Straight from the Horse's Mouth -- Steve Spagnuolo Scouting Report

by John Bena on Jan 2, 2009 11:29 AM MST Comment 44 comments

When looking for thoughts and opinions on candidates for the Broncos Head Coaching vacancy I thought there would be no place better to go than right to people that might know these guys the best, the bloggers who cover these teams as we doo the Broncos.

The first one returned to me was from ETVal, our Giants Blogger over at BigBlueView. He was nice enough to take some time out of his busy playoff preparations to give his thoughts on Steve Spagnuolo, his prospects as a Head Coach, and more importantly how he could be a fit for the Broncos.

Tom Coughlin has done a great many wonderful things since becoming head coach of the New York giants in 2004. Probably the best thing he has ever done is to hire Steve Spagnuolo as defensive coordinator two seasons ago.

'Spags' immediately transformed a soft, ineffective defense into a dominant, quarterback-eating machine that helped the Giants win a Super Bowl. Despite the losses of Michael Strahan (retirement) and Osi Umenyiora (injury) Spagnuolo still has this defense performing at a high level.

He is now, of course, the 'hot' assistant coach. Denver, the Jets, the Browns, the Lions are all interested. We have seen again and again that great success as a coordinator does not always translate to great success as a head coach. That said, I think Spags will have John Fox-like success wherever he goes. Fox was Jim Fassel's defensive guru in New York before becoming head coach in Carolina.

We would love to keep Spags in New York. At Big Blue View we have often talked about him becoming 'head coach in waiting' and succeeding Coughlin. But, TC is not going anywhere in the near future so, realistically, we know that won't happen.
Spags' is beloved by his players for his schemes, his personality and his willingness to listen to their ideas. A Steve Spagnuolo defense will never be accused of playing soft.

It's attack, attack, attack all the time -- the philosophy he learned from Jim Johnson while working under him in Philadelphia. Blitz all the time and press with the corners. Honestly, this Giants' defense is not as talented in the front 7 as it was last year, yet Spags' creativity and attitude has the unit playing very well.

Denver might fit Spags for a lot of reasons. Franchise QB in place, defense that needs an overhaul.

I think, though, that the Jets are probably the front-runner. Spagnuolo is an East Coast guy, so I think he would lean that way if he has options.

If he winds up in Denver, though, you will love the attitude and style he brings to the Broncos. And Giants' fans will be forced to hate you.

Our thanks to ETVal for taking time to answer a few questions for us and wish the Giants luck in the playoffs.

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Thanks for the great article

Please forward it to Mr. Bowlen.

Anyone looking for a sign will find one. JB Freeman

by bradley on Jan 2, 2009 12:20 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Awesome article. I hope that Giants fans do hate us...I want Spags!!!!!! :)

by broncoholic on Jan 2, 2009 12:35 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Spags is exactly who the Broncos needs

hire him Bowlen!

In Bowlen We Trust!

by broncoboy on Jan 2, 2009 12:39 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

"A Steve Spagnuolo defense will never be accused of playing soft."

WANT.

In Bowlen we trust. Find someone special.

by papigrande on Jan 2, 2009 12:41 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Glad you guys like the report

If you have any other questions about Spagnuolo, feel free to ask them. I will drop back later and answer anything I can.

— Ed
Big Blue View

by Ed Valentine on Jan 2, 2009 12:45 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

We know he is great at getting his players to play at a high level.

But then again, so was Shanahan. Shanny’s downfall would seem to be his inability to sign talent to the team through both the draft and free agency, especially on the defensive side of the ball. What is Spagnuolo’s track record on drafting and free agent signing? Does he get a say in the discussion, at least? Also, would you see him as a coach who would want to take total control, a la Shanny or Mike Holmgren, or would he bring his own guys into the front office?

In Bowlen we trust. Find someone special.

by papigrande on Jan 2, 2009 12:49 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Good question

See, that’s what makes me wonder about Spags and Denver. You aren’t going to give a guy who has never been a head coach complete control of personnel, like Shanahan had. So, you still need a quality GM. Spags has a voice in New York because the system he plays requires physical corners who like to press cover, pass rushers and athletic linebackers. But, he doesn’t make any of the decisions on draft choices/free agents.

by Ed Valentine on Jan 2, 2009 2:04 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

That gives me a.....

