Bill Musgrave Brings Years of Experience with QB’s to Raiders OC Position

Dec 28, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) on the sideline against the Carolina Panthers at the Georgia Dome. The Panthers defeated the Falcons 34-3. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Musgrave spent 2005 as Joe Gibbs’ QB’s coach in Washington before joining Jim Mora’s staff in Atlanta as the QB’s coach there, working under OC Greg Knapp (and OL coach Tom Cable). Musgrave worked with Michael Vick during his last year before his incarceration, a year in which Vick threw 20 TD’s for the first time in his career – good enough for the second-highest single-season TD mark of Vick’s career.

In 2007, Musgrave stayed on as Bobby Petrino’s QB’s coach working for OC Hue Jackson, as Joey Harrington, Byron Leftwich and Chris Redman started games at QB for the Falcons during a very difficult season.  Despite Redman starting only four games, he had the best year of his career under Musgrave, throwing for nearly 1100 yards and 10 TD’s.

In 2008, Musgrave was re-united with fellow former Jaguars coordinator Mike Smith, and kept on as QB’s coach under OC Mike Mularkey. He was tasked with developing rookie quarterback Matt Ryan, the third overall pick in the draft. Musgrave’s work with Ryan remains the absolute highlight of his coaching resume. With Musgrave, Ryan was the AP, Pro Football Writers of America and Sporting News NFL Rookie of the Year in 2008, completing over 60% of his passes for 3,440 yards and 16 TD’s. Ryan threw 22 TD’s the next year despite missing two games with injury.

In 2010, Musgrave was named Assistant Head Coach to go along with his role as QB’s coach, giving him certain play-calling responsibilities along with Mularkey. Ryan excelled in his third year, completing more than 62% of his passes for over 3,700 yards and 28 TD’s to only nine picks, earning him his first Pro Bowl selection.

The Falcons incredible 13-3 season that year ended badly, however, as Ryan was picked off twice and sacked five times in a 42-21 loss to the Packers in the Divisional round. Still Musgrave’s work with Ryan was enough to get him another Offensive Coordinator gig, with Leslie Frazier and the Minnesota Vikings.

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