Daronte Jones and the Defensive Staffing Thread

[Boone]

I don't think the Blough selection factors in much, but Quinn's seemingly tenuous job security HAS to be a factor. It could keep proven coordinators from being willing to risk coming here when it could all be blown up again a season from now. Perhaps AP could mitigate that by reassuring candidates that Quinn will be here for 2-3 seasons no matter what, but not sure he would do that?

 

[Chris]

In my mind…a high quality existing DC probably is most interested in promotion to HC. If he makes a strong mark on the defensive side, no matter the team’s record, he looks good.

A highly regarded lower-level coach wants to be a DC and there are only 32 of those. If he makes a strong mark on the defensive side, no matter the team’s record, he looks good.

 

[Knightingale]

I don't think the Blough selection factors in much, but Quinn's seemingly tenuous job security HAS to be a factor. It could keep proven coordinators from being willing to risk coming here when it could all be blown up again a season from now. Perhaps AP could mitigate that by reassuring candidates that Quinn will be here for 2-3 seasons no matter what, but not sure he would do that?

The point here though, is that Quinn's tenuous job security is likely DIRECTLY affected by whether Blough succeeds or fails.

I'd love to know what the thinking is internally in the building about what happened this season. My personal take is that the team got a little ahead of itself after the success last year and rolled the dice to go that extra step this year. It didn't pay off. Older players plus the vicious injury bug just wrecked out season. So what does AP and co think internally? How much of teh good will Quinn gained last year been evaporated by the awful 2025 season?

 

[Boone]

Yeah. Some will argue that the only kind of 'proven coordinator' that would want to come here in the DC role would be a 'retread' with a mixed history of success.

It is probably much easier to look for guys who have not gotten their opportunity. They will be less concerned about the specifics of a given team 'situation' or will overlook less ideal aspects (like Quinn possibly being on the hot seat) for the chance to be a coordinator.

 

[skinsinparadise]

 

[skinsinparadise]

My guess is both Peters and Quinn feel on the spot. As for all in stuff. To me that's purely about the Lattimore trade, he was all in as to the trade deadline in 2024. But in 2025, IMO he went medium at best, but generally closer to not being all in versus being all in. I get the concept of being an old team feels all in -- but it isn't really if you factor why they are so old. they are old largerly because they are cheaper assets. It costs a lot less to sign Von Miller than it does Josh Sweat, etc.

I know some disagree with me on this. But I am with Standig who has made this point a lot, they weren't all in. And maybe that was the mistake.

Basically going cheaper by trading the salaries of Jonathan Allen for Kinlaw and Will Harris for Chinn as two of their big moves on defense feels if anything the opposite of all in. Hyping NE's discarded over 30 years old DE coming off a pedestrian season and signing him on the cheap -- meh.

I think they either got overconfident this past off season or went cheap in FA for whatever reason. Having if I recall top 3 cap space and spending the 14th most isnt showing much urgency.

But I think this will change. I am predicting the all in will finally happen this year.

I've posted this before from Standig interviewing agents

• “Give them credit for staying focused on rebuilding the roster, but why not be more aggressive with the QB on a rookie deal when you might already be the second-best NFC team? At the very least, they should have filled in some gaps or replaced a few older players. Instead, they have tons of 2026 free agents, meaning in your third year, you're still filling too many holes.”
• “Certainly, the team where a sophomore slump comes to mind.”

 

[DWinzit]

Well that's telling coming from Keim.
My gut has been Raheem all along.
I hope I'm wrong but I believe they think he gives them a steady eddy to go with Blough

 

[skinsinparadise]

Well that's telling coming from Keim.
My gut has been Raheem all along.
I hope I'm wrong but I believe they think he gives them a steady eddy to go with Blough

Yeah agree. Feels like it ends up Raheem. As I digest him further am not as down on it as I was previously, I get the sense he's an OK X's and O's guy, Not great. Not awful. But great motivator. I'd much rather have Ulbrich but wouldn't hate it if its Raheem.