Well, you know. I want some blitzes. I want press coverage. I’m tired of Bob freakin’ Slowik having corners line up 15 yards off the ball. We have an excellent in-your-face corner in Dre’ Bly, and another that prided on his press coverage in college, Jack MF’n Williams. Champ Bailey is, well, Champ Bailey, and Champ Bailey does what Champ Bailey feels like doing. But he does like to play off the receiver. We already have athletic linebackers in DJ Williams, Boss Bailey, and Wesley Woodyard. We’re one monster MLB away from having, well, an above average LB corps anyway. The only thing we don’t have is pass rushers. Jarvis Moss is supposed to be a pass rusher, but… yeah. I think with a little coaching, both he and his college teammate Marcus Thomas could be a force in the passing game. I think Spags could do that.

The more I learn about him, the more I like. Go Spags! We want you in Denver! Plus, your name sounds like a Mafia family! Which is awesome!

In Bowlen we trust. Find someone special.

by papigrande on Jan 2, 2009 3:44 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Spag's voice

I think if we hire Spagnuolo he’ll have a lot of input in the next draft since since fixing the defense will have been the primary reason he was hired in the first place. He’s my first choice for HC too, by the way. I think he’s a winner and will win as a head coach. I suspect Bowlen will pay a lot of attention to what the candidates say about the offense. A good DC who says as HC he won’t try to fix what ain’t broke (the offense) might sound better to him that someone who wants to install a whole new system on both sides of the ball. I’m also really curious as to who we’ll get as GM, and if he’ll be retaining the Goodmans (if they’re the ones responsible for our good drafts recently).

"In the empty spaces - lacunae, vacuums, pauses, voids, black holes - new things begin. We are born anew from the unexplored space, the badlands, the outlaw territory." - Sam Keen

by spock on Jan 2, 2009 4:30 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Spags is the man!

Hands down, I prefer this guy as the HC. He is a defensive guy and won’t mess with the offense, which isn’t broken (TBs anyone?) Pat said he is keeping Jim Goodman, and that he isn’t going anywhere. The two young guys, his son and Brian X, are co-general managers. I think it stays this way, and they will all three handle the draft with the HC’s input. I think hiring the HC first negates hiring a strong GM from outside of the organization. I am fine with this model, as Goodman’s experience will mentor Spags through FA and the draft. I am excited about this combination. If Pat picks Stoops, Garret or any of the rest of the candidates, I think trouble is brewing in Broncoland. The Titans DC would be an interesting choice, and the above model could fit him as well. Just my humble opinon. I could be all wet!

by BroncoConvert on Jan 2, 2009 9:11 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

How do you pronounce his name?

Anyone looking for a sign will find one. JB Freeman
All signs fail in time of drought. James M. Green

by bradley on Jan 2, 2009 1:22 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I hear it different ways

You guys can ask him when you hire him. LOL!

by Ed Valentine on Jan 2, 2009 2:06 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I usually hear it pronounced

Spag-no-low, basically just pretend there’s no ‘u’ and pronounce it like that.

by cjmulrain on Jan 3, 2009 12:00 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I've been hearing

span – yo – lo

I’m pretty sure Italian g’s are silent.

Or so I'm told.

by MN Bronco on Jan 3, 2009 12:07 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

like "lasagna"

Or so I'm told.

by MN Bronco on Jan 3, 2009 12:08 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Hmmm

I’ve always pronounced it “la-SAG-na”.

Must be my shooling.

Concision in style, precision in thought, decision in life.

by Jeremy Bolander on Jan 3, 2009 12:22 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Hmm...

Maybe you should consider going back to shool.

In Bowlen we trust. Find someone special.

by papigrande on Jan 3, 2009 1:59 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

there be dragons...

Concision in style, precision in thought, decision in life.

by Jeremy Bolander on Jan 3, 2009 5:21 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Pfffffffffffffffffffttttt..............

Thanks, now I’m cleaning coffee off my monitor.

:^P

Or so I'm told.

by MN Bronco on Jan 3, 2009 6:48 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for the post - one question

If he were hired as HC, what types of OC and DC do you think he would lean towards hiring?

OC – Air attack (Mike Martz), balanced, ball control (Parcells style)
DC – 4-3, 3-4, zone, man, etc.

Victor Frankl:

What man actually needs is not a tensionless state but rather the striving and struggling for some goal worthy of him. What he needs is not the discharge of tension at any cost, but the call of a potential meaning waiting to be fulfilled by him.

Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.

by wyoeng on Jan 2, 2009 1:50 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

My guess

would be ball control. That’s the way he has learned offense in Philly, and especially New York with Coughlin. You can’t wing it everywhere and win in bad weather, which Denver is — of course — famous for. He won’t bring in that kind of guy. As for a DC, my guess is he would bring somebody from the Giants’ staff — which would aggravate me even more — or someone from Philly he worked with while he was there. He is a 4-3 defensive coach who believes in taking his best lineman or two and moving them up and down the line to mess with the blocking and look for mismatches. Plays a lot of man cover because he loves the blitz, so you have to have quality at the corners.

by Ed Valentine on Jan 2, 2009 2:09 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

McDermott

One guy Spags may look to poach from the Eagles to make into a DC would be Sean McDermott. He’s followed the same career path as Spags so far and is held in high regard amongst the Eagles staff. Like Spags, he’s been both a LB and secondary coach for the Eagles.

Some local guys have speculated he could be “the next Spagnuolo” and leave for a DC job elsewhere.

Bleeding Green Nation - Philadelphia Eagles Blog

by JasonB on Jan 2, 2009 3:02 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Hey, JB

If Spags gets the Denver job we’ll take him in New York! LOL!!

by Ed Valentine on Jan 2, 2009 3:22 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for answering my question

Good luck in the playoffs. Wish the Broncos were there.

Victor Frankl:

Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.

by wyoeng on Jan 2, 2009 5:01 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

You sold me BBV!

"If Denver beats us, I'll walk back to Detroit" - Alex Karras

by Denver Diehard on Jan 8, 2009 2:11 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, and thanks ETVal for the great piece.

That’s exactly why I want this guy over anyone else (including Cowher) for head coach. I like the level at which he is able to get his players to play. I hope some of the Broncos brass read pieces like this and that their “informal meeting” tomorrow night goes well. I want Spags!!

In Bowlen we trust. Find someone special.

by papigrande on Jan 2, 2009 12:46 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

At least Spags

would install punch em in the mouth football.

My 2009 cuts/trades/etc: Prater, Hall, Young, McCree, Maneul, T. Bell, B. Bailey, C. Bailey, Slowik, Englenberger, Winborn, Pittman, Ramsey, Webster. (Subject to Update)

by broncodude793 on Jan 2, 2009 1:12 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for the report

You know I could never be disloyal to the chin ;}, but I am starting to get warmer on Spagnola. I also have a friend who played DE at U Mass that I believe played for him while Spagnola was a coach at U Mass (I will have to check, but I think the bios work out 88-91), so I will pick his brain to see what his impressions are.

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

by Broncoman on Jan 2, 2009 1:52 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Hey Guru

Do you think you could get an opinion about Raheem Morris from one of the guys over at Bucem?

by gnarlybroncodude on Jan 2, 2009 2:58 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

spags!

yes, spags. if cowher won’t take it, this is my pick. in my opinion, he was the super bowl mvp for their stretch run last season. not kidding. i don’t know how many times i saw a receiver wide open, and the qb unable to get him the ball. out of time. he gambles alot, but the success rate is extremely high. i actually don’t know how he consistently pulls it off, perhaps the talent level is still there for the giants. i think he just has a knack for calling the right plays at the right time. will he make a good hc, or have success with less talent in denver? unknown. but you’re not going to get this guy as a dc.

the fact he learned from johnson really had me excited when he came to the giants(who i root for locally), and he has not disappointed here. the fact that he attacks is exactly what i am looking for. i do not believe in a no-pressure system, bend-don’t break, soft, “we’re hoping to hold them to 3” defensive philosophy, especially with this group. he uses a 4-3, which we are suited for. what’s not to like? as far as the offensive side of the ball, keep doing what we’ve been doing, and mix in a good dose of power running. it can’t fail. drafting/fa, he will get help from the goodman’s et al, and he will also have a gm to lean on. i am willing to take a chance on this guy, he seems to be a winner, with a great football mind, defensively, anyway. sounds like a good fit.

hear me, perpetrators of bread crime, your punishment is at hand.
taste my blintzkrieg!
all i want for xmas is blitzen.

by davecheffy on Jan 2, 2009 3:11 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

a note on spags

Is NYG D was horrible before he got there and in his first year he turned the D into a SB winning D that shut down the best O we have seen in a long time. Also in his second year with the injuries and retirements he has still produced an awesome D

by gnarlybroncodude on Jan 2, 2009 3:24 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

love his scheme

the one thing I read in this article that I just love is “attack, attack, attack”. got so tired of slows having his DL playing patty cake with the OL.

