The Evidence keeps piling up…..OR NOT!
UPDATE: MIKE NOLAN HAS BEEN HIRED AS THE BRONCO’S NEW DC
Sources: Nolan Heading To Denver
The National Football Post has just been informed that former San Francisco 49ers head coach Mike Nolan has officially been hired as the defensive coordinator of the Denver Broncos.
The Broncos continue their coaching overhaul as the Nolan hiring comes just one day after Denver hired former New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to be their new head coach.
Nolan went 18-37 as the head coach of the 49ers.
More on this story as it develops.
First we had reports yesterday from Pro Football Talk that “Rumors fly of Nolan to the Pack”
Second Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press Gazette added that Nolan was the likely choice:
Mike Nolan has emerged as the clear front-runner to become the Green Bay Packers’ next defensive coordinator.
Two NFL sources said Tuesday that coach Mike McCarthy appears likely to bring in Nolan to replace Bob Sanders, whose firing was announced Monday. One source said word at the Cactus Bowl, the all-star game for Division II seniors in Kingsville, Texas, is the move is all but done. Another said there appeared to be at least a 90 percent chance Nolan will join the Packers.
Third we now have this From Mike Lombardi of the National Football Post:
FIVE THINGS I KNOW:
4. I know that Bill Johnson, the Broncos’ defensive line coach, is scheduled to meet with the Saints, Seahawks and Packers this week. And his meeting with the Packers will center on the 3-4. Going back and forth between the 3-4 and the 4-3 is not hard to do if you have someone who can play over center, and the Packers do in Ryan Pickett.FIVE THINGS I HEAR:
2. I hear the Packers are committed to becoming a 3-4 defense. This must mean Mike Nolan is coming on board very soon.
All in all it adds up to indicating that very shortly there will be a press conference at 1265 Lombardi Avenue announcing the hiring of Mike Nolan as the new defensive coordinator. It would also appear that his addition will, at the very least include the Packers playing some 3/4 defense and more likely will include the Packers switching to the 3/4 as their base.
The biggest problem I have with that move is that to me it accentuates our biggest weakness which is the front 7 on D. We already have issues on the DL and now we are going to add to that (despite Lombardi’s assertion about Pickett) by having no true 3/4 NT on the roster.
Also, many speculate that our best DL, Aaron Kampman, will not fit well in a 3/4 D. Also we do not have the prototypical 3/4 LBs that most teams running a 3/4 D have. All in all to me it is taking what was already a weakness for us and making it worse.
One thing is for sure, its going to put more pressure on Thompson to really go out and get involved in FA this season, because if we truly are going to run the 3/4 then we are going to have to add some Veterans that know how to run it. Like Ray Lewis, Terrel Suggs, Chris Canty etc….
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I will be personally surprised if Mike Nolan gets the job. Everyone always says it is not a problem when someone you used to work for comes to work for you. I see issues though if he’s added to the coaching staff, but not with the defensive personnel. Between McCarthy and Nolan.
Though not exactly similar, a perhaps instructive example was when Ted Thompson was made General Manager over Mike Sherman. All involved denied any issues, but they were always there.
If the Packers must go to a 3-4 it would be better to have someone else than Nolan running it. I prefer your choice of Giunta better, who apparently would use the 4-3 with aggressive pass rushing. I’m not sure a media consensus is proof positive, but I don’t see good things with a Nolan/McCarthy combination.
I must say I share Patrick’s misgivings about the 3-4. As I posted elsewhere, I don’t see why we would take our 2 best DL-men (Kampman and Jenkins) and hamstring them in a scheme which they don’t fit. It’s not as if we are blessed with many players as good as they are! And transitions take time.
Patrick’s point about taking a weakness and making it worse is well made. Unless Coach Nolan really can take a scheme and fit it to our players. But that may not be the 3-4.
Interesting times!
Just to add to the mix, Tom Sliverstein on the JS site is saying that Gregg Williams is a serious candidate.
http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/37250404.html
I would think it would be a priority of MM’s to get someone who is better at adjusting their scheme around the talents of their personel, as I believe Sanders inability to do so was one of the reasons he was not succesful and got canned. I think Williams would be a better fit than Nolan. But to be honest either one would be a def improvement.
So, Ty Knott (what a name!) got fired today. He was the offensive quality control coach, so some changes at least on the offensive side.
This mini-firestorm in the media is very interesting. Nolan won’t comment or even talk to the media. Could it be that pressure is being put on McCarthy to make a decision quickly?
I think we can tell a lot about what is going to happen by the timing of events. If no DC choice is announced before the end of this week, then my guess is that McCarthy is not really considering a change to a base 3-4. I was unaware that Haslett had the same relationship with McCarthy as Nolan until I read the article referenced by Chris above.
My hope is that McCarthy has decided not to go for former associates, but to have an independent and talented outside person come in to shape the defense. Perhaps his decision is influenced by Ted Thompson’s experience. So for me, no news this week is good news.
Wouldn’t we essentially be the doppleganger of an unsuccesful 49ers team if Nolan takes over. That is where McCarthy was OC with Nolan right?
Hi all
In an article reporting the Broncos hire of Josh McDaniels as HC, Adam Schefter has this to say:
“McDaniels’ most significant hire will be his defensive coordinator. And Denver’s new defensive coordinator is expected to be former 49ers head coach Mike Nolan, a Broncos source confirmed Sunday night.”
The rumour mill contines to turn
Good post Chris. Do you have a link to the article?
Thanks, John. Sorry I missed off the link – it is at: http://blogs.nfl.com/2009/01/12/mike-nolan-bound-for-denver-too/