bubba9497
June-29th-2005, 02:05 AM
NFC assistant coaches under pressure
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/3725200
Mike Zimmer, Cowboys
Defensive coordinator
Zimmer has never coached the 3-4 defense, but the Cowboys are expected to use it as their base this season. Zimmer has spent the entire off-season trying to learn the nuances of the scheme. Owner Jerry Jones spent $21 million in signing bonuses to add NT Jason Ferguson, CB Anthony Henry and nickel back Aaron Glenn. Then the Cowboys used two first-round picks on LB Demarcus Ware and DE Marcus Spears. Parcells and Jones expect a lot from this defense, which allowed 31 TD passes last season. If they don't perform well, Zimmer is going to get the blame.
Ray Rhodes, Seahawks
Defensive coordinator
He was hired in 2003 to turn around a unit that ranked 28th in the NFL the previous year. The Seahawks did improve to No. 19, but then slid back to No. 26 last season. The defense was decimated by injuries in 2004, but Rhodes admits his frustration with notgetting the job done with the players available to him. Only three starters remain from the unit he inherited as the club has used four first-day draft choices and spent millions in free-agent signing bonuses the past two off-seasons to upgrade the players at Rhodes' disposal.
Rick Venturi, Saints
Defensive coordinator
Venturi is regarded as a cerebral strategist, but his defenses have ranked near the bottom of the NFL in his three seasons at the helm. Many fans called for his head after the defense ranked last in 2004 and were shocked to see him retained. Jim Haslett considers Venturi a mentor and is extremely loyal to him. Nonetheless, his unit needs to improve, or he could be forced to move upstairs into a front-office position next season.
Bill Muir, Bucs
Offensive line coach
Muir came to the Bucs three years ago with a reputation for being one of the game's best O-line coaches. Since Muir's arrival, though, the play of the line has steadily deteriorated to the point where the team seems to be on the verge of making a change. The team hired Aaron Kromer off the Raiders' squad earlier in the off-season, and there's a good chance he will replace Muir after this season if the line doesn't show marked improvement.
George Stewart, Falcons
Wide receivers coach
Entering his third year with the team's receivers, Stewart needs his corps to make significant gains. The personable Stewart doesn't have job security issues but because both of Peerless Price's first two unsuccessful seasons came under Stewart's watch, critics might say the position coach plays a bigger role than guilt-by-association. That could be, but Price can't afford another slow start if he's going to hold off Michael Jenkins. Stewart has gotten all he can out of Dez White and Brian Finneran, but his future will depend a lot more on the performance of White and Jenkins than the production, or lack thereof, that Price provides this year.
Larry Marmie, Rams
Defensive coordinator
It was expected that Lovie Smith would be a tough act to follow as Rams defensive coordinator once he was hired as head coach of the Bears. But few expected the transition to be as tough as it was under Marmie. Although the defense improved statistically over the second half of the season, the Rams had little success stopping the run, weren't aggressive enough and missed way too many tackles. Worst yet, the Rams went from one of the NFL's best takeaway defenses to one of its worst in 2004. Better personnel will help in 2005, but Marmie needs to make his multiple schemes more understandable to a unit used to the cover 2 scheme employed by Smith.
Harry Hiestand, Bears
Offensive line coach
New O-line coach Hiestand will be a man under the microscope in his first NFL season. Hiestand arrives from Illinois, where he served as new offensive coordinator Ron Turner's right-hand man. Although Turner boasts NFL pedigree, Hiestand has never coached in the NFL and takes over a unit that allowed a team-record 66 sacks last year. The team is focused on creating a power running game. Offensive line coaches play a huge role in the running game, so Hiestand will have to make a seamless transition to the NFL.
Dick Jauron, Lions
Defensive coordinator
Jauron, who has never been apologetic for his preference of the bend-but-don't-break defensive strategy, must come up with more inventive ways to put pressure on the offense, particularly in the passing game. Jauron gets something of a free pass last year because injuries to some of their best pass defenders (including CB Dre Bly and LB Boss Bailey) hurt his ability to be creative with the blitz. But now the Lions have a steady D-line, speed at LB and a talented secondary. You can bet president Matt Millen will be leaning on Jauron to pump up the aggressiveness.
Also feeling the heat
Mike Waufle, Giants defensive line coach: No position coach faces a challenge as complex. The good news is he should get Michael Strahan back, but the rest of the position is in flux. The X-factor at DT is 2003 first-rounder William Joseph. Waufle needs to find the key to unlock the potential of the talented, but enigmatic Joseph.
