Falcons interviewing former Seahawks OC Darrell Bevell for QBs coach

The key factor the Falcons seem to be looking for in a quarterbacks coach is experience. After Bush Hamdan spent a single season in Atlanta fresh out of college—and Matt Ryan had a significantly worse season—Atlanta clearly wants to bring in a coach who knows the ropes and who may be able to help Steve Sarkisian out a bit in his second year as a coordinator. The list of candidates we’re seeing confirms that, and there’s one name in particular that stands out.

That name would be Darrell Bevell, who was just recently fired as the offensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks after a distinguished tenure. Bevell was the offensive coordinator when Russell Wilson arrived in Seattle, and he put together some pretty good offenses over the years despite chronic neglect of the offensive line, the running back position post-Marshawn Lynch, and arguably wide receiver. Wilson’s magic goes a long way, yes, but Bevell is no slouch.

If he’s willing to take the job, he makes more sense than just about anybody for the quarterbacks coach position. Bevell has worked with Dan Quinn in the past when both were in Seattle, he has extensive experience coordinating an NFL offense, and he’s achieved much better results doing so than fellow candidates Greg Knapp and Jedd Fisch. It’s fair to assume he’d have some input into the offense, however limited, and would be an obvious replacement for Steve Sarkisian if the team’s second-year coordinator flames out in 2018.

Oh, and the Falcons are also bringing in Ken Dorsey. He’s not the same caliber of name as Bevell, and hasn’t got any coordinator experience, unlike Bevell, Knapp, and Fisch. What he does have is five seasons as the quarterbacks coach for the Carolina Panthers, where he worked closely with an elite talent in Cam Newton. I’d view him as the least likely fit for the job at the moment, but at least the Falcons are doing their due diligence with some strong candidates.

Who do you think will win the job?