Defensive Coordinator Candidates

[easyk83]

I don't see much difference in risk between:

-Hiring a talented position coach who has never been a DC.

-Hiring a former DC who has failed or is on his way out.

-Hiring a good, proven DC from a high end college program.

Just my opinion.

Personally I like the potential payoff of hiring a DC on the younger side.

 

[tynimiller]

MLF had worked in different roles in the NFL for 10 seasons before being hired by the Packers. Leonhard doesn't have any experience as a coach at the pro level.

Never having worked in the capacity he was hired for, at his young age...I'll stand by my thought that hiring Leonhard for a DC role would not be any more of a dice roll than MLF was personally.

 

[GleefulGary]

Jim Leonhard is getting an interview, per Demovsky.

 

[Jerellh528]

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[Poppa San]

Jim Leonhard is getting an interview, per Demovsky.

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[Pugger]

Jim Leonhard is getting an interview, per Demovsky.

Somebody on another forum said Jimmy Leonard's defense is similar to Pettine's. If this is true he might not get the job if LaFleur wants the defense to go in another direction.

 

[Pugger]

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Well, we can't say Lefleur isn't casting a wide net here...

 

[Dantés]

Here are all the names that have been mentioned by Demovsky that have gotten or will get interviews:

• Ejiro Evero, Safeties, LA
• Chris Harris, Defensive Backs, WAS
• Joe Barry, Pass Def. Coordinator, LAC
• Jerry Gray, Defensive Backs, GB
• Matt Burke, Defensive Line/RGC, PHI
• Ryan Nielsen, Defensive Line, NO
• Chris Kiffin, Defensive Line, CLE
• Jim Leonhard, Defensive Coordinator, WISC

 

[Dantés]

From that list, Evero is my favorite candidate based on resume.

After him, I also like Leonhard and Gray.

I find Joe Barry to be intriguing. He flamed out as the DC in Washington, but that may have been a no win situation. Since that time he's worked under Wade Phillips and Brandon Staley. So I'm interested.

Very similarly, I think Matt Burke is a really intriguing guy. His biggest influences have been Jim Schwartz and Marvin Lewis. And while he's most recently a DL coach, his background is mainly in LB's, which is the position coach area that produces the most good coordinators

The rest, I don't know how to feel about. Harris has one year under Rivera, which is nice, but otherwise I don't see anything interesting in his background. Ryan Nielsen has basically always been a DL guy; that doesn't mean he couldn't succeed, but DL Coach > good DC is a rare transition. And you could say the same for Kiffin.

 

[tynimiller]

In my perfect world where everything glows Wade Phillips comes on as DC, Leonhard is our DB coach with both knowing Phillips is grooming Leonhard for the DC of the future with us.

 

[longtimefan]

Somebody on another forum said Jimmy Leonard's defense is similar to Pettine's. If this is true he might not get the job if LaFleur wants the defense to go in another direction.

We had few posts detailing jims style. He took style from all the coaches he worked under

 

[Dantés]

In my perfect world where everything glows Wade Phillips comes on as DC, Leonhard is our DB coach with both knowing Phillips is grooming Leonhard for the DC of the future with us.

Call me crazy, but I think given the option I would rather just take Leonhard straight up.

I'm a little spooked by Phillips. The Rams went from a league average defense to an elite one in one season, and the main difference was him. Heading into his age 74 season, I think it's fair to wonder if he's lost his fastball.

 

[tynimiller]

Call me crazy, but I think given the option I would rather just take Leonhard straight up.

I'm a little spooked by Phillips. The Rams went from a league average defense to an elite one in one season, and the main difference was him. Heading into his age 74 season, I think it's fair to wonder if he's lost his fastball.

Defenisve advisory role then

 

[Dantés]

One thing I will add on Nielsen that I'm reading/seeing-- apparently there have been some fights in NO to keep him from big college programs (LSU, USC) that really wanted him, and he has some experience as a coordinator. So he's maybe not purely the DL specialist.

 

[tynimiller]

Back on track, all these interviews is promising....why do I feel like in past searches you'd hear us only look at a few guys - I'm a fan of the cast a wide net approach.

