Mike

Smith

Smith had been reported as Del Rio’s “top choice.” Smith coordinated the Jaguars’ defense from 2003-07 before being hired as the Falcons’ head coach.

NBC Washington’s Dianna Marie Russini reported last week that Smith was unlikely to join new coach Jack Del Rio’s staff. Smith worked under Del Rio as the Jaguars’ defensive coordinator from 2003-2007 before landing the Atlanta job. The Raiders are also looking at Eric Mangini for the DC gig.

Smith said it is time “to do something different” and spend more time with family. The 59-year-old had a rough finish to his career with the Bucs, but he had a quality run as the Jaguars’ defensive coordinator in the mid-2000s before going 66-46 in seven seasons as the Falcons’ head coach.

LBs coach Mark Duffner is expected to take Smith’s place. Smith is the first scapegoat for the collapsing Dirk Koetter regime, though a richly-deserving one. Running antiquated, vanilla schemes, Smith’s defense was getting gutted for 440 yards per game, a number that would be by far the worst in the league if not for the Chiefs. They are on pace to allow the most points in NFL history. Smith’s unit wasn’t good (as in, dead last in yards allowed) in 2017, either, and it’s fair to question why he was brought back in the first place. The game has passed Smith by.

The extensions ensure that neither man has “lame duck” status in 2014, as they’re now signed through 2015. It’s a vote of confidence for a regime that has gone 60-36 and been to the playoffs four times since Smith took over in 2008. Prior to his arrival, the Falcons had never even posted back-to-back winning seasons. Getting Julio Jones back healthy and making improvements defensively will go a long way toward Smith and Dimitroff getting longer extensions at this time next year.

Smith is under fire after getting badly exposed the last two weeks. The Bucs have been among the worst defenses in the league, giving up a 500-plus yard game to Derek Carr Week 8 and not forcing a punt in Thursday night’s loss. This entire season has been a regression from Smith, who’s coaching under his former coordinator. There’s rumors his scheme is “too complicated” from last season’s Tampa-2. Smith’s ties with Dirk Koetter are strong, but there’s potential for an in-season firing.

Pro Football Weekly believes Smith is one of the top candidates for the job. Smith led the Falcons to a 66-46 record and four playoff appearances in seven seasons with the team from 2008-2014, and he helped spark a defensive turnaround in his first season in Tampa Bay this year. The Jaguars have also been linked with Falcons OC Kyle Shanahan.

Smith looked like one of the favorites in San Diego — excuse us, Los Angeles — so this could be a repudiation of a toxic organization slated to spend the next two years in a temporary stadium. There have been rumors the Bolts want to foist their current offensive staff on any new hire, which if true is the exact sort of thing that would scare a veteran like Smith away. Smith did an excellent job with the Bucs’ defense this season, turning it into an above-average unit down the stretch.

The Jaguars are expected to wait until after the season to fire Gus Bradley. Multiple sources tell PFW that Smith “believes the job is his,” and has “already begun reaching out to put a staff together.” The Jaguars want a retread and have strong ties to Smith, who was their defensive coordinator for five years and worked with GM Dave Caldwell in Atlanta. Smith has turned around the Bucs defense over their five-game win streak, but they still rank in the bottom half of the league. His hiring would be a questionable fit for a team that already has a defense in place. Jacksonville has also been linked to ex-Giants coach Tom Coughlin.

Panthers DC Sean McDermott is another name the Bolts have reportedly added to their list. Smith was reasonably successful as the Falcons’ coach, but won only one playoff game in seven seasons. He’d be about as vanilla of a hire as possible. The Jaguars are also interested.