Tag: John Defilippo

Former Browns OC John DeFilippo named head coach of New Orleans Breakers

John DeFilippo, the former offensive coordinator of the Browns, has been named as the head coach of the USFL’s New Orleans Breakers

There was once upon a time when John DeFilippo was considered an up-and-coming riser in the coaching ranks. The offensive coordinator during the 2015 season with the Cleveland Browns, DeFilippo lasted only one season with the franchise after the firing of Mike Pettine. He has since worked stints as both a quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles (where he won a Super Bowl), Minnesota Vikings, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Chicago Bears since then.

He has now been named the head coach of the USFL’s New Orleans Breakers. There is little doubt that DeFilippo will make his way back into the NFL level at just the age of 44, and may one day get that shot to be a head coach at the highest level. For now, he leaps into a CEO role in the USFL to continue to build his resume.

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Is Kirk Cousins being used in the shotgun too much?

The Vikings are using shotgun more than they have since 2018 with John DeFillipo as the offensive coordinator. Is that the best idea with Kirk Cousins?

The Minnesota Vikings offense has looked quite a bit different this season. While head coach Kevin O’Connell runs a version of the wide zone system that the Vikings have used over the last few years,

O’Connell runs the Sean McVay version of the offense, which focuses more on running 11 personnel and incorporating more modern concepts like jet motion and prioritizing the shotgun.

That last element has proven to be interesting for the Vikings. Starting quarterback Kirk Cousins played well in the Shanahan/Kubiak wide zone and transitioning him to the McVay version was always going to be interesting.

One of those reasons is the fact that a lot of their plays are run from the shotgun. It isn’t a set where he has had a lot of success in a Vikings uniform.

Per Sports Info Solutions, we have Cousins splits when running the offense out of the shotgun.

  • 2018: 522 dropbacks, 326/475 3,250 yards, 22 touchdowns, 9 interceptions
  • 2019: 243 dropbacks, 143/223 1,776 yards, 9 touchdowns, 3 interceptions
  • 2020: 297 dropbacks, 182/266 2,078 yards, 15 touchdowns, 9 interceptions
  • 2021: 369 dropbacks, 217/344 2,453 yards, 18 touchdowns, 4 interceptions
  • 2022: 145 dropbacks,  90/137 901 yards, 4 touchdowns, 4 interceptions

If you project out what Cousins would have based on his start, it would look like this.

  • 411 dropbacks 255/388 2,553 yards 11 touchdowns, 11 interceptions

Cousins isn’t necessarily bad in the shotgun but it’s hard to call him good in that regard.  His 2018 season with John DeFillipo was the season with the highest time in the shotgun and that didn’t work for a myriad of reasons. The splits between shotgun and under center in his Vikings career are staggering.

  • Shotgun: 1,576 dropbacks, 958/1,445 for 10,458, 68 touchdowns, 29 interceptions
  • Under center: 969 dropbacks, 646/910 for 7,431 yards, 65 touchdowns, 12 interceptions

There are some circumstances built in here like garbage time and trying to come from behind a lot (especially reflective in 2020). The numbers really bare out how much more effective and smarter with the football Cousins is under center.

Some of that is just comfortability. Cousins thrives with play-action and plays with boot-action and that is mostly taken out of the equation when you run plays out of the shotgun.

How will the offense continue to evolve with O’Connell after the bye week? That remains to be seen, but utilizing Cousins under center more might be the way to help unlock it.

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Bears’ Matt Nagy was super vague about whether he’d be calling plays vs. Vikings

As we know with Bears HC Matt Nagy, there’s no such thing as a simple “yes” or no” answer.

The Chicago Bears look like they’ll be without offensive coordinator Bill Lazor and special teams coordinator Chris Tabor, who are battling COVID-19, when they face the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football.

Defensive coordinator Sean Desai cleared COVID-19 protocols and will coach against the Vikings.

All indications point to Matt Nagy calling plays in place of offensive coordinator Bill Lazor, who remains in COVID-19 protocols and figures to miss Monday night’s game.

