There was an efficiency to the Atlanta Falcons offense all season, and efficiency is the standard in the NFL. Control the ball, limit turnovers, have some balance.
The Atlanta Falcons did all that and people around the NFL have noticed, which is why offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey is in the running for another head coaching job. He will interview with the Tennessee Titans, according to various reports.
Mularkey helped bring together an offense that had splash and power. There was Roddy White catching the ball downfield, Tony Gonzalez catching it over the middle, and Michael Turner running with it.
The Falcons were fifth in the league in scoring offense (25.9 points) and had decent balance between run and pass. They lost only eight fumbles (6th fewest in the NFL), which is a decent stat because they were one of those teams that had the ball a lot: 32:47 per game, second in the NFL.
Ball security is huge and a reflection of coaching. The Falcons also allowed just 23 sacks in the regular season, which is significant because there was cohesion on offense. The line could handle blitzes because Mularkey understood tendencies and when and where the blitz was coming from.
One of the Falcons' hallmarks was their ability to get on top early. They scored first, they took control, they established early benchmarks in a game. Atlanta would go to the no huddle offense and pick their way down the field.
Mularkey was The Sporting News coordinator of the year for his work as voted by a collection of NFL coaches and executives.
He interviewed for the Browns' opening that went to Pat Shurmur. He had an invitation to interview in Denver, but was busy with playoff preparations and that job went to John Fox.
Mularkey was 14-18 in two seasons in Buffalo in 2004 and 2005. Here is another chance for a pro to get a crack at running his own team again.
Mike Mularkey's Handiwork Gets Tennessee Titans' Attention
Feb 3, 2011 – 12:16 PM
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