Success often breeds change in the NFL, particularly when it comes to coaching staffs.
And it’s not just the ones that lose.
Playoff teams are forced to restructure their staffs when offensive and defensive coordinators become hot commodities and are offered head coaching jobs. Those teams are expected to maintain their success with new personnel leading the way.
“It’s not about me and my particular scheme or our staff and our scheme,” new Arizona defensive coordinator Bill Davis said. “It’s about what the players can do.”
The Cardinals made it to the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history, but coach Ken Whisenhunt had to search for new coordinators in the offseason. Offensive coordinator Todd Haley left to become Kansas City’s head coach, while defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast was fired – and later hired for the same position by Haley.
Haley’s duties will be split among Russ Grimm (running game) and Mike Miller (passing game), but Whisenhunt will make the major decisions, for now.
ss and Mike will call the others.”
In an offseason of upheaval, only eight NFL teams enter this season with the same head coach and offensive and defensive coordinators who began last year, including the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers.
There are 11 new head coaches, 11 new offensive coordinators and a whopping 22 new defensive coordinators since this time a year ago. Even special teams coordinators weren’t spared, with 12 teams making changes.
“I would say that, certainly, (there’s) pressure to succeed,” said Miami’s Tony Sparano, entering his second season as coach of the Dolphins. “Certainly, with what I want my players to accomplish, I’d say every one of these young coaches, new coaches, they’re in the league right now probably feeling the same way.
“I know that, see, three teams last year that were able to kind of turn it around: Atlanta, Baltimore, ourselves, and you see all that kind of thing, some people may say ‘Hey, they were able to do it, so you should be (able).’ It’s not that easy, doesn’t work that way.”
Arizona and New Orleans are the only teams that kept their head coach and lost both coordinators from last season.
to get a good feel of what they expect of you.”
When teams don’t win, coaches pay the price. The Browns are one of seven teams – all of which failed to make the postseason a year ago – with an entirely new staff. Coach Eric Mangini, let go by the New York Jets, took over for the fired Romeo Crennel and brought in his own two coordinators.
Meanwhile, the Jets hired Baltimore defensive coordinator Rex Ryan to be their head man. The son of Buddy Ryan brought Mike Pettine with him from the Ravens to New York to lead his defense, but kept Brian Schottenheimer, the Jets’ incumbent offensive coordinator.
With Schottenheimer staying, offensive line coach Bill Callahan, tight ends coach Mike Devlin and offensive assistant Mike Bloomgren were among other coaches on New York’s staff who also stuck around.
“The fact that they wanted to stay absolutely puts us ahead of where we probably would have been,” Ryan said. “These guys know Brian. They know the system. There’s continuity there.”
And that helps the players feel more comfortable – and confident – about the prospects for the upcoming season.
“I was excited to see that happen because I knew I wouldn’t have to be in a meeting for an extra 30 minutes because I already know the offense,” Jets running back Leon Washington said. “If you want a smooth transition, it doesn’t get much smoother than that.”
o other teams with a new head coach but who retained at least one of the previous regime’s coordinators. Haley kept Chan Gailey as Chiefs OC, while the 49ers’ Mike Singletary, who had his interim coach label removed in favor of a four-year deal, kept defensive coordinator Greg Manusky.
In Dallas, defensive coordinator Brian Stewart was replaced by Wade Phillips, the only NFL head coach with those dual roles. Oakland’s Tom Cable is the head coach, but will work on the offense with new passing game coordinator Ted Tollner.
Bill Belichick, who has done things his own way for years with New England, is going without a designated offensive coordinator after Josh McDaniels left to become Denver’s coach.
After losing coordinators, several teams promoted from within to maintain some consistency.
When the New York Giants lost defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who took the head coaching job in St. Louis, Tom Coughlin elevated Bill Sheridan from linebackers coach to Spagnuolo’s former role.
“From a scheme standpoint, we’re basically going to do the same thing,” Sheridan said. “That’s Tom’s motivation for hiring from within. We’re basically going to run Steve’s package that he brought with him. The differences will be very subtle.”
Jeff Fisher and the Tennessee Titans are hoping for the same result, replacing the departed Jim Schwartz as defensive coordinator with secondary coach Chuck Cecil.
“I think it’s definitely a stability aspect here,” linebacker Stephen Tulloch said. “Any one of our defensive coaches could’ve taken that job because our defense stays the same.”
When Schwartz left to take the Detroit Lions’ head job, it was the first change at defensive coordinator for Tennessee since 2001, when Schwartz was promoted. After the Titans ranked second in the NFL in points allowed and seventh in yards allowed, the defense was relieved to have a familiar face leading the way.
“Everyone knows what to do and Chuck goes in and calls the right plays,” Tulloch said. “Nothing changes. We’ll start off where we left off last year. We’ll continue on.”
—
AP Sports Writers Andrew Bagnato in Tempe, Ariz., Bob Baum in Phoenix, Tom Canavan in Albany, N.Y., Teresa M. Walker in Nashville, Tenn., Steven Wine in Miami, and Tom Withers in Berea, Ohio, contributed to this story.
Add A Comment