I want a young creative Defensive coordinator (1 Viewer)

SaintsJunkie

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I just question Romeo's creativity , I want a young Rex Ryan, Maybe Man Genius would help if they got him and Romeo, but love a young up and comer
 
If we could get lucky and get the defensive version of Payton I don't think we would lose a game.
 
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I think the Saints need to hire someone who knows a 3-4 defense like the back of his hand-- someone who has built it before, someone who has called the plays and been successful. There are a lot of young budding candidates, but with Drew about to turn 34, we can't afford to have someone "learn on the job" when it comes to calling the right play at the right time.

We need someone who has built a 3-4 from scratch, someone who will be adept at making a hybrid defense work until the right pieces are added over the next few years. Basically, we need someone who has done it before, and done it well.

The Drew Brees window is only open for so long, so the hire has to be a guy who 1- has already made a name for himself as a coordinator, 2 - has experience transitioning a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 defense over the course of a couple of years, and 3 - can make a competitive defense while under construction (with the players already on the roster).

That should narrow down the list. I've heard rumors for three people, in this order of want/interest: 1. Ed Donatell, 2. Romeo Crennel, 3. Eric Mangini

Rumor is that the Saints are moving slow because they are waiting for SB to be done with so they can pursue Donatell (the Eagles want him too). Romeo is the second choice, while Mangini is just a name being floated. For those who don't know much about Donatell, here is his bio for 49er site

Ed Donatell is in his second season with the 49ers after being hired as the team’s secondary coach on January 19, 2011.

Working with assistant secondary coach Greg Jackson, Donatell helped guide the 49ers defensive backfield, in 2011, to 22 interceptions, which ranked second among all NFL secondaries. S Dashon Goldson and CB Carlos Rogers each recorded a career-high six interceptions and both were selected to the Pro Bowl for the first time. Rogers was named a starter in Hawaii, while also being selected Second-Team All-Pro. The defense finished the season ranked fourth in the NFL in percentage of attempts intercepted (3.9).

With over three decades of coaching experience, including 21 years in the NFL, Donatell has worked with several of the most highly regarded defensive backs in pro football history, including Ronnie Lott, Steve Atwater, LeRoy Butler, Darren Sharper, Ty Law, Lawyer Milloy, Champ Bailey and Brian Dawkins.

Donatell most recently served as the secondary coach with the Denver Broncos from 2009-10. Over the course of two seasons with the Broncos, the team ranked seventh in the NFL in opponent completion percentage (58.8) and ninth in passing yards per game (223.7).

Prior to working as the defensive coordinator for the University of Washington in 2008 and a special assistant for the New York Jets in 2007, Donatell served as the defensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons from 2004-06.

In his first season with Atlanta in 2004, the Falcons advanced to the NFC Championship Game and led the NFL in sacks (48) for the first time in club history. During his final year as the Falcons defensive coordinator in 2006, the club led the NFL in third-down percentage (30.2), while ranking sixth in the league in yards per carry allowed (3.8).


Donatell spent four seasons as Green Bay’s defensive coordinator (2000-03), helping the Packers lead the NFL with 116 takeaways from 2001 to 2003. Green Bay advanced to the playoffs during each of those three seasons, including the 2001 and 2002 campaigns when they won the NFC North title. In 2002, Donatell’s defense set a Green Bay record with 52 sacks and led the NFL with 45 takeaways. That year, Sharper earned his second Pro Bowl selection under Donatell after tying for the NFC lead among safeties with seven interceptions.

In Donatell’s first stint with the Broncos (1995-99) he served as the team’s secondary coach and won back-to-back Super Bowls in 1998 an 1999. The Broncos ranked seventh in the league in both passing yards per game (199.6) and passing yards per attempt allowed (6.5), en route to earning three playoff berths under Donatell. The Broncos also ranked in the top 10 against the pass in four of Donatell’s five seasons as defensive backs coach.

Donatell made his NFL coaching debut as the secondary coach with the New York Jets from 1990-94, where he worked with Lott in the final two seasons of his career.

Prior to making the jump to the NFL, Donatell spent 11 seasons in the collegiate ranks. He served as the defensive backs coach at Cal State Fullerton (1989), the University of Idaho (1986-88) and the University of Pacific (1983-85). He also was a graduate assistant at the University of Washington (1981-82) and Kent State (1979-80).

An all-conference defensive back, team captain and four-year letterwinner at Glenville State (WV) University, Donatell received a bachelor’s degree in physical education in 1979. He went on to earn a master’s degree in administration from Kent State in 1981. A native of Stow, OH, Donatell is married to his wife Shari, and the couple has three children, Brenna, Thomas and Steven.
 
