The Atlanta Falcons are in the market for a new defensive coordinator after Brian VanGorder bolted for Auburn. The top two candidates for the vacant defensive coordinator position are Steve Spagnuolo and Mike Nolan according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Moving forward, this defense needs to continue its growth and evolution as a passionate and fiery defense, one that is going to fly to the football, disrupt, be opportunistic and capitalized on opportunities to turn the game around; flip the game in critical situations,†GM Thomas Dimitroff said. “We’ll look for a coordinator who will [aid] Coach Smith and his approach to putting that type of aggressive defense on the field.†Spagnuolo is especially attractive to the Falcons because his defenses have performed well in the playoffs, when Spagnuolo was coordinator for the New York Giants, his defense stopped the 18-0 New England Patriots and sacked Tom Brady five times in Super Bowl XLII. Nolan is considered a 3-4 coach, but Smith’s respect him from their days together in Baltimore is deep. They could likely mold the principles of Nolan’s 3-4 with Smith’s 4-3 if necessary. Source: The Redzone
