Tag: defensive coordinator

Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo shares his thoughts on the Texans offense: ‘They’re in complete synergy’

Kansas City #Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo shares his thoughts on the Houston #Texans offense: ‘They’re in complete synergy’ | @EdEastonJr

Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo spoke with reporters on Wednesday about his game plan to slow down the Houston Texans’ offense this Saturday.

“They (Texans QB C.J. Stroud and Texans WR Nico Collins) look like they’re in complete synergy (meshes hands together), and not just those two and not just that wideout,” said Spagnuolo. “I think they have a tight end (Texans TE Dalton Schultz) that’s really effective, their slot receivers (Texans WR Tank Dell) really good, and then the running back (Texans RB Joe Mixon), who we saw a lot when he was in Cincinnati –boy, what a find he was for them and he – and not just as a running back. He catches the ball out of the backfield, too.”

The Chiefs defense held the Cleveland Browns to seven points in last Sunday’s 21-7 victory, registering a season-high six takeaways in the process. It marks the club’s first game with six or more takeaways since the team recorded eight takeaways vs. the New York Jets in a Week 3 game in the 2016 season. 

“We hadn’t played the Texans since C.J. (Stroud) had gotten there, so we really hadn’t studied them other than seeing highlights and whatnot, but he’s as impressive as you had heard about people talking. (He’s) really poised for a second-year quarterback, and I think he just has a unique ability to move around in the pocket and still have his eyes downfield.” said Spagnuolo. “He makes a lot of plays slipping in and out of the pocket and finding an open receiver, and when a quarterback can do that, I think that’s pretty dangerous.”

The Texans have clinched a postseason spot this year and will likely host a wild-card game. Kansas City’s last home regular-season game will energize the defense, which will be looking to repeat last week’s performance.

Wisconsin safeties coach leaves for Big 12 defensive coordinator position

Wisconsin safeties coach leaves for Big 12 defensive coordinator position

Wisconsin safeties coach Alex Grinch was named the new defensive coordinator at UCF on Tuesday.

Grinch departs after one season with the Badgers. He was the defensive coordinator at USC (2022-2023) and Oklahoma (2019-2021) under coach Lincoln Riley.

The veteran assistant is a two-time semifinalist (2017, 2019) for the Broyles Award, which is awarded to the top assistant coach in college football. He was also a well-known defensive coordinator for all of the wrong reasons during his time with the Sooners and Trojans. His defenses ranked among the worst in the nation for an extended period.

  • 2023 (at USC, though was fired midway through the year): No. 119 in total defense with 432.8 yards allowed per game, No. 121 in scoring defense (34.4 points allowed per game)
  • 2022 (at USC): No. 106 in total defense (423.9 yards allowed), No. 93 in scoring defense (29.2 points)
  • 2021 (at Oklahoma): No. 76 in total defense (391.5 yards allowed), No. 59 in scoring defense (25.8 points)

He gets another shot at leading a defense, joining a UCF staff under new coach Scott Frost — yes, former Nebraska coach Scott Frost.

Wisconsin will search for a new safeties coach entering the 2025 season. It will be Luke Fickell’s third safeties coach in as many years: Colin Hitschler held the position in 2023 before moving to Alabama.

The Badgers already made one staff change this offseason: hiring offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes from Kansas. Given the program’s top-down turnover of the last four seasons, continuity will be a good thing moving forward.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion.

Jayden Daniels’ versatility is a huge challenge for Saints defense

Joe Woods understands Jayden Daniels can hurt you with arm and legs, but the Saints are stressing the need to keep him in the pocket:

Jayden Daniels’ ability to pass and run provides the New Orleans Saints with one of their most difficult challenges of the season.

New Orleans has a poor history of stopping quarterbacks from running the football. It’s been this way for years, and Daniels is the wrong quarterback to face when that’s one of your struggles.

Defensive coordinator Joe Woods recalled when he knew the Washington Commanders quarterback would transition to the league seamlessly. “One game against a really good team he had about 100 yards on three scrambles, so right then I was like this dude is going to be a problem.”

Daniels’ speed gives him the upper hand if he has to get to the edge. Woods told reporters “We’re going to have different ways to control him and keep him in the pocket.”

Woods was sure to highlight Daniels’ ability to throw at a high level, not just run. Woods said: “I think he’s a pocket passer. I think he goes through his progressions. I think he has the arm strength to make all the throws, very accurate on his deep balls.”

His running gets a lot of attention, but Daniels will threaten New Orleans’ defense through the air and on the ground.

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Do the Broncos have any future head coaches on Sean Payton’s staff?

Vance Joseph is the most likely candidate among Broncos coaches to draw head coach interest this offseason.

The best NFL teams often lose members of their coaching staff during the offseason. It’s a good problem to have.

For the Denver Broncos, defensive coordinator Vance Joseph is the most obvious and most likely candidate to draw head coach interest this offseason. Someday in the future, quarterbacks coach Davis Webb might also get looks as a potential head coach candidate.