But as we know with Nagy, there’s no such thing as a simple “yes” or no” answer.

When Nagy was asked whether he would be the Bears’ play caller against the Vikings, he gave a whole spiel but didn’t really answer the question.

“I’ll be returning to, you know, obviously helping out w/ all the play calling like I do all the time,” Nagy told WBBM. “But at the same time, I think (interim offensive coordinator John DeFilippo) and I are going to do a great job of working together.”

Nagy handed over play-calling duties in Week 4 for the second time in the last two seasons back to Lazor, who, while not much better, has been an improvement over Nagy.

While DeFilippo will assume Lazor’s responsibilities Monday night for Lazor, it’s not clear whether or not that includes play calling. But it sounds like, regardless, he’ll be working closely with Nagy.

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Here’s what happens if Bears coordinators can’t coach Monday night vs. Vikings

Bears HC Matt Nagy said there was a plan in place assuming that OC Bill Lazor, DC Sean Desai and STC Chris Tabor aren’t able to coach.

The Chicago Bears have been ravaged by COVID-19 this week, which has left a slew of players on the reserve/COVID-19 list, as well as all three coordinators, putting their status for Monday night’s game against the Minnesota Vikings in jeopardy.

Bears head coach Matt Nagy said there was a plan in place assuming that offensive coordinator Bill Lazor, defensive coordinator Sean Desai and special teams coordinator Chris Tabor won’t be able to coach Monday night.

If that’s the case, quarterbacks coach/passing game coordinator John DeFilippo will serve as the offensive coordinator, senior defensive assistant Mike Pettine will be the defensive coordinator and assistant special teams coach Brian Ginn will handle special teams.

If DeFilippo is indeed assuming Lazor’s duties, that could indicate that DeFilippo might get a chance to call plays, which is something he did in the past with the Jacksonville Jaguars (2019) and Vikings (2018). But it also wouldn’t be a surprise if Nagy takes over play-calling duties.

Pettine spent the last three years as a defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers. He’s also been the defensive coordinator for the New York Jets (2009-12) and Buffalo Bills (2013).

Ginn, in his fourth year with the Bears, previously served as offensive quality control coach in 2018-19 before being promoted to assistant special teams coordinator.

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John DeFilippo praised Justin Fields’ clutch performance in big moment vs. Steelers

Bears rookie Justin Fields continues to inspire confidence in his teammates and coaches.

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Bears rookie quarterback Justin Fields had his breakout game in a Week 9 matchup against the Steelers, where he flashed his ability to step up in big moments.

Fields was poised, confident and decisive on the road in a prime-time contest against one of the NFL’s best defenses. And when the Bears needed him most, the rookie stepped up and delivered.

Trailing by six points with less than three minutes left in the game, Fields led the Bears on a 7-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, where he had some big-time throws, to give Chicago a 27-26 lead with under two minutes in the game.

While the Bears didn’t get the win, after the defense allowed the Steelers to kick the game-winning field goal before Cairo Santos missed a 65-yarder, Fields stepped up in a huge moment.

Quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator John DeFilippo was asked about Fields’ presence on the go-ahead drive against the Steelers in Week 9, and he praised Fields’ clutch performance.

“There wasn’t a doubt in anyone’s mind we were going to go down and find a way to win,” DeFilippo told reporters Monday. “You feel that energy out of him for sure.”

As Fields is becoming more confident with each passing game, you’re starting to see that same confidence in Fields from the coaches and players. Even as he’ll continue to make some rookie mistakes — he’s only started seven games — he’s someone that you can win you football games as opposed to winning with him.

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Chicago Bears coaching staff impressed with Justin Fields so far

Former Ohio State quarterback and Chicago Bears No. 1 draft pick, Justin Fields is impressing coaches and he hasn’t even taken a snap yet.

The No. 1 pick of the Chicago Bears is making a good impression on coaches so far in his young career and he hasn’t even taken a snap yet. Former Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields has been meeting with coaches and it seems they are liking what they see.

