New DC info and rumors

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

I'm a Cardinals fan, what the hell is a TE?... oh, they be the dudes that score on us, maybe we need one lol

Yep...We actually had two at one time, then decided they looked better in Cowboy uniforms.

 

[PACardsFan]

Yep...We actually had two at one time, then decided they looked better in Cowboy uniforms.

Another very good one (J V Cain) sadly died on the field during training camp back in the late 70's

 

[BullheadCardFan]

Report: Cardinals want Dick LeBeau for “senior position,” will promote current assistant to DC

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic reports that the Cardinals want to hire LeBeau in a “senior position” on their defensive coaching staff while promoting a current assistant coach to the coordinator spot vacated by Bowles. Somers suggests that LeBeau’s role would be similar to the one that assistant head coach Tom Moore has filled on the offensive side of the ball.

Somers adds that Bowles is expected to bring inside linebackers coach Mike Caldwell and defensive assistant Ryan Slowik with him to the Jets. That leaves outside linebackers coach James Bettcher, defensive line coach Brentson Buckner, cornerbacks coach Kevin Ross, defensive backs coach Nick Rapone and pass rush specialist Tom Pratt as in-house options for defensive coordinator. None has done the job at the NFL level, although Rapone and Pratt have decades of experience in other jobs.

 

[JC_AZ]

Vic Fangio -- Fangio would only be an option if he's let out of his contract with San Francisco, but there's quite a bit of uncertainty if that will happen. Arians and Fangio were on the Indianapolis Colts' staff in 1999 and 2000, when Arians was starting to mold Peyton Manning and Fangio was the defensive coordinator. They're also linked by Chuck Pagano, who was on Baltimore's staff with Fangio from 2008-10. Arians has faced Fangio the last two years, going 1-3 against the Niners since becoming Arizona's head coach in 2013. Fangio has been a 3-4 coach for a long time, so the transition would be minimal.

Fangio just got bypassed by his DL Coach in SF, and wants to be released as I heard on Doug & Wolf this morning

 

[BigRedRage]

That is what it makes it even more frustrating. You have no idea how many times I have sat in my car in the garage waiting for something

lol

Didn't Arians already say he was looking to hire from outside of the organization?

yes but new reports are hiring within which makes sense if bringing in Dick, maybe the plan changed once he found a great mentor.

 

[BigRedRage]

Vic Fangio -- Fangio would only be an option if he's let out of his contract with San Francisco, but there's quite a bit of uncertainty if that will happen. Arians and Fangio were on the Indianapolis Colts' staff in 1999 and 2000, when Arians was starting to mold Peyton Manning and Fangio was the defensive coordinator. They're also linked by Chuck Pagano, who was on Baltimore's staff with Fangio from 2008-10. Arians has faced Fangio the last two years, going 1-3 against the Niners since becoming Arizona's head coach in 2013. Fangio has been a 3-4 coach for a long time, so the transition would be minimal.

at this point he would be my top choice. Dick mentoring a young guy is nice but I'd like to have someone with serious defensive acumen.

 

[BigRedRage]

Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter 17m17 minutes ago
Late entry into Redskins' defensive coordinator consideration is 49ers DC Vic Fangio, who's not returning to SF.

skins going for fangio

 

[Jim Otis]

at this point he would be my top choice. Dick mentoring a young guy is nice but I'd like to have someone with serious defensive acumen.

Excellent thought pattern BRR !!

 

[BigRedRage]

Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter 6m6 minutes ago
Cardinals scheduled to meet next week with former Steelers DC Dick LeBeau about senior coaching position on their staff, per source.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter 6m6 minutes ago
Cardinals scheduled to meet next week with former Steelers DC Dick LeBeau about senior coaching position on their staff, per source.

Great news. FO has to make it work

 

[BillsCarnage]

at this point he would be my top choice. Dick mentoring a young guy is nice but I'd like to have someone with serious defensive acumen.

Fangio would be my preference too, but I think it'll be Rapone or Pratt. They have the most experience, but none as a DC. Hence bringing in Lebeau.

Of those two i'd say Pratt due to his pass rush experience. That sounds like Bowles' mentality.

 

[BigRedRage]

Fangio would be my preference too, but I think it'll be Rapone or Pratt. They have the most experience, but none as a DC. Hence bringing in Lebeau.

Of those two i'd say Pratt due to his pass rush experience. That sounds like Bowles' mentality.

Pratt is in his 70s though, I imagine he will remain a specialist as his job is less man hours as a DC would have.

 

[Jake6233]

Mike Jurecki @mikejurecki
#Cardinals are considering DB coach Nick Rapone & OLB coach James Bettcher for their defensive coordinator. Hearing Rapone is the favorite.

 

[BigRedRage]

Mike Jurecki @mikejurecki
#Cardinals are considering DB coach Nick Rapone & OLB coach James Bettcher for their defensive coordinator. Hearing Rapone is the favorite.

Scary thought bringing up such no names to DC.

 

[GuernseyCard]

Scary thought bringing up such no names to DC.

