Marquand Manuel‘s dismissal as the Falcons’ defensive coordinator will result in a temporary elimination of that position on Atlanta’s staff.
Dan Quinn said Thursday he plans to serve in that role, the fifth-year coach adding defensive play-calling duties to his game-day docket. Quinn considered moving wide receivers coach Raheem Morris to defensive coordinator but decided he will take over the play-calling.
The former Seattle DC assumed Atlanta’s defensive play-calling responsibilities late in the 2016 season but allowed Manuel to run that area the past two years.
“More than anything I just really wanted to make sure that the style and attitude that we want to play defensively. I really enjoy that part of it and want to be more involved in that way,” Quinn said, via Will McFadden of AtlantaFalcons.com. “I thought that was the appropriate to say, ‘Hey, if I’m going to be the one calling it, we certainly want to give you the right to do that.”
The Falcons ranked eighth in scoring defense in 2017, but a more depleted version allowed the fifth-most points this season. They were 27th in this area under Quinn and Richard Smith in 2016.