Jaguars DB Coach Donnie Henderson is Out
by silencecs on Jan 21, 2009 1:40 AM EST
in Jacksonville Jaguars News
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PrintAfter making a bold proclamation that no coaches would be relieved of their duties, another coach has left the team. At this time it is unclear whether Donnie was fired or if he resigned. Nevertheless, the Jags now have 7 coaching positions to fill. Def. Coordinator, Secondary, Special Teams, Assistant WR, Def Assistant, and 2 new Strength and Conditioning coaches. It's unclear if there was a falling out between the two headstrong coaches, or if this was an amicable split. The fact that Del Rio made it a point to say no one would be fired causes questions like this to be raised.
It's unfortunate that Donnie had to go, but the DB corp regressed as a whole and our new free agent didn't pan out. This move (in my opinion) virtually guarantees that the Jags will give Florence another year and pay his roster bonus. The team will likely want to see if he can continue to develop under improved tutelage. Henderson was touted as a fiery coach who was going to focus on teaching the players to make better reads on the QB. Unfortunately, the complete lack of a pass rush combined with a few injuries all contributed to the steep decline in the performance of our cornerbacks, and Donnie is taking the fall.
This move may have something to do with the team wanting to bring in Mel Tucker of the Cleveland Browns as new DC. Mel's expertise is in the secondary and I believed from the start that if he came Donnie would go. Well, Donnie's gone, and I wouldn't be too surprised if we got word in the next few weeks that the team has hired Tucker. This is purely speculation on my part, but it makes perfect sense.
Of all the coaches to lose, I just wish we still had Joey D... Man, that Cat could coach some special teams!
-Collin
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Considering he was supposed to help the DBs make better reads
He certainly did not have a good effect on Reggie Nelson. I think the obvious lack of progression (or even regression) in his play had much more to do with Henderson leaving than anything about Drayton Florence sucking or Brian Williams not doing great with a position switch.
by MoveThoseChains on Jan 21, 2009 2:01 AM EST reply actions
excellent point
Nelson should’ve progressed much more than he has and hopefully a new position coach can jumpstart his development next season.
I just don't like
how this change was made. Yeah, the performance of the secondary raised for me almost so big questions, like the two lines, so in that part, I’m not sad like I was with Joe DiCamillis leaving. But this"there will be no more change, and suddenly another coach left" thing is a little bit bothering me, plus we don’t know what happened (he was resigned or was being fired). Maybe the chemistry was not so good at the coaching level as well???
I know there is a lot of coaches in America, specially at the Senior Bowl nowdays, but in a period when so many moves are around the league (Vic was right on the money: 10 new head coach since opening day last September) will the Jaguars find so many quality coaches? Let’s hope I’m wrong, but I have my doubts about the coach replecements, that the Jags can find so many good fits to this team.
by Zoltan from Budapest on Jan 21, 2009 3:05 AM EST reply actions
Both Mathis and Nelson had bad years
You don’t give up as many big pass plays as we did all year with a Pro Bowl corner and a possible future pro bowler at free safety and not have a fall guy. Not to mention as MTCs said, Nelson regressed horribly compared to his rookie season.
"I smoke. If this bothers anyone, I suggest you look around at the world in which we live and shut your mouth."-Bill Hicks
by Jonathan Loesche on Jan 21, 2009 8:00 AM EST reply actions
Yes but to a point.
If you have ZERO pass rush, God can’t cover NFL receivers forever. I agree that the DB’s are found somewhat wanting, but they also had absolutely no support from the D line. Our blitz schemes are also a joke and subsequently on the rare occasions that we do blitz, the LB’s tend not to get to the QB either. Just an observation.
It just seems strange to me
that everyone around Jack Del Rio eventually gets fired.
Players, coaches, General Managers, scouts, everyone.
Big Cat Country!:: The Official Home of the Unofficial Blog of the Jacksonville Jaguars!
That's true
for a lot of coaches. The good ones get taken by other teams (Mike Smith), and the bad ones get fired. Only rarely do you get people that stay at their position for a lot of years.
By any standard the jaguars have a problem
Turnover, either by agreement, new job or firing is a problem with this team. It is beginning to draw major local attention and is highlighted nationally.
It affects Free Agent attitude and good assistant coaches attitude on willingness to join the team. I don’t know much about Mel Tucker, but I am reasonably sure he is no Mike Smith.
The constant churn is a downward spiral, not an opportunity to improve.
Big Cat Country!:: The Official Home of the Unofficial Blog of the Jacksonville Jaguars!
I not so sure
its that big of a problem. Just like players, sometimes it’s good to get younger or more specifically newer. Sometimes you find gems that can do it year in and year out, but sometimes a new coach with new ideas is a good thing. How many times have we seen an OC come in somewhere struggling on offense an infuse the team that first year, but the next few years opposing D’s catch up and then its time to change to a new OC to start the process over again.
I hope you are right
Big Cat Country!:: The Official Home of the Unofficial Blog of the Jacksonville Jaguars!
Coverage sack!
It seems that everyone blames the D-line, and I know that you must have a good pass rush upfront, but what about a few coverage sacks? In the AFC Championship game, I saw many times where the QB has sufficient time and good O-line blocking upfront, but the Defensive secondary, especially on the Pittsburg side, would cover so well, that the QB had to hold the ball and would eventually get sacked or hurried by the D-line. Everyone, including Vic K, seems to put the majority of the blame on the lineman, when it seems that they would have a much better opportunity to get the sack or hurry if the secondary would cover better and for a few seconds longer. In my opinion, the secondary needs more help at this time than the front 4, although we could improve there also. Actually, as I write this, we could probably use help in about every position on the team, so PLEASE DRAFT BAP!
OK.. someone give me an answer with something to back it up...
Not only with Jaguars coaches, but with a lot of coaches around the league who were either let go or resigned, why do so many people (fans and sportswriters alike) seem to say the coach in question was the “fall guy” or “scapegoat”??
Could it just possibly be that the coach WAS that awful or had zero connection with the players? I’m 50-50 on bad players versus bad coaches, but, c’mon folks, sometimes it is just the coach that is at fault. I do agree that being a coach on Del Rio’s staff isn’t the most secure place to be. It’s all pretty much a gamble.
Sean Jax Beach Bum
I definitely don't think he was released because he was a scapegoat... if that was the case then I don't think Del Rio would've made the proclamation that no coaches would be let go.
What I think is likely is that Mel Tucker was interviewed and said the only way he’d make a lateral move was if he could bring his own DB coach along. This may have meant that Del Rio told Donnie that he’d have to be the assistant DB coach, or resign. Donnie naturally wouldn’t take a lesser position after being the leader of the DB’s.
In my opinion Del Rio made a very novice move when he announced that no coaches would be released so early into the offseason. It was a foolish move and I hope he learned from this mistake.
This is pure speculation BTW
-Collin
collin, you are right
JDR said he wouldn’t fire anyone, he didn’t say he wouldn’t change responsibility or roles. JDR “probably” let Donnie know what he had in mind and Donnie left. It isn’t “technically” a firing.
Big Cat Country!:: The Official Home of the Unofficial Blog of the Jacksonville Jaguars!
Herm Edwards
I heard he might go as a DB coach……..
If he’s fired from the Chiefs……..
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