If Spags goes, who replaces him?

by Ed Valentine on Dec 30, 2008 6:00 AM EST in New York Giants News

Thus far three NFL teams have fired their head coaches, and New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is on the short list of potential replacements in Detroit, Cleveland and with the New York Jets.

When the dust settles there could be even more openings, increasing the possibility that Spags will end up with a head coaching job somewhere in 2009.

So, if Spagnuolo leaves who replaces him as guru of the Giants' defense? Let's look at some of the obvious candidates.

Bill Sheridan: I read recently that Sheridan, in his fourth season as Giants' linebackers coach, would have been elevated to defensive coordinator this season if Spagnuolo had taken the Washington job last off-season. So, Sheridan has to go right to the top of the list of candidates. His four years with the Giants comprise his only NFL experience. In his 28 years of coaching, Sheridan has never been a head coach or coordinator. Sheridan's bio
Peter Giunta: He is in his third year as secondary coach with the Giants. He was defensive coordinator for the 1999 Super Bowl champion St. Louis Rams -- a team better known for its offense. Still, that does give Guinta a pedigree. Giunta's bio
Romeo Crennel: Our own 'cjmulrain' started a debate yesterday over whether the Giants should hire Crennel, just fired as Cleveland head coach, if Spagnuolo moves on. Crennel has tremendous defensive qualifications, having been Bill Belichick's defensive coordinator in New England from 2001-2004, when the Patriots began their dynastic run. Crennel also has roots with the Giants, having been an assistant in New York from 1983-1992. I suspect Romeo is a much better coordinator than head coach, but my gut tells me the Giants hire from within for this job. If they don't he is definitely an intriguing option. His chances might be helped by the fact that Giants' coach Tom Coughlin was also an assistant with the Giants during part of Crennel's tenure with the team in the 1980s, so there is a history.
Mike Nolan: Fired this season as San Francisco's head coach, Nolan, like Crennel, is another guy with a great track record as a defensive coordinator and a lousy one as a head coach. He also has roots with the Giants, having been defensive coordinator from 1993-96. He has also been a coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets and Washington Redskins.
Mystery Candidate(s): I don't claim to be an expert on assistant coaches around the league, and I am sure Coughlin and General Manager Jerry Reese have been keeping their eyes open for talented coaches they think might be ready to become coordinators. That is how Coughlin found Spagnuolo. Now he might just have to hope he can do it again.

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I spoke with Coughlin

He assured me that the Giants ARE going to win the Superbowl, at which point he’ll retire, and Spags will take over…

You play to win the game!

by Simms-McConkey on Dec 30, 2008 7:39 AM EST reply actions

Rex Ryan?

any way we may be able to pry this guy away from Baltimore? He did not get their HC job and Harbaugh is a lot younger. I have to think we might have a shot if we could make him Asst. Head Coach (a position he currently holds with the Ravens) and the potential for replacing Coughlin in 2 to 3yrs. Just a thought.

Maybe Sean McDermott (Philly Safeties and CBs Coach) or Pete Jenkins (Philly DL coach). No idea how ready they are, but they know the schemes Spags would run so maybe a quick look at very least.

by losangelesmets on Dec 30, 2008 8:03 AM EST reply actions

I'm sure Gilbride would love that

by TerraByte on Dec 30, 2008 10:34 AM EST up reply actions

Anybody else think

That Bill Sheridan looks eerily like Joe Theissman?

As far as where Spags winds up, I don’t think its any of the three current openings.

1. I think the Jets job depends on lot on Favre. I think if they want him back for another year, its going to take an Offensive minded head coach to do it. Mike Sherman could be a contender here.

2. The Browns, why would anybody want that job? Spags is smart enough to spot a dog with fleas. He’ll steer clear of Cleveland, methinks.

3. Detroit: don’t underestimate this story about Parcells possibly opting out of his Miami contract under new ownership. The story is gaining steam down here, and he could be hired in Detroit to do the same job he did with Miami. If that is the case, I don’t see Spags getting the Detroit job, he has no history with Parcells.

If you put a gun to my head, I would say if Spags does get a head coaching job, its in Kansas City.

