|
Every year there is turnover in the coaching ranks and the 2009 NFL Season will be no different. In fact, a ridiculous game of musical chairs has been in play since the end of the 2008 season in which we have 18 new Defensive Coordinators. Some have made lateral moves to different teams and some have received promotions from within. No matter how you analyze these coaches, the scene is already set for an intriguing 2009 NFL season. Let's take a look at the 32 DC's from around the league and see how they match up against their colleagues....
1. Dick LeBeau, Pittsburgh Steelers: For five seasons in the Steel City, Dick LeBeau has crafted his defense into a well-rounded and fierce unit. In 2008, they were the top rated team defensively and were the major cog in the Steelers' Super Bowl win. LeBeau's 3-4 defense is predicated on a swarming attack and eliminating the opposing teams' ground attack.
2. Jim Johnson, Philadelphia Eagles: If Dick LeBeau is the top dog, Jim Johnson is a close second. The defenses that Johnson has assembled in Philadelphia are nothing short of amazing. They blitz, confuse, and create turnovers at an alarming rate. Aggressive and shifty, the Eagles' defense has been near the top of the rankings for the past 10 years.
3. Leslie Frazier, Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings have built a nice core of young talent in their front seven. The combination of speed and strength is what propelled the Vikings into the top rushing defense in 2008. His specialty is the defensive backfield and the tweaking of the Tampa 2 is what has allowed Minnesota to be one of the top defensive units in the NFL.
4. Wade Phillips, Dallas Cowboys: Wade Phillips has been entrenched in defenses since the 1970's. He has held both Head Coaching positions as well as Defensive Coordinator jobs since the early 80's. Phillips' teams in Buffalo and San Diego have been among the best in the league and he hopes to bring that respectability to Dallas. The pieces are in place for him, it's just a matter of whether or not he is capable of juggling the Head Coaching gig in addition to his Defensive Coordinator duties in Big D.
5. Dan Pees, New England Patriots: The Patriot defenses in the 1990's got a lot of attention, but the units that have been on the field lately are under the radar. Dan Pees has put together a nice blend of youth and veteran skill to his defense. In a bruising division like the AFC East, it is necessary to be able to dig in and stand your ground.
6. Greg Blache, Washington Redskins: In his first season controlling the Washington defense, Greg Blache fielded a top-5 squad. Prior to joining the Redskins in 2008, Blache was in charge of the stout Bears' defensive line and was the coordinator before that. The offenses that hail from the NFC East are dramatically different, so the defenses have to be flexible and adaptable.
7. Gregg Williams, New Orleans: New Orleans knew they were getting one of the most gifted defensive minds in the game when they hired Williams this past off season. Every stop that Williams has made, his defenses have been in the top echelon of the league. His style focuses on aggressiveness and speed while limiting the opportunities of the opposing offense.
8. Perry Fewell, Buffalo Bills: The Bills have drafted lots of young talent on the defensive side of the ball and Perry Fewell is salivating at what is on his plate. Top notch linebackers and defensive backs that are speedy and play with a high football IQ would make any coordinator happy. Fewell has turned a once-porous defense into a solid unit in only three years. He is only a couple years away from being promoted to Head Coach.
9. Ron Meeks, Carolina Panthers: On the surface, the Tampa 2 is a conservative defense that bends but avoids the “big play”. Though a polar contrast to Jim Johnson's style, Ron Meeks' take allows more physicality. A Tony Dungy disciple since his days in Tampa, Meeks demands every ounce of effort from his team and it shows on the field.
10. Mike Nolan, Denver Broncos: Mike Nolan's recent stint as Head Coach of the 49ers has somewhat tarnished his past Defensive Coordinator accomplishments. However, no one should forget that during his stays in Baltimore, Washington and both New York teams, Nolan had defenses that were feared around the league and his grasp of both the 3-4 and 4-3 make him a versatile and valuable coach.
