4 teams that could hire Robert Saleh away from SF 49ers
By Peter Panacy
No. 2: Atlanta Falcons
Like the Texans, the Atlanta Falcons are also going to be searching for a permanent head coach after moving on from Dan Quinn earlier this offseason.
Quinn’s 4-3 Under, Cover 3 defense from his days with the Seattle Seahawks is a near-identical copy of what Robert Saleh runs with the SF 49ers. And while Atlanta wasn’t particularly known for great defense under Quinn in recent seasons, the number of young players on the roster could be good enough fits for what Saleh would want to implement.
Particularly with young defensive backs like A.J. Terrell and Isaiah Oliver.
Considering the SF 49ers’ pass defense was one of the team’s best strengths this season despite a regularly revolving door of starters and backups, the Falcons may want to mesh Saleh’s performance and scheme of defensive backs with what’s already on the roster for the foreseeable future.
Saleh would also likely be looking at a year or two, minimum, with quarterback Matt Ryan and wide receiver Julio Jones, too, leaving his would-be offense in halfway decent shape while he builds up the defense again.