Mike Nolan in Green Bay as Defensive Coordinator?

by Brandon on Jan 6, 2009 11:45 PM CST in News Comment 6 comments

The rumor of former 49ers head coach Mike Nolan taking over as defensive coordinator, as reported by ProFootballTalk, has begun to float:

"A league source tells us that Nolan curently is in the process of lining up a staff of assistants, and the thinking is that Nolan will be the next defensive coordinator of the Packers."

49er fans are happily looking back at the free agent signing of QB J.T. O'Sullivan because it led to the canning of Mike Nolan. So that is not a ringing endorsement. He did a lot of damage to the 49ers when he was acting as their GM from 2005-2007, but not necessarily due to his defensive coaching. He also was a PR disaster, especially when talking about QB Alex Smith.

He's got a solid resume and been on the NFL sidelines every Sunday for the past 20 years. Maybe we should worry about whether the current players would fit into the scheme Nolan prefers, but I honestly don't know that much Xs and Os to say.

It doesn't matter who the defensive coach is unless he has players who can get the job done. And GM Ted Thompson has to do something to reload the roster in the defensive front seven for whoever the next defensive coordinator is. The selection of the new defensive coordinator is not as important as free agency in March, and the draft in April.

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Nolan's a 3-4 guy

I like nearly everything about him. He’s a high profile guy who is uber-professional. He’s had some success with some great defenses (Ravens 02-04). And I just get a good vibe to him.

However, switching to a 3-4, a drastic change from our current set-up, is not what we need now. We need to win now. We need someone to come in, patch up our holes and get the most out of our superb athletes. Learning the 3-4 would be a risky and time consuming endeavor.

Additionally, I don’t think our personnel stack up too well. We don’t have a true nose tackle, a guy like Vince Wilfork who just engulfs the middle of the field. Pickett is a solid run stuffer, but I don’t think he has the bulk or strength. Some people say the greatest problem is at our ends. I think this is half true. I can’t see Kampman playing 3-4 end or out-side backer. He is perfect as a 4-3 end and to compromise the strengths of arguably our best player seems silly. However, I do think Cullen Jenkins could be a great 3-4 end. Some say he’s to small, and would need to put on weight, but I’m more focused on how he plays: strong at the point of attack, solid against the run, great penetration. So maybe Jenkins would make the transition seamlessly. But most of the team wouldn’t.

Yeah, I like the idea of Nolan as a coach…so long as he doesn’t bring the goofy 3-4 ( which, I suppose is what the Ravens and Steelers run but oh well, it’s not for us).

"stay (green and) gold"

by Green and Bold on Jan 7, 2009 2:57 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I love the 3-4,

but its just not for us. My gut still tells me Winston Moss will become the Defensive coordinator, and if not him then maybe a Tampa 2 guy, I just don’t know who because it appears Marinelli’s either going to Chicago or Seattle, and the new DC in Tampa probably wouldn’t make a lateral move. ’Course that probably means Al Harris is gone, too.

Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words—"mank" and "ind". What do these words mean? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind.
-Jack Handey

by jobe on Jan 7, 2009 11:05 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Not a 3-4 roster

Kampman’s listed at 265 which is a little light for a DE in a 3-4 set. Jenkins is at 305, he might make an outstanding 3-4 DE, but I would like to see that he’s healthy first before making the switch. It doesn’t matter at NT/DT; they’ve gotta upgrade at that position anyway.

I also don’t like the idea of using the current LBs in a 3-4. Barnett might be a great outside LB in the 3-4, but again, I’d like to see that he’s healthy too.

Although it’s been rumored that Nolan would be willing to run any scheme, depending on the personnel.

by Brandon on Jan 7, 2009 10:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

green and bold, great analysis

Thank for analyzing the limitations of the 3-4 (as it pertains to our roster). We went 13-3 with the 4-3 and I really love our defensive line when we get pressure from the front 4. When we drop 7 back on third and long, with our corners and emerging safeties, it’s gangbusters. We really have a personnel/injury issue…we need a DOminating defensive tackle and a HEALTHY Cullen JEnkins and someone to replace KGB’s 10 sacks per year as a pass rush specialist.

But let’s not forget that we have two aging tackles (one with a season ending injury) and inconsistent (but young) Guard play. So Let’s not forget the Oline too!

by PackFaninFL on Jan 7, 2009 10:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs