The Atlanta Falcons have concluded their seek for a brand new defensive coordinator and landed on a well-known face, former positions coach Jeff Ulbrich. Raheem Morris has at all times leaned closely on his former relationships, and to the shock of few, he prioritized that in this course of.
To say that Ulbrich was one of many least inspiring candidates for the job can be an understatement. The previous interim head coach and defensive coordinator for the New York Jets has restricted play-calling expertise and was part of a Jets protection oozing with expertise that regressed yr after yr below the tutelage of Ulbrich and Robert Saleh. It’s the Jimmy Lake rent with additional steps.
Morris made some extent on the finish of the yr presser to emphasize that he understands his phrases imply little and that his actions must do the speaking for him. The firing of Lake was celebrated as a second of non-public progress for Morris; the hiring of Ulbrich reveals that nothing concerning the man’s course of has modified essentially. Nonetheless, the assumption that it ever was altering is admittedly the fault of the viewer. Morris is who he’s, unapologetically, and he at all times will likely be. There’s something admirable and galvanizing about that high quality; it’s why he’s been such a profitable coordinator and positions coach, but it surely’s additionally why he’s struggled as the person in cost. Ulbrich is right here to meet Morris’s personal self-beliefs, and that’s not why you need to rent folks.
On the finish of the day, no rent will all of the sudden make the Falcons good at buying defensive expertise, however this rent will make it tougher to get essentially the most out of any expertise that comes via. Nobody loves working with skinny margins greater than the Atlanta Falcons. Their dependancy to threading the needle is not like some other, and their refusal to develop as a franchise would make any multi-divorced particular person proud.
The 2025 Atlanta Falcons will now be led by two males who had been a part of the disastrous flameout of the Quinn period. This crew by no means really believes it’s mistaken. Future and circumstance take the blame for erratic decision-making, a refusal to be taught, and an absence of soccer data.
That is going to be the set-up for an epic joke or an epic victory, and the Falcons wouldn’t have it some other manner.
