college? Is he thinking more with his Marketing hat than his "winning football games" hat?

We could have gotten a top quality assistant for less $$ and been in the market for guys like Cowher when they come back (Okay that's probably a long shot and I am trying ti envision Cowher working with Vick....)

I go back to what was the big hurry?

 

[Fiddles]

I'm not happy with this decision. What was the big freaking hurry? Is this about Blank pulling the "hottest coaching name" in college? Is he thinking more with his Marketing hat than his "winning football games" hat?We could have gotten a top quality assistant for less $$ and been in the market for guys like Cowher when they come back (Okay that's probably a long shot and I am trying ti envision Cowher working with Vick....)I go back to what was the big hurry?

apparently al davis wanted petrino last yearguess they wanted to beat the raiders to the punchthey also wanted someone who had head coaching experience as a change from mora

 

[pfalvey]

I'm not happy with this decision. What was the big freaking hurry? Is this about Blank pulling the "hottest coaching name" in college? Is he thinking more with his Marketing hat than his "winning football games" hat?We could have gotten a top quality assistant for less $$ and been in the market for guys like Cowher when they come back (Okay that's probably a long shot and I am trying ti envision Cowher working with Vick....)I go back to what was the big hurry?

I read in another thread that Whisenhut was actually offered the job, but he wanted to wait on the Steelers opening.

 

[Traders2001]

And for all those Vick bashers , He will be the starting QB of a new powerful offense and Schaub will be traded.