Vikings Running Out Of Defensive Coordinator Options
by Christopher Gates on Jan 13, 2012 10:33 AM CST
in Minnesota Vikings 2012 Off-Season
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PrintWe're nearly two weeks out from the end of the Minnesota Vikings' 2011 NFL season, and though the team has been interviewing candidates for the position, Fred Pagac is still the team's defensive coordinator as it stands right now, Mike Singletary is still the linebackers coach, and Joe Woods is still the defensive backs coach. The only casualty thus far from the defense that finished second-to-last in the National Football League in points allowed and allowed opposing quarterbacks to light them up for the second-highest quarterback rating in NFL history is defensive line coach Karl Dunbar. . .whose unit was pretty much the only one that did anything remotely positive in 2011.
Unfortunately, the folks that the Vikings have either interviewed or asked to interview thus far are, apparently, not interested in replacing Pagac. Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Raheem Morris has taken a position as the defensive backs coach with the Washington Redskins, and Jacksonville Jaguars interim head coach Mel Tucker has decided to stay in Florida under the Jags' new head coach, former Vikings' tight end Mike Mularkey. Steve Spagnuolo, on the other hand, has been connected to the Philadelphia Eagles' defensive coordinator position.
The thing about that last one is that the Eagles, like the Vikings, already have a defensive coordinator in place. The Eagles' defensive coordinator is Juan Castillo, a man who was a fairly controversial hire by the Eagles during the 2011 off-season. Castillo was hired as the Eagles' DC despite not having coached on the defensive side of the ball since a job at Kingsville (Texas) High School in the late 80s. (He served as Philadelphia's offensive line coach prior to being named the team's defensive coordinator.)
The Eagles' defense got off to a slow start in 2011, but rebounded to finish the season 10th in the NFL in scoring defense (20.5 points/game allowed), 8th in yards allowed (324.9 yards/game), as well as 10th against the pass and 16th against the run. Of course, it could (quite rightly) be argued that the Eagles' defense has a whole heck of a lot more to work with than Minnesota's does, particularly in the secondary.
The Vikings do still have the option of promoting Mike Singletary to the defensive coordinator position, but there hasn't been word out of Winter Park that he has been formally interviewed yet for the job.
Whatever they're going to do, the team needs to do it quickly. The coaching staff needs to be in Mobile, Alabama for Senior Bowl practice in a little more than a week, and it wouldn't make a heck of a lot of sense for Pagac, Singletary, and Woods to make the trip down there if they aren't going to be retained.
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Tought spot
Who wants to come to MN for one year for someone who is probably a dead man walking (baring a 10 win season or so) for a team that doesn’t have a stadium to play in? I might apply..
by Jepp The Viking on Jan 13, 2012 10:38 AM CST reply actions
NO. STOP IT. JUST NO.
Don't you know who the *^$% I am?
by Jeppernaut on Jan 13, 2012 10:55 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
NO. STOP IT. JUST NO.
Don't you know who the *^$% I am?
by Jeppernaut on Jan 13, 2012 10:55 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
Stupid phone
Don't you know who the *^$% I am?
by Jeppernaut on Jan 13, 2012 10:56 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
Spammer lol!
☠★☪Creator of http:/vikescity.info/ and dedicated DN reader.
by UnBannedVikingholic on Jan 13, 2012 10:58 AM CST up reply actions
If your tucker or spags
It might put you next in line for HC.
No way we are getting a great defensive coordinator at this point
An excellent coach probably wouldn’t be very inspired by much of what he saw coming out of Minnesota in 2011, and Frazier’s personality doesn’t seem to allow him to move quickly to take advantage of anyone on the cusp anyway.
by liveforadrenaline on Jan 13, 2012 10:58 AM CST reply actions
Look to the College Ranks for a Good DC
There are a lot of young motivated Coordinators that are good at what they do in the college ranks. Kirby Smart (Alabama), Kevin Steele (Clemson) are two that come to mind right off the bat. Do Not give it to your buddy over a beer, Leslie !
Frazier's contract situation is the biggest speed bump
To hiring a quality assistant coach.
