Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Get to know new Jets safeties coach Marquand Manuel.
Robert Saleh continued to round out his first Jets coaching staff Tuesday, hiring three defensive assistant coaches to help bolster a unit that ranked among the worst in football last season.
One of those coaches was Marquand Manuel, a former NFL defensive back with a bevy of coaching experience — including two separate stints working alongside Saleh and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich.
Let’s get to know a little bit more about New York’s newest safeties coach.
The Jets have hired Marquand Manuel as their safeties coach and Tony Oden as their senior defensive assistant and cornerbacks coach.
Robert Saleh has made two new hires to his coaching staff.
According to the NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Jets have added Marquand Manuel as their safeties coach and Tony Oden as their senior defensive assistant and cornerbacks coach.
Manuel and Saleh were together in Seattle from 2012-2013. Manuel served as the assistant special teams coach in the first year before transitioning to defensive assistant. Saleh was the defensive quality control coach.
Manuel also has ties to Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. The two were in Atlanta from 2015-2018. Manuel was the secondary coach and was then promoted to defensive coordinator for two seasons. Ulbrich, meanwhile, was the linebackers coach.
Manuel was the defensive backs coach with the Eagles in 2020. Before coaching in the NFL, he had an eight-year playing career with the Bengals, Seahawks, Packers, Panthers, Broncos and Lions. Manuel recorded 368 total tackles, 16 pass defenses, two interceptions, four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one sack in 116 games as a safety.
As for Oden, he worked under Saleh as the 49ers’ defensive backs coach last season. They were also together in Houston in 2005 when Oden was a defensive assistant and Saleh was a defensive intern.
Oden has held numerous positions in his 25-year coaching career. He started as an assistant defensive backs coach with Millersville University of Pennsylvania in 1996. The next year, Oden became a graduate assistant at Boston College. He then worked at the United States Military Academy as a defensive backs coach and then as the head JV coach.
In 2000, Oden joined East Carolina’s coaching staff as an outside linebackers coach and was named the secondary coach in 2001. After two years at East Carolina, Oden became the defensive backs coach at Eastern Michigan from 2004-2005.
In 2006, Oden got his shot at the NFL as the assistant secondary coach with the Saints from 2006-2010. He earned the full-time position as the Saints secondary coach in 2011. The following two years, Oden served as the defensive backs coach with the Jaguars and Buccaneers, respectively. From 2014-2017, Oden was the cornerbacks’ coach with the Lions. In 2018, Oden was the Lions’ defensive backs coach and was named their safeties coach in 2019.
Eagles agree to deal with Colts DBs coach Jonathan Gannon to be new DC
The #Eagles have agreed to terms with #Colts DBs coach Jonathan Gannon to be their new defensive coordinator, per me and @TomPelissero. A coveted candidate lands in Philly for Nick Sirianni.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 24, 2021
The Philadelphia Eagles have added another coach to the staff as first reported by Michael Lombardi, Colts defensive backs/cornerbacks coach Jonathan Gannon is heading to Philadelphia to become Sirianni’s defensive coordinator.
Gannon spent three years in Indianapolis coaching and he’s become a sought-after defensive coordinator candidate, drawing interest from Atlanta and the Los Angeles Rams before Sirianni landed the job in Philadelphia.
During his time in Indianapolis, Gannon has received praise from players and coaches alike.
Gannon helped former Vikings and current Colts cornerback Xavier Rhodes return to Pro Bowl form.
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Adam Zimmer and Dan Campbell are among 10 candidates to replace Jim Schwartz as Eagles defensive coordinator
The coaching carousel in Philadelphia is underway, as defensive coordinator, Jim Schwartz, made the stunning move to not renew his contract or seek a new deal.
Philadelphia won the only Super Bowl in franchise history with Schwartz as defensive coordinator and his units twice finished in the top 5 in DVOA and never finished below No. 17.
The Eagles ranked ninth in scoring defense during his tenure and despite some ugly performances, he’s respected around the league.
With Schwartz set to sail off into the sunset, here are 10 candidates to replace him.
Rodney McLeod says Eagles’ secondary lost some respect around the NFL
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The Philadelphia Eagles roster retool trickled down into their embattled secondary where they allowed Ronald Darby and Malcolm Jenkins to walk in free agency, replacing the duo with Darius Slay, Will Parks, Nickell Robey-Coleman, K’Von Wallace and Jalen Mills’s move to safety.
Marquand Manuel is the newest addition coaching wise and the Eagles are hoping he brings some of the experience that helped the Seahawks once young secondary develop into the Legion of Boom.
“I think people respect him because one, he has played the game, his passion, and the way he coaches his group,” McLeod said. “The expectations that he has for us are very high. He has coached a lot of good secondaries, and we want to be another group to be respected in this league and treated as such. He is going to fit perfectly, and we are going to be good.”
He harped on that lack of respect that the Eagles back-seven faces on a weekly basis.
“As a defense, I think we lost a little bit of respect,” said McLeod. “It was gained as the (last) season went on, I believe. We caught our stride, guys (got) confident in one another. We were getting to the spots that we needed and you saw things coming together. But as a secondary, I felt that we were a little disrespected at times.”
McLeod is the one veteran holdover from the purge whose play has been consistent and as he assumes a new leadership role, he’s looking for the Eagles secondary to redeem itself after some embarrassing play over the past two seasons.
