Steve Spagnuolo as Defensive Coordinator: Good To Go or Good Riddance?
By Neal Lynch
The New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles are in a tug-of-war over defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. Some believe Spags’ return has already gone sour.
A lot of Giants fans were excited when the team hired back Steve Spagnuolo to be the defensive coordinator in January 2015. His two seasons as DC in 2007 and 2008 were fruitful and so many saw a return to excellence on that side of the ball in 2015. Spags was going to save the defense. But, Giants fans might have glossed over Spags’ track record during his time away from Big Blue’s sidelines, which leads me to suspect the best is behind him.
In Spags’ first year as Giants defensive coordinator in 2007, his defense got off to a rocky start, but bounced back to finish in the top 10 overall in yards allowed, yards per play, first downs per game, third down percentage, time of possession, interceptions returned for touchdowns, fumbles returned for touchdowns, and led the league in sacks. Osi Umenyiora – the lone Pro Bowler – had 13 (6 of which came in 1 game against the Philadelphia Eagles), Justin Tuck had 10, Michael Strahan had 9 with Fred Robbins and Mathias Kiwanuka also chipping in a few. However, that same D was tied for most penalties.
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In 2008, the first year without Strahan, the Giants defense was ranked 5th in the league in points allowed and total yards allowed, while ending up in the top 10 in first downs allowed, passing yards allowed, passing touchdowns allowed, interceptions, rushing yards allowed, average drive time, safeties and sacks. Umenyiora missed all of that season with a torn lateral meniscus in his knee. Tuck was the sole Pro Bowler and a first-team All-Pro with 12 sacks. Robbins (5.5 sacks) and Kiwanuka (8 sacks) also stepped up with along with Barry Cofield (3 sacks).
In 2009, Spags was hired by the St. Louis Rams to be their head coach. In three seasons, his defenses were among the worst in the league, finishing in the bottom 10 twice. As Defensive Coordinator of the New Orleans Saints, his unit was worst in the league. His best campaign since that stellar 2008 season was in 2010 when the Rams were in 4th in league in rushing touchdowns allowed and 7th in the league in passing touchdowns allowed.
It was surprising to many that the Giants would even consider interviewing Spags for the head coaching position after the disastrous 2015 campaign. Reports came that McAdoo would keep Spags on as DC and McAdoo’s introductory press conference indirectly confirmed that with a somewhat muted endorsement of the players “in the second year of the system”.
Other reports have indicated that the players themselves love Spags and his play-calling but just couldn’t execute. This begs the question: how short is the leash on Steve Spanuolo? It’s not even an after-thought if his defense holds on to two or more leads in those late game collapses. He might’ve even landed the head coaching job.
With some quality free agent acquisitions and a heavy emphasis on drafting talented prospects, we could see a return to 2008’s form. But, it’s hard to ignore history.