Tag: Leslie Frazier

7 realistic DC candidates options for Ravens after Mike Macdonald lands Seahawks HC job

We’re looking at seven defensive coordinator candidates the Baltimore Ravens could target after Mike Macdonald accepted the Seahawks job

The Ravens are one of the gold-standard organizations in the NFL, and every few years, teams from around the NFL poach personnel from Eric DeCosta’s front office and John Harbaugh’s coaching staff.

Another coaching cycle has seen two front office personnel exit, along with defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald.

After landing Joe Hortiz (Player Personnel Director), the Chargers hired Baltimore’s player evaluation and analytics manager, Corey Krawiec, for a position.

On Wednesday, the Titans hired Dennard Wilson as their defensive coordinator hours after Macdonald arrived in Seattle to be officially introduced as the new head coach.

The Ravens became the first team in NFL history to lead the league in points allowed (16.5 per game), sacks (60) and turnovers (31).

In his second year calling Baltimore’s defense, he led them to the AFC title game before a shocking 17-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday;

Macdonald’s defense allowed two early touchdown drives but only a field goal over the final 40-plus minutes of the game.

With Baltimore needing to regroup again, we’re looking at seven realistic options to replace Macdonald.

4 things to know about Dolphins defensive coordinator candidate Leslie Frazier

Get to know the former Bills defensive coordinator who the Dolphins are interviewing for the same role.

With their 2023 season now in the rearview, the Miami Dolphins are interviewing candidates for their defensive coordinator role, which was left open after the team mutually parted ways with Vic Fangio.

To this point, there have been six known coaches who will interview for the job – Brandon Staley, Ryan Slowik, Anthony Campanile, Chris Kiffin, Anthony Weaver and Leslie Frazier.

Before Mike McDaniel, Chris Grier and Stephen Ross make a decision on who will run the defense, let’s take some time to get to know Frazier.

Report: Former Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier has interview with Dolphins

Report: Former #Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier has interview with #Dolphins:

After taking his year off from football, Leslie Frazier might be ready to get back into the game and AFC East.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Miami Dolphins will interview the former Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator this week for their open DC position.

Frazier, 64, was out of football this past season but spent the previous six years as Buffalo’s defensive coordinator. He’s been coaching in the NFL since 1999, and he served as head coach of the Minnesota Vikings from 2011-13.

Without Frazier, Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott handled defensive coordinator duties for the Bills in 2023.

It was reported that Frazier decided to take off last season from coaching last offseason. However, it has always since been debated if whether or if Frazier was actually fired or asked to step down by the team and McDermott rather than the notion that he stepped down.

Neither side has ever budged from the notion that Frazier just wanted some time away from football. When Frazier did depart, it was never stated by anyone that Frazier would return to the Bills in due time, so the split always seemed permanent regardless.

Per Dolphins Wire, Miami has interviewed up to at least six other candidates so far for their open DC job. Of those, another with ties to Buffalo is the Bills’ linebackers coach Bobby Babich.

At the end of their 2023 season, the Dolphins and former DC Vic Fangio mutually parted ways after just one season together.

In addition to the Miami connections, the Los Angeles Chargers have interviewed Frazier for their DC post this offseason.

Bills Wire will provide updates as information is made available.

 

Dolphins to interview former Bills DC Leslie Frazier for defensive coordinator job

Miami is looking at another coach with connections to the Bills for their defensive coordinator opening.

The Miami Dolphins, after mutually parting ways with defensive coordinator Vic Fangio last week, are preparing their interviews to find his replacement for the 2024 season and beyond.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Dolphins will interview former Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier this week for the open position.

Frazier, 64, was out of football this past season but spent the previous six years as Buffalo’s defensive coordinator. He’s been coaching in the NFL since 1999, and he even served as head coach of the Minnesota Vikings from 2011-13.

He joins Brandon Staley, Bobby Babich, Ryan Slowik and Anthony Campanile as known candidates for the job.

Tracking all of the Dolphins’ defensive coordinator interviews

Who the Dolphins are interview to replace Vic Fangio.

The Miami Dolphins, following the conclusion of their 2023 campaign, have parted ways with defensive coordinator Vic Fangio after just one season.

Now, before Miami fully dives into the process of preparing for 2024, they’ll need to find a replacement for Fangio to lead the team’s defense.

We’ll keep track of all coaches who are interviewing or being requested to interview for the position here:

Eagles defensive coordinator tracker: Vic Fangio now the favorite after Dolphins departure

We’re tracking and identifying the current candidates who have interviewed for the Philadelphia Eagles vacant defensive coordinator position and a new favorite to land the job

In a move speculated on for weeks, Ian Rapoport reported that Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni had fired defensive coordinator Sean Desai.

