Do we need to hire an interim DC?

[RxJock1120]

I can't possibly see bringing an outside hire at this point, we are way too far into the season. It's gotta be internal and Vrabel needs to be more involved with defense.

 

[dliverey44]

I would think at this point the team would continue to utilize Zak Kuhr as the DC for the reminder of the season. He's already been in that role off and on since training camp.

Kuhr has been coaching ILBs as well. Have OLB coach Mike Smith become the LB coach, and let Kuhr devote all his attention to being DC.

Probably best to not make too many changes to the staff midseason.

I agree, but bringing in someone to assist Coach Smith is not a terrible idea

 

[dliverey44]

I think a better solution is to share some of the responsibilities of the coordinator with the rest of the staff. Game planning can be collaborative.

Wozzy won't like that. He thinks its a bad word. LMAO

 

[Triumph]

The defense has been very good? What are you smoking? They had a string of good drives against a pathetic Steelers offense. Otherwise they have not been good.

The Dolphins shredded us who cares if Tyreke didn’t haven’t a TD.

The Pats have lost 2 games by a total of 14 points. The defense currently ranks 18th. The NE defense has held 3 offenses to 21 points or less.

To see you tell it, the NE defense is a sieve. Which is a bunch of BS.

The very first game vs the Raiders was going to be shaky. Bowers killed the Pats. BFD Miami racked up passing yards. The Pats held them to 16 1st downs, 4 out of 10 3rd down conversions were successful, the Pats had the ball 7 more minutes than Miami. Miami had 8 drives and the Pats had 10. How do you think that happened?

The Steelers offense ranks 12th.

 

[jboston19]

RLKAG

I think at this point Kuhr is the most logical candidate. They’ll possibly bring in a LB coach or assistant but not an outside DC.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I think Vrabel has shown excellent judgement in hiring his front office staff and football staff, so I trust that Kuhr will step up and run the defense the way Vrabel wants it run.

 

[n1997y]

What’s Mangini up to.

I thought of Patricia but it seems he’s got a gig.

 

[BennyBledsoe]

If there's somebody who Vrabel trusts and is chilling on the couch somewhere...sure, but if that's not the case, either Vrabel needs to double up for this year, or promote from within, and reworking the staff to cover for the holes.

 

[Ring 6]

I thought of Patricia but it seems he’s got a gig.

And he’s doing a tremendous job.

 

[Ring 6]

They also have 3 defensive assistant coaches who are not assigned a position, one of which Milton Patterson was a college LB then DC the last 4 years before bein hired. Another Vinny Depalma is a former BC LB in his second year on the Patriots staff.

 

[patfanken]

Are there actually a few names who are actually out there that I might recognize who are possible DC candidates likE Patricia?

 

[Pape]

Are there actually a few names who are actually out there that I might recognize who are possible DC candidates likE Patricia?

Ohio State DC

Outside of having Vrabel start calling the D, run with Kuhr for the rest of the season... Vrabel has DC experience, so he can lend a hand if needed

 

[n1997y]

To me the key is putting Williams on medical leave of absence so there’s clarity and no possibility of expectations for his involvement being wrong and counterproductive.

 

[Real fan 02]

I would think at this point the team would continue to utilize Zak Kuhr as the DC for the reminder of the season. He's already been in that role off and on since training camp.

Kuhr has been coaching ILBs as well. Have OLB coach Mike Smith become the LB coach, and let Kuhr devote all his attention to being DC.

Probably best to not make too many changes to the staff midseason.

I think that's the best way to go. Kurh, Williams and Vrabel along with all the other coaches on defense all have a relationship and chemistry from their titans tenure. So there guys are all comfortable with each others coaching abilities. Kurh is basically the 'DC" with Vrabel's involvement of course. One thing I really like about this staff is they all have had some experience in the league.

 

[Vindicate]

I do think you start to think of options in the wings in preparation for a potential untimely or forced exit due to health, while monitoring Kuhr's development. If he isn't the guy and Williams needs to take a sabbatical for a year, then we need vetted options.

If there is anything anyone on this board should be acutely aware of more than just about any other fan base, it is the need for contingency plans in coaching staff. I do not want a future where it's Vrabel not naming a DC and there being a black hole at the job spot.

I hope the best for Williams, but we need the team to prepare for the worst. I'm tired of the team being held hostage by ill-preparation at coordinator turnover. I mean for Christ sake we have McDaniels as our OC lmao - you could have worse, but that kinda tips the hat to what I'm saying.

 

[State]

Hiring an obese Dline coach, just a position guy, to DC was a tremendous error. What's his waistline, a giant puddle of hamburger belly, 59 inches?

Going to have to hire another DC next year. With a white HC and OC it's gotta be a brotha.

Stupid. But reality.

 

[mgdouche]

Depending on Williams' recovery and/or whether Vrabel is happy with Kuhr's job as interim DC, something to keep in mind: Shane Bowen is likely to be available next year.

 

[Ring 6]

Hiring an obese Dline coach, just a position guy, to DC was a tremendous error. What's his waistline, a giant puddle of hamburger belly, 59 inches?

Going to have to hire another DC next year. With a white HC and OC it's gotta be a brotha.

Stupid. But reality.

Yes being overweight causes prostate cancer.

The guy just got diagnosed with cancer and you have nothing better to do that make jokes about his weight? You need to get a new hobby this one has made you and inhuman *******.

Fittingly you top it off with a racist comment.

Quite possibly the biggest **** post in the history of this board.

 

[stinkypete]

Quite possibly the biggest **** post in the history of this board.

I don’t know, choosing the biggest **** post here is like picking a favorite Beatles song, there’s a hundred viable options, each a unique flavor. Our minds are sharp, our tongues sharper, our filters…nonexistent.

Back to the point, I have not seen any evidence that the defense is any better or worse off with our without Williams. He was not here for most (or all?) of camp. If I were to guess, I’d say his unavailability has probably impacted the team’s ability to install their defense, period.

 

[Huckleberry1]

You don't bring in an outside Defensive Coordinator during the season. They are too far along running this defensive system to do something like that. Stick with Zach Kuhr.