The Atlanta Falcons are currently joining the ranks of teams searching for a new head coach after they announced the firing of head coach Mike Smith following the loss to the Carolina Panthers to end 2014. They are currently competing for a coach in the same pool of candidates as teams like the Buffalo Bills, Oakland Raiders and Chicago Bears. However, the Falcons are hoping they stand out as the best team available thanks to the amount of potential on their roster.
According to NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport, the Falcons are one of the more desirable teams for a coaching candidate thanks to players like Matt Ryan and Julio Jones. At the moment, Ryan is viewed as a franchise quarterback. Yes, he saw a lot of struggles last season, but not all of it can be blamed on Ryan himself. Injuries to the offensive line and running back rotation plus weakness at the tight end spot certainly did not help. Not many teams with a coaching vacancy already have a top quarterback in place which makes the Falcons a desirable landing spot. Former head coach Bill Billick confirms Atlanta might be the best landing spot of any team.
Judging by which team has the best QB, Atlanta's clearly the top job -- Matt Ryan is the finest quarterback among those whose teams are hiring head coaches," Billick said, via SBNation.com. "He has a career completion rate of 64 percent and a 2:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Although free agency will affect the profile of this offense, the skill positions are abundant with Julio Jones, Roddy White, Harry Douglas, Devin Hester and Devonta Freeman."
Skills positions are another selling point for the Falcons. Jones is in need of a new contract, but owner Arthur Blank has made it clear that is a priority after the coaching search. White, Douglas, Hester and Freeman will all be around for a few more seasons. The Falcons need help at the tight end spot and more depth at the offensive line and one side of the ball is completely taken care of.
The new head coach of the Atlanta Falcons will not be taking over a rebuilding project. Defensive end Osi Umenyiora told NFL.com that the Falcons are loaded with talent on both sides of the ball, but lacked the coaches to use it in the right way. Candidates like Todd Bowles, Dan Quinn, Josh McDaniels, Adam Gase would be taking over a loaded roster and would simply need to hire the right coordinators in order to make things successful again.