|
Thursday, 17 January 2008 |
|
Defensive Stability
Opinion by Dave Stefano
VikingsValhalla.com
The Vikings are looking like they very well may have a Defensive Coordinator two years in a row. With the Miami Dolphins announcing the hiring of Dallas’ offensive line coach, Tony Sparano as their new head coach that takes the first threat of Leslie Frazier’s coaching career moving on, off the preverbal table. Fans, and the defense, should be ecstatic because that hasn’t happened in the last decade except for the two year run of Ted Cotrell.
The other possible threat was that of Frazier going back to Indianapolis to replace Tony Dungy. It is looking less likely today. Words out of Indy are that Assistant Head Coach Jim Caldwell has taken his name out of the running for the vacancies in Atlanta, Baltimore, and Washington because of the impending decision of Tony Dungy to step down this year, or a promise from team owner Jim Irsay that he will inherit the team when Tony does call it quit. Irsay has asked Dungy to open the new stadium (which will make the Dome look even more dumpy... a whole other subject), but with his family now back in Tampa, that may not happen.
The theory or speculation there was that if Caldwell was hired before Dungy retired then the next best choice to take over the Colts was Frazier. That now looks to be mute.
Frazier could be added to the candidate lists at Atlanta, Baltimore, or Washington, but has not at this point, making his addition unlikely. Other possible vacancies include Seattle, where Mike Holmgren could give up the whistle for retirement, or even in New England if Bill Belichick decides to ride off into the sunset, but Leslie has no immediate ties to either club, and that seems to be part of this year’s hiring trend.
So, it is looking really good that Coach Frazier will be back driving the #1 rated rushing defense and improving the passing defense even more. Veterans like Darren Sharper will be pleased, and just like with the offense, the improvements should be marked and substantial. All of these meaning good things for the Vikings and their fans as the best of the team returns intact in 2008 with another year of playing together in their system and nothing but room to improve. This is a good thing.
Go Vikings! |
Discuss (4 posts)
|
Frazier Looking To Stay
Jan 17 2008 17:56:54
This thread discusses the Content article: Frazier Looking To Stay
With the developments in Miami and in Indy, Frazier looks to be staying put. That is good for the players, good for Childress, good for the Vikings as a whole and great for us fans. It should open the opportunity of the defense to come into its own and become elite. A couple of good additions in the offseason and folks getting healthy, and the rest of the league better watch out.
Today is a good day for the Minnesota Vikings.
|
#2394 |
|
Re:Frazier Looking To Stay
Jan 18 2008 16:04:26
Confirmation out of Indy:
Irsay: Caldwell would replace Dungy
Posted: January 17, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) -- Assistant head coach Jim Caldwell would replace Tony Dungy if the Indianapolis Colts coach retires, team owner Jim Irsay said Thursday night.
Irsay hopes Dungy will return and expects to speak to him this weekend, the owner said at a party celebrating an exhibition of the Jack Kerouac "On The Road" manuscript he owns at The New York Public Library.
Irsay said he might be able to make accommodations for Dungy such as allowing him to attend his son's high school football games in Florida on Friday nights. But he has no doubt that Dungy's commitment will be "100 percent" if he continues coaching.
"That's the type of guy he is," Irsay said.
Otherwise, he said, "Jim Caldwell would be the guy."
The Colts, the Super Bowl champions last year, were 13-3 in the regular season before falling 28-24 to San Diego last week in their playoff opener.
Caldwell has been an assistant to Dungy the last seven years -- one in Tampa Bay and the last six with the Colts, where he has coached quarterback Peyton Manning. Caldwell filled in for Dungy for one game in 2005 following the death of Dungy's 18-year-old son, James.
Caldwell spent more than 20 years in college football, and his only head coaching experience came at Wake Forest. He spent eight seasons with the Demon Deacons and led them to a bowl game in 1999.
Caldwell turned 52 on Wednesday and has interviewed with the Baltimore Ravens, Atlanta Falcons and Arizona Cardinals for head coaching jobs over the past year.
Like I said yesterday, it looks like Frazier is staying put, and that is a very good thing for the Vikes.
|
#2401 |
|
Re:Frazier Looking To Stay
Jan 19 2008 01:28:38
Frazier would make a great head coach... hopefully it will be with the Vikes! 
|
#2404 |
|
Re:Frazier Looking To Stay
Jan 20 2008 04:24:45
I may have "analysized" a little early.
FRAZIER INTERVIEWS FOR FALCONS’ GIG
Posted by Mike Florio on January 19, 2008, 5:47 p.m.
Chris Mortensen of ESPN reports that Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier has interviewed for the vacant head-coaching position in Atlanta.
Frazier was omitted from the first round of head-coaching interviews, which were conducted by a nine-person clusterfudge committee. Thus, the move suggests that brand-new G.M. Tom Dimitroff has some real juice in the process.
ESPN.com also reports that the Falcons are expected to interview Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo if New York loses to the Packers in Sunday’s NFC title game.
The Falcons didn’t need to interview Frazier in order to comply with the Rooney Rule, which requires that at least one minority candidate receive a face-to-face interview for each head-coaching position. The Falcons previously interviewed Colts assistant head coach/head coach in waiting Jim Caldwell.
On Friday, we caught wind of rumors of a mystery candidate for the job. We’ve been unable to dig up any more information on that point.
But then again, I still think I'm correct in saying that we will have our first DC for consecutive years in a long time. (Leslie is getting some good head coaching interview experience though.)
|
#2414 |
Discuss this item on the forums. (4 posts)
|
|
|
Valhalla Members Online
No users online
| SHOW YOUR VIKINGS PRIDE! |
|
|
| |
| |
Please help support VV
by throwing $5 bucks our way!
|
|
|
|
|
