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.
We need his NFL tutelage for Kelly and we need his Birds/JJ DNA for the defensive players.— Earl J
spags had one good year as a d coordinator— psualum- Bring Spags back. @psualum,What the heck are talking about.— realtruth
- This comment has been deleted. — masterncommander
- And yet here you are on our sports page. Doesn't that say a lot about you if what you say is true? Just some food for thought, you do the dishes.
- Funny how everyone wanted him before last season. What a difference a year makes.
I think he's a great coordinator. It takes time to develop a great defense when you don't quite have the pieces. Not sure what the Saints expected out of him ... he didn't have much to work with but they were improving. He deserved another year, at least.
Same trend in NY. Struggled early, but as the players got more and more comfortable, they flourished. They just had a lot more talent in NY than in New Orleans ...— Bradley85 - If a defense is sucessful, who cares if it's a 3-4 or 4-3. Don't change to a 3-4 just because everyone else is doing it. Spags would be a great fit as our DC. He studied under JJ and can turn this D around. Get Spags, send Nnamdi and DRC packing, trade for Revis, and draft a solid CB for the other side. Get it done.— BleedPhilly
- @BleedPhilly: Funny how many of those posting on here tear down any player the management bring in who have been injured. Yet you say trade for Revis? The last time I saw Revis on NFL network, he was lying half unconscious on a bed while a little hinged padded board moved his knee. Up and down. Up and down. I do believe that the secondary, like the receivers they are covering, are required to move laterally as well? There are no more Bionic Man Adrian Petersons out there. — MagMGirl
- so Donatell is a 3-4 coaching coordinator who lands in SF at a D-backs coach. Donatell is therefore a retread. A coordinator is only as good as his personnel, I don't understand why people would think Donatell is the best option when he's only benefitting from having a really good SF players with him. Whats so good about plucking a guy from a winning organization when he's only a D-backs coach? Someone explain that to me!— AHash
- NO! No more retreads, has-beens and losers! The Eagles need WINNERS!— Panthro2011
- Again...why isn't Lovie Smith name being mentioned as a DC? He took a real mediocre Bears Defensive and found out how to win games...He's been a head coach and the Bears Defensive has always been intimidating and ball hawking...— abig1
- I'd love me some Lovie too, but the answer to your question has been stated by posters on this site and many others like a billion times. It takes two to tango! — Stephen45
- @abig1 Um, Mediocre Bears defense? Urlacher/Briggs/Tillman and for some of his time Mike Brown/Julius Peppers/Tommie Harris. Hardly mediocre. — Norma Stitz
- Spags had a bad year in New Orleans? That defense has sucked out-loud for years. The only reason they "looked" good during their SB run was b/c of the crazy amount of turnovers they created. Don't hang the Saints' defensive woes solely on Spags...— CaptAwesome
- yeah...switch to a 3-4 so we can get rid of our best defensive player demeco ryans...awesome— AlexSp