Sean Payton’s coaching tree includes Dan Campbell, Doug Marrone and Dennis Allen. Are there any coaches on his current staff who could become head coaches in the future?

“It’s an interesting league,” Payton said in June. “We went through — you hear the term that it is a copycat league. There is success with let’s say a young Sean McVay, then there is a couple of years where I am getting calls from GMs asking about not only candidates on my staff, but other candidates. It was always, ‘We are interested in an offensive play-caller.’ So I would say, ‘So you are not interested in the next Bill Belichick?’ I think this past year, we saw a number of defensive coaches. We’ve seen special teams coaches with John Harbaugh, who I worked with in Philly. We’ve seen offensive line coaches. There is a little cycle to that.

“Ultimately, you are looking for and projecting who can lead. Sometimes, I think it is a little like the quarterback position. You may have a talented prospect that maybe ends up in the wrong place. In three years, he is back in the coordinator’s role and who knows if he ended up in another place. I’ve shared that story with you and the late [former Saints owner] Mr. [Tom] Benson coming to me those early years and saying, ‘Hey, we have all of these coaches getting interviews for head jobs. I said, ‘Mr. B, we need to worry if no one is interviewing them.’ I love seeing what Dan Campbell is doing, I love seeing Dennis Allen now, Doug Marrone and a number of these guys that I have worked with. I want that for them. It’s hard to predict though.” 

Payton wasn’t willing to give any predictions earlier this year, but Joseph seems likely to get interviews this offseason. Joseph, of course, previously served as Denver’s head coach from 2017-2018. We’ll see if other teams come calling in the offseason.

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Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo on the second matchup of the season vs. Chargers

Kansas City #Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo on the second matchup of the season vs. Los Angeles #Chargers | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs will meet the Los Angeles Chargers for the second time this season on Sunday night at Arrowhead Stadium. Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has figured out ways to slow down their offense in the past, including Week 4 of this season, and described the challenge of playing them again 10 weeks later during Thursday’s press conference.

“Well, we did play them (the Chargers) fairly early. I think they’re – and with a new staff and a new team, I think it takes them a while to figure out who they are. I think they have figured that out, and you can see that,” said Spagnuolo. “You can see the thread of what they want to do, what they would like to try to do (and) how they go about winning games. I think they have a great formula. I mean, I have a lot of respect for (Chargers Head Coach) Jim (Harbaugh) and (Chargers Offensive Coordinator) Greg (Roman) with the way they do things.”

The Chargers have been led by quarterback Justin Herbert’s efficient play, throwing only one interception on the season. They will have multiple offensive line players back who were absent in their first matchup due to injury.

“It’s still going to come back to – I mean, when we have a wrinkle that’s a little bit different than the first time – absolutely, we always think that way,” said Spagnuolo. “Can we get into those wrinkles? We’ll see because sometimes they’re dictated by the situation, but I think they’re a little bit different in –I mean, the biggest thing that will be different for us is that when we played them last time, (Chargers QB) Justin (Herbert) had a bum ankle and wasn’t running as much. I mean, he gutted it out in that game. He’s running pretty good now. That in and of itself will be different for us.”

Along with All-Pro Chris Jones, George Karlaftis is coming off a productive outing in the Week 13 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, where he collected a sack. He will be another essential member of the defensive line that will look to pressure Herbert and disrupt Los Angeles’ game plan.

Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo frustrated over Panthers game-tying scoring drive: ‘Got me upset’

Kansas City #Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo frustrated over Carolina #Panthers game-tying scoring drive: ‘Got me upset’ | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs’ Week 12 victory over the Carolina Panthers was marred by late-game drama. The defense gave up the game-tying score, squandering a two-score lead before Patrick Mahomes, and the offense led a game-winning drive in regulation.

Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo wasn’t thrilled with his unit’s performance in the game’s final minutes. He shared his thoughts with reporters during Tuesday’s press conference.

“I never like to finish a game like that and put Patrick (Mahomes) and the offense in that kind of situation. It would’ve been nice to win the fourth down or somewhere along the way get (to) a stop there where – we’ve been through this – we’ve actually practiced this a couple of times on purpose,” said Spagnuolo. “I’ve put the guys in situations in a walk-through where I’ve said, ‘Okay, they just scored. If we stop the two-point play, we win the game,’ because when people score on you, you tend to – now, I think our guys were ready to play the play. It didn’t work out that way, but that’s what kind of got me upset.”

Spagnuolo praised Bryce Young’s performance in leading the Panthers’ drives, but he still realizes some issues with his unit.

Phillip Lindsay has an interesting take on Sean Payton’s Broncos

Phillip Lindsay fired off a strange tweet about Sean Payton and Vance Joseph during the Broncos’ game against the Raiders.

