Tag: Joe Cullen

Report: Joe Cullen out as Jags DC

Field Yates of ESPN is reporting that the Jags and Joe Cullen have parted ways.

The Urban Meyer era was a catastrophe for the Jacksonville Jaguars, but there were a few bright spots that came from the 2021 season. One of those positives was the fact that the defense took a step in the right direction under Joe Cullen. And for that reason, many were high on him returning next season, but it appears that won’t happen.

According to ESPN’s Field Yates, the Jags officially let Cullen go, though much of Urban Meyer’s staff remains intact.

Cullen has been a hot defensive coordinator candidate this offseason, which is why it’s not shocking that the Jags are letting him go. He interviewed with his old team in the Baltimore Ravens but unfortunately didn’t get the job after they named former Michigan coordinator Mike Macdonald to the position.

However, the interest in Cullen didn’t stop there as the Indianapolis Colts interviewed him for a lateral move. They lost their defensive coordinator in Matt Eberflus, who became the Chicago Bears’ head coach last month. However, a report surfaced that states Washington Commanders assistant Chris Harris could be the leading candidate there.

Cullen was officially named the Jags’ defensive coordinator on Feb. 11 and joined Meyer’s staff as a first-year coordinator after serving as the Ravens’ defensive line coach from 2016-20. After inheriting a Jags defense that needed a lot of work, he was able to improve the defensive unit and it finished 20th overall and 23rd against the rush this season.

Cullen was well respected by his players and notables like Josh Allen expressed that they wanted Cullen to return next season. With his reputation, he shouldn’t be unemployed for long and could land somewhere as a defensive coordinator again.

Colts’ defensive coordinator tracker: Who has interviewed for vacancy

Tracking the Colts’ interviews for their defensive coordinator vacancy.

The Indianapolis Colts are already on the search for a new defensive coordinator with Matt Eberflus taking the over as the head coach of the Chicago Bears.

With the Colts looking to bring in a replacement, the majority of interviews thus far have come from the outside. Current safeties coach Alan Williams appears to be in the mix but no interview for the vacancy has been reported yet.

With it being likely that the next defensive coordinator will come from the outside, the Colts are looking at an extensive overhaul of the entire defensive coaching staff. This is the first time in Frank Reich’s tenure that he’ll be working with a defensive coordinator of his choosing.

So as the interview process begins, here’s an updated tracker on who the Colts have interviewed or will interview for the vacated role:

Report: Joe Cullen to interview for Colts defensive coordinator job

The interest in Jags defensive coordinator Joe Cullen continues.

The Jacksonville Jaguars head coaching position is up in the air right now, but that hasn’t stopped defensive coordinator Joe Cullen from finding a new team to join. Earlier this week, Cullen interviewed with his old team in the Baltimore Ravens for their defensive coordinator vacancy which is no longer available, and according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, Cullen now has another interview set up.

That interview is with the Jags’ rivals in the Indianapolis Colts, who lost their coordinator, Matt Eberflus, to the Chicago Bears. As many are aware, Eberflus was named the Chicago Bears’ head coach this week, and it appears Indianapolis has reached out to a familiar face who faced them twice this season.

Cullen, who was officially named the Jags’ defensive coordinator on Feb. 11, was a first-year coordinator this past season though he brought 14 years (now 15) of NFL coaching experience to the table. He joined the Jags after a stop with the Ravens where he was the defensive line coach from 2016-20.

Cullen had another stint with the Jags previously under Jack Del Rio, as well as stints with the Tampa Bay Bucs, Detroit Lions, and Cleveland Browns. This past season with the Jags, he was able to help the defense take a step in the right direction from the previous regime and ultimately helped them to end the season 20th overall and 23rd against the rush.

Many Jags players like Josh Allen expressed that they wanted Cullen to return next season, so it appears he didn’t have issues getting the players by his side. That said, he shouldn’t have any issues getting DeForest Buckner and Co. to rally behind him, but time will tell if he ultimately gets the job.

Report: Colts to interview Joe Cullen for DC vacancy

The Colts are expected to interview Joe Cullen for their DC vacancy on Saturday.

The Indianapolis Colts will interview Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator Joe Cullen for their own defensive coordinator vacanacy, per Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated.

