Redskins To Interview Dennis Thurman For DC
Continuing to cast a wide net in their search for a defensive coordinator, the Redskins will interview Dennis Thurman for the position, per reports from Josh Reed of WIVB and Mike Jones of the Washington Post (Twitter link).
The 60-year-old Thurman spent the past four seasons working as ex-head coach Rex Ryan‘s defensive coordinator, first with the Jets and then the Bills. The two had success in New York, but the elite defense they inherited in Buffalo in 2015 declined sharply on their watch. After finishing second in the league in defensive DVOA in 2014, the Bills ranked 24th and 26th the past two years. Washington ended this season 25th, which helped lead to the firing of D-coordinator Joe Barry.
While his two-year tenure in Buffalo didn’t go well, Thurman wasn’t the mastermind behind its defense. That distinction belonged to Ryan, who brought in his twin brother, Rob Ryan, to work with him and Thurman in 2016. Rob has also interviewed for the job in Washington. As PFR’s Coordinator Tracker shows, the Redskins have six candidates to replace Barry on their radar. Another of those coaches, Mike Pettine, is also a Rex Ryan disciple.
Redskins Requested To Interview Romeo Crennel
- The Redskins expressed interest in meeting with Texans defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel about their DC position, but Washington’s request was denied, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com. Crennel has since been promoted to assistant head coach, as linebackers coach Mike Vrabel will take over Houston’s coordinator role. Crennel’s contract was set to expire later this month, but the 69-year-old wouldn’t have had any interest in jobs with other clubs.
NFLPA Announces Cap Carryover Amounts
The NFL Players Association has announced all 32 teams’ salary cap carryover amounts for the 2017 season (Twitter link). Next season’s cap figure isn’t yet known, but it’s likely to be in the $165MM range. When that becomes official, it can be added to each team’s carryover amount to determine that club’s official spending room for 2017.
Here are this year’s carryover totals:
- Cleveland Browns: $50,123,269
- Jacksonville Jaguars: $39,314,310
- San Francisco 49ers: $38,708,916
- Tennessee Titans: $24,046,522
- Washington Redskins: $15,055,131
- Carolina Panthers: $13,208,020
- Miami Dolphins: $8,363,708
- Chicago Bears: $8,103,197
- Oakland Raiders: $8,000,000
- Green Bay Packers: $7,984,687
- Philadelphia Eagles: $7,933,869
- Denver Broncos: $7,243,248
- Indianapolis Colts: $6,614,106
- Cincinnati Bengals: $6,578,866
- New Orleans Saints: $5,754,000
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $5,330,779
- New England Patriots: $5,292,335
- Kansas City Chiefs: $5,002,168
- Houston Texans: $4,935,924
- Detroit Lions: $4,725,644
- Arizona Cardinals: $4,405,068
- Pittsburgh Steelers: $3,269,367
- Buffalo Bills: $2,837,222
- Baltimore Ravens: $2,553,126
- Dallas Cowboys: $2,401,553
- Seattle Seahawks: $2,065,865
- New York Giants: $1,800,000
- Atlanta Falcons: $926,541
- Minnesota Vikings: $400,184
- New York Jets: $371,487
- Los Angeles Rams: $304,311
- Los Angeles Chargers: $113,693
Latest On Redskins’ Offensive Staff
Redskins offensive line coach Bill Callahan has come up as a possibility to fill the vacant O-coordinator positions with both Washington and the Rams, but he’s uninterested in leaving his current role.
“It’s not that he’s dismissive of an opportunity to, at some point in time, become a coordinator,” agent Bob LaMonte told Liz Clarke of the Washington Post. “But at this time, he’s not interested because he’s enjoying the players he works with and enjoying working for Jay (Gruden).”
Callahan, 60, has already been a coordinator with the Raiders (1998-2001) and the Cowboys (2012-14). After leaving Dallas, he took over the Redskins’ offensive line and is now coming off a season in which the unit allow the fourth-fewest sacks in the NFL (23) and sent two players – left tackle Trent Williams and right guard Brandon Scherff – to the Pro Bowl. Callahan’s line also finished the season as Football Outsiders’ sixth-ranked front five and Pro Football Focus’ seventh-best group.
With Callahan not open to taking the place of ex-Redskins O-coordinator and now-Rams head coach Sean McVay, it’s now even likelier than before that quarterbacks coach Matt Cavanaugh will become Gruden’s top offensive assistant, according to Clarke. Tight ends coach Wes Phillips is also in the mix, but he could join his father, defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, on McVay’s staff in Los Angeles.
