Tag: Johnny Nansen

Rams should interview Texas’ Johnny Nansen for vacant DC position

Gearing up for the future, the Rams are searching for their next DC. Perhaps an unknown name from the college ranks is the perfect fit.

With Raheem Morris gone to the Falcons, Sean McVay has started his search for his next defensive coordinator. Despite a long history with Brandon Staley, a new voice in the defensive meeting rooms could be what the young Rams defense needs to take their game to the next level.

In recent years, McVay has aligned his staff with coaches whose resumes are filled with college jobs. It may be time his defensive play caller reflects those same values.

Johnny Nansen is a hot commodity in the world of college football right now. Nansen worked under longtime NFL assistant Jedd Fisch at Arizona from 2022-2023 and the results are as clear as day. Arizona was 1-11 in 2021 and they’ve gone 15-10 with a 10-3 season in 2023 since Nansen’s arrival.

Nansen’s “no name” defense was a force to be reckoned with. He employed creative tactics and formations that stifled the high-flying passing attack of the Pac-12. His defense averaged 21 points surrendered per game at the collegiate level. That’s absurd. This was capped off in a 38-24 win over Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl where his defense forced six turnovers.

Nansen’s stats are impressive but what’s even more impressive is the attitude of his defense. I am not exaggerating when I say his defense took zero plays off in 2023. Even in blowouts. Check the Utah game where they’re up by over three touchdown in the fourth and they’re flying to the ball.

Nansen was hired by Texas this offseason but perhaps a move to the NFL would suit him even better. He’s only 49 years old, his defensive philosophy is ahead of the curve and let’s not disregard that Mike Macdonald, someone who got their stripes as a defensive play caller in college, didn’t just scheme up one of the best defenses in the NFL.

Nansen deserves an interview and the Rams, a forward-facing franchise, should be the one to give it to him.

Arizona DT Tiaoalii Savea commits to Texas

Texas found its defensive tackle commit on Tuesday morning.

Texas has its defensive tackle commit in the transfer portal. Arizona defensive tackle Tiaoalii Savea committed to the Longhorns on Tuesday morning capping an eventful offseason for the unit.

Savea is what Texas needs at the position. He’s a veteran player with multiple years of experience and the size to aid the Longhorns in the interior of defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski’s scheme.

The 6-foot-4, 305-pound player from Las Vegas logged three seasons at Arizona. In his junior campaign in 2023, Savea compiled 1.5 sacks and 21 total tackles for the Wildcats. He is a much needed get for a defense that not only lacks experience but production at defensive tackle outside of Alfred Collins and Vernon Broughton.

Undoubtedly, the familiarity between Savea and current Texas linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator Johnny Nansen played a role in the move. Nansen worked as the defensive coordinator for Arizona last season and probably has an in-depth scouting report of the skilled player. That Nansen would be in favor of the move would probably speak to Savea’s work ethic and culture fit.

Texas will not be as good as it was at defensive tackle last season after two elite NFL draft prospects departed at the position. Nevertheless, it should be good enough to compete for a playoff berth with Savea added to the fold.

Texas hires Arizona DC Johnny Nansen as co-DC, linebackers coach

Texas is bringing in one of the best defensive minds in college football as its co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian secured huge victories for his coaching staff this week. After retaining culture cultivator and ace developer Bo Davis as defensive line coach, Sarkisian added one of the better defensive minds in college football.

Former Arizona defensive coordinator Johnny Nansen is heading to Austin as a co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. And if you weren’t certain of how special the current era of Texas football is then perhaps a hire of that magnitude should help it sink in.

Nansen led one of the more impressive defensive turnarounds in college football helping Arizona to 10 wins this season. The 10-win season was capped by a bowl win over Oklahoma where the Wildcats forced six turnovers including four by Sooners quarterback Jackson Arnold.

We don’t want to take too much from the bowl game, but perhaps his defense found ways to defeat Oklahoma’s offense on film. Certainly the opportunistic defensive style is something Texas will look to take from Arizona’s performance against the Sooners.

Texas lost a critical part of its coaching staff when linebackers coach Jeff Choate left to become head coach at Nevada. Nevertheless, it’s possible that in bringing in Arizona’s proven defensive coordinator the Longhorns have upgraded at the position. Nansen will look to help Texas improve defensively in 2024.

Michigan State football: Five defensive coordinator options as hire nears

Five candidates for the Michigan State defensive coordinator job as the hire looms near:

Just as Alan Haller’s search for a new football coach was tight lipped, Jonathan Smith’s search for a defensive coordinator has been very hush hush and close to the vest.

The clock is ticking for Smith to make a hire because the transfer portal is going crazy and the early signing period is less than two weeks away.

Naturally, the list of defensive coordinator candidates has shrunk, and Smith is homing in on specific candidates as he will looks to lock-in his defensive staff as the big recruiting month rolls along.

Let’s take a look, based on some educated guessing and intel from sourcing Spartans Wire has obtained, at which five candidates could be on Smith’s shortlist: