Atlanta to Hire Mike Smith

[HoustonFrog]

Atlanta is looking to hire the Jags D coordinator. I know the Jags D is tough but this seems like one of those....5th choice hires

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3209686

The Atlanta Falcons are expected to select Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator Mike Smith as their next head coach, according to league sources. An announcement could come as soon as Wednesday afternoon.

Smith, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, Dallas offensive coordinator Jason Garrett (who withdrew from consideration to remain with the Cowboys), and highly-regarded defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, late of the Baltimore Ravens, each interviewed with Dimitroff after the Falcons hired the former New England Patriots college scouting director on Jan. 13.

Frazier, the most recent entry, really impressed new Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff and is believed to have been the Falcons' second choice.

But Smith, 48, won over the Falcons with his combination of intelligence, communication and organizational skills, and strong knowledge of personnel. Most important, the team believes Smith to be the most professionally compatible with Dimitroff.

[PapaL]

Who?

[nunusguy]

I liked ATL very much the year I lived & worked there back in the 90s, but
back then (before MV came upon the scene), the local NFL team was almost
as afterthought to pro sports in ATL as the Braves ruled.
MV changed it all, but with him gone and the mess left in his departure compounded by the hasty exit of Petrino, its gotta be a tough environment for the new HC.
Then there's Arthur Blank, the Falcons owner. He's got a rep as a real control freak, and a guy who has trouble listening to others who know far more about football than he does. Its well known that he was advised not to hire Petrino, but went ahead anyway.
So getting a no-name assist-coach is probably about the only way it could have gone for now.

[Goldensilence]

I think you said it best HF sounds more like a 5th candidate hire...but then again they might just be in that position after this past year and IMO the blundering move of hiring Petrino in the first place. It's definately a work in progress and sounds like Blank is going to have to learn quick from other owners about being too hands on.