Cavanaugh has been in charge of the Redskins’ signal-callers since 2015, Kirk Cousins‘ breakout year. He was formerly a coordinator with the Bears and Ravens.
Texans To Promote Mike Vrabel To DC
The Texans are promoting linebackers coach Mike Vrabel to defensive coordinator, reports Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com (Twitter link). Predecessor Romeo Crennel will stay on the Texans’ staff and become their assistant head coach.
This is seemingly a boon for Houston, which potentially could have dealt with the departures of both Vrabel and Crennel this offseason. Vrabel drew head coaching interest from the Rams, who instead hired Sean McVay, and both the Chargers and Redskins were eyeing him for their D-coordinator vacancies, according to Breer (Twitter link).
Meanwhile, the soon-to-be 70-year-old Crennel was on an expiring contract prior to Wednesday. Head coach Bill O’Brien made it clear earlier this week that the team didn’t want to lose Crennel.
“Romeo’s done a great job,” O’Brien said Monday. “I know we’d love to have him back. I haven’t sat down with any coaches yet, but I can tell you Romeo’s a great coach. He means a lot to me personally, and we’d love to have Romeo back.”
Crennel had served as the Texans’ defensive coordinator since 2014, and the unit ranked between sixth and eighth in DVOA in each season under his stewardship. Houston also led the NFL in yardage allowed in 2016, which was especially impressive given that superstar end J.J. Watt only played in three games and went on injured reserve in late September. The Crennel-led, Watt-less Texans had other stars emerge, including end Jadeveon Clowney and cornerback A.J. Bouye, while linebacker Whitney Mercilus‘ standout play continued.
Mercilus has worked directly with Vrabel, who was a terrific NFL linebacker in his own right from 1997-2010. Vrabel played under Crennel in both New England and Kansas City during that time, and he then joined him on Houston’s coaching staff in 2014. The two will remain together in 2017, though it’ll be Vrabel manning Crennel’s longtime position. Crennel has been a D-coordinator with four different teams since 2000.
2017 Proven Performance Escalators
According to the NFL’s contractual bargaining agreement, players drafted in rounds three though seven are entitled to raises during the fourth year of their respective rookie contracts. The pay bumps are tied to playing time — a player must have played in 35% of his team’s offensive or defensive snaps in two of his first three seasons, or averaged 35% playing time cumulatively during that period.
If one of these thresholds is met, the player’s salary is elevated to the level of that year’s lowest restricted free agent tender — that figure should be around $1.8MM in 2017. Players selected in the first or second round, undrafted free agents, and kickers/punters are ineligible for the proven performance escalator.
Here are the players who will see their salary rise in 2017 courtesy of the proven performance escalator:
49ers: Aaron Lynch, LB; Marcus Martin, OL
Bears: Charles Leno, T; Will Sutton, DT
Bengals: Russell Bodine, C
Bills: Preston Brown, LB; Seantrel Henderson, T
Broncos: Michael Schofield, OL
Browns: Christian Kirksey, LB
Buccaneers: Kevin Pamphile, G
Cardinals: John Brown, WR
Chiefs: Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, G; Zach Fulton, G; Phillip Gaines, CB
Colts: Donte Moncrief, WR
Cowboys: Anthony Hitchens, LB
Falcons: Devonta Freeman, RB
Giants: Devon Kennard, LB
Jaguars: Aaron Colvin, CB; Brandon Linder, G; Telvin Smith, LB
Lions: Nevin Lawson, CB; Travis Swanson, C
Packers: Corey Linsley, C; Richard Rodgers, TE
Panthers: Tre Boston, S; Trai Turner, G
Raiders: T.J. Carrie, CB; Justin Ellis, DT; Gabe Jackson, G
Rams: Maurice Alexander, S; E.J. Gaines, CB
Redskins: Bashaud Breeland, CB; Spencer Long, G; Morgan Moses, T
Texans: C.J. Fiedorowicz, TE; Andre Hal, S
Titans: DaQuan Jones, DL; Avery Williamson, LB
Vikings: Shamar Stephen, DT
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/16/17
Here are the latest reserve/futures contract signings from around the NFL. These deals will go into effect on the first day of the 2017 league year, with players joining their respective clubs’ offseason 90-man rosters.
