2020 Coaching Changes: Defensive Coordinator
Breaking down how new defensive coordinators – and by extension, new head coaches – are going to impact our IDP players is like throwing darts blindfolded. We need to find our way in the dark so we can predict and better prepare for designation and scheme changes. Here we take a look at the current changes across the NFL to see who is getting crushed moving to outside linebacker and who will get a value boost as a defensive end.
While these are important questions, it shows the need for leagues to switch to “True Position” leaving all these designation changes behind. See this great article from Ryan Early on True Position
New signings
Jack Del Rio – Washington Redskins
This is an easy place to start. Rio is a strong defensive coordinator. He is coming along with new-in-town Ron Rivera for a nice ride to Washington.
This scheme will be a de facto 4-3, which likely spells designation changes for current players like Ryan Kerrigan and Montez Sweat. Perhaps more importantly, if Chase Young is drafted he will be a defensive end. This is a huge boon to his value and should see him cemented as the top IDP rookie.
With a strong handful of EDGE players in Washington, there might be small rotation to be had, which is good for the team, bad for IDP players. It will be interesting to see how former first-rounder Jonathan Allen and mid-career breakout Matt Ioannidis are deployed.
Cory Undlin – Detriot Lions
There will likely not be many changes here since Matt Patricia runs the defense for the Lions. Undlin is well respected in the NFL community, but he was responsible for a horrifically bad corners group in Philadelphia. Whether that was on Jim Schwartz or Undlin remains to be seen, but he gets a shot at contributing more to the defensive scheme in Detroit.
He also has been a part of three Super Bowl winning seasons, so the pedigree is there. Undlin and Patricia worked together for the Patriots in the 2004 season to a strong result, with the Patriots leaning on the defense and taking home the championship.
Brandon Staley – Los Angels Rams
The 34-year-old newly-minted defensive coordinator is a bit of an unknown for most. He was most recently the outside linebackers coach for the Broncos, and for the Bears before that. His hiring in replacement of defensive powerhouse Wade Phillips is likely a shock to many Rams fans.
For IDP players, we will see the Rams sticking with a 3-4 under scheme, potentially leaving Aaron Donald as a defensive tackle designation. This defense will go through some changes as 2019 playmakers Cory Littleton and Dante Fowler become free agents and offensive star salary ramifications motivate attempts to save cap room on defense. Staley will have his work cut out for him.
Phil Snow – Carolina Panthers
Matt Rhule brought along most of his staff from Baylor, including defensive coordinator Phil Snow. He ran a 4-3 at Baylor, and while the most recent scheme in Carolina was a multiple front they still have the personnel in place for a 4-3 scheme. This bodes really well for Brian Burns sticking at defensive end.
Snow spent some time in the defense-bereft Big 12, but their 2019 squad was a stout unit. They held offensive powerhouses Oklahoma and Georgia to under 30 points. Snow coached the Lions linebackers from 2006 to 2008, so he has some NFL experience.
Mike Nolan – Dallas Cowboys
Mike Nolan has been around the NFL for a long time. He’s been mostly a defensive coordinator or head coach since 1993, to varying degrees of success. He has helmed eight different teams to top-ten defensive seasons, and another five in the top half of points allowed.
After spending the last three years as the linebackers coach for the Saints, Nolan found his way to Dallas. He brought along Jim Tomsula to lead the defensive line and should bring a bit more urgency and attack mentality to a line that sorely disappointed in 2019. He has not been tied to a scheme and we should see multiple fronts and alignments, but for designation purposes, I would be surprised to see anything but a 4-3.
Patrick Graham – New York Giants
After leading Miami’s defense to one of their worst seasons in recent memory, somehow Graham got another defensive coordinator gig immediately.
He’s spent time in a lot of schemes and worked with Giants head coach Joe Judge while the pair was in New England, so I expect to see the 3-4 alive and well at Meadowlands. He has however used multiple fronts that match what an offense is trying to do, so it’s worth noting the 3-4 might be base but 4-3 concepts will be plentiful.
Joe Woods – Cleveland Browns
Woods spent some time as DC for Denver. He left their 3-4 scheme, but had inherited that group and let it ride with their personnel (namely, Von Miller), being a defensive-back focused coach. It makes sense that he keeps what was in place upon arrival as DC.
He will likely keep the 4-3 intact, but you never know. I would say it sticks for the near-term future as a 4-3 front matches the current personnel in Cleveland.
Other promotions
Josh Boyer – Miami Dolphins
Boyer is an internal promotion that really won’t have too much of an impact on an . . . interesting defense. He will have a low bar to clear to have a better 2020 than 2019. There’s only one way to go from here!
Raheem Morris – Atlanta Falcons
Morris had an immediate impact in Atlanta when he was switched back to the defensive side of the ball after the team’s bye week. The Falcons gave up just 18 points per game over the rest of the season, after ceding 31 points per game before the bye. Their scheme won’t change much going forward and could see a turnaround in production.
- 2023 NFL Scouting Combine: Defensive Player Dynasty Review - March 13, 2023
- 2022 NFL Scouting Combine: IDP Dynasty Review - March 10, 2022
- 2021 Post-Draft Superflex and Integrated IDP Rookie Mock - May 14, 2021
