Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Quinn made clear he backs Steve Sarkisian as offensive coordinator going into the 2018 season despite the team's drop-off in offensive production.
Steve Sarkisian did not exactly pick up where Kyle Shanahan left off in his first year with the Atlanta Falcons, but the offensive coordinator will have an opportunity to improve in 2018.
There was some talk earlier this month that Sarkisian could leave to work for his former boss, but Quinn was quick to shoot that down.
Matt Ryan was named NFL MVP in 2016, and Atlanta’s offense ranked first in the NFL with 33.8 points per game and second with 415.8 yards per game. This season, the Falcons fell to 15th in the NFL with 22.1 points per game and ranked eighth in total yardage. Some growing pains were expected after Shanahan left to take the head coaching job with the San Francisco 49ers, and judging Sarkisian on one season would be unfair.
There was a natural adjustment period for Matt Ryan, Julio Jones,Devonta Freeman and the rest of the offensive players to Sarkisian, who attempted to carry on some of the same basic principles of the successful scheme Shanahan implemented, with a few added wrinkles. Sarkisian didn't have his full complement of weapons to work with upon his arrival, with Jones (foot surgery) and speedster Taylor Gabriel (lower leg) missing extensive offseason practice time. And throughout the 2017 season, the offense simply didn't flow as fluidly as it did during the Super Bowl run the previous season, when the Falcons averaged a league-best 33.8 points per game. The scoring output dipped to 22.1 points per game in '17.
The Falcons will have some staff changes on offense, however, with quarterbacks coach Bush Hamdan moving on to be the offensive coordinator at the University of Washington. Quinn confirmed he is talking to Jedd Fisch, Ken Dorsey and Gregg Knapp for the position. Quinn added that Ryan is not part of the decision-making process, saying Ryan trusts the coaching staff to secure the right coach for the job to help supplement Sarkisian and the rest of the offensive coaches.
"I'm going to take all the time I need,'' Quinn said of hiring a new quarterbacks coach.
