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A list of some candidates that will be coaching the game.
Niners linebackers coach Jim Leavitt
It’s hard to argue with the job Leavitt has done with the Niners’ linebacking corps, but it also doesn’t hurt when you have linebackers like Patrick Willis, NaVorro Bowman and Aldon Smith.
It’s also probably not a coincidence, though, that Bowman has become a major factor in the last two seasons under Leavitt’s tutelage. And it’s also probably not a coincidence how Smith wasn’t a stand-up linebacker in college, and yet has become a premier pass rusher right away with Leavitt’s help. Leavitt is only in his second season in San Francisco after spending the previous 13 seasons as South Florida’s head coach.
Ravens linebacker coach Ted Monachino
Baltimore defensive coordinator Dean Pees said Monachino is “absolutely” ready to become a defensive coordinator in the NFL, telling the Baltimore Sun, “He knows the (3-4) scheme from front to back and knows a lot of the game, not just his position. He knows the entire front and how the coverages coordinate with the front. Tremendous coach."
Enlarge David Grunfeld, The Times-Picayune The Baltimore Ravens get a group photo taken during Super Bowl 2013 Media day at the Superdome in New Orleans Tuesday, January 29, 2013. (Photo by David Grunfeld, Nola.com |The Times-Picayune) The Baltimore Ravens hold media day for Super Bowl 2013 gallery (18 photos)
Monachino is in his first year as the Ravens linebackers coach after serving as the team’s outside linebackers coach for the previous two seasons. Before Monachino joined the Ravens, he spent four seasons in a variety of roles in Jacksonville eventually ending up the defensive line coach for two seasons. He, like Donatell, has been linked as a candidate for the Eagles defensive coordinator position.
Browns linebackers coach Billy Davis
Davis may seem like a name out of left field, but a league source said his name has been passed on to the Saints as someone the team should take a look at in the process. Davis has reportedly already interviewed for the Eagles defensive coordinator position so he’s drawing attention.
Davis has twice served as a defensive coordinator in the NFL – Arizona (2009-2010) and San Francisco (2005-2006). Obviously, Davis is someone who knows and understands a 3-4 defensive scheme. Davis has been the linebackers coach in Cleveland the past two seasons.
And the wild card … former Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan
It can’t be a good sign for Ryan to have landed the Rams defensive coordinator job and then the team essentially said, ‘Whoops! We made a mistake,” as St. Louis withdrew the offer. Ryan is a known commodity, hence, why Saints fans continue to bring up his name in the Saints defensive coordinator conversation. Ryan is probably a longshot to land the Saints job.
