XPost: alt.sports.football.pro.ne-patriots, rec.sport.football.pro, atl.general XPost: alt.sports.football.pro.atl-falcons

FLOWERY BRANCH
Falcons defensive coordinator Richard Smith is up for re-
assignment and defensive line coach Bryan Cox is set to be
replaced, according to a report in The Sporting News citing two
sources.

Falcons coach Dan Quinn spoke to the media on Tuesday about the
hiring of offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian to replace Kyle
Shanahan and he acknowledged that the Rams had sought permission
to talk to quarterbacks coach Matt LaFleur, who was later hired
as their offensive coordinator.

The Falcons and Quinn have not immediately addressed this
report. Smith and Cox didn’t immediately responds to early
morning text messages. There was an unfounded report last season
of Smith being replaced.

But after a weary defense surrendered 31 consecutive points and
546 total yards in Super Bowl LI in the most historic collapse
in league history, it’s likely that owner Arthur Blank demanded
some changes.

The report says that, “the Atlanta Falcons will be entering next
season with two new coaches in key defensive staff positions.”

Smith, 61, has been the Falcons offensive coordinator for
Quinn’s first two seasons as the head coach. His NFL coaching
career began in 1988 with previous defensive coordinator stints
in Miami (2005) and Houston (2006-08).

Cox, 48, has coached the Falcons defensive line since 2014 and
one of the holdovers from Mike Smith’s staff. Cox is a former
player and three-time All-Pro linebacker.

http://www.ajc.com/sports/football/report-smith-assigned-cox- replaced/wJFhjtrhOMGIAXDGwA5d8M/

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)