I think we had a lot of stars align this year. i think there are 3 things critical to a solid defense: 1) Coaching/scheme 2) Talent 3) Player health We had all 3 this year. We only know we have #2 next year. We also have to hope the players buy in to their new coach. In general, defensive players are extremely loyal. It's going to take the leaders on D (Mack, Hicks, Trevethan) all to buy in and get the rest of the team to fall in line.
Bears have dropped their coaches for the safeties, outside linebackers, and now regular linebackers coach is out. Waiting to hear from DL coach Jay Rodgers and DB coach Ed Donatell.
Great players don't always make good coaches. So who knows. But I'm not opposed to having a guy with the knowledge that Reed has spending his time at Halas Hall.
I think Reed and Eddie Jackson are a natural fit. But, as you said, Reed would need to make for a good coach - that's more rare than not. Edit: Supposedly, they'd really like to keep Donatell. Don't know why they wouldn't. So it's likely his choice as to where he's going.
Brandon Staley, OLB coach, just landed in Denver with Fangio. Considering that Donatell was with Fangio in SF as well as Chicago and that no DC is in the cards for him....I don't see why he isn't also following Fangio. I hope he stays...I just see it as unlikely.
Interesting question: Floyd came on, as the year went on. He went from, "Fuck he's useless" to, "Hey, I'm glad that guy's on the field". And that's a hell of a leap. The most effective player on our defense? Nowhere close. Still making errors that allow for opposing yardage / scores? Absolutely, but on significantly fewer occasions. Rather than being obvious, you'd have to look for those occasions, as the season went on. To what do we attribute that? Coaching? Personal motivation? Finally a comfort in what he's being asked to do? Likely a combination of several factors, but the reason I ask is - how much does coaching have to do with it, and will we miss the staff we had in getting the most out of guys like Floyd? Or is it a case where Floyd just needed to step the fuck up?
Really good question and really hard to pinpoint. If it's coaching...where was that the last couple seasons? Or did injuries get in the way of progress? I think it could be a mixture of all things...coaching, personal motivation, health, and playing opposite one of the best pass rushers on the planet. I also thought that Floyd got better as Roquan did. And obviously playing oppo of Mack has massive benefits.
If you had told me in the first 8 games of the season they would I would have been pissed...but after how he played down the stretch I'm very much okay with this.
Did anyone else notice Floyd seemed to gain some muscle as the season went on? I wouldn’t be surprised if his improvement can be attributed to more than just coaching.
Floyd was useless when he had to play with a club/cast at the beginning of the season. I think his come on was a combination of getting over the injury and coaching. Not only from coaches but from one of the best in the business. I am sure Mack had some helpful tips for him. I would think any weight lifting would have been put on hold till his hand was better so that could explain him putting on some muscle towards the end of the season.
Hey is this important? I just read it. Kansas State could be about to lose its defensive coordinator for another job. The worst part of that? He hasn’t even coached a single game in Manhattan yet. According to a report from FootballScoop.com, Ted Monachino, recently hired by Chris Klieman to be defensive coordinator for the Wildcats in Manhattan, is reportedly being looked at by the Chicago Bears, who are not expected to retain linebackers coach Brandon Staley and assistant defensive backs coach Roy Anderson under new defensive coordinator, ProFootballTalk reported. If the report of Monachino to Chicago comes to be true, it would send Klieman scrambling for a defensive coordinator and certainly have a negative impact on K-State. Monachino came to K-State after acting as a senior defensive analyst at Missouri this past season. Before that, he spent the past 12 seasons in the NFL, most recently as the defensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts in 2016 and 2017. He also was with the Baltimore Ravens in 2012 coaching linebackers, where he earned a Super Bowl ring. (What’s happening with the Kansas State Wildcats? Make sure you are on top of the latest news — Sign up for our FREE Powercat newsletters now!) Monachino has some college experience, too, as before that time in the NFL, he was in college for 10 years, most recently as the defensive line coach at Arizona State from 2001-2005. While there, he coached NFL great Terrell Suggs to NFL caliber. In his last two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, Monachino helped develop linebacker C.J. Mosley into one of the most productive young players at the position. In 2014, Mosley became the first rookie in Ravens history to be named to the Pro Bowl as his 129 tackles ranked eighth in the NFL and first among rookies. Monachino also coached Pro Bowler Elvis Dumervil to a franchise-record 17.0 sacks in 2014 as he and Suggs (12.0) combined for the most sacks of any duo in the NFL (29.0) that season. "I am pleased to have Ted, Brian (Anderson) and Van (Malone) join our staff as all three have significant experience at the Power Five level in addition to Ted's world championship as a member of the Ravens' staff," Klieman said in a press release from K-State athletics the day of the hiring. "The nine total coaches that we have assembled to this point provide a great blend of familiarity with my philosophies as well as the K-State program, Power Five experience and background in recruiting territories that we feel are important to our continued success." 6COMMENTS If Monachino were to take the job with the Bears, Klieman and K-State might end up looking internally first for a defensive coordinator. Blake Seiler, who was retained as Klieman's defensive line coach, served as defensive coordinator for the Wildcats this past season. Klieman has also hired a handful of defensive coaches that could step into that role, or perhaps he will go even further outside and find a replacement.
And another one. Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace announced the team’s plans to pick up Leonard Floyd’s fifth-year option on Monday’s end-of-season press conference. The move comes as the Bears get ready to enter an important offseason following a 12-4 regular season record. “I think with Leonard [Floyd], that’s a fair question. Our plan is to pick up that fifth-year option," Pace said. "He played well and we’re happy where he’s at." The outside linebacker will be under contract as a Bear through the 2020 season. Floyd’s 2020 salary will also approach the $13 million range. And, to Floyd’s advantage, his salary will be guaranteed even if the 26-year-old gets injured. Floyd had the best season of his career in 2018. When Floyd’s future in Chicago started to look bleak early on in the season, he became a popular name on the NFL trade market. Despite this, he rose to the occasion when it mattered most. He recorded a career-high 47 tackles, nine tackles for loss and defended four passes. The 2016 top-10 pick also had his first career interception, which he returned for a score. The Bears do have until mid-May to officially exercise the option, but Pace has already guaranteed it will happen. Floyd officially has a future in the Windy City. Fans and pundits alike will be on the lookout for how his play improves with new defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano in town.
Yeah at least for one year after that who knows. Let's see if he can maintain that level he was playing at towards the end of the season, and I'm sure they'll be watching for the same thing. Picking up an option year is certainly one thing inking a new contract at a higher price is certainly quite another.
