Chip Kelly heads for Senior Bowl without GM in place
By Phil Sheridan | ESPN.com
PHILADELPHIA – The Eagles will travel to Mobile, Alabama, for the Senior Bowl without their top personnel executive in place. That is not ideal, but it’s really not the chief concern raised as the hiring process drags on for a third week.
The biggest concern is that the Eagles are losing out on desirable candidates because their job just isn’t attractive enough to convince them to come to Philadelphia. The Eagles interviewed Brian Gaine, who was the Houston Texans’ director of pro personnel. Gaine decided to remain with the Texans, who promoted him to director of player personnel.
With Scott Linehan, Jason Garrett’s ability to ‘walk around’ took root
By Todd Archer | ESPN.com
IRVING, Texas — Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones loves the term “walk-around head coach.”
In 2013, he made Jason Garrett a walk-around head coach — meaning he does not call the plays for the defense or offense. Jones forced Bill Callahan to be the playcaller. There was one problem with the move (and it was no fault of Callahan’s): Garrett didn’t trust him with his offense.Coming into the 2014 season, Garrett hired Scott Linehan as his offensive playcaller, and the walk-around thing worked a lot better.
Linehand allowed Jason Garrett to focus more on defense. By being more well-rounded, Garrett became a better coach.
If not for the Miami Dolphins, maybe that never happens.In 2005, Garrett was in his first year as a coach, working as the Dolphins’ quarterbacks coach, and Linehan was the coordinator. For hours and hours, they worked closely together. There was almost a game between the Dolphins’ assistant coaches to get to the office before Nick Saban. Even a hurricane couldn’t stop Saban. When others could not get down their streets, Saban somehow made it to work early.
If not for the Miami Dolphins, maybe that never happens.In 2005, Garrett was in his first year as a coach, working as the Dolphins’ quarterbacks coach, and Linehan was the coordinator. For hours and hours, they worked closely together. There was almost a game between the Dolphins’ assistant coaches to get to the office before Nick Saban. Even a hurricane couldn’t stop Saban. When others could not get down their streets, Saban somehow made it to work early.
Redskins meet again with Vic Fangio
By John Keim | ESPN.com
The Washington Redskins will meet again Sunday with Vic Fangio about their vacant defensive coordinator position, after getting together with him Saturday night.
But Sunday’s meeting was always part of the plan, so it’s tough to say how much momentum there is yet for a deal. Clearly, there’s serious interest on both sides. Fangio had dinner with team officials Saturday, and the longer interview will take place Sunday.Fangio also spoke with the Chicago Bears this weekend about a similar position. He was released from his contract earlier in the week by San Francisco after the 49ers promoted Jim Tomsula to head coach. Fangio had reportedly made it clear he did not want to stay in that scenario. His record the past four years as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator certainly warranted another job: San Francisco had top-10 defenses in both points and yards, including this past season when they were hit hard by injuries to key players like Patrick Willisand NaVorro Bowman, among others.
Personnel questions for Giants on defense
By Dan Graziano | ESPN.com
We can go around and around about the New York Giants‘ decision to bring back Steve Spagnuolo as their defensive coordinator. But the fact at the bottom of the discussion is that the coordinator is only going to be as good as his players. And now that Spagnuolo is back in the fold, the Giants have to answer a lot of questions about their personnel on his side of the ball. Let’s take a quick look at those questions by category:
Pass rushThis is Spagnuolo’s supposed bread-and-butter — a defense built around the idea of the front four getting pressure on the quarterback and allowing him to drop seven into coverage. It’s possible that what Tom Coughlin said in Thursday’s news release about Spagnuolo evolving as a coach and learning how to defend spread offenses changes the focus, but the pass rush is going to be paramount regardless.