11. Dom Capers, Green Bay Packers: It is always hard to make the leap from coordinator to Head Coach, and Dom Capers is a great example of that. He is capable of taking whatever level of talent is given to him and molding them into a productive and aggressive defense. His 3-4 defenses in Pittsburgh and Jacksonville were hard to move the ball against as well as being quite stingy against the run.
12. Clancy Pendergast, Kansas City Chiefs: The Arizona Cardinals’loss is the Kansas City Chiefs’ gain. Shortly after being fired following a Super Bowl loss, the 41-year old defensive coordinator was hired by the Chiefs to resurrect their horrid defense. Pendergast is a rising star in the NFL and his always-shifting defenses were one of the major reasons Arizona enjoyed success.
13. Greg Manusky, San Francisco 49ers: For the past two seasons, Greg Manusky has been given the job of reshaping the San Francisco defense. Manusky has grasped the opportunity and brought the 49er defense back to respectability. He had success in Washington and San Diego with their linebackers and he now has one of the most talented MIKE linebackers in the league in Patrick Willis.
14. Paul Pasqualoni, Miami Dolphins: The departure of Paul Pasqualoni from Dallas meant getting a well-tenured, brilliant mind for the Miami Dolphins. It will be Pasqualoni's job to return the Dolphins' defense back to the top of the NFL. An aging, yet experienced unit will be depended upon to mentor the younger players.
15. Mike Zimmer, Cincinnati Bengals: Mike Zimmer has run both the 4-3 and 3-4 defenses in the NFL and has a track record of success in both schemes. Though the Bengals’ defense gave up huge chunks of yardage and points, the overall defense is still above average. Once Zimmer gets his players in place, look for Cincinnati to improve.
16. Mike Pettine, New York Jets: Though Mike Pettine's new group of linebackers is a shade below what he was around in Baltimore, the Jets' defensive coordinator should enjoy the new stable of 'backers he has been given. This is Pettine's first gig running a defense, but Rex Ryan has been one of the elite DC's over the past few years and the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. He will bring the intricate defensive packages and coverages that had he such great success with prior to New York.
17. Greg Mattison, Baltimore Ravens: The shake-up within the Ravens' coaching staff this off-season might have people wondering whether or not newly anointed DC Greg Mattison will maintain the status quo. He was responsible for the Florida Gators’ attacking style of defense that wreaked havoc in the SEC for several years. Mattison will continue the blueprint laid forth by his predecessors and keep the Baltimore defense amongst the NFL's elite.
18. Ron Rivera, San Diego Chargers: How the mighty have fallen. Ron Rivera, once a candidate for several Head Coaching positions, has drifted into mediocrity over the past few seasons. When he was hot, his defenses were stifling and regarded as a benchmark for success around the league. Since coming to the Chargers, Rivera's “D” still shows promise, and if he continues on that path, he should be back among the top coordinators in the NFL.
19. Billy Davis, Arizona Cardinals: Over the past two seasons, Billy Davis has formed the Cardinals’ linebacking corps into a versatile group that seeks and destroys. Davis is capable of showing an offense different looks and never hinting at where the pressure is coming from. He had a couple of down years in San Francisco, but the coaching staff in Arizona is much more stable.
20. Bill Sheridan, New York Giants: Tom Coughlin is hoping that Steve Spagnuolo's former defense won't skip a beat as Bill Sheridan takes over the reins. Sheridan has been on board in New York since 2006 so he’s is familiar with the shifty and formidable defense he has inherited. Mathias Kiwanuka and Antonio Pierce have rounded their game in to All-Pro form under Sheridan's watch.
21. Gunther Cunningham, Detroit Lions: If this set of rankings spanned the past two decades, then Gunther Cunningham's name would be near the top. However, in a league of “what have you done for me lately?,” he has slipped based on his past few seasons in Kansas City. Cunningham is a brilliant defensive mind whose defenses are characterized by blitzing often and bringing the intensity. Let's hope he can right the ship in Detroit and wipe away the past mediocre-at-best seasons.
