By The AP via Falcons Gab
Atlanta coach Mike Smith is looking for new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan to help the Falcons increase their third-down stops.
In a 25-year NFL head coaching career that has included stops as a defensive coordinator with the Giants, Redskins, Jets, Ravens, Broncos and Dolphins, Nolan has built a reputation for scheming to apply pressure on opposing quarterbacks — and receivers — by making them have to guess.
Some of the Falcons’ defensive statistics were good last season. They ranked No. 6 in the league against the run while allowing 97 rushing yards per game, but getting off the field was a big problem at times. Atlanta allowed a third-down conversion rate of 44.1 percent, 29th in the NFL.
Nolan’s defense in Miami was No. 7 on third downs (33.8 percent allowed), arguably with weaker personnel than the Falcons have. Atlanta also was No. 30 in the NFL in third-down sack rate (6.02 percent, with 10 third-down sacks) while Miami was No. 2 (12.2 percent, with 21).
“Mike lives for third down,” Smith said. “He’s been one of the best third-down coaches in the 14 years that he’s been a coordinator. I think you’re going to see multiplicity in our defense. There will be some things that will run through the defense that we’ve done in the past, but there’s going to be more multiplicity in what we do.”
You can read the rest of the article here: Mike Nolan Looking to Turn Falcons D Into One of the Best
