Davis looks to be Cards Choice for DC

[az jam]

From ProFootball Talk

DAVIS LOOKS TO BE THE CARDS’ CHOICE FOR DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR
Posted by Mike Florio on February 8, 2009, 12:04 p.m. EST
Earlier in the day, Aaron Wilson posted an update regarding the Cardinals’ search for a new defensive coordinator.

We’re hearing that the clubhouse favorite for the job is linebackers coach Bill Davis.

Davis was hired by the team in 2007, after coach Ken Whisenhunt got the job. Davis previously coordinated the 49ers’ defense (2005-06). Before that, he worked as linebacker coach for the Giants (2004), linebackers coach for the Falcons (2001-03), defensive assistant/defensive line for the Packers (2000), defensive assistant/linebackers for the Browns (1999), outside linebackers coach for the Panthers (1995-98).

His first NFL job came in 1992, as a defensive assistant on Bill Cowher’s initial staff with the Steelers. Davis worked in Pittsburgh through 1994.

The 43-year-old coach also spent two years coaching at Michigan State. He played quarterback and receiver at the University of Cincinnati from 1985 through 1988, and he spent some time in training camp with the Dolphins, as a receiver.

 

[Unsterblich856]

Huh, no word on what we plan on doing with Keith Butler?

 

[NeverSayDieFan]

Butler or Davis??

The Steeler influence is pretty obvious. That, my friends, is an encouraging sign. I am very comfortable with the football decisions that are being made. Continuity is one of the keys to franchise stability. GO CARDS!!

 

[ActingWild]

I'm okay with Davis but I'd much rather have Butler. At this point, I'd rather have the guy LeBeau's been grooming as his replacement and understands his system. He's also been the LB coach for the team that consistently churns out All-Pro linebackers.

I'm fine with Davis as option 2 if the Steelers block Butler from interviewing, but I really hope we're going after Butler.

 

[moklerman]

I don't know about Davis unless he's got some new tricks up his sleeve. The 49ers defenses that he coached were one of the few teams that were actually worse than the Cardinals on defense over the last few years.

I'd rather give a new guy the chance and have a new face in the locker room to help start fresh on the defensive side. That's drawback #2 to promoting from within in this case. He's been a part of the unit that's been a problem. Seems hard for me to believe that he's going to have a completely different approach if he's been here the past two years.

 

[cardsfanmd]

I don't know about Davis unless he's got some new tricks up his sleeve. The 49ers defenses that he coached were one of the few teams that were actually worse than the Cardinals on defense over the last few years.

I'd rather give a new guy the chance and have a new face in the locker room to help start fresh on the defensive side. That's drawback #2 to promoting from within in this case. He's been a part of the unit that's been a problem. Seems hard for me to believe that he's going to have a completely different approach if he's been here the past two years.

Great post mokler.

 

[SoCal Cardfan]

Ya, screw this, I don't want a DC from within the organization.

You don't promote the guy who was being tutored by the guy you axed imo.

OC? sure
DC? no way!!

 

[CaptTurbo]

This would be awful.

 

[DoTheDew]

I don't know about Davis unless he's got some new tricks up his sleeve. The 49ers defenses that he coached were one of the few teams that were actually worse than the Cardinals on defense over the last few years.

I'd rather give a new guy the chance and have a new face in the locker room to help start fresh on the defensive side. That's drawback #2 to promoting from within in this case. He's been a part of the unit that's been a problem. Seems hard for me to believe that he's going to have a completely different approach if he's been here the past two years.

That defense had almost no talent on it. Not even Dick LeBeau could have made that 49ers defense good IMO.

Additionally, I doubt the LB coach had anything to do with Pendy playing the CBs 10 yards off the WRs. Maybe he is part of the reason we didn't blitz on 3rd and longs late in games, but I doubt that too. As for having different approaches, I don't see why there is any reason to believe that a position coach hired by Whiz is going to have the same philosophy as a DC that most of us believe Whiz was forced to retain? Whiz apparently fired Pendy because of his approach, so I doubt he will replace Pendy with someone who has the same approach.

 

[SoCal Cardfan]

so I doubt he will replace Pendy with someone who has the same approach.

