Pepper Johnson
A lot of people want to see Pepper Johnson as the next DC. I like the idea in the sense he was a Giant, but I am skeptical since Bill Belichek did not want him to be his DC in New England and Pepper had been with him almost his entire playing career and coaching career. Putting aside he is a beloved player from the past, why is he a good choice?
Steve Spagnulo "Spags"
Another link to the past. The DC of 2007 and 2008 and he was great while he was here, but he also had Tuck, Osi, Pierce, Webster, Kiwi all in their prime. Since he has been gone, he failed as a head coach with the Rams, failed as the Saints DC, although that team was a cluster. As the Ravens secondary coach this year they were injured and beat up at CB, but safety Matt Elam regressed and the over all safety play of the Ravens regressed.
Putting Spags history aside, why is he a good choice?
Dick LeBeau - He would make Tom Coughlin a young guy. He is an attacking zone blitzing 3-4 DC. Some say we do not have the personnel to run a 3-4. I'd argue our defense sucks so making a change is not that hard. Why is he a good choice?
Who else you want?
How many of us have been on jobs in our personal lives that for one reason or another we were passed over for other individuals even though we were qualified for the job.
Now keep this in mind about BB. It has OFTEN been said of BB that because he is such a defensive genius that it is really HIM who runs the defense and not the DC...
Think about this for a second.. If it was anyone else...who had this on his resume..
2 Time Superbowl Champion as a player
3 Time Superbowl Coach
13 years studying under of the the best defensive minds of all time
Has experience playing and coaching the 3-4 and the 4-3
Successful at every level he has been at as a player AND as a coach
Learned from the ground up coming up the ranks
Has coached ALL PRO players and Champions at the Linebacker and DL positions..
On his departure to join the Buffalo Bills where ny the way his unit was one of the NFL leaders in Sacks AND has THREE players voted to the Pro Bowl This year... His coach said this
"I am proud and honored to have spent more years of my career with Pepper Johnson than any other player or coach. Of all the people I coached or worked with, nobody has more passion and love for the game than Pepper. His energy and wisdom for football knows no limits. Pepper made me a better coach and person and helped create some of the greatest moments of my career. He is a great player, coach and lifelong friend and I am sure he will enjoy continued success as he moves forward."
Seriously... the ONLY thing people come up with is...
Oh well BB didnt make him a DC so I dont want him...
The Giants will DEFINITELY do their diligence and research..
Thank you for proving my exact point.. Its like because he is an ex Giants player we ignore his accomplishments as a coach working under a defensive mind like Belichick... in fact its like its the exact opposite..
Thats why I say if it was ANYONE else with his resume there would be LESS questions..
And here again.. thank you for proving my point..
LT being a better linebacker isnt even a part of the issue at hand..
And being a Superbowl Winner as a player DOES mean a lot when you are coaching. You gain the respect of the PLAYERS you are coaching because they know that you have achieved one of the greatest accomplishments you can as a player.. and you have done it TWICE...
ALSO good job IGNORING the fact that he actually HAS a solid coaching resume for 14 years.. with a winning organization.. under one of the better defensive minds and coaches.. AND the units he has coached has consistently produced not just Solid NFL players but ALL PRO Players.. and when he left BB he went to Buffalo as the DL coach and THAT unit is one of the better ones in the NFL... but hey lets ignore his accomplishments as a coach.. because he was an ex player..
EXACTLY my point..
To you, working under BB is enough to prove Pepper is ready to be a successful DC. I don't believe that. If he was such an up and coming star I don't thInk BB would pass him over and then let him leave, but neither of us knows the full story there.
I haven't seen enough to get excited about him - you have. If the Giants hire him I hope he comes in and turns the defense around. They know much better than either you or me.
If we go Spags,or Schwartz that would be fine also. I don't want Pepper or anyone else without any experience being a DC.
I just think the timing is right and the fit here is perfect from the culture of the organziation, to the coaching staff to the organziation. Probably the most seamless transition for the win-now situation that Coughlin is in.
2. Schwartz- like the credentials. A little bit of a personality issue potentially so you wonder if he would be a good fit within this organization. A premium is put on character here especially as a coach. But aside from that he has proven quality experience as a DC. Will he run an aggressive more attacking system than Fewell? I would think so and one of the only candidates with both quality experience as a DC and a good fit systematically with the personnel.
3. Dick LeBeau- If he was 10 years younger and willing to run a 4-3 base (with perhaps some 3-4 looks) , this would be a no-brainer. The resume speaks for itself. One of the best DCs perhaps of all time and a likely HOF. Also he is one of the best blitz designers out there. But I just don't see us trying to switch to a primarily 3-4 defense if that's his preference. Coughlin is in win now mode and moves like that usually take 2 years (or more) to pay dividends.
Been warming up to this idea quite a bit.
