Cardinals now have an Outside LB coach

[Hollywood]

http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/KentSomers/159373

The Cardinals now have an outside linebackers coach. Ryan Slowik, previously the defensive quality control coach, has been promoted.
I noticed it when reading this blog entry from ESPN.com's Mike Sando, who compared the size of coaching staffs in the NFC. With 17 coaches, the Cardinals have three to four fewer than the other three teams. Slowik was listed as outside linebackers coach. Some intrepid reporting revealed that, yes, Slowik had been promoted. It just had not been announced. They have a relatively small staff by NFL standards. But small is not necessarily a bad thing. The Patriots have a smaller staff than the Cardinals. The Steelers' staff is similar size to the Cardinals' staff. Those two teams have done pretty well.
There was no immediate indication from the Cardinals if a new quality control coach would be hired, or if Slowik would continue doing those duties. Either way, it's a good move for Slowik, who joined the Cardinals in 2009. His father Bob is the Redskins' defensive backs coach.

Interesting. I wonder if this is Whiz finally losing faith in Grimm.

 

[Hollywood]

Damn it! I think wishful thinking got ahead of my reading. So, never mind.

In fact, this whole thread can be deleted

 

[Cheesebeef]

this: "With 17 coaches, the Cardinals have three to four fewer than the other three teams." along with the fact that the Cardinals have one of smallest scouting/front offices in the league just rubs me the wrong way.

 

[artp]

From the article, "The Steelers' staff is similar size to the Cardinals' staff". Similar? We are talking about numbers in the 20's. The Cardinals have 17. Do the Steelers have 1 more? or 2? Similar?
The word "similar" in this context reminds me of when I was pulled over for speeding for "approaching" 10 miles over the speed limit. I asked the officer if I was driving 1 mile per hour, wouldn't I be "approaching" ten miles over the speed limit? eventually?
I still got the ticket.

 

[The Commish]

Playing devil's advocate, quantity does not always equal quality. Though I still agree that it sounds like the "penny wise, pound foolish" nature of our organization. Good to see they're putting an emphasis on improving the OL.

 

[Matt L]

I have always wondered what the quality control coach does.

Head Coach: How are things looking out there?
Quality Control Coach: Things are looking good

 

[desertdawg]

Sometimes I flex in front of the mirror, make Bruce Lee sounds

 

[kerouac9]

Ryan Slowik is the son of current Washington Redskins DB coach/former Chicago Bears/Cleveland Browns/Green Bay Packers/Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Bob Slowik.

 

[Shane]

this: "With 17 coaches, the Cardinals have three to four fewer than the other three teams." along with the fact that the Cardinals have one of smallest scouting/front offices in the league just rubs me the wrong way.

Playing devil's advocate, quantity does not always equal quality. Though I still agree that it sounds like the "penny wise, pound foolish" nature of our organization. Good to see they're putting an emphasis on improving the OL.

That Robert Kraft must be cheap too. You guys completely over think this IMO. The nfl is a crony business. I'm willing to bet that most staffs are to big rather than to small.

 

[Shzm13]

That Robert Kraft must be cheap too. You guys completely over think this IMO. The nfl is a crony business. I'm willing to bet that most staffs are to big rather than to small.

Belichick makes $7.5 mil/yr, highest paid coach in nfl history.

Cards are cheap. Don't let it ruin your day.

 

[52brandon]

http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/KentSomers/159373



Interesting. I wonder if this is Whiz finally losing faith in Grimm.

??? I don't see what having another coach on defense has to do with Grimm

 

[cardpa]

??? I don't see what having another coach on defense has to do with Grimm

I agree the article has him moving to be an "Outside Linebackers coach". What has this to do with the OL???????

 

[PitchShifter]

OP got a little excited and misread. Explanation is in the 2nd post.

Damn it! I think wishful thinking got ahead of my reading. So, never mind.

In fact, this whole thread can be deleted

 

[BullheadCardFan]

I thought this was for an Offensive Line coach.

 

[jf-08]

Title changed

 

[dreamcastrocks]

http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/KentSomers/159373



Interesting. I wonder if this is Whiz finally losing faith in Grimm.

Not seeing the relationship between a new LB coach and Whiz losing in faith in Grimm.

 

[Cheesebeef]

That Robert Kraft must be cheap too. You guys completely over think this IMO. The nfl is a crony business. I'm willing to bet that most staffs are to big rather than to small.

I think if you prove that you historically have the best coaching staff in football you can whatever you want... as opposed to historically sucking for the better part of 50 years.

