Fansided

Grading the NFL head coaching hires

By Bryce Olin

Jan 11, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos head coach John Fox on the sidelines against the Indianapolis Colts in the 2014 AFC Divisional playoff football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 11, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos head coach John Fox on the sidelines against the Indianapolis Colts in the 2014 AFC Divisional playoff football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 8
Next
Jan 30, 2014; Jersey City, NJ, USA; Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn at a press conference at The Westin in advance of Super Bowl XLVIII. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 30, 2014; Jersey City, NJ, USA; Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn at a press conference at The Westin in advance of Super Bowl XLVIII. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

6. Atlanta Falcons: Dan Quinn

Grade: C

I really like the thought process behind the idea to bring in Dan Quinn, the defensive coordinator of the league’s best defense, like the Atlanta Falcons are doing.

Quinn takes over the Falcons after two seasons with the Seahawks. For those who lived under a rock for the past two seasons, Seattle won the Super Bowl in 2013 and lost in the Super Bowl in 2014. The Seahawks defense was the driving force behind those two Super Bowl runs.

Here’s Falcons’ line of thinking:

The Seahawks defense was good; Quinn ran the defense; Quinn should be our coach!

Not so fast, Atlanta Falcons!

Dan Quinn showed up to the party late in Seattle and was gifted one of the best secondaries and overall defensive units in football history.

Did Quinn and his schemes push them over the top? Absolutely!

But, he wasn’t there to draft those great players and develop that talent.

If you watched the Seahawks play over the last two, even three, seasons, their defense doesn’t do many things to confuse offenses. They line up and flat-out overwhelm the offense with their athleticism. The reason other teams don’t play like that is because there’s only so many players who can play like that.

I’m not saying Quinn isn’t going to help the Falcons, but I don’t think we know enough about Quinn as a coach to feel anything either way.

Next: New York Jets

Home/NFL