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Eagles secondary already gravitating towards DB coach Marquand Manuel
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The Philadelphia Eagles made several changes to the secondary, none more important than the addition of defensive backs coach, Marquand Manuel.
Eagles cornerbacks have suffered over the past two seasons under Cory Undlin, but he’s off with the Lions now and Manuel, a former college star and NFL safety, has been hired to retool a once confident secondary.
The initial reviews have been glowing and star safety Rodney McLeod told reporters during a zoom meeting that Eagles defensive players have already started to gravitate towards Manuel.
“I think people respect him because one, he’s played the game,” said McLeod via NJ.com on Thursday. “His passion and because of the way he coaches this group and the expectations that he has for us. It’s a very high standard,” McLeod said. “He’s coached a lot of good secondaries. We want to be another group to be respected in this league and treated as such. He’s going to fit perfectly, man.”
The additions of Darius Slay, Nickell Robey-Coleman, Will Parks, and K’Von Wallace were instrumental as McLeod believes the Eagles’ secondary has lost some respect in recent seasons with the linebackers and secondary taking the bulk of the heat after being labeled the weakest link.
“As a defense, I think we lost a little bit of respect,” said McLeod. “It was gained as the (last) season went on, I believe. We caught our stride, guys (got) confident in one another. We were getting to the spots that we needed and you saw things coming together. But as a secondary, I felt that we were a little disrespected at times.”
With Slay manning the corners and Nickell Robey-Coleman in the slot, the Eagles should have a different presence in pass coverage this season. If Wallace can transition his versatility and physicality early-on, the Eagles could have a top-10 secondary.
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Doug Pederson opens up about the Eagles new coaching hires
It took more time than fans and analysts would have liked, but Doug Pederson and the Philadelphia Eagles retooled their coaching staff and the head guy in charge believes he did a solid job.
Shortly before departing for Indianapolis and the NFL Scouting Combine, Pederson sat down with Eagles Insider Dave Spadaro for a discussion on coaching changes, Nigel Bradham’s departure and the most pressing needs for his team going forward.
Pederson was honest in admitting that he was patient with his hires, but he believes the due diligence will pay off in the results.
“I wanted to spend (time) and do my due diligence with this next round of hires and felt like I did a really good job. Obviously, we’ll see once we get back out on the football field, but I’m excited for the guys.”
Pederson harped on and highlighted the additions of Marquand Manuel (Db coach), Matt Burke (DL coach), Jeremiah Washburn (director of player personnel/senior defensive assistant) Andrew Breiner (pass game analyst), Rich Scangarello (senior offensive assistant) and Press Taylor’s promotion to the passing game coordinator.
He admitted that offensively, it’ll be a collaborative offense from a game-planning standpoint, with Taylor having more of his “fingerprints” on a weekly basis.
All in all, the moves were solid and the coaching additions should benefit Carson Wentz and the Eagles offense the most.
The Philadelphia Eagles have hired former NFL player and Falcons defensive coordinator, Marquand Manuel as the defensive backs coach.
The Philadelphia Eagles have made an impressive hire on Senior Bowl Saturday, agreeing to a deal with Marquand Manuel according to Jeremy Fowler.
Manuel was the architect of an improved Falcons defense and will be called upon to turn around an Eagles cornerback group that has struggled in coverage over the past two years.
With changes coming on the backend of the Eagles defense, here are four takeaways from Manuel’s hiring.
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1. Eagles defensive backs will improve immediately
Manuel, 40, has a track record of success and experience that dates back to his playing days at Florida. He played 8 seasons in the NFL and coached up the Seahawks defense when they were considered the best in the NFL. While in Atlanta, Manuel was credited with the improvement in Keanu Neals play overall improvement of the Falcons secondary.
Marquand Manuel to be hired as Eagles defensive backs coach
The Philadelphia Eagles finally have some traction on one of their coaching vacancies, as Jeremy Fowler is reporting that Marquand Manuel will be named defensive backs coach.
Eagles are hiring former Falcons DC Marquand Manuel as secondary coach, per source. Interviewed this week and will now join the staff.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) January 25, 2020
Manuel formally coached in Seattle when the Legion of Boom was wrecking shop around the league and played for Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz in Detroit.
Manuel Replaces Cory Undlin, who is now the Lions defensive coordinator, and he’ll be tasked with improving an Eagles secondary that has come under fire over the past two seasons.
The Philadelphia Eagles have interviewed former Falcons defensive coordinator Marquand Manuel for their defensive back coaching position.
The Philadelphia Eagles could finally have a replacement for Corey Undlin, as Jeremy Fowler is reporting that the team could reach a deal with former Falcons defensive coordinator, Marquand Manuel.
Eagles have interviewed former Falcons defensive coordinator Marquand Manuel for defensive backs coach and a deal could happen as early as today, per source. Manuel was a key member of Atlanta’s defense during Super Bowl run, can help a Philly secondary that needs it.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) January 24, 2020
A star safety at Florida under Steve Spurrier, Manuel previously was the defensive coordinator and secondary coach in Atlanta and also coached the defensive backs in Seattle prior to that.
Manuel’s link with the Eagles comes from having played for the Lions under Jim Schwartz back in 2009.