With former defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus taking the head coach gig with the Chicago Bears, the Colts will need to find a replacement for that role.

Breer reported that the Colts have interest in several outside candidates and Cullen is expected to interview on Saturday.

Cullen has most of his experience coming as a defensive line coach. He was the defensive line coach for the Detroit Lions (2006-2008), Jaguars (2010-2012), Cleveland Browns (2013), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2014-2015) and Baltimore Ravens (2016-2020).

He took the defensive coordinator job with the Jaguars in 2021. His defense allowed 5.6 yards per play and 26.9 points per game in 2021.

Jags DC Joe Cullen expected to interview with Ravens to replace Don Martindale

Joe Cullen helped the Jags defense make strides in 2021 and the Ravens clearly took note of that.

While the Jacksonville Jaguars 2021 season went terribly under Urban Meyer, and it couldn’t end soon enough, it wasn’t all bad, and there were parts of Meyer’s staff that fans were vocal about keeping, like defensive coordinator Joe Cullen.

Cullen, who was a first-time coordinator in 2021, had some highlight moments, though the Jags’ defense ultimately ended up finishing 20th overall and 23rd against the rush. When reflecting on the season, his group was able to hold the Buffalo Bills to six points, which gave the Jags their second win of the season. They also locked down quarterback Carson Wentz in the season finale, holding the Indianapolis Colts’ offense to just 11 points and giving the team their third win of the season.

Such performances by the Jags’ defense certainly didn’t go unnoticed outside of Jacksonville, and now Cullen’s old team, the Baltimore Ravens, will be interviewing him for their defensive coordinator vacancy. The team recently parted ways with longtime assistant Don Martindale, who Cullen was under for many years, and it appears replacing him with a familiar face could be on the table.

According to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley, Baltimore plans to interview him on Thursday.

Cullen was with the Ravens’ defensive line coach from 2016-20 before he got the call from Meyer to join the Jags’ staff. He Brings 15 years of NFL coaching experience to the table, and with the Jags set to hire a new coach, it appears that the new coach could have someone in mind to replace Cullen. If that’s the case, a return to Baltimore would be a great way to bounce back for the two-time Jags assistant.

Ravens reportedly interview two more candidates for open DC position

The Ravens reportedly interviewed two more candidates for their now-vacant defensive coordinator position

The Baltimore Ravens parted ways with now-former defensive coordinator Don Martindale after four seasons with the team in that capacity. While Martindale did some great things leading the Baltimore defense, both sides seemed to feel like changes were necessary.

The Ravens have been conducting the interview process with multiple different candidates, and on Wednesday it was reported that they interviewed two more in Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator Joe Cullen as well as Tampa Bay Buccaneers inside linebackers coach Mike Caldwell.

Josh Allen lobbies for Joe Cullen to return as defensive coordinator

Allen said he wants Cullen to stick around so the defense can build on the system that was put in place in 2021.

Urban Meyer’s decision to hire Joe Cullen as defensive coordinator was certainly a bit of a questionable one. Cullen had no experience as a defensive play-caller, which made him a bit of a head-scratching choice for a coach that had no experience at the NFL level himself. However, the former Baltimore Ravens defensive line coach asserted himself as one of the most competent assistant coaches on the staff.

Despite still battling talent discrepancies, the Jaguars’ defense improved consistently throughout the season, especially rookie cornerback Tyson Campbell. Cullen got the most out of a unit that still needs to add more contributors, and for that reason, it’s been speculated that he could return under the new coach.

He has at least one supporter in the locker room in edge rusher Josh Allen, who said he wants to see Cullen retained by the new head coach.

“I would love to see [Defensive Coordinator] Coach [Joe] Cullen [come back],” he said. “I feel like [it’s] just another thing that I feel like would be best for us. I know we might get the new coach or whatever, but with Coach Cullen, I feel like it’s the consistency. We have the team and majority of the defense is under contract to come back another year. So, it’s like if we have the same group, we have the same plays, we know the same philosophy.”

Allen said that the unit’s improvement throughout the year was a result of building on the systems that Cullen put into place, and he feels like the group could be set to take a big leap forward in 2022 if kept within the same scheme. He said he’d like to see several other defensive assistants return as well.

