The Falcons took the Rams defensive coordinator to be their new head coach, and Raheem Morris has created a pipeline from Los Angeles to Atlanta.
Heralded for his ability to connect to everyone he comes in contact with, Morris is leaning on those relationships, taking several coaches from Los Angeles with him to Atlanta.
Defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake spent time on the Rams coaching staff with Morris, but so did pass game specialist/game management Tim Berbenich as well as offensive assistants Nick Jones and K.J. Black.
Most recently, 247Sports reports that the Falcons are expected to hire Rams associate director of strength and conditioning John Griffin in a lead strength and conditioning role.
The 35-year-old was in Los Angeles the entire time Morris was there, and Griffin is plucking Paul Constantine from one of the most prestigious programs in American sports.
Source: Alabama football director of applied science Paul Constantine is expected to join the Atlanta Falcons as associate director of strength and conditioning, @TheAthletic has learned.
He helped develop 10 first-round picks at Bama.
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) February 13, 2024
The Falcons aren’t only trying to mimic the Rams relationship between Sean McVay and Les Snead, as Raheem Morris has said about himself and Terry Fontenot, but Atlanta is also implementing similar programs inside their football operations.
Rams beat writer for The Athletic Jourdan Rodrigue likened the Falcons’ acquisition of Griffin and Constantine to what the Rams implement in their strength and conditioning programs.
Minnesota’s hire of Tyler Williams a couple years ago signaled a big investment into the type of sports science + movement data the Rams were/are implementing in their S&C programming; between Atlanta’s reported hire of John Griffin and this move it feels like a similar signal. https://t.co/0nNOLuOUBE
— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) February 14, 2024
Imitation is the highest form of flattery, and what better program to mimic than the Rams? The Falcons haven’t had the kind of success the Rams have had under Sean McVay since Kyle Shanahan was in Atlanta as the team’s offensive coordinator.
It may not work out, but the Falcons are trying to follow the path of a proven winner rather than paving their own path.
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Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire
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