Talking with the Chicago Sun-Times, quarterback coach John DeFilippo said that he and Fields have been meeting via zoom. The words DeFilippo used to describe the Bears QB of the future… “very coachable”.

Fields will most likely be the focal point during the Bears rookie minicamp this weekend. It’s one thing to talk X’s and O’s online and another to see guys work in person. The coaching staff is excited to see what Fields can do first hand.

“Obviously we’ll know a lot more about Justin after this weekend in terms of where he’s at mentally and the way he processes and thinks and those things,” DeFilippo said via the Chicago Sun-Times. “It’s hard to tell over Zoom until you really get your hands on a player. I think we’ll know a lot more after this weekend in terms of where he’s at from a mentally processing standpoint.”

Bears head coach Matt Nagy is looking to take his time with Fields and allow him to learn under veterans Andy Dalton and Nick Foles. It’s the same approach that was used when Nagy coached Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City.

Can Justin Fields be a Mahomes type game-breaker? Only time will tell, but he certainly has all the tools to get there.

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Chicago Bears coaching staff impressed with Justin Fields so far

Former Ohio State quarterback and Chicago Bears No. 1 draft pick, Justin Fields is impressing coaches and he hasn’t even taken a snap yet.

The No. 1 pick of the Chicago Bears is making a good impression on coaches so far in his young career, and he hasn’t even taken a snap yet. Former Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields has been meeting with coaches, and it seems they like what they see.

Talking with the Chicago Sun-Times, quarterback coach John DeFilippo said  he and Fields have been meeting via Zoom. The words DeFilippo used to describe the Bears QB of the future… “very coachable”.

Fields will most likely be the focal point during the Bears rookie minicamp this weekend. It’s one thing to talk X’s and O’s online and another to see guys work in person. The coaching staff is excited to see what Fields can do firsthand.

“Obviously we’ll know a lot more about Justin after this weekend in terms of where he’s at mentally and the way he processes and thinks and those things,” DeFilippo said via the Chicago Sun-Times. “It’s hard to tell over Zoom until you really get your hands on a player. I think we’ll know a lot more after this weekend in terms of where he’s at from a mentally processing standpoint.”

Bears head coach Matt Nagy is looking to take his time with Fields and allow him to learn under veterans Andy Dalton and Nick Foles. It’s the same approach that was used when Nagy coached Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City.

Can Justin Fields be a Mahomes type game-breaker? Only time will tell, but he certainly has all the tools to get there.

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Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion.

John DeFilippo: ‘We’ll all know when it’s Justin’s time’ to start

Bears QB coach John DeFilippo assured everyone that, when rookie QB Justin Fields is ready, he’ll be starting.

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There’s newfound excitement for the Chicago Bears’ season that has everything to do with rookie quarterback Justin Fields and the hope that he presents for this franchise.

Fans are ready to see him go already, and it’s only May. But it sounds like they might have to wait a little bit before seeing Fields in a regular-season game.

GM Ryan Pace reiterated that Andy Dalton will be Chicago’s starter when the season begins, which will allow Fields to develop. But the bigger question has become: What happens if Fields proves that he’s ready to start? Will Matt Nagy continue to sit him behind Dalton in an attempt to replicate Patrick Mahomes’ rookie season with the Chiefs in 2017?

Fans and analysts around the league believe that if Fields is ready to go, he should be the team’s starting quarterback, whenever that is.

It’s a sentiment shared by quarterbacks coach/passing game coordinator John DeFilippo, who assured everyone that when Fields is ready, he’ll be starting.

“Like [Nagy] said, I think we’ll all know when it’s Justin’s time to go win a football game,” DeFilippo told reporters Wednesday. “I’m a big believer in that as well.”

While Fields has yet to hit the practice field at Halas Hall, DeFilippo has been working with Fields over Zoom, where he’s been helping Fields with motions and formation shifts using flashcards, as detailed by Nagy.

