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Jay Glazer

The Falcons have hired Mike Nolan as their new defensive coord. Solid, solid hire.

at least they didn't f*ck this one up.

Again, Smith worked with Nolan on the Ravens. But at least they didn't pick the 2 sh*tbags I didn't want.

Would have been happy with Spags or Nolan.

Isn't Nolan a 4-3 guy, though? I still think we stay with our base defensive package.

Turd Koetter needed this, because it is his only hope to save Smith's job.

Playoff win, or get thef*ck outta town

You are going to eat every word about the Koetter hire, just sayin'

Nolan has experience with both defenses...

This is where we need to improve.

I've eaten crow before. Wouldn't be the first time.

Remind me how wrong I was next January. Think I'll be mad I was wrong if we win a playoff game? I'll smile with each bite.

But if we dont here's what I dont want to hear:

"Well what do you expect? He did the best with what he was given. It's not his fault ( fill in the blank here injuries,Ryan,ref's,etc..)"

none of that crap. anything less then a playoff win means I was right, and Smith needs to be shown the door.

We will see.....

Nolan has been predominantly a 3-4 guy since 2000, when he was the Jets DC under Al Groh. Prior to that, he was strictly a 4-3 guy, including time under Reeves when he was in NY. He took the Redskins job in '97 rather than wait for Reeves to get the gig in Atlanta.

Like I said in another thread, this was the more interesting hire because of the possibility that the Falcons could convert to a 3-4 scheme.

My hope is that if they want to move towards a 3-4, they will do so gradually and not make the mistake that others have made and tried to force it when the pieces weren't there. A hybrid scheme will work.

Right now, Abraham, Lofton, and Spoon are probably the only guys that are really good fits in the 3-4.

Not sure it's that cut and dried but I think you'll see a huge difference. Forget Jags, think Boise State...

Yes! Yes! Yes! At least they didn't let us down with this hire! With all the rumors flying, I've been a nervous wreck waiting for this announcement! It will be very interesting to see what happens this year. I don't think it will be quite the same old business as usual!

from what? 0-3 in the playoffs, the last 2 getting BLOWN OUT?

Your already setting up the 'excuse train'. Sorry Cap, seeing a difference is another slogan like Rise Up, Battling Souls or Explosive.

the bar has been set. If Koetter does not procure a playoff WIN, then it's the same ole Falcons. I dont need Pac 10 victory dances. I'm not asking for a Lombardi his first season here. But anything less then a playoff win at this point is a net loss.

your milage may vary

I'm not going to cash in the chips like that over 1 season. Hell, Mularkey had 4. If we don't win one in the first 2 seasons, then there's a problem but we've got a lot of free agents and work to do on a shoddy o-line. I think it only fair to understand that there is a possibility that we may not get where we want in year 1. That said, I don't expect regression for certain...

thats why your Capologist and not Blank

check this out

Last season, the Dolphins boasted the third best run defense in the NFL, allowing just 95.6 yards per game and 3.7 yards per carry. His defense also produced 41 sacks which ranked tied for 10th in the NFL and allowed the sixth fewest points per game at 19.6. The Dolphins also ranked seventh in third-down percentage (33.8) and sixth in red zone defense, holding opponents to a 44.2 touchdown percentage inside the 20.

In 2010, Nolan’s defense ranked among the league’s top ten in overall defense, pass defense and run defense, and was one of just five units in the League to accomplish that feat. Nolan joined Miami after spending the 2009 season as the defensive coordinator of the Denver Broncos. Under his tutelage, Denver’s defense improved to seventh in the NFL in total defense after finishing 29th in 2008. Denver’s pass defense was equally impressive, ranking third in the NFL, allowing just 186.3 yards per game through the air.

Nolan spent four seasons in Baltimore from 2001 to 2004, including the last three as the defensive coordinator. Nolan’s group tied for the NFL lead in takeaways (106) while ranking fifth in the league in both points per game allowed (18.8) and third down percentage (34.7). He also coached five Ravens defenders to nine trips to the Pro Bowl, while tutoring back-to-back AP Defensive Players of the Year in LB Ray Lewis (2003) and S Ed Reed (2004).

Look like a big upgrade over BVG... Now let the 3-4 discussion... continue...

Pretty much has to be gradual to not be catastrophic in at least year 1. But, teams like the Pats who are always innovative have been pretty much running a hybrid on D all year. Other than the sheer pts they put up, this has helped that secondary a lot my being multiple.

Only ? I have is why has Nolan tended to bounce around so much since his HC days at SFran? I had kinda lost track of him.

Well now, nice hire! A proven track record and he knows Smith and what he wants, I'm a fan. Now lets resign our vets and get on with mapping out a successfull 2012 on the Defensive side.

Agreed, great hire!