Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith announced that defensive coordinator Brian Van Gorder has accepted the same position at Auburn University. Smith declined to name candidates to replace Van Gorder, who has been the Falcons defensive coordinator the last four seasons. Atlanta has ranked 24th (2008), 21st (2009), 16th (2010 and 12th (2011) in total defense over that time. Auburn ranked 81st in total defense in 2011, including 94th against the run and 52nd against the pass. Auburn's defensive rankings in 2011 were either 11th or 12th within the SEC. Van Gorder had coached linebackers with the Falcons (2007) and Jacksonville Jaguars (2005) before his promotion to coordinator in 2008. Prior to 2005, Van Gorder's coaching experience had been at the college level, including four seasons as the defensive coordinator/linebackers coach at Georgia, three seasons as defensive coordinator at Central Michigan and one season as defensive coordinator at Central Florida.
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