Giants hire defensive line coach

by Ed Valentine on Jan 27, 2010 4:34 PM EST in New York Giants News

The New York Giants today announced that they have filled the final vacancy on their defensive coaching staff, hiring Robert Nunn to coach the defensive line.

Here is the release from the Giants.

Nunn, a 22-year coaching veteran who has spent the last 10 seasons in the NFL, was a defensive line coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2009.

Nunn replaces Mike Waufle, who held the position for the previous six seasons. He joins defensive coordinator Perry Fewell as the new members of Coughlin's staff.

"Robert Nunn has been in professional football for 10 years and he has coached some outstanding players at every stop along the way," Coughlin said. "He is a guy who did an outstanding job on the board with the X's and O's in the interview process. More than that, he is a guy who, by virtue of how he presented himself, I feel very strongly will bring the best out of the players that he coaches. He will provide structure. He will gain their trust. He will prove to the players the techniques that are important. When that happens and they buy into it, I think the results will come back for us. He will coach a very important position on our team, one that we will rely on heavily to bring us back to the level of championship play."

"We're very excited to have Robert Nunn join our football staff," Fewell said. "He comes highly recommended from some of the other coaches throughout the league. He's coached in championship games; he was the D-line coach for Green Bay when the Giants played the Packers in the NFC Championship Game. He has worked with a number of excellent players - Jason Taylor, Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, Bruce Smith - and he has 10 years of experience.

"I look for him to bring to our defensive line fundamentals, technique, toughness, energy and to bring us together as a group to help make us a good defensive line unit."

Prior to this season in Tampa Bay, Nunn spent four years (2005-2008) coaching the defensive tackles for the Green Bay Packers.

Nunn at a Glance

1988	Northeastern Oklahoma	Defensive Line
1989-90	Tennessee	Defensive Ends
1991	Georgia Military College	Defensive Coordinator
1992-99	Georgia Military College	Head Coach
2000	Miami Dolphins	Defensive Assistant
2001-2002	Miami Dolphins	Asst. Def. Line/Quality Control
2003	Washington Redskins	Defensive Line
2004	Miami Dolphins	Special Assistant
2005-08	Green Bay Packers	Defensive Tackles
2009	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Defensive Line
2010	New York Giants	Defensive Line

Fewell had previously stated that the remaining Giants defensive assistants will be retained. So, it appears the coaching staff is in place.

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Interesting.

I love how all these coaches must have some sort of military background….

I would say he’s “Tampa 2 approved”, but Tampa didn’t play Tampa 2 last year.

Much more intrigued from his work with the Packers, where every DT they got seemed to be good.

Cullen Jenkins, Johnny Jolly, even guys like Ryan Pickett realized their talent under him with GB.

Hard not to like this one. Hopefully it works out, cuz Wauffle was very good.

You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you are going, because you might not get there

by FreeBradshaw on Jan 27, 2010 4:48 PM EST reply actions

Yes, Waufle was good

I think Waufle burned some bridges, though, this season. Heard some chatter that he sided with Umenyiora in his disputes with Sheridan, and that TC was very unhappy about that division. No confirmation of that, but if true it would help explain why Waufle is gone.

by Ed Valentine on Jan 27, 2010 5:02 PM EST up reply actions

also the contract thing too...

he’s in no position to ask for a raise..yet did apparently.

I know every and all detractors will point at the Bucs being a pretty bad defensive line….but they played well towards the end (beat the Saints at least…)

You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you are going, because you might not get there

by FreeBradshaw on Jan 27, 2010 11:00 PM EST up reply actions

Waufle DC?

I wonder if it had anything to do with him not getting the DC job, and then perhaps having too much to say about how he would have been a better choice.

by giantblue63 on Jan 28, 2010 10:32 AM EST up reply actions

Hopefully

it works out, and he can light a fire in The D-lines butts. I dont want to read comments about how much we missed Wauffle. I dont know much about Nunn, but if he is as good with D-tackles as you say, Free then we can finally get a push in the middle we needed

by bigblueguru on Jan 27, 2010 5:03 PM EST reply actions

Quinn

Why does he have a job? Are there even any rumblings of firing him? I’m pissed we missed the bus on April, even more pissed he went to dirty Philly.