The Denver Broncos are 7-5 and currently on pace to make the NFL playoffs. Consequently, coach Sean Payton is getting shouts as a Coach of the Year candidate, but not everybody’s buying into the hype.

Former Broncos running back Phillip Lindsay fired off an interesting take on Twitter/X that seemingly suggested defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, not Payton, should get credit for the team’s success in 2024.

“Like I said we don’t talk about VJ and that Defense enough!!” Lindsay tweeted on Sunday. “Success runs through the Denver Broncos defense Sean tried to make it about HIM!! He got bailed out thank you Defense.”

It’s a curious take from Lindsay because (a) Joseph and the defense have been praised this season and (b) Payton hired Joseph and stuck with him through last season’s initial struggles. It doesn’t have to be an either/or scenario — Payton and Joseph have both helped the Broncos have success.

Lindsay walked back his take a little bit by later tweeting, “I don’t hate Sean but I don’t have to agree on all his decisions.” He also said the coach is doing a “great job” in a follow-up tweet on Monday.

It seems that Lindsay’s beef with Payton relates to the coach’s utilization of the running backs and some timeout and game management on Sunday.

Payton explained during his Monday conference call with reporters that the Raiders set up their defense to take away Denver’s rushing attack.

“Yesterday was going to be a tough day for any of the backs,” Payton said. “It was just a heavy blitz, heavy run-front plan by the Raiders. So quickly we had to adjust.”

Lindsay, 30, played for the Broncos from 2018-2020. He now works for 104.3 The Fan.

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Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo reveals defense’s ramp-up process during the postseason push

Kansas City #Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo reveals defense’s ramp-up process during the postseason push | @EdEastonJr

Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has handled this time of year well throughout his career in the NFL. He knows how to get his team ready for the end of the season in time for the playoffs, and he discussed it with reporters on Thursday.

“Well, one of the things (that) we try to do is simplify at times. I think sometimes, when you simplify, you play faster. There’s been a little bit of that direction this week.” said Spagnuolo. “We’re always going to be multiple because we believe in putting pressure on the team that we’re playing, but if everybody can just be on point and just stay in their lane and do their job – we talk about that all the time. When we play our best is when the unit chemistry is like that (meshed hands together), not anybody trying to do their own thing. We haven’t had a lot of that this year, so if we can get back to that and not make those mental errors, I think we’ll be okay.”

The Chiefs defense has earned the praise it has received this season, but it knows it needs to improve in pass rush and takeaways if it wants a realistic chance at a three-peat.

Ex-Broncos DC Jack Del Rio arrested for OWI

Jack Del Rio was arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

Former Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio, 61, was arrested last Friday for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, it was reported on Monday. Del Rio ran into a street sign and broke a fence, according to ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg.

Del Rio was a defensive coordinator in Denver from 2012-14, under head coach John Fox, before becoming a head coach in Oakland and Washington.

Prior to his arrest, Del Rio was a senior advisor to University of Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell. After his arrest, Del Rio resigned his post, according to ESPN.

“I’m grateful to Coach Fickell and the University of Wisconsin for the opportunity to work with such a talented coaching and support staff and some of the best young football players in the country,” Del Rio said in a statement Monday. “I have decided to step away from my position with the team, so they can focus all their attention on the remainder of the season.”

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Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo gushes with praise for Broncos QB Bo Nix

“He’s gotten better every week,” Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo said of Broncos QB Bo Nix. “He looks more comfortable.”

The Kansas City Chiefs are currently the only undefeated team this season, and they’re attempting to become the first NFL franchise to win three consecutive Super Bowls.

A big reason for the Chiefs’ success is their defensive coordinator, Steve Spagnuolo, who has helped sculpt the Chiefs’ identity as a defensive first team. As the Denver Broncos gear up to face the Chiefs, the Super Bowl champion’s defense may keep the Broncos coaching staff up at night just as much as Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes would do.

However, Spags is no fool: he has had his eyes on the Broncos and their surprising start under the quarterback-coach pairing of Bo Nix and Sean Payton. So, as he spoke ahead of the Chiefs and Broncos matchup, Spagnuolo had nothing but good things to say about the Broncos’ rookie quarterback.

“I went back and watched the first game he played in and was – I thought Sean had him doing things that sometimes you say, ‘Do you have a rookie do it in the first game that he plays?’ But yet, there he is doing it,” Spagnuolo said this week, via James Palmer of Underdog Sports. “I just think he’s gotten better every week. He looks more comfortable. You guys see it.

“It’s another athletic quarterback and I think those guys are always headaches because there’s certain things you can and can’t do because you’re afraid that he’s going to make you look bad with his feet and he can do that. I think he’s getting – listen, the guy can throw the football, there’s no doubt about that. They have themselves a good one.”

Those were kind words from Spags, although one might say he’s aiming to soften the rookie quarterback as their matchup looms. Sunday’s game will be regionally televised on CBS (view the TV map).

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