Pat Hill Is A Quality Hire As The Falcons New Offensive Line Coach

by Dave Choate on Jan 29, 2012 8:00 AM EST in Falcons News

As Jason reported yesterday, the Falcons have added a new offensive line coach. It was probably not who you expected.

Pat Hill has been the head coach of Fresno State for the last 15 years, and was just let go after the 2011 season. Over that time, he's guided the team to an above .500 record overall. He's regarded as a bright guy and someone with a knack for guiding offensive linemen, which he did in a four-year NFL stint—the Browns and then the Ravens from '92-'96—and he has a lot of coaching experience. Everything about Hill says "solid hire" to me.

Frequent Pro Bowler Logan Mankins and our own Andrew Jackson both played under Hill at Fresno State, so it's not like he hasn't coached any decent linemen in that time. His Fresno State teams also ran the football well, and if the Falcons are serious about making the ground game more effective, that's an awfully good start.

So welcome Hill aboard. Once the Falcons get finished hiring Joe Danna—it's gonna happen—and get a new quarterbacks coach to replace Bob Bratkowski, the new staff will be completed. I'm looking forward to it.

Your thoughts on the hire?

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Comments

O.K. I guess

I really don’t know much about him, but if that is who Nolan wants then I’m good with it!

by flrybranch on Jan 29, 2012 8:59 AM EST reply actions

What does Nolan have to with the hire?

Nolan is the DC, Koetter is the OC and Hill is the OL coach.

by mwalex on Jan 29, 2012 9:42 AM EST up reply actions

lol, should really wake up before I start posting

by flrybranch on Jan 29, 2012 12:13 PM EST up reply actions

Sounds like he's experienced enough

Looking foward to positive changes on the O-line.

by leonw92 on Jan 29, 2012 9:30 AM EST reply actions

When Fresno State fired him, it was one of the biggest mistakes they could have made

Hill was a fine coach and a candidate for higher coaching positions several times. Getting a coach of that quality is a great hire.

"He has lived up to the legendary billing... And the legend is born in Calvin Johnson!" -Wes Durham

by sportsfan4life2012 on Jan 29, 2012 9:51 AM EST reply actions

I hope your right. He sounds like a winner.

"I'm about rings now"
~Arthur Blank

by CollegePark4Life on Jan 29, 2012 10:11 AM EST up reply actions

I agree 100% . this is the first I head about him being fired. Big mistake by FSU, he may not be with us for long?!

by durst on Jan 30, 2012 4:36 PM EST up reply actions

I'm just excited to be dating outside the family

Hopefully,we will have the full staff in place soon.Lotta work to be done.

by dawg1060 on Jan 29, 2012 11:20 AM EST reply actions

Lolololol

by Bigru3 on Jan 30, 2012 7:02 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

Hopefully

Andrew Jackson can become a decent lineman in the NFL. I have to say Logan Mankins is a grade or 3 above decent though.

by Kushion on Jan 29, 2012 11:36 AM EST reply actions

I think Jackson will surprise

Prior to his injuries, he was thought to be a third-round level draft pick. I think the Falcons will see the benefits of picking this kid up this upcoming season.

Success is internally determined and externally executed.

by The DW on Jan 29, 2012 4:11 PM EST up reply actions

Per Yasinkas,

He worked under Belichick in Cleveland. I’d say the Falcons got a steal here. A former head coach for a line position? The only question would be how long he stays. You’d think, with that resume, another college coaching job will come calling in a year or two. Hopefully, within that time-frame, he can get things straightened out.

by ChardeeMacDennis on Jan 29, 2012 12:10 PM EST reply actions

I tend to lean towards this line of thinking as well...

"I'd run over my own mother to win the Super Bowl." - Joe Jacoby, formerly of the Redskins
"To win, I'd run over Joe's mom too." - Matt Millen, formerly of the Raiders

"We now have exactly the same situation as we had at the start of the race, only exactly the opposite" - Murray Walker, Sportscaster

by Blood_Talon on Jan 30, 2012 1:27 AM EST up reply actions

Like this alot

I really liked watching his Fresno St teams, I think he’ll be a good fit…as for OL credentials, his line made David Carr look really good, right?

by mocamro on Jan 29, 2012 12:40 PM EST reply actions

Weakest Link

SB teams are made in the offseason.I think that these coaching changes being made this offseason.Maybe more important to the Falcons raising thier level of play.Than any of the player movement.Done in pass offseasons.Be aware players watch coaching staff’s also. Which helps TD in his acquisition of quality free agents.Willing to be coached and buy into the team game plan.Love the acquisition of all prior head coaches.All with lots of experience and levels of success.

by flyinhigh on Jan 29, 2012 1:10 PM EST reply actions

Are all these mid sentence periods

Because ur flying high? Don’t forget to bring a towel! (can’t help myself (on so many levels))

East Side Mathemagician

by 831salasfan on Jan 29, 2012 5:49 PM EST up reply actions

Pat Hill is an excellent hire

Hill has a great football mind. He comes with years of NFL coaching experience as well as head coaching experience in the college ranks. OL is his main focus and he is the right guy for this job. Hill’s reputation as a veteran college coach was outstanding. I think he will mold the Falcon’s blocking unit into one of the best in the NFL.

