Report: Jim Hermann Interviewing For Eagles Defensive Coordinator Opening

Submitted by MGoVoldemort on
Multiple outlets are reporting that ex Michigan defensive coordinator Jim Hermann is in Philadelphia interviewing for the Eagles defensive coordinator position. @AdamSchefter: Giants LB coach Jim Hermann is interviewing for Eagles defensive coordinator job, per league source. On a side note, I think these reports are false. Coach Hermann is just in Philadelphia in his pursuit of Donovan McNabb. But in typical Jim Hermann fashion, he's about 2 years too late.

Dutch Ferbert

January 20th, 2013 at 6:04 AM ^

But that Purdue loss was on the offense as well... they couldn't buy a first down in the second half.

Plus, I think the 99 team with Brady also could have been nc caliber with a more competent defense.

Except for 97, his defenses and especially secondaries never lived up to their potential.

With that said, he gave us 97 so I wish him well.

lilpenny1316

January 20th, 2013 at 10:35 AM ^

The offense went into the turtle position against Purdue.  You can't leave the defense on a hot field all day and not expect them wear down eventually.  Also, don't forget that we played the UCLA game without Henson.  So the defense, again on a hot field, did an admirable job keeping the team in the game.  They just weren't good enough that year as a team.

Magnus

January 19th, 2013 at 2:42 PM ^

Herrmann is the type of guy who takes heat for very little reason.  The guy won a national championship; he also gave us Rob Renes, Glen Steele, Charles Woodson, Larry Foote, Marlin Jackson, Gabe Watson, Jeremy LeSueur, Victor Hobson, LaMarr Woodley, Leon Hall, and Ian Gold (all or parts of their careers).

Lucky Socks

January 19th, 2013 at 4:16 PM ^

Sort of justified it by proving he was one of the most dynamic QBs in the last two decades.  Much more than an athlete, and you can't deny that he had a pro career that most QBs would kill for.  Donovan McNabb was a once-in-a-decade talent and I don't think it's a disgrace to get torched by him.

Armanti Edwards and Dennis Dixon on the other hand...

Fergodsakes

January 19th, 2013 at 4:28 PM ^

Herrmann was not here in 2007 when Armanti Edwards did his thing. Ron English was DC at that time.

As a coach, has won a Super Bowl ring (with NY Giants last year) and of course his National Champ ring with UM. 

As a player, on the team that got Bo his first Rose Bowl victory.

Lucky Socks

January 19th, 2013 at 4:31 PM ^

I know that.  Could have been more clear but I'm defending Jim Herrmann, who was a great coordinator for his entire tenure.  Meanwhile, Ron English had a fantastic season in his first year (Herrmann holdovers?) and sort of regressed beyond that.  Somehow Herrmann seems to attract more criticism than English.  

stephenrjking

January 19th, 2013 at 3:50 PM ^

I think Herrmann won in '97 in some significant part because he was scheming with players that Greg Mattison had taught and developed; remember, the '96 defense was rather good itself.

I also suspect that Herrmann was limited in part by Lloyd's requirements for what he wanted in a defense (Lloyd got the schemes he wanted on both sides of the ball) and in part by what was, overall, an undermanned positional coaching staff. The secondary, in particular, was relied upon to shut down opposing receivers but was unable to cut the mustard against the better players.

Remember, Herrmann was the guy who thought up that brilliant okie strategy against Purdue in '03 that turned a good Purdue offense into jello; perhaps his finest moment as a coordinator.

Let's face it, Herrmann had his ups and downs at Michigan, but Mattison had the same before he left--I think Jim has probably learned a lot since his time at Michigan, just as Greg did before he came back. It wouldn't surprise me if he got the job, and it wouldn't surprise me if he were good at it, especially if he has the right players.

snarling wolverine

January 19th, 2013 at 6:23 PM ^

Herrmann was definitely very aggressive with the '97 defense, but Mattison's defenses (in '95 and '96) were also pretty aggressive.  Our D was excellent those years and let down by some dreadful offense.  We held a great Ohio offense to nine points in Columbus in the '96 game (their only loss of the season).

It was more Carr's defenses (he was DC from 1987-94) that people got sick of (although that too was unfair - we won five Big Ten titles in a row when he was DC).  Mattison was well-regarded when he was here.

lilpenny1316

January 20th, 2013 at 10:49 AM ^

that were not well-regarded.  The main difference between the 1995-1996 team and the 1997 team was the QB play.  That improvement was the difference between us losing heartbreakers to NW two years in a row and coming back to beat Iowa in 1997.  

But the zone-blitz was a beautiful addition.  Thank you Jim for that.

BlueHills

January 20th, 2013 at 3:10 PM ^

I got to know Jim Hermann a few years back, during a summer at the UM alumni camp, Michigania. Jim played for UM and loved Michigan with a passion, loved the Team, and was really proud of being a Big Ten assistant coach.

He told me (rather convincingly I might add) that it's not easy to build a program that wins consistently in the Big Ten. I know we sometimes look at the teams that don't win often and think, "easy out," but the fact is that a ton and a half of work goes into getting that "out" and maintaining the program's winning ways.

He is great fun to be around.

There is no "typical Jim Hermann fashion" that's late. He's a great guy, and an excellent coach. I wish him every success.