Three coaches from within the organization the Falcons could promote to defensive coordinator
The Atlanta Falcons’ season concluded on Sunday with a win over Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Not only was it the last game of the season but it was the last time any of us will see Dean Pees coach.
The longtime coach mentioned last week how he was contemplating retirement but would spend some time talking it over with his family. It didn’t take him long to decide that he was going to retire for a third time—this time it seems permanent.
Now comes the obvious question of who will become the next defensive coordinator of the Atlanta Falcons. While none of us know who they are going to consider, we can certainly make educated assumptions.
I already highlighted three coaches who they could hire from the outside—which you can read here—but now we will highlight three coaches that the team could promote from within.
While it might not be the popular move, sometimes promoting a coach is the right move. The players will have chemistry with the coach already, which would make it a seamless transition. Here are three coaches the Falcons could promote to defensive coordinator.
Ted Monachino – Outside linebackers coach
Many fans look at a positional coach and judge him on what his unit has accomplished, which is a natural inclination. However, there is always more to the story, which is why you shouldn’t throw out Ted Monachino as a candidate for the Falcons’ defensive coordinator job.
Monachino has been coaching for just about 30 years. He started his career at the high school level and got himself a job at TCU before he took a job in the FCS. He kept fighting his way up the ladder and landed himself his first NFL job with the Jaguars in 2006. He eventually coached with Dean Pees in Baltimore and ended up becoming the defensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts for two seasons under Chuck Pagano.
Needless to say, he has a mountain of experience at every level. He even has experience around players like Terrell Suggs, Elvis Dumervil, Ed Reed, Ray Lewis, and Robert Mathis. He knows what it takes to build and lead a great defense.
Matt Pees – Defensive assistant
This may be jumping the gun a little too quick but the Falcons would have reason to hire Matt Pees. Admittingly, he doesn’t have too much experience at the NFL level or coaching as anything more than an assistant, yet, he has seen what it takes to lead a great defense by watching his father.
Obviously, he is the son of Dean Pees, so he has been around football his entire life and has one of the best mentors in his family. What better way to replace Dean Pees than with Matt Pees? It would be a round-a-bout way to keep Dean close to the team.
It has been clear that Arthur Smith has the utmost respect for Dean and we can assume the same can be said for Matt. Don’t be surprised if he gets a long, hard look as the replacement for his father.
Frank Bush – Linebackers coach
This is the name you will hear first and foremost in the Falcons’ search for a new defensive coordinator. After Dean Pees was knocked to the ground by an unnamed Saints player, Frank Bush took over as the play caller for the game. If you are the emergency play caller for the defense then you can bet you will be a finalist to take over as the defensive coordinator.
Bush has a crazy amount of NFL experience. He was originally drafted by the Houston Oilers in the 80s and played a couple seasons but transitioned to a role as a college scout after he was found to have a spinal condition. Ever since he was drafted, he has been in the NFL. He was even the linebackers coach for the Broncos when they beat the Falcons in the Super Bowl.
He has been either a linebackers coach, a senior defensive assistant, an assistant head coach, or a defensive coordinator with nine separate NFL teams!
As things stand right now, he is the odds-on favorite to take the job as there is clear trust and respect for him.