That will change Friday when rookie minicamp begins and DeFilippo will finally get to work with Fields on the practice field.

“Obviously we’ll know a lot more about Justin after this weekend in terms of where he’s at mentally and the way he processes and thinks and those things,” DeFilippo said. “It’s hard to tell over Zoom until you really get your hands on a player. I think we’ll know a lot more after this weekend in terms of where he’s at from a mentally processing standpoint.”

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Are Bears the ‘front-runners’ to land Eagles QB Carson Wentz?

As the Eagles continue to try to deal Carson Wentz, Albert Breer says the Bears are currently the front runners to land the QB.

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The Chicago Bears have been mentioned in conjunction with pretty much every quarterback on, or rumored to be on, the trade block this offseason. Which makes a lot of sense given GM Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy’s jobs are contingent on the success of this team in 2021, which starts at quarterback.

It’s been a roller coaster of a ride for Bears fans, who have ridden the highs and lows of talk about acquiring Deshaun Watson, Matthew Stafford, Derek Carr and now Carson Wentz.

While it’s been a ton of speculation to this point, there have been some credible reporters that have mentioned the Bears and Indianapolis Colts have been the two teams pursuing Wentz.

But according to MMQB’s Albert Breer, “Chicago is the front runner” to land Wentz at this point. Even though, he says, Wentz would prefer to go to Indianapolis.

Breer went on to say how there’s a belief inside Halas Hall with Pace, Nagy and quarterbacks coach/pass game coordinator John DeFilippo that they can “mechanically fix” Wentz.

But as for Breer’s belief that Wentz would probably favor the Colts over the Bears, it stems from Wentz not always responding well to hard coaching in the past, where DeFilippo was the “bad cop” during his time coaching Wentz in Philadelphia and Frank Reich was the “good cop.”

It also makes sense why Wentz would prefer Indianapolis given the lack of stability in Chicago with Pace and Nagy’s jobs on the line this season.

Breer believes that “the Bears have pushed harder to get Wentz” and that Philadelphia would likely get their best offer from Chicago.

While Wentz doesn’t have a no-trade clause, “the Bears would like to at least know that Carson Wentz is on board before pulling the trigger on a trade,” according to Breer.

You can listen to Breer’s interview with Herd below (Wentz talk starts around the 37:30 minute mark).

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Bears continue to explore their options at quarterback

The Bears continue to explore every option at quarterback, including trading for Carson Wentz.

It’s been a quarterback-heavy offseason thus far for the NFL, which has featured rumored trades or actual trades with big-name quarterbacks including Deshaun Watson and Matthew Stafford.

The latest quarterback in the spotlight is Philadelphia’s Carson Wentz, who is expected to be traded soon following a falling out. And, as you would expect, the Chicago Bears have been involved in all of those discussions. That’s what happens when your general manager and head coach have one more year to fix a decades-long quarterback problem with this franchise.

There have rumors flying all over the place in regards to the Bears and Wentz that it’s difficult to know what to believe. But this much is true, per trusted sources from around the league — the Bears are very much interested in trading for Wentz.

NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo stressed as much, although he was also quick to point out that any trade doesn’t appear to be imminent. Garafolo said that the Eagles and the two leading candidates for Wentz in the Bears and Indianapolis Colts are all “playing poker.” Essentially, Philadelphia is waiting for an offer that they like while Chicago and Indianapolis are exploring their options.

The Bears recently promoted quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo to pass game coordinator, which almost feels like a prelude to Wentz’s potential landing in Chicago. DeFilippo coached Wentz for his first two seasons in the league, which included his MVP run in 2017.

It’s no coincidence that the Bears and Colts are the two teams showing the most interest given they each have a coach that worked with Wentz during his impressive sophomore season in DeFilippo and Colts head coach Frank Reich.

While the Bears, like the rest of the league, are holding out hope that the Houston Texans give in and trade Watson, that’s a pipe dream at this point. So, with the limited options and the 20th overall pick, Wentz could be the best option at this point — at the right price, of course.

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