Leslie Frazier a Hot Property Again
by Christopher Gates on Jan 8, 2010 1:17 PM CST
in Vikings
18 comments
Hey, ladies and gentlemen, good to be back. Where have I been? Well, I've spent the better part of this week freaking out over my AF physical fitness test. Don't get me wrong, I always freak out over the PT test, regardless of what sort of shape I'm in, but in this case I freaked out more because. . .well. . .had I not passed the test, there would have been a good chance of me losing that fancy little promotion that I earned back in the summer. But, I passed the thing with plenty of room to spare, and it looks like ye olde promotion is on track for 1 February. Yay me and so forth.
But now, on to the Vikings news. Yesterday, Anthony reported that current Vikings' defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier was a serious candidate for the newly vacated head coaching job in Buffalo. Fine, that was to be expected Now, the Seahawks have fired Jim Mora after one year as the head coach up in Seattle. . .and you'll never guess who they're already seeking permission to speak to about the job.
Well, since you read the title of the article, I suppose you've already guessed after all. Yes, according to ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert, the Seahawks want to speak to Leslie Frazier.
Ordinarily, coaches can't be interviewed until their team's season officially ends, but the NFL changed the rule a few years back to allow coaches from teams that have a first-round playoff bye to be interviewed during that bye week. Hence, Frazier is eligible to be interviewed by anybody that wants to talk to him. He's been mentioned for a few head coaching jobs over the past couple of off-seasons, and was allegedly the runner-up for the St. Louis job that wound up going to former Giants' defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. It seems pretty likely that, with the Vikings' defense having another successful season, the Vikings will be in the market for a new defensive coordinator in the very near future.
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Is he contractually obligated to coach the Vikings throughout the playoffs whether or not he is offered a job after interviewing during the bye?
He could accept anothe job somewhere else, but what would be the point in quitting before the playoffs are done. The Vikings would have every right not to pay him for that time and quite frankly it wouldn’t boost confidence in him fron any other franchise. It would be completely insane on his part to even think about quitting before the end of the season.
I have to suppose
that’s because he likes the weather in Buffalo over all that rain in Seattle.
Winning is not everything but it sure feels like it sometimes
According to Seifert, via Twitter
(after I asked him)
Yes, if Frazier takes another job, he is still obligated to be a part of the Vikings’ coaching staff as long as the team is alive in the post-season.
And it looks like, as Anthony said, he’s turned down the interview with the Seahawks. To my knowledge, however, he did interview with the Bills.
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by Christopher Gates on Jan 8, 2010 1:47 PM CST reply actions
There is a reason....
that Les never gets the jobs. He has never been able to put together a dominant defense. Great defense against the run but he’s never had the LB’s or secondary that teams fear. And that’s why we’ve never gotten through the playoffs.
The only thing holding us back from a SB ring this year are mediocre linebackers and below average safeties. The whole league knows we are vulnerable back there.
Tragic because the rest of the team is so good.
Frazier is vastly overrated…
I completely agree
The only thing I can think of that Frazier has going for him to be an NFL head coach is that he’s well spoken. You certainly don’t want some guy that talks like Emmitt Smith giving a weekly press conference and making your franchise look bush league.
But Frazier has basically kept the defense just about where it was when he got the job. I would rather see some sort of improvement, if for no other reason than to prove that he’s got some motivational mojo. But we’re not seeing that. I didn’t think Tomlin was ready to be a HC either but at least the guy brought some improvement to the defense from the season before he arrived.
I would say Frazier has withdrawn his name from consideration for the Seahawks job because he can see the writing on the wall with Pete Carroll. Why bother being the token minority interview if you know you have no chance of getting the position?
The thing that confounds me about the coaching vacancy in Buffalo is why does a team that can’t score points even consider a defensive coach for it’s HC? I guess that’s why they are the Bills and have the record of mediocrity.
Yes
To win in the playoffs (or in most close games), a defense must be effective vs. the pass, and I haven’t seen any consistent progress in that area while he’s been with the Vikes.
You also forgot to mention Cedric Griffin, who probably embodies the Viking defense’s struggles by being great vs. the run and poor vs. the pass.
with as much of a control freak that Childress is, do you really think that Frazier has that much say in the players they aquire, the secondary has been vulnerable for the VIkings for 10 years now and Frazier hasn’t been here that long. I think people should really take into account all of the factors that enhance or limit his ability to get the job done rahter than start pointing fingers.
the real reason
he originally didnt interview with seattle because he heard they only wanted him to satisfy the rooney rule…
then he changed his mind and is scheduled to interview with them even though he wont get the job ahead of pete carrol
Congrats on Passing Your PT Test
"Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far." Theodore Roosevelt
Minneapolis Star-Tribune is reporting he changed his mind and will interview.
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Hopefully he'll come across better than this....
Not exactly a guy that oozes confidence in his defense. I totally agree one should avoid being overconfident and disguising weaknesses (check out Strib interview a few months ago when he said our two safeties were pro bowl caliber) but he needs to lead from the front with some inspiration and take no prisoners attitude……not the best thing I can say about the defense is they work hard.
"Our two safeties were pro bowl caliber"
I just threw up a little in my mouth.
At least Jamarca Sanford runs around like he’s on fire. I’ll take the few rookie mistakes as long as he has some intensity. I’m sick of our safety play being nothing more than an umbrella EVERY PLAY!
by Jepp The Viking on Jan 9, 2010 11:11 AM CST up reply actions
Safety play
I heard someone post a great analogy about our safeties. They said our safety play the game like they’re holding the controller upside down because there’s no other way to explain why they are so completely out of every camera shot. They aren’t just missing plays, they aren’t even involved in plays.
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