Dallas Cowboys
- G Clay DeBord
- G Kadeem Edwards
- WR Shaquelle Evans
- LB Jeremiah George
- TE Connor Hamlett
- DE Lenny Jones
- CB Jeremiah McKinnon
- DB Jameill Showers
- CB Sammy Seamster
- RB Rod Smith
- CB Duke Thomas
- LS Zach Wood
Houston Texans
- TE RaShaun Allen
- DE Brandon Dunn
- OT Laurence Gibson
- RB Kenny Hilliard
- WR Tevin Jones
- OLB Eric Lee
- ILB Shakeel Rashad
- OG Chad Slade
Seattle Seahawks
- C Ross Burbank
- FS Pierre Desir
- RB George Farmer
- DT Tylor Harris
- DT Shaneil Jenkins
- FB Malcolm Johnson
- WR Kenny Lawler
- TE Marcus Lucas
- C/OG Will Pericak
- RB Kelvin Taylor
Tennessee Titans
- CB Tye Smith
Washington Redskins
Redskins To Interview Greg Manusky For DC Job
Add another name to the growing list of Redskins defensive coordinator candidates. ESPN.com’s John Keim reports that the team will interview outside linebackers coach Greg Manusky for the vacancy. The position opened up when the team fired former defensive coordinator Joe Barry in early January.
Manusky certainly has the experience, as the 50-year-old has served as defensive coordinator for three different teams. The former player got his first coaching gig with the Redskins and Chargers in the early-2000’s, and he was hired as the 49ers defensive coordinator in 2007. During Manusky’s four seasons in San Francisco, the 49ers defense turned into one of the most feared units in the league. The squad struggled during the 2007 and 2008 seasons, but the 2009 defense proved to be one of the best in the league. The defense took a step back in 2010, and Manusky was allowed to seek another gig following the hiring of head coach Jim Harbaugh.
Manusky ultimately returned to San Diego for the 2011 season as the team’s defensive coordinator. His defense ultimately allowed 377 points, which was good for only 22nd in the league. Following the campaign, the coach was fired. Manusky was subsequently hired as the Colts defensive coordinator in 2012, and he spent four years in the position. The team made the playoffs in three of those seasons, but Manusky’s defense only finished in the top-10 for points allowed once during his tenure. The coordinator was fired following the 2015 season, and he soon caught on as the Redskins outside linebackers coach.
As our coordinator tracker shows, the Redskins have a number of candidates for the opening, including former Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley, former Browns head coach Mike Pettine, former Bills defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, and 49ers linebackers coach Jason Tarver.
Redskins Set DC Interview With Jason Tarver
Washington’s brass met with Rob Ryan on Monday for their defensive coordinator opening and will add another name to the list, albeit a lower-profile one. Former Raiders defensive coordinator Jason Tarver will interview for the DC job as well, Master Tefatsion of the Washington Post reports.
Currently the 49ers’ linebackers coach, Tarver hasn’t been connected with any of the DC jobs this offseason. But the 49ers did consider him for their DC position, one that eventually went to Jim O’Neil, last year.
Tarver spent three seasons as the Raiders’ DC from 2012-14, and the 42-year-old assistant served in a lengthy previous 49ers stint in the 2000s. While affiliated with two NFL teams and three colleges in 20 years of coaching, Tarver has never coached outside of northern California. However, he did work with current Redskins GM Scot McCloughan during the initial 49ers stint.
He adds to the list of prospective Redskins DCs, with Ryan and Mike Pettine also residing on that list. Tarver’s Raiders defenses ranked 18th, 22nd and 21st, respectively, from 2012-14 during the Dennis Allen regime.
Redskins Meet With Rob Ryan For DC Job
Rob Ryan‘s tenure with the Bills lasted less than one season, but he will have a chance to join the Redskins’ staff. Washington added the brash veteran to the list of defensive coordinator interviews, Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com tweets.
He joined Gus Bradley and Mike Pettine on the Redskins’ DC interview list, one that did not include Wade Phillips despite the teams being connected. Nor did it include Bengals DC Paul Guenther, whom the team requested permission to interview. Ryan certainly qualifies as a big name, even if his recent jobs did not end well.
This is the first interview opportunity for Ryan as he attempts to rebound from a Buffalo experiment gone awry. The Bills fired both of the Ryan brothers, with Rob making it just 15 games compared to Rex‘s 31 with the franchise. It marked the second straight year the veteran DC failed to finish with his employer, with the Saints relieving Ryan of his duties during a historically bad 2015 campaign.
Rob Ryan has officially served as the DC for four teams, but his role with the Bills — while not given that title — included similar responsibilities. Buffalo finished 19th in total defense for a second straight season.
The Redskins are still seeking to fill the spot made available by the team axing Joe Barry, and the search is coming up on the two-week mark.