“Now we had that year to work at it, especially with all the younger guys, we know all the work so now we can improve just how we can play the game and install what Joe Cullen has already taught us in this system,” Allen said. “I feel like we can take that next step in becoming a way better defense. We can become the defense that you saw yesterday [against Indianapolis] every week, so I would love to see Coach Cullen back, I would love to see [Outside Linebackers Coach] Zach Orr, I would love to see [Assistant Defensive Line Coach] Sterling Lucas back. I wish [Defensive Line Coach] Tosh [Lupoi] nothing but the best in his journey, but I would love to see those guys come back and see how far we can grow.”

Coordinator retentions aren’t exactly common during coach changes, but if the Jaguars decided to hire an offensive head coach (which comprises the majority of the candidate pool), it would be more likely that Cullen sticks around. If they choose to go with a defensive coordinator like Indianapolis’ Matt Eberflus, that coach may want to make their own defensive coordinator hire.

Cullen’s unit was far from great in 2021, but it showed steady signs of progress, which is more than can be said for the offensive unit that was more or less a disaster throughout the entire season. The Jags could do worse than to give him another year to build off of those improvements.

Jags DC Joe Cullen praises CB Tyson Campbell’s development

Cullen said that Campbell “played an excellent game” in the loss to Indianapolis on Sunday.

Jacksonville has certainly put rookie cornerback Tyson Campbell’s feet to the fire this season. After trading cornerback C.J. Henderson ahead of Week 4, Campbell became a starter on the outside. The 2021 second-round pick has had a bit of a learning curve, but he’s beginning to improve as the season has gone on.

He had one of his better games all season in Sunday’s loss to Indianapolis, and Jacksonville defensive coordinator Joe Cullen praised his development on Friday.

“I thought he really played an excellent game,” Cullen said. “He was physical. He had one of the ones Gene mentioned, he had a touchdown-saving tackle. It wasn’t on the real long one, it was like (a) 15-yarder, it was one of the second runs. He came from his corner position and knifed him down, which some guys in weeks past, that was going the distance. But I think he’s playing tighter in his coverage. Then even the one where Myles (Jack) had the hit on the quarterback, (Colts QB Carson) Wentz made a nice throw, and he just went and tomahawked the ball and that gives a young guy a lot of confidence against a pretty good player. If he can continue to keep developing and he gets better and better … It’s not easy to come in and start in this league as a corner. We had (Ravens CB) Marlon Humphrey, he didn’t start and he’s one of the best corners in the league. He didn’t start as a rookie, moved him around, had to play, started some games, then he played nickel, then he moved back outside.”

This is the “tomahawk” play that Cullen was referring to, where Campbell knocks the ball out of the hands of T.Y. Hilton on what was a good throw from Wentz.

Hilton, who Campbell spent much of the game lined up against, only had one catch for five yards.

This defense has played a lot better in recent weeks, and Campbell’s improvement is a major reason why. He was drafted to potentially replace Henderson on the outside, and though it was shaky at first, he’s settling into that role nicely.

If he continues to play like this, the secondary will feel like much less of a need heading into the offseason.

Jags’ defense showing signs of progress under Joe Cullen

Jacksonville’s defensive performance over the last few weeks is no fluke. This group is legitimately getting better.

During the early part of the season, the Jacksonville Jaguars’ defense looked like one of the worst in the entire league. Though it has been solid against the run the whole way, ranking in the upper half of the league, it was abysmal against the pass.

In the first seven games, the team allowed more than 250 passing yards in every game (and 300+ in five of those seven). That would be frustrating enough if it came against a string of elite passers, but instead, the Jags were allowing big days to the likes of Tyrod Taylor, Teddy Bridgewater, Joe Burrow, and even Tua Tagovailoa in the Week 6 win over Miami.

The Jaguars’ performance in the win over Buffalo last week caught many by surprise as they shut down Josh Allen and forced three Bills turnovers. Though they did allow 301 total yards, they held Buffalo to just six points in a three-point win that didn’t feature any touchdowns for either team.

But perhaps that shouldn’t have been as surprising as it was.

