Four coaches from two losing NFL teams we can consider :)

philter · Jan 23, 2005

In my quest to mitigate anxiety over our lack of a DC (believe me, I think Les is doing a good job...just human nature to want to 'know')...I've listed the 4 coaches from Atlanta and Pittsburgh I think could serve in the DC capacity for LSU.

Since they are out of the playoffs now, maybe they have more time to think about career moves

Atlanta Falcons

Emmitt Thomas
http://www.atlantafalcons.com/team/coachbio.jsp?id=1921

- 30 years NFL exp. | NFL DC experience (3 diff. teams) | College experience

In 2002, Thomas' first year guiding the Falcons defensive backs, the Falcons tied for third in the NFL with 24 interceptions. Furthermore, Atlanta's pass defense improved from 30th in 2001 to 16th in 2002.

The Falcons' upgraded play in pass defense came as no to surprise to anyone who has ever worked around Thomas. He has been a winning presence on the NFL landscape for 36 seasons as a player and assistant coach. In that time, he has captured a total of three Super Bowl rings with two titles coming as an assistant coach and one as a player.

Prior to landing in Atlanta, Thomas served as the Defensive Coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings from 2000-2001. In his first season in Minnesota, Thomas helped the Vikings win the NFC Central crown and advance to the NFC Championship Game. Under his direction, Minnesota's defense finished sixth in the NFC in rushing defense in 2000.
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Bill Johnson
http://www.atlantafalcons.com/team/coachbio.jsp?id=1933

- A '4-3' guy as Miles is looking for | 20+ years college exp. | La. ties (graduated from NW, coached at LaTech)

Last season, the Falcons defensive line continued to progress under Johnson's tutelage, accounting for 26.5 of the team's 36 sacks. One of the season's biggest highlights came in the form of Ellis Johnson, whose 8.0 sacks led all interior linemen in the NFL. In addition, defensive end Patrick Kerney added 6.5 sacks to move into the team's Top 10 list in only his fifth season. In the last three years, Kerney has the best three-year sack total for a Falcon (29.0) since Chuck Smith's 30.5 sacks between 1997-99.

In 2002, the Falcons defensive line was instrumental in helping the defense account for 47 sacks, tying the second-highest mark in team history. Leading the team in sacks was Kerney, who registered 10.5. Combined with his career-best 12 sacks in 2001, Kerney became the first Falcons player to have 10 or more sacks in back-to-back seasons since 1973-74.
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philter · Jan 23, 2005

Pittsburgh Steelers

Keith Butler
http://secure2.steelers.com/team/coach/49260/

- 9 years college exp. | college DC exp.| Ties to SEC region (born in Bammer)

Butler joined the Steelers Jan. 28, 2003, after serving the previous four seasons in a similar capacity with the Cleveland Browns (1999-02).

Prior to the Browns, Butler spent nine years coaching in the college ranks.

He began his coaching career at his alma mater, the University of Memphis, where he coached linebackers from 1990-97 and also coached defensive ends and special teams (1995-97). He served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Arkansas State University in 1998.
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John Mitchell
http://secure2.steelers.com/team/coach/49264/

- Vested in NFL pension already | 16 years college exp. | 15 years pro exp. | Coached LB at LSU

Mitchell is in his 31st season of coaching, including 16 years at the college level and two in the United States Football League. This is his 13th season as an NFL coach. Mitchell joined the Steelers’ coaching staff Jan. 31, 1994.

In his 10 years with the Steelers, Mitchell has been instrumental in the development of several defensive linemen, including current Steelers Kimo von Oelhoffen, Aaron Smith, Pro Bowl tackle Casey Hampton and Rodney Bailey, a sixth-round draft pick in 2001 who accumulated a lot of playing time the past three seasons. He also helped develop former Steelers such as former All-Pro nose tackle Joel Steed, Kevin Henry and Orpheus Roye.

A former All-America defensive end for Alabama, Mitchell's early years in coaching were spent studying under two of college football's greatest coaches.

Mitchell began his coaching career in 1973 as defensive line coach under Paul ''Bear'' Bryant at Alabama. After four years at Alabama (1973-76), Mitchell spent six seasons as defensive line coach at Arkansas (1977-82) on Lou Holtz's staff.
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Four coaches from two losing NFL teams we can consider :)

philter Founding Member

philter Founding Member

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