Tag: James Bettcher

49ers add experienced assistant to defensive coaching staff

Former New York Giants defensive coordinator James Bettcher is set to return to the NFL as an assistant for the San Francisco 49ers.

The San Francisco 49ers’ hire of defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans is a bit of a gamble given that he only started coaching in 2017 – two years after retiring from the NFL. One way to help out the first-time coordinator is by surrounding him with experienced coaches. San Francisco is doing just that by bringing in former New York Giants defensive coordinator James Bettcher. NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport had the first report.

Bettcher, 42, quickly made a name for himself in the coaching ranks after orchestrating a pair of top defenses for the Cardinals in his first two seasons as a defensive coordinator in 2015 and 2016. His third NFL season was Bruce Arians’ final one in Arizona, and while they finished 19th in points allowed, they were still No. 6 in total defense to make it three top-six finishes in three seasons.

Arians’ departure from Arizona left Bettcher without a job, but he quickly found one with the New York Giants. He struggled to make the personnel work with a rebuilding Giants club though and was again fired along with head coach Pat Shurmur after New York went 4-12 and finished No. 30 in points allowed and 25th in total defense.

After sitting out the 2020 campaign, Bettcher is back to help assist Ryans as a senior defensive assistant. His specific role is unknown, but San Francisco will need to retool its defensive staff with Robert Saleh now coaching the Jets.

 

Former Cardinals DC James Bettcher joins 49ers staff

He will be a senior defensive assistant to help new DC DeMeco Ryans.

A former Arizona Cardinals coach is joining an NFC West rival. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, former Cardinals defensive coordinator James Bettcher is joining the San Francisco 49ers.

He will not be the defensive coordinator, as DeMeco Ryans was promoted to be DC after Robert Saleh, who held the position the last four season, was hired by the New York Jets to be their head coach. Instead, Bettcher will be a senior defensive advisor to help Ryans, who is a rookie coordinator.

Bettcher was DC for the Cardinals from 2015-2017 and, after head coach Bruce Arians retired and Steve Wilk did not retain him, he held the same position in 2018 and 2019 with the New York Giants.

The NFC West, while there have been no head coaching changes this offseason, is seeing many changes in coaching staffs. Each team has lost at least one of their top coordinators.

The move to add Bettcher is smart of the 49ers. They are pairing a rookie coordinator with one with experience, not only with the job but also in the division.

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Report: The Bears are losing RB coach Charles London to the Falcons

The Chicago Bears are looking at replacing more than one member of Matt Nagy’s coaching staff this offseason.

The Chicago Bears are looking at replacing more than one member of Matt Nagy’s coaching staff this offseason. While the Bears are currently searching for Chuck Pagano’s replacement at defensive coordinator, Chicago is due to lose a couple of offensive coaches.

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Atlanta Falcons are expected to hire Bears running backs coach Charles London. London would join new head coach Arthur Smith’s coaching staff as quarterbacks coach.

London isn’t the only coach the Falcons are taking from the Bears. Passing coordinator Dave Ragone is expected to join Atlanta as their new offensive coordinator, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

There have also been rumblings of defensive line coach Jay Rodgers leaving Chicago for the Los Angeles Chargers, where he would reunite with former Bears outside linebackers coach and new Chargers head coach Brandon Staley.

That would leave the Bears with four openings on staff, including defensive coordinator. Chicago has interviewed several candidates already, including Indianapolis Colts defensive backs coach Jonathan Gannon, former New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator James Bettcher and Bears legend Mike Singletary.

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Report: Ex-Giant James Bettcher drawing interest from multiple teams

Former New York Giants defensive coordinator James Bettcher, who recently interviewed with Chicago, is drawing interest from multiple teams.

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Former New York Giants defensive coordinator James Bettcher recently acknowledged that he was anxious to return to an NFL sideline, and apparently there were a whole bunch of teams waiting to hear that.

“Some people say I’m not defined by what I do, but I’m a little bit different from that standpoint,” Bettcher said during an ESPN interview earlier this month. “I want my kids to know their dreams, chase them.

“What I do is highly important to me. It matters that my kids see that … whatever you decide to do in life, I hope it matters to you. I miss it. Miss it a ton.”

Less than two weeks after those words left the lips of Bettcher, he found himself in Chicago interviewing for the Bears’ vacant defensive coordinator position.

