Tag: kris richard

Giants interview Cowboys coach Kris Richard for HC gig

Kris Richard kicks off the Giants’ HC interviews.

The New York Giants interviewed Dallas Cowboys defensive passing game coordinator Kris Richard, the team announced Thursday.

It was reported on Monday that Richard would be interviewing for the vacant head coaching role at some point, and the team confirmed it. Richard is among the several candidates being interviewed for the head coaching role.

Richard, who is also the Cowboys defensive backs coach, met with team president John Mara, general manager Dave Gettleman and team vice president Kevin Abrams. Richard is the first candidate to interview for the role.

Richard got his start in the NFL in 2010 with the Seattle Seahawks as the team’s assistant defensive backs coach. He also held the role of cornerbacks coach and defensive backs coach. Richard was promoted to defensive coordinator for the Seahawks in 2015 where he held the role for three seasons.

Richard was then hired by the Cowboys in 2018 to be the defensive backs coach and defensive passing game coordinator.

Richard played in the NFL for six seasons. He was a third-round pick with the Seahawks in 2002 and spent three seasons there. He also spent time with the Miami Dolphins (2005), San Francisco 49ers (2005-2006) and Oakland Raiders (2007).

The Giants have a plethora of coaches on the interview slate, but they officially kicked off the search with Richard.

Giants head coaching search: Interview slate heating up

The New York Giants have at least four head coaching interviews line up over the coming days and several others in the works.

The New York Giants were granted permission to interview New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and special teams coordinator/wide receiver coach Joe Judge on Wednesday, but those interviews have not yet been scheduled.

However, four others have.

Here’s a quick look at the Giants’ current slate of interviews, which will all occur in the coming days:

  • Thursday: Dallas Cowboys Defensive Backs Coach/Passing Game Coordinator Kris Richard
  • Fridat: Former Green Bay Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy
  • Saturday: Kansas City Chiefs Offensive Coordinator Eric Bieniemy
  • Saturday: Baltimore Ravens Defensive Coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale

In addition to those six head coaches (McDaniels and Judge included), there is rampant speculation that the Giants have interest in Baylor head coach Matt Rhule and view him as a favorite, but no official interview request has been made yet.

Rhule, whose Bears fell to the Georgia Bulldogs in the Sugar Bowl on Wednesday night, has said he intends to leave for an offseason vacation with his family immediately.

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Report: Giants to interview Cowboys’ assistant for head coaching job

The New York Giants will reportedly interview Dallas Cowboys defensive back coach Kris Richard for their vacant head coaching position on Thursday.

The New York Giants will reportedly interview Dallas Cowboys assistant Kris Richard on Thursday for their open head coaching position.

Richard, 40, a cornerback, played for four teams in his NFL career from 2002-2007. He was a third round pick out of USC by the Seattle Seahawks in 2002. He then turned to coaching where Pete Carroll hired him as a defensive backs coach from 2010-2014.

Richard went on to become the Seahawks’ defensive coordinator in 2015, a job that he would hold for three seasons. He wa let go after the 2017 season and was hired by the Cowboys in 2018 to be their defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator.

Richard is responsible for the formation of the Legion of Boom secondary in Seattle that won back-to-back NFC Championships and a Super Bowl.

The Giants fired Pat Shurmur on Monday after compiling a 9-23 record over the past two seasons. Shurmur still had three years remaining on the contract he signed in 2018.

Cowboys’ defense failed on every level in loss to Bills

The defense for the Dallas Cowboys played a major role in the drubbing the Buffalo Bills handed the team on Thanksgiving

The Dallas Cowboys left a sour taste in fans mouths after a putrid performance against the Buffalo Bills on Thanksgiving. Second helpings were rendered flavorless after watching the team fail in all three phases and several folks’ job security has become a hot topic.

While it’s the head coach who most want canned, and the offense continues to take their lumps for not getting it done, the defense and its coaches should not go unscathed.

Dallas’ defense looked lost against the Bills’ middle-of-the-road offense. It was a confusing game plan, to say the least. QB Josh Allen makes plays more with his legs more than through the air, yet the Cowboys had no spy on the quarterback. The Cowboys have employed one in similar games, the wild card against Russell Wilson’s Seahawks last year comes to mind, but chose not to use the strategy against Allen. It allowed Bills QB to rush for 43 yards and a score.

The defense also chose to sit back, rather than attacking Allen and forcing the QB into mistakes. Allen has a propensity to throw easy interceptions when pressured, yet on too many occasions, the pass rushers appeared to stand up and play their gap instead of getting after the quarterback. The result was Allen having too much time and finding open receivers late on plays. It’s a bad combination to give a quarterback time and having a group of cornerbacks who have struggled this season.

Rod Marinelli and Kris Richard’s unit wasn’t nearly good enough. Their defense has now gone 15 quarters without creating a turnover and they had their chances in this game. Xavier Woods had a would be interception go right through his hands and Jourdan Lewis couldn’t make a play on another possible pick. It’s clear the technique of not looking back at the ball in the air isn’t working.

The linebackers weren’t very good either. One of the strengths of team coming into the season has failed this defense. Jaylon Smith was lost in coverage, got washed on too many running plays and looked like he had trouble changing direction.

