Muhast
Newo
- Messages
- 7,661
- Reaction score
- 368
http://www.startribune.com/510/story/171115.html
New coach Brad Childress wants a new defensive coordinator, and he also let go of at least eight other assistants.
Judd Zulgad and Mark Craig Tampa Bay Buccaneers 33-year-old defensive backs coach Mike Tomlin emerged as the Vikings' top choice for defensive coordinator Sunday as new head coach Brad Childress fired defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell and at least eight other assistants from former coach Mike Tice's staff.
Childress indicated Friday at his introductory news conference that he would meet with the team's current assistants when he returned from Philadelphia on Wednesday. But on Sunday he fired much of the staff by phone.
"I guess they just wanted to go in a different direction," Cottrell said Sunday night.
Other coaches known to have been let go were Wes Chandler (receivers), Dean Dalton (running backs), Mark Ellis (assistant strength and conditioning), Rich Olson (quarterbacks), Jim Panagos (assistant defensive line and special teams), Kevin Ross (assistant secondary), John Tice (tight ends, assistant offensive line) and Rusty Tillman (special teams).
Those given interviews with Childress, probably on Wednesday, were coverage coordinator Chuck Knox Jr., offensive assistant/assistant quarterbacks coach Randy Hanson, strength and conditioning coach Kurtis Shultz, offensive quality control coach Todd Downing and Sid Pillai, who is the Vikings' coaches support administrator.
The futures of Brian Baker (defensive line) and Pete Bercich (linebackers) were unclear.
Steve Loney, Vikings offensive coordinator-line coach, resigned Friday to take the offensive line job in Arizona.
Tomlin did not return calls from the Star Tribune, but he did tell the St. Petersburg Times on Saturday that he expected to receive official contact from the Vikings as early as Sunday. He also admitted that he had been earmarked for the Vikings' defensive coordinator position. Per NFL rules, Tomlin was off limits to other teams until the Bucs lost to Washington in an NFC wild-card game Saturday.
Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin told the Star Tribune on Sunday that Tomlin had already been offered the job.
Childress, reached at his home in Philadelphia on Sunday, refused to confirm or deny reports on Tomlin. "We have to go through a procedure if that's going to happen," he said. "I don't want to get into all of that."
Childress also wouldn't discuss any other prospective assistants, who include:
• Packers quarterbacks coach Darrell Bevell as the leading candidate for offensive coordinator. Bevell played quarterback at the University of Wisconsin when Childress was the offensive coordinator. Childress said Friday that he will call plays, so if Bevell gets the job, his responsibilities would be somewhat limited for a coordinator.
• Wisconsin offensive line coach Jim Hueber and former Lions offensive line coach Pat Morris as candidates for offensive line coach.
• Wisconsin special teams coach Brian Murphy in a similar role with the Vikings. Murphy could be in line for an assistant special teams coaching position.
• University of Nebraska defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove as linebackers coach. Cosgrove, 50, supposedly is torn between staying in Nebraska and accepting his first NFL position, which could possibly double his current salary of $200,000. Cosgrove has coached college football for 26 seasons, the past two at Nebraska. He was defensive coordinator at the University of Wisconsin for nine seasons before going to Nebraska. He and Childress worked together on Barry Alvarez's Badgers staff.
• UCLA running backs coach Eric Bieniemy, a former Chargers running back, as running backs coach.
Eagles linebackers coach Steve Spagnuolo also has been mentioned as a candidate for defensive coordinator.
Childress said he hopes to have a staff in place by the end of the week.
Tomlin, in the last year of his contract, began coaching at Virginia Military Institute in 1995. After six more years in the college ranks at Memphis, Arkansas State and Cincinnati, he was hired by Bucs head coach Tony Dungy as defensive backs coach in 2001. Tampa Bay has ranked sixth or better in pass defense in Tomlin's five seasons, including first in 2002, when the Bucs won the Super Bowl, and 2004.
Working with Buccaneers defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, Tomlin has learned the finer points of the "Tampa 2" defense, one of the league's most respected and duplicated schemes. The system, if employed with the right personnel, eliminates big plays because the safeties split the field deep, linebackers patrol the middle and the pass rush is applied by the front four.
Dungy, who brought the defense to Tampa, still uses it in Indianapolis, where he's now head coach. Lovie Smith, the 2005 NFL Coach of the Year, uses it in Chicago. The Bears won the NFC North with an 11-5 record, finished second behind Tampa Bay in total defense and were first in scoring defense. Tomlin also has experience on offense. He was a three-year starter at receiver for William & Mary (1992-94), and also coached receivers briefly at Arkansas State.
_________________________-
Wasnt Cottrell in NY with Bill? Just saying, I wouldnt be shocked if we were interested in him if Zimm left.
