But, according to new DC Kevin Coyle, that's not where the Dolphins are headed. "Keeping the quarterback off-balance, through pressure, through coverage, through disguises, will enable your guys to have more opportunity to make plays. There will be...

With the hire of Mike Nolan as defensive coordinator the Falcons will use multiple looks on defense and shift between the 4-3 and the 3-4. With this new philosophy coming in, it puts an extra emphasis on versatility. Are the current defensive tackles...

Owner Arthur Blank has made it clear he expects more than just reaching the playoffs. The critics are wondering if Smith and Ryan ever can win when it matters. The Falcons already have turned to new coordinators (Dirk Koetter on offense and Mike Nolan...

Mike Nolan has seen his share of the NFL. Among his nine stops at the NFL as a coach, he’s spent time as a linebackers coach, wide receivers coach and a head coach. Outside of those roles, Nolan has spent 14 years as a defensive coordinator in the league.

There is some feeling that the team would be better off playing John Skelton, rather than Kolb. It's too early for that, but Kolb didn't do a lot to convince people he was the long-term answer in his first in Arizona. I like the hiring of Dirk Koetter...

“He texted me back and said, ‘I’ll keep in touch.’” Atlanta does need better linebackers. So why would they call Channing Crowder? Is Atlanta so desperate that they would sign a man that claimed to be late for a game in England because "I couldn't find...

With the arrival of Kevin Coyle as Miami's new defensive coordinator, it is expected that he will bring the 4-3 defense that the Cincinnati Bengals ran during his time there. Miami has been building it's 3-4 defense for three years and many are...

Atlanta Falcons LB Sean Weatherspoon might see more time in the middle in 'nickel' situations in 2012. He is viewed as being very good against the pass. Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Mike Nolan wants to remove LB Curtis Lofton out of the team's...

Atlanta Falcons LB Sean Weatherspoon might see more time in the middle in 'nickel' situations in 2012. He is viewed as being very good against the pass. Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Mike Nolan wants to remove LB Curtis Lofton out of the team's...

Atlanta Falcons LB Sean Weatherspoon might see more time in the middle in 'nickel' situations in 2012. He is viewed as being very good against the pass. Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Mike Nolan wants to remove LB Curtis Lofton out of the team's...

Atlanta Falcons LB Sean Weatherspoon might see more time in the middle in 'nickel' situations in 2012. He is viewed as being very good against the pass. Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Mike Nolan wants to remove LB Curtis Lofton out of the team's...

The NFL should give the Emerald City a chance, it will likely get reviews as good as the ones Indianapolis received. Crowder retired last summer after getting released by the Dolphins, however he has maintained a relationship with former Dolphins...

Soon, Bowles realized, most of the veterans knew little more than their specific assignment. In his first game as the starter - against the Eagles, no less - they overrode one of his calls. Bowles promptly got beat for a touchdown, Randall Cunningham...

The Pats may consider bringing Branch back, but it would figure to be on a one-year deal for around the veteran’s minimum. Julian Edelman and Chad Ochocinco are New England’s only receivers under contract for 2012. It’s going to be a position they...

But D. Orlando Ledbetter writes about one exceptional situation that’s worth watching. That’s linebacker Channing Crowder , who said he already has had some contact with the Falcons. Atlanta just hired defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, who previously...

Images D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the Falcons have “ been in touch ” with former Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder, who is planning an NFL comeback in 2012. The Crowder-Falcons link makes sense because...

The game set a new Nielsen NFL record for Boston where the game received a 56.7 rating while the game trailed only that previous Giants Super Bowl among viewers in New York. The Crowder-Falcons link makes sense because Atlanta just hired Mike Nolan as...

Dimitroff is encouraged by the hiring decisions head coach Mike Smith has made, most notably bringing in Dirk Koetter to run the offense, Mike Nolan to become to the new defensive coordinator and Pat Hill to coach the offensive line. The GM said the...

That same coach that can help him in certain ways can also hurt him. Chuck Pagano is a defensive-minded coach whose main focus is not going to be on offense. A prime example of what I'm getting at is Alex Smith in San Francisco. For most of his career...