However, Bettcher’s Bears interview could have been taken with a grain of salt. After all, he had acted as a consultant for Chicago in 2020 and had built some in-house relationships. But as it turns out, the Bears aren’t the only team interested.

Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post reports that multiple teams have expressed an interest in Bettcher and that additional interviews are likely.

The 42-year-old Bettcher has an extensive resume dating back to his time as special teams coordinator and defensive line coach for Saint Francis (IN) in 2004-2005. At the NFL level, he’s coached outside linebackers for both the Indianapolis Colts and Arizona Cardinals, while serving as defensive coordinator in Arizona and New York.

During his time running the defense in Arizona, Bettcher and his vision began to shine. However, the personnel was lacking upon his arrival in New York and when Pat Shurmur was fired as head coach, Bettcher soon followed him out the door. He was eventually replaced by Patrick Graham, a Joe Judge hire.

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Report: Bears DL coach Jay Rodgers expected to depart for Chargers

With the Bears in the midst of a search for a new defensive coordinator, they’ll also be in the hunt for a new defensive line coach.

With the Chicago Bears in the midst of a search for a new defensive coordinator to replace a retired Chuck Pagano, it sounds like they’ll also be in the hunt for a new defensive line coach.

According to the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs, defensive line coach Jay Rodgers is expected to reunite with former Bears outside linebackers coach Brandon Staley, who was hired as the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. Biggs didn’t specify the specific role, but it could be defensive coordinator.

Rodgers has overseen some impressive defensive line units and has been integral in the development of the likes of Eddie Goldman, Bilal Nichols, Roy Robertson-Harris and Nick Williams, among others.

It was previously reported that passing game coordinator Dave Ragone could be headed to the Atlanta Falcons, where he’s a favorite to land the offensive coordinator role under new head coach Arthur Smith.

Also according to Biggs, Bears running backs coach Charles London could also be headed to the Falcons.

The Bears are currently searching for a defensive coordinator to succeed Pagano, and they’ve already conducted some interviews. According to The Athletic, Chicago has interviewed former Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants defensive coordinator James Bettcher, Indianapolis Colts defensive backs coach Jonathan Gannon and Bears legend Mike Singletary for defensive coordinator this week.

Rodgers, along with safeties coach Sean Desai, was once thought to be a favorite in-house candidate to land the defensive coordinator position, but that doesn’t sound likely now.

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Report: Bears interviewed Mike Singletary for defensive coordinator position

According to The Athletic, Chicago interviewed former defensive legend Mike Singletary for their vacant defensive coordinator position.

The Chicago Bears are on the hunt for their next defensive coordinator following Chuck Pagano’s retirement, and there have been several intriguing candidates. But none more intriguing than a former Super Bowl champion that knows a thing or two about great defenses.

Chicago has interviewed Bears legend Mike Singletary for their defensive coordinator vacancy, according to The Athletic’s Adam Jahns.

Singletary played his entire 11-year career with the Bears from 1981-92. Singletary hasn’t coached in the NFL since 2016, when he served as a defensive assistant for the Los Angeles Rams.

Singletary first got his coaching start as linebackers coach for the Baltimore Ravens before  spent several years in San Francisco, where he served as assistant head coach and linebackers coach with the 49ers from 2005-08. Singletary also served as San Francisco’s interim head coach in 2008 before being promoted to head coach from 2009-10.

Then in 2011, Singletary reunited with former teammate Leslie Frazier in Minnesota, where he served as his special assistant and coached the linebackers from 2011-13.

According to Jahns, the Bears interviewed Indianapolis Colts defensive backs coach Jonathan Gannon on Tuesday and James Bettcher on Monday for the defensive coordinator vacancy.

It’s also reported that defensive line coach Jay Rodgers and safeties coach Sean Desai are the favorite in-house candidates to succeed Pagano as defensive coordinator.

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Bears interviewed James Bettcher for defensive coordinator

Chicago continued its search for a new defensive coordinator, taking a look at former Giants and Cardinals DC James Bettcher.

The Chicago Bears have an offseason faced with several important decisions, which includes with finding a replacement for defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano, who retired at season’s end.

The Bears interviewed former New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator James Bettcher for their vacant defensive coordinator position, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

There have been reports that Chicago has requested interviews with the likes of Dallas Cowboys defensive assistant George Edwards and Indianapolis Colts defensive backs coach Jonathan Gannon for the position.

