Tag: Ed Donatell

4 free agents from the Bears that could fit in new-look Seahawks defense

Now, let’s examine some potential additions from Chicago’s defense that might fit this vision.

The Seahawks seem to be in the market for a very particular kind of defense. Today, we learned that Seattle is promoting assistant head coach and defensive line coach Clint Hurtt to defensive coordinator. Additionally, the team is hiring Broncos defensive coordinator Ed Donatell for an as-yet unnamed senior role. The team is also hoping to add Bears defensive coordinator Sean Desai to their staff, likely taking over Andre Curtis’ former role as defensive passing game coordinator.

The common denominator for all three of them is that they all spent time together on Vic Fangio’s staff when he was head coach of the Bears. We’ve already taken a look at a few Broncos defensive backs who are pending free agents that might follow Donatell to Seattle. Now, let’s examine some potential additions from Chicago’s defense that might fit this vision.

Seahawks promoting assistant head coach Clint Hurtt to defensive coordinator

Seahawks promoting assistant head coach Clint Hurtt to defensive coordinator

According to a report by Bob Condotta and Adam Jude at the Seattle Times, the Seahawks are expected to promote assistant head coach and defensive line coach Clint Hurtt to defensive coordinator. The position has been open since Ken Norton Jr. was fired in January, along with defensive passing game coordinator Andre Curtis.

Hurtt has been with the organization for about five years now after spending three seasons with the Chicago Bears as an outside linebackers/assistant DL coach. Hurtt had also supposedly been in the mix for the Miami defensive coordinator job – where he went to college.

Seattle is also expected to hire Broncos defensive coordinator Ed Donatell in a “senior” defensive role on coach Pete Carroll’s staff.

The Seahawks may not be done making moves for more coaches, either. Additionally, the team hopes to hire Bears defensive coordinator Sean Desai to take over as the defensive passing game coordinator.

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Seahawks set to hire Broncos defensive coordinator for ‘senior’ coaching role

According to a report by Jeremy Fowler at ESPN, the Seahawks are set to bring Broncos defensive coordinator Ed Donatell onto head coach Pete Carroll’s staff.

According to a report by Jeremy Fowler at ESPN, the Seahawks are set to bring Broncos defensive coordinator Ed Donatell onto head coach Pete Carroll’s staff.

However, Donatell is not expected to take the open defensive coordinator position. Instead, he will be in an unnamed “senior” defensive role.

Donatell has been Denver’s defensive coordinator for the last three seasons under Vic Fangio. He also previously served as the DC for Washington, Atlanta and Green Bay.

In addition to having worked with Pete Carroll before, Donatell’s experience is mostly on the back end of the defense. After 10 years coaching at several different colleges, he got started in the NFL as the defensive backs coach for the Jets in 1990. Later, Donatell held similar positions with the Broncos on two separate occasions as well as the 49ers and the Bears.

Given Donatell’s track record, our best guess is that he’ll be taking over the defensive passing game coordinator role that was held by Andre Curtis until he was fired along with defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. last month.

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Seahawks request permission to interview Broncos defensive coordinator

According to a report by Jeremy Fowler at ESPN, the team has requested permission to interview Broncos defensive coordinator Ed Donatell.

The Seahawks are beginning their search to replace defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr., who was fired yesterday along with defensive passing game coordinator Andre Curtis. Internally, defensive line coach Clint Hurtt is reportedly among those in the running.

Seattle will also be looking at outside candidates, though. According to a report by Jeremy Fowler at ESPN, the team has requested permission to interview Broncos defensive coordinator Ed Donatell.

Donatell has been working under Vic Fangio for the last several years, both in Denver and Chicago. He has a lot of experience as a defensive backs coach, as well as with Pete Carroll – who was on the same staff on the Jets in the early 90s.

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Ed Donatell on Seahawks’ ‘shortlist of candidates’ for DC job

If the Seahawks fire DC Ken Norton Jr., Broncos DC Ed Donatell is expected to be a candidate to replace him.

