It may be the offseason, but the Falcons had quite the busy weekend. That's what happens when there are coaches to be hired.
I'm amazed at how quickly a coaching staff can come together when the right head coach is in place. Then again, coaches are part of a small, elite group and often know immediately what assistant coaches will be perfect for the job.
Then it's just a matter of finding them.
Within 24 hours of his introductory press conference, Head Coach Mike Smith had his defensive coordinator (Brian VanGorder) and an assistant head coach (Emmitt Thomas).
By Friday night the team had a new offensive coordinator (Mike Mularkey). Saturday? Four more coaches in the fold -- Gerald Brown, Glenn Thomas, Ray Hamilton and Terry Robiskie.
(AF.com has more news on VanGorder, Mularkey, Robiskie and the rest).
No need to rehash too many details, but Thomas, Mularkey, VanGorder and Robiskie have more than 96 years of combined coaching experience. The four also combine for three complete seasons as head coaches (Mularkey with two for the Buffalo Bills and VanGorder with one at Georgia Southern). Robiskie and Thomas have both been interim head coaches, combining for 12 such games on the sidelines.
There's plenty to be said for experience.
I haven't had a chance to meet these new coaches on my NFL travels, but I did dig up a few other facts.
For instance, Brown is the brother of Kippy Brown (Lions offensive coordinator). I got to know Kippy when he was receivers coach for the Houston Texans. Turns out he was the head coach of the XFL's Memphis Maniax. Gerald was an assistant.
He joins the Falcons from Indiana University and once coached with Smith at Tennessee Tech.
Robiskie has been an interim head coach with two separate teams and is said to be a joy to work with. Players have lobbied for his hiring as a head coach in the past and he's had success as a motivator in stops in Cleveland and Washington.
Hamilton, or "Sugar Bear" as he came to be known during his nine-year playing career with the New England Patriots, brings a wealth of experience coaching the defensive line.
He joins Brown and VanGorder as the new coaches who have worked with Smith in the past.
Those relationships could prove vital as the Falcons look to bring cohesion back to meeting and locker rooms.
As always, keep up with AtlantaFalcons.com for updates on new coach hires.
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