Chicago has also looked internally for Pagano’s replacement, where defensive line coach Jay Rodgers and safeties coach Sean Desai are among the favorites.

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11 pass rushers the Ravens could target in free agency

The Baltimore Ravens desperately need help getting after the quarterback, especially if they lose Matthew Judon. These 11 players could help

Anyone who watched the Baltimore Ravens during their incredible 14-2 run last season, while being blown away by the offense, must have noticed just how frequently the team blitzed on defense. The numbers back up this visual assessment, as the Ravens blitzed at the highest rate in the NFL last season, sending extra rushers on 54.9% of their defensive plays. Yet despite this aggression, the Ravens finished with only 37 sacks, the 12th fewest in the league.

Sacks are not everything of course. However, the other measure of pass-rush success is quarterback hits, which Baltimore struggled with outside of Matthew Judon. With Judon among the Ravens’ pending free agents, Baltimore could be left with Tyus Bowser and Jaylon Ferguson pushed into starting roles. Considering the pair had just 19 combined quarterback hits compared to Judon’s 33, that would be a massive blow they’d have to fill immediately.

Hopefully, the Ravens and their front office have noticed this too and will be taking steps to beef up the teams’ pass rush this offseason. They may well look to do this through the draft, but there are some potential pass rushers on the free agency market that the team may consider bringing in.

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Arik Armstead

Armstead enjoyed a breakout season as a member of the San Francisco 49ers’ smothering defense in 2019. He had a slow start to his time in the NFL, being active for just 30 games in his first three seasons and only starting 11 of the games he played in during that timeframe.

But Armstead has started every game in each of the last two seasons, and in 2019 he amassed a career-high 10.0 sacks, while also posting 18 quarterback hits and 11 tackles for loss. Armstead only had 13 TFLs in his first four seasons combined. Armstead offers some versatility having played at both defensive end and defensive tackle at times for the 49ers.

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5 reasons Giants could upset Eagles in Week 17

The New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles square off in Week 17, and here are five reasons Big Blue could come away with the win.

As the 2019 season comes to a close, the New York Giants will finish with a losing record for the third straight year.

On a brighter note, they have a chance to finish the season strong by closing out on a three-game winning streak by beating the Philadelphia Eagles. By doing so, the G-Men would ultimately be playing spoiler against an Eagle team that must win to clinch the NFC East division title.

If the Eagles lose and the Cowboys beat the Redskins, then Dallas will be crowned division champions. The Eagles are riding a three-game winning streak of their own, which started against the Giants in Week 14. Now, Philadelphia is looking to cap off their season with a fourth straight divisional win, along with the crown in the east.

Let’s take a look at five reasons why the Giants could fulfill the act of spoiler on Sunday.

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Momentum

Both teams are riding respective winning streaks, but the pressure is 100% on the Eagles, who must win to get into the playoffs.

The Giants received promising performances last week from Daniel Jones, who threw for a career high 352 yards and five touchdown passes to go along with Saquon Barkley and his two touchdowns on 279 yards from scrimmage (Giants single-game franchise record, 189 rushing, 90 receiving).

While the defense has remained shaky, the offense was clicking on all-cylinders and if Jones and Barkley can put up similar numbers this week, they could potentially play spoiler against this red-hot Eagles team.

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Giants vs. Eagles: 3 keys to victory in Week 17

Three keys to victory for the New York Giants as they host the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 17 at MetLife Stadium.

The New York Giants host the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in their final game of the season. The Giants look to close out the season with a win, and end the Eagles hopes of making the playoffs at the same time.

A win could save the jobs of Pat Shurmur, James Bettcher and Dave Gettleman, and cement Daniel Jones’ position as the team’s quarterback and offensive leader.

There are three keys to making this happen:

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FINISH

When these two teams faced off in Week 14, the Giants had all of the momentum going into halftime. But Pat Shurmur and James Bettcher failed to make adjustments, showing the Eagles more of the same, something which is easy to defend and exploit.

This time, the Giants need to make the adjustments they didn’t make a few weeks ago. They need to stick with what works, like feeding Saquon Barkley, and show the Eagles different looks. Getting creative with play calling, much like they did last week, will go a long way toward keeping the Eagles on their toes and giving the Giants an edge.

The Giants almost beat the Eagles in their last meeting, and there’s no reason to think that they can’t this time. But making those adjustments is imperative.

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