Tag: Anthony Weaver

Two Ravens assistants to interview for OC, DC jobs

Two Ravens’ coaches have interviews with other teams for different coaching positions

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh held his end of season press conference on Monday afternoon, which gave a glimpse into how the organization is feeling as they maneuver through the 2022 offseason. It was also an opportunity for Harbaugh to provide updates, both with injuries and personnel.

One of the key things that Harbaugh made known on Monday is confirming that wide receivers coach Tee Martin and defensive line coach/run game coordinator Anthony Weaver have interviews with other teams. Martin will interview with the Buffalo Bills for their offensive coordinator position, while  Weaver is scheduled to have an interview with the Denver Broncos for their defensive coordinator position.

Martin and Weaver would be fantastic hires for these two teams, but Baltimore would certainly feel both of their losses if they were to depart. Martin already has experience as an offensive coordinator at the University of Tennessee so play-calling wouldn’t be new to him, and he would get to coach Josh Allen in Buffalo.

Weaver also has play-calling experience, as he was the Houston Texans’ defensive coordinator in 2020. If both Martin and Weaver don’t get the jobs with the Bills and Broncos, the Ravens will be happy to have them back in the fold.

Broncos reportedly request to interview Ravens DL coach Anthony Weaver for DC job

The Broncos reportedly submitted a request to interview Ravens’ defensive line coach Anthony Weaver for their open DC job

The Baltimore Ravens brought in a lot of new coaches during the 2021 offseason to replace old ones that left for other opportunities. The new faces came in and brought fresh ideas, and it translated to some on-field success for the team in 2021.

On Saturday after reports surfaced that Baltimore tight ends coach Bobby Engram would be leaving for the University of Wisconsin to be their offensive coordinator, it was reported by Adam Schefter of ESPN that the Denver Broncos have put in a request to interview Ravens defensive line coach Anthony Weaver for their defensive coordinator job.

Weaver spent four years in Baltimore as a player after being drafted in the second-round by the franchise. He spent the other four years of his playing career with the Houston Texans. He then began his coaching career in 2010, and worked his way up to becoming Houston’s defensive coordinator in 2020. He was let go after one season, but landed on his feet with the Ravens, where he played a part in constructing the best run defense in the league during 2021.

Ravens reportedly interview two candidates for vacant DC position

The Baltimore Ravens reportedly interviewed two candidates for their vacant defensive coordinator position

The Baltimore Ravens recently parted ways with now-former defensive coordinator Don Martindale. It was a move that surprised many, however it made sense for a few different reasons, including reported “philosophical differences”.

Baltimore has been lining up candidates to interview, and on Tuesday it was reported that the team completed two interviews with Saints secondary coach Kris Richard as well as Ravens defensive line coach and run game coordinator Anthony Weaver.

Richard was the Seattle Seahawks’ secondary coach during their “Legion of Boom” era, coaching players such as Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas III, Kam Chancellor and more when they were in their primes. Richard was promoted to Seattle’s defensive coordinator after Dan Quinn left for the Atlanta Falcons, and his defenses ranked first, third and thirteenth in points during his three years holding that position. After his departure from Seattle, Richard has had stops with the Dallas Cowboys and most recently with the New Orleans Saints, where he is currently.

Weaver played for Baltimore from 2002-2005 after being a second round pick of the organization. He returned to the Ravens as a coach during the 2021 season, and was a big part in their top-rated rushing defense. Weaver has play-calling experience, as he was the defensive coordinator of the Houston Texans during the 2020 season.

Don Martindale praises Ravens’ defensive coaches

The Baltimore Ravens lost a few coaches in the 2021 offseason. However, Don Martindale is excited about the new hires that the team made

The Baltimore Ravens went through some coaching changes during the 2021 offseason. Former defensive line coach Joe Cullen left to be the defensive coordinator of the Jacksonville Jaguars, while former linebackers coach Mike MacDonald is now the defensive coordinator at the University of Michigan.

Despite Baltimore’s losses on their defensive staff, the team added new coaches that they feel can contribute to the growth and development of their players. On a call with season ticket holders, defensive coordinator Don Martindale had high praise for multiple new coaches on the team, including linebackers coach Rob Ryan

Martindale also commented on former Ravens player and now defensive line coach and run game coordinator Anthony Weaver, who he expects to have a bright future ahead of him.

Another coach to draw praise from Martindale was outside linebackers coach Drew Wilkins, who will be expected to work with and develop young prospects such as Odafe Oweh and Daelin Hayes.

Baltimore has long been regarded as a coaching factory, so the team no stranger to losing coaches to other opportunities. However, part of what makes the Ravens such a great organization is the fact that they replace their departed coaches with great new ones. The Ravens are excited about their most recent hires, and each new member of their staff should make an immediate impact on the team and it’s players.

