Meet Your (probably) New Defensive Coordinator

by SlowWhiteGuy on Jan 12, 2009 9:03 PM MST Comment 16 comments

If the rumors are true, Mike Nolan will likely be the new defensive coordinator of the Denver Broncos. Since most of the information I could find on him was crap, I though I would post what I know and other can add to it so we can get and idea of who the man is who is tasked with fixing our embarrassing defense.

Despite what you may read about coaching trees and other bulls**t, Mike Nolan learned about football from his father Dick Nolan, former DC of the Cowboys and HC of the 49ers. Dick Nolan learned defense from Tom Landry. While Landry was later known for his offensive innovation, he was also a highly innovative defensive coach. Landry is credited with developing the modern 4-3 defense, defining the role of safety, and developing the 2-gap defense. Dick Nolan helped Landry develop the Flex defense, a precursor of the modern 3-4. Mike Nolan played safety at Oregon and coached linebacker and defensive line at Stanford, Rice & LSU, before his Cowboys connections landed him a job as linebackers coach for Dan Reeves. With the Broncos he coached under both Joe Collier and Wade Phillips, learning the 2-gap Fairbanks system as well as the 1-gap Phillips system. When Dan Reeves left Denver to coach the NYG (OK he was fired from Denver) Nolan went with him to become the DC. Despite having no all pro players (which is hard to believe since Michael Strahan and Jesse Armstead were on these teams) Nolan's defense consistently ranked in the upper half of the league. From 1997 – 1999 Nolan was defensive coordinator of the Redskins. The year before he took over, the Redskins were 28th in the NFL in total yards. In 1997, under Nolan, they ranked 16th in total yards and 8th in scoring. The following two years the struggled on both sides of the ball. In 2000 Nolan left the Redskins to be the coordinator for the Jets. This was a season of turmoil. Bill Belichick resigned as HC after one day (supposedly writing his resignation on a napkin) and his replacement Al Groh, left at the end of the season to coach UVA. Despite the turmoil, Nolan's defense managed to finish 10th in yardage.

After the 2000 season Nolan went to the Ravens as receivers coach. When Marvin Lewis to be DC at the Redskins, Nolan was tabbed as his replacement. Initially the ravens slumped as Nolan changed systems, but the rebounded in 2003 & 2004 to return as one of the leagues elite defenses. Nolan is credited with developing Adelius Thomas, Terrel Suggs, and Bart Scott while with the Ravens.

In 2005 the 49ers selected the son of their former coach as the new head coach. Despite Nolan's background in defense, the 49ers continued to be anemic on defense as well as offense. Midway through the 2008 season he was fired as head coach.

What's to like

Roots to the Broncos
Has shown he can take awful defenses and make them passable
Has shown he can take great personnel and run a great defense
Has shown the ability to develop atypical players (i.e. Jarvis Moss)
Experience with multiple systems

What's to be concerned about

No history of taking poor defenses and making them great
Never won the big one - he seems to join teams after their prime
Stability - will he stick around or is this just a safe place till the next HC gig

This is a Fan-Created Comment on MileHighReport.com. The opinion here is not necessarily shared by the editorial staff of MHR

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Nice post

Thanks for the knowledge.

Was it hard? "It hurts. But tough times don’t last — tough people do. That’s life." - Mike Shanahan

by Steve O' on Jan 12, 2009 9:10 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Excellent post SWG and rec'd!

I think he will be a great fit, and will instantly upgrade the defense.

Those that cant coach, compete!
Failing to plan is planning to fail.

by boydy2669 on Jan 12, 2009 9:14 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

He is as responsible as anyone for the Ravens defense today ...

… because he helped develop the young core that is doing so well now. Let’s see what he can get out of Woodyard and D.J. Williams, in particular.

by Holden Caulfield on Jan 12, 2009 9:39 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Rob Ryan gets too much credit...

for a defense that Ozzie Newsome drafted, Marvin Lewis laid the foundation of, and Mike Nolan developed. When you realize that Ray Lewis is the only significant player left from the 2000 team, but they have maintained that high level of play, you realize that many people had a hand in building a legacy of outstanding defense.

by SlowWhiteGuy on Jan 12, 2009 9:54 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Ryan does run some very, very interesting schemes

He shifts his personal around as much as anyone in the league. Of course he is able to do that mainly because he has probably the best GM in the league in Ozzie Newsome.

by tricks318 on Jan 12, 2009 11:52 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Great point Holden and that has been his strong "suit" (HAHAHA) through out his carreer...development and implementing systems!