David Culley, Eagles wide receivers coach: Culley, who has not had real success developing his young players, gets another shot with second-rounder Reggie Brown. If T.O. holds out, it will be up to Culley to get Brown ready as the No. 3 WR or a starter. It's also on Culley to oversee progress of Greg Lewis and to get Billy McMullen, a disappointment so far, or Justin Jenkins ready.
Bill Musgrave, Redskins offensive asst/QB coach: Musgrave was hired to bring a different set of eyes to the offense and improve the performance of the QBs. Musgrave's work with the shotgun already has been incorporated, but unless he finds the key to making Patrick Ramsey a better, more confident QB, the offense will struggle as it did last season.
Everett Lindsay, Cardinals Offensive line coach: Lindsay has coached for less than a year, and he's being asked to improve what his boss, Dennis Green, thinks is the least productive group on the team. The Cards consistently had trouble running the ball last year, and their protection schemes were a mess. Fixing all of that is a lot to ask.
Steve Loney, Vikings offensive line coach: Following the departure of Scott Linehan, Loney added the coordinator's role to his job description. Budget limitations forced Loney to continue as the line coach, making for a difficult job this fall. Loney will work on a daily basis with the line, but he will also be responsible for game planning and possibly calling plays as well.
Jerry Sullivan, 49ers wide receivers coach: Sullivan has developed some fine players since joining the NFL in 1992, and he now has a vast group to groom. His mentoring skills were well touted upon his hiring, and receivers are already raving about him. Perhaps his biggest project will be getting some production out of last year's first-round draft pick, Rashaun Woods.
Edgar Bennett, Packers running backs coach: In his first season as a position coach, Bennett has some big shoes to fill. His predecessors, first Sylvester Croom and then Johnny Roland, were both widely respected veteran coaches. He will be on the spot to keep the train that Croom and Roland engineered rolling.
Danny Crossman, Panthers special teams coach: Crossman has some big shoes to fill as he takes over for Scott O'Brien. Crossman was O'Brien's assistant last year, which should ease the transition. But he'll be taking over special teams units that have had some major personnel changes, and there is uncertainty at some positions.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/3725200
Mike Zimmer, Cowboys
Defensive coordinator
Zimmer has never coached the 3-4 defense, but the Cowboys are expected to use it as their base this season. Zimmer has spent the entire off-season trying to learn the nuances of the scheme. Owner Jerry Jones spent $21 million in signing bonuses to add NT Jason Ferguson, CB Anthony Henry and nickel back Aaron Glenn. Then the Cowboys used two first-round picks on LB Demarcus Ware and DE Marcus Spears. Parcells and Jones expect a lot from this defense, which allowed 31 TD passes last season. If they don't perform well, Zimmer is going to get the blame.
Ray Rhodes, Seahawks
Defensive coordinator
He was hired in 2003 to turn around a unit that ranked 28th in the NFL the previous year. The Seahawks did improve to No. 19, but then slid back to No. 26 last season. The defense was decimated by injuries in 2004, but Rhodes admits his frustration with notgetting the job done with the players available to him. Only three starters remain from the unit he inherited as the club has used four first-day draft choices and spent millions in free-agent signing bonuses the past two off-seasons to upgrade the players at Rhodes' disposal.
Rick Venturi, Saints
Defensive coordinator
Venturi is regarded as a cerebral strategist, but his defenses have ranked near the bottom of the NFL in his three seasons at the helm. Many fans called for his head after the defense ranked last in 2004 and were shocked to see him retained. Jim Haslett considers Venturi a mentor and is extremely loyal to him. Nonetheless, his unit needs to improve, or he could be forced to move upstairs into a front-office position next season.
Bill Muir, Bucs
Offensive line coach
Muir came to the Bucs three years ago with a reputation for being one of the game's best O-line coaches. Since Muir's arrival, though, the play of the line has steadily deteriorated to the point where the team seems to be on the verge of making a change. The team hired Aaron Kromer off the Raiders' squad earlier in the off-season, and there's a good chance he will replace Muir after this season if the line doesn't show marked improvement.