by TNYFBG on Jan 27, 2010 5:03 PM EST reply actions

Quinn

Really needs to go!! Iv never seen anyone at any job put up 3 years of medirocracy, and keep there job

by bigblueguru on Jan 27, 2010 5:15 PM EST up reply actions

it took them this long because they were specifically looking for a coach whose team somehow managed to put less pressure on the QB than us

by mclaren_is_the_best on Jan 27, 2010 5:13 PM EST reply actions

Obviously guessing as to who is the right piece for us is futile at best,

but I have seen this guy before (pre-NFL) and he’s pretty fiery at times, reminds me of a young Coughlin on steroids. Pretty stern dude, not obnoxious, but knows what he wants and has a track record of being able to get his guys to do what he wants. A former player of his told me that the squad he played on would’ve done anything for the guy. That’s a good thing to hear.
Not too shabby of a choice if you ask me. Ha, never thought there’d be an advantage to living in GA. Ever lol

We didn't even have a chance for the "perfect season", but we did have the perfect ending.

by GAgiantfan on Jan 27, 2010 5:17 PM EST reply actions

That seems to be the common denominator

With Fewell and now Nunn, players play for them. Something that was probably lacking last year, IDK. Though i’ve never heard of him (Nunn) before, it’s encouraging to bring these type of coaches in here! BTW, who knew about a Georgia Military College? lol

by Hootman on Jan 27, 2010 5:39 PM EST up reply actions

LOL!!

Nice stuff to hear about the guy. TC admitted he is always impressed by guys w/military backgrounds. I do think TC thought Waufle had gotten too friendly with the linemen, and wasn’t getting the most out of them any more.

by Ed Valentine on Jan 27, 2010 5:47 PM EST up reply actions

seems to fall in line as the 'motivator' type thing.

You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you are going, because you might not get there

by FreeBradshaw on Jan 27, 2010 5:55 PM EST up reply actions

Interesting

Don’t know enough about coaching assistants, so I’ll bite my tongue and hope its a good choice.

Never assume skill at bouncing a ball makes you smarter than the guy who built the court.

When there's a WILL there's a WAY

by Willgfass on Jan 27, 2010 5:59 PM EST reply actions

I played against Nunn's teams in college(93-97)

and I must say they were very well coached. He always seemed to be very prepared and he did indeed have a lot of energy on the sidelines. Could be a very good hire!

by LT56 on Jan 27, 2010 6:40 PM EST reply actions

Well I am going to have to take your guys word for it..

The only Nunns I know are the ones that beat the tar out of me in grade school..You get hit in the head enough times by Nuns, you add the extra ‘N’, hence Nunns..I can’t believe they will keep Quinn, though unless maybe he is a good used car salesman.

by Bobbiblue on Jan 27, 2010 8:12 PM EST reply actions

Now that I think of it, maybe that is why they like Quinn..He has two 'N's in his last name..

by Bobbiblue on Jan 27, 2010 8:25 PM EST up reply actions

Then again when I "think" these days, all conclusions are very suspect.

One of our younger guys need to run this combo of coaches through Madden whatever game videos for me, then I’ll have enough info to feel comfortable about this Nunn guy.

by Bobbiblue on Jan 27, 2010 8:33 PM EST up reply actions

No can do Bobbi

in my madden franchise, The giants have the #1 scoring and total yardage defense in the game.

Can’t fire Sheridan with results like that [ :) ]

Never assume skill at bouncing a ball makes you smarter than the guy who built the court.

When there's a WILL there's a WAY

by Willgfass on Jan 27, 2010 8:47 PM EST up reply actions

Please keep trying Will!!

by Bobbiblue on Jan 27, 2010 9:40 PM EST up reply actions

bump up that difficulty

i play on all madden and im probly top 10 team offense and defense.. get real pissed when i lose a game but def more fun that way

Give me work release or give me death - #17

by Plaxico Burress on Jan 28, 2010 3:07 PM EST up reply actions

Nah

All madden isn’t that fun. When Defensive tackles are as fast as chris johnson, the game just feels broken.

Never assume skill at bouncing a ball makes you smarter than the guy who built the court.

When there's a WILL there's a WAY

by Willgfass on Jan 28, 2010 4:33 PM EST up reply actions

There was a LB

Freddie Joe Nunn, he played for the Cardinals back in the ’90’s(?). If i can remember, he was pretty good too.

by Hootman on Jan 28, 2010 8:00 AM EST up reply actions

You regulars teach me so much!!!

I do, so much appreciate your expertise and valued opinions. I feel like I’m learning so much more with your every POST!!! NOT like other boards were the average poster is RUN away for not being able to have such a highly regarded EDUCATED GUESS/opinion as the regular posting elite would have!! SO MUCH MORE TO LEARN!!!!!!!!

by NYCGMEN on Jan 27, 2010 10:32 PM EST reply actions 1 recs