Chiefs hire Steve Spagnuolo as new defensive coordinator

[TLO]

The #Chiefs are hiring Steve Spagnuolo as their new defensive coordinator, sources say. The former #Giants DC and interim HC/#Rams HC began his NFL coaching career as an #Eagles assistant under Andy Reid. Now rejoins Big Red in KC.

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) January 24, 2019

[ILChief]

Originally Posted by BossChief

Merritt coaching safeties and Madison coaching corners. Sounds good to me.

What I've read has Merritt as DB coach and Madison as his assistant

[booger]

https://247sports.com/college/rutger...129132724/Amp/

Another D asst gone Jay Valai spent just one year in KC coming from Georgia. Was DA/QC last year heading to Rutgers to coach CBs

[booger]

Harris was with the Eagles early in Reid’s career there (early in playing career) and of course Spags was there with them. Harris spent 2011 on IR with the rams in Spags last year of being HC there. 2012 Harris gets coaching internship with the Dolphins and Their HC then Joe Philbin. Safe to assume Spags could see that coming (Harris getting into coaching). Possible that it’s set up as:

Dave Merritt DBs
Al Harris Secondary/CBs
Sam Maddison Defensive Asst/QC

Just because they are both corners doesn’t mean they both wouldn’t fit together. Merritt has a background more with safety. And Spags will heavily influence that group the most. Madison is pretty lacking of having much coaching experience so I’m not so sure they would give him asst DBs right off the bat. Probably D/QC first and let him work his way in to coach with CBs. More entry level and not skipping any steps

[booger]

Here’s what is left with the old staff on D:

Harris-like I say, could go anyway staying or going. From a past experience with both Reid and Spags I would say he probably has good odds. Or someone like the bengals who are having trouble finding a DC to take their job could hire Harris to their main DB job like Merritt just got in a KC.

Terry Bradden is the current QC coach, one of them last year on D. He came from Bethune Cookman and was a really young Florida HS HC before that. Maybe he follows Sutton to Atlanta. He had a QB/offense coaching background before coming to KC. Might move him to offensive QC if there is a need. Plus to my knowledge he had no Reid, Sutton, or any ties to the chiefs before getting hired. Neither did Jay Valaii coming to KC from Georgia.

Adam Whittingham, his dad Kyle is the longtime HC at Utah. Kyle and Reid are great friends. This Defensive asst role and title he has is entry level and his first coaching experience. He was a special teamer and snapper so he could get slid over to special teams QC or whatever under Toub. Maybe even the personnel dept something like old Ried friend and coach Juan Castillo his kid was a DB at Iowa and UDFA spending the whole camp with KC before final cutdown. Few years later now Reid gets him in personnel to college scouting coordinator, pretty much entry level. Brad Childress’ son Kyle once held the same job in KC. But in Adam’s case I see Reid finding a spot for him somewhere just won’t force it to have him on D if Spags prefers someone else.

Then of course Britt Reid. If I’m Andy I simply want him to humble himself and also praise his growth as he has done a pretty good job. I’d have him assisting both DL and LB with the title of Defensive Asst/Front Seven or whatever just don’t give him the title of asst DL and make it look like a demotion. There’s a big benefit to letting him split time working under Daly and House honing his DL skill even more and starting to learn LB. Either or both of Daly and House could be short term stays to potential promotions out of KC after just one year. In that case it’s very handy to have Britt to go to on the DL or if he’s taken to it and there’s confidence he’s ready for the LB job in the case that House leaves. It would be more of a learning year and not doing as much coaching and not running his own meeting/film room but it would be great for his career and show that he’s unselfish. Something like that is what I’m guessing but like anything else you never know.

That’s the last 4 coaches on D. With no announcements so far and today’s news of Valaii headed to Rutgers I can see Reid giving Spags full control over D staff hires with the agreement that anyone they don’t want to retain they will keep them on the team website looking like they intend to retain them while behind the scenes they are doing this to make them look better while they urge them to search quickly for their next job and don’t have to get fired.

It’s getting closer to the official announcement I would think but that’s my thoughts on what’s holding things up.

[VAGOMO 4 LIFE!]

Originally Posted by ILChief

I wish they would announce our coaching staff. There can’t be that many more spots to fill

I think they’re waiting until all the coaches are signed then they will announce them all at once

I'm hoping DB's will be taught to understand when the ball is in the air, it is as much theirs as it is the receivers'. As such, if they turn to see the ball, they might make a play on it and might not get flagged nearly as often. That will also cut down on back shoulder throws to receivers they are covering. It's so basic and so frustrating to watch the Sutton clown show year after year. Also, as the smallest players on the field, try tackling below the knees. Watch some film of DJ and EB. There's no upside to tackling above the waste. Take out their legs and be done with it. There's also nothing wrong with more than one guy making a tackle. Watch Ravens film for details.

Our defense has been so soft, so poorly coached for so long it seems impossible they could ever become a good defense again. The "bend but don't break" philosophy is passive and weak. The goal is to get the ball back to your offense as soon as possible. How did Sutton not get this? All three phases of the game are meant to be played in attack mode. Sutton seemed to think his defense on the field losing time of possession was a good thing.

When they finally announce the new staff, I hope it will reflect what Veach said last offseason-- that an aggressive mindset would be brought back to the defense. Credit to Clark for putting up the money and credit to Reid for hiring over his son for a new DL coach-- we now have an absolute stud.

