DCC: Chuck Pagano

Submitted by OldMaize16 on

While many in the NFL are busy speculating about Harbaugh taking the Colts job when Pagano gets fired, not enough are talking about the possibility that Pagano finds a new home in Ann Arbor. This hire makes complete sense based on the timeline and the pace at which our coordinator search is moving. Pagano is in the Harbaugh family, having worked for John in Baltimore with Mattison. When the NFL season ends and Pagano is sent to the curb look for him to be packing his bags and heading North to Ann Arbor.

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Mgodiscgolfer

December 17th, 2015 at 9:18 AM ^

I have been so afraid to get out of bed this AM because I was sooo nausiated I figured if I stand I am going to need to run to the head. So then I stumble across that GIF and thats all she wrote. The only thing I will say do to the nature of such nastyness is I feel much better now. Thanks again.

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Ghost of Fritz…

December 17th, 2015 at 8:48 AM ^

...is really the most important thing for this DC hire.  The right fit from the NFL should not be dismissed merely because he has not faced a spread offense in the NFL

We you want is the following:

(1) A guy with a proven recored of getting the most out of the players he has on D.  That is what makes Harbaugh so great.  He gets the most out of the players he has available, in terms of teaching proper technique, personal motivation, optimal use of players in a system that fits the available skill set, and even in-game tactics.  

(2) A very smart but also mentally flexible defensive mind.  A very smart but flexible mind can spend the weeks and months after signing day breaking down every game film where teams were successful and not sucessful in slowing down the OSU offense, and then build a defense from the lessons learned. 

On the other hand a guy who stubbornly sticks to 'his way' of playing D would not be great, even if he has a couple of games where he slowed down spread offenses on his resume.

(3) To a lesser degree it would be nice to get a  'slash' name that will give instant credibility on the recruiting trail.  Ultimately, however, credibility on the recruiting trail will stand of fall on improving from 9-3 in 2015 to 11-1 (or better) in 2016. 

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bacon

December 17th, 2015 at 6:10 AM ^

“They can’t eat you,” Pagano said. “They can fire you, but they can’t eat you. So if the worst thing is a year from now, let’s say I’m in Boise playing with my granddaughters, I’m going to be fine. That ain’t going to happen, but I’m going to be fine if I go down that road.” I think he sees the potential writing on the wall and isn't worried about being eaten. So that's a plus. His team is tied for first in a bad division. It's still possible they make the playoffs. His defense in Indy this year hasn't been great, but that maybe more about personnel than scheme and coaching. I'd think he'd get a coordinator job in the NFL if he wants one.

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Indonacious

December 17th, 2015 at 6:49 AM ^

Why wouldn't he be in the running for NFL DC jobs? I feel like a NFL position coach like mike trgovac is more likely. He played for Bo, was panthers DC before but now is Gb Dl coach.

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carlos spicywiener

December 17th, 2015 at 7:10 AM ^

Do you have a single piece of evidence to support the idea that an NFL head coach is going to be a college DC?

 

This hire makes complete sense based on the timeline and the pace at which our coordinator search is moving.
All nfl coaches are fired on black monday. You could write this about anyone

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JamieH

December 17th, 2015 at 7:01 AM ^

his Harbaugh connections are indisputable, I'm having a hard time believing a NFL head coach who is coming off of 3-straight 11-5 seasons and had just one bad year with his QB injured would just jump right into an NCAA DC role.  He could easily get a HC job in the NCAA if he wanted it.  

The only logic here is if he only wants to be a HC in the NFL again and he wants to bide his time until a job opens up.  But even doing that I think he'd want to be biding his time in an NFL job.

Fun to think about this happening, and not 100% crazy due to the leaked info (NFL connecctions, home run hire, etc.) but I just can't see why Pagano would make this move. 

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BrownJuggernaut

December 17th, 2015 at 7:36 AM ^

The Colts' GM is a complete moron. They haven't addressed any of the teams' issues in the draft. The Patriots ran all over the Colts last year and instead of drafting a DT to address that concern, they drafted a WR. They needed OL to help their running game, they didn't do that either, as witnessed by Andrew Luck turning into trauma case Devin Gardner. I could totally see him using Pagano as the scape goat and letting him go.

On Pagano's side, I don't know where he's going. The idea of going to a place where he has the opportunity to coach his nephew and have control over the players that are brought in may appeal to him versus the stress of being a NFL HC. There are probably other NFL places where he may see more eye to eye with his GM. Who knows?

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AC1997

December 17th, 2015 at 7:38 AM ^

No NFL guys please! In this case there is no way he takes that big of a demotion. Moving from NFL to college is rare in general. Going from an NFL HC to a college DC? Nope. Plus he wouldn't be a strong recruiter if he is always interviewing for the next NFL job.

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wresler120

December 17th, 2015 at 7:47 AM ^

I may be way off base here, but why does everyone say the spread doesn't work in the NFL and then say in the next sentence that an NFL defensive coordinator won't be able to stop the spread?



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M-Dog

December 17th, 2015 at 8:07 AM ^

Because they have no experience stopping it.  They don't see it very consistently in games.

The spread is designed to create mismatches in space.  But in the NFL there are no mismatches . . . they are all "5-star" athletes.   

You don't get those perfect storm situations like happened to us this year with our linebackers matched against Elliott on the edge.  

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MichiganStudent

December 17th, 2015 at 8:40 AM ^

I completely disagree with there being no mismatches in the NFL. Most of the best offenses in the NFL are passing spreads.

Now I agree you won't see many or any spread option offenses in the NFL. I can't really say why but Id guess it has to do with running the franchise QB too much and the risk of injury if you're designing more QB runs.

The spread can be run at any level.



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LJ

December 17th, 2015 at 8:52 AM ^

I think this hits the nail on the head.  The only "spread" element that hasn't come to the NFL is heavy emphasis on QB running, and the only real explanation for that is the importance of hanging on to your franchise QB, who might be with you for 10 years if you're lucky.  Here's a nice article I hadn't previously read summarizing all of the ways the NFL is slowly moving toward the spread.

I still think some NFL team is going to have success picking up a group of cheap QBs in the JT Barrett mold and running full-on spread & shred, knowing that if one gets hurt, they plug in the next guy without breaking the bank.  In addition to the fact that it's a great offense that has come to dominate every level of football other than the NFL, they would get the added bonus of being unique and difficult to prepare for.

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Gulogulo37

December 17th, 2015 at 11:05 AM ^

Considering a running QB executing spread option is central to Urban's offense, I don't think you can just dismiss that as a small part of the spread that hasn't come to the NFL. The fact that it hasn't and we're talking about hiring a guy who hasn't dealt with that is an issue. Maybe Pagano is fine, but it's not something to write off.

I'd say the other possible explanation for why it hasn't come to the NFL is that playing assignment defense in tight spaces is much easier in the NFL. It's a bit different than Calvin Johnson on the outside. The guy is a freak athlete who is difficult to match up with.

Anyway, people talk about the athletic ability in the NFL, which is obviously above what college teams have, but I'm guessing just their general knowledge of football and knowing your assignment and analyzing plays is also much higher.

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