The Atlanta Falcons Sign Coach Bobby Petrino: Will He Advance the Growth of Michael Vick?

The Atlanta Falcons fired Coach Jim Mora Jr. several days ago and now they have hired Bobby Petrino to coach the team. Bobby Petrino was the coach of Louisville and led them to a top 5 ranking in the nation as well as a Bowl game that they won. The team finished with a great record and only one loss which came to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on the road.

Bobby Petrino is an offensive minded coach and the Atlanta Falcons organization is hoping that he brings that expertise to their organization from the college level. Bobby Patrino had initially said that he would be back at Louisville but when the Falcons offered him a deal that would pay him millions more than his job at Louisville, he jumped at the chance.

The conversion of college coaches to the professional level has had mixed results but recent examples show that college coaches are usually unsuccessful at the professional level and eventually return to the college game. Al Groh who once coached the Jets is one example as he returned to the college level and he is once again having success. Steve Spurrier left his job coaching Florida and coached the Washington Redskins for three years before he went back to the college game. Steve Spurrier is now coaching at South Carolina and having success as well. Finally, there is the example of Nick Saban who won a championship at LSU and decided to take the coaching job for the Miami Dolphins. Nick Saban had a losing record with the Dolphins and was unable to bring them to the playoffs. He left the team with one year remaining on his deal and has now taken the coaching job with the Alabama Tide.

The task ahead for Bobby Petrino is not as difficult as it may seem. He still has one of the most explosive quarterbacks in the league in Michael Vick who can run and has a cannon for an arm. However Petrino must continue to develop Michael Vick and make him better. Vick must be more consistent.

Injuries did hurt the Atlanta Falcons team but the defense slipped in ranking. John Abraham was injured for several games during the season and he is one of the past pass rushers in the league. Still, there cornerbacks had trouble covering wide receivers and the Falcons wide receivers had trouble catching the ball.

There is plenty of talent on this Falcons team as they have Warrick Dun at running back and Algie Crumpler at tight End. The NFC is very weak and the Falcons could easily make the playoffs next season. They went 7-9 this season so it is not a stretch to say that the Falcons will make the playoffs next year.