 

[Goldfield]

I think if you prove that you historically have the best coaching staff in football you can whatever you want... as opposed to historically sucking for the better part of 50 years.

Correct.

 

[gmabel830]

I have always wondered what the quality control coach does.

Head Coach: How are things looking out there?
Quality Control Coach: Things are looking good

From Wiki Answers (I had a general idea but wanted to pull something from the internets): "Often, a quality control coach is new to the coaching business. They do not coach a specific position but have several other responsibilities. Among those duties are breaking down film of upcoming opponents, scouting those opponents, and acting as an assistant during practices."

 

[DoTheDew]

Belichick makes $7.5 mil/yr, highest paid coach in nfl history.

Cards are cheap. Don't let it ruin your day.

Yeah and Whiz is the 4th highest paid coach at $5.8 mil/yr without any of the shiny SB rings that Belichick has. Not a very good argument.

 

[THESMEL]

It Don't

Who wrote this crap on OUR website? Might be a reach for star credentials? I don't know rather to laugh or cry, since i quit drinking!
"
Slowik worked as an assistant secondary coach for UW-Oshkosh in 2004. His secondary played a key role in the Titans posting the ninth best turnover margin in Division III that season.

"



I was cursed off the board for mentioning that the cardinals hired 2 sons of friends that rounded of the most inexperienced coaching staff maybe in NFL history in 2009!

Kevin Spencer is by far the most experienced coach on the team, Whiz, Russ Grimm, John Lott, Horton, need to take responsibility instead of pointing at others- " I'll fire every one of the players if I have too-it might be my fault for getting to close to some of them and caring about them personally" ( pets)

NA, that couldn't be your fault whiz? We fans will pay good money to watch a HC/staff kiss frogs AZ, that never turn into princes. well at least until Horton Coaches the Cardinal out of them.

It really is a mess- objectively- just look at us!

And our OLB play has really sucked as Coach Ryan Slowik got in Joey Porter and Clark Haggins face and told them how the cow ate the cabbage!

Slowik and Chad Grimm

http://www.azcardinals.com/team/coaches.html

Biography



Ryan Slowik enters his fourth season with the Cardinals now coaching outside linebackers after joining the organization on 3/2/09. The seventh-year NFL assistant came to the Cardinals in 2009 after working four seasons with the Denver Broncos. Slowik joined the Broncos in 2005 as a defensive assistant and worked two seasons in that capacity before working as a special teams assistant in 2007 and as the assistant defensive backs coach in 2008.
In 2007, Slowik assisted veteran NFL special teams coach Scott O’Brien in the instruction of Denver’s special teams. Broncos kicker Jason Elam became the first kicker since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger to convert four walk-off, game winning field goals in the same season with two in regulation and two in overtime. In 2005-06, Slowik worked closely with the Broncos defensive backs as cornerback Champ Bailey was the runner-up for NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2006 after tying for the NFL lead with 10 interceptions and leading the league with 11 takeaways.

In 2005, Denver’s secondary totaled 20 interceptions, the most by the team in four years. Bailey was named first-team All-Pro and joined safety John Lynch in being selected to the Pro Bowl.

A former strong safety in college at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (2002-03), Slowik began his playing career at Youngstown State before transferring to UW-Oshkosh.

Slowik worked as an assistant secondary coach for UW-Oshkosh in 2004. His secondary played a key role in the Titans posting the ninth best turnover margin in Division III that season.

Slowik’s father, Bob, is a 19-year NFL assistant who currently is the defensive backs coach for the Washington Redskins.

Slowik was born in Gainesville, FL and attended Adlai Stevenson (Lincolnshire, IL) High School. He and his wife, Valerie, have a son, Tye and a daughter, Averie.


Biography



Chad Grimm enters his third season with the Cardinals as an offensive quality control coach after joining the team on 3/2/09.


Born in Fairfax, VA, Grimm played four seasons (2003-06) at Virginia Tech as a backup linebacker and special teams performer where he appeared in 16 career games. After playing in eight games as a freshman on special teams, Grimm appeared in one as a sophomore, four as a junior and three as a senior.
Grimm lettered for three seasons as an outside linebacker and long snapper at Oakton High School (Vienna, VA). He collected over 100 tackles and 5.5 sacks during his senior season including notching 10 tackles, a sack, and a blocked punt that was returned for a touchdown in the regional championship game. He was also an all-district player and state champion in lacrosse at Oakton.