It's all on Veach now. The QB is in place and the coaching staff is in place. It's all about the roster.

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Originally Posted by Chiefs Moon

I'm hoping DB's will be taught to understand when the ball is in the air, it is as much theirs as it is the receivers'. As such, if they turn to see the ball, they might make a play on it and might not get flagged nearly as often. That will also cut down on back shoulder throws to receivers they are covering. It's so basic and so frustrating to watch the Sutton clown show year after year. Also, as the smallest players on the field, try tackling below the knees. Watch some film of DJ and EB. There's no upside to tackling above the waste. Take out their legs and be done with it. There's also nothing wrong with more than one guy making a tackle. Watch Ravens film for details.

Our defense has been so soft, so poorly coached for so long it seems impossible they could ever become a good defense again. The "bend but don't break" philosophy is passive and weak. The goal is to get the ball back to your offense as soon as possible. How did Sutton not get this? All three phases of the game are meant to be played in attack mode. Sutton seemed to think his defense on the field losing time of possession was a good thing.

When they finally announce the new staff, I hope it will reflect what Veach said last offseason-- that an aggressive mindset would be brought back to the defense. Credit to Clark for putting up the money and credit to Reid for hiring over his son for a new DL coach-- we now have an absolute stud.

It's all on Veach now. The QB is in place and the coaching staff is in place. It's all about the roster.

I like this post. A lot!

[MVChiefFan]

Originally Posted by Chiefs Moon

I'm hoping DB's will be taught to understand when the ball is in the air, it is as much theirs as it is the receivers'. As such, if they turn to see the ball, they might make a play on it and might not get flagged nearly as often. That will also cut down on back shoulder throws to receivers they are covering. It's so basic and so frustrating to watch the Sutton clown show year after year. Also, as the smallest players on the field, try tackling below the knees. Watch some film of DJ and EB. There's no upside to tackling above the waste. Take out their legs and be done with it. There's also nothing wrong with more than one guy making a tackle. Watch Ravens film for details.

Our defense has been so soft, so poorly coached for so long it seems impossible they could ever become a good defense again. The "bend but don't break" philosophy is passive and weak. The goal is to get the ball back to your offense as soon as possible. How did Sutton not get this? All three phases of the game are meant to be played in attack mode. Sutton seemed to think his defense on the field losing time of possession was a good thing.

When they finally announce the new staff, I hope it will reflect what Veach said last offseason-- that an aggressive mindset would be brought back to the defense. Credit to Clark for putting up the money and credit to Reid for hiring over his son for a new DL coach-- we now have an absolute stud.

It's all on Veach now. The QB is in place and the coaching staff is in place. It's all about the roster.

Great post! It honestly makes it that much more exciting to see who we land in the draft and free agency.

[ILChief]

Originally Posted by booger

https://247sports.com/college/rutger...129132724/Amp/

Another D asst gone Jay Valai spent just one year in KC coming from Georgia. Was DA/QC last year heading to Rutgers to coach CBs

Wellbye

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by Chiefs Moon

Also, as the smallest players on the field, try tackling below the knees. Watch some film of DJ and EB. There's no upside to tackling above the waste. Take out their legs and be done with it. There's also nothing wrong with more than one guy making a tackle. Watch Ravens film for details.

The "bend but don't break" philosophy is passive and weak.

Magnificent post. As to the first point, they can also watch any Chiefs defense film from the 1990's and learn the same lesson, and I hope they do. Back in the day, if it wasn't a straight man on man situation down the field, EVERYBODY was getting a piece of that ass. In addition to making sure that the opponent was going nowhere, there was also an element of punishment to be meted out. We need more of that.


As to point #2, I've been saying that for months and it's precisely what I mean when I say "we haven't been playing Chiefs defense for 9 years". Peeholi did a LOT of short and medium term damage to this franchise. The 3-4 and Romeo Crennell were his "long term masterpiece", and **** that fat clown in his m00bs for it.

[Simply Red]

I feel some big breaking news nearing. Not sure why - just a feeling I have.

[Red Dawg]

Originally Posted by MVChiefFan

Great post! It honestly makes it that much more exciting to see who we land in the draft and free agency.

Agreed. Suttons read and react crap is for losers. He didn't game plan worth a damn or have much of one at all. Gotta give different looks and disguise formations, blitzers and run some stunts. Sutton was so blahhh and weak. No attitude from him at all and that reflected to the players.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by Simply Red

I feel some big breaking news nearing. Not sure why - just a feeling I have.

I hope you are right. Are you sure it's not the after-effects of Mom's delicious home-cooking? Because I remember those photos, and I would certainly feel VERY good after eating a plate!

I would feel beyond nice.

[Simply Red]

Originally Posted by Sweet Daddy Hate

I hope you are right. Are you sure it's not the after-effects of Mom's delicious home-cooking? Because I remember those photos, and I would certainly feel VERY good after eating a plate!

I would feel beyond nice.

Haha - no I'm doing low carb - as are my parents. Her cooking has been reduced to crustless quiche'

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by Simply Red

Haha - no I'm doing low carb - as are my parents. Her cooking has been reduced to crustless quiche'

Well, whatever the case, I'm sure it's exceptional.