I hope we get Todd Grantham from Georgia (UGA). Guy has already coached in the NFL and look at what he's done with UGA's defense.

Why is everyone throwing praise at the Georgia defense? They finished 6th in the SEC in total defense behind Alabama, LSU, Florida, South Carolina and Vandy.

Yet Georgia will be sending more defensive players to the draft this year than all the other teams in the SEC outside of LSU.

So he had loads of talent yet finished 6th in conference in defense?


They gave up 23 points to Buffalo and not the NFL team. They gave up 20 points to Florida Atlantic, they gave up 44 to Tennessee, 35 to South Carolina, 32 to Alabama and 31 to Nebraska. For a team that has Jarvis Jones, Alec Ogletree, John Jenkins, Baccarri Rambo, Kwame Geathers, Sanders Commings and Cornelius Washington who are all projected to be drafted that is horrible.

The last 8 years of being in the NFL he only coached on one team with a winning record and that was the 2007 Browns were he was fired after the team posted the 30th ranked defense.

It's not like he hasn't been a NFL defensive coordinator before either, he has a lot of experience and not much in the way of results.

These are the ranks of his defenses in the NFL as coordinator.
2002- 16th
2003- 31st
2004- 23rd
2005- 16th
2006- 27th
2007- 30th

So in 6 seasons as defensive coordinator he has:
0 top 15 defenses
4 bottom 10 defenses
2 defenses that finished dead in the middle
 
I think the Saints need to hire someone who knows a 3-4 defense like the back of his hand-- someone who has built it before, someone who has called the plays and been successful. There are a lot of young budding candidates, but with Drew about to turn 34, we can't afford to have someone "learn on the job" when it comes to calling the right play at the right time.

We need someone who has built a 3-4 from scratch, someone who will be adept at making a hybrid defense work until the right pieces are added over the next few years. Basically, we need someone who has done it before, and done it well.

The Drew Brees window is only open for so long, so the hire has to be a guy who 1- has already made a name for himself as a coordinator, 2 - has experience transitioning a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 defense over the course of a couple of years, and 3 - can make a competitive defense while under construction (with the players already on the roster).

That should narrow down the list. I've heard rumors for three people, in this order of want/interest: 1. Ed Donatell, 2. Romeo Crennel, 3. Eric Mangini

Rumor is that the Saints are moving slow because they are waiting for SB to be done with so they can pursue Donatell (the Eagles want him too). Romeo is the second choice, while Mangini is just a name being floated. For those who don't know much about Donatell, here is his bio for 49er site



Knows the 3-4 like the back of their hand, built one from scratch.... but I don't believe Donatell has done this. He ran a traditional 4-3 everywhere he's been as a Defensive Coordinator. He just so happens to be a DB coach on a team that runs a 3-4 scheme.
 
I have to think Crennel is in the lead for the job just because of his background and Belichick can personally vouch for him along with Parcells. I do think Payton is going to exhaust every option and not quickly hire anyone. If a D/C is hired in the next few days, it is probably because Payton spent 18-20hrs a day in full OCD mode.
 
I'm thinking younger guys will get a good look. Any big name established coach is going to come in with what he wants to do and what he thinks the players should do for him. If you get a young up and comer I think he will be more open to fitting the pieces of the puzzle together. I'm thinking Payton will be looking for a defensive version of himself.
 
I like the fire of Ken Norton Jr. just don't know if he is what Sean is looking for to run a 3-4.
 
No more creative DC's. Creativity is used to make up for lack of talent. I want a DC who can spot a talented college player a mile away. I want to draft DL that can get after the QB, and LB's who can shed blocks, tackle, and run. I want a DC who can teach them discipline. Not to say you don't blitz when it's a surprise, if you can actually get to the QB.
 
So in 6 seasons as defensive coordinator he has:
0 top 3 defenses
0 top 5 defenses
0 top 10 defenses
0 top 16 defenses
4 bottom 10 defenses
2 defenses that finished dead in the middle

Don't let statistics get in the way of someone's bright idea. I agree, though, that Todd has been unequivocally not impressive as a NFL coordinator and college one at that despite the talent levels.
 
Knows the 3-4 like the back of their hand, built one from scratch.... but I don't believe Donatell has done this. He ran a traditional 4-3 everywhere he's been as a Defensive Coordinator. He just so happens to be a DB coach on a team that runs a 3-4 scheme.


This. Donatell really intrigued me too after they announced Spagnuolo's firing. But after looking into his past Defenses - all were 4-3. He's never built a 3-4 from the ground up. Like Spagnuolo he'd be a square peg hammered into a round hole with the Saints. Had the Saints stuck with a 4-3 base he'd be an excellent hire.
 
I want good and creative with an eye for talent. Young, I don't care about at all.
 

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