Texans defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver joins the Ravens

Houston Texans defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver will be joining the Baltimore Ravens as their new defensive line coach.

It’s true. You can go to your other home again.

Houston Texans defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver will be leaving the AFC South club and joining the Baltimore Ravens as their run game coordinator and defensive line coach, according to Dianna Russini of ESPN.

Before Weaver played for the Texans from 2006-08, he was with the Ravens from 2002-05. Baltimore drafted Weaver in the second round from Notre Dame, and he produced 144 combined tackles, 14.5 sacks, 14 pass breakups, an interception, five forced fumbles, and four fumble recoveries in his 57 career games with the Ravens, 54 of which he started.

Weaver had been with the Texans’ coaching staff since 2016 as the defensive line coach. In 2020, he doubled up as the defensive coordinator with incumbent Romeo Crennel taking the title of associate head coach.

The 40-year-old considers the Ravens to be one of the foundational franchises to who he is as a coach, especially former defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, who was the defensive line coach in Baltimore from 1999-2004 and then the defensive coordinator from 2005-08.

“Rex was obviously a huge influence on my career both as a player and now as a coach,” Weaver told the Houston media on May 13. “As a very young player, he always prompted us to learn the big picture and learn all of the stuff that was happening around us, just because he thought that would enable us to make some more plays. That’s something that I try to continue to convey to the players I have now. That obviously helped me in terms of once I got into coaching professionally, I was probably ahead of most players that jump into the coaching carousel.”

Weaver is back in Baltimore where it all began. For the Texans, they will need to hire a new defensive coordinator, a move that should transpire after they find their next full-time coach.

[listicle id=58484]

Ravens fill coaching vacancies with Rob Ryan and Anthony Weaver

The Ravens have had several members of their coaching staff get hired away. They’ve hired Rob Ryan and Anthony Weaver to fill those jobs

The Baltimore Ravens have seen quite a few of their position coaches leave this offseason for greener pastures. While it’s the mark of a good franchise to have coaches get bigger opportunities elsewhere, it is something Baltimore has to account for if they want to improve. To help fill their vacancies, the Ravens turned to two familiar faces.

According to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley and Dianna Russini, Baltimore has hired Rob Ryan as the inside linebackers coach and Anthony Weaver to be a run-game coordinator and defensive line coach. The pair will fill holes after linebackers coach Mike Macdonald joined Michigan’s staff as a defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Joe Cullen became the Jacksonville Jaguars’ defensive coordinator.

If those new names sound awfully familiar, you’d be right. Rob Ryan is the twin brother of former Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan. Weaver played defensive end for Baltimore after being the Ravens’ second-round selection in the 2002 NFL draft.

Ryan has bounced around the league but has been a defensive coordinator for the Oakland Raiders, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, and Buffalo Bills. However, lately, Ryan has been the inside linebackers coach for the Washington Football Team in 2019. Weaver was most recently with the Houston Texans as their defensive coordinator and defensive line coach.

It’s expected defensive backs coach Jesse Minter is headed to Vanderbilt to be their defensive coordinator. However, the move hasn’t been made official and the Ravens haven’t hired Minter’s replacement if he does leave.

At his end-of-season press conference, coach John Harbaugh noted that he expects offensive coordinator Greg Roman and defensive coordinator Don Martindale back for the 2021 season. Both had earned interviews for head coaching opportunities last offseason but have been conspicuously absent from the job market this offseason. While that’s helpful toward Baltimore’s coaching continuity, filling so many position coaching jobs is a tough task for any team, especially since it’s expected the offseason will once again be done virtually.

We’ll see how Weaver and Ryan perform in their duties next season. But with the Ravens’ track record, both should be expected to excel.

[vertical-gallery id=59748]

3 assistant coaches the Texans cannot keep in 2021

The Houston Texans cannot keep these three assistant coaches if they seek to rebound in 2021.

The Houston Texans went from 10-6, AFC South champions, and a divisional playoff appearance, to a 4-12 train wreck that fired its coach and general manager and is a soft rebuild.

In the NFL, the easiest place to make a change is at the top and Houston is planning to do just that as new general manager Nick Caserio pursues a new coach to lead the club in 2021. Here are three assistant coaches from the Bill O’Brien era that need not be retained as the Texans seek to turn over a new leaf.

Texans may have to hire a new defensive coordinator in 2021

The Houston Texans may have to find a new defensive coordinator if the Jacksonville Jaguars are interested in hiring Anthony Weaver.