Giants fan from the womb to the tomb

by Jim Schmiedeberg on Dec 30, 2008 8:06 AM EST reply actions

Scratch Number 3

Lions filled the President position in house

Giants fan from the womb to the tomb

by Jim Schmiedeberg on Dec 30, 2008 9:21 AM EST up reply actions

Lions have resigned themselves to indefinite suckitude

You play to win the game!

by Simms-McConkey on Dec 30, 2008 10:48 AM EST up reply actions

Sheridan

Does anyone else think he’s actually done a good job? He deserves a kudos for getting Kiwi ready to play LB, but the young LBs on the team really haven’t developed like I hoped they would (especially Wilkerson). LB is the weakness on the D.

To me Guinta is like hiring an outsider because he already has his own system. I don’t think that happens.

I really don’t know who’s the best option, but I think that its someone that wants to keep this system intact. Reese has built the D specifically to play this way with our strengths at D-line & corner.

by potroast on Dec 30, 2008 9:03 AM EST reply actions

Good point about the LB's

Giants fan from the womb to the tomb

by Jim Schmiedeberg on Dec 30, 2008 9:22 AM EST up reply actions

jr & pot

TC and JR know if Sheridan has done a good job. Granted LB is now the team’s weak spot but we won the Division, etc. Maybe he’s done a great job based on what he had to work with. Wilkerson’s biggest problem seems to be his fragility. Is that Sheridan’s fault? Anyway, from the little I’ve seen of Kehl I’d say he’s a winner.

by blue gonz on Dec 30, 2008 1:49 PM EST up reply actions

that's a fair point

it’s hardly Sheridan’s fault that Pierce is getting old either

by JoshNY on Dec 30, 2008 5:16 PM EST up reply actions

System

If you want the system, which I think we would all like, that means hiring from the existing staff. So, Sheridan, Giunta or DL coach Mike Waufle.

by Ed Valentine on Dec 30, 2008 9:26 AM EST up reply actions

Or

as mets mentioned, we could go after Philly assistants. Also, it’s not just what I want … I really think its what TC & Reese want too. Of course take that with a grain of salt because I obviously have no idea what they are really thinking.

by potroast on Dec 30, 2008 9:38 AM EST up reply actions

Yeah I said that yesterday

They basically have 2 best options:

1. Promote from within
2. Go raid the Philly staff again

Bringing in someone like Crennel or Nolan I don’t see as the answer. This defense is built thru the Jim Johnson system, might as well stick with people who know it well.

Giants fan from the womb to the tomb

by Jim Schmiedeberg on Dec 30, 2008 9:54 AM EST up reply actions

Where is Spags leaning?

Is there any indication of where Spags wants to go? Philly is the only team I know of that he has any ties to.

Is there a chance he decides to follow in the footsteps of his mentor, Jimmy Johnson, and just stay put and become one of the best DC ever?

by John W on Dec 30, 2008 9:57 AM EST reply actions

No idea

He hasn’t interviewed yet. There is some speculation that the Jets job makes the most sense, but we will just have to see.

by Ed Valentine on Dec 30, 2008 10:03 AM EST up reply actions

What's Spags' current deal?

Was he given an upgrade when he turned down the Skins last year? I hate to lose him. How about Assistant Head Coach, replacing TC when he retires?

by django48 on Dec 30, 2008 10:54 AM EST up reply actions

That's been talked about here

but that is a horrible arrangement that usually causes problems as far as who is in charge. It tends to split loyalty. Besides, TC has three years left on his current deal. And, considering his success, how can you tell him now that you are forcing him out at the end of that contract? You can’t. So, that whole thing is a nice thought but it isn’t going to happen.

by Ed Valentine on Dec 30, 2008 10:57 AM EST up reply actions

i don't think it would be a problem

TC isn’t involved with the D, I would imagine. I think that sort of split is easier as opposed to Garret in Dallas. Skins overpaid Gregg Williams to be Asst HC and that didn’t seem to be a problem

by queler on Dec 30, 2008 12:52 PM EST up reply actions

gotta keep the system in place..

whoever comes in, I just hope that that coach can keep the attacking, blitzing system in place. That’s really all I care about. No more of the “read and react” system. The players hate it and that defense just doesn’t seem to work in the NFL today. The attacking, blitzing D is tailor made to the personnel on this team.

by Cody K on Dec 30, 2008 12:10 PM EST reply actions