A closer look at the Steve Spagnuolo intrigue
Steve Spagnuolo is now available, sending a portion of Eagles fans into debate about the prospect of hiring the former Eagles linebackers coach/Giants defensive coordinator/Rams head coach/Saints defensive coordinator.
A closer look at the Steve Spagnuolo intrigue
Zach Berman, Inquirer Staff Writer
Steve Spagnuolo is now available, sending a portion of Eagles fans into debate about the prospect of hiring the former Eagles linebackers coach/Giants defensive coordinator/Rams head coach/Saints defensive coordinator.
Of course, the Eagles defensive coordinator job might not be as available as it appears, if the job is simply waiting on ice for 49ers defensive backs coach Ed Donatell after the Super Bowl.
But any potential marriage between Spagnuolo and the Eagles might also be complicated by the Eagles' potential scheme. There have been hints that the Eagles will switch ot a 3-4 under coach Chip Kelly. (Donatell ran a 4-3 in his stops as a defensive coordinator, but coaches in San Francisco, where they run a 3-4.) Spagnuolo's career has been marked by an attacking 4-3 defense similar to the one Jim Johnson used with the Eagles. In fact, one of the reasons the Saints made the change was because they want to run a 3-4. (It also didn't help that the Saints gave up more yards than any team in history under Spagnuolo last season.)
But for argument's sake, let's examine Spagnuolo. There is a faction of fans who see what happened in New Orleans last season and don't want anything to do with Spagnuolo. Of course, he also won a Super Bowl in his first season as defensive coordinator with the Giants. He's well thought of around the NFL, and especially in the NFC East. The Eagles know him, he knows Philadelphia. He also has head-coaching experience, which could be a benefit on the staff.
Spagnuolo has a connection to Kelly. They both have New England roots (as do many members of Kelly's prospective staff), and coached in the same conference in the early 1990s. Because Spagnuolo just became available on Thursday, his candidacy is a recent development. Perhaps there's a different spot on the staff for him -- an assistant head coach role, or something of that nature -- or maybe Spagnuolo can find a coordinator job elsewhere.
But if the Eagles go to a 3-4, don't expect Spagnuolo to be the coordinator.
- The way the coaching contracts are written is that the Bears are responsible for the difference between what his new contract pays and what he was being paid under his old contract. So, using your figures, he'd be paid $1M by the Birds and $4M by the Bears, thereby saving the Bears $1M plus taxes and benefits on the $1M. They always write the contracts this way so that the fired employee has no motivation to sit home and ust cash the checks.
It may be an issue for Lovie to be coaching under a first year coach straight out of college. Kelly may not want a guy like that on his staff because that coach could usurp his own power and status on the team. The very last thing a brand new head coach wants to worry about is losing power on his own team.— beegal99- "In fact, one of the reasons the Saints made the chance was because they want to run a 3-4." -- Have some pride in your work..— i am the law
- Forget Spagnulo, time to move on. Didn't the Eagles pursue Spags last year and he decided to move on to the Saints. Good luck, Spags, we will miss you.— billtfla
- Spags star has gotten a little dimmer each year, with Saints players coming right out and saying they didn't want to play for him. Pass.— drbob1
- @billtfla- That was because AR was still here.— realtruth
- @drbob1- Do we in Philly really care what a Aint's player has to say.— realtruth
- @MagMgirl: can't reply to your comment directly for some reason. Revis is only 27 years old. You talk like his ACL injury has ruined his future! Consider next year a rebuilding year with the new coach, so it doesn't really matter if Revis isn't back to 100% until later in the season. Don't assume that his career is done. That's just plain ignorant. I read that the Jets wanted a 1st AND 2nd round pick for Revis. If that's the case then forget it. We have too many holes and need those picks. If we can get him for a 2nd this year and a 2nd next year, then HELL YES!— BleedPhilly
- CaptAwesome, you should be CaptMoron because Lovie gets his $5m either way. I think Spags would be a great choice but wth Coach Chip gets to hire whoever he likes and that's as it should be.— PhillySubsMac
It's up to Chip.— Richard Saunders- I would say the number of ex-reid assistants already being retained/brought back will keep Kelly from hiring Spags. Would you want to have so many remnants of the former regime still around? Spags would make 4 out of roughly 10 assistants who were under Reid. If Kelly does well he will be discredited since he had Reid's players and coaches.— Saver
- When asked for his opinion, Ike Reese...who has played for Donatell...was noticeably lukewarm in his response.— dasher
- @realtruth: Don't care that much what a Saints player has to say, but the level of play for the Saints D last year tells me to pass.— drbob1
- I dont believe some people or this newspaper. Why should the Eagles hire a defensive coordinator that was the coach for a defense that will go down as one of the worst in NFL history. If this team or its fan base had any sense they will call Lovie Smith and give him what he wants— eisfresh
- Spags or Donatell? If given these choices is there really a question here? Spags is a former Eagle and that is what this team needs. Tradition. Someone who knows how to show these yutes what Eagle football represents. Spags/Westbrook/Trotter/Dawkins. Let's bring back the tradition. We got Carmichael and Duce on the sideline. Let other teams know what it means to play the Eagles. Make the question "Are you Ready for Some Eagles Football?" mean something again. I have no idea what it means now. You know why we have so few turnovers? Because no one hits anybody hard anymore. We need another Tim Hauck with some size. Another Dawkins putting people on their backside. Another Trotter launching himself up the middle to bust up a play. Spags can bring this back to the defense. Not 4th and 26.— rockinrob