After allowing the fifth-most yards to opposing offenses in 2021, the Seattle Seahawks are expected to fire defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr., and the Denver Broncos’ current defensive coordinator might be a candidate to replace him.

Ed Donatell is “on the shortlist of candidates” to replace Norton in Seattle, according to a report from Bob Condotta and Adam Jude of the Seattle Times. Donatell’s defense allowed the third-fewest points in the NFL in 2021.

Donatell is still under contract with the Broncos, but after firing head coach Vic Fangio, Denver will allow the next coach to pick his staff. In the meantime, assistant coaches like Donatell have permission to consider other opportunities.

Donatell was a defensive backs coach with the New York Jets (1990-1994) while Pete Carroll served as New York’s defensive coordinator (1990-’93) and head coach (’94). Carroll has served as Seattle’s head coach since 2010 and Donatell has been the Broncos’ defensive coordinator since 2019.

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Expect Broncos to use Jurrell Casey and McTelvin Agim in similar roles

Broncos defensive linemen Jurrell Casey and McTelvin Agim will be asked to generate interior pressure this season.

The Denver Broncos traded for defensive end Jurrell Casey in March and selected defensive lineman McTelvin Agim in the third round of April’s draft. Agim (22) will likely serve as a rotational player as a rookie and he might eventually serve as a replacement for Casey (30) in the future.

Casey and Agim can both stop the run but the Broncos seemingly brought both of them in for one main purpose — generate an interior pass rush.

“This is a great veteran in our league,” defensive coordinator Ed Donatell said of Casey on June 11. “He’s been a great interior player, but he adds to the pass rush. That’s really important to us. To give us that push up inside with the edge rushers we have, that’s very valuable.”

During his nine years with the Tennessee Titans, Casey totaled 51 sacks and was voted to five Pro Bowls. Agim recorded 31 tackles for losses and 14.5 sacks during his four seasons at Arkansas.

“In today’s football, most of our picks you’ll see pass rush in them when you’re talking about an interior or an exterior defensive lineman,” Donatell said. “[Agim] brings that pass rush ability to him. There’s a raw sense to him that I think we can bring out, but he does bring the rush.”

Adding players like Casey and Agim to a front seven that already includes star pass rushers Von Miller and Bradley Chubb on the edges will make Denver’s pass rush even scarier for opposing quarterbacks this season.

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Broncos are ‘really eager’ to see Michael Ojemudia on the field

“He’s picked up our scheme in a virtual sense as about as good as you’ll find in a rookie,” Ed Donatell said of Michael Ojemudia.

After being selected by the Broncos in the third round of the NFL draft, Michael Ojemudia will likely serve as one of Denver’s top three cornerbacks this season, behind A.J. Bouye and Bryce Callahan.

“We’re delighted to have Michael,” defensive coordinator Ed Donatell said during a Zoom conference call with reporters on June 11. “Michael brings size [6-1, 200 pounds], he brings speed [4.45 40-yard dash] and he can judge a ball down the field deep. Those are very important parts to a DB. He’s really on schedule as a tackler and a hitter, which we know is very important to the Broncos’ style of defense.”

Depending on if Callahan lines up in the slot or on the outside, Ojemudia might end up starting across from Bouye. That would be a tall task for the rookie and Donatell wasn’t ready to declare Ojemudia’s role just yet.

“How he fits in — we want him to do as much as he can as a rookie,” Donatell said. “Time will only tell that. What I can tell you is he’s really, really in the top part of the class as far as his learning curve. He’s picked up our scheme in a virtual sense as about as good as you’ll find in a rookie. He’s off to a good start. We’re just really eager to get him on the field and get started coaching him in a physical sense.”

During his final three years at Iowa, Ojemudia totaled 120 tackles, six interceptions, 16 pass breakups and one fumble recovery. He will make his on-field debut in orange and blue in the Broncos’ preseason opener against the 49ers on Saturday, Aug. 15.

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