 

[DWinzit]

Yeah agree. Feels like it ends up Raheem. As I digest him further am not as down on it as I was previously, I get the sense he's an OK X's and O's guy, Not great. Not awful. But great motivator. I'd much rather have Ulbrich but wouldn't hate it if its Raheem.

Yes, really would rather Ulbrich and surround both of them with solid staffs. It feels like they already Bloughs staff partially set with plenty of other names in place.

 

[burgold]

I suspect they know that Blough is a gamble so I don't know that they'll want to gamble when it comes to the DC, too. OTOH, they have more room to gamble at DC since Quinn is a defensive guy (which probably means the DC will be expected to hew to his philosophy.)

 

[DWinzit]

I suspect they know that Blough is a gamble so I don't know that they'll want to gamble when it comes to the DC, too. OTOH, they have more room to gamble at DC since Quinn is a defensive guy (which probably means the DC will be expected to hew to his philosophy.)

Yeah I still say our new DC pool is restricted due to DQ. I will hover over them more than he did with his own chop liver initial DC selection, Many DC candidates may not want a defensive HC unless they already know him and run a similar scheme to what he wants

 

[burgold]

On top of that, Quinn ought to be frustrated/embarrassed that the team's defense is so far behind its offense. I mean defense is what he's supposed to bring to the table. That's the special sauce that makes him worth being singled out. It's kind of why I soured on Rivera. Rivera and Del Rio were supposed to be big shot defensive guys. More often than not, it was the defense that held us back.

If Quinn has defensive super powers worthy enough to make him a two-time HC when most teams opt for an offensive guy... then I want to see a damn good defense on the field. I can forgive a struggling offense, but the defense should not be confused, lost, and porous for two years in a row.

 

[RWJ]

But as far as a narrative goes and stats -- Ulbrich seems like the best choice if Atlanta sets him free.

Agree 1000% and hopefully the new HC in Hotlanta, once hired will want to bring in his own DC but I'd say that probably will not happen. Everyone knows why Ulbrich was held back from interviewing and I'd think that DQ had already spoke with him before it was made known that Atl. denied permission for Dallas to interview him along with all the other teams interested in him.

 

[DWinzit]

On top of that, Quinn ought to be frustrated/embarrassed that the team's defense is so far behind its offense. I mean defense is what he's supposed to bring to the table. That's the special sauce that makes him worth being singled out.

Yeah well he and AP have really failed to build the defensive side other than one year old rentals mainly. That doesn't work. It is okay to sprinkle a few in but not half the defensive roster

 

[Boone]

It's not about what they 'want' to do at DC - it's about what they CAN do. I'm not sure it's such an attractive spot to land for an experienced DC. Quinn is almost certainly going to want to 'be involved' in defensive input, and his status is tenuous. A lot easier for a first timer to accept those things than a guy who has done it before.

 

[Dah-Dee]

Somebody posted Raheem's coaching stats as a DC earlier in the thread, scary bad. Do not want. He might (?) be fine as a DB coach, but not the guy I want running our defense.

I'd rather have the guy more directly responsible for the improvement in Atlanta's D this season, Ulbrich, but it sounds like Atlanta wants to keep him.

Patrick Graham, yes please.

It does feel, however, as if the DC search does not have the same urgency as the OC hire did with the Blough/McDaniel situations. Makes me wonder if maybe they're just doing due diligence while waiting for some playoff-team DCs to finish their seasons, perhaps trying to lure somebody like Aden Durde with a DC/AHC 'promotion' if he doesn't get a HC spot. Quinn has hired Durde twice before, with both the Falcons and Cowboys.

 

[SkinsInSATX]

I like Ulbrich and what he did with the Jets. I want Ulbrich in the building and they need to go after him if and when he's available! Hail!!

 

[method man]

Dennard Wilson as a DC:

2025: 28th Points Against, 21st yards, 26th in turnovers, 23rd in pass TD, 29th in interceptions, 30th in net yards/attempt, 15th in rush yards, 28th in rush TD, 17th in YPC
2024: 30th in points against, 2nd in yards, 16th in turnovers, 19th in pass TD, 19th in INT, 9th in net yards/attempt, 26th in rush yards, 27th in rush TD, 21st in YPC

That is his two year resume.

