After yet another horrendous collapse against the Chicago Bears, the Falcons made it back to back weeks with horrific collapses. How much more longer is it before Arthur Blank fires Dan Quinn?
Despite an embarrassment of talent on the roster the Falcons have grown mentally weak and have grown unable to defend leads as shown by the weeks three and four of the 2020 NFL season. Dan Quinn is responsible for failing to rectify the issues from last season.
Quinn took over the defensive coordinator duties, yet the team became arguably the worst defense in the league. Quinn had to surrender the playcalling duties to Raheem Morris and Jeff Ulbrich, a move which saw defensive improvement and earned Quinn a stay of execution.
Nonetheless, Dirty Birds owner Arthur Blank essentially branded this season as playoff or bust for DQ, and an 0-4 start to the season wouldn’t have been on his mind. Let alone the need to answer questions of whether the Falcons know the rules of onside kicks.
Dan Quinn and the Falcons making history for the wrong reasons
However, the worst part of it is that the Falcons have made history for doing it all. They were the first team to blow a 15+ point lead in a fourth quarter last week in 20 years and then repeated the feat.
This should be enough indication that Quinn has taken the Falcons far enough.
A change has long since been due for the Falcons. The Dirty Birds have failed to make the playoffs since 2017 and have undoubtedly regressed since that season. Furthermore, the majority of results have flattered the Falcons.
Since Devonta Freeman’s injury troubles, the Falcons have had little of a ground game prior to Gurley’s arrival, the defense has been one of the worst in the league for three seasons. Nonetheless, the team has remained competitive by being carried a top five passing offense led by Matt Ryan and Julio Jones over the past three seasons.
Strange decision making from Quinn and underperformance means he should be gone
Even then the offense can’t be exempt from criticism as Quinn fired former offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian, despite a sensational season in 2018. After a display like that on Sunday can anyone say Dirk Koetter is an improvement?
As it stands the Falcons are the worst team in football alongside the Jets and on a team with Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, Grady Jarrett, Deion Jones, Calvin Ridley, Todd Gurley and Dante Fowler Jr this is nothing short of unacceptable.
Last season Quinn sensationally avoided the sack despite a 1-7 start to the season. A 6-2 record over the final eight games convinced Blank that Quinn would bring significant improvement this season. Surely Quinn cannot survive again.
Ryan is entering the final stages of his superb career, Jones is 31, and has played a lifetime of physical football and at times on literally one leg. The Falcons’ Super Bowl window is closing rapidly and if Blank wants to salvage something Quinn must go now.