Reports: Richard Smith and Raheem Morris co-defensive coordinators?
According to several tweets from NFL Network’s Albert Breer, Dan Quinn is going to be bringing in an interesting coaching system to the Atlanta Falcons. Based on the following tweets, it seems like Quinn is intent on having Raheem Morris (Washington Redskins secondary coach) run the pass defense and Richard Smith (Denver Broncos linebackers coach) run the run defense:
Redskins secondary coach Raheem Morris has verbally accepted the job of ass't head coach with the Falcons. Will run pass defense in Atlanta.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 26, 2015
Broncos linebackers coach Richard Smith will likely be the defensive coordinator with the Falcons. He'll run the run defense.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 26, 2015
None of these coaching decisions will be announced until after the Super Bowl when Quinn can officially take the Falcons head coaching job, but it’s pretty apparent that Quinn isn’t waiting until then to get things together.
There’s not a really a system in place in the NFL that looks like the one Breer is implying above, but that should hardly be a concern for any Falcons fans. Something has to give for this defensive to improve and if that means having a co-defensive coordinator for each aspect of the defense, so be it.
In addition to these incoming coaches, D. Orlando Ledbetter writes that several Atlanta coaches will be returning under Quinn:
"Special teams coordinator Keith Armstrong and defensive line coach Bryan Cox are set to return. Also, wide receivers coach Terry Robiskie and assistant offensive line coach Wade Harman are set to return, according to an ESPN.com report. Harman reportedly will be moved to tight ends coach."