"At this point, what we got to lose, right? So we might as well throw caution to the wind and hit people in the face."
--Vikings DE Jared Allen
NO ACTION...
just like the Vikes offense and defense. No way to get DC if offers aren’t made. No coach will matter with Spielman running the show. Only need to look at Miami and its grnad years with him at the helm. GO BISON, Gophers, etc.
Tom Bradley DC PSU
Just got fired from Penn State, great DC with 30 years experience on the defensive side of the ball. PSU’s D is almost always top ten in the country. Only got fired cause of the whole Sandusky thing and O’Brien is bringing in a whole new staff. I think he would be a great choice, but I’m sure they won’t even look at someone at the college level…
I wake up in the morning and piss excellence
Almost
Penn St. total defense rankings:
2007-11th
2008-8th
2009-9th
2010-35th
2011-20th
But I see your point. With the NFL guys turning us down, the FO might have to be willing to look outside the NFL.
"At this point, what we got to lose, right? So we might as well throw caution to the wind and hit people in the face."
--Vikings DE Jared Allen
Spags dude
Why is this so complicated? Hire Spags. he was GREAT on the Giants and could be wooed with the shot to take over HC.
Why can’t the Vikings ever just do the clearcut right thing? W always have to do something stupid. Our defense SUCKED!!! Hire a great DC. Simple!
by Darren From The Bronx on Jan 13, 2012 12:51 PM CST reply actions
Maybe because Spags does not want to come?
When he’s on “vacation” and is a good friend of Childress, along with the entire mess this FO is in, I can’t see getting him here unless we overpay, which I am not opposed to.
he was a long shot to begin with
still possible, but it’s looking even more bleak than before.
"Th_r_'s n_ h_p_ f_r _ssh_l_ f_ckw_ts."
Can I buy a vowel...?? +1, Kluwe.
Lots of options we could target outside of Singletary
1. Spagnuolo (do whatever it takes)
2. Jack Del Rio (he hasn’t been linked to anyone yet)
3. Greg Williams, Saints (his contract expires this year, but most assume he’ll either stay in NO, or join Fisher)
4. Any number of DC in the college ranks, including guys from the top 3 rated college defenses: Kirby Smart (’bama), John Chavis (LSU), Chuck Heater (Temple)
It all depends on how much we are willing to pay someone, and how much someone is willing to accept to work with Frazier and Spielman. We didn’t make an offer to Morris, so either it wasn’t a good fit, or Morris jumped at the chance for WASH, since we hadn’t interviewed anyone else. It’s tough to time it right. At this point, I would put money on us promoting Singletary, because I don’t think Frazier and Spielman will be able to work something out with any of the guys above.
Ponder. Peterson. Percy. Purple Perfection.
Other college DC's
LSU’s John Chavis— He as taken the LSU defense to new highs. From the 32nd ranked defense the year prior to his arrival, to the #2 defense in his 3rd season. His philosophy is get after the QB, win the battle in the trenches, and make the opposing offense earn every yard. He has extensive experience as a DC (17 years) all in the SEC (tennessee and LSU), but no experience in the NFL.
Georgia’s Todd Grantham. Like Chavis, Grantham’s defense’s have improved every year, from 38th ranked his first season to 5th in 2011. Unlike Chavis, Grantham has plenty of experience in the NFL. He has actually been a DC in the NFL, he served that roll on Romeo Crennel’s staff in Cleveland. It appears that Granthams experience is primarily with the 3-4.
Florida’s Dan Quinn. Quinn’s Gators had the 8th ranked defense in 2011, his first season as DC in Gainesville. Quinn has coached in the NFL, with the 49ers and Seahawks as a defensive line coach.
"At this point, what we got to lose, right? So we might as well throw caution to the wind and hit people in the face."
--Vikings DE Jared Allen
I think it is simple
Frazier will run the defense with input from Singletary and Pagac.
Pagac will be the linebacker coach and Singletary will be assistant head coach.
It is the perfect solution considering Frazier’s contract status beyond 2012. If 2013 is an option year then no one will want to uproot themselves and family to come here for a year.