Grimm’s father, Russ, is an assistant coach with the Cardinals and Hall of Fame offensive lineman who played 11 seasons with the Washington Redskins (1981-91). His brother Cody is a safety for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and was selected in the seventh round of the 2010 NFL Draft.

He graduated from Virginia Tech with a bachelor’s degree in Apparel, Housing and Resource Management in 2008.

??? I don't see what having another coach on defense has to do with Grimm

 

[THESMEL]

Mike Miller for President, I'm sure he is a good soul, but as OC, He's a GEE WHIZ man.

Biography



Twelve-year NFL assistant Mike Miller begins his fifth season with the Cardinals and first as offensive coordinator after being promoted on 2/16/11. He spent the previous two seasons as passing game coordinator after working his first two years (2007-08) as the team’s wide receivers coach. Miller joined the Cardinals on 2/6/07 as an offensive assistant and was promoted to receivers coach on 3/21/07. He came to Arizona after splitting 2006 between the Berlin Thunder (quarterbacks/receivers) of NFL Europe in the spring and Robert Morris University (defensive line) in the fall. The Cardinals are the third NFL franchise Miller has worked for as an assistant after previous jobs with the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers.


In Miller’s two seasons as passing game coordinator, Larry Fitzgerald was selected to consecutive Pro Bowl appearances and went over 1,000 receiving yards each season. Last season, Fitzgerald had 90 catches for 1,137 yards and became the first player in NFL history to record 90+ receptions five times in their first seven seasons while also becoming one of just five NFL players in league history to record 90+ receptions in at least four consecutive seasons. In 2009, Miller helped guide quarterback Kurt Warner to 3,753 passing yards and 26 touchdown passes. Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin both eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards as Fitzgerald also tied for the league lead with 13 TD receptions, becoming the first player in franchise history to record 10+ touchdown receptions in three consecutive seasons (2007-09).
During his two seasons as wide receivers coach (2007-08), Boldin (160 receptions for 1,891 yards and 20 TDs) and Fitzgerald (196 receptions for 2,840 yards and 22 TDs) combined for 356 receptions and 4,731 yards to go along with 42 touchdowns. The duo also combined for three Pro Bowl appearances (Fitzgerald 2007-08, Boldin 2008). Fitzgerald led the NFC for two consecutive seasons in both receptions and receiving yards (96 receptions for 1,431 yards in 2008, 100 receptions for 1,409 yards in 2008) while also leading the NFL with 12 touchdowns in 2008. Even though Boldin missed four games due to various injuries in 2008, he still caught 89 passes for 1,038 yards and a career-high 11 touchdowns. Receiver Steve Breaston had career-highs with 77 receptions for 1,006 yards, giving the Cardinals three 1,000-yard receivers for the first time in team history and only the fifth time in NFL history. Arizona finished the season with NFL rankings of fourth in total offense and second in passing offense as quarterback Kurt Warner threw a franchise record 30 touchdown passes. In both of Miller’s first two seasons with the Cardinals, the passing offense finished with a top five ranking in the NFL (5th in 2007).

Miller joined the Thunder in the spring of 2006 from the Buffalo Bills where he was quality control/tights ends coach in 2004 and tight ends coach in 2005. He previously served as an offensive assistant for four years with current Cardinals Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt and assistant head coach/offensive line Russ Grimm with the Pittsburgh Steelers (1999-2003).

The Pittsburgh, PA native got his start in coaching as a graduate assistant coaching running backs at Robert Morris University (PA) for two seasons (1997-1998). He also worked as a public relations and operations intern with the Pittsburgh Steelers (1994-95) and Indianapolis Colts (1996).
After attending Plum (PA) Senior High School, Miller received his bachelor’s degree in Communications from Clarion University (PA) and his masters in Education from Robert Morris.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

I think if you prove that you historically have the best coaching staff in football you can whatever you want... as opposed to historically sucking for the better part of 50 years.

Something tells me if you were a Pats fan you would be pissing and moaning on that board too whether it be lunch serving size or how many inches the grass is on the practice field.

FACT: Some people just love to complain

 

[Duckjake]

Something tells me if you were a Pats fan you would be pissing and moaning on that board too whether it be lunch serving size or how many inches the grass is on the practice field.

FACT: Some people just love to complain

FACT: Some people just love to complain about people complaining.

By the way Patriots fans and Giants fans and Steeler fans do complain when their team doesn't win. Heck they complain if they don't win by 21 points. Why do you think coaches get fired after making the playoffs 5 times in 7 years but not making the Super Bowl? The Cardinals are one of the only teams in the NFL where few if any people really give a damn whether they win or lose.