The Falcons have seemingly made changes to their coaching staff every season since COVID, and it continued with the firing of Jimmy Lake this offseason.
Replacing him is another one of Raheem Morris’ friends in Jeff Ulbrich, who has made some additions of his own to Atlanta’s coaching staff, filling one vacancy and adding a new position.
The Falcons announced on Friday that they’ve hired former Texans assistant defensive line coach Nate Ollie as their defensive line coach and are adding former Jets linebackers coach Mike Rutenberg as their defensive pass game coordinator.
Ollie is the one getting all of the hype because of his work with the Texans, Colts, Jets and Eagles, all of whom had elite defensive line play under Ollie. Indinapolis’ unit regressed signingcantly last year after he left. His time in New York overlapped with Ulbrich in 2021.
The hope is that the Falcons young defensive linemen can grow under Ollie, something that hasn’t happened since Terry Fontenot took over GM duties in Atlanta. Ruke Orhorhoro, Brandon Dorlus, Arnold Ebiketie, Bralen Trice, and whoever the Falcons draft this year will be Ollie’s responsibility.
As for the Rutenberg hire, this came directly from Ulbrich. The pair spent four seasons in New York with Rutenberg coaching the linebackers. Prior to that, he was the 49ers passing game specialiast in 2020 and the Jaguars defensive backs coach before that.
The Ollie hire is getting Falcons fans excited because nobody has been able to develop talent in that area for the past few seasons. Hopefully, that changes.
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Photographer: Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire
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