Though the Jags lost 31-7 to the Seattle Seahawks the week before, the defense was much more solid than that score would have you believe. Jacksonville outgained Seattle by 80 yards, holding it to just 229. Quarterback Geno Smith had an efficient day, completing 21-of-24 passes, but for the first time in the 2021 season, the Jaguars held the opposing quarterback to under 200 yards.

The Jags’ performance against Indianapolis on Sunday proved that their play the last two weeks was no fluke. Though the team gave up 23 points, only 16 of those can be blamed on the defense as Indianapolis scored on a blocked punt returned for a touchdown in the first quarter. The Jags found themselves in an early 17-point hole, but the defense held Indy to just three second-half points and very nearly allowed the team to come back and win.

Quarterback Carson Wentz completed just 64.7% of his passes and was held to 180 passing yards. Jonathan Taylor, the NFL’s second-leading rusher, had a good day, which was to be expected. He had 116 yards on the ground, but 34 of those came on the very first play from scrimmage and 52 of them came on the first drive alone, which only resulted in a field goal. Taylor was always going to have some success, but it wasn’t insurmountable for the Jaguars.

The Jags are getting a lot of pressure off the edge from Josh Allen, who’s having a great third season, and DaVon Hamilton and Taven Bryan have been playing much better on the interior. The secondary is still a bit shaky, but the increased playing time for Rudy Ford at the nickel spot has proven to be a good call.

The hiring of a first-time defensive coordinator in Joe Cullen, who was previously the defensive line coach in Baltimore, has been widely panned. But the unit is undoubtedly getting better, and while it seemed like the team’s biggest weakness earlier in the season, it’s now the strength. The Jags just need offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell’s group to catch up.

Joe Cullen gives his thoughts on the C.J. Henderson trade

Cullen praised the play of Tyson Campbell as a reason why the team felt comfortable trading C.J. Henderson

Jacksonville surprised many around the league and even those who cover the team with Monday’s decision to trade second-year cornerback C.J. Henderson to the Carolina Panthers alongside a fifth-round pick. In return, the Jags received fifth-year tight end Dan Arnold and a third-round pick.

This return isn’t ideal for a player the Jaguars used the ninth-overall pick on less than two years ago, but it seemed as though Henderson never connected with the new coaching staff, and Jacksonville defensive coordinator Joe Cullen said that a change of scenery for Henderson would be mutually beneficial.

“I just think it’s a great trade for the organization, for CJ (Henderson),” Cullen said. “It’s an opportunity where we felt like [we liked] the way Tyson (Campbell) played and it gives CJ a fresh start where he’s going. I wish him well. I talked to him yesterday. It’s a business and things happen in this league day-in and day-out.”

Henderson exited Jacksonville’s Week 2 game against Denver with a hip injury, and he was inactive in the loss to Arizona on Sunday. In his place, rookie second-round pick Tyson Campbell, who had been starting at nickel, got the start on the outside.

Overall, he played fairly well in a tough spot against an extremely talented and deep Cardinals receiving corps. Cullen said that Campbell’s recent performance is part of why the coaching staff felt like it could afford to part ways with Henderson.

“I just think (Campbell) really competed from that first third down when he went and knocked the ball out on that third-and-1,” Cullen said. “He ran with their receivers really well. Even the one, as much respect as I have for (Cardinals QB Kyler) Murray, it looked like that was shot out of the jugs machine. He went up there and, you know, he was the corner on that play, so I mean we have to have some help by the middle field safety on that. But he competed really well and he’s only going to get better.”

While Campbell saw a lot of work at nickel in the preseason and the first two weeks of the regular season, he mostly started on the outside in college at Georgia. Cullen said he feels comfortable with the rookie playing inside or outside.

“He’s played both and I think, for a young guy, nickel’s a real hard position,” he said. “You have to be great in the run game, you have to be a great blitzer, and then you’re going to have to have some different cover skills for those quicker wide receivers. But I think it helps him a little bit seeing everything from one side of the field.”

With Henderson’s departure, the Jaguars failed to retain yet another first-round pick beyond their rookie deal. But it’s clear Henderson wasn’t a great fit with what the staff was trying to do, and coach Urban Meyer drafted Campbell partially as a failsafe if Henderson didn’t work out.

The Jags will hope that decision, which was a bit questionable at the time, pays off in the long run.