Falcons hire Mike Smith as new head coach

[ATLFalcons]

Flowery Branch — The Falcons officially announced Mike Smith as the team's new head coach on Thursday at a press conference at team headquarters.

Smith, the 14th head coach in franchise history, comes to the Falcons from the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he was the team's defensive coordinator.

http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/falcons/stories/2008/01/23/coachsmith_0123.html?cxntlid=inform

[Fumble]

http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/falcons/stories/2008/01/23/coachsmith_0123.html?cxntlid=inform

as a Falcons fan... does this excite you?

[ATLFalcons]

I'm cautiously optimistic about this hire. It's hard to be excited this early about a coaching hire, when you've had 6 coaches since 2002 (Reeves, W. Phillips, Mora, Petrino, Thomas, and now Smith), but I think if we get the right personnel on the offensive line his smashmouth scheme will work. I've always enjoyed seeing teams pound it out on the ground and play strong defense, so I hope he'll bring that to the Falcons.

[brady_branch]

Perhaps this means Matt Ryan to the Falcons is not such a sure thing? If Jake Long drops, could he realistically be taken by Atlanta ahead of Ryan?

[ATLFalcons]

Oh yeah, I think Long is a viable option, I don't know how Wayne Gandy's rehab is going on his torn ACL, but I think Long is physical enough to step right in and play.