The Coaching Gods...

by NYCVike on Jan 22, 2009 11:10 AM CST

Well, what can one say but that the coaching Gods are smiling down on the Purple faithful?

First, in what can only be described as shocking, Leslie Frazier gets trumped three times for head coaching positions. What is perhaps more amazing is when most coaches would be upset, Frazier is found to be excited rather than bitter about returning to the Vikings next season. Not only is this guy a fantastic coach and defensive coordinator, he is our best insurance policy in case we need to give Childress the boot sooner rather than later. How could it get any better?

Enter the new coaching dynasty of Steve Spagnuolo. Steve: "Hmm, you know who would be an awesome linebacker coach? That friend of mine in Minnesota who can't teach any of eleven guys on special teams to tackle a single player. Yeah, that's the guy I want on my team."

Seriously...?

While we were all lamenting the fact that Childress decided he wouldn't even consider changing his staff, the weakest link in our coaching chain was removed for us. Bon voyage Pauly. I can't wait to play the Rams and watch Adrian pinballing off of those linebackers.

Coaching Gods be praised!!!

This FanPost was created by a registered user of The Daily Norseman, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the staff of the site. However, since this is a community, that view is no less important.

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Apparently, he's not actually going to be the Special Teams coach...

Once agian, from Kevin Seifert of ESPN:

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nfcnorth/0-7-132/Ferraro-s-departure-continues-bloodletting.html

Ferraro’s departure continues bloodletting

Minnesota special-teams coordinator Paul Ferraro has officially left the Vikings and joined St. Louis, according to Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune. But he’s not leaving to be the Rams’ special-teams coach.

Ferraro will be the Rams’ linebackers coach under new head coach Steve Spagnuolo, a college teammate and longtime friend. The move actually puts Ferraro in a position more commensurate with his expertise. Prior to joining the Vikings in 2006, Ferraro had spent only one season as a special-teams coach at any level. For most of his career, he had been a college-level defensive coach.

The Vikings did some good things on special teams in 2008 but ultimately will be remembered for giving up an NFL-record seven touchdowns. Assistant special-teams coach Brian Murphy is one candidate to take over the group.

Thursday’s news extends a tumultuous run of turnover for NFC North coordinators. Nearly half of the 12 men who finished the 2008 season as an offensive, defensive or special-teams coordinator are no longer in the same job. Here’s the tally:

Fired outright

Detroit defensive coordinator Joe Barry
Green Bay defensive coordinator Bob Sanders
Resigned

Minnesota special-teams coordinator Paul Ferraro
Retired

Green Bay special-teams coordinator Mike Stock
Demoted

Chicago defensive coordinator Bob Babich*
Detroit offensive coordinator Jim Colletto+
Under review

Detroit special-teams coordinator Stan Kwan

In AP I trust

by FarvaForTheVikings on Jan 22, 2009 11:37 AM CST reply actions

Judging from the fact

That Chilly ‘let him go’ while under contract instead of outright firing him makes me believe that Pauly was on the outs no matter what, Chilly just would rather save face and remain professional and ‘let him leave’ rather than can his ass. Either way, hopefully we don’t have to put up with special teams TDs giving away like the salvation army at xmas. Cheers.

by Jepp The Viking on Jan 22, 2009 12:11 PM CST reply actions

People like Ferraro...

Need moves like this to diversify and improve their resume if they ever want a shot at a head coaching gig.

Special teams coaches, for whatever reason, rarely get looks for further advancement but if they diversify within their organization they can move up the ladder pretty quickly if they do a decent job. The most recent person like this would be John Harbaugh. He was Philly’s ST Coordinator forever and told Andy Reid that he either wanted a different job or he was going leave. Reid made him the secondary coach and a year later he had a head coaching gig.

This is what’s best for Paul and his family and Brad is doing the right thing by letting him go, just not for the reasons all the naysayers who were calling for his head all season think.

by drew10 on Jan 22, 2009 1:48 PM CST reply actions