Those that cant coach, compete!
Failing to plan is planning to fail.

by boydy2669 on Jan 13, 2009 6:32 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Great Post!

what system will he run? a 3-4???

In Bowlen We Trust!

by broncoboy on Jan 12, 2009 9:51 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Maybe a 3-4...

maybe a 4-3. Maybe even a hybrid. One of his major accomplishments at Baltimore was to take Terrel Suggs, a tweener, and use him both as a DE and a LB. Makes the offense’s job that much more difficult.

by SlowWhiteGuy on Jan 12, 2009 9:56 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Jarvis Moss anyone?

aka MN Bronco

by pubkeeper on Jan 12, 2009 10:08 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

As I alluded to in my post...

I think Nolan could do wonders for Moss, Doom, and Woodyard. He might also turn DJ into the All Pro that many of us think he could be.

by SlowWhiteGuy on Jan 12, 2009 10:20 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Insightful post man.

Your second point in “What’s to like” is the key. If Nolan can make this defense passable and McDanials takes the offense to the next level, this team will be very good in 2009, which is obviously the logic supporting Bowlen’s hiring decision. It seems silly to say this, but hiring the 32 year old was the safe move for the organization in the short term.

If we hired a defensive guy and left the offense to Dennison, Bates, and Turner, who knows what would have happened to this young offense without Mike. You think there was a drop off when Gary left?? Brining in an offensive head coach with fresh ideas and a seasoned DC capable of turning things around greatly improves the chances of short term success.

Then, you look at the long term possibilities of hiring a young coach that could run this team for another 10-15 years, and the decision becomes a no-brainer. I’m sure when Mac floated Nolan’s name during the interview process, he immediately became the front runner.

"Choose the sword, and you will join me. Choose the ball and you join your mother, in death. You don’t understand my words, but you must choose. So… come boy, choose life or death."

by ButteBronco on Jan 13, 2009 8:20 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Your first concern

No history of taking poor defenses and making them great

I don’t think is an issue.

With our offense, we only really need for our defense to be in the top half and we should be golden. That’s not to say that it would be nice to have a #1 or #2 defense and absolutely dominate, but I don’t think that’s necessary to achieve success.

"It's all over Fat Man" - Tom Jackson to John Madden 1977 AFC Championship Game

"tough times don't last, tough people do" - Mike "The Mastermind" Shanahan

by DesertBroncoFan on Jan 13, 2009 12:33 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

great thoughts! rec'd dude,

This is my GAP, there are many like it but this one is mine. Without my GAP I am useless, without me, they will run through my GAP. I will protect my GAP and have my brothers back on his. I will not be moved from my GAP, I am a crazed dog that patrols this area and will defeat all who entire it. I own this GAP, it is mine. I bought it with blood and sweat. I will not be pushed. I will not be moved. This Sunday I will make a stand and a statement.

by Tim Lynch on Jan 13, 2009 1:37 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

I like Nolan, seems like a very good coach, I was sad to see him leave with Reeves

1. Like that he rocked a suit on the sidelines.

1. Don’t like that he had brats like Vernon Davis telling him how to run the game.

"Me fail english, that unpossible" - Ralph Wiggum
"Duffman is thrusting in the direction of the problem" - Duffman

by Broncoman on Jan 13, 2009 3:03 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Good post SlowWhiteGuy

Thanks for the thought provoking article.

It all starts in the trenches HT 11/11/08

by firstfan on Jan 13, 2009 6:02 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Capers!

I’m thrilled to hear there’s still a chance Dom Capers will be joining McD’s staff as well. I know from recent posts that many of you think he’s not that good because of his jobs as a HC, but that is unfair. Measure Mike Nolan by that same stick. As for their records as DC’s, quite honestly I believe Capers has had more significant success at that job than Nolan ever did. Don’t get me wrong, I like Nolan and am glad he is here…but Capers is more accomplished. His squads in Pittsburgh were frightening, and he took the expansion Panthers to the NFC title game in their second year. That is remarkable.

by Douglas A. Lee on Jan 14, 2009 8:04 AM MST reply actions 0 recs