Atlanta Falcons: Steve Sarkisian Under a Huge Microscope

One of the most curious hires of the 2017 NFL offseason was when the Atlanta Falcons made Steve Sarkisian their new offensive coordinator.

It was such an unusual swerve. Sarkisian up to that point had only been an offensive coordinator for three years in his coaching career. All of them were spent down in college at USC and Alabama with mixed success. Not only that but he was saddled with the monumental task of replacing previous coordinator Kyle Shanahan, a man beloved in the locker room thanks to his uncanny success as a play caller.

Sarkisian takes over a unit that scored 540 points in 2016. By rights it should be an easy transition. Then again things are never that simple in the NFL. Despite their wealth of talent it takes a quality coordinator to put that talent in the right places. Judging by early preseason performances, the Falcons aren’t operating with the same precision they were last year. Much of that is no doubt because the man is trying to put his own stamp on the scheme.

Change is inevitable after a coaching switch, but also feared

Oftentimes change is embraced in the NFL, but this is unlikely to be one of them. Players were no doubt unhappy that Shanahan left to become head coach in San Francisco. To a man they understood the move. It was his right to pursue his dream of running his own team. At the same time it left them in a foggy situation. Can they reach the same levels they were last year with Sarkisian in charge?

That is what head coach Dan Quinn is hoping. He certainly went the unorthodox route with that hire but believes Sark’s history of developing QBs is what the Falcons need running the offense. Keep Matt Ryan happy and things will turn out of fine. Again though, it’s never that simple in the NFL.