Sean Lee was also an issue; he often had no problems diagnosing the play, but too often he couldn’t bring the ball carrier down on first contact.

The defense failed the Cowboys too often against the Bills. There were three big possessions where the defense came up small.

In the first quarter, after Chris Jones pinned the Bills deep, the defense gave up a 3-and-10. It allowed the Bills to flip the field and kept the Cowboys from getting the ball back around midfield. Dallas was leading 7-0 at the time and could’ve added points to put the Bills in catch-up mode.

Instead, the Bills got a few first downs changed field position and scored on their next drive.

The second fail encapsulated the game perfectly. Late in the second quarter, on 4th-and-1, Allen fumbled the snap, but no Cowboys defender managed to touch Allen or pull him down after the muff. The QB didn’t give up on the play and fought for the first down, while too many Cowboys defenders quit playing.

The next snap gave the Bills a lead they would never relinquish, a trick play resulting in a 28-yard touchdown reception for running back Devin Singletary from the arm of wide receiver John Brown.

The final failure from the defense occurred on a drive that began late in the third quarter and ended in the fourth. Dallas’ defense allowed a 13-play, 72-yard drive that took almost seven minutes off the clock and led to the three points that put the game on ice. The Bills converted on three-straight third downs to chew up the clock and kept the offense from being able to mount a comeback.

It was a rough day for the offense, especially Dak Prescott, but the defense wasn’t good enough either.

You can chat with or follow Ben on twitter @BenGrimaldi.

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Mailbag: What lies ahead for the Detroit Lions?

This week’s Lions Wire mailbag is looking forward to 2020, talking draft, free agency, and potential coaching changes.

The Detroit Lions 2019 season appears to be over, or at least, Lions’ fans think so.

While I try to stay optimistic, I will admit that things aren’t looking pretty. The Lions are down a starting quarterback, lack any depth at running back, and the defense looks to be really struggling. They might not be able to salvage the season, but maybe there will some glimpses of hope for the future.

This week’s mailbag is looking forward to 2020, talking draft, free agency, and potential coaching changes.

What linebackers in the draft or potential free agents fit the Lions’ size and style for next season? — @RICH_K13

I’ll be honest, I’m not too studied up on this year’s draft prospects, so I’ll focus on upcoming free agents.

[Editor’s note: Keep an eye on Ohio State’s Malik Harrison]

If the Lions want to go out and spend some big money on a free agent linebacker, 2020 would be a good time to do it.

One name that stuck out was Shaq Thompson of the Carolina Panthers. The 26-year-old linebacker will hit free agency fresh off of his rookie contract, and though he has stated that he’d like to remain with the Panthers, the appeal a big payday could lure him to a place like Detroit.

As we’ve seen, defensive players want to play for head coach Matt Patricia. Maybe Thompson will feel the same way. He fits the bill for what the Lions want in a linebacker; he can rush the passer, he can drop into coverage, he can make plays on the ball. He would thrive in Patricia’s defense.

Rank the players in order of likelihood to make the 2020 roster: Darius Slay, Sam Martin, Jarrad Davis, Taylor Decker. — @ZugIreland

Tier 1: Slay, Martin, Davis, Decker.

Slay, Martin and Decker are more than likely locked into starting roles heading into next season. Davis has struggled, but it’s far too early to give up on him.

All four will be Lions next season.

How many wins would the Lions have to get to in order for Matt Patricia to get one more year? — @rayray1222

Look, this season hasn’t been pretty, but at this point, any losses the Lions get are more reflective of them losing their starting quarterback, not the coaching.

I think next year will be Patricia’s make-or-break season. I could see a mid-season firing if his 2020 campaign has a rough start.

Chances of us drafting a QB like Jalen Hurts in this upcoming draft? Is it time to start looking at Stafford’s successor? — @TheBlackPH30N1X

I don’t think Detroit will be moving on from Stafford any time soon. But, like general manager Bob Quinn said, drafting quarterbacks is ‘good football business’.

Especially after looking at the most recent game against Chicago, I do think the Lions should invest some of their day 2 draft capital on a backup quarterback.

Grooming a quarterback behind Stafford for the next few seasons would be a smart move by Quinn. We saw how bad things are when we don’t have our starter.

I’m currently looking at Utah State’s Jordan Love. I see a lot of Stafford’s game in him, so he’d be my perfect draft prospect for Detroit.

Who are the most eligible candidates for defensive coordinator if the Lions move on from Paul Pasquiloni? — @ZugIreland

One name that I like right now is Dallas Cowboys defensive backs coach Kris Richard.

Known for helping put together Seattle’s Legion of Boom, I think Richard could do a lot to help Detroit’s defense. This team has big holes at both cornerback and safety heading into next season, and a guy like Richard would be a valuable asset come draft time.

He served as Seattle’s defensive coordinator from 2015 to 2017, so he’d be reuniting with offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell as well.

Who do you think the Lions should draft with their number-one draft pick this coming April? — @B_Lake007

The Lions may be drafting top-ten, but definitely not number one.

I’d go linebacker or defensive end if I were Bob Quinn. As I said earlier, I’m not caught up on this year’s top prospects, so ask again in March.

Thanks to everyone who submitted their questions this week!

Be sure to get those questions in next week, and give me a follow while you’re at it, on Twitter @maxgerbs.