Atlanta Falcons Add Coaches To Defensive Staff

It looks like the Atlanta Falcons are adding to their coaching staff even though the team has not formally hired a head coach.

Former Washington Redskins secondary coach Raheem Morris has agreed to a position with the Atlanta Falcons as assistant head coach in charge of defensive backs, a source confirmed Monday. In news related to the team, the Falcons also will hire Denver Broncos linebackers coach Richard Smith as defensive coordinator.

All of these moves are being made with the idea that Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn will be named head coach of the team once the Seattle Seahawks have completed their season following the Super Bowl.

Morris’s calling card in the NFL has always been defense. He spent the last three seasons in his aforementioned position with the Redskins. Prior to his time in Washington, Morris served as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, compiling a 17-31 record that included a surprise 10-6 finish in 2010.

RYAN HELPS TEAM TO PRO BOWL WIN

Matt Ryan’s season in Atlanta may have gotten more attention had his team had a winning record or had the Falcons made the playoffs. His hard work, which included 4,694 yards and 28 touchdowns paid off on Sunday when he led Team Irvin to a 32-28 win.

An Atlanta Journal-Constitution report by D. Orlando Ledbetter stated with Team Carter ahead 28-19, Ryan tossed a 1-yard touchdown pass to Emmanuel Sanders the kick failed.

With the score 28-25, Ryan threw another 1-yard touchdown pass, this one to Saints tight end Jimmy Graham.

Ryan completed 11 of 16 passes for 104 yards and finished with a 126 pass rating.

Wide receiver Julio Jones was selected for the game but didn’t play because of a hip injury. Sanders, of Denver, replaced Jones in the game.

FORMER FALCONS STAR RAVES OVER SENIOR BOWL STUD

Lincoln Kennedy knows a thing or two about blocking huge defensive ends in the NFL. If you listen to what he said about USC defensive tackle/defensive end Leonard Williams, the 6’5”, 298-pounder left Kennedy impressed by his ability.

The junior is tops on a lot of prospect boards, including that of NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah, and Williams is as disruptive as they come up front. Williams, at 6-foot-5, 298 pounds, has talents in both run stuffing and pass blocking, and one former Falcons offensive lineman has taken note of just how impactful Williams can be at the next level.

"I think he's going to be a good one," said Lincoln Kennedy, a former ninth-overall selection of the Falcons in 1993, of the USC defensive lineman on atlantafalcons.com. "The best thing about taking the next step is first getting acclimated to the speed of the game and then trying to define yourself. More times than not, it's a question of attitude — how bad do you want it? How bad is that desire?”