He’s always open. He catches a lot of balls. He’s un-guardable, no matter how old he is

by WarWolf on Jan 29, 2012 1:32 PM EST reply actions

Great Hire

Nothing else needs to be said

Evil Falcon

by falconplanet on Jan 29, 2012 1:37 PM EST reply actions

What this guy said!!

"I'd run over my own mother to win the Super Bowl." - Joe Jacoby, formerly of the Redskins
"To win, I'd run over Joe's mom too." - Matt Millen, formerly of the Raiders

"We now have exactly the same situation as we had at the start of the race, only exactly the opposite" - Murray Walker, Sportscaster

by Blood_Talon on Jan 30, 2012 1:28 AM EST up reply actions

interesting

Will be looking closely over the next couple of months to see where RG, LT, and perhaps C sign. Pre-season and first few games should be interesting. If Matt gets time to throw this could be a very positive sign. The new offense will also be more versatile in both run and pass games. Still like to see a QB coach that is innovative, and of course gives Matt more fundamental instructions on long ball mechanics.

by mice2 on Jan 29, 2012 2:20 PM EST reply actions

Good point on Matty...

I sometimes wonder if even with all these improvements will Matty take the next step cause really thats the only way win. I think we need him to elevate his play to the next level as our front office has. I hope to see a confident qb who can handle presure and be consistantly accurate as well as develop a deep ball. It was only his full 3rd year but its time for Matty to take the next step or none of these coaching changes will matter. I say the next qb coach hiring will be as important as letting MM walk. No doubt we have a good qb but if were gonna win SBs he needs to be great.

by Bigru3 on Jan 30, 2012 7:13 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

Coo I Guess

This guy definitely sounds solid but kind of tired of feeling like we’re settling for certain coaches. Why have we yet to feel ecstatic about a signing, I am not breath taken or at least overly excited about mike nolans new staff hirings. Someone has to always either debate or go to bat for these coaches just to prove they’re worthy of the position.

by vickfan1st on Jan 29, 2012 2:34 PM EST reply actions

This dude's legit.

Rule #1: Double tap.

by Ball Hawk on Jan 29, 2012 3:08 PM EST via mobile reply actions

All we need now is Peyton Manning for QB coach.

Rule #1: Double tap.

by Ball Hawk on Jan 29, 2012 3:10 PM EST via mobile reply actions

I avoid using the word "epic" because I feel it is one of the most overused words in America

But Manning as a QB coach would be deserving of the title “Epic Win!”

by FLA_Falcon on Jan 29, 2012 4:20 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Did we have the worst o line in the league last year?

It had to be close. Maybe not quite 2010 bears but awful none the less.

by DEMBIRDZCUZ! on Jan 29, 2012 5:01 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Nope.

Ranked 8th overall in the reg season.

Rule #1: Double tap.

by Ball Hawk on Jan 29, 2012 5:58 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Wow! if we were 8th then id hate to see whos last.

So why did our offense suck so bad???

by DEMBIRDZCUZ! on Jan 29, 2012 6:33 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

What's that got to do with Manning as QB coach?

by FLA_Falcon on Jan 29, 2012 10:54 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

That'd be amazing...

Certainly are similarities between him and Matty, physically and in terms of how they study film and change plays at the line (not saying Matty will ever be as good). I want Peyton to get healthy and play a couple more years, though.

by ChardeeMacDennis on Jan 29, 2012 5:47 PM EST up reply actions

I second that

because I don’t feel Peyton should take the chance of seriously injuring himself any further. That was what I was thinking maybe dreaming (LOL), but I think Peyton would be a great QB coach and teacher of the game for MR. Being also that people are always comparing them and saying they have some similarities, such as work ethics, student of the game, etc. That would be just GREAT imo.

by SheSoLeo on Jan 29, 2012 11:53 PM EST up reply actions

I would love this but...

untill a doctor says he 100% for sure can never chuck the ball himself any longer…he will want to come back and play!!

"I'd run over my own mother to win the Super Bowl." - Joe Jacoby, formerly of the Redskins
"To win, I'd run over Joe's mom too." - Matt Millen, formerly of the Raiders

"We now have exactly the same situation as we had at the start of the race, only exactly the opposite" - Murray Walker, Sportscaster

by Blood_Talon on Jan 30, 2012 1:30 AM EST up reply actions

Hill is a great hire

Very high energy guy. Always wanted to play against the best which is really going to be an asset. I’m paraphrasing his motto but it went something like “anyone, anytime, anywhere”. If your top 20 team didn’t want to fly out to him he didn’t care, he’d take the away game and not complain. I think we got us a steal here.

by aces666high on Jan 29, 2012 6:35 PM EST reply actions

Good Hire

It’s my understanding he was in the NFL and have coached some good linemen. I think all the hires right now are solid. Anything better than what we had.

by "Skip" on Jan 29, 2012 7:48 PM EST reply actions