Special Teams Coaching Candidates

[Mr. Scot]

Bruce DeHaven

Spent this past year coaching the Seahawks special teams; not currently under contract and not expected to be retained on the new staff under Pete Carroll; has a long history as a solid special teams coach; currently the guy I'd most like to see the Panthers go after (which likely means we've got no shot at him)

Rich Bisaccia

Former special teams coach with the Bucs under Gruden; left to coach with Lane and Monte Kiffin at Tennessee; unknown if he'll follow Kiffin to USC; was talked about as a possible candidate for the USF head coaching spot; has coached other areas besides special teams and two former assistants - Mike Tomlin and Raheem Morris - are now head coaches, making him probably the only ST coach with a "coaching tree"; Tampa's long stretch of "no kick returns for TD" broke under him, but not for a while; I'm iffy on the idea myself

Joe Avezzano

Long time special teams coach with the Dallas Cowboys; finished with the Raiders under Norv Turner then retired; seen most recently on Michael Irvin's "4th and Long" show; was my first choice off the top of my head but not as high on the list since I've had a chance to research other available candidates; good coach but might not want to come out of retirement

Ted Daisher

Let go from the Eagles to make a spot for Bobby April; previously coached with the Browns and Raiders (not exactly what anyone would call a glowing resume'); could be a cheap, easy hire and might actually be a better coach than his list of employers makes him look like; that said, not my first option

Jeff Rodgers

The internal candidate; was assistant to Crossman, which is not exactly a ringing endorsement but it also might not be fair to judge him by that; has never been a special teams coach at the pro level but spent five years working with the 49ers and one as special teams coach for Kansas State; for what it's worth, K State had good special teams performances in his one season there.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Danny Smith

Special teams coach with the Redskins for the past six seasons; has coached solid return and coverage units and retained his position despite instability in the Redskins organization; was said to be a candidate for interim head coach if Zorn were fired mid-season; unknown if he'll stick under Shanahan, seems unlikely since Shanahan pursued Bobby April; would be a good hire, but might be more likely to take over the vacant Steelers ST gig

Update: Shanahan has opted to retain him. He's off the market.

Bob Ligashesky

Fired recently by Mike Tomlin after a down special teams season; the season before Pittsburgh had top flight coverage units on both kicks and punts; some speculate he was fired by Tomlin to "send a message"; could be a good choice, but he's another one where I'm not dead certain.

Update: Hired by the Denver Broncos.

Al Everest

Fired from the 49ers by Mike Singletary largely for one bad year and one really bad call (a disastrous reverse on a punt return); had been a respected special teams coach with the Saints and Cardinals before Mike Nolan brought him on board in San Francisco; a decent, if unspectacular choice

Update: Got the Steelers job, replacing Ligashesky.

[KillerKat]

I miss Scotty

[Mr. Scot]

I miss Scotty

Nobody that had to work with him does.

O'Brien was a great ST coach, but by all accounts a colossal prick and difficult to work with. There are some pretty good options out there other than him right now so I wouldn't expect them to go that route.

[panthers55]

So how many of those guys would want to come here and uproot for a 1 year gig if Fox goes after next year. I figure most would prefer more security. I wouldn't be surprised if it went to an assistant special teams coach looking to break out.

[DynastyRTR]

id get ligashesky

[ItsNotGonnaBeAlright]

So how many of those guys would want to come here and uproot for a 1 year gig if Fox goes after next year. I figure most would prefer more security. I wouldn't be surprised if it went to an assistant special teams coach looking to break out.

Gotta agree here. No way an established entity, at least one that is well respected, will come here with Fox's future in doubt after the next season. Just like the draft for us this year, look to the second tier prospects to find our first choice. Any college coachs worth looking at for this?

And on another point, could Fox use this as leverage for his own contract negotiations?

[Mr. Scot]

There aren't that many openings for pro ST coaches right now. Realistically speaking, even a one year (high paying) job is better than unemployment.

I'm not convinced that John Fox's contract situation would prevent a quality coach from coming here. Maybe, but it's not a lock. Would depend on how good a sales job Fox could do and - probably more to the point - on the money he'd be offered.

For my part, I think Fox would be smarter to seek a name coach. This coming season is, for all intents and purposes, his audition to either keep the Panthers job or find a new one. He needs all the help he can get. Whiffing on this choice would be a bad step.

[Mr. Scot]

For the record, there are most certainly other candidates from both the pro and college levels, but I've got a nasty cold and have to get up early tomorrow morning

[panthers55]

There aren't that many openings for pro ST coaches right now. Realistically speaking, even a one year (high paying) job is better than unemployment.

I'm not convinced that John Fox's contract situation would prevent a quality coach from coming here. Maybe, but it's not a lock. Would depend on how good a sales job Fox could do and - probably more to the point - on the money he'd be offered.

For my part, I think Fox would be smarter to seek a name coach. This coming season is, for all intents and purposes, his audition to either keep the Panthers job or find a new one. He needs all the help he can get. Whiffing on this choice would be a bad step.

No doubt that a proven guy is better than a no name risk. And it is possible that Fox already has reached out to someone before he let Crossman go. And it isn't guaranteed that Fox would be gone after 1 year or that if he ended up somewhere else he wouldn't take this guy with him. Lots of unknowns here. I only hope that whoever we get is a definite upgrade and that our special teams return to respectability. I can't even remember the last time we ran one back for a score without looking it up.

[rayzor]

brian schneider (one that i was interested in) is going with carroll to seattle, leaving dehaven free.

also, skip holtz took the job at USF so rich bisaccia won't be taking that one.

[Mr. Scot]

Steve Reed's take: Some possible candidates to replace Crossman

Reed seems to think Jeff Rodgers could get the job, but he also mentions Daisher, Ligashesky, Everest and former Lions ST coach Stan Kwan as possibilities.

I thought about listing Kwan, and he's had a bit of success (as much as it's possible to have in Detroit) but overall I just don't think he's the way I'd want to go. Detroit fans celebrated his departure as much as Panther fans are celebrating Crossman's. No, that doesn't really mean much, but I just think there are better choices.

[magnus]

my own thoughts took me to the top two - Dehaven and Smith. Dehaven was a great ST coach under one of the best ST guys ever - Levy. Smith's coverage teams have been top notch.

Hopefully Reed's list is just a "here's some guys who are out there" and not a "this is who I hear they're talking to."

[davos]

That Everest guy seems like he could do well here. Plus, he has a cool name.

[err456]

getting a good return man would make them all look like good choices