The Eagles finished the season with six losses in their last seven games, with those losses by an average of 15 points, and their only win since Week 12 came against the Giants after they nearly blew a 17-point lead.

Desai was stripped of playcalling duties before Week 15, and the move comes after Philadelphia finished their second-half collapse with a 32-9 loss to the Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Monday night.

With the move now official, we’re tracking coordinator candidates ahead of the Senior Bowl and the new league year.

Eagles coordinator candidate Ryan Nielsen set to join Jaguars as DC

Jaguars are set to hire former Falcons’ defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen as their new defensive coordinator

Philadelphia is looking for a new defensive play-caller after head coach Nick Sirianni fired Sean Desai before he met with owner Jeffrey Lurie.

Senior defensive assistant Matt Patricia had his contract expire, and he’ll explore other league opportunities.

According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, the Eagles had already reached out to interview former Falcons and Saints assistant coach Ryan Nielsen for the vacant defensive coordinator job.

That won’t happen, as Adam Schefter reports Nielsen is taking his talents to Jacksonville to join Doug Pederson’s staff as the Jaguars defensive coordinator.

Nielsen’s defensive schemes focus on his unit stopping the run out of a light box, and his aggressive approach upfront would have meshed with what Philadelphia has previously done.

The Falcon’s defense jumped to 24th this season in defense-adjusted value over average, which measures the efficiency with the opponent’s strength factored in after being 31st in 2022.

Atlanta’s pass rush went from 32nd in pressure rate in 2022 to 11th under Nielsen in 2023.

Most importantly, the Falcon’s defense under Nielsen ranked 17th in blitz percentage last season compared to the Eagle’s 24th-ranked unit.

Philadelphia will now turn towards landing an interview with Wink Martindale, while the team is also interviewing former Commander’s head coach, Ron Rivera.

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Eagles have reached out to Wink Martindale about vacant defensive coordinator job

The Philadelphia Eagles have reached to Wink Martindale about interest in their vacant defensive coordinator position after firing Sean Desai

Philadelphia is looking for a new defensive play-caller after head coach Nick Sirianni fired Sean Desai before he met with owner Jeffrey Lurie.

Senior defensive assistant Matt Patricia had his contract expire, and he’ll explore other league opportunities.

According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, the Eagles have already reached out to interview former Giants and Ravens assistant coach Wink Martindale for the vacant defensive coordinator job.

The 60-year-old is a free agent and Martindale has been an NFL assistant since 2004, spending the majority of his time with the Baltimore Ravens.

Philadelphia lacks agression on defense and Martindale would be a departure to the passive approaches of Jonathan Gannon and Sean Desai.

Martindale would be the closest thing to the late-great Jim Johnson in regards to philospy and pressure approach.

Martindale called blitzes on 46% of the Giants’ defensive plays last season — double the percentage the Eagles sent extra rushers in the regular season.

His blitz package is unpredictable, and Philadelphia has proof that it’s effective, with Jalen Hurts having faced the Giants multiple times a year over his first four years in the league.

Eagles have reached out to Ryan Nielsen about vacant defensive coordinator job

The Philadelphia Eagles have reached to Ryan Nielsen about interest in their vacant defensive coordinator position after firing Sean Desai

Philadelphia is looking for a new defensive play-caller after head coach Nick Sirianni fired Sean Desai before he met with owner Jeffrey Lurie.

Senior defensive assistant Matt Patricia had his contract expire, and he’ll explore other league opportunities.

According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, the Eagles have already reached out to interview former Falcons and Saints assistant coach Ryan Nielsen for the vacant defensive coordinator job.

Nielsen’s defensive schemes focus on his unit stopping the run out of a light box, and his aggressive approach upfront will gel with what Philadelphia has previously done.

The Falcon’s defense jumped to 24th this season in defense-adjusted value over average, which measures the efficiency with the opponent’s strength factored in after being 31st in 2022.

Atlanta’s pass rush went from 32nd in pressure rate in 2022 to 11th under Nielsen in 2023.

Most importantly, the Falcon’s defense under Nielsen ranked 17th in blitz percentage last season compared to the Eagle’s 24th-ranked unit.

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7 realistic defensive coordinator candidates Eagles can target after firing Sean Desai

We’re looking at seven realistic candidates who could replace Sean Desai and Matt Patricia as Defensive Coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles

A move that has been speculated on for weeks has happened after Ian Rapoport reported that Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni has fired defensive coordinator Sean Desai.

The Eagles finished the season with six losses in their last seven games, with those losses by an average of 15 points, and their only win since Week 12 came against the Giants after they nearly blew a 17-point lead.

Desai was stripped of playcalling duties before Week 15, and the move comes after Philadelphia finished their second-half collapse with a 32-9 loss to the Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Monday night.

With the move now official, we’re looking at seven realistic candidates who could replace Sean Desai and Matt Patricia.