The latest NFL coaching updates:
- One day after Patriots quarterback Tom Brady absorbed 20-plus hits in a 20-18 AFC title game loss to Denver, the Pats are parting ways with offensive line coach Dave DeGuglielmo, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). DeGuglielmo, who had been New England’s O-line coach since 2014, was aware he was on the hot seat, adds Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports (Twitter link).
- Former NFL running back Rock Cartwright is the newest addition to the Browns’ Hue Jackson-led coaching staff. Cartwright will work as an offensive quality control coach, tweets ESPN’s Adam Caplan.
- The Giants have interviewed Paul Pasqualoni about their defensive line coach vacancy, per Fox Sports’ Alex Marvez (Twitter link). Pasqualoni held the same position with the Texans last season.
- Marvez reported Saturday that David Walker was set to become the Lions’ running backs coach. That hiring is now official, writes Tim Twentyman of the team’s website. Walker coached Indy’s RBs from 2011-14, including one season under Jim Caldwell.
Is there a limit to the number of coaches each team can have? I also step back when I see an OL coach hired with the designation of assistant head coach… Is that higher than the OC?
Good question. As far as I know, there’s no limit, but I imagine we won’t see any teams employing 40 or 50 coaches anytime soon even if an owner was willing to pay for that money, since it seems like it’d be a case of too many cooks in the kitchen.
As for the assistant head coach question, I’ve wondered about that myself — I think it depends on how much power an offensive coordinator or defensive coordinator would have for a given team. For instance, on a Chip Kelly team, a defensive positions coach with the AHC title may be considered “above” the offensive coordinator. But in most cases I think offensive/defensive coordinator jobs are more desirable than being hired a positions coach and getting the AHC title.
The Patriots O-line had so many injuries this season that firing the coach seems harsh, unless there was something going on behind the scenes that we don’t know about.
Agreed, it seems unfair to blame their struggles on him. Insiders on Twitter suggested that he’s a solid, respected coach, so maybe he’s just the fall guy.