Most coordinators get two year deals (I’ve read). Please correct this if I am wrong though.
It really is on Wilf. If he would come out and say Frazier is going to coach the next two years then maybe a coordinator would take a chance. I do not really blame him fornot doing that but it does create this uncertainty.
Frazier will do fine as a coordinator.
They need players most of all. The players make the coordinators look better than they really are.
Not a bad idea
Although, if there are any D-coordinators that have their eye on head coaching, there is surely no better opportunity that MN. You know Frazier is on thin ice. If you come in and do well, there’s always a chance the team cans Frazier and promotes you. I’m looking squarely at Spagnuolo and Del Rio in that case.
Your point is well taken though, and I surely hope they end up doing something like this rather than promoting Singletary or keeping Pagac as DC.
Ponder. Peterson. Percy. Purple Perfection.
Apparently Juan Castillo is an option.
Not a huge fan of that move or the Singletary move at all. I’m waiting to see what they do. They gotta figure it out ASAP, either way.
"Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear." -Mark Twain
Not until he is fired by Philly
Which hasn’t happened. And one would think if Reid was unhappy with him, he would have fired him at season’s end. Of course Reid might be treating his DC the way the Vikes are theirs. In which case, we’re both screwed.
"At this point, what we got to lose, right? So we might as well throw caution to the wind and hit people in the face."
--Vikings DE Jared Allen
...no Tucker...??
[bangs head against wall… and again… aaaaaand again…]
maybe this is why we haven’t officially fired Pagac yet — just in case we were left with only Singletary, we could say, “oh, nevermind”.
"Th_r_'s n_ h_p_ f_r _ssh_l_ f_ckw_ts."
Can I buy a vowel...?? +1, Kluwe.
No
He opted to return to Jax and be the DC under Mike Mularky.
"At this point, what we got to lose, right? So we might as well throw caution to the wind and hit people in the face."
--Vikings DE Jared Allen
i know, it sucks...
i’m just throwing this name out there: Jim Tomsula (49ers DLine coach) — i’ve read nothing but good things about him and he seems to know his stuff, and it’d be a promotion for him. problem is it’s another 3-4 situation… i dunno.
"Th_r_'s n_ h_p_ f_r _ssh_l_ f_ckw_ts."
Can I buy a vowel...?? +1, Kluwe.
There was a perfectly good candidate on the team for DC
But they fired him and he’s interviewing with the Jets.
by christian220896 on Jan 13, 2012 3:21 PM CST reply actions
Singletary blows!
Look what he did with the 49ers…nothing. Same thing he will do with the Vikings. After all the press I read about how he misses meetings, has side projects, goes to weddings instead of gameplanning I say dump his ass. He is not a good coach, just ask the 49ers who are in the playoffs the year after they dump him.
by CAvikesfan on Jan 13, 2012 4:29 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
Agreed
Singletary is more of a motivational speaker than a coach. His tenure in SF was marked by squabbling and dysfunction and he demonstrated a poor understanding of game strategy. I was actually hoping he would stay in SF because I hate the 49ers and wanted them to keep losing, but they finally canned him and hired a real coach. Now the Vikings have him and I have no idea why. The guy is just living off his reputation as a player.
What about Jack Del Rio?
Isn’t he now out of a job? It seems like when he was DC and HC at Jacksonville his teams played good defense. I think he’s an upgrade over current staff.
Never mind
Just saw he’s been an HC for 9 seasons – I had no idea it was that long!! Pretty sure he’d have no interest in a DC position.
Plus he's making HC change $ until the contract expires
I don’t think he’ll take a cut in pay either.
DelRio was calling all the defensive plays
up until last year when the owner directed him to let the D Coordinator call the plays. Delrio even if he would accept the jobis a poor choice he needs to sit out a year or two and regroup.
Waiting for Relevancy...
Vikings waiting for playoffs to end?
Maybe the Vikings are waiting for the playoffs to be over so they can poach one of the coaches on a playoff team. Hell, after that showing last night in Green Bay, maybe Dom Capers will be available soon. ;)
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