Atlanta Falcons’ Dan Quinn is the best defensive coordinator not named Bill Belichick
Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn may end up being a mediocre head coach, but he is proving to be one of this decades best defensive coordinators.
Dan Quinn is different than most of the other NFL coordinators that have become head coaches in the last five years; he has a defensive background. With one of the league’s best offenses, the Atlanta Falcons wanted someone that could turn the defense around and what better way than to go after a defensive coordinator with a Super Bowl ring?
No, Dan Quinn was not he architect of the Legion of Boom that Seattle was known for not too long ago, but he was the guy that put together the defensive game plan that held Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos to just eight points in a Super Bowl slaughter six years ago.
While he has had his hands off on the Falcons defense for most of his time in Atlanta, the nine games he was in charge, showed a glimpse of just how good he is.
We are seeing that again here in 2019.
Sure it is just the preseason, but the defense looks different, is playing different and they have a different swag to them. The Falcons have quietly made a switch to a 5-2 front and have loaded up on some guys whose chemistry is undeniable.
Grady Jarrett, Tyeler Davison, Allen Bailey, Takk McKinley and Vic Beasley Jr are going to have one of the best years ever had by a Falcons defensive line. Adrian Clayborn, Jack Crawford and Justin Zimmer are going to provide great depth that should keep everyone fresh in the fourth quarter of close games.
Last night in the local post game show, Takk McKinley told former Falcons quarterback that having Dan Quinn as his actually defensive coordinator was going to mean a lot to his career. We have seen Takk in a two point stance a lot more than we did the last two years and that allows for him to utilize several strengths in his game – explosiveness, speed and strength.
That is Dan Quinn’s greatness. He is able to look at the talent he has, decipher their strengths and weaknesses and how to best pair them in order to make everyone look their strongest. Even Duke Riley last night, in his first extended action of playing time, looked different.
Next. Falcons backup tackle spot will come down to final preseason game. dark
We have hopes and goals for how this season goes for the Falcons, but they would not be possible without the foresight of Dan Quinn realizing that a change needed to be made on the defensive side of the ball and having the courage to execute those changes.