Richard may have his faults ( too simplistic? mediocre blitz designer ?) but he wasn't provided a setting all to himself here.
- He was forced to keep a LB coach that he could not get along with,.. he wanted to hire his own LB coach but he was denied that.
then came the internal mutiny between LB Ben Bloom.
- and he was forced to work under (the vastly overrated) Rod Marinelli and his questionable rotations and ridiculous run gap scheme
which too often seems to have players running out of positions, gaps and angles - trying to " stop the run on the way to the QB "
And don't forget the Taco Charleton debacle and his low regard for the 1 tech role and his "quick quitch "size preferences that insist on movement over size/muscle at that 1 tech role.
and has it been explained who was the DC here ? Richard took over the defensive signals from the "titled named" DC marinelli who supposedlywas working with just the DL unit for pass rush and run gaps.
- Marineli was running the front four DL and gap schemes, while richard handled the back seven.
But was that Richard's own defensive signals ..or was he running what signals Marinelli wanted him too ?
- If you're bringing in a highly regarded defensive mind from a scheme your team coveted, let him run the entire show and allow him to bring in and operate his own staff.
But like another regarded defensive asst. Matt Eberflus, Richard had to take and continue a secondary role and work with those who were contradicting to what he preferred. (Bloom)
- But he did metamorph Byron Jones from an average FS into a 2018 pro bowl CB (how he made All pro list with zero INTs i'll never know)
that allowed Jones to become the highest paid CB in FA, and likely grant us a future compensatory 3rd rounder next year.
if DB Joe Baker were still here last 2 years Jones would still be an average, no play making FS.
- Also there are some still here that blamed Richard for not promoting Jourdan Lewis over Anthony Brown, and blaming on size preferences.
yet despite new coaching changes, Brown (Richard's preferred 3rd CB over Lewis) was re-signed and still likely to play over Lewis.
So who will Lewis fans now blame with Richard now gone? .... Inquiring Minds wanna know
- And i still contend that if the new Defensive staff is strongly considering moving Chido Awuzie to safety, does that mean that they don't think much
of him as a CB, ..or that they value him more as a safety ? Does Richard get blame for this Awuzie as well if it goes down ?