Horton was a DB coach, and many thought that Bowles was an abject failure in Philly.

 

[BigRedRage]

Horton was a DB coach, and many thought that Bowles was an abject failure in Philly.

Every coach comes from a lower rank, it is still a bit scary.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

Every coach comes from a lower rank, it is still a bit scary.

Agree

But with LeBeau coming on board it eases the concern

 

[juza76]

but rapone is over 60 and the only experience he har as defensive coordinator was for deleware university

 

[kerouac9]

but rapone is over 60 and the only experience he har as defensive coordinator was for deleware university

Maybe, but relationships are more important than experience when determining coaching staffs. That's why Rapone is viewed internally a good candidate. It should be clear at this point that Arians doesn't necessarily view age as a concern.

 

[az jam]

Maybe, but relationships are more important than experience when determining coaching staffs. That's why Rapone is viewed internally a good candidate. It should be clear at this point that Arians doesn't necessarily view age as a concern.

Except if your too young!!!

 

[splitsecond]

Horton was a DB coach, and many thought that Bowles was an abject failure in Philly.

yeah, this.

 

[RON_IN_OC]

but rapone is over 60 and the only experience he har as defensive coordinator was for deleware university

Actually, his Bio says he has more than that as DC experience:

Biography
Long-time college coach Nick Rapone (ruh-pone) enters his second season with the Cardinals and second year in the NFL after he joined Arizona as defensive backs coach on 2/5/13.

Rapone, a veteran of 35 seasons as a coach, including 30 as a collegiate assistant, joined the Cardinals in 2013 after spending the previous seven years (2006-12) at the University of Delaware as defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach.

With the Cardinals in 2013, Rapone helped a defense that finished as the NFL’s sixth-ranked overall unit and forced 30 takeaways, including 20 interceptions which tied for the fifth-best total in the NFL. Patrick Peterson made his second consecutive Pro Bowl at cornerback and was also named first-team AP All-Pro.

At Delaware, Rapone was a part of two NCAA national runner-up teams, including the 2010 season when he helped the Blue Hens to a 12-3 record and a share of the Colonial Athletic Association title. For his coaching efforts that season, Rapone was named the 2010 FootballScoop NCAA Division I FCS Coordinator of the Year. That season his defense led the nation in scoring (12.1 points per game), ranked fifth in total defense (280.7 yards allowed per game) and was 12th in rushing defense (105.3). The secondary included four All-CAA performers, including All-American selections Anthony Walters and Anthony Bratton at safety. The Hens also ranked ninth in the nation in passing efficiency (102.7), and the team's 21 interceptions were the third-highest total in the nation at the FCS level.

Rapone helped the Blue Hens to another outstanding season in 2007 when Delaware went 11-4 and advanced to the NCAA Division I FCS title game with quarterback Joe Flacco. The Blue Hens captured the Lambert Cup Trophy as the top team in the East and was named the ECAC Team of the Year.

A native of New Castle, PA, Rapone was an All-State receiver at New Castle High School prior to attending Virginia Tech where he was a four-year letterman for the Hokies (1974-77). While at Virginia Tech, he played with Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians in 1974 when Arians was a senior and Rapone was a freshman. Arians then served as a graduate assistant (1975-76) and running backs coach (1977) while Rapone played for the Hokies.

Rapone began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at the University of Pittsburgh in 1979 where he worked with the secondary for two seasons before serving as defensive backs coach at East Tennessee State (I-AA) from 1981-82. He reunited with Arians as part of his staff at Temple, coaching the Owls secondary for six seasons (1983-88) while also serving as defensive coordinator from 1985-88.

He returned to Pitt as defensive backs coach for four years (1989-92), doubling as defensive coordinator in 1992. Rapone then became the head coach at his alma mater, New Castle High School, for two seasons (1993-94). He returned to the college game in 1995 at then Divsion I-AA University of Connecticut under head coach Skip Holtz, serving as defensive coordinator and secondary coach for four seasons, leading the Huskies to the I-AA playoffs for the first time in school history in 1998. That squad was ranked No. 7 in the final The Sports Network Top 25 poll and was led by a defense that forced 29 turnovers on the season.

Rapone then returned for his second tenure at Temple and served as defensive backs coach and kickoff coverage coach for seven years (1999-2005). The Owls were one of only eight teams in the nation to rank in the top 20 in total defense in both 2001 and 2002.

He earned his bachelor's degree in Education from Virginia Tech in 1979 and his master's degree in Education from Pittsburgh in 1981. Rapone has two daughters, Johanna and Mary.

http://www.azcardinals.com/team/coaches/nick-rapone/951540ba-a04a-4e49-8d13-86349916fb91

 

[CardNots]

Yep, that is qualification in my book. Great resume for a DC job period.

 

[CardNots]

Maybe, but relationships are more important than experience when determining coaching staffs. That's why Rapone is viewed internally a good candidate. It should be clear at this point that Arians doesn't necessarily view age as a concern.

+1

 

[BigRedRage]

Caldwell released to join Bowles staff