New coach Brad Childress wants a new defensive coordinator, and he also let go of at least eight other assistants.
Judd Zulgad and Mark Craig Tampa Bay Buccaneers 33-year-old defensive backs coach Mike Tomlin emerged as the Vikings' top choice for defensive coordinator Sunday as new head coach Brad Childress fired defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell and at least eight other assistants from former coach Mike Tice's staff.
Childress indicated Friday at his introductory news conference that he would meet with the team's current assistants when he returned from Philadelphia on Wednesday. But on Sunday he fired much of the staff by phone.
"I guess they just wanted to go in a different direction," Cottrell said Sunday night.
Other coaches known to have been let go were Wes Chandler (receivers), Dean Dalton (running backs), Mark Ellis (assistant strength and conditioning), Rich Olson (quarterbacks), Jim Panagos (assistant defensive line and special teams), Kevin Ross (assistant secondary), John Tice (tight ends, assistant offensive line) and Rusty Tillman (special teams).
Those given interviews with Childress, probably on Wednesday, were coverage coordinator Chuck Knox Jr., offensive assistant/assistant quarterbacks coach Randy Hanson, strength and conditioning coach Kurtis Shultz, offensive quality control coach Todd Downing and Sid Pillai, who is the Vikings' coaches support administrator.
The futures of Brian Baker (defensive line) and Pete Bercich (linebackers) were unclear.
Steve Loney, Vikings offensive coordinator-line coach, resigned Friday to take the offensive line job in Arizona.
Tomlin did not return calls from the Star Tribune, but he did tell the St. Petersburg Times on Saturday that he expected to receive official contact from the Vikings as early as Sunday. He also admitted that he had been earmarked for the Vikings' defensive coordinator position. Per NFL rules, Tomlin was off limits to other teams until the Bucs lost to Washington in an NFC wild-card game Saturday.
Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin told the Star Tribune on Sunday that Tomlin had already been offered the job.
Childress, reached at his home in Philadelphia on Sunday, refused to confirm or deny reports on Tomlin. "We have to go through a procedure if that's going to happen," he said. "I don't want to get into all of that."
Childress also wouldn't discuss any other prospective assistants, who include:
• Packers quarterbacks coach Darrell Bevell as the leading candidate for offensive coordinator. Bevell played quarterback at the University of Wisconsin when Childress was the offensive coordinator. Childress said Friday that he will call plays, so if Bevell gets the job, his responsibilities would be somewhat limited for a coordinator.
• Wisconsin offensive line coach Jim Hueber and former Lions offensive line coach Pat Morris as candidates for offensive line coach.
• Wisconsin special teams coach Brian Murphy in a similar role with the Vikings. Murphy could be in line for an assistant special teams coaching position.
• University of Nebraska defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove as linebackers coach. Cosgrove, 50, supposedly is torn between staying in Nebraska and accepting his first NFL position, which could possibly double his current salary of $200,000. Cosgrove has coached college football for 26 seasons, the past two at Nebraska. He was defensive coordinator at the University of Wisconsin for nine seasons before going to Nebraska. He and Childress worked together on Barry Alvarez's Badgers staff.
• UCLA running backs coach Eric Bieniemy, a former Chargers running back, as running backs coach.
Eagles linebackers coach Steve Spagnuolo also has been mentioned as a candidate for defensive coordinator.
Childress said he hopes to have a staff in place by the end of the week.
Tomlin, in the last year of his contract, began coaching at Virginia Military Institute in 1995. After six more years in the college ranks at Memphis, Arkansas State and Cincinnati, he was hired by Bucs head coach Tony Dungy as defensive backs coach in 2001. Tampa Bay has ranked sixth or better in pass defense in Tomlin's five seasons, including first in 2002, when the Bucs won the Super Bowl, and 2004.
Working with Buccaneers defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, Tomlin has learned the finer points of the "Tampa 2" defense, one of the league's most respected and duplicated schemes. The system, if employed with the right personnel, eliminates big plays because the safeties split the field deep, linebackers patrol the middle and the pass rush is applied by the front four.
Dungy, who brought the defense to Tampa, still uses it in Indianapolis, where he's now head coach. Lovie Smith, the 2005 NFL Coach of the Year, uses it in Chicago. The Bears won the NFC North with an 11-5 record, finished second behind Tampa Bay in total defense and were first in scoring defense. Tomlin also has experience on offense. He was a three-year starter at receiver for William & Mary (1992-94), and also coached receivers briefly at Arkansas State.
_________________________-
Wasnt Cottrell in NY with Bill? Just saying, I wouldnt be shocked if we were interested in him if Zimm left.