The Jaguars conducted an extensive search for their new defensive coordinator, interviewing multiple outside candidates, but ultimately the team decided to stay in-house to fill the position. According to Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union (Twitter links), Jacksonville has promoted defensive line coach Todd Wash to DC, and will hold a press conference on Friday to announce the decision.
[RELATED: PFR’s 2016 offensive/defensive coordinator tracker]
Wash, who came to the Jaguars in 2013 from the Seahawks, along with head coach Gus Bradley, has served as the defensive line coach for the team since then, and also had run game coordinator added to his title for the 2015 season.
Before making the decision to hire Wash to replace former defensive coordinator Bob Babich, the Jaguars looked into several outside options, bringing in Falcons secondary coach Marquand Manuel, Dolphins interim defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, and Cowboys secondary coach Jerome Henderson for interviews.
The Jaguars also reportedly interviewed Jim Schwartz, and were one of at least three teams that had interest in him, along with the Browns and the Eagles. Schwartz landed in Philadelphia, and it’s not clear if he might have been Jacksonville’s pick if he hadn’t been hired by another team first.
In any case, Wash will take over a unit that finished 25th in the NFL in 2015 in yards allowed per game (375.0), and ranked 26th in terms of DVOA, per Football Outsiders. The new defensive coordinator will have the benefit of getting back Dante Fowler, the club’s 2015 first-round pick, whose rookie season was lost due to a torn ACL.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
I have to think Schwartz was the No. 1 choice here, but Wash seems like he’s qualified to take the next step. I don’t think it will really matter who the coordinator is until the club gets more talent in the secondary (No. 31 in pass defense DVOA). And I’m interested to see the impact of Fowler on a defense that ranked just 24th in adjusted sack rate.
Babich was a joke. He was a stooge for Smith in Chicago. I hope Wash works out.