FLOWERY BRANCH — The Falcons hired Mike Rutenberg as their defensive passing-game coordinator and Nate Ollie as the defensive line coach Friday.
Both Rutenberg and Ollie worked with new Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich with the Jets. Rutenberg was with the Jets from 2021-24. Ollie, who comes directly from the Texans, was with the Jets in 2021.
Rutenberg, 43, also worked with the 49ers (2020), Jaguars (2013-19) and Washington (2003-05). He went to Cornell and is from Chevy Chase, Md. He has never been a coordinator in the NFL and was the linebackers coach for the Jets for the past three seasons.
He worked in the college ranks from 2006-12 with stops at UCLA, New Mexico State and San Diego.
The Falcons' pass defense was shoddy for most of last season.
The Falcons allowed a touchdown on 5.9% of opponent passes, which ranked 31st in the NFL, according to Pro Football Network. The Falcons were ahead of only the Panthers. The last team to make the playoffs with a rate that poor was the 2016 Lions.
Opponents were able to gut the Falcons’ defense by working underneath routes. Opposing quarterbacks feasted on linebacker Nate Landman, as they had a 152.4 passing rating when they found him in coverage. He gave up three touchdowns and missed seven tackles.
Also, nickel back Dee Alford struggled underneath. Opposing quarterbacks had a 117.9 passer rating when throwing at Alford, who gave up eight touchdowns and had 16 missed tackles.
Cornerback Mike Hughes was solid at times, but opposing quarterbacks had a 105.8 passer rating when throwing at Hughes, who gave up three touchdowns and missed seven tackles.
Ollie, 33, will replace Jay Rodgers, who was fired after one season with the team. He went to Ball State and is From Chicago.
Before his one-year stint as the assistant defensive line coach with the Texans, Ollie was the defensive line coach for the Colts in 2022-23. For some reason his contract was not renewed after the Colts posted a franchise record 51 sacks in 2023.
He was assistant defensive line coach for the Jets in 2021 and with the Eagles in 2019-20.
Ollie will be in charge of helping to improve the Falcons’ anemic pass rush.
The Falcons improved their pass rush with better stunts and blitzes after the Week 12 bye week. After that juncture, the Falcons were second in the NFL with 21 sacks.
However, they were 2-4 over the final six games and still finished 31st in the league in sacks, with 31. Only New England (28) had fewer.
The Falcons have not rushed the passer well for the past decade. Only one time (2017) have the Falcons been in the top half of the league (16 or higher) in sacks per pass attempt. In 2017, they were 7.05% in sacks per pass attempt and ranked 14th in the league.
From 2015 to 2024, they have been ranked 32nd three times (2015, 2021 and 2022). They were ranked 31st last season.
Here are the Falcons’ sack-per-pass-attempt numbers for the past 10 years.
2024: 5.36% — 31st in the league, Jimmy Lake, defensive coordinator
2023: 7.65% — 19th, Ryan Nielsen
2022: 3.74% — 32nd, Dean Pees
2021: 3.12% — 32nd, Dean Pees
2020: 4.64 — 25th, Raheem Morris, Jeff Ulbrich
2019: 5.29 — 29th, Dan Quinn
2018: 6.32% — 26th, Marquand Manuel
2017: 7.05% — 14th, Marquand Manuel
2016: 5.19% — 26th, Richard Smith, Dan Quinn
2015: 3.39% — 32nd, Richard Smith
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