The Houston Texans already know they have to hire a new coach. Now, they may be in the market for a new defensive coordinator.

According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, Anthony Weaver is under consideration to join Urban Meyer’s staff with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Weaver was a graduate assistant with the Florida Gators in 2010, Meyer’s final season with the SEC East program.

Weaver has known Meyer going back to Notre Dame when the coach was working with receivers for the Fighting Irish as Weaver was a player. The three-time national championship-winning coach reached out to Weaver when he was named the Texans’ defensive coordinator in 2020.

“When he found out I had gotten this role he said, ‘Weave, you’re out of the suggestion business and you’re into the decision business,'” Weaver told reporters on May 13. “Those words carried a lot of weight to me. So, that’s probably been the biggest transition, I just know that I have the final say and I’m always going to try to do what’s best for the team.”

One of Weaver’s best skills as a coach, whether it was coaching the defensive line for Houston since 2016 or as defensive coordinator, is his ability to relate to players, which is easy given he played in the NFL from 2002-08.

“The other thing I think I can relate to is I’ve been in those seats, so, I know those days when they’re beat up and they’re stressed out,” Weaver said. “I feel like I know when to push and I know when pull and I think that gives me an advantage over some coaches that probably haven’t played.”

Weaver’s defense finished 30th in the NFL in yards, 27th in points allowed, and 32nd in takeaways. No doubt Jacksonville will be scrutinizing Weaver to determine whether that output was due to his coaching or a talent issue.

Where is Texans DT Ross Blacklock with his development?

Houston Texans defensive tackle Ross Blacklock is 13 games into his rookie season. Where is the second-round pick in his development?

Defensive tackle was a need for the Houston Texans in the offseason, and they chose to fill the void by going in a younger direction.

With their second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Houston selected defensive tackle Ross Blacklock from TCU to ostensibly replaced D.J. Reader, who left in free agency to sign with the Cincinnati Bengals. While Blacklock was given leeway as a rookie with no offseason to fully integrate into life in the NFL, the expectation for Blacklock to be an effective interior defensive lineman as Reader was for four seasons.

Defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver provided insight as to where Blacklock is in his development.

“Ross has just scratched, obviously, just scratched the surface in what he can potentially be,” Weaver said. “He is still very much a rookie and there are times where it shows on tape. He flashes his ability and you know it’s there.”

The former Fort Bend Elkins product has contributed with 10 combined tackles, one tackle for loss, and one quarterback hit in 13 games.

According to Weaver, what Blacklock has to improve is his consistency, which is usually an issue for budding talent.

“For him it’s just a matter on consistency,” said Weaver. “Now, that has nothing to do with his work ethic. At some point that lightbulb’s going to go off and we hope to see the dynamic, dominant player that we drafted him to be. Right now he’s just going through some rookie growing pains, which they all are, but he is going to be a good player because he does care and he does put the effort that’s required to be that.”

If the Texans can get Blacklock to meet expectations in his second year, it will help provide a solid defensive interior as Houston will seek to bury the disappointment of 2020 in the club’s 20th season.

Texans DC Anthony Weaver says CB Keion Crossen is ‘an energy giver’

Houston Texans cornerback Keion Crossen has provided energy for the defense, according to defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver.

Houston Texans cornerback Keion Crossen has been a gem for the defense and special teams.

The Texans acquired Crossen from the New England Patriots at the end of preseason in 2019. Since joining Houston after the club gave up a 2021 sixth-round pick to get him, Crossen has provided more than 46 combined tackles, one quarterback hit, and two pass breakups in 30 career games, two of which he has started.

According to defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, the former 2018 seventh-round pick from West Carolina gives energy to the team.

“He’s an energy-giver,” Weaver said. “He competes. He can probably put on a little weight. In Chicago it was a little windy and I thought he was going to get blown away out there, but he is awesome and he competes. He’s like a gnat. I love the kid to death and I’m happy he’s on our team.”

On the 80-yard touchdown run the Texans defense gave up on their first play of the game in Week 14 to commence their 36-7 loss to the Chicago Bears, Crossen was racing on the backside to attempt to stop running back David Montgomery, even though it wouldn’t be possible for Crossen to make a play in time.

“We give up an 80-yard run in the first play in Chicago, which everybody knows,” said Weaver. “What people don’t know is on that 80-yard run, Keion Crossen was on the backside numbers and got in the picture where he was like at the end – he couldn’t have made the play but you talk about just giving tremendous effort and care every single snap. That’s that guy.”

With the Texans thin at cornerback with Phillip Gaines questionable for the game, Crossen will get another shot to prove his worth in the secondary as the Texans take on the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday at 12:00 p.m. CT at NRG Stadium.