DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum CBS Leading Head Coaching (Coordinators) Candidates

I have read many articles that Stefanski and Baker were not on same the wavelength. It has been written that Stefanski went to Berry and told him he could not work with Baker and that was the first domino that led to Deshawn Watson. It was telling what Stefanski did to Baker on the Monday night game against Pittsburg. I'm no Baker fan I think Stefanski was dead on in his assessment that Baker is not a QB that you can win a super bowl with.

Stefanski wanted Kirk Cousins and now he will be coaching Kirk Cousins again. I wonder what Stefanski will think of Penix. That could get interesting.

Your suggestion would be quite popular with me. The staple of every NFL offense should include chucking it up deep looking for the DPI...it's become ridiculous.

I'd add to your suggestion looking at a 5 yard defensive holding penalty that is an auto 1st down. Too many 3rd & 15 ish where a D Lineman gets called for a ticky-tack hold that results in a 1st down.

Yeah, but you KNOW he's going to light Atlanta up twice/year.

Tommy Rees is following head coach Kevin Stefanski from Cleveland to Atlanta.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that the Falcons are hiring Rees as their offensive coordinator. The team named Stefanski as its new head coach earlier this week.

Rees, 33, was promoted to offensive coordinator last offseason after spending 2024 as Cleveland’s tight ends coach. He previously served as Alabama’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in Nick Saban’s final year. Rees held the same positions at his alma mater, Notre Dame, in 2020-22.

Rees generated some interest at the college level for head coaching vacancies this offseason, with Penn State and Michigan reportedly interviewing him. He also interviewed for the Browns’ head coaching job.

Looks like BROWNS Offense 2.0 With better players.. ? Will be interesting to see how they do.

Jim is gonna win the HC derby by default apparently.

Maybe Haslam looks in a mirror and wonders why.
Of course, you’d have to be honest with yourself for that to occur…

Stefanski is putting the band back together and I have a feeling his offense is going to be lighting things up in '26.

I don't know enough about Atlanta's OLine, RBs, or WRs to say anything one way or the other on them, but Callahan will make that OLine better, which will make that RB better, and with Kirk Cousins there, those WRs will look better.

Rees is nothing special as a OC. Funny in Cleveland if a OC can engineer
20 pts a games he is considered a brilliant playcaller.
Stefanski is over rated when it comes to putting together a offense.
Rees is as sharp as a butter knife when it comes to a offense

Quick question...

Now that Stefanski's gone, are you almost done "typing" about him?

Asking for a friend.

Google AI said, overall, the line is pretty strong.

It sounds to me like he'll have the same level of offensive talent he inherited when he came to Cleveland (Oline won't be as good, VERY good starter RB with a good complementary back instead of another beast), a less talented QB group... but Cousins is a KS-type QB. I honestly think they have a better WR group with a really good TE.


I think they are going to look great in his first year or two, I just wonder how it's going to go after that (especially once they have to start making decisions about the QB room).

Stefanski will be fine in Atlanta. I expect them to win the NFC South next year. He inherited a team that was tied for the division lead at the end of the season. Where Andrew Berry failed Kevin was, he never gave him a QB that could run Kevin's offense. I really thought last year they would find a way to trade for Cousin's and use him for a few years as the bridge QB. Now Stefanski has his guy and in that offense, Cousins will easily be the best QB in that division, and their RB Bijon Robinson should have a huge year behind a Bill Callahan coached Oline.

You sound like lots of Titans fans when they fired Vrabel. Then Vrabel went to New England and assembled his own coaching staff where someone gave him some talent on the roster. He will now be coaching in the AFC Championship game Sunday. And here you are making the same mistake Titan fans did.

No, Mongo only pawn in game of life

Commenting to all the replies:

Atlanta has a QB: Michael Penix Jr. (their 1st round pick in 2024)
He started 5 games in 2024 and 9 last year till he was injured. He played pretty well. Not amazing, not terrible.

Penix tore his ACL. Cousins is projected to start the season next year only b/c Penix is expected to miss the start of the season.

Atlanta has a top 2 RB, a young QB (25 years old), Drake London, and Kyle Pitts (who's a FA this offseason)

I think Mongo's going to take a little fancy to you!

With Stefanski there Penix will have to prove he can run his offense and will learn behind Cousins. Cousins will be their starter now for sure. He is actually paid more money than Penix.

I thought Penix was more up-and-down (and trending down at the time of his injury), but I looked back and saw his stats weren't terrible. I kinda forgot that he was actually drafted 2 seasons ago and sat behind Cousins his rookie year.

Another candidate says "no thanks". Getting a little humiliating. I didn't see where he was telling any of the other teams no thanks.

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profo...ter-cancels-second-interview-with-browns

From all indications Cousins was there to help teach and work with Penix. So I believe that process was well under way before they ever hired Stefanski. Which may have something to do with Stefanski feeling this would be a good place for him to land. You had a veteran QB he obviously loved who had already been mentoring and teaching a young QB with some talent waiting for him there.

I don't think it is humiliating, really. At this point in the process, everyone is talking behind the scenes and can get a sense of where teams are in terms of favorite candidates. Or a candidate doesn't want to waste another team's time if it's been told they're the favorite at their preferred destination. We're in the home stretch now and there are so many musical chairs left. What it really boils down to is if the final HC decision is the right one.

Exactly. Those being interviewed for such a job must make the correct final decision. And it seems the right decision for some is not to even bother interviewing here much less consider taking the job.

Or did you mean the Haslam's and Barry making the right decision on who to hire out of the candidates still willing to take the job? That's certainly important too.