As has been the case in past years, we’ll be looking at which players have reportedly talked to the Atlanta Falcons during the week of practices for the Senior Bowl, a collegiate all-star game that will be played on Saturday, January 28, 2012. Sources for this information, including the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Twitter. CB Brandon Boykin, Georgia TE Ladarius Green, Louisiana...

Harry Douglas The Falcons will have to make a decision on whether to keep or let Harry Douglas go in free agency. And you could make the case for either happening. The Falcons are expected to install a vertical offense under Dirk Koetter. And playing the vertical game is really not a strength of Douglas. He’ll make the occasional play down the field, but his bread and butter...

Is Ovie done in Atlanta? To be honest, when I wrote up the free agent focus article on the running back position, I completely ignored the fullback position. It was an error on my part because it’s a position that is often overlooked, but in the case of the Falcons it certainly will be worth watching this off-season. New offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter by many accounts prefers...

Jacquizz Rodgers I’ve already discussed that I believe the Falcons should be parting ways with Michael Turner this off-season. And if that were to happen, then it would leave a pretty large hole atop the team’s depth chart at the running back. One hope would be that Jacquizz Rodgers can fill that hole or at least a large part of it. Rodgers was underutilized by the Falcons this...

The team announced that secondary coach Alvin Reynolds won’t return to the Falcons in 2012, joining former offensive line coach Paul Boudreau as another assistant that the Falcons opted not to renew their contracts with the team. Reynolds came over to the Falcons with Mike Smith in 2008 after several years as the defensive backs coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Falcons...

Chris Redman The Falcons have to make a decision with their backup quarterback this off-season. Chris Redman is a prospective free agent, and they will have to determine whether he’s worth bringing back. Redman has been solid reserve for the Falcons, but with a new offensive coordinator coming into the fold and him on the verge of turning 35, it may be the right time to move in...

Matt Ryan 2011 was an interesting year for Matt Ryan. While he had a solid, productive season, he faced more scrutiny than probably any other year besides his rookie season. Ryan’s less than stellar performances in some of the team’s bigger games this year has caused much concern among the fan base on whether Ryan is truly this team’s franchise quarterback going...

Michael Turner The measure of any good talent evaluator is not only to be able to determine where a player is currently, but also to project where a player will be in the future. In Tom Callahan’s book, The GM, which detailed the life and career former Giants GM Ernie Accorsi, one of the few things that stuck with me was when Accorsi stated he’d rather be accused of getting rid...

Mike Nolan Jay Glazer of FOX Sports reports that Falcons have hired Mike Nolan as their new defensive coordinator, replacing Brian VanGorder who departed for Auburn earlier this month. Nolan is an experienced defensive coordinator, serving in that role for 14 seasons. The Falcons will become the seventh different team that he has held the position with. Nolan served as defensive...

The team announced that offensive line coach Paul Boudreau will not be returning to the Falcons this year due to his contract expiring. Boudreau joined the team’s coaching staff in 2008. Boudreau has served as an assistant coach in the NFL for 25 years, having previous stints with St. Louis (2006-07), Jacksonville (2003-05), Carolina (2001-02), Miami (1999-00), New England...

Chris Mortensen of ESPN reports that league sources have indicated the Falcons have hired former Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter as their new offensive coordinator, replacing Mike Mularkey who took over the Jacksonville head coaching position this past week. Koetter first joined the Jaguars in 2007, the last season where current Falcons head coach Mike Smith...

Ryan and I are back to recap the big coaching changes that have already occurred in this early 2012 off-season, and discuss our thoughts on Mike Mularkey, Brian VanGorder, and the many candidates that could potentially replace them. We also discuss whether or not the Falcons disappointing finish in 2011 rests on the shoulders of the coordinators, or more on those of the head coach...

