The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Manuel earns a promotion
Respected assistant taking Smith’s place as defensive coordinator.
FLOWERY BRANCH — Marquand Manuel, who served as secondary/senior defensive assistant the past two seasons, was promoted by the Falcons to defensive coordinator to replace Richard Smith on Friday.
Former NFL standout Bryant Young will become defensive line coach, and Doug Mallory, who was the assistant defensive backs coach, will replace Manuel.
Raheem Morris was named wide receivers/passing-game coordinator/assistant head coach Friday.
Morris, who is entering his 15th season in the NFL and his third with the Falcons, was the assistant head coach/wide receivers last season. In his first season, he was assistant head coach/ passing-game coordinator on defense.
He’s getting added responsibilities on the offense after Steve Sarkisian was named offensive coordinator Tuesday.
Jerome Henderson, who was the passing-game coordinator for the defense, likely will leave for San Francisco given that he wasn’t promoted to offensive coordinator.
After the bye week in mid-November, Falcons coach Dan Quinn became more involved in the defense and called more of the defensive signals. The defense improved against lesser quarterbacks, but played in spurts against quality quarterbacks such as New Orleans’ Drew Brees in the regular-season finale and then Tom Brady in the Super Bowl.
Manuel, a former journeyman defensive back, has never called signals but is highly respected by Quinn.
Manuel caused a stir at the combine last season when he asked prospect Eli Apple if “he liked men.” The team held a training seminar with a league-approved counselor with the entire staff regarding social responsibility.
Manuel took responsibility for the inappropriate question, said it was wrong and apologized to Apple. Manuel had an individual counseling session covering social responsibility.
“Moving forward, I will become a better man by going through all of this,” Manuel said.
Young, 45, was defensive line coach at Florida in 201112 when Quinn was defensive coordinator. He also coached at Notre Dame and San Jose State but has no NFL coaching experience.
Young, a four-time Pro bowler, played for the San Francisco 49ers from 19942007 and was a nominee for the 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.
Quinn knows Young after working with the 49ers from 2001-04 as a quality-control coach (2001-02) and defensive line coach (2003-04).
Mallory just completed his second season as the Falcons’ defensive assistant/defensive backs coach.
Mallory, who played defensive back at Michigan, is a 25-year college coaching veteran. He coached at Indiana, Army, Western Kentucky, Maryland, Oklahoma State, LSU and New Mexico.