Ours stats:

2025: 27th in Points Against, 32nd in yards, 31st in turnovers, 29th in pass TD, 25th in interceptions, 31st in net yards/attempt, 30th in rush yards, 20th in rush TD, 27th in YPC
2024: 18th in Points Against, 13th in yuards, 20th in turnovers, 15th in pass TD, 26th in INT, 10th in net yards/attempt, 30th in rush yards, 18th in rush TD, 28th in YPC

View attachment 13910

In fairness, the Titans overall were a slight bit better than us in the last two years. And I am sure Dennard is an excellent coach. But let him get blood from a stone elsewhere.

Personnel wise they are extremely similar to us: Not a whole lot in the cupboard.

Jeffery Simmons would be the best player on both defenses. After that it's a bit of a wildcard/toss the coin. Their safeties are probably better. Our linebackers are probably overall better, but Kenneth Murray is probably the best LB on both teams. Edges they might have the edge. McCreary was more productive than any of our corners... I'm not sure they are less talented than our roster is.

But it's close.

To be fair, I'll put up Patrick Graham's numbers, too...:

2025: 25th in points against, 14th in yards, 23rd in turnovers, 10th in pass TD, 25th in INT, 15th in net yards/attempt, 30th in rush TD, 4th in YPC
2024: 25th in points against, 15th in yards, 29th in turnovers, 26th in pass TD, 22nd in INT, 16th in net yards/attempt, 15th in rush TD, 13th in YPC

Granted, between all three there are a lot of variables. And quite frankly, none of the three are exciting from a pure numbers perspective the last two seasons.

So maybe the question does become, "who can get the most blood from this stone".

Graham has the most experience.

The Raiders have the best LB of the group in Devin White. The best safety in Chinn (this hurts) and the best edge in Crosby. So you could argue they were working with more and getting way too similar results. But the rest of their defense might be worse than both our team and the Titans (some wiggle room for arguing that).

Honestly, this exercise has made me think we need to aim higher than Graham, too.

Graham and Wilson might be great defensive minds, but this team needs a very good defensive coordinator to offset our new OC's inexperience and help turn this defense around.

But... I am also keenly aware that we are likely to get a lower tier candidate because Quinn will think that he can plug any holes with his defensive prowess.

I did this while drinking my morning coffee and it has made me sad. Excuse me while I finish the rest of my coffee and flavor it with my tears.

I will say that this exercise has made me prefer Dennard Wilson over Graham at this point.

Wasn’t Kenneth Murray a Cowboy this year? He is also just slightly less of a bust than Jamin Davis. Devin White might be out of the league after this year

 

[KDawg]

Wasn’t Kenneth Murray a Cowboy this year? He is also just slightly less of a bust than Jamin Davis. Devin White might be out of the league after this year

Murray was with Ten in 24. White had almost 100 tackles.

And yes, them being upgrades for us isn’t a positive endorsement

 

[skinsfan4128]

I get the want for Ulbrich (hell, he's my favorite for DC), but it just feels like a pipe dream at this point. The owner likes him and odds are that whomever they hire for HC will gladly take him due to the lack of quality DCs available (other than pl7cking relatively unknowns).

Morris feels like a scary proposition at DC to me. He just hasn't really been great at it and feels more like a respected position coach, IMO. Perhaps secondaries coach, etc. Just not a DC.

Graham and Wilson are intriguing, but they really haven't proven much to deserve the DC position either. Now, that's not to say that if AP cooks with better ingredients this off-season, they couldn't be successful. But don't get the warm and fuzzies about that either.

One guy that I've been watching is Al Harris. DQ wanted him for his staff when he was hired but Jerrah wasn't having it. Guy has that Bears secondary at the top of the league in picks and coverage. Seems like a guy that eager, aggressive, and ready for a challenge. Wonder if DQ is waiting to interview him as his name is popping up for a promotion around the league.

HTTR!