I guess I would feel a little better about the guy if he had at least gone Buddy Ryan (ala Kevin Gilbride) on Clancy's ass in the middle of another 80 yard "Pendy-3 man rush-prevent I have no balls" drive.

 

[spyboots]

I'd rather have Davis any way. He's more experienced, knows the players, etc. (Why would Whis want Butler over him -- unless hehis is wanting to copy LeBeau's exact 3-4 zone schemes.) I understand he has a lot of Cowher/Pittsburgh philosophies, and that's great. But I'd personally like him to incorporate those yet put our OWN stamp on them and have our own identity out here, not be a Steelers clone.

 

[BillsCarnage]

I'd rather have Davis any way. He's more experienced, knows the players, etc. (Why would Whis want Butler over him -- unless hehis is wanting to copy LeBeau's exact 3-4 zone schemes.) I understand he has a lot of Cowher/Pittsburgh philosophies, and that's great. But I'd personally like him to incorporate those yet put our OWN stamp on them and have our own identity out here, not be a Steelers clone.

Good point. Either would make a good DC, I'd tend to lean more towards Butler, though.

However, if Davis is a clubhouse favorite than it might be better for the players and keeping a number of them rather than bring in someone new.

I really don't know, but in Whiz I trust. He's got the Midas touch right now.

 

[spyboots]

However, if Davis is a clubhouse favorite than it might be better for the players and keeping a number of them rather than bring in someone new.

That's my thinking.

 

[lobo]

If the decision is heavily weighted by who KW wants AND he has permission to talk to Butler AND the choice is Davis...then we got a winner!! Don't fall in love with names and rock stars...the team has been there and done that...... right Buddy!!

Gotta' have faith in the guy who brung us to the dance, and so far it is hard to take exception to that. Gotta' give him credit for not making excuses for Pendy. He told it like it is...team was not going to move forward under his more too often soft defense...he played the card once too often for about 2+ minutes.

 

[slanidrac16]

I want whoever Whiz wants.

As far as a Steeler Butler coming here, wasn't he part of the coaching staff that we put up almost 400 yards offense?

 

[moklerman]

As far as a Steeler Butler coming here, wasn't he part of the coaching staff that we put up almost 400 yards offense?

Good thing the Cardinals defense won't have to face the Cardinals offense on game day!

 

[Stout]

What I want to know is what kind of defense he would run.

 

[ItsInTheCards]

What I want to know is what kind of defense he would run.

3-4...full fledged I'm assuming

but I dont know if it would be a "Blitzburgh" type defense

he and Nolan ran a 3-4 in SF, he was the OLB coach in Carolina with Capers, and directly from his bio

[FONT=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]In 2002, Davis was instrumental in helping Atlanta’s linebackers adjust to a new 3-4 defense installed by defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. [/FONT]

he has pretty much spent all of his time in the 3-4 except with the Giants in 04

 

[lobo]

3-4...full fledged I'm assuming

but I dont know if it would be a "Blitzburgh" type defense

he and Nolan ran a 3-4 in SF, he was the OLB coach in Carolina with Capers, and directly from his bio



he has pretty much spent all of his time in the 3-4 except with the Giants in 04

If it ain't him he will be on his way to KC...but I think it will be him...very solid and a good pedigree

 

[BillsCarnage]

What I want to know is what kind of defense he would run.

I believe Whiz is the one that wants to run the 3-4. So who ever he brings in will be well versed in the 3-4.

Whiz knows what he wants and will find the DC to fit that.

 

[lauraw]

what about someone off of the ravens staff for dc noone left?

 

[spyboots]

I think we'll lose Davis to KC if he's not promoted to DC here.

 

[lauraw]

i want our defense to put fear in qbs, rbs and receivers when they watch film the week of the games; i want our rush defense to be so good that teams know it is a given that they will not have a viable ground option. i want teams to know they'll spend extra time with the trainer after a Cardinal game...I want our oline to be so physically overpowering teams know will is being imposed on them but they can do nothing...this is my cards superbowl team of the future...

 

[Brewster10]

Please no Davis.. i'd be pretty frustrated if this was the pick

 

[nooch]

Please no Davis.. i'd be pretty frustrated if this was the pick

Reason?