Mularky did a pretty damn good job in ATL. He just didn't have the same success in the post season. I'm not sure that he should have been fired really, but for people to discount this guy in Jacksonville as if he's some joke of a HC is ridiculous. That team didn't have jack **** worth a weapons before he got there in ATL, and he's partly responsible for why they have some of them now.
I don't know that I'd agree. On paper, I fear the Falcons a lot more than I have on the field. I don't know how much of it is on Mularkey, but it seemed to me to be a case of not identifying strengths or forcing an identity on an offense where personnel didn't match or drafting for something other than what you should be built for. Or maybe a combination of all three.
Turner, Gonzales, Rodgers, Mughelli, Jones, White, Douglas, Snelling. These aren't offensive slouches. These are guys with talent. And I don't think - at least in playoff games or games vs. the Saints - that the right thing was done with their personnel.
Atlanta had a record of something like 20-3 as of December of this year when Turner rushed for over 100 yards. And, about that time, they started to press this no huddle, vertical offense. Attempted, anyway.
Their offensive line underperformed (in passing and short yardage) and Ryan's arm is simply not enough. If you are an OC, then I think you need to identify what your QB can do and design an offense around that. With Turner at RB and Gonzales at TE, you have two great pieces to do just that.
They didn't. And it cost them.
Ryan doesn't take risks - he's scared, I think, to really press the ball into tight holes down the field. I don't know if it's a confidence issue but I know it's an arm issue.
All of this makes the deal for Jones even more bizarre. The QB can't get the ball to him deep. Ryan has the Capt. Checkdown reputation for a reason and it's well deserved. For three seasons his reads went like this: White up to 15 yards, throw to Gonzales. He panics quickly and dumps the ball off. I don't think he has the arm, patience, accuracy, elusiveness in the pocket to let the play develop down the field - so why try this no huddle, vertical whatever?
I don't get it.
Now, how much of that is Mularkey? No idea. But I know as a Saints fan, I was hoping he'd stick around. With a more competent OC, they can be a more dangerous team (though Turner slowed noticeably this year - or maybe was less strong; Gonzales aged another year).
Yes, he had some success. I guess the question is how much of that was the pure talent and how much of that is scheme? I think the answer is both - so it's a matter of relativity. And I think the Falcons could be scarier on offense with a better scheme and with better playcalling.
Does that mean he'll be terrible in JAX? No. I just wouldn't have high expectations - I haven't seen much from him to make me hope if I am a Jags fan and were I one, i'd be pretty bummed about this. If he makes MoJo the focus of his scheme, I think he could improve them - Turner did well under him. But if he tries too hard to press Gabbert into things he doesn't excel at - in order to be a high flying offense, as he's done in ATL, then he's missing an opportunity with jones-Drew.