What does Snoop have to do with defense? Do you mean a dog eat dog defense?
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for their input. We need a doggy dog defense.
What does Snoop have to do with defense? Do you mean a dog eat dog defense?
Ha! And if he does mean dog-eat-dog, that doesn't make sense either.
I think it is a legitimate question in NE.
The guy who became their DC came 6 years after Pepper did
As others have mentioned, if he was not an ex-Giant we would all be questioning what he has to offer
I think it is a legitimate question in NE.
The guy who became their DC came 6 years after Pepper did
As others have mentioned, if he was not an ex-Giant we would all be questioning what he has to offer
This is the issue I have again.. If it was ANYONE else with his resume.. WITHOUT the connection to the Giants..
there would be less issues..
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A lot of people want to see Pepper Johnson as the next DC. I like the idea in the sense he was a Giant, but I am skeptical since Bill Belichek did not want him to be his DC in New England and Pepper had been with him almost his entire playing career and coaching career. Putting aside he is a beloved player from the past, why is he a good choice?
How many of us have been on jobs in our personal lives that for one reason or another we were passed over for other individuals even though we were qualified for the job.
Now keep this in mind about BB. It has OFTEN been said of BB that because he is such a defensive genius that it is really HIM who runs the defense and not the DC...
Think about this for a second.. If it was anyone else...who had this on his resume..
2 Time Superbowl Champion as a player
3 Time Superbowl Coach
13 years studying under of the the best defensive minds of all time
Has experience playing and coaching the 3-4 and the 4-3
Successful at every level he has been at as a player AND as a coach
Learned from the ground up coming up the ranks
Has coached ALL PRO players and Champions at the Linebacker and DL positions..
On his departure to join the Buffalo Bills where ny the way his unit was one of the NFL leaders in Sacks AND has THREE players voted to the Pro Bowl This year... His coach said this
"I am proud and honored to have spent more years of my career with Pepper Johnson than any other player or coach. Of all the people I coached or worked with, nobody has more passion and love for the game than Pepper. His energy and wisdom for football knows no limits. Pepper made me a better coach and person and helped create some of the greatest moments of my career. He is a great player, coach and lifelong friend and I am sure he will enjoy continued success as he moves forward."
Seriously... the ONLY thing people come up with is...
Oh well BB didnt make him a DC so I dont want him...
The Giants will DEFINITELY do their diligence and research..
Still, he has never called a game. Never been forced to make on the spot adjustments..And so on..Some can adjust pretty quickly..Many can't..Being passed over several times by Belichick should not be dismissed. Shouldn't be the end-all either, but I hope we pass..I don't want to spend Eli's years having a DC grow in his job
wait and see.
I would be thrilled if he came in and instituted an effecting and disruptive very multiple attacking DL.
You would have the history/toughness/loyalty and the wins.
But...do we know who can do it? as fans we really don't have a clue, unless you want to take time off and do a research project on it
If we go Spags,or Schwartz that would be fine also. I don't want Pepper or anyone else without any experience being a DC.
I wish we would go with LeBeau. That would be amazing.
I am not sure he could coach a 4-3, though. I have no idea.
But he is such a proven commodity, TC would be a fool to not reach out to him.
Changing us to a 3-4 would be a multi-year rebuilding process, though. it would be building around the weakest part of our D.
I just think the timing is right and the fit here is perfect from the culture of the organziation, to the coaching staff to the organziation. Probably the most seamless transition for the win-now situation that Coughlin is in.
2. Schwartz- like the credentials. A little bit of a personality issue potentially so you wonder if he would be a good fit within this organization. A premium is put on character here especially as a coach. But aside from that he has proven quality experience as a DC. Will he run an aggressive more attacking system than Fewell? I would think so and one of the only candidates with both quality experience as a DC and a good fit systematically with the personnel.
3. Dick LeBeau- If he was 10 years younger and willing to run a 4-3 base (with perhaps some 3-4 looks) , this would be a no-brainer. The resume speaks for itself. One of the best DCs perhaps of all time and a likely HOF. Also he is one of the best blitz designers out there. But I just don't see us trying to switch to a primarily 3-4 defense if that's his preference. Coughlin is in win now mode and moves like that usually take 2 years (or more) to pay dividends.
Last year we thought Coughlin would play it safe and bring in Mike Sullivan, and he threw a switch and went with McAdoo. So I guess we never can tell, but... for better or for worse, I think your analysis is very accurate.
At least Spags will run an attacking defense, so that is much preferable to a Tampa 2 or a read and react defense. Interested to see what Spags would do with a lot less talent up front, but arguably much more at cornerback, if everyone comes back.
Matt Patricia got the DC job, and has great credentials in his own right. You guys need to stop talking like Pepper got passed up and was never even considered. He left and found immediate success at his next stop and had 3 of his guys make pro bowls and tie or set new career marks in sacks.