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A Wish List for San Diego Chargers' Linebackers Coach

One glaring hole on the coaching staff of the San Diego Chargers is at Linebackers Coach. After John Pagano, the LB Coach since Ron Rivera was promoted to Defensive Coordinator, was promoted to Defensive Coordinator he was tasked with the job of finding his replacement. Based off the fact that he hasn't named who that person is yet, I'm going assume they're going outside of the current crop of coaches. Join me while I dig up some interesting names for Pagano to look at.

Kevin Greene (Green Bay Packers - Outside Linebackers Coach)
The five-time Pro Bowler who turned his career around when paired with Dom Capers (and then followed him to the Panthers), who he now coaches under in Green Bay, has been tutoring Clay Matthews and the Packers' pass-rushers. While Pagano having good success coaching up MLBs in the 3-4, finding and crafting a pass-rusher to play opposite Shaun Phillips has been a struggle. Greene would help.

Keith Butler (Pittsburgh Steelers - Linebackers Coach)
Butler has been with the Steelers for 9 seasons and is largely regarded as the best 3-4 LBs Coach in the business. No idea how you'd get him to leave the Steelers without offering him the DC job, but we're just spitballing here.

Star-divide

Jim Leavitt (San Francisco 49ers - Linebackers Coach)
The long-time coach at the University of Southern Florida was brought to San Francisco by Jim Harbaugh. In his first season, his LB group was among the best in football at rushing the passer and stopping the run.

Reggie Herring (Houston Texans - Linebackers Coach)
Herring followed Wade Phillips, serving the same role in Dallas, to the Texans and did a fine job with the LBs despite losing Mario Williams early in the season.

Stephen Cooper (former San Diego Chargers player)
The dark horse, unlikely because of his total lack of coaching experience, that fans want because they know players better than they know coaches. Hiring Cooper to be the LB Coach would be an unprecedented move, but I wouldn't be surprised if he came on as some special assistant or maybe even the Assistant Linebackers Coach if Greg Williams got promoted to Linebackers Coach.

The odd thing, looking through the coaching staffs of successful 3-4 defenses, is how many of them have separate coaches for the Inside Linebackers and Outside Linebackers. It makes sense, with the two positions being so different. I wonder, if Pagano considers himself more of an Inside Linebackers Coach, if the Chargers are maybe looking for someone who can focus strictly on improving the pass-rush.

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Are all of these coaches no longer under contract or something?

Bolts from the Blue // "At least when Wade is spewing vitriol he does so with an intellectual flair." - insanebolt21
Bloody Elbow // "I think we're poking fun at Leland's 'boner.'" - Michael Fagan

by Richard Wade on Jan 31, 2012 3:36 PM PST reply actions  

Wish list

Bolts from the Blue - Destroying your opinions with facts.

Richard Wade - "I feel like me from four years ago would punch present me in the face. I like to think that's because I've grown as a person."

by John Gennaro on Jan 31, 2012 4:37 PM PST up reply actions  

Your wish list is stupid.

Bolts from the Blue // "At least when Wade is spewing vitriol he does so with an intellectual flair." - insanebolt21
Bloody Elbow // "I think we're poking fun at Leland's 'boner.'" - Michael Fagan

by Richard Wade on Jan 31, 2012 6:45 PM PST up reply actions  

Butler is NOT happening

He is the heir-apparent to Dick Lebeau. The Colts just tried to get him as DC, but he turned it down after meeting with Rooney.

by BORTZ on Jan 31, 2012 3:49 PM PST reply actions  

#TeamCoop

Listing a bunch of current LB coaches doesn’t pass my common sense logic about lateral moves. Then again my common sense logic is wrong an awful lot.

by Orz on Jan 31, 2012 4:12 PM PST reply actions  

Make it a T-shirt!

Except it doesn’t really have a counterpoint.

by CABurrito on Feb 1, 2012 6:04 AM PST up reply actions  

#TeamPlausible

Bolts from the Blue // "At least when Wade is spewing vitriol he does so with an intellectual flair." - insanebolt21
Bloody Elbow // "I think we're poking fun at Leland's 'boner.'" - Michael Fagan

by Richard Wade on Feb 1, 2012 10:57 AM PST up reply actions  

Not sure I'd characterize Pagano as struggling with OLBs

It wasn’t his job to keep English and Merriman healthy. As far as I can tell Tucker, Applewhite and Gamble maxed out their (imited potential. Barnes saw his game step up. Not sure what to make of LaBoy.

"second base is the bizness." -jbox

Bolts from the Blue - San Diego Chargers Blog Created By The Fans, For The Fans

by Wonko on Jan 31, 2012 4:27 PM PST reply actions   1 recs

He was also OLB coach

When manusky was LB coach. I also think he was OLB coach when Rivera was ILB coach. Then again, my drug-addled brain is kinda…wait, what?

by BORTZ on Jan 31, 2012 7:21 PM PST via mobile up reply actions  

That is correct.

A pirate I was meant to be!
"You say you're nasty pirates,
scheming, thieving, bad bushwackers?
From what I've seen I tell you
You're not pirates, you're just slackers!"

by Zach (maestro876) on Jan 31, 2012 7:47 PM PST up reply actions  

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