Tag: Mike Pettine

Vikings make two additions to the coaching staff

The Minnesota Vikings announced on Friday afternoon that they hired Marcus Dixon to be DL coach and Mike Pettine adds OLB coach to title

The Minnesota Vikings have finally filled the role of defensive line coach vacated by Chris Rumph back in December. The team announced on Friday afternoon that they have hired former Broncos defensive line coach Marcus Dixon to the same position.

Along with Dixon, the Vikings also added outside linebackers coach to Mike Pettine’s title. The hire makes sense, as head coach Kevin O’Connell has brought in numerous coaches who have spent time on the same staff with him. Dixon’s first year coaching in the NFL was in 2021 when he joined Sean McVay’s staff with the Los Angeles Rams, a staff where O’Connell was the offensive coordinator.

Pettine has served on O’Connell’s staff as the assistant head coach and adds outside linebackers coach to his title. He replaces Mike Smith, who took a personal leave during the 2023 season. According to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, Smith and the Vikings have parted ways.

There could be more coaching moves but it appears that only assistant offensive line coach needs to be filled heading into the 2024 season.

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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.

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.

Eagles GM Howie Roseman, HC Nick Sirianni reaching out to coordinator candidates

After finishing their exit meeting, Eagles GM Howie Roseman and head coach Nick Sirianni have begun reaching out to potential coordinator candidates

It appears that Nick Sirianni will be safe and keep his job as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles after meeting with owner Jeffrey Lurie and GM Howie Roseman.

The same can’t be said for his assistants on both sides of the football.

Dianna Russini reports that Roseman and Sirianni have contacted potential coordinator candidates on the offensive and defensive sides.

Sirianni gets much credit for the Eagles’ success over the past three seasons.

Still, after a late-season meltdown that saw the Eagles go 1-6 in their final seven games, including the playoffs, the head coach and his assistant coaches expected were on the hot seat.

Philadelphia’s third-year head coach has far exceeded expectations, but it’s clear that Gannon and Steichen played far more prominent roles than we thought.

We previewed potential offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator candidates, and as the process began, the dominoes started to fall.

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10 defensive coordinator candidates the Eagles could target if Sean Desai-Matt Patricia depart

With exit interviews set to begin, we’re looking at ten candidates who could replace Sean Desai and Matt Patricia if they depart. 

Nick Sirianni officially has his coaching tree after the Cardinals hired Jonathan Gannon and the Colts hired Shane Steichen in the 2023 coaching carousel.

Sirianni rightfully gets a lot of credit for the Eagles’ success.

Still, after a late-season meltdown that saw the Eagles go 1-6 in their final seven games, including the playoffs, the head coach and his assistant coaches could be on the hot seat.

Philadelphia’s third-year head coach has far exceeded expectations, but it’s clear that Gannon and Steichen played far more prominent roles than we thought.

With exit interviews set to begin, we’re looking at ten candidates who could replace Sean Desai and Matt Patricia if they depart.

OLB coach Mike Smith takes leave of absence, Mike Pettine to coach unit

Vikings assistant head coach Mike Pettine will replace Smith, who is taking a personal leave.

Minnesota Vikings outside linebackers coach and pass rush specialist Mike Smith is taking a leave of absence from the team.

According to Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune, Smith is taking a leave of absence for personal reasons. Assistant head coach Mike Pettine will coach the position group in his place. Defensive assistant Imarjaye Albury will help coach the unit, too.

Pettine is in his second season with the Vikings but has close to 30 years of coaching experience.

Before joining the Vikings, Pettine served in multiple NFL roles, including as the defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers, Buffalo Bills, and New York Jets. Pettine was also the head coach of the Cleveland Browns for two seasons, winning ten games.

Albury has been with the Vikings since 2020 and returns to the coaching staff after one year as a pro scout. In 2021, Albury coached the defensive line in the Vikings Week 16 game in the place of former co-defensive coordinator Andre Patterson.