If Todd Bowles Leaves....

[Capital Card]

I've seen a few posts where people are throwing out names of replacement coaches for Todd Bowles, if he ends up taking a HC position elsewhere. What I haven't seen is anyone mentioning who, on the current staff, could be promoted to DC - a move I think is much more likely to occur than brining in a name replacement.

I think the person on our current coaching staff that fits the bill best is DB Coach Nick Rapone. He's got 35 years coaching experience, mostly in college ranks, where he was awarded Defensive Coordinator of the Year. He also played on the Same VaTech team that Arians QB'd and began his coaching career at. In addition, he worked for BA at Temple, where he coached none other than Todd Bowles.

Other Defensive coaches currently on staff include:

James Betcher - Outside Linebackers (seems to lack overall experience)
Brentson Buckner - D.Line (also lacks overall experience)
Mike Caldwell - Linebackers (young coach, too inexperienced)
Tom Pratt - Pass Rush (Qualified, but a bit long in the tooth at almost 80 years young)
Kevin Ross - Cornerbacks (Another strong possibility. This is his fourth NFL team that hes coached for. Also played for BA at Temple.)
Ryan Slowik - Defensive Assistant/DB Coach (Possible. Father was a life long NFL coach. One of the few staff retained from Whiz era, someone likes him.)

 

[joeshmo]

Mike Caldwell is the guy Bowles has had under his wings since their time in Philly in 2012. Caldwell is attached to Bowles hip. If it is an in house guy, Caldwell is most likely the guy. Players absolutely love the guy as well.

 

[az jam]

This is from Darren Urban:


Arians had a list of coaches he wanted on his staff when he came to Arizona, and seems to have a similar one in mind if Bowles does depart for a head coaching gig this offseason.
“We have guys who are more than capable of filling it,” Arians said.



I think he is saying that they will promote someone already on the staff.

 

[az jam]

Mike Caldwell is the guy Bowles has had under his wings since their time in Philly in 2012. Caldwell is attached to Bowles hip. If it is an in house guy, Caldwell is most likely the guy. Players absolutely love the guy as well.

Here is Mike Caldwell's Bio from the Cards official site:

Biography
Mike Caldwell enters his second season as linebackers coach, his second stint in Arizona after playing the same position with the Cardinals in 1997. He joined the Cardinals as an assistant on 2/5/13 after a five-year coaching tenure with the Philadelphia Eagles (2008-12).

With the Cardinals in 2013, Caldwell oversaw an inside linebacker group that featured standout seasons from Karlos Dansby and Daryl Washington. A second-team All-Pro selection, Dansby established career highs in tackles (135), INTs (4) and passes defensed (21) while also notching 6.5 sacks. He became just the fourth player with at least six sacks, four INTs and two INT-return TDs in a season since sacks became an official statistic in 1982. Washington finished second on the team with 81 tackles while also adding three sacks, 10 tackles for loss, two INTs and a fumble recovery.

Arizona’s defense finished as the NFL’s sixth-ranked overall unit and featured the league’s top-ranked run defense (84.4 yards per game) after allowing the fewest rushing yards in team history for a 16-game season (1,351). The Cardinals also had 47 sacks, the third-highest total in franchise history, and had 30 takeaways, including 20 interceptions which tied for the fifth-best total in the NFL.

After serving as a training camp coaching intern with the Eagles in 2007, Caldwell began his coaching career as a defensive quality control coach with Philadelphia in 2008. He was promoted to assistant linebackers coach in 2010 and elevated to linebackers coach in 2011. During his first season overseeing the linebackers, Caldwell helped develop several young players into key roles, including Jamar Chaney who intercepted three passes to go along with a team-leading 104 tackles. He also integrated two rookies into the rotation – sixth round pick Brian Rolle, who started 13 games and contributed 63 tackles, one sack and a fumble recovery for a TD, and fourth rounder Casey Matthews. In 2012, Caldwell oversaw standout linebacker DeMeco Ryans, who led the team with 113 tackles and 15 tackles for loss.

A linebacker and special teams standout during his playing days in the league, Caldwell enjoyed an 11-year NFL career with Cleveland (1993-95), Baltimore (1996), Arizona (1997), Philadelphia (1998-2001), Chicago (2002) and Carolina (2003).

He played in 159 career regular season games and posted 14.5 sacks and eight INTs, while also proving to be a top special teams performer. He was voted by his teammates as the Eagles special teams MVP in 1998. During his lone season in Arizona in 1997, Caldwell appeared in all 16 games and totaled 33 tackles, two sacks, an INT, a forced fumble and nine special teams tackles.

Born in Oak Ridge TN, Caldwell played collegiately at Middle Tennessee State before being selected in the third round (83rd overall) by the Browns in the 1993 NFL Draft. He earned his degree from Middle Tennessee State in Business Administration. Caldwell and his wife, Sue, have two daughters, Sydnei and Saniah, and a son, Simeon. His niece, Nikki, is the head women’s basketball coach at LSU.

 

[cardpa]

Mike Caldwell is the guy Bowles has had under his wings since their time in Philly in 2012. Caldwell is attached to Bowles hip. If it is an in house guy, Caldwell is most likely the guy. Players absolutely love the guy as well.

It is very likely if Bowles takes a HC job he may very well bring Caldwell along as his new DC. Generally you see this when a OC or DC takes a HC job. The team he moves on from loses more than just their Coordinator.

 

[az jam]

It is very likely if Bowles takes a HC job he may very well bring Caldwell along as his new DC. Generally you see this when a OC or DC takes a HC job. The team he moves on from loses more than just their Coordinator.

I think Caldwell will still be under contract with the Cards, if that is the case they do not have to let him go to another team.

 

[Capital Card]

I think Caldwell will still be under contract with the Cards, if that is the case they do not have to let him go to another team.

Just as the Steelers repeatedly denied Kevin Butler the right to interview with us when Whiz was still here.

Go Cards!!!

 

[az jam]

Just as the Steelers repeatedly denied Kevin Butler the right to interview with us when Whiz was still here.

Go Cards!!!

Yeah, I remember that. Happens all the time.

 

[Dr. Jones]

Just think about if BA asks for Butler as well. lol

 

[Jetstream Green]

This is from Darren Urban:


Arians had a list of coaches he wanted on his staff when he came to Arizona, and seems to have a similar one in mind if Bowles does depart for a head coaching gig this offseason.
“We have guys who are more than capable of filling it,” Arians said.



I think he is saying that they will promote someone already on the staff.

No worries, if it is cool with the Bruce... I am down with the new

 

[Redneck Voodoo]

No worries, if it is cool with the Bruce... I am down with the new

Same here.

 

[TheHopToad]

IMO Bowles is as good as gone...

https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/551389477403643905

 

[BullheadCardFan]

IMO Bowles is as good as gone...

https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/551389477403643905

Fillling the Rooney rule or legitimate interest?

 

[juza76]

edit

 

[jbeecham]

After watching the Cards defense the last 5 weeks... why will anyone want Bowles? Obviously the injuries played a major role, but our defense has played like a bottom 10 defense the last 5 weeks.

 

[conraddobler]

After watching the Cards defense the last 5 weeks... why will anyone want Bowles? Obviously the injuries played a major role, but our defense has played like a bottom 10 defense the last 5 weeks.

I would say no.

They put on a horrible tackling clinic the last 4 or 5 games because I think they mailed it in since Stanton went down.

 

[Jetstream Green]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlKaVFqxERk

 

[nashman]

Bowles is most likely gone, teams won't blame him for our collapse, they will blame the terrible offense for putting our ad in awful positions over and over and over !