Adam Schefter of ESPN tweets that Falcons quarterback coach Bob Bratkowski is expected to join former Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey on his new coaching staff in Jacksonville. Bratkowski will take over the play-calling duties as their offensive coordinator. Bratkowski finished his first and last season with the Falcons as quarterbacks coach after ten seasons as the offensive...

The team announced that wide receiver Roddy White will be added to the NFC’s Pro Bowl roster as an injury replacement for Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson. Tight end Tony Gonzalez was the lone Falcon to actually be voted to the team. White ranked first among NFC receivers with 100 catches, fifth in yards (1,296), and tied for six with touchdowns (8). It marks White�...

Tania Ganguli of the Florida Times-Union reports that the Jacksonville Jaguars have hired Falcons offensive coordinator MIke Mularkey as their next head coach, taking over for Jack Del Rio. Mularkey becomes the third head coach for the Jaguars since the expansion franchise began in 1995. It marks Mularkey’s second stint as a head coach, having spent two years heading the Buffalo...

I know I’ve said this a couple of times already this year, but this was really hard game to re-watch. It felt like getting a prostate exam. The Falcons just looked inept on offense in this game, and seemed like some 6-10 team that had won a door prize to get into the playoffs, rather than the 10-6 team we saw most of the year. Matt Ryan did not play well in this game. He was...

The team announced the signing of six players off their practice squad to future contracts today. Those players include wide receiver Drew “D.J.” Davis, tight ends Tommy Gallarda and Ryan Winterswyk, offensive tackle Kyle Jolly, and safeties Matt Hansen and Suaesi Tuimaunei. That follows up two moves the team made last week with signing a pair of long snappers: Corey Adams and...

Brian VanGorder Falcons defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder stepped down as the team’s defensive coordinator to take the same position at Auburn University. VanGorder has been the Falcons defensive coordinator since 2008, after initially accepting the defensive coordinator job at South Carolina after the departure of Bobby Petrino. But Smith was able to convince VanGorder to...

Peters hangs his head The Falcons remained winless in the playoffs under head coach Mike Smith with a 24-2 loss to the New York Giants. The Falcons offense struggled converting on third and fourth downs lead to the paltry offensive output. The Falcons have been ousted in their first playoff game for the third time in four seasons. The Falcons record for the year ends at 10-7. Matt...

NFL.com’s Jason La Canfora tweets that the Falcons have granted the Miami Dolphins permission to interview offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey for their vacant head coaching job. The Dolphins are the fourth team to be reported to be interested in Mularkey, as previous reports indicate that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs also have interest. Mularkey has already...

While twenty players appeared on the Falcons Friday injury report, the majority of them were able to fully participate in the last two or three days of practice this week. Listed among the players that were not are linebacker Stephen Nicholas and cornerback Brent Grimes. Nicholas is doubtful for Sunday’s playoff game against the New York Giants, while Grimes is listed as questionable...

The Indianapolis Colts are poised to interview two members of the Falcons front office next week according to reports. Adam Caplan of the Sideline View tweets that Falcons Director of College Scouting David Caldwell will interview with the Colts on Monday for their vacant GM position. D. Orlando Ledbetter of the AJC also reports that Les Snead will interview with the Colts, as well...

Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times and Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports report that Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey is drawing interest from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs, respectively, for their vacant head coaching positions. Mularkey has already interviewed with the Jacksonville Jaguars for the same gig there, and some sources indicate he will be the top...

There are a few questions that the Falcons must be able to answer on Sunday if they want to win their first playoff game under Mike Smith and beat the New York Giants. 1. Can the Falcons stop Victor Cruz? The biggest potential mismatch for the Falcons in their secondary is their nickel corner on Victor Cruz. Cruz is the Giants top receiver, leading the team in catches (82), yards...

At midseason, the pick was Matt Ryan due to some inconsistent play during September coupled with high expectations going into the season. But now, a new winner has clearly emerged. That player is none other than Ray Edwards, who I discussed briefly when talking about the team’s top newcomers before. But Edwards was a major disappointment, considering the Falcons brought him...