George Stewart, Falcons
Wide receivers coach
Entering his third year with the team's receivers, Stewart needs his corps to make significant gains. The personable Stewart doesn't have job security issues but because both of Peerless Price's first two unsuccessful seasons came under Stewart's watch, critics might say the position coach plays a bigger role than guilt-by-association. That could be, but Price can't afford another slow start if he's going to hold off Michael Jenkins. Stewart has gotten all he can out of Dez White and Brian Finneran, but his future will depend a lot more on the performance of White and Jenkins than the production, or lack thereof, that Price provides this year.
Larry Marmie, Rams
Defensive coordinator
It was expected that Lovie Smith would be a tough act to follow as Rams defensive coordinator once he was hired as head coach of the Bears. But few expected the transition to be as tough as it was under Marmie. Although the defense improved statistically over the second half of the season, the Rams had little success stopping the run, weren't aggressive enough and missed way too many tackles. Worst yet, the Rams went from one of the NFL's best takeaway defenses to one of its worst in 2004. Better personnel will help in 2005, but Marmie needs to make his multiple schemes more understandable to a unit used to the cover 2 scheme employed by Smith.
Harry Hiestand, Bears
Offensive line coach
New O-line coach Hiestand will be a man under the microscope in his first NFL season. Hiestand arrives from Illinois, where he served as new offensive coordinator Ron Turner's right-hand man. Although Turner boasts NFL pedigree, Hiestand has never coached in the NFL and takes over a unit that allowed a team-record 66 sacks last year. The team is focused on creating a power running game. Offensive line coaches play a huge role in the running game, so Hiestand will have to make a seamless transition to the NFL.
Dick Jauron, Lions
Defensive coordinator
Jauron, who has never been apologetic for his preference of the bend-but-don't-break defensive strategy, must come up with more inventive ways to put pressure on the offense, particularly in the passing game. Jauron gets something of a free pass last year because injuries to some of their best pass defenders (including CB Dre Bly and LB Boss Bailey) hurt his ability to be creative with the blitz. But now the Lions have a steady D-line, speed at LB and a talented secondary. You can bet president Matt Millen will be leaning on Jauron to pump up the aggressiveness.
Also feeling the heat
Mike Waufle, Giants defensive line coach: No position coach faces a challenge as complex. The good news is he should get Michael Strahan back, but the rest of the position is in flux. The X-factor at DT is 2003 first-rounder William Joseph. Waufle needs to find the key to unlock the potential of the talented, but enigmatic Joseph.
David Culley, Eagles wide receivers coach: Culley, who has not had real success developing his young players, gets another shot with second-rounder Reggie Brown. If T.O. holds out, it will be up to Culley to get Brown ready as the No. 3 WR or a starter. It's also on Culley to oversee progress of Greg Lewis and to get Billy McMullen, a disappointment so far, or Justin Jenkins ready.
Bill Musgrave, Redskins offensive asst/QB coach: Musgrave was hired to bring a different set of eyes to the offense and improve the performance of the QBs. Musgrave's work with the shotgun already has been incorporated, but unless he finds the key to making Patrick Ramsey a better, more confident QB, the offense will struggle as it did last season.
Everett Lindsay, Cardinals Offensive line coach: Lindsay has coached for less than a year, and he's being asked to improve what his boss, Dennis Green, thinks is the least productive group on the team. The Cards consistently had trouble running the ball last year, and their protection schemes were a mess. Fixing all of that is a lot to ask.
Steve Loney, Vikings offensive line coach: Following the departure of Scott Linehan, Loney added the coordinator's role to his job description. Budget limitations forced Loney to continue as the line coach, making for a difficult job this fall. Loney will work on a daily basis with the line, but he will also be responsible for game planning and possibly calling plays as well.
Jerry Sullivan, 49ers wide receivers coach: Sullivan has developed some fine players since joining the NFL in 1992, and he now has a vast group to groom. His mentoring skills were well touted upon his hiring, and receivers are already raving about him. Perhaps his biggest project will be getting some production out of last year's first-round draft pick, Rashaun Woods.
Edgar Bennett, Packers running backs coach: In his first season as a position coach, Bennett has some big shoes to fill. His predecessors, first Sylvester Croom and then Johnny Roland, were both widely respected veteran coaches. He will be on the spot to keep the train that Croom and Roland engineered rolling.
Danny Crossman, Panthers special teams coach: Crossman has some big shoes to fill as he takes over for Scott O'Brien. Crossman was O'Brien's assistant last year, which should ease the transition. But he'll be taking over special teams units that have had some major personnel changes, and there is uncertainty at some positions.