 

[GleefulGary]

Somebody on another forum said Jimmy Leonard's defense is similar to Pettine's. If this is true he might not get the job if LaFleur wants the defense to go in another direction.

His defensive scheme is similar, but he might have a different philosophy behind it. Pettine was conservative by nature. I’m not sure if Leonhard is. Badger fans, if there’s an objective one around, could probably tell you that more than I could.

 

[Mondio]

The scheme is not bad. Communication within it seems to be. Players problem or coaches or both?

we’re going to see new parts from each part of the equation. I’d rather not change defensive identity, just run it better. Or were looking at likely major player changes to fit a new philosophy and implement it and were looking at a 2 year commitment to get those guys and get everyone versed in a new defensive philosophy.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

I got the impression from MLF's press conference the other day, they are looking for a DC that adds some energy and emotion to the defense. He mentioned the same thing when talking about Special Teams coach Maurice Drayton. I only wonder where that energy from Drayton was this year?

 

[mradtke66]

His defensive scheme is similar, but he might have a different philosophy behind it. Pettine was conservative by nature. I’m not sure if Leonhard is. Badger fans, if there’s an objective one around, could probably tell you that more than I could.

He seems more aggressive to me.

I will note that he (Leonhard) has a tendency to play his corners off, not unlike Pettine did.

It drives me nuts, but College is not the NFL. Entirely possibly the lower quality of quarterback play makes it possible and the lower quality of cornerback play makes it necessary. If you take your defense, 1:1 across the pro/college border, in either direction, and don't make any tweaks, you're probably doing it wrong.

What I like from Leonhard is his (perceived or real) ability to elevate his defenses above the sum of their parts. Wisconsin tends not to get a great number of excellent players, and yet the defense is consistently good.

 

[GleefulGary]

He seems more aggressive to me.

I will note that he (Leonhard) has a tendency to play his corners off, not unlike Pettine did.

It drives me nuts, but College is not the NFL. Entirely possibly the lower quality of quarterback play makes it possible and the lower quality of cornerback play makes it necessary. If you take your defense, 1:1 across the pro/college border, in either direction, and don't make any tweaks, you're probably doing it wrong.

What I like from Leonhard is his (perceived or real) ability to elevate his defenses above the sum of their parts. Wisconsin tends not to get a great number of excellent players, and yet the defense is consistently good.

Probably plays the corners off bc them Big 10 corners can’t handle the speed of a real conference.

 

[Pugger]

This is a couple of years old:

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/21425869/jim-leonhard-wisconsin-defensive-whiz-kid

 

[Dantés]

His defensive scheme is similar, but he might have a different philosophy behind it. Pettine was conservative by nature. I’m not sure if Leonhard is. Badger fans, if there’s an objective one around, could probably tell you that more than I could.

I doubt we see Leonard being so willing to sacrifice gap integrity like Pettine is.

 

[Dantés]

Playing corners in off coverage is one of those fan bugaboos that gets way overblown.

Caveat-- there are times when it is not appropriate at all. I'm not saying otherwise.

But generally speaking, it's one of those things that fans notice when it seems not to work and ignore when it does work.

Alexander plays off all the time and it works amazing. I never see anyone talking about how great the off coverage call was when he clicks, closes, and blows up a screen.

 

[Dantés]

Leonhard's Badger defenses from 2016-20 among all FBS programs (there are 130 total):

• Scoring Defense: 17 PPG; 3rd
• Total Defense: 295 YPG; 2nd
• Rushing Defense: 110 YPG; 4th
• Passing Defense: 184 YPR; 2nd
• Passing Efficiency Allowed: 109.7; 2nd
• Opposing Completion %: 53; 2nd
• Opposing 3rd Down Conversion %: 30; 2nd
• Turnovers: 112; 9th

I think he's the rare instance of fan service intersecting with a great football decision.

 

[Favre>Rodgers259]

I don't think that anyone has even mentioned McVay.

Alright, @Favre>Rodgers259 go get him.

I could give two rips that he was coaching under McVay btw. This isn’t an offensive hire.

Here we go again, I never said anyone did. But the Sean McVay coaching tree is a popular source right now for coaches all over the league. Brandon Staley just moved down the street to be the HC of the Chargers, although it could be said that Staley may hail more from Vic Fangio.