NFLPA report cards not very kind to new Falcons coaches

The NFLPA report cards just dropped, and there is a lot to discuss regarding the Atlanta Falcons.

Let’s start with the positives. Ownership received an A, something that shouldn’t be much of a surprise with Arthur Blank running the team. He treats this organization like a family, which oftentimes isn’t a good thing when it comes to winning games. Those close interpersonal relationships have bitten the Falcons a handful of times during contract negotiations. But strictly as a person, you’d be hard-pressed to find an owner who is more well-liked by his employees than Arthur Blank.

On the coaching side, defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich — the one significant holdover from the previous staff — received an A. Again, not much of a surprise after the Falcons’ defense turned things around under his watch. Atlanta also received high marks for its training room, training staff, strength coaches, nutritionist, and weight room — areas that were previously poorly regarded before the team spent $45 million a couple of years ago upgrading its facilities.

Things get a lot more interesting when discussing where the Falcons graded poorly. Former offensive coordinator Zac Robinson received a C-, which was tied for the lowest mark of any area of the team. That fits the public narrative about the job he did over his two years in Atlanta. But the next grades are a reminder that player report cards should be taken with a grain of salt.

Raheem Morris, special teams coach Marquice Williams, and Terry Fontenot each received a B+ for their work. Despite that, none of them are with the organization any longer. The reason is similar to why Arthur Blank received an A. These are likable guys whom people enjoy working with. But being likable does not equal success in the National Football League.

Raheem Morris didn’t have a single redeemable quality as a head coach. Terry Fontenot didn’t produce a single winning season in five years as the team’s general manager, and Marquice Williams led one of the most uninspiring special teams units in NFL history. None of them are deserving of higher than a D for their work this past season.

Comparatively, Kevin Stefanski and new offensive coordinator Tommy Rees both received poor marks from Browns players, with Stefanski receiving a C- and Rees getting a D+. Stefanski’s grade was the lowest among head coaches in the league.

That’s not exactly what you want to see from your new head coach and offensive coordinator. But if you’re trying to spin it positively, the Falcons have leaned toward rah-rah, player-friendly coaches in recent years. They had some early success with Dan Quinn before it turned into a disaster, and Raheem Morris never even got the plane off the ground before he was ultimately fired.

I don’t think anyone is confusing Kevin Stefanski with a player’s coach. His personality couldn’t be more different from his predecessor’s, but he is a two-time Coach of the Year who led the Cleveland Browns to the postseason twice. Perhaps that kind of uncomfortable personality shake-up is exactly what the Falcons need to break a playoff drought that has existed since 2017.

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Photo: Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire

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