ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons say Mike Smith is everything they want in a head coach, no matter that he’s never been one before.
The first test for Smith, the former Jacksonville defensive coordinator hired by Atlanta on Wednesday night, will be to outlast the 13-game stint of Bobby Petrino, the 2007 rookie coach who quit during the season to return to the college ranks.
“Mike possesses all of the key qualities we were looking for in a head coach,” said general manager Thomas Dimitroff, in his first month on the job.
Dimitroff said the 48-year-old Smith, a 26-year coaching veteran, “has strong experience with winning teams, a track record of success, a solid, smart approach to the game, and high character and integrity.”
Smith, the Jaguars’ defensive coordinator since 2003, had his second interview with the Falcons on Friday.
Smith said his emphasis on each side of the line will be the running game.
“My goal is to build a well-disciplined, hard-nosed football team that will be able to run the football on offense and stop the run on defense,” Smith said. “I’ve always believed that’s what makes championship teams.”
Smith, a former defensive assistant with Baltimore, had the league’s No. 12 defense with Jacksonville this season after ranking second in 2006 and sixth in 2005.
Smith will be Atlanta’s sixth coach since December 2003. Before Petrino quit, Dan Reeves and Jim Mora were fired. Wade Phillips and Thomas worked three games each as interim replacements.
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