22. Ken Flajole, St. Louis Rams: Ken Flajole has been handed the job of turning around a St. Louis Rams' defense that was ranked near the bottom of the NFL in 2008. His prior job was coaching the Carolina Panthers' linebackers and that group has produced some pretty impressive players. Prior to Carolina, Flajole honed the Seahawks' secondary into a ball-hawking, opportunistic unit.
23. Jim Bates, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jim Bates' systems rely on quick defensive ends pressuring the quarterback and speed at the linebacker positions. He demands a lot from his players but has gotten phenomenal results, such as the Miami Dolphins of the early 2000's. It may take a season or two in Tampa, but Gaines Adams and Barrett Ruud should thrive under Bates' system.
24. Frank Bush, Houston Texans: The Houston Texans' front seven is one of the more underrated units in the league. The emergence of Mario Williams and Amobi Okoye is due in large part to Bush's oversight. Bush might be a little raw as a coordinator, but he has a lot of hands-on experience and is well-liked by players.
25. Brian Van Gorder, Atlanta Falcons: In his first year as DC in Atlanta, Van Gorder's defense did not give up a lot of points. Still getting acclimated to Mike Smith's style, Van Gorder instilled a bullish type of defensive approach that kept the Falcons in games. Limiting time-of-possession and keeping teams off the scoreboard was crucial to Atlanta's success in 2008.
26. Chuck Cecil, Tennessee Titans: Chuck Cecil's playing career is what most people think of, but he is bringing that tenacity with him to the coaching ranks. The newest Defensive Coordinator for the Titans has been with the organization since 2001, most notably working with the defensive backs. He is taking over a top-10 defense from 2008 and is no stranger to Head Coach Jeff Fisher's approach to the game.
27. Larry Coyer, Indianapolis Colts: Replacing the impact and chemistry that Ron Meeks left in Indianapolis will not be an easy task for Larry Coyer. However, Coyer brings with him a system predicated on a stout run defense and creating turnovers. The Tampa-2 coverage will still be in place, as Coyer implemented it in Denver and again saw it unfold with the Buccaneers under Monte Kiffin.
28. Bob Babich, Chicago Bears: Bob Babich is on the hot seat in Chicago as he enters year three in the Windy City. Gone are his playcalling duties and now his main focus is the linebackers, though he still maintains the title of Defensive Coordinator. With such high expectations on a team known for its defense, Babich has an uphill battle coming into 2009. His defenses have been unimpressive and lack the passion that is necessary to win in a black and blue division.
29. Rob Ryan, Cleveland Browns: Oh, the Cleveland Browns. The hiring of Rob Ryan was surprising considering his past few seasons in Oakland. Ryan has the pedigree name, but his skills on the sideline have left a lot to be desired. Ryan's defenses have ranked near the bottom of the league in four out of the past five seasons.
30. Casey Bradley, Seattle Seahawks: How much worse could the Seahawks season have gotten last year? Well, Casey Bradley is the new Defensive Coordinator in Seattle and he will have his work cut out for him. Bradley was mentored by Monte Kiffin in Tampa and helped shape the Buccaneers’ linebackers into what they are today. It will not be long before Bradley's version of the Tampa 2 is in place for the Seahawks.
31. Mel Tucker, Jacksonville Jaguars: Still relatively young amongst the coaching ranks, Mel Tucker has been given a golden opportunity in Jacksonville. Jack Del Rio is a brilliant defensive mind and will mold Tucker into a great protege. Tucker held the same position for one year in Cleveland until Romeo Crennel was let go.
32. John Marshall, Oakland Raiders: Rob Ryan would have ended the 2008 rankings as dead last, so it is only fair that the new Oakland Raiders' coordinator is in the same place. To be fair, Marshall is not here because of the Raiders or Ryan, but rather his own undoing in Seattle last season. The Seahawks defense was ranked 30th in the league and he inherits a Raider team that has its own issues to say the least.
Coming Soon: Offensive Coordinator Rankings
Trackback(0)
|
TrackBack URI for this entry
Subscribe to this comment's feed