Atlanta Falcons: Players responding positively to offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian
By Randy Gurzi
The offensive players for the Atlanta Flacons seem to be pretty thrilled in the early going of the offseason with their new coordinator Steve Sarkisian
It’s never easy for ant team to have to replace a coach. It’s even harder when the guy being replaced is an offensive coordinator like Kyle Shanahan who helped the Falcons go from a team on the brink, to a Super Bowl participant. Following a season that saw quarterback Matt Ryan win the NFL MVP Award, Shanahan was given his first shot at a head coaching gig with the San Francisco 49ers. Hired to replace him was former Washington Huskies and USC Trojan head coach Steve Sarkisian.
Sarkisian comes in with a lot of experience coaching offenses, but there’s also some baggage in his history. While employed as the head coach for USC Sarkisian had a very public battle with alcoholism which led to his dismissal. He has since received treatment and spent 2016 working with the Alabama Crimson Tide before taking the job with the Falcons.
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Sark has done really well with staying on the straight and narrow by the looks of things and his time at Alabama was positive. So far in Atlanta, the same could be said as the offensive players really seem to be responding to him so far in the offseason.
"“Sark is really good,” center Alex Mack said via D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitutional. “He’s an upbeat guy. Really positive. Great message about how there is always change and moving forward in any organization.”"
Mack is a leader of the offense, but he still isn’t alone in his assessment of Sarkisian. Starting wide receiver Mohamed Sanu also had nothing but great things to say about his new play caller in the same article from D. Orlando Ledbetter.
"“Sark is awesome,” Sanu said also via Ledbetter. “He’s come in and he’s adding a lot of his offense in with a mixture of the offense that we had in the past. Everything is just coming out smooth. It seems like him and (quarterback) Matt (Ryan) gel well and everybody in the offense gels well with him. I’m excited to get out on the field and see how we operate as an offense.”"
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Obviously it’s still early in the offseason, and every team is all positive right now. However, the Falcons have a fantastic collection of offensive talent and if the team and their new offensive coordinator are able to gel quickly, this could be another great season in Atlanta.