My vote is for Spags. Come on down.

by SpiritGuy on Jan 2, 2009 5:12 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Attack, Attack, Attack!

It brings tears of joy to my eyes. What we did this year brought tears of sadness. Bending 12 plays in a row till we finally broke. Arrghaa the painful death. I want to see fear in the offense when the Bronco D takes the field. When is the last time that happened?

My image is the Circa 1960-’61 Broncos home uniform sock. Some what folk lore to me ... but referred to as the clown sock by my Dad.

by YellowStoneBronco on Jan 2, 2009 8:14 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

1977

I am the eggman...they are the eggman...I am the Mermaid...Goo Goo Gajoob!!!

by PosterNutbag on Jan 2, 2009 8:37 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I know this is not a topic right now

but here is good article about the salary cap, IR and the max 54 player rule. It argues for the NFL to go towards a Disabled list like baseball instead of IR. In order to do this they would have to increase the maximum player allowment. But this would be ok if the team is still under the salary cap. This is an interesting point because there are probably some players that went on IR at the beginning of the Broncos season that could have helped us at the end. A great example is Anthony Alridge, I guarantee he was ready to play by like week 10. He would have helped us a lot.

Here is the link. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=easterbrook/061107
What do you guys think? I would really like an opinion from you Guru.

by gnarlybroncodude on Jan 3, 2009 12:55 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

sorry you need to copy and paste

I tried to just make the link the authors name Gregg Easterbrook but I do not know how to do this. If anyone knows please let me know? I started to think about this topic when I was visiting Big Blue View. They have a really good site over there you should all go check it out.

by gnarlybroncodude on Jan 3, 2009 12:58 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

here you go

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=easterbrook

by gnarlybroncodude on Jan 3, 2009 12:56 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

One more comment about Spags....

Spags defense this year has done a tremendous job of compensating for what is the worst linebacker talent we have ever had on a winning Giants team. Any success we have on defense this year in the playoffs should be attributed to his efforts and the players buying into his schemes.

by giant fan since 57 on Jan 3, 2009 4:27 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

agreed

although i think pierce is underrated, and tuck and robbins are special. when we upgrade our front-7 talent, this would be the guy i would like to run it. question is: who is spags going to bring in at dc, and will he be calling the plays on gameday? and how strong is he in other areas he hasn’t worked in, yet? just throwing it out there

hear me, perpetrators of bread crime, your punishment is at hand.
taste my blintzkrieg!
all i want for xmas is blitzen.

by davecheffy on Jan 3, 2009 9:49 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Hi guys

Jim from BBV here. You guys don’t want Spags, nope, he’s not your guy. I think I have Jim Fassel’s number in the Rolodex though.

Giants fan from the womb to the tomb

by Jim Schmiedeberg on Jan 3, 2009 10:33 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

NOOOOOO!!!

lol

NOOOOOOO!!

You don’t know what you have just done, Jim.

In Bowlen we trust. Find someone special.

by papigrande on Jan 3, 2009 10:38 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

i am not as opposed to that as you may be

if we get a real dc and gm, in fact, i have no problem with it. he did well for the giants, and here as oc, as well for those that remember. he’s hungry(ok, desperate) to coach again, and has a good eye for talent. i’ll take him over stoops, any day.

hear me, perpetrators of bread crime, your punishment is at hand.
taste my blintzkrieg!
all i want for xmas is blitzen.

by davecheffy on Jan 3, 2009 10:53 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Bring him in...

The more I read and consider this guy, the more I like. Keep the current offensive staff and let him bring in a buddy as DC.

When I consider the work he has done with Justin Tuck (who I’ve kept tabs on as a fellow Domer), I think he may even be able to salvage Moss and Crowder.

Or so I'm told.

by MN Bronco on Jan 3, 2009 11:58 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Please Bring Spag to Denver

I believe that if Spagnuolo is not brought into Denver, the next couple of years we will truly REGRET it… I guarantee this guy can win the Denver Broncos a SuperBowl!!! And if he goes elsewhere and wins we will truly feel stupid!!!

by VXO24